iPhone 4 Baseband Unlock on 3.10.01 and 2.10.04 [Update]

It has been too long, really, since the very first iPhone 4 user had been stuck on baseband 2.10.04 which is until now still can’t be unlocked using the latest version of Ultrasn0w.



Those who got their iPhone 4 pre-installed with iOS 4.2 or iOS 4.2.1 or those who accidentally upgraded the firmware to the said version without using the TinyUmbrella tool or without upgrading to a custom firmware, are also facing the same problem since iOS 4.2.1 come with baseband 3.10.01 which is also not unlockable just yet.



Given the long wait for the unlock of the said iPhone 4 basebands to be released, some users are desperately claiming the iPhone Dev Team actually has never found any exploit on baseband 3.10.01 or 2.10.04. However, it seems like baseband hacker @sherif_hashim has something good news for you. And believe me, he could be your knight in the shining armor.

A Twitter follower of @sherif_hashim asked him if he has found an exploit for baseband 3.10.01, but it looks like there’s something more than what had been asked. Sherif responded implicating that he found an exploit that will work both for basebands 3.10.01 and 2.10.04. Though there’s no ETA mentioned, a wilder analysis reveals it would be after a week or two when Apple released iOS 4.3, probably this March. Could it be part of the March 2 event? We don’t know yet. But of course, we won’t let the story pass without bringing it to you. Take a deep breath, and optimistically think the iPhone Dev Team has the new Ultrasn0w unlock already on queue. We'll let you know for more updates, so just stay tuned!

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2011 MacBook Pro Philippine Prices Starts at Php 61,990

As promised, I got here the official pricing of the 2011 MacBook Pro line-up in the Philippines.



Originally, Apple has 5 variants of the new MacBook Pro’s except for those “Configure-to-Order” options. That includes the 13-inch model powered by 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 (dual-core) processor with 320GB of storage, 13-inch model powered by 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 (dual-core) processor with 500GB storage; the two 15-inch models available at either 2.0GHz or 2.2GHz of Intel Core i7 (quad-core) processors with 500GB or 750GB of storage, repectively; and the 17-inch model powered by 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 (quad-core) processor with 750GB of storage.



For a more simplified pricing schedule of every MacBook Pro with basic hardware configurations, just hit the image below.

click to enlarge

Just in case you’re interested of getting one, just head over to the Apple Online Store. Please note it will take 4-6 business days for Apple to ship the unit in your location, however, the good thing is it ships for free (as usual). So are you buying?

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New 2011 MacBook Pros: Official Specs, Price and Availability Announced!

It didn’t take any longer since we’ve got the full spec sheet of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Though the leaked photos only showed what the 13-inch model will bring, now at least we know all the details of the three new MacBook Pros including the 15 and 17-inch models.

2011 MacBook Pro: 13, 15, and 17-inch Models

Apple has already announced earlier today new additions to the MacBook Pro family, including the 13, 15, and 17-inch models, all powered by Intel 2nd Generation Core-i series CPU’s based on Sandy Bridge architecture. This new iteration of MacBook Pro’s refreshes the previous generation with focus on speed and performance, as it also brings improved and optimized graphics, the high-speed I/O technology called Thunderbolt, higher storage capacities, and the new FaceTime HD camera.

Still, the standard builds of the Pro lineup are evident including the gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, the glass Multi-Touch trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and the battery rated to offer 7-hours of continuous wireless web surfing.



Connectivity options in all of the new MacBook Pro’s are identical except for the 17-inch model which has an added ExpressCard/34 slot for an eSATA adapter or a 3G wireless card, an excellent feature for times when no Wi-Fi network is available in a location. For your DVD-burning pleasure, the new MacBook Pro’s feature an 8X SuperDrive which can burn movies and other files in no time.



Pricing and Availability



Quoted from the official PR, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.



The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499.



The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199.



The 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.



Though prices would vary on every region, we will just let you know once we got the official pricing here in the Philippines. So just stay tuned!

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Yahoo! Will Shutdown MyBlogLog on May 24th

Got this message from the Yahoo! My BlogLog Team. Yahoo! will be shutting down its social network for bloggers called MyBlogLog on May 24th, this year.

Though we won’t be surprised by this announcement anymore, since we are still to expect other products like Yahoo! Buzz, del.icio.us, and etc. to finally go on “sunset”, after that slide from Yahoo! strategy webcast intended only for employees had been leaked back in December last year.

You still remember this?

MyBlogLog is one of the favorite site widgets used by bloggers to improve site community interaction; but with the popularity of similar services from Facebook and Twitter – it started to get outdated and soon, Yahoo! will officially discontinue the service.



Here’s what the email says:

Dear MyBlogLog Customer,



You have been identified as a customer of Yahoo! MyBlogLog. We will officially discontinue Yahoo! MyBlogLog effective May 24, 2011. Your agreement with Yahoo!, to the extent that it applies to the Yahoo! MyBlogLog, will terminate on May 24, 2011.



After May 24, 2011 your credit card will no longer be charged for premium services on MyBlogLog. We will refund you the unused portion of your subscription, if any. The refund will appear as a credit via the billing method we have on file for you. To make sure that your billing information is correct and up to date, visit https://billing.yahoo.com.



Questions?

If you have questions about these changes, please visit the Yahoo! MyBlogLog help pages.



We thank you for being a customer on Yahoo! MyBlogLog.



Sincerely,



The Yahoo! My BlogLog Team

If you’re a blogger and had used MyBlogLog, expect to receive similar email. Or probably you already have it, don’t you?

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13-Inch 2011 MacBook Pro Specs, Photos – Leaked! Powered by Sandy Bridge…

There you got it; the 2011 refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is now complete with the full spec sheet and some photos leaked to the web.

This new MacBook Pro is powered by a 2.3 Core i5 Intel processor based on Sandy Bridge architecture, and comes with improved graphics and boosted disk storage, though the 4GB RAM and 8x SuperDrive are just the same as the MC374 model. Bundled with Mac OS X with iLife, this 13-inch MacBook Pro will feature a high-speed Thunderbolt I/O or what is first known as Light Peak technology, and will bring Facetime HD video conferencing – thanks to the built-in HD cam. You may check out full specs after the break, together with those detailed photos of this soon-to-be-released Apple machine. [via]



2011 13" MacBook Pro Specs

• Core i5 processor dual core 2.3 GHz with 3 MB shared level 3 of cache


• 4 GB of DDR3 SDRAM @ 1333 MHz


• Hard Drive 320 GB 5400 rpm


• Glossy 13.33" display, 1280×800 px


• Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the main memory


• FaceTime HD video camera


• 8x slot-loading SuperDrive


• Thunderbolt port compatible with I/O peripherals and high speed Mini Displayport


• SDXC card reader, one Firewire 800 and two USB 2.0 ports


• Numeric audio out, stereo speakers


• Integrated Ethernet


• 802.11n Wi-Fi


• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR


• Backlit keyboard and ambient light sensor


• Mac OS X and iLife


• Dimensions and weight: 32.5×22.7×2.41cm


• Weight: 2.04 kg

Photos:

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Apple to Unveil iPad 2 Next Week, March 2?

We knew Apple is most likely to out 3 more iPad models in the future, at least if the details dug on iOS 4.3 turns to be true.

iPad 2 (Mock-up)

But for now, we are more interested of hearing updates on Apple’s 2nd iteration of its successful slate – the iPad. All Things Digital is reporting that Apple is scheduled to hold an event comes March 2nd. And what you would love to hear is it’s probably the unveiling of iPad 2! The event is said to take place in San Francisco at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the venue where some previous iPod models had been unveiled. Though members of the press in the US (who are usually invited on much-anticipated events like this) haven’t receive any invitation from Apple yet, the folks at All Things D are pretty confident about the possibility of the said event next week. (See update below)



Specs-culation of the 2nd-gen iPad includes an improved display (probably not retina display), front-facing camera, Facetime support, runs on iOS 4.3, and it would probably thinner than the first-generation iPad.



If the said Apple event push-through next week, we could expect the release of iPad 2 by April; and as usual, it would probably land here in the Philippines at the end of the year. Anyway, let’s see and just stay tuned! [via]



Update 1:

The iPad 2 event on March 2 is official. Apple is said to sending out invitations to the press, and as initially reported - the event will be held at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

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Norton Internet Security 2011, Anyone?

Protecting your PC against cyber attacks is one of the important things to consider in protecting personal data and staying safe while working in your computer.

And the most crucial part for users is deciding which anti-virus to choose from the wide range of available selections of different brands.



For years, I’ve already used several PC security software and maintenance suites like that of Avira, Avast!, PC Tools, AVG, Norman, Eset, and the Microsoft Security Essentials. Some of these lasted only for months, some for years. And the longest which until now, I’m still using, is Avast! Home Edition. So far, it works best for me and the good thing is it comes with free license. I’ve been using it for more than three years already – paired with ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall I got for free, too.

The point of using the latter on top of Avast! Home Edition is its dedicated feature – that is as a security firewall. ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall is a better choice than just relying on the security firewall that comes with Windows, especially if you connect to the web most of the time. The only catch when you are using two security softwares like on this case is the chance to slow down your computer. Technically, it could happen.



Being said that, having virus protection and firewall at the same time, packed in a single software installation could be a better choice. And that’s how Norton Internet Security is built. There’s this new version called Norton Internet Security 2011 or better known as NIS2011, and I’m wondering if any of you have already been using this. Hopefully, I can try this one in the next few days; but for now – let me ask you first what anti-virus you’re using and why? Do share your comments below.



Update: Norton Internet Security 2011 Review [Part 1]

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Download Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) – Final

Microsoft has already released the final build of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

The final RTM version has build number 7601.17514.101119-1850, which indicates the date the service packs have been compiled (November 19, 2010). Users who will download this SP will get the same benefits as the beta version of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1. Detailed instruction on how to download the first ever service pack of these OS’s is available at the Microsoft Download Center.

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Get 2 Extra Gadgets for Every Smart Gold Plan

If Globe Telecom has a new gadget deal for you, Smart Communications is offering again, for the second time, its Double Deal promo just until the end of the month, February 28th.

The promo is available for all those who will apply a new Smart Gold account starting at Plan 800 to Plan 3500. Like the first Double Deal, subscribers will receive not just one, but two gadgets – for FREE. Among the free gadgets bundled in a Plan includes:



2-Samsung Champ for Plan 800

2-Samsung Action or 2 Nokia C3 for Plan 1200

2-Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 for Plan 1800

2-Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for Plan 2500

2-BlackBerry Curve 9300 for Plan 3500, or

2-Samsung N150 Netbook, plus 2 Samsung E1080 phones for Plan 3500



Again, this is just a limited offer so if you think of getting any of these plans – you better hurry. Visit your nearest Smart Wireless Center for more info, or drop a call to Smart customer support agent by calling *888 from your Smart or Talk 'N Text phone.

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Does iPhone Internet Tethering Works for Bloggers?

How are you friends and loyal CTB readers? If you’ll ask me the same, well – I’m fine and everything is going well. Except for one factor that should always be in the world of blogging – the Internet.



This week, I’m scheduled to move to another apartment which is just a walking-distance to the company where I’m working. And that means I’ll be transferring my broadband internet connection again, for the third time, to another location. I’m using Smartbro Fixed Wireless Canopy in the apartment by the way ‘coz it’s the best option for me, and I’m satisfied with it so far. For about 4 weeks already, it’s temporarily down. What I’ve been using in the past couple of weeks is another broadband connection from Globe Telecom installed at home. Unfortunately, starting last weekend – seems like there was an outage on Globe’s network or probably just minor technical problem on our connection. Field technicians are scheduled for an on-site visit yesterday, but until now they still didn’t show up. Interesting! That’s actually the reason why I didn’t post any Tech updates on this blog on the past few days. Limited internet access...

While I’d better enjoy using a prepaid broadband stick either Globe Tattoo or the Smartbro Plug-It as an alternative – I chose tethering with my iPhone instead. At least I can also test how long I can use the iPhone in surfing the web and at the same time blogging. Based on experience, more than an hour of iPhone internet tethering seems like to cause an explosion due to too much heat; but I’m just really curious how long the device can stand in a continuous use. In this way also, I would be able to justify how reliable iPhone internet tethering for bloggers. J 



Are you a blogger? What do you think, will it work?

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IBM Watson on Jeopardy! Featuring Replay Videos… Watch the Super-computer in Action!

Early this morning, I went home from work together with a friend who also like talking about “techy” stuffs – and one thing I opened in the conversation was about the IBM Challenge on Jeopardy!

Interestingly, he don’t have much idea about Jeopardy!, neither about IBM’s supercomputer called Watson. I understand though ‘coz Jeopardy! is actually not being televised here in the Philippines unless you subscribed to it through cable channels.



For the sake of those who heard about Jeopardy! for the first time – it’s actually a US syndicated game/ quiz show featuring trivia questions in various fields. Its “question and answer” format is unique in the sense that the host will give clues to contestants in the form of answers, and the contestants must response to the clues in a question form. Jeopardy! is a very popular show in the US that it totaled to 8,809 episodes to date since it officially started back in March 30, 1964. Among the most notable players-turned-champions in Jeopardy! include the names of Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.

On February 14-16th, a special episode of the quiz show called “Jeopardy! The IBM Challenge” aired on ABC, in which the all-time leading money winner of the game Ken Jennings together with the former’s runner up Brad Rutter (who is now considered as the biggest money winner in Jeopardy! after defeating Jennings), have been challenged by IBM to play with Watson in the game. Here’s a video featuring Watson, an overview of the Jeopardy! challenge, and what the supercomputer would do in Jeopardy!







That was a great teaser, isn’t it? Well, before we jump on the cool videos below, pardon me for having a spoiler. The 3-day IBM Challenge on Jeopardy! is already over, and Watson has been pronounced to defeat the champions after the finale. With 90 32-core IBM Power 750 Express servers and a total memory of 16 Terabytes, it would not be a big surprise that such incredible thinking machine indeed advances humans in deep analytics and processing data from its huge database of information. What would have been amazing is how the computer scientists at the IBM Thomas Watson Research Center able to design an algorithm and build a machine that perhaps could solve humanity’s confounding problems in real life.



This is not something we’ve just seen on Sci-Fi movies, folks. This is about a more-advanced development in the field of artificial intelligence. Without further ado, here are those great videos from The IBM Challenge. Enjoy!



The breakdown of the match...





Jeopardy: The IBM Challenge, Day 1







Jeopardy: The IBM Challenge, Day 2







Jeopardy: The IBM Challenge, Day 3

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iPhone 4, MWC 2011 Best Mobile Device; HTC, Device Manufacturer of the Year

Hail all those great and high-end smartphones launched in the previous year! Hail more for the iPhone 4!



Apple’s flagship smartphone to date has been awarded as the “Best Mobile Device” at the Global Mobile Awards (GMA) during this year’s MWC. Here’s the judges’ comment about the device:

Great screen, sharp design, fantastic materials, and phenomenal ecosystem for app developers. In a tight race, the iPhone 4 built on the success of its predecessors to set the pace for smart phones.

Well, oh well. I’m personally not an Apple fan boy, but everything says it all; and to be honest, I didn’t blundered myself having one.

The iPhone 4 has been chosen definitely as the best among the best because it satisfies the judges by its innovative functional and physical design, its intuitive user interface, the wide range of applications and features it supported, uniqueness, it offers great value for money as reflected on its price point, and of course – its contribution to Apple’s overall market success in 2010.



Other devices nominated for the “Best Mobile Device” award include: Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Desire, LG Optimus 7 and BlackBerry Torch 9800.



On the other note, the Taiwan-based smartphone maker - HTC Corporation – has been recognized as the “Device Manufacturer of the Year”. We can recall that HTC boosted its total market share in 2010 as compared to a year earlier according to the latest Gartner report. Here’s what the GMA judges said about HTC:

This company has built its market presence from nowhere, with fresh branding and marketing and a strong portfolio of devices across many platforms. In particular, it has proven an exceptionally popular and enduring phone manufacturer. With great communication and good customer service, this is a well-deserved award.

The judges added by commending the HTC Desire saying:

The HTC Desire set the bar for Android phones across much of the world in 2010. Packed with great features, this is an enduring product that has performed consistently well.

Based on experience with HTC Desire, I agree. Though it didn’t beat the iPhone 4 as the best mobile device, still – we have to congratulate HTC for the terrific job in crafting such great device! Won’t you?



You can check the complete list of winners on other categories from the GMA website.

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Sn0wbreeze 2.2 is Out, Jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 Untethered on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

It didn’t take that long, folks, since we had been teased yesterday.

ih8sn0w already released the next version of its jailbreaking tool, Sn0wbreeze 2.2, which enables iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad to update or restore to a pre-jailbroken custom iOS 4.2.1 firmware, utilizing the kernel-based GreenPois0n exploit on iOS 4.2.1 by the Chronic Dev Team. It also preserves baseband of iPhone devices so users can later unlock the baseband using Ultrasn0w.

Sn0wbreeze 2.2 support devices including:



iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

iPhone 4

iPod Touch 2G

iPod Touch 3G

iPod Touch 4G

iPad



You can download Sn0wbreeze 2.2 directly from ih8sn0w website. I’ll be posting a detailed tutorial on how to jailbreak your iDevice using Sn0wbreeze 2.2, so just stay tuned for updates…



Update: Sn0wbreeze has been updated to version 2.2.1. Sn0wbreeze 2.2.1 jailbreaks iOS 4.2.1 and iOS 4.2.6 that comes with Verizon iPhone 4. It also fixes iBooks and adds Drag and Drop IPSW firmware support.

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PwnageTool 4.2 for Mac Released, Jailbreak iPhone 4/ 3G / 3GS/ Verizon, iPod Touch 3G / 4G, iPad, and AppleTV 2G on iOS 4.2.1 Untethered

Following the release of the latest version of Greenpois0n for Mac and Windows which can jailbreak iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 untethered on iOS 4.2.1 as well as iPhone 3G, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPad, and AppleTV 2G- the iPhone Dev Team had just released earlier today the latest version of its tool called PwnageTool 4.2.

Pwnage Tool 4.2 is a jailbreak tool that will allow users to create a custom iOS 4.2.1 firmware and at the same time, retain the current unlockable baseband of the iPhone. That is, users only have to restore to that pre-jailbroken custom iOS 4.2.1 firmware, yet getting the same untethered jailbreak with preserved unlockable baseband. Supported devices running iOS 4.2.1 include:



iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

iPhone 4

iPhone 4-Verizon

iPod Touch 3G

iPod Touch 4G

iPad

AppleTV 2G



The Dev Team says they released PwnageTool 4.2 since Apple has already patched the exploit in the latest iOS 4.3 betas, and the move really makes sense. PwnageTool is dedicated only for Mac users; however, its Windows-equivalent, the Sn0wbreeze 2.2, is also under way. For the meantime, go check out the download link below after the break. [via]



PwnageTool_4.2.dmg --> PwnageTool_4.2.dmg.6176918.TPB.torrent

SHA1 Sum = af365f5de19d7ee19cbe1c67b2f226996a46b3ac

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Sn0wbreeze 2.2 Coming Soon…Upgrade iPhone 4, 3GS, and 3G to Custom iOS 4.2.1 Firmware with Unlockable Baseband

iPhone users and jailbreakers, I got exciting news for you here!

Images of the new interface of Sn0wbreeze started to show up in the web and it highlights new feature that will allow iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 3G users to upgrade to custom iOS 4.2.1 firmware, yet still preserving the unlockable baseband using Ultrasn0w. The new version is called Sn0wbreeze 2.2 Version 2.2r1. Basically, it’s being developed since the current version, Sn0wbreeze 2.1, won’t suffice and is limited only to creating a custom iOS 4.1 firmware.



For the sake of those who are new to Sn0wbreeze, it’s a tool designed for Windows users (Mac version is called PwnageTool) which will enable iPhone users to create a custom iOS firmware that is already jailbroken untethered, and also preserve the unlockable baseband of your device. In layman’s term, the Sn0wbreeze 2.2 will take in charge of the quite complicated process of jailbreaking iOS 4.2.1 on iPhone 4 or 3GS using Greenpois0n or Redsn0w and then unlocking its baseband using Ultrasn0w. Everything is already packed on what is said to be a custom iOS firmware, in which you can then use for your iPhone.



Update: Sn0wbreeze 2.2 is Out, Jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 Untethered on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad



Though there’s no ETA indicated, I have a strong feeling that developer @iH8sn0w will release the tool anytime soon. For the meantime, check out the photos after the break (for your viewing pleasure!) and don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates.

Sn0wbreeze 2.2 UI

Modes as seen on Sn0wbreeze 2.2 UI

Other notable features on Sn0wbreeze 2.2

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HTC Flyer Tablet, Run Android 2.4 Gingerbread Version!

Talking about this year’s new Tablet revelations, you’ll be surprised having one with an indistinguishable version of the Gingerbread.

HTC just announced its very first tablet called HTC Flyer, and it’s the first tablet we’re seeing around to savor with Android 2.4, which I think a little optimized version of the original Gingerbread flavor. Next to ASUS Eee Pad MeMO, the Flyer will come with a capacitive stylus as an alternative to the usual multi-touch capability on its 7-inch landscape. Touting a 1.5 GHz single-core processor, a distinct 1 GB of memory is on board on top of its 32GB flash storage and this device will flaunt a 1024 x 600 resolution display.

HTC Flyer

HTC says they introduced new technologies and services packed on Flyer including HTC Watch (a video download service), HTC Scribe (for onscreen writing using the stylus or pen), and OnLive Cloud Gaming (allowing users to play video games directly on TV and PC), and an optimized version of Sense, that is HTC Sense for Tablet. We’re going to experience these new features as soon as HTC released the tablet comes Q2 this year. Since the company will be making this tablet available globally, I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing this in the local shelves. For the meantime, check out full specs and features after the break.



HTC Flyer Specs and Features:



Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 (for 3G version)

HSPA/WCDMA: 900/AWS/2100 MHz

1.5 GHz Single-core CPU

7-inch TFT screen, 1024 x 800 resolution

Android 2.4 with HTC Sense for Tablet

1 GB RAM

32 GB Internal Storage, microSD expandable

5 MP rear-facing camera with Auto-Focus

1.3 MP front-facing camera

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

GPS

G-sensor

3.5mm Audio jack

195.4 x 122 x 13.2 mm

415 g

4000 mAh battery

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iPhone Nano / Mini: Smaller and Cheaper iPhone in the Works?

With the strong competition in the mid-range smartphone markets, many would think what the Cupertino-based company, Apple Inc. – is going to introduce this year to fill the gaps left by its high-end yet quite expensive latest iPhone models, particularly the GSM-based and the CDMA-based iPhone 4 devices.

iPhone Nano / Mini (Mock-up)

Reports started popping in which Apple is said to be working on a smaller version of its existing iPhone models. Cult of Mac is saying to have an exclusive source about this intriguing model of the iPhone (codenamed N97), claiming the device to lose “some” of its memory, thus enabling Apple to build a bite-sized version (just about half the size of the latest model) and eventually allowing the company to sell it almost half the price of main iPhones.

By “some” of the memory, we mean ALL of the memory. The iPhone nano will have no memory for onboard storage of media, our source says. It will have only enough memory to buffer media streamed from the cloud.

“I’m talking strictly storage memory here,” said our source.

Though there should be a little on-board memory for the OS and system caching, the iPhone Mini / Nano is rumored to have a little or to absolutely no internal storage and will just rely on cloud-based contents, that is the apps would presumably be distributed similar to SaaS.

The iPhone nano will pull ALL its content from MobileMe. When users buy a movie or TV show on iTunes, it’s available to stream to their iPhone or iPad. The service is based on technology from LaLa.com, a streaming service that Apple bought last spring and then shut down.

“It would be a mostly cloud-based iOS,” said our source.

The said iPhone Mini / Nano will sport an edge-to-edge screen (I think it’s safer to guess we won’t be seeing Home button here), virtual keyboard, and voice-based navigation – and is initially intended for release this summer.



We’ll be looking closely in the development of this story so just stay tuned for more updates. [via]

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, Pro, and Play Unveiled

Following the announcement of Xperia Arc in the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Sony Ericsson unveiled earlier today at the on-going MWC 2011 new additions to its smartphone line-up for this year namely: Xperia Neo, Xperia Pro, and Xperia Play.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo and Xperia Pro are identical mid-range devices as far as specs are concerned, except for the form-factor of the latter which features an added full-QWERTY sliding keyboard instead of just having Multi-Touch. Both are using Sony’s Bravia graphics engine powering 854 x 480 display resolution on 3.7-inch screen.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro

As expected, usual specs on Gingerbread devices are on board including the 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor, 320 MB internal storage, MicroSD support of up to 32GB (8GB microSD included), 8 MP front-facing camera with Auto-Focus and LED Flash capable of recording 720p HD videos at 30 frames-per-second, up-front is the 2 MP camera for video conferencing, and of course – wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi, enhanced 3G support both for down and up-links (HSDPA/HSUPA), Bluetooth 2.1, and an Assisted GPS support.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play on the other hand is something quite different, not unless you’re a fan of PSP’s. First leaked as the PlayStation Phone, it finally got its official name as the Xperia Play. Basically, gaming buttons like that of PSP are evident. Like its companions, it’s powered by the same low-power 1 GHz Snapdragon application processor (Scorpion) and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It also sports the same resolution of 854 x 480 on its 4-inch display. Though only has a 5 MP rear camera, it’s generous to offer 512 MB of internal storage and 8GB microSD plus an expandable option of up to 32GB.



These handsets are coming to selected markets starting next month, and I guess you can still wait that long. Do you?

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Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 (P7100) is Official: Just Another Honeycomb Tablet Unveiled in Barcelona!

Well. Oh well. The second tablet iteration by the Korean phone and tablet maker is now official, finally, after being showcased at the on-going MWC 2011 in Barcelona.



We’ve been teased a lot in the past few days regarding its hardware specs, features, or even what moniker it gets; but no, Samsung won’t be calling it as Samsung Galaxy Tab II. The new tablet by Sammy is called Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1, Model P7100. Oh, that’s pretty obvious why, at least by now. That’s because it dons a much bigger and wider display, to be specific, a 10.1-inch WXGA TFT LCD display. I can actually feel the intuitive interface of this tablet, thanks to its Honeycomb OS. Hopefully it will land here in the Philippines the soonest, so we can take our hands on this bad boy.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 is powered by a dual-core application processor and will be available both with 16GB or 32GB internal storage. Every specs of this new tablet is obviously better than the first Galaxy Tab.

And to be honest, you have to look on this considering new entries for this year’s competition of Honeycomb-based tablets like the Xoom or even those using other platforms in the name of TouchPad, PlayBook, or the much anticipated second generation iPad from Apple.

Like the Samsung Galaxy S II, this Tab will be launching before Q2, most probably by March, in Asia and Europe. Surely, we’ll get to see this tablet here in the Philippines anytime soon. For the meantime, you may check out full specs after the break.



Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 (P7100) Specs



Android 3.0 Honeycomb

1GHz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor

ULP GeForce GPU, Tegra 2 T20 chipset

10.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) TFT LCD display

Full HD (1080p) video playback @ 30 fps

16/32GB internal storage

1GB RAM

8MP AF rear camera (3264x2448 pixels) with LED Flash, 1080p HD recording

2MP front camera

3G (HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps)

EDGE/GPRS

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, EDR

USB 2.0

GSP, A-GPS

Sensors (Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Compass)

Dual surround-sound speakers

3.5 mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker

6860mAh Li-Po battery

246.2 x 170.4 x 10.9mm

589g



Update: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Philippines gets official.



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Samsung Galaxy S II (GT-I9100) Gets Official: Check Out Full Specs, Features, and Availability

So we got it officially after having a quick preview while still on its way coming to existence at MWC 2011, introducing Samsung’s premium smartphone for 2011 – the Galaxy S II.

As the successor to the record-breaking Android flagship, the Galaxy S – the main focus of this bad boy is on speed, screen, and content. Sorry Galaxy S users, you could probably upgrade to Gingerbread – but we can’t deny the fact that Galaxy S II, specs-wise, is amusingly drooling and this could be your only way to getting the latest Android flavor in the Galaxy line up.

Claimed as the thinnest smartphone to date at 8.49 mm thick, knocking Xperia Arc and Optimus Black off the "slimmest" record, the Galaxy S II flaunts a 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, attracting attention for being energy-efficient (as Sammy says) while it can offer resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, bundled with a customized interface – the TouchWiz 4.0. With Galaxy S II, indulging the social circle is easier with its access to Samsung’s Music Hub, Game Hub, Reader Hub, and Social Hub.

At home, on the move, or at work – Galaxy S II could fit any lifestyle. It features Kies Air, allowing users to manage their smartphone contents from their PC, via local WiFi connections – thanks for the Wi-Fi Direct support. Plus, it comes with business solutions including enhanced conferencing and connectivity services from Cisco, mobile implementation of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and secure remote device management from Sybase.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is powered by a dual-core processor at 1 GHz, presumably the recently-announced Exynos chip. Full specs and features after the break.



Samsung Galaxy S II Specs and Features



GSM 850/900/1800/1900

HSPA+ 21 850/900/1900/2100

1 GHz Dual-core Application processor

1 GB RAM

4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus display (800x480 pixels)

Android 2.3 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0

Adobe Flash 10.1 support

8 MP rear camera with Auto-Focus and LED Flash

1080p Full HD Recording and Playback @ 30 fps

2 MP front-facing camera

16/32 GB, microSD up to 32GB

GPS, A-GPS

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS

USB 2.0

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Near Field Communications (NFC) technology

DLNA (AllShare Technology)

Live Panel

Customized Voice Translation App

Kies Air

Exchange ActiveSync

Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Gyroscope

3.5mm ear jack and speaker

Stereo FM Radio with RDS

Voice Recorder

8.49 mm thick

116g

1,650 mAh battery



Availability



Samsung Galaxy S II will be coming to European and Asian markets come later this month or before this quarter ends. No pricing details yet, but surely I’ll let you know. Stay tuned!



Update: Samsung GALAXY S II is already available here in the Philippines with a SRP of Php 29,990.

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Globe Telecom Latest Smartphone and Tablet Deals

Geeks will start peeping later today the happenings in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress while the whole circle of players in the Smartphone and Tablet arena are going to tout their latest product line-ups.

I’m pretty sure you, too, would like to know the best gadget deals for this year or probably in early 2012. But for “Pinoy” techies who can’t wait, in all probability, to get their hands on the latest handsets that made its way here in the Philippines; you’ll be glad to hear that Globe Telecom got new deals for you to check.



Among of the latest devices now available at Globe include the Huawei Ideos U8150, Samsung Galaxy 5 i5503 Europa, Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570, Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830, and Huawei Ideos S7. And the good thing is, these devices are being offered with free 30-day trial of Globe SuperSurf on top of the Plan.

Huawei Ideos U8150

The Huawei Ideos U8150 is a Froyo device flaunting a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen with resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. It’s powered by a 528 MHz ARM 11 processor and Adreno 200 GPU in a MSM7225 Qualcomm chipset. Built with a 200MB internal storage, 256 MB RAM, and 512 MB ROM – the Ideos u8150 specs is pretty decent for entry-level handsets. This is a quad-band GSM phone, so basically a good choice as secondary handset (next to your high-end smartphone) if you’re the type of user who frequently travel anywhere in the planet. For those CTB readers who are new to Huawei Ideos, this is actually the first phone from Huawei launched here in the Philippines. What you would like with this curvy phone is its capability to be used as internet-sharing device as it’s coupled with functionality to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot - similar to Globe MiFi, the Smartbro Pocket Wi-Fi, or the Huawei’s E5 Pocket MiFi. Globe Telecom’s Huawei Ideos U8150 is free with My SuperPlan 499 and comes with free 30 days of SuperSurf.

Samsung Galaxy 5 i5503

Samsung Galaxy 5 i5503 Europa is also a quad-band phone running Android 2.1 (Éclair), packed with a 600 MHz processor, 2.8-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display, with TouchWiz 3.0 interface, and support for basic and popular wireless connectivity options. The only drawback though for this entry-level handset is the 2 MP camera, and to be honest – if you’re a cam-wh*re type, you probably have to consider other units with higher camera resolution. But considering this is going to be free with Globe MySuperPlan 499, plus a free 30-day trial of SuperSurf – that would seemingly a good choice, too.



Among the newest handsets you should also check are Samsung Galaxy’s, that is – the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 and Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830. Just as early as first week of this month, Samsung has already released these handsets in the country ahead of global release. Sounds flattering, huh?

Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570

The Galaxy Mini S5570 is also an Android Froyo device powered by a 600 MHz processor. Flavored tasty for young techies, this mid-range phone shows off its 3.15 MP camera (although it doesn’t have Flash) and its sexy full capacitive touch screen display. There’s nothing more notable specs on this phone except the basics that are usually built in a Froyo device. Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 is free at MySuperPlan 999, and Globe is offering free 30 days of SuperSurf once you signed up for the Plan.

Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830

And if you want the feel and looks of Apple’s iPhone 4, the Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 could be a another choice. Though it doesn’t exactly resemble the build of the iPhone 4, the price for its decent specs and features should be in consideration. Available for free at Globe MySuperPlan 1799 and also comes with free 30 days of SuperSurf – the Galaxy Ace runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo) and is powered by an 800 MHz ARM 11 CPU and Adreno 200 GPU in a MSM7227 Qualcomm chipset. It also has 158 MB internal storage, wireless connectivity support, TouchWiz 3.0, and 5MP camera with auto-focus and LED Flash.

Huawei Ideos S7

Globe’s new Tablet offering in addition to Samsung Galaxy Tab is Huawei Ideos S7 which is free at Plan 999 and like with the other new devices, it also comes with free 30-day trial of SuperSurf. Ideos S7 is a 7-inch entry-level Éclair tablet powered by 768 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and can offer 720p HD video playback on its 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, on top of its GSM voice support. And oh, it does have a front-facing camera, too!



So which deal you’re interested in?

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Samsung Galaxy S II and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab II: A Quick Glimpse

Few hours more to go before this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC 2011) in Barcelona, and we’re about to expect new product announcements from different mobile phone companies in the world – one of which is from the Korean company, Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S II

Interestingly, images of Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy Tab successors have been leaked to the web ahead of the MWC – and what makes it more exciting is the fact that Samsung confirmed officially the existence of its next flagship smartphone and tablet.

Samsung Galaxy S II

The Galaxy S will have a younger sibling called Samsung Galaxy S II and what we learned so far, will tout a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED WVGA display, 24 Mbps HSPA + Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS (High-Speed), 8MP camera with full HD video recording, gyro sensor, and will weigh around 116g and only measures 8.49mm thick (quite less broader than the first Galaxy S). Samsung Galaxy S II will run on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), obviously no doubt for that!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab II (left and right-most)

The much bigger Samsung Galaxy Tab II will showcase new refreshes to its predecessor including 8PM camera, a presumably dual-core CPU at 1 GHz, 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution, and like the Motorola Xoom – it will run on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).



We’ll look at the official press release during the MWC to confirm complete specs of Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab II, so just stay tuned for more updates.



Update: Samsung Galaxy S II Gets Official

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The Nokia Windows Phone 7 Concept Hit the Web

As previously announced, Nokia and Microsoft entered into a “strategic alliance” to redefine the smartphone market with Nokia’s new handsets to run on Windows Phone 7.



Everyone of us are excited to see what the new merger have in store, particularly with the design of the devices – but it looks like it had already been conceptualized. Our friends at Engadget got some newsworthy photo of what is said to be the concept of Nokia Windows Phone 7 handsets. Without further ado, check it out after the break.

Could the very first Nokia phone running Windows Phone 7 looks similar with what you’re seeing above? Beat that! Soon, we’ll know – but for now, I can say that it feels no copycat on hardware and at your first glance you can easily predict it’s made by Nokia. And power it on will reveal it’s the Windows Phone 7 interface. Exciting! I wish Nokia won’t disappoint us with the final hardware specs. Really! [via]

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Nokia Handsets to Run Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 OS

Every hint of partnership possibilities between Nokia and Microsoft just started from a previously leaked memo three days ago in which the current CEO of the Finnish mobile maker, Stephen Elop - a former Microsoft executive went on suggesting that his company is “standing on a burning platform” and that they have to decide a radical “change of behavior”.

The metaphorical memo was an indication of a possibility that somehow Nokia would either use Google’s Android OS or Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 platform.

With a steady decline of its Symbian platform that Android even surpassed its sales in the last quarter of previous year, Nokia has to rethink its strategy in the competition. The Meego project could probably redefine Nokia’s position in the Smartphone market, but with the swift development of its rivals’ mobile ecosystem – it could just leave them further and further behind.



Citing the final words of the said memo, Nokia’s CEO said:

We are working on a path forward -- a path to rebuild our market leadership. When we share the new strategy on February 11, it will be a huge effort to transform our company. But, I believe that together, we can face the challenges ahead of us. Together, we can choose to define our future.

And now is the day to learn that “new strategy” of Nokia. The Finnish mobile maker, together with Microsoft, announced its plans for a broader strategic partnership that will combine both its strengths to build a new global mobile ecosystem. It couldn’t be a big surprise that Nokia selected Microsoft over Google. The two companies actually reached an agreement back in 2009 regarding the development of a mobile version of MS Office suite to work on Nokia phones.



Though both companies still have to finalize the partnership, here are among those interesting information we got what Nokia and Microsoft will be working ahead:



• Nokia will adopt Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.

• Nokia will help drive and define the future of Windows Phone. Nokia will contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.

• Nokia and Microsoft will closely collaborate on development, joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.

• Bing will power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter will provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.

• Nokia Maps will be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience.

• Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements will make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.

• Microsoft development tools will be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.

• Microsoft will continue to invest in the development of Windows Phone and cloud services so customers can do more with their phone, across their work and personal lives.

• Nokia’s content and application store will be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.



Here's a video featuring Nokia CEO Stephen Elop and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer while they announced the partnership at a press conference during the Nokia Strategy and Financial Briefing today.







Now, we don’t know yet what could be Nokia’s plan for the on-going MeeGo project or if they will even let Symbian slowly head towards extinction. Surely, we’ll know. Stay tuned!

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HP TouchPad, the First webOS Tablet in History: Full Specs and Features Unveiled

This is going to be another Tablet PC to consider in your buying list, folks. What they are yelling as “Topaz” turns out to be the HP TouchPad, a 9.7-inch slate from the merger Hewlett Packard and Palm.

From HP’s “Think Beyond” event in San Francisco, unveiled is the first tablet to run on webOS platform called TouchPad. It comes with decent specs that indeed getting itself ready for a battle with Apple’s iPad, or with the soon-to-be-released BlackBerry PlayBook from RIM, and the first Honeycomb slate – the Motorola Xoom.

HP TouchPad

Powered by a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor, the TouchPad will run on webOS 3.0 with what is said to be a “vibrant 9.7-inch diagonal flush capacitive multitouch display”at 1024 x 768 pixels. Exciting features the TouchPad brings include its ability to transfer a website (HP touch-to-share), SMS, multi-media files, and even phone calls to HP’s latest smartphones – the Pre 3 and Veer. Though like the first gen iPad, this slate doesn’t come with rear camera; however, it flaunts a 1.3 MP front-facing camera for video-calling and conferencing.



You may check out HP TouchPad Full Specs and Features after the break.

• HP webOS 3.0


• 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 processor


• 9.7-inch diagonal XGA capacitive, multitouch screen with a vibrant, 18-bit color, 1,024 x 768 resolution display


• 1GB RAM


• 16GB or 32GB internal storage


• Support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content


• 1.3 front-facing camera


• 3G/4G


• Wi-Fi, 802.11 b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication


• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support


• Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio


• GPS, A-GPS (3G only)


• Micro-USB


• Accelerometer, gyroscope


• 6,300 mAh battery, Built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging


• 740 g


• 7.54 x 9.53 x 0.54-inch

HP says the TouchPad is scheduled for release comes summer and prices and availability will be announced later. Surely we'll let you know... For the meantime, do share your comments below.

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Download Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate (RC)

Microsoft has already pushed the beta iteration of its popular web browser to the next stage of development.

Internet Explorer 9 release candidate or IE9 RC is now available for download for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users. IE9 RC supports both 32 and 64-bit versions of the Windows platform.

By downloading and using Internet Explorer 9, you would be able to experience new features like Pinning of sites, Jump Lists, Tear-off tabs and Windows Aero-snap, and among others optimized seamlessly with Windows 7.

You can download IE9 RC from the links below, but before you do that – make sure to check some of its features and hardware requirements listed from the beta release. Don’t forget to let us know your personal experience of the new IE version in the comment section below.



Download Links:



Windows 7 (x86 version)

Windows 7 (x64 version)

Windows Vista (x86 version)

Windows Vista (x64 version)

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