Apple iPad 2 in the Flesh!

It didn’t take so long for the iPad 2 to arrive on Cebu Tech Blogger’s crib after this tablet from the Cupertino tech giant hit the Philippine shores the other day.



I’m really glad Apple didn’t let us wait too long, at least here in the Philippines where the first-gen iPad took 9 months on its journey since the official release in the west. Not a big deal anymore, though. Not really.



Now I have it here, CTB readers! And should you have any plans of rushing to your favorite Apple store, take time first to look some of the unboxing photos after the break.

So there you got it. By the way, this is just the Wi-Fi only version of iPad 2 and the one which supports 3G functionalities looks no different except that black 3G antenna located at the rear portion of the tablet. Full review soon, so just stay tuned!

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HTC Desire S Launched in Philippines, Priced at Php 27K

HTC Desire S, the successor and updated version of the popular HTC Desire from the Taiwan-based smartphone maker has been launched here in the Philippines, officially.

HTC Desire S

With HTC Sense interface, this Gingerbread smartphone features a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display and a combined power of the 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon processor and Adreno 205 GPU. Though having the same 1 GHz processor inside as of its predecessor, the Desire S comes with an upgraded memory of 768MB. The Desire S is a little bit lighter than its older buddy, has a new sleek design in the outside, sans those buttons in the lower front landscape. First look of HTC Desire S after the break, together with the notable specs.







Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread

3.7 inches S-LCD touchscreen @ 480 x 800 pixels

1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon Processor

Adreno 205 GPU

1.1GB internal storage

up to 32GB on microSD

768MB RAM, 512 MB ROM

HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2 Mbps

Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

720p video recording

5MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash

VGA color fixed focus front camera

GPS with aGPS support

1450 mAh Li-Ion battery



The HTC Desire S is now available at all authorized resellers here in the Philippines at a suggested retail price of Php 27,000. Smart Communications is also said to offer the Desire S for free at Plan 2000.

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iPad 2 Philippines Now Available at Apple Store Online

Not much of a surprise, because we are all expecting this. And if you line up this Friday in your nearest Apple reseller we’ve listed, and isn’t lucky enough to get even a single iPad 2 – don’t worry.

click to enlarge

Philippine online Apple Store has just been updated to include iPad 2 models in the list. You can now order the iPad 2 online (both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G versions, black and white) just by hitting this link. Prices are just the same as initially predicted. That is:



16GB WiFi – Php23, 990

32GB WiFi – Php28, 990

64GB WiFi – Php33, 990



16GB 3G + WiFi – Php30, 990

32GB 3G + WiFi – Php35, 990

64GB 3G + WiFi – Php40, 990



Items ship in 1-2 weeks for free. Now at least that leaves you another choice, yet comfortable way to shop for iPad 2.



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Samsung Galaxy S2 Released in South Korea, Available in 120 Countries from Early May

Remember Samsung Galaxy S2? It’s the younger sibling yet slimmer and faster than the original Galaxy S smart phone we’ve first seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona back in February.

Claimed for the record as the slimmest smart phone, Samsung Galaxy S2 (or S II) made its way to hitting stores (mobile carriers to be exact) in South Korea today. And the Korean company says the Gingerbread device will also be available in 120 countries from early May. Fair enough, mind you. And since the Philippines is just within the same Asian territory, and given the strong penetration of Samsung handsets in the country – expect to see Sammy’s 2011 flagship phone on local shelves next month.



Samsung, being the second-largest mobile phone maker in the world, aims to sell at least 10 million units of Galaxy S2 after its release today. And because of the tight competition, the S2 will cost 847,000 won ($786) through SK's domestic mobile operators. The official price is 100,000 won less as compared to its predecessor’s original price last year.



Here in the Philippines, the Samsung Galaxy S was originally priced at Php 32,995 through Globe Telecom prepaid offering. If Samsung offers the Galaxy S2 here in the country with almost the same price cut with that in SK, then we can expect Galaxy S2 to be priced between Php 28 and 29K. That’s Php 4K less compared to the original price of Galaxy S based on current ex-rate.



Anyway, just stay tuned here as we’ll keep you posted once we got the official word from some of Sammy's friends here in the country regarding the Philippine launch of this yet another Android phone. [via]

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Trailer Hit Online!

Fan of the fictional young wizard? So am I.

The first trailer of the much anticipated 2nd part of the final movie installment of Harry Potter series has now been posted online, in your favorite video sharing site YouTube as well as in iTunes. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will premiere in theaters comes July 15th. And unlike the initial adventure of the final series, the second part of the movie will be released not just in 2D, but also in 3D and IMAX formats. Exciting! Hit the video after the break for your viewing pleasure.

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Intel Intros 2nd-Gen Core Processors (Sandy Bridge) in Cebu

Intel Philippines introduced recently its 2nd-Generation Core-i Series of Processors codenamed Sandy Bridge.

Held at Marriott Hotel in Cebu City last April 12th, the event showcased several laptop lineups and desktop motherboards from different OEMs, all powered by Sandy Bridge. First unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas back in January 3, the Sandy Bridge is the successor to the Nehalem micro-architecture based on 32nm silicon process.



Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 Processors: Nehalem vs. Sandy Bridge

With previous micro-architecture Nehalem, Intel marketed the Core-i series of processors as Core-i3, Core-i5, and Core-i7, with representation of the performance level of each processor. Each processor is distinguished for entry-level (Core i3), mainstream (Core i5), or high-end (Core i7) consumer markets. Trying to prevent confusions between different level of users, Intel kept all existing brands from Nehalem in naming the new sets of processors based on Sandy Bridge micro-architecture. That is, we’ll be seeing Sandy Bridge processors on the shelves branded either as Core-i3, Core-i5, or Core-i7. One should note however, that all Sandy Bridge processors are technically built using a 32nm silicon die for both the CPU and integrated GPU.



Intel brings most of the common features of all Nehalem-based processors to Sandy Bridge like the integrated memory controller and DDR3 support, Turbo Boost Technology (only for Core-i5 and i7), Hyper-Threading Technology, and all other features built to optimize overall speed and performance.

Right: Germyn Wong, Market Development Manager for Intel Phils.

Jermyn Wong, Market Development Manager for Intel Microelectronics Philippines, Inc. did several demos during the event, showing the new capabilities and features of computing device powered by Sandy Bridge, particularly the laptops. From the demos, the Sandy Bridge represents not just about speed and performance; but also the seamless visual experience features that comes with it. Sandy Bridge was designed with new and stunning visual experience in mind for today’s lifestyle. Among the new visual features built into the Sandy Bridge on top of the processor graphics integrated into the chip include:

• Intel Quick Sync Video – fast conversion video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring


• Intel Clear Video HD Technology – visual quality and color fidelity enhancements for HD playback and immersive web browsing


• Intel InTru 3D – stereoscopic 3D Blu-ray playback in full 1080p resolution over HDMI 1.4


• Intel Wireless Display (WiDi 2.0) – beam movie and video contents to big screens HDTV


• Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000 – GPU which can outpace lower-end discreet graphics card performance in mainstream and casual gaming


• Intel Insider – unlock a world of premium HD movies and entertainment with your PC

The Cougar Point Issue is not a Problem Anymore



In late January, Intel found a flaw on the Sandy Bridge chipset codenamed Cougar Point in which the company issued a recall of all 67-series motherboards. Jermyn Wong reiterated that the hardware issue discovered didn’t point to the Sandy Bridge processor in any way, but only in the chipset built in the motherboards (You can read more about the story here). Wong added that Intel has already stopped the production of the flawed chipsets, and that new chipsets are already out in the market with a silicon fix. That means there’s less or nothing more to worry about the Cougar Point issue.



Availability



Laptop and desktop computers powered by Sandy Bridge are already available locally. In fact, I had spotted boxed desktop processors at the Gaisano-Interpace computer store prior to the Intel event here in Cebu.

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White iPhone 4 Philippines, Price and Availability

Now that the release of White iPhone 4 tomorrow is more than just imminent, I’m sure some of loyal Filipino CTB readers would ask about the pricing and availability of the phone here in the Philippines.

Though we can expect grey markets can take their hands on the device ahead of Globe Telecom, the country’s official iPhone carrier, it’s not really a big question how much the Albino flavor would be priced compared to its black counterpart.



Globe Telecom prices for the black version of the iPhone 4 started at Php 37,499 for the 16GB and Php 43,699 for the 32GB. Both 16GB and 32GB versions are free under Plan 3799 and Plan 5000, respectively. And since both white and black iPhone 4 have the same specs and features, and nothing really changed inside rather than just the skin of the phone – we can expect Globe prices for White iPhone 4 to be just the same as the original ones.



The main concern really is the availability. We can recall that the original iPhone 4 started shipping in the US and other selected European countries in June 24 last year; and just less than 2 months later, Globe Telecom started accepting pre-orders of the device. On September 26th of the same year, Globe then launched the iPhone 4 here in the country – 3 months to be exact from the US release.



If Apple and Globe Telecom follow the same release roadmap of the black iPhone 4, then we can expect the White iPhone 4 to land here late July this year. But IMHO, that’s too much longer to wait and that won’t make sense. And given that the number of iPhone users here in the country continues to grow – my wild guess is that the White iPhone 4 will be available here in the Philippines later next month or early June. There’s one thing I’m sure about, though. The White iPhone 4 will come in the right purse. Not just an old black iPhone 3G bag. Perhaps, a new white bag with "iPhone 4" in the label. Am I right, Globe?



Who knows there’s even a better surprise? Of course it’s only Apple and Globe Telecom who can tell. Surely we’ll try to uncover that, so just stay tuned!

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Apple to Launch White iPhone 4 Tomorrow; Philippines, Sooner…

Apple officially announced today that the much-anticipated white version of the iPhone 4 will be available beginning tomorrow, April 28th.

Apple will have a simultaneous release of its “innovative smart phone” in selected countries in the world comes Thursday - including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the US. The Philippines won’t have the official release just yet; however, Apple says the White iPhone 4 will be available to many more countries around the world soon.



Like its darker sibling, the White iPhone 4 will have a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model, with a new two year contract through the Apple Store or the official carrier in specific locations.



After 9 months of complaining regarding its existence and after several leaks that it’s indeed coming into the wild - at least for now, we finally have it. Just that we have been teased longer enough.J

[via]

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List of Apple Stores Selling iPad 2 in the Philippines

Now that the April 29th iPad 2 release in the Philippines is official, you probably would be thinking where to buy an iPad 2.

Certainly you’ll get it online (through Philippine Apple Online Store) or from several Apple premium resellers like Digital Hub and Power Mac Center in Luzon, but which other stores are selling the tablet here in the Philippines, particularly those in remote cities?



Below is a guide listing of local Apple stores we expect to sell iPad 2 on the launch date. I included contact numbers of these stores so you can give them a call first to confirm the availability. I’m expecting inventory will hold up on the first day or two, so I suggest you visit your nearest store as early as you can, depending on mall opening hours.



NCR / Manila area:



Digital Hub Robinsons Galleria

Digital Hub Robinsons Place Manila

Digital Hub Market Market

Digital Hub Contact No: (+632) 5714447



Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3

Tel. no. for Solutions desk: 729 - 7088

Text line: (+63917) 580-6852



Power Mac Center SM North Edsa

Tel. no.: (632) 441-1881 to 82

Text line: (+63917) 515-539



Power Mac Center Trinoma

Tel. no.: (632) 901-3981

Text line: (+63917) 515-2671



Power Mac Center Megamall

Tel. no.: (632) 633-7452 / 633-7454

Text line: (+63917) 512-9669



Power Mac Center Mall of Asia

Tel. no.: (632) 556-0791

Text line: (+63917) 515-5389



A Shop Podium

A Shop Eastwood Mall

A Shop Contact No: (632) 9140915 / 9140143



iStudio Shangrila Mall, Tel: (632) 6343103

iStudio Bonifacio High Street, (632) 8562395

iStudio Vmall, (632) 7258641

iStudio Gateway Mall, (632) 9125948

iStudio SM Manila

iStudio ADMU Campus Store



Switch Alabang Town Center, (632) 842-0794 / 217-069

Switch Marquee Mall, (045) 304-0797 / 217-0692

Switch Park Square 1, (632) 752-7365 / 217-0689

Switch Ayala TechnoHub, (632) 794-9632 / 794-9628 / 217-0690



Visayas / Mindanao Region



PowerHub Chimes Mall Davao, (6382) 225-8997 / (6382) 225-8997

iStore Ayala Cebu, (032) 233-1310, 415-1907

iStore SM Cebu, (032) 236-4150, 412-7339

iStore SM Bacolod, (034) 707-0010

iStore SM Dumaguete, (035) 421-1988



The above list is consists of Apple premium and authorized resellers throughout the country, but you can also check the retail outlets below.



Accent Micro Festival Mall, (632) 771-1317 / 771-0779

Accent Micro Alabang Town Center, (632) 408-6509 / 807-4385

Electroworld Park Square 1, (632) 8132776

Silicon Valley SM Megamall, (632) 6331723

Silicon Valley SM North Edsa, (632) 4411385



Here in Cebu, I got a word iCenter in CrossRoads will also have it – but no confirmation yet if the tablet will also be available right on the launch date. Will just keep you posted.

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Apple iPad 2 Available in Philippines this Friday, Officially!

Never mind the previous rumor, because it’s already official! Apple just announced today that the iPad 2 will be available in the Philippines this Friday.

iPad 2 with Smart Cover

Though Japan will have an earlier release (April 28), the Philippines will join Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE in the April 29th release of the much anticipated 2nd-generation iPad tablet. All models are available in the said Asian countries (Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G; both black and white versions); except for China in which the Wi-Fi only iPad 2 will be available comes May 6.



Prices of all iPad 2 models are just the same with that in the US; so here in the Philippines – expect our early estimates to be accurate. That is:



16GB WiFi – Php23, 990

32GB WiFi – Php28, 990

64GB WiFi – Php33, 990



16GB 3G + WiFi – Php30, 990

32GB 3G + WiFi – Php35, 990

64GB 3G + WiFi – Php40, 990



It’s really nice to see Apple decided not to delay the release here in the country at a later date like what they did with the first-gen iPad. So anyone buying? [via]



Update 1: List of Philippine Apple stores selling iPad 2.

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ZTE V9 is Android Froyo Tablet from Smart Communications, Only Costs Php 12, 795

Aiming to grow the number of internet users in the Philippines, Smart Communications launched recently a low-cost 7-inch tablet device called ZTE V9.

ZTE V9 Tablet

Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS, the ZTE V9 is bundled with the telco’s wireless broadband service, Smartbro. Initially being offered for prepaid subscription, Smart says subscribers have an option to pay the tablet through a 6-month installment at 0% interest. The tablet is priced at Php 12, 795 – which I’m thinking one of the cheapest tablets already out in the local market. It comes with Smartbro prepaid SIM with 5 days of unlimited web surfing, and through the prepaid account - users can register either with Smartbro’s Unlisurf, per minute, or all-text packages.



Though there’s no word what’s inside this tablet, the ZTE V9 is said to feature a 3 MP camera, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity options, expandable memory of up to 32GB, and of course the apps Android 2.2 brings. I’ll try to uncover the entire specs of this tablet so just stay tuned for more updates.



We can recall that PLDT (owner of Smart Communications) also launched another 7-inch Android tablet later last year, the TelPad, which is also bundled with PLDT myDSL broadband internet; and I’m wondering if anyone of you here have already tried it?



If you have something to say about the ZTE V9 tablet, just hit the comment section below.



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Sony S1 and S2 Honeycomb Tablet Announced (with Photos and Video)

For Sony, it’s probably better late than never. Or are they?

With so many tablet devices announced this year, Sony just made an official announcement in Tokyo, Japan today that they are also developing their own tablet devices.



Codenamed S1 and S2, these Sony Tablets will run on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) and will come in different target markets. S1 which will flaunt a 9.4-inch display is said to be optimized for rich media entertainment, while S2 is for both mobile communication and entertainment. The latter’s design features two 5.5-inch display that can be folded making it more portable. It actually reminds me of its smartphone look-a-like in the name of Kyocera Echo.

Left: S1, Right: S2

Sony S1

Sony S2

Sony says the two tablets will become available in the global markets comes fall 2011; however, no official announcement made regarding the full specs and features inside except for the Tegra 2 SoC that will power both tablets, its form-factor, and that it’s centered to leveraging several Sony services like Qriocity and  the PlayStation Network. More on S1 and S2 tablets soon so just stay tuned for more updates. You may hit the trailer video after the break. [via]

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Olympus Showcased Tough Cameras this Summer

Olympus invited Cebu Tech Blogger on its recent resort tour at the Maribago Blue Water Resort in which they showcased the company’s Tough-series of cameras.

Dubbed as “Olympus Tough Summer”, the event first took place at the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa on April 23, 2011, and a similar event was held at the Maribago Blue Water Resort a day after. The two separate events were organized in a beach setting as it suited local and foreign tourists trying the Olympus Tough cameras performance and capabilities in an underwater scene.

"A resort tour is very suited to the Olympus Tough cameras, since these are the only cameras that are waterproof and virtually damage-proof as well," noted Alex Bonilla, product manager of Olympus digital cameras.

For those CTB readers who are new to Olympus cameras, the Tough-series are actually designed as waterproof, shockproof, and crushproof. Being a camera-maker headquartered in Japan, which has a predominantly temperate climate with average winter temperature as low as 5.1 degree Celsius, the Olympus Tough cameras are also designed to be freeze-proof (though the company also designed such type of cameras for other low-temperature regions).

Among those cameras showcased during the event include the Olympus Tough 8010, 6020, and 3000. These cameras can take great photos on land and also under water up to 33 feet. It can fall from as high as seven feet and even get frozen up to -10 degree Celsius, yet still works fine as expected.

Guests and tourists were able to try the Tough cameras in which the photos can be printed for free, while others decided buying the units directly from the booth located at the beach. Olympus said such models of its Tough cameras are available in Colours Digital Foto, the company’s valued dealer in the Visayas region.



The event also served as a pre-launch of the newest models of Olympus Tough cameras, the TG 310, TG 610, and TG 805. The new models will hit local stores this month of May, so keep your eyes on the shelves whenever you visit your favorite camera and gadget stores this summer.



More of these new Olympus Tough cameras here in CTB, so just stay tuned!

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iPad 2 Available in Philippines this Friday, April 29?

Oh, some tidbits of the iPad 2 release here in the Philippines continue buzzing the web.

I was actually informed by a friend of mine last Saturday when the first report came in to verify if the news is legit or not. But since I had limited web access in the province while having my Holy Week vacation, I wasn’t able to update this blog about the news. My apology for that, again! J

Apple iPad 2

The rumor is Apple will apparently include the country on its promised release of iPad 2 this April. If you can recall, iPad 2 was officially announced in the US back in March 2 and it went on sale in March 25th in 25 more selected countries, excluding Japan (due to the series of disasters in the region). And from the March 25th release, Apple also announced that the tablet will be available to Asian countries this month, though from the official press release - only Hong Kong, Korea, and Singapore will have it. No words from the Cupertino company regarding the iPad 2 launch here in the Philippines.



It turned out the premiere Apple reseller in the country, the Power Mac Center, apparently posted exciting news on its Facebook fan page (though the plug had been removed already). The iPad 2 is said to hit the local Apple stores this Friday, April 29th! The news seems to be true after receiving personally a separate info from a friend over at another local Apple store here in Cebu that they are also expecting the second-gen iPad this Friday, or if not, by the first week of May.



If you guys are waiting for this tablet, just hold your breath for a while, because we’ll let you know once the availability here in the country becomes official. I’ll just wish the entire inventory won’t really hold up in a day or two after the release, so you’ll be accommodated. And if you’ve been throwing your wild guesses how much the tablet will be priced, so be it. Just don't make it too much. J But if Apple follow the same pricing of the first-gen iPad in the Philippines, like what they did in the US and other regions, we can expect the following price schedule as we've talked here before.



16GB WiFi – Php23, 990

32GB WiFi – Php28, 990

64GB WiFi – Php33, 990



16GB 3G + WiFi – Php30, 990

32GB 3G + WiFi – Php35, 990

64GB 3G + WiFi – Php40, 990



And expect grey markets to bring down their expensive prices as well. Right? Just stay tuned for more updates.



Update 1: iPad 2 Philippine Launch this Friday, Official!

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Untethered iOS 4.3.2 Jailbreak Released, Still No iPad 2 Support

The iPhone Dev Team (courtesy of @i0nic) updated the Redsn0w tool to jailbreak iOS 4.3.2 untethered.

Few days ago, Apple pushed out a minor firmware update (iOS 4.3.2) for iDevices to fix several known issues particularly the data roaming bug discovered on iPad 2. The said firmware update resulted into making Redsn0w 0.9.6RC9 only capable for a tethered jailbreak. However, the Dev Team says Apple didn’t have a chance to fix the hole on iOS 4.3.1; thus @i0nic ported his code over to iOS 4.3.2 kernel and updated the Redsn0w tool making it available today.



Like Redsn0w 0.9.6RC9 which can jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 untethered, Redsn0w 0.9.6RC14 can also jailbreak untethered the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM), iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, and the first-gen iPad. Sorry iPad 2 users, still no support for your devices though.



As usual, iPhone unlockers should stay away from Redsn0w 0.9.6RC14 and should only update through a custom iOS 4.3.2 firmware using the latest versions of Pwnage Tool (coming next week) or the Sn0wbreeze. Just to make sure you won’t be upgrading your iPhone’s baseband, which until now has no software-based unlock solution, at least for basebands that comes with iOS 4.3. [via]



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Smartbro's Broadbandest Blowout Gives You HP AIO Printer and Free Post Paid Plan

I can recall the first time I saw the advert of this promo was just last month in the huge billboard located near the old Mactan- Lapu-lapu bridge here in Cebu.

I’m just wondering if you guys already knew about it, also because of the strong Adwords campaign conducted by Smart for the said promo. You probably have noticed the adverts appearing on popular local tech sites.

Anyway, Smartbro’s Broadbandest Blowout is Smart’s latest attempt to attract new subscribers. Those who will open and activate new accounts for Canopy Plan 999, WiMax Plan 999, and WiMax Plan 1995 will receive freebies including FREE 1-month subscription of broadband internet, an All-in-one HP printer, and a free postpaid Plan 300 good for 6 months. Back in February, Smart was just giving away a single AIO HP Printer for every purchase of any broadband plans. Seems like they are offering something better this summer, which is definitely a great choice particularly to those who have plans of getting a new connection. The promo will run until June 4th, and I guess that would be the best broadband internet deal you’ll get so far these days. What do you think? [via]

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Cebu Tech Blogger is Back, Again!

Phew! I’ve been quite in the past couple of days. But of course there’s always a reason.

I don’t actually hire writers to buffer stash of posts for future publishing. Everything published here is crafted through my own thoughts and opinions, and I do it during my spare time (mostly after work) except when someone stumbled for guest posting.

Anyway, I was away for a while on this online tech diary of mine for health reasons. I was advised to rest. There’s the eyestrain (I need to change my glasses, most probably), I might go for another therapy again this summer (for the third time) because of my back problem, and unexpectedly I was sick last weekend while at the beach. Silly. Thanks, there’s that health insurance to cover everything. This post won’t make any sense, I guess, but for those who keep on asking where the heck I’ve been hiding and to those who missed my daily tech updates, I’m here though – alive and still kicking! Now you know. J



That’s my intro again to break the silence, and it’s now time for the tech updates. Lots of tech updates, mind you.



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Nokia W7, Nokia W8: First Windows Phones?

You’re familiar with the Nokia and Microsoft deal, right? And you’ve seen those first mock ups that hit the web following the news?

Those are actually not too enticing though, at least for the hardware design, not until our favorite news portals continue buzzing with what apparently are the first Nokia phones to run Windows Phone 7 – the Nokia W7 and Nokia W8. The name may sounds familiar for you, knowing Nokia’s naming conventions of its devices shifted 3 years ago in which by then, every single number or two are preceded by single letter. If you can recall, what we have from Nokia these days are C-series, X-series, E-series, and N-series handsets. If Nokia W7 and W8 come to reality, then we have W-series that will be added to the line-up. Cool!

Left: Nokia X7, Right: Nokia N8 (with Window Phone 7 UI)

Back to Windows Phone 7, the Nokia W7 and W8 are said to be Nokia’s first to run Microsoft’s latest mobile OS. What’s more from the Finnish mobile maker’s habitual talker is the hardware design of the W7 and W8 which apparently would resemble, if not perfectly the same, with that of Nokia X7 and N8, respectively. Claimed being tested already within Nokia’s headquarter, the W7 is speculated to be the first to market this year or early 2012. Let’s see how this rumor goes… [via]

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Nokia X7: Specs, Features, Photos, and Videos

This one is different, really. With the resemblance of Nokia N8 or Nokia E7, the nifty design of the Nokia X7 reminds me of the fictional Transformer movie.



Or if TRON Legacy would have another remake, I’d bet the X7 could be the best hacking device of choice, against all other Nokia handsets available to date.

Anyway, the Nokia X7 is the second Symbian Anna smartphone announced together with Nokia E6. If the latter targets business people, the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused Smartphone. It flaunts a 4-inch AMOLED display (the first 4” in the entertainment phone category) and an 8 MP camera capable of recording HD videos. The camera though is fixed-focused like the E7, which is quite disappointing at least for those who prefer using an auto-focus camera. The X7 is powered by the same 680 MHz CPU and 256 MB RAM as we’ve seen on Symbian^3-based Nokia E7. And since the X7 was designed with game enthusiasts in mind, the handset will come pre-loaded with the popular Galaxy on Fire HD and Asphalt 5 HD games.



Nokia X7 Specs



Symbian Anna OS

680 MHz ARM 11 processor

Broadcom BCM 2727 GPU

4-inch AMOLED screen, 360 x 640 pixels

256 RAM, 1GB ROM

8GB memory, external microSD up to 32GB

8 MP camera with fixed focus and dual LED flash

720p HD video recording @ 25 fps

GPRS/EDGE

HSDPA 10.2Mbps, HSUPA 2.0Mbps

WiFi 802.11, b/g/n

GPS, a-GPS

Bluetooth 3.0

microUSB 2.0

3.5mm AV connector

FM Radio Tuner

1300 mAh Li-Ion battery



Check out the Nokia X7 photos and intro video below for your viewing pleasure.

Update: July 4, 2011

Nokia X7 is now available in Philippines for Php 21,275.



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Nokia E6: Specs, Features, Photos, and Videos

One of the first two new Symbian Anna smartphones announced earlier today by the Finnish mobile maker is the Nokia E6.

The Nokia E6 is touted as yet another business-centric smartphone with access to MS Exchange, MS Communicator Mobile, and MS SharePoint. The E6 is basically a refresh of Nokia E71 and E72, with intent for higher screen resolution, higher memory, and better connectivity options. Featuring a full QWERTY keypad, the Nokia E6 also show off a 2.46-inch capacitive touchscreen display for faster navigation and operation.

Though you can opt to use the QWERTY keypad for faster text-entry, the latter would be good enough in most touch functions like launching apps from the home screen. Available in silver or black, the E6 looks compact by design as Nokia claims donning premium materials such as glass and stainless steel.



Nokia E6 Specs



Symbian Anna OS

680 MHz ARM 11 CPU, 2D/3D Graphics HW

2.46-inch LCD Capacitive Touch Display, 480 x 640 pixels

Full QWERTY keypad

256 RAM, 1GB ROM

8GB memory, external microSD up to 32GB

8MP FF camera with dual LED flash

VGA front-facing camera

720p HD video recording @ 25 fps

GPRS/EDGE

HSDPA 10.2Mbps, HSUPA 2.0Mbps

WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

GPS, a-GPS

Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP

microUSB 2.0

3.5mm AV connector

FM Radio

115.5 x 59 x 10.5 mm

133 g

1500 mAh Li-Ion battery



Nokia E6 will start shipping this Q2 and expect to see this phone on local shelves on the same quarter. Check out photos and video after the break.

Update: June 17, 2011

Nokia E6 is now available in Philippines for Php 17,820.



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Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 Announced, Two New Smartphones to First Run Symbian “Anna”

Nokia just announced two new Symbian-powered smartphones, the Nokia E6 and Nokia X7, in addition to its current lineup (the latest ones actually) consists of Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7, and Nokia C6-01.

Left: Nokia X7, Right: Nokia E6

We’ve already seen the E6 and X7 from several leaks in the past, thanks to those insiders for teasing us. But it seems like prepping the launch of these new handsets is almost done that Nokia unveiled it today, officially, including its availability.



One of the main highlights of the E6 and X7 announcement is the renewed version of Nokia’s Symbian OS, which is now known as Symbian Anna. Sweet, huh? Nokia says Anna has a revamped interface, new icons, enhanced text input, faster web browser, and refreshed Ovi Maps. Symbian Anna will also be made available on newly shipping Nokia N8, E7, C7, and C6-01 devices; and those who purchased these handsets previously will receive Symbian Anna updates OTA (over-the-air), though no exact dates announced when the update is available.



Here’s a preview of Symbian Anna on Nokia X7.













Nokia E6 and X7 are expected to ship this Q2. No official pricing details here in the Philippines yet, so just stay tuned!

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Amazon to Sell Ad-Supported Kindle for $114

139-dollar Amazon Kindle? Not anymore. Amazon announced they are going to sell the Wi-Fi version of its popular eBook Reader, the Kindle, $25 less than its current price tag.

That means you can get the original $139 Kindle just for $114. But there’s a catch though. The new deal comes with “special offers” in which Amazon will display Adverts on Kindle’s UI, just in the home screen or as screen savers. In that way, the Ads definitely won’t be intrusive while reading your favorite eBook.



This ad-supported Kindle will be available on May 3rd, but you can pre-order it as early as now. No words if Amazon will release the same ad-supported units of its 3G counterpart as it’s still priced at $189. Sounds a good deal though for the Wi-Fi version and that leaves you a choice. What ‘ya think?

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Norton 360 Version 5.0 Unpacked

Finally, the latest version of Norton 360 sent to me last week for review is already here. But before I publish the full review of the software, let’s check first what you’ll get in the package.

By the way, what I have here is the Norton 360 Version 5.0. Basically, it’s within the same pack as the Norton Internet Security 2011: there's the CD installer and license product key, enclosed in a shiny Norton cover with detailed product information printed on it.

To give you a quick preview, Norton 360 is actually a more advanced or should I say an upgrade of NIS 2011 – with add-on features built to it that are missing on the latter. One thing I'm excited about is whether the recent anti-malware comparison test conducted by the folks at Dennis Technology Labs is really true or not. Just in case you have no idea yet, Norton 360 Version 5.0 is claimed to achieve 100% accuracy score at least on defending system threats. Check out page 4 of this test report.



Unlike NIS 2011 I previously installed, Norton 360 supports up to 3 PCs in a single purchase; could be a better deal for a true value for money, as far as maximum number of installations is concerned. Although, both have an option good either for 1 or 3 installations, of course with price variations. Norton 360 works in Windows, and if your system’s hardware setup qualifies for NIS 2011 installation – and so with Norton 360 Version 5.0.



I still have to test this anti-virus on my PC in a week or two prior to publishing the final review. As usual, I’ll keep you posted.



Thanks to Symantec's PR here in the Philippines for sending this in. J

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Samsung to Launch Smart TV in Philippines comes April 12th

The revolutionary Samsung Smart TV, that we’ve never seen before will be launched officially here in the Philippines on April 12th.

Last Thursday night at the Seventh High, Bonifacio Global City - Samsung unveiled exclusively to select Philippine bloggers another innovation that will push boundaries to experiencing the new world of television entertainment.

First unveiled at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2011), the Samsung Smart TV is not just a contemporary basic television set but rather the next generation TV integrated with internet capabilities and more advanced computing abilities. It’s definitely not an oversized smart phone, but it can resemble most of its functionalities and features. There’s the intuitive user interface, the App Store, the sleek and ultra-slim design making an immersive TV experience, and among several web features.



Here’s a video featuring the Samsung Smart TV for your viewing pleasure.





Samsung Philippines invited Cebu Tech Blogger to be part of the event, but unfortunately – I didn’t make it. I wish I could next time. J I’ll talk more about the Samsung Smart TV in a day or two, so just stay tuned!

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Nokia Phone Sale Alert: Summer Heat Wave Sale

Trying to beat Samsung’s Super Sale? I guess so. J

Nokia Philippines will have a 1-week sale of selected handsets under its name this summer. Dubbed as the Summer Heat Wave Sale, the promo will run starting next Monday, April 11th until the 17th. Some handsets up for grabs include additional free or discounted units of older model, mostly Nokia 1280 as listed below.



Buy Nokia 1280 at PhP899

Buy Nokia E7, get FREE Nokia 1280 and 1800

Buy Nokia N8, get FREE Nokia 1280

Buy Nokia C7, get Nokia 1280 for PhP499 ONLY and a chance to win 50K worth Rustan's Gift Certificate

Buy Nokia X3 Touch and Type, get Nokia 1280 for PhP499 ONLY

Buy Nokia X2-01, get Nokia 1280 for P499 ONLY

Buy Nokia C3, get Nokia 1280 for P499 ONLY

Buy C3 Touch and Type less PhP500

Buy Nokia 2323 less PhP200

Buy Nokia 2330 less PhP200

Buy Nokia C1-02 less PhP200

Buy Nokia X6 8GB less P500

Buy Nokia 5230 less P200



I’m wondering though why Nokia deals those 1280 units on this promo. Perhaps it's the cheapest feature phone in the Nokia lineup we’ll see on local shelves. Clearing inventory? I’m not sure.



The sale will be available in 38 stores nationwide, including all Nokia stores and selected retail outlets. If your dream handset this summer is listed above, I think next week would be the best time to have it. So, are you buying?



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'I Love You' Virus Movie, Premieres this April

Yes, that’s true. The computer virus that hit the headlines back in 2000 will make its way to the big screens as an action-packed romantic drama.

Starring Jericho Rosales, SUBJECT: I LOVE YOU will premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival this April 30th.



The synopsis goes:

Subject: I Love You is an action-packed romantic drama, based on the destructive 'I Love You' computer virus, which spread around the globe at the turn of the millennium, shutting down computer systems at the Pentagon, Parliament and the CIA. Combining romance, drama, action and international intrigue, Subject: I Love You is ultimately the story of a young man, Victor, who will do anything to reconnect with the only woman he's ever loved - even if that means entangling himself in an international criminal investigation.

Once obtained a world record as the most virulent computer worm in Windows machines, the I LOVE YOU virus or "Love Bug" was created by a Filipino hacker from AMA Computer University back in May 4, 2000. The virus caused billions of dollars in total damage; however, the person behind it lives with no criminal record. Well, he’s lucky enough the country's e-Commerce law has not been enacted before the incident.



Back to the movie, Subject: I Love You also stars the Philippine renowned recording artist Gary Valenciano, together with other popular international artists as seen on the official trailer below.





No confirmation yet when the movie will hit local theaters, but I wish it premieres in the country comes May. So, you’re going to watch it?

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Globe Telecom Caps Broadband Internet 1GB a Day

Globe user? I guess you’d like to hear this news; but is likely not as exciting as if there’s another new promo from the Ayala-led ISP. Not unless you’re among those who will benefit from this move. J

Though NTC dropped the proposal that will allow telcos to impose bandwidth cap– don’t show off that pleasant expressions just yet. Because Globe Telecom will apparently implement 1GB-a-day data cap of its broadband internet.



For those who don’t fully understand what a 1GB-a-day bandwidth cap means, just think you can’t download more than 250 of 4MB-size MP3 songs in a day, or that means less use of torrents in downloading movies, or perhaps streaming videos. Software updates? Games and apps download? That counts, too; and you definitely have to limit one.



According to Globe, of the total bandwidth available for its broadband internet, 80% of it is consumed by what it calls “abusive users” which comprise 5% of the total number of its subscribers. That leaves the majority of users, about 95% of the total subscriber base, to take their share on the remaining 20% of data. Ouch!



Well, that actually explains one point why would Globe have to go with data capping. With more than 1 million broadband internet subscribers to date, it makes sense to consider majority of the subscribers to enjoy higher quality of internet service, I just wish it would.



Though for others it may not sound the best approach, I think it could be a better deal if Globe can provide specifics of the minimum speed they can offer, given they already adopted that 1GB data cap on its Fair Access Policy. It’s like saying, NTC has to review again its draft, and look on possible scenarios what they can ask for users on telcos imposing bandwidth capping. What do you think? [via]

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HP Slate 500 Arrives in Philippines, No Touchpad Yet [Updated]

Okay. So I sat in front of my computer table early this morning and have this tip from a reliable source of mine whom I trust ‘coz he is actually working for HP Philippines.



I got a word that the HP Slate 500 is already here in the Philippines and will be launched officially showcased (see update below) in Manila this Friday, April 8th. If you can still remember, the HP Slate 500 is a Windows 7 Tablet PC that was announced late October, last year.

HP Slate 500

Characterized by the Palo-Alto based company as the ideal tablet device for “professionals who don’t usually work at traditional desk”, what would make this slate win over other tablets is its operating system – which of course a preferable choice for those who always want working in Windows environment they are accustomed with. Of course, that will also depend on its price point, which until now I’m still waiting for my source’s updates. What we know so far is it’s priced at $799 in the US. But I’m expecting Philippine price would be cheaper due to the tight competition.



Just in case you forgot what are from within the HP Slate 500, it actually features:

• 32-bit Genuine Windows 7 Professional OS


• 1.86 GHz Intel Atom Processor Z540


• Intel SCH US15W Chipset


• 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM


• SSD Storage up to 64GB


• CD/DVD R/RW via External USB 2.0


• 8.9-inch WSVGA touchscreen display


• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500


• Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator


• Integrated 3MP Camera; Integrated VGA webcam


• HP Slate Digital Pen


• HD Audio, Integrated Stereo Speakers,


• Integrated Mic, Combo Stereo Headphone/Mic Jack


• USB 2.0


• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n


• Bluetooth 3.0


• 2-cell (30 WHr) polymer battery, with 5+ hours life

Hopefully, I can take my hands on this slate; probably when HP follows its event schedule here in Cebu, which is set on the last week of April. By the way, my source also mentioned the HP Touchpad probably won't hit the local shelves until next quarter. So that's going to be a long wait until we see that first webOS tablet. Surely, we'll let you know once we get more updates of its release. So, just stay tuned!



Update: I received another update after the said HP event in Manila earlier today and the HP Slate 500 has just been showcased, but was never launched. No, not yet in Asia-Pacific; just in the US for the time being.

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Redsn0w Untethered Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1 Released!

Finally, it’s here! The iPhone Dev Team already released Redsn0w untethered jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1, which most of us in the jailbreaking community has been waiting for.

Full credit and courtesy to Stefan Esser (Twitter handle: @i0n1c) for handing over to the Dev Team the untether exploit he discovered on Apple’s latest firmware, iOS 4.3.1.



Except for iPad 2, the latest version of Redsn0w (0.9.6RC9) is capable to jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 untethered for the following iDevices:

• iPhone 3GS


• iPhone 4 (GSM)


• iPod Touch 3G


• iPod Touch 4G


• iPad (first-gen)

For baseband unlockers, you are advised to stay away from Redsn0w and make sure not to update to stock iOS 4.3.1 firmware as it comes with a new basebands: that is 5.16.01 for iPhone 3GS and 4.10.01 for iPhone 4. Such basebands are still not unlockable with the latest version of Ultrasn0w just yet.



Redsn0w 0.9.6RC9 works both in Windows and Mac, and you can refer to the download links below.



Redsn0w 0.9.6RC9 for OS X

Redsn0w 0.9.6RC9 for Windows



[via]

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Samsung Galaxy Smartphones Super Sale, Plus Huge Discounts on Selected Samsung Handsets!

Looking for cheaper handsets this summer? Wanna taste the Android flavor on Samsung Galaxy smartphones? Here’s good news for you.

Click to enlarge

Samsung Philippines once again is offering selected models of its Galaxy line-up with discounted prices. Dubbed as the Samsung Galaxy Super Sale, up for grabs are Sammy’s flagship models we’ve seen on previous year as well as those sweeter Androids which hit the local shelves just this year. And oh, there’s the 7-incher Galaxy Tab, too – which we all know the price had been slashed Php 13K off, recently. This time however, the Tab will be available with free 1-month data plan, courtesy of Smart Communications. I wish that would be unlimited though.



You may find below your handset of choice included on the sale.



New Models:

Samsung Galaxy Tab (WiFi Only version) – Php 16,990

Samsung Galaxy Fit – Php 12,900

Samsung Galaxy S (Super Clear LCD) – Php 19,990

Samsung Galaxy Mini – Php 8,990 ; before Php 10,190

Samsung Galaxy Ace – Php 13,990 ; before Php 15,580



Old Models:

Samsung Galaxy S (Super AMOLED) – Php 24,990

Samsung Galaxy 551 – Php 11,900 ; before Php 12,990

Samsung Galaxy 5 – Php 7,990 ; before Php 9,190



Don’t like Androids? How about these entry level Samsung handsets or the E1080 feature phone below Php 1K?



Samsung Wave II – Php 15,490 ; before Php 17,490

Samsung Punch – Php 4,390 ; before Php 4,890

Samsung E1080 – Php 899 ; before Php 999

Samsung Wave 525 – Php 7,990 ; before Php 8,990

Samsung Corby WiFi – Php 4,990 ; before Php 5,890

Samsung Champ – Php 3,990 ; before Php 4,390

Samsung Champ Duos – Php 5,980



Samsung Galaxy 5, Samsung Champ, Samsung Punch and Samsung Corby actually went on sale late January – and the on-going sale could be your best chance to grab those handsets as it’s now selling at much cheaper prices.



Note that this promo will only last until April 17th. If you think of buying, just hit this link for a complete list of participating Samsung dealers nationwide.

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HP Twice as Many Prints Promo Showcases Decent Prizes to Consumers

Had a fun last Friday night at the Formo in Banilad Town Center as HP once again brings its Twice as Many Prints Promo.

It was actually an informal media event full of amusement, but the highlight was about the ongoing promo (which is now on its 4th year), offering consumers a chance to win exciting prizes. Up for grabs for 6 lucky winners are 2 grand prize packages of their choice worth Php 500,000 each- which include furniture and appliance packages, tuition fees, small business start up, office equipment, shopping spree, and a travel treat in Asia. If you do the math, that’s actually Php 6M in all for the grand prizes.

“The HP Twice as Many Prints promo is our way of giving back to loyal patrons of HP Original Inks. Through the promo, consumers are able to get twice as much with the superior-quality prints, high page yield and savings from HP Original Inks, as well as this year’s big prizes that are up for grabs,” said Armando Pascual, General Manager for Imaging and Printing Group, HP Philippines.

How You Could Win on HP Twice as Many Prints Promo

Just by buying any specially-marked HP Ink cartridges pack and registering the unique codes that comes with the cartridge, you’ll be eligible for winning in an electronic raffle. From the registration alone, there will be 120,000 random winners of mobile phone credits worth Php 100 each, and each purchase of HP ink cartridge earns you points you can redeem for bigger gifts like Sodexho Premium Pass vouchers worth P500, HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K109A printers together with free black ink, and HP Officejet K7000 printers. First raffle draw for the grand package showcases was on March 29th, and next draws will be held on July 29th, and September 13th, 2011.



According to HP, the Twice as Many Prints promo continue to reinforce the company’s commitment to offering reliable and even more exceptional printing quality through HP’s Original Ink, as compared to those used in refilled and remanufactured bottles.



To learn more about HP Twice as Many Prints Promo, just head over to www.hp.com/ph/ink.

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