Rabu, 31 Agustus 2011

SMART Netphone 701 Specs and Price Gets Official: Up Now for Pre-Order!

Smart Communications has already taken off the wraps of its exclusive phone, the Netphone 701, which was first unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona early this year.

At first glance you would think of the Netphone as yet just another smartphone rocking Android OS, but it’s not. More than just Android, the Netphone brings unique features you’ll only see on this handset at least for the time being. One distinct feature is the SmartNet, in which according to SMART is “a suite of applications that works closely with the Smart Network which makes using the services easier than ever”.

There’s also a Netphone Messenger which undoubtedly works similar with that of RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger. Of course, for socially-inclined users, there’s the Social Stream which combines Facebook and Twitter accounts in Netphone’s own MyGroups social network.



SMART Netphone 701 Specs and Features



Android 2.2 (Froyo)

600 MHz ARM11 processor (Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset)

3.5-inch LCD (480 x 800 pixels) capacitive touchscreen display

150 MB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB

512 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM

3.2MP AF rear camera, no Flash

VGA front camera

3G (HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps)

GPRS

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Wi-Fi hotspot

GPS, A-GPS

Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, EDR

USB 2.0

1250mAh Li-Ion battery

114 x 56 x 12.2mm

130 g



Prices and Plans



The SMART Netphone is available both in Prepaid and Postpaid plans. Prepaid kit is priced at Php 9,990.

The phone comes free starting at Plan 1200. Check out this link for more details on Plans and Subscriptions. SMART says Netphone 701 units will be available in all Smart Stores and Smart Wireless Centers on September 10, and it will introduce more Netphone services and phone models, soon.







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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S Specs, Boost Up with 1.4GHz CPU and 3D Sweep Panorama Technology

Ahead of the IFA event in Berlin, Sony Ericsson unveiled today a refresh to its ultra-slim Xperia Arc smartphone, built with a faster processor and new imaging technology.

The new Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is powered by the same Snapdragon S2 processor, yet ticking at a faster clock speed at 1.4GHz. Sony is also introducing a new feature on this phone called 3D sweep panorama technology, in which the phone’s camera can capture 2D images, convert the images to 3D, and is then viewed by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output.

The Xperia Arc S still carries Android Gingerbread, and the rest of the specs are pretty much similar to the original Xperia Arc.



Specs and Features



Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor

4.2-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) capacitive TS display, with Mobile BRAVIA Engine

8GB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB

512MB RAM

8.1 MP AF camera with LED Flash, Sony Exmor R for mobile CMOS sensor

720p HD video recording

UMTS HSPA, GSM GPRS/EDGE

HDMI

A-GPS

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hotspot

USB 2.0, OTG

Bluetooth 2.1 + A2DP

Speakerphone

FM Radio

3.5mm audio jack

1500 mAh Li-Po battery



The Xperia Arc S is expected to be available globally in Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, and Sakura Pink come October. Official pricing is still yet to be known.



Click to Read Press Release



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Motorola PRO+ Unveiled: Specs, Features, Photos, and Video – Check this Out!

Motorola Mobility, Inc. announced on Tuesday a new Android smartphone called Motorola PRO+.

Motorola PRO+ is a Gingerbread device featuring both touch screen and full QWERTY keypad, which definitely will get head to head with Nokia E6 and the upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9900. Moto said the phone was designed and optimized for business, and "is built for people who want to take the pressure off and consolidate their work and personal lives with an efficient smartphone that acts like your personal assistant".



Specs and Features



Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

1GHz processor

3.1-inch VGA (640x480) Gorilla Glass Display

QWERTY Keypad

4G internal storage, microSD up to 32GB

512MB RAM

5MP AF camera with LED flash

3G (HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps)

EDGE Class 12

GPRS Class 12

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

3.5mm headset jack

USB 2.0

1600mAh battery

62 x 119.50 x 11.65mm

113g



Motorola said this phone will be available in Asia and Europe starting in October, so I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing this in local shelves sometime in mid-Q4. Just stay tuned for updates! More photos and video after the break.





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Samsung GALAXY S2 Philippines Price Update: Still Php 29,990

It’s almost three months already since we got the official price of Samsung GALAXY S II here in the Philippines, and I thought it would make sense to revisit for the first time, our favorite local gadget stores how much they are offering the dual-core Android phone today.

Undoubtedly, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is still selling at the same SRP of Php 29,990 in most of the stores I personally visited here in Cebu, only that they are competing with additional freebies they bundled with the handset. The Samsung GALAXY S2 is one of the best dual-core smartphones today, recognized with great overall performance and has received positive reviews in the tech world; thus resulting to a strong demand for the handset. In fact, when the phone hit stores in South Korea, it became the fastest selling smartphone ever after Samsung sold over 1 million units in just a month. The feat was even more impressive when Samsung tripled the number in global shipments (excluding US) in less than 2 months since the official launch.



The strong demand could be the reason why you won’t see price drop just yet, even here in the Philippines. And it’s still unclear how exactly the newly-announced LTE version would affect the price of the first GALAXY S2.



So anyone here rocking this super phone? How much did you get it?



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Made for PlayBook Accessories Are Awesome, yet Too Girly and a Bit Pricey

PlayBook fans, RIM has something awesome for your tablet!

Following the official release of BlackBerry PlayBook here in the Philippines, Research in Motion is now introducing an exclusive ‘Made for PlayBook’ accessories collection, created especially for you, BlackBerry Playbook fans. These accessories, basically, are cases designed to both personalise and protect the tablet.



The Made for PlayBook cases features seven contrasting designs by the global brands including Delvaux, Valextra, Ettinger, Brooklyn, Porter, WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie, and Ganzo. RIM says each of these brands was handpicked for its craftsmanship, quality, functionality and attention to detail, which are all values at the core of the BlackBerry brand.



Hit the slideshow below for the designs and for your viewing pleasure as well.





These cases are undeniably elegant, but in my own personal point of view, they some of the designs are also just too girly. And it’s quite even more surprising to hear the prices range from P8,400 to P19,000 (let’s say “Hi!” to Apple!), although it speaks for the styles and of course, the exclusivity and the brands! After all, it’s your call whether to shell out extra cash or not.So what do you think?



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Selasa, 30 Agustus 2011

Samsung Wave 3, Wave M, and Wave Y: New Bada 2.0 Smartphones

Samsung just announced a trio of new smartphones today. This time, however, aren’t Androids but rather a Bada 2.0 phones namely: Samsung Wave 3, Wave M, and Wave Y.

Samsung Wave 3 is in the lead among the three with 1.4GHz Processor, 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 5MP rear–facing camera with LED Flash, VGA front-facing camera, A-GPS, HSPA connectivity support (HSDPA 14.4/HSUPA 5.76 Mbps), Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct support, Sensors (Accelerometer, Digital compass, Proximity), 1500mAh battery, and is made of anodized aluminum to weigh around 122g. It got a lackluster 3GB of storage, although can be expanded up to 32GB using microSD.

The Samsung Wave M is basically a mid-tier in the trio and can combat with mid-range handsets today with 832MHz processor, a 3.65-inch HVGA screen, 5MP rear-facing camera, VGA front-facing camera, A-GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Optional NFC, Sensors (Accelerometer, Proximity), HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps, 1,350mAh battery, and has a metallic body to weigh around 121g.

Lastly is the entry-level Samsung Wave Y which got the same processor and HVGA screen resolution as the Samsung M, only that it flaunts a smaller 3.2 display and just have a 2MP fixed-focus shooter with LED Flash. It also has A-GPS functionality, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Optional NCF, Sensors (Accelerometer, Proximity), HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps, 1,200mAh battery, and with a metallic hairline body making it lightest among the three just at 102.4g.



As I’ve said, these new phones will all carry Bada 2.0 preinstalled with Samsung’s new ChatOn messaging service. No official release date of these Bada phones just yet, but surely we’ll uncover that one. So just stay tuned!





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Samsung ChatOn is a Cross-Platform Messaging App That Only Get Me Excited to Try

So you think Samsung will just keep on releasing new phones and tablets in the future? Obviously, no!

In fact, the Korean phone maker has been very busy prepping up its new messaging service called ChatOn, set to debut next month at the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, Germany.



At first, you would think Samsung’s ChatOn as yet just another BBM-like chat service, but it’s probably not as far as the demo video below is concerned. ChatOn brings something new in group chat services available today such as multimedia sharing through its "Trunk" feature, sending animated messages, and there’s also what it calls "Interaction Rank" which shows contacts you send messages the most. Though quite impressive, it’s still unclear if this chat service will ever take off the likes of Facebook Messenger, the Huddle in Google+, WhatsApp, GroupMe, or even Apple’s upcoming iMessage service in iOS 5.



Samsung says ChatOn will be available in 120 countries and 62 languages; and will not only work on its proprietary Bada OS, but also in Android, BlackBerry OS, and iOS.



Take a look the intro video below and let’s see if you like it.





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Create and Open PDF Files in iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch with Adobe CreatePDF

Adobe just released a new application that will allow users to view, create, manipulate, and manage Portable Document Format or PDF files right on their iOS devices.

Called Adobe CreatePDF, this business app is said to bring the same high-quality PDF creation with the cross-platform Adobe Acrobat or the cloud-based app of the same name. Adobe also says the app offers consistent and high-fidelity PDF conversion independent of device or software. And with an intuitive interface for PDF conversion, it can convert email attachments or files stored in the cloud by opening them right on the app. The company added that CreatePDF uses Adobe’s online services to ensure there’s no compromise on quality or performance, and the service does not keep copy of the original PDF document.



Among the supported file formats of Adobe CreatePDF for iPhone and iPad include:

  • MS Word (docx, doc), Excel(xlsx, xls), PowerPoint (pptx, ppt)

  • Adobe Illustrator (ai), Photoshop (psd) and InDesign (indd)

  • Images – JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF

  • RTF, Text and WordPerfect

  • OpenOffice and StarOffice documents

Adobe CreatePDF is now available at the App Store for $9.99; although the app is basically designed for iPhone and iPad, it will also work for iPod Touch running iOS 4.3 or later. Download link follows below.



Download Adobe CreatePDF for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch



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A Preview of HTC Sense 3.5 UI [Video]

HTC Sense, one of the most impressive skins on top of Android interface is going to receive a major overhaul in the anticipated release of an upgraded version, HTC Sense 3.5, very soon.

HTC Sense 3.5 is expected to be seen flirting in upcoming HTC devices like the Vigor, and we can guess latest HTC devices like the dual-core Sensation and the petite Wildfire S with Sense 3.0 UI will still get the new features in Sense 3.5 via an OTA (over-the-air) update.



Though it hasn’t been released officially by the Taiwan-based phone maker, I’m pretty sure you’re excited to see how HTC Sense 3.5 looks like, especially if you’re a huge fan of HTC. Well, here’s a 5-minute video courtesy of the Chinese-language website XDA.cn, and as usual -- do share your view what you think about it. [via]





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Senin, 29 Agustus 2011

Samsung Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE Announced Ahead of IFA

This may not be a surprise, but yeah, Samsung just announced an LTE version of its GALAXY S II smartphone and the GALAXY Tab 8.9 slate.

Both of these devices are expected to debut at the IFA event in Berlin next month, but as early as now – Samsung hinted us that each of these handsets got a pretty decent specs on top of the LTE capabilities.



The Samsung GALAXY S II LTE is still a Gingerbread device and will don with almost similar internals to its 3G-enabled counterpart, except that it got a bigger 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display and a faster 1.5GHz dual core processor.



The Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 LTE on the other hand, will still carry Android Honeycomb, but would be much faster with 1.5GHz dual-core processor and lighter at just 455g than its 3G-enabled brother.



While the first Samsung GALAXY S II just headed to Globe Telecom more than 10 weeks ago, the first 8.9-inch GALAXY Tab hasn’t made its official landfall here in the Philippines just yet; although we’ve learned it has already been showcased in an event in Makati back in June.



Now if these LTE devices make its way here in the Philippines anytime soon, I got one thing for sure: it would be in route to SMART! More on this soon, so just stay tuned.



Click to Read Press Release



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Minggu, 28 Agustus 2011

Sony Tablet P is a 4G Tablet with NVIDIA Tegra 2 Chipset

It looks like the arrival of Sony’s two Honeycomb tablets is getting nearer.




Sony Tablet P
First up, Sony’s S1 tablet will actually launch next month as Sony Tablet S; and this time around, its dual-screen sibling we've first learned as Sony S2 which resembles the looks of Kyocera Echo will be called as Sony Tablet P.



I still can’t figure out what’s in the name, but our friends over at Engadget have already spelled out few details of what’s inside the slate. As we’ve already knew the Sony Tablet P will carry Android Honeycomb, it is powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset. With Tegra 2, we can actually expect a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU ticking at 1GHz and an ultra-low power (ULP) GeForce graphics processor. Of course you can watch HD movies on this device, thanks to the 1080p video playback processor. Featuring 0.3MP front-facing camera, also under its hood is 512MB of RAM, a lackluster 4GB of storage and a 2GB SD card, and weighs around 370 grams. With wireless connectivity support through Wi-Fi, this device is purported to be 4G-enabled, which means as far as I understand it, will leverage on cellular networks utilizing WiMAX, LTE, or HSPA+ technologies.



It’s unclear just yet though if this will land here in the Philippines. We’ll just keep you posted once these tablets get official. [via]



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Jumat, 26 Agustus 2011

Nokia’s Create 4 Millions Contest for Developers and Consumers, Now Gives Pinoy Devs a Break

You’re a big fan of Nokia? Whether you’re a developer or an avid consumer of Nokia apps, you’re good to join Nokia’s global competition – Create for Millions!

Basically, the Create for Millions contest brings consumers and developers together, well, to create applications for Nokia’s Series 40 handsets.



For consumers, you can submit best ideas for the applications you’d like to see on Nokia’s Series 40 mobile phones. “Authors of the winning entries will get to see their ideas come to life at the Nokia World event later this year, and can meet the developers who created them. In addition to a free expenses-paid trip to the event to be held in London in October, winning consumers can play with their new app on the latest Nokia Series 40 phone that will given during the event.” Not bad, huh?



If interested, you can submit your ideas in one of the three categories which include Health and Education, Social Networking and Location, and Games and Infotainment via this link.



Developers on the other hand are invited to submit Java and Web-based apps for Nokia Series 40 phones in four categories:

  • In the Know, focusing on news and locally relevant information;

  • Fun and Games, games and entertainment apps;

  • Emotional Closeness, social networking apps;

  • Access to Knowledge, life improvement apps such as education and health.

Up for grabs in this contest is a whopping 1 million Euros of cash prizes. Developers can win one of the 10 cash prizes for each of the four categories, with a top prize of 50,000 Euros in each category. “Top apps in each category win a variety of non-cash prizes, such as user experience reviews and app marketing assistance. Special prizes will also be awarded to apps that showcase the best touch feature, the best location-aware app, and the best overall Series 40 web app.”



If you think you got what it takes and interested of winning this competition, just hit this link.



And here’s the exciting part for Pinoy Devs. Aside from the possibility of winning the global prizes worth a total of 1 million Euros, Nokia Philippines will also give awesome prizes to local participants for the following categories:

  • Best S40 Java app - Php 50,000

  • Best S40 Java game - Php 50,000

  • Best S40 Web app - Php 50,000

  • Most downloaded S40 Java app by Nov 30 - Php 75,000

  • Most downloaded S40 Java game by Nov 30 - Php 75,000

  • Most downloaded S40 Web app by Nov 30 - Php 75,000

Submission of entries is until September 20, 2011, so what are you waiting for? Click here to get started!



Click to Read Press Release



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Kamis, 25 Agustus 2011

Free Anti-Virus for Android: Norton Mobile Security Lite


I can’t deny the fact that I’m personally a big fan of Norton security products.



From Norton Internet Security 2011 to a more clever and vigilant Norton 360 V5.0, I’m confident to say I got one of the best PC security solutions today. In fact, when I learned Symantec brought its Norton technologies to Android, I thought the app is going to be a must-try.



For those Android users out there who have been looking for a free anti-virus, or should I say a free anti-malware app to use in your device, Norton has something for you.



Norton has released Norton Mobile Security Lite, a free security application for Android device. The app seamlessly combines select anti-theft features with powerful anti-malware, giving users a sense of security in the event their phone is ever lost, stolen or compromised by malware.



Among the key features of Norton Mobile Security Lite includes:


  • Anti-theft – Remotely lock your lost or stolen device via SMS text and prevent strangers from seeing your private information or running up your mobile bill.

  • Anti-malware – Scans all files and app updates downloaded to the mobile device and automatically detects and removes threats without slowing you down.

  • Automatic LiveUpdate – Automatically downloads and installs security updates keeping you a step ahead of cybercriminals.


More of this security app through the video below:





Norton Mobile Security Lite is compatible with devices running at least Android 2.2 (Froyo). If you think you need this, just head over to the Android Market via this link.



Now I guess some iPhone users are gonna be jealous on this. No, I'm just kidding.J iPhone version, please...




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Tonino Lamborghini SRL: “We Didn’t Authorize Primo Mobile to Sub-License Our Trademark and Logo”

Now, this story is getting more interesting; at least for us Pinoy techies who care most for broadband services offered by our very own Globe Telecom.

After reading Globe Telecom’s official statement yesterday regarding the Tonino Lamborghini trademark issue, we thought Globe is holding all the aces after the accusation as the telco is said to legally obtained authorization to use the name and logo Tonino Lamborghini, through an agreement with Primo Mobile, a tech company headquartered in Singapore who develop and market mobile devices under the prestigious Lamborghini brand. As our initial conclusion, Primo Mobile might just have failed to inform Tonino Lamborghini SRL that its trademark and logo have been sub-licensed to Globe Telecom for its new 4G (HSPA+) broadband stick.



But no, something is wrong with the agreement between Globe Telecom and Primo Mobile.



In a statement released by Tonino Lamborghini SRL:

Tonino Lamborghini Group wishes to clarify that Primo Mobile had been granted only a trademark license - neither a master license nor a master franchise - but such trademark license agreement was duly terminated by the licensor, Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., some months ago. In any case, such trademark license agreement did not authorize Primo Mobile to sub-license the use of the Tonino Lamborghini trademark and logo.
Now it appears quite clear based on the above statement that Primo Mobile kept Globe Telecom in the dark vis-à-vis its current situation with Tonino Lamborghini SRL.



As of this writing, however, Primo Mobile’s website still claims the company as an Official Licensee of Tonino Lamborghini.



Primo Mobile has not released an official public statement yet. Or are they?



The question I have in mind at this moment though is, what will happen to the branding of Globe’s 4G broadband stick that it got a serious trademark infringement, even if it’s not the telco's fault? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.



Hat tip to you, Sir Jim!



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Rabu, 24 Agustus 2011

Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple, COO Tim Cook Named as Successor

The Board of Directors of Apple, Inc. announced on Wednesday that Steve Jobs has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.




Time Cook (L) and Steve Jobs (R)
In a resignation letter, Steve Jobs personally recommended Tim Cook, a man known more for his operational expertise than vision, as his successor.



Here’s the full resignation letter sent to the Apple Board of Directors and to you, members of the Apple Community.

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.



I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.



As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.



I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.



I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.



Steve
Steve Jobs left no explanation for his exit in the CEO role, but it undoubtedly raised concern regarding his health. We can recall that Jobs was diagnosed of a pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant back in 2009. Just early this year, he took again a medical leave of absence.



As of this writing, Apple stock dipped as much as 5% following Jobs’ resignation.



In a press release sent to the media, Jobs has been elected Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors, and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.



The question now is will Apple continue its winning streak under new leadership? Well, according to Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board:

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO. Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”
Read on the full press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release



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Nokia 700, 701, and 600 Gets Official: The Smallest, Brightest, and Loudest Nokia Phones

Alongside Nokia’s announcement of Symbian Belle, the Finnish phone maker also unveiled three new phones to carry the newest version of its OS.

First up is the Nokia 700 which is claimed as the smallest smartphone in the world. Well, just measuring at 110 x 50.7 x 9.7mm and only weighs around 96g, this tiny device is undeniably small. But it got decent specs like 3.2-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display with gorilla glass, 1GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, NFC support, 2GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSUPA 3G support, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. The Nokia 700 is coming in cool grey, silver/white, coral red, peacock blue and purple varieties. It’s expected to be available in Q3 with a Euro price at EUR 270 without local taxes and operator subsidies.



Next up is the Nokia 701 which is according to Nokia, is the smartphone in the world with the brightest screen. Uhmm… Really? Well, with its 3.5-inch IPS LCD display with ClearBlack technology, the phone is said to create a combination of excellent brightness and contrast which determines the phone’s luminance. And like the Nokia 700, it’s also wrapped with Corning’s Gorilla Glass technology to prevent scratches from brawny pressures in any surface. The phone got an 8MP full-focus shooter with dual-LED Flash, plus a front-facing camera for video calling. Also under its hood are 1GHz processor, 8GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, HSUPA 3G, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. It measures 11 x 56.8 x 117.3mm and weighs 131g. The Nokia 701 will be available in steel dark, silver light, amethyst violet, and white variations and is expected to come to market in the third quarter of 2011. Euro price before local taxes or operator subsidies is at EUR 290.



And last but not the least, the Nokia 600 – the Finnish loudest phone. Loudest, huh? I think it got the same phon rating with Nokia X1-01, the music-centric dual-SIM phone which can also deliver the same loudness level of 106 phons. In any case, the Nokia 600 features a 1GHz processor, 3.2-inch nHD display, 5MP camera with LED Flash, NFC support, 2GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSUPA 3G support, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. Basically this phone only differs from Nokia 700 because of type of its display (not AMOLED). It measures 111 x 53 x 13mm and weighs 100g. It will be available in black, white, pink and lime from Q3 of 2011 and will cost around EUR 180 before local taxes and subsidies.



We’ll be eyeing on this new Symbian Belle phones and will just keep you posted once it lands in the Philippine soil.



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The Symbian Belle Features Video Walkthrough

Nokia announced today the next version of its Symbian OS, the Symbian Belle.

Symbian Belle will be integrated to Nokia’s upcoming new devices and will be made available as a free update to users with phones running Symbian Anna. Basically, these phones to receive Belle updates are those released with Symbian^3 pre-installed like Nokia N8, Nokia C7, E7, and C6-01 and later upgraded to Anna; or those with Symbian Anna already pre-installed like Nokia X7, Nokia E6, and Nokia 500.



So what are the new features to expect with Symbian Belle? Well, there are actually bunch of embellishments brought to improve and modernize Symbian experience. Among of those include the free-form, resizable, live widgets; up to 6 homescreens; Improved status bar which is incorporated with a pull down notifications tab (sounds familiar, huh?); modernized navigation; new suite of powerful business apps from Microsoft; Informative lock screen; deep integration with NFC technology; visual multitasking, and etc.



As a foretaste on how these features looks like and works, take a sneak peek through the videos below.









Now I guess there’s another reason why you’ll love Symbian, eh?



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Tonino Lamborghini is Not Fake; Globe Telecom, Authorized to Use the Brand by Primo Mobile

Globe Telecom just released an official statement regarding yesterday’s issue in which the telco apparently wasn’t authorized to use the Tonino Lamborghini brand on its 4G broadband stick.

It turned out though that Globe Telecom undeniably obtained authorization to use the name and logo, Tonino Lamborghini, through an agreement with Primo Mobile. Primo Mobile is the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini.



Here’s the official statement sent to us:

Globe Telecom obtained authorization to use the name and logo Tonino Lamborghini through an agreement with Primo Mobile, the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini.



Primo Mobile is a Singapore-based company that has a master license agreement with Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. and is duly authorized to sub-license the use of the Lamborghini logo. The design of the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini 4G broadband sticks was reviewed and approved by Primo Mobile.



Globe Telecom assures the public of its strong adherence and commitment to the highest ethical standards in business and good corporate governance. The company will not engage in any activity that will mislead the public in the course of doing business and serving its customers.
There you got it, folks. Certainly there’s a miscommunication between Primo Mobile and Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., else the latter won’t publish a press release accusing Globe Telecom for illegally using the Tonino Lamborghini brand.



Update: Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l says it didn't authorize Primo Mobile to sub-license its trademark.



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Selasa, 23 Agustus 2011

Sony Tablet S, the Honeycomb Tablet We First Knew as S1

We just got the name! The 9.4-inch Honeycomb tablet heading straight from the Japanese firm is called Sony Tablet S.

Announced early this year as Sony S1, the soon-to-be official Sony Tablet S is expected to hit the market come September. And if you’re wondering if this tablet could be a winner, Sony has optimized the device for rich media entertainment by bringing features which may sound new to us like Content Throw which allow users to share, view, and transfer personal video, photos, and music to a DLNA compatible PC, TV, or speakers via wireless network. With Android 3.1 under its hood, Honeycomb experience on Sony Tablet S is also enhanced with Sony’s “QuickView” to speed up browser load times and “Quick Touch Panel” to improve touch responsiveness. For gamers, the Tablet S is PlayStation Certified and is pre-loaded with games which simply mean you can still play original PS games on this tablet. The rear camera at 5MP is actually good for a tablet particularly if it can take HD shots, but Sony will score more with Tablet S for its 3.0MP 0.3MP front-facing camera. Plus, there’s a USB Micro A Plug which works similar to USB OTG we've seen on Nokia phones.



Update: We've learned that Sony Tablet S will be available in 16GB and 32GB versions and is a Wi-Fi only device (seems like no 3G version just yet). It also got 1GB of RAM under its hood.



We’ll be eyeing on this tablet until it gets official so just stay tuned for official pricing and availability updates. [via]



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Repair Shops in Cebu for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad?

Even during the advent of the first iPhone, Cebu is already one among the key cities in the Philippines with decent number of Apple users.



In fact, I’m not surprised when I see people still using earlier generation of iDevices. An Apple gadget is undeniably great! The problem though is when these devices got into trouble and you realized something in the hardware might have messed, and that you need an experienced technician to dig inside. Unlike with any other electronics and gadgets, availability of experienced repair technicians for iDevices is rare. And this could be a dilemma if you’re looking for one like what a fellow Cebuano is concerned about.

Philip, just another Cebu-techie, once stumbled on this blog and asked for a recommendation of repair shops specializing iDevices. I asked his permission to publish his query which reads:

Hello, Sir



Do you know of any trustworthy shops in Cebu that repair iPod Touches? You're a tech-blogger, and I noticed a few articles about iPhone-related stuff like unlocks and apps, etc. so I'm hoping that you'd know of at least one shop that specialize in iDevice repairs.



My iPod Touch is over a year old, and I never had any serious problems with it until a little over a week ago. It's jailbroken because of the customization capabilities; while it did randomly crash on me because of buggy Cydia tweaks (or conflicts), it never reached a point where it would no longer boot up. I've had my fair share of iPod Touch crashes (boot loops, stuck on the boot logo, springboard crashes, etc.) and I've always been able to fix them by myself. This time, it no longer responds to anything I do with it (believe me, I've tried), which is why I've concluded that it's a hardware-related issue.



It just refuses to turn on now. Even if I plugged it in to its charger, it doesn't charge-up anymore (in comparison, when my iPod Touch wouldn't turn on before, when I plugged it in, I could tell it was charging itself because the backside of my iPod would heat up a bit. A couple hours later, it's back to normal). Now it's just completely cold, no matter how long I leave it plugged in.



I've described my problem online, and someone told me it sounds like a faulty logic board. I'm familiar with iDevice software problems/fixes, but I have no experience with the actual hardware. Someone also said the battery probably got fried and will need replacement, but I haven't been able to find anyone who fixes iDevices (also haven't found a shop that carries legit iDevice spare parts like replacement batteries). So far, I've only found shops that help fix software-related issues (the kind of stuff I can fix myself); most aren't willing to even just open up the iPod Touch and examine the innards to give the problem a proper diagnosis.



If you know of a place I can have my iPod Touch examined and/or repaired, I'd really appreciate it. It's a 3rd generation iPod Touch, by the way. I know it's kind of dated, but I'm the type who hates throwing out "bigger" gadgets. If there's still hope to fix it, I'd rather get it fixed than get a newer model...so long as the expenses for the repairs make sense.
Well, it looks like you really have a quite complicated problem with your iPod Touch. But since I’m not going to tackle how to fix your device (it could be another post), I’ll just response to your main question.



Unless I’m missing one, the answer is NO. Most repair shops here in Cebu are actually not affiliated by Apple. And those premium Apple resellers in the city don't accept hardware repairs. They just send the devices back to the vendors.



I know of shops in E-Mall which accept repairs of iPhone and iPod Touch devices, but for your own protection - I won't recommend them since I'm not really sure regarding their expertise. But if you're interested, I can refer you to a friend of mine who's known much locally, particularly in Istorya.net, as an expert in repairing iDevices. He's actually an Engineer, who happened also to be an officemate of mine.



But of course we can ask for our friends and readers here in CTB if they know of a repair shop here in Cebu that accepts iDevices. Just leave a comment below to list one or two.



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Globe’s 4G is Fake? Use of Tonino Lamborghini Brand on Broadband Stick May Result to Serious Trademark Infringement

If this is true, it’s going to be a serious trademark infringement, really.



You remember Globe Telecom’s broadband stick which is promised to offer “4G” speed, right? Well, I guess it’s unlikely you’ll forget Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini because aside from being a fresh product, the trade-name itself is too catchy. I personally like the name and I thought the marketing folks over at Globe’s headquarter are creative enough to coming up with, well, Tonino Lamborghini! It turned out though that Globe Telecom is apparently not authorized to use the brand on its broadband product.



Tonino Lamborghini SRL, an Italian company, claimed itself as the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" as seen below.

And the company has never manufactured or authorized anyone, specifically Globe Telecom, to manufacture a 4G broadband product, thus the 4G Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini stick is counterfeit. I can smell a lawsuit here, folks.



The press release which managed to get into our inbox was signed in August 3rd and reads:

4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini Broadband Stick Is a Fake!



BOLOGNA, ITALY--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2011) - Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., an Italy-based company which is the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" hereunder



http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/tonino_lamborghini_logo.jpg



wishes to inform its customers that unauthorized people are currently trading online and through Globe stores a "4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini" broadband stick which is a counterfeited product.



Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. has never manufactured or authorized anyone to manufacture such a product which constitutes therefore a serious trademark infringement.



Moreover the advertising campaign "Feed your need for speed" featuring Marlon Stockinger, first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe, is deceitful and unlawful since it leads to a serious likelihood of confusion between two different and separate brands and businesses that is to say "Tonino Lamborghini" and "Automobili Lamborghini".



Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. shall take any legal action to protect the brand.



Yours faithfully,

Dott. Gian Luca Filippi

Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l.

CEO
A quick tour on Tonino Lamborghini SRL’s website reveals the company already existed in 1981, and with 3 decades of existence, it’s most likely that the company owns the Lamborghini trademark.



Globe Telecom has not yet released its comment on this issue. We’ll just keep you posted. [via]



Update: Globe Telecom has already released its official statement. Read here.



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BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, and 9370 Announced!

Now it’s time for the Curves to get that latest BlackBerry 7 OS!

Just announced earlier today from RIM’s headquarter are the new smartphones in the more-affordable Curve lineup – the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, and 9370. And like the latest yet still upcoming Bold’s and Torch’s, these new Curve handsets will carry RIM’s latest BlackBerry 7 OS which is promised to offer better web browsing experience, alongside with connected apps through BBM 6 and integrated services like BlackBerry Protect (similar to Apple’s Find My iPhone) and BlackBerry Balance which allows users to compartmentalize personal and work-related files without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls.



The BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, and 9370 basically shares almost the same hardware characteristics which include 512MB of RAM, an 800MHz processor, 5MP shooter, NFC support, 2.44-inch 480 x 360 display, 1000mAh battery, and comparatively speaking – they are all slim at just 11mm or .43-inch.



So what are the differences? Well, one is the storage. The Curve 9350 and 9360 both got 512MB of built-in storage which is only half compared to BB Curve 9370 at 1GB. Although these three bad boys will all support microSD card of up to 32GB, so I guess unfair built-in storage may not be a bummer after all. What’s more? Well, it seems like the Philippines will only get BlackBerry Curve 9360 as it’s the GSM variant. The BB Curve 9350 and 9370 are both CDMA devices so it’s unlikely RIM will bring it here in the country. Am I right Globe Telecom and Smart?



All of these new BB Curve phones are expected to be available in Canada this month, and from other carriers around the world beginning in September. Official prices are still yet to be known. Peep on the press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release



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