ASUS Philippines launches newest Zenbook ultrabook

ASUS has just launched its newest ultrabook from the Zenbook line, the ASUS Zenbook UX303LN. Showcasing the same classic Zenbook design, the ZenBook UX303LN is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT840 graphics. The 13.3 inch ultrabook has a 16:9 IPS FHD (1920×1080) LED multi-touch display and uses ASUS SonicMaster audio, incorporating ICEpower, Bang & Olufsen for an incredible sound.

The ASUS Zenboook UX303LN price starts at Php 49,995 and will be available in the following ASUS authorized dealers: Octagon, VillMan, Electroworld, Silicon Valley, Complink, PC Express, Benerson, Columbia, Concept, Digital Interface, Dwinar, PC Square.

ASUS Zenbook UX303LN specs

Operating system	Windows 8.1
CPU	Intel Core i7-4510U 1.8GHz
	Intel Core i5-4210U 1.6GHz
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GT840M
Main Memory	DDR3L 1600MHz 4GB  (on board) + 2GB / 4GB / 8GB DIMM slot
Display	13.3-inch 16:9 IPS FHD (1920 x 1080)
Storage	256SSD (Intel Core i7-4510U 1.8GHz)
	128SSD (Intel Core i5-4210U 1.6GHz)
Connectivity	802.11n & 802.11ac
	External cable supports10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet
	Built-in Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR BT 4.0 support (on WLAN+ BT 4.0 combo card
Camera	HD 720p CMOS module
Keyboard	286mm frameless illuminated chiclet keyboard
Interface	1 x mini DisplayPort
	3 x USB 3.0 port
	1 x HDMI 1.4 (1080p support)
	1 x audio jack combo
	1 x SD Card reader
Audio	ASUS SonicMaster, incorporating ICEpower, Bang & Olufsen technology Integrated microphone
Battery	Li-polymer 50Wh
AC Adapter	Output 19V 65W
Dimensions & Weight	323 x 223 x 20mm 1.45kg

Free Mobile Internet For Smart, TNT And Sun Prepaid Subscribers Launched

Starting September 26, prepaid subscribers of Smart, Talk N' Text and Sun Cellular will now be able to access mobile internet for free. The offer will end on November 30, 2014.

Free Mobile Internet For Smart, TNT And Sun Subscribers

Subscribers only have to have a minimum cellphone load balance of P1 or to be currently subscribed to a load promo. To activate the free internet, subscribers must register daily by sending FREE to 9999. 

The free internet access covers most websites and mobile apps but excludes video streaming websites (Youtube, Vimeo), VOIP apps (FaceTime, FaceTime Audio, Skype, Viber, Tango), messaging apps (Whatsapp, WeChat, Line, Viber) and peer-to-peer file-sharing sites and apps like Bittorrent.

Data usage is limited to 30Mb per day which will allow the subscriber to do the following: 

•     20 social media posts with photo
•     50 web pages loads
•     20 plain emails
•     15 minutes of music streaming

Speed will depend on several factors, such as the device/handset being used, the location and the time of use of the subscriber.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Online Price

For those who can’t wait for the official release date of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the Philippines, buying from the online stores is another option. But just how much are the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus priced in the online grey market? Check out as we compare the prices below.

	iPhone 6			iPhone 6 Plus
	16 GB	64 GB	128 GB	16 GB	64 GB	128 GB
Kimstore	Php 49,999	Php 54,999	Php 56,999	Php 89,999	Php 96,999	Php 98,999
WidgetCity	Php 52,500	Php 57,500	Php 62,500	Php  92,500	Php 102, 500	Php 108,500
DBGadgets	Php 56,800	Php 60,000	Php 66,500

Of the three major online stores that sells grey units, Kimstore has the lowest prices, offering the iPhone 6 at Php 49,999 (16 GB) and iPhone 6 Plus at Php 89,999 (16 GB). Still, a bit exorbitant but I’ve seen people buying imported iPhone 5s last year for more than 50K.

We also saw a 16 GB iPhone 6 selling at Lazada for Php 58,960 and a 16 GB iPhone 6 Plus at Php 107,190. Wow!

iPhone 6 Camera Features "Focus Pixels"

Apple iPhone6 and iPhone6 Plus smartphones feature new 8MP camera and sensor. While keeping the same pixel size and count, the new sensor features "Focus pixels" and 1080p60 video with HDR mode and "auto image stabilization" (on top of OIS in 6 Plus model and EIS in iPhone 6):

"Focus Pixels are enabled by the new Apple-designed image signal processor. They provide the sensor with more information about your image, giving you better and faster autofocus that you can even see in preview."

"Auto image stabilization makes up for motion blur and hand shakiness by taking four photos with a short exposure time. Then the best parts of those photos are combined into one image with as little noise, subject motion, and hand shake as possible."

Credits to: http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/

iPhone 6 Plus Reportedly Bends

In what’s already being dubbed ‘bend gate’, owners of Apple’s new iPhone 6 Plus are reporting that their new smartphones are being bent out of shape – just from being carried in their pockets. Apple has yet to respond to the issue, but numerous pictures of unintentionally curved iPhones have been circulating on Twitter, with one intrepid YouTube user (Unbox Therapy) even sacrificing his handset to prove that, yes, the iPhone 6 Plus does indeed bend. It's thought that the issue is simply because the 6 Plus is so much larger and thinner than previous phones, that the aluminum case simply doesn't have enough strength proportional to its length. Although Twitter has been full of pictures of bent smartphones, it seems that the actual number of users affected is limited, with tech experts poiting out that the issue is not unique to Apple devices but simply a reflection of how casually many gadgets are treated. The trend was first picked up by specialist site MacRumours, who reported one reader’s tale of bending his iPhone 6 Plus after putting it in his front pocket to attend a wedding.

“The 6 Plus was about 18 hours in my pocket while sitting mosty,” said the irate Apple customer. “As I lay it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch to relax from the drive (yes, sitting again), I saw the reflection of the window in the iPhones slightly distorted.” Handsets like the LG G Flex and the Samsung Galaxy Round have proved that manufacturers can make curved smartphones if they really want to, but with the iPhone 6 Plus it seems Apple is offering customers a do-it-yourself option.

It's obvious of course that practically any smartphone will bend if you apply enough pressure - there were similar reports of Sony's Xperia Z1 warping earlier this year - but unfortunately for Apple, the prestige (and price) of their devices means any fault is taken far more seriously than those of their rivals'. For anyone who remembers the iPhone 4, 'bend-gate' will also be sadly familiar. The 2010 iPhone didn't bend, but it did ship with a flawed antenna that meant it dropped calls when owners held in a certain way (critics would say - in an absolutely normal way).

Steve Jobs himself was forced to respond to the accusations (by mocking the media and claiming that there was no real problem) but Apple eventually issued free cases to to those affected. Will they do the same for the iPhone 6 Plus? Earlier this week Apple reported that they had sold a record 10 million units of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Both smartphones offer larger screens than any previous models as well as an improved processor, larger memory and better camera.

(Source: Independent)

ABS-CBNmobile partners with Huawei, Cloudfone

ABS-CBNmobile recently introduced two new exciting offers for all Kapamilya fans with its new partners: popular handset manufacturers Huawei and Cloudfone.

With this partnership, more Kapamilyas will be able to watch their favorite Kapamilya shows and artists straight from their smartphone devices, whether it’s news or drama, all Kapamilya shows, such as TV Patrol, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Gandang Gabi Vice, ASAP, or Showtime come to life on their gadgets.

This partnership allows Huawei and Cloudfone to bundle their phones with ABS-CBNmobile SIM cards. Each phone kit comes with exclusive offers such as weekly 1-day internet load for four weeks. They also come with pre-installed ABS-CBNmobile apps such as iWanT TV and featured celebrities on iWant Stars.

Aside from that, subscribers can watch ABS-CBNmobile original shows such as Team Gonzaga featuring celebrity superstars Toni and Alex Gonzaga. They can also watch a limited edition preview of Lee Min Ho hits such as “Boys Over Flowers,” “The Heirs,” and the premiere of “Faith.” All these offers and more are made exclusive to ABS-CBNmobile subscribers.

ABS-CBNmobile and device manufacturers aim to offer the best phones with the big screen displays perfect for iWant TV. Best of all, the phone kits come at the most reasonable prices depending on the needs of customers. The new ABS-CBNmobile phone kits with Huawei include the following phone models: Ascend Y330 worth P3,490, Ascend Y600 worth P4,990, Ascend G6 worth P9,990, and Ascend P7 worth P20,999. Huawei offers vivid video display that is perfect for watching videos. The Cloudfone models include Excite 355g worth P2,299, Excite 400dx worth P2,999, Excite 451q worth P4,499, and Excite 502q worth P4,999.

The phone kits are now available at phone stores nationwide. For more information about the ABS-CBNmobile and the new phone kits, please visit www.abscbnmobile.com. You can also “like” the Facebook page www.facebook.com/abscbnmobile and follow @abscbnmobile on Twitter.

iOS 8 software update is now available

If you haven’t hooked up your iDevice to the Internet for some time, now’s the perfect moment to get back online. It’s because the iOS 8—Apple’s biggest iOS release ever—is here and ready for download.

iOS 8 software update sports quite a number of new features and improvements, the highlights of which are listed below:

• Messaging – Users can now add voice recordings, short videos, and their current location to any conversation.
• Keyboard – Third-party developers can now introduce their own keyboards. Early adopters include the popular Swype keyboard. Apple has also implemented predictive texts.
• Continuity – The new Handoff feature allows continuing any work done on a Mac computer to an iOS device and vice versa. Supported applications include Mail, Safari, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts.
• Family Sharing – Content purchased from iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store can now be shared with up to six people in the family.

Like with the radical iOS 7 update, the iOS 8 can be downloaded for free by going to your iDevice’s Software Update section in Settings. iOS 8 is compatible the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2, fifth-generation iPod Touch, and newer devices.

[Source: Apple]

iPhone 6 Price, Release Date, Features and Specs

iphone 6 was finally unveiled and released yesterday, September 9, 2014. There has been millions of pre-orders already after that. It was a BIG announcement because Apple released 2 new iphones – iphone 6 plus and iphone 6. Truly, size matters nowadays and some people prefer a phablet gadget. Apple is so aware of that so they offer 2 kinds of phones, a big one and a bigger one. See the comparison of the new iphone 6 compared to the former iphones below.

source: Apple

iphone 6 Plus Features:

iOS 8

A8 Chip

Touch ID

Faster LTE wireless

8MP iSight camera with Focus Pixels

Retina HD Display

Time-lapse and slo-mo camera feature

Color: Gold, Silver, Space Gray

iphone 6 review:

iphone 6 plus is bigger and thinner than ever and it has a super smooth metal surface. iphone 6 plus is 7.1 mm thin while iphone 6 is 6.9 mm. Of course this new baby has improved Retina HD display, brighter HD resolution up to 1920 X 1080 from the bigger phone. Built from 64-bit desktop-class architecture matched with unparalleled M8 motion coprocessor, Apple knows how to impress us. My favorite feature now is its new video feature of 60 fps, slo-mo at 240 fps and time-lapse video mode. Wow, reminds me of Gopro camera except the waterproof thing.

As usual, new iphones means longer battery life and faster performance. Have you downloaded the new iOS 8 yet? Tell us how much you like it.

Looking at the release dates of every iphones in the past, I can see Apple love the months of June, July and September and December. September most of all.

iPhone 1st gen: June 29, 2007
iPhone 3G: July 11, 2008
iPhone 3GS: June 19, 2009
iPhone 4: June 24, 2010
iPhone 4S: October 14, 2011
iPhone 5: September 21, 2012
iphone 5s and 5c: September 2013
iphone 6: September 9, 2014

source: Apple

iphone 6 Price in the Philippines

As usual, new iphones come with these prices while the former one drops in price. Retail price of new iphone 6 is expected to be the same. How much is iphone 6 in the Philippines? Expected retail price is also the same for postpaid plans (payable in 24 months).

• iphone 6 16gb 33,600

• iphone 6 64gb 38,780

• iphone 6 128gb 43,950

Of course, the prices above can be higher especially the months of October since iphone 6 will be newly released in the Philippines. On December, expect Globe and Smart to release their official commercials offering Postpaid plans and the price list above could be the offer from the local stores other than the giant telco shops.

iphone 6 Plus Price Philippines

According to my source who sells gadgets, smartphones and all mobile accessories in SM and Robinsons, iphone 6 plus expected price is:

• iphone 6 plus 16gb 47,600
• iphone 6 plus 64gb 52,780
• iphone 6 plus 128gb 56,950

Credits To: http://philpad.com/

Blackberry Messenger BBM Available for Android on September 21 and iPhone on September 22

The iconic mobile social network – will begin rolling out for Android™ and iPhone® customers around the world from September 21. Previously exclusive to BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) smartphones, BBM will be available as a free download in Google Play™ and the App StoreSM. Customers will be able to download BBM by visiting www.BBM.com from their smartphone browser.

• It’s immediate. BBM is always on so you are always connected. And because messages on BBM are typically delivered and read within seconds, it’s the closest thing to a live conversation.
• You trust it. BBM always tells you that messages are delivered and read. BBM conversations come alive on a private network you can count on.
• You control it. BBM allows you to choose your contacts and how you share your information. BBM uses a PIN so you don’t have to give anyone your phone number or email address.

“BBM is a very engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalize and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President for BBM at BlackBerry. “With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers.”
BBM for Android and iPhone features:

BBM Chat – Enjoy real, immediate conversations with friends on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. Not only does BBM let you know that your message has been delivered and read, it also shows you that your friend is responding to the message.

More than chat – With BBM you can share files on your phone such as photos and voice notes, all in an instant.

Keep your group in the loop – Multi-person chats are a great way to invite contacts to chat together. BBM Groups lets you invite up to 30 friends to chat together, and go a step further than multi-chat by sharing photos and schedules. And, with Broadcast Message, you can send a message out to all your BBM contacts at once.

Post Updates and stay in the know – BBM lets you post a personal message, profile picture and your current status, and lets your contacts know instantly in Updates.

Your unique PIN – Every BBM user has a unique PIN that maintains your privacy, so you don’t have to give out your phone number or email address to a new or casual contact.
BBM will be available as a free download for Android smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean (Android 4.x) beginning at7AM EDT on September 21. BBM for iPhones running iOS 6 and iOS 7 will become available for each market on the App Store schedule of12:01 AM local time on September 22. For more information, or to download BBM for Android or iPhone, visit www.BBM.com.

BBM will continue to evolve quickly. Later this year, BBM Channels will provide a forum for active, real conversations between you and the people, brands, celebrities, artists, service providers, communities and more, that matter to you. By creating a Channel, individuals and brands can engage their friends and communities in conversations sparked by their thoughts, ideas and passions. Subscribing to a Channel will let you join conversations with people who share your interests. In addition, BBM Video calling and BBM Voice calling are planned for availability for Android and iPhone in a future version.

About BBM

BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers on BlackBerry alone, and the overwhelming majority use BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Messages on BBM are typically read within seconds, reflecting how truly engaged BBM customers are.

About BlackBerry 
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com.

iPhone 5C Price Ranges From P25,000 to P32,000 in the Philippines

WITH THE announcement of the Apple iPhone 5C earlier today, Filipino Apple fans join the whole world in welcoming the new product with big consideration of its price when sold in the Philippines.

iPhone 5C all colors

Much as we wanted to say that “C” on iPhone 5C stands for “Cheap” but it’s not really the case.

There’s no official pricing announced for the Philippines yet though possible arrival in the country would be in December 2013, the same day of the release in some 100 countries more.

But with the pricing and availability has been announced for the US and other Asian countries, the closest we could compare in terms of price is the retail price in Hongkong.

Apple Hong Kong site says the 16GB iPhone 5C is priced at HKD4,688. That is equivalent to PhP26,487. Giving a little margin, the same model maybe sold in the Philippines at P25,000 the lowest. The 32GB may be sold at P32,000 or more.

So if you’re planning to buy the iPhone 5C, just get your budget ready by now. The prices would be more or less on that range.

It will be released in the US and a few select countries on September 20.

When it comes to performance and specifications, the iPhone 5C is actually the equivalent of the iPhone 5, which will be soon phased out. Here’s the other specs of the colored phone:

SIRI
iOS 7
4.0-inch IPS LCD display @ 640×1136 pixels, 326ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Apple A6 1.2GHz dual-core processor
PowerVR SGX543MP3 (triple-core)
1GB RAM
16GB, 32GB internal storage
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band
DC-HSDPA 42Mbps, LTE 100Mbps
Bluetooth 4.0
8MP iSight camera, LED flash
1080p video recording
1.2MP HD front-facing camera, 720p @ 30fps
GPS w/ aGPS support, GLONASS
132 grams (weight)
124.4 mm x 59.2 mm x 8.97 mm (dimensions)

Are you planning to buy the iPhone 5C?

Globe launches most affordable 7-day call and text promos

In a bid to strengthen its core mobile services and sustain momentum of its prepaid business, Globe Telecom unveiled its biggest and most aggressive 7-day call and text offers for prepaid subscribers who look for longer validity promos.

For subscribers who want uninterrupted text messaging for the entire week, GoUNLITXT49 allows them to send unlimited texts to Globe and TM for only P49, the most affordable week-long unlimited text promo available in the market today. This is equivalent to just P7 per day of unlimited text messaging to the Globe and TM networks for 7 days.

Meanwhile, subscribers who want to avail of the lowest 7-day call promo in the market today can register to GoCALL100, which gives them 500 solid minutes of calls to Globe and TM for P100, valid for 7 days. This is over 8 hours of talk time for an entire week at an affordable price of P100.

“Only Globe gives subscribers the best and most competitive 7-day text and call promos with GoUNLITXT49 and GOCALL100. Send text messages all you want and stay connected with your calling circle longer with these offers that give you the biggest value for your money,” said KD Dizon, Head of Globe Prepaid.

To register, dial *143#, choose GoSAKTO and create the desired promo, or text GOUNLITXT49 or GOCALL100 to 8888.

As of end-June 2013, cumulative mobile subscribers were at 36.1 million. Globe prepaid subscribers stood at about 34.2 million, 14% above last year’s 30.1 million and 3% higher than previous quarter’s 33.3 million.

Press Release from Globe Telecom

Kakaotalk is the number one App in Google Play and Apple Store

KakaoTalk Dominates PH App Store and Google Play

KakaoTalk, the newest mobile messaging application to reach the country, is now the number one free social networking application in the Philippine iOS App Store and the number one free communications application in Google Play. The mobile application saw a surge of downloads over the past couple of weeks, taking the No. 1 spot in Communications category of Google Play on the 18th, following its matched success in the App Store where it rose to become the No. 1 Social Networking application on August 7th, the same day of its official launch.

 

The impressive results are backed by Kakao’s aggressive localization efforts, in addition to the messenger’s fun and unique features. On August 7th, Kakao launched a TV and radio ad of KakaoTalk featuring K-pop superstars, Big Bang and Philippines’ pop princess, Sarah Geronimo. These two stars are also featured on KakaoTalk’s Plus Friend channel, a fun interactive advertisement platform where users can add Sarah and BigBang’s official accounts to their Friends’ list to receive latest updates and content including pictures and videos on them. Kakao plans to partner with more celebrities and companies in the Philippines to offer Filipino users content that is locally relevant. 

 

Kakao has also been offering free BigBang and Sarah Geronimo animated emoticons and stickers for those who download the application, so that they can get a taste of the fun and expressive communication that stickers offer. In addition, Filipino KakaoTalk users can get a chance to win exclusive KakaoFriends dolls by chatting with ‘Event KakaoTalk’ until August 25. 

“We are overwhelmed by the support of the Filipino users. We are very optimistic that our application will keep growing and we are determined to become an integral part of the local ecosystem and how Filipinos interact,” shares Jang. “We are working on creating localized stickers and content that are more appealing and relatable to Filipino users.”

Jang adds, “Apart from offering free messages and calls, KakaoTalk has more fun features that we have yet to introduce to Filipinos. By listening to our users, we can customize the application’s features based on their wants and needs. We look forward to launching them here in the future.”


About Kakao Corp

Kakao Corporation is the developer of KakaoTalk, a mobile messaging application and global mobile social platform based in South Korea. Established in 2006, Kakao has solidified its position as the leader in the global mobile platform industry, expanding its services beyond messaging to mobile platform encompassing games, digital contents, marketing, commerce and more. Kakao’s mission is to build a mobile ecosystem at the global scale, offering win-win solutions for third-party partners. For more information, visit www.kakao.com/talk/en.

 

About KakaoTalk

KakaoTalk is a free mobile messenger app with more than 100 million users from 230 countries that allow users to send and receive unlimited calls and texts anywhere around the world. Its main features include group chat with unlimited number of friends, free group calls, coupons, games, and digital items (animated emoticons, themes). Available in 13 different languages, KakaoTalk is a cross-platform messenger that supports Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows OS and Bada.

Iphone 5S to be Scratch Resistant

A Chinese Apple fan site has reported that the upcoming Apple iPhone 5S will feature a dual LED flash, improving the overall quality of flash photography on the device. It is also reported that the low cost iPhone dubbed the “iPhone C” will feature a plastic scratch resistant case.

iPhone 5S (Renders by Martin Hajek based on a concept 
by Steve Hemmerstoffer for nowhereelse.fr)

In a video featured on the fan sight, a reporter is shown placing the iPhone C case into a bag of coins, keys, screws, nails, safety clips and various other sharp metal items. He then proceeds to shake the contents of the bag and remove the iPhone case after a minute, showing the smooth, unscathed case. He also attempts to use a key to scratch on the back of the phone to little effect.


Additional rumors have claimed that the low cost smartphone will be available in multiple colors including red, blue, yellow and green, with possible variatiosn on how light or dark the color is. The chosen colors were spotted in a leaked picture showing a range of plastic colors.

There is increased speculation that Apple will stray from providing the iPhone 5S in just black or white, with a gold option possibly in the works.

Apple is expected to unveil their next iteration of the iPhone at an event on September 10.

BlackBerry Q5, out in the market this weekend for P18,690

BlackBerry was supposed to launch their latest BB10 device, which is the Q5, yesterday but had to postpone due to the severe weather condition.

The BlackBerry Q5 is considered to be the more affordable version of the Q10, which is a QWERTY smartphone in the BlackBerry 10 platform (version 10.1). Instead of a serious design found on the Q10, the BlackBerry Q5 has a more youth-oriented look although only available in Black despite having a White and Red version.



It has BlackBerry’s classic QWERTY keyboard to match the 3.1-inch touchscreen. It will also have the same but lower-clocked dual-core chip as the more expensive Q10 to go with 2GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. Although the chip is capable of LTE, it seems that unlocked units will only be getting 3G.

There’s a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front facing one and a non-removable battery rated at 2180mAh which is slightly higher than the Q10 (2100mAh).

Kristian Salvo, Country Manager for the Philippines at BlackBerry said, “We are excited to bring the new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone to the Philippines. The BlackBerry Q5 smartphone offers a great experience to customers who want to have the power of BlackBerry 10 with a QWERTY keyboard in a stylish youthful design, making it easy for them to have fun and stay socially connected with those that matter most to them.”

The BlackBerry Q5 is slated to hit the market this weekend, August 24, for Php18,690.

BlackBerry Q5 Specs:
3.1-inch LCD display @ 720×720 pixels, 328ppi
Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon 1.2GHz dual-core Krait
Adreno 225 Graphics
2GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD up to 64GB
5MP autofocus rear camera, LED flash, 1080p video recording
2MP front-facing, 720p video recording
HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band, WiFi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
BlackBerry OS 10.1
Non-removable Li-Ion 2180mAh battery
120mm x 66mm x 10.8mm
120 grams
SRP: Php18,690

Cherry Mobile Titan to get Jelly Bean update on April 15

Cherry Mobile recently announced on their Facebook that their 5-inch Titan smartphone, will get the Jelly Bean update next week, April 15.

Android Jelly Bean offers better optimization and smoother performance compared to Ice Cream Sandwich. The update will cover the phone’s 5-point multitouch feature and the ability to save apps to the microSD.

The catch is that you’re required to visit one of their service centers to get the phone updated. We were told that they are not planning to release the update as a DIY solution. Something they should reconsider since CM service centers are typically crowded.

The Cherry Mobile W500 Titan is the first 5-inch phone for the company and uses a 1GHz dual-core processor with 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. Along with the Flare, they were the first Android phones from Cherry Mobile to have decent specs at an affordable price.

Microsoft maybe obsolete on year 2017 - report

Microsoft obsolete by 2017, a new report says. Technology firm Gartner predicts that the once dominant operating software will be out of date four years from now.



Gartner estimates that in terms of sales, Microsoft will fall far behind Android yet ahead of Apple by a small margin. In comparison, the report says Android currently runs 497.1 million devices, Windows 346.5 million, and Apple 212.9 million.

Microsoft’s popularity could drop even further due to the increasing interest on and usage of tablets and smartphones instead of personal computers, says the report.

“The traditional PC market of notebooks and desk-based units is expected to decline 7.6 percent this 2013,” according to Gartner’s press release. “This is not a temporary trend induced by a more austere economic environment; it is a reflection of a long-term change in user behavior. Beginning in 2013, ultramobiles will help offset this decline, so that sales of traditional PCs and ultramobiles combined show a 3.5 percent decline in 2013.”

In conclusion, Gartner says lower prices, consumers’ addiction to apps, and better features will put tablets on top of the game.

Samsung Galaxy S IV Mini Launches in June 2013

Samsung recently announced that they will be releasing a smaller version of their upcoming flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S IV.

The mini version, dubbed as the Samsung Galaxy SIV Mini will reach Europe counters in June and in the US in July. However, it will be released after the launch of its bigger brother in the US and Europe. Rumor has it that the Galaxy SIV will be available late April in the UK and in early May in the US despite being launched last March 14. This adds fuel to the rumors that Samsung pushed ahead with the official unveiling despite the device not being ready for the public. It was reported that the company is still struggling with the Galaxy S4's software.

The company has also confirmed some of the device's rumored specifications. It will run on a quad-core processor and will launch with version 4.2.2 of the Android operating system. It will also boast a 4.3-inch AMOLED high-resolution screen and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch-focus, and face detection.

It will come in two colors: black and white, and will feature a micro SD expansion slot (for up to 32GB of removable storage) and can also be specified with 8, 16 or 32GB of internal storage.

Kim Dotcom reveals new domain for MEGA

Nearly a week after he lost the domain name me.ga, Kim Dotcom announced Monday on Twitter that MEGA will be available at the web address Mega.co.nz next year.

Kim Dotcom @KimDotcom - "New Zealand will be the home of our new website: Mega.co.nz - Powered by legality and protected by the law. "

 To be hosted in New Zealand, the domain is currently parked with Instra, the same domain registrar and web hosting company that powers his personal website, kim.com, which explains how the new MEGA will work.

The website says MEGA promises “Easy Privacy,” and will make an “Online Mega Manager,” a “Live Global Cloud File System,” and “Multi-centric data warehousing” available for its users.

“The new Mega encrypts and decrypts your data transparently in your browser, on the fly. You hold the keys to what you store in the cloud, not us,” an about page on the website stated.

MEGA, which replaces the shut down file-sharing site Megaupload, is set to launch on January 19, 2013.

iPhone vs iFone: Apple loses in trademark battle

A court in Mexico City denied Apple’s petition to protect the iPhone brand and ruled that iFone, a Mexican software firm, had the rights to that name.

The lawyer for iFone, Eduardo Gallastegui in a statement said it was “the third time Apple lost” which “demonstrates the legal truth” that “iFone is within its full right to use its brand.”

Apple sued the Mexican company in 2009, demanding that it should stop using the name because phonetic similarities causes confusion among users.

The court, however, denied the petition after authorities found out that iFone registered its name in Mexico in 2003, four years before Apple introduced the iPhone to the Mexican market.

Reports say that a local paper quoted Gallastegui as saying that Apple will have to compensate iFone for using the brand name iPhone.

As of this posting, Apple has not released an official statement regarding the matter.

iPad mini starts to show up in the Philippine grey market

The Apple Pad mini has officially been released in select countries and demands are quite high that we heard it’s already sold out in Apple stores in Singapore.

There’s no word yet on when it will officially arrive here, but if you’re looking forward in getting the iPad mini or the new and improved iPad this soon, you might want to check out your favorite gray market store. Price is not going to be friendly though.

Over at Widget City, they will be carrying the iPad mini and the iPad 4 starting on Monday with the following prices:

iPad Mini (WiFi Only)

• 16GB White – Php19,790 | Black – Php19,490
• 32GB – Php23,990
• 64GB – Php28,290

iPad 4 (WiFi Only)

• 16GB – Php22,490
• 32GB – Php26,490
• 64GB – Php30,990

If you want it sooner, Kimstore will have stocks of the iPad mini as early as tomorrow with the following prices:

• 16GB – 20,000 (still available)
• 32GB – 24,500 (sold out early)
• 64GB – 28,500 (sold out early)

If you’re wondering how much the iPad mini is really going for if you buy it online from Apple Store SG, it’s around Php15k (16GB), Php19.5k (32GB), and Php24k (64GB) with tax already included.

So will you wait? Or buy now?