Techolo - Philippine Technology Outlook Blog

Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 Review

2013-05-17T11:00:00.000+08:00

Options for small compact wireless keyboards in the market right now are quite limited. When it comes to full-featured keyboards for desktop use, you only have three contenders; the Apple Wireless Keyboard, Microsoft’s Arc Keyboard and Logitech’s new K810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard to choose from. (see K800, Logitech full-sized keyboard)

Logitech Keyboard K810 Tech Specs:

Compact and ultra-thin with a real brushed aluminum finish
3 dedicated easy-switch Bluetooth buttons that can sync 3 devices.
Sharp, backlit chiclet-style keys.
Rechargeable with supplied cable. No battery hassles.
Works with Bluetooth capable PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone (with keyboard profile HID)
Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows RT
Supports iPhones, or iPads with iOS 4.0 or later and Android devices with v3.0 or later

Initial impressions

The built of the K810 is composed on part plastic and aluminum. Actually the aluminum part is just a slice of layer that is seen below the typing keys. (see image below) Beyond that, the construction is mostly made of plastic so it feels lighter compared to Apple’s full unibody Wireless keyboard.

The keyboard doesn’t take any batteries like AAA or AA. It uses proprietary built-in battery powered/charged by the included USB cable. It’s an advantage in a way because you don’t need to find a set of batteries to use it, a disadvantage is replacing the battery when it becomes dead in a few years.

Read the full review after the break

Due to the blue backlit labels, the top part was made out of black glossy and scratch-prone plastic. I would’ve preferred a full aluminum face or matte plastic but sadly Logitech just instead placed their glowing logo on top.

Also included in the box along with the keyboard is the micro USB charging cable and user documentation.

Performance & Typing

The buttons are great for typing. I didn’t find any problems with it and was quieter than Apple’s wireless keyboard. The letter keys have that curvy inward shape while command keys slope outward. One thing that found quite annoying was the decision to separate the CTL and ALT buttons (in the middle are FN and the Windows key). It’s quite cumbersome to do combo commands specially in Adobe Photoshop.

The backlighting has 3 brightness modes that is pretty useful in a dark environment. The keyboard also has a sensor that knows when you’re hovering your hand and ready to type that it turns on the backlight and off when you step away, which was quite cool.

Battery Life

Since this is a wireless keyboard powered by a built-in battery, battery life is important. You’ll also be using this for your tablet and phones on-the-go so there should be enough juice for you to use. Fortunately, the K810, on my own testing, has amazing battery life. Using the keyboard with backlighting off can probably last more than a month. Yes. I haven’t recharged it since I bought it and it’s still showing ‘Good’ on Setpoint after a couple of weeks already. Turning the backlight on will of course drain the battery faster.

This is just a comparison photo of the Microsoft Arc Keyboard, The Logitech K810 and Apple’s Wireless keyboard. The K810 seems too flat when compared to the Arc and Apple keyboard. It doesn’t have any adjustable nubs at the bottom back to adjust the level but a small piece of book or paper probably could work.

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend this keyboard if you’re looking for a portable, all-around, compact keyboard for your desktop, tablet or phone. It seamlessly works on the iPad and on the Android Nexus 4 and 7 without ever pairing again and again.

The performance and battery life of the K810 overshadows some of my issues with the plastic and glossy materials. The backlight is a nice addition to a very solid and well made keyboard. Definitely a recommend if you have the budget.

Logitech’s pricing of this is $99 but you can buy this for much lower on retail.

Nokia introduces Nokia Lumia 925

2013-05-14T20:42:00.001+08:00

Nokia introduced the Nokia Lumia 925, a new interpretation of its award-winning flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920. The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces a metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera innovation, new features and third party applications coming to the Nokia Lumia range.

Nokia Lumia 925 Tech Specs:

Networks: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900, WCDMA, 2100, 1900, 850, 900, LTE 2100, 1800, 2600, 900, 800
Memory: 1GB RAM, 16 GB user memory
Display: 4.5-inch AMOLED WXGA (1280×768)
Processor: 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon
Camera: PureView 8.7-megapixel with OIS, Autofocus, dual LED flash. 2nd camera: HD 1.2MP wide angle
Size: 129 x 70.6 x 8.5* mm (*volumetric). Weight: 139g
Connectivity: USB 2.0, BT 3.0, NFC, WLAN a/b/g/n, A-GPS and Glonass, 3.5mm audio connector
Battery: 2000 mAh
Audio: -IHF speaker, 2 microphones, HD voice compliant, 3.5mm AV connector

The Nokia Lumia 925 includes the most advanced lens technology and next generation imaging softwareto capture clearer, sharper pictures and video, including the best low light images. The Nokia Lumia 925 also introduces the new Nokia Smart Camera mode, coming as an update to all Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Nokia Smart Camera offers an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot, and Motion Focus for creating the perfect high quality image.

Nokia also announced Hipstamatic's new app, Oggl, will arrive on Nokia Lumia smartphones, allowing people to take and share high quality pictures with like-minded creatives and photography enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to sharing photos on Oggl, users can simultaneously share photos on social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Tumblr and Flickr.

“We keep innovating,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices. “We’re advancingexperiences on the Nokia Lumia portfolio whether that means great new benefits for an existing Lumia owner, or bringing new showcase devices like the Nokia Lumia 925.”

The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces metal for the first time to the Nokia Lumia range, bringing appeal and unique benefits like increased robustness. The polycarbonate back comes in white, greyor black. A wireless charging cover can be clipped onto the back of the phone to take advantage of Nokia’s extensive wireless charging accessories and ecosystem. Covers, sold separately, come in white, black, yellow, and red.

Leading Nokia services, such as the HERE suite of integrated location and navigation services and Nokia Music for unlimited streaming of free music playlists, add to the great proposition offered by Nokia’s latest smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 925 is being introduced into Europe with Vodafone, along with other operator and retail partners. Patrick Chomet, group director of Terminals at Vodafone said: “The new Nokia Lumia 925 is a sleek and sophisticated smartphone delivering great performance and outstanding imaging. We look forward to offering the Nokia Lumia 925 across our markets on Vodafone Red, as well as other tariffs, enabling customers to make the most of their new smartphone on Vodafone’s fast and reliable network. Vodafone customers will also have exclusive access to a 32GB version of the Nokia Lumia 925, giving them even more capacity to store all their content for personal and business use."

Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division, added: “Together with Nokia, we continue to change the way people think about smartphone cameras. The work Nokia has done with the Lumia 925 further enhances the imaging capabilities of the Lumia smartphones.”

In addition to Europe, the Nokia Lumia 925 will be introduced into the U.S. by T-Mobile and into China by China Mobile and China Unicom. Sales are expected to start inthe UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and China in June, followed by the US and a number of other markets. The Nokia Lumia 925 will be priced around 469 EUR before taxes and subsidies. Country-specific pricing and availability will be announced locally.

Nokia Asha 501 introduced for only $99

2013-05-09T15:22:00.001+08:00

Nokia just announced the Asha 501 in it’s international event in New Delhi. The Asha 501 runs on the upgraded Asha platform that looks like the old Nokia N9 with a similar design language seen on their Lumia series.

It has a 3.2 megapixel camera, Wifi, and 3” capacitive touch screen. There is a 4GB internal memory and support of microSD cards of up to 32GB.

The Nokia Asha 501 will cost $99 before taxes and subsidies. It’ll be available in more than 90 countries worldwide from Q2.

Nokia Asha 501 Tech Specs:

System: GSM 900/1800 + WLAN; GSM 850/1900 + WLAN
User Interface: Nokia Asha Platform
Dimensions: 99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm (H x W x T)
Weight: Single SIM: 98g / Dual SIM 98.2g
Display: 3.0” QVGA TFT Capacitive Display
Memory: 128 MB Flash, 4 GB MMC included expandable up to 32GB
Connectivity: Micro USB connector and charging, 3.5 mm AV jack, 2 mm Charger connector
Standby time: Up to 48 days (Dual SIM standby time: up to 26 days)
Talk time: Up to 17 hours (all variants)

Read the full press release after the jump.

Nokia Asha Platform Unlocks Sub-100 USD
Smartphone Opportunity for Developers

New Asha platform delivers developers a consistent quality application experience in the world’s fastest growing smartphone category

Nokia announced a global initiative to unlock the sub-100 USD smartphone market for developers with the release of its Nokia Asha platform. Nokia also announced the Nokia Asha 501, the first smartphone built for the new platform.

Developers who write applications for the Nokia Asha 501 will reach all smartphones based on the new Asha platform without having to re-write code. Nokia expects to sell 100 million of the new generation Asha smartphones over the coming years, beginning with the Nokia Asha 501.

“We’ve seen a tremendous increase in consumer demand for apps for our Asha smartphones, as witnessed by the growth of downloads in Nokia Store,” said Marco Argenti, head of Developer Experiences at Nokia. “Consumers expect quality apps at every price point. With the new Asha platform, developers will be incentivized to deliver those quality apps, previously found only on high-end smartphones, thanks to unprecedented volumes and reach opportunities through one distribution channel and a single platform.”

Many of the most popular applications are already available or in development for the Nokia Asha platform, including CNN,eBuddy, ESPN, Facebook, Foursquare, Line, LinkedIn, Nimbuzz, Pictelligent, The Weather Channel, Twitter, WeChat, World of Red Bulland games from Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Indiagames, Namco-Bandaiand Reliance Games. WhatsApp and other key partners continue to explore new Asha.

Developers will also get easy-to-use development tools and more ways to sell and promote apps, including the new Nokia In-App Payment tool.

New Nokia Asha SDK 1.0 and Nokia Asha web app tools

The new Nokia Asha Software Development Kit 1.0 is a suite of tools that support the development, testing, packaging and deployment of Java apps on the Nokia Asha platform.

The new Nokia Asha web app tools include a Web Development Environment (WDE), an integrated development environment (IDE) that developers can use to create and edit their Nokia Asha web apps; Web Inspector to help developers to debug and inspect elements in their web apps; and a new Web Designer Tool for creating great user experience for their web apps.

Nokia In-App Payment

Nokia also announced the new Nokia In-App Payment tool, designed to make it easier for developers to sell content from within their apps. It provides a simple and secure purchase experience for consumers and transparent payments for developers. Nokia In-App Payment will also be available for existing Asha and Series 40 phones, such as the Nokia 301. Nokia will release a public beta of Nokia In-App Payment in the coming weeks. Developers can sign-up for the beta at www.developer.nokia.com/inapppayment.

Developers voice support for new Nokia Asha platform

Dennis Crowley, CEO and co-founder of Foursquare:"Nokia continues to be a valued partner for Foursquare. The new Foursquare app on Asha delivers a fantastic search and discovery experience to help people make the most of where they are. As we head into the next wave of new Asha smartphones, we look forward to making Foursquare available for millions of Asha customers around the world.”

Michael Fisher, Director of Mobile Business Development, Twitter:"Twitter's integration into the new Asha platform, along with preloaded Twitter application that ships on Nokia devices, offers people a richer Twitter experience. Whether you want to share a photo or news article, connect with people or find out what's happening around the world, it's now easier than ever to use Twitter on this family of devices."

Sebastien Thevenet, General Manager SEA-Pacific, Gameloft: “As Nokia’s long term partner, with to date 200 million downloads recorded on Nokia Store, Gameloft is thrilled to offer four preloaded high quality games on the Nokia Asha 501 at launch (Assassin’s Creed 3, Bubble Bash 3, Real Football 2013, Little Big City) and overall more than 30 games to download on Nokia Store down the track. Those innovative titles are Try and Buy and Free to Play games making the most of Asha Full Touch capabilities and unique user interface, truly bringing a smartphone gaming experience at your fingertips.”

Akira Morikawa, CEO of Line Corporation:"Line’s partnership with Nokia is very important and it will continue on new Asha. Delivering Line on new Asha represents our commitment of ensuring that people around the world will experience the joy of communication through Line on Asha smartphones.”

Manish Agarwal, CEO, Reliance Games: “Reliance Games and Nokia have together demonstrated the combined power of localized content and a distribution platform in India. Our partnership with Nokia is a very cherished partnership for us to demonstrate the power of GoLocal. Reliance Games is committed to develop games on localized themes on the new Asha platform and entertain millions of people around the world by working closely with local Nokia teams in India, Asia Pacific, Latin America and other growth markets.”

Keshav Bajaj, VP Business Development, Nimbuzz:"Most of the 150 million and counting Nimbuzz users are from markets where Nokia Asha continues to gain momentum, including India, South East Asia, Middle East and Africa. We are very excited to have an application exclusively built for the new Asha platform to ensure the best user experience. This is yet another initiative from Nimbuzz for one of its most exclusive partners, Nokia."

Alex Adjadj, Director of Strategic Development, Mobile Sales & Marketing, Namco-Bandai:“NAMCO BANDAI has been developing mobile games for over 10 years but there are still regions of the world where users haven't seen or played PAC-MAN. Our 22 titles available in 13 languages for the Nokia Asha 501 is a testament to our commitment to Nokia to bring a great experience to mobile users of all demographics and budgets.”

Ramesh Kumar, Head of ESPNcricinfo and ESPN Digital Media India: “Given the popularity of Asha devices, the ESPNcricinfo app on the Asha 2013 platform is a dynamic way to reach growing numbers of mobile users in emerging markets. It is a rich platform where the ESPNcricinfo app can provide comprehensive cricket coverage tailored to suit on-the-go consumption of today’s passionate fans, including its famed match coverage, the latest news stories, insightful editorial pieces covering International & domestic cricket – all tailor-made for mobile consumption.”

About Nokia

Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia’s technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com.ph.

Timbuk2 Especial Cycling Messenger Bag Unboxing

2013-05-09T02:20:00.001+08:00

I’m not going to do another unboxing of a gadget. I’m going to unbox but a bag. Yep. A Bag. It’s the Especial Cycling from Timbuk2 – The mother of all Timbuk2 messengers.

Timbuk2 Especial Cycling Messenger Features

Very best messenger for die-hard bike riders and commuters.
Weatherproof construction supported by a TPU liner and boot.
Backbender flexible cooling panel for superior ventilation and comfort.
Air jet textured Ripstop Cordura fabric means high abrasion resistance and exceptional strength to weight ratio.
Comes with a plush padded, ambidextrous shoulder strap with the ability to micro adjust the angle and length of the strap to achieve a true custom fit.
Magnetic buckle closure on the flap for easy one-handed accessibility, while still secure and super speedy.
Timbuk2 Tensionlock allows for additional fit adjustments and quick on and off body.
Removable cross-body strap allows for a micro-adjustable, secure custom fit.
Internal padded pocket fits up to a 15”MacBook Pro in a sleeve (up to 17” MacBook Pro in Larger size).
Quick access side entry pockets with waterproof zippers.
Reflective binding on all sides for maximum visibility and safety.

Pebble Smartwatch Review

2013-05-07T11:00:00.000+08:00

Last time I wore a watch was when I was 10. I didn’t see the need to wear one again after that - until now.

For all things that a phone (smart or dumb) could do, it included the most basic function of telling the time. Which made wearing watches seem redundant unless that watch could do another new thing and actually add value to your wrist.

The Pebble Smartwatch may be the start of a new trend in smart watches in nearly a decade after Microsoft SPOT watches failed to deliver on the promise of a connected wrist wear using FM radio broadcast signals.

Pebble started as a humble Kickstarter campaign by Allerta, the same company who made inPulse, a Blackberry-only watch. This time, it was backed by thousands and made more than $10 million pledges making it the most funded Kickstarter project to date.

Pebble Watch Tech Specs:

144 x 168 pixel display black and white e-paper (with backlight)
Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and 4.0 (Low Energy)
4 buttons
Vibrating motor
3 axis accelerometer with gesture detection

Pebble’s uses an low-power e-paper 1.26” display (from Sharp) and runs a customized PebbleOS which can communicate thru Bluetooth to either iOS or Android. The watch itself tells the time and allows different watch faces but it will need a connection to an active phone to sync in notifications from text messages, phone calls, music controls and much more.

Read more for the full review

Arrival & Unboxing

Pebble was announced to be shipped last September 2012 but due to the spike in interest and demand, they were forced to move the shipping date to February 2013. It actually took this a year to arrive to me since backing this last April 2012. Well, at least the Pebble team never lost communication and really provided weekly updated thru Kickstarter and their online forum, even hosting an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Reddit.

The Pebble packaging is a simple corrugated brown box with sealed cutouts that resemble a breakfast cereal packaging. Pretty straightforward.

Inside is the watch with the included charging cable. That’s it. No manuals or any other documentation included besides the note to proceed to go.getpebble.com.

Hardware

What got me interested with Pebble beyond what the software promised was the water-resistant feature and battery life. The Pebble’s sealed internals required it to have a different type of charging cable. The included cable magnetically locks into the left side of the watch ala Apple’s Magsafe, and then aligns itself with the connectors in place.

The battery life of Pebble is advertised to last over 7 days but my actual usage went beyond 10 days, and probably more if I hadn’t charged it. Granted I disabled the vibration on some occasions but the energy efficient Bluetooth 4.0 and E-paper made all the difference.

Pebble has a number of interesting hardware specs despite its diminutive size. It has a built in 3-axis accelerometer with gesture detection, a magnetometer, an ambient light sensor, the backer-requested and power-efficient Bluetooth 4.0 and the vibration motor.

The watch is made of durable plastic that can withstand normal light scratches. I haven’t tried in on mine since I installed a screen protector the day I got it.

The screen however showed some LED tinges which was explained to be normal and caused by e-paper display production. It was not visible most of the time so I have no issues with it. The backlight was just enough to show the information on a dark lit room but not too bright to cause attention to your wrist on a movie theater for example.

The straps can be replaced with any 22mm watch bands which makes Pebble very customizable to each individuals taste.

Software and Apps

Firmware updates for the watch is coursed through the Pebble app. Opening Pebble for the first time alerted me to the most recent update (which fixed the shutdown bug on earlier builds) Updating the Pebble is simple and dumb-proof.

Pebble is controlled by just 4 buttons. 1 on the left and 3 on the right. The left button is the back button and the 3 buttons on the right are up, select and down buttons.

3rd-party apps are still no-show right now but users can already download 3rd-part watch faces from difference source, one of which is My Pebble Faces. There is even a working Snake and Tetris game that I have tried. Fun for a few minutes though. The watch can only handle at most 9 (at least on mine) so you’ll have to erase one if you’ll be adding more.

The Pebble Team is in the process of releasing the SDK for 3rd-part app developers to use on their services like Freecaddie. With the different built-in sensors in place, developers can really get creative.

Pebble Watch Default Alerts:

Incoming Caller ID
Email (Gmail or any IMAP email account)
Calendar Alerts
Facebook Messages
Twitter
Weather Alerts
Silent vibrating alarm and timer

What I think about Pebble

So far, I like Pebble. While haven’t tried it on iOS, It works well on my Nexus 4 without any problems. The Pebble app does the job but I think it could still do more useful/advanced features like allow Alarm settings thru the phone or more notification options.

I really appreciate the fact that I can check my phone while on-the-go quickly and without fear of it being swiped straight out of my hand. It’s a nice safety measure to be able to read text messages and even cancel incoming calls while riding the jeep, or LRT without risking pulling out the actual phone.

Silently glancing emails or text messages during moments that I normally couldn’t was also a nice thing. It didn't require me to respond immediately (if I didn’t want to) as it was a one-way notice but at least I got the message.

If you also sleep with someone, having a loud alarm just for yourself seems a bit inconsiderate. With Pebble's vibrating alarm feature, I used it most of the time, to wake me up, silently. No, I don’t use my phone under my pillow as I don’t want to risk getting my brain fried.

The potential for it to be a game-changer may still not be there yet but I believe that it’s among one of the most usable smart watch that we can have right now.

If you can muster spending $150 for a watch and willing to wait, you should start getting in line and pre-order at http://getpebble.com/

Timbuk2 Catapult Messenger Bag for Sale

2013-05-03T23:12:00.001+08:00

Timbuk2 messenger bag is my go-to everyday bag. I have a couple of brand new Timbuk2 items for sale. Interested? Let me know (Blue/Grey Catapult still available) Email: techoloph@gmail.com

Internal tricot-lined padded sleeve that fits iPad or e-reader.
Fits all iPad models (iPad, iPad 2 and NEW iPad) with Smart Cover.
Wear it as a sling.
Bicycle U-lock holster so you don't have to shove your lock down your pants.
Room for peripherals, essentials and or light jacket.
Memory-adjust cam buckle eliminates daily fit adjustments. Just unclick the cam, put the bag over your shoulder, and lock the cam back in for a perfect fit every time.
Fine weave ballistic with the Timbuk2 color and durability you would expect.
Cross strap for stabilization included.

Audioengine 5+ Speakers Review

2013-04-29T10:54:00.000+08:00

With the surge of desktop all-in-ones and ultra-light notebooks having average (to dismal) speakers, audio manufacturers also have been introducing high-end, entry-level performance speaker systems geared for computer desktops and home entertainment systems.

Audioengine released the A5+ as an upgrade to its predecessor, the A5, with changes such as improved thermal management, RCA and mini-jack inputs, advance tuned cabinet and inclusion of remote control.

Check out the next page for the full review. Click to enlarge the images.

Audioengine 5+ Tech Specs:

Power Output: 150W peak power total (50W RMS / 75W peak per channel), AES
Inputs: 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R
Outputs: RCA L/R audio (full-range, adjustable), USB Type A (power/charging)
Voltages: 115/240V, 50/60Hz manually switchable
Amplifier: TypeDual Class AB monolithic
Drivers: 5" Kevlar woofers, 20mm silk dome tweeters
Signal-to-noise: >95dB (typical A-weighted)
THD: <0.05% at all power settings
Crosstalk: <50db
Frequency response: 50Hz-22kHz +/-1.5dB
Input impedance: 10K ohms unbalanced

What’s included?

The A5+ unit comes in a neatly wrapped sling bag inside a securely packed box. Also included were a mini jack audio cable, RCA to RCA cable and speaker wire along with the remote control. which has basic functions for volume control sleep and mute buttons. Power cord and manuals are also in the box.

Hardware + Performance:

Setting up the speakers is requires a simple connection of the left (powered, the heavy one) speaker to the right (passive) via the included silver speaker cable. If you’ve noticed my setup on the main photo of this article, I’ve mixed up the left and right positioning. Audioengine clears this up on their website:

Swapping speaker placement won't have any negative effect on the soundstage or quality/clarity of the speakers. This will simply give you the reverse of what the artist intended for you to hear (and if you want the correct L/R audio then swap the RCA L and R from the audio source to the speakers)

The front panel (powered) has the power lights, IR sensor and volume wheel. One thing to add was that turning the sleep mode on the remote will fade-in or out the music gradually. A very nice subtle detail worth mentioning.

The A5+ includes a 5V, 500mA USB slot that can power any USB devices while in use but it doesn’t support data so you’ll still have to use the Audio input slot to stream music off your device.

The speakers finish comes in Satin Black, Hi-Gloss White or Solid Carbonized Bamboo (my favorite since I like bamboo)

The speaker cables will go into these screw knobs.

The A5+ also has a voltage selector switch for 110v or 220v. Perfect for use everywhere without fear of plugging it into a wrong socket.

The 10.75” x 7” speaker box dwarfs the Macbook Air and nearly matches up the size of my 21” iMac (length-wise that is.) It’s really a large computer speaker for the average user but for the discerning audiophile movie-buff or gamer, it is a good choice.

The kevlar grill speakers produce crisp full sound with rich enough bass without any distortion. The 20mm silk tweeter domes also deliver great mid and treble. I don’t really know if A5+ require a break-in period that some speakers actually require to achieve optimal sound performance, but it did really sound great right out of the box.

I played a lot of 80’s tunes like Stevie Wonder’s Part-Time Lover, Phil Collins Sussudio and Starship’s We Built this City. Vocals were really crisp and tones were really balanced out between the instruments. Drum bass really hit the sweet spots and it felt like 80’s all over again for a while :)

Conclusion:

The A5+ is an amazingly powerful speaker. It could literally replace any home speaker system on either your computer desk or TV/home entertainment media setup. For the price of 18,000 pesos, this is actually one of the cheapest pair of quality speakers, at this product segment, you can buy. A good recommendation for those who really are looking for a good all-around home speaker system.

Thanks to Dexterton Corporation for providing this review unit. Check out the different Audioengine products on their website. You can also contact them at info@dexterton.com

Multiply will cease all operations on May 31

2013-04-26T16:22:00.001+08:00

Multiply has just announced that they will be shutting down on May 6, 2013 and will cease all operations come May 31, 2013.

This is quite surprising since the website just recently rebranded to focus on being an online marketplace.

“”We regret to announce that Multiply will be closing on May 6, 2013 and ceasing all business operations by May 31, 2013.

Multiply will maintain normal site operations through May 6. We will use the rest of May to make sure the all accounts are settled and that merchants receive full payment for all the transactions they completed on our platform. This will also provide our merchants with time to find and migrate to alternative ecommerce platforms, settle all payments on items bought and delivered, and to minimize disruption to their businesses.

Multiply will ensure that you receive all funds you earned on the platform no later than May 31, 2013. We will close the actual marketplace sooner, on May 6, 2013, to ensure that all orders have sufficient time to complete and be delivered to your customers before the end of the month.

Merchants who have premium subscriptions should contact our customer support and we will ensure that they receive a full refund for the un-used time on your subscription.”

- The following statement was taken from Multiply website: http://multiply.com/announcement

Pebble in the Philippines, possibly among the first ones locally

2013-04-26T12:06:00.001+08:00

Hello Pebble – It’s about time.

So this is what I have been expecting since last year. The Pebble smart watch has finally landed amidst a number of production delays.

Allerta, the company that makes Pebble, is still churning out thousands of orders right now to fulfill the original Kickstarter backers. Pre-orders are now being accepted for those interested, your orders should ship immediately after every Kickstarter backers have been accounted for.

I was fortunate enough to have backed this on the early stages so my place in the production line was among the first batches of orders. Look, it even says “Kickstarter Edition” at the back. Might make this some sort of a memento in the future when Apple, Microsoft and Samsung look back and see where it all started.

Watch out for the full review once I get to wear and actually use this regularly.

A fan of Pebble or smart watches? join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pebbleph

APC UPS Service Center in the Philippines

2013-04-26T12:00:00.000+08:00

If you have old and busted UPS’ lying around, and still turns on or even beeps, chances are that it only has a dead and drained battery.

My daily Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) was already showing signs of old age after 4 years (random long continuous beeps) so I thought of buying a new one to replace it. Fortunately, I discovered CLIXLogic Philippines which services APC brands and offers battery replacement/ repair for old units. I was able to gather 3 more old UPS’ from our bodega and had them serviced too to save cost on pickup and delivery (500 pesos)

Their battery replacement costs around 700 pesos while a full package repair and battery replacement would cost around 1,000. It’s pretty affordable than buying a new one which could cost around 2,500 to 3,000 pesos, which is not only a waste of money, but also not environmentally-friendly.

I suggest you check them out if you need any battery replacement or refurbished APC UPS’ for cheap. Had no problems so far on my four units.

http://www.apcservicecenter.ph

Nokia Asha 210: Most Social Asha Yet

2013-04-25T15:44:00.001+08:00

Nokia was teasing this yellow QWERTY phone a few days ago which I posted on our Facebook Page. I had hoped that it was a landscape or portrait Lumia device but Nokia just confirmed that it’s the new Nokia Asha 210.

The Nokia Asha 210 is a dual-sim device that comes in yellow, black, white, cyan and magenta. It has a dedicated WhatsApp button as well as Camera for use with the preinstalled social apps like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Nokia Asha 210 Tech Specs

OS: Series 40 Asha
Display: 2.4” QVGA (320x240), up to 65k colors
Camera: 2 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom
Cellular: GSM/EDGE 900/1800, 850/1900
Storage: Up to 64 MB flash memory, support for up to 32 GB microSD
Connectivity: WiFi, EGPRS multislot class 32; Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR; MicroUSB

Continue reading for the full press release

Nokia introduces the Nokia Asha 210, the most social Asha yet

A fast and responsive QWERTY phone with the world’s first WhatsApp button

Nokia today unveiled the latest device in its Asha family, designed to offer consumers more social experiences at an affordable price. The Nokia Asha 210, available in Single- or Easy Swap Dual-SIM variants,features a distinctly Nokia design and smart imaging that sets it apart from the crowd. It supports Wi-Fi to help people enjoy more of the Internet for less and is the world’s first phone to have a dedicated WhatsApp button.

Your social life at your fingertips

The Nokia Asha 210 has a QWERTY keyboard and ad edicated WhatsApp buttonfor fast access to instant messaging. To celebrate the Nokia and WhatsApp partnership, WhatsApp is offering their service for free on all Nokia Asha 210 devices with the WhatsApp button for their lifespan. Combined with Facebook, Twitter and support for popular email accounts such as Gmail, the Nokia Asha 210 is designed to ensure that people are never more than a few clicks away from their friends and family.

Capture and share great images every time

The Nokia Asha 210 comes with a 2MPcamera that can be accessed through a dedicated hard key even when the keypad is locked. The smart camera also offers a choice of image capture, editing and sharing options, including:

Self-portrait – for perfectly centred self portraits, even without a front-facing camera. The built-in voice guides the user to ensure they are in the frame, before taking the shot

Fast editing of images directly from the camera app and easy sharing of images to social networks

People can also share photos and other content quickly by using Nokia’s innovative Slam feature, which comes built-into the Nokia Asha 210.It works by enabling the transfer of content such as images or videos to another Bluetooth-enabled phone without the need to pair devices.

“The Nokia Asha 210 really stands out giving super-social consumers new ways to express their personalities through design, colour and innovations like the world’s first WhatsApp button,” explains Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “It has been designed to allow people to easily update their social networks, stay in touch with friends and share user created content.”

“We are focused on delivering the best WhatsApp experience to as many people as possible,” said Brian Acton, Co-Founder of WhatsApp Inc.“We are very excited about our partnership with Nokia Asha complementing our strategy of giving people around the world an easy experience when keeping in touch with their friends.”

The new device also takes full advantage of the Nokia Xpress Browser which uses Nokia's cloud technology to reduce data consumption by up to 90 percent, helping people enjoy more affordable Internet access. The Nokia Asha 210 also features Nokia Nearby, a web app that letspeople discover points of interest such as restaurants, shopping and ATM machines close to their location.

Other key features for Nokia Asha 210 include:

Social phonebook integration with the ability to launch WhatsApp direct from contact cards in the Phonebook

Preloaded YouTube launcher for direct video streaming

Chat screen notifications that keep users up-to-date on new conversations

Single-SIM and Dual-SIM models featuring Nokia’s exclusive EasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device

WiFi On/Off control button

Nokia’s renowned long battery life: up to 46 days with Single-SIM and up to 24 days with Dual-SIM

The Nokia Asha 210 is available in yellow, cyan, black, magenta and white. The estimated retail price for the Nokia Asha 210 is around 72 USD and it is expected to start shipping in the second quarter of 2013.

About Nokia

Polishing Windows 8 ‘Metro’ Live Tile Icons

2013-04-25T01:02:00.001+08:00

Please click the image to enlarge.

I have been using Windows 8 for a few months now and have already gotten quite used to the new ~~Metro~~ Modern interface. However, I had some petty issues with some of the pre-installed Live Tile Icons not really expressing very well the app and just not looking right (which I know is relative to my own liking)

So when I had an extra hour I decided to polish some of Windows 8 Modern UI Icons into what I believe is more easier to understand, simple yet still consistent with the whole idea of the Modern UI design language.

Continue reading on the next page for a brief explanation on the changes.


News The flap behind was just not doing it for me so I made a sharper lower corner having it look like an actual folder newspaper.	Mail Mail can’t get any simpler than an envelope. I think it works well. Just tweaked and made the flap line a little thicker.

People I made the heads bigger and less rounded. Also made the shoulders look normal and not like someone with scoliosis.	Calendar Calendar just looks fine. Refined it a little

Camera The camera looks a little different than the rest of the icons. So I tweaked the lens and centered it.	Weather Made the sun simpler with less rays

Travel Briefcase looks fine but it can be mistaken for business attaché case. Just made the handle rounded and added straps. Though I think that it could also stand without the straps for a more simpler look.	Finance Nothing new here, but still just tweaked it along with the rest.

Sports Refined the trophy and added a star because every sporting event has some sort of a star right? or I just like Mario.	Video Made the container shape a little sharper on the corners, but rounded also works great (as with all containers). Was just thinking of it as the Surface PC.

Photos Less mountain tips and longer sun rays. More space on the bottom for the Polaroid-feel.	Music Adjusted the shape of the band and the ear foams. Made lines thicker.

Games Couldn’t use the Xbox logo as Microsoft might be moving it to something more than “gaming”. So maybe just making the Xbox circle a little bigger.	Maps Maps icon was a little weird to look at at first. So I made a Google-like marker using the Bing Maps pin creating a focal point on the icon.

Geneva Model S Sound System Review

2013-04-08T23:00:00.001+08:00

Geneva Lab is a company based in Switzerland and their first product line, Geneva Sound Systems, introduced a wide-range of iPod dock sound systems one of which is the Geneva Model S.

The product naming is as simple as it gets, the Model S stands for the small version of their all-in-one system. There are also XS, M, L XL and even XXL (coming in June 2013) models which features the same simple and minimalistic design but with a larger frame and set of features.

Geneva Model S Tech Specs:

Two full-range 3” drivers
Two bass ports with dynamic loudness
Each speaker individually powered and chambered for accurate acoustics
Two Class D digital amplifiers – extremely efficient, low-power consumption
Digital FM radio with 6 presets
Digital clock with alarm
LED display for volume/mode/frequency
iPod/iPhone Universal Dock with automatic opening for protection
TouchLight controls – backlit, touch-sensitive
Stereo mini line-in jack for external audio
Remote control
Table stand in brushed aluminum finish

Click below to read the full review.

Unboxing

The Geneva Model S came in a premium-looking bright red box. Inside included the bare essentials; you get a remote control, iPod/iPhone Universal Dock adapters, AC power cable, External FM antenna and table stand in brushed aluminum finish.

While the inclusion of retractable antenna is great, the included remote feels kind of cheap. Comparing it to my Altec Lansing remote, it seems that Geneva just settled with basic plastic molding and just covered it with a faux aluminum paint job. For the price, I wish they had used a stronger and high-quality plastic to complement the speaker itself.

The remote allows 6-preset FM stations and pretty much every controls from treble/bass adjustments to alarm clock settings.

Hardware & Sound

I really like the glossy paint and retro-feel of the Geneva S. The red paint looks like those automotive finishes found on high-end sports cars. Getting the black or white version would just be as nice looking, it will just depend on your house interiors and how each color would complement your existing setup. I imagine the black color might show your nasty fingerprints though.

The Geneva S has 2 ports on the back for the antenna and the auxiliary input, meaning you can still stream music via your devices’ headphone jack even if you don’t have any iDevices.

Below the speaker case are 4 foot nubs for when using without the cylindrical stand. The power supply is also built right inside the speaker cabinet hence the straight to socket cord.

When not in iPod Mode, the dock discreetly hides itself via a rolling motor making the top surface clean for other stuffs like photo frames or a tiny flower pot.

Geneva calls their controls TouchLight. It is a touch-sensitive backlit display that I flush within the surface of the hardware. It looks cool and the controls very much function like an iPod would.

Geneva Model S doesn’t come with built-in Bluetooth but the review unit given to me included a 30-pin Bluetooth adapter which allows wireless music streaming. Instant AirPlay-like feature.

The Geneva Model S has two 3” full-range drivers with Digital Hi-Fi amplifiers. Audio quality was great and quite at par with my Creative D200. Both having excellent crisp and full sounds at 128kbps streaming music. I’m not an audiophile but I know good sound when I hear it.

My father specifically loved the overall aesthetics and the easy access buttons at the top.

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend the Geneva Model S (besides the plastic remote) as a good all-around home system. It performs well while also looking really good. Just a quick note though, Apple has just introduced a new lightning connector for the newer iPods and iPhone, might want to get a 30-pin to lighting adapter to make use of the dock and charger.

The Model S retails for about 13,860 and is obviously targeted at discerning audio-loving and stylish crowds. If you have no budget constraints this is a perfect choice but if you do, I’m sure you could find other low-cost speakers that might not look good as this, but still offer the feature that you’re looking for.

Thanks to Dexterton Corporation for providing this review unit. Check out the different Geneva products on their website. You can also contact them at info@dexterton.com

Google Nexus 7 + Speck FitFolio Review

2013-03-25T16:35:00.001+08:00

The Nexus 7 is Google’s entry-level Nexus ‘Pure Google’ device. Is the price indicative of the quality?

If it has not been apparent yet, Google is now into the hardware business. They are now doing hardware themselves or thru partners which, in the case of the Nexus 7 is Asus. This is the 7” Android tablet you’re going to want to go up against Apple’s iPad Mini.

Beyond the cheaply plastic outer shell, the the Nexus 7 is considerably priced less than the usual 7” tablets on the market with similar or lesser specs. The Nexus 7 is priced at $199 for the 16Gb and $250 for the 32GB. There is also an option for a 3G version model which runs for $299.

Nexus 7 Technical Specs

Display: 7" 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi) Gorilla Glass
CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
RAM: 1GB
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly bean
Camera: Front facing 1.2 MP
Storage: 16/32GB
Sensors: Microphone, NFC (Android Beam), Accelerometer, GPS, Magnetometer, Gyroscope

Read more for the complete review of the Google Nexus 7 tablet and Speck’s FitFolio.

Unboxing

The box is one of the first grey minimalistic designs among the Nexus line. The front of the box shows the corner of the tablet cleverly displaying the number 7 hinting at the size of the device itself. Also included is the AC adapter, sync/charging cable and manuals. That’s about it.

Hardware + Display + Build

The specs of the Nexus 7 is surprisingly powerful for its price. You already get a 7” 1280x800 HD display with Tegra 3 quad core processor, which is higher than Amazon Kindle Fire’s 1024x600 169ppi display with a TI OMAP 1.2Ghz Dual Core CPU, for just $40 more.

Google also upgraded the 8gb version to 16gb while retaining the original price of $199. Early adopters are hurting but new buyers must be very lucky.

Being spoiled by Samsung’s Super AMOLED display of the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus 7’s display didn’t look appealing at first. Apparently the default boot brightness was at low setting and the default wallpaper was also of a muted hue.

Changing it and adjusting the brightness livened up and brought out the vividness of the display.

Everything looks sharp on the HD IPS display. Unfortunately, some app icons still do not scale properly on the HD screen and have that blurred effect on them. Nothing a quick fix these developers can’t do as more HD screens come out.

The Nexus 7 also has 4 pin port for the extra dock accessory on Google Play. It’s similar to the pins on the Galaxy Nexus and I really haven’t tried anything on both of them yet.

What I have tried is this Android Beam feature (similar to WebOS Touch to Share) of just tapping the phone on the tablet and it will sync any open browser tabs (note really needed if you use Chrome tabsync), files, photos. It’s using NFC technology to detect near devices and then transfers them via Bluetooth. I now use this to edit camera phone photos on a larger screen.

I just wished that it would work without requiring the two devices to face back-to-back since it’s kinda tedious doing it alone. It wouldn’t be possible I guess since the NFC radios are located at the back, I wonder how the HP TouchPad and Pre 3 does it with theirs.

Android Jellybean. iPad Mini versus Nexus 7

While I have just discussed the hardware side of the Nexus 7, most of its magic and power lies on the software of this small little beast.

I wanted the iPad Mini only because of one reason alone - the improved rear camera. I wanted the Nexus 7 because it’s a load and store thing and doesn’t require me to sync via iTunes. It also has a better display and is a lot cheaper. I also have an Android phone so syncing between them should not be a problem.

Android Jellybean 4.2 is great on the Nexus 7. Switching between apps and navigating the entire OS is intuitive. Apps are there but tablet optimized apps are not, that is why I won’t recommend the Nexus 10. The Nexus 7 can be forgiven for lack of tablet optimized apps due to slightly large screen but the Nexus 10 can’t and would look worse at iPad’s slew of HD apps.

Conclusion

Nice, solid tablet from Asus. Doesn’t feel cheap even with the plastic construction. For the price, it’s better to get the 32gb version and skip the 16gb. IF you have an iPhone already, try the Nexus 7, If you’ve got Android and want to try something new, better get an iPad Mini. This is basically a larger Nexus phone but works very well on a larger display. Comics, documents, browsing, games looks great.

Speck Fitfolio for the Nexus 7

Choosing a case for the Nexus 7 can be challenging. You’d want a case to offer protection while still retaining the tablet’s slim, and very portable figure. While looking for one, I narrowed the choices between the Speck FitFolio and Poetic Slimline Portfolio Case.

I wanted to like the Poetic Slimline because it’s similar to the current iPad 2 case that I have from Scoche. It’s slim and it’s looks good. Unforunately it didn’t cover enough areas (top and bottom) to safeguard the Nexus 7 from corner drops and thuds while inside the bag. Some negative Amazon reviews on build quality and flap fraying also didn’t help.

I ended up going with Speck’s FitFolio and while it was a bit thicker – it offered coverage on all sides and the a plastic flap to lock the leather cover in place when not in use. It also has the magnetic feature that turns the display on/off when you uncover/cover the flap. If you’re looking a a great Nexus 7 case, consider this one. I like mine.

Gadgets & Geek Stuff For Sale!

2013-03-18T15:16:00.001+08:00

Hello guys! I’m selling some nice and unique stuff at this page. Feel free to check it out. Most items have a single stock so once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’m also posting 2nd hand phones and other items that I have not been using anymore. Someone’s forgotten stuff could maybe be another one’s treasure.

I will be adding new stuff for sale from time to time on this page so keep posted by liking us on Facebook.

Techolo.com’s For Sale Page

Lavandera.ph: First online laundry management system in the Philippines

2013-03-11T13:04:00.001+08:00

Lavandera.ph, the Philippines first online laundry management system, was just launched today. The website basically works by getting the user’s geo-location and providing the nearest laundry shops in the area. Lavandera also adds a unique feature that allows users to record what clothing pieces they’ve left on a specific shop so that customers and shop owners can have a list breakdown of what was accepted and what is to be claimed.

Lavandera is a web app that allows you to find laundry shops closest to you. It also allows you to manage laundries you sent. You can view the status of each laundry, from pick-up to delivery.

I got to preview the website prior to launch and it works really well. It prompted a request to enable location sharing and after that laundry shops listings populated the map. For a new site, it has a lot of readily plotted actual laundry shops but being just new, most of the laundry shops have yet to join the site to “claim” their shops.

By “claiming” their shops, laundry store owners can edit their profile and add contact details and address. The owner-specific account also allows shop operators to validate the customers list and also update the status of the laundry, whether is was just received, still drying, or being delivered.

Another helpful feature allows users to rate and leave a feedback for shops. Word of mouth advertising and actual field report from real customers is always a big help when deciding which laundry shop to choose.

Lavandera.ph is making it clear that they are not accepting laundry’s themselves neither are they endorsing any shops :) They are just a portal for customers and shop owners to easily locate, manage and offer their services. Lavandera.ph is initially available as a web service but mobile specific app versions will be rolling out soon for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

www.lavandera.ph

New Sennheiser Headphones, Soaring Soundscape

2013-03-05T01:41:00.001+08:00

A Press Release From Sennheiser Philippines

While it is true that technology has progressed, affording the same to the mainstream consumer market comes at a premium. But the dynamics of price points come into play, when the gadget is weighed and tested and found to be not wanting in any respect, then, truly, the end justifies the means. Besides, there are niche markets that corner any upscale market.

Momentum

Momentum, the new headphones from Sennheiser, lets upscale audiophiles experience sound with all their senses. So palpable is the soaring sound, it feels like a listener is sitting right next to the artist performing; hearing all the nuances of the emotions set through in song.Perfect sound can be heard, felt and seen: the new Momentum from Sennheiser’s Style Selection combines an excellent sound experience with high-quality material and minimalist style. The new headphones are the right choice for anyone unwilling to compromise on sound quality and style.The high-quality, predominantly natural materials emphasise the headphones’ pure aesthetics. People love them for how they look and also for how they feel – combining design and luxurious textures to excite the sense of touch with the ultimate in comfort to wear. The headband and earpads are worked from soft and supple leather of the finest quality from traditional English tannery Pittards and is complemented by an ostentatious headband slider of premium stainless steel.

The Momentum’s sound is like its design: pure and unadulterated. Sennheiser made use of established technologies from the high-end headphone sector to ensure a clear stereo sound with excellent detail.

A 3.5 mm stereo plug means the Momentum can be connected to all current media players. For Apple products such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod there is an additional cable with integrated smart remote and microphone. Buttons set into the elegant metal casing allow you to adjust the volume, select music titles, take phone calls and activate voice control. And the circumaural ear cups mean you can relax and enjoy your favourite sounds wherever and whenever you like.

“Our passion for perfection is apparent not only in the outstanding technology used in the Momentum but also in its modern distinctive design and selected premium materials,” says Rajender Mogili, Product Manager at Sennheiser Consumer Electronics. “With striking yet minimalistic design, it makes the Momentum the perfect accessory for those keen to display a passion for quality audio with a discrete and stylist authority.”

The highly stylish headphone is available in brown and black through selected Sennheiser sales partners. Retail price for the Momentum starts at Php 19,.00300

IE 800

Headsets, like any other gadget or fashion accoutrements come in various price points. Let’s take the case of women’s shoes. If a lady wants something fashionable but not too pricey, she goes for a VNC. If she wants something a little fancy, she goes for a Zizi or Anne Klein. But if she really wants to stand out, she’ll pick out a ManoloBlahnik or Jimmy Chou. In the same manner, discriminating audiophiles would opt for qualities inherent in a headphone.

The IE 800 headphones are the ones with the most innovations per square millimetre. And for precisely that reason, these small in-ear earphones can certainly compete with much larger high-end headphones. They are brimming with groundbreaking ideas to ensure that audiophiles and music lovers can get as close as possible to perfect sound even when they’re on the move.

When it comes to audio quality, ear-canal phones have been known to come up against their limits in the past. But the IE 800 sets new standards: with its new model, Sennheiser is now rounding off its top segment with a set of genuinely high-end portable headphones. “The sound of the IE 800 can easily compete with that of our high-end portfolio," said Maurice Quarré, Director of Product Lifecycle Management in Sennheiser’s Consumer Electronics sector. These dynamic in-ear phones offer fascinatingly brilliant trebles, precise bass response and a detailed, life-like sound image with a frequency response of 5 to 46,500 Hertz.

The IE 800 not only boasts of innovative technology but also features a modern design and high-quality materials such as the scratch-resistant ceramic housing. Its purist design language and black/silver finish gives it that certain extra oomph! The high-end earphones were developed and designed at Sennheiser's headquarters in Germany.

The science behind sound mixing

The interior of the IE 800 conceals many small but effective innovations: the centrepiece is the brand’s specially developed Extra Wide Band (XWB) driver. With a diameter of just 7 mm, it is the smallest wide-band sound transducer currently available in dynamic headphones. Its functional principle guarantees distortion-free sound even at high sound pressure levels. "Until now, high-quality in-ear headphones have used so-called balanced-armature multi-drivers,” explained senior acoustic engineer Axel Grell. “Reproducing the entire audio spectrum requires several narrow-band drivers to be operated in parallel. However, this results in very slight jumps and delays in music reproduction." By contrast, the miniature-sized XWB driver developed by Sennheiser is able to perfectly reproduce the entire audible frequency spectrum and beyond. The advantage- music is played back with crystal clarity and with absolute time precision.

The endeavor to fully exploit the sound potential of premium headphones led to a further small but highly effective innovation: a vented magnet system. The idea is actually quite simple and was used for the first time on the HD 700 high-end headphones. “The oscillating motion of the diaphragm produces an air flow in the magnet system housing that causes the diaphragm to wobble slightly,” explained Axel Grell. “By positioning two precisely defined vent holes in the housing directly under the magnets, we can cause the air to flow in a specific direction. This minimises the wobbling motion of the diaphragm and reduces total harmonic distortion to less than 0.06 percent.

With the IE 800, Sennheiser has succeeded for the first time in solving what is known as the ‘masking effect’. This effect, which has a negative influence on overall sound quality, is due to the way in which our ears work. “The human ear is unable to perceive low volume frequency components of a sound if there are much louder sounds occurring in a lower frequency range at the same time," explained Axel Grell. "This means, for example, that very loud low-frequency sounds will ‘mask’ very quiet sounds in the medium frequency range. This is particularly apparent in in-ear headphones. The sealing of the ear canal by the earphones normally causes resonances that result in a peak within the 7kHz to 8kHz range. This has the effect of masking the actual higher-frequency components. This problem has been overcome in the IE 800 by the use of an absorber. Sennheiser’s patented dual-chamber system absorbs the energy of the resonance, thus preventing any unwanted peaks. As a result, all frequency components – even the finest nuances – in the music material become audible.

The optimum sound properties of the IE 800 are further enhanced by excellent wearing comfort. The housing is made of scratch-resistant, skin-friendly ceramic, while the ear pads consist of skin friendly silicone. This rules out any risk of allergies or skin irritation. To guarantee a perfect fit, Sennheiser has developed new ear adapters with an oval shape based on extensive international studies in ergonomics. According to their personal preference, users can choose from a selection of oval (SM/ML) and round (S/M/L) adapters. A protective mesh on the ear cushions effectively protects the drivers against dirt contamination. The revolutionary IE 800 headset retails at Php 45,900.

For more information on Sennheiser’s extensive audio product lines and headphones, simply log-on to their Web site, www.sennheiserasia.com.

Google Chromebook Pixel: One Expensive Browser

2013-02-22T03:29:00.001+08:00

Google just announced it’s first Chrome-based laptop dubbed the Chromebook Pixel. This is ChromeOS, an OS designed for the cloud. Chrome OS is different from Windows in a sense that it can’t run full desktop applications that we’re used to like Adobe Suite or Microsoft’s Office. It relies mostly on an active internet connection for some of its functions like Google Docs or GDrive.

Chromebook Pixel Specs:

12.85 inch high-density 2560×1700 Gorilla Glass screen
Intel Core i5 processor (Dual Core 1.8GHz)
Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Integrated)
4 GB DDR3 RAM
64GB SSD on LTE version / 32GB on WiFi version
1TB Free storage on Google Drive for 3 years
optional built-in LTE radio
Priced at $1,299

For what it can do (or cannot do) the price of $1,299 seems a little bit pricey. I could buy an Apple Macbook Air and have it run legacy apps while still being thinner and could run offline. It, also by the way, could run Chrome.

If this flops, then it only proves that ChromeOS notebooks from Samsung and Acer were just a hit because of the price.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebook-pixel/

HTC One: HTC’s New Flagship Phone

2013-02-19T23:35:00.001+08:00

HTC just took the wraps off their new flagship device named the HTC One on the launch event in New York and London.

The HTC One will have a 4.7” 1080p display with a pixel denstiy of 468ppi. Another flagship feature will be the One’s imaging capabilities which introduced the term “Ultrapixel” which is quite similar with Nokia’s PureView technology in a sense that it packs a lot of pixels in a single shot. It also has the same PureView feature Optical Image Stabilization for the rear lens and the a wide-angle front lens (as seen on the Windows Phone 8x)

HTC One Specs

Android 4.1.2 with New Sense
4.7-inch 1080p display / 468 dpi / Gorilla Glass
1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600
2GB RAM
32 or 64GB storage
4-megapixel BSI sensor and f/2.0 lens Ultrapixel camera

HTC BlinkFeed

Think of this as LiveTiles but with a touch of Flipboard. It basically aggregates content from ifferent sources and display them right at your homescreen.

Nokia Lumia 820 and 620 in the Philippines

2013-02-14T14:57:00.001+08:00

Nokia Lumia 620 Specifications

Display: 3.8” 480x800 TFT display
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (Dual-core 1Ghz)
GPU: Adreno 305
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 512 MB RAM
Camera: 5 MP, 2592х1936 pixels
Others: MicroSD support

Nokia Lumia 820 Specifications

Display: 3.8”” 480x800 AMOLED ClearBlack display
CPU: Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon (Dual-core 1.5Ghz)
GPU: Adreno 225
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss

The Nokia Lumia 820 retails for ₱18,990 and the Lumia 620 for ₱11,600.

Hot Toys DX12 Series - Batman The Dark Knight Unboxing

2013-02-11T17:03:00.001+08:00

Review of the Hot Toys DX12 Series coming up in a future post. In the meantime, enjoy the unboxing and quick preview of Batman The Dark Knight DX12 Series.

iOS 6.1 Untethered Jailbreak Download

2013-02-05T01:18:00.001+08:00

Evasi0n has just released their jailbreak tool for iOS 6.1 for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and iPad Mini running iOS 6.0 to 6.1. Grab it here now: http://evasi0n.com/

Easiest way to update to Windows Phone 7.8

2013-02-05T00:49:00.001+08:00

This is by far the easiest way to manually update your Windows Phone 7.5 phone to the spankin’ new 7.8. Windows Phone Hacker has released a tool called Seven-Eighter which is an executable app that streamlines CAB downloads and installations.

After updating the Dell Venue Pro to 7.8, I just updated another Windows Phone 7.5 Samsung Focus using this and while it took a while (5 updates) it was fairly easy and would just need a little amount of technical know-how.

Basically, the tool acts as a wrapper for the UpdateWP file, and contains all the updates and their language packs. Using this tool has the same risk as using the manual cab method, so keep in mind that I'm not responsible for the chance something goes wrong, despite that being very low. It's also a tad experimental, but it seemed to work for a great deal of people while I was sleeping, so have at it ;)

Just click the Install WP7.8, and remember to select the correct language packs (same as your phone) to avoid any kinks after.

Download Seven-Eighter

Update your Dell Venue Pro to the New Windows Phone 7.8

2013-02-03T01:19:00.001+08:00

After trying and failing to force update using the internet disconnection method, I headed over to XDA to look for more answers. I found this guide along with the necessary CAB files to update the Dell Venue Pro to 7.8. It AMAZINGLY worked!

Here’s what you need to do to upgrade your Dell Venue Pro to 7.8 Mine was an AT&T unlocked.

Be sure that your phone is on Mango (7720) To check, go to settings, About Phone then more info.
Make sure you have the most recent Zune software installed which is version 4.8
Download this file: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15491148/Update%20-%20DVP.zip and follow the instructions on the INSTRUCTIONS.txt file.
Follow Instructions.txt that says to install Setup-UpdateWP (choose either 64-bit or 32-bit), then to copy each CAB files from each folder to the location where WP7 Update Cab Sender.bat is. Remember to follow numerical order.
You have to repeat the process 7 times for each CAB folder.
Play with your new Windows Phone 7.8! don’t forget to thank XDA member cdgoin!

[via XDA-dev]

Paperman - Disney Animated Short

2013-01-31T11:27:00.001+08:00

Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with the Oscar-nominated short, "Paperman."

I’m glad that old-style hand drawn animation is making a come back. I enjoy this kind of animations and reminds me of Superman Classic by Robb Pratt, which has no 3D but the smooth animations and rough illustrations make it look “genuine”.