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Samsung Galaxy Y Duos Review : Design, Strengths, Limitations, Features, Verdict

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:29:00 +0000

Considering the slightly jacked up specs and the improved hardware, perhaps we can already consider the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos as a successor to the highly successful Samsung Galaxy Y.

In hindsight, the previous Galaxy Y is a bestseller mainly because of its ultra-affordable price tag of PhP 5,700. The next generation Galaxy Y Duos has a more expensive price point of PhP 8,990. But its main selling proposition is that it is the first Samsung Android smartphone to have dual-SIM capabilities. TechPinas received a review unit and I would like to share to all TP friends my experience using it. In a summary, these are the strengths and limitations of the new model --

Strengths:

Solid build quality
Impressive battery life
Responsiveness
Excellent phone call reception
Ease of transitioning from 1 SIM to another
Pinch to Zoom Enabled
Value for money

Limitations:

Screen Resolution
Camera
No Camera Flash
No Adobe Flash

Let's discuss SGYDuos' key features in detail:

Design and Build Quality

The full touch screen smartphone has an exterior construction that uses a solid metal frame surrounding the front and has rounded corners. It fits comfortably in one’s hand. The detachable shiny plastic back cover encloses the battery, SIM card slots and Micro SD. The phone has the following ports and control buttons:

In front, you'll find the touchscreen, the earpiece, the physical home button at the bottom flanked by two capacitive keys, (back and menu). Similar to the previous Galaxy Y, the capacitive keys are not backlit.

The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos features a slightly larger screen size (3.14 inches) compared to its predecessor, Samsung Galaxy Y (3.0 inches) although with a lower screen resolution, 127ppi to 133ppi respectively.

At the right, we have the power button

At the left side, the volume control.

We'll find the 3.5mm audio jack at the top.

Nothing at the rear but the microphone pinhole and the microUSB 2.0 port.

Finally, at the back, we can find the 3.15 MegaPixel fixed focus camera with no flash.

User Interface and Functionality

The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos uses the standard Touchwiz UI overlay on Android version 2.3.6 Gingerbread. It is an easy-to-learn Android 'experience', really. The home screen is navigated using a side-swiping gesture. Overall, I find the scrolling and transitions to be surprisingly smooth, considering that this is an entry-level Android. The phone also supports multi-touch gestures when navigating through the panels.

Messaging

The onscreen keys of the device are moderately responsive. I recommend texting on the Galaxy Y Duos in the landscape orientation to be able to use the larger QWERTY keys.

Dual SIM capability

Switching from one SIM to another for calling and texting is quick and easy; It is just a 2 step procedure. First, swipe the top portion of the screen downwards to access the drop down menu. Second, from the menu, select the SIM card (SIM 1 or SIM 2) you are going to use. Easy as that. One will also find that calls or texts are labelled as 1 or 2 accordingly so the user would not be confused.

Phonecall Reception

The Galaxy Y Duos is surprisingly excellent for phone calls. I’ve used the phone for sending and receiving calls for several days. The voice from the other line sounded clear and audible. The speaker on the other end also told me that I had loud and clear voice output.

Internet Browsing

Internet browsing on the Galaxy Y Duos is satisfactory. When using a stable internet connection, the phone loads websites quickly. The phone doesn’t support Adobe Flash, but fortunately, accessing an embedded Youtube video on a website redirects me to the mobile version of Youtube. One good feature of the phone is the ability to pinch-to-zoom while using the browser. One would find it especially useful because the unit is only equipped with a low-resolution screen.

Apps and Games

The user of the Galaxy Y Duos can be assured of smooth gameplay on the most popular mobile games such as Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Drag Racing, etc. But I could not seem to find Blood and Glory in the market. Android Market seems to screen out specs intensive games and apps for entry-level handsets.

Music

The phone uses the standard Samsung Music Player, which categorizes the music into Artists, Albums, Songs, and Playslists. The phone has decent speaker loudness and clarity.

Camera

The camera is one department where SGYDuos can be deemed underwhelming, which is understandable considering that this is an entry level smartphone. The unit is only equipped with a 3.15MP camera and does not have an LED flash. The picture samples that I’ve taken are slightly noisy and not sharp. The colors are also not vibrant. On the plus side, the camera features a fast shutter speed, allowing the user to shoot quick snapshots. Here are sample pictures from the phone.

Shooting videos is quite decent with its camera. Although the videos lack detail and vibrancy, the video output does not have many stutters. The Galaxy Y Duos captures QVGA video at 24 fps. Here is a sample:

Battery Life

The Galaxy Y Duos presents an impressive battery life. The unit lasted one day and a half with moderate use. That’s approximately using the phone for calls and texts the entire day, and about 1.5 hours for internet browsing and social networking.

Price

The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is priced at Php 8,990. It's still an entry-level Android handset considering its below 10K price.

Conclusion:

Although the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is about Php 3,000 more expensive than the original, I think it is well worth the price. The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos does not intend to compete with the ultra-budget phone category where the Galaxy Y obviously reigns, but rather targets a different market profile: the dual-SIM users who want to upgrade to the Samsung Android experience.

There are different ways to take advantage of the handsets dual SIM capabilities. Here are the different uses I can think of:

Budget-conscious people can use it to take advantage of unlimited promos.
Maintaining 2 separate lines for business and personal use.
For OFWs who can maintain a local SIM to keep in touch with family and friends in the Philippines and another for overseas use.
For unlimited mobile data SIM card on one slot, another for call and text. Unlimited smartphone use for a lot cheaper rates.

This is the first dual-SIM Samsung Android phone in the Philippines. Although there are other dual-SIM brands that are slightly cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos features a better build quality, faster performance and ease of use.

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos Specs

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	Samsung Galaxy Y Duos
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category	Midrange (Entry-level Android)
Dimensions	109.8 x 60 x 12 mm
Weight	109 g
Available Colors	Black
Operating System	Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
Display	240 x 320 pixels, 3.14 inches (~127 ppi pixel density)
Processor	832 MHz
Camera	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, Geo-tagging,
Video Capture	QVGA@24fps
Audio and Video Playback	- MP4/WMV/H.264 player, MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Ports	microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, v3.0 with A2DP
Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 HSDPA 900 / 2100 - GT-S6102 HSDPA 850 / 2100 - GT-S6102B
Memory	512 MB ROM, 384 MB RAM
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery	Standard battery, Li-Ion 1300 mAh
Uptime	Standby of Up to 360 Talktime of Up to 9 hours
Value-Added Features	Dual SIM, SNS Integration, Google Services Suite
Announcement	Feb 2012
Availability	Feb 2012
Price	P8,990

TP Contributing Writer Profile: Mon Arguelles is a graduate of Environmental Management, a joint program of the Ateneo De Manila University and University of San Francisco. He’s currently taking up his MBA. He is a part-time professor and environmental researcher but considers being updated about the latest technological trends to be one of his favorite pastimes.

Nokia N8 Philippines 2012 Ships with Nokia Belle! Current Price in Malls, Quick Demo!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:17:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

Yesterday morning, I accompanied a friend to buy her Nokia N8 in a mall in Manila.

She said she wants a phone that can double as a digicam so I immediately suggested that she get Nokia N8. Flaunting a 12 MegaPixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash, Nokia N8 - in my opinion - remains to be the best cameraphone in the planet even after a year of being in the market.

When the sales lady turned on my friend's new handset for testing, we got pleasantly surprised by what we saw on the screen;

Her Nokia N8's UI has a drop-down notifications tab, new clock widget and seven home screens. "That's definitely Nokia Belle," I told her -- to her delight, of course.

So I guess it's confirmed. Fresh shipments of Nokia N8 in the Philippines have Nokia Belle OS pre-installed. Nokia Belle, previously known as Symbian Belle, is the latest version of the Symbian^3 operating system. As previously mentioned on TechPinas, the update brings several improvements including a faster browser, a more gorgeous interface, widgets in various sizes, a drop-down notifications tab, and easier access to connectivity settings.

But if you want to see how Nokia Belle actually looks, here's my quick demo video of its UI:

Oh, and if you're wondering, my friend got her Nokia N8 unit for only Php 17,000; That's more than Php 6,000 off the phone's suggested retail price upon its release in late 2010.

Nokia N8 Belle Update Officially Coming to the Philippines This February!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:02:00 +0000

We've been together for more than a year now and I'm still in love with my Nokia N8.

Last night, my Twitter conversation with Nokia Corporation itself confirmed that Pinoy owners of The Reigning Best Cameraphone in the World will finally get to enjoy Nokia Belle on their smartphones within this month, February 2012.

Nokia Belle is the latest update to the Symbian^3 operating system. This fresh version brings a slew of enhancements to the platform including a smoother interface, widgets in various sizes, a faster browser, improved Maps, drop-down notifications tab, among others.

If you're a fellow Nokia N8 owner, you should get the over-the-air update notification anytime within this month. You may also manually check if the update is already available for your device by going to Settings, Phone Management, Device Updates, Options, then Check for Updates.

Windows Phone Marketplace Philippines - Up! Live! Log-in and Download Apps Now!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Last January 19, I asked Windows Phone team on Twitter when exactly Marketplace will be accessible in the Philippines.

For those who are not yet familiar with Windows Phone Marketplace, it is a hub where WP users can download both free and paid applications, games and other content. It's exactly like what Android Market is to Android OS and App Store to iOS.

When the first batch of Windows Phone handsets were launched worldwide last year, the Philippines wasn't included in the list of countries where users could access Marketplace. Needless to say, this didn't really encourage a lot of Pinoys to choose Windows Phone over smartphones running other OSes - especially those that not only have accessible content stores but also have more supported applications compared to WP - like Android.

Earlier, I checked if I could already log-in to my Marketplace account on my HTC HD7 Windows Phone - which is, all things considered, an amazing, amazing handset - and thankfully, I was able to finally get in. Apparently, the Philippines officially got Marketplace access today along with Argentina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Peru.

With Marketplace now accessible in the Philippines, I'm inclined to believe that WP sales will start to take off. I've said it before and I will say it again, if there's an OS that can match or even surpass iOS in terms of ease of use, simplicity and smoothness of interface, it's definitely Windows Phone.

Tsunami Warning Following Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Caused Panic in Cebu - Captured on Video!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:36:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

At around 11:49 this morning, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook the islands of Negros and Cebu in the Visayas.

A few minutes following the tremor, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued Tsunami Alert 2 over Western Cebu and Eastern Negros, stating that the earthquake could trigger waves up to a meter-high.

This warning spread like wildfire in the coastal areas of Cebu - with some people reportedly exaggerating the scare - causing distraught crowds to run towards elevated areas to save themselves from being engulfed by sea water.

One Cebuano was able to capture the panic and ruckus on video using his cellphone and uploaded the clip on Youtube.

Notice how the scare almost caused a stampede on the streets.

That's downright scary; Looks like a scene from an 'end of the world' movie, really.
Let's pray for our friends in Cebu and Negros, TP Friends. May God protect us all always.

Unilab Link-up Taps the Crowd for Innovative Ideas! Join Now and Get a Chance to Win Php 50,000!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:18:00 +0000

Calling all geeks, developers and tech enthusiasts!

Got a fresh and innovative idea that you want to see a company - specifically one that's in healthcare - put into fruition? Well, I bring great news!

Unilab - Yes, our favorite healthcare company; The maker of such diverse products including Biogesic, Celeteque, Myra-E, Medicol, Enervon, among so many others - currently has an open door program called Link-Up where everyone is invited to share innovative ideas to serve the health, wellness and personal care needs of all Filipinos.

No idea is too big or too small, too grand or too simple. If you think you can provide a brilliant and valuable input - involving technology or otherwise - that can help Unilab and its many brands serve the people better and bring its wellness services closer to all Pinoys in this digital age, don't hesitate to send them in. Employ creativity with no bounds!

I actually have a few ideas involving gadgets and mobile internet that I want to share with Unilab. I think the company has yet to make the most out of new technologies, especially those involving mobile platforms, and I think one of my ideas can totally make it happen for the brand. I'm now drafting my proposal and will send it in a bit.

Watch Mr. Clinton Campos Hess, President and Chief Executive Officer, talk about Unilab Link-Up:

And here's something to sweeten the deal: If your idea gets chosen by Unilab, it won't only see fruition but you'll also automatically become one of the company's Innovation Partners and you will bring home Php 50,000!

So what are you waiting for? Go to Unilab Link-Up, register an account and send in your ideas!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus P6200 Philippines Price Php 23,990, Specs, Features, Availability

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:25:00 +0000

Putting Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 in a separate category, there are two new generation Android tablets from the Korean company that have GSM Phone functionalities - that is, you can use them to send text messages and make calls; Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800 is the more expensive of the two while Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus P6200 shown below is the more affordable 'hybrid':

While P6800 dons a price tag of a whopping Php 32,990, P6200 only costs Php 23,990. Sure, compared to the former, the latter doesn't have a brilliant SuperAMOLED Plus display, has a slightly smaller battery and is hardly metal-clad, but it nevertheless has an SRP budget-conscious consumers will surely find attractive.

And I don't know about you but I think it's also quite physically attractive as well.

What I find cool about Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is that although it can't really go shoulder to shoulder with P6800 in the looks department, its technical specifications are nevertheless similar to that of its more expensive sibling. The two share the same still and video camera, number of ports, connectivity options, and amount of RAM. Heck, the two even have almost similar CPU.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 has been available in the Philippines since December 2011. I believe there are some authorized retailers that bundle freebies with the tablet like headsets or pouches so make sure you inquire about them.

To wrap this up in true TP fashion, here are the complete technical specifications of Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus P6200:

TechPinas Tablet Technical Specs Table (TTabTST)
Name	Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus P6200
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Tablet with GSM Phone Functionality
Price Category	High-End
Dimensions/Weight	193.7 x 122.4 x 9.9 mm, 345 grams
Available Colors	Black, White
Operating System	Android 3.2 HoneyComb (upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich eventually)
Display	7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density), 600 x 1024 pixels, PLS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor	1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 Dual Core CPU Mali-400MP GPU Exynos 4210 Chipset
RAM/ROM	1 GB RAM
Camera	3.15 MegaPixels, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, 2 MegaPixels front camera
Video Capture	HD 720p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	MP4/DivX/Xvid/H.264/H.263/MP3/WAV/eAAC+/Flac player
Ports	microUSB v2.0 USB Host support, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, 3G HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, with GSM phone functions
Internal Storage	16/32 GB Versions
Sensors	Proximity, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer
Battery and Uptime	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, Standby of up to 1000 hours
Value-Added Features	TouchWiz UX UI, SNS Integration, Google Services Suite
Announcement	In the Philippines: Officially showcased in Tab Lab Event, February 2012
Availability	Out since December 2011
Price	Official SRP: Php 23,990 for the 16 GB Version

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Philippines Hands-On Photos, In the Flesh Videos, First Impressions!

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

"This is your TP NCR Correspondent and Contributing Writer, Mon Arguelles, covering Tab Lab Event at the Eastwood Mall Open Park where Samsung Philippines officially launched Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. I was already there at 3PM to see for myself this beautiful device, and to try my luck on that Php 25,000 discount!"

Breathtaking. That's how they described this 7.7-inch Android device. And it really is. This is the first time that I've seen a Super AMOLED display on a screen that size.

I took some photos and videos for you TP friends to share my experience with you handling what could be the finest sub 8-inch tablet in the market -- one that's also capable of making phonecalls and text messages.

Front: Earpiece, 2 MP front-facing camera, and the 7.7 inch Super AMOLED Plus Display

Back: Finely crafted brushed aluminum back with 3.15MP camera and LED flash

Right side: Power button and Volume control

Left side: SIM card and micro-SD slot.

Bottom: Speakers, microphone, proprietary port USB connector

Top: 3.5mm audio jack

Here are 2 demo videos. First video shows the hardware and the user interface:

Second video shows the display quality of the Tab 7.7:

Notice how the Super AMOLED Display maintained its clarity and vibrancy despite the daylight glare.

Initial impressions:

1. Hardware - In my opinion, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the most gorgeous 7-inch tablet that you are going to see in the market... Bar none. (technically it's not 7 inches but the tech blogging world generally puts it in that category). The semi-gloss brushed aluminum finish of the device looks and feels sleek. Holding it, it's as if I am running my hand on a sportscar. But what really caught my attention is the Super AMOLED Plus display. I have yet to see the Super IPS display on the ASUS Transformer Prime but for me, this is the best tablet display in the market that I saw with my own eyes. The screen exhibited vibrant colors, wide viewing angles, deep blacks, and sunlight legibility which can only be found before in smartphones.

2. Software - The Touchwiz interface runs smoothly on top of Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system. I've used the slightly smaller Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and I find the user experience to be similar. On-screen icons and keypads are responsive to touch commands. This is also customized for use primarily in portrait mode, which - in a way - sets it apart from the larger Tab 8.9 and Tab 10.1.

3. Points for improvement - The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is an excellent tablet/phone hybrid based from my initial observations. But in terms of quick response, it's dual core processor might pose a limitation when it goes head to head with the likes of the newly-released ASUS Transformer Prime which uses a Quad-Core processor to run Android 4.0 the Ice Cream Sandwich. Also, I'm thinking an S-Pen stylus similar to that of the Galaxy Note would also be perfect for a tablet with this screen size.

TP Contributing Writer Profile: Mon Arguelles is a graduate of Environmental Management, a joint program of the Ateneo De Manila University and University of San Francisco. He’s currently taking up his MBA. He is a part-time professor and environmental researcher but considers being updated about the latest technological trends to be one of his favorite pastimes.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is a Phone - Use it to Make Calls and Send Text Messages!

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

If you still have doubts if the ultra-sexy Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is actually a phone, let me you - once and for all, it is. You can send text messages and make calls using this Android tablet.

TP NCR Correspondent and Contributing Writer, Mon Arguelles, dropped by Samsung Philippines' Tab Lab forum held yesterday afternoon at Eastwood in Quezon City to check out the star of the event, the Php 32,990 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800. And like a true and reliable correspondent, he brought us some photos and videos of the device which I'll be sharing via a separate post in a bit.

One Tab Lab file he sent me that I found totally interesting is a demo video of TouchWiz UX User Interface on P6800 which Samsung uses as skin for the Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system. As expected, the UI looks suave and all but the frame that made me go, "That it!" is this:

This frame confirms that Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has GSM phone features. Users can use the device to store contacts, make calls and send text messages.

So what does this tell us? Well, we can consider Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 a hybrid. It's a full-fledged tablet but it also has smartphone features -- heck, it even has an earpiece. Cool, eh? The only problem is, you'd look kinda weird putting this 7.7-inch slate against your cheek to accept calls.

Great job, Mon! Thumbs up!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800 Philippines Price Php 32,990, Specs, Release Date, Features

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Today is the official launch of Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800 in the Philippines! We're getting it a bit ahead of some of our neighbors in the Asia Pacific region so make sure you check it out.

In terms of size, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 lies comfortably between Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9. When it comes to pricing, however, it's right up there with Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the TP-Favorite smartphone-tablet hybrid, Samsung Galaxy Note. So yes, Tab 7.7 is a totally high-end device.

With official SRP of Php 32,990 for the 32GB version, P6800 is clearly one the more (if not the most) expensive sub 8-inch Android tablet in the market today. What's the reason for such a high price tag, you ask? Well, I think it's because of three things:

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the first tablet from Samsung to have a SuperAMOLED Plus display similar to what you can find on Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone. Suffice it to say, viewing the screen will make you go 'Wow!'

2. All variants come with 3G connectivity support and GSM phone functionality. Yep, you can use the tablet to send SMS and make calls.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 flaunts a gorgeous brushed 'real metal' back case, giving it a premium look compared to less expensive tablets wrapped in plastic.

Let's talk specs: Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb with its 1.4 GHz Exynos Chipset Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 CPU. The tablet features a 3.15 MegaPixel autofocus camera with LED flash at the back which also shoots HD 720p videos; in front, you'll find a 2 MegaPixel shooter. You get the usual ports including one for microUSB and a 3.5mm audio jack. As for connectivity P6800 supports Wifi, Bluetooth and 3G.

Our friends at Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation will be launching Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 via a whole day event in Eastwood, which will be capped off by a concert. They also told TP that big discounts and freebies will be given away to those who will purchase their tablets during the program. Check out the invite they sent us earlier this week;

To wrap up this entry in true TP fashion, I present the full technical specifications of Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7:

TechPinas Tablet Technical Specs Table (TTabTST)
Name	Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Tablet with GSM Phone Functionality
Price Category	High-End
Dimensions/Weight	196.7 x 133 x 7.9 mm, 340 grams
Available Colors	Black
Operating System	Android 3.2 HoneyComb (upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich)
Display	7.7 inches (~196 ppi pixel density), 800 x 1280 pixels, Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor	1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 Dual Core CPU Mali-400MP GPU Exynos Chipset
RAM/ROM	1 GB RAM
Camera	3.15 MegaPixels, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, 2 MegaPixels front camera
Video Capture	HD 720p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	MP4/DivX/Xvid/H.264/H.263/MP3/WAV/eAAC+/Flac player
Ports	microUSB v2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, 3G HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, with GSM phone functions
Internal Storage	16/32/64 GB Versions
Sensors	Proximity, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer
Battery and Uptime	Li-Po 5100 mAh, Standby of up to 1200 hours
Value-Added Features	TouchWiz UX UI, SNS Integration, Google Services Suite, Metal Case, SuperAMOLED Plus display
Announcement	In the Philippines: February 2012
Availability	February 2012
Price	Official SRP: Php 32,990 for the 32 GB Version

Yeevents TechPinas Contest, Live! Win Canon Powershot A800 or Samsung Galaxy Mini!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:33:00 +0000

My friend, Alou Vergara, is part of the team behind Yeevents.com. And I wanted to support her new venture.

Basically, Yeevents is a Social Networking site for Contests. You can win cash and gadget prizes simply by answering questions and joining 'events' on the site.

In support of Yeevents, I agreed to sponsor one contest. You can get a chance to win a Canon Powershot A800 simply by answering five questions. And I'm inviting all TP Friends to join now. Check out the mechanics:

1. Sign Up for a Yeevents account only HERE and verify your account. It’s free!

2. Join TechPinas Contest on Yeevents.

3. There’s a Buy-In rate of 20,000 YeePoints to enter the Contest. If your points is not enough, just verify your account to get 25,000 YeePoints or refer a friend to get 5000 YeePoints if they Sign Up. Place your bet and wait for the announcement of the winner when the contest ends! Like Yeevents on Facebook to be informed.

4. Tip: The higher your bet is, the bigger chances of winning. Answer all the questions in the contest for more chances of winning. The user with the highest bet and higher number of correct answers will be declared the winner.

Note: The contest needs at least 100 people to join to be activated.

Also, when you join Yeevents and verify your account, you will automatically get a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Mini Android phone. The SGMini winner will be chosen via electronic raffle.

Asus Transformer Prime Philippines Price, Specs, Release Date, Features

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:07:00 +0000

As promised, here's another information our TP insider fed us last week.

According to him, Asus Philippines is ready to release Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime in the country anytime within this month, February 2012.

What's totally hot about Asus Transformer Prime - aside from the fact that it can transform into a laptop using a keyboard dock - is that it's one of the first devices to run the latest version of the Android operating system called Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a quad-core CPU featuring NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset. This guarantees top-notch performance.

Lighter than both Apple iPad2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sans the dock, Asus Transformer Prime is nonetheless feature-packed. The Wifi-only tablet, which comes in 32 GB and 64 GB variants, flaunts a 10.1 inch LED backlit Super IPS+ display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass touchscreen, an 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with LED flash, a Full HD 1080p video recorder, and HDMI port, and Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity support. On the software side, users get Asus Launcher Android skin, TegraZone, MyCloud, @Vibe Music, and Asus WebStorage.

Asus Transformer Prime will be officially announced in the Philippines by the middle of this month. And I think it will hit store shelves by the end of February. As for the price tag, the TP Guesstimate is around Php 22,000 and Php 25,000 for the 32GB and 63GB Tablet-only versions, respectively, and Php 28,000 and Php 31,000 with the dock. TP Friends, kindly stay tuned for updates.

Wrapping this up in true TechPinas fashion, check out the complete technical specifications of Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Quad-Core Tablet:

TechPinas Tablet Technical Specs Table (TTabTST)
Name	Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen) with dock that makes it transform into a Netbook/Notebook
Price Category	High-End
Dimensions/Weight	263 × 180.8 × 8.3mm ; 586g (pad only) / 263 × 180.8 × 8~10.4mm ; 537g. (dock only)
Available Colors	Amethyst Grey
Operating System	Android 3.2 HoneyComb (upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich)
Display	10.1" LED Backlit screen with Super IPS+ (1280 x 800) 10 finger multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor	1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 Quad-core CPU ULP GeForce NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset
RAM/ROM	1 GB RAM
Camera	8 MegaPixels, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus and LED flash / F2.4 large aperture, 1.2 MegaPixels front camera
Video Capture	Full HD 1080p
Audio and Video Playback	MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC player/MP4/H.264/H.263 player
Ports	HDMI, microUSB v2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth A2DP
Network	N/A
Internal Storage	32/64 GB storage options, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB
Sensors	G-Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope, E-compass
Battery and Uptime	12 hours; 25Wh Li-polymer Battery 18 hours pad with dock ; 25Wh(pad) + 22Wh(docking) Li-polymer Battery
Value-Added Features	ASUS launcher, @Vibe Music, ASUS WebStorage, MyLibrary, MyNet, MyCloud, File manager, ASUS sync, SuperNote, App Locker, App Backup, TegraZone, Polaris Office, SNS Integration, Google Services Suite
Announcement	In the Philippines: February 2012
Availability	February 2012
Price	TP Guesstimate: Php 22,000 tablet only to Php 30,000 with accessories

Samsung Galaxy S Advance Philippines Captured on Video! Android 2.3.6, Confirmed!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:09:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

Since the Philippines is getting Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070 ahead of Europe and even the United States, I figured I might as well share more in-the-flesh photos and post a quick hands-on video of the gorgeous handset.

SGSA in the TechPinas Hideout! Live! Thanks, Samsung!

From this angle, we can clearly see that the scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass screen of SGSA is curved. It's a cool design feature SGSA shares with its more expensive sibling, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Like what I shared in the previous post, Samsung Galaxy S Advance runs Android Gingerbread with its Dual Core ARM Cortex-A9 U8500 chipset processor. Some key features include a 4-inch 480 x 800 pixels SuperAMOLED display, 5 MegaPixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, 720p video recorder, 768 RAM, 8GB of internal storage, microUSB 2.0 port, microSD card slot supporting up to 32GB, and a Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery. As for connectivity, the phone supports Wifi, Bluetooth and 3G HSDPA up to 14.4 Mbps.

The hands-on video confirms that Samsung Galaxy S Advance runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread OS. This specific version of the operating system supposedly comes with faster boot time, support for 3G connectivity speed increase, and several other security and performance improvements. Note that Samsung has yet to confirm if SGSA will receive ICS firmware update.

Again, Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070 is set to arrive in the Philippines within this February with an official SRP of Php 22,990. It will be available at all authorized Samsung retailers nationwide.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070 Philippines Price Php 22,990, Specs, Features, In the Flesh!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:34:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

This is as fresh as fresh gets!

Officially announced by Samsung just a few hours ago and rumored to be unveiled in Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, Spain happening by the end of February, Samsung Galaxy S Advance I9070 had already found its way to our humble TechPinas Hideout in Manila, Philippines!

Let me tell you, the beauty of this handset can only be matched by how solid it feels in the hand. Samsung has clearly outdone itself yet again with the design and construction of this device. I mean, just look at it:

Flaunting a curved Gorilla Glass touchscreen (just like the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Nexus) and a metallic rim, Samsung Galaxy S Advance is a joy both to behold and hold.

But this phone is definitely not all looks no substance. A true member of Samsung's elite S-line, S Advance runs the latest version of Android Gingerbread OS, Android 2.3.6, with its Dual Core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 768 GB of RAM. Multimedia features are also covered; You get a 5 MegaPixel camera with autofocus lens and LED flash, a High-Definition 720p video recorder, and a whole range of connectivity options including Wifi, Bluetooth and 3G HSDPA.

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation told TechPinas that Samsung Galaxy S Advance should hit store shelves across the country within this month. The official suggested retail price is Php 22,990, making it a high-midrange, borderline high-end release.

More about this smartphone on TP soon. But to wrap up this particular entry in true TechPinas fashion, here are the complete specifications of Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070:

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category	High-End
Dimensions	123.2 x 63 x 9.7 mm
Weight	120 grams
Available Colors	Black, White
Operating System	Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread
Display	4.0 inches (~233 ppi pixel density), 480 x 800 pixels, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor	1 GHz Dual Core Cortex-A9 NovaThor U8500 Chipset
RAM/ROM	768 MB RAM, 2 GB ROM
Camera	5 MegaPixels, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, 1.3 MegaPixels front camera
Video Capture	HD 720p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	MP4/DivX/WMV/H.264/H.263/MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player
Ports	microUSB v2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, HS, HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Internal Storage	8 or 16 GB, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB
Sensors	Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope
Battery	Li-Ion 1500 mAh
Uptime	700 hours of Standby, 8 hours of Talktime (to be confirmed)
Value-Added Features	Curved Corning Gorilla Glass Screen, SNS integration, Google Services Suite, TouchWiz UI
Announcement	In the Philippines: February 2012
Availability	February 2012
Price	Official SRP: Php 22,990

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos S6102 Philippines : In the Flesh Photos, Initial Impressions, Complete Specifications!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:03:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

It has finally made it to our TP Hideout.

Here's what Samsung Galaxy Y Duos looks like in the flesh, TP Friends:

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos - as its very name suggests - is the Dual SIM Dual Standby version of the Yuletide best-seller teen-favorite Android-powered, Samsung Galaxy Y.

So let me share my first impressions of the handset:

1. Just looking at its name, it's easy to imagine that this phone would look exactly like Samsung Galaxy Y. But actually, it doesn't. In fact, it dons a different design altogether. Duos is a tad bigger, has thicker metallic accents and as such, is slightly heavier. I'll post a design comparison entry with lots of photos to prove this soon.

2. The two SIM card slots of Duos are behind the battery so you'd have to turn off the phone and remove the back cover should you want to swap SIM cards.

3. Duos' screen is 0.15-inch wider diagonally than that of the single-SIM version. The display quality is just the same though. Both have 240 x 320 pixels resolution and only shows 256K colors.

4. Both Samsung Galaxy Y and Samsung Galaxy Y Duos run Android Gingerbread operating system with an 832 MHz processor so you get almost similar performance. When it comes to multitasking though, Duos should be a tad better as it has more RAM.

5. Being a Dual SIM phone, Duos has a SIM Card Manager in the Android Settings which lets you activate or deactivate SIMs, choose which SIM to use for your Data Service as well as opt to receive incoming calls via other SIM card while using data service.

That's it for now, TP Friends. Stay tuned for our full review.

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is out now in the Philippines via authorized Samsung retail outlets. The official suggested retail price is Php 8,990.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	Samsung Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Dual SIM Dual Standby
Price Category	Midrange
Dimensions	109.8 x 60 x 12 mm
Weight	109 grams
Available Colors	various
Operating System	Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Display	3.14 inches (~127 ppi pixel density), 240 x 320 pixels, TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors
Processor	832 MHz Single Core Processor
Camera	3.15 MegaPixels, 2048x1536 pixels, fixed focus and no LED flash
Video Capture	QVGA 24 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	MP4/H.264/H.263 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Ports	microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wifi Hotspot, DLNA Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Network	2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100
Memory	512 MB ROM, 384 MB RAM, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB, ships with 2GB card
Sensors	Accelerometer, Proximity
Battery	1300 mAh
Uptime	Standby of up to 250 hour, Talk time of 180 up to minutes (to be confirmed)
Value-Added Features	Samsung TouchWiz UI, Google Services Suite, SNS Integration, Social Hub
Announcement	December 2011
Availability	Q1 2012
Price	Official SRP: Php 8,990

Android Users in the Philippines Increased by 300%, iPhone Users by 62% in 2011, According to Smart Communications! Smartphone Users to Rise Sharply in 2012!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:12:00 +0000

Smart Communications, Inc. expects a surge in smartphone usage in the Philippines this 2012 given the growth momentum established late last year.

Android powerhouse, Samsung Galaxy Note

According to Mr. Orlando B. Vea, Smart's Chief Wireless Advisor, the company has seen a doubling of the number of subscribers using smartphones in the last four months of 2011 due to increased availability of devices and the growing demand for mobile Internet.

"Our subscribers have responded very well to our attractive and innovative smartphone offers campaigns, particularly in the second half of the year. At the same time, our network modernization program which is far ahead of the competition, is already delivering a superior mobile internet experience to our subscribers today," shared Mr. Vea.

From August to December 2011, Smart noted a steep rise in the use of the top three smartphone operating systems in its network.

Google's mobile OS, Android, tallied the highest increase with a 300% spike, followed by BlackBerry OS with 66%, and Apple's iOS with 62%. The figures were culled from a series of one-day snapshots of Smart's network taken every month.

"The growth of iOS is significant given that Smart started offering iPhones only last December 2011," Mr. Vea noted.

In mid-2011, Smart launched Netphone 701, followed by the introduction of Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone edition running Android and the SmartNet suite of applications.

SmartNet services allow subscribers to check their balance in real time, chat with other Netphone users, update Facebook and Twitter status and add contacts from the cloud. Sales of the Netphone, particularly the Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone edition, have been robust since the already ultra-affordable handsets were marketed as bundled with attractive data and voice plans. This plan combo has been doing particularly well in Smart's "first time smartphone user" market segment.

In December 2011, Smart further diversified its smartphone portfolio by offering the popular Apple iPhone 4S. Going by the slogan "Everyone deserves an iPhone", Smart offers iPhone starting at Plan 999 — the most affordable iPhone plan in the Philippines.

Also included in Smart's current roster of Android smartphones is the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note "phablet" (phone + tablet) - shown above - which is free at Unlimited Data Plan 2000.

Smart Communications started 2012 by bolstering its Android lineup with the first smartphone running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwic, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Like Galaxy Note, Galaxy Nexus is available for free, exclusively from Smart, at Unlimited Data Plan 2000.

"We are encouraged with the results: On one hand, it shows that demand for Internet-capable phones has risen and on the other, that Filipinos want to get the most out of their devices by going with Smart. Filipinos have taken notice of our improved network and the numbers prove it," shared Mr. Vea.

HTC Radar Price Philippines, Specs, Features : Affordable Windows Phone, In the Flesh Photos!

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Considering that Microsoft has already expressed its intention to spend a billion US dollars to promoting Windows Phone this year and that the number of apps in WP Marketplace is growing steadily by the day, I believe the platform will finally start to gain more popularity and fly off this 2012.

If you want to own a Windows Phone ahead of the others but aren't quite keen on spending a fortune on the handset, this could very well be the smartphone for you:

HTC Radar, in the flesh!

Elegantly crafted from a singular block of aluminum, HTC Radar brings you closer to the important things in life with Windows Phone 7.5's People Hub. People Hub keeps you up to date with your friends and love ones' latest social networking site updates and photos, and shows all of your communication history with them. The hub also lets you stay in touch via SMS, Facebook Chat and Windows Live Messenger all in one conversation, without the need to switch apps that disrupt the flow of conversation.

A true multimedia device, HTC Radar comes with a 5 MegaPixel autofocus camera with flash and an HD video recorder. For gaming, there's XBox Live and for music, movies and TV shows, you can always use Microsoft's very own Zune and even HTC Watch.

HTC Radar was officially announced in the Philippines last December 2011. Yesterday, I walked around the mall and asked a few cellphone shops regarding the current price of the handset. The sales peeps told me HTC Radar sells for around Php 18,000, which is not bad at all. So check it out.

To wrap this up in true TP fashion, here are the complete technical specs of HTC Radar:

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	HTC Radar
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category	Midrange
Dimensions	120.5 x 61.5 x 10.9 mm
Weight	137 grams
Available Colors	Metal Silver, Active White
Operating System	Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
Display	3.8 inches (~246 ppi pixel density), 480 x 800 pixels, S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor	1 GHz Scorpion Adreno 205 GPU Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon
RAM/ROM	512 MB RAM
Camera	5 MegaPixels, 2560х1920 pixels, autofocus, LED flash back camera, VGA front camera
Video Capture	HD 720p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	MP3/eAAC+/WAV/WMA/MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player
Ports	microUSB v2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100
Internal Storage	8 GB, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB
Sensors	Accelerometer, Proximity
Battery	Li-Ion 1520 mAh
Uptime	Standby of up to 535 hours, Talk time of up to 10 hours
Value-Added Features	HTC Watch, HTC Locations, XBox Live, Zune, People social hub
Announcement	In the Philippines: December 2011
Availability	January 2012
Price	Price in malls: Php 18,000

BlackBerry Curve 9360 vs. BlackBerry Curve 8520 Comparison : Price, Specs, Design - Is 9360 Worth the Upgrade?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

So... you're a BlackBerry Curve 8520 owner and you're finally thinking about upgrading to BlackBerry Curve 9360?

BlackBerry Curve 9360 released in Q4 2011 and BlackBerry Curve 8520 from 2010, respectively.

But the question in your mind is, "Is 9260 worth the upgrade?"

Well, I've taken the liberty of comparing the two handsets in terms of design, specifications and software to help you make the right decision, hopefully.

Design

Design-wise, as expected of a next generation handset, BB Curve 9360 is not only thinner than BB Curve 8520 but also comes replete with more metal accents that not only make it look more elegant but also gives it a more solid feel in the hand.

The volume up and down buttons and convenience key of BB Curve 9360 aren't particularly design highlights of the phone but I can appreciate the fact that they are less stiff - if a bit - and as such, a tad easier to press than those of BB Curve 8520.

But if there's one thing that BB Curve 8520 owners will miss on the BB Curve 9360 in terms of design, I think it's the music control buttons on top of the handset. I'm thinking RIM ditched them in favor a slimmer profile.

Overall - that is, regardless of panel or side - I think BB Curve 9360 looks a lot better than 8520.

Specifications:

For this, check out our borderline traditional TP Specs Comparison:

TP Specs Comparison Table: BlackBerry Curve 9360 vs. BlackBerry Curve 8520
Detail/Feature	BlackBerry Curve 9360	BlackBerry Curve 8520
Availability and Price in Philippines	Out Now! Php 14,000 in malls	Still out! Currently Php 8,000 in malls Price upon release back in 2010 is Php 14,000
Dimensions/ Weight	109 x 60 x 11 mm 99 g	115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm 140 g
Screen/ Features	2.44-inch, 480 x 360 pixels, TFT, 16Million colors	2.46-inch, 320 x 240 pixels, TFT, 65K colors
Operating System	BlackBerry 7.0 OS	BlackBerry 5.0 OS
CPU	800 MHz	512 MHz
Internal storage	512 MB	256 MB
RAM	512 MB	128 MB
Wifi	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
3G	Yes, 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA	No
MicroSD Card Slot	Yes, supports up to 32GB	Yes, supports up to 32GB
Camera	Back, Still Camera: 5 MegaPixels, 2592x1944 pixels, fixed focus, LED flash Video Capture: VGA, LED video light Front, Secondary Camera: No	Black, Still Camera: 2 MegaPixels, 1600x1200 pixels, fixed focus, no flash Video Capture: QVGA Front, Secondary Camera: No
Accelerometer	No	No
3-axis Gyroscope	No	No
Digital Compass	No	No
GPRS/EDGE	Yes	Yes
GPS	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Built-in MicroUSB Port	Yes, v2.0	Yes, v2.0
Audio Jack	Yes, 3.5mm	Yes, 3.5mm
HDMI Port	No	No
Stereo FM Radio	No	No
Games and Apps	Yes, via BlackBerry App World	Yes, via BlackBerry App World
Java	Yes	Yes
Browser - Flash support	No	No
Battery Type	Li-Ion 1000 mAh	Li-Ion 1150 mAh

As you can see, BB Curve 9360 pretty much slays BB Curve 8520 in terms of specs (processor, RAM, camera, video recorder, name it), save for battery size. Actually, that's one thing I want to point out regarding 9360; It barely lasts me whole day on Wifi. I think RIM should definitely look into this and figure out how they can extend the uptime of their future smartphones.

Software:

BB Curve 9360 runs BlackBerry 7 OS vs. the BlackBerry 5 OS of BB Curve 8520 (Note that BB Curve 8520 comes with BB 4.7 OS out of the box, but you can upgrade it to BB 5. BB Curve 8520, however, does not support BB7).

BlackBerry 7 OS comes with key enhancements that will surely put a smile on the face of any hardcore BB fan. These improvements include a faster browser, the new Social Feeds app, BlackBerry Maps, BlackBerry Protect which lets you wipe, lock or locate your BB remotely, and a more appealing user interface.

If anything, I think BB 7 Operating System is the main selling point of BB Curve 9360.

So is BlackBerry Curve 9360 worth the upgrade?

If you want a thinner, more gorgeous Curve and you want to enjoy the many benefits of BlackBerry 7 OS along with the specs bump that BB 9360 offers - especially the 3G connectivity support, the faster CPU, the higher resolution display, and the 5 MegaPixel camera with flash - without breaking the bank, by all means, upgrade now. (And come on, BB Curve 8520 is already two years old -- that's like, uhm, a decade in tech years.)

LG Prada 3.0 Price Philippines, Release Date, Specs : Designer Phone, Coming Soon!

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:06:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive:

Just got home from weekend dinner with one of TP's valued industry insiders. And if you're wondering, yes, he shared several juicy info that I'll be dishing out by batches in the next few days.

But off hand, here's one that's just screaming to be shared without ado:

According to him, LG Electronics Philippines is finally set to release the much anticipated designer phone, LG Prada 3.0, come February 2012 -- that's next month.

LG Prada 3.0, as its very name suggests, is the third handset from the landmark collaboration of high-end designer label PRADA and Korean electronics giant LG. This Android 2.3 powered phone flaunts a stunning combination of PRADA's trademark chic simplicity and LG's leading technology, including a 4.3-inch 480 x 800 pixels NOVA display, which has 800 nits of brightness.

Truly in line with PRADA's renowned design philosophy, the 8.5 millimeter thin handset not only features PRADA's signature Saffiano pattern on its back case but also comes with a custom-made PRADA-inspired User Interface serving as skin to Android Gingerbread operating system (with an Ice Cream Sandwich update scheduled for second quarter 2012).

Gorgeous and powerful at the same, LG Prada 3.0 runs on a Dual Core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 chip and 1 GB of RAM, and features an 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with LED flash and a Full HD video recorder.

"LG Prada 3.0 looks really beautiful but I bet its price tag will be a tad hefty," TP's insider told me. "My guesstimate for its SRP is around Php 29,990 to 33,000." His guess is as good as mine.

Well, anyway. I'm hoping to hear official word from LG on this smartphone within the next few days. So stay tuned, TP Friends.

In the meantime, wrapping this up in true TP fashion, here are the complete technical specifications of the designer phone, LG Prada 3.0:

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	LG Prada 3.0
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category	High-End
Dimensions	127.5 x 69 x 8.5 mm
Weight	138 grams
Available Colors	Black
Operating System	Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Display	4.3 inches (~217 ppi pixel density), 480 x 800 pixels, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor	1 GHz Dual Core Cortex-A9 PowerVR SGX540 GPU TI OMAP 4430 chipset
RAM/ROM	1 GB RAM, 512 MB ROM
Camera	8 MegaPixels, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus and LED flash, 1.3 MegaPixels back camera
Video Capture	Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback	DivX/MP4/H.264/H.263/MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Ports	microUSB (MHL) v2.0 (TV Out), 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
Internal Storage	8 GB, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB
Sensors	Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity
Battery	Li-Ion 1540 mAh
Uptime	Standby of up to 330 hours, Talk time of up to 5 hours
Value-Added Features	Premium look, Limited Edition release, SNS integration, Google Services Suite, Special Prada UI Theme
Announcement	In the Philippines: February 2012
Availability	February 2012
Price	TP Guesstimate: Php 30,000 - Php 33,000

Symbian Still the Leading Mobile OS in the Philippines! iOS and Android Battling for Second Place!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:13:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

Symbian operating system may have been altogether 'sidelined' by Nokia but mobile internet browsing data gathered by StatCounter over the past 6 months from netizens in the Philippines show that the platform is still the leading mobile OS in the country -- by a mile.

The graph shows that - from July 2011 to December 2011 - 46.88% of mobile users in the Philippines browsed the net on Symbian-powered devices, which are almost surely Nokia smartphones.

iOS and Android are in a sort of tight race for second place. But the difference between the runner-up and Symbian remains to be wide.

So what does this tell us?

Nokia's overwhelming success in this territory in the past years enables it to stay afloat and still be the clear leader in the face of serious competition. This becomes especially obvious when we compare the graph above to that from January 2011 to June 2011:

Comparing 1st half of 2011 data to that from the 2nd half: The number of iOS and Android users grew considerably from 16.94% to 18.39% and from 7.33% to 14.58%, respectively. Clearly, however, such growth spurts simply aren't enough to topple Symbian -- at least, for now.

Download Video Recorder App for Android - lgCamera, It's the Best Out There!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:23:00 +0000

The Android Market has a lot of hidden gems; Apps that don't get much of the spotlight but are actually better than some that do.

One of them is my recent discovery: lgCamera by RubberBigPepper

I stumbled upon it while looking for a video camera application that has macro or close-up shooting mode.

If you're tired of the limited features of the default camera app on your Android phone, then I'd suggest you give this one a go. Here's a clip I recorded showing how lgCamera's interface looks:

As you can see, it has 2 modes; still camera and camcorder. lgCamera supports all resolutions for both photos and videos that your phone can give you by default; For example, if your phone can shoot 8 MegaPixel photos and 1080p Full HD videos, lgCamera - just like the default cam app - will give you those.

But it does a lot more than that. In still mode, there's an anti-shake feature, forced autofocus before shooting as well as time and date overlay; some stuff you won't get with the default app. In video mode, it allows you to choose the frame rate, the audio and video bitrate and lets you record with torchlight on.

But for me, what's totally cool about lgCamera is that it gave my LG Optimus 2X's video camera a macro or close-up mode! As a tech blogger, that feature is important to me. You see, LG Optimus 2X comes with an 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera and oddly enough, a fixed focus video camera. So, by default, the still camera can take close-up shots but the camcorder cannot. I thought, 'They share the same lens! There has to be a way to get around this.'

And lgCamera offered the solution. RubberBigPepper developers are the best, I tell you.

Android fans, you can get lgCamera for free via the Android Market. The Pro version sells for only Php 85.17.

New RIM CEO is Thorsten Heins : What are his Plans for BlackBerry?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:19:00 +0000

Research In Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry smartphones, recently announced a change of leadership.

Thorsten Heins replaced Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, as the new CEO and President of RIM. This is an effort by the company to regain stockholders' confidence in the face of dwindling sales and market share in North America. Thorsten Hein has been with RIM for four years. He has worked for Siemens prior to his stint with the Canadian company.

In his interview released on the internet a few days ago, he gave credit to the two former CEOs who have preceded him. He said that the company has grown but it was still comparably smaller than the market leaders. Now with his new leadership, his goal is to make RIM belong among the top 3 mobile phone companies worldwide.

Heins acknowledges that the strength of their market reach is within the enterprise clients, but he also did not fail to include their growing consumer market. Likewise, he plans to give complete customer satisfaction to these two different groups.

He is quite optimistic about their new mobile platform, the BlackBerry 10, and the BlackBerry Playbook 2.0. He says that the company shall release these products on time. But as of the present, the company shall continue to pursue a major marketing campaign to promote their current line of BlackBerry 7 OS devices.

Here's my personal view: Other tech sites have been quite unoptimistic about this change of leadership, saying that he is part of that RIM culture which failed to keep pace with the emerging market trends. But let’s give him a chance to prove he can change the direction of the company’s fortunes. The BlackBerry 10 OS seems to be a promising new platform as it was built from the ground up.

TP Contributing Writer Profile: Mon Arguelles is a graduate of Environmental Management, a joint program of the Ateneo De Manila University and University of San Francisco. He’s currently taking up his MBA. He is a part-time professor and environmental researcher but considers being updated about the latest technological trends to be one of his favorite pastimes.

Mark of TP: TechPinas congratulates Mr. Heins and wishes him the best for his new position as RIM's CEO. TechPinas is a BlackBerry fan (We root for BB!) and the TP team is hoping for nothing but the best for the brand under his leadership. Right now, we're excited to try out and review the BlackBerry 10 platform. Also, we long to have a meaningful conversation on BlackBerry's plans for the Philippines with Mr. Heins soon.

HTC Explorer Philippines Price, Specs, In the Flesh Video!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:16:00 +0000

I think HTC Explorer is slightly more expensive than its seeming rival, Samsung Galaxy Y, for three reasons.

1. It has a bigger screen with higher resolution.
2. It has more RAM. You get 512 MB of RAM with HTC Explorer vs 290 MB with SGY.
3. It flaunts a higher resolution autofocus camera; 2 MegaPixels fixed focus with SGY, 3 MegaPixels autofocus with HTC Explorer
Read TechPinas' Complete Samsung Galaxy Y vs. HTC Explorer Specs Battle feature via the link.

Of course, we can quote other reasons -- like the amazing HTC Sense experience and that HTC handsets have always been on the premium side. But let's save those for another post, shall we?

As of writing, there are some stores in malls which sell SGY for around Php 6,000 to 6,500 (Yes, higher than the SRP because of high demand). On the other hand, you can get HTC Explorer from online stores like TP-favorite, WidgetCity, for Php 8,800.

For those who are curious about the handset and are wondering how it actually looks like in the flesh, here's a clip showing the hardware of the cutie, HTC Explorer:

Overall, it looks like a shrunk HTC Desire S. The back has a matte finish - like that of BB Curve 8520 - which helps prevent the phone from slipping from your hand.

To wrap this up in true TP fashion, here are the complete specs of HTC Explorer:

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name	HTC Explorer
Type	Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category	Entry Level
Dimensions	102.8 x 57.2 x 12.9 mm
Weight	108 grams
Available Colors	Active Black, Metallic Navy, Active Navy, Metallic Black, Metallic Orange, Metallic Purple, White
Operating System	Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Display	3.2-inch, 320 x 480 pixels, TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors
Processor	600MHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset
Camera	3.15 MegaPixels, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
Video Capture	Yes, QVGA 15 frames per second (to be confirmed, definitely non-HD)
Audio and Video Playback	MP3/eAAC+/WAV/WMA player, XviD/MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player
Ports	microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Network	2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100
Memory	90 MB storage, 512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM, supports up to 32GB
Sensors	Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity
Battery	1230 mAh
Uptime	Standby of up to 485 hours on 2G Standby of up to 445 hours on 3G Talk time of up to 7 hours 40 minutes on 2G Talk time of up to 7 hours 33 minutes on 3G
Value-Added Features	HTC Sense UI v3.5, SRS surround sound enhancement, Google Services Suite, Low price tag
Announcement	Q1 2012
Availability	January 2012
Price	Php 8,800 in online stores

MSI-ECS Supports Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, Donates Php 100,000 to the NGO

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:45:00 +0000

TechPinas admires tech companies that support meaningful initiatives and projects to help our less fortunate Kababayans.

I, myself - being a financial scholar from Grade School to College, am a product of the generosity and kindness of people and various companies so this topic is very close to my heart.

As part of its CSR initiative, leading local electronics distibutor and TP-Partner, MSI-ECS, donated Php 100,000 last January 24, 2012 to Tulay Ng Kabataan Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Quezon City to support its cause of providing shelter and taking care of street children in Metro Manila.

Photo shows (L-R), Jimmy Go, President/CEO, MSI-ECS; Alexandra Chapeleau, Communications and Partnerships Head, Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation; and Maurice Altar, AVP for Marketing and Communications, MSI-ECS.

This meaningful donation is part of MSI-ECS' "Make-a-Difference" project launched in 2010 whose main goal is to help and support charity organizations and NGOs through financial assistance.

Learn more about Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation and find out how you can help support their cause via this link.

Smart iPad 3, LTE Nationwide Coverage, Smart-Sun Merger Plans : Covered in TechPinas Smart Communications Exclusive Interview!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:42:00 +0000

TechPinas Exclusive!

Several days back, Smart Communications' PR team gave TechPinas the opportunity to ask the company's resource persons in its internet and data services department the questions that we've always wanted to ask.

Here's the transcript of the interview:

1. Right now, LTE access is limited to a few spots in NCR. When can subscribers expect to get nationwide LTE coverage from Smart? Will that happen this year? If not yet, where will new LTE zones be set up?

As we’ve disclosed recently, we will make Smart’s entire mobile phone network “LTE and HSPA+” ready by the middle of this year. That means, Smart cell sites and supporting infrastructure will by then have been fitted with new facilities and equipment that can be readily upgraded to offer either LTE and/or HSPA+ services depending on the demands of the market. That will put us in a position to roll out 4G services within the year. We are studying just when and how to do this.

2. Can you give a ballpark figure on how much Smart LTE plans will cost?

It’s difficult to give you even a ball park figure at this time.

3. One of the questions I often receive from my readers is regarding Smart prepaid daily internet-on-the-go promos e.g. Always On, etc. They want a 10 pesos/day promo. Also, they are asking if its possible to get Always On for one hour with unlimited data. Are these possible?

We have three approaches for data charging that subscribers can choose from, depending on their budget and usage preferences or needs. One is time-based, the second is volume-based, and the third is website-specific. All of these charging schemes abide by the general fair usage policy.

We have several time-based offers: P50 for one day; P100 for two days and P200 for five days. All these offer unlimited access.

Our volume-based offers range from P20 per day with a volume limit of 25 MB, up to P995 for 30 days with a volume limit of 2GB.

We offer website specific packages such as P20 for Facebook all day, or Twitter all day. We also have a P10 per day offer for users of the Java app Facebook for All designed for users of feature phones.

We feel these offers provide our subscribers a wide of range of choices that address their needs.

4. One of the rumored features of the soon to be announced Apple iPad3 is LTE connectivity support. If it's true, will Smart consider bundling iPad3 for free with future LTE plans?

It is hard for us to comment on these speculative reports. What we can say is that we make it a point to offer the best device-service packages.

5. Regarding the Smart-SUN merger, what new services and bundles can users expect from it exactly? A lot of Sun subscribers are afraid the merger might affect all those ultra-low-cost, even free promos they get from Sun.

We can assure Sun subscribers that we will maintain and further improve the service packages that Sun Cellular currently offers. We have already introduced for example our Smart Sun Dual Postpaid Plan for P549 and our Trio20 prepaid offer that provides Sun, Smart and Talk n Text subscribers 15 minutes of calls and 200 text messages to each other, for only P20 per day. Watch for more in the future.

TP Friends, I promise you, I did my best to ask Smart about Apple iPad 3 -- as I really believe Smart will be an official carrier of the 3rd generation tablet in the Philippines. But I guess when it comes to Apple and its products, partner companies must emply extra-care not to disclose information until after the Cupertino company has made an official announcement. So far, Apple hasn't even revealed how iPad3 actually looks like nor has it confirmed that its next slate will indeed be called iPad3.