The Filipino Lifestyle

Suzuki Introduces New Alto 800 and Swift Dzire

2013-05-15T20:29:00.000+08:00

Suzuki may not be the most popular brand of cars in the Philippines today but it slowly catching up with other bigger names in the industry especially now that the company is expanding its line up with the new Alto 800 and Swift Dzire.

The Alto 800 is a refresh from one of Suzuki’s most popular and fastest-selling cars and exhibits a “wavefront”-designed exterior with elegant and smooth curves. The vehicle is styled around the key concepts of safety and utility and exudes a refined exterior look with fresh and spacious interiors. The new Alto is over 15% more fuel efficient and has 11% more torque that its predecessor. It also offers the best-in-its-class mileage with an average of 22.74mpg.

Then there’s the Swift Dzire which offers the power and efficiency motorists look for in a car. It has elegant and ergonomically-designed interiors complemented with its performance features that deliver superior comfort and efficiency. Under the hood, the Swift Dzire is powered by a Variable Valve Timing (VVT) engine that gives better power, smoother acceleration and quicker response time.

The Alto 800 STD (Standard) will be available in silver or whit3e, while the Alto 800 DLX (Deluxe) will come in red, gray, blue and white colors and will retail at P380,000 and P438,000 respectively. The Swift Dzire on the other hand will be available in blue, gray, silver and white colors and will cost around P568,000. Both models are already available at Suzuki dealers near you.

For more information about the Suzuki Alto 800 and the Swift Dzire, you can visit the compay’s website at http://www. Suzuki.com.ph

Top Vacation Spots with Kids

2013-04-24T22:46:00.000+08:00

It is usually difficult to find destinations for a vacation that fit everyone's idea of fun. You can go far these days as you have the chance to enjoy the many family destinations around the world. There are quite a few options to choose from,where you can spend some quiet time with your spouses, whether its in your home country or elsewhere. Family resorts are becoming increasingly popular, giving you a chance to experience a great range of activities, such as swimming, sports and training in real life skills and more. You can find many of those yourself, but our small list can at least give you some pointers on what you can expect out there. We begin with:

1. Cape Cod, United States

The great beaches of the Atlantic, combined with the wonderful chances to enjoy a number of activities such as wave-jumping, body surfing and more are only a part of what Cape Cod has to offer. Located in Massachusetts, it is also a popular destination for whale-watching and other general beach-themed activities. You can find good and affordable lodging here for family travel and more.

2. Washington, DC

Filled with museums, historic monuments and grand US government buildings, it is a wonderful place to go. Museums range from history to art, from Native Americans to aeronautics and space exploration and more. It is by far a wonderful place to visit if not only because of the great chances to explore the city, its sights and great opportunities for local food.

3. New Zealand

There is a reason why the “Lord of the Rings” movies were shot at this location. New Zealand's gorgeous nature is something you should never miss if you are going on a vacation in this part of the world. You can enjoy hiking, kayaking, ziplining, watching wildlife and much more than that. It is a place filled with inspiration in itself.

4.Cruise ships

Cruise ships have changed the way they do their business over the decades and now family vacations are something being targeted as a possible, affordable opportunity to travel the world. Cruise lines are either re-purposing some of their ships for family-friendly goals or simply building their new ones to accommodate such potential tourists.

5.Paris, France

There is much to enjoy in France and Paris is by far one of the best places to visit in this wonderful European country. You can either enjoy the Tour de France craze during the summer, or simply visit the local museums and entertainment opportunities. You will not be bored – couple that with the wonderful French cuisine and you will be set for an interesting adventure.

6.Dubai

A very impressive part of the world, Dubai has been called “the mall of the Emirates” and for a good reason. The wealth of the city can be seen in places such as Ski Dubai – an incredible ski hill built indoors, the entertainment center of Magic Planet and much more. There are many museums, such as Children's City and a number of very nice water parks. For a city situated within a desert environment there is much more than what you'd expect.

This post was written by Julia Dawson. A blogger, traveller and mom since 2000. She likes wandering around the world with her husband and their two kids: Jamie and Emma. Her present article is focused around the best vacation destinations to visit with your kids.

Chatwing: Take Control of an Ultimate Chat Box in an Advance Method

2013-04-16T17:46:00.000+08:00

Chatwing chat widget is now one of the leading chat apps online. Most users find it easy to use and effective in providing global connectivity. Another positive feedback about this dynamic chat box is the wide array of modification options giving users the opportunity to experiment with the widget’s appearance. The customization leeway and communication leverage Chatwing offers brings online advantages useful to business endeavors.

In customization, users can be as creative as they want. They have many tools available in changing every aspect of the chat box. They only have to decide whether they want the chat tool to blend it effectively in their websites or make it unique to attract attention.

Users can set the main color of the chat app, message area background, the message body background and input text. Experimenting with colors and font styles can be really fun since you have a lot to choose from. Combine colors that will result to the kind of mood you want to induce during interactions. The power of colors can not be underestimated.

The size, style and color of the font are also factors to be considered because it can affect conversations. Combinations will either make the chat activity convenient or difficult to web visitors.

If you are not satisfied with plain colors as the website chat tool’s theme, you need not get frustrated available background images are available, too. Funky, girly and formal designs are offered by Chatwing.

This is how creative you can get with Chatwing’s high customization level! You can also upload photos of your own choice to become the background image. What’s more interesting is that you can upload MP3 links to play in the background while you are all engaged on the topic being discussed. Talk about giving your web visitors a unique and sensible chatting experience!

You can choose the language of the chatbox, too. Rename the chat app and give it an interesting title. You can also set disconnection time of the users from the chatbox, you are in control.

Aside from customization, users can also manage the chat box interactions. You are allowed to assign moderators to help you with facilitating discussions and monitoring. To lessen the tasks, activate the filters that will delete out offensive words automatically or ban obnoxious chatters real-time.

When these features are used systematically and purposefully, it will directly benefit your website because it will engage more web surfers and help in maintaining the blog’s integrity. Chatwing chat widget is truly one of the highly flexible and reliable shoutboxes online today because of its useful options and advance modification choices.

Visit Chatwing here.

Aaron Kong is an active web developer and technology enthusiast who believes in the power of open and free communication. An avid developer who enjoys playing with new gadgets and testing open source software. Find Chatwing online http://chatwing.com

Ljubljana - A Hidden Treasure of Modern Aesthetic

2013-04-12T21:58:00.000+08:00

One of the more overlooked capitals in Europe, Ljubljana has actually a lot to offer. But first the facts. Ljubljana is the largest city and capital of the country of Slovenia. It is not particularly big, compared to other European capitals, with a population of just two hundred and eighty thousand inhabitants, but then again the whole population of Slovenia is just two million, so this is normal and to be expected by anyone who has thought enough about the problem.

Ljubljana sits at an elevation of two hundred and ninety five metres above sea level and is spread out on an area of one hundred and sixty four square kilometres. The story of Ljubljana has started somewhere around the end of 12th century and beginning of 13th century, though the exact date is hard to pin down.

The population density, in case you are wondering and cannot calculate yourself, given you already know the population and the area, is one thousand and six hundred people per square kilometre. The postal code, in case you want to send a letter to Ljubljana, is one thousand. The registration plate code, in case you are wondering if any of the cars passing you by are from Ljubljana, is LJ.

All of this information, of course, is not going to make you rush into the city. Furthermore, if you are looking for some venerable European town with a lot of castles, gothic buildings and somber atmosphere, look away. Ljubljana does have some gothic architecture and a very nice castle on top of the hill, overlooking the whole city in the middle of a great park for leisure walks. It is just that the charm and assets of Ljubljana lie elsewhere.

Ljubljana is today a very lively city with great events happening all year round and inherent sense of aesthetics. Even before noticing or knowing any of the festivals going on, you can see that Ljubljana somehow resembles a modern art project. It has astounding and perfectly placed graffiti in every corner you do not expect to find graffiti.

Even the dullest shop is arranged as if for a gallery exhibition. The theatre scene is vibrant, with important artists working in the different branches of theatre like contemporary theatre (SNT Drama Ljubljana is the best place for that), street theatre (ask for Ana Monro Theatre), physical theatre (for example Betontanc) and puppetry (look for Ljubljana Puppet Theatre).

There are, of course, many groups that specialize in modern dance, most of which you can ultimately see in Ljubljana Dance Theatre. Perhaps the most used venue for culture in Ljubljana is the Cankar Hall, named after Ivan Cankar, a Slovenian author and playwright. The hall, which actually has many halls, is used for many and varying events, such as art and music festivals.

Then there is Metelkova. Metelkova is an autonomous artistic neighbourhood and is just too wild to describe. The place used to be an army barracks (of the Austro-Hungarian army from the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century).

However, in the early nineties of the last century (20th century), the seven buildings were turned spontaneously into artist studios, art galleries and nightclubs. Every night and every day, indeed, at any time you can find interesting people, you can witness some art performance or see a live playing band. The Metelkova project is ongoing, so to speak. One can spend days just studying one of the many walls decorated by Slovenian artists there.

This post was written by written by Izzy Smith

Facebook has a New Home on Android – Literally!

2013-04-05T22:30:00.000+08:00

Talks about a Facebook phone has been in the rumor mills for quite some time now. Today, Facebook has finally ended all the speculations by announcing the long awaited Facebook phone (well, sort of) at an event on its headquarters in California.

However, the Facebook phone that was unveiled in the event wasn’t exactly the phone that everyone was expecting. Why? Because unlike what the rumors suggested, the phone that was presented to the world today wasn’t built by Facebook. The phone is made by HTC and runs a heavily customized version of Android – the “Facebook Home”.

Moreover, contrary to previous reports, Facebook Home is not just a home replacement app but rather a collection of apps that modify a huge part of the Android UI that will supposedly enable users to focus on their friends rather than on apps. Through the app, Facebook plans to bring in more content to users and put social networking at the front and at the center of the mobile phone experience. And this ideology is most evident in the two core apps that comprise Facebook Home – Coverfeed and Chat Heads.

Coverfeed is basically a glorified version of your Facebook newsfeed presented in edge-to-edge photos in the phone’s home screen. It displays images and status updates from a user’s friends. A user can swipe left and right to view other updates from his/her friends, double-tap on the home screen to like the update or view comments and likes by tapping the area located at the bottom of the home screen.

Chat Heads on the other hand is an improved version of the Facebook Messenger app that sits above the entire UI of the phone, allowing users to gain access to the phone’s messaging app anywhere in the phone. Users have the option to move 1 or a group of chat heads across the different edges of the screen and will remain visible as long as the users wants to interact with it.

Navigation on the Facebook Home has also drastically changed. The common back and navigation buttons are gone and are replaced by gesture-based commands carried out by a “bobble” which is the circular icon that contains the phone owner’s photo (or profile picture) located at the bottom of the screen. Users can swipe up from the bobble which will launch the app drawer.

The app drawer is divided into two segments. Once a user swipe’s up from the bobble, the favorites app drawer is first shown. Obviously this is where the user’s most used and favorite apps are located. The favorites app drawer also has three tabs at the top that lets users instantly upload photos to Facebook, post a status update or location. Swiping to the left of the favorites app drawer will direct the user to the main app drawer that holds all the apps currently installed on the phone.

Swiping the bobble to the left will launch the Facebook messaging app while swiping the bobble to the right will allow users to go back to the last app that they’ve opened.

Facebook Home will initially be released on April 12 on several handsets including the HTC One, HTC One X+, Samsung Galaxy SIII, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II and of course the HTC First (exclusive to AT&T). Facebook has also promised to bring monthly updates and improvement to the app as well as add support for additional phone models and manufacturers including Lenovo, ZTE, Huawei and Sony.

Now it would be interesting how Google would react in the future with Facebook Home especially if Mark Zuckerberg’s dream of putting the app in every smartphone would come true. This is because unlike other home replacement apps or custom ROMs, Facebook Home can have the ability to literally take over and change a phone and make Android OS lose its identity in the process.

What about you guys? What do you think? Is Facebook invading Android? And how do you think Google would react to this strategy? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. For other Filipino Lifestyle stories, do subscribe to our blog or add us up on Facebook, Twitter , Pinterest or Google Plus.

Have Fun by Going to Dubai (Best Attractions)

2013-04-05T21:04:00.000+08:00

When it comes to Dubai, you need to make a priority, as in, you have to make a list of all the attractions to be visited according to the importance of the attraction. Well, to be frank I wasn’t able to do it first as there was no one to guide or in a way I didn’t consider the importance of the online articles.

I thought they were not dependable but of course, they are and should have I read one of the relevant articles then I would not have faced so many problems. But, in any case I recovered fast as I had a long vacation to cover. I took this particularly holiday vacation after two years and then I was so desperate to visit Dubai that I went for a 15 days’ vacation with all my family.

I will not help you rather I will provide you some guidance from the experience which I have got from my first visit. Some of them are mentioned below:

Dubai Rentals – Yes, this is really interesting, especially when you are up for a long vacation. The hotels might seem odd to you when there is a long vacation and most of them are downtown, so you would not find any chance to relax. The busy city would disturb you all the time. So, my suggestion would be to book for some of the property rental services.

Desert Safari – Mostly, you will find deserts in many places of the world, actually deserted. But, here things are certainly different which means there is a certain amount of crowd and things to do for which people come and enjoy. One such thing is desert safari. The 4 wheeler safaris are available in plenty.

Shopping at the Gold market – Every January there is a sale in the gold market, this means people go there at night specially, to get the best gold at low price. So, you must visit this place in all times but January has something secret inside.

Burj Khalifa tower – One of the tallest towers in the world is named Burj Khalifa. The iconic design is really special to see. Well, as soon I reached this place, I was all the time in contact with this tower as it is distinctly available from any part of this city. But, the real charm came when I went near it and inside it to experience it.

Visit Wild Wadi – When you have a kids company then this water park is sure to delight you and your family members.

Best Cuisine includes Shawarma – One of the best foods you should try is the Sahwarma which is an icon and special food here. It is made from lamb or chicken and it is mixed with tomatoes, garlic and sauces.

Dhow Dubai Cruise – It is certainly targeted for a private sail with romantic engagement and arrangement. Small boats, candles, subtle lighting arrangements and lots more add a fragrance to the environment.

Yacht Charter Dubai – One of the best examples for the means of fun and holiday experience is Yacht Hire Dubai. There are plenty of options available in yachts business out here.

Kite surfing – A sport which is at the verge of getting the most glorious popularity in recent times is highly practised here. If you do have a potential to go for this then you must or else the experience is viewing the sport is awesome also.

Miscellaneous stuff – Yes, there are lot of local museum, amusement parks, celeb events and lot more which also attracts a lot of people.

About the Author

This post was written by Nadia Quraishi, Team Lead at one of the leading Dubai based company which specialize in Yacht Rental Dubai service. She's also a Web Enthusiast and blogger who love to write on travelling experience. Follow her on Google+

New Google Nexus 7 in the Works

2013-04-04T22:47:00.001+08:00

Google is reportedly planning to release the second generation of its 7-inch tablet – the Google Nexus 7 by July of this year according to reports from Reuters.

The Nexus 7 which was Google’s first entry to the now highly competitive tablet market has received mostly positive feedback from consumers thanks to its very capable Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset that packs a 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex A9 processor and ULP GeForce GPU. However, its most striking feature is its price.

The Nexus 7 was the result of the collaboration between Google and Asus. And unlike other Android tablets from Asus, Google’s influence on the Nexus 7 was not isolated on the software used by the tablet but rather the competitive pricing of the device.

Google was one of the few manufacturers who dared to challenge Apple’s iPad not only in terms of hardware specifications and software but also in the pricing category. With its $199 initial price it’s almost half the cost of an iPad mini of the same capacity and specs. So it’s very interesting how Google will follow this act.

For starters, reports suggest that the new Nexus 7 will ditch the Nvidia chipset in favor of a Qualcomm Snapdragon. Furthermore, the new tablet may also have a higher resolution display and a smaller bezel compared to its predecessor. And of course, in true Google fashion, the release of this new tablet may also coincide with a new Android version - Key Lime Pie.

In terms of pricing Reuters say the Google might choose to sell the new Nexus 7 for $199 at the same time giving a discount to the old model; or they might sell the tablet for around $149 which will effectively kick the old model out of the market. The next generation Nexus 7 is rumored for launch on July 2013.

Any thoughts about this rumor? Share them with us by leaving a comment below. For other Filipino lifestyle stories, subscribe to our blog or follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook or Google Plus.

Source

Rising Stars: Three Pinoy App Developers To Watch Out For

2013-04-03T21:19:00.000+08:00

With thousands of applications already available on the mobile market, it is high time that we Filipinos start raving about all the little app development companies that have started sprouting all over the country like mushrooms. And like the fungi, these companies are just as resilient and proud to be producing apps that actually matter.

Jeprok Applications, LLC

“Be Cool … Be Smart … So Jeprok!” With a motto that just oozes of 80s Manila nostalgia and laid-back coolness, JeprokApplications, LLC, is an app development company that is clearly all about the Philippines. The startup has already slowly churned out two free applications for Filipinos around the world.

Countrok, Jeprok's first ever educational application, teaches Filipinos around the world how to count in the country's national language, Tagalog. A play button teaches the correct pronunciation of the words in Tagalog and English. It's like the aspiring multilingual's best friend!

VeggieRok, meanwhile, was made to help Filipinos around the world learn the names of the common vegetables in a language none other than–you guessed it– Tagalog. The second educational app from Jeprok nurtures a child's love for the Philippines' national language and commonly available vegetables!

Kuyi Mobile

An independent game development company in the Philippines, Kuyi Mobile regularly releases fun and interesting games with very modern graphics. Its most recent app, Streetfood Tycoon, has already caught the attention of plenty of people around the world. Even their flagship game, Card Drop, has already garnered awards the first year it was released!

Card Drop is marketed as the Solitaire game on steroids, but it's a simple stacking game that gets you hooked for hours. The best part about this addicting game? It's free!

Streetfood Tycoon, meanwhile, is a more complicated game that's also free on iTunes. Inspired by the common food cart businesses here in the Philippines, the game promises countless hours of entertainment while remaining patriotic. Hot tip: Look for all the things that clue you in that the game is set in Manila, Philippines.

AppLabs Digital Studios Inc.

A slightly younger company from the bunch, AppLabs Digital Studios has already released several free educational applications for children around the world. Their flagship app, Maddie & Matt's A to Z's of Good Manners & Values aims to influence children to take the right path when dealing with the elderly and their peers. The Tagalog version of this application includes Filipino values like pagmamahal and respeto, so the Filipino children all over the Philippines can have an enjoyable learning experience.

The newer educational application, Maddie & Matt's Happy Earth, encourages kids to do their part in helping Mother Earth. The app is apt in this generation of global warming.

Final Words

So there you have it. Three noble app developers that are proudly Filipino and worthy to be chronicled online. All their applications are available on iTunes for free, so download them now!

Guest Author : Ethel Kay Merioles.
A dreamer, Ethel likes to put words in a string and turn them into a beatiful poem, short story or blog post. A scribbler, she turns hastily drawn lines into realistic copies of the people that interest her. She's currently writing for WheninManila.com and Applatter.com, but she would like to reach a bigger audience soon.

Tech Tuesdays Episode 34: Facebook | Amazon | Samsung

2013-04-02T23:53:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone, it’s another Tuesday and it’s time again to get ourselves updated with the latest news in the tech industry. And this week, the biggest news is about rumored phones; from the long awaited to the surprisingly fast to emerge.

Let’s start off with the Facebook phone. Last week the social networking giant sent out invites to press with a teaser saying that the company will have a new “Home” on Android. And today a developer build of the alleged Facebook phone was leaked on the internet. According to reports, the Facebook Phone will run on a device built by HTC (codenamed HTC Myst) and will sport a modified version of Android 4.1.2, a 4.3-inch screen, Sense version 4.5, a 5MP rear camera, a dual-core processor and at least 1GB of RAM.

The new phone will also come with a Facebook-oriented home launcher which will let users see Facebook news feeds and updates right on the home screen. There will also be a more standard clock screen, shortcuts for launching apps and search via Google. The home replacement app will also have a feature called Chat Heads that will allow users to use Facebook’s chat functionality anywhere in the device.

Rumors are also suggesting that Facebook may offer a toned-down version of the “Home” app to other OEM who run either the stock Android UI or on top of a skin such as Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

Next on the list is the long rumored Amazon smartphone. Rumors about the development of the device were fanned again after the Ex-Microsoft Executive Charlie Kindel announced that he’ll be joining Amazon to work on a “secret” project. According to a post on his Google Plus account, he’ll be building a team in Amazon that involves a project that the company has little experience with.

Furthermore, a post on Kindel’s LinkedIn page reveals that the team he’s supposed to build will be compromised of developers, program managers and product managers. Charlie Kindel’s previous work in Microsoft involved the development of servers and the Windows 7 application platform so it doesn’t take a genius to establish a connection between Kindel and Amazon’s possible plan of developing its own smartphone that may complement the Kindle Fire tablet in the future.

Last on the list is Samsung with its Galaxy S4 Mini. According to reports, the S4 mini might debut within the week. The S4 mini is reportedly scheduled to be released by late May or early June. Earlier reports say that the phone might come in several variants.

These include a single-SIM, dual-SIM, LTE and a Chinese version with TD-SCDMA. The S4 mini may also have two variants when it comes to the processor. According to reports, the dual-SIM version of the phone may have a 1.6GHz dual-core processor while the single-SIM version will reportedly have a quad-core processor.

All version of the S4 mini will have an 8MP camera at the back, 1GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch display and will run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

And that concludes this week’s edition of Tech Tuesdays on TFL. Which phone are you most excited about? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also add on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. And please don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for other tech news and other stories about Filipino lifestyle.

Lenovo Mobile Sweetens its Android Line

2013-04-02T00:19:00.000+08:00

Lenovo might not be as popular a brand compared to industry heavy weights such as Samsung, LG or Sony but the company is slowly making a name for itself thanks to its affordable yet capable handsets that offer dual-SIM capability with Android’s open source operating system.

And this year, Lenovo Mobile Philippines has added four more handsets to its line of Android-powered smartphones. Two of which comes equipped with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. And all four devices sport 4+ inch screens and target the mid-range to upper tier consumer groups.

LENOVO P770 – The P770 is the successor of Lenovo’s P700 and P700i smartphones that offered performance at an affordable price. And as such, the phone shares the same design aesthetics as its predecessors albeit the slightly bigger screen. The 4.5-inch screen of the device has a resolution of 540x960 pixels with a pixel density of 245 ppi.

Software-wise, the P770 improves in terms of the processor, the memory and of course the operating system. For starters, the P770 now comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor in contrast to the 1GHz found on its predecessor. It also has 1GB of RAM and runs on Android Jelly Bean.

Lenovo has also added a few apps they made themselves including Lenovo Power Saving and Lenovo Note. The phone’s UI is also integrated with Facebook, Skype, AccuWeather and TouchPal keyboard. And last but definitely not the least; 5GB cloud storage is also included with the device courtesy of SugarSync.

There’s 4GB worth of on-board storage, a 5MP rear camera, a VGA camera upfront and a 3500mAh battery. As with other droids these days, the P770 comes with the usual set of connectivity features and sensors including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, an accelerometer, GPS and a compass.

LENOVO S890 – another new Jelly Bean-powered handset from Lenovo is the S890. It’s part of the company’s S-series smartphone and comes equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor complemented by 1GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX531 GPU. There’s 4GB of on-board storage with support for microSD card expansion of up to 32GB.

An 8MP snapper is placed at the back of the device while a VGA camera sits in front of the device for self-portraits and video calls. The rear camera features a LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging, touch focus and even face detection. The rear camera is also capable of recording 720p videos.

The 5-inch display of the S890 has a resolution of 540x960 pixels with a pixel density of 220 ppi. And again, just like other smartphones today, the phone packs Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, accelerometer, proximity sensor, GPS and a FM radio. Lastly, there’s a 2250mAh battery to power the device.

LENOVO S720 – another handset for the Lenovo’s S-series is the S720. Geared towards stylish consumers, the company is branding this particular phone as Big Chic. The Big part is attributed to the phone’s 4.5-inch qHD display with a resolution of 540x960 pixels with a pixel density of 245 ppi.

The S720 comes has a MTK 6577 chipset with a 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor which is complemented by a PowerVR SGX531 GPU, 512MB of RAM and 4G of storage space. It also features an 8MP camera at the back which sports a LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging, touch focus and face detection. There’s also a 1MP front-facing camera for video conferencing and self-portraits.

The phone will be powered by a 2000mAh battery and will run Android 4.0.4 (Ice cream sandwich). The S720 will come in two Chic colours – either in white or in hot pink.

LENOVO A800 – Last but definitely not the least is the Lenovo A800. The A800 is Lenovo’s newest device that targets the entry level market. It comes equipped with a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480x854 pixels with a pixel density of around 218 ppi.

The phone runs on Android 4.0.4 (Ice cream sandwich). It has 512MB of RAM and on-board storage worth 4GB with support for microSD expansion. The A800 has a MTK 6577T chipset with a 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 processor and the same type of GPU found in the S720.

A 5MP snapper is placed on the back of the phone which features auto-focus, geo-tagging and touch focus. There’s an accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM radio and GPS. Of course there’s also Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a microUSB port.

So there you have it. Which Lenovo smartphone do you find most interesting? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or subscribe to our blog for other tech stories from around the globe.

Travel Essential - Perfume Atomizer

2013-03-31T18:11:00.000+08:00

Travelling requires you to pack limited things with you or else, you'll exceed your baggage weight limit. It's a frustrating scenario to imagine when you're already in the airport and you have to add extra charge for a not-so-smart move.

So when you're travelling light, you'll have the dilemma of leaving some of the things you want to bring during your trip. An example of this is leaving your bottle of perfume because they're too bulky or you're worrying that it will break inside your bag. It's not a problem in my case. I use Travalo, a small perfume bottle that can refill up to 5ml of your favorite scents.

It's very small and lightweight. You can even slip it inside your hand-carry bag. Bring one or two perfume bottles with you, it doesn't matter because the bottle is handy.

Never Travalo without one. You can check their website here for more details.

The Nostalgic Pinoy: Home Products

2013-03-28T05:13:00.000+08:00

Our homes are usually stuffed with a lot of products that we use for our day to day activities. Most often than not, a lot of these products represent either of two things: first is that the product in question is the most popular or newest brand in the market and people really want to try it; or second, the product is bought due to brand loyalty that is usually the result of a good quality product.

Products that fall under the latter condition are usually the long lasting brands that are able to withstand the test of time and last for many years. But for those products that belong to the first category, they are either driven at the very back isle of supermarkets and department stores and be forgotten or worse pulled from the market due to poor sales.

So in today’s edition of The Nostalgic Pinoy, let’s take a look at some home products that enjoyed moderate success in the 90s (some even in the 80s) before finally throwing in the white towel either through other more popular products or due to poor performance.

GEE YOUR HAIR SMELLS TERRIFIC

VIDAL SASSOON

HENO DE PRAVIA

FAMILY RUBBING ALCOHOL

FIT FRUIT and VEGETABLE WASH

What do you guys think about this list? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. You can also drop us a line on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

Tech Tuesdays Episode 33: Wearable Tech

2013-03-26T00:30:00.000+08:00

It seems that wearable technology will indeed be the next frontier when it comes to consumer electronics as manufacturers scramble to get a piece of the pie when it comes to creating gadgets that cling to people’s bodies.

Although the concept of wearable technology has been with us since the dawn of the digital age, it’s only now that we’re seeing projects that might have the potential of actually making the concept come true. In fact, some of them such as the Pebble smartwatch have actually gone into production and are now being shipped worldwide.

Google on the other hand is already in motion in creating its Glass heads up display. The Glass project which was first mentioned around April last year and has continued to bask in the spotlight since then through various Google-sponsored events and conferences including Google I/O and a few very secretive Glass Foundry events.

Google has also unveiled a working prototype of a talking shoe at this year’s SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas. The Talking shoe is composed of a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope that connects via Bluetooth to a phone or smart device and gives sarcastic comments or praises based on the wearer’s habits.

Sony also seems to have plans to create a HUD similar to Google Glass. A few days ago, the Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation filed a patent in the United States for a Head mounted display that features dual displays and movable screens.

Another product that’s getting a lot of attention these days are smartwatches. Thanks to the unprecedented success of Pebble’s kickstarter campaign, a lot of major brands are now considering the smartwatch as a viable product which they can earn profit from.

A smartwatch is a computerized wristwatch whose functionality is extended beyond time keeping. During its earlier days, most smartwatches can perform basic tasks including calculations, translations or playing games. However, with leaps in mobile technology development, a lot of the smartwatches we’re seeing today are basically extensions of other devices and are capable of running apps, media playback, act as mass storage devices or used as GPS devices to name a few.

Big names in the tech industry who have been rumored to be working on a smartwatch include Apple, Samsung, Google and LG.

To sum it all up, it seems that the time where fashion meets electronics is already upon us. Obviously, the technology to build such devices has progressed enough that the days where such objects are just a piece of a dream or imagination worthy of a science fiction movie. And based on the reaction of the general population and manufacturers, it appears that wearable technology is here to stay.

So how does wearable technology sound to you? Do share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. And please subscribe to our blog for more tech news and other Filipino lifestyle stories.

2013 Geneva Motor Show

2013-03-22T00:30:00.000+08:00

In the digital age, cars or automobiles are no longer built just for the purpose of transporting people or hauling goods. The discovery of electricity and the invention of gadgets and computers have changed how people and manufacturers view cars. Gone are the days when cars were just seats placed on four wheels and the only electric gadgets in it are lights and a radio.

Cars these days host a massive array of high-tech equipment that not only provides entertainment to the car’s driver and passengers but also take command of certain key components of the vehicle such as transmission, breaking and even safety. These technologies along with the cars that feature them are usually unveiled at an event usually sponsored by carmakers themselves or at auto shows or salons across the globe. And one highly recognised motor shows in the world for the past century has been the Geneva motor show.

The International Geneva Motor show (Salon International de l’Auto) is an annual motor show held every March in the Geneva Switzerland. It is organised by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles and has been the venue for numerous announcements and unveilings for different car manufacturers. The show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo which is located right beside the Geneva Cointrin International Airport.

And today, we’ll be featuring some of the cars showcased in this year’s Geneva motor show. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

ALFA ROMEO 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C made its debut two years ago at the 81^st Geneva motor show as a concept. This year, Alfa Romeo finally unveiled the production version of the 4C. This car is a mid-engine, two-seater sports car that sports a 205kW turbo engine with dual-clutch gear box. It has rear-wheel drive and was designed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti at Alfa Romeo Centro Stile.

McLAREN P1

The P1 is a hybrid supercar produced by McLaren Automotive and is generally considered as the successor of the McLaren F1. The P1’s styling was influenced by the McLaren MP4-12C but with added body panels that make the car look more aggressive. It is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive car that uses a carbon fibre monocoque body.

The P1 features a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine with 727 bhp. It also has a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that gives it a power output of 913 bhp at 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 900Nm. The McLaren P1 will go from 0-100kph in less than 3 seconds, 0-200kph in under 7 seconds and 0-300kph in less than 17 seconds.

Only 375 McLaren P1s will be made to maintain its exclusivity and will cost around 1.2 million USD (approximately 51 million Pesos)

CORVETTE STINGRAY

Another automotive icon showcased at this year’s Geneva motor show is the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. This two-seater sports car features a motorised fabric hood, a 6.2-litre V8 engine and a six-speed manual/auto transmission.

The stingray’s body is made from aluminium which makes it 99 pounds lighter than the C6 Corvette Convertible and yet it manages to have its body 57% stiffer than the C6 convertible.

LAMBORGHINI VENENO

The Lamborghini Veneno is a limited production sports car based from the Lamborghini Aventador and was built to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the company. The engine of this car is a development of the Aventador’s V12 and will produce 740 bhp. Only three Venenos will be produced, which will be coloured in green, white and red to represent the colours of the Italian flag.

All three cars will be retained by the company’s factory and will be displayed in its museum. The three production cards will cost around 3.8 million USD each (approximately 157 million pesos).

LAFERRARI by FERRARI

The La Ferrari (F70/F150) is the successor of the Ferrari Enzo and is meant to be the ultimate fusion of sports car and F1 technology. The LaFerrari is a hybrid car that sports a normally aspirated V12 engine that is complemented by a 120 kW electric motor that produces a combined output of 950 horsepower.

TOYOTA iROAD

The Toyota iRoad is the Japanese carmaker’s personal mobility vehicle. It features an all –electric power train powered by a lithium-ion battery which provides power to a pair of 2kW electric motors mounted in the front wheels. It provides seating for two passengers in a sort-off jet fighter fashion. The iRoad is more of a tricycle than a car as it has 3 wheels which are arranged in a similar way as that of a Carver One.

So which car made you say wow? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also find TFL on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus. Do also subscribe to our blog for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

Five Easy Exercises for Home

2013-03-21T19:49:00.000+08:00

Staying in shape is a big concern for many people today. This is even truer for those who do not get to leave the house very often or cannot make it to the gym. Individuals such as stay-at-home moms and work-from-home dads need a way to keep themselves fit without having to leave home or waste a whole lot of time. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this; however, there are five especially easy exercises that can be done at home to significantly improve fitness and health.

Push-Ups

Almost everyone knows what a push-up is. What they might not know, though, is what it can do for them when properly executed. Push-ups not only work the biceps and shoulder muscles, but also the abs and gluts. The proper push-up is done with the body parallel to the floor, feet together, back straight, and arms locked at the elbow. The body is then lowered to where the elbows are at ninety-degree angles and then pushed back up again.

Sit-Ups

Sit-ups are another common exercise that can be done at home. These work the abs, neck, and obliques, as well as other muscle groups if done in variations. The regular sit-up is performed with knees bent beyond ninety degrees with the back against the floor. Hands can be crossed against the chest or behind the neck. Then the person simply just sits up until the elbows cross the plane of the knees.

Burpees

Burpees are not exactly like what they sound to be. This exercise is grueling and intended to really give the body a rough work out. When done right, this exercise works just about every muscle in the body. To do a burpee, start standing up. Then jump as high as possible, and immediately upon landing, drop down into the push-up position and do a push-up. As soon as the push-up is done, jump back up to the standing position and continue this in a constant motion.

Squats

Squats are yet another useful at-home exercise that anyone can do. To do the perfect squat, begin standing with feet just a little further apart than shoulder width. All that is needed then is to lower the bottom down until the quads are just about parallel to the ground, though this will vary depending on the person. This exercise works the glutes, thighs, and abs.

There are many other great things people can do at home to improve their fitness, but these are just a few.

Guest Author

Victory Lean is a writer at digics.com - an Electronic Cigarette showcase. She likes to share lifestyle tips and advices for healthy living.

Choosing the Best Notebook Doesn't Have to be Difficult

2013-03-20T05:00:00.000+08:00

I have been working writing articles for a few years now and in that time I went through a wide array of gadgets and devices as well as had the chance to test out some great products. However, one thing I keep noticing with newer users is their fear of what to purchase. This is especially true when you are buying something rather expensive like a notebook for example. Choosing the best notebook doesn't have to be difficult, you just have to follow a few steps.

The first one is to figure out a realistic price you would be willing to pay for your upcoming notebook. Not only does this help you narrow down your search considerably, but it will also allow you to see what you can get for your money. This can also be of used when it comes to looking for particular features, to see if your budget would allow for such extravagancies and of course, maybe even see that you could get away cheaper. This is a great thing to go for from the very beginning and it is only one of the many ways to make choosing the best notebook a breeze.

Now our second step is finding out what screen size we want. When it comes to notebook this is one of the most important factors, since it will determine everything that will come after this decission. Not only does the screen size show what you will want to use the notebook for, but it will also determine battery life, productivity, connectivity and so forth. If you go for a notebook that has a display of up to 13.3 inches, then portability is the way to go. In this scenario look for battery life and most importantly screen resolution. For a few hundred dollars products in this category will already give you a HD display, so make sure to browse around.

Note that if you have the budget for it, notebooks at this screen size can already bring you considerably better resolutions, so make sure to look out for that as well. Usually in this class, processors are low power just to conserver battery life as well as to reduce the overall system weight by requiring smaller batteries, yet still offering large unplugged autonomy.

If the screen size goes up, so does the price generally speaking, however, there are some great entry level notebooks in the 15.6-inch area as well. Make sure you know what you wish to use your notebook for and buy accordingly. These larger models usually ship with better processors and you also will find optical units and better connectivity in this price range. Again, if you have a price target in mind as well as size you have already improved your search.

Specifications are important, especially when it comes to notebooks, but these usually go out of date very quickly. Look for upgradeability (additional RAM, maybe storage solutions and so forth) as well as features. Memory card slots are not required, but they can be a nice addition and so can webcams, more ports and so forth. Connectivity should also be on the top of your list and that comes into the fray when we are talking about desktop replacement notebooks. These high power monsters are usually pretty heavy as well and their battery life is not stellar, so if you end up with a notebook that will not move around that much, make sure that you can hook up everything you need to it!

Choosing the best notebook doesn't have to be difficult, but it all depends on what you need and how much you are willing to pay for it!

GUEST AUTHOR
This post was written by Daniel Petrovski of Bestplorer.com, a trusted source that helps people to explore the best of everything. In today’s web world where internet has lots to offer, Bestplorer promises to keep you updated with the best things available.

Tech Tuesdays Episode 32: Super Phone Shootout

2013-03-19T19:44:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone, after a month of hiatus, Tech Tuesdays on TFL is back to give you the latest and trendiest tech topics in the face of the internet. And this week, we’ll be talking about two of the hottest and most talked about smartphones today – the HTC One and the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S4.

Both phones aren’t officially available in the global market yet, but both the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 have been pitted against each other numerous time on various websites, blogs and of course in social networking sites. So this week, let’s take a closer look at these two super phones so that we’ll have an idea on what each handset provides to us consumers.

The HTC One is barely a month old since its launch last February and yet a lot of people are already considering it as one of the best smartphones released this year. And this is not that surprising as HTC has delivered a phone that is not only pleasing to look at but is also jam packed with features and software that leaves (most of)its competition in the dust.

In the display department, the One features a 4.7-inch Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen with a screen resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a pixel density of 469 pixels per inch. The screen is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass panel technology.

In terms of performance, the HTC One runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 chipset with a 1.7GHz quad-core processor with Adreno 320 GPU. There’s 2GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB worth of on-board storage.

However, the HTC One’s crowning glory comes from the camera department. In contrast with other manufacturers who try to outdo each other by putting a camera with the most pixel in their devices, HTC is trying to set their own bar by using a camera with “ultrapixels”. Basically the camera sensor in the device can gather 300 percent more light than most conventional cameras and yet retain the size of 4MP sensor.

A few other cool things to note about the HTC One are the numerous features that the company has incorporated into the handset by means of its HTC Sense 5. These include the HTC Blinkfeed, a news and social media aggregator that is shown on the phone’s home screen, HTC Zoe which makes use of the device’s camera to create a rich multimedia experience, and lastly HTC BoomSound that utilizes the two front-facing speakers to deliver true stereo audio for an immersive audio experience.

Another smartphone heavy weight to make its grand entrance this quarter is the Samsung Galaxy S4. The phone made its debut at the company’s “Unpacked” event in NYC last week. And although a lot of people were sort of disappointed with the lack of innovation in terms of design, Samsung still managed to get a hype out of the event and out of the phone.

For starters, the S4 packs some serious muscle power with its Exynos 5 Octa chipset that features two quad-core processors clocked at 1.6GHz and 1.2GHz respectively and a PowerVR SGX 544MP3 GPU. It also has 2GB of RAM and will come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants. The display on the S4 is a 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with Gorilla Glass 3 panel.

The Galaxy S4 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2MP camera at the front, both of which are capable of capturing 1080p videos at 30 fps. And just like the HTC One, The Galaxy S4 features a number of nifty software and apps that maximizes the use of its hardware.

These include dual camera recording which allows the phone to use both front and rear cameras at the same time to record videos. There’s also a host of other camera functions such as Sound & Shoot that lets users record five seconds of audio before taking a shot and the Drama shot function which allows the phone to take more than 100 shots in four seconds so that the user can select the best captured images to composite in a single frame.

An eraser function (anti-photo bomb feature) is also present to acts similarly with the Drama shot but allows users to remove any unwanted elements in a photo. Furthermore, Samsung has tossed in a few other apps including a host of “S” apps such as Samsung’s health-oriented app – the S health.

Other notable features include the Group Play which allows users to use multiple phones as stereo speakers in sync, Samsung Home Sync and Smart Switch for seamless data transfer among other NFC enabled devices, Samsung Knox for BYOD (Bring You Own Device) users who want to compartmentalize their phone’s content into personal and work and of course the much talked about Smart Scroll and Smart Pause features that uses eye-tracking technology.

Both phones sport LTE Cat 3, and the usual mix of Superphone basics including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, accelerometer, gyro and proximity sensors, compass and HTML5 support to name a few.

So there you have it everyone. Which super phone do you think is the better – The HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest and Google Plus. And please, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more Filipino lifestyle stories.

Tech on Wheels: Rolls Royce Wraith

2013-03-14T00:31:00.000+08:00

The brand Rolls Royce has always been associated with ultra-luxury sedans and four door cars that service the extremely famous and wealthy. TV personalities such as American rapper Jay-Z and talk show host and car enthusiast Jay Leno have been known to own such cars. And even the royal family of different countries in different times have used a Rolls Royce.

And most of the time, a Rolls Royce is a kind of car that people would want to ridden as these cars are usually fitted with technology and materials that make them very cozy and comfortable, unlike other more spirited brands such as BMW and Porsche.

But now, it seems the British carmaker would like to branch into a more driver-oriented segment with the Rolls Royce Wraith which was unveiled in this year’s Geneva Autoshow. The Wraith is a rare specimen not only in the carmakers lineup but also within its market segment – the ultra-luxury performance sports cars. Its main proportions are highlighted by its pushed back cabin, high waist line, arched roofline and tapered rear end.

The car come with a 624 bhp twin turbo V12 engine that is capable of reaching 0-60 in just 4.4 seconds. It has a top speed of up to 250 km/h and 800Nm of torque.

In terms of interiors, the Wraith will not disappoint Rolls Royce fans and previous owners. The cabin is lined with materials inspired by luxury yachts and includes distinctive details such as a Starlight headliner and of course plenty of high quality leather and wood.

But probably the most techy feature of the Wraith is its satellite aided Transmission that uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver sees. The system anticipates the driver’s next move based on location and current driving style, selects the most appropriate gear for the terrain ahead.

The Rolls Royce Wraith will cost around 245,000 euros and will most likely be just a dream for most motorist. But for those who can afford it, this gorgeous tech on wheels along with its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy is enough to tell anyone that you have arrived.

Any thoughts or comments on the new Rolly Royce Wraith? Share them with us by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more Filipino lifestyle stories.

A New Face for Facebook’s News Feed

2013-03-07T01:16:00.000+08:00

Facebook is planning to implement a makeover for its news feed section by Friday this week. According to reports, Facebook has already sent invites to the press regarding its big press event on March 7 in the U.S.

Part of the upcoming changes in the news feed include a much improved music feed which not only shows users what their friends are listening to, but also shows information about nearby concerts, updates from artists and upcoming albums and singles.

Images on will also play a big part in the update, specifically the inclusion of a photos feed which displays larger images and the ability to go full screen. It would also appear that Facebook’s recent acquisition of Atlas – an advertising platform previously owned by Microsoft would come into play in this update as rumors suggest that ads will also become larger and more prominent with the new news feed.

The update is schedule to roll out first on the website on March 7^th (U.S. time) with the mobile apps soon to follow.

So what do you think? Do we really need a new Facebook news feed given the last UI update we saw from the site received a lot of negative comments from users? Share us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. And please add us up on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus, and subscribe to our blog for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

Latest Nokia WP8 Phones Now Available at Abenson

2013-03-02T15:09:00.000+08:00

Nokia has been very busy these past few months improving and expanding their Lumia smartphone product line. Just last week the Finnish company announced two more Windows Phone 8 devices at the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain – the Lumia 720 and the Lumia 520.

But before these two new handsets reach local stores, Nokia Philippines is already paving the way for these Lumias by announcing the availability of the Windows Phone 8-powered Nokia Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and the Lumia 620.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the company’s current flagship model. It is powered by 1.5GHz dual-core Krait processor on a Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon chipset. The Krait processor is complimented by 1GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage.

The Nokia Lumia 920 has the biggest screen among the three Lumias at 4.5 inches with the company’s ClearBlack display technology. The screen is of the IPS LCD type and has a resolution of 768 x 1280 pixel with a pixel density of 332 ppi which is higher than the iPhone 5 (326ppi) or the Galaxy S3 (233ppi). The display is protected by the latest generation of Corning’s Gorilla Glass panel.

At the back of the device is an 8MP camera equipped with Nokia’s PureView technology, which when paired with the phone’s Carl Zeiss optics and other features such as image stabilization, autofocus and a LED flash, allows the Lumia 920 to capture crisp and vibrant images without losing detail. The phone’s camera is also capable of capturing HD videos (1080p) with video stabilization.

For fans of self-portraits and video calls, you need not worry as the 920 is equipped with a 1.3MP front facing camera.

Next on the list is the Nokia Lumia 820. Designed for mid-range to upper-tier consumer groups, the 820 has a 4.3-inch AMOLED screen with resolution of 400 x 80 pixels and a pixel density of 217 ppi. Just like its big brother, the 820 is also equipped with Nokia’s ClearBlack display.

It is powered by 1.5GHz dual-core processor complimented by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage. If you think 8GB of memory won’t be enough, the phone’s memory can be expandable to 64GB via a microSD card slot.

The Lumia 820 also has an 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging and autofocus. It can capture 1080p videos at 30 frames per second with video stabilization. There’s a front-facing VGA camera again, for self-portraits and making video calls.

And last but not the least is the Nokia Lumia 620. The Lumia 620 is the most affordable among the three phones and was designed as an entry-level WP8 phone. But don’t be deceived by this humble description as this phone packs features that makes it stand out among similar phones in this price range.

The device has a 3.8-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and a pixel density of 246 pixels per inch, again featuring Nokia’s ClearBlack technology. It’s powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset which is complimented by 512MB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage. And just like the Lumia 820, this phone supports microSD expansion.

The Lumia 620 has a 5MP rear camera with autofocus, geo-tagging and LED flash. It can capture 720p videos at 30 frames per second. At the front of the phone sits a VGA camera for video calls and self-portraits.

All three phones sports the usual assortment of smartphone features such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, Bluetooth v3+, accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass and A-GPS support with GLONASS. And of course, these three will have the usual mix of Nokia-developed Windows Phone apps such as Nokia Maps Nokia City Lens, Nokia Smart Shoot and Nokia Drive.

If you’re interested in getting any of these 3 WP8 phones, the Lumia 820 and Lumia 620 are already available at Abenson for around P20,000 and P11,000 respectively. As for the Lumia 920, the Abenson representative I’ve talked to that they’re just waiting for stocks to come in and people should expect pricing to be around P33,000 probably by April 2013.

I’ve been a regular shopper of Abensons for the last 3 years and I’ve bought several appliances, a digital camera, 2 netbooks, an iPod touch from this store and in terms of customer service, delivery and repair (in worst-case scenarios), I’ve never been disappointed with their service.

And in terms of convenience, this store allows installment purchases at 0% interest through various credit card companies giving consumers flexibility when it comes to payments. They also partner with specific credit card providers and give exclusive discounts and deals when you buy an item from them. And with over 75 stores nationwide, it doesn’t matter whether you’re living in Metro Manila, North or South Luzon, Visayas or in Mindanao, because they’ve got you covered. J

If you want to experience these awesome Lumia phones, just drop by your nearest Abenson store.

For more Details, visit the following:

Nokia Website

Nokia Philippines Facebook page

Abenson Facebook Page

Abenson Website

MWC 2013 Highlights

2013-02-28T23:28:00.000+08:00

The eyes of the world especially the eyes of mobile phone fanatics are all on Barcelona, Spain these past few days for the 2013 Mobile World Congress – the largest exhibition for the mobile industry where manufacturers, vendors, mobile operators, technology providers and content owners from across the globe.

And this year, MWC has gotten a lot more interesting with the entry of other brands such as ZTE, Huawei and Alcatel adding a bit more variety into the mix. But of course big names such as Nokia and LG were also there too. So here’s a list of the handsets these manufacturers are going to release in the very near future.

Nokia Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 – Nokia is standing by its commitment to support Windows Phone 8 not only for their flagship models but also for their mid-range and entry-level product lines. Having said this, the Finnish company has unveiled their latest Windows Phone devices at MWC. The Lumia 720 designed for the mid-range market segment and the Lumia 520 for the entry-level market.

Both phones feature dual-core processors and Nokia’s super touch technology, as well as other Nokia apps such as Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps. The Lumia 520 has a slightly smaller screen and smaller camera sensor, but with all things considered, both phones share relatively the same specs and features. The Lumia 720 and 520 is scheduled to hit the shelves by Q2 2013.

LG F, G, L and V phones – Another big name that graced MWC this year was LG. And unlike other brands who limited themselves by announcing 1 or 2 devices, LG went all out by announcing an entire product line at the event – 6 devices to be exact.

These include their two premium devices the LG Optimus G Pro and the Optimus Vu II, their upper tier phones – the LG Optimus F7 and L7 II, their mid-range handsets – the Optimus F5 and L5 II and their budget friendly Optimus L3 II.

HP Slate 7 – After HP announced that they are discontinuing the production and development of their WebOS, HP is jumping into the Android bandwagon with the HP Slate 7. This 7-inch tablet features Android Jelly Bean, a 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a 3.15MP camera.

Asus Fonepad Infinity and Padfone – Taiwanese brand Asus on the other hand focused on tablets this year, well sort of. This year they announced their Padfone budget tablet that runs on Android Jelly Bean and is powered by an Intel Atom processor.

Also on Asus’s booth is the Fonepad Infinity, the newest revision in the company’s Fonepad series. Following in the footsteps of the Fonepad 2, the Fonepad Infinity improves on the shortcomings of its predecessor, most notably the screen resolution which is now at 1080 x 1920 pixels.

The Padfone Infinity runs on Android Jelly Bean and is powered by 1.7GHz quad-core Krait processor complimented by 2GB of RAM. It also has a 13MP camera at the back and an Adreno 320 GPU.

Huawei Ascend P2 – Huawei’s pride and glory this year is their Ascend P2 smartphone. The company claims that they have made the world’s fastest smartphone in terms of connectivity. Through its Cat 4 LTE, the phone will have data transfer speed of up to 150Mbps download speed.

This handset will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will be using a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM. And similar to other superphones in the market today, the Ascend P2 will pack a 13MP shooter at the back with autofocus and LED flash. Screen size is at 4.7 inches with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels at 312ppi.

ZTE Open and Grand Memo – ZTE is another Chinese brand that made news this year with the Firefox OS-powered ZTE Open and its Grand Memo phablet.

The ZTE Grand Memo features a 5.7-inch screen. It will have 16GB of on-board storage and 2 GB of RAM. It will be powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Krait processor on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset. There’s a 13MP camera at the back of the device and a 1MP front facing camera for self-portraits and video calls.

The ZTE Open on the other hand is a budget smartphone that runs the new Firefox OS. It has a 1GHz Cortex-A5 processor with 256MB of RAM and 512 MB of internal storage.

Alcatel One Touch series – another brand that went all out this year was Alcatel. This year they introduced the Firefox OS-powered OT Fire, and a slew of Android devices including the OT Snap/Snap with LTE, OT Idol X and OT Scribe Easy.

So which handset got your attention? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also subscribe to our blog or better yet add us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for other tech news and Filipino lifestyle stories.

Tech Tuesdays Episode 31: Game On

2013-02-19T23:46:00.000+08:00

The gaming console industry is about to experience another major revolution with the rumored arrival of the newest generation of consoles from Sony and Microsoft. Sony is first on the line with the Sony PS4 scheduled to be announced on February 20 in New York while Microsoft is rumored to make public the arrival of the new Xbox by Q3 of 2013.

And as expected rumors and information leaks has spread over the internet like wildfire as the said date draws near. But what should we expect from these new generation of gaming consoles? In this week’s edition of Tech Tuesdays on TFL, we’ve consolidated all information on the internet about these two machines to give us a heads up on what’s to come.

SONY PLAYSTATION 4

The new Sony PlayStation 4 will be announced tomorrow February 4, 2013 at Manhattan, New York. As for hardware specifications, it will be powered by AMD’s x86 processors and will pack a Radeon GPU with 18 GCN units. There’s probably 4-8GB of RAM of the GDDR5 variety and it has also been rumored to pack around 1.84 teraflops of overall computation power.

As for the controllers, rumors suggest that the PS4 controller will have the same shape and relatively the same dimensions of controllers from previous versions but will now have Vita-like touch sensitive surfaces replacing the usual analog sticks we’ve seen in the past. There are also rumors that it will also have remodeled shoulder buttons as well as an interactive touchscreen at the middle where the start and select button used to be.

Lastly, since the new console will use a new architecture, Sony hopes to solve the problem of backward compatibility with the use of streaming games over the internet. Yes, you heard it right. The PS4 is rumored to have the capability to stream games, specifically those developed for previous versions over the internet.

MICROSOFT XBOX 720

Microsoft on the other hand plans to release their next generation Xbox gaming console before Christmas of 2013, so we should expect its announcement by Q3 or early Q4 of this year. In contrast to the PlayStation 4, details about the Xbox 720 (assuming it will be called by that name) are still in murky waters.

There’s not much about the new console that is certain for now but according to rumors, the Xbox 720 will have relatively the same specs as its rival – the PlayStation 4 in terms of hardware specifications. Both consoles will be powered by AMD processors and will have powerful GPUs to support graphics intensive games.

As for the controller, rumors suggest that the Xbox 720 might still use a control pad but more emphasis will be given to its Kinect motion based controller technology which is not really that surprising as this technology offers a lot of promise and applications that Microsoft sees as a worthy investment for the future.

Reports also suggest that just like the PS4, the Xbox 720 will have a featured aimed at preventing the use of second hand games. This would mean that users won’t be able to trade in old titles anymore in order to raise funds to purchase new games. A related rumor also suggested that the new console would need an active internet connection in order to play games. This is to ensure that all games played will be tethered to a specific console profile making it hard for anyone to resell games.

Lastly, reports suggest that the Xbox 720 might not be called that way at all and that Microsoft is planning a different route in terms of the name of its new machine. Popular codenames include the Xbox Infinity and Xbox Loop.

What are your thoughts about the PS4 and the Xbox 720? Please do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also find TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or subscribe to our blog for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

The Nostalgic Pinoy: Ed TV

2013-02-18T22:49:00.000+08:00

There was once a time when cable TV services was out of reach to common people and that the only things worth watching on local TV come from three to five channels. So for kids, this means there’s no Discovery Channel, National Geographic or Animal Planet to watch to supplement lessons learned in school.

Fortunately, the local networks of yesteryears have produced several educational programs for kids which gave children in the 90s a good source of educational videos that are presented in a more entertaining manner. So in today’s edition of The Nostalgic Pinoy, let’s take a quick look back at some of the educational TV shows of the past.

Batibot – Batibot was the Filipino equivalent of Sesame Street in the 90s. And just like Sesame Street, Batibot features both human and muppet characters. These include Manang Bola, Kapitan Basa, Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang, Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing, Ate Sienna and of course Kuya Bodjie.

The show mainly taught basic learning skills to children such as writing, reading and counting, presented by puppets and human characters through singing and dancing.

Created by Feny De Los Angeles-Bautista, Batibot has over 6,600 episodes under its belt and has won a number of awards such as the Star Awards for TV, Golden Dove Awards and the Catholic Mass Media Awards to name a few.

ATBP – ATBP or At iba pa was another child oriented TV show in the 90s that followed the footsteps of Batibot. And just like its predecessor, it follows the same format of having puppet and human characters playing the main roles of the show.

Sineskwela – Sineskwela is the science themed children show that aired on ABS-CBN during the latter part of the 90s. It focused mainly on subjects taught in elementary science and was presented by characters dressed in costumes.

The show also featured a lot of television special effects which made it really entertaining to watch for children on top of the usual singing and dancing that came with the presentation of various science topics.

Math Tinik – Math Tinik is another children TV series with a specific focus on a certain school subject. And this time, the focus is on Mathematics. It also follows the same format as Sineskwela making use of a number of special effects to enhance the show’s appeal to children.

5 and Up – 5 and Up was a television show for preteens which was produced by Probe Productions. The show was the younger version of the multi-award-winning investigative program The Probe Team. Having said this, 5 and Up followed The Probe Team’s format focusing on subjects relevant to children and presented through the use of long segments and spiels.

Epol Apple – Epol Apple was another ABS-CBN creation that was founded on Sineskwela’s success of using fancy special effects to capture audience’s attention. The show taught basic English language to kids using the same format as Sineskwela and Math Tinik.

Hiraya Manawari – Hiraya Manawari is a TV series that showcases fairy-tale like stories presented with the use of actors and actresses in costume playing different characters for each episode. Special effects were again utilized in order to make the show more entertaining and of course due to the fantasy nature of the show.

Bayani – Bayani was another children-themed TV series that was aired the same time as Hiraya Manawari. But unlike the latter which showed fairy tales, Bayani focused on featuring the stories of the country’s heroes seen through the eyes of a pair of time-travelling kids.

So there you have it everyone. Which show was your favourite back in the days? Tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also subscribe to our blog or add us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

Ubuntu Phones Coming on October 2013

2013-02-07T23:08:00.000+08:00

Ubuntu, the linux-based operating system previously used in running servers and other infrastructure in many corporate IT departments will soon join the highly competitive smartphone arena come October 2013 says Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth earlier today in an interview with Wall Street Journal.

The operating system was first seen last month at the 2013 International CES running on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone. In terms of UI design, the OS makes heavy use of gestures for navigation and puts heavy emphasis on HTML5 web apps. The operating system shares an uncanny resemblance to Android as most of its component are based on it. However, Ubuntu has added several useful features at the same time removed or modified components to improve customer experience.

An additional feature of the OS that most businesses would definitely appreciate is its ability to provide access to all manners of data from different servers making it highly convenient to access corporate information through a single pocket-sized device. A practical example of this innovation is the ability of an Ubuntu smartphone to dock into larger displays and other computer peripherals and have Windows-based applications streamed to them from corporate servers.

Moreover, Ubuntu’s history of a rich app ecosystem ensures users of a dynamic mobile landscape that can easily adapt to their needs as a consumer or as a business.

According to Shuttleworth, Ubuntu smartphones will be distributed across large geographic markets with North America being one of the top destinations. He also adds that several carriers have also shown interest in the smartphone and its OS. Which carriers these are remains a mystery though. Nevertheless, these information will be revealed in due time so for the rest of us, all we can do is wait several months more.

So what are your thoughts about Ubuntu and their upcoming smartphones? Tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also subscribe to our blog or add us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for other Filipino lifestyle stories.

Source

Gadget Review: ZTE Blade III (V889M)

2013-02-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

2012 was the year of the Chinese in terms of smartphone sales all over the world. During the fourth quarter of 2012, Chinese brands such as Huawei and ZTE got into the list of the top smartphone manufacturers in the world. And in this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the same two brands showed off their latest flagship models – the Grand S for ZTE and the Ascent Mate for Huawei. Fortunately, the crowd loved it and the rest of their product line is also performing relatively well in other markets like in the Philippines.

For ZTE, one particular model that’s proving quite capable is the ZTE V889M, a dual-SIM Android phone that ZTE is placing in the mid-range droid arena. Facing the likes of the Xperia J, Galaxy Ace 2 and Optimus L5, does the V889M good enough to win over brand loyalists from Samsung, Sony and LG. If you’re looking for an affordable Android phone this 2013, here’s our short review of the ZTE V889M.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

The box of the V889M is a far cry compared to those from much popular brands. It’s quite compact but it doesn’t look like it was professionally designed. The graphics on the box looks like it was done by a student and there isn’t any information about the handset written on the box.

There’s also no plastic or paper cradle securing the phone inside the box. There’s a piece of folded cardboard that keeps the phone and its accessories from tumbling inside while in transit, but it’s still not as secure as with other brands.

As for the contents of the box, the phone is slipped inside the small space made by the folds of the cardboard while the accessories and the usual documentation are placed inside the other end of the box. Accessories include a pair of ordinary plastic headset, a very short data sync/charging cable, the 1650MAh battery and the USB-type wall charger. There’s also an included 4GB micro-SD card which is already inserted into the phone.

DESIGN

ZTE did an amazing job in designing the V889M. For its price tag, the phone feels very solid and dense, which gives it a premium look. The front of the phone is occupied by the 4.0-inch LCD screen and the four capacitive touchscreen buttons found on slightly older Android phones at the bottom of the screen. Located at the top left portion of the screen are the proximity and ambient light sensor, to the right of which is the phone’s earpiece.

At the top of the handset, you’ll see the 3.5mm headphone jack that’s right beside the power and lock button. The left side on the other hand has the volume rocker while the right side is completely empty. There are also two pin-sized holes at the top and at the bottom of the phone, which is probably where the microphone/s are located. The micro-USB charging and syncing port is located at the bottom of the phone right beside the slit to open the back cover.

The back of the phone is where the 5 megapixel camera is found. The camera is surrounded by a textured metallic plate and is slightly raised. The ZTE brand logo is printed at the bottom just right above the speaker grill. The back is also coated with a soft touch coating making it really comfortable and easy to hold.

SOFTWARE

The V889M runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich with little to almost no modification made by ZTE. Aside from the lockscreen and the quick access settings in the notifications bar, the phone’s user interface has stayed true to Android’s default vanilla UI. All the pre-installed apps like the messenger, people, phone, calculator, music and calendar app among others have not been skinned or customized which makes the phone really easy to get used to but doesn’t make it anything special.

The V889M is a dual-SIM phone so the messaging, phonebook and people app have special options to let users choose which SIM card to use when sending text messages or making phone calls. And just like other dual-SIM droids, finding a good replacement app for texting or making calls may prove a little difficult to do. The only messaging app we found compatible with this device is Go SMS Pro which is actually quite good already but if you’re used to heavy customization, you’ll probably feel left out in this section.

The camera of the phone is the stock Android camera app. The controls are neatly organized through context menus which can be accessed by tapping the buttons on the screen. Zooming is done with the use of the on screen zoom slider. There are several capture modes which include, auto scene detect, face beauty, smile shot and a continuous burst shot for high speed shooting. There’s even a panorama mode so you can take wide angle photos. Additional options include settings for scenes, white balance, color effects, HDR, ISO, contrast, color, sharpness, etc.

As we mentioned earlier, there are only a few important modifications done by ZTE on this phone. One is the quick access settings in the notifications bar. Just like other brands, there are several options that users can easily change by just tapping them including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, audio profiles and display settings.

For the lockscreen, ZTE decided to tweak it a little bit by moving away from the drag to unlock method and instead going with the press and hold method. The problem is, the lockscreen now has less functionality in contrast to the one Android has as default as the option to access the messaging, phone and dialer app through the lockscreen disappeared with the drag and unlock style.

IMAGE AND SOUND

The V889M has a 4.0-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels and a pixel density of 233 pixels per inch, which is quite impressive for a phone at this price range. Images are clear and vibrant, and colors don’t appear too washed out with the exception of the images taken using the camera. And just to avoid any miscommunication, the camera takes good to above average images but they’re a little faded and lacking in color.

Camera Sample Shots

For sound, specifically the call quality, the V889M offers average to above average audio when taking or making calls. I didn’t experience any dropped calls and the phone’s proximity sensor and other in-call settings worked perfectly okay. However, I did notice a small lag when tapping on the end call button. As for multimedia playback, the speaker at the back of the phone is horrible. The volume is really low and gives a tinny sound especially when you crank the volume. And if you’re thinking of using the included headset, then you’re out of luck. The included headset is a far worse option than the loudspeaker in terms of both sound and build quality.

PERFORMANCE

Performance wise, the ZTE V889M is powered by a 1GHz dual core processor on a Mediatek MT6577, which is the norm in today’s market for entry-level android phones. As far as UI responsiveness, the phone runs very smoothly and there was minimal incidence of lag or crashes. But for the sake of having a numerical value in which to measure performance, we relied on the old way of running synthetic benchmark tests like Antutu and Quadrant.

Sample Benchmark test scores

For Quadrant, the V889M scored on the average 2300 which is quite okay given its hardware. For Antutu benchmark tests, this phone scored an average of 5700 which is also within the standards for an entry level device with these specs.

VERDICT

To sum it all up, we feel that the ZTE V899M is quite an enjoyable phone to have. It’s capable of handling most of the day to day tasks that a common smartphone faces in the real world. The design of the phone as well as its build quality were surprisingly nice. The phone feels really solid and looks more expensive than its real worth. There weren’t a lot of issues when it comes to the software that’s installed or the apps nor did it have any compatibility issues with apps available online.

The only let down of this phone would probably be its audio hardware. Both the headset and the loudspeaker are unusable when it comes to media playback rendering the pre-installed music app almost useless. Although it can be remedied by using other headsets, we just think that after all the good things we’ve seen on the phone, ZTE just had to screw something up.

But if you’re willing to forgive the poor audio performance, the rest of the phone is really impressive. For a phone with a price tag of less than P8000, the specs and quality of the V889M is comparable to devices in the P12000-15000 price range. So if you’re looking for an adept android phone without worrying too much if it will burn a hole in your bank account, you should consider getting the ZTE V889M.

What are your thoughts about this phone? Do tell us be leaving a comment below. You can also add us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or better yet, subscribe to our blog for more Filipino lifestyle stories about food, travel, fashion, and of course gadgets & technology.