February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

Another month has passed and that means a new roundup of gadget reviews which includes the Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus, MyPhone Uno, MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook, and the HTC Desire Eye to name a few. So before you start enjoying the summer season, take a look at our Gadget Reviews Roundup for February 2015.

grr-feb2015

Full Review

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus

Cherry Mobile definitely has a superphone right here with the Cosmos One Plus. The high-end hardware configuration is evident from the top performance in our benchmark tests. It comes with dual-LTE connectivity which is rare and first seen with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. They top it off with 3GB of RAM that only flagship handsets tend to carry nowadays and a very capable Sony sensor for the camera.

 

PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo OC

The PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo has most, if not all of the things one would want from a mid-range graphics card; it offer’s near-silent cooling solution, quite generous factory overclock and low TDP which will allow user to run this card on a decent 500W PSU like the one we used for this review.

 

ASUS Fonepad 7 (FE171CG)

The Fonepad 7 was a handy gadget to have around. It looked good to the point we’ve been counting friends that take a second look at the tablet and complement its physique. Its outstanding battery life also made a good partner to my iPhone 5 that easily gets drained when mobile data is active.

 

Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM

From our two-week usage, there are more reasons to dislike rather than to like the Microsoft Lumia 535. Perhaps the main culprit here is the issue with the touch which ruins everyday usage from swiping, scrolling, or even tapping, it is just frustrating. On the up side, the front camera can capture decent selfies for you, which is the primary selling point of the device. With an SRP of PHP 5,990, it can be a hard sell for some since the Nokia brand is not on board, and others can opt for a better option over the Android wagon.

 

Huawei Honor 3C Lite

The Huawei Honor 3C Lite is a decent contender for its price considering its competition in the likes of Asus Zenfone 5 Lite or Xiaomi Redmi 1s and other local brand offerings, and this new low-cost offering doesn’t disappoint. You have a great set of features all for the price of Php5,290: It’s got one of the largest internal storage at its selling point, a stunning display, and an almost-stock Android KitKat experience with just a hint of the company’s own proprietary launcher and icons.

 

MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook

Gaming laptops have evolved from being a colossal piece of hardware to a thin and sleek gaming machine without too much compromise in performance. One of the best example of that is the MSI GS70 Stealth which combines the portability of conventional notebook PC and raw performance of a decent desktop computer with a few extra features on the side for added functionality and swag.

 

MyPhone Uno

There are a lot reasons to like the MyPhone Uno; Android Lollipop out of the box, decent performance, impressive battery life, good sound output and the fact that users are guaranteed to receive software updates straight from Google thanks to the Android One campaign.

 

Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler

With a local price tag of Php2,590 one can easily make the argument that the Noctua NH-L12 is more of a luxury item than a reasonably priced after-market CPU cooler. In fact, for the same price (or may be even less) one can simply opt for a decent all-in-one liquid cooler or, better yet, go for a significantly cheaper air cooler and spend the remainder of one’s budget for other PC components.

 

Logitech G700s Wireless Gaming Mouse

The Logitech G700s should be a perfect candidate for users who are in the market for a legit wireless gaming mouse that can provide the same level of performance as if it was a wired one. It should also be a perfect fit for those who are looking for those extra buttons for MMO gaming or added functionality, but not as overwhelming compared to the Logitech G600.

 

KingCom Pi Phone Venus

Hands down, the KingCom Pi Phone Venus is one of the best-looking seven-inch phablets we’ve seen around. It’s classy, elegant and sophisticated appearance can definitely turn heads. It also has powerful hardware tucked beneath its slim profile — more than a Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a stock Android experience can actually give other devices priced near it a good run for their money.

 

Sol Republic TKDK Tracks HD V10 Headphones

The Sol Republic TKDK is one of the most eye-catching headphones we’ve come across. It has an energetic design which should appeal mostly to young people. The interchangeable headbands is also great feature as you can swap it if you want to sport a new look. It’s pricey though at almost Php10k given its sound performance. Sound-wise, it falls short when it comes to rock music or anything that needs emphasis on highs. On the bright side, it’s optimized for bassy music like club, party, or hip hop music and the TKDK delivers those tracks well.

 

Sol Republic Amps In-Ear Headphones

The Sol Republic Amps is a good pair of headphones that can deliver Bass and Highs well. It’s versatile so those who listen to different types of music, whether club, party or rock, will definitely enjoy the Amps. Design-wise, this puts the Amps in a love it or hate it situation. It looks unique but might not be everyone’s cup of tea. So if you like the looks of the Amps, then this could be your next headphone. That is if you’re willing to shell out Php4,000 for it.

 

Quick Review

HTC Desire Eye

So far, we’re liking the HTC Desire Eye. While everything else has been accounted for in the last few days that we’ve been using the unit, our final verdict will revolved around the promise of the dual-camera system and the endurance of the built-in battery.

 

O+ Time

Overall, the O+ Time is a really decent wearable device for its Php1,995 low-cost price tag. For all the essential things you need, it can get all the job done. It has great connectivity (sans the calls), a really good and comfortable design, and an above-average battery life. The unconventional screen and some software issues both on the device and the accompanying software could do some working, though.

 

Fukuda Android Smart Box

Overall, the Fukuda Smart Box is a really capable Android TV Box that comes with some useful features not found on other TV boxes. It’s light, portable, and it looks nice too.

 

Bose SoundTouch 30

The Bose SoundTouch 30, although the top of the line model in the series, has a lot of similarity with the SoundTouch 20 in terms of functionality. If you have both set up in your house you can set them to play the same music in each room or you can opt to play different songs for each speaker. As for sound performance, we’re glad to report that the downside we previously saw is no longer present in this bigger SoundTouch — what you get is a powerful and life-like sound that the company is known for.

The post February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

Another month has passed and that means a new roundup of gadget reviews which includes the Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus, MyPhone Uno, MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook, and the HTC Desire Eye to name a few. So before you start enjoying the summer season, take a look at our Gadget Reviews Roundup for February 2015.

grr-feb2015

Full Review

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus

Cherry Mobile definitely has a superphone right here with the Cosmos One Plus. The high-end hardware configuration is evident from the top performance in our benchmark tests. It comes with dual-LTE connectivity which is rare and first seen with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. They top it off with 3GB of RAM that only flagship handsets tend to carry nowadays and a very capable Sony sensor for the camera.

 

PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo OC

The PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo has most, if not all of the things one would want from a mid-range graphics card; it offer’s near-silent cooling solution, quite generous factory overclock and low TDP which will allow user to run this card on a decent 500W PSU like the one we used for this review.

 

ASUS Fonepad 7 (FE171CG)

The Fonepad 7 was a handy gadget to have around. It looked good to the point we’ve been counting friends that take a second look at the tablet and complement its physique. Its outstanding battery life also made a good partner to my iPhone 5 that easily gets drained when mobile data is active.

 

Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM

From our two-week usage, there are more reasons to dislike rather than to like the Microsoft Lumia 535. Perhaps the main culprit here is the issue with the touch which ruins everyday usage from swiping, scrolling, or even tapping, it is just frustrating. On the up side, the front camera can capture decent selfies for you, which is the primary selling point of the device. With an SRP of PHP 5,990, it can be a hard sell for some since the Nokia brand is not on board, and others can opt for a better option over the Android wagon.

 

Huawei Honor 3C Lite

The Huawei Honor 3C Lite is a decent contender for its price considering its competition in the likes of Asus Zenfone 5 Lite or Xiaomi Redmi 1s and other local brand offerings, and this new low-cost offering doesn’t disappoint. You have a great set of features all for the price of Php5,290: It’s got one of the largest internal storage at its selling point, a stunning display, and an almost-stock Android KitKat experience with just a hint of the company’s own proprietary launcher and icons.

 

MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook

Gaming laptops have evolved from being a colossal piece of hardware to a thin and sleek gaming machine without too much compromise in performance. One of the best example of that is the MSI GS70 Stealth which combines the portability of conventional notebook PC and raw performance of a decent desktop computer with a few extra features on the side for added functionality and swag.

 

MyPhone Uno

There are a lot reasons to like the MyPhone Uno; Android Lollipop out of the box, decent performance, impressive battery life, good sound output and the fact that users are guaranteed to receive software updates straight from Google thanks to the Android One campaign.

 

Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler

With a local price tag of Php2,590 one can easily make the argument that the Noctua NH-L12 is more of a luxury item than a reasonably priced after-market CPU cooler. In fact, for the same price (or may be even less) one can simply opt for a decent all-in-one liquid cooler or, better yet, go for a significantly cheaper air cooler and spend the remainder of one’s budget for other PC components.

 

Logitech G700s Wireless Gaming Mouse

The Logitech G700s should be a perfect candidate for users who are in the market for a legit wireless gaming mouse that can provide the same level of performance as if it was a wired one. It should also be a perfect fit for those who are looking for those extra buttons for MMO gaming or added functionality, but not as overwhelming compared to the Logitech G600.

 

KingCom Pi Phone Venus

Hands down, the KingCom Pi Phone Venus is one of the best-looking seven-inch phablets we’ve seen around. It’s classy, elegant and sophisticated appearance can definitely turn heads. It also has powerful hardware tucked beneath its slim profile — more than a Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a stock Android experience can actually give other devices priced near it a good run for their money.

 

Sol Republic TKDK Tracks HD V10 Headphones

The Sol Republic TKDK is one of the most eye-catching headphones we’ve come across. It has an energetic design which should appeal mostly to young people. The interchangeable headbands is also great feature as you can swap it if you want to sport a new look. It’s pricey though at almost Php10k given its sound performance. Sound-wise, it falls short when it comes to rock music or anything that needs emphasis on highs. On the bright side, it’s optimized for bassy music like club, party, or hip hop music and the TKDK delivers those tracks well.

 

Sol Republic Amps In-Ear Headphones

The Sol Republic Amps is a good pair of headphones that can deliver Bass and Highs well. It’s versatile so those who listen to different types of music, whether club, party or rock, will definitely enjoy the Amps. Design-wise, this puts the Amps in a love it or hate it situation. It looks unique but might not be everyone’s cup of tea. So if you like the looks of the Amps, then this could be your next headphone. That is if you’re willing to shell out Php4,000 for it.

 

Quick Review

HTC Desire Eye

So far, we’re liking the HTC Desire Eye. While everything else has been accounted for in the last few days that we’ve been using the unit, our final verdict will revolved around the promise of the dual-camera system and the endurance of the built-in battery.

 

O+ Time

Overall, the O+ Time is a really decent wearable device for its Php1,995 low-cost price tag. For all the essential things you need, it can get all the job done. It has great connectivity (sans the calls), a really good and comfortable design, and an above-average battery life. The unconventional screen and some software issues both on the device and the accompanying software could do some working, though.

 

Fukuda Android Smart Box

Overall, the Fukuda Smart Box is a really capable Android TV Box that comes with some useful features not found on other TV boxes. It’s light, portable, and it looks nice too.

 

Bose SoundTouch 30

The Bose SoundTouch 30, although the top of the line model in the series, has a lot of similarity with the SoundTouch 20 in terms of functionality. If you have both set up in your house you can set them to play the same music in each room or you can opt to play different songs for each speaker. As for sound performance, we’re glad to report that the downside we previously saw is no longer present in this bigger SoundTouch — what you get is a powerful and life-like sound that the company is known for.

The post February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

Another month has passed and that means a new roundup of gadget reviews which includes the Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus, MyPhone Uno, MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook, and the HTC Desire Eye to name a few. So before you start enjoying the summer season, take a look at our Gadget Reviews Roundup for February 2015.

grr-feb2015

Full Review

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus

Cherry Mobile definitely has a superphone right here with the Cosmos One Plus. The high-end hardware configuration is evident from the top performance in our benchmark tests. It comes with dual-LTE connectivity which is rare and first seen with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. They top it off with 3GB of RAM that only flagship handsets tend to carry nowadays and a very capable Sony sensor for the camera.

 

PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo OC

The PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo has most, if not all of the things one would want from a mid-range graphics card; it offer’s near-silent cooling solution, quite generous factory overclock and low TDP which will allow user to run this card on a decent 500W PSU like the one we used for this review.

 

ASUS Fonepad 7 (FE171CG)

The Fonepad 7 was a handy gadget to have around. It looked good to the point we’ve been counting friends that take a second look at the tablet and complement its physique. Its outstanding battery life also made a good partner to my iPhone 5 that easily gets drained when mobile data is active.

 

Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM

From our two-week usage, there are more reasons to dislike rather than to like the Microsoft Lumia 535. Perhaps the main culprit here is the issue with the touch which ruins everyday usage from swiping, scrolling, or even tapping, it is just frustrating. On the up side, the front camera can capture decent selfies for you, which is the primary selling point of the device. With an SRP of PHP 5,990, it can be a hard sell for some since the Nokia brand is not on board, and others can opt for a better option over the Android wagon.

 

Huawei Honor 3C Lite

The Huawei Honor 3C Lite is a decent contender for its price considering its competition in the likes of Asus Zenfone 5 Lite or Xiaomi Redmi 1s and other local brand offerings, and this new low-cost offering doesn’t disappoint. You have a great set of features all for the price of Php5,290: It’s got one of the largest internal storage at its selling point, a stunning display, and an almost-stock Android KitKat experience with just a hint of the company’s own proprietary launcher and icons.

 

MSI GS70 2QE Stealth Gaming Notebook

Gaming laptops have evolved from being a colossal piece of hardware to a thin and sleek gaming machine without too much compromise in performance. One of the best example of that is the MSI GS70 Stealth which combines the portability of conventional notebook PC and raw performance of a decent desktop computer with a few extra features on the side for added functionality and swag.

 

MyPhone Uno

There are a lot reasons to like the MyPhone Uno; Android Lollipop out of the box, decent performance, impressive battery life, good sound output and the fact that users are guaranteed to receive software updates straight from Google thanks to the Android One campaign.

 

Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler

With a local price tag of Php2,590 one can easily make the argument that the Noctua NH-L12 is more of a luxury item than a reasonably priced after-market CPU cooler. In fact, for the same price (or may be even less) one can simply opt for a decent all-in-one liquid cooler or, better yet, go for a significantly cheaper air cooler and spend the remainder of one’s budget for other PC components.

 

Logitech G700s Wireless Gaming Mouse

The Logitech G700s should be a perfect candidate for users who are in the market for a legit wireless gaming mouse that can provide the same level of performance as if it was a wired one. It should also be a perfect fit for those who are looking for those extra buttons for MMO gaming or added functionality, but not as overwhelming compared to the Logitech G600.

 

KingCom Pi Phone Venus

Hands down, the KingCom Pi Phone Venus is one of the best-looking seven-inch phablets we’ve seen around. It’s classy, elegant and sophisticated appearance can definitely turn heads. It also has powerful hardware tucked beneath its slim profile — more than a Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a stock Android experience can actually give other devices priced near it a good run for their money.

 

Sol Republic TKDK Tracks HD V10 Headphones

The Sol Republic TKDK is one of the most eye-catching headphones we’ve come across. It has an energetic design which should appeal mostly to young people. The interchangeable headbands is also great feature as you can swap it if you want to sport a new look. It’s pricey though at almost Php10k given its sound performance. Sound-wise, it falls short when it comes to rock music or anything that needs emphasis on highs. On the bright side, it’s optimized for bassy music like club, party, or hip hop music and the TKDK delivers those tracks well.

 

Sol Republic Amps In-Ear Headphones

The Sol Republic Amps is a good pair of headphones that can deliver Bass and Highs well. It’s versatile so those who listen to different types of music, whether club, party or rock, will definitely enjoy the Amps. Design-wise, this puts the Amps in a love it or hate it situation. It looks unique but might not be everyone’s cup of tea. So if you like the looks of the Amps, then this could be your next headphone. That is if you’re willing to shell out Php4,000 for it.

 

Quick Review

HTC Desire Eye

So far, we’re liking the HTC Desire Eye. While everything else has been accounted for in the last few days that we’ve been using the unit, our final verdict will revolved around the promise of the dual-camera system and the endurance of the built-in battery.

 

O+ Time

Overall, the O+ Time is a really decent wearable device for its Php1,995 low-cost price tag. For all the essential things you need, it can get all the job done. It has great connectivity (sans the calls), a really good and comfortable design, and an above-average battery life. The unconventional screen and some software issues both on the device and the accompanying software could do some working, though.

 

Fukuda Android Smart Box

Overall, the Fukuda Smart Box is a really capable Android TV Box that comes with some useful features not found on other TV boxes. It’s light, portable, and it looks nice too.

 

Bose SoundTouch 30

The Bose SoundTouch 30, although the top of the line model in the series, has a lot of similarity with the SoundTouch 20 in terms of functionality. If you have both set up in your house you can set them to play the same music in each room or you can opt to play different songs for each speaker. As for sound performance, we’re glad to report that the downside we previously saw is no longer present in this bigger SoundTouch — what you get is a powerful and life-like sound that the company is known for.

The post February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: February 2015

We take you back to the news and original articles that we ran last month. Here are our top tech stories in February 2015.

topstories-feb2015

A lot of events sure happened in the local tech scene last month. We saw the launch of a network’s Digital Television broadcast, a new video streaming service entering the country through one telecom provider, and the entrance of Google’s Android One Program in the country through its partner brands: Cherry Mobile One and MyPhone Uno. Here are our top stories, in descending order.

10. Five Earphones under Php500

earphonesunder5002

For the music-loving people, an audio accessory is a must-have. Who wouldn’t want affordable, decently-sounding earphones? We round up five of the best ones we’ve seen and used, and are priced below half a grand.

9. ASUS MeMO Pad 7 (ME70C) Arrives in PH, Starts at Php3,995

ASUS-MeMO-Pad-7-Philippines

ASUS Philippines has ended January on a strong note by officially announcing a slew of new devices, including the competitively-priced slate dubbed as the ASUS MeMO Pad 7.

8. Meizu M1 Note Slated to Arrive in PH for Php7,990

meizu m1 note_1

While conversing with the product manager of Novo7 Tech during the local launch of the Meizu MX4 Pro, we were told that they’ll be releasing the Meizu M1 Note in the Philippines soon.

7. This is the Samsung Galaxy S6, revealed in photos

Galaxy S6 1

After seeing the huge design improvements in Samsung’s recent smartphones like the Galaxy Alpha and the Galaxy Note 4, a lot of people are excited about the Galaxy S6’s design. If you’re one of those people, then wait no more! The Samsung Galaxy S6 may have just been accidentally revealed through some photos on the internet.

6. Sony to exit the smartphone market?

Following reports that its smartphone division is not doing well, Sony is now looking at exiting the smartphone market and will instead focus on its other profitable businesses.

5. Techbox offers Buy 1 Take 1 on LG G2 and other smartphones

techbox

Techbox offered a great Buy 1 Take 1 deal when you purchase an LG G2. Really awesome deal, if you’d ask me. It ended yesterday, sadly.

4. Which is Better: More RAM or More Processing Cores?

ramvsprocessor

If you’re stuck choosing between two gadgets, one with a higher amount of RAM and one with more CPU cores for processing, which do you pick? Don’t worry. We’re here to explain.

3. ABS-CBN TVplus now available for Php2,500

abscbn tvplus_1

We reported that ABS-CBN will launch today its Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service. Now the TV network has announced that its ABS-CBN TVplus, also known as “The Mahiwagang Black Box”, is now available for purchase.

2. What causes Android smartphone lag? (and how to fix them)

smartphonelag-android

Lags are some of the common and perennial issues plaguing Android devices. Those occasional slow performances, app freezes, and delays in touch responsiveness exhibited by your device do decrease overall productivity. We take a look at five of the reasons why it does, and give your our own take on solutions to solve them.

1. Scammers produce fake deposit slips for online sellers

fake-deposit-slip

Our top story in February 2015 is our report on scammers faking BDO deposit slips to process orders. Recent incidents pointed to a group of online scammers producing fake BDO deposit slips to show to online sellers in order to process orders.

That’s it for our some of the top stories in YugaTech this past month. Check out our continuing Mobile World Congress coverage on the banner link below.

mwc2015-loop

The post Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: February 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

BlackBerry Leap Unveiled, 5-inch 720p Display in Tow

Blackberry has its eyes set on “young career builders” with the company’s new all-touchscreen smartphone dubbed as the Blackberry Leap.

Blackberry Leap Philippines

BlackBerry Leap specs:

5-inch HD LCD screen, 1280 x 720 @294ppi
1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM 8960 dual-core processor
Adreno 225 GPU
2GB RAM
Expandable 16GB internal storage
Supports up to 128GB MicroSD card
8-megapixel autofocus rear camera w/ LED Flash
1080p video recording @30fps
2DOF Video Stabilization
2MP fixed-focus front camera
720p video recording
Single SIM
4G/LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0 LE with EDR
GPS w/ A-GPS
FM Radio
Blackberry OS 10
Dimension: 144 x 72.8 x 9.5 mm
Weight: 170g

Judging by its specs, the new BlackBerry Leap isn’t exactly geared to blow any of its note-worthy contemporaries out of the water, but the company is banking on the handset’s affordable price tag which is pegged at USD275 off-contract.

Blackberry’s new smartphone is now up for pre-order and which you can do so by heading over to the source link below.

RELATED:

BlackBerry Classic hands-on, first impressions
BlackBerry Passport Quick Review

Source

The post BlackBerry Leap Unveiled, 5-inch 720p Display in Tow appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.