Category: Technews

Sony Xperia V: water-resistant LTE smartphone

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Unlike their more aggressive phone competitors, Sony has been laying low in the market. It’s nice to see them make a splash again with their impressive Xperia series, notably their latest Sony Xperia V – dubbed as the first water-resistant LTE smartphone.

Two words: water-resistant (which means this smartphone can be immersed in water up to 1m for 30 minutes) and LTE – play games and videostream all you can with this phone’s download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Xperia V

But wait, there’s more. The Sony Xperia 5 has a 13-megapixel HD camera, so advanced that it can vividly capture videos or still images even in low light or harsh backlight conditions. We believe that this is one of the more sophisticated cameras built in a phone today.

I’ve tested an older Xperia model before and was sorta dismayed that battery power doesn’t last long. Am glad that Sony Mobile solved the problem with their own Battery STAMINA Mode. This unique feature temporarily disables WiFi, data traffic and apps when the screen is on sleep mode. Calls, messaging functions and notifications will still work. When the screen is touched again, all functions go back up.

“Battery STAMINA Mode is easy to use and offers more savings than other similar power saving apps today. There are actually no comparable apps on Google Play since they cannot change the Android system. Battery STAMINA Mode is achieved via deeper integration into the Android OS. This allows Xperia V users to enjoy more hours on the fastest LTE connection available,” explained Patrick Larraga, Head of Mobile Business of Sony Philippines.

The Sony Xperia V is currently included in Smart’s LTE subscription package at Plan 1500. Outside of this plan, retail price is P27,000.

Here are the key specs of this Xperia 5:

4.3” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp clarity

Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics

Easy connectivity with One-touch

Clear audio+ for the highest level of sound quality

PlayStation™ Certified

Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow

Highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57+) ensure protection from the effects of immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes

MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger

Available in Black and White colours

Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL and Honor 2 out now

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Even though China has put a mark on its new passports stating its territorial claim over the South China Sea (ouch!), this hasn’t prevented us from looking at their new products in the market. Let’s begin with the ubiquitous cellphones.

Launched yesterday was the Ascend D1 quad XL, a quadcore smartphone running on Android Ice Cream Sandwich (version 4) which promises speed, power and long battery life. What makes this high-end phone worth looking into is its good price point: only P18,000 for something that delivers turbo-charged computer prowess in your pocket.

Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL

Specs of the Ascend D1 Quad XL:

Weight: 145g
Screen size : 4.5 inches
Battery: 2,600mAh
Internal storage: 8GB
External storage: microSD (extendible up to 32GB)
Camera: 8MP
with Wi-fi, Bluetooth & radio

Also introduced in the market is the Huawei Ascend G600, a.k.a. Honor 2, which builds on the success of Huawei Honor that offered three days battery life on a single charge. It is also a quadcore smartphone running on Android version 4 but with a lower price of approximately P14,000

Nokia apps: my Top 5

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Nokia was the first cellphone I ever used and with the inception of mobile apps in the free market, they’ve come a long way. A few months ago, I got the chance to review the dual-SIM Nokia Asha 202 phone and I had fun trying out some of the applications. The Finnish brand is still one of the best there is for ease of use and the same holds true when you access their modern smartphones for games, information and the like. Here are the top (read:favorite) apps I used in the Nokia:

top nokia apps

MMDA or the Metro Manila Development Authority app (Rating: 5/5)

What can I say. The geniuses who made this are simply brilliant for letting us know in real time the road situation in the city before we venture out. Very useful if you commute, drive, or a tourist. If you’re riding a taxi, simply flash your phone and show to the driver. A red line shows the road is experiencing heavy traffic, yellow means moderate and green means roads are clear.

Facebook (rating: 5/5)

This is rather self-explanatory, especially if you’re as much an FB junkie as me :) Facebook for Nokia is quite easy to navigate and I can see pretty much everything in list view. No matter what platform, I can’t live without Facebook for letting me know about the whole goings-on in the universe – from the latest news, jokes, tsismis, births, deaths, photos and all sorts of trivia imaginable.

Photofunia (rating: 4.5/5)

I like taking photos of everything and Photofunia, as an online editing tool , lives up to its name. I love how it can transform my photos into pop art, movie-like billboards and countless other effects.

Coffee Craze (rating: 4.5/5)

The very mention of coffee! drew me to this game. I certainly had fun playing out two of my frustrated roles in life: that of a baker and barista. I had fun working in the kitchen, serving customers and letting the cash register ring. Aye!

My Elba Kitchen (rating: 4/5)

Am using less and less of actual cookbooks these days whenever I experiment in the kitchen. I just make notes on my smartphone or copy recipes there so that it’s all very handy when I work. That’s why I appreciate apps like My Elba Kitchen on the Nokia phone with tips from the masters and level of difficulty you will encounter. I just wish they’d expand this app to include more content.

Nokia apps: my Top 5

ajay Leave a comment

Nokia was the first cellphone I ever used and with the inception of mobile apps in the free market, they’ve come a long way. A few months ago, I got the chance to review the dual-SIM Nokia Asha 202 phone and I had fun trying out some of the applications. The Finnish brand is still one of the best there is for ease of use and the same holds true when you access their modern smartphones for games, information and the like. Here are the top (read:favorite) apps I used in the Nokia:

top nokia apps

MMDA or the Metro Manila Development Authority app (Rating: 5/5)

What can I say. The geniuses who made this are simply brilliant for letting us know in real time the road situation in the city before we venture out. Very useful if you commute, drive, or a tourist. If you’re riding a taxi, simply flash your phone and show to the driver. A red line shows the road is experiencing heavy traffic, yellow means moderate and green means roads are clear.

Facebook (rating: 5/5)

This is rather self-explanatory, especially if you’re as much an FB junkie as me :) Facebook for Nokia is quite easy to navigate and I can see pretty much everything in list view. No matter what platform, I can’t live without Facebook for letting me know about the whole goings-on in the universe – from the latest news, jokes, tsismis, births, deaths, photos and all sorts of trivia imaginable.

Photofunia (rating: 4.5/5)

I like taking photos of everything and Photofunia, as an online editing tool , lives up to its name. I love how it can transform my photos into pop art, movie-like billboards and countless other effects.

Coffee Craze (rating: 4.5/5)

The very mention of coffee! drew me to this game. I certainly had fun playing out two of my frustrated roles in life: that of a baker and barista. I had fun working in the kitchen, serving customers and letting the cash register ring. Aye!

My Elba Kitchen (rating: 4/5)

Am using less and less of actual cookbooks these days whenever I experiment in the kitchen. I just make notes on my smartphone or copy recipes there so that it’s all very handy when I work. That’s why I appreciate apps like My Elba Kitchen on the Nokia phone with tips from the masters and level of difficulty you will encounter. I just wish they’d expand this app to include more content.

Having fun with Instagram

ajay Leave a comment

Am quite the late bloomer to Instagram. Whereas others have hundreds of photos already, I only have something like 59.I have to admit: Pinterest came first but right now, am just so loving IG already! First reason: the celebrities are here _ from Rachel Zoe to Ruffa Gutierrez to Kris Aquino. I get to know what rocks their world and at times, they take pictures of most mundane objects and I don’t care. Am still star-struck :)

Second reason: the different shooting modes make me feel like am a better photographer. No kidding, this app is brilliant because it works like a digicam, and more! Even if I take a crappy photo, when I use Hudson, Lo-Fi , Valencia or any of the effects that apply digital filter, the photo is transformed. Just take a look at this one taken inside my (unoccupied) apartment. I just wanted to take a photo of the DREAM word in wood which I got for only 98 pesos in one of my shopping trips.I loved how Instagram made it all so dramatic..pang Pinterest ang dating ;)

dream

So yes, when I now see objects that I like, am always compelled to take a photo for Instagram. Another favorite subject is my youngest daughter Lucia. She’s now in that stage where am seeing a lot of milestones.

Here’s some trivial things I uploaded on IG recently.

Unique Adidas shoe models which I saw in Greenbelt. If I was younger, I’d take the one with the wings

adidas wings

Monster cake at Tous Les Jours, post-Halloween

monster cake

A chic bag made from soda can covers seen at SM’s Kultura Filipino

soda bag

Sofa with keyboard design, anyone?

wtg

Find Instagram on your Android phone via the Google Play Store or Apple gadgets (iPhone, iPad, Ipod)

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