September high end smartphone buyers guide

There has not been much movement in the market insofar as officially released locally available high end smartphones are available. A high end smartphone these days is powered by a dual-core processor allowing you to run the latest near PC grade 3D games available, a 8MP or better camera which can capture high definition 1080p video and a high resolution display (480 x 800) or better. How much will all this goodness cost you?  Php24,000, or more.If gaming and 1080p video capture is not important to you, check out the phones in this link.Buying a high end phone means getting top of the class performance as well as future proofing so that...

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Samsung Galaxy Gio Firmware S5660XXKPN Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread Stock ROM online!

Another Stock ROM for Samsung Galaxy Gio S5660 is now available via samfirmware.com. This version is still an Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread which has a build number of S5660XXKPN and a CSC file OXXKPB with build date August 2011. This ROM is build for European version of Samsung Galaxy Gio S5660 only. This is the latest Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread available via Stock ROM and can be manually install using Odin. There are six 2.3.3 Gingerbread versions on the list including this latest S5660XXKPN build. You can check out the list below from previous Android 2.3 Gingerbread leaks and releases.Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread versionS5660XXKPAS5660XXKPES5660XXKPKS5660XXKPLS5660XXKPMS5660XXKPN...

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Samsung Galaxy Ace Asia Firmware S5830DXKPB , S5830DDKQ5 Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Stock ROM

Finally! Samfirmware managed to released the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Stock ROM for Samsung Galaxy Ace over Asian Regions. The said firmware with a build number S5830DXKPB CSC-S5830OLBKPB and build date of August 2011 is now available via samfirmware Samsung Galaxy Firmware download area.http://www.samfirmware.com/WEBPROTECT-s5830.htm As you'll notice this is the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread stock ROM available, since mostly all previous versions were 2.2.1 froyo. But we also spotted an Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread for India Galaxy Ace users with a build number of S5830DDKQ5. This has been reportedly an official KIES update via Samsung server and...

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Looking for a Dropbox compatible file manager for Android? Try OI File Manager.

For the past few months I have been using the Speed Software's free (and ad free) Explorer as my file manager. It is a nice powerful, non-frills file manager. Given that it is the sibling of Speed Software's powerful paid app, Root Explorer it has good genes. I use drop box on my phone to view files that I keep on my Dropbox account, which keeps my files on my two computers and smartphone in sync. I have had no problem uploading pictures and audio files to Dropbox, but when I tried to upload a Word document today, I realized that Dropbox needed different file manager as the Dropbox application for Android did not recognize Explorer.After...

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Profile of Philippine mobile phone users

In the Philippines there are approximately 91 million subscribers to cellular phone services.Number of subscribers per network as of June 2011 (Source):SMART Communications - 47.84 millionGlobe Telecom - 28.42 MillionSun Cellular - 15 million Only about 2.6 million are post paid subscribers locked into contracts. Many subscribe to all three networks to be able to take advantage of the latest calls,  text and data promotions.  ...

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Around the Web: Faster internet

PCWorld explains why your internet is faster today. "If you notice faster delivery of Web content today, consider yourself more than just lucky. In fact, you may well be a beneficiary of the Global Internet Speedup, a new, Google-backed effort to speed up the Web around the world."Thanks Google & Co. :) It got me thinking how fast Internet has gotten today, especially mobile internet. In 2006, I got a Globe Visibility internet connection from Globe Telecom, which has a maximum theoretical speed of 1.8 Mbps, and would hit 1.4 Mbps.Globe Visibility Speed test from February 2007, from a Huawei modem on a laptopToday, I can get those speeds...

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The hidden cost of Apple ownership & AppleCare

Yugatech recently wrote an article about how he damaged the LCD of his newly acquired 2011 MacBook Air. Yuga wrote:The adaptor of my MBA slipped from my hands and dropped around 7 or 8 inches from the keyboard (near the area where the power button is). Hit the F11 and F12 keys and bounced to the lower right corner of the screen. One reader commented:That’s one disadvantage of getting a Mac. Premium parts and services.In sum, the MacBook Air's 11.6-inch LCD screen needs to be replaced. Now, this kind of damage can happen to any laptop and warranty's do not cover damage caused by accidents and physical damage so the damaged laptop is not...

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HTC Sensation @SMART

HTC Sensation. The HTC Desire S is a high end Google Android phone released by HTC in Q2 of this year. With a 4.3-inch 540 x 960 qHD resolution screen, dual core 1.2 GHz processor, Adreno 220 graphics, 768MB of RAM, 1GB of internal memory, a 8MP auto focus read primary camera with a dual-LED flash, 1080p video recording, a VGA front camera and full support for Adobe Flash. The phone was used as the launchad for the new HTC Sense UI 3.0, which I think is the best manufacturer designed user interface for Android, supported by several proprietary HTC apps, it promised to be the best Android phone for Q2 2011. Sensation v. Samsung i9100...

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LG Optimus One P500 gets updated to Gingerbread

 LG Optimus One P500.  LG is rolling out the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) now rolling out for its popular LG Optimus One P500 smartphone. The LG Optimus One has been the best budget phone in the market since its release in November 2010 released at a suggested retail price of Php12,990. Today the Optimus One is being sold for as low as Php9,800. With a 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display, a 320 x 480 pixel resolution, a 600MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 170MB of internal storage, and 3.2MP auto focus camera, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, a microUSB port and a built-in GPS transceiver with A-GPS support it is still the...

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Sprint Samsung Epic 4G D700EH17 Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Stock ROM Download

Samfirmware released - Sprint Samsung Epic 4G D700EH17 Android 2.3.4 GingerbreadSamfirmware released the newest update firmware for Sprint Samsung Epic 4G D700. The latest firmware is Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread with a build number D700EH17 (SPH-D700-EH17-8Gb-REL.tar.md5) and a build date of August 2011. It is now available online at samfirmware.com, all you need to do is to register for free. http://www.samfirmware.com/WEBPROTECT-samsungusa.htmNote: this is only a leaked version and samfirmware give some precaution that this firmware seems small in  packaged size. Anyway here's the download link direct from samfirmware.com download area.D700EH17 2.3.4 ...

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Arabic Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread firmware I9003JPKP5 for Samsung Galaxy S SL I9003

This is a good news for Samsung Galaxy S SL I9003 users with Arabic versions.  SamFirmware previously announce that the new Arabic firmware Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread for Samsung Galaxy S SL I9003 is now available online.  The firmware version build number is I9003JPKP5 with a build date of August 2011.This is a stock ROM version that can be install or flashable on Galaxy SL using Odin. As of now, this is the only Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread avialable via samfirmware since I9003JPKD1 and I9003JPKE1 were both 2.2.1 Froyo. But according to samfirmware they will add more Arabic Android 2.3 Gingerbread for Samsung Galaxy SL I9003 on their...

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HTC Desire S @SMART

HTC Desire S. The HTC Desire S is a high end Google Android phone released by HTC in Q2 of this year. With mid-sized form factor sporting a 3.7-inch 480 x 800 resolution screen, 1GHz processor, 768MB of RAM, 1.1GB of internal memory, a 5MP auto focus read primary camera with a LED flash, a VGA front camera and full support for Adobe Flash, it HTC's closest direct competitor to the Apple iPhone 4. The phone uses HTC Sense UI, which I think is the best manufacturer designed user interface for Android, supported by several proprietary HTC apps. The Sense UI is so popular, it had "copied" by other developers and offered in the Android Market.The...

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HTC ChaCha Facebook Android Mobile Review

The HTC ChaChа is a new hаndsеt recently releаsed bу HTC аnd іs dubbеd "The Fасebook Android Phonе." Whіlе thаt maу lеаd yоu tо bеlіevе thiѕ mobile is іn somе wау assocіаted with thе роpular ѕоcіаl netwоrk, much lіke the Googlе рhоne thаt сamе out a fеw yeаrs ago, it іs sadlу nоt. It iѕ, howevеr endorsed bу thе сrеator оf Facebоok, Mark Zuсkеrbеrg duе tо the innovаtіve "Fасebооk Buttоn" which makes іt ѕimple and еasy tо uрdаte уour own Fаcеbооk рrofіle аt thе touсh of а button. This new buttоn соuрlеd with thе fantaѕtic QWERTY keybоard and tоuch ѕсreen makе this рhоne а ѕurе fіre hіt with the yоuth of tоdау whо uѕе ѕoсial networkѕ rеlіgіоuslу...

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Best deal on the Samsung i9100 Galaxy S II?

 Samsung's I9100 Galaxy S II is the best smartphone money can buy these days. Powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP graphics processing unit on the Exynos chipset, it is the fastest smartphone in production. The 4.3-inch 480 x 800 Super AMOLED display combined with a thin 8.5 mm frame combines a large vibrant display with a case the is easy to carry on the hand. With 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, it does not fall short in those department either. With a suggested retail price of Php29,900, and available for about 2K less on cash, it is about 15% cheaper than what you would expect to pay for a...

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HTC ChaCha

The HTC ChaCha is a Google Android phone which ships Android 2.3 out of the box. It is a QWERTY messenger phone which combines a physical keyboard with a touchscreen. The display is a small 2.6-inch which has a high 480 x 320 resolution for a screen of this size, so fonts and images on the screen appear very sharp. QWERTY messenger form factor. If you are considering this type of phone, that is really the first issue you must resolve. Are you willing to give up screen real estate for a physical QWERT keyboard. Having shifted from a phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard six months ago, I have pretty much concluded that I will never be able...

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Laptop buying advice: Keyboard selection

 LaptopMag posted an Article entitled "5 Things to Look For in Your Next Notebook Keyboard." Most important is the importance of a good palm rest, where LaptopMag noted "Make sure that both of your wrists fit comfortably on the palm rest. If your hands hang off the edge, your shoulder muscles have to lift the entire weight of your arms as you type, possibly resulting in shoulder pain and injury." Of my two laptops, it looks like one fails in this regard. This is something most of us do not think about when selecting a new laptop, and looks like it is something we  should consider. Ironically, the newer HD 16:9 screen resolutions...

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What Apple needs to do with its iPhone 4

Apple iPhone 5 rumors have been running around for months, and the delay of the release of the new phone has only made the rumor mill run harder. I don't think Apple has to do all that much to make its next iPhone a success. Bigger camera. A 5MP camera just does not cut it anymore these days. The Sony CEO stated several months back that Sony will be building its excellent camera for the next iPhone. Expect at least a 8MP unit.Larger screen. The iPhone 3.5-inch screen is really starting to look small, but I do not expect Apple to follow the Android manufacturers lead with monster 4.3 to 4.5-inch phones. A nice incremental increase to 3.7 to...

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SMART's Netphone

SMART Communications is about to release it's Netphone announced in Barcelona, Spains last February, and with it a new set of plans designed around the new phone. The Netphone is a ZTE Blade, a Google Android 2.2 powered phone which has a 3.5-inch 480 x 800 screen resolution, a 600 MHz ARM 11 processor, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset and 512MB of RAM and a 3.2 MP auto-focus camera. It is being offered on SMART's regular postpaid plans, being offered free at Data Lite Plan 800 with a two year contract. Where the SMART Netphone package really shines is in the prepaid department.First, the SMART Netphone is being offered for prepaid...

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GingerReal Custom ROM for Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830

 Here's a custom ROM created for Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 Android phone. This custom ROM is develop and released by redmaner an XDA-Developer from Netherlands. He named the ROM as GingerReal which is based on Android 2.3. Gingerbread ROM that has been improved to give a better stability and speed, and also to enhance battery life experience while using this ROM on Samsung Galaxy Ace. Hereby, I present you GingerReal. The fastest and most stable Gingerbread ROM around.The development of this ROM, is 100% aimed on stability and speed, which we have proven. Current install base over 100.000 smartphones around the globe!The latest version which...

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Around the Web: Happy 20th birthday Linux

Linux is now twenty years old. Time flies.As Linux turns twenty, Linux Girl greats Linux happy 20th birthday in her Linux Insider Blog Safari. PC World, looks at how has Linux become indispensable to our world. OMG!Ubuntu joins in the birthday greetings by looking at where Linux started and how far it has gone.&nb...

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The perfect Tablet PC

Lenovo has made Tablet PC's for a long time, but their over Php100K prices and their weight made them expensive and a but heavy for something to be carried in hand. I remember when I first saw the X41 Tablet six years ago and have been wanting one ever since. From a practical standpoint it was hard to justify. The Lenovo Thinkpad X41 Tablet weighed in at 3.6 pounds, and with an extended battery that would go up to 4.3 pounds.Five years later, the same problem still hounds the Tablet PC. The current model Lenovo X220 Tablet weighs in at 3.9 pounds, and that is with a four cell battery. While 3.9 pounds is fine for a laptop it is a bit ungainly...

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Symbian Belle

Symbian Belle, the latest updated to Nokia Symbian S^3 operating system will bring a pull-down notification shade, re-sizable widgets, a one-tap method to add them, a scrolling application list of icons and additional home screens, all in making Symbian OS decided Android looking. Copycat or not, it looks good, and one reason I chose Android was that it looks some elements I liked from the Windows Mobile and Symbian interfaces. Now I wonder whether Nokia needs Windows Phone 7 at all. They have brought Symbian to a level where its biggest problem is not the interface, but support since its end-of-life has been announced, and they also have a interesting MeeGo handset.If Symbian Belle had been ready when the Nokia N8 had been release last year, I suspect things would be very different ...

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Testing Smart 3G speeds

When I got my Unlimited Data plan for Smart Communications I was not expecting it to be too fast in general, since I had been using the time based service for several years. It was pretty fast in Makati CBD and The Fort in Taguig, but slower in other areas. I noticed it had become faster as of late, in areas where I am used to getting a average connection speed. So I started doing speed tests using Ookla's Speedtest.net for Mobile App and I am pretty impressed with the results.August 23, 2011 at Starbuck's Aguirre, BF Paranaque:The test was conducted at 9:05 P.M.August 25, 2011 at Starbuck's Powerstation, Macapagal, Pasay City:The test was conducted...

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Steve Jobs steps down as CEO of Apple

The big news today is not some new piece of mobile technology but the resignation of Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple. Mr. Jobs will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Apple.Apple will go on without Mr. Jobs directing its day to day operations, but the reality is that people like Steve Jobs really cannot be replaced. I new he would be retiring soon, but I thought he would wait till the release of the iPhone 5. I don't want to speculate on this. Every person deserves their privacy.The impact Mr. Jobs had on the industry cannot be understated. While I always felt that Apple did not cater to developing countries like the Philippines,...

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[Stock ROM] Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 S5830XWKPO and S5830BOKP5 Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread

Two stock ROMs for Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 Android phones are now available on samfirmware.com, the S5830XWKPO and S5830BOKP5. Both version are Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread with build date of July 2011. We aren't get any detailed info of which and what specific regions these firmwares allegedly came from, so we check it out over samfirmware SAMFIT tool and here's what information we got. S5830XWKPO - A Europe version with CSC file LUXKP1 for Rogers- Canada but this one is confirmed for Luxemburg.S5830BOKP5 - A Europe version with CSC file TNL for T-Mobile - Germany.  These two ROMs are now available online just grab it over samfirmware.com...

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AT&T Samsung Captivate I897 Firmware I897UCKH3 Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread is online!

New firmware for Samsung Captivate I897 AT&T leaked. I might say that some devs have managed to pulled directly this from Samsung's FUS (Firmware Update Server). I also read today on a twitter feed I subscribed. It was marked as I897UCKH4 but after I downloaded it, in the archive it was I987UCKH3. This is a leaked version usually the announcements are followed by a Kies official release within a few days. This is an upgrade version of Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread firmware with a build date of August 8, 2011, since  from previously released Android 2.3.3 I897UCKF1 last July.Build Prop# begin build properties# autogenerated by buildinfo.shro.build.id=GINGERBREADro.build.display.id=GINGERBREAD.UCKH3ro.build.version.incremental=UCKH3ro.build.version.sdk=10ro.build.version.codename=RELro.build.version.release=2.3.4ro.build.date=Mon...

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Globe Telecom use of the Tonino Lamborgini in violation of trademark?

Techie.com.ph reports that the use by Globe Telecom of the Tonino Lamborgini name for its 4G broad band service allegedly infringes on the trademark of an Italian Company name Tonino Lambofghini s.r.l.Tonino Lambofghini s.r.l. released the following statement:BOLOGNA, ITALY - (Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2011) - Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., an Italy-based company which is the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" hereunderwishes to inform its customers that unauthorized people are currently trading online and through Globe stores a "4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini" broadband stick which is a counterfeited product.Tonino Lamborghini...

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Samsung has a new naming scheme for its smartphones

Samsung's naming scheme for it smartphone can get a bit confusing. We know the Galaxy S is the flagship, SL must mean "lesser S", and that you have the three named Ace, Fit and Mini and those who have no names and just have numbers, like the 551 and the 5.Samsung has come up with a new more rational naming scheme for its Galaxy line of smartphones. The flagship Samsung retains the "S" designation. The next levels are the "R" which is one level lower than "S", and than and the "W". These all considered high end phones. Mid-level phones will be sold under the "M" label while entry level Galaxy phones will be sold under the "Y" label. Those with...

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Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet: Productivity tablet done right

The Android 3.1 HoneycombLenovo ThinkPad Tablet is now available for sale abroad. I hope this hits Philippine shores. It is the productivity tablet done right. The ThinkPad Tablet has a 1280 x 800multitouch display, 1GB of memory, front- and rear-facing cameras anda NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor, full sized USB ports and SD card slot. The 16GB model is priced at $499, a 32GB version a 32GB versionfor $569 and a 64GB option for $669. Basic specs and price-wise, theThinkPad Tablet is on par with the Apple iPad 2 and its Android competition. Most Android tablets which match iPad pricing do not fare very well, and while the ThinkPad...

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