Your Php5,999 could get you this good-looking device that is packed with efficient features and performs up to snuff.

Here are some insights on O+ 8.52 from a consumer’s perspective.

LOOK

• At a glance, the device has a classy look for its price. It is mainly touch-screen and has only 3 capacitive buttons which gives more space for visual display.
• Back cover is matte finished so it’s free from scratches and can remain neatly.
• I find it handy as well, just enough width that can be grasped easily by one hand.

CAPACITY

• Performance wise, this phone is a clever device for the standard uses of a Smartphone.
• Common games such as Candy Crush run well, even those with tilting requirements like Temple Run.
• I tried to play YouTube videos via wifi connection and it played smoothly.
• It has dual-camera, of which the back captures 5MP photos, has auto-focus and flash features.
• I did video recording too, and the output was polished although a little bit grainy.
• The phone has a dual-sim capability, which can be a plus for those keeping two numbers.
• Also, O+ 8.52 has a special feature of air shuffle, which provides a lesser effort for users should they want to take pictures by themselves or change songs when listening to music.
• I should say too that this handset has a good standard connectivity for an affordable mobile phone.
• Although its battery life is not so much for gaming, it is good enough for standard use.

The O+ 8.52 box comes complete with the contents below. It even comes with a memory card, all ready to give you a fun mobile experience.

• Handset
• battery
• micro USB adapter
• charger adapter
• earphones
• manual
• warranty card
• Free 4GB micro SD

This surely is a competitive device considering its price. Here are its specifications for your better scrutiny.

• Dual Core 1GHz Cortex A9
• Android 4.1.1 (Jellybean)
• 4” capacitive touch screen camera
• Air Shuffle FM, Music, Photos, Camera
• Front camera (VGA)
• Back camera (5MP autofocus, LED flash)
• Download unlimited apps via Andorid Play Store
• Quad band GSM
• 3G connectivity
• With voice command navigation over GPS/AGPS
• 512 MB RAM
• 4gb internal memory and up to 32gb expandable memory card
• Easy file sharing via Bluetooth

The post O+ 8.52 Review from a Consumer’s Perspective appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

This will be part I of our review of Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD

Unboxing

The retail box is similar to the packaging of One Touch Idol Ultra. The box is made of hard paper with a smooth finish. The phone is displayed side view on a background with the phone Model written on the upper part of the box. You will see the specs and other information at the back.

The box contains the following:

• Scribe HD Handset
• 3.5mm Headset
• Micro USB cable
• Charger Adapter
• Flip Cover
• Capacitive Stylus Pen

No Manual is found on the box since what I have is a review model unit. Trust that the retail box contains a manual. The box that I also got does not have a screen protector in it but I guess they will include on in the retail boxes.

Unboxing Photos

Built and Specifications

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD has a very sexy feel on my hands. It’s design is fit for professional women that’s why this is also one of my top choice for mother’s day gift. It has a matte finish at the back which is the same with my Idol Ultra and its camera is embossed. It is thin and light weight and boasts a High Definition screen with awesome viewing angle. You can even watch a video without the headset because the speakers are already loud enough to hear the sound.

Top: Power/Sleep Button, 3.5mm Headphone Jack

Bottom: Microphone

Left Side: SIM Cards Slot, Micro USB Port

Right Side: Micro SD Slot, Volume Buttons

Back: 8MP Camera, Flash, Spreakers

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD has a 1.2 Ghz Quad core processor. It uses MediaTek MT6589 for its system Chip, 1GM RAM and has a 4gb memory expandable up to 32gb. Obviously, the specs are way better than Idol Ultra but costs lesser (PhPPhp13,490). Do take note though that Scribe HD is more positioned as a note-taking and productivity device at the expense of portability and sleekness.

Need for Speed Most Wanted runs very smooth. I have not tested it on other HD and 3D games but I will post a follow-up review of this device on those kind of games.

It is running on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.1 out of the box.

Full Specs

• 5-inch IPS 720 x 1280
• 1.2GHz quad-core
• 1GB RAM and 4GB ROM expandable to 32GB
• WiFi
• Bluetooth 4.0; GPS w/ A-GPS support
• 8 MP camera w/ LED flash, 1.3MP front
• Android 4.2.1 Jellybean
• 2500 mAh battery
• Dual SIM (Micro SIM)

Battery

Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD has an impressive battery life. At 21% it has been up for more than 26 hours and has been used for more than four hours. I was able to download a 500MB video file and also watched it on this device.

Camera

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD has an 8MP camera which captures high quality images. It also has a LED flash at the back for shooting in low light or dark scenarios.

Panorama of Scribe HD is clear and it can be compared with the panorama of my Samsung Galaxy Note II. (See review of Note 2 here and here.)

Here are some of the photos taken from Scribe HD.

SIM Card Management

This is one of the best feature that a Dual SIM phone can have. Not all Dual SIM phones has this features.

You can set your default SIM that will be used for Data Connection, Video Calls, Text Messaging, and Voice Calls. You can also set it as Always Ask so that you will be asked which SIM card is to be used for each action.

You can also set the SIM Card information. You can change the indicator name, choose whether you would like to display it first or last four digits, and you can also change its back ground color.

The Message app looks like this. On the bottom of each message you will see the indicator of the network of which SIM card was the message sent to. You will also identify it by the color of the indicator.
Sound Profiles

You also have an option to set your sound profiles, so that it will be easy for you to switch it whenever you are at home, in your office, driving, or outdoor. You can also personalize it by assigning a name to each profile. There is also an option wherein you can boost the bass sound if you will be using a headphone.

Default Saving Memory

Most Jelly Bean phones does not have this kind of option. With Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD, you get to choose your saving memory whether Internal Memory of the External Memory Card. This is where your applications and file will be installed. One of the most unique features of this phone is this Default Write Disk.

Benchmark Score

When we announced that we are reviewing this Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD, our readers are always asking about the benchmark scores. So, here it is.

• Quadrant – 3946
• Antutu – 12810

Stay tuned for the 2nd part of my review of Scribe HD. Part II will include other features and our tests on Video Recording, Gaming Experience, and other features. So if you want to see know more about this device, please hit the comments below so that we could include it on the Part II.

The post Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD Review appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

Unboxing

Being part of the mid-range lineup of O+, the 8.6′s retail box is similar to 8.5 and 8.52. It’s placed in a transparent container, which can be upcycled and be used as a jewelry container or a plant box. The box contains the following:

• O+ 8.6 handset
• Free 4GB SanDisk Memory Card
• 3.5mm headphone
• 1,500 mAh lithium ion battery
• Micro USB cable
• Charger Adapter

The inclusion of the 4gb memory card is indeed a bonus, as the phone only has 2gb available user-memory. 2gb may be enough for casual smartphone users (social media apps, puzzler and social gaming, emailing, etc.), but it’s definitely not sufficient for power users.

The unit I received does not contain a screen protector, but you can definitely score one in any of their branches and retailers nationwide. Click this for locations.

Unboxing Photos

Build and Hardware Specifications 

The device, like any other phones of O+, is designed in the US. As expected, although it doesn’t have any sophisticated design, the device looks sturdy and has a premium feel. The 8.6 looks pretty similar the Galaxy S Duos sans the home button. It’s almost as big as the One Touch Idol Ultra but significantly thicker. Its matte and almost rubbery curved removable back panel gives the phone a premium feel. The vertical perforation that exposes the mono speakers looks perfect on the device. The aluminum bezel, although subtly designed, perfectly matched its overall look.

Top: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Micro USB port

Right side: NTSH (nothing to see here)

Bottom: Microphone

Left Side: Sleep/Wake button and Volume Rockers. The sleep/wake button is unorthodoxly placed on the left side.

The notification light is neatly hidden just under the capacitive home button. It lights green when there’s a notification, and lights red when you’re charging the device.

As for the technical specifications, the 8.6 is pretty decent considering its less-than-8k price tag. The 1Ghz dual core processor and 1GB RAM performed well as expected especially when playing casual games like Nimble Quest, Temple Run 2, Candy Crush Saga and Fruit Ninja.

The device registered an average FPS of 24.2 on Nenamark 2, making slightly better than Galaxy S and significantly better than Xperia Play. The device isn’t exactly fit to run games with high system requirements as evidenced by my experience when I tried playing Real Racing 3 and Arcane Legends. Don’t get me wrong though. These games are playable on this device but don’t expect flawless performance without lag and hiccups.

The device is clocked lower to conserve battery, so if you want to make Real Racing 3 playable on this device, you may want to untick CPU power saving mode.

For your reference, here’s the full specs of this device:

• 1Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4.5″ Capacitive Touch Screen
• Air Shuffle Music, Camera, Photos, and FM Player
• Notification light
• Wi-Fi
• Quad band GSM and Dual Band WCDMA
• 3G
• Up to 32GB expandable memory card
• Dual Sim
• 1,500 mAh

The 4.6″ screen with 540×960 resolution is pretty nice. It registered 240 dpi on Phone Tester, which I believe is high enough to make the icons and screen elements pop out. Screen saturation is quite mediocre though. It does not give off the right saturation to render the right color of my photo subjects. Viewing angle is limited too as the qHD IPS screen is not OGS (one glass solution).

As for benchmark, I used PassMark, Antutu and Quadrant to test how technically capable this device is and how this fares compared to competition. Please note though that benchmark scores are relative scores as benchmark applications consider the current state of devices. It is possible for this device to have a different score after a week or two. This means that benchmark scores are sometimes irrelevant. But I’ll still show them to you for your reference.

• 1,331 on PassMark (CPU tests)
• 6,216 on Antutu
• 2,505 on Quadrant

Software, Features and Camera

The 8.6 is running on Android Jellybean 4.1.1 out of the box. There is probably no upgrade for 4.2.2 in the future, so it looks like we’re momentarily stuck with 4.1.1.

The device is preinstalled with custom icons, wallpapers and software features. The pull-down bar, which shows the notification and hot switches, looks like the stock version. The same “stock” look can be seen on some widgets, settings menu and stock applications.

Of course, Oplus’ most celebrated software feature, Air Shuffle, is very much available on this device. Sure, the Galaxy S4 already has this feature, but you don’t want to spend more than PhP25,000 just to get that feature, right? With Air Shuffle, you can take pictures, browse pictures and skip to your most favorite song with a simple wave gesture. You just really have to add a bit of finesse to make this feature work. Also, be sure to wave your hand infront of the sensor (on top of the screen) within .5 to 1 inch range.

If you don’t dig the preinstalled launcher, then you may replace it with Facebook Home or Apex Launcher. As of this writing, Facebook Home may already be installed in most Android devices, including O+ 8.6. There is no need to sideload the application on this device. Just update the preinstalled Facebook app, install Facebook Home and Messenger and you’re good to go. Just be sure to tap “Use Home anyway” when you receive a notification that your device is not yet fully supported.

The 8.6 has 5 megapixel (with AF) rear facing camera. It produces good photos in well-lit conditions, but photos taken in dark environments look mediocre and quite grainy. Thankfully, the camera software has lots of extra features and settings. So if you wish to optimize your output based on certain conditions you’re in, then all you have to do is break away from auto and tweak the settings.

You put 2 SIMs on this phone with dual on and standby. However, only 1 SIM is WCDMA compatible so, if you’re subscribed to unlimited internet, be sure to jack the corresponding SIM to port 1.

Battery life is ok for casual usage. But as this phone only has 1,500 mAh, be sure to always bring your charger with you especially if you’re into playing games and browsing through your social media feeds like every minute. In my experience, as I’m always attuned to my social media feeds and emails, the phone was barely up for a day.

Verdict

The O+ 8.6 stands at the middle of 8.52 and 8.9. Priced at PhP7,995, this device is packed with decent features and average but adequate performance. O+, as a US brand, values original design, sturdy build and innovative features. The 8.6 epitomizes what O+ values and as such makes this phone a bang for your buck.

The Good Stuff

• Design and considerable heft
• Air Shuffle
• Notification Light
• Rear facing camera (in well-lit conditions)
• Elements on screen pop out
• Free 4gb MicroSD card

The Not-So-Good Stuff

• Unorthodox placement of Sleep/Wake button
• Screen saturation isn’t enough
• Camera settings to optimize shots

*UPDATE: The O+ 8.6 along with 8.9 and 8.12 are on sale until tomorrow, May 12, 2013. Price is down for PhP6,995 from PhP7,995.

The post O+ 8.6 Review appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

In a nutshell, it’s a budget smarphone, running on Android Gingerbread with custom proprietary skin of Gionee at a price that even Kuya Manong Taxi Driver rapper can afford!

Unboxing

Pioneer P1′s retail box looks similar to CTRL V3‘s. It contains the following:

• Pioneer P1 with 3.5 HVGA IPS Display and Single Core 1Ghz Dual-Core processor
• 1,500 mAh Battery
• Wall Charger
• Standard USB Cable
• Protective Film/Screen Protector
• Standard 3.5mm Headphone
• Instructions/Manual

Just like O+ and Alcatel, Gionee included a free screen protector in all of their Android phones. I thought that it’s perfect as availability of protective accessories is one of the major concerns of smartphone buyers. It’s quite a bummer though as there is currently no available 3rd party cover for the Pioneer P1.

The 1,500 mAh battery is enough to power the device for more than a day with data connection turned off. Since the phone has an IPS display, we barely managed to have this device working for more than a day. Such is an acceptable payoff, I believe.

Hardware Specifications and Build

Take a look at the hardware specifications of the Pioneer P1:

• 3.5″ HVGA  capacitive touchscreen
• single-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 processor
• Mediatek MT6575M
• PowerVR SGX531
• 512MB ROM
• up to 32GB microSD card support
• 256MB RAM
• 2MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera
• Bluetooth (3.0)/WiFi/3G connectivity
• ADXL345 3-axis Accelerometer
• ADXL304 3-axis Magnetometer
• light sensor
• digital compass
• FM radio
• GPS
• dual-sim, dual-standby
• Android v. 2.3.6 Gingerbread
• Dimensions: 115 x 61.5 x 11.9mm
• 1500 mAh battery

The phone is quite bigger than the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos. It’s almost as slim as the latter too. It does not have any physical button infront, but it’s populated with 3 capacitive buttons. The phone comes in 2 colors – black and white; back panel has a matte texture and the front is all glass. The screen isn’t OGS (one glass solution), but it does not mean that the screen quality is sub par. I’ll talk more about the screen quality later.

Black Gionee Pioneer P1

White Pioneer P1

You have to be careful in taking off the back panel as the 2 plastic hinges on top are look a bit flimsy. I believe it’s made of quality plastic, but I cringe on the thought that it might snap every time I change the battery. The physical buttons on left (Sleep/Wake) and right (Volume Rocker) are inaccessible if the back panel is removed.

Pioneer P1 has a 1,500 mAh battery

Sleep/Wake button can be seen on the left side of the phone.

Volume rockers can be seen on the right side of the phone.

Standard micro-USB and 3.5mm headphone jacks can be see on the top side.

The device feels solid on my hand. It’s heavier than my Galaxy Note 2, and I found that quite surprising as the Pioneer P1 is significantly a smaller device. Aesthetics-wise, the Pioneer P1 looks like an ordinary small smartphone, but you will be surprised on the aspects that this phone stands out – screen quality and UX.

Rate for Build: 6/10

Screen and Sound Quality

The Pioneer P1 has a 3.5 inch IPS display. The latter is a feature that’s very rare for a budget phone. The screen is not OGS but quality and color saturation it produces is amazing. The colors on my default pinwheel wallpaper looked vibrant and icons just stood out! Again, you’re getting this quality feature at a phone, which only costs PhP3,500.

Gionee said that one the best features of this phone is its loud speakers. It’s like a phone with Napoleon complex (small man syndrome). I tried testing it myself and measured the decibel of the sound its loudspeakers produced. While it’s true that it’s capable of producing very loud sound (consistent at 75-80db during my tests), I must admit that the quality isn’t too excellent as it produces too much treble.

Rate for Screen: 8/10

Rate for Sound Quality: 7/10

Software

The Pioneer P1 is preinstalled with Android Gingerbread 2.3.6 with a proprietary skin, which sits on top of the operating system. In my experience, if I there’s a ratio on what “feels like stock UI” and what “feels totally different’, it would be 40/60. I thought that it performed decently as if it were on ICS, but I was very much aware that the phone has a 2-major-iterations-older OS.

The 256 MB ram is quite a letdown if you’re planning to install lots of applications. The available user memory – 150mb – may not be enough if you’re planning to install your favorite apps and games. Fortunately, the phone can accept microSD card up to 32gb and the software supports Move to SD card feature. I was able to install Candy Crush Saga on this phone, but I had to transfer it to my 8gb microSD card to free up some internal memory space. (You’ll be happy to know that I successfully installed and played Candy Crush Saga on this phone.) I highly recommend that you purchase and install AppMonster Pro so you are notified if the apps you’ve downloaded supports Move To SD.

I just have this urge to tell you that this phone has lots of pre-installed apps; some you can uninstall and some you can’t just simply remove. Here’s a rundown of apps you can find on Pioneer P1 (blue: can be uninstalled; red: cannot be uninstalled):

• Facebook
• Twitter
• NQ Mobile Security Lite: an app that protects your phone from virus, malware, spyware, trojans and phone hacking.
• V5 Music: Proprietary Music app with neat features and cute UI
• Theme Manager
• Wala: A chat client developed by devs from Vietnam
• Texas Hold’em Booya Poker

Rate for Software: 7/10

Performance Benchmark

The Pioneer P1 is a budget phone powered by Gingerbread. Specs-wise, there’s actually little to rave about this device. But it’s worth showing you some results of my benchmark tests if you’re into it. I am going to show 4 benchmark results using 4 processes I did: PassMark, Antutu, Quadrant and real-life usage. Please note though that benchmark scores are relative scores as benchmark applications consider the current state of devices. It is possible for this device to have a different score after a week or two.

• 1,861 on PassMark (CPU tests)
• 3,481 on Antutu
• 1,907 on Quadrant
• Performed fairly on real-life usage: Thanks to its custom UI, Gingerbread has never been this good on a budget phone. Candy Crush Saga worked well on this device, although I experienced occasional memory hiccups. This is good for casual games, social networking apps, Cinemagram and Instagram. I did not get the chance to try all the apps I have, but you get the idea – it’s powerful enough to make you try and enjoy the well-loved apps by many.

Rate for Performance: 6.5/10

Verdict

Today, owning an affordable smartphone is becoming a popular choice by many Filipinos. It isn’t just because we can play Candy Crush Saga or Angry Birds with it, but because we are starting to become more mobile and connected than before. In this regard, the Pioneer P1 is an excellent choice; it’s suitable for those with tight budget and looking for something with usable features and quality build.

The Pioneer P1 is not for the tech savvy Filipinos. Some Filipinos would be disappointed by the fact that it’s running on Gingerbread and has small user-memory available. Although it runs pretty slick and smooth, software features that can only be found on ICS are absent on this phone – Face Unlock, decline calls with SMS, camera software, data usage management, etc.

The Good Stuff

• Screen quality
• Overall build
• Simple design, does not have any physical buttons infront
• 3G capable, dual-sim and dual-standby
• Loud speakers
• Stock Theming apps
• Proprietary skin

The Not-So-Good Stuff

• Bloatwares
• Small user-available memory

Over-all Rate: 6.9/10

The post Gionee Pioneer P1 Review appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

Unboxing

The HD661′s retail box is definitely one of the attractive-looking cardboard boxes I’ve seen. I must admit that it looked a bit pricey, but at PhP1,990, I’m sure that in the supra-aural monitoring headphone category, this one is really a pretty good deal.

What you get inside the box are the following:

• HD661 Professional Monitoring Headphones
• 1M Straight Cable (3.5mm jack)
• 3M Straight Cable (3.5mm jack)
• 6.3mm adapter (for you, mixers, out there)
• Documentations
• Soft carrying pouch

Build Quality

XT Corporation gave us one in neon orange, but the HD661 is available in 11 different colors: black, white, red, neon pink, pink, neon blue, neon orange, neon purple, gray and neon green. The quality of the headphone is definitely outstanding, somewhat unrealistic for an accessory worth less than PhP2,000. The swivel mechanism that holds the ear pads is made of hard plastic but surprisingly sturdy. Build quality alone, I’m confident that this headphone is really a bang for your buck.

Check out how the HD661 is made on the video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The availability of 1M and 3M straight cables is of course perfect if you use your headphone as part of your get up. In my experience, I switch to the 3M straight cable when I’m going to use the headphone on my desktop PC at home where I usually play my games. As this headphone’s output produces good bass, you can imagine how I enjoyed playing Diablo 3 and Guild Wars 2 on my PC. Of course, the 1M cable is enough for me when I want to carry the headphone with me when going to the office. I just thought that it would have been better had Superlux included a coiled cable in the package. I wouldn’t mind paying an extra PhP100 – PhP150 for it.

Sound Quality

With the HD661, what’s definitely more important is the quality of sound it produces. HD661, in this aspect, gives off good sound quality, which commensurates to its inexpensive price.

I must say that Superlux greatly improved the treble that this headphone produces. I can assure you that the treble this headphone produces is acceptable. Songs are listenable and lyrics are definitely understandable. Its little bassy but it does not mean that it’s a bad thing. There is a balanced mix of treble and bass as I mostly listen to pop, jazz and a bit of house and dubstep. If you prefer a “bassier” can, I’d recommend the HD631 more.

Verdict

I am not actually an audiophile, but from a consumer’s perspective, this one’s definitely worth buying. For PhP1,990, this headphone is definitely worth the price as it also includes a lot of goodies (cables and 6.3mm adapter)! The availability of 11 colors to choose from is of course perfect for fashionistas and hipsters out there. But of course, what’s more important is how this produces the quality of sound consumers look for! The HD661 perfect complements consumer’s preference as it considers and balances sound quality, style and affordability.

Giveaway

Now’s your chance to win a Superlux HD661 courtest of XT Corporation! We’re giving away 1 HD661 for all our Facebook fans and Twitter followers!

The post Bite-Sized Review Plus Giveaway: Superlux HD661 appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

The Tech21 SOP isn’t just a case with rubber and hard plastic. The science and technology behind the material Tech21 uses is outstanding, but it doesn’t take a genius to understand how it works. Simply put, Tech21 uses D30 impact material, which technically absorbs and repels the impact created when you accidentally drop your device.

It’s all about the molecules inside the revolutionary D3O^® Impact Material. In everyday use, the molecules flow freely, but upon shock or impact they lock together – absorbing the impact force and spreading the shock evenly across the surface of the material. That means your device stays in one piece, no matter how hard the impact!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Unboxing

The Special Ops – Patrol Case is placed inside an attractive retail box. Opening the retail box isn’t too difficult as I only had to softly pry open the transparent hard plastic cover. I pulled the plastic nib out which eventually made me take out the paper inner cover from the neon-orange pedestal. Once the inner cover was out, I simply slided out the inner plastic container where the case is placed. I took out the case and removed the manual in it.

Installing the case is a different case, pun intended. It wasn’t too easy as I thought, but I highly understood it as I was putting on a case that’s meant to protect my device and not the other way around. Don’t get me wrong though – it wasn’t too easy to install, but it wasn’t too difficult either.

Impressions

The case has 2 layers – 1 soft band inner layer where the D30 Impact Material is wrapped around and another layer (front and back covers) that encloses the  inner layer. These layers add a bit of heft, but do not make our iPhone look bulky.

All the hard buttons and speakers are exposed well, making all these functionalities usable even if the phone is fully covered and protected. The rotation/mute switch and the sleep/wake button are quite hard to reach due to the slightly deep recesses on respective areas.

My son accidentally dropped my phone (from 2.5 feet) a day ago, but I didn’t see any dent on the case. More importantly, the phone is still intact and working in pristine condition.

Overall, this is a bang for your buck impact protection case. Sure, you can buy a more expensive case, but the Tech21 Special Ops Patrol case provides similar protection without spending too much. This case is available at all Beyond the Box retail stores for only PhP2,200.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The post Tech21 Special Ops Patrol for iPhone Unboxing and Impressions appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

It’s been 2 years now since the last time that I used a Nokia device and I got excited when I got to hold of the Nokia 206. The phone has Dual SIM feature which is very convenient instead of carrying two phones. On top of it, it is very light that it only weighs approximately 90 grams so it seems that you are just carrying your car keys in your pocket.

The phone has a 2.4 screen which is wide enough to see what you are typing and reading your message. The screen is quite ordinary as the previous phones released by Nokia such as the E-series. It doesn’t change that much when it comes to the image of the screen. For the body, the phone has a glossy finish on the front and matte finish at the back plus a larger alphanumeric keypad which is very convenient in tying. I could still recall the days when I could drive while texting without even looking at the phone because I already have memorized the keys. It has a standard menu which is found on Nokia’s E-series so it was quite easy for me to navigate since menu is the same.  On top are the charging port and 3.5mm jack for the headset. Left side is the SIM 2 slot. It has nothing on the right side and bottom of the phone. When you remove the back cover and battery you’ll find the SIM 1 slot and the memory card slot. It has rounded corners which gives a good grip when using the phone. It may seem that it is just the same as the previous phones released by Nokia but there is something new to this phone.

It has a 1.3 megapixel camera which is not really a high resolution one but already good enough from a Series 40 phone. It has application such as the browser, Nokia apps, Nokia life, plus social networking applications like Facebook, eBuddy Messenger, and Viber. Other apps like java games can also be downloaded.

While reading the booklet that comes in with the box, it is said that the Nokia Xpress Browser would reduce the cost of data transfer. It is quite obvious because of its screen size. It does not load so much information. Though it has browser and social networking apps, the Nokia 206 only offers GPRS connection so it will take longer time in loading a page which you would like to visit.

The phone also offers MMS messaging. It also has an FM radio which lets you record the station that you are trying to listen. It can adjust its brightness on the display menu. The memory of the phone is only 10MB but then it can be expanded up to 32MB so you’ll have more music to store on your phone.

The Nokia 206 does not have so much change from the previous releases but I am satisfied with its performance especially when it comes to the battery life and the convenience of a Dual SIM phone. I am not expecting a very smooth interface and user experience but I think the Nokia 206 is not intended for a unique and overwhelming experience. I think the phone is intended to give you a convenience of carrying a phone with two SIMs plus the light weight feel that that it’s like nothings in your pocket. The battery life of the phone is very impressive. I was able to use it up to 5 days without charging with a regular use for calls and text and casual use of music player and radio with two SIMs being used at the same time. Probably it would last for 15-20 days in a very minimal use although it was said that it could last for month on standby.

This may not be your primary phone to show off to your friends but with Nokia 206 you’ll be the only one using a phone when your friends’ phones has ran out of juice.

The Nokia 206 has a suggested retail price of PhP2, 850 and is available in authorized dealers and Nokia stores nationwide. It features a vibrant color palette of cyan, magenta and yellow including the basic white and black.

The post Nokia 206: It’s like nothing’s in your pocket appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

I tried pairing it to different types of devices both Android and iOS devices to see which device it is more compatible with.

Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100)

Of course, as expected, I would be testing it on my favorite phone. Perfect! I was able to maximize the use. Menu and other buttons are properly working as well. Used arrow buttons in selecting a desired app to open as well as in moving from the page to another. I tried to do some editing using Document-to-Go and I am satisfied with its performance. Shortcut functions are working very well such as Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and other editing shortcuts. Since I am always travelling and meeting up with clients outside the office, bringing this will help me a lot if there would be some documents to be edited. I also played around it creating good home screens such as the one created by Fustion Bolt. Bravo!

Xperis GO (ST27i)

Although Xperia GO is a small smartphone, I still tried it. Most of the buttons are working even the shortcut functions and the menu button. Arrow keys working in choosing the desired application and going from one page to another. Working well. The only thing is that it really looks awkward using a keyboard on a small smartphone especially when it is 3 times smaller than the keyboard.

Galaxy TAB 2 (P3100)

I can say that this is the perfect match for this Bluetooth keyboard. The 10-inch screen of the tablet really matches the compact size of Euroo Bluetooth keyboard. I am definitely bringing this keyboard with me whenever I’ll be out with the tablet. Of course you cannot use it on your lap while travelling on a bus like your laptop since it cannot be physically connected, but definitely, it is perfect if you are on a copy shop doing your work or randomly commenting of your Facebook page.

iPhone 3GS / iPhone 4 / iPhone 4S / iPhone 5

I was lucky enough to try the Euroo Keyboard on the iOS device since most of the people in our house are using apple (but not me), I can say that it is compatible as stated on the box. It has limited function. Shortcut functions are not working. It is giving some lags while typing. Some letters are being typed repeatedly although it was just pressed once. Quite unsatisfactory, but still you can use it when typing a text message or commenting on Facebook.

iPad 2 / iPad 3

I also tried it on my cousin’s iPads and again as stated on the box, it can be paired with it. Same experience with the iPhones that I tried earlier. No need to say more.

ACER Aspire 4736Z

Wow, it is a good experience for me to use this on my laptop. All keys are working. Function keys are working. Shortcuts functions are also working. You can do the all the things that you can do with your regular keyboard. Amazing! What I did now is pair it with my laptop and my Bluetooth keyboard, connected my laptop to our TV, connect a 2.1 speakers, sit on our couch and launched Defense of the Ancients. MMMMMMooonster kill!!!

Hwawei Media Pad (S7-931wd)

Since I want to try it with almost all the device, I can’t, because we only have a handful of them.  Then I saw our PLDT Telpad and thought of trying it to. It got connected. The Euroo Bluetooth keyboard looks and works well on the 7-inch tablet. Same functions as what I have experienced with the android devices that I tried.

Nokia Asha 306

Although I already suspect that this will not work, just to satisfy my urge of trying it on most of the device, I still did. As expected, it is not compatible. Then I asked myself why did I still try it? Hahaha!!!

It seems that it is compatible on almost all devices that I tried except for the Nokia, this device is already a good buy for me. Since it seems that it is more compatible for the Android the devices and not with the iOS, I wonder why on the box says “for iOS devices”.  Is it because that the name iOS is “more” appealing to the buyers? According to Euroo “We are targeting iOS users thus emphasis was given to iOS device but definitely will work with Android products.”

I just have a few comments about the product like the instruction manual is very limited, and there is no other instructions but on how to pair the device. Euroo said “The operation itself is very simple so it does not need complicated instruction manuals (besides nobody read manuals even smartphones does not have manuals). They can ask technical questions thru our FB fan page.”  Also some of the keys when pressed simultaneously gives out a symbol which is different from what is on the keyboard keys such as pressing Shift+1 for the exclamation point. But this varies on which type of device was paired.

For Android users this will be a good buy for them. The price of the device is Php 1999.00 and is available on Robinson’s appliance/department store, SM department store, Landmark, Powermac, and to some leading gadget stores.

For product inquiries, you may visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/euroo.ph

The post Euroo Bluetooth Keyboard Review, Works Better on Android appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

I present to you, the most awaited in-depth review of the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Form

At first, you will notice that the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is like a doppelganger of the Nexus 7. But it wouldn’t be too fitting to really expect that this device to perform similar to the latter. But I’ve got tell you – the Fusion Bolt may not be as fast as the other quad core tablets around, but it is, by far, the best super-budget tablet we’ve tested.

The Fusion Bolt has 7-inch In-Plane-Switching (IPS) Capacitive Display with a resolution of 1224 x 800 at 216ppi. The screen is truly a beauty when it comes to quality and resolution. Of course, at 216ppi, expect pictures and texts on the Fusion Bolt’s screen to appear much clearer than the iPad Mini’s.

At the top, you will see the different ports. From left, the mic for video chatting, micro SD slot (expandable up to 32 gb), micro USB for file transfer, mini HDMI port for larger display, 3.5mm earphone and the charging socket.

At the left side of the device, you can see the on/off/sleep button, volume rockers and home button. I find the home button weirdly placed because I usually use the tablet on portrait mode and I’m used to seeing the sleep/wake button on the top-right side or the right side of the device. In effect, I always found myself guessing and trying to remember where it’s located.

At the front, you will see the VGA Camera, which I find quite annoyingly placed. But I get it – Cherry Mobile must have really thought of this device as heavily optimized for landscape usage. In fact, even the brand placements at the back of the tablet are printed in landscape orientation.

Moreover, the speaker at back looks small but unexpectedly, amidst its size,  it has good sound and quality.

The 2-megapixel camera is placed at the upper left part of the device (in landscape orientation). It isn’t actually bad for a 2 megapixel camera. Of course, don’t expect this to perfect similarly on low-lighted subjects. Here are some of my unedited sample shots from the back camera.

The back cover of the tablet may seemingly have chrome-metal finish but when you touch and feel it, it’s quite rubbery and very Nexus 7-like. I also noticed that Cherry Mobile overdid its branding efforts by printing unattractive insignias, which is very prone to fading. This is, of course, immaterial to the performance of Fusion Bolt. Yes, it’s an aesthetic issue – but who cares: it’s a PhP3,999 Quad Core tablet.

The Performance and Battery

The Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt has a 1.0 GHZ Quad Core processor, specifically the Actions Semiconductor ATM7029 processor. It also has Vivante GC1000+ for the GPU(Graphics Processing Unit).  The Fusion Bolt has an Android Jellybean 4.1.1 out-of-the-box making it very user friendly and way faster compared to the tablets that preceded this device. During my experience with the device, I experienced minimal to zero-lags on the homescreen, settings and app tray. However, there were instances that I experienced some performance hiccups when using some  applications and playing games.

The battery of Fusion Bolt has 4,000 mAh and as suggested at the box, it is upgraded to 4,000 mAh from 3,500 mAh. I also noticed that while playing games and using applications, the battery of Fusion Bolt gets warm easily.

With full brightness, using social media apps like Facebook and Twitter, playing games like Temple Run 2, Candy Crush Saga and Dead Trigger, the battery died after a day.

Using the Quadrant Benchmark, the Fusion Bolt scored 2,713 points making it better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Motorola Atrix 4G and other devices. With 1 Ghz Quad Core processor and 1gb RAM, the benchmark result isn’t technically appealing as it’s lower than the benchmark results of Cherry Mobile Titan and Flare.  Please note though that benchmark scores are relative scores as benchmark applications consider the current state of devices. It is possible for Fusion Bolt to have a different score after a week or two.

Click here to view the embedded video.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is only priced at Php3,999.00. With that price, it is very cheap for a consumer like me and we are talking about a tablet here not some smartphone with a camera. The Fusion Bolt does the job in every single way sans the Bluetooth and 3G connectivity. It would have been way more awesome had Cherry Mobile included such features even if it increased its price to PhP5,000.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt will be available on March 6, 2013 at Robinsons Place Manila, SM North Edsa and Graphic All-In Store, Cagayan De Oro. First 50 buyers will receive exciting giveaways!

Again, the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is only Php3,999.00. Believe it or not.

Specifications:

• 1 GHz Quad core Actions Semiconductor ATM7029 processor, 1gb RAM and 8gb or external memory expandable up to 32gb via MicroSD card
• 7″ HD IPS Capacitive Display
• Vivante GC1000+ GPU
• Android 4.1.1 Jellybean out of the box
• Loudspeakers
• Gyro-sensor
• Micro-USB port
• 4000 mAh battery

The post Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt In-Depth Review appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

1. Gain insights on lifestyle trends. “Favorite movies of my friends”, “Foods and restaurants liked by my friends”, “Games my friends play”, and “Apps my friends use”. You can find them all and more using Graph Search. Thus, it’s easier for you to know and try the sought after brands of your circle. Should you don’t have anything yet in mind to explore, try the link “Discover something new”, and it will automatically generate a sample search for you.
2. Look for establishments near you. If you’re craving for a specific cuisine, hunting for a perfect date place, or just searching for a hospital, mall, hotel, resort, any enterprise near you, the tool can be a good reference too. You can type “Restaurants near Makati” or maybe go for more specific like “American restaurants that Juan Dela Cruz liked”.
3. Discover more with photos. If you are to go on a vacation like for example in Palawan, Graph Search can be a great help in planning your itinerary. You can browse for “Photos taken in Puerto Princesa, Palawan of my friends”. Then, extend your search with options like “places the photos were taken” and “people who posted the photos”. Aside from places, you could also browse photos of foods, bands, celebrities and of course photos of you and your friends. More visual search results that let you explore more.
4. Locate people. Now, this part is awesome and a bit troublesome too. Graph Search lets you find people. Want to look for a person who shares same interests with you? Or someone who went to the same school and same company with you? Or maybe you’re looking for someone whose name is Particia, who is a friend of your friends, and is living in Makati? Yes! Search can be so thorough with the filters you can play with, which can make the tool effective too in stalking someone or in looking for a potential date. If it’s easy for you to find someone, it will also be easy for someone to find and bug you. It’s better to review the privacy setting of your account.
5. Have unpaid brand ambassadors for businesses. This indeed is a time when consumer can empower or injure your business. If many like your brand, check-in at your branch, or upload photos of your products, it increases the chance of being searched. Furthermore, because the actions are initiated by friends, it becomes more valued.

These are just some of what information you can look for using Facebook Graph Search. It’s amusing to use as it provides profound search results that are based on the interests and demographics of your friends. The outcomes it generates are different compared to those of search engines: more personal and warmer. Yet, like all good things can have their downside, it can open us to privacy risks. Hence, we better have to be responsible in maximizing its use and may we always be reminded of the limits of what we should share online.

The post The Uses of Facebook Graph Search appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.