Pinoy Techno Guide

What’s with ‘8’?

Having an octa-core phone doesn't just give you the power to play hardcore games, run apps and play very high definition videos, it also gives you a sense of having the latest high tech device in your hands.

That’s why local phone brands in the Philippines raced to be the first to offer an octa-core smartphone for Filipinos. Starmobile got there first but let’s see if it’s better than Cherry Mobile’s first octa-core smartphone.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 and Starmobile Diamond X1 are the first octa-core offerings from these brands.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Performance

Let’s start with what this is all about: Performance!

Both octa-core phones are powered by the same processor, amount of RAM and GPU. Hence, we shouldn't see a difference in performance, right?

However, Antutu benchmark tests shows that Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 scores 2,000 points lower than Starmobile Diamond X1. That’s a big deal!

See also: Starmobile Diamond X1 full specs and features.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Design and Display

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 makes up for its lower performance score by having a full HD display (that’s 1080p, my friend). Plus, Cosmos Z2 also flaunts an OGS screen that makes icons seem to pop out and meet your every touch with zeal.

However, Diamond X1 is sleeker at just 7.0mm thin! It also feels more solid and sturdy than Cosmos Z2.

See also: Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 full specs and features.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Camera

The camera is where the two meet at a stalemate. Both feature an 18 MP main camera with LED flash and BSI sensor plus an 8 MP front camera for taking selfies.

You have to remember that this 18 MP camera is originally rated as 13 MP by their OEM device but with the help of Software Interpolation, the images are ramped up to 18 MP quality.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Software Features

When Google released Android 4.4 Kitkat, we started waiting for a local phone to operate using this operating system. Cherry Mobile answered that with a promise that Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 units will receive a Kitkat update by March 2014.

On the other hand, Starmobile has been proud with its Starmobile Sync app that lets you transfer contacts and messages from your current phone to a Starmobile Diamond X1 using Bluetooth.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Essential Features

Let’s now come to the little things that can still make or break a deal with these phones.

Both octa-core handsets feature dual sim/dual standby feature with 3G connectivity for a fast enough mobile internet speed. You’ll also enjoy dual band WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 boasts bigger internal storage at 16GB but has the same slot for a 64GB micro SD card. Diamond X1 also flaunts Yamaha stereo loudspeakers that sound better than the one on Cosmos Z2.

Lastly, the two benefits from the improved power usage efficiency of MideaTek’s octa-core processor but suffers from low capacity batteries. Starmobile Diamond X1 has 2,300 mAh only while Cosmos Z2 has a depressing 2,000 mAh battery.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1 by Price and After Sales Support

So you really want an octa-core Android phone but your budget is limited? By the way, whose budget isn’t limited?

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 is the better choice for budget conscious consumers which will save Php1,000 on your budget.

However, Starmobile has shown that they provide better support after you've purchased their phones compared to Cherry Mobile.

Octa Core Invasion!

The recent launches of octa core phones from Cherry Mobile and Starmobile may have made us craving for one. But as early as December 23, 2013, Novo7 Tech already accepted pre-orders of Thl’s octa core Monkey King II.

Unlike those from the first two brands, Thl Monkey King II is packed with more awesome features that made Novo7 Tech receive a lot of requests to deliver the smartphone earlier than the scheduled second week of February.

Here’s how Thl T100S Monkey King II looks like:

Thl T100S Monkey King II Octa Core Smartphone

The Sony inspiration is very obvious in Thl T100S Monkey King II's design.

Thl T100S Monkey King II Performance

Thl T100S Monkey King II is powered by the true octa core processor from MediaTek. Tru octa-core chips work with all 8 cores instead of just being a combination of two quad core chips.

It also has Mali450 MP4 as its graphics processor clocked at a whooping 700MHz. That should make it free from any lag whatsoever!

See also: Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z2 vs Starmobile Diamond X1: Battle of the octa core!

As if that’s not enough, there’s also 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a 2,300 mAh battery.

Thl T100S Monkey King II Design and Display

Thl T100S Monkey King II follows some design principles from Sony and Chinese brand Xiaomi. Just look at the official photo and you’ll immediately notice that it is a very sleek device.

The display on Thl T100S Monkey King II is one of the best there is. It’s a full HD display with OGS technology covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for absolute scratch resistance.

At 441 pixels per inch, Thl T100S Monkey King II would be overly underwhelmed by that flappy game!

Thl T100S Monkey King II Camera

Have you heard of a 13 Megapixel FRONT camera? Yes, Thl T100S Monkey King II has 13 Megapixel cameras for both the rear and the front.

Thl T100S Monkey King II 13MP front camera

This 13MP front camera will surely produce stunning selfies!

Both cameras use a Sony CMOS sensor which will produce high quality photos even in low (or complete absence of) light with the aid of a powerful LED flash.

You can also shoot full HD videos or those with 1080p resolution.

Thl T100S Monkey King II Network and Connectivity

With a Php12,899 price tag, you can’t expect LTE with Thl T100S Monkey King II. However, you can still enjoy fast enough mobile internet speed with 3G at HSPA+ speed.

It has WiFi, Bluetooth version 4.0, NFC and EPO assisted GPS positioning for faster lock in to your exact location.

For physical connections, you have a USB-OTG for connecting peripherals and USB storage devices, micro USB port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Thl T100S Monkey King II Complete Specs

1.7GHz Octa Core MediaTek MT6592 Processor
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS
5.0 Inch Full HD OGS Display @ 1920 x 1080 Pixels or 441 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Mali-450 MP4 @ 700MHz GPU
13.0 Megpixel f2.0 Main Camera with Sony Sensor and LED Flash
13.0 Megapixel Front Camera
2GB of RAM
32GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby (Regular + Micro SIM)
Tri-band 3G, Quad Band 2G Networks
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
Bluetooth v4.0
NFC
EPO Assisted GPS
USB OTG Support
Micro USB
3.5mm Audio Jack
G-Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Proximity Sensor
144.3 x 70.4 x 8.4mm
2,300 mAh Battery

Thl T100S Monkey King II Official Price, Pre-Order and Availability

The Novo7 Tech pre-order for the Thl T100S Monkey King II started on December 23, 2013 for a Php1,000 downpayment. You’ll then have to pay Php11,899 when your unit arrives.

We hope they can meet the second week of February release schedule amid all the problems with the BOC.

If you are still saving for the Thl T100S Monkey King II, you can get one at any Novo7 Tech branches nationwide.

Pinoy Phone by Name

DTC is another local brand that offers affordable gadgets to Filipinos. Its latest flagship smartphone mirrors the Filipino spirit with its name alone – the DTC Fiesta!

As its current flagship, DTC gave the Fiesta the best possible specs that its affordable Php8,888 price can give. Is this your best choice? Let’s find out.

Here’s how DTC Fiesta looks like:

DTC GT 15 Fiesta

DTC Fiesta Features

In terms of design, DTC Fiesta is your usual affordable smartphone with a plastic casing. The display is a 6 inch capacitive LCD with 5 point multi-touch capacity. It also follows a Samsung inspired physical home button.

Turning the smartphone on its back will reveal the 13 Megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash. You can also detach the back cover to take a look at the 2,700 mAh battery, dual sim card slots and microSD slot.

DTC Fiesta’s innards is composed of a 1.2GHz quad core processor form MediaTek and a PowerVR SGX544MP graphics processor. There’s 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

DTC Fiesta Full Specs

1.2GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6589 Processor
Android 4.2.1 Jell Bean OS
6 Inch Capacitive Display @ 960 x 540 Pixels or 184 PPI
PowerVR SGX544MP GPU
13 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
2 Megapixel Front Camera (probably interpolated up to 5MP)
1GB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS with EPO Assistance
Accelerometer
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
3.5mm Audio Jack
FM Radio
2700 mAh Li-Po Battery
Php8,888 SRP

If you’re looking for an affordable Android Jelly Bean smartphone, add SKK Wind to your choices. It’s another dual core smartphone perfect for students or as a gift to your kids.

Worried about the brand? SKK has been working hard at expanding their stores and service centers nationwide. Will you try them?

Here’s how SKK Wind looks like:

SKK Wind

SKK Wind Features

Aside from its dual core processor, SKK Wind also has 512MB of RAM. We’re guessing that the processor is from MediaTek.

Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean runs smoothly on its 4 inch capacitive display with the same resolution as that of Cherry Mobile Flare.

You can also take decent photos with its 5 Megapixel camera with a single LED flash and VGA front camera.

There’s 4GB of internal storage, microSD slot up to 32GB and 3G mobile internet access.

SKK Wind Specs

1.2GHz Dual Core Processor
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 800 x 480 Pixels or 233 PPI
5 Megapixel Main Camera with LED Flash
VGA Front Camera
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS
MicroUSB
3.5mm Audio Jack
FM Radio

Free Mobile Internet!

CloudFone and Globe Telecom partnered to bring an affordable Android smartphone for Filipinos called the CloudFone Geo 400q with 2 months of free Globe Powersurf 299.

You might flinch a little with the issue of Globe’s FUP but that’s still 600MB of free mobile internet and 50% off for the third month. The Globe SIM comes free with the smartphone too!

Take a look at Globe and CloudFone’s Geo 400q:

Notice the little details on this blue CloudFone Geo 400q?

CloudFone Geo 400q Performance

Since CloudFone Geo 400q is a budget phone, we didn’t expect too much processing power. But still, a 1.3GHz quad core MediaTek 6582 CPU and Mali 400 graphics processor will run apps smoothly. It even scores up to 17k on Antutu!

The RAM is a bit disappointing at only 512MB. This might even be a deal breaker for some. But, there’s the usual 4GB of internal storage and 32GB microSD slot.

We’re seeing CloudFone’s dedication to long battery life once again with CloudFone Geo 400q’s 2,000 mAh battery.

CloudFone Geo 400q Design, Display and Camera

If you look at the CloudFone Geo 400q photo above, you’ll notice some slight details on its front, sides and back that aren’t usual. Even the speaker grills look nice!

The display is satisfactory at the usual 850 x 480 pixel resolution which adds up to 240 pixels per inch.

On the back, you’ll see the camera module with its LED flash in a slightly bumped up region. It’s a 5MP shooter with autofocus.

CloudFone Geo 400q Network and Connectivity

CloudFone Geo 400q has two sim slots but only sim1 can connect to 3G networks. You should reserve this sim slot for the free Globe sim which will give you the free mobile internet of up to 600MB for two months.

There’s also the basic connectivity features like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and microUSB port.

CloudFone Geo 400q Full Specs

1.3GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6582 Processor
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 850 x 480 Pixels or 240 PPI
Mali 400 GPU
5 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
3 Megapixel Front Camera
512MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
3G HSPA+ (sim 1), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS
FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
2,000 mAh Battery
Free Globe Sim
Free Powersurf 299 for 2 months
50% Off for the 3rd month
Php3,999 SRP

So, do you think these freebies make CloudFone Geo 400q worth it for your 4k Pesos?

‘Made For Music Lovers’

Do you get frustrated with your smartphone’s low quality loudspeaker? Starmobile’s answer is an affordable Android phone with built-in Yamaha speakers called Starmobile Play!

For Php2,999, Starmobile Play doesn’t just have high quality speakers. It also has a high capacity 2,000 mAh battery to power your music trip.

Here’s the official photo of Starmobile Play:

Starmobile Play with its key features.

Features you’ll love with Starmobile Play

Aside from the loudspeaker and battery, Starmobile Play also has a combination of dual core processor from MediaTek, Mali-400 MP graphics and 512MB of RAM.

These might be far from the current octa core trends but this is the best you’ll get with your 3k. This set of specs can also run common games and apps without any problem.

You’ll have to look at the 4 inch display and realize that Starmobile Play is running the newer version of Android Jelly Bean compared to other Android phones in this price level.

Starmobile Play also has a verified 3.5G mobile internet connectivity for faster browsing and downloading of apps.

Finally, those owned Starmobile phones before can attest to the good after sales service of this company and their over the air (OTA) updates.

Starmobile Play is available in red (pretty, right?), white and blue.

Full Specs of Starmobile Play - Php2,999.00 SRP

1.2GHz Dual Core MediaTek MT6572 Processor
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 800 x 480 Pixels or 233 PPI
Mali-400MP GPU
5 Megapixel FF Main Camera with LED Flash
VGA Front Camera
512MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3.5G (HSPA+), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS with A-GPS Support
FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
Accelerometer
Ambient Light Sensor
Proximity Sensor
126.5 x 64 x 12.1 mm @ 138 Gross Weight
2,000 mAh Battery

What we think of Starmobile Play and Its Availability

Starmobile Play should be available in different Starmobile outlets by now.

For us, Starmobile Play is perfect for music lovers who have a tight budget. The Yamaha speakers will surely deliver high quality sound while you go to sleep or just being the background while you study for an exam.

The only thing that might discourage some with this phone is its fixed focus camera. But at least, Starmobile honestly tells you that compared to other brands that surprise you with this flaw after you buy their product.

Cherry Mobile Batteries

Cherry Mobile phones are usually criticized for their battery. That’s all about to change with Cherry Mobile Fuze.

Cherry Mobile Fuze is powered by a high capacity battery rated at 4000 mAh! That’s more than twice Cherry Mobile Flare HD’s battery capacity.

Take a look at Cherry Mobile Fuze:

Cherry Angel removed the back cover of Cherry Mobile Fuze to reveal its battery.

Features that you’ll like with Cherry Mobile Fuze

Aside from its battery that will surely last for more than a day, Cherry Mobile Fuze also comes with a 1.3GHz quad core processor from MediaTek. This, coupled with 1GB of RAM will surely run your favorite apps and games smoothly.

You’ll also like the connectivity features of Cherry Mobile Fuze. Aside from the fast mobile internet via 3.5G networks, you can also connect external storage devices and other peripherals to Cherry Mobile Fuze using a USB-OTG cable that comes free with the device.

Cherry Mobile Fuze Antutu - Photo by Cherry Angel

Cherry Mobile Fuze Complete Specs

1.3GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6582 Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5 Inch Capacitive Display @ 854 x 480 Pixels or 196ppi
8 Megapixel FF Main Camera with LED Flash
1.3 Megapixel Front Camera
1GB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD
Dual Sim/ Dual Standby
3.5G (HSPA+), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS
USB-OTG
3.5 mm Audio Jack
4000 mAh Battery

Cherry Mobile Fuze Price, Availability and Issues

You can now buy a Cherry Mobile Fuze for Php 5,499.00 at different Cherry Mobile outlets nationwide. Just consider the following issues:

Its screen is a TN panel. That means the viewing angle is narrow. Turn it sideways and the colors seem to fade.
Its main camera isn't autofocus.

If battery life is not that crucial for you, Cherry Mobile Flare HD might be a better pick.

"Reach for the Star!"

Starmobile's tagline is becoming more resounding this year with their successful introduction of several firsts in the local smartphone industry.

Here are some of the most sought after Android phones from Starmobile together with their specs and photos.

Starmobile Play - ₱2,999.00

Built-in Yamaha Speakers!

Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 800 x 480 Pixels or 233 PPI
Mali-400MP GPU
5 Megapixel FF Main Camera with LED Flash
VGA Front Camera
512MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3.5G (HSPA+), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS with A-GPS Support
FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
Accelerometer
Ambient Light Sensor
Proximity Sensor
126.5 x 64 x 12.1 mm @ 138 Gross Weight
2,000 mAh Battery

Starmobile Diamond X1 - ₱13,990

Octa Core Smartphone

Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS
6 Inch HD IPS Display @ 1280x720 Pixels or almost 245 PPI
Scratch Resistant Glass
Mali 450MP4 GPU
18 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash and BSI Sensor
8 Megapixel Front Camera with BSI Sensor
2GB of RAM
8GB of Internal Storage
Expandable up to 64GB via Micro SD
Dual Sim (Regular and Micro)
3G (HSPA+), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Dual Band Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS with A-GPS
FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
Yamaha Speakers
G-Sensor
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
2,300 mAh Battery

Starmobile Diamond D3 - ₱7,990

Quad Core with Frotn Flash and Dual BSI

1.3GHz Quad Core Mediatek MT6582 processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5-inch IPS Display @ 960 x 540 Pixels or 220 PPI
Mali-400MP GPU
Asahi Scratch Resistant Glass
12 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash and BSI
8 Megapixel Autofocus Front Camera with LED Flash BSI
1GB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual SIM, Dual 3G, Dual Standby
3G (HSPA+ up to 21Mbps), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS with A-GPS
2,000 mAh battery

Starmobile Diamond D2 - ₱7,990.00

Aluminum Body

1.2GHz Dual Core MediaTek MT6572 Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
6.8 Inch Capacitive Display @ 960 x 540 Pixels or 162 PPI
Mali-400 GPU
5 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
VGA Front Camera
1GB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual-SIM / Dual 3G Standby (Micro SIM)
3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS with A-GPS Support
192 x 98 x 7.9mm @ 280 g
3,200 mAh Li-ion Battery

Starmobile Diamond D1 - ₱7,999.00

High Capacity Battery

FWVGA display (480 x 854 resolution, 195ppi) with Dragontrail glass
1.2GHz quad core MT6589M SoC
156MHz PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
12mp rear-facing autofocus BSI camera
8mp front autofocus BSI camera
3.5G/HSPA+
WiFi b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS with A-GPS
FM Radio
3,000mAh battery
Dimensions: 147.5 x 74 x 10.3mm
Weight: 204g with battery

Starmobile Diamond S1 - ₱8,990.00

1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6582M Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
5 Inch OGS Display with qHD (960 x 540 Pixels) Resolution or 220 PPI
Scratch Resistant Asahi Dragontrail Glass
Curved Edge Glass
Mali 400MP GPU
12 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash and BSI Sensor
3 Megapixel Front Camera with BSI Sensor
1GB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
3G (HSPA+), EDGE and GPRS Networks
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS with A-GPS
FM-Radio
Ambient Light Sensor
Motion Sensor
Proximity Sensor
2000 mAh Li-Po Battery

Starmobile Diamond V7 - ₱12,990.00

1.2 GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6589 Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
5.7 Inch High Definition IPS Capacitive Display
720 x 1280 Pixel Resolution, ~257 Pixels per Inch
Dragontrail Glass Sratch Resistant
18 Megapixel Autofocus Rear Camera with BSI
8 Megapixel Autofocus Front Camera with BSI too!
PowerVR SGX544MP GPU
1 GB RAM
4 GB Internal Memory
Expandable up to 32 Gb via MicroSD Card
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
3G (HSPA), EDGE, GPRS, GSM
Bluetooth 2.0
GPS with A-GPS Support
2,600 mAh Li-ion Battery

Starmobile Diamond V3- ₱8,990.00

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
5.3 Inch Capacitive Display @ 480 x 854 Pixel Resolution
Dragontrail Glass Scratch Resistant
12 MP Autofocus Rear Camera with BSI Sensor
2 MP Front Camera with BSI Sensor
Adreno 203 GPU
1 GB RAM, 4 GB Internal Memory
Expandable up to 32 Gb via MicroSD
Dual Sim/Dual Standby
WiFi and WiFi Hotspot
3G, EDGE, GPRS, GSM
Bluetooth v4.0
GPS with A-GPS Support
FM Radio
Free 8 GB MicroSD Card, Screen Protector and Jelly Case

Starmobile Knight - ₱9,990.00

1.2 GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6589 Processor, Cortex-A7
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
4.7 Inch High Definition (1280 x 720) IPS Display @ 315 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass
PowerVR SGX544 GPU
18 MP Autofocus Main Camera with BSI and Dual LED Flash
8 MP Autofocus Front Camera with BSI
1 GB RAM
4 GB ROM (Internal Memory)
138 mm Tall, 66.7 mm Wide and 7.5 mm Thin
Expandable up to 32 GB via MicroSD
Dual Sim/Dual Standby, 1 micro SIM
WiFi, WiFi Hotspot
Dual 3G, HSDPA, GPRS
GPS, Bluetooth, FM Radio
2000 mAh Lithium Polymer Battery (non removable)

Expressing Yourself Safely Online

Now that the Supreme Court has declared online libel as constitutional, we have to find ways to avoid committing this while expressing ourselves online.

The uproar on social media might force the SC to reconsider its decision but it’s better to know if we are already treading dangerous waters or else:

Cat arrested after using Facebook (just kidding!). Photo of handcuff by Pakistan Today.

The Basics: What Doesn't Count as Online Libel

The SC clearly states that the Cybercrime law should punish the original author of the libelous post only. If you share or react to it, you can’t be sued for online libel.

This means that it is still safe to ‘Like’, ‘Share’ and/or ‘Comment’ on posts online. Yeah, you can share this post on Facebook and that won’t be considered libelous for you.

If you are posting something on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or your Blog, that’s the time that you should be extra careful.

Consulting the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines

Atty. Berteni "Toto" Causing

The Cybercrime Law refers us to the Revised Penal Code for the definition of ‘libel’. But let’s not go there (our noses might bleed), here’s a simplified version of libel’s definition is offered by Atty. Berteni "Toto" Causing:

D for Defamation– This has nothing to do with ‘fame’ but with ‘shame’. If what you post online can put a person in shame or hurt his honor - that might be libelous.

I for Identification– Even if you did not include a name in your post but it can be derived based on the rest of your article, which can still be considered as libel. Much more if you the name of the person or company is there.

M for Malice– Malice means that you have the intention to defame a person. You can’t reason out just by saying that what you posted is true. Likewise, posting a false statement can be libelous too.

P for Publication– Everything that you post online that can be viewed by a large audience is covered by publication. Even if you set your Facebook post to ‘Friends Only’ but hundreds of people can see it, that can still be considered as libel.

All of these must be present for you to be convicted of libel.

Take note that photos, videos and other types of media posted online are subject to the Cybercrime Law.

This is very important: I’m not a lawyer. If you want more details about online libel or someone just sued you, consult a lawyer!

Conclusion

I don’t like the Cybercrime Law. It seems to limit our freedom of expression in the internet worse than it does in real life.

However, I’m happy with SC’s decision not to allow law enforcement agencies to collect our personal data and take down websites immediately.

If the decision on online libel won’t be reversed, we just have to be more careful in expressing our thoughts online if it can put a person in shame.

Fierce Competition

Amid the fierce competition among the local brands, Torque introduced another quad core smartphone called DROIDZ Life HD.

Torque promises that Droidz Life HD will give you a great Android experience with its quad core processor, 1GB of RAM, 18 MP camera and High Definition screen.

Here’s a hands on photo of Droidz Life HD:

Torque Droidz Life HD

Torque Droidz Life HD Performance

We usually get disappointed with the quad core smartphones from local brands with their very low battery capacity. But Droidz Life HD differs with its 2,800 mAh battery.

Torque Droidz Life HD runs on a 1.2GHz quad core processor from MediaTek that also powers most quad core phones in the country.

Worried about the RAM? Yeah, Torque used to release Android phone with only 512MB of RAM. But with Droidz Life HD, the RAM has been upgraded to 1GB!

Torque Droidz Life HD Design, Display and Camera

What's inside the Torque Droidz Life HD box?

Torque Droidz Life HD has nice-looking red accents on its sides and a matte back cover – that’s great for those who hate finger prints.

The HD display on Droidz Life HD shows the expected high quality graphics. However, we’re not yet sure if it has a scratch resistant protective layer.

The good news: Droidz Life HD has an 18 Megapixel main camera! It might be an interpolated one but it will surely capture high quality images.

Torque Droidz Life HD Networks and Connectivity

Torque Droidz Life HD Official Photo

We’re a bit concerned with the mobile internet speed of Droidz Life HD. Torque lists it as 3.5G but with HSDPA speed of up to 7.2Mbps. This is fast enough but a Wi-Fi network will always be faster.

It’s not yet clear if it has USB On the Go feature.

Torque Droidz Life HD Specs

1.2GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT6589 Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5.5 Inch HD IPS Display @ 1280 x 720 Pixels or 267 PPI
18 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
5 Megapixel Front Camera
1GB of RAM
4GB of Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3.5G (HSDPA 7.2Mbps), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS with A-GPS Support
FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
Micro USB
3-Axis Gyro/Accelerometer
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
2,800 mAh Battery

Looking for Android 4.4 Kitkat? Torque also said that they are currently developing their Kitkat ROM :)

Thin Profile but Powerful Innards!

Gionee proudly released Gionee Elife S5.5 which they claimed to be the thinnest smartphone in the world at only 5.5mm. That’s very impressive considering that Huawei Ascend P6 is 6.2mm thick.

Aside from the ‘tomato-slicing’ thinness, Gionee Elife S5.5 is also a monster phone with an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM plus a whole lot of jaw dropping features including the ability to take full body selfies!

Here’s the official photo of Gionee Elife S5.5:

Gionee Elife S5.5 - World’s Thinnest Octa Core Smartphone

Meet the thinnest octa core smartphone in the world - Gionee Elife S5.5!

Gionee Elife S5.5 Processor, Memory and Battery

Gionee Elife S5.5 is powered by MediaTek’s 1.7GHz octa core processor which should give you a very smooth Android experience.

There’s 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage for installing and running your favorite apps and games smoothly.

One thing that we should worry about with thin smartphones is the battery life. However, Gionee promises a whole day of 3G talk time with Elife S5.5’s 2,300 mAh battery.

Gionee Elife S5.5 Design, Display and OS

Gionee Elife S5.5 runs on Amigo 2.0 - a highly customized version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Notice the golden sides of Elife S5.5? Those are actually the magnesium alloy frame of the smartphone.

Both the back and front of Gionee Elife S5.5 are covered with a 0.4mm Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against scratches and compression.

We we’re impressed even more with its display with a full HD resolution and Super AMOLED technology. It makes the icons of the highly customized Android Jelly Bean OS named Amigo OS pop.

Gionee Elife S5.5 Camera

Gionee Elife S5.5 wide angle front camera

A combo of 13 MP and 5 MP cameras is present in Gionee Elife S5.5. The main camera is a normal one with not much features to talk about.

However, the front camera stands out with its autofocus feature (most phones lack autofocus for the front camera) and 95° wide angle capability.

This means that you can take a full body selfie with Gionee Elife S5.5 without having to stand in front of a mirror!

Gionee Elife S5.5 Networks, Connectivity and Sensors

Gionee currently offers the 3G version of Elife S5.5 but an LTE version is due to be released on June 2014.

Aside from the connectivity features of Elife S5.5, we were also impressed with the sensors present on the device including a compass and E-compass.

Gionee Elife S5.5 Complete Specs

1.7GHz Octa Core MediaTek MT6592 Processor
Amigo 2.0 OS (Based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean)
5 Inch Full HD Super AMOLED Display @ 1920 x 1080 Pixels or 441 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (Front and Back)
13 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
5 Megapixel Autofocus Wide Angle Front Camera
2GB of RAM
16GB Internal Storage
4G LTE, 3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Hotspot and Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS
Micro USB
Gyro
Ambient Light Sensor
Gravity Sensor
Proximity Sensor
Compass and E-Compass
2,300 mAh Li-ion Battery (non-removable)

Gionee Elife S5.5 Price and Availability in the Philippines

Gionee Elife S5.5 is already up for pre-order in China. For us here in the Philippines, Gionee will surely release the Elife S5.5 soon.

You can try contacting these numbers for further information: (02) 470 6375 and (02) 942 1800.

Gionee Elife S5.5 will sell for about Php18,000.

Developer kits up for grabs!

Google announced that they have 200 development units of a phone that can map its 3-dimensional surroundings.

The phone is one of the products from Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group headed by Johnny Lee. It has a very cool code name: Project Tango. What do you think?

Google’s Project Tango: Smartphone with 3D Sensors

A development unit of Google's Project Tango smartphone.

The Phone and its Sensors

The phone looks like just another smartphone but you will immediately notice the extra camera at the back. That’s actually the motion tracking camera.

See the other one above that? That’s the 3D depth sensor that will sense the environment and then create a 3-dimensional map for the phone to use in different applications.

Inside the phone is a chip called Myriad 1 that operates just like the chip on Microsoft’s Kinect but in a significantly lower power requirement.

Exciting Apps

Project Tango demo

The phone is currently offered to developers only.

Those who can think of apps that will use the capabilities of the phone in creative, specific and bold ways are encouraged to apply to get a free unit.

The Project Tango website hints on apps for indoor maps, games and algorithms. If you’re a programmer with some projects to show and convince Google’s ATAP guys, go get one!

Back to the Supersonic Age!

Now that the negotiations between the Dept. of Defense and the government of South Korea have been completed, the Philippine Air Force is back to the supersonic age.

We will soon see 12 FA-50 fighter jets roll into service and protect our sovereignty. This makes us wonder what are the weapons and technologies that it has.

Take a look at the FA-50 Golden Eagle of the Philippines:

FA-50 Golden Eagle Fighter Jet of the Philippines

An FA-50 Golden Eagle in flight – Photo © Korea Aerospace Industries

FA-50 Golden Eagle Speed, Techniques and Technologies

The FA-50 Golden Eagle is powered by an F404-GE-102 high thrust engine that uses afterburners to go supersonic and attain the maximum speed of Mach 1.5 or 1,838 kph!

It features modern technologies like multimode radar that can track more than one target at the same time, tactical data link system for in-flight tactic communication, GPS/INS, night vision and more.

FA-50 Golden Eagle Philippine Fighter Jet Specifications

FA-50 Golden Eagle Specifications

Other countries have also ordered the FA-50 like Indonesia and Iraq. This just proves that these fighter jets are worth it of the Php18.5 billion price tag.

FA-50 Golden Eagle Armament

Now let’s come to the guns and missiles on the FA-50.

Aside from the usual 20mm machine gun, FA-50 Golden Eagles are also equipped with air to air, air to surface and guided missiles.

One particular missile that it uses is the AIM-9 Sidewinder for short range air-to-air combat or also called ‘dog fight’.

Here’s a video of the FA-50 Golden Eagle. See it in action!

Nokia and Android, Finally!

We’ve been waiting for a very long time for Nokia to use Android on their smartphones. Now, it’s here – the Nokia X A110 Android phone!

Nokia X is just a low end smartphone. The specs are quite low but so is the price. Don’t worry, Nokia is reportedly working on two other Android smartphones.

Meanwhile, here’s how Nokia X A110 looks like:

Nokia X A110 Lockscreen, Dialer and Skype

Leaked photo of Nokia X A110 - notice the Windows phone inspired user interface.

How does Android look on Nokia X A110?

As expected, Nokia heavily customized Android 4.4 Kitkat to match the look and feel of the Windows Phone OS interface. There’s the tile based user interface and flat design.

Some people call the OS as Windroid – a mash up of Windows and Android. Instead of the usual Google services like Gmail, Google Maps and Google Play, Nokia X features Nokia services like Nokia HERE Maps and Nokia App Store respectively.

Nokia hopes that users of Nokia X A110will get used to the tile based interface and then purchase a premium Windows phone when they get more money.

Nokia X A110 Processor, Memory and Battery

A 1GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor powers the Nokia X together with 512MB of RAM. Let’s see how apps perform at such specs given the customizations done by Nokia with the Android OS.

It has 4GB of internal storage and a slot for a 32GB micro SD card should you wish for additional storage space.

For the battery, the 1,500 mAh Li-ion battery should suffice.

Nokia X A110 Design, Display and Camera

Sample photo taken using Nokia X A110.

Nokia X A110 follows the Nokia Asha design and is made of a polycarbonate shell.

The display is a 4 inch capacitive display with 480 x 854 Pixel resolution. Those add up to 254 pixels per inch on its 4 inch display.

Turning the device on its back will reveal the 5 Megapixel main camera. Yes, that’s a low resolution but look at the sample image and notice its quality.

Nokia X A110 Complete Specs

1 GHz Dual Core Qualcomm MSM8225Q Snapdragon 200 Processor
Nokia Version of Android 4.4.2 Kitkat OS
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 480 x 854 Pixels or 245 PPI
Adreno 203 GPU
5 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera (no Flash)
512MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G HSDPA, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Accelerometer
3.5mm Audio Jack
1,500 mAh Li-ion Battery

Nokia X A110 Price and Availability in the Philippines

Several sources report that the suggested retail price of Nokia X is around $115. That’s less than Php5,000! Nokia X is truly a budget phone.

Nokia will formally announce the device during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

We expect Nokia X to be launched here in the Philippines in a special event next month. Until then, you can try online shops to get your hands on a Nokia X.

No octa core yet?

A photo of MyPhone Android phones bearing the names Ocean Pro, Ocean Mini, Ocean Lite, Ocean Elite and Iceberg Slim has been posted on Facebook.

Many thought that this is MyPhone’s octa core offering after rivals Cherry Mobile and Starmobile released octa core smartphones few weeks ago. However, the Ocean series seems to be composed of affordable units.

Here’s the leaked photo:

Leaked photo of new MyPhone units called the Ocean Series including Iceberg Slim.

The photo is a bit blurry but TJ Panganiban managed to take better photos. Here are the partial specs of MyPhone’s new smartphones.

MyPhone Ocean Pro Specs

1.3GHz Quad Core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5.5 Inch IPS Display @ 540 x 960 Pixels or 200 PPI
8 Megapixel Main Camera
2 Megapixel Front Camera
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

MyPhone Ocean Mini Specs

1GHz Dual Core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
3.5 Inch Capacitive Display
1.3 Megapixel Main Camera
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

MyPhone Ocean Elite Specs

1.3GHz Quad Core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5 Inch HD IPS Display @ 1280 x 720 Pixels or 293 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Scratch Resistant Glass
13 Megapixel Main Camera with BSI Sensor
5 Megapixel Front Camera
1GB of RAM
16GB Internal Storage
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

MyPhone Ocean Lite Specs

1GHz Dual Core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
4 Inch Capacitive Display
3.2 Megapixel Main Camera
VGA Front Camera
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

MyPhone Iceberg Slim Specs

1.3GHz Quad Core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
5 Inch HD IPS Display @ 1280 x 720 Pixels or 293 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Scratch Resistant Glass
8 Megapixel Main Camera
5 Megapixel Front Camera
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

Based on these specs, Ocean Elite and Iceberg Slim are the ones that we are most excited. However, the rest of the MyPhone Ocean series seems to be made up of affordable smartphones.

If your budget for a new smartphone is below 3K, you better wait until the pricing of the Ocean series is revealed before choosing what to buy.

5 Inch Android Phone by Nokia

Nokia surprised us by releasing not one but three Android phones during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – Nokia X, X+ and XL.

Nokia XL is the big brother among the three with the largest screen at 5 inches. It also has the best camera, memory and battery. To top it all, it still has an affordable price!

Here’s how Nokia XL looks like:

Nokia XL is available in a wide array of bright colors!

Nokia XL Android User Interface and Apps

Pinoy Techno Guide readers often ask about how Android looks on a Nokia phone. They are also very concerned with what apps are available since Google Play isn’t compatible with Nokia XL.

Nokia has done a very good job at customizing Android that it is barely recognizable. You might even think that Nokia XL is still running on Windows Phone OS.

Nokia Xl's Fastlane replaces the notifications on Android while HERE maps replaces Google Maps.

Nokia X 1.0 (that’s the name of the OS) is tile based. Each tile corresponds to an app with others showing updates like previews of your photos. You have to scroll down to see other apps.

To install apps, you just have to go to the Store tile and select from the hand-picked apps there. Popular apps like Plants vs Zombies and BBM are there but if you can’t find what you want, you can just use other app stores like the Amazon Appstore.

Nokia XL Processor, Memory and Battery

Nokia XL is powered by a 1GHz dual core Snapdragon processor and 768MB of RAM. This combo is a bit disappointing but it performs well with normal usage – texts, calls, browsing the net, casual gaming and photography.

There’s 4GB of internal storage which is expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD. If you like cloud storage, there’s also 10GB free storage on OneDrive (erstwhile SkyDrive) that comes pre-installed.

Nokia promises up to 13 hours of 3G talk time or 6 hours of browsing via Wi-Fi with Nokia XL’s 2,000 mAh battery.

Nokia XL Design, Display and Camera

Nokia XL is almost twice the thickness of the world’s current thinnest smartphone, Gionee Elife S5.5. But you can choose among bright and lively colors!

The 5 inch display also looks good despite the low resolution. That might be due to the bright colors of the live tiles.

When it comes to photography, Nokia XL has a 5MP autofocus main camera and a 2MP wide angle front camera.

Nokia XL Networks and Connectivity

Nokia XL is a dual core handset with 3G connectivity for faster mobile internet browsing.

There’s A-GPS used by HERE Drive and HERE Maps for navigation and Bluetooth 3.0 + HS for wireless file transfer.

Nokia XL Specs

1GHz Dual Core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Processor
Nokia X Software OS (Customized Android)
5 Inch IPS Display @ 800 x 480 Pixels or 187 PPI
5 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera with LED Flash
2 Megapixel Wide Angle Front Camera
768MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G (HSDPA), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
A-GPS
Bluetooth 3.0
Stereo FM Radio
3.5mm Audio Jack
Ambient Light Sensor
Accelerometer
Proximity Sensor
2,000 mAh Battery

Nokia XL Price and Availability in the Philippines

Since Nokia XL and the two other Android phones from Nokia are targeted for the emerging markets like the Philippines, we can expect the three to be available here by next month. Some online shops might even offer them two weeks from now.

The official SRP of Nokia XL is 109 Euros – that’s Php6,700. However, expect a higher price for Nokia XL here in the Philippines – probably around Php7,000.

Packed with Special Features

Samsung Galaxy S5 is packed with special features like a finger print sensor, heart rate monitor and 4K video recording among others.

This is aimed at re-gaining the lead from Apple in the smartphone market. Even Pinoy Techno Guide readers are looking for something totally ingenious with Galaxy S5 for them to choose it.

Here’s the Samsung Galaxy S5 telling you your heart rate:

Leaked photo of Samsung Galaxy S5 hours before Samsung's official announcement.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Special Features

1. Finger Print Scanner

The physical home button below the phone’s screen covers a finger print sensor just like on Apple’s iPhone 5S. Aside from serving as a password, it can also authorize or prevent Paypal online payments.

2. Heart Rate Monitor

Just beside the LED flash are two dots. Those are part of the heart rate monitor. You need to place your index finger over there and the S-Health 3.0 app will tell you your heart rate.

Put your index finger over those dots beside the LED flash and find out your heart rate.

3. 4K Video Recording

4K is the next generation video resolution. Have you noticed that as your TV goes larger and larger, the video quality becomes lesser and lesser? 4K video have resolutions of up to 4,000 or more Pixels on either side making it very clear and sharp even on your very large TV.

4. IP67 Water and Dust Resistant

Samsung also made the Galaxy S5 resistant to water and dust. It is safe to submerge a galaxy S5 under 1m of water for up to 30 minutes.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Design and Display and User Interface

Just like the previous versions of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, Galaxy S5 doesn’t differ much when it comes to design.

Samsung Galaxy S5 in gold, anyone?

The back of Galaxy S5 has a matte plastic back cover akin to the faux leather finished we first saw on the Galaxy Note 3. On the other hand, the front side looks the same with its 5.25 inch display covered with Gorilla Glass 3.

Powering up the phone reveals the familiar TouchWix user interface but with a flat theme and round icons of Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Processor, Memory and Battery

In terms of processing power, Galaxy S5 boasts the powerful (but still quad core) 2.5GHz Snapdragon 805 from Qualcomm. It is aided by an Adreno 420 for processing the graphics on its full HD display.

Samsung Galaxy S5 also followed the Galaxy Note 3 for having 3GB of RAM. That should be plenty enough so that you won’t ever experience lags.

Lastly, its battery made us feel assured with 3,000 mAh that will last for a day of use.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Camera

Samsung Galaxy S5 photography is better than its predecessors.

Photography on Galaxy S5 has very interesting upgrades both for the hardware and the software aspects. Instead of the usual 13MP sensor, it now has a 16MP main camera with 0.3s delay between shots and 3.2MP for the front.

Aside from the 4K video recording we’ve mentioned above, Samsung Galaxy S5 also has the ability to change the focus of the image after it has been taken. This is similar to Nokia’s Refocus app.

This makes us think more about Samsung’s strategy. Have they run out of new ideas and are just copying what others have done?

Samsung Galaxy S5 Networks and Connectivity

Galaxy S5 has LTE but what’s more interesting is its ability to use this and a Wi-Fi connection at the same time for an insanely fast internet speed.

Bottom side of the Samsung Galaxy S5.

There’s a USB 3.0 port at the bottom, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, Infrared and USB On the Go capability.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs

2.5GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Processor
Android 4.4.2 Kitkat OS
5.25 Inch Super AMOLED Display @ 1440 x 2560 Pixels or 559 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Scratch Resistant Layer
Adreno 420 GPU
16 Megapixel Selective Focus Main Camera with LED Flash
3.2 Megapixel Front Camera
4K Video Recording
3GB of RAM
16/32 GB of Internal Storage
Expandable up to 64GB via Micro SD
LTE (150 Mbps), 3G (HSDPA 42Mbps), EDGE and GPRS Networks
Dual Band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Hotspot and DLNA
A-GPS with GLONASS Support
Bluetooth 4.0 LE with A2DP
NFC
Infrared Port
USB OTG
Finger Print Sensor
Heart Rate Detector
IP67 Water and Dust Resistant
Compass
Barometer
Temperature Sensor
Accelerometer
Gyro
Gesture Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
3,000 mAh Li-ion Battery

Samsung Galaxy S5 Price and Availability in the Philippines

Updating…

More Memory

We’re very excited with the new Nokia X family that runs on a forked version of Android. Sadly though, Nokia X has 512MB only of RAM and no microSD slot.

Enter the Nokia X+ - a slightly better option with 768MB of RAM and a 32GB microSD slot. However, that makes it cost around Php1,000 more than Nokia X.

Here’s how Nokia X+ looks like:

SkyDrive, Plants vs Zombies 2, Outlook and Twitter come pre-installed with the Nokia X+.

Nokia X+ Design and User Interface

Nokia X+ comes in an Asha like design with a polycarbonate shell and monoblock touch design. It also comes in different bright colors like green, red and blue.

The user interface is what will get you very interested though. It runs on the Android based Nokia X 1.0 software. The UI is tile based just like in Windows phones but you won’t feel out of place since it is still Android.

Apps can be downloaded from the Nokia Store though they are limited into high quality and popular apps. If what you’re looking for is not there, you can use the Amazon appstore or download that app’s apk file.

Nokia X+ Processor, Memory and Battery

Nokia’s Fastlane is definitely better than the notifications on a usualAndroid phone.

Nokia X+ is powered by a 1GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 processor and 768MB of RAM. This isn’t the best combination at the Php6,000 price range but we have high hopes with its performance since its made by Nokia.

A 4GB micro SD card also comes free with every Nokia X+. If you’re not contented with that, you can buy a 32GB one.

The batter is a bit disappointing at just 1500 mAh. But the 4 inch screen shouldn't be that battery intensive.

Nokia X+ Specs

1 GHz Dual Core Qualcomm MSM8225Q Snapdragon 200 Processor
Android Based Nokia X 1.0 Software OS
4 Inch Capacitive Display @ 480 x 854 Pixels or 245 PPI
Adreno 203 GPU
3 Megapixel Autofocus Main Camera (no Flash)
768MB of RAM
4GB Internal Storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
3G HSDPA, EDGE and GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Accelerometer
3.5mm Audio Jack
1,500 mAh Li-ion Battery

Nokia X+ Price and Released Date in the Philippines

While the Nokia X will be available this month, Nokia X+ will take up to May 2014 to be available.

The official suggested retail price of the Nokia X+ is around Php6,000 or more. We’re not expecting it to go beyond Php7,000.

We’re very much excited if these Android phones from Nokia will do good in the emerging markets like the Philippines. Are you interested in getting one for your self?

'Another MyPhone leak'

A photo of the fourth Android tablet from MyPhone has been posted on Facebook. This is the second leak of MyPhone gadgets after the MyPhone Ocean series.

The photo only reveals very few details about MyPhone MyPad 4. Apart from the expected quad core processor, it also has an 8 Megapixel camera.

Here’s the leaked photo of MyPad 4:

MyPhone MyPad 4.

The suggested retail price of Php9,988.00 is definitely lower than that of the 10 inch MyPad 3 so we expect this to be smaller – probably a 7 inch slate.

There’s also Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for the OS and a slot for a 32GB micro SD card.

See also: Intel powered Starmobile Engage 9i

The photo was taken by Calvin Nerit at a MyPhone outlet in SM Center Valenzuela. MyPhone has yet to confirm or announce anything about MyPad 4.

To be updated about MyPad 4, like Pinoy techno Guide on Facebook.

'For the People'

Even if the number of people who own smartphones is continuously increasing, millions of people are still using basic, bar-style, feature phones.

Nokia understands this. That’s why they are offering Nokia 220– a feature phone that also has mobile internet connection for Facebook, Twitter and browsing the internet using the Nokia Xpress Browser.

Nokia 220 is available in yellow, red, black, white and green.

Nokia 220 Specs

2.4 Inch Transmissive LCD Display @ 320 x 240 Pixels
166 Pixels Per Inch
2 Megapixel FF Camera
Up to 32GB storage via Micro SD
Dual SIM/Dual Standby
GPRS and EDGE Networks
Bluetooth 3.0
Micro USB Port
3.5mm Audio Jack
FM RDS Radio
1,100 mAh Battery
Up to 7 Hours on Mobile Internet

Nokia 220 Price and Availability in the Philippines

Nokia announced during the Mobile World Congress that Nokia 220 should be available immediately for $39. That’s equivalent to Php1,800, give or take.

Nokia 220 is a nice pick if you’re looking for a basic phone with access to Facebook. We just wish it has mobile TV too.

But hey, it’s Nokia! Nokia 220 is better in quality than the basic phones by other brands.