#TBT: Mobile phones: Then and Now

If you grew up in the 80′s or 90′s, you’d definitely see the huge difference and improvements in the mobile industry. For our Throwback Thursday this week, we look at one of the most popular handset of of the 21st century and compare it with the handset of the 20th century.

We’re sure you still remember the Nokia 5110. It was one of the best phones of the 90′s. We compare it to the Apple iPhone to see what we’ve gained and what we’re missing.

Sometimes, technology doesn’t really improve things — they just make them more complicated.

Source: Yugatech

Jony Ive co-designs rare Leica M for Project RED

In an effort to continue his global crusade to fight HIV-AIDS, Product Red founder and U2 lead singer Bono taps Apple’s SVP of Design Jony Ive and world-renown industrial designer Marc Newson to design a one-of-a-kind Leica M (RED) camera which will be auctioned on the 23rd of this month.

This is what they came up with:

Not to take anything away from the two brilliant minds that designed this Leica M, but I think that it looks like a toy camera rather than a serious photographic tool. But knowing that all the proceeds that it’ll generate will go to a noble cause, I can care less about its looks. And besides, it’s not like I’m gonna bid for it anyways.

Source: Yugatech

ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 Review

ASUS set really good standards on what a 7-inch Android tablet should be with theGoogle Nexus 7. Now that they have to launch their own 7-incher under the Nexus shadow, they needed something that can shine in its own right without getting burned by its pure-blooded cousin. The company’s answer is the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7.

Design and Construction

At first glance, the HD 7 looks similar to the 2012 Google Nexus 7 especially if you look on the front. The dimensions are almost the same and if it weren’t for the ASUS logo found below the display it could almost pass as a Nexus 7.

Motorola Moto G budget phone: 4.5-inch display, Snapdragon 400, 1GB RAM, 5MP camera

Motorola has announced its intentions to become a dominant force in the low-end smartphone market. That plan will be carried out in the form of the inexpensive Motorola Moto G smartphone, a wallet-friendly device with a 4.5-inch 720p display and quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU for just $179.

Despite its affordable price, the Motorola Moto G isn’t short of decent specs and features. Besides a big display with high resolution and relatively fast mobile CPU, the phone also has a fast mobile data support and an adequate amount of RAM (1GB). The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 for improved resistance to drops and scratches. There’s even coating inside for added water resistance.

Essentially, the Moto G is the Moto X in budget form. Touting a similar curved design, this budget phone has a removable back cover that can be swapped for another color (yellow, red, black, white, pink, dark and light blue). It doesn’t have the same level of customization as its high-end sibling, but the Moto G offers a number of accessories, including flip covers, colored cases, and wireless speakers. A dual-SIM variant is also in the works.

For more info: Noypigeeks

Epson donates 2 million pesos to aid Typhoon Yolanda relief operations

Continuing its practice of extending aid to disaster-affected areas, the Epson group of companies in the Philippines has donated Php2 million for relief operations in the areas severely affected by the Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda).  The assistance was made through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a local non-profit organization.

Aside from monetary aid, Epson employees will also work with PBSP personnel to undertake on-site relief operations. Voluntary contributions from Epson employees are also being aggregated by the company to complement the aid that the company has donated.

Typhoon Haiyan struck central areas of the Philippines, including the islands of Leyte and Samar in the Visayas region. Many consider it as one of the worst typhoons to hit the Philippines in recorded history. The full extent of the damage is still unclear.

“Epson employees grieve with the families affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Our prayers go along with our donation and our manpower support. We stand with you in this harrowing ordeal,” said Epson Environment Manager Joyce Tan.

Epson wishes to extend its sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, and hopes for the speedy recovery of the areas damaged by the disaster.

Clash of Clans: How to link your iOS and Android device

I’ve just started playing Clash of Clans and, so far, I’m really enjoying the game. If you’ve recently switched to Android from an iOS device and want to continue where you left off, there’s an easy way to import your progress.

Importing your Clash of Clans progress is called linking, doing of which is shown below:

1. In your iOS device, simply go to the settings menu.
2. Link a Device
3. This is the OLD DEVICE
4. I want to link to another device.
5. Now in your Android device, go to the settings menu.
6. Link a Device
7. This is the NEW DEVICE
8. Enter the link code displayed in your iOS device.

Note that the settings menu is accessible only after you’ve finished playing the tutorial. Since the Android device is presumably where you will import your old game progress, it doesn’t matter what username you chose and the new progress you’ve made—they will be, after all, overwritten by the imported file.

Finally, linking your iOS device with an Android gadget is only done once. Both devices are then synced together, so you can play on either one with your latest progress in the game. Also, linking to a new device no longer works if said device comes with a Town Hall Level 4 or have already made purchases.

The satisfaction of building a great base and the thrill of invading those of other players are opportunities too good to pass up. Indeed it’d be so disappointing if you have to start all over again just because you switched platforms. Luckily, developers these days make great games like Clash of Clans, while not forgetting cross-platform compatibility.

Recently ported to Android just last month, the Clash of Clans app is a free download via theGoogle Play Store. For those who can afford it or just want to speed things up a little, in-app purchases are also available.

Skype offers free credits for users affected by Typhoon Haiyan

In an effort to help people affected by Typhoon Haiyan get in touch with their loved ones to let them know they’re alright, Skype is pitching in to give aid in the form of free credits.

You might want to check the e-mail you used to register for your Skype account to get your voucher code. Head to the Skype website to redeem your $2 free credit. It may not seem enough but call rates to U.S. numbers is just 2.2 cents per minute so that should give you a lot of time to let your friends and relatives know how things are at your end.

Lenovo Vibe Z: Snapdragon 800, 5.5-inch 1080p display, dual-SIM, 2GB RAM

Setting itself apart by sporting a Snapdragon 800 processor (instead of the MediaTek chips that Lenovo usually employs in its devices), the Lenovo Vibe Z is an upcoming smartphone with dual-SIM functionality and runs a custom Android-based ROM.

You can think of the Lenovo Vibe Z as a more powerful version of Vibe X, announced back in September. Almost every aspect has been pretty much revamped, although the same back finish for minimal fingerprint smudges is still there. The newer handset is also thicker at 7.9mm, albeit still considered thin in today’s standards. The display is now a 5.5-inch IPS display with 1080p (full HD) resolution. Standing in as the rear camera is a Sony IMX135 sensor that apparently can shoot ten photos in half a second, with a low-light mechanism and dual-LED flash that ultimately result to brighter pictures with minimal noise.

Besides the CPU, the innards consist of an Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of DDR3 RAM. There’s a dual-SIM tray and a yet-unspecified battery that Lenovo claims to last 278.5 hours on standby for the WCDMA + GSM model. This is just one of several models to be made available for Chinese carriers, while a GSM + 4G LTE version is headed for the international market.

Source: Noypigeeks

BenQ launches Flicker-free monitors, helps save your eyes

Eye health is one of the major concerns for a lot of people, especially those who are always working in front of the computer. In today’s digital world, almost everyone uses computers heavily. 

One of the most common problem is the Computer Vision Syndrome that is a result of long periods of exposure to computer monitors that causes headaches, blurred vision, redness and dryness of the eyes, eye fatigue and even myopia.

Last November 5, 2013, BenQ launched the Flicker-free line of monitors that reduce the risks of eyestrain while enhancing work productivity. Flickering, or the flashing effect of the monitor is the effect of the LED backlight controller adjusting to the changes in the brightness level. This strains the human eye as the ciliary muscle adjusts to the invisible flickering resulting to the abovementioned eye problems.

For more info: Pinoytechblog

Introducing the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 with 384 CUDA cores

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 is a well-rounded, main stream graphics card capable of delivering 

greatperformance for its price. The New NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 now comes with 384 CUDA Cores, is built on the award winning NVIDIA Kepler Architecture, the same architecture found on the more expensive GeForce GTX 700 series.

The Kepler-based GK208 GPU is baked into the new NVIDIA GeForce GT series cards which mean the NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 now features 384 CUDA cores, up from the previous model and its 96 cores. The new NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 also features a clock speed of 902 MHz. It also supports UltraHD 4K resolutions. Build on the 28nm Kepler GPU architecture, it is up to 40% more power efficient than the previous model, while boosting performance and runs up to 38% faster.

The New NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 takes the gaming to a new level thanks to the cutting edge Microsoft DirectX and NVIDIA PhysX® technology. These two features responsible for realistic effect with tessellation and help create more detailed characters and terrain in games, providing a crisper, lifelike images. With the Adaptive V-Sync and Kepler GPU architecture coupled with the FXAA Anti-Aliasing polishes the rough edges and produces beautiful smooth lines with minimal impact on the performance and allows the players to experience enjoyment without hindrances.

For more info: Pinoytechblog

List of standard Twitter Hashtags for Typhoon Yolanda updates and efforts

Filipino netizens agreed on standard Twitter hashtags to coordinate news, updates, rescue and relief efforts relating to Typhoon Yolanda. This will be of help for people using or heavily relying on social media for information as hashtags now cut across different online social networks.

For a quick reference of the standard hashtags, please refer below:

#ReliefPH – Rescue Coordination

#RescuePH – Urgent Rescue Needed

#SafeNow – Resolved #RescuePH

#FloodPH – Damage Reporting

#TracingPH – Report Missing People

#YolandaPH – Media storm coverage

The hashtags, if used properly, can help facilitate exchange of information relevant and significant to those who seek information about this tragedy. As a courtesy, do refrain from using the hashtags out of their supposed functions so messages and updates are effectively tracked.

Source: Pinoytechblog

Palit GeForce GTX 660Ti Review

After a month of grueling benchmarking and putting the Palit GeForce GTX 660Ti under the stressful environment of the latest games, here’s what PTB has to say about NVIDIA’s latest weapon of choice for gamers.

After launching the flagship graphics card, GTX 680, five months ago, NVIDIA released the latest Kepler-based GPU dubbed the GeForce GTX660 Ti. It is based on the GK104 architecture which is used in the GTX 690/680/670 lines and the GTX 660Ti even packs the same number of CUDA cores as the 670 for maximum eye candy for your… err eyes.

Our review won’t consist of synthetic benchmarks as it really won’t be that much significant for me. I don’t buy GPUs just to see how high it can go on 3DMark or whatever synthetic benchmarking tool you use. I buy GPUs so I can play the latest games on the highest setting without turning my PC into a kinetoscope.

Source: pinoytechblog

AKG K830 BT Wireless Headset Review

When it comes to premiere high-end headphones, Harman’s AKG is a brand you can usually rely on. We recently reviewed the AKG K451 which is a very decent headphones for those wanting an in-line mic, and now we have the AKG K830 BT, another headphone you can use with your music phone.

 

The AKG K830 BT is a wireless headset that uses Bluetooth. If you’re familiar with Bluetooth powered-devices, you would probably know the limitation it poses for high-quality music. Let’s see if the AKG K830 BT would make a decent quality headset worthy of its Php12,990 price tag.

 

 

 

For more info click Here: pinoytechblog

Accutone Pisces Band Stereo Headphone Review

Accutone is known for making quality headsets for the corporate industry for decades. They’ve produced some of the world’s best headset and monitors that’s been used by call centers, corporations, professional musicians and now, they’re bringing their expertise to the consumer market.

What we have here for review is the Accutone Pisces Band which is their top-of-the-line high-definition stereo headphone with an in-line microphone and digital control. It comes in 3 different flavors: White, Orange and Black. Looks really awesome but how does it fare? Read on for our review.

Packaging

The box is a clear plastic so you can clearly see what the Pisces Band looks like. You can see from the box that it’s compatible with all Apple products from the iPod to the iPhone up to the latest iPad. There’s nothing much to see in the box, not even the specs which I was hoping to see as any audiophile would want to know what they’re buying.

Underneath the shiny silvery base of the headset, you’ll see a stylish-looking white carrying case and the user manual.

Construction

The Pisces Band feels solid and tough. The entire headset is made of genuine aluminum metal so it won’t break easily. The leatherette used in the headphones is quite comfortable and doesn’t heat up as much as other foams from headphones I’ve used. And if ever they need to be replaced, they can easily be removed (see user manual). The ear cups are quite small which can be uncomfortable for long periods of time for people with big ears.

There’s a bit of clamping force which is good and bad in different ways. Good in a sense that it’ll keep the headset from falling and keeping your tunes to yourself and bad in a sense that it might give you headaches after long usage.

The folding mechanism feels has that assuring lock and doesn’t feel like it’ll snap for a long time. This folding design is suitable for people on the go for its added portability.

The cable is flat and a tad bit short but it’s not a problem when it’s connected to a gadget on your pocket. Flat cables also don’t tangle as much as rounded cables.

This headphone comes with an in-line mic and volume controls so it can be a nice companion to your iPhone. Using the volume controls is not as responsive as I hope it would be. The construction is rather flimsy as compared to the build of the headphone itself and the buttons are not that easy to click. But if you can learn to control it deftly, you can also use it to skip to the next or previous track as well as pause/play. However, it only works on iOS devices, not on Android or other phones.

Performance

As with all headphones, when you buy them new, you need to burn them in first. This is to loosen the drivers and will definitely open up the sound a lot more. I did the standard sine sweep for 24 hours.

When I first got the headphones, the sounds were muffled and I couldn’t justify the price on this one. But after a week, I got to hear the dynamics of these cans. The lows really cut through the sound and doesn’t muffle the mids and highs.

The bass really feels natural and doesn’t target the bassheads market. It’s just the right amount of bass. I played some bass heavy RnB music which I don’t listen to much, but listening to them in these ‘phones is certainly a delight. I played Kenny G’s Romantic Collection and I can feel the high notes of his sax through my spine. There’s also very good instrument separation, as you can identify where the sound is coming from, giving the midtones their very own distinct sound space. The Pisces Band’s drivers have a nice balance from the low-end up to the high-end tones. (Disclaimer: Sound perception is very subjective and my experience with the same headphones might be different from yours)

The sound stage is actually good despite being a closed-back ‘phone. It doesn’t leak as much so you can use it on the library without disturbing anyone. But these headphones are loud, it’ll leak if you max out the volume. From experience, 70% is already loud enough for me.

Conversations with the mic on an iPhone are clear according to my friends on the other line. Something I’m not really surprised about since Accutone is known for delivering high-quality headsets for call centers and they applied the same quality over to their music headsets.

Conclusion

These are a great set of ‘phones for people who’s always on the go. The compact folding design and the stylish carrying case can easily fit in your luggage or you won’t mind carrying it around like a clutch bag. It outputs great audio, has great looks and great durability, the perfect combination for mobile headphones. And the call reception quality you’re getting from the in-line mic is just a bonus.

The Accutone Pisces Band retails for Php8,450 which can be a bit steep for some but actually, it’s worth every peso you’re paying for. You can buy the Accutone Pisces Band from The Online Gadgeteer and comes with free delivery and one-year warranty.

Samsung ES8000 Smart LED TV Review, Smart TVs get smarter

A couple of weeks ago I was placed under house arrest at Maxim’s Hotel Resorts World to check out and play with Samsung’s latest Smart TV for 2012, the humongous 55-inch Samsung ES8000 LED TV.

The Samsung ES8000 LED TV continues with the success of their last year’s Smart TV model. It still has Smart Hub and the apps that go with it, 3D viewing, WiFi support, and now they also added voice control and hand gesture control to the mix, as well as a convenient upgrade path without having to buy a new TV.

The new Samsung Smart TV retains the almost borderless look of last year’s model with a narrow chrome frame surrounding it. It’s still slim as before but Samsung replaced the X-stand with one that looks like a helicopter’s feet. It’s very sturdy and spreads the weight of the big screen in two areas for a stable set up for years to come.

Motion Gesture

Motion control is detected by the built-in camera situated on top of the TV which you also use to video chat via Skype. Unlike other TV’s with gestures, you don’t need a remote or a wand to control this TV. Move your arms to control the mouse pointer and close your fist to click. It was fun at first but it can be tiring to keep your arms up to navigate the TV.

The camera is also used for facial recognition. You can create a profile with your face on it and attach it to your Smart Hub account and social network accounts such as Facebook and Twitter so you don’t have to input your username and password every time. An ingenious idea considering there’s typically more than one member in the household that will be using the TV.

Voice Control

The Samsung ES8000 also comes with two remote controls, a regular one and special one that has the basic controls and also doubles as a mic and touchpad, giving you another way to navigate and control the TV.

Although you can control the TV by voicing out your command in the room (keyword is “Hi TV”), I find it much more responsive to use the special remote especially when there’s ambient noise. I find this method better than motion control when changing channels, just say the channel number. If it’s too loud in the room, there’s still the basic TV buttons to rely on and since it communicates via WiFi, you don’t have to be in the line of sight of the TV to use it.

If you rely heavily on keyboard, there’s a Samsung Remote app for iOS and Android smartphone users. Aside from using your phone’s touchscreen to tap away on the onscreen keyboard, you can also use the app to change channels and other basic functions.

But what do you do if you have a separate remote for your cable channels? Samsung got you covered with this channel booster which is a wireless receiver connected to your cable box. With this device, you can still use Samsung’s remote even for cable TV.

3D Viewing

The Samsung ES8000 is also capable of 1080p Full HD 3D viewing. They redesigned the Active 3D glasses to be lighter and more pleasing to the eye. It’s still powered though and communicates via Bluetooth so there’s the likelihood it will stop functioning and interrupt your 3D viewing experience. I personally like the old design more with the sides covered to prevent non-3D images from seeping in on your peripheral.

Picture Quality

Nothing has changed with the picture quality compared to last year’s model. When your basic LED TV has 60Hz or 100Hz refresh rate, the Samsung ES8000 has a whopping 800MHz clear motion rate for smooth and fluid video quality. Even when watching non-HD videos, the TV projects that HD viewing feel having deep contrast and smooth quality.

Smart Hub

Smart Hub is the main center to do “smart” things with your TV. Here you can visit websites, your social network accounts, watch online videos, and interact with a number of apps and games pre-installed with the TV. You can also download apps for free from Samsung through Smart Hub.

In terms of apps powered by Smart Hub, probably the most interesting addition is the Fitness app. Using motion gesture, you can stay fit by following the app, similar to how fitness games work with the Microsoft Kinect. There are also games for kids that use motion gestures to play.

Evolution Kit

One of the problems consumers encounter when buying high-end TVs is that every year a new and better model always turn up. The Samsung ES8000 has what they call an Evolution Kit which allows you to upgrade your TV’s specs and firmware without you having to replace the whole thing. Just buy the kit and plug it at the back of the TV to give it the latest software and hardware when available.

Verdict

The Samsung ES8000 inherited the superb performance from its predecessor and added new features that make a true Smart TV of the future. Voice and motion control may not work as fluidly being the first iteration but given time, Samsung will further improve these functions and the Evolution Kit will make sure that your TV won’t get outdated.

The Samsung ES8000 LED TV will be available in 46″, 55″ and 60″ and this 55-inch model we reviewed is priced at Php279,000. Basic package comes with 4 3D-glasses, the two remote control units, and the channel booster.