It was confirmed through a Microsoft (Press) representative via Whiz Byte that a 2nd Gen Zune is indeed underway. Details about its specifications and release date were not discussed, but he did lay out the three paths that the Zune may tread in the years to come: expansion of the device family (more models to choose from), feature improvement (including parity with iPod, building support for video, podcasting, etc.; and Zune-specific functions such as wireless capabilities), and foreign markets (release of the Zune in other parts of the globe). He was quick to add that Microsoft will expand internationally over time but only when they can ensure an offering is tailored to that particular market. Well, the folks at Microsoft better make up their minds soon as to when and whether they will release the Zune in this part of the world because they're already competing with a proven seller in the iPod, what more when the iPhone hits our shores next year.
July 2007 Archives
It was confirmed through a Microsoft (Press) representative via Whiz Byte that a 2nd Gen Zune is indeed underway. Details about its specifications and release date were not discussed, but he did lay out the three paths that the Zune may tread in the years to come: expansion of the device family (more models to choose from), feature improvement (including parity with iPod, building support for video, podcasting, etc.; and Zune-specific functions such as wireless capabilities), and foreign markets (release of the Zune in other parts of the globe). He was quick to add that Microsoft will expand internationally over time but only when they can ensure an offering is tailored to that particular market. Well, the folks at Microsoft better make up their minds soon as to when and whether they will release the Zune in this part of the world because they're already competing with a proven seller in the iPod, what more when the iPhone hits our shores next year.
Smart Communications has finally launched the first commercially available Mobile TV service in the country. Dubbed MyTV, this service was officially launched at the NBC Tent at the Fort, Taguig City last week. We first caught a glimpse of this service back in April and now it's available to the public. How is Mobile TV different from all the available video services now? They’re worlds apart. Except for the fact that they’re both video, they’re totally different from one another in the sense that one makes use of 3G to stream the broadcast while the other uses DVB-H to broadcast the video. End result? 3G streamed media is low in quality and allots a lot of buffering so it isn’t exactly smooth. DVB-H broadcasts, on the other hand, are crisp and clear and almost no buffering is done since it’s a live feed. Think of it as watching a movie through the Internet (3G streamed) and on TV (DVB-H). That’s how different they are. If you already have a DVB-H enabled phone such as the Nokia N92 or Samsung P930, you can check out the service for free until August 31, 2007.
For more on Mobile TV, grab a copy of the July-August issue of Mobile Philippines now!
It was bound to happen anytime, the only question was when. Well, I guess now would be the answer to that question as Apple Hound has released a list of bugs they’ve found in the iPhone. It’s a very comprehensive report which includes where and how to detect and/or activate the bug, and the solutions or work around to address the bug if possible. Other users also share their experience while using the iPhone via the user comments on the page. After going through the entire list, aren’t you thankful that you were one of those who spent their hard-earned cash on a gadget loaded with bugs?
No. 1 rule in buying new gadgets/software: don’t get the first batch lest you are a willing beta tester. Manufacturers discover the bugs via the first batch, and then release a fix for the reported flaws. The succeeding batch, more often than not, is more a keeper than the first ones. This is a golden rule already proven through time. Just take a look at MS Windows and you’ll know what I mean.
Memory cards have become an integral part of mobile life, from digital photo storage for cameras to PDA expansion cards. As the latest SD cards have grown in capacity in the past months, what makes one SD card better than others? Thanks to Curtis Walker, a contributor to Gizmodo, he puts the latest SD High Capacity (SDHC) cards to the test to figure out which one is head and shoulders above the rest. With capacities exceeding 2 GB, SDHC cards can now compete head on with the larger Compact Flash in terms of storage space. However, not all devices are capable of using SDHC cards, cards readers notwithstanding. Thus, most, but not all, SDHC cards come packaged with their own readers to address this problem. They are still relatively pricey since it is still fresh, but give a couple of months or so, for other manufacturers and prices to become more competitive. Here’s to a bigger and brighter future for ultra-compact and portable storage.
The rainy season is upon us again and we should prepare ourselves for many wet days to come. Thanks to modern technology and innovation, bags within water resistant lining abound for our laptop, PDAs and other gadgets. But what about our cash, ATM and credit cards, and other SIM cards which we usually carry around in our pockets? Unless you’ve got waterproof pants, they’re not exactly safe from the rain. Good thing that the world has Australians Henri Spalle and Mark Armstrong.
Together, they’ve designed Dosh, a waterproof yet very stylish wallet made out of flexible and semi-flexible polymers that result in a synergy of style and function. It can accommodate bills (of any currency which is why it is relatively large), ATM and credit cards, and has special compartments for SIM and security keycards. So far, it’s only available in Australia and some online stores (most of which, quite frankly, do not accept orders from our part of the world). But hey, if you know any one coming from Down Under, might as well ask for this one as a pasalubong, mate.
Together, they’ve designed Dosh, a waterproof yet very stylish wallet made out of flexible and semi-flexible polymers that result in a synergy of style and function. It can accommodate bills (of any currency which is why it is relatively large), ATM and credit cards, and has special compartments for SIM and security keycards. So far, it’s only available in Australia and some online stores (most of which, quite frankly, do not accept orders from our part of the world). But hey, if you know any one coming from Down Under, might as well ask for this one as a pasalubong, mate.
The Nokia N92 is being released to the local market via Smart Telecommunications. The half page advertisement announced its availability through the various post-paid plans of Smart. The N92 
is the first Mobile TV capable phone via DVB-H technology from Nokia, which actually made its first public appearance during the World Cup in 2006 in Germany. It's not actually new, but it’s the first time to be commercially available in our country. Aside from Mobile TV, it is also a well
-equipped phone with 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth for connectivity on the go and 2-megapixel primary camera, and a secondary one for video calls. It may not be as good looking as the latest Nseries 
phones, and a bit heavy on the pocket (weight-wise that is), but this baby is so feature-packed that the only Nseries phone that outmatches it in terms of capabilities is the N95. With the release of the N92 locally, will Mobile TV finally make its commercial launch in the coming months?
Mobile's July-August issue is out now with the sexy Aubrey Miles on the cover. Mobile is also giving away two Creative Zen Stone music players. Just fill out our readers' survey form, and fax it to us at 759-2023 for the chance to win one.
Enjoy Mobile's take on Mobile TV, plus Primers on USB charging, iPodding your car, blogging, and tips on waterproofing your bags. See our special eight-page accessory rundown for your gadget survival needs.
Whiz kid Shaira Luna shares her love for photography, for good ol' Tsong and for cheese. EIC Adel also gets his hands on the real Apple iPhone. Aside from our exclusive review of the Jesus phone, we also have hands-on reviews on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1, BlackBerry 8800, Olympus mju 760, MSI S262 YA laptop and a lot more!
Grab Mobile from newsstands for only 100 pesos! Visit www.m-ph.com for your daily tech dose.
Enjoy Mobile's take on Mobile TV, plus Primers on USB charging, iPodding your car, blogging, and tips on waterproofing your bags. See our special eight-page accessory rundown for your gadget survival needs.
Whiz kid Shaira Luna shares her love for photography, for good ol' Tsong and for cheese. EIC Adel also gets his hands on the real Apple iPhone. Aside from our exclusive review of the Jesus phone, we also have hands-on reviews on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1, BlackBerry 8800, Olympus mju 760, MSI S262 YA laptop and a lot more!
Grab Mobile from newsstands for only 100 pesos! Visit www.m-ph.com for your daily tech dose.
Wearing an iPod during a lightning storm is hazardous to your health. Well, not exactly limited to the iPod, but any electronic device might put you in danger, especially during a lightning storm due to the gadget’s ability to conduct electricity. This was the case in 2005 when a man jogging and a nearby tree were struck by lightning. The electric current of the lightning was conducted by the iPod he was using and traveled the path of the earphones ending in his ear. Two years have passed and half of his hearing is gone and despite the use of hearing aides, he is still unable to hear high-frequency sounds. What’s the moral of the story? Well, technology and gadgets, such as the iPod, are there to make life better, but caution should always be exercised so as not to put our lives in danger just to tote our beloved gadgets around with us.
Sony has announced the second coming of the PSP in the recently concluded E3 2007. Virtually the same in appearance as the original PSP, this one, however, is slimmer and lighter. Feature wise, the only new offering they decided to include in this gaming console is the video out capability so you can opt to play on the big screen (and show off to your friends how well you play Ridge Racer on your PSP). Sony has also improved game loading times and battery life. Initially, the slimmer PSPs are available in the original black color, ice silver (actually just looks like silver to me) and a Star Wars Battlefront special edition, but I wouldn’t be surprised if later on they release other colorful versions, similar to the ones currently available at the moment. So, for all you gamers who have been waiting for the 2nd generation PSP, well, this one isn’t exactly ground breaking, but for first time buyers, it’s good enough. If you already own a PSP, I suggest you wait until Sony decides to release a real follow up to the successful gaming console.
Images courtesy of Kotaku
It is not new information to most that the most inexpensive way to make international calls is through the Internet through VoIP applications such as Skype. But if you’re constantly on the go, the only way to access VoIP is through your laptop and a WiFi connection. Well, those days will soon be gone as VoIP software made specifically for your mobile phone is already out. Fring is an application that lets you access your existing VoIP accounts such as Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk and Twitter and use them over WiFi, 3G and EDGE networks. It’s still a beta version so don’t be surprised to find some bugs in the application. However, in its early stage, Fring already appears to be a promising piece of software offering an alternative to those expensive international calls by the minute by providing the convenience of a desktop application through the mobile phone.
Lenovo’s Thinkpad T61p isn’t your average laptop. It sports a 15.1-inch display, Intel Santa Rosa chipset, and Nvidia Quatro FX 570M graphics. What sets it apart from the rest of the flock, however, is the built-in roll cage and next generation ultra-wideband, UWB, technology which allows for 100Mbps wireless data transfer rate as opposed to the 3 Mbps of Bluetooth. So far, the Lenovo Formula One racing team has been using the T61p to demonstrate its power, and now it will be made available to the public as well.
The built-in roll cage takes laptop safety to a whole new level making sure that whatever damage happens on the outside, the inside is still safe and sound. Despite being new technology, UWB is already touted as one of the future technologies that will one day be as common as WiFi and Bluetooth. It's price is pegged at a whopping $1,814. The price one has to pay for technology.
Asustek, more commonly referred to as Asus, announced that it will undergo a split up in January 2008. The first phase will see the division of the manufacturing operations from business division. The manufacturing division will undergo further restructuring, splitting it up into two entities: Pegatron and Unihan.
Pegatron will oversee production of PC-related products while Unihan will be in-charge of non-PC related items. Once operations in these two companies stabilize, Asus will begin to lower their stake in these companies since both are located in China, and according to Chinese legislature, only a maximum of 40 percent of Asus’ net is allowed to be put into operations. So don’t be surprised if by next year new brand names such as Pegatron and Unihan start surfacing in the mobile phone and laptop industry as the name Asus will no longer be used for their production line. Hopefully, despite the name change and restructuring in the company, we can still expect the same quality we’ve come to expect from Asus products.
Pegatron will oversee production of PC-related products while Unihan will be in-charge of non-PC related items. Once operations in these two companies stabilize, Asus will begin to lower their stake in these companies since both are located in China, and according to Chinese legislature, only a maximum of 40 percent of Asus’ net is allowed to be put into operations. So don’t be surprised if by next year new brand names such as Pegatron and Unihan start surfacing in the mobile phone and laptop industry as the name Asus will no longer be used for their production line. Hopefully, despite the name change and restructuring in the company, we can still expect the same quality we’ve come to expect from Asus products.
Microsoft seems to be cursed with the word death as the Xbox 360 is currently falling victim to the red rings of death or three rings of death, just take your pick. Most popular death experience can be found in Microsoft Windows in the form of the blue screen of death, which fortunately (or unfortunately) is not literally your operating system dying and being unusable anymore.
The Xbox 360’s red rings of death, however, signify the end of your Xbox’s life cycle due to overheating. The failure rate of the Xbox is at a high of 30 percent, which has prompted Microsoft to issue an unprecedented policy of extending the warranty of the game console to three years for all. If repairs have been done, they will reimburse the amount. This is a global move, but according to Microsoft, it will take time to be implemented if you are residing outside the US. This is good damage control by Microsoft. If only they took extra time and effort to guarantee that their products wouldn’t flake out, then they wouldn’t need damage control now, would they?
Thanks to Unwired, we're getting a sneak-peek into what might be an entry level iPhone for those who don’t necessarily need the power-packed features of the current model. It also shows Apple reverting back to its original innovation, the click wheel, as the primary input device instead of a touch screen. After all, many would equate the click wheel to Apple while the touch screen is, well, not exactly an Apple innovation.
On a similar note, this plan of using 
the click wheel as a substitute for dialing numbers kind of reminds me of a similar device, the Serene Mobile phone by Bang & Olufsen in partnership with Samsung. If you think Apple gadgets are overpriced, well, Bang & Olufsen makes Apple seem cheap as compared to their products. They are at the forefront of cutting edge design and opulence in modern technology. Now, I’m not sure if there are any copyright violations here, but if there are, Apple might find themselves in hot water again.
Nokia. Samsung. Motorola. These are staple names in the cell phone industry, but what about CECT? Personally, my first thought was that it’s one of those cheap imitations of branded electronic products. After some digging, however, I was surprised to find that it is a legitimate company in China that is into the R&D of cell phones and PDAs. So its legit after all and the imitation issue, well, let’s just say that some of their models do look a lot like some of the models of the known brands.
Upon reading the product details of their line, I was surprised to discover at how much technology they crammed into their devices and still manage to make it affordable. But then again, they don’t spend a fortune on marketing schemes and advertisements. The question now is, since these Chinese gadgets are slowly gaining a market in our country, will you be one of the converts and go for these more affordable phones from the Chinese upstart? After all, most of the more popular mobile phone brands also have their handsets made in China.
Not exactly the porn you’re accustomed to, but seeing the innards of a gadget is porn to the highest level for geeks to enjoy. Clearly it didn’t take long for the guys at Think Secret to get an iPhone and dissect it to its very core, revealing its innermost secrets. To the common man, it might just be a bunch of electronic components, but to the true geek at heart, it is like peering into the soul of a man (err…gadget).
For the less technically-inclined, iPhone reviews are proliferating on the internet, but what about the Pinoy's take on this latest device by Apple? Well, fret not because Mac user group Philmug has some Filipinos who are among the first iPhone owners (I’m so green with envy) sharing their personal takes on this uber-hot device.
Philmug chairman Elbert Cuenca even hosted a mini-meet to share his take (and new gadget) as he brought home one with him. Check it out and be green with envy, too, as we are reminded of the fact that we still have to wait until next year for it to hit our shores.
For the less technically-inclined, iPhone reviews are proliferating on the internet, but what about the Pinoy's take on this latest device by Apple? Well, fret not because Mac user group Philmug has some Filipinos who are among the first iPhone owners (I’m so green with envy) sharing their personal takes on this uber-hot device.
Philmug chairman Elbert Cuenca even hosted a mini-meet to share his take (and new gadget) as he brought home one with him. Check it out and be green with envy, too, as we are reminded of the fact that we still have to wait until next year for it to hit our shores.
The 8000 line of Nokia, through the years, has been equated to class and sophistication with its shiny, metallic finishes and the utmost detail in design. The last 8000 series phone that came out was the 8800 Sirocco Edition which, partly due to the release of the new N and E series of phones, has been clearly forgotten for the most part. Well, Nokia tries to refresh our memory of what the 8000 series is all about with the release of the black 8600 Luna mobile phone.
It features a unique slide cover that is made of translucent, dark glass which allows the keypad to be visible when the backlight is on. The majority of the phone is made stainless steel with the rear having a matte finish while the front has a mirror-like shine to it. Its feature set is not at par with any of the N series phones, but can match any regular Nokia phone with its 2-megapixel camera, 128 MB built-in memory, and various connectivity options. With the Luna phone from Nokia, elegance and beauty are packaged in one stylish black mobile phone.
Flash drives, in the past few months, have seen a steady decline in price despite the upsurge in capacity. Its various applications range from portable data storage to mp3 players. Now, the next evolution of data storage is upon us in the form of the Solid-State Drive, SSD, which is 
basically a flash-based hard disk minus the revolving disk. The largest capacity to date is made by PQI at 2.5-inch sized 256 GB drive. So far, Sony, Samsung and Fujitsu are some of the manufacturers who have incorporated the 1.8-inch SSDs into their laptops which have benefited from more compact size and increased data transfers speeds. With less mechanical parts, these SSDs promise faster access to stored data and less wear and tear. Unfortunately, the durability issue is still a question that still needs to be answered before totally scraping the hard disks of today. With the development of SSDs and new technology, however, there’s no doubt that the HDDs of today may well be soon overrun by the SSDs of tomorrow.
Car theft and bus robberies are not shocking to hear from the daily news, but the trauma and threat to life and property it brings to an individual who is actually involved in the incident is dreadful. While watching the news the other night, I chanced upon an invention by one of the members of the Filipino Inventors Society to address such incidents using SMS to alert the authorities of an ongoing crime. The driver of either the bus or the car presses a button installed on the vehicle which, in turn, sends an SMS to the police informing them of the location and vehicle used in order to help them get to the scene of the crime more promptly. This is one great example of Filipino ingenuity and technology working hand-in-hand to produce a gadget that can benefit the greater majority and help address the current problems in society. Now, if only text messages can be relied on 100 percent of the time to NOT be delayed and authorities be as reliable as the sun rising in the east in the morning.
‘Tis the season for upgrades: Canon 350D to 400D, Treo 680 to 750, Windows XP to Vista, and now OS X Tiger to Leopard. Well, not exactly right now because it won’t be out until October in the US, but the news alone is worthy of creating a subtle buzz in the geek community. Based on Jobs' keynote in the recently concluded World Wide Developer’s Conference, aside from eyecandy enhancements on the desktop, the Leopard OS will feature useful programs and tools such as Time Machine, Spaces, and a built-in Boot Camp for dual operating systems.
Compared to the jump from XP to Vista, the changes in the Mac OS X might be minimal and less obvious, but considering the performance and the features of Windows XP and Tiger, I’d say that Mac just needs to fine-tune its OS while Microsoft has to really overhaul theirs and make it work this time around. So if you’re in the market for a new Mac system, you might want to wait a few months until the new models come out with Leopard built in already (or get the Tiger-operated Macs at a reduced price by then and just buy the upgrade software).
For those who just can’t wait to get their hands on Apple’s iPhone, here’s a video tour of the device to further whet your appetite. Not satisfied? Well, the first couple of reviews courtesy of Pogue, Mossberg and USA Today are out and it’s nice to know that the iPhone isn't perfect after all (a subtle way of justifying the fact that I won’t be able to get it for two reasons: it won’t be available in Asia till next year, and it’s way out of my budget). However, despite its shortcomings, which might have been brought about by all the hype from the date it was unveiled to the public, the first reviews do give credit where it’s due and the iPhone, so far, has impressed those fortunate enough to behold it. Of course, by the time it does get to our country, the folks at Apple most probably would have fixed the flaws, and hopefully, we will get a better iPhone as opposed to the first batch of buyers.
Yup, Apple’s Safari is now available for Windows. 
This was one of the announcements made by Jobs’ recent keynote. Unfortunately, within hours of making it available to the public, a security advisory was released stating that the Windows version of Safari was not safe and it had vulnerability issues.
According to CNet News.com, there were a total of six bugs found, four producing a denial of service which results in a crash and two capable of executing remote code.
These issues, however, are only limited to the Windows version and there's no evidence that it affects the Mac OS.
This was one of the announcements made by Jobs’ recent keynote. Unfortunately, within hours of making it available to the public, a security advisory was released stating that the Windows version of Safari was not safe and it had vulnerability issues.
According to CNet News.com, there were a total of six bugs found, four producing a denial of service which results in a crash and two capable of executing remote code.
These issues, however, are only limited to the Windows version and there's no evidence that it affects the Mac OS.
Samsung publicized the P930 through a local newspaper ad, though I have yet to find a feature on Samsung's local website. The Samsung P930 is one of the few DVB-H/Mobile TV handsets available in the world, with Nokia yet to release one locally. It boasts of a unique slide and swivel feature for the display and an external antenna that picks up broadcast signals (and stares from people clueless to what you are holding).
What's unique about this phone is its Mobile TV feature. But unless the local telco firms roll out this service, you won’t be able to watch TV on your phone anytime soon. Looking at the good side, I find that the slide and swivel function of the P930 is a head-turner in itself (but serves little purpose if you’re not watching TV on it). But hey, you might get lucky and catch some free DVB-H signals while it’s still on test broadcast.
For more info on Mobile TV, grab Mobile Philippines' July-August issue now!
The silent war between mainstream media and new media is gaining attention. Even Editor-in-Chief Adel Gabot has expressed his opinion with regards to bloggers in the latest issue of Mobile Philippines. CNN has also taken notice. Harsh accusations abound about bloggers acting like digital thieves preying on other people’s work. This, plus the fact that not all bloggers apparently can be trusted with providing legitimate and accurate information.
Mainstream media and new media have their pros and cons, and neither of the two have the upper hand. While mainstream media offers safeguards like editors who review the work for validity before publishing it and legislature that hold accountable people or companies responsible for what they report to the public, it lacks the promptness of making information available at the earliest time possible. On the other hand, since no checks and balances happen for bloggers, there is no way to verify the truth behind what blogs are reporting. For me, it's simple: both old and new media should embrace the existence of one another, and learn how to improve their services by getting the best from each other. Can’t we all just get along with each other?
