July 2008 Archives

Crackberry just beat the rest of the pack by releasing their exclusive hands-on review on the yet to be released Blackberry Kickstart 8220. Making its mark as the first flip phone from the company, the Kickstart seems to live up to the reputation of being a Blackberry device despite the change in form factor. It’s got Wi-Fi, a 2-megapixel camera, 3.5mm headset jack, microSD card slot, a 240x320 internal LCD, a 160x128 external display, and runs on OS 4.6. Unlike the other new release from Blackberry, this one doesn’t come with 3G.   However, as a result of the change in design, it does provide users with a relatively bigger keyboard, and even though it does look a bit on the hefty side, when compared side-by-side with other current clamshells in the market, it pretty much holds its own in the aesthetics department. A rumored September release date for T-Mobile is circulating around the net with a too-good-to-be-true sub $50 tag price.

  According to MobileWhack, the 3G iPhone is set to be released in 42 more countries and that includes us, the Philippines. August 22 is the D-Day for all you iPhone-atics out who have been on the edge of their seat waiting for the local release. Though I’m quite happy about this bit of info, I’m still a bit skeptical with this one since original only 22 countries where slated for the release. It was only during a quarterly conference that the additional 20 more countries where announced though no specifics were given according to Macworld. You also need to take into consideration the local buzz that's leaning towards a September release date, not August. There's also Apple’s inability to cope with the demand that has left many would-be buyers frustrated over the fact that they’re unable to purchase one even in the motherland of the iPhone, the USA of all places. What more in other countries? Anyway, it’s still a shade under a month away and I guess that’s enough time for more news to leak out regarding its inevitable local debut. Keep your fingers crossed and stayed tuned guys. The countdown is about to begin.

Last week, the Walkman phone celebrated its 3rd birthday and as a special treat, Sony Ericsson also launched three more new models to add to its beefy line-up. The W902 is a 3.5G phone that comes with a 5-megapixel camera that’s coupled with a variety of image and video recording functionality, FM radio, Bluetooth, Shake Control, 8GB Memory Stick Micro, and exceptional music playback. The W595, on the other hand, is a slider that packs in a 3.2-megpaxiel camera, radio, Bluetooth, 3.5G connectivity and features Shake Control as well. Last, but not the least, the W302 is the slim one of the bunch. It features a 2-megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, and comes with a 512MB Memory Stick Micro. It’s not 3G capable, but it’s not as expensive as the others either. All phones are scheduled to be released in the last quarter of 2008.

WinPwn for Firmware 2.0 has finally been released last week, and while this latest development is a victory of sorts, I wouldn’t pop the champagne bottle just yet. Sure, it allows you to jailbreak your 3G iPhone and 2.0-running iPod Touch, but the 3rd party apps that we've come to enjoy are still not available on this new platform. Even if the latest Installer.app is released (which I'm guessing is just around the corner), we still have to wait for the rest of the developers to port their software to work with 2.0. As a consolation, there are a number of useful and entertaining apps available for free at Apple's App Store which is probably enough to make those early 2.0 adaptors happy for the time being. So for those who want to PWN their 2.0, here’s a quick tutorial courtesy of iClarified:

1. Upgrade to iTunes 7.7 and download the following files: WinPWN 2.0.0.2 , Firmware 2.0 (I think this is for the iPhone, I couldn't make it work on my iPod Touch. I used this instead for my Touch), 3.9BL and 4.6BL files (the last two files are needed for the iPhone).
2. Run WinPWN and open the 2.0 IPSW file.
3. Click IPSW builder and select the Applications you want to install.
4. Go to Advanced and load the 3.9BL and 4.6BL files you downloaded.
5. Click Build .ipsw at the bottom  when you're done (this will take a while).
6. Once it's finished, click the iPwner button in the Main Menu and select the customized IPSW you just created. If you’re successful, a messge informing you iTunes has been pawned will be displayed.
7. Connect your iPhone/iPod Touch to your PC and put it into DFU mode. 
8. Hold down SHIFT and click restore.
9. Select the IPSW file you just created and you’re done.

If you miss 1.1.4, you need iTunes 7.5 to downgrade. Once you’ve got the old version of iTunes installed again, just enter into DFU mode and select the 1.1.4 firmware to restore your unit.

Rumors about the forthcoming Nokia touch screen enabled device aka Nokia Tube hasn’t garnered much steam as of late, but Symbian Freak has got some leaked screen shots of what could be its touch UI to whet your appetite.   Well, as you can see, there’s isn’t much to go on here; and to be quite honest, compared to the iPhone and Blackberry, there’s still something lacking in the S60 interface in terms of wow factor. It still looks like any typical (read: boring) S60 UI with the exception of the 3 main buttons located at the top which Nokia fan boys are quite familiar with considering its extensive use in the present line of mobile phones. So just take this sneak peek with a grain of salt as nothing is definitely certain yet, and if you’re Nokia, here’s my little advice for you: it wouldn’t hurt to add a little pizzazz to the UI's graphics. God knows how many gadget freaks love those eye-candy icons and wallpaper.

We’ve seen a couple of iPod docks before but none like the iLuv i1255. While Apple and a couple of other manufacturers have had some measure of success with their speaker-dock systems, no one has ever ventured into the video player-dock genre. So, in the greater context of things, this new offering from iLuv is quite unique. It’s a DVD player that incorporates an iPod dock so that you charge and watch the movies/videos that you’ve stored on your Apple PMP on your TV without the need for hooking up any additional wires. It even comes with an OSD specifically designed for the iPod. It's compatible with the iPod line as well as the iPhone. This probably isn’t the slimmest DVD player out in the market, but it sure adds a twist with the inclusion of an iPod dock. I’ve seen a couple of iLuv products in local stores so I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes available here too. It retails for $ 149.99 in the US. Roughly converted to local currency, that’s P 6600.

It looks like Asus is trying to conquer yet another segment of the laptop-using market by releasing their new Montevina-based F8Va laptop.     It features an Intel 2.53GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB SATA HDD, a 14-inch WXGA display with maximum resolution of 1440x900, and runs on Windows Vista. Yeah, those look more or less pretty decent even by today’s standards, but what even makes it better is the inclusion of an ATI Radeon HD3650 video card. No word though on how much dedicated RAM it will carry, but we figure that it should at least come with a minimum of 256MB VRAM. Rounding up the rest of the treats is a Blu-ray DVD combo drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam and HDMI support. Unfortunately, it’s only going to be released in Korea at the end of the month with no word on international availability. Yeah, it’s really disappointing if you ask me considering how such a well-packaged laptop is limited to only a particular market. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that the rest of the world, including the Philippines, get’s a chance to have a crack at this little portable gaming machine.

Here’s a bit of sad news for the Philippine Apple community. Ynzal is losing their Apple Reseller status due to an unfortunate incident. The company has posted a public announcement on their website informing the general public that effetive July 29, 2008 they will no longer be recognized as an authorized Apple Reseller. They have already appealed their case and are hoping that Apple’s early decision will be reconsidered. What’s the big deal about Ynzal? To be quite honest with you, they’re one of the few Apple resellers that I’ve come to know that have quite an extensive line of services and promotions for the consumers. Aside from the all-year-round educational promo (regardless of school) and clearance sale, they also sell certified pre-owned items as well providing buyers with a variety of options for them purchase their Mac system. Getting a warranty claim is likewise a breeze (at least in my experience) which is more than what I can say with the other Apple stores in the Metro. So you see, it really is sad to hear them bid farewell. Nevertheless, we are still hoping for a positive turn of events in the coming days.

  Can’t wait to get your hands on an unlocked 3G iPhone? Don’t want to be tied down to a post-paid plan? If this ad we saw on Alibaba is true, you can order one for a starting price of $1,000.00. The ad was posted by Union Camera Limited, but the specs they listed made me think twice about its authenticity. Unless of course they just don’t know how to post a correct and informative ad, but will give them the benefit of the doubt. Besides, this also helps justify the high price that InfoMaxx has pegged on the latest version of the iPhone, which apparently, some customers don’t mind paying just as long as they can get there hands on one. According to the post in Philmug, they’re selling the 8GB version for P61,500 while the 16GB goes for P69,500. Roughly converted, that’s $1,366 and $1,544 respectively. So, if you don’t have the emotional quotient to wait for the local release and you’re filthy reach, then pick your poison, InfoMaxx or Alibaba?

  Sony has recently unleashed their new line of laptops; the Vaio FW, SR and Z series for consumers, and the BZ line for the business folk. Aside from featuring Intel’s brand new Centrino 2 processors, these new lappies from Sony have a striking uncanny resemblance to Apple’s popular notebook line.   The Vaio BZ, for example, from a distance looks quite similar to a Macbook Pro; and the rest of the pack, come equipped with a keyboard that more or less is the same with the Macbook Air. According to Gizmodo, Sony, of course, is quick to deny the mimicry and says that they introduced the design way before Apple used it in their anorexic laptop, but hey, do we really care who was first? However, aside from their controversial design choice, each Vaio is distinctly Sony by heart. The BZ set of business notebooks come with a 15.4-inch screen, up to 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 3 USB ports and FireWire; but what's unique about it is that its housed in a magnesium alloy body, its keybaord is spill-resistant and it features G-sensor HDD shock protection making it one tough cookie to crack based on normal usage. The FW line for its part features a 16.4-inch widescreen display that provides users with a 16:9 movie experience and also comes with PS3 and Vaio Home Theater PC streaming. The SR series, meanwhile, offers high-end features at the entry level market by incoporating a LED-backlit 13.3-inch widescreen display and G-sensor HDD shock protection system. The Z series is a special treat as it is the first 13.1-inch laptop to come with an XBRITE-DuraView scratch-resistant LCD that boasts of 100 % color saturation and an insane 1600x900 widescreen resolution. Pair it with the optional Blu-ray player, what you have here folks is one ultra-portable HD entertainment PC. Gizmodo, likewise, has a hands-on video on this small wonder. No word yet on when these will become available in our part of the world, but as Sony products go, expect to pay a substantial amount for these new mobile computers.

Remember the ultra-portable MSI Wind we reported earlier this year? Well, it’s now available at PC Corner  with other variants expected to arrive at the end of the month. There’s also a bundle of configurations to choose from so you can have your tasty Wind built to your own preference and budget.

The most affordable variant comes with a measly 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD and no OS is priced at P 23,999.00. The most expensive one tops of at P 31,999.00, and features 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD and Windows XP Home with SP3 as its OS. Standard features you can expect from each model include an Intel Atom processor, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, built-in webcam and a modest 10-inch widescreen display.  

It’s definitely not as cheap as the current Eee PC crop available now, but it does offer more flexibility and choices with regards to its components. As for performance, we’ll have to wait and see until we get our hands on a demo unit.

First, there was the Asus Lamborghini VX1 laptop, and then, what seemed to be inevitable, the ZX1 smart phone was unveiled. The only problem is, as opposed to the former, the latter hasn’t been commercially released and according to Engadget, if rumors were to be believed, it may have been shoved to the back of the processing line in favor of more important devices to be released on time. Well, if it is indeed true, tough luck for the Lamborghini brand as it looks like their debut into the mobile phone industry has hit a major speed bump along the way. What’s certain, though, is that the ultra-portable Lamborghini VX3 has made it to our doorstep and we're cooking up a juicy review for you guys in the upcoming issue of Mobile Philippines. Without revealing too much about it, all I can say is that this new Lamborghini laptop is definitely one sweet little package that’ll drive any fan of the Italian automaker to tears of joy. Watch out for it!

Apple’s been quite busy for the past couple of days. They’ve been working hard at the MobileMe transition, released  iTunes 7.7 and firmware 2.0 for the iPod Touch , and now they’ve added over 40 more countries to their list of where the iTunes Store is available including the Philippines. Yup, that’s right. The long awaited Philippines iTunes Store is now a reality (or close to it) as our beloved country is now officially part of the list where Apple’s premiere online store is available. However, I wouldn’t expect too much from it for now as most of the stuff available are just applications, no music or videos. They still need to add more content and localize the prices as well. Nevertheless, this latest development which is mainly a consequence of having the 3G iPhone released in our country is still a welcome treat. Do watch out for more improvements to come as the local release of the new iPhone draws nearer (whenever that maybe). By the way, if you already have an iTunes account using a US address, you need to either change your country in your profile or create a new account if you want to access the Philippine iTunes store. Another thing, those free apps that they’re offering for the iPhone/iPod Touch in iTunes, they’re really free to download, but you need to have iTune 7.7 installed and FW 2.0 running on your iPod Touch so you can transfer it. The thought is nice, but too many strings attached that I'd rather stick to Installer App for the time being.

Last week, Acer finally made their entry into ultra-portable market scene official by showcasing their new baby, the Aspire One. A quick rundown of specs show that it runs on an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and comes with 1GB RAM, 8GB SSD, Wi-Fi (b/g), 1.3-megapixel webcam, and multi-card reader. Even though the international release states that an 80GB version running on Windows XP is available, the Linux variant was the only one unveiled locally. RAM is expandable, but Acer will only allow you to replace one module as the other standard 512MB RAM is soldered on the unit. A bit odd if you ask me, but I figure not many will notice this little drawback as most who eventually buy these ultra affordable units don’t bother to modify them. Nevertheless, the option to be able to do so would have been nice so you can beef it up to 2GB RAM considering that this one looks like a more affordable version of the HP Mini Note that runs on an Intel Atom albeit the smaller 8GB SSD capacity. SRP is P18800.00. It’s priced just right with enough specs to compete head on with the Eee. However, with its more attractive dsign, Acer might just have what it takes to take the thunder away from Asus.

While it’s obvious that Nokia’s popularity in the Asian region goes without question, the company seems to find it a bit more difficult penetrating the US market. Nevertheless, this isn’t preventing the Finnish company from putting up a good fight; and with the help of Verizon Wireless and a caped crusader, they might just have a winner in there hands.   The Nokia 6205 Dark Knight limited edition phone is being released as part of the marketing hype of the movie franchise. The phone itself isn’t as flashy as the latest units available in the market today, but it does come loaded with a trailer and the movie logo at the back. Loyal Batman fans might be enticed to get one as a collector’s item though I highly doubt that it will amount to much in the long run since greater value goes to those old-school paperback comics of yesteryear. However, take nothing away from this flip phone. It does come with a 1.3-megpaixel camera, external music controls on the cover, and 58MB internal memory. The promotional packaging is quite a treat as well with loads of goodies fan boys will surely appreciate. Unfortunately for us in this part of the region, all these are only available in the US. I’ve been a comic collector for the greater part of my younger years and I wouldn’t mind getting myself one of those sweet Dark Knight memorabilia.

Both Nikon and Canon have a huge following in the local photography scene, but one brand which has been synonymous to quality cameras for the longest time is Hasselblad. They may not be that popular to the younger generation, but rest assured, those in the business will describe it as a trusted name in the realm of photography. This brings me to their latest model, the H3DII-50. This 50-megapixel monster features a 36.8x49.1mm Kodak sensor which easily trumps those found in commercially available DSLRs. Yup, that’s right, 50-megapixels. It allows you to capture images in all their full, elaborate detail and save them in 6132x8176 pixels. It also means that you’ll end up with an average of 65MB per RAW file that’s roughly equivalent to 30 images when using a 2GB CF card. A bit over-the-top for the average photographer, but nothing is too much for the passionate and discerning professional. Want to know more? Download the product brochure from their website. There’s no pricing available yet but you can expect this won’t come cheap.  The lower model H3DII-39 sells for $37K so this should give you an idea of how much it'll probably cost. It doesn’t look quite as stylish as the cameras of today, but Hasselblad system is more than the average run-of-the-mill SLR. As they say, quality doesn’t come cheap and so is a Hasselblad camera. October is the scheduled release date of this model.

It looks like Nokia’s at it again. They’re giving away 60 hours of free Airborne Access Wi-Fi usage time for every purchase of a new phone before August 31, 2008. However, do take not that this does not apply to all units. This is a limited offer only that’s applicable to the following Wi-fi capable handset models: E51, E61i, E65, E90, N78, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N95 and N95 8GB. Among these units, I recommend the E51 being the best value for your money with a price that’s roughly around P12,000.00 only. Nokia had already previously offered a similar promo last year with their N-series phones. It probably made a lot of consumers happy as they’ve decided to bring it back once again. Just remember to purchase your new Nokia phone from authorized dealers so that you can avail of this latest offering as well have peace of mind that you're getting the genuine article.

  It looks like the concept of a PSP-phone isn’t too far fetched after all based on the report by Marketing Week. However, the possibility that it might be under the Sony Ericsson brand is looking a bit grim as Sony is looking to launch such a device under its own brand as opposed to the former. So it looks like the hype of the SE F305 being the pioneering model of the PSP-phone line has now come to an abrupt end.   From a technical stand point, it makes sense to just incorporate phone functionality into the PSP since most of the gaming hardware and software isn’t readily available on Sony Ericsson phones. As a matter of fact, calling via VoIP thanks to Skype and Wi-Fi is already possible on the PSP slim so they’ll just have to do some more tweaking to integrate mobile phone functionality. From a design stand point, I’m a bit scared of what it might turn out as flashbacks of the first N-gage device from Nokia suddenly hit me. It probably succeeded as a gaming device, but failed miserably as a phone. Hopefully, Sony won't make the same mistake. Anyway, it’s still a mighty long time before Christmas 2009 which is the speculated availability date of the PSP gaming-mobile phone so don't get too excited just yet.

  The HTC Touch Diamond was unveiled last week and while many of its features are pretty impressive, the big turn-off is its pretty steep P 41,000.00 SRP. Dubbed as the potential iPhone-killer with its equally plush look and intuitive touch-screen interface, it managed to beat the iPhone in making its local debut in the market. So, how does it actually fair with the 3G iPhone? Well, with what we’ve gathered so far, the Diamond seems to be a better choice this early on in the race. Why so? Given that the price won’t tie you down to a monthly plan to a single network and it comes with a better 3.15-megapixel camera, it surely beats Apple’s mobile phone in these aspects. The UI looks quite interesting as well. You can check out Technograph's hands-on video of the Diamond to better understand what I'm talking about. However, the iPhone does come with more storage capacity at 8GB (as opposed to the Diamond’s 4GB) and an ever growing community of developers eager to churn out applications for popular device. If specs were the only basis, hands down, the clear winner would be the Diamond, but the user experience is really something else. We’ll wait for a review unit and the official release of the iPhone locally before we give our finally say on this intense showdown.

It looks like Asus is totally milking the Eee-PC concept dry as they are set to unleash yet another spin-off product from the popular line of mobile computers. The Eee Monitor, according to Laptop Mag, is an all-in-one PC that’s reminiscent of the iMac and the recently launched HP Touchsmart 2 PC. Unfortunately, no detailed specs are available at the moment, but I guess it probably won’t match the competition with its powerful features since the Eee PC’s claim to fame is its affordable price, and not its bevy of high-end specs.   We’re not sure of its size, but they’re guessing it’s either 19 or 20-inches. However, based on the pictures available, we can surmise that it’ll feature Denon speakers, a built-in webcam, modem, LAN port, mic-in, audio-out and 4 USB 2.0 ports. It also appears to come in two variants: black and white.   A built-in TV tuner is also rumored to be part of the package, but what we’re excited about is the speculated $ 500 tag price. It might not look as sleek as the other desktops in its category, but if ever the price holds true, it'll be the most affordable.  There's very little to work on for now so we can't really say what it's really worth. Let’s just hope that the good stuff remains and the unkowns will be as delightful as the supposed price once everything's made official.

If you’re on a limited budget and you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying a new processor just to beef up the speed of your computer, overclocking (OC) is probably the next best thing for you albeit all the risks that goes along with it. However, if you’re on a Mac, you’re options are a bit more limited due to the lack of an OC tool for OS X. It’s a good thing though that we have the guys at ZDNet who are looking out for our interests.   The ZDNet overclocking tool for the Mac gives users the ability to tweak the settings of their processor through a graphical interface that’s both easy to use and effective as well. The bad news is, that for now, it’s only limited to the Mac Pro and the XServe line, but we are optimistic that future versions will soon support all Mac computers as well. As proof of its success, they were able to OC a relatively old Mac Pro 2.8GHz unit to run safely at 3.24GHz. That's a tad bit faster than the latest Mac Pro model. While using it is pretty simple, achieving a safe and stable OC speed is another story. ZDNet recommends adjusting the settings slowly since there are synchronization issues that need to be resolved along the way between the various components involved. Full usage instructions can be found at their website and I suggest you read through the possible complications you might encounter along the way.   Nevertheless, if you’ve been dying to get your hands on an OC tool for the Mac, look no further. ZDNet’s OC tool is set to change the whole ball game.

  After endless speculation, Nikon has finally released the official specs of their latest digital SLR, the D700. It’s a 12.1-megapixel camera with a near full-frame FX CMOS sensor that's similar to its heftier sibling, the D3. It likewise features live view via its 3-inch display, 51-point AF with 3D tracking, scene recognition, four-speed active dust reduction, GPS, HDMI out and a bunch of other goodies. Check out the complete specs below or download the brochure. DP Review already has a preview of this soon-to-be-released monster, and based on what we’ve seen so far, this is shaping out to be the budget-friendly version of the D3 housed in the body of a D300. Inheriting most of the great features found in its higher-end brother, the D700 is a full-featured mid-range SLR that you should definitely watch out for. It'll cost $ 2999 (body only) once it hits stores later this month in the US.

Back in the ‘90s, Nokia popularized the personalization of mobile phones thanks to its Xpress-On covers. Unfortunately, over the years, customization evolved and Nokia’s innovation took a back seat to other means of personalizing one’s mobile phone. Well, it seems that what once was fashionable back then is aiming at a come back with the introduction of the Supernova series. The 7610 Supernova is a slider that comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, instant messaging and TV-out functionality. It also packs in a bevy of multimedia features such as dedicated music keys, mp3 player and an FM radio. This also features a Theme Colorizer wherein users can capture colors and tweak them further for application to their wallpaper and phone key's illumination. It's slated to be released in 3rd Quarter of 2008. The 7510 Supernova, on the other hand, is a clamshell phone that comes with a push-to-open side key for that flashy single-hand operation. When closed, you can impress your friends with the hidden display underneath the mirror finish. It likewise features a large 2.2-inch QVGA display, 2-megapixel camera with LED flash, Nokia Maps 1.2, A-GPS, FM radio, an enhanced mp3 player, and a new Nokia web browser that provides easy access to the various online services of the company such as Nokia Search, and Share on OVI.  This one is expected in the last quarter of this year. The 7310 Supernova is a slim and sleek phone that comes with a 2-megpaixel camera, FM RDS radio, an enhanced mp3 player, 2-inch QVGA display and TV-out if you want to share your snapshots with your friends. What’s interesting with this phone is its Xpress-On cover options. The package will include an etched 3D textured design in steel blue plus a secondary front and back cover in either wasabi green or candy pink. Other colorful options will be available as well. This baby is probably now available in certain markets as it was released during the 2nd quarter of 2008. Last, but not the least, the 7210 Supernova is another slim beauty that exudes sophistication with its glossy finish. It features a 2-megapixel camera and quick access to Flickr for easy sharing of photos online. It also comes with Bluetooth for wireless connectivity with compatible devices. It may not be the most feature-filled phone of the bunch, but it sure looks impressively good. It kind of reminds me of how the Nokia 6300 entered the market.  It had decent specs, not the most powerful, but its killer looks ultimately made it a top-seller. It’ll become available during the 3rd quarter of 2008. Though the names are recycled, make no mistake that this new line is totally different from its namesake ancestors. Don't look for 3G connectivity on these new beauties because there is none, but you can expect a lot of style as well as an affordable price tag as a result of the toned down specs. Stylishly slim, decent set of features, and easily customizable; Nokia brings the Xpress-On cover back into fashion in the 21st Century.