Quantcast Mobile Philippines: August 2008 Archives

August 2008 Archives

Nikon D90 - Front View Not wanting to be outdone by Canon, Nikon has finally released the official specs and price of their D90. Nikon D90 - Angled profile Aside from the brand new 12.3-megapixel image sensor, it aslo comes with HD video recording capability making it the first DSLR to boast of such a feature. It allows you to shoot up to 5 minutes of 1280x720p videos at 24fps in 16:9 aspect ratio. However, video recording functionality is quite limited as focus is locked when shooting and sound is only mono, which makes me wonder; why even include it? Anyway, it’s there already, and it makes for a pretty intriguing add-on nonetheless. Nikon D90 - Top View Other more SLR-related features include scene recognition system based on 420 pixel RGB sensor, face detection, advanced scene modes, active D-lighting similar to the D700, 11-AF points, 3-inch Live View LCD, and ISO 200-3200 which can extended to as high as 6400. There are definitely more features to the D90 than what I've mention and you can find a more thorough preview of it at DP Review. For more pics, Engadget has a bucket load in their photo gallery. Nikon D90 - Rear View Body only price is $999 while the one bundled with the new 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6VR lens will cost $1299. Putting the HD functionality aside, it’s still a pretty decent new SLR from Nikon blending in many of the high-end features in a package that’s ideal for the starting or upgrading hobbyist. It’ll be released in September and hopefully, it’ll make it to the Philippines in time for Christmas.
While Sony maybe known in the industry as a staunch advocate of proprietary technology, they’ve decided to go against the grain this time around with the release of the S-AIR wireless audio system. Sony S-AIR iPod dock Wireless Speaker System It not only provides you with a sleek and stylish wireless speaker system, it’s also an iPod dock which is a first for the company. The standard package comes with the dock that also features a built-in FM/AM tuner and two wireless speakers that can receive signals up to 164-feet away. It'll cost around $400 when it lands in stores next month in the US. It’s definitely more expensive than the EOS wireless system, but this one’s got tons of sex appeal written all over it. Additional speakers will cost $130 a piece (the same with the EOS). No word though whether it will become locally available or not, but I’m pretty optimistic it will.

Canon EOS 50D now Official

| 6 Comments
While we have to yet to hear from the Nikon camp, Canon has made their EOS 50D official. This 15.1-megapixel DSLR is the first to feature the new Digic 4 image processor and it also boasts of having the highest ISO speed to date topping off at a ridiculous 12800. Canon EOS 50D Other notable specs include a 6.3fps burst rate, 3-inch display with face detection, HDMI, dedicated Live View button, auto-focus with microadjustment, and a cleaning system that incorporates a fluoride coating for improved dust resistance. The SRP for the body only is set at $1399 while the one bundled with a EF 28/-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens will roughly cost $1599. DP Review has an in-depth preview of this yet to be released DSLR so you  might want to check it out. October will be the big day for this new DSLR in the US, and I’m guessing it might make a local debut as early as November or December. With this early announcement, that gives you enough time to either save up or sell your current gear to make room for this new DSLR.

Targus Dash backpack 

The weather is quite unpredictable nowadays; very hot and sunny in the morning, then it's suddenly raining cats and dogs in the afternoon. It’s times like these that you should have the right bag to protect your electronic gear, and the Targus Dash backpack is just what we would recommend.

Storage compartments galoreIt features more then enough compartments to keep everything organized, and provides ample padding to keep sensitive equipment such as your laptop protected at all times. There’s even dedicated wet compartment where you can store your umbrella or towel after a heavy downpour so that you won’t have to worry yourself about getting your other stuff wet.

There’s also a hidden rain cover that you can pull out to add that extra protective layer when the need arises. A built-in cable, security pocket, contoured padded backing and ergonomic shoulder straps provide that balance between security and comfort that is essential in the bags of today.

Rain cover for added protectionClassic black 

The Targus Dash backpack will set you back P3800 and comes with a lifetime warranty. It might seem a bit expensive for a bag, but think of it as an investment as it’ll surely protect whatever stuff you put in it from the elements. Targus products are exclusively distributed by MSI-ECS in the Philippines.

You may not see much of a difference between the new PSP and the old PSP Slim just by looking at it, but once you turn it on, you’ll notice the remarkable improvement in the display on the PSP-3000. Notice how brilliant the screen is on the PSP-3000 Famitsu's got a side-by-side comparison, and I guess the pictures say it all. Brighter, more vivid and rich; it puts to shame the already impressive screen of the PSP-2000. PSP-2000 PSP-3000: More rounded Aside from that, if you pay close attention, you’ll also notice that the PSP-3000 is a lot more rounded and has a redesigned UMD cover at the back. The PSP-3000 features a slimmer circle around the PSP logo Yeah, we wished that it had more to offer than minor cosmetic changes and a built-in mic, but the improved display is more than welcome. So if you’ve been holding back on getting a PSP, you definitely can’t go wrong with this new iteration as it is probably the best one among the current crop. The same as with all of you guys, we’re also waiting for details as to its local release and pricing.
Yeah, today’s the big launch for the 3G iPhone locally, but let’s veer away from all the Apple festivities for a moment and look at what Palm has in store for use. Palm Treo Pro The Palm Treo Pro is the latest smartphone from Palm; and just by looking at it, one can see that the Treo is back with a vengeance. It sports a new plush look and is now thinner, and smaller than its predecessor without cutting back on functionality. It’s got 3.5G connectivity, a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, a touch screen display, GPS, a very reliable 1500 mAh battery, and runs on Windows Mobile 6.1. Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Gizmodo is lucky enough to get one for a hands-on review and according to them; it is definitely a step up from its ancestors. They keypad is similar to the Centro, but a bit bigger. The display is bright and crisp, while 3G internet and call quality is superb. Best of all, Palm has decided to offer this baby minus a carrier (read: unlocked) unlike the iPhone. Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Availability and price, unfortunately, isn’t available yet; but we are certainly keeping our eyes peeled on this one.
This bit of news might not concern a lot of folks in Manila as the 3G iPhone's debut is still tomorrow, but for those who have manage to get one already, this is a note worthy read. iPhone 2.0.2 firmware update - image courtesy of Engadget As you may know, iPhone 2.0.2 firmware update has been released and while it does work for others; it seems that it apparently does quite the opposite for some. More specifically, the latest update actually kills the iPhone’s ability to make phone calls in a 3G network. Ironic isn't it considering that the whole point of owning a 3G iPhone is to be able to use it in a 3G network, right? Well, reports are coming in that some users are experiencing this dilemma after they have updated their beloved iPhone. One particular frustrated owner eventually brought his iPhone to an AT&T store to have it checked; and when the SIM was swapped out, the problem was fixed. Gizmodo has a simpler solution: switch your iPhone to use a 2G network only. Yeah, it doesn't exactly fix the problem and is actually just a work around, but it'll do in emergency situations. For now, this issue isn’t widespread yet, but as more reports slowly trickle in, I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of people that are affected by the update slowly swells to a greater figure. So I guess it's best to hold off on updating your iPhone’s firmware at the moment until a more stable, and reliable one becomes available.

Open Alliance Releases Android SDK v0.9

It looks like things are on the upside for the Open Alliance and their Android OS. Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Not only did the HTC Dream, the supposed flag-bearer of the Android, receive the seal of approval of the FCC; version 0.9 of the Android SDK is also now available which suggests that it probably won't be long before we see version 1.0 released, not only to developers, but importantly, to the public as well. There's more screen shots available at Engadget's Android photo gallery, but if you want further analysis, Gizmodo has a blow-by-blow account of the video and what this new iteration brings to the table. Click to enlarge Click to enlarge With these positive turn of events, the reported September release date might not be a far fetched idea after all. Aside from the steep prices of Globe, is this reason enough for you to forego purchasing an iPhone anytime soon?
AMD-powered Everun Note by Raon Digital  While most ultra-portables being released in the market are showcasing Intel’s Atom processor, Raon Digital is taking the road-less-traveled-by with the Everun Note. No touchpad here, only a TrackPoint-like pointing device It’s the first ever AMD-powered netbook to be released in the market which will provide consumers with another option aside from the Atom- and Via-based models that are out now. The Everun Note will have an AMD Turion 64x2 1.2GHZ Dual Core processor, 1GB RAM, a brilliant 7-inch display with a maximum resolution of 1024x600, ATI graphics card, Wi-FI, Bluetooth, SD/MMC card reader, SIM card slot and an integrated 1.3-megapixel camera. Storage options available include an 80GB HHD and 12GB SSD. Windows XP will be the bundled OS; and the big silver lining, an approximate battery life of only 2.5 hours. Small, but beautiful 7-inch screen Due to its very compact size, it gets rid of some of the more conventional features found in other laptops in its category. In place of the traditional touchpad is what looks like a small joystick similar to the TrackPoint of the ThinkPad series by IBM/Lenovo. So far, the benchmarks are quite impressive though, quite frankly, much is left to be desired out of its standard battery pack. September is the target release date, but the price is yet to be determined.
It’s both surprising and expected. Prior to the August 22 release of the 3G iPhone, Globe has slashed the prices of the iPhone to make it a bit more enticing to hesitant buyers. The price reduction is expected, but not this early. It’s just been barely over a week since the initial prices were released and in what could be described as a desperate attempt to lure more buyers, the prices of the handsets were lowered by roughly 10%. Here are the new 3G iPhone prices: Comparison of old and new 3G iPhone prices of Globe  Futhermore, it is now available across all plans, and prepaid kit buyers will get P200 load per month for 5 months. Price of the iPhone on GFlex and GPlans  Yeah, the prices are now lower, but not low enough for me to completely rejoice and reserve one right this instant. While this is nevertheless still good news, I just can't help but wonder why they didn’t offer this price right from the get go; and if indeed the handset price is still negotiable, is this the lowest it can go at the moment? I know that Globe also has to earn from their iPhone venture, but I've expressed my resentment in their choice of tactics in a previous post and even gave my suggestion on how they can really take advantage of the iPhone. If you know the answer to the questions that have been bothering me, then you probably also know the answer to the question on whether to get one now or not.
Laptops have surely come a long way. There are lappies available that are ideal for gamers, for budget conscious individuals, for corporate people, and now, even for graphics artists and designers. Lenovo W700, a first of its kind - Image courtesy of Gizmodo The Lenovo ThinkPad W700 is more than your average 17-inch notebook. Aside from the professional grade WUXGA display with 400 nit brightness and auto-color calibration sensor, it’s the first laptop to integrate a Wacom digitizer into its design the perfect mobile computer for photographers, graphic artists, and others in a similar field. Rounding up its specs is an Intel 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme Quad Core processor, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1GB Nvidia Quadro FX 370M vidcard, dual HDD bays configurable in RAID 0 or RAID 1, 7-in-1 card reader, 5 USB ports, and thanks to its size, a full numeric keypad. If you need to hook this bad boy to an external display, you can do so through the dual-link DVI, VGA and display port. Integrated WACOM digitizer - Image courtesy of Gizmodo It’s slated to be released in September with a starting price of a whopping $2,978 for the most basic model. It's expensive, but then again, this isn't your regular run-of-the-mill laptop either.

The Nokia 5320 is the latest XpressMusic Phone from the Finnish company. Unlike its highly successful predecessor the Nokia 5310, it’s not wafer thin, but it does however feature a bucket load of goodies to compensate for the change in design.

Angled profileSide view reveals the dedicated music controls Rear view showcases the 2-megapixel camera

The 5320 is a 3.5G mobile phone that comes with a 2-megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom, a secondary front camera for video calling, and up to 140MB internal memory. It also now runs on the S60 platform unlike the other models in its category that are still on the S40. The new Say and Play feature is also showcased on this new unit. Just like how voice command works, the same is done for music playback. While its front view may deceive you into thinking that Nokia has done away with the dedicated music controls, you’re sorely mistaken. They were just relocated to a more convenient location on the side.

With prices of almost everything in the local market going up, it’s a good thing that mobile phone prices have remained stable despite the inclusion of new features. The Nokia 5320 is definitely no exception to this phenomenon.

iRiver Spinn Hands-on c/o Crave

The Spinn and its beautiful AMOLED display - Image courtesy of Crave of CNet UK Crave of CNet UK gets up close and personal with iRiver’s new PMP baby, the Spinn. We reported about its existence some time ago, and based on the initial impression the Spinn has left on the guys at Crave, it makes me even wonder more how such an astounding device isn’t available in more countries, especially the Philippines. The controversial Spinn wheel - Image coutesy of Crave of CNet UK  The AMOLED display is truly of its more outstanding features, but to hear that it also has amazing sound quality, well, that just icing on the cake. Aside from the touch screen, you can also navigate through the various menus through a mechanical scroll wheel cleverly disguised into the design. Though their opinion with this alternative control system is divided, at least the option is there for those who don’t want to spoil its brilliant display with fingerprints and smudges. Proprietary USB connector - Image courtesy of Crave of CNet UK Despite its overwhelming appeal, it does have its share of shortcomings. AAC is not supported, and even though it’s supposed to support Adobe Flash, they were only able to successful load one flash game. Nevertheless, the numerous praises they gave the Spinn is enough to intrigue me. So now, I’m hoping (against all odds) that it might see the light of day in Manila. Any else who shares the same sentiment?

HTC Dream Showing Off Android OS

| 6 Comments
It’s been a while since we last heard anything concerning the Android OS, and we’re already at that point wherein we’ve pretty given up on the notion that it’ll be released anytime soon. However, a video suddenly sprouted out of nowhere giving Android hopefuls a glimmer of hope. It’s posted in Boy Genius Reports and is supposedly footage of what could be the HTC Dream. It’s a dual input mobile phone that features a slide-out keypad and touch screen interface. More importantly, it also appears to be a real-time video of the Android OS at work. We’re not too sure of how authentic it is and it could just be an attempt to fan the dying flames of Android anticipation burning alive once again. I’ll let you be the judge on this one; is it the real deal, or is it just a marketing strategy to keep the Android talk going for another couple of months or so?

Nikon D90 Rumored Specs

| 1 Comment
As Photokina looms closer, rumors about upcoming products have started spreading like wildfire anew. One such product that has had its time on the rumor mill is the Nikon D90. Can this be the new Nikon D90? - Image courtesy of Engadget While in the past, only pictures have surfaced, we now have some specs to further whet our appetite. Is 12-megapixels, Live View, video mode, HDMI, optional GPS and an all new 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR lens enough to get you excited? That's according to Nikon Rumors. Unfortunately, there’s no way to verify the authenticity of these figures, but as DSLR rumors go, most of it is pretty accurate especially when it comes to specifications. Photokina is barely a month away and we’ll probably hear more news as September approaches. Heck, we might even spot leaked shots of the D90 before it even pops up in Photokina, and that, I can almost guarantee.

New Moto ROKR Phones

| 5 Comments
Say goodbye to the RAZR days, and say hello to the ROKR era. That’s apparently the message Motorola is sending across to consumers as they unleash a new set of ROKR phones to flood the market. ROKR EM30 ROKR EM28ROKR EM25 Inheriting some of the design features of the pioneering E8 model; the EM30, EM25, and EM28 might not offer groundbreaking technology, but comes with most of the music capabilities one would expect from this flourishing line of phones from Motorola. The EM30 probably resembles the E8 the most albeit the absence of a touch-sensitive click-wheel. It does, however, retain the ModeShift feature and is Windows Media compatible. The EM28 is the clamshell variant while the EM25 is the slider version. Both won’t feature the morphing ModeShift keypad, but offers plenty of style to go around. All three ROKR phones are expected to be released this quarter globally.
It’s finally confirmed. Globe has made their 3G iPhone plans available, and is now accepting reservations for its debut on August 22. Globe 3G iPhone plans While I commend Globe for making it accessible across more post-paid plans as opposed to the initial rumored packages, the price is still quite steep considering how much cheaper it is to just get it from a relative or friend who resides in the US. One good thing to note though is the bundled Globe Wiz Wi-Fi hours which might benefit some to a certain extent, but with so many hotspots offering free internet hours, I’m not too sure how appealing this will be to the average Juan dela Cruz. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that this is nonetheless more acceptable than the current pricing of InfoMaxx. So, if you’ve got the dough, and you’re in dire need of a mobile internet device/phone, then by all means, reserve one now. Text and MMS addicts need not apply.

EOS iPod dock Wireless Speaker System - Image courtesy of Gizmodo 

Everyone dreams of one day saying goodbye to all those eye-sore cables that all our electronic equipment use; and maybe, just maybe, those days are just around the corner especially when you see stuff like this. The EOS (no relation to Canon) iPod dock Wireless Speaker System is just that, a dock for your iPod that comes with one satellite speaker that allows you to wirelessly feed music up to 150 feet away barring any obstructions. Gizmodo has a lightning review on this baby.

Wireless Satellite Speaker - Image courtesy of Gizmodo

It may not look pretty, but it sure is a nice alternative especially when you think of all the wiring you’ll have to do in a traditional system. The basic unit costs $250 while additional speakers cost $130 each (max. of 4 speakers to a base). It’s not actually that cheap, but on the other hand, if you’re looking for a wireless solution for your iPod-based sound system, this maybe the only customizable solution right now.

Yeah, we’ve heard the news that Lenovo is also joining the netbook bandwagon, and according to Liliputing, this video is a sneak-peek to what could be the upcoming ultra-portable notebook from this said company. Granted that these are just prototypes, anything can happen from today until the release date. They may change the color, the design or they may even throw the whole idea into the trash bin; but based on what we can see for now, it looks like it’ll be available in a very reasonable compact size in four delectable colors to choose from. Hopefully, the rumors regarding the 8.9-inch and 10-inch variants as well as the 160GB HDD and a selling price ranging from $400 to $600 will hold true. Anyway, if everything goes according to plan, we might not have to wait too long as a September is their supposed release date. UPDATE: It's official. The Lenovo IdeaPad S9 is the 8.9-inch version while the IdeaPad S10 is the bigger 10-inch variant. Read more here.

MSI Wind 6-cell Price Hike

| 6 Comments
While for the most part the MSI Wind looks like a pretty decent ultra-portable notebook, there's no denying that the standard 3-cell battery is its weakest link; and if you want to upgrade to the 6-cell version, you’re going to have to spend at least $50 more. Is it worth $50 more for a 6-cell battery?   Based on Engadget's report, it should only amount to $549.99 as opposed to the 3-cell battery edition which cost $499.99. That’s according to an MSI representative, but prevailing market prices on the internet show a higher selling price ranging from $559 to an absurd $599. To make matters worse, those who were able to sneak in their orders at Buy.com for the $499 selling price got cancellation notices. It just goes to show the things people would do to sneak in a profit or two, but the bigger issue at hand is what manufuctarers are willing to do to lower the price. I guess its a little bit presumptuous to think that such an affordable device can be completely flawless, but let's face it, if you're going to cut corners, do it in places that won't hamper productivity that much. Being a portable device, battery life is key and it doesn't make sense to bundle any device with such an underperforming power source. Granted that the Eee PC itself isn't a stellar performer in terms of battery life, at least it isn't as expensive as the Wind either. The point I'm trying to make is that since when did affordability take precedence over functionality? Unfortunately, that is the message that is being sent across by the rise and popularity of the netbooks of today.

Red Tag Sale at Ynzal

| 3 Comments
Ynzal Red Tag Sale  Starting yesterday, Ynzal has put all of their items, ranging from Mac systems and iPods to 3rd party peripherals and accessories, on sale. This is probably to get rid of their old stock considering that it’s time for the mid-year inventory, but it’s more likely a result of the recent events that led to the revocation of their Apple Reseller license. You can download a copy of the pricelist here if you want to see if its worth braving the rain and metro traffic, but to be quite honest, some of the items on sale are really quite tempting. There’s no definite time frame for the sale and it’s up until supplies last only. The timing is just right especially after a payday so you can now spruce up your worn out iPod with a new case or finally get your very first Mac at a more affordable price.

Pages

Powered by Movable Type 5.14-en

About this Archive

This page is an archive of entries from August 2008 listed from newest to oldest.

July 2008 is the previous archive.

September 2008 is the next archive.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.