Gadgets
Best iPad Competitors
Ever since Apple released its number one seller, iPad, other cellphone manufacturer giants followed the trail, of course not to mention some companies who has brilliantly thought of making a replica of this bestseller such as the iPed.
Dell had their Dell Streak which offers an unprecedented combination of processor power (Qualcomm ARM 1 GHz), screen size (800 x 480, 5 in TFT active matrix display type), and design quality. Support for 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth hit all the wireless sweet spots, while photo, camcorder, and calling capabilities blur the boundaries between tablet and phone.
The Archos 7 Home tablet runs of Android, with processor of ARM 600 MHz. Wireless connectivity is through IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g. It has 7 in Color TFT active matrix display type with resolution of 800 x 480.
The latest to join the bandwagon is the Samsung Galaxy Tab which will be released in European market mid-September, and Asia’s stores by year ends. The Tab uses a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with a 1024×600 Wide Super VGA (WSVGA) resolution. It ships with Android 2.2 (Froyo), the complete Google apps Market, Flash 10.1, 16GB or 32GB of memory, GPS, and integrated sensors, such as a gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor, and geomagnetic sensor.
PC tablets nowadays have become trends among gadget enthusiasts, maybe because of their ultra-portability that you can compare it with having cellphone and a PC at a time. We’re sure that with the growing clamor of the community for a better PC tablet, more products will come out sooner. We just hope that they come in affordable prices.
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Sony Readers PRS-350 and PRS-650 Coming Soon
Readers are now saying goodbye to PDA’s with the advent of e-book readers. It started from the Amazon Kindle, and sooner Barnes and Nobles released their own version with their Nook. Sony also joined the bandwagon with their e-reader – the PRS-300 and PRS-600. The Apple iPad then followed, and several other readers available at the gadget market, sporting different features and addons to suit the needs of every user.
Amazon and Barnes & Noble announced their new e-readers and price cuts in recent weeks, of course, Sony follows the trail. Sony is soon to bring out its next-generation e-readers – the PRS-350 and PRS-650. Sources say that the new e-readers will both be touch-screen models, with a very slim design (10mm), expanded internal memory (2GB), user-interface tweaks, and “competitive pricing.” The report states that the PRS-350 will be a 5-inch model with no wireless connectivity and the 6-inch PRS-650 will at least feature Wi-Fi and possibly 3G. (Note: even with this report, we wouldn’t be surprised if the PRS-350 doesn’t have a touch screen). Source: CNet.com
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Casio Exilim EX-FC160S, A Camera for Golfers
Casio will be releasing a new camera from its Exilim series, which is intended for golfers. The new Casio Exilim EX-FC160S shooter features a 10-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor, which lets golfers record videos at 240fps that generates a slow-motion clip when played back at 30fps, and the Exilim will overlay lines on the screen to help you determine how good your swing is.
Other features include a 5x optical zoom lens, widest at 37mm and it can capture still images at a blazing-fast 40fps.
The EX-FC160S will be available only in Japan when launched on August 27, with pricing to be announced then. But an estimate say it would be around 35,000 Yen. The camera will have a limited production run of 5,000 units. For specifica
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Smart SIM on SUN Broadband Locked USB Modem
It has been over 2 weeks that I could not connect with my Sun Broadband, they said that it was a network problem. I’ve been complaining to their Sun Hotline but the representatives are of no help. So I had to resort to cutting off my subscription and decided to re-try Smart Bro when I heard of their Smart Bro Plan 999 which is already available with their USB modems.
I availed of their SIM only plan, since I already have their USB modem. However, when I tried the new SIM, a Smart Gold SIM, it did not work. So my other option at that time was to buy a new Smart Bro usb modem. Good thing that I’ve read that it is actually possible to unlock your USB modem for free online, or at several cellphone repair shops. I opted to do the latter. So I went to SM San Lazaro and had my Huaiwei modem, which is Sun-locked, unlocked. I can now use my Smart Sim using my Sun Broadband modem. I saved P999.00 for doing it.
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Can you turn your iPod touch into phone?
The Apple iPod touch, as we know, functions as an mp3 player. But did you know that it can now be transformed into a mobile phone. This extended functionality is possible using the free application “Truphone” available from the Apple’s App Store.
The Truphone application allows users with a Wi-Fi connection to make and receive phone calls via voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, with other iPod Touch owners, users of the Google Talk’s messaging service, and customers of Truphone’s Internet telephone service. The company said it expects to add the ability to handle landline calls. The applicatiom creates a virtual keyboard on the second-generation iPod Touch to dial calls, and requires the addition of a headset and microphone. Cnet.com
Truphone features that will be made available in the future include the ability to phone and instant-message Skype and MSN VoIP users, and to check and set Twitter and Facebook connections.
Truphone running in iPod touch, can be considered as an iPhone competitor, however, Apple does not seem to be alarmed by this free application, as evident by its availability in the Apple App store for free. Well, knowing Apple, they may incorporate this feature in future releases of iPod touch.
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iPed: The iPad Replica
Can’t afford the iPad? Well, there’s a cheaper version of the high-selling gadget, called the iPed or Apad, of course, it’s China made. It has only been just few months since the iPad was released by Apple, Inc., and as expected, it sold millions since its first released, similarly, replicas of the said gadget are expected to arise in the market.
Pieces of the iPed were spotted on sale in Shenzhen, China last May 28, 2010 at a much cheaper price (about a quarter of the price of the iPad) at about $105 (the iPad sells about $500 plus). It is said to come with an Intel processor and also runs on Google’s Android OS. FinanceManila has compared iPed and iPad specifications and features and see if the iPed can be a good alternative for the iPad.
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Next Attraction: Nokia N8
I’ve been a gadget freak for 10 years, but due to financial incapacity, most of the gadgets I liked were beyond my reach. So I settled to affordable touchscreen phones like the Samsung Star Wifi, which is the one I am using right now. Now that I have my job, my fancy to gadgets was heightened. I want to upgrade my phone so I am eye-ing for the Samsung Jet as an option. However, when I heard that Nokia is releasing their first Symbian 3 device – the Nokia N8, I decided to just wait and save up for it because I predict it will cost around P25,000 – P30,000. Problem though is there is no exact date of release in the Philippines. I’ve been browsing the Nokia Philippines website but there was no indication of the release date.
The Nokia N8 has every feature I like for a cellphone – a high-resolution camera with flash (12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash), an enough amount of memory (Internal memory: 16 GB and MicroSD memory card slot, hot swappable, up to 32 GB) for my huge music and movie collection, a good speaker (powered by Dolby Digital), a speedy connectivity (with WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g/n), and other features.
For a complete list of features and specifications, visit the Nokia Philippines website.
To fully appreciate the features of the Nokia N8 phone, watch this Youtube video after the jump.
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Gizmondo Unboxed The Next iPhone 4G
Gizmondo, a popular gadget blog, had the opportunity to get a first and exclusive glance on the new Apple iPhone 4G. They have disassembled this new Apple iPhone 4G and revealed the new features of this next generation gadget.
What’s new
• Front-facing video chat camera
• Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
• Camera flash
• Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
• Improved display. It’s unclear if it’s the 960×640 display thrown around before—it certainly looks like it, with the “Connect to iTunes” screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
• What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
• Split buttons for volume
• Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallic
For pictures and more detailed description of what’s new and what has changed with the new Apple iPhone 4G, you can visit Gizmondo’s website
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Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone
My Sony Ericsson K510i headset is now giving a unilateral audio. I blame it to overuse and I usually can sleep with my SE radio on. It may have not injured the stretching. I’ve been looking for a headset that could fit my phone, unfortunately I couldn’t find any. So I settled with SE Walkman Class A Stereo Headphones found on unaccredited gadget stalls – in short, the ones you see in Quiapo area. Haha.
What I did was bought an A4 Tech mp3 Headset which costs around 300 pesos separately, and connect it to the SE Walkman adaptor or whatever you call that.
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Asus Eee PC 1000HE Features
Asus Eee PC started the 10-inch netbooks when the launched their Eee PC series. It blazed the trail for the new netbooks like HP Mini 1000, HP Mini 2140, Acer Aspire One AOD150 and similar other small-screened laptops.
Netbooks have advantage over the regular laptop models because they are very portable you can practically slid it on your backpacks or sling bags. I used to own an Asus Eee PC and I find it advantageous especially on lectures and using the internet on Wi-Fi zones.
Asus has recently released the new Eee PC 1000HE with marvelous features that you ever wanted for your netbook.
Processor: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280
Memory: 1GB, 667MHz DDR2
Hard drive: 160GB 5,400rpm
Chipset: Mobile Intel 945GM Express
Graphics: Mobile Intel GMA 950 (integrated)
Operating system: Windows XP
Dimensions (WD): 10.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep
Height: 1.1- 1.5 inches
Screen size (diagonal): 10.1 inches
System weight/Weight with AC adapter: 3.2/3.7 pounds
It’s very upgraded from the first Eee PC which only had 8GB of hard drive. The new Asus Eee PC 1000HE also comes with Windows XP, previously Asus Eee PC runs on Linux, although it can also run on Windows XP.
Currently, it is priced at $399.
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