Samsung finally brings Galaxy M20 to the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Whenever there’s an announcement of a new smartphone, some of us tend to hold off and wait for a year or so just for the price of that precious piece of tech to drop significantly. There’s really nothing wrong if you’re the type of person who is always on the look out for a gadget that can give you more bang for your buck, right?

But the good news is, the waiting game is finally over. So if you got yourself a five-year-old relic smartphone then you should definitely go and get the latest offer of Samsung in the midrange category – the Galaxy M20.

The first thing that you have to know about the Galaxy M20 is its noticeable teardrop notch façade that’s been on numerous smartphone designs since Apple introduced it with the iPhone X. Yes, years after the famous notch design, Samsung kind of finally joined the club.


The Samsung Galaxy M20 comes with a spacious 6.3-inch Infinity V Display that features a bezel-less edge to edge 2340 x 1080 FHD+ crystal clear resolution that provides a whole new level of viewing experience.

As battery usage remains one of the issues that smartphones face today, Samsung compliments the Galaxy M20’s feats with a massive 5000mAh battery.

You may be wondering, how that translates to every day use, right? Well, with a fully charged Galaxy M20, you can have up to 17 hours of video playback. So, if you like binge-watching your favorite Netflix series, then this smartphone is definitely for you. But if the Galaxy M20 happen to run out of juice, fret no more – because it has a Type-C fast charger that gives you three times faster charging capability.

Playing games, watching videos or even using your favorite social media apps simultaneously are ridiculously easy with the Galaxy M20, because it runs with an Exynos 7904 1.8GHz octa-core processor paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage that can also be expanded with up to 512GB via microSD.

What’s really nice about the new Galaxy M20 is its ultra-wide dual rear cameras composed of a 13-megapixel F1.9 that is suitable for low light photography and a five-megapixel F2.2 lens.

While on the front, the Galaxy M20 sports an 8-megapixel F2.0 selfie camera. It has an AI-solution that can optimize scenes in real-time. Apart from that, it also automatically adjusts the saturation, white balance and brightness.

Of course, the Galaxy M20 also has a biometric authentication that easily lets users unlock the device using either their fingerprint or face recognition. Aside from that, it comes with two stylish color variants: Charcoal Black or Ocean Blue.

The Samsung Galaxy M20 is priced at P10,990 that can be purchased exclusively via Lazada, Shopee, Argomall, Abenson, and MemoXpress.

Users may visit the online merchants’ websites to know more about their promos with the Galaxy M20. Each purchase of the smartphone also comes with access to the Samsung Members app, an online community that offers news, tips, diagnostic checks, and exclusive benefits like event invitations, special offers, and discounts on Samsung services.

For information, visit samsung.com/ph.

source: philstar.com

Once red-hot smartphone market sees cooler trend

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — The smartphone market is down but not out, with high prices and other factors combining to chill what had previously been a red-hot sector.

Fresh surveys show global sales had their worst contraction ever in 2018, and the outlook for 2019 isn't much better.

Still, analysts don't see the sun setting any time soon on the smartphone era, seen as a must-have device for many people around the world.

"They don't have a viable replacement yet," independent Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle said of the smartphone.

"There is always the possibility to go to wearables or head-mounted displays, but none of those have emerged as a real threat."

Worldwide handset volumes declined 4.1 percent in 2018 to a total of 1.4 billion units shipped for the full year, according to research firm IDC, which sees a potential for further declines this year

Another market tracker, Gartner, said its research suggested some stabilization in the smartphone market at the end of last year, said analyst Werner Goertz.

"Mobile phones are here to stay," Goertz said, while suggesting that consumers may be waiting for some devices with new features.

"Foldable phones would represent a really nice disruptive feature," he said.

Analysts pointed out that other tech products such as personal computers have seen similar ebbs and flows.

"Markets will always have slow moments when companies have to spend more on marketing money to get people to go out and buy stuff," Enderle said.

He added that some consumers are holding off on replacing their devices amid price hikes for premium devices like Apple's iPhone.

Food or phone? 

During a recent earnings call, Apple chief executive Tim Cook agreed that people were holding onto their iPhones longer.

Cook contended that another reason for slower iPhone sales was that telecom carriers were cutting subsidies of handsets tied to service contracts, meaning customers were faced with paying full price of $1,000 or more for high-end models.

"People don't want to spend another thousand bucks to replace something that isn't broken," analyst Enderle maintained.

"In emerging markets you can't get people to pay a quarter of their monthly income for a phone; they are not giving up food for texting."

In an unusual move, Apple lowered prices in some emerging markets to offset the effects of a strong US dollar on local pocketbooks.

Cook said that in January, in some locations and for some products, Apple "absorbed part of the foreign currency move" to "get close or perhaps right on" prices in those respective markets a year ago.

"So yes, I do think that price is a factor," Cook said.

Market mess 

Nonetheless, the latest data suggests the days of red-hot smartphone growth are over and that sluggish growth or contraction is likely in many saturated markets.

Apple recently reported a rare drop in revenue in the fourth quarter South Korea's Samsung, the largest smartphone maker, reported a slump in fourth-quarter net profits, blaming a drop in demand for its key products.

"Globally the smartphone market is a mess right now," said IDC analyst Ryan Reith.

"Outside of a handful of high-growth markets like India, Indonesia, (South) Korea and Vietnam, we did not see a lot of positive activity in 2018."

Reith noted that along with consumers waiting longer to replace their phones and frustration around the high cost of premium devices, there was political and economic uncertainty.

The Chinese market, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of smartphone sales, was especially hard hit with a 10 percent drop, according to IDC's survey.

However, Chinese smartphone makers such as Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi defied the trend and ended the year with gains, according to Counterpoint Research.

This year, smartphone makers will likely entice customers to upgrade devices with innovations such as superfast 5G network connectivity and foldable screens , according to Counterpoint associate director Tarun Pathak.

Leading smartphone maker Samsung is expected to show off a smartphone with a foldable screen at an event here in February.

source: philstar.com

Facebook data scandal

Facebook says it will end its data partnership with Huawei by the end of this week following a backlash over the Chinese phone maker's access to Facebook user data.

Huawei, a company flagged by U.S. intelligence officials as a national security threat, is the latest device maker at the center of a fresh wave of allegations over Facebook's handling of private data.

Facebook said earlier this week that Chinese firms Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo and TCL were among numerous handset makers that were given access to Facebook data in a "controlled" way approved by the social media giant.

Huawei said Wednesday it has never collected or stored Facebook user data. Huawei spokesman Joe Kelly said in a text message that the arrangement was about making Facebook services more convenient for users. — AP

source: philstar.com

Here’s how you can get first dibs on the Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design

MANILA, Philippines — Images of Huawei’s upcoming flagship smartphone has surfaced on the Internet recently and everyone — even the most discerning mobile consumers — is becoming more impatient for its worldwide release.

There’s a good reason why. Carrying the iconic Porsche Design brand, the newest smartphone in the Huawei Mate 10 series is luxurious, powerful and exclusive.

But what’s really special about this smartphone? A lot.

Just from its name, expect the Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design to sport a luxurious feel. With the aesthetic of Porsche Design, it is constructed with glass uni-body and handcrafted exterior. It is available exclusively in Diamond Black so it looks even more sophisticated.

Inside this sleek phone is an equally impressive memory cortex. Combining 6GB RAM with 256GB ROM, it is officially the highest spec smartphone in the Huawei Mate 10 series.

Another thing to watch out for in the Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design is its use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, engineered for an outstanding smartphone experience.

With the Kirin 970 AI chipset under its hood, the smartphone can learn and adjust its functions to its user’s lifestyle and at blazing speeds. If you like taking pictures, the camera can intelligently detect numerous objects and scenes and automatically adjust the settings to capture amazing images. If you’re a power user on the other hand, the device can optimize its efficiency for the best multi-tasking experience.

The AI technology allows the Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design to learn your behavior and to evolve around how you use your phone.

Convinced? Well, here’s the good news. Soon, select Filipinos can get their hands on this game-changing smartphone — a source told Philstar.com. He added that Globe will release 20 units, available only to Platinum subscribers.

For now we await the release of Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design through Globe Platinum. Visit www.consumer.huawei.com/en/phones/porsche-design-mate10/ for more information.

source: philstar.com

10TH ANNIVERSARY MODEL | Apple set to unveil iPhone 8 in major product launch

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA — A decade after then-CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, Apple Inc on Tuesday is set to introduce a completely redesigned top-of-the-line iPhone along with two other new phones, as well as a big upgrade to the Apple Watch and a higher-definition Apple TV.

The splashy launch event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s new Apple Park “spaceship” campus – widely considered to be the final product designed by Jobs, who died in 2011.

The new products and the holiday shopping season that follows are the most important for Apple in years. The company has sold more than 1.2 billion iPhones over the past decade and ushered in the era of mobile computing, but last year suffered a substantial decline in revenue as many consumers rejected the iPhone 7 as being too similar to the iPhone 6.

Apple hopes the new high-end phone, expected to be called the iPhone X, will silence critics who say the company has lost its innovation edge. It features an edge-to-edge display with richer colors and facial recognition to unlock the phone without the need for a fingerprint reader or physical home button.

The two other models, expected to be called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, are intended to update the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. They could also include some new features, such as a glass back similar to the iPhone 4 that would help facilitate wireless charging.

The phones are expected to come with a steep price tag. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi predicts the top-end model will cost $899, though other analysts expect it to cross the $1,000 threshold. That compares to a top base price of $769 for the iPhone 7 Plus prior.

Much of that added costs is driven by more expensive parts, like a higher-resolution display, 3D sensors and more memory capacity. “Some of these components are just darned expensive. There’s just no doubt about that,” said Brian Blau, an Apple analyst at Gartner.

Watch for wireless networks

Analysts also expect Apple to reveal a new Apple TV that operates at higher resolution than its previous set. The higher resolution could play into Apple’s efforts to court Hollywood, which have shifted into a higher gear recently with two high-profile executives hired away from Sony.

The company is also expected to reveal more details about the HomePod, its voice-activated home speaker that competes against Amazon.com Inc’s Echo devices and the Google. Home speaker. Apple announced the HomePod in June and said it will ship in December.

Lastly, Apple is expected to announce a new version of the Apple Watch. Previous versions of the watch had to be tethered to a user’s phone in order to receive send or receive data, but the new version is expected to connect to wireless data networks just like a phone.

Apple does not say how many Apple Watches it sells. Gene Munster, a veteran Apple watcher and analyst with Loup Ventures, believes the watch could double or even triple in sales because of the new connectivity.

But even a huge boom in one product will not move the company’s financials like the iPhone, which accounted for 63 percent of Apple’s $215 billion in sales last year. Even if Apple crushes rivals like Fitbit Inc and Garmin in smart watch sales, Apple remains the iPhone company.

“It’s a really big deal for the wearables category for Apple, but it’s not a big deal for the company,” Munster said.

source: interaksyon.com

Samsung launches Galaxy S8 and dreams of recovery from Note 7

SEOUL/NEW YORK — Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its Galaxy S8 flagship smartphone as it battles to regain the market leadership it lost to Apple Inc after the embarrassing withdrawal of the fire-prone Note 7s.

Boasting some of the largest wrap-around screens ever made, the long-awaited S8 is the South Korean technology company’s first new premium phone since its September recall of all Galaxy Note 7 smartphones equipped with fire-prone batteries. Samsung halted their sales in 10 markets, and the phones were banned from aircraft in the United States, denting a revival of the firm’s mobile business.

Two versions of the Galaxy S8, code-named Dream internally, were launched at a media event in New York on Wednesday, with 6.2-inch (15.75 cm) and 5.8-inch curved screens – the largest to date for Samsung’s premium smartphones. They will go on sale on April 21.

“We must be bold enough to step into the unknown and humble enough to learn from our mistakes,” D.J. Koh, the company’s mobile chief, said at the event after acknowledging that it had been a challenging year for Samsung.

U.S. carriers T-Mobile US Inc and Verizon Communications Inc announced retail pricing for the smaller S8 around $700. The larger phone will sell for $840 at Verizon and $850 at T-Mobile.

The S8 features Samsung’s new artificial intelligence service, Bixby, with functions including a voice-commanded assistant system similar to Apple’s Siri. There is also a new facial recognition application that lets users unlock their phones by looking at them.

Samsung is hoping the design update and the new features, focussed on making life easier for consumers, will be enough to revive sales in a year Apple is expected to introduce major changes to its iPhones, including the very curved screens that have become staples of the Galaxy brand.

Samsung Electronics shares edge up after unveiling Galaxy S8

The S8 is also crucial for Samsung’s image as a maker of reliable mobile devices. The self-combusting Galaxy Note 7s had to be scrapped in October just two months after their launch, and the recall was particularly damaging, investors and analysts say.

“The Galaxy S8 is the most important phone for Samsung in a decade and every aspect will be under the microscope following the Note 7 recall,” said Ben Wood, a veteran smartphone industry analyst with UK-based CCS Insight.

source: interaksyon.com

After Note 7 report, Samsung may delay launch of new Galaxy S8

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics Co Ltd indicated on Monday that its latest flagship Galaxy S smartphone could be delayed as it pledged to enhance product safety following an investigation into the cause of fires in its premium Note 7 devices.

Wrapping up its months-long probe, the world’s top smartphone maker said faulty batteries from two suppliers were to blame for a product failure that wiped $5.3 billion (4.3 billion pounds) off its operating profit.

Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin said procedures had been put in place to avoid a repeat of the fires as the South Korean firm prepares to launch the Galaxy S8, its first premium handset since the Note 7′s demise.

“The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process,” Koh told reporters at a press briefing. “Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust.”

Koh said the Galaxy S8 would not be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona beginning Feb. 27, the traditional forum for Galaxy S series launches. He did not comment on when the company planned to launch the handset, though analysts expect it to start selling by April.

Investors have said Samsung needs to reassure consumers that it is on top of the Note 7 problem and can be trusted to fix it.

Samsung’s reputation took a hammering after it announced a recall of fire-prone Note 7s, only for reports to emerge that replacement devices also caught fire. Images of melted Samsung devices spread on social media and airlines banned travellers from carrying them on flights.

The handset, Samsung’s answer to Apple Inc’s iPhones, was withdrawn from sale in October less than two months after its launch, in one of the biggest failures in tech history.

Samsung said later on Monday it has not decided whether to reuse parts in the recovered Note 7s or resell any recalled phones. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters reselling some Note 7s as refurbished phones was an option.

The firm said it has recovered 96 percent of the 3.06 million Note 7s sold to consumers.

Short circuits

Investigations by internal and independent experts ruled out problems with the Note 7′s hardware and software. Instead, they said the batteries, which came from two suppliers, featured different manufacturing defects or design flaws that caused them to short-circuit.

“The odds that two different suppliers had issue with the same phone is an extremely low likelihood and may signal we have reached an inflection point in smartphone battery technology,” said Patrick Moorhead, president of technology analyst and advisory firm Moor Insights & Strategy.

Samsung did not name the suppliers on Monday but previously identified them as affiliate Samsung SDI Co Ltd and China’s Amperex Technology Ltd. SDI said separately it would invest 150 billion won (103.8 million pounds) to improve product safety and expected to continue supplying batteries for Samsung phones. ATL declined to comment.

Samsung said it accepted responsibility and would not take legal action against suppliers. The company touted longer battery life and fast charging as major improvements when it launched the Note 7.

“The current situation is not largely different from that of the first recall, when Samsung pointed the finger at battery defects,” said Park Chul-wan, a former director of the Center for Advanced Batteries at the Korea Electronics Technology Institute.

Battery checks

Among other measures to boost safety, Samsung said it had implemented an eight-point battery check system to avoid any such problems going unnoticed again.

While Samsung’s mobile division is widely expected to have bounced back from the Note 7 failure during the fourth quarter, experts remained cautious about the outlook for sales of future flagship devices.

“Consumers will accept the results (of the probe) only if there are no problems with the S8,” said Park.

Moorhead, however, said he thought Samsung had done enough to convince consumers that it can prevent future issues.

Samsung Electronics shares ended up 2.3 percent in a flat wider market. Analysts said the rise was mainly due to a healthy outlook for makers of tech components such as memory chips but also boosted by hopes the firm will be able to put the Note 7 fiasco behind it.

The firm expects fourth-quarter operating profit to hit a more than three-year high when it reports earnings on Tuesday, driven by booming chip sales.

source: interaksyon.com

Samsung PH urges Note 7 owners to return the mobile device, now

MANILA — Samsung Philippines is now urging owners of the combustible Galaxy Note 7 to exchange their units for a Galaxy S7 or ask for a full refund from their place of purchase.

In a statement, Samsung Philippines said they are now “working closely with local telco partners and authorized dealers to urge consumer to take the next steps” which is as follows:

1. Exchange your Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7, with the store to reimburse any price difference. Or,
2. A full refund.

Customers who purchased through Globe or Smart were also advised to contact their telco operator to exchange their units.

In an earlier advisory, Smart also urged their subscribers to contact their hotline *888 or to visit any of their nearby stores for the appropriate assistance. Globe likewise said they will facilitate the replacement of the device for their subscribers.

In a similar gesture, Globe said in a statement that they will discontinue selling Samsung Note7 and will no longer issue same device replacements to customers.

The telco has implemented a process to retrieve Note 7 units from customers and replace them with a device of equivalent value.

“We will be in touch with our customers within the next 4 days,” Globe said.

In an October 11 statement, Samsung global has advised its owners of Note7 to power down their units after reports of supposedly safe replacement units of the Note7 also caught fire. Samsung also announced that they are coordinating with their carrier and retail partners to stop sales of the Note7.

“Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available,” Samsung said.

source: interaksyon.com

Google takes on Apple, Amazon with new hardware push

SAN FRANCISCO — Alphabet Inc’s Google on Tuesday announced a new “Pixel” smartphone and a suite of new consumer electronics products for the home, planting itself firmly in the hardware business and challenging Apple Inc’s iPhone at the high end of the $400 billion global smartphone market.

The string of announcements – including the $649 Pixel, a smart speaker for the living room dubbed “Home,” a virtual reality headset, and a new Wi-Fi router – is the clearest sign yet that Google intends to compete head-to-head with Apple, Amazon.com Inc and even manufacturers of phones using its own Android mobile operating system.

Company executives, echoing Apple’s longstanding philosophy, said they were striving for tighter integration of hardware and software.

“The thinking is that if we can work on hardware and software together, we can innovate much better,” Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh said in an interview with Reuters, citing a recent reorganization that united once-disparate hardware teams.

Under the new structure, the company has begun to take a much more integrated approach to things like supply chain management and design, added Mario Queiroz, a vice president of product management.

“The learnings from one product are benefiting another product,” he said.

Unlike earlier Google phone efforts under the Nexus brand, the Pixel devices are designed and developed by Google from the start, although Taiwan’s HTC Corp will serve as the contract manufacturer.

Swipe at Apple

Taking another page from the Apple playbook, Google said it would work exclusively with a single carrier in the United States, Verizon Communications Inc, on the Pixel, emulating Apple’s agreement to launch the original iPhone with AT&T Inc. That deal gave Apple unprecedented control over the look of the phone and how it worked.

Shares of Alphabet closed up 0.3 percent, while Verizon fell 1.2 percent.

The phone comes in two sizes, and its high-end camera is one of few distinguishing features, analysts said. The phones come in black, blue and silver and will be able to get up to a seven-hour charge in 15 minutes. Pre-orders begin on Tuesday.

“Aside from the camera, the new Google Pixels are pretty undifferentiated compared to Samsung and iPhone seventh generation phones,” industry analyst Patrick Moorhead said.

While the new phones are clearly aimed at competing with the iPhone – Google executives took several swipes at Apple in their on-stage remarks – analysts said Android rivals like Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) could be the biggest victim if the Pixel takes off.

Google’s strategy of licensing Android for free and profiting from embedded services such as search and maps made Android the dominant mobile operating system with some 89 percent of the global market, according to IDC.

But Apple still rules the high end of the market, and Google has long been frustrated by the emergence of many variations of Android and the inconsistent experience that has produced. Pushing its own hardware will likely complicate its relationship with Android licensees, analysts said.

 All-purpose assistant

Google Kicked off the event Tuesday by touting the Google Assistant, the company’s voice-activated artificial intelligence system and its answer to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. The presenter showed how a customers could make a restaurant reservation with a few phrases spoken into the phone.

The assistant will be embedded into the Pixel and Home products and is being positioned as the central feature in a family of integrated hardware and software products.

It is one of a handful of similar assistants that are vying for supremacy as more people search the web and make purchases online using voice commands, which may eventually supplant keyboards and touchscreens as the primary means of controlling digital devices.

While Google is often cited as the leader in artificial intelligence, Amazon stole a march on the company with its Alexa-powered Echo home speaker system, a surprise hit. The Home device and the Echo have many of the same features.

Google’s “Daydream View” virtual reality headset, meanwhile, puts the company in competition with Facebook Inc, owner of Oculus. The device, which works with an Android phone, is far cheaper and simpler. It will be available in November for $79, in time for the end-of-year shopping season.

Home will also be available in November for $129, including a six-month trial of ad-free YouTube.

Google also unveiled a new version of its Chromecast digital media player and a router dubbed Google Wifi, both boasting the same sleek, minimalist design as the Home product.

“These look like products from a single company,” said Queiroz, the Google executive.

source: interaksyon.com

Xiaomi Mi 5: Smartphone beast for cheap

Chinese smartphone vendor Xiaomi unveiled their latest flagship handset last Feb. 2 and started shipping the devices last week. We managed to grab one to review and check how this P15,000 smartphone will fare.

There are three variants of the Mi 5 with slight differences in their hardware configuration. The base configuration has 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage, followed by a 3GB RAM and 64GB storage with slightly faster Snapdragon 820 processor. The third variant, labeled as the Mi 5 Pro, comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage. What we got is the base configuration with 3GB/32GB combo that costs about P15,000 as sold in China.

Xiaomi has been known to make really great phones at an affordable price. The first time they officially entered the Philippines, the Xiaomi Mi3 sold really well that people were buying them and selling them for a higher price due to heavy demand.

The Mi 5 brings that same great design and solid hardware at an affordable price tag. The design was inspired from the bigger Mi Note that was released last year, only smaller, with just a 5.15-inch display. The glass front and back panel sandwiched in a metal frame is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7 especially with the tapered back and material design.

At only 7.24mm thin, Xiaomi managed to pack the Mi 5 with a lot of great features like the home button that serves as a fingerprint scanner, a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization that does not show any ugly protrusion at the back like the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S, dual nano-SIM tray and a new USB Type C charging port.

The 5.15-inch display has a full HD resolution and 428ppi pixel density that looks gorgeous and very bright. The edge-to-edge glass display makes it seem that the Mi 5 is almost bezel-less along the sides. While other flagship handsets like the Galaxy S7 and LG G5 have much higher screen resolution (2560x1440 pixels), the 1080p screen resolution of the Mi 5 is still at par and even gave the handset an advantage by pulling higher scores in device benchmarks.


While there is dual-SIM capability, there is no option to expand storage via microSD card so you’re stuck with about 25GB usable space when you pick up the base 32GB model.

Very few flagship handsets these days come with USB Type C – the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, OnePlus 2 and the LG G5. The Mi 5 adds to that very short list. Nevertheless, the device supports superfast charging, which translates to around 80 to 90 percent charge in just an hour for the 3,000mAh internal battery.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 runs on MiUI 7.2.5, which is basically a customized version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is a simple UI but very nice and clean with tons of themes available in the App Store.

Xiaomi has once again made good on their promise of a really great-looking phone, topnotch hardware configuration at a very cheap price. If only they would release this device in the Philippines very soon. We’re not keeping our hopes up, though.

Xiaomi Mi 5 specifications:
5.15-inch full HD display @ 1920 x 1080 pixels, 428ppi

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor

Adreno 530 GPU

3GB / 4GB LPDDR4 RAM

32GB, 64GB / 128GB UFS 2.0 internal storage

4G+ LTE Cat12, up to 600Mbps

VoLTE support

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth 4.2

NFC

IR Blaster

GPS w/ A-GPS, GLONASS

Fingerprint sensor

USB Type-C

16-megapixel Sony IMX298  PDAF rear camera w/ dual-LED flash, 4-axis OIS

4-megapixel front camera

3000mAh battery w/ Quick Charge 3.0

Android 6.0 Marshmallow w/ MIUI 7

144.54 x 69.20 x 7.24 mm

129 g

Black, White, Gold

source: philstar.com

New iPhone 6 screens to enter production as early as May: sources

TOKYO — Apple Inc suppliers will begin mass producing displays as early as May for the next iPhone, expected to be launched third quarter of 2014, with a 4.7-inch screen likely to be produced first while a 5.5-inch version could be delayed, supply chain sources said.

Japan Display Inc, Sharp Corp and South Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd have all been tapped to make the screens, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.

Representatives for the three suppliers and for Apple declined to comment.

Both iPhone 6 screens will be larger than the 4.0-inch panels on Apple’s existing iPhone 5S and 5C models.

Larger iPhones, the subject of months of speculation, would mark yet another incremental tweak to the popular smartphone line and an attempt to catch up to rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

The company that helped to define American technology innovation is under increasing pressure to once again revolutionize the gadget industry, but CEO Tim Cook, while promising only “new product categories” for 2014, has played his cards close to his chest.

Apple’s shares have languished below $600 since November 2012, in part because of worries about smartphone market saturation and its ability to stay at the forefront of tech innovation.

Both iPhone 6 screens are expected to use in-cell touch panel technology – built into the screen and allowing for thinner construction than with standard touch panel films – that was introduced with the iPhone 5, the sources said.

But due to difficulties with in-cell production technology for the larger 5.5-inch size, one of the sources said, a decision was made to begin mass production with the 4.7-inch version alone.

Production of 5.5-inch screens is expected to start several months later, with the possibility of a shift to a film sensor instead of in-cell technology for that size, the source said.

Japan Display will be the first supplier to start production, at its flagship plant at Mobara, east of Tokyo, as early as May, the sources said. The others are due to begin output around June.

source: interaksyon.com

LG Display unveils curved handset display for November launch

SEOUL — LG Electronics Inc’s display unit said on Monday it will start mass production of curved smartphone displays as the South Korean phone maker plans to launch a smartphone with the new screens next month to catch bigger rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

Samsung said last month it would introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October as the world’s top handset maker seeks to set the pace of hardware innovation amid slowing growth in the high-end smartphone market.

Curved displays are in the early stages of development and allow bendable or foldable designs that could eventually allow mobile and wearable gadgets to take new forms that could radically change the high-end smartphone market.

LG Display Co Ltd said on Monday it has started production of a six-inch display curved top to bottom. LG Electronics plans to launch a smartphone with the curved display in November, a source familiar with the matter said.

By contrast, Samsung’s phone will have a display curved side to side, another source who has direct knowledge of the matter said.

In January Samsung, which has taken over from Apple Inc as the global smartphone leader, showed off prototype products with a flexible screen and a display that extends from the side of a device.

Technology firms have yet to figure out how to mass produce the parts cheaply and come up with display panels that can be thin and heat resistant.

Curved displays are already commercially available in large-screen televisions. Samsung and LG Electronics started selling curved OLED TV sets this year priced at about $9,000.

source: interaksyon.com

German group claims to have hacked Apple iPhone fingerprint scanner

BOSTON — A group of German hackers claimed to have cracked the iPhone fingerprint scanner on Sunday, just two days after Apple Inc launched the technology that it promises will better protect devices from criminals and snoopers seeking access.

If the claim is verified, it will be embarrassing for Apple which is betting on the scanner to set its smartphone apart from new models of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and others running the Android operating system of Google Inc.

Two prominent iPhone security experts told Reuters that they believed the German group, known as the Chaos Computing Club, or CCC, had succeeded in defeating Apple’s Touch ID, though they had not personally replicated the work.

One of them, Charlie Miller, co-author of the iOS Hacker’s Handbook, described the work as “a complete break” of Touch ID security. “It certainly opens up a new possibility for attackers.”

Apple representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

CCC, one the world’s largest and most respected hacking groups, posted a video on its website that appeared to show somebody accessing an iPhone 5S with a fabricated print. The site described how members of its biometrics team had cracked the new fingerprint reader, one of the few major high-tech features added to the latest version of the iPhone.

The group said they targeted Touch ID to knock down reports about its “marvels,” which suggested it would be difficult to crack.

“Fingerprints should not be used to secure anything. You leave them everywhere, and it is far too easy to make fake fingers out of lifted prints,” a hacker named Starbug was quoted as saying on the CCC’s site.

The group said it defeated Touch ID by photographing the fingerprint of an iPhone’s user, then printing it on to a transparent sheet, which it used to create a mold for a “fake finger.”

CCC said similar processes have been used to crack “the vast majority” of fingerprint sensors on the market.

“I think it’s legit,” said Dino Dai Zovi,” another co-author of the iOS Hacker’s Handbook. “The CCC doesn’t fool around or over-hype, especially when they are trying to make a political point.”

Touch ID, which was only introduced on the top-of-the-line iPhone 5S, lets users unlock their devices or make purchases on iTunes by simply pressing their finger on the home button. It uses a sapphire crystal sensor embedded in the button.

Data used for verification is encrypted and stored in a secure enclave of the phone’s A7 processor chip.

Two security experts who sponsored an impromptu competition offering cash and other prizes to the first hackers who cracked the iPhone said they had reviewed the information posted on the CCC website, but wanted more documentation.

“We are simply awaiting a full video documentation and walk through of the process that they have claimed,” said mobile security researcher Nick DePetrillo, who started the contest with another security expert, Robert Graham. “When they deliver that video we will review it.”

The two of them each put up $100 toward a prize for the contest winner, then set up a website inviting others to contribute. While the booty now includes more than $13,000 in cash, it was not clear that the CCC would receive the full payout, even if DePetrillo and Graham declared them winners.

A micro venture capital firm known as I/O Capital, which had offered to pay $10,000 of the prize money, issued a press release late on Sunday saying that it would make its own determination about who won the contest.

source: interaksyon.com

Be prepared in an emergency with the SpareOne Plus phone

MANILA, Philippines - The recent flooding in many areas due to heavy rainfall in Luzon has, more than ever, made disaster preparedness a must.

Aside from being aware of flood-prone locations, it is important to have life-saving skills in any environment. Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and there is a real need to be well prepared. When disaster strikes, much depends on survival skills and communication is a tool of extreme importance.

How many times has one been caught in a typhoon or similar disaster where there is no power and no way to recharge cellphones? A hurried text saying “low batt” seems not to bring relief or calm the fear of the person receiving the message. On the contrary, it tends to add anxiety. The SpareOne phone is the simple solution to this dilemma. It is the only phone in the world with a battery that will last for up to 15 years if unused. Take note that ordinary cellphone batteries lose their charge over time even if they are powered off. Not so with the SpareOne phone. It is powered by one battery, the Energizer Ultimate Lithium L91 (included in the package).

For 15 years, one can keep the phone in your car’s glove compartment, in a kitchen drawer, or any other accessible place in an emergency, and it will be ready for use. Once the phone is used, it provides 10 hours of talk time, which can last a long trip on one battery.

The SpareOne Plus emergency phone is simple yet packed with all the features needed for a backup phone. It is contained in a waterproof bag that is floatable and submersible, with talk-through containment and extreme temperature operation, providing you a communication lifeline when all else is potentially destroyed.

It has a LED torchlight (flashlight) which provides up to 24 hours of continuous light, as well as an SOS torchlight that will flash in Morse code to show a call for help in times of distress.




The SpareOne phone has a panic siren that will aid in attracting attention. It is location and alert services-capable. Through a Web interface, the user can locate the SpareOne Plus and emit an alert by e-mail and/or text message to designated recipients.

Its one-touch, large emergency services button is ideal for daily emergency and medical situations, and no SIM is required for emergency numbers. With a SIM, one can also pre-program up to nine numbers of family and friends.

Emergency preparedness has to be simple yet functional. This is where technology plays a critical role through life-saving devices. The SpareOne phone is simple, easy to use, and has many features that make it several tools in one. When all else fails, you can depend on the SpareOne phone to be your communication lifeline to the world.

For more information, visit www.filnippon.com, e-mail at sales@filnippon.com or call +63(2) 893-2142.

source: philstar.com

Throngs greet Apple’s newest iPhones, gold color sells out

Thousands of iPhone enthusiasts queued up at Apple Inc stores around the world on Friday as two new models of the smartphone went on sale, but Apple’s shares ended slightly lower as investors wait for initial sales figures, due as early as next week.

Long lines formed outside stores in Sydney, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco and other cities as Apple broke with tradition and launched two iPhone models – the new top-of-the-line 5S and the less-expensive 5C – on the same day.

Apple watchers said early signs pointed to more demand for the 5S than last year’s new model. But some cautioned that the size of the crowds this year may not be an accurate gauge because consumers were unable to order the more expensive model online ahead of time, as with previous launches.

“While it is likely some of this line is due to not having an early pre-order option for the 5S, we still believe it shows loyalty to the iPhone remains strong among Apple’s installed base,” said ISI Group analyst Brian Marshall. He estimates Apple will sell about 6 million units in the first three days.

Apple sold more 5 million of the previous iPhone 5 units during its opening weekend last year.

A survey done by Piper Jaffray of 416 customers standing in lines outside of stores in New York, San Francisco and Minneapolis found that 95 percent of the people were planning to buy the 5S. Gene Munster, analyst with Piper Jaffray, estimates Apple will sell 5 million to 6 million iPhones over the weekend.

While Apple’s stock dipped one percent by the close of trade, shares of Avago and TriQuint ended higher after they were identified as component suppliers for the new models.

The gold-colored version of the 5S, which also comes in silver and gray, was already sold out as of Friday and will now ship only in October, according to Apple’s website. The gray and silver versions can still ship in 7 to 10 days.

Supplies of both the new models has been disappointing, a source at a U.S. wireless carrier had told Reuters earlier.

Winning chip firms

Analysts have questioned whether the technology of the new top-end 5S is enough to persuade people to trade up. But those concerns did not seem to apply Jimmy Gunawan, the first in line outside an Apple store in Sydney.

“It’s been one year since iPhone 5. It’s about time to upgrade I guess,” he told Reuters TV.

The new iPhones use chips made by Avago Technologies Ltd, TriQuint Semiconductor Inc and Skyworks Solutions Inc, according to repair firm iFixit, which opened up the iPhone 5S and 5C on Thursday.

Broadcom Corp’s chip is used for the touchscreen controller in both phones, iFixit said. All these suppliers also featured in last year’s iPhone 5.

Another teardown expert, Chipworks – which opened up Apple’s A7 chip – found that Samsung produced the application processor while NXP Semiconductor made the new M7 co-processor chip. The iPhone’s M7 can track motion data continuously without heavily draining the battery.

Including the M7 processor on the same chip as the main A7 processor would be more efficient than adding it as a discrete chip and would help the two processors communicate more easily, said Real World Technologies analyst David Kanter.

Investors have also questioned whether Apple has priced its new plastic-backed 5C too high to compete with cheaper smartphones that use Google’s Android operating system, particularly in China and other emerging markets.

The 5C, which comes in a range of bright colors, carries a price tag of $549 for an unlocked 16 GB model in the United States, though Apple has a history of cutting iPhone prices once a model has been on the market for a while, ISI’s Marshall said.

“We believe it will do the same for 5C after initial pent-up demand is met,” he said in a note.

Tech analysts this week praised the fingerprint scanner in the 5S model, which lets users unlock their devices or make purchases by simply pressing their finger.

The sensor technology that powers the fingerprint scanner in the new iPhone 5S was developed by AuthenTec, which was bought by Apple a year ago, iFixit said.

Apple shares initially traded up, hitting the day’s high of $478.55 on the Nasdaq before easing back to close 1 percent lower at $467.41.

source: interaksyon.com

iPhone 5S fingerprint scanner: Two thumbs up!

SAN FRANCISCO — The fingerprint reader on Apple Inc’s top-end iPhone 5S received an early thumbs up for ease of use from two influential reviewers, helping dispel concerns about the scanning technology which has been notoriously unreliable in other cellphones.

Apple’s scanner is seen as a first step toward realizing the full potential for biometrics in personal electronics, heightening security for applications like banking and shopping while doing away with multiple passwords.

“The best part is that it actually works – every single time, in my tests,” wrote reviewer David Pogue of the New York Times.

“It’s nothing like the balky, infuriating fingerprint-reader efforts of earlier cellphones. It’s genuinely awesome; the haters can go jump off a pier.”

The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg was also enthusiastic, calling it simple and reliable. But he noted that the gadget would inexplicably prompt him for a password when swiping a finger to make purchases, which he blamed on a bug.

“I have come to like it and consider it a step forward, despite a few issues,” he said of the overall device.

Re-tooled iOS7 mobile software, a better camera, a more useful voice-activated “Siri” personal digital assistant and a faster processor combined to make the iPhone 5S the best smartphone on the market, he added.

However, he argued that owners of the previous-generation iPhone 5 may not have a compelling reason to buy the latest device unless they specifically wanted the fingerprint reader.

Many industry analysts view the iPhone 5S and the cheaper 5C as being modest improvements on the previous generation, reviving fears that Apple’s most innovative days may be behind it. They said the mere fact of a fingerprint scanner was unlikely by itself to make the gadget a sure win in a crowded market.

Apple has embedded the scanner into the iPhone’s home button, while other mobile devices usually have it on the back, making it awkward for the user and increasing the number of failed attempts.

Archrival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and fellow South Korean electronics manufacturer LG Electronics Inc have had problems incorporating the technology into finished products.

source: interaksyon.com

Apple iOS 7 – “Most Significant Update Since The Original iPhone”

When the internal strife over Apple‘s pre-mature launch of its Maps app finally boiled over late last year, many analysts discounted the Cupertino-base electronic giant to bounce back from such a publicized failure any time soon. Yet today, less than a year later, they’re all singing the company’s praise once again. For the most part, it is due to the unveiling of iOS 7 today at WWDC 2013, Apple’s latest mobile operating system. Hailed as “…the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone…” by Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, the iOS 7 is “a pure representation of simplicity” yet “takes full advantage of technologies.”

To salvage any creditability after the Maps app debacle last year, Apple looked to its famed design team and Jony Ives, the company’s senior vice president of Design. With a clean slate, the team went on to re-design every aspect of the operating system, right down to its typography and color palette. One of the first thing you’ll notice is the new home screen and translucent features. Though flatter since Ives did away with the original skeumorphic design, the layering arrangement actually allows a “parallax effect” in conjunction to the device’s movement.




Other improvements include:

• Control Center – With just one swipe from the bottom of your screen, you have access to controls for Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Do Not Disturb, and the ability to adjust screen brightness, pause or play a song, jump to the next track and stream your music with AirPlay. Control Center also gives you instant access to apps such as Clock, Camera, Calculator and the Flashlight.
• Notification Center – now available from the Lock screen so you can see all your notifications with a simple swipe, and the new Today feature in Notification Center gives you an at-a-glance view of your day with a summary of the important details such as weather, traffic, meetings and events.
• Multitasking – Users have the ability to switch between their apps in a more visual and intuitive way, and iOS 7 pays attention to which apps you use most and automatically keeps your content up to date in the background.
• AirDrop – When you’ve got something you want to share, AirDrop shows you your contacts close by. Just select who you want to share with and AirDrop does the rest. AirDrop transfers are peer-to-peer so you can use it anywhere, without any network or set up required, and transfers are fully encrypted so your content is protected and private.
• Camera – Features filters so you can add real-time photo effects. The Camera app now also includes a square camera option, and you can quickly and easily switch between your four cameras—video, photo, square and panorama—with just a swipe.
• Moments – A new way to automatically organize your photos and videos based on time and location.
• iCloud Keychain – Passwords and credit card information are securely stored and available on all your devices, so navigating password protected sites or autofilling during transactions is simple and secure.
• Siri – With new male and female voices and includes Twitter search integration. Also has Wikipedia integration, providing access to the world’s most popular Internet reference site. Siri offers Bing web search within the app and the ability to change device settings and play back voicemail.
• iTunes Radio – Have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalized just for you. iTunes Radio evolves based on the music you play and download. The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalized your experience becomes. iTunes Radio also gives you access to exclusive “first listen” premieres from top selling artists, Siri integration plus the ability to buy anything you hear with just one tap. The free Internet radio service features over 200 stations and accessible on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV.

The iOS 7 beta software and SDK are both available to software developers now. The rest of us will have to wait till this fall for its complete version.

source: freshnessmag.com

Facebook mulls own smartphone showcasing social network

Nowadays, Facebook users post more photos, write more status updates and hit the like button more often from mobile devices than they do from computers. So it was almost inevitable that Facebook would introduce a smartphone that put its social network front and center.

Thursday, Facebook plans to unveil the first smartphone designed to showcase the social network. The phone, made by HTC, uses a version of Google's Android software, according to two people briefed on the announcement, which will be made at a news conference at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif.

The software is designed so that some of the core features of the phone, like the camera, will be built around Facebook's services, according to one of the people, who is a Facebook employee. Both people briefed on Facebook's plans spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the product before the formal announcement.

Derick Mains, a Facebook spokesman, declined to share details of the event. But he said it would be a "significant mobile-focused announcement."

The invitation sent to members of the media says, "Come see our new home on Android."

For Facebook and any other online business that is supported by ads, mobile is a tough puzzle to solve. It is difficult to get people to look at advertisements on smaller screens, where display space is limited, without becoming too intrusive.



The Facebook employee familiar with the announcement said that when the Facebook phone is turned on, it will immediately display a Facebook user's home screen. A phone with a strong Facebook focus would prompt customers to use Facebook more than competing apps and services.

But the success of such a device would depend on how much support the handset got from wireless carriers, said Chetan Sharma, an independent telecommunications analyst who consults for carriers. The carriers get to choose which devices are sold in their stores, as well as how prominently to promote them.

''Unless the phone is in front of the consumers in stores, it's hard to see how it will gain traction," Sharma said.

source: philstar.com

Second Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8 arrives in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The second and most affordable Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 620, is now in the country.

The much-awaited addition to the Nokia Lumia range offers a more fun, youthful appeal, and compact design.

The Nokia Lumia 620 comes with exchangeable shells that use a dual-shot color technique to deliver new color combinations. Dual shot adds a second layer of colored, transparent or translucent polycarbonate on top of a base layer to produce secondary color blends and depth effects.

Like the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the Nokia Lumia 620 boasts exclusive camera lenses that transform the creative power of its five-megapixel main camera and VGA front-facing camera.



Cinemagraph adds simple animations to still photographs, while Smart Shoot creates a single, perfect shot from multiple images, even removing unwanted objects from the picture.

Also new to the Nokia Lumia 620 is PhotoBeamer, a free app that makes it easy for photos from the smartphone’s camera roll to be shared instantly on any Internet connected screen by pointing the camera at the PhotoBeamer QR code.




The Nokia Lumia 620 also features the full suite of Nokia navigation applications, including Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive.

Hold up the Nokia Lumia 620 and the exclusive Nokia City Lens will instantly display information on the local surroundings overlaid onto buildings as seen through the camera viewfinder.

Aside from these exclusive experiences, users can get the most out of this new Nokia Lumia smartphone with Windows Phone 8. Do more with Microsoft Office, Xbox Live, 7GB SkyDrive cloud storage and surf the Web faster and safer with Internet Explorer 10.

Also enjoy customizable Live Tiles update direct from the Start Screen, People Hub that brings all personal contact information in a single location, and the Me Tile that allows people to check into their location, post an update, set chat status, and monitor notifications across Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The suggested retail price of the Nokia Lumia 620 is P11,600. Make a statement in black, cyan, green, white and yellow.

source: philstar.com

Get the perfect gifts with Nokia’s pre-holiday sale

MANILA, Philippines - Nokia is holding a pre-holiday sale with up to 50 percent off on nine phone models today and tomorrow only in select Nokia Stores.

Take your pick from the entry-level Nokia 1280 for consumers who need a basic, no-frills mobile phone.

The Nokia X1-01 is a slightly higher upgrade that provides the same simplicity but gives you clear, long-lasting music and Dual SIM feature.

Also included are select models from the Asha line, all with Easy Swap Dual SIM. Choose from the entry-level Nokia Asha 200, a colorful QWERTY messaging device; the Nokia Asha 202, with intuitive touch screen; or the Nokia Asha 305, a full touch-screen phone with 40 free EA games ready for download from the Nokia Store.

The 1GHz processor in the Nokia 500 with full touch screen gives you faster access to what you need — apps, Internet, social networks. Plus you get Nokia Maps and a five-megapixel camera.

On the high-end, there is the much talked about Nokia 808 Pureview which boasts of a 41-megapixel camera sensor with Nokia PureView imaging technology and Carl Zeiss optics.




There are also select Nokia Lumia models up for grabs. Take your pick from the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 900 running on Windows Phone OS.

Both models have the same unibody design with the Lumia 900 boasting a bigger 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display and 1.4GHz processor.  They come in black and white and standout colors like cyan and magenta.

The two-day sale happens only in Nokia Store SM Mall of Asia, Nokia Store Festival Mall and SM Dasmariñas. It’s first-come, first-served and strictly no reservations.

The sale is open for cash and straight transactions and only those in-line and in-store are entitled to avail themselves of the promo.

For more details, go to http://www.facebook.com/NokiaPhilippines.

source: philstar.com