12 November, 2011

TechPinas

TechPinas


Samsung Galaxy Note vs. Apple iPhone 4S in the Philippines, Soon! Specs Fight, Up!

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 09:23 AM PST

If the iPhone 4S Smart Postpaid year-end launch information fed to us yesterday by our insider were to be believed, then the much-awaited Samsung Galaxy Note vs. Apple iPhone 4S Face-off in the Philippines could very well happen and culminate this December!





Now that's going to be a true flagship battle, a clash of the Titans!

While we're all waiting for Smart Communications to make its official announcement on Apple iPhone 4S (or for Globe Telecom to pull off a shocker, perhaps), don't you think we should use the time to pit the two phones against each other in an early specs fight?

TP Specs Comparison Table: Samsung Galaxy Note vs. iPhone 4S
Detail/Feature Samsung Galaxy Note Apple iPhone 4S
Availability and Price in Philippines Out by Mid-November 2011
Price upon release --
Php 35,990 
Yet to be released (TBA)
Dimensions/
Weight
146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm
178 g
115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm
140 g
Screen/
Features
5.3 inches, 800 x 1280 pixels
Super AMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
- Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass
- Stylus support - S Pen
- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Three-axis gyro sensor
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
3.5 inches, 640 x 960 pixels
LED-backlit IPS TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
- Scratch-resistant oleophobic surface
- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Three-axis gyro sensor
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
Operating System Android 2.3 Gingerbread iOS 5
CPU1.4GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 proccessor, Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos chipset 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, Apple A5 chipset
Internal storage 16/32 GB storage options 16/32/64 GB storage options
Wifi Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
3G Yes, HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps Yes, HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.8 Mbps
MicroSD Card
Slot
Yes, supports up to 32GB No
Camera 8 MegaPixels, 3264x2448 pixels, with autofocus and LED flash
- Touch focus, geo-tagging
Video capture: Yes, Full HD 1080p@30fps, LED video light, geo-tagging
Secondary camera: Yes, for video calling
8 MegaPixels, 3264x2448 pixels, with autofocus and LED flash
- Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection
Video capture: ull HD 1080p@30fps, LED video light, geo-tagging
Secondary camera: Yes, for video calling
Accelerometer Yes Yes
3-axis Gyroscope Yes Yes
Digital CompassYes Yes
GPRS/EDGE Yes Yes
GPS Yes Yes
Bluetooth Yes, Bluetooth v3.0+HS Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
Built-in MicroUSB Port Yes, v2.0 MHL No
Audio Jack Yes, 3.5mm Yes, 3.5mm
HDMI Port No No
Stereo FM Radio Yes No
Games and Apps Yes, via Android Market Yes, via AppStore
Java Yes No
Browser - Flash support Yes No
Battery Type Li-Ion 2500mAh Li-Po 1420mAh

Strictly in terms of technical specifications, it appears Samsung Galaxy Note pretty much runs circles around iPhone 4S; Processor, camera, screen size, display quality, number of ports... name it. Specs-wise, it's perhaps safe to say that iPhone 4S has got nothing on Samsung Galaxy Note.

Now, as for the design, operating system and overall ecosystem, those departments call for separate entries requiring lots of photos and videos and even a whole separate discussion board or a live debate altogether. Let's not go there -- in the meantime, at least.

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Cherry Mobile Candy vs. Samsung Galaxy Y : Cheapest Android Phones Specs Fight!

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 10:44 PM PST

Peterson S. from Metro Manila emailed me this question just this morning:
"[Hello po, Sir TP! Nung una po iniisip ko bumili ng Samsung Galaxy Y dahil mura pero nung nakita ko yung Cherry Mobile Candy sa ibang blog napaisip ko kasi mukhang OK rin at mas mura pa. Ano po ba ang mas maganda sa dalawa?]"

trans. "Hello, Sir TP! At first, I was thinking about buying Samsung Galaxy Y because it's cheap but after seeing Cherry Mobile Candy in another blog, I'm now thinking twice about it because the latter looks OK and is even cheaper. Which of the two is better?"

--------

Hi Peterson! Thanks for the inquiry!

To answer your question and in the spirit of public service, here's TP's Cherry Mobile Candy vs. Samsung Galaxy Y Specs Comparison. (Yes, it is important to stick to straight-forward facts when comparing phones.)

TP Specs Comparison Table: Samsung Galaxy Mini vs. Samsung Galaxy Y
Detail/Feature Cherry Mobile Candy Samsung Galaxy Y
Photo

Availability and Price in Philippines Arriving by End of November
Price in Malls - Php 3,699
Now out in the Philippines
Current Price in Malls - Php 5,990
Dimensions/
Weight
TBA - will most likely be thicker and bigger than SGY 104 x 58 x 11.5 mm
97.5 grams
Screen/
Features
2.8 inches (~133 ppi pixel density)
240 x 320 pixels,
TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors
- no multi-touch support
3 inches (~133 ppi pixel density)
240 x 320 pixels,
TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors
- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
- Multi-touch input method
- Touch-Sensitive Controls
- TouchWiz User Interface
Operating System Upon Release Android OS, v2.2 (Froyo) Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
CPU416 MHz processor 832 MHz processor
Internal storage 256 MB ROM, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB, ships with 2GB 160 MB, expandable via microSD, supports up to 32GB, ships with 2GB SDcard
Wifi Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/, Wi-Fi hotspot Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
3G No Yes, HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
MicroSD Yes, Supports up to 32GB Yes, Supports up to 32GB
Camera 1.3 MegaPixels, LED flash (to be confirmed)
Video capture: VGA (to be confirmed)
Secondary camera: No
2 MegaPixels, no flash
Video capture: QVGA 15 frames per second
Secondary camera: No
Accelerometer Yes Yes
Digital Compass No No
EDGE Yes Yes
GPRS Yes Yes
Bluetooth Yes, v2.1 with A2DP Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
Built-in MicroUSB Port Yes, v2.0 Yes, v2.0
Audio Jack Yes, 3.5mm Yes, 3.5mm
HDMI Port No No
Stereo FM Radio Yes Yes
Games and Apps Yes, via Android Market Yes, via Android Market
Java Yes, via Java MIDP emulator Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
Default Browser - Flash support No (possible via SkyFire Browser) No (possible via SkyFire Browser)
Battery Type TBA Li-Ion 1200 mAh

As expected, Samsung Galaxy Y pretty much slays Cherry Mobile Candy in practically all departments, be it in processor speed, camera specs and most importantly, the type of touchscreen.

Type of touchscreen presents perhaps the biggest difference between the two. Cherry Mobile Candy comes with a plastic Resistive Screen, which requires a slight pressure to elicit a response and doesn't support multi-touch gestures. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy Y comes with a glass Capacitive Screen, which needs merely the slightest touch for input and supports multi-touch.

Now, which phone is better? Overall, it's Samsung Galaxy Y -- of course. Clearly.

However, one should also note that Cherry Mobile Candy is also more than Php 2,000 cheaper.

So given these info, which phone are more you likely to get this Yuletide?

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Get The LG Optimus Black at Php 2,000 Off! Offered Only Thru Online Promo!

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 09:34 PM PST

I just want to remind all of my TP friends and all LG fans across the Philippines that LG Mobile's Optimus Black Online Promo is on-going only from October 24 - December 18, 2011. So if you have plans to get an amazing LG Android phone this Yuletide, you might as well do it soonest via this promotion and get unbelievable discounts. Just log on to lgoptimus.ph on November 14-20, November 21-30, December 2-8, and December 9-18, 2011.

The nearest dates to avail are from November 14-20, 2011 - that's starting this coming Monday. You can enjoy a whopping Php 2,000 off the regular SRP of the ultra-slim LG Optimus Black, bringing the price down to just Php 15,990 from Php 17,990. That's already a steal, don't you think?! Php 2,000 savings can translate to more gifts for yourself or your loved ones this holiday season, more decors for your Christmas tree, or even an additional Christmas recipe for your Noche Buena! I mean, just think about all the things you can buy with Php 2,000: new clothes, more toys for your inaanaks, or even a new watch!

As most of you already know, LG Optimus Black is one of my most favorite LG handsets. On top of being one of the slimmest Android phones ever, LG Optimus Black flaunts a 4-inch high-resolution NOVA display with an incredible 700-nits of brightness! Having a screen this bright means that you shouldn't have any problems seeing the display of LG Optimus Black outdoors - even under the noontime sun! And when you can clearly see the screen of your phone, you can do more (and get more) things done anywhere, anytime.

So what are you waiting for?! Check out the promo now via this link.


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Starcraft II Tournament Controversies and Anomalies Anger Gaming Fans?!

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 08:15 PM PST

Got this from Rico's TechnoGraph : The Pinoy Tech Blog.

Apparently, there's now a horrible controversy haunting Starcraft II gaming circles not only in the Philippines but in the whole of Asia Pacific.

The international (or at least regional) gaming community is outraged over the mismanagement of the recently concluded Philippine Pro Starcraft League (PPSL), which was held last November 7-8, 2011 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati. Organized by [Gus] Ledesma, the PPSL still has outstanding financial commitments, which haven't been resolved because Gus is apparently nowhere to be found.

[...] Among the alleged irregularities include the disappearance of sponsorship money and match-fixing.

To be more specific, the supposed tourney anomalies include,

1. Disastrous event management during the tournament itself, highlighted by bad sound system, 9 hours start time delay, among other things.
2. Alleged match-fixing wherein members of the local team were said to be evenly distributed to increase chances of someone from the roster advancing further into the competition. (Note that this has already been disproved.)
3. Total disappearance of a promised Heroes of Newerth concurrent tourney along with its Php 100,000 prize pool.
4. Botched-up Aussie qualifier results.
5. More than Php 500,000 of unpaid bills from plane tickets and accommodations of foreign nationals who were invited to participate and cover the event. It's so horrible that "Justin 'TheGunrun' Ignacio, a US video game commentator who flew in to cover the event for the IPL live stream, even ended up paying part of the hotel bill."

So the question is, "Where have all the money from sponsors gone? And following this disaster, can the Philippine gaming community still redeem its reputation in the international gaming scene?"

Read the full story, via TechnoGraph : The Pinoy Tech Blog.

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