HTC One X+ and HTC Windows Phone 8X to be released on the Philippines on November 3, 2012

Yugatech, who is very reliable on this kind of information, reports that we should expect the HTC One X+ and HTC Windows Phone 8X to be available for sale in the Philippine's by November 3, 2012.

HTC releases their new Android phones on the second quarter of each year, and an updated flagship phone is released at the last quarter of each year. The HTC One X+ follows HTC's tradition of the HTC Desire HD and HTC Sensation XE, the upgraded models released at the end of 2010 and 2011.

The HTC One X+ is an upgraded One X. It has the same size and shape but comes in a new black (red themed) color scheme as opposed to the grey and white color schemes for the HTC One X. The HTC One X+ weighs 5 grams more mainly due to a larger 2100 mAh battery, which is larger than the 1800 mAh battery on the One X. More room was made for the battery by using thinner Gorilla Glass 2, instead of Gorilla Glass. Other than that, the HTC One X+ comes with a faster 1.7 GHz quad core  processor. This should help it catch up to the Samsung Galaxy S III both in terms of benchmarks and battery life.

I expect the price to be somewhere between Php27,900 to Php32,900.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is one of the new Windows Phone 8 devices which brings HD displays and multicore processing to Windows Phones. It is also likely to be the first dual core Qualcomm Krait powered device to be officially released in the Philippines. It should be priced at the same price range as the HTC One X+.

New Smart LTE Plans

Smart's LTE plan was originally Php3,500 a month for 10 GB of data with a speed of 42 Mbps. 

Globe Telecom launched it LTE services a month later with the following packages:

• Tattoo Black Plan 1799 - Plan 1799 comes with free USB dongle and runs at speeds of up to 28 Mbps with a 12 GB cap.
• Tattoo Black Elite 2499 - Plan 2499 comes with free USB dongle and runs at speeds of up to 42 Mbps with a 15 GB cap.

In response Smart has revised its LTE offerings as follows:

• Smart LTE Plan 1749 - Plan 1749 gives you 42 Mbps with a 10 GB cap. 
• Smart LTE Plan 3500 - Plan 3500 comes with free USB dongle and runs at speeds of up to 42 Mbps with a 21 GB cap.

Smart Galaxy Note II now available on pre-order from Smart Communications

Samsung's new phablet, the Android powered Samsung Galaxy Note is now available for pre-order from Smart Communications at this page.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch HD (720 x 1280) display. The Galaxy Note is designed which is designed to be used with a stylus and comes with software optimized for that purpose. With a 1.6 GHz quad core processor and  2 GB of RAM it is also Samsung's most powerful hand held device. A 3100 mAh battery is used to power the large screen and powerful processor and does a good job of that. GSMArena's battery life tests gives it almost 17 hours of talk time, almost 9 hours of web browsing and over 11 hours of video playback.

October 2012 - High End Smartphone Buyers Guide

This first part of this article, covering smartphones priced up to Php15,000, can be found here, while the second part of this article can be found here. Not much has changed since last month. The new iPhone 5 is still not available here and we don't have the new Samsung Galaxy Note II yet either.

8. Sony LT26i Xperia S - Unofficial Nexus (Php22,800 to Php24,990)

The Sony Xperia S is still a good starting point. It is a nice enough Android smartphone. The 4.3-inch HD (720 x 1280) display has the highest pixel resolution of any smartphone in the market. It comes with a good 12 MP camera. Internal storage is a 32 GB, which should be enough for most, even if not user expandable. The battery is a decent size 1750 mAh unit.

But inside, it is more of a great 2011 smartphone, than a 2012 flagship. The HSDPA 14.4 Mbps is radio is a step down from the HSDPA+ found in all of this years top smartphones. The 1.5 GHz dual core processor is a Qualcomm S3, the same one found in last years HTC Sensation XE, and does not compare well with the new Qualcomm S4 and quad core smartphones.

Google's top Android guy, Jean Baptiste Queru, announced that this phone would be getting updates directly from Google, giving it de facto Nexus status. So instead of comparing it against the HTC One X and Samsun Galaxy S III, we are now comparing it against the Google Galaxy Nexus. Compared to the Google Galaxy Nexus, the Sony Xperia S is a very nice alternative indeed for those who want a better camera and more storage.    

9. HTC One X - Second best (Php25,500 to Php27,900)

The higher end Sony offerings are hard to recommend for as they are powered by Qualcomm S3 systems. The LG Optimus 4X HD wins the hardware battle, matching the  HTC One X specifications wise, and offering in addition a MicroSD card slot and a larger user replaceable battery. But the battery life tests of the LG Optimus 4X HD are disappointing (Source: GSM Arena) and LG's record on software updates is deplorable. Right now, in terms of software support, I rate LG at the bottom.

Who supports their devices best?  

1. Google with Nexus devices

2. Sony

3. HTC

4. Samsung (good on flagship phones, deplorable at all other categories)

5. LG 

Overall, the HTC One X gets my recommendation by a hair. It is a very good phone for the asking price with a 4.7-inch HD (720 x 1280) display, a quad core Tegra 3 based processor, 32 GB of internal storage, fast HSDPA+ 21.1 Mbps connectivity and a good 8 MP camera.

10. Samsung Galaxy S III - The best smartphone ever built (Php29,900 to Php32,990)

This phone has no weak spots. It has a beautiful 4.8-inch HD (720 x 1280) SuperAMOLED display.  The 8 MP camera excellent in terms of quality as well as features. Connectivity is via a fast HSDPA+ 21.1 Mbps radio. The Samsung built Exynos Quad is substantially faster than the Tegra 3 found in the HTC One X. It comes with a large user replaceable 2000 mAh battery, which combined with the power efficient Exynos Quad gives it better battery than life the HTC's, LG's and Sony's offerings. It is the best smartphone in the market. The most you can complain about is that it comes with only 16 GB of internal storage, but it is expandable via a Micro SD card slot. 

Drawbacks... well will cost you a lot more than anything else.

Samsung Galaxy Note? I think the Samsung Galaxy Note should still be on this list, and I have seen it for as low as Php25,000 with an official warranty, but with the Galaxy Note II being available in a few days, I guess I would wait and check out the price of the new one.

Sony Xperia miro - Sony is leaving no stone unturned

I just finished writing the entry level smartphone buyers guide a few days ago, when the Sony Xperia miro became available in the Philippine market. It really looks like Sony is launching a very serious challenge to Samsung for the in the top smartphone manufacturers crown. While that is a pretty tall mountain to scale, hardware wise I think Sony is winning.

The Sony Xperia tipo is already my favorite entry level smartphone with a suggested retail price of Php7,690, and available as low as Php7,150 with an official warranty. At risk of offending some readers, anything less is not worth the money. Anything cheaper will be running an old version of Android or Symbian.

The Sony Xperia tipo comes out of the box with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If the Xperia tipo is never updated during its like, Android 4.0 will keep it a viable platform for the next two years or so, in terms of software compatibility. Being a newer phone, and given Sony's track record in updates, it is also a decent chance of getting update an OS update.

The Xperia miro costs more than the Xperia tipo with a suggested retail price of Php10,490, which is much higher than the Xperia tipo. On the shelves, we have seen the new Xperia Miro at just Php9,100 with an official warranty. This makes the price gap less than 2K.

Sony Xperia miro quick specs:

• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 3.5-inch display with a 320 x 480 resolution
• 800 MHz Qualcomm processor on MSM7225A
• Adreno 200 graphics 
• 4GB internal storage (2.5 GB user available)
• microSD slot up to 32GB
• 512 MB RAM
• 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and Auto focus
• VGA front camera
• HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• WiFi and WiFi Hotspot functionality
• aGPS
• USB 2.0, Micro USB, Bluetooth
• FM Radio
• 1500 mAh battery

For 2K more the Xperia miro gives you a larger display (3.5 versus 3.2 inches), a better camera (5 MP versus 3.2 MP), and a front camera.  One big difference I think, is instead of the chunk 13 mm thickness of the Xperia tipo, the Xperia miro is a trim 9.9 mm.

I still like the Xperia tipo, but if budget allows, the Xperia miro is work the extra 2K or so.

October 2012 - 15K to 22.5K, Smartphone Buyers Guide

Part one of this article, covering phones priced as Php15,000 or less is found at this link.

5. Google Galaxy Nexus - The Nexus phone is always a good choice (Php16,600 in the Grey Market, Php30,000 from Smart Communications).

The guides I write are usually based on prices from phone with official warranties. The Galaxy Nexus is the exception. At Php30,000 from Smart Communications, there are better phones in the market. At Php16,600 in the gray market, you get a 720p (720 x 1280) Super AMOLED display which measures in at 4.65-inches.

Inside you get 1.2 GHz dual core ARM Cortex A9 processor on a TI OMAP chipset backed by 1 GB of RAM.  It is also the cheapest HSDPA+ 21.1 Mbps phone on our list. It is not the fastest smartphone in the market, but it will outrun anything else at this price range in every respect.

Storage is 16 GB with is not user expandable. The battery is a good sized 1750 mAh. All this comes in a frame just 8.9 mm thin. Basically, this is not only the Nexus phone, it is also the least expensive Super phone in the market. It is what I would probably buy, if I were replacing my phone now.

6. Sony LT22i Xperia P - An almost perfect balance (P16,990 to Php19,990)

If you want a warranty, the Sony LT22i Xperia P is a good alternative. It has a 4-inch qHD (540 x 960) display, a dual core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB or storage (non expandable/13 GB user available) and a very decent 8 MP shooter upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. Last year this phone would qualify as a companies flagship phone.

The form factor makes it terrible compelling, combining a 4-inch display with a frame just 59.5 mm wide and 10.5 mm thick it is a very handy package while offering excellent functionality. 

The only chink in this phones armor is the small 1305 mAh battery which result in below average battery life. Still I have been living with an HTC Desire HD, with a smaller 1230 mAh battery for 19 months, so it is not a deal breaker.

7. HTC One S - Two versions (Php18,800- Php24,900)

The HTC One S was one of the most anticipated smartphones last summer. But when it finally arrived, instead of getting the version with a 1.5 GHz dual core Krait processor, the Philippines got the version with a 1.7 GHz dual core Scorpion processor. The slower clocked dual core Krait version is the more powerful and being manufactured with the new 28 nm process, it is the more power efficient version.

The version with the 1.7 GHz dual core Scorpion processor is not bad, but with prices starting at 25K, it was a bit expensive. Now, the prices have dropped to Php20,500 with an official manufacturers warranty and at that price it makes a nice alternative to the Google Galaxy Nexus. It comes with a 4.3-inch dHD (540 x 960) Super AMOLED display, 16 GB or storage, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 MP camera and 21.1 Mbps connectivity all in a super slim 7.8 mm package. Overall the Google Galaxy Nexus is a better deal, so this is a good choice only if you want a phone with an official warranty. This is not a good choice for those who plan to root their phone having limited ROM support.

For those who want to root their phones, the more coveted version 1.5 GHz dual core Krait processor is available on the grey market (meaning no manufacturers warranty) for as low as Php18,800. As compared to the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus has a better display while the HTC One S 'Krait' is almost twice as fast and has longer battery life.

HTC One X+

The HTC One X was launched and acclaimed as the best smartphone ever built last May 2012. Unfortunately, it held that title for one short month, until the Samsung Galaxy S III came out and clobbered in sales. 

So what do you do when you get Samsung'ed? Go back to the drawing boards and send something new up the production line. That is the HTC One X+.

The HTC One X+ looks like the HTC One X with a revised color scheme. Since the 1.5 GHz quad core processor on a Tegra 3 chipset fell a bit short of the 1.4 GHz quad core on the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC upped the ante by putting instead a 1.7 GHz quad core unit on the One X+. 

Another area where the HTC One X fell just a tad bit short of the Samsung Galaxy S III was battery life. HTC decided to replace the 1800 mAh unit on the One X with a larger 2100 mAh unit on the One X+. The One X+ is the same size as the One X, but tips the scales by just 5 grams more. The larger battery was crammed in by using a thinner Gorilla Glass 2 protected display.

You will also see minor tweaks the camera's and a 64 GB variant available. Not forgetting the software front, you have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

This will be released in South East Asia in November 2012.

So what do you do when you get Samsung'ed? Come back with vengeance.

October 2012 - 15K or Lower, Smartphone Buyers Guide

When looking for a budget smartphone these days running a current operating system, which should serve you well for two years, your only real choice are Android phones. The good thing, is that is not a bad choice and there are good offerings available.

All the phones listed here run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or have updates available now

1. Sony ST21i Xperia tipo - Good enough for smartphone/PDA use (Php7,150 to Php7,690)

There are cheaper smartphones, but really none are worth your money. Sony Sony ST21i Xperia tipo is where you should start your search. 

The Sony ST21i Xperia tipo runs Android 4.03, Ice Cream Sandwich ("ICS"), so you should have no problem with Android app compatibility. It comes with a small but sharp 3.2-inch HVGA (320 x 480). The battery is a good sized 1500 mAh unit which when combined with the frugal power requirements of the small screen will result in excellent battery life. The 2.5 GB user available internal storage is expandable with MicroSD cards up to 32 GB being officially supported.

It is not a terrible fast device with a single core 800 MHz ARM Corter-A5 processor. The 3.2 MP camera is just best used in emergencies. 

If your purpose in getting a smartphone is for the traditional smartphone uses: communication and organization, there really is no reason to spend more. This phone is great for calls, SMS, email, instant messaging and making calls over VoIP, with the only drawback being the absence of a front camera for video calls. It will also keep your calendar and tasks organized and even keep them in sync with other devices or other people.

2. Lenovo P700 - There are more reasons to buy this than it dual SIM capability (Php10,900 to Php10,999)

If we were to spend more than the Php7K price for the Sony ST21i Xperia tipo, we would really like a larger display. The Lenovo P700 gives you that at a bit over Php3K more. 

This Android ICS powered smartphone has the same performance level as the tipo. Your additional 3K will get you a much larger 4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display, a larger 2500 mAh battery and it also comes with a front camera. In other respects, it is similar to the Xperia tipo with the same 2.5 GB of user expandable storage and a mediocre camera.

The bigger screen is a good enough reason to get this one. By the way, it is a dual SIM phone too.

3. Sony Xperia go - Dual core power (Php12,990 to Php14,990) 

Sony has several excellent mid price dual core offerings, like the Sony Xperia U and Sola. The U is the cheapest, but the absence of a MicroSD card slot to expand the 4 GB internal storage is probably a deal breaker. Enter the Xperia go.

The Sony Xperia go has a decent sized 3.5-inch display, with a HVGA (320 x 480) resolution.  This makes the screen smaller and the resolution lower than the Lenovo P700. HVGA looks fine on a 3.5-inch display, so the real issue is the screen size.

In exchange for the smaller display, you have 1 GHz dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor which is the main reason to get this phone over the Lenovo P700. It also comes with a decent 5 MP autofocus camera with a flash, as well as a secondary camera. The Sony Xperia go also provides more internal user available storage, at 4 GB (expandable via a MicroSD card) and has USB-on-the-Go support allowing you to connect it with USB Flash drives.

The only part I am not to crazy about is the smaller than average 1305 mAh battery, which is the same issue I have with the Sony Xperia U and Sola. An this is where the Sony Xperia go is a better choice than the Sony Xperia U and Sola. These two phone comes with higher resolution WVGA (480 x 800/854) displays combined with small 1320 mAh batteries. Given the small battery I would prefer the Sony Xperia go with its lower resolution display. The lower resolution display will use less power and result in better battery life.

As a bonus, the Xperia go, is IP67 certified to be dust and water resistant, making this a though phone. Despite its though status, this phone is just 9.8 mm thick. 

4. Sony Xperia Sola - Want a higher resolution dual core device? (Php12,990 to Php15,990)

If the HVGA display of the Sony Xperia go puts you off, there is a good alternative with the Xperia sola.

The Xperia sola has a larger 3.7 inch 480 x 854 display, provides the same dual core punch and almost the same specifications as the Xperia go. You do loose a front camera, and the dust and water resistant nature of the Xperia go.

I would recommend a go, but if the display puts you off. Get the sola.

To be continued. 

Ainol Novo 7 Flame Android Jelly Bean Tablet

Ainol has released a continuos stream of low cost tablets, with each generation offering more up-market offerings. Ainol's newest flagship is the Ainol Novo Flame. For the asking price of Php9,999 the Flame has decent specifications:

OS: Android 4.02 out of the box with a Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update available
Display: 7 inch IPS screen, 1280*800 pixel
Storage: 16GB

MicroSD card slot: Yes

RAM: 1GB DDR3



CPU:. 1.5GHz
 dual core AMLogic AML8726-M6 

GPU: Dual Core Mali40
Primary 

Camera:  5.0 Megapixel Auto Foucus with LED Flash
Secondary (Front) Camera: 5.0 Megapixel
Connectivity: WiFi
Ports: 3.5 mm earphone jack, Mini USB and HDMI out
Battery: 5000 mAh

The Ainol Novo 7 Flame has a steel case back, giving it a more premium look than other similarly priced offerings.

The tablet is a reasonable 10.6mm
 thin and weighs in a just 336g.

Sony is now rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the Xperia Go, U and Sola.

In terms of software updates, I think Sony is now the top Android manufacturer in this regard. Sony does not just take care of its top of the line phones, but even humble offerings like the Sony Live with Walkman got upgraded to Android 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich").

Sony is now rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich updates for it mid-to-entry level range 2012 phones, the Xperia Go, U and Sola.

Hello everyone,

Today we’re starting our software rollout for Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola including Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 upgrade and new unique media applications. The rollout will continue over the next few weeks in markets globally.

Some of the cool features and functionality you can look forward to include:

• New ways to experience your tunes, images, videos and films with Sony’s media applications – “WALKMAN”, “Album” and “Movies”
• Extended standby mode, increasing standby time by up to four times (depending on user-profile and data consumption)
• Lock screen with improved functionality
• Resizable widgets for improved personalization
• Improved control of your mobile data consumption
• Recent Apps button for a clear overview of your applications

I’m also excited to tell you about “Glove Mode” – a sweet feature in the software upgrade for Xperia sola (known as Xperia sole in some markets). It’s an extension of our “floating touch” technology that makes it possible to use your Xperia sola in the cold whilst wearing gloves… just in time for the winter months. My colleagues at Developer World have taken a closer look – head on over to check it out!

We’re kicking-off the rollout today, and ramping it up over the weekend – from mid next week you’ll be able to see software kits as they’re released (customized specific to your operator and handset) on our support community. Please check-back then for the direct link and continue to do so, as the list will be updated when new kits become available.

It’s worth noting that in order to upgrade, you will need to connect to a PC or Mac – please visithttp://www.sonymobile.com/update and follow the instructions.

Thanks for all your questions so far and as always, feel free to drop a comment or question below.

Ant.

*The availability and scheduling of this software upgrade and specific models upgradeable to Android 4.0 will vary by market and carrier requirements

Source: Quote and Image from the Sony Xperia Product Blog

A new set of selections on Google Plays 25-cent sale

You might get different options depending on your country and device. Here is what I see on mine.

Click this link to see the current apps on sale at Google Play.

Google Play Hits 25 Billion Downloads! US$0.25 App Promo as a Thank You.

Google Play Hits 25 Billion Downloads a few hours ago. In celebration, apps will be sold at a discounted price of US$0.25 over the next five days. 

So far I noticed Gameloft's Asphalt 7, Rovio's Angry Birds Space Premium, Kemco's Symphony of Eternity, Granny Smith, Draw Something and NFL Kicker 13  are all selling at just Php10.44 as part of the promotional sale.

On the non-gaming apps we have OfficeSuite Pro 6 +, Tasks and Ocean HD at just Php10.44.

I already bought Tasks a few months back. Great app. But I did pick up OfficeSuite Pro 6 + and Symphony of Eternity. 

I might not see some apps on sale, as I have bought several already. If you find anything else on sale, please do share it in the comments section.

Apple iPhone 4S free at Plan 1500 from Smart

I do not have many details on Smart's Switch Madness promo, to be held at EDSA Shangri-la Mall on September 28-29, 2012. One thing that caught my eye in the teaser was that the Apple iPhone 4S would be offered free at Plan 1500, presumably to switchers from other networks.

Click for a larger image

If you have been wanting an iPhone, this might be a good time to get one.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance and Galaxy Ace 2 to get Jelly Bean

Samsung has had two pieces of very interesting hardware I have been ignoring in my buyers guides, because they did not have commitments for Ice Cream Sandwich updates, the Samsung Galaxy S Advance and Galaxy Ace 2 to get Jelly Bean.

Well now they are lined up for a Jelly Bean update!  

The Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy Mini 2, and Galaxy S Duos and four tablets: the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and  Galaxy Note 10.1 are all also confirmed by Samsung for Jelly Bean updates.

Source: The Verge

Where in the World is Mary Grace? (Or, why Apple Maps makes the iPhone and iPad dumb devices in the Philippines)

Smartphones are wonderful, if sometimes creepy things. They are aware of where we are and that allows them to give us information relevant to us. The most useful of these features is maps and locations. Last Saturday night I tried to search for the nearest Mary Grace Cafe branch, and Apple Maps proved to be rather useless. 

This something that everyone else gets right. An Android phone using Google Maps has no problem finding every single branch for you. A simple "mary grace" search, gives you the cafe and other places similarly named, with the cafe, being the most prominent Mary Grace in the Philippines, being highlighted in the results. 

Clicking the results list allows you to scroll through all the hits.

Google Maps or Locations (whichever app you decide to use) will also give me directions.

Windows Phone

When Windows Phone joined the fray, it biggest disadvantage in the Philippines was Bing Maps. With Nokia Maps, a Windows Phone can not compete with Google Maps and Locations. Not always having a Windows Phone device to I asked @levine of TipidCP to help me out.

As you can see, Windows Phone 7.5 will find the closest relevant entry to you, show you other relevant hits and give you driving directions.

As you can see, the Nokia Maps and results are not as polished as Googles. On the other hand Nokia does give you offline voice guided turn by turn navigation. Google will not give you voice guidance and you cannot do it offline.

Apple iPhone and iPad

Before iOS 6, Apple iPhones and iPad used the same excellent Google Maps service. Since iOS 6, they  use Apple maps.

What does the iPhone do when I search for Mary Grace. It wants me to buy a ticket, fly to the United States and visit a Catholic Church there.

Over time Apple can populate the missing info. The problem is, before they do that they have to fix the maps they are using.

Compare Apple map info (left) to Google maps info (right).

Basically, Apple smart iPhone and iPads have are not so smart in the Philippines. How long before this is corrected? I do not know.

Siri was pretty useless in the Philippines in 2011 except in answering questions relating to information about other countries or general information. A year later it still is. But Siri was an optional feature easy to ignore. Maps and locations.... well lets put it this way, would buy a phone without GPS and where people cannot sent you the location of your appointments to your address book?

Until Google or Nokia release an iPhone app, buying a new iPhone means giving up smartphone core functionality in the Philippines. If you already own one, do yourself a favor and stick with iOS 5.1.1. Or you could buy third party navigation software from the iOS store. This won't correct all the issues, but it is better than nothing.

Apple Maps versus Google Maps at the University of the Philippines

Apple on the left, Google on the right. Click for a larger image.

No commentary necessary.

The worst thing about the Apple iPhone 5 is that it comes with iOS6

Trying to search for the nearest branch of a cafe last night on a Apple iPhone 4, updated to iOS 6 is that the Maps application is virtually useless in the Philippines. I have read complaints from users abroad saying that it takes them to the wrong place. No similar problems in the Philippines. It won't know the place exists in the first place. 

Google Maps finds every branch in the country, and even some obscure places with the same name I did not know existed.

The problem would be a poor database. For places in the database, trial and error will be needed to find out if they are in the correct place.  Another issue, could be typographical errors so the Map will not identify the place you are looking for. A friend of mine on her iPad 3 tweeted "check out UPD map. Kalayaan residence hall typed as 'Kalayaan Schoolicidence' haha!." A simple spell check should have detected that. 

Over time that will probably be corrected. But this habit of Apple launching beta software is getting tiring. Last year, it launched Siri, as a beta, but from Apple advertisements you would not think it was beta software. But, it was not a big deal. It was an additional feature which you could simply ignore.

Mapping and locations software is one of the key features what makes a smartphone a smartphone. Apple's iOS5 had a very good map and locations software, in Google Maps and Places. iOS6, well it uses Apple Maps, which should not even be called Apple Maps Beta. It should be considered an Alpha release. 

So while Apple wows us with supposedly better 3D views and features, basically, iOS6 throws all the nice hardware in the iPhone 5 back to the stone age.

Apple, please fix Maps. In the meantime, give users back Google Maps.

Lenovo IdeaPad S300 and S400

Lenovo has released two new slim notebooks, the Lenovo IdeaPad S300 and the S400. Both models are impressively thin a 0.8 inches at the thickest point and weighs in a just 4 pounds. This makes it lighter than a MacBook Pro, and almost as light as premium laptops like the Sony Vaio S.

Both the S300 and S400 come with the all the connectivity options which you would expect in a current laptop like USB 3.0, HDMI out, Bluetooth, WiFi and a card reader. Both laptops come with 500 GB hard drives.

The S300 is the lower end model priced at just Php21,995 (without an OS). It comes with a 13.3-inch HD (1366 x 766) display with 1.6 GHz with an Intel Pentium 997 processor, Intel HD 2000 graphcis, and 2 GB of RAM.

More interesting is the S400, which costs a bit more at Php24,995. The S400 has a larger 14-inch HD (1366 x 766) display and slightly larger as the S300. The S400 also comes with a faster 1.4 GHz with an Intel Core i3 2365-M processor, faster Intel HD 3000 graphics, and double the RAM at 4 GB of RAM.

Both laptops come in silver grey, with the S400 also being available in crimson red, and the S300 also coming in pink.

HTC Windows Phone 8S

In addition to the new HTC Windows Phone flagship, the 8X, HTC has announced a new mid-level offering, the HTC Windows Phone 8S. Before going into the specifications, I would like to talk about the design. Like the HTC Windows Phone 8X, the 8S does not look like a HTC. It also look like it is designed with younger users in mind coming in a variety of bright colors. Well, I will say it. It looks like a Nokia.

The phone has a 4-inch display, a decent size. Three years ago, 4-inch was considered big. Today is is decidedly mid-sized and I do expect that the 4-inch display will be the new standard size from mid-level smartphones, a slight move up from the older 3.7 to 4-inch displays. The 4-inch display has a 480 x 800 resolution, 4 GB of storage expandable via a MicroSD card, a 5 MP camera, a 1 GHz dual core 28 nm Qualcom krait processor and 512 MB of RAM, HSDPA connectivity and of course, Beats Audio.

Nothing exciting for the enthusiast, although this phone is not targeted at them. I expect this phone to come out at the Php15,000 or so price range, which basically means it will have no direct competitor in the Windows Phone 8 line-up, and looks like it will be the cheapest Windows Phone 8 handset, for now at least.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

HTC has announced two Windows Phone 8 devices, the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S. The 8X is the higher end model. The HTC 8X has a 4.3-inch HD (720 x 1280) display, a 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm processor and Adreno 225 graphics, 1 GB of RAM and LTE connectivity like the other top of the line Windows Phone offering from Nokia and Samsung.

How does the HTC Windows Phone 8X distinguish itself from the other new Windows Phone 8 offerings? The HTC Windows Phone 8X also looks to have the same improved 8 MP f/2.0 camera in other HTC models released this year, but it is not likely that it will match the Pureview camera with Carl Zeiss optics on the Nokia Lumia 920. It also does not have the USB-on-the-Go support that you have on the Lumia model, and it comes with 16 GB of internal storage, less than the 32 GB found in the Nokia Lumia 920.

On the other hand the HTC Windows Phone 8X does come with a MicroSD card slot. It is a also slightly trimmer and much lighter phone. It comes in a light 130 grams, compared to the near brick like (for a phone) 185 grams of the Lumia 920.  The HTC Windows Phone 8X does have a smaller 4.3-inch display compared to the 4.5-inch display found on the Nokia Lumia 920. Of course, it support Beats Audio which is bolstered by a dedicated audio amplifier.

So I think it would be fair to say that while the Nokia Lumia 920 will be the premier Windows Phone 8 camera phone, HTC plans to sell you on its sounds. 

Compare to the Samsung ATIV S, while both phones are also similar specifications wise the Samsung offering is much larger coming in with a 4.8-inch display. But that Samsung is a lot thinner, at 8.7 mm, than the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Nokia Lumia 920.

Strangely and fortunately each of the new Windows Phone 8 flagships is similar but offering a distinct size of feature set from the others. Decidedly, the HTC looks like it is the lowest end model among the three.

I am a bit disappointed with the design. I was hoping for something more along the lines of the sleek HTC One S.  The HTC Windows Phone 8X looks more like a Nokia than an HTC. It comes in tons of colors too.

So which Windows Phone 8 device is for you?

Speculating on the Google Galaxy Nexus II - Part 2

In the first part of this article, I wrote about what Google where Google should be conservative with its Google Nexus S II. But there are several areas where the new Nexus should step up.

5 MP camera to 8 MP. When the Google Nexus One came out it had a 5 MP camera, big for its day. While not a great shooter, the specs sheet looked right. Two versions later, the Nexus phone is still on a 5 MP camera. When the Galaxy Nexus launched last year, it was the only "flagship" grade phone with a 5 MP camera, everyone else having moved on to 8 MP or larger camera. Google should rectify that this year. 

Micro SDCard slot.  The last two Nexus phones, drop the MicroSD card. This year HTC and Sony followed suit with most of their phones. Samsung, the top selling Android manufacturer, keeps a MicroSD card on its phones. This is a feature Android users who already have 32 GB, 64 GB and even 128 GB MicroSD cards on their phone want.

Bigger battery. Increases in processing power will be felt only the gamers, and with Android 4.1.1, every phone fortunate enough to get it will run faster. But longer battery life is someone everyone can benefit from. It is also the weakest spot of Android top competitor, the Apple iPhone 5. 

If Motorola can put a 2530 mAh battery in its 8.4 mm Motorola DROID RAZR HD, and keep the weight down to a reasonable 146 grams, Google should consider doing the same with its Galaxy Nexus S II. This alone will make this phone a compelling option in the sea of Androids. 

Super AMOLED Plus Display? Another thing the Galaxy Nexus was scored for was the 720p Super AMOLED PenTile matrix display. I have no issues with the 720p display on the Galaxy Nexus, putting a Super AMOLED Plus display will keep the purist quite, and would give the phone more of a wow factor. Still, I am fine with the current display.

So, will a Galaxy Nexus, with a faster processor, upgraded camera,  MicroSD card slot and bigger battery be enough for you to make a buy decision on a Nexus phone?

Speculating on the Google Galaxy Nexus II - Part 1

Rumor is Google will be building three Nexus phones this year, which should be on sale be the end of the year. One Nexus, to be built by Sony, is rumored to be focus on the camera. A second Nexus, to be built by LG is said to be a waterproof and dust proof Nexus phone. The the third, well it would be the successor of the Google Galaxy Nexus, and is rumored to be built by Samsung.

Windows Phone 8 devices now match the specifications of high end Android phones. The new 4-inch Apple iPhone 5 basically matches the specifications of what a high end 4-inch Android would be like (if high end 4-inch Android phones were still constructed, the smallest high end Android phones these days are 4.3-inches). What should Google do with its next Galaxy Nexus S?

Where Google should maintain the status quo.

4.65-inch display. The 4.65 inch display of the Google Galaxy Nexus, with the onscreen keys is about the equivalent of a 4.4-inch display with dedicated hardware buttons. It is not a monster phone anymore by current Android standards These days, 4.7 to 4.8 inch displays with dedicated hardware buttons are the new Android monster phones. Google could come out with a 5-inch phone with dedicates software keys. This would essentially be a Samsung Galaxy S III with on-screen keys. But I think Google should leave the monster smartphone clash to its OEM's. The large a phone gets, the more it serves a niche market. 

Instead Google should focus on building a slightly smaller frame around its current 4.65-inch display. Cut 1-2 mm from the width, and 2-4 mm from the height, and give the same sized display in a smaller package. 

1GB of RAM. The Google Galaxy Nexus already has 1 GB of RAM. It could go to 2 GB's just to upstage the Apple iPhone 5 and it Windows Phone rivals. To me this would make little sense. A Nexus phone runs vanilla Android. Much lighter than the OEM versions with TouchWiz, Sense or other interface which eat more RAM. 

The Android OS should not evolve to something that needs more than 512 GB of RAM for at least the next version (Key Lime Pie) and not more than 1 GB of RAM for the 2014 version of Android. Google should keep its next Nexus to just 1 GB of RAM. Google should leave the 2 GB frontier to its OEM partners.

The processor. While you now have quad core Kraits and ARM Cortex-A15's being available, for the same reason that Google's Galaxy Nexus need not have 2 GB of RAM, it also does not have to come with the most spectacular processor. The Qualcomm's S4 with its dual core Kraits in would be a fine option. If Samsung or Nvidia can get an on-chip LTE solution in their chipsets on time, a Exynos quad or quad core Tegra 3, a quad core chip would be a strong marketing point, though not necessarily better than an Qualcomm S4.

The cheap feeling case. Whether you make a case from aluminum or plastic or some other premium quality material, if you want to remove the last trace of creak in a case, it is easy remove the battery cover. But Android owners expect a user replaceable battery, and a bit of creak is worth having the option to replace batteries or replace it with an extended battery.

So basically, what I am describing here so far is a Google Galaxy Nexus with an updated processor in a trimmed down package. But there are some area where Google should make substantial changes, to one up the competition.

Part 2 of this article is here.

Lenovo S880 - Dual SIM Galaxy Note Challenger

Samsung's Galaxy Note, the phone that straddles the line of being a tablet, is a smashing success. With more than 10 million units sold, other manufacturers are entering into the "Phablet" arena.  Lenovo is fielding a low end entry into this arena, the 5-inch Lenovo S880.

The Lenovo S880 has a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen with a WVGA (800 x 480) resolution. If you like sharp displays, this is not the one for you. A WVGA resolution is still decent at 5-inches. This is a larger device, measuring 142.0 x 78.0 x 9.9 milimeters.

Inside is the 1GHz MediaTek MT6575 processor we see in most dual SIM phones these days. And, yes this Phablet is a dual SIM device. Supporting the 1 GHz processor is 512MB RAM. Not exactly a powerhouse device, but it will get you by. Internal storage 4 GB of which 1.85 GB is user available.  A MicroSD card slot is provided so you can expand memory.  The 2250 mAh battery will be sufficient to get you for a day.

The other specifications are as expected. Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, as an operating system. HSPA connectivity, with WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. The cameras are nothing spectacular, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with no flash, and a VGA front camera.

Suggested retail price of all this isPhp14,999, and it is available in the market for a low as Php14,000 with an official warranty. I think the price come a bit close to a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 P3100  a 7-inch tablet with full voice, SMS and HSPA functionality which can now be had for as low as Php15,990. It has 1024 x 600 display, a dual core processor, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.

Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. There is a big difference in size between a 5-inch device and a 7-inch device. The comparison illustrates that the Lenovo S880 is not a great value for money option, on the other hand it really has no direct competition.