There’s hope for a connected Philippines yet. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held a press conference today to discuss the upcoming rollout of its P1.4-billion public WiFi project and to clarify certain aspects of the landmark service that will connect millions of Filipinos to the Internet at no cost. The internet is now a vital component of every day, be it in public or at home. This has spawned a competitive industry of internet companies trying to provide the best deals for customers. Although there are those who prefer using an office cell signal booster to get the best out of their wifi coverage, there are also those who rely more on cell phone data plans rather than hot spots because it is believed that it might not be safe.
What does DOST’s 50MB of free Internet get you?
Image via The Verge
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has already begun installing Internet access points in the Quezon City Circle. This is in anticipation of a P1.4-billion project that plans to deploy 7,000 public WiFi hotspots across the Philippines before the end of 2015.
Its initial rollout is slated on July 24, and according to DOST, it will offer free Internet access to anyone with a WiFi-capable device, albeit with certain restrictions — chief of which is a 50MB daily data cap. You can’t use it to download stuff from torrent sites, either, which is probably a good thing if we’re to avoid sluggish connections. (You know what I’m talking about.)
But just what can you do with 50MB of Internet traffic? A lot, apparently. I recently put Globe Tattoo’s online data calculator through its paces and found that you can actually get a lot of things done with just 50MB of data. Here’s what I came up with when I played around with the numbers:
* 100 social-media posts with photo
* 12 4-minute digital song downloads
* 170 website views
* 170 60-second, non-HD YouTube clips
* 1,400 emails (text only)
* 170 emails with document attachments
* 3 standard-sized app downloads
I put Globe Tattoo’s online data calculator through its paces and found that you can get a lot of things done with 50MB of data.
Keep in mind that each line represents 50MB of traffic, and that these figures are only estimates. As such, they may not accurately reflect real-world usage.
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Xiaomi Mi 4i headed to the Philippines this July
(UPDATE: It’s happening, folks. I just received an invite to the Xiaomi Mi 4i launch event on July 20.)
The days of teasing are essentially over: Xiaomi’s mid-tier variant of its current flagship phone, the Mi 4i, is headed to the Philippines this July. This has been confirmed by no less than the company’s local Facebook page. And if what’s happening in India is anything to go by, the phone may not even be the subject of a flash sale when it becomes available through online and offline stores.
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Similar to most of Xiaomi’s Android offerings, the Mi 4i is a low-cost smartphone whose centerpiece is a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor backed by 2GB of RAM and an LTE modem for faster mobile connections. Its 5-inch, full-HD IPS display should make for an enjoyable gaming and movie-wataching experience.
The Mi 4i is headed to the Philippines this July, and it may not even be the subject of a flash sale when it becomes available through online and offline stores.
Unfortunately, its plastic unibody exterior leaves out a couple of Android essentials, namely a microSD card slot and a removable back cover.
The Mi 4i currently retails for Rs. 12,990 in India, where it made its debut. That’s around P9,300, so it may be safe to say that the phone won’t break the P10,000 price barrier.
Specs of the Xiaomi Mi 4i:
* Dual SIM with LTE support
* 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core CPU
* Adreno 405 GPU
* 2GB RAM
* 16GB non-expandable storage
* 5-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass (1,080 x 1,920 resolution)
* 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash
* 5-megapixel front camera
* 3,120mAh battery
* Android 5.0 Lollipop
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxymBx8rjos” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Xiaomi Mi 4i review from Android Authority’s YouTube channel
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 tipped to feature 4GB RAM
If the latest word from tech blog SamMobile is to be believed, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is shaping up to be a real contender in the high-end smartphone segment. According to a source familiar with the matter, the next Samsung flagship will reportedly include a whopping 4GB of LP-DDR4 RAM attached to the company’s own Exynos 7422 processor.
There are phones with 4GB of RAM already on the market, of course, so it shouldn’t surprise you at all that Samsung is planning to bring the Galaxy Note line up to speed with the latest in smartphone technology.
It is said that LP-DDR4 RAM brings improved multitasking capabilities and consumes less power than previous-generation memory modules. That’s good to hear, especially considering the many multitasking options available on previous Galaxy Note models.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will reportedly feature 4GB of LP-DDR4 RAM, which brings improved multitasking capabilities and consumes less power than previous-generation memory modules.
Previously, SamMobile reported that the next Galaxy Note will sport a 5.67-inch Super AMOLED screen with Quad HD resolution and will follow in the Galaxy S6’s footsteps by moving away from the Note 4’s plastic back, opting instead for a glass rear panel. Wireless charging is also said to be included in the package.
Samsung has yet to confirm a launch date for the Galaxy Note 5, but rumors suggest that the company will unveil the handset alongside a curved variant as early as August to preempt the release of the new iPhones.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnPohJWPIJo” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 leaked renders courtesy of Steve Hemmerstoffer
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Apple had 92% of all smartphone profits in Q1 2015
Speaking to investment firm Canaccord Genuity, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that among the top eight smartphone vendors in the world, U.S.-based tech giant Apple took in 92 percent of industry profits in the first quarter of 2015, up 65 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Apple took in 92 percent of smartphone profits in the first quarter of 2015, up 65 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Apple’s fiercest rival, Samsung, placed a far second with 15 percent of the total operating income. (It’s worth noting that the combined percentages exceed 100 percent because some companies actually lost money from making mobile devices.)
What was even more striking was that Apple only accounted for less than a fifth of unit sales in the said period, as Android OEMs continued to dominate the smartphone market in that regard and competition among handsets running Google’s mobile operating system reached a new stratosphere, with the number of companies manufacturing smartphones now estimated to be about 1,000.
The report went on to say that the disparity in profits was the result of iPhones selling for a much higher price than their Android contemporaries, which are mostly aimed at a budget-conscious crowd, and Apple’s favorable business position as the only brand that makes smartphones running Apple software.
As you probably know, iOS and Android are two of the most successful smartphone operating systems today. To wit: The latest IDC report estimates that handsets running iOS or Android account for 96 percent of units shipped in the first quarter of 2015.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q29BYNs6i9g” width=”560″ height=”315″]
First look at iPhone 6S casing and internals courtesy of CNET
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Now available on Lazada: Meizu MX5
Heads up, Android fans: Meizu’s newest affordable flagship phone, the MX5, has been spotted on Lazada Philippines’ website for P16,999, which is quite reasonable given its launch price of 1,799 yuan (roughly P13,000) in China.
Announced in Beijing last month, the MX5 aims to compete with the likes of the Apple iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S6, and LG G4, with uncompromising performance and quality that are hard to come by in the mid-priced segment. The Android Lollipop phone features a 7.6mm-thick, brushed-finish metal body reminiscent of the iPhone 6 and a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a physical home button.
The phone’s 5.5-inch AMOLED display delivers a resolution of 1,080 x 1,920 pixels. Inside, you’re getting MediaTek’s latest MT6795 processor, which is clocked at 2.2GHz and is equipped with eight CPU cores, 3GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of non-expandable storage. The unit sold by Lazada’s reseller maxes out at 16GB, so this is something to keep in mind moving forward.
The Meizu MX5 features a 7.6mm-thick, brushed-finish metal body, a fingerprint sensor, a 5.5-inch, 1,080 x 1,920 AMOLED display, and MediaTek’s latest MT6795 processor.
The other possible point of contention is the absence of warranty protection from the importer. This is a smartphone we’re talking about here, so do proceed with caution. As for the rest of the key specs, the MX5 is fitted with 20- and 5-megapixel rear and front cameras and a 3,150mAh non-removable battery.
Specs of the Meizu MX5 (Unofficial price in the Philippines: P16,999):
* Dual SIM with LTE support
* Fingerprint sensor
* 2.2GHz MediaTek MT6795 octa-core CPU
* PowerVR G6200 MP4 GPU
* 3GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* 5.5-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (1,080 x 1,920 resolution)
* 20-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash
* 5-megapixel front camera
* 3,150mAh battery
* Android 5.0 Lollipop
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbmfLSqPmaA” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Meizu M2 Note unboxing video
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Hello (again), Moto: 3 things Motorola must do in PH
Earlier this week, a couple of tech blogs reported receiving invites from Motorola Mobility, indicating that the Lenovo-owned electronics manufacturer is looking to make another comeback in the local market after years of near-total absence that allowed other phone manufacturers to flourish.
If that is indeed the case, then this is pretty big news, particularly for people who want to get their hands on the Moto-made Nexus 6 and Moto 360 smartwatch, not to mention those who already own Moto devices. Because even though there’s no guarantee Motorola will honor the warranties of imported devices, the company is all but guaranteed to set up repair centers and provide adequate after-sales service in the Philippines.
But it needs to do more to win consumer trust and leap back into relevance; for Motorola to be successful again in the Philippines after a lengthy period of dormancy, it must do at least three things:
1. Bring its most popular and well-received creations to local shores first.
Motorola doesn’t need to sell its entire product line in physical and online stores. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing the company launch with just four products, namely the Nexus 6, Moto X (2014), Moto E (2015), and Moto 360.
These are among the best in their respective categories, and by now it’s pretty much a given that Android fans know what to expect from them (for one, they can expect a near-stock Android Lollipop experience) so it makes sense to sell them first.
2. Launch the awesome Moto Maker service in the Philippines.
Motorola’s Moto Maker website does what its namesake says: It lets you customize the hell out of the Moto X with a choice of front and back colors, trim finishes, and back cover materials, among other things. And who wouldn’t want that? Those wood and leather options cost extra, though.
3. Work with carriers to lower the cost of devices.
As any Nexus 6 or Moto 360 owner can attest to, Motorola devices, in general, don’t come cheap. That said, one way to make them more palatable to consumers is to sell them with carrier subsidies plus a two-year contract.
Given Motorola’s close ties with U.S. carriers like Verizon, working with telecom companies in the Philippines shouldn’t raise any objections. Not if it results in gaining market share quickly in a country where competition is fierce from top to bottom.
Keep in mind that this article isn’t a blueprint for a local resurgence. There are many ways to find success in the mobile space, but in my opinion, these three things in particular seem like the best ways to get things off on the right foot.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_V-tgfgwyU” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Moto Maker for the Moto X
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ASUS Zenfone 2 hacked to run Windows 7, because why not?
Remember the ASUS Zenfone 2? Yes, the affordable flagship smartphone that had everyone talking months ago, and perhaps even until today. Well, it turns out the device can be hacked to run Windows 7 — and run it well enough to be potentially useful for those in need of a truly pocketable computer, or those who simply want to impress their peers. With most devices using Windows 10, it is impressive that there is one that can still run Windows 7 (thanks to the Window 10 automatic update). If you are interested in finding out more about the end of Window 7, you might be interested in this article – Windows 7 end of life.
It turns out the Zenfone 2 can be hacked to run Windows 7 — and run it well enough to be potentially useful for those in need of a truly pocketable computer.
Because, really, how often do you come across a phone that can run the same applications as desktop computers?
The hack comes by way of a talented XDA-Developers senior member who goes by the username “ycavan,” and according to the developer, it can be used to install other versions of Microsoft’s operating system as well, such as Windows 8, 8.1, and Windows 10. You know, operating systems that are actually optimized for touchscreens.
In addition to the ISO file of your OS of choice, some tinkering is involved, of course, as the hack requires a Zenfone 2 with an unlocked bootloader and plenty of know-how when it comes to flashing files manually, partitioning SD cards, and installing Windows software in a virtual-machine environment.
Needless to say, if you don’t know what any of those terms mean, you’re probably better off leaving your phone in its current state, with its warranty intact.
The hack requires a Zenfone 2 with an unlocked bootloader and plenty of know-how when it comes to flashing files and installing Windows in a virtual-machine environment.
And before you ask if it’s possible to install a full-fledged copy of Windows on any handset of your choosing, consider that the ASUS Zenfone 2 makes use of an Intel processor instead of a chip from Qualcomm or MediaTek. And if there’s anything to be learned from the history of Windows, it’s this: It can run on just about any Intel processor with little to no tinkering.
Here’s a short clip showing Windows 7 on an ASUS handset designed for Android:
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Smcq8qLEY” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Video of ASUS Zenfone 2 running Windows 7 from Yua Ca Van’s YouTube channel
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Globe Telecom drives internet adoption in PH with complete suite of free Facebook experiences
The country’s leading mobile brand Globe Telecom reinforces its drive to boost internet penetration in the Philippines as it introduces more ways to get Filipinos connected to Facebook with the launch of a complete suite of access to the social networking site without data charges.
Continuing its commitment to enable the Filipino digital lifestyle with access to social networking to connect with people around the world, Globe is offering its customers Facebook with free data with a new in-app feature that allows customers to choose the type of Facebook access, Free Facebook for 7 Days for TM customers, and Free Facebook with a GoSURF subscription. Some people utilize other social media similar to instragram by adding free followers, getting free ig followers is easy, to power up their facebook social networking efforts.
According to Facebook’s official data, as of March 2015, monthly active users on Facebook in the Philippines has reached 43 million. This represents 23% growth when compared to March 2014. On the same period, mobile monthly active users reached 35 million, a 35% growth compared in the previous year. Daily active users hit 23 million, a 28% growth year-on-year. Finally, mobile daily active users in the Philippines reached 18 million, a 50% growth when compared to March 2014.
“We are thrilled to connect more Filipino users to their favorite social networking site and drive the country’s positioning as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World. As more customers are embracing the digital lifestyle, we want to provide Filipinos more ways to access Facebook with free data and connect them to the rest of the world,” says Dan Horan, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.
Facebook with free data
Facebook with free data is a zero-rated, lightweight version of Facebook with limited access to photos and videos. Developed for people who are conscious of spending their mobile data, Facebook with free data will give customers more control over their data usage.
To use Facebook with free data, Globe customers will download and launch the latest version of Facebook for Android. They can also visit www.facebook.com in a browser on their mobile. They will then be prompted to opt in or out of Facebook with free data. If they opt out, they will automatically be directed to the full version of Facebook and charged their regular data rate. Those who opt in can begin browsing Facebook for free.
People using Facebook with free data will also get a data control button at the top of Facebook, which lets them easily switch between the free and the full versions of Facebook at any time. This button clearly indicates which version of Facebook the customer is currently using, and can be dismissed so as not to disturb browsing.
When a customer clicks a photo within Facebook, an external link, or any content that leads outside the Facebook app, they will be notified that they are leaving Facebook with free data and will be charged for data usage.
Free Facebook via TM Choose-Your-Number SIM
Available for the value of only P30, customers who have purchased the TM Choose-Your-Number SIM will also receive the bonus of free access to the full Facebook experience for 7 days. Besides allowing customers to choose their own mobile number, the SIM also allows customers to register to different call, text, and mobile internet promos.
Mobile devices must be internet-capable and have a maintaining load balance of P1 in order to access free Facebook on TM SIM cards.
Free access to Facebook via GoSurf
For customers who want a full experience of Facebook with photo and video streaming access, they can register to a GoSURF data plan to access the social networking site for free. GoSURF is the telco’s consumable data plan which paved the way for mobile users to embrace the habit of mobile browsing, with subscriptions growing by 131% and revenues by 124% over the last year.
As the only telco in the country to offer free access to Facebook with a complete browsing experience with a GoSURF subscription, Globe gives customers access to a full experience which includes viewing of photos, streaming of videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as posting, liking, sharing and making comments on the social networking site. Access to the Messenger app, excluding calls, is also free.
Available to Globe Prepaid and TM customers with a GoSURF subscription and to Globe Postpaid customers who will opt-in to the free Facebook promo, free access to Facebook works on any mobile platform, including the Facebook Android app and browsers (via m.facebook.com), without any maintaining balance.
Postpaid customers can access Facebook for free without any purchase requirement while Prepaid and TM customers will automatically get access upon purchase of any GoSURF promo. The validity of the free access to Facebook offer is the same as the subscribed GoSURF promo.
Customers who have successfully registered on GoSURF will receive a text message notifying the availability of the free access to Facebook service, and will also see the “Facebook with Free Data” banner at the top of the mobile site or app once the free access to Facebook promo is activated.
Aside from Free Facebook, customers also get free access to premium content such as Spotify and top mobile games with GoSURF.
With GoSURF50, customers get 300MB of data to access the internet and an additional free 400MB for music streaming and online mobile gaming for only P50 valid for 3 days. The games include Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Summoners War, Hay Day, Boom Beach, Soul Seeker, Dungeon Hunter 5, and Asphalt 8: Airborne.
To get free access to Facebook on prepaid or TM via GoSURF, simply register to any GoSURF promo and wait for the Facebook activation notification which will be sent via text message. For customers who wish to avail of the bonus FB trial for TM SIMs, simply text BONUS FB to 8888.
Facebook with free data launches once a customer has updated their FB app to its latest version and will automatically be available to those who are not on Postpaid or any GoSURF plan. For Postpaid customers, opt-in to free Facebook by texting FREE FB ON to 8888. To know more information, text FREE FB to 8888. To inquire about the promo, text FREE FB HELP to 8888. To check status, text FREE FB STATUS to 8888.
To know more or to keep updated about GoSURF, text GoSURF to 8888 or text “GoSURF FREE” to 8888 to get detailed information about the different freebies you can get with the promo. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph/gosurf.
Smart announces free Instagram for prepaid, postpaid subs
Millions of subscribers of Smart Communications (Smart) can now enjoy free access to one of the world’s most popular photo-sharing social media networks, Instagram, whenever they subscribe to top prepaid offers or the latest postpaid plans from the undisputed leader in mobile and some might need help gaining traction. Check out best instagram bot if you want to increase your engagement! But anyway, onto the rest of the article.
With the Free Instagram offer, Smart subscribers will be able to freely browse their Instragram feeds and upload their own photos and videos from their smartphones without additional data charges. That will be great news for anyone as addicted to Instagram as me! After all, I bought Insta likes at buzzoid.com fairly recently which has really helped boost my confidence as I know my post will definitely be appreciated.
Prepaid subscribers will be able to enjoy free Instagram browsing and posting for up to 30MB per day with any popular prepaid promos that include All Text 20, Unli Call & Text 30, All in 99 and Mega 250, among many others.
Users who subscribe to any of Smart’s Surf Plus Plans, meanwhile, will instantly be able to enjoy the Free Instagram offer as part of their freebie app bundle for 30 days.
“More than just connecting, Instagram has allowed its users to give their friends and families a peek into people and the things they love the most—from the most vivid details of their daily lives, to the most exciting things that they are currently passionate about,” said Ariel P. Fermin, Executive Vice President and Consumer Business Group Head at Smart.
“It’s more than just ‘sharing’, ‘liking’ or ‘commenting’—Instagram is giving Filipinos the chance to preserve their precious memories in visual form, and Smart is proud to provide access to all of these anytime, everywhere through our innovative mobile services,” Fermin added. It’s also giving industrious Filipinos the chance to generate a second, or even sole income, with some buying instagram followers in order to become ‘influencers.’
Meaningful innovations
The Free Instagram offer comes on the heels of the company’s efforts to help its subscribers live the ‘Smart Life,’ which gives them access to the best digital services and most meaningful innovations that allow them to live out their passions in life.
The offer is seen to benefit the millions of Instagram users across the country, as well as those who have yet to try the app on their phones. Instagram is currently among the top five most used apps by Philippine mobile users, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report.
It is the latest in the aggressive bid of PLDT’s wireless units to further grow its mobile data business, which in the first quarter of 2015 rose by 19% year-on-year, culling more than P2.2 billion in revenues during the period.
Smart’s mobile data traffic likewise increased by 188% during the same period, with subscribers exchanging more than 21 terabytes of traffic across the network fueled by pioneering offers such as the free Internet promo, which gave users 30MB of free mobile data everyday.
With the Free Instagram offer, Smart is continuing to enable Filipinos to enjoy entertainment everywhere through their mobile devices, with the help of other game-changing partnerships and services through iflix, FOX, SPINNR, and YouTube, among many others.
For more information on Smart’s Free Instagram offer, visit smart.com.ph.
GrabCar gets legal status in PH ahead of Uber
Recall that back in May, the Philippine’s transport and communications department and land-transport bureau inched closer towards legitimizing and regulating the likes of Uber and GrabTaxi by creating a legal framework for ride-hailing services in the country.
Flash forward to now, and we’ve got the first ride-hailing service that can operate on a national scale without any legal threat: GrabCar, a subcategory of the GrabTaxi mobile app that can be downloaded for free on most app stores.
GrabCar, a subcategory of the GrabTaxi mobile app, is the first ride-hailing service that can operate on a national scale without any legal threat.
In a press statement, GrabTaxi said that GrabCar had already met all the requirements needed to become licensed in the Philippines and received full accreditation from the national government last week. That would imply that the company beat out its closest rival, Uber, and other firms which had also applied for licenses to operate in the country.
“With full accreditation, more Filipino commuters will be able to use GrabCar and be confident that we offer a legitimate and safe private-hire service. We will now focus on rapidly expanding our GrabCar service to serve more passengers across the Philippines,” Natasha Bautista, head of GrabCar Philippines, said.
She added that GrabTaxi is now working closely with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure that the company’s driver screening and safety measures are of the highest caliber.
But it gets better for GrabCar riders: To celebrate its new-found legal status, GrabCar is knocking P100 off all GrabCar and GrabCar+ rides until July 21, 2015. Simply enter the promo code “LEGALLYGRAB” to apply the discount.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfYet4u8PsM” width=”560″ height=”315″]
GrabTaxi promo video from YouTube
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What does free Facebook mean for messaging apps?
If you’re a Globe or Smart subscriber and you’ve spent time on Facebook for Android or the Web today using your mobile-data connection, then you may have noticed a small toggle on the upper right-hand side of the Facebook app or site.
And the top 5 phone brands in Southeast Asia are…
Research firm IDC has posted a new report about smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia in the first quarter of 2015, along with a list of the top 5 brands in the region. IDC’s findings reveal that Samsung, Apple, ASUS, OPPO, and Huawei shipped the most number of phones, with the Korean electronics giant accounting for 23 percent of the market on 5.5 million units sold.
IDC’s findings reveal that Samsung, Apple, ASUS, OPPO, and Huawei shipped the most number of phones in Southeast Asia.
Apple came in second with a 7.5 percent share on 1.8 million sales, while ASUS, OPPO, and Huawei ended up in third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively.
Curiously enough, the latter three gained market share over the same quarter last year, while Samsung and Apple lost sales to their rivals over the said period, indicating that more and more people in Asia are buying phones from brands not named Samsung or Apple.
Of the five, OPPO comes as a huge surprise given its relative inexperience in making Android smartphones. If anything, it speaks to the company’s aggressive retail push that I keep hearing about. Here’s a chart culled from the IDC website showing smartphone shipments this year and last:
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IDC also notes that Southeast Asia saw a slight decline (9.5 percent) in overall smartphone sales compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2014), though, the number represents significant growth (65 percent) when measured year-over-year (Q1 2014).
Another interesting observation is that 4G LTE-capable and 4.5- to 5.3-inch smartphones now account for 25 and 53 percent of the market, respectively, which reflects a growing preference for feature-rich devices.
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Silvertooth Opens New Gym to Employees
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HOOQ vs. iflix vs. Blink: Who wins the streaming wars?
After months of growing pains, the next big thing on the Internet is finally gaining traction in the Philippines. No, I don’t mean ride-hailing services, such as Uber and GrabTaxi, though you could make a case that we’re seeing a greater demand for taxi alternatives. But I digress.
What I’m trying to say is that, right now, there are more options than ever to watch movies and TV shows legally online, and the list will expand with time. And as wireless Internet access becomes more and more affordable and ubiquitous in the country, subscribing to a video-streaming service is fast becoming a viable option for those who want the luxury of viewing content on-demand anytime, anywhere.
I mean, who wouldn’t find it irresistible to catch a Hollywood blockbuster or binge-watch popular programs from the comfort of a cushy seat? Who wouldn’t be tempted to (gasp!) pull the plug on cable TV when there are cheaper and more flexible ways of consuming video on just about every screen out there?
As Internet access becomes more affordable and ubiquitous in the country, subscribing to a video-streaming service is fast becoming a viable option for those who want content on-demand.
Which brings us to the all-important question: Among the top 3 video-on-demand providers in the Philippines — HOOQ, iflix, and Blink — who comes out on top? The answer isn’t as complicated as you think at this point. Spoiler alert: It’s not Blink, which is somewhat surprising considering the big head start it had over its peers.
Tale of the tape: HOOQ vs. iflix vs. Blink
CONTENT
There is no getting around the fact that more is better as far as video-on-demand services are concerned, and when it comes to the sheer number of movies and TV shows available, HOOQ leads the way by a wide margin. Currently, HOOQ offers over 30,000 hours of programming, whereas iflix and Blink have approximately 11,000 and 2,000 hours of streaming titles, respectively.
HOOQ offers over 30,000 hours of programming, whereas iflix and Blink have approximately 11,000 and 2,000 hours of streaming titles.
HOOQ also boasts an impressive catalog of Filipino movies and teleseryes that’s lacking from the competition, in addition to a much richer selection of Hollywood and Asian libraries.
You can’t find Tagalog content on iflix and Blink, so that pretty much leaves you with one option if watching homegrown talent ranks high on your priorities. Another thing to note is that Blink is the only one of the three that streams live TV channels.
The catch in all of this is that, with a few exceptions, you won’t find recently released titles on either HOOQ, iflix, or Blink. Cable TV still has the edge in that regard. Don’t expect to see original programming either.
AVAILABILITY
All 3 video-on-demand platforms are available on freely downloadable apps for Android and iOS devices, as well as on the Web, with support for multiple devices on a single account. PC and Mac users with a HOOQ or Blink subscription have to first install the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in, which can be downloaded separately, before streaming content on their monitors.
Meanwhile, iflix can be streamed natively through browsers like Chrome without fiddling with plug-ins, meaning it will work nicely with Chromebooks.
HOOQ lets you choose videos to save for offline playback. By comparison, iflix and Blink don’t have an offline mode.
While that sounds great and all, compatibility across a wide range of devices is nowhere near as important as the ability to download videos for offline playback. HOOQ allows that — up to 5 downloads at a time — and it’s what elevates it above its rivals.
The feature is particularly enticing for those who have access to a reliable home connection and don’t want to pay extra for going over their monthly data allowance. By comparison, iflix and Blink don’t have an offline mode.
VALUE FOR MONEY
For P199 per month, HOOQ gives members unlimited access to 30,000 hours of movies and TV shows. An iflix membership costs P129 monthly, and this gets you 11,000 hours of non-stop entertainment. Blink’s streaming package is more expensive at P250 per month but comes with fewer reasons to subscribe.
If we put a price on how much an hour of content on HOOQ costs, it will come in with the lowest cost among its peers. It goes without saying that even at P199, HOOQ represents greater value for money.
HOOQ is the best video-on-demand provider, in large part because of the wide range of local and foreign titles available on its platform and the ability to download videos.
VERDICT
All things considered, I think HOOQ is the best video-on-demand provider right now, in large part because of the wide range of local and foreign titles available on its platform — nearly thrice of its nearest rival — and the ability to download videos for offline viewing.
Of course, there’s always the option of getting more than one subscription. If that’s the case, I would recommend signing up for HOOQ and iflix — duplicate titles be damned. (There aren’t too many, by the way.)
However, if you can afford just one, HOOQ should be your top priority. It’s not perfect, but it’s ahead of the curve in terms of available content and features. Don’t take my word for it, though; try out both options for free for a limited time and then decide which one better fits your needs.
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Facebook Lite is here. But why should you care?
Facebook recently released the Facebook Lite app for Android, six months after being in the beta labs. Essentially a watered-down version of the Facebook app and website, Facebook Lite is intended for emerging markets where Internet connections are unreliable and bargain-basement devices are outselling their mid- to high-end counterparts by an embarrassing margin.
The app is currently available in India and the Philippines, and soon in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Its only about 430KB in size compared to the full Facebook app, which gobbles up 140MB of my phone’s storage.
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The Facebook for Android interface (left) compared to the vastly simplified Facebook Lite interface (right).
A Facebook experience tailored for slow devices and slow Internet speeds looks like a dream on paper, but it comes with a few big caveats. You’ll have to deal with an interface that is nowhere near as pretty or responsive as what you’re used to on your smartphone or PC. Plus, you’ll be seeing a lot of poorly cropped photos on your timeline. All this for the sake of a Facebook app that will play nicely with dual-core Androids and 2G connections.
Personally, I’d recommend installing Facebook Lite, if only for the allure of lower bandwidth and storage requirements.
MY TAKE: If you know me personally, you probably know that I’m not a Facebook guy, or at least not until recently. I’ve only been egged on by my co-publisher Alora Uy Guerrero.
I’m a Twitter addict, to be honest, which sort of explains why I’ve been holding off on getting back on the Facebook bandwagon — and for good reason: Facebook and Twitter are two very different social networks. Obviously, I prefer one to the other, but that doesn’t mean I should quit the Internet’s biggest social-networking site altogether.
Personally, I’d recommend installing Facebook Lite, if only for the allure of lower bandwidth and storage requirements. You never know when you’ll be stuck in an area with poor cellular reception. But don’t count on me to delete the regular Facebook app from my phone anytime soon.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adaM8L5_2wQ” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Facebook Lite preview from of TechCrunch’s YouTube channel
Play your favorite games anytime, anywhere w/Globe’s GoSURF50
Take your digital lifestyle to the next level as the country’s leading mobile brand Globe Telecom gives you free access to your favorite games with a GoSURF data plan.
Register to GoSURF50 and enjoy access to top mobile games titles such as Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, Summoners War, Soul Seeker, Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Hay Day, Dungeon Hunter 5, Brave Frontier, and Asphalt 8: Airborne on your mobile phone or tablet for an entire 3 days.
With GoSURF and games, you can fight epic Clan Wars in Clash of Clans, line up sweet combos in Candy Crush Saga and Candy Crush Soda Saga, or grow your farm in Hay Day, among many others.
Available to Globe Prepaid, Postpaid, TM, and Tattoo customers for only P50 valid for 3 days, GoSURF50 offers 300MB of data that can be used to browse your favorite sites online and an additional 400MB of free data to access your favorite games plus Spotify — anytime, anywhere.
With mobile games now part of today’s digital lifestyle, GoSURF50 has been upgraded to provide mobile and broadband customers the leisure of playing games on their devices without worrying about data allocation. A consumable mobile data plan that gives customers more value for their money, GoSURF also offers access to premium online content such as Spotify, NBA, HOOQ, and now, games while extending the browsing experience with higher data allocation.
“The enhanced GoSURF50 is our response to the market’s constantly-growing appetite for digital content and the growing mobile gaming industry in the country. With more data allocation plus free access to premium online content such as games and more, GoSURF is your best companion to be always connected and entertained while on-the-go,” says Globe Vice President for Content Jil Go.
Access to games via GoSURF is also available for as low as P10 valid for 1 day with GoSURF10. To know more or to keep updated about GoSURF, text GoSURF50 to 8888 or text “GoSURF FREE” to 8888 to get detailed information about the different freebies you can get with the promo. To know more or to keep updated about GoSURF50, visit www.globe.com.ph/gosurf or www.tattoo.globe.com.ph/promos/gosurf.
Starmobile Up Neo: big screen, small price
Starmobile today announced a new big-screen phone as part of its push in the low-to-midrange segment. The Starmobile Up Neo is the latest addition to the company’s Up series and sports a 5.3-inch, high-res display to go along with a nice metallic frame and a textured back cover.
The overall look is reminiscent of the Starmobile Knight Luxe, but with a larger screen real estate that has its share of pros and cons.
The overall look is reminiscent of Starmobile’s recently released Knight Luxe, but with a larger screen real estate that has its share of pros and cons. To its credit, though, the Up Neo’s dimensions are said to be no bigger than a regular 5-incher’s.
As far as the specifications are concerned, you’re looking at a 1.4GHz octa-core processor from MediaTek with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable memory running Android KitKat 4.4.
You also get 13- and 5-megapixel main and secondary cameras with triple-LED flash (for the rear-facer) and backside illumination for improved performance in low-light conditions, as well as a 2,500mAh removable battery that supposedly delivers up to 18 hours of talk time or 642 hours of standby time.
The Starmobile Up Neo is priced at P6,490. It may be a decent option to consider if you’re after a big-screen phone on a budget. But if you’re picky about speed and gaming performance, there are certainly better options available in the sub-P7,000 segment.
Starmobile Up Neo specs (Price in the Philippines: P6,490):
* Dual SIM
* 1.4GHz 64-bit, octa-core MediaTek MT6592M CPU
* Mali-450 MP4 GPU
* 1GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
* 5.3-inch IPS display (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 13-megapixel rear camera with BSI triple LED flash
* 5-megapixel front camera with BSI
* 2,500mAh battery
* Android KitKat 4.4
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPfJvd6J_AY” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Starmobile Up Neo preview courtesy of Starmobile’s YouTube channel
SALE ALERT: OPPO reduces price of Find 7a to P17K
OPPO Philippines has announced a month-long sale for 4 of its existing smartphones. Throughout the month July, you can get the OPPO Joy Plus, Neo 3, Mirror 3, and powerhouse Find 7a at discounted prices across all OPPO stores and partner retailers nationwide. The sale lasts until July 31, 2015.
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You’ll find the full roster of discounted products in the list below.
OPPO Joy Plus — P3,990 (from P4,990)
OPPO Neo 3 — P5,990 (from P6,990)
OPPO Mirror 3 — P9,990 (from P10,990)
OPPO Find 7a — P16,990 (from P21,990)
If you recall, OPPO Philippines took the wraps off the affordable Joy 3 last week. Before that, the tech company launched a trio of new smartphones to round out its low-to-midrange offering.
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45hQpWvr3vQ” width=”560″ height=”315″]
OPPO Mirror 5 preview from our YouTube channel
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Mid-range Samsung Galaxy Tab A comes w/LTE, S Pen
Samsung’s been in the tablet business for quite some time, and over the years, it has played around with different designs to keep things interesting. Right now, it seems the Korean giant has taken a different approach to making mid-range slates, as evidenced by the outward appearance and 4:3 screen ratio of its new Galaxy Tab A tablet. It is, in many ways, the unofficial successor to the Galaxy Note 8.0.
The 4:3 ratio, as Samsung puts it, “is ideal for reading books, magazines and newspapers, as well as surfing the net,” though I’d argue that packing more pixels into the 8-inch TFT screen would provide a better viewing experience. The 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera, meanwhile, is optimized to take serviceable photos and video.
The slate’s insides, while certainly not the stuff dreams are made of, is, in fact, fairly decent. A glance at the spec sheet reveals a SIM slot for telephony and 4G LTE connectivity and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 processor running Samsung’s reworked (and improved) TouchWiz UI on top of Android Lollipop, alongside 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. The 4,200mAh battery should deliver up to 12 hours of LTE browsing, but I’d rather put it through its paces myself before I buy the claim.
The main selling point here is the S Pen, which gives the Galaxy Tab A all the credentials of a productivity machine and differentiates it from just about every tablet around.
But the main selling point here is still the S Pen, which gives the Galaxy Tab A all the credentials of a productivity machine and differentiates it from just about every tablet on the market. Among other things, the feature-filled stylus lets you scribble away on a large screen, drag and drop multiple files, and trigger a small but useful set of functions to help you get the most out of the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A is available in white and gray and due out this July for P15,990.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A specs (Price in the Philippines: P15,990):
* Single SIM with telephony and LTE support
* 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU
* 2GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
* 8-inch TFT display (1,024 x 768 resolution)
* 5-megapixel rear camera
* 2-megapixel front camera
* 4,200mAh battery
* Android Lollipop 5.0
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOMpLGa5IY” width=”560″ height=”315″]
TVC for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A culled from YouTube