Uber offers free ambulance service in PH in case of accident

In Cars by Ramon LopezOctober 19, 2015Leave a Comment

Taking an Uber in the Philippines could mean fewer worries now that the app-based ride service has entered into a yearlong partnership with Lifeline Rescue, a private ambulance service.

The deal allows an Uber passenger to summon a Lifeline Rescue ambulance (by calling 16-911) free of charge in the event of a serious accident involving an Uber, and the driver of the vehicle or the passenger “has to be taken to the hospital.” Uber didn’t go into detail as to what should be considered as grounds for seeking hospital treatment, but that’s probably to your advantage. It’s not only passengers in the Philippines who have to consider their safety while travelling in an Uber. Everyone should be considerate. If you are someone who has recently been involved in an accident while travelling in an Uber, you may be able to claim compensation for medical bills, lose of wages, suffering and more through an Uber accident lawyer who will help you fight for the restitution you deserve.

Outside of emergencies that require immediate and professional medical attention, Lifeline Rescue will charge a fee for its services. (Gas isn’t cheap, as you know; a fine should also deter abuse.)

Uber has struck a deal with an ambulance service, allowing passengers to summon an ambulance free of charge in the event of an accident.

So there you go. Yet another reason to call an Uber instead of hopping into a cab. Hopefully, the next arrangement Uber makes is with an insurance company to give its users more peace of mind.

Altec Lansing reintroduces itself to PH, rugged speakers in tow

In Phones by Ramon LopezOctober 19, 2015Leave a Comment

Earlier today, Altec Lansing announced its comeback to the Philippine market with a fresh batch of compact, rugged Bluetooth speakers, which the company describes as “everything-proof.”

This includes the Life Jacket, Mini Life Jacket, Jacket H20, and Mini H20, which combine long battery life (up to 16 hours of playback for the Life Jacket) with rich sound quality that would make bass-heavy tracks come to life. There’s also speakerphone functionality for taking calls, as well as an auxiliary input for those who don’t have a Bluetooth device.

Altec Lansing announced its comeback to the local market with a slew of ‘everything-proof’ speakers you can pair with your phone.

Perhaps more importantly, they come in durable designs that earn them a waterproof, sandproof, and shockproof rating, something that has become a necessity, not a luxury, for modern wireless speakers.

Regardless of whether or not the products can actually handle water and sand just fine — based on what I saw on the demo floor, I’m positive they can without any ill consequences — you have to admit: These speakers are shaping up to be the perfect companions to a beautiful day at the beach, eardrums be damned.

The Altec Lansing Life Jacket, Mini Life Jacket, Jacket H20, and Mini H20 will retail for P7,250, P4,850, P3,995, and P1,995, respectively, when they arrive in select retailers nationwide.

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA1Yp1u-0sg” width=”560″ height=”315″]

Altec Lansing Life Jacket

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Altec Lansing Life Jacket specs (Price in the Philippines: P7,250):
* IP67 rating (waterproof, sandproof, shockproof)
* Bluetooth
* NFC
* 16-hour battery life
* Hands-free speakerphone function
* Universal mount

Altec Lansing Mini Life Jacket specs (Price in the Philippines: P4,850):
* IP67 rating (waterproof, sandproof, shockproof)
* Bluetooth
* 10-hour battery life
* Hands-free speakerphone function
* Universal mount

Altec Lansing Jacket H20 (Price in the Philippines: P3,995):
* IP67 rating (waterproof, sandproof, shockproof)
* Bluetooth
* 8-hour battery life
* Hands-free speakerphone function

Altec Lansing Mini H20 (Price in the Philippines: P1,995):
* IP67 rating (waterproof, sandproof, shockproof)
* Bluetooth
* 6-hour battery life
* Hands-free speakerphone function

IDC: Cherry Mobile is PH’s top phone brand in 1st half of 2015

In Business by Ramon LopezOctober 19, 2015Leave a Comment

Buying local, as is the case last year, is more attractive to smartphone buyers in the Philippines, according to recent data emailed to Revü Philippines by market-research firm IDC.

Cherry Mobile, not Samsung, remains the country’s market leader, accounting for 17 percent market share of the total smartphones shipped in the first half of 2015. Samsung holds the second spot with 14 percent market share, followed by MyPhone, CloudFone, and Lenovo at 6 percent, 5.2 percent, and 5.1 percent, respectively.

The gap between Cherry Mobile and Samsung is closing, though: In 2014, Cherry Mobile owned a hefty 21.9 percent share of local shipments, while Samsung’s share saw an improvement from 13.3 percent a year earlier — which is the opposite of what’s happening overseas, where the Korean company fell to 21.4 percent from 24.8 percent, based on Q2 figures.

[table class=”table_gray”]

Rank	Brand	1st half 2015
1	Cherry Mobile	17%
2	Samsung	14%
3	MyPhone	6%
4	CloudFone	5.2%
5	Lenovo	5.1%

[/table]

Samsung’s slight resurgence may be related to a renewed focus on affordable smartphones with competitive specs like the sub-P10,000 Samsung Galaxy J5. The Philippines, after all, is a country where low-cost options outsell expensive ones by a staggering margin.

Cherry Mobile remains the country’s market leader, with 17 percent market share of the total phones shipped in the 1st half of 2015.

The IDC data also indicates that MyPhone and Lenovo saw their share dip, perhaps due to increasing pressure from global competitors like Xiaomi, Meizu, and OPPO.

[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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How to get a refund on an Android app or game

In Games, Apps, and OS by Ramon LopezOctober 16, 2015Leave a Comment

Apps: They effectively turn a smartphone into a powerful tool for human connection; they’re what make owning a smartphone so compelling and inevitable for many; they’re what make a smartphone, well, smart. Without apps, there’s little reason to buy an Apple iPhone 6s, or a Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, or an OPPO R7 Plus, or what have you.

But what do you do when an app you recently purchased from the Google Play store crashes, freezes, or won’t run on any Android device you own?

NBA 2K16 for Android, iOS out now

In Games, Apps, and OS by Ramon LopezOctober 16, 20153 Comments

If you’re among the millions of hoops fans who have been waiting to get some NBA action on their Android or iOS phone or tablet, I’m pleased to tell you that your long wait is over: NBA 2K16 is now available on Google Play and the App Store.

To be clear, I’m talking about the mobile version of the popular basketball sim that was earlier released on PC and video-game consoles, not the boring virtual card game from 2K Games.

NBA 2K16 for Android and iOS is out now on Google Play and the App Store.

As for the game itself, NBA 2K16 brings plenty to the table, or should I say, court:

MyCareer, Blacktop, and Season modes
Updated rosters
Improved graphics and performance
New controls for better gameplay
Euroleague teams
More opportunities to earn Virtual Currency
Support for more devices
New soundtrack curated by producers and artists in the hip-hop community

At P365, or $7.99, NBA 2K16 is one of the more expensive games for Android and iOS, but do take note that you’re paying for the full game, meaning you could play it to your heart’s content without paying another centavo to advance in any of the game’s modes. I definitely prefer that to freemium apps that have boatloads of ads and in-app purchases.

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKcHuHmfMeE” width=”560″ height=”315″]

Trailer for NBA 2K16 for PC and current-gen consoles

10 tricks you may not know about Android 6.0 Marshmallow

In Phones by Ramon LopezOctober 15, 2015Leave a Comment

Previously, I wrote a guide on how to manually update your first-gen Android One phone to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Then I followed it up with a how-to on moving apps to your SD card, which is perhaps the best reason to upgrade to the newest Android version, assuming your device allows it.

Today, I’ve put together a cheat sheet containing 10 tricks you probably didn’t know about. Here they are:

1. Optimize battery use for each app:

Go to Settings, then select Battery.
Click on the 3 dots on the upper right-hand corner.
Tap Battery optimization and then tap the downward-pointing arrow.
Choose All apps and select the applications you want to optimize for efficiency.

2. Access the hidden System UI Tuner menu in Android 6.0 Marshmallow:

Swipe down twice from the status bar to pull down the Quick Settings menu.
Press and hold the gear icon until it starts to spin fast.
Head to the Settings menu and scroll down to the bottom of the page to access the System UI Tuner menu.

3. Show the phone’s battery level (note: you need to unlock the System UI Tuner interface first):

Go to Settings and scroll down to System UI Tuner.
Tap the toggle labeled Show embedded battery percentage.

4. Hide icons at the top of the screen:

Navigate to Settings and then choose System UI Tuner.
Choose Status bar and use the toggles to enable or disable icons in the status bar.

5. Rearrange the Quick Settings shortcuts:

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Settings menu, then hit System UI Tuner.
Select Quick Settings.
Press and drag the icons to rearrange them.

6. Uninstall apps directly from the homescreen:

Long press the app you want to delete and drag it the trash bin labeled “Uninstall” on the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

7. Adjust the backup settings of your device:

Open the Google Drive app, then swipe towards the right.
Tap Settings.
Select Backup and reset under Auto backup for apps to change your backup settings.

8. Disable Google Now on Tap:

Long press the home button to bring up the Google Now on Tap interface.
Press the 3 dots on the right-hand side of the screen and select Settings.
Tap the Now on Tap toggle to turn it off.

9. Change the notifications and permissions settings for individual apps:

Go to Settings and hit Apps under the Device tab.
Select the app you’d like to disable notifications for or set new permissions for.
Tap either Notifications or Permissions to change the settings.

10. Find the Easter egg in Android 6.0 Marshmallow:

Open the Settings app, then select About phone.
Click on the Android version number several times.
Long press the Android Marshmallow logo that appears on the screen a couple of times.
Another long press will launch a Flappy Bird-type game, which is very similar to the one featured in Android Lollipop devices, except the visuals have been changed to match the new Android version.

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLWz5rJ2EKKc-YUddw59dYq61o3ynn3A4X&t=1&v=U9tw5ypqEN0″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

LG G4 owners to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow next week

In Phones by Ramon LopezOctober 15, 2015Leave a Comment

LG G4 owners are in for a marshmallowy treat soon, as the Korean manufacturer announced today that it will start pushing the Android 6.0 Marshmallow to its flagship smartphone next week, with users in Poland getting first dibs on the latest Android software.

It seems LG likes the Poland market, for reasons beyond my understanding. LG has also published a list of upcoming features customers can expect from the OTA update, such as a Do Not Disturb mode, a battery-saving feature in Doze, as well as access to app permissions to allay privacy concerns.

LG announced today that it will start pushing the Android 6.0 Marshmallow to its flagship smartphone next week.

Other markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas can expect the upgrade to be made available soon.

LG G4 (taken by Alora Guerrero during the Singapore launch event)

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Specs of the LG G4 (Price in the Philippines: P31,990):
* LTE
* Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU
* Adreno 418 GPU
* 3GB RAM
* 32GB internal storage
* microSD card slot
* 5.5-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (1,440 x 2,560 resolution)
* 16-megapixel rear camera with laser autofocus, color-spectrum sensor, and f/1.8 aperture, LED flash
* 8-megapixel front camera
* 3,000mAh removable battery
* Android Lollipop 5.1

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TvoQRnpzu4″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

LG G4 preview (raw video), taken during the phone’s launch in Singapore

If you’ve seen Jerrold Tarog’s historical drama Heneral Luna, you may be wondering: Which local film should I see next?

Good question. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of amazing options on HOOQ, a subscription video-on-demand service that lets users watch local and Hollywood movies and TV shows on their phones or tablets for as little as P149 a month, or the equivalent of a tall Starbucks drink.

Today’s list includes 10 local releases you may not have heard of, but really should watch. So happy viewing and don’t forget to sound off in the comments with your thoughts on the items included in this post.

1. Metro Manila (2013)
Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal) decides to move his family to the Philippine capital in a desperate bid to escape a difficult life in the rural north, only to find himself in more dire straits. (A quick aside: John Arcilla, aka Heneral Luna, also stars in this indie drama.)

2. RPG Metanoia (2010)
When Metanoia is thrown into chaos, Nico and his friends must muster all their courage to overcome doubt and save their beloved fantasy world. Don’t let the PG rating and 3D animation fool you; this film is so well-made for its time that even adults will find something interesting to keep an eye on.

3. Keka (2003)
Katya Santos is a beautiful call-center employee who seeks to avenge her boyfriend’s death in this black comedy directed by Quark Henares.

4. Radyo (2001)
An insane man stalks a female radio DJ for making fun of him on air when he tried to dedicate a song for an office crush. Yam Laranas directs Jeffrey Quizon and Ruffa Mae Quinto in this thriller.

5. Sigaw (2004)
Within days after settling into an apartment in an old, desolate building, Marvin (Richard Gutierrez) begins to question his sanity after bearing witness to supernatural events.

Today’s list includes 10 local releases you may not have heard of, but really should watch.

6. Hesus Rebolusyunaryo (2002)
Set in a dystopian Philippine society in the year 2011, Hesus Mariano (Mark Anthony Fernandez) is caught in the middle of warring factions and must decide where his allegiances lie. It’s rare for a local film to take on a science-fiction theme, but it’s even rarer to find one with deft political and philosophical commentary. For that I tip my hat to director Lav Diaz and the cast.

7. Istokwa (1996)
As the title suggests, the film tells the coming-of-age story of two young teens (Mark Anthony Fernandez and Spencer Reyes) who drive north to break from the mire of family dysfunction. It also has an amazing Eraserheads-headlined soundtrack that for many people — myself included — proved to be an introduction of sorts to alternative OPM music.

8. Gangland (1998)
Four highschool dropouts end up in over their heads and are left to face life on the streets. Jason Salcedo and Ryan Eigenmann star in this emotionally charged film from directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

9. Pangako ng Kahapon (1994)
Director Joel Lamangan weaves an intricate tale of family drama involving three strong-willed sisters (Alice Dixson, Donna Cruz, Agot Isidro) who share the same father but different mothers.

10. Pridyider (2012)
A demonic, man-eating refrigerator terrorizes a balikbayan (Andi Eigenmann). Try not to laugh; if you can get past your knee-jerk reaction to a fiendish appliance, you’ll find that the movie can be fun as long as you’re willing to leave logic at the door. (And really, isn’t that the first thing we do before watching horror flicks?)