NBA Live 16 unveiled at E3, promises better online play

In Games, Apps, and OS by Ramon LopezJune 15, 2015Leave a Comment

The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015, or simply E3 2015, is upon us, and one of the more interesting titles in EA’s lineup this year is the company’s upcoming basketball sim NBA Live 16.

NBA Live 16 will bring a fresh batch of modes and new gameplay mechanics, as well as a new feature that allows you to scan your face into the game using your phone’s camera.

The game will bring a fresh batch of modes, new gameplay mechanics that you haven’t seen before, including touch passing, dribble handoffs, and the ability to fight through screens, as well as a new face-scan feature that allows you to scan your face into the game using your smartphone’s camera.

After last year’s iteration of Live failed to upset NBA 2K15 as the champion of basketball video games, EA is confident that Live 16 has improved enough on its fundamentals to keep the competition on its toes. At the very least, EA says, Live 16 will offer better online play — something the NBA 2K franchise sorely lacks despite its solid mechanics. I should know — I play NBA 2K15 just about every day since its launch last year.

NBA Live 16 will be available on September 29 for the PS4 and Xbox One. Personally, I’m rooting for EA to bring the fight to 2K Sports. Competition, as they say, breeds innovation. For a brief first look at NBA Live 16, check out the videos below.

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta3B03UsI80″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

The first trailer for NBA Live 16 is here

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKHxcH6olTQ” width=”560″ height=”315″]

EA shows off NBA Live 16’s new face-scan feature and gameplay mechanics

P7,999 Firefly Mobile Allure 64 LTE phone is stacked

In Phones by Ramon LopezJune 12, 2015Leave a Comment

Cherry Mobile, MyPhone, and Torque may be the most popular homegrown smartphone brands right now, but newcomer Firefly Mobile is quickly making a name for itself as a company with attention-grabbing offerings like the Intense 64 LTE and Intense Mini, both of which promise speedy performance without burning a hole in your budget.

Firefly Mobile’s latest release, the Allure 64 LTE, expands on that tradition by bringing upmarket features, such as a 5.5-inch IPS panel with curved-edge Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top, an aircraft-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy frame, and a 360-degree fingerprint sensor to the sub-P8,000 segment.

Things look just as promising inside as they do on the outside, with the phone running Android Lollipop on a 1.7GHz octa-core, LTE-ready processor paired with 3GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel Sony camera with backside illumination.

The Allure 64 LTE retails for P7,999. I haven’t gotten up close and personal with a working unit, but it’s certainly worth a look.

According to Firefly Mobile’s Facebook page, the Allure 64 LTE retails for a very reasonable P7,999 and is now available nationwide. I haven’t gotten up close and personal with a working unit, but from what I’ve heard so far, it’s certainly worth a look.

Firefly Mobile 64 LTE

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Specs of the Firefly Mobile Allure 64 LTE (Price: P7,999):
* Dual SIM with LTE support
* Fingerprint sensor
* 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6752 octa-core, 64-bit CPU
* Mali-T760 MP2 GPU
* 3GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
* 5.5-inch OGS IPS display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 13-megapixel rear camera with BSI and LED flash
* 8-megapixel front camera with BSI and LED flash
* 2,900mAh removable battery
* Android 5.0 Lollipop

Cherry Mobile has a new mid-range phone for under P10K

In Phones by Ramon LopezJune 4, 2015Leave a Comment

(UPDATE, June 19: According to Cherry Mobile, the Cosmos S2 is now available in Cherry Mobile kiosks and stores.)

As if you didn’t know already, things are heating up in the local mobile space in 2015, largely because of competition from Chinese brands like Lenovo, Honor, and Oppo that are making a strong push in the mid-range market. Homegrown players MyPhone and Starmobile have already responded to this year’s wave of low-cost, high-performance smartphones from the Far East by releasing their own iterations of bargain blowers running the Android operating system.

The Cherry Mobile Cosmos S2 checks many of the same boxes as its rivals, but with a heavier emphasis on design, as evidenced by its 6.3mm-thick frame and dual-glass exterior.

It’s not surprising, then, that local tech company Cherry Mobile has unveiled its answer to the likes of Lenovo’s A7000 and Honor’s 4X. I’m talking about the Cherry Mobile Cosmos S2, which checks many of the same boxes as its rivals, but with a heavier emphasis on design, as evidenced by its 6.3mm-thick metal frame and dual-glass exterior.

The phone is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor that supports local LTE bands and comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, which is expandable up to an additional 64GB via microSD expansion. The icing on the cake is a 5-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection and a quick-charge feature that promises to shorten charging times.

The Cherry Mobile Cosmos S2 will retail for P9,999 when it arrives in stores soon. Not bad for a device of this caliber.

Specs of the Cherry Mobile Cosmos S2 (Price in the Philippines: P9,999):
* Dual SIM (with LTE support)
* 1.5GHz 64-bit, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor
* 2GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 64GB)
* 5-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 13-megapixel rear camera with BSI and LED flash
* 8-megapixel front camera with BSI
* 2,260mAh battery
* Android Lollipop 5.0

Globe rolls out affordable hotspot service for SMEs

In Business by Ramon LopezJune 2, 2015Leave a Comment

Hiring an IT guy to handle a commercial establishment’s complimentary WiFi service might not be something all entrepreneurs welcome for various reasons, which is why Globe Telecom has come up with a new service aimed squarely at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that makes it far simpler to turn any store, restaurant, bar, or any place where people wait, for that matter, into a hotspot.

Globe’s WiFi Hub not only allows business owners to attract more customers, but also lets them make more money by charging patrons for WiFi passes.

Globe’s myBusiness WiFi Hub not only allows establishments to attract more customers — customers who would now be more likely to share their experiences on social media, mind you — but also lets them make more money by charging patrons for WiFi passes. Of course, SMEs can opt to give out WiFi passwords with a minimum purchase requirement. They can even go the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf route and integrate WiFi access into some kind of loyalty program.

Regardless, Globe touts its myBusiness WiFi Hub service as a win-win for both consumers and businesses owners: the former can stay connected and be productive on the go; the latter can grow their audience with a secure hotspot that isn’t prone to bandwidth abuse.

Globe’s WiFi Hub packages start at Plan 1599 for up-to-3Mbps download speeds and goes up to Plan 4299 for up-to-15Mbps speeds. They can also be purchased as an add-on to an existing myBusiness broadband plan for as low as P299 a month.

All WiFi Hub packages come with an LTE router linked to a mini printer that can be configured to print unique WiFi passwords in either time- or volume-based denominations. It also comes with a Globe landline with unlimited calls to Globe and TM numbers, plus dedicated after-sales support. For establishments that will be adopting a pay-per-use policy, Globe’s suggested pricing for a time-based scheme is P10 for 30 minutes of Internet use; P20 for 1 hour; and P30 for 2 hours.

The myBusiness WiFi Hub service is subject to a 24-month lock-in period. It’s currently being rolled out nationwide, so if you’re interested, you may want to get in touch with a Globe representative now.

Boompods brings gadget accessories to PH via Lazada

In Wearables by Ramon LopezJune 1, 20152 Comments

Boompods has recently launched an extensive catalog of accessories in the Philippines that caters to a young, tech-savvy demographic that wants a dash of color in their gear. Boompods has also partnered with online retailer Lazada Philippines to sell its products locally, without the hassles of making purchases in a physical store.

Among Boompods’ initial offerings are lighting cables, battery packs, battery cases for iPhones, and wireless headphones and speakers, including a waterproof speaker.

Among the brand’s initial offerings are lighting and microUSB cables, external battery packs, battery cases for iPhones, wireless headphones, and wireless speakers, including a waterproof speaker called Aquapod, which, as the name implies, can withstand incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. It even comes with a suction cup, allowing you to secure it to a shower wall, making it the perfect accessory for those who love to sing in the shower. If you’re looking for a rugged device for outside use that can handle rough and tumble and a bit of water, check out the best outdoor radio list over on Outdoor Empire.

Boompods accessories are available on Lazada Philippines. But, to be honest, I’d rather purchase my audio gear from brick-and-mortar establishments because when it comes to sound quality, beauty is, more often than not, in the ears of the beholder. However, if you’re only planning on buying wires or portable chargers, online shopping is the best way to go.

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr3_Cm0XIw” width=”560″ height=”315″]

Check out this promo video for Boompods accessories

Nissan Philippines beats industry for Q1 2015

In Press Releases by REVU TeamJune 1, 2015Leave a Comment

Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) scored a first quarter record growth of 32%, outdoing the industry performance of 22% for the same time period, according to a report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI).

Since its inception in March 2014, the young company has unceasingly rolled out exciting and innovative programs that put the brand back on the map. With its current initiatives that further boost NPI’s brand image, improve after-sales service and strengthen dealer-network presence in the country, these are strong proof points that NPI has clearly established a solid foundation that propelled its successful sales growth.

Sales figures from the company showed market enthusiasm exemplified by the leading volume contributor, the Urvan, followed by the Almera, which is deemed as an emerging contender in its segment. The successful sales growth was also supported by the global model, the new Sylphy, as well as the award-winning executive sedan and compact SUV, the new Altima and all-new X-Trail, respectively. Shortly, a month after its availability in the market, the all-new NP300 Navara has been well received by the customers as exemplified by its promising sales performance.

NPI also marked a significant milestone when they breached the 1,000 units sales mark for the month of March. “This makes March 2015 an important month for us, seeing how our improved teamwork has led to making this first quarter all the more meaningful as a success,” Zara said. In addition to its momentous progress, the first quarter of 2015 has been reported to be the best Q1 in Nissan sales history in fifteen years.

“We at NPI are proud to say that we reached this important highlight in our corporate history through a combination of factors,” he continued. “We attribute this on our exciting product lineup, as well as our improved after-sales services, as demonstrated by topping the J.D. Power Philippines Customer Service Index (CSI) in 2014,” he continued. “We owe this victory to our valued customers who choose Nissan as their preferred brand of choice. With new technology utilized through using something similar to a range of tech like a lintechtt mmwave radar, seen on lintechtt.com, in an effort to make Nissan car’s safer.”

Claiming that 2015 will be Nissan’s year, the company has laid out a clear strategy to achieve its targeted 40% sales growth for FY15. NPI is all set to aggressively launch new vehicle models every quarter as well as increase and firm up their dealer-network nationwide by recently signing up six new dealerships in one day. All these efforts will contribute in achieving Nissan Global’s mid term plan the “Nissan Power 88”.

Nissan GT Academy PH continues search for first Filipino race driver

In Press Releases by REVU TeamJune 1, 2015Leave a Comment

Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) revs up its search for the first-ever Filipino race car driver who’ll take it to a podium finish at Silverstone as the first Nissan GT Academy Philippines draws closer to its National Finals this July.

“Ever since we launched the program last March 25, we at Nissan are overwhelmed to see how the Filipino GT players rose to our call, and answered the challenge of making good time on the virtual track in their quest to become real race car driver,” Antonio Zara, NPI President and Managing Director, said. “This can be seen in the number of players who’ve signed up in all of our Live Events, with nearly 20,000 trials made in the 13 Live events we’ve held to date,” he added.

There has been 20 excellent players who have led the charge in the leaderboards. However, they are advised not to rest on their laurels, as NPI holds the succeeding Live Events scheduled in June which includes a provincial run as it expands its search for potential talents in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Antonio Zara also confirmed Marlon Stockinger, a young Filipino race car driver who has raced for Status Grand Prix, as the mentor and guest-judge of the Filipino finalists. “Following the footsteps of Marlon, we are very hopeful that a Filipino will emerge as the next international motorsports sensation,” Zara said.

The Nissan GT Academy Philippines will be holding the National Finals for the top 20 finalists from the Live Events in July. The top finalists are expected to hurdle a series of challenges that will tax their driving skills, mental and physical agility as well as tactical ability, in order to qualify for the Race Camp Week in Silverstone, UK this August.

The following is the schedule of the Live Events for June:

* SM BF Paranaque and Robinsons Bacolod – June 5-7
* Centrio Mall, CDO – June 5-6
* SM Cebu – June 11-17
* SM Masinag – June 12-14
* SM Sta. Rosa – June 18-24
* SM Manila– June 19-21
* Glorietta 2 Activity Center – June 26-28
* High Street, BGC – June 27

If you’re interested in racing, check out this guide for more information on how to adapt your car to race. For more details on the Nissan GT Academy, go to NPI’s Facebook page.

LG G4 is official in PH, price starts at P31,990

In Phones by Ramon LopezMay 28, 2015Leave a Comment

Just a month after LG hosted multiple launch events to make its biggest tech announcement of the year, LG Philippines has taken the wraps off its flagship-phone contender for 2015. Say hello (again) to the LG G4. It’s a memorable device — and I mean that in the best way possible. Perhaps memorable enough to give its fiercest Korean rival (read: the Samsung Galaxy S6) a run for its money.

If you haven’t read our primer about the G4, here’s what to expect from LG’s most advanced smartphone to date: a choice between plastic and leather back covers that can be peeled off to reveal a user-replaceable 3,000mAh battery and microSD expansion; a slightly curved 5.5-inch IPS display with a super-high resolution of 1,440 x 2,560; the latest hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor; and a 16-megapixel, f/1.8 rear camera bolstered by laser autofocus and a color-spectrum sensor for improving color accuracy.

The LG G4 is now available for preorders and will ship starting June 3. The version with a plastic back sells for P31,990, while the genuine-leather variant is priced at P32,990.

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

The LG G4 is every bit as fast as the Samsung Galaxy S6, and it seems to take better photos in different lighting conditions, which is a huge compliment given the latter’s impressive optics.

MY TAKE: I’ve spent some hands-on time with the LG G4 today, and all I can say for now is that the Samsung Galaxy S6 finally has a worthy competitor at the top-end of the market. The G4 is every bit as fast as this year’s signature Samsung handset, and it seems to take better photos in different lighting conditions, which is a huge compliment given the Galaxy S6’s impressive optics.

Roughly two weeks after announcing its partnership with Skype, Smart Communications has introduced new video data plans to make online video content more accessible to Pinoys. We say accessible because the bundles should appeal to the sachet or tingi-tingi nature of Filipinos. Imagine availing yourself of a plan as low as P5.

So what are the offers all about? How do you subscribe to them? We answer these questions and more in the guide below. Promise, this should be quick.

What are Smart’s new video data plans?

There are four bundles:

* YouTube5, where you pay P5 to get 65MB of data for 15 minutes of standard-definition video streaming on mobile phones. This is valid for a day;

* YouTube25, where you spend — yes, you got it right — P25 to enjoy 160MB of data for 35 minutes of standard-def video streaming on handsets. Again, it’s valid for one day;

* YouTube50, for 400MB of data for 90 minutes of standard-def video streaming, valid for three days. This is worth P50; and

* YouTube199, where your P199 gives you 1,200MB of data for 270 minutes of standard-def video streaming, valid for 30 days.

Do the bundles only cover videos watched on YouTube?

Nope. The plans may have the word “YouTube” in the keywords, but you can also avail yourself of any of the plans when you want to use Dailymotion, Vimeo, Viewstream, Skype Qik, and app-of-the-moment Dubsmash.

How does one subscribe to any one of the new video data bundles?

It’s simple. Just text YOUTUBE5, YOUTUBE25, YOUTUBE50, or YOUTUBE199 to 9999. You may also dial *121#, which is Smart’s access number for all of its promos.

Can you take advantage of them even if you are on an existing package?

Definitely. Your existing data subscription won’t be affected.

How about the payment process?

Smart has made it simple for its subscribers. Once you have successfully registered to a plan, you get an instant notification of your subscription. The amount will be charged against your prepaid load or billed on top of your monthly service fee.

How will you know that you have used up your subscription? What now?

There’s no bill shock to worry about, as the plans are covered by Load Protect, which should, well, protect you from unwanted data charges. You get a warning message when your subscription is nearing expiration. You will also be directed to a paywall when you have fully consumed your subscription.

Are the offers available to Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text subscribers as well?

Yes, they are.

MY TAKE: The tingi-tingi mindset prevalent in the Philippines, where Filipinos buy items in sachets instead of in whole packages, shows the financial capability of the people. The country’s poverty incidence is at 25.8 percent, so a lot of Pinoys live by the day. Going for the whole shebang just doesn’t cut it often here. You can see it in sari-sari stores, where items are micro-packaged to make them more affordable. You can see it in our palengke.

This culture has extended to the telecommunications sector as well. Can’t afford a P1,500 (sort of) unlimited data package? Subscribe to something that will cost you only few pesos — and only when you need it.

A lot of Pinoys live by the day, so just for this move to give more Filipinos access to online video content alone, I say, ‘You’re doing it right, Smart.’

So just for this move to give more Filipinos access to online video content alone, I say, “You’re doing it right, Smart.”