Cherry Mobile Launches Cosmos Smartphone Edition - High End Specs at Budget Price

Cherry Mobile is the first local manufacturer to bring a full HD 1080p AMOLED Smartphone Experience to the local market. The Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z is now their current flagship to beat. Cherry Mobile isn't just leading the way in terms of redefining how one views budget smartphones, its also revolutionizing the price scheme with which devices like these are priced, at least here in the Philippines. 

Here is the Cherry Mobile Cosmos Line Up:

Cherry Mobile Cosmos X specs:
4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display
1.2GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
4GB internal storage
micro SD up to 32GB
18MP BSI camera with LED flash
8MP BSI front-facing
WiFi b/g/n
3G HSPA+
Bluetooth
GPS
Dual SIM
Android 4.2 JellybeanPhp9,999

Cherry Mobile Cosmos X2 specs:
4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD display
1.2GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
18MP BSI camera with LED flash
5MP BSI front-facing
WiFi b/g/n
3G HSPA+
Bluetooth
GPS
Dual SIM
Android 4.2 Jellybean
2,200mAh batteryPhp11,699

Cherry Mobile Cosmos S specs:
5-inch IPS LCD 720 x 1280 HD display
1.5GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
18MP BSI camera with LED flash
8MP BSI front-facing
WiFi b/g/n
3G HSPA+
Bluetooth
GPS
2,500mAh battery
Android 4.2 JellybeanPhp10,999

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z specs:
5-inch IPS LCD 1080 x 1920 display
1.5GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
micro SD up to 32GB
18MP BSI camera with LED flash
WiFi b/g/n
3G HSPA+
Bluetooth
GPS
Dual SIM
Android 4.2 Jellybean
2,000mAh batteryPhp11,999

I can't wait to get my hands on the Cherry Mobile Z and run it through some test, but for now these specs seem quite ample enough to get people enticed to try out the Cherry Mobile Cosmos. 

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Photo Credits: Yahoo News
Source Credit: Yahoo News

Cloudfone Excite 400d - Cheapest Jelly Bean Smartphone

Introducing the Cloudfone Excite 400d

I thought that Cherry Mobile was the only smartphone company that could dish out affordable yet highly functional Jelly Bean Smartphone devices and yet here I am proven wrong.  Early this year Cloudfone had been quite busy at creating a follow up to their former budget flagship phone called the Cloudfone Thrill 430x, and have now just released its successor the Cloudfone Excite 400d. 

This drop dead priced budget phone is priced at just under Php 4,500 and yet it packs a dual core processor(1Ghz), Stock Android Jelly Bean(version 4.1.2) and is at 4" with a front (.3MP) and back(5MP) camera. 

The Jelly Bean firmware coupled with the dual core processor is the backbone as to how smooth it is to navigate through the Cloudfone Excite 400d. Storage is expandable to 32GB and what I love about it is that you can pick either the microSD card as the primary storage or the internal memory. I am pretty sure you'll be using the external memory as the main storage area as the internal memory would only have about 500Mb left.

Camera-wise, the Cloudfone Excite 400d isn't something to be too excited about but it does the job with well lit situations but once you hit the dark room, even with it's flash be ready to get grainy low quality pictures. Same goes with the front facing camera which works well for skype calling and other video chat apps, but once you get to a dark place all they'll get to see is your silhouette. 

Sound quality is pretty good and is quite pleasant to listen to and you can download almost unlimited media files such as movies to watch on it's 4" TFT screen, which though low compared to the current ppi values being released in the market, is quite pleasant to watch from. 

Another plus factor is the fact that you have interchangeable back covers. You'll get the default black casing and one of three other colors with the packaging. The colors are quite similar to that of the Nokia Lumia series. 

The only down side to the Cloudfone Excite 400d is the battery which is at 1400mAh and would merit that you bring an extra power source of carry around your charger and plug in when you feel that you need the extra juice. 

Cloudfone Excite 400d Spec Sheet

• 1GHz Dual-core Processor, MediaTek MTK6577 chipset
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 4.0-inch 800 x 480 resolution TFT capacitive touchscreen
• 5.0-megapixels rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi Hotspot, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS with A-GPS
• Back Cover Colors: Blue, Yellow, Pink and Black
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• 1,400mAh Battery

Overall, the Cloudfone Excite 400d is quite a breakthrough at least in terms of the pricing scheme and could even rival those of the other more popular budget smartphone brands. The overall feel of the phone, the software and hardware, all make it quite an attractive package for just under the Php 4,500 marker. It is something to consider if you want to enjoy the full benefits of an Android Smartphone running on the latest firmware version called Jelly Bean. Its smooth and easy to use and light for anyone's budget. 

I can't wait to get to see what Cloudfone shall be dishing out next. 

Till Next Time...

-Metz

Is the ASUS MeMO Pad a Tablet that's Worthy of being a Travel Partner?

I bet you might not have gotten the chance to have heard of the brand called MeMO PAD. Asus is the builder of this new tablet and with the Google Nexus Tablet under Asus' belt, there are many expectation with regards to this new release. Let's go over some of the things that I feel would be most important for your decision.

Design

The overall look and feel of the MeMo Pad seems to have gotten its roots from its Asus Google Nexus 7 counterpart, especially with how the textured back was designed. The main difference that one would notice though is that with the Nexus 7, you'll get a soft touch material coating as compared to the hard plastic feel of the MeMO Pad. The MeMO Pad also comes in multiple colors which include black, white, gray, and cherry pink. 

The ASUS MeMO Pad measures 7.7 x 4.6 x 0.4 inches and weighs 12.5 ounces. This makes the MeMO Pad tablet slightly larger and heavier than its Google Nexus 7 counterpart. 

The MeMo Pad's power button and volume controls are located on the top left edge of the device, with a headphone jack at the top and a microUSB and microSD slot on the bottom. The ASUS MeMO PAD tablet has an expandable memory. The speaker is located on the back, an inch-wide grille on the bottom left.

Display

The screen resolution on the MeMO Pad, 1024 x 600. This falls short compared to the competition. The Google Nexus 7 has a 1280 x 800 pixel displays, providing crisp and clear text and images. 

The screen limitations were especially apparent when we were browsing several different websites. Smaller text was harder to read than on the Google Nexus 7. Viewing angles tend to be a bit limited, making it difficult to see content clearly.

Audio

You would be happy to hear that we were pleasantly surprised by the audio quality of the ASUS MeMO Pad. It played loud and clear music during playback and it makes it quite a good alternative to bringing portable speakers when traveling. 

The MeMO Pad's speaker is enhanced by SonicMaster Audio Technology and the Audio Wizard app, which includes preset audio levels for different categories of media. 

Keyboard and Interface

The main advantage of the ASUS MeMO Pad is that it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which includes features such an enhanced notification drawer and a series of performance enhancements dubbed "Project Butter" which allows for an extremely smooth user experience. 

The ASUS MeMO Pad includes has two keyboards to choose from. These are the Android keyboard and the ASUS keyboard, although additional keyboards can be installed through Google Play. The ASUS keyboard, which has light gray keys against a darker gray background, features a full number row along the top, and has slightly more space between each key than its Android counterpart. 

Both keyboards support voice typing, but the ASUS keyboard requires Internet connectivity, whereas the Android keyboard works offline. Users can also input text using Google voice typing, which also works without an Internet connection. Though in a general sense this feature would most likely be left unnoticed by the general user. 

Apps

ASUS MeMO Pad tablet has a been nice enough to only put in features that can be considered as useful and not flood the unit with too much bloatware.  There is SuperNote, which a scribbling and note-taking app, the MyPainter drawing app, ASUS Studio for managing and editing photos, Zinio and MyBitCast for syncing notes with your ASUS WebStorage account. ASUS also includes App Backup, App Locker, ASUS Story and Studio and the BuddyBuzz chat client.

Another great thing to take note of about the ASUS MeMO Pad is that it also has access to the Google Play store, which currently contains a countless number of applications that one can download and use. The MeMO Pad also includes Floating App, which allows certain applications, such as the browser, video, a stopwatch and certain settings, to be displayed as a floating window on top of the currently running application. This feature I find quite neat and have found it quite useful when multitasking is needed.  

Performance

Here is where things get a little tricky for the ASUS MeMO Pad. One thing that you have to keep in mind is that the ASUS MeMO Pad is built for Media Consumption and not for games that contain heavy graphics. The reason for this is that the ASUS MeMO Pad only uses a single core 1-GHz VIA WM8950 processor with 1GB of RAM. I personally would have wanted double the core at least or double the RAM. It is here that you'll get to notice a slight lag in terms of transition effects such as going from portrait to landscape mode. 

The MeMO Pad has three power settings, Performance, Balanced and Power Saving. If you wish to have your applications to load faster, such as a game like Angry Birds, you'd have to keep it at Performance. Placing it at Power Saving could have you on wait time for much longer than you would want to. 

One thing that surprised me if anything was that the graphics looked great and played flawlessly with "Riptide GP." But, there was a delay between tilts and the in-game steering, which made the vehicle quite a challenge to handle. Games like Angry Bird and Fruit Ninja all played quite smoothly. 

Webcam

The ASUS MeMO Pad is equipped with a VGA Front Facing Camera (.3MP). This is pretty ok for webcam applications like skype. Just bear with the slight yellow hue and some rather apparent resolution issues. 

Battery Life and Wi-Fi

With continuous use the ASUS MeMO Pad has the capacity to last a little over 6 hours to 7 hours, much less though if you are watching movies and playing somewhat high graphic games (at least those that can run on the provided specifications). 

Verdict

The ASUS MeMO Pad Tablet is an OK tablet as a travel companion for three simple reasons:

1. Its cheap and easy to pack

2. It can be an awesome Multimedia Companion - from eBooks to Sound Blasting your boredom away.

3. Its on Jelly Bean giving you a somewhat buttery smooth performance. 

Right now the ASUS MeMO PAD is selling at less than Php 6,000. Though do check out other retail outlets such as those in Greenhills in San Juan, Philippines and St. Francis Square beside Megamall. 

If you ask me personally though, I would check out the Cherry Mobile Tablets first prior to making a choice on this one. You might have to decide on what you can afford versus specs.

Till Next Time...

-Metz

Budget Windows Phone 8: Nokia 720 and Nokia 520 now Available

Nokia Lumia 720

The Nokia Lumia 720 has a 4.3-inch and 800 x 480 ClearBlack display. This is roughly the average size of smartphone these days, though technically, the 4.3" screens are more pocketable than the larger 5" screen handsets. This is however going to be based on preference. 

The Lumia 720 has a polycarbonate body just like the Lumia 920 but it is slimmer and lighter.   The Lumia 720 is only 9mm thick and is a lightweight at only 128 grams.  

In terms of performance, the Nokia Lumia 720 packs a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon CPU which should give you quite an ample enough speed in terms on in application browsing, considering the lightweight nature of Windows 8 ecosystem. Irregardless of it being paired with only 512MB of RAM, the Windows 8 system is built to be light and buttery thus speed and ease of browsing should not be a problem.   

The rest of specs include a 2,000mAh battery (good enough to keep you juiced up for the whole day of moderate use), NFC, wireless charging, 6.7-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 lens (the photos are quite comparable to most higher end smartphones even in low light situations due to its aperture), 1.3-megapixel front camera with wide-angle lens.

Nokia Lumia 720 Specs, Price

• 4.3-inch ClearBlack display
• Gorilla Glass 2
• 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 64GB)
• 7GB Free Skydrive Storage
• 6.7-megapixel rear camera with f1.9 lens
• 1.3-megapixel front camera with wide angle lens
• Windows 8 OS
• 2,000mAh battery

The Lumia 720 is priced at P14,590.

Nokia Lumia 520

The Nokia Lumia 520 is smaller than the Lumia 720 but is a more comfortable size visually compared to the Nokia Lumia 620.  It uses a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) IPS LCD display which is roughly the same dimensions as that of the iPhone 4/s.  The main specs of the Lumia 520 include a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear camera, 8GB storage, microSD slot (up to 64GB) and 1,430mAh battery.  The Lumia 520 will come in cyan, yellow, red, black and white colors. 

I personally would rather pic this rather that Nokia 620 as they come in quite close in terms of specification but is priced much lower. That is if you can live without a front facing camera and flash. I would most likely use this as a second phone though, as there are still some limited functionalities that one can experience with this as compared to its much larger brothers the Nokia Lumia 820 and Nokia Lumia 920. 

Nokia Lumia 520 Specs, Price

• 4-inch IPS LCD (800×480)
• Gorilla Glass 2
• 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 64GB)
• 7GB Free Skydrive Storage
• 5-megapixel rear camera
• Windows 8 OS
• 1,430mAh battery

The Lumia 520 is priced at P7,990.

These are definitely pretty good contenders for the budget conscious and if you are someone that likes a simplified OS, that is easy to use and understand. There is very little though one can do in terms of customization with the Windows Phone OS. 

If you have picked any of these units up and have gotten a chance to get to go through a day to day's use of these handsets, do share your thoughts about it and what you like and don't like about it. We would be more than happy to hear all about it.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Budget Table to Beat: Cherry Fusion Bolt Lives Up to Its Name

Cherry Mobile has just launched their very first quad-core powered 7-inch tablet called Fusion Bolt. The specs are quite similar to that of the Ainol Novo 7 Venus tablet with a slight difference in build quality. The display resolution is also quite good at a 1280 x 800 and uses an IPS panel for a 178° visibility angle. What was eye catching though was its ridiculously low price of 3, 999

Equipped with a 1GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. The processor is exactly the same as that of the Ainol Novo 7 Venus which is advertised at 1.5GHz, though the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt has it underclocked at 1.1Ghz.

The one thing I did notice was that going through the UI, there is a negligible amount of lag from time to time considering that it is running on a quad core processor. Temple Run 2 type games run quite smoothly on the device, but Contract Killer Zombies 2 tends to lag a bit. 

The 8GB memory was used to cut down on cost however this shouldn't a problem as the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt tablet has a swappable microSD slot anyway. Other slots include a microUSB slot which they said can run 3G dongles, and a mini-HDMI port.

Rear camera is limited at just 2-megapixel and the front one is a 0.3-megapixel affair. This is something that one shouldn't put too much interest in as it tends to be quite grainy and performs quite poorly in low light situations. Considering the price tag this can be a forgivable thing. The Front Camera though performs quite well, just ensure you are in a well lit room lest you want your webcam image to look like a silhouette.  Battery is 4000mAh which should last the device roughly about 5 hours of heavy usage considering that it is running an IPS Screen and is running on quad core tech,

Overall, the device is a good device for people that want the best of quad core technology but are only willing to dish out Php 4,000 pesos. I can see though the educational benefits that this device can bring to families that want to have their kids to experience the full privileges of modern technology without having to dig deep into your pockets. 

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Specs:

7-inch IPS LCD HD display (1280 × 800 resolution), 216ppi

5-point multitouch display

1.0GHz quad-core Actions Semiconductor ATM7029 processor

Vivante GC1000+ GPU

1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB

WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

2MP rear camera

0.3MP front camera

Supports external 3G dongle

miniHDMI

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

4,000mAh Li-Ion battery

186.2mm x 126.9mm x 10.8mm

320 grams

SRP: Php3,999 Till Next Time... -Metz-

NextBook M805ND - Best Buy 8 Inch Tablet

If you are currently looking for a tablet that is at the 8" category but aren't quite ready to dishout a hefty lumpsum of what one would normally spend for an iPad Mini, then the NextBook 8" (M805ND) is you next best thing. This is a fully featured 8" tablet that is powered by Google Android's 4.1 Jelly bean OS and comes equipped with so many features that'll make you feel that spending the Php 7, 495 on it was well worth it. - For those that are interested in buying this you can check it out at SM Nort Edsa Department store.

Features:

AML8726-MX Dual Core and Front Camera

NEXT8D12F is equipped with AML8726-MX Dual Core CPU and its main frequency up to 1.5GHz. You can surf the net, play games, or stream videos smoother than ever! It also comes equipped with 0.3MP front facing camera to capture that special moment wherever you are!

Capacitive Touch Screen and BT 2.1

NEXT8D12F Dual-core comes equipped with a 8 inch capacitive touch screen for smoother operation. With resolution of 1024x768 pixel, you can be sure of the crispy. Moreover, it is built-in bluetooth 2.1, which enables you to transfer and share your precious things with your friends or colleagues anytime and anywhere.

8G ROM & WIFI & MicroSD Card Compatible

NEXT8D12F Dual-core comes with built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, you can surf the World Wide Web faster than ever. Your new Next8D12F Dual-core is also equipped with 8GB memory, which can also supports up to 32GB with Micro SD card slot.

Google Android OS 4.1

The NEXT8D12F Dual-core is preloaded with the Google`s powerful Linux-based Android operating system 4.1 designed specifically for mobile devices. You can play, listen and surf and never miss a beat!

Overall with ML8726-MX Cortex A9 Dual Core 1.5GHz, Nextbook NEXT8D12F Tablet PC is much clearer and better to use. It uses the Google Andriod 4.1 OS and 8GB nand flash. The camera is 0.3MP. With its 8 inch digital high-definition LCD screen and the capacitive touch panel, you can enjoy a more splendid life. 

Specifications: 

Model NO.:Nextbook NEXT8D12F 

Operation System:Andriod 4.0.4 updated to 4.1

CPU:AML8726-MX Cortex A9 Dual Core 

Frequency:1.5GHz 

Screen:8" High Light TFT 1024*768 Resolution?Capacitive Touch Panel 

RAM:1.0G DDR3 

Nand Flash:8.0GB 

Micro SD,TF Card:Up to 32GB(No Card Includes) 

Camera:0.3 MP 

Bluetooth:Support 

Audio:Support MP3,WAV,OGG,FLAC,APE,AAC,WMA?license? 

Video:Support AVI,3GP,MP4,RM,RMVB,FLV,MKV,MOV,MPG,VOB,DAT,WMV,ASF 

WiFi:Support WiFi, 802.11b,g,n 

3G Dongle:Support 

Image Format:Support JPEG,BMP,GIF,PNG 

E-Book:Support Epub,TXT,FB2, RTF 

Read Speed:30~31MB/S(MLC flash) 

Write Speed:4~5MB/S(MLC flash) 

Gravitity Sensor:Support 

HDMI:Yes 

OTG:Support Mouse,keybord,uDisk 

Other Applications:Apk installer/ASTRO/Browser/Calculator/Calendar/Camera/Clock/Downloads/Email/Ebook/File Browser/Gallery/HDMI Switch/Office Suit/Search/Settings/Slide Me/Sound Record/Task Killer/Weather Forecast (optional),Recording 

Language:English,Chinese(China),Chinese(Taiwan) 

Interface:Micro SD Card 

USB Interface 

3.5mm Earphone Interface 

Color:Black 

Power Adapter:US Plug AC100/240V 50/60HZ DC 5V/2A 

Battery:Li-polymer 4720mAh 

Battery Time:Use to Listen Music:about 6-hour; Use to Watch Video: about 5-hour 

Use to browse:about 5-hour

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Get Engaged with Starmobile's Engage 7HD Tablet

After my experience with Starmobile Astra, I took time to get to review and test out their latest Starmobile Tablet called the Starmobile Engage 7HD. I was pleased to have been able to do so as with my review of the Starmobile Asta, the Starmobile Engage 7HD has, in more ways than what one would expect from a budget tablet, performed exceptionally well and is feature packed making it a worthy consideration for those that want more out of what they spend, especially when on a budget.

Starmobile Engage 7HD's first impression doesn't scream that it is a budget device in anyway. It is well built and once you start browsing through the widgets and application browsers, will immediately notice the smoothness and fluidity that I had noticed with Starmobile Astra. The screen quality is pretty good and makes viewing of photos, websites, and videos quite pleasant. I would compare the quality of build and performance to that of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 that is currently priced at Php 12,990.

I love the way that it comes pre-loaded with the most downloaded applications like Facebook, twitter, skype, etc giving you ample space for other apps that you might like to download. It has very little bloatware and runs on stock Android ICS OS. Gaming though is pretty much at par with that of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 so heavy graphics type of gaming such as Modern Combat would strain the unit quite a bit. Games like Contract Killer Zombies One and Two will work fine with it though.

The Starmobile Engage 7HD is also equipped with an 8MP rear shooter and a VGA front camera. Just like the Starmobile Astra, the Starmobile Engage 7HD would need ample lighting in order for you to get the most out of the image. Low light would still produce grainy shots.

Memory is at 8GB but is expandable to 32GB and aside from Wifi, it supports 3.5G USBs allowing you to be constantly connected anywhere you go.

The only downside that I have noted about the device is the lack of bluetooth and its battery life as it is equipped with only a 4000mAh internal battery that gives about 5 hours of continuous video playback. The USB Cable doesn't support anything else but the 3.5G USB stick so placing a bluetooth USB wont work.

Overall at the Php 7,990 price point, The Starmobile Engage 7HD does pack a lot in terms of value and provides an overall pleasant user experience. There are points in which I would have liked to have seen some improvements and feature inclusions, but given the long list of features it has already jam packed into this budget tablet one can be a bit forgiving. I am already looking forward to the successor of the Starmobile Engage 7HD.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Starmobile Astra - Amazing Home Grown Budget Smartphone

It is quite rare that I get to say this about a budget gadget, but the Starmobile Astra is definitely a budget smartphone that does not feel and function like a cheap smartphone. The moment you get to handle one in person and once you get to browse through its application and widgets, you'd be amazed by how well built the Starmobile Astra is. The ICS Android Software and Starmobile Asta's Hardware have perfectly blended together to create one amazing user experience considering its spec sheet on paper.

The Starmobile Astra was really such a surprise for me as it was the first time I had encountered a budget smartphone that I would personally want to keep for myself. I discovered this the other day as I was shopping around the Mall of Asia with my mom and family to get her a new phone that would be pretty much of an upgrade from her old iPhone 3G. Since I have been able to review many of the budget phones that were released in the Philippine Market I naturally went and introduced it to my mom to see if she would like any of them. But as we were going around, a White Starmobile Astra was on display in one of the shops and it just caught my attention. I asked the store if they had a demo unit that we could play around with. I had first dibs and was shocked at how extremely fluid and smooth it operated. it practically functioned as quickly as my HTC ONE X in terms of browsing and Navigation. It also did pretty well when we played youtube video as it loaded them as quickly as it loaded on my HTC ONE X. What shocked me even more was that it was running on a dual core processor that is clocked at 1Ghz and 512MB of RAM. No lag whatsoever was noticeable and operation was buttery smooth. It even had an awesome touch koi live wallpaper that it was using as a default background and was functioning without a glitch. I had it compared to a Huawei model that was being sold as a higher end model compared to the Starmobile Astra and trust me the Starmobile Astra was out performing it in every single way.

Another factor that caught my attention too was that of the Camera. Mom was looking for something that she could use to take decent photos and the Starmobile Asta had an 8MP shooter which considering its price point of only Php 6,990 is quite a rare find. Though it doesn't use BSI tech that allows for photos to be exceptionally clear for low light situations, the Starmobile Astra does pretty well in good light conditions. The flash does help out a bit during low light shots though the grainy photo can be a downer if you are used to camera phones like the HTC ONE X and Nokia 920. But again you'd have to consider the pricing and be a bit forgiving of the fact. 

We also got to discover that the model we got and I guess I can presume for all Starmobile Astra's, is that the ICS Android Software is already rooted and ready. It also has very little bloatware and has the most used applications such as Facebook, twitter, and even skype and viber pre-installed. This also helps in storage issues as you don't have to trouble yourself into downloading these fave applications. If space is a problem you can use a MicroSD card as it supports upto 32GB and you can even choose to have the MicroSD card as the default storage, thanks to it being pre-rooted. 

Other plus factors about the Starmobile Astra - GPS support, dual sim card, and even mobile TV which shows pretty good channel reception as it has an extendible antennae. The 4.3" IPS screen is also beautiful to look at though it only has 240ppi this shouldn't be too much of a problem as it is of decent screen size. The design is also quite attractive though reminiscent of an old HTC model. I like the way it looks in both white and black and I have to admit it does standout as it got me interested on first glance. It really doesn't feel cheap when you hold it either. 

Gaming is also pretty decent though, this is where one shouldn't expect too much from it. It can play Contract Killer Zombies One and Two pretty well but if you are planning to play Modern Combat and other very graphic intensive games then this isn't going to be something you'd want to use. This also brings me to another minor concern - battery life. Battery is only at 1,500mAh which should pretty much last a user a day of moderate use. Thankfully though the battery is accessible and you can grab a spare if it is available at the store where you are purchasing it. 

Overall, I really like the Starmobile Astra. It really brings in a lot for something priced as little as Php 6,990. Every other phone that is at that price point would be put to shame when placed side by side with it. Even those that are of a higher price point would be threatened by it. Heck, if it can function as well as my HTC ONE X in terms of average use then this is something you should really consider buying if you want a budget smartphone that is full on specs and maximizes features for every scent you spent on it. It is sexy, extremely pleasant to use and is proudly pinoy(at least that is what I have been told-need to get that verified). Either way, you really can't go wrong with this unit, power user or not. 

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Ramos Blue Devil W30 HD - Best 10" Budget Tablet

I am quite a big fan of budget tablets from brands that are not popular in the mainstream market. Ainol being one of them, as they have released tablets that have specs that are just quite amazing. Following the launch of their 7" Android Tablets, Ainol Novo 7 Venus, that rivaled even that of the Google Nexus 7 now have a ten inch tablet model that is worthy to compete even with Samsung's Tab 10.1 series minus that of the stylus.

EGL Marketing Corporation, the local importer of the Ainol tablet, has just officially announced the Blue Devil W30 Warlock. The Blue Devil W30 Warlock (also known as the Ramos W30 Warlock), is a 10.1″ quad-core tablet that rocks the SAMSUNG Exynos 4412 ARM CPU and the quad-core Mali 400 GPU. It’s the same quad core chipset that powers theSamsung Galaxy S3.

Here are the specs

• Quad Core Samsung Exynos 4412 
• quad core mali 400 gpu 
• 10.1 inch 1920 x 1200 ips screen 
• 2gb ddr3 ram 
• 32gb internal memory 
• 10.1 inch android 4.0 ics aluminum shell built 
• exp to 32gb micro sd bluetooth enabled 
• 5400 mah li-on dual camera 0.3 front 2.0 rear
• Php 14,999.00

I still have yet to get a chance to get to do a full review of the tablet as I haven't gotten my hands on a test unit but just basing it on the specs alone that practically comes from the same specs that powers the Samsung Galaxy S3 plus 2Gb of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory I am pretty sure you won't get disappointed with this tablet at all. Though the only points that I would most likely put scrutiny on with this would be it's camera, but the battery and build are pretty good trade-offs. Added to the ability to use  an external memory card of 32GB you are sure to have no issue with the amount of applications and files you can save in this 10" tablet monstrosity.

Till I get the chance to fully review the Ramos Blue Devil W30 HD, we have to rely on the spec sheets released by Ainol for the meantime. I'll update this article with a full review by the time I get to play around with the device first hand. In the meantime, if you have any experience with this device, I would most strongly request to share your experience with it right here at the comments field.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Starmobile Flirt: Best Budget Camera Smartphone Powerhouse

Starmobile has unveiled another Android smartphone up only for a limited time, the Starmobile Flirt. It's a 4.5" qHD smartphone running on Jellybean and has an awesome 12MP rear camera with BSI (backside illumination sensor/ back-illuminated sensor).

What I feel is amazing about this budget phone is that it uses BSI sensors that really help with illuminating the photos even under low light conditions. With Android's Jelly Bean OS and its dual cpu core processor, the unit is sure to run smoothly at least more or less with basic functionalities. RAM size could cause a bit of a glitch from time to time especially with heavy graphics and gaming, but it shouldn't be an issue for games like Angry Birds and Temple Run. 

With it's price point starting at around Php 9,290 and in hues of Ultra Blue and Ultra Red this unit is by far quite an eye candy. Starmobile is even throwing in a free screen protector and and a memory card. 

Here's the full specs:

• 4.5-inch qHD display (540 x 960) @ 245 ppi
• 1GHz dual-core MTK6577 CPU
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal memory
• micro SD card up to 32GB
• 12 megapixel rear BSI camera
• 3 megapixel front-facing BSI camera
• 3G
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth A2DP
• 1,700mAh battery
• Android 4.1 Jellybean132 x 66.6 x 9.5 mm
• Dual-SIM

Overall, I feel that this is a pretty solid device with a lot to offer those that are on a budget but wants a phone that doesn't sacrifice on picture quality. So all you cam-whores who wants the benefits of a good point and shoot device at a price point that'll leave you more room for spending on your looks than on the phone itself, this is a pretty tempting device to check out. Plus it pretty much uses Jelly Bean's basic skin so you won't have the hassles of over bloated software while enjoying the full benefits of Google's latest project butter feel and Google Now functionalities. 

Nokia Lumia 620 - Best Budget Smartphone

The Nokia Lumia 620 is Nokia's latest entry to the budget phone series but they made sure that everything about this phone doesn't feel low end at all.

Since the Nokia Lumia 620 is under the Lumia line, Nokia has ensured that it be as striking and vibrant in terms of design yet have that sense of end user friendliness that Nokia has been renowned for. Nokia Lumia 620 has been given a dual colored shell (Changeable Dual Colored Shells that is built to last as the color goes all the way through so that even if there are scratches it wont show) that houses a smartphone which delivers everything you'd expect from the Windows Phone 8. Live Tiles means the ability to personalize your "Start Screen" with people and apps that truly matter to you and on the plus side, you get to watch them update in real time. All this is shown on a ClearBlack Display that brings every detail to life even if you are under direct sunlight.

Nokia's unique camera features and exclusive applications also gives users a whole new way of seeing the world and of course how you share it with people that matter. The Nokia Lumia 620 is also equipped with a High Performance Speaker, inbuilt Dolby Headphone Technology with an enhanced noise-cancellation system, it guarantees that the Nokia Lumia 620 not only looks good but sounds just as great too.

Special Features:

Windows Phone 8 with SkyDrive - Windows phone 8 is unlike any other operating system. It is elegant, intuitive and it allows you to personalize your smartphone like never before. With the SkyDrive, all your windows files are truly mobile. Sync your stuff across your Windows devices and access your media files and documents from practically anywhere you are in the globe.

Smart Shoot - Nokia Smart Shoot automatically takes multiple shots with a single click so you can get to choose what you want to keep, like the best smiles, to create the perfect image.

Cinemagraph - is a magical blend of photo and movie-like animation, creating pictures that seem almost alive. Helpful on-screen assistance lets you select the animated area of your picture and easily create a Cinemagraph. The end result is quite enchanting.

Nokia Drive - Free turn by turn voice guided navigation. Simply select your destination, get the speed limit warnings, and find your way faster. You can even access to offline global maps (including a number of other countries) at no additional cost on Nokia Drive.

Stream Unlimited Free Music - If you are a music lover, you can simply stream it for free and unlimited with Nokia Music. Nokia Music allows you to tap into the latest tracks or create your own channels based on the artists you love. It has never been easier to access great music for free anywhere and everywhere you go.

Nokia City Lens - Hold up your Lumia and City Lens shall instantly reveal what is around you. This exclusive augmented reality application is a more intuitive way to navigate the real world. From restaurant reviews to places of interest, you'll get the real picture in real time.

Nokia Lumia Full Specifications:

DESIGN

• Device type:
  • Smart phone
• OS:
  • Windows Phone 8
• Dimensions:
  • 4.54 x 2.41 x 0.43 inches (115.4 x 61.1 x 11 mm)
• Weight:
  • 4.48 oz (127 g)
    the average is 4.3 oz (124 g)

DISPLAY

• Physical size:
  • 3.8 inches
• Resolution:
  • 480 x 800 pixels
• Pixel density:
  • 246 ppi
• Technology:
  • TFT
• Colors:
  • 16 777 216
• Touchscreen:
  • • Capacitive, Multi-touch
• Features:
  • Light sensor, Proximity sensor

BATTERY

• Talk time:
  • 14.60 hours
    the average is 9 h (563 min)
• Talk time (3G):
  • 9.90 hours
    the average is 8 h (497 min)
• Stand-by time (3G):
  • 13.8 days (330 hours)
    the average is 19 days (466 h)
• Capacity:
  • 1300 mAh

HARDWARE

• System chip:
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8227
• Processor:
  • Dual core, 1000 MHz, Krait
• Graphics processor:
  • • Adreno 305
• System memory:
  • 512 MB RAM
• Built-in storage:
  • 8 GB
• Storage expansion:
  • microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GB

CAMERA

• Camera:
  • • 5 megapixels
  • Flash:
    • LED
  • Aperture size:
    • F2.4
  • Features:
    • Auto focus, Touch to focus, White balance presets, Geo tagging, Scenes
• Camcorder:
  • • 1280x720 (720p HD) (30 fps)
  • Features:
    • Video light, Video calling
• Front-facing camera:
  • • 0.3 megapixels VGA

MULTIMEDIA

• Music player:
  • Filter by:
    • Album, Artist, Genre, Playlists
  • Features:
    • Album art cover, Background playback
• Speakers:
  • Earpiece, Loudspeaker

INTERNET BROWSING

• Browser:
  • • Internet Explorer 10
• Built-in online services support:
  • Facebook, YouTube (upload), Twitter

TECHNOLOGY

• GSM:
  • 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• UMTS:
  • 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• Data:
  • HSDPA+ (4G) 21.1 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS
• Positioning:
  • A-GPS, S-GPS, Glonass, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning
• Navigation:
  • Turn-by-turn navigation, Voice navigation

Overall the Nokia Lumia is a pretty powerful device, despite it's current position as an entry level introduction to the new Nokia Lumia line. It runs smooth without any lag issues and camera pictures turn out to be great considering that it only uses a 5MP camera. It is true to its campaign of easy to use especially with the Windows 8 platform. It packs just the right amount of features and so much more that it truly brings a lot to the table considering that is priced to compete with others in the budget range.

How it shall perform on a a day to day basis, that is something that I would like to get to hear about from Nokia Lumia 620 users. If you happen to have this unit, I would appreciate the feedback and your thoughts on the device. Simply leave a comment below.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-