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-

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-

Nikon Coolpix S2600 - Budget Camera with High End Specs

There have been a lot of budget point of shoot cameras that are being sold lately but Nikon has released early this year a point and shoot camera that is hard to beat both in pricing and in it's performance. The Nikon Coolpix S2600 Digital Camera is a 14MP camera powerhouse at a price that is less than Php 5,000. 

Quick Overview

Click pictures easily with the stylish ultra-slim Nikon COOLPIX S2600 14 MP Digital Camera that comes in a sleek silver exterior. The sleek, compact Nikon S2600 14 MP Digital Camera features electronic VR image stabilization, scene auto selector and 18 optimized scene modes to help you customise your photographic experience. You can conveniently view the picture frame before clicking pictures with the 2.7 inch TFT LCD of the Nikon S2600 14 MP Digital Camera. 

You can click landscapes or portraits using easy auto, scene or smart portrait shooting modes to take brilliant pictures with the Nikon 14 MP Digital Camera. With a 14 MP resolution, CCD image sensor and EXPEED C2 image processor, the Nikon Digital Camera 14 MP S2600 Silver offers amazing image quality. Nikon COOLPIX S2600 comes with a lens that offers 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom providing high precision and sharp resolution for taking group pictures with ease. 

• Nikon Coolpix S2600 features 
  • 2.7-inch high-resolution LCD 
  • EXPEED C2 image processing engine 
  • 18 optimized scene modes 
  • USB charging via Charging AC adapter (supplied) or PC 
  • Scene auto selector 
  • Motion detection 
  • Subject tracking 

Why buy this product?

You will enjoy the excellent quality images offered by the Nikon 14 MP Digital Camera. It’s great for clicking portraits or landscape images as well. This affordable camera is ideal for serious amatuer photographers.

Verdict

Featuring a high quality image sensor, the Nikon S2600 14 MP Digital Camera is wonderful for serious amateur photographers who will just love the customised options it provides.

Here are it's complete specs:

Filipino Gadget Special: Cherry Mobile W500 Titan

Pinoy brand Cherry Mobile has now officially entered the Phablet wars with their 5 inch Ice Cream Sandwich powered mobile phone. Though one thing that you'll notice off the bat is that its price is no where near that of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, LG Optimus Vu and even the old Samsung Galaxy Note. The Cherry Mobile Titan is priced at a surprisingly less than Php 7,000. This brings the phablet experience straight to the masses, but is it worth checking out?

The Cherry Mobile W500 Titan offers a 5" display with a capable hardware to match. The Titan is powered by a dual core Mediatek MT6577 CPU paired with 512MB RAM with an internal storage of 4GB that can be expanded to 32GB via microSD. The front-facing camera is pretty much basic as it sports VGA specs good enough for video calling and skype. The rear end camera has a 5MP shooter with flash, which takes pretty decent but rather grainy shots depending on lighting. The battery is one to take note of as it has a hefty 2350mAh battery. For those of you that are tired of carrying two phones you'd be happy to know that the Cherry Mobile Titan has Dual sim capabilities with Dual Standby.

How did it fare in terms of usage with regards to the other Phablet phones? This is where I would have to say that you might get rather surprised at least in terms of usability. The Cherry Mobile Titan due to the Ice Cream Sandwich software has performed quite well and smooth with slight lags at times which is most likely due to the small RAM allocation but it still does the job. It isn't something for heavy phone gamers but it can play games like riptide quite comfortably. Internal storage is quite small considering that the software has to take up space but thankfully enough the external sd option helps out a bit. It would have faired better if they had increased the internal storage quite a bit more to make it an even more attractive buy. Camera-wise it does the job but not exactly the best. Compared to the other brands that sports the same 5MP rear facing camera, the Cherry Mobile Titan still has a lot to improve on. But with proper lighting it still dishes out pretty good and amazing shots. You could probably use google apps like Camera 360 to help with improving the image output.

Overall, the Cherry Mobile W500 Titan is a pretty decent Phablet phone considering the price. It isn't something that one can ignore but one thing to keep in mind is that this isn't a phone for a heavy multi-tasking user as the hardware may keep you at bay. If you however, want a phablet experience without breaking your wallet and can be a bit forgiving in terms of a few lags here and there then this would be a good phone for you to try out. Also a good alternative for those that want the Android Experience and only want one phone for their two lines. The Cherry Mobile W500 Titan is a good budget Phablet but one that can still be further improved. I am betting that the next Phablet entry of Cherry Mobile will be a lot better, but for now this one is a Budget Phablet that is hard to beat, at least price-wise.

Here are the complete specs of the Cherry Mobile W500 Titan:

• 5.0″ capacitive touch panel (800 x 480)
• 1GHz dual-core processor MediaTek MT6577
• PowerVR SGX531 GPU
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage up to 32GB via microSD
• 5-megapixel rear camera with flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• HSPA+ 21Mbps
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot
• Bluetooth 2.1
• GPS w/ aGPS support
• 2350mAh battery
• Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Budget Tablet Recommendation: Haipad A13 7" Android 4.0 8GB with Wi-Fi

Haipad A13 has proven to be one of the best selling budget android tablets here in the Philippines and with good reason. Below you'll get to see what it has to offer and more. Best of all the price of the Haipad A13 is one that is pretty hard to beat - Currently being sold at less than Php 4,000 for the 8GB models. 

Explore things with style 

Enjoy music, movies, TV shows, apps, and more wherever you are with the HAIPAD A13 7.0 Inch Android 4.0 tablet PC. The tablet sports a 7-inch touchscreen and is powered by Android 4.0 which offers a smoother user experience. It comes in four different colors that will suit your personality. 

Fast and reliable Connectivity 

Support of Wi-Fi networks enable fast, safe sailing, and stress-free in the search for IP configurations. Easy to configure settings, two clicks and you are already in the world of internet, chat, and Android Market. It has quick links that allow you to download movies, applications, and documents in the blink of an eye. 

External 3G 

A tablet PC which is innovative, fast, and above all best value which will make your friends envy you. You no longer have to drag along your laptop with this device connect anywhere with its 3G capability. 

Play 3D games 

If you enjoy games like Samurai Vengeance and other top-selling 3D, this tablet will give you the joy with its 3D graphics accelerator, power, and versatility' in a single product. You will never again play as a past time with integrated 3D accelerator and with the numerous games you can choose from, this will hook you up to this device. 

Specifications of Haipad A13 7" Android 4.0 8GB with Wi-Fi 

- General features Main IC: BOXCHIP A13 / Cortex A8 1-1.5GHz 

- Internal Memory: 8GB Storage Extend: Up to 32GB SD/TF Support 

- Wi-Fi: High-performance 802.11b/g 

- 3G: 3G module supports USB external 

- Camera: 1.3MP 

- G-Sensor: Internal G- Sensor 

- OS: Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Supports Adobe Flash 10.3, Support 3D by internal hardware 

- Screen: 7" 800X480 resolution , Capacitive touching panel 5-point 

- Language: Chinese Simple, ChineseTradition, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish etc. 

- Browser: Opera, UCWeb, SkyFire, Dolphin 

- Online entertainment: Support Online video, Online TV, online Movie, Online Music, Online Radio. 

- Office software: Word, Excel, PPowerpoint, PDF, Txt, 

- Games: 3D Game can be supported by internal 3D accelerate of hardware 

- Extend: There are more than 20 thousands kind of free software in goole market 

- Video formats support: Video formats support : Support AVI ( H.264, DIVX, DIVX, XVID ) , rm, rmvb, MKV ( H.264, DIVX, DIVX, XVID ), WMV, MOV, MP4 ( H.264, MPEG, DIVX, XVID), DAT ( VCD) ,VOB ( DVD), PMP, MPEG, MPG, FLV ( H.263, H.264 ), ASF, TS, TP, 3GP, MPG etc. 30 formats and internet all can be downloaded 

- Audio formats support : Support MP3,WMA,MP2,OGG,AAC,M4A,MA4,FLAC,APE,3GP,WAV formats audio playing and support songs list 

- Recording: Support MP3, WMA formats recording Image format: JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF etc. - Multi formats revolving/lantern side and highest support 4096*4096 resolution 

- Games: 3D Game can be supported by internal 3d accelerate of hardware 

- Playing ability: highest 1920X1080,30Mb code  

- Video output: Hdmi Output Files reading: Support fonts changing,text colors,background colors,files folder,listening the songs and browsing pictures can be reading texts book

- Speaker: Yes OTG digital: Support Mobile,USB,card reader  

- USB: USB2.0 HOST: HOST1.1 connect with mouse,keyboard,USB disk 

- Charging: Small type charging port,DC 5V input Earphone / Video: 3.5mm earphone

- Screen: Capacitive touching panel multi-point (optional Resistive touch screen single-point) 

- Key Button Touchable Button: MENU,BACK,Simple and pretty 

- Playing time: 4 hour music for music, with earphone 6 hours above for video,HDMI output playing time above 3

Overall, the Haipad A13 7" is a very powerful tablet considering the price range at which it is being sold currently. I would recommend it for those that want something more than just a regular e-book reader and want the full enjoyment of a media powerhouse. It is also a good starting gadget for those new to tablets and as a gift for you kids. 

Intuitively Made Tablet and SmartPhone - ASUS PadFone 2

I have to admit, carrying several gadgets in a bag does have it's downsides as it takes up quite a bit of real estate. I bet you have seen those people who rely on their gadgets quite a lot and you'll get to see them carrying not just one but two or more different devices. I myself am quite guilty of that as I often find myself carrying my HTC One X for my business calls, Samsung Galaxy Note as a notebook, and my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 for my gaming needs and go to unit when I need to make a quick conference call via skype or viber as it has a larger battery between the two. With that said I guess ASUS had people like me in mind when they created their latest gadget innovation called the PadFone 2.

The name itself may not sound as appealing to some and even the marketing campaigns seem a bit too vague with pictures of the unit is showing a 4.7 inch Smartphone on what looks like a speaker dock. I personally thought it was a speaker attachment that they were selling with the phone. But when I got to see for myself what it really was I realized why they named it such. The ASUS PadFone 2 is quite literally a Smartphone that can fit quite well with its 10.1 tablet partner. That's why it's called a PadFone. The original PadFone which ASUS made but didn't get to fully launch properly had a similar concept but wasn't well received. With the PadFone 2, they redesigned and re-conceptualized how a tablet would be unified with a partnered smartphone without sacrificing on how it looks and enable to enhance performance and functionality for both. Now you have a phone and tablet ecosystem that both ride on Android ICS and gets synchronized with each other quite well once connected. It even carries an amazing 13MP camera that rivals even that of the HTC One X and the iPhone 5. Given the fact that it provides a solution for the problem of having to carry two separate devices such as that which I had in the past, this is quite an interesting take on providing a solution. 

The phone section – processing part of the hybrid – is set to come with a large 4.7-inch 720p HD screen. It boasts a set of high end internal components like a quad core Qualcomm CPU, 2GB of RAM and a heavy 13MP rear camera. This phone part will be available separately in market. It is to come in three memory versions 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

Check out the Source of this Pic at Padfone.net for more details about PadFone 2.

The rear camera can take video at 30fps 1080p video or 100 continuous still images at full resolution. The device has a 1.2MP front camera, which is good enough for Skype calls. For connectivity, Padfone 2 has LTE and it features NFC functionality and a 2,140mAh fixed battery. Asus has showed up a model of the device with 900/2100MHz WCDMA and 800/1800/2600MHz LTE frequencies at the Taipei event. 

 

Will this be something that could actually rival the other flagship phones and even tablets that are now currently in the market? That is still up for open debate, but ASUS is definitely banking on the success of their Nexus Tablet line and ASUS Transfomer editions. Will I be buying one myself, I would probably say not anytime soon as I am still quite happy with carrying around my devices, I just have to buy a bigger bag I guess :) 

Till Next Time...

-Metz-