Best Free Android GPS App: MapFactor Navigator

I have constantly been asked by many of my friends as to how I am able to easily navigate around any city that I have visited. From Bangkok, Singapore and even the Philippines, I have found an application that works in almost every major city in the world. The solution is an application that is free to download and use with out ads and is useable even without WiFi or Internet Connection as long as you have GPS on your phone - MapFactor Navigator.

I have in the past been constantly dismayed with having to rely on the internet to get to go around the city trying to find places that I have to go to. I would be going to Google Maps and downloading a cache of the map to use or taking a screen shot of it just to have a usable map. But those won't tell you exactly where you are in reference to where you have to be. Most of the other applications would also charge you a lumpsum per map you download to be able to use your phone to do turn by turn navigation. It took awhile for me to finally find this application, which I was quite apprehensive at first because it is still in its Beta Phase. I personally have a separate GPS navigator called the CarNavi that I can carry around but can be quite a hassle to bring with all the stuff I already have on me. Surprisingly, when I placed both the CarNavi side by side with my HTC One X and my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3100 it was able to track and guide me turn by turn to where I had to go. I was even able to save way points of favorite destinations and the accuracy was no different than the CarNavi. It even had roads encoded in the map that weren't on the CarNavi.  It'll even indicate the globale standards of the rate of speed per type of road and will beep to warn you that you have gone over the speed limit and should slow down. The voice of the MapFactor Navigator is that of a British Woman and is quite easy to understand. It'll take some getting used to though for some of the terminologies, such as slip road means to take service road and sharp right or sharp left would more often than not mean to take a U-turn.

In retrospect after getting the MapFactor, I have found no use for my CarNavi and downloading offline maps is always a breeze. If you phone or tablet has a GPS feature and if you have enough space for the maps which roughly is about 95MB per country or city depending on size and density of location, you should be able to run the application quite seamlessly. I even had it running on the Samsung Galaxy Y. Unfortunately this is an application that is found in the Android Market because the iPhones are not equipped with GPS as MapFactor is dependent on this.

Has the MapFactor Navigator ever been wrong? Based on experience, only once due to a traffic re-route made by the MMDA but other than that it is quite accurate. If you know of other short cuts you can follow those and the MapFactor Navigator would adjust quite quickly with the route you choose to go to. Getting lost with the MapFactor Navigator is pretty hard as it shall always point you to where you have to go - Top view of Turn by Turn which ever you decide is suitable for you. I would recommend having a car charger ready though or bring along your charger or power pack as the MapFactor Navigator can drain your battery quite significantly because it'll stay on while you are navigating. Surprisingly though the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3100 didn't get drained too much and was able to hold a charge till I got home and was ready to sleep, which included regular use including calls(yes I call with my SGT2 hehe), text messaging, web browsing, and gaming. Personally I loved using the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3100 with the MapFactor Navigator merely because everything was so big and easy to read.

Overall I am pretty pleased with the performance of the application. Only trouble I had was in Bangkok because the streets where in Thai and I think that is the way the maps shall be per location so I am presuming that once I go to Shanghai, the streets shall be in chinese. Other than that this application has been quite a life saver. A must have for those that wouldn't want to shell out an extra Php9,000 to Php15,000 for a separate navigator and also a must for those that travel a lot to places where internet is scarce. Remember as long as your android phone has GPS functionality and you have enough memory space for the maps you should be able to use the MapFactor Navigator quite easily.

To download the MapFactor Navigator simply Click on the link: Navigator or go visit the Google Play store on your Android unit.

Till Next Time

-Metz-

HTC One X Updated to 4.0.4 Android ICS with Sense 4.1

I just got the notification to update my HTC One X to the latest software version of Sense 4.1 and Android ICS 4.0.4. When updating I remembered the rules of HTC which was to make sure the I have over 35% charge, in my case I made double sure by charging it to 100% before proceeding. The file was around 141MB and was indicated as a system's update. Update took roughly about less than 10mins tops to complete. The unit will heat up a bit during this time which I think is normal and will cool down eventually once everything is setup.

First impression of what i noticed right after my phone has been rebooted is that the colors of HTC One X's screen seemed to pop out a lot more. The HTC One X's transitions and speed was noticeably improved quite smooth actually which makes waiting for the Jelly bean 4.1 update even more exciting. I also immediately went to the display options and was happy to find the option to alter the function of the recent key to take on the role of menu options instead of having those three dots taking up screen real estate and now I can enjoy the 4.7" screen even more now. Makes browsing so much more fun, and while on the topic of browsing, the pinch to zoom didn't have the white blank images while zooming in and out anymore. Applications all load pretty much like they did before, though the only app that I noticed that doesn't seem to work so well with this update is the Facebook application (works but rather slow in terms of load time compared to all the other apps) which hopefully can be fixed by the app for compatibility. Sound Quality of calls has greatly improved as a friend of mine was just able to call me right after i got it updated. Music playback has greatly improved as well. 

Battery life seems pretty much the same, though there are some reports on the UK Global versions of a 15% improved battery life which I shall test myself in the next couple of days. Wifi signal seems strong as usual, and if you already found that HTC One X was pretty fast with AutoFocus, it seems to be even faster now. Video though able to take HD Videos still seem the same and reports of the below 30fps seems to still hold with the update. 

Overall the update seems to have addressed a lot of the concerns in terms of unexplained lags during transitions and much more, making the HTC One X an even better smartphone powerhouse than when it was originally launched. All the owners of the HTC One X are anticipating of how the Jelly Bean update will improve this awesome gadget even more.

Till Then....

-Metz-

****

Post update - after a couple of days with the HTC One X's 4.0.4 ICS update, I am glad to say that battery life has well exceeded my expectations. what used to be 12 - 14 hours of regular usage minus of course graphic extensive gaming such as Dark Meadows, I was able to get roughly about 17 to 20 more hours. It ability to retain a charge is now even more efficient, considering that the past update has improved it quite a lot as it is.

Travel Feature: Simply Stunning - Singapore Day 1

I had just recently come back from a two week Singapore vacation with my partner and friends of which we paid a visit to all the amazing sights and of course places to eat in Singapore. In today's article I'll be highlighting my favorite spots and things that caught my attention from my first day in Singapore. In this article you get to see photos of the places that I have taken using my HTC One X which I have had for over 4 months now and I just love the shots and video's it was able to take. I also used my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3100 as a navigator and downloaded the application called MapFactor and TripAdvisor Singapore to help me go around Singapore making it easy to find the places I wanted to visit quite a breeze. The reason why I used my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for these is due to the larger screen making it a comfort to read and see where I was going, though the HTC One X does it just as well however in this case it was more pleasurable to use something a lot bigger.

Flying to Singapore we used Cebu Pacific as our Carrier because they offered extremely cheap fares. We were able to book our seats about 2 months ahead of time and made sure we got the front seats giving us ample leg space, which you'll most likely need since the flight is about three hours from Manila's Terminal 3. Cebu Pacific and most other budget airlines will be using Singapore's Budget Terminal which according to previous visitors of Singapore has been upgraded and made a little better compared to how it previously looked. I also heard that the budget airline Jetstar uses the main Changi International Airport which can be an option for those that want to experience the highly rated airport. Once you have gotten your things and are ready to head out you'll need to drop by the tourist booth area near the money exchange area to check out tourist maps of Singapore. I still got those paper maps as back ups just in case any of gadgets do run out of charge, which to my experience hasn't happened cause they mostly last the whole day with regular use. From there you can opt to take the bus to Changi which connects you to the train system of Singapore or simply hail a cab to take you where you wish to go. Cab rides are quite convenient because everything is quite close in Singapore but if you really want it cheap you can take the train.

We stayed in one of the Hotels in Clarke Quay (Pronounced Clark Key) which is just a few minutes away from Orchard and is a the tourist center of Singapore. Here you can take a boat tour or walk around the many shops that are all over, giving you so many choices in terms of food and drinks. Here you'll already get to see the diversity of culture of the people of Singapore and I can't help but notice how harmoniously they all merge in one place. The food are all so well made and quite delicious. Me being a vegetarian was also given a treat cause they are able to make vegetarian versions of almost any meal they had. I would recommend walking around Singapore though around the late afternoon to early evening because the place can get quite humid plus you'll get to see all the buildings, establishments and even bridges being lit up. Every where you'll be looking at in Singapore is quite an eye candy due to all the effort they have made in terms of architecture and art. Walking around even at night felt safe and quite enjoyable.


Our first stop of the night for dinner took us quite far from Clarke Quay, as our friend who is currently residing in Singapore decided to give us a tour on the most amazing places to eat. Our destination for dinner was to be at Dempsey Hill in a restaurant called Dempsey House. The place had a nostalgic yet modern feel to it, mixing rustic old with the modern style. Food was quite appetizing with assorted selections to satisfy any person's craving. My personal favorites were the pizza selections and truffle fries which is a must try. You'll have to be dressed in a smart casual outfit though for Dempsey Hill's restaurants as that is what the atmosphere would demand otherwise you'll feel a little under dressed if not.

Pictures of Dempsey House at Dempsey Hill:

Enjoying Squid Ink Pizza - Taste like a salad which is just perfect

Menu looks amazing and fun to go through - like an old newspaper

The delish Squid ink Pizza yummmy!! 

Enjoying a full dinner with friends

My favorite truffle fries and cua pao :)  

Mixed Seafood Platter was just divine

Pizza before it was all bobbled up

My main meal - Vegetarian Mushroom Risotto

After our pleasant dinner, we were then off to another luxurious evening at the Lantern Bar in Fullerton Bay Hotel which gave us a view of the magnificent Marina Bay Sands. The Lantern Bar is on their top deck by the pool over looking Marina Bay Sands and is open air where the cool breeze just adds to the ambiance of the place. Here we tried the signature drink of Singapore called the Singapore Sling which was quite good, though I think not many may like the strong sour taste. As we were seated we were treated to the spectacular light show of the Marina Bay Sands accompanied by kites with led lights being flown beside it. This was where we stayed and drank and laughed taking a relaxing break from the stress of the past week's work life.

Seated at the Lantern Bar - you can see Marina Bay Sands from here

360 view of the Lantern Bar

Enjoying a sip of the Singapore Sling

View of Marina Bay Sands at the Pool side

The View of Marina Bay Sands

That's the end of my Singapore adventure story for today. I'll be featuring the next day's adventure which took me to the place called Orchard Road and the famous Shopping Mall called ION. There is also going to be an article solely dedicated to Universal Studios Singapore and of course Marina Bay Sands with the Gardens by the Bay too. So stay tuned within the week. 

Till Next Time....

-Metz-

Personal Gadget Choice Favorite: First Impression of Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

I have just recently purchased a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 from Mega Exchange in Mall of Asia for only 16790 Pesos. I was very hesitant to purchase this at first cause I was debating on buying this or the Apple iPad 3. The internal debate was, I like the reviews of the Apple iPad 3 but the price range was just a little too high for me, and all I really needed was a good tablet that I could carry around with me like my HTC One X but yet give me the full pleasures of reading my e-books and magazines in full view that is pleasant on the eyes while of course not hurting my budget. That's when I figured why not try out the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - the latest installment to the Samsung Tablet Family.

The decision to purchase the Samsung Tablet became final last week because of how it felt to handle the Samsung Galaxy Note. I loved how the Samsung Galaxy Note felt both in the hands and of course my eyes. It wasn't too bulky to carry around and since I had a little side bag from Umbro was able to carry anything that was around the 7" range. It was then that I felt the urge to try out something a little larger and yet not too bulky as that of the Apple iPad 3 thus leaving me with the choices of Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7", Samsung Galaxy tab 7.7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 plus.  All of these Samsung Tablet models are capable of making voice calls and can run on the GSM networks here in the Philippines, which I found to be an awesome plus over the Apple iPad 3. I also found that most of the price ranges of these Samsung Tabs to be quite reasonable. The choice then had to be made and I went for the cheapest but yet latest Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7". I chose this not only because of the price tag (the none voice call version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" was a lot cheaper at 12K) but also because it carried the Android Ice Cream Sandwich and was a candidate to receive the upcoming Android Jelly Bean Software update.

I got the dark silver chrome finish instead of the white for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 because my HTC One X was already the white one and I just wanted something different and less high maintenance in terms of cleaning up. The interface of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 was pretty much stock Android 4.0 with very little Samsung influence on the layout. The amount of bloat ware was pretty standard but much less compared to that of the Samsung Galaxy Note. I got the 16GB version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, but it also comes in 8GB/16GB/32GB variants and can be expanded even further because of the micro SD card Slot. One thing I noticed though is that you can't save the applications on the external SD. The External SD can be used for files such as Music, Documents, Photos and Videos. The usable memory is 11.87GB for the 16GB version so I am thankful that I can simply transfer the rest of my files to the external memory.

Using the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" for the first time felt really good as the interface was very easy to use. WIth Android Ice Cream Sandwich as the OS I didn't encounter any glitches or lag as was the complaints of those using the former Samsung Galaxy Tab models on the Honeycomb 3.2(though with the OTA updates rolling out for the older tab versions am sure you'll feel like Ice Cream Sandwich is a breath of fresh air). The screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is very vibrant, considering that it only uses PLS LCD screen instead of the Super AMOLED screen that most Samsung Smartphones and Older versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tabs were using, but to bring down the cost I presume this was one of the sacrifices but one that doesn't matter much to me as like I mentioned was still quite vibrant. The difference would be in the way the black and whites would be on the screen where the blacks aren't so black and the white aren't so white.

Setting it up to sync with my Macbook Air 11" was a piece of cake but you'd need to download the Kies software to enable this functionality. It is through Kies that one can transfer the files over to the Samsung Tab 2. You can connect through cable Connection or through Wifi. Data Transfer is quite seamless and pretty straightforward, simply choose which storage space you want to sync data on and you are good to go. Kies allows you to transfer any file type to and from your device and PC.

I loved how the Samsung Galaxy TAB 2 would auto orient itself into any angle making reading articles quite easy, but you can lock the auto rotate option if you prefer that it stays into one viewing orientation in the settings menu.

Gaming was quite enjoyable on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 mainly because of the 7" screen. The games that I have downloaded were the ones you can see here in my site and they all run pretty well. The only games that I couldn't download were the ones that were built of Tegra 3 devices only. All other games ran pretty smoothly with minor hiccups in some of the more Frame Rate Hogging Games but still quite playable nonetheless.

Email setup was also quite easy. One simply had to input your email address and passwords and you should be good to go. Reading emails was just as pleasurable as how one would read an email in an Apple iPad. Typing on the keyboard though takes a bit of practice because the keys are bit smaller since they had to fit the full digital keyboard on the screen. I found it easier to type out my message on the vertical orientation as it was similar to typing on a smartphone that way. You can download swype keyboards to make typing even more simpler. You can also purchase the keyboard attachments which are widely available on the internet and mobile phone company accessories shops in most malls.

Camera wise the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" isn't something great as it lacks auto-focus, and is 3MP on the rear and only VGA for skype calling. The previous versions had a 2MP for skype calling but again this latest version had to be down played a bit so that it can capture the 7" tablet market to compete with the upcoming models of Kindle Fire and Nexus 7. Admittedly, camera isn't all that bad and simply does the job. I downloaded an application called Camera360 Ultimate and of course Instagram which helped improve the picture quality quite satisfactorily, but is still miles away from my HTC One X's 8MP Camera which I now use as a replacement for my digital camera.

Overall, I am pretty happy with how the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" is performing and I honestly love it a lot. If asked if it is worth the price? I would say absolutely. There are very little out there in the international market that can compete with this tablet for the price range that it offers. It may not be able to compete in terms of bench marks with the Apple iPad 3 but in terms of User Experience (UX) its pretty smooth and should run even more smoothly once the Android Jelly Bean updates for the tablets roll out sometime this year.

Till Next Time...

Metz

Special Note: I have to say internationally cause there is a local philippine company called CDR King that has released their tablet versions called CDR King FastPad running the stock android version of 4.0 and is rivaling that of the international models including samsung in terms of performance but more on that once I get my hands on their 7" and 10" units for review.

Google Play Reco's: Contract Killer: Zombies

I am hooked on a fun first shooter zombie game called Contract Killer: Zombies on both my iPad first Gen(yes I am still hanging on to this cause to be honest it still does the job, not as quickly as the new iPad 3 but still does it nonetheless and I love it), HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy Note. It was created by glu and is available for free on both the IOS and Android platform and is quite and addicting adrenaline rush type of game.

In the game you'll be a quick shooting wheel chair bound hermit that is tasked with helping survivors out and ensuring that things such as gathering supplies and rescuing other survivors are carried out without incident. You'll have a lot of arsenal to choose from the best type of armaments are mostly bought using game cash that you'll have to purchase, though the others are available and can be bought using in game money that you'll gain with each mission you accomplish.

Here is what Glu Says about Contract Killer: Zombies
Save the remnants of humanity by slaughtering every zombie in your path!

You have killed more criminals than you can count. Now it's time to face the apocalypse and blow the crap out of thousands of zombies! From the team that brought you Contract Killer comes CONTRACT KILLER: ZOMBIES.

"Today is just another day. Since the horde came we've been lucky to see tomorrow. Came up fast, out of nowhere. Zombies! Walking dead meat. I just kill 'em... and keep on killin' 'em.

I'm not a hero… just trying to survive. They call me "Shooter", because that's what I do. Shooting zombies is the only thing I'm good at... and I'm good. DAMN good."

Save the remnants of humanity by infiltrating the zombie-infested city, stocking up on supplies, rescuing civilians and ushering them to safety while slaughtering every zombie in your path!

EXPLODING ZOMBIE BRAINS is just about the best fun you can have these days!

HELP THE SURVIVORS and assist Evelyn as she goes on supply runs and special missions.

Build up an arsenal of AWESOME ZOMBIE KILLING WEAPONS and gear including sniper rifles, assault guns and grenade launchers!

Take aim and collect bonuses for HEADSHOTS and MULTI-KILLS!

The game is compatible with a lot of the android units out there, including the Samsung Galaxy W. Smartphones though that are running on a lower powered CPU processor(anything below 1ghz) may not be compatible due to the heavy frame rate that is required to play the game.

If you want to try this game out simply download it here - Contract Killer: Zombies
For the IOS users simply go to the app store and search for Contract Killer: Zombies, it is also free for download and play.

Till Next Time

-Metz-

Google Play Reco's: Dark Meadow: The Pact

I have been a fan of scary first person shooting games in the past but there are only a very few that have met the eye candy standard for the smartphones. Luckily enough with the advances in SmartPhone Technology such as HTC One X and other Tegra 3 devices that are out in the market which provide a platform for game makers to create an intense graphics experience. One of these games that have made a mark and is becoming a standard in gaming tech for the SmartPhones is the newly released Dark Meadow: The Pact. 

Upon launch, you'll be instantly amazed by the amount of detail that has been placed into the gameplay and graphics. The controls are very easy to understand and the game play tutorial is very easy to follow. I loved the narration and the sound effects were just out of this world. It is good enough to rival a lot of the PC game plays available in the market. except this one is free for play.

Here is a full description of what Dark Meadow: The Pact has to offer

A dark fairytale of intrigue and mystery, where the sins of the past must be paid for… So sets the stage for The Dark Meadow -- a visually stunning world of deep exploration, gripping story, and heart racing combat, created with the unrivaled power of the Unreal Engine 3.

You awake in a hospital uncertain of how you arrived there or why. An old man warns of a beautiful witch whose minions roam the halls seeking the living. It is only when the witch is destroyed that you will be released from this unrelenting torment.

Using fun and intuitive fully gesture-based controls, you explore the decaying ruins of Montclair Hospital, armed with your crossbow for long-range combat as well as your sword for up close and personal melee battles.

The best elements from role-playing games encourage exploration as a wide variety of items are secreted throughout the world – from hidden scraps of paper that reveal the mystery of your imprisonment, to weapons and items, to money which can be used to purchase better equipment and weapons.

The graphics are really visually stunning, with a modern fairytale type of story telling. Currently only counting about 1000 downloads due to the fact that only very few units can run the game due to the gaming requirements. But for those that have downloaded it and played it thus far have given the game a 4.1/5 rating which is pretty amazing. 

Controls are very receptive, and going around the game area requires you to be quite brave and really do a lot of exploring to find special items and even in game money. Watch that heart of yours as the sound effects and monsters tend to give the a gamer a bit of a surprise. 

With all that being said and if you have Tegra Chipset in your unit, come and try out the game as it is really worth it. Heck it's free to play too.

To download the game here is the link: Dark Meadow: The Pact

Happy Gaming.

Till Next Time

-Metz-

Google Play Reco's: CJ: Strike Back

I have been playing this addicting yet simple jump game calle CJ: Strike Back. CJ is short for City Jump which was the original gameplay made by the game makers DroidHen Casual. The past City Jump game was already addicting enough and yet they have managed to up the gameplay with this new release of CJ: Strike Back.

The Hero of CJ: Strike back runs up the building side dodging and striking back at the ice/fire bombs and robots along his path. Each time he is able to strike back at a type of machine or ice bomb three times consecutively, the Hero gets Super and runs, slides and flies through everything in his path.

The game provides objective/missions that gamers are to accomplish to enable more point multipliers as you stack up and show off globally in the daily and overall rankings. Missions come in pairs, and the more you accomplish the more point multipliers you get.

The boss, stages is what makes CJ: Strike Back Special. So far I have only gone past the body boss and am now upto the Head Boss stage. Trust me in saying that defeating the boss challenges can be quite a challenge. You'll encounter the arm bosses early on in the game but in my case i tend to think of them as mini bosses are they prove to be quite easy to defeat. I always aim for the flying bots and the fire bombs because it turns the hero into this flying iron man like hero which seems to deal the most damage amongst the three transformations I have seen so far. However, remember hit them at the right time of your hero's jump cause a mistake could cost you the game as there is only one life in the game and if lucky to get a shield you get one extra chance otherwise its game over.

Overall it is a pretty fun and extremely addicting game to play and is worth a try. The game is free to download in the google play store. Only 20 thousand people or so have downloaded the application thus far but irregardless the average user rating is at 4.4/5 which is pretty high.

Click this link To download on the google play store CJ: Strike Back
Unfortunately, this game is only available in the Android Platform and is not compatible with phones similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy Y. I would presume your phone would have to at least have 1Ghz to run the game smoothly.

Till the Next Time

-Metz-