32GB Google Nexus 7 7" Models Now Available in Metro Manila

Google Nexus Tablets (8GB Models) have been around the Metro Manila Gadget scene for quite sometime but the 32GB variants been what was long expected and desired by many as the Nexus Line of Tablets didn't have expandable memory slots available. Fortunately now it is available and you can even grab one for a little less than Php 13,000. For those that are not familiar with the Google Nexus 7 tablet line below is a summary of what one can expect.

Google Nexus 7 7" Android 4.1 32GB with Wi-Fi

What's in the box:

• Google Nexus Tablet PC
• Charger
• USB Cable
• Earphones

Thin, light, portable 7" tablet. Made for Google Play.

With a stunning 7-inch display and all day battery life, Nexus 7 is the perfect travel companion. With up to 32GB of storage and the option to add mobile data, you can take even more of your favorite content from Google Play with you anywhere. 

More powerful and portable than ever

The Nexus 7 with mobile data and 32GB storage keeps even more of your favorite stuff close at hand – even when you’re not close to WiFi. 

Nexus 7 is designed to go wherever you go – and now with up to 32GB of storage and the ability to connect to mobile data networks – Nexus 7 can take you even further. Nexus 7 can now operate on more than 200 GSM providers worldwide. 

Speed and performance

Nexus 7 is built by ASUS and comes with a NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor so everything is faster – pages load quickly, gameplay is smooth and responsive, and running multiple apps is a breeze. Patented 4-PLUS-1™ design gives you processing power when you need it, and battery saving efficiency whenyou don’t. 

SPECIFICATIONS OF GOOGLE NEXUS 7 ANDROID 4.1 32GB WITH WI-FI 

Screen 

7” 1280x800 (216ppi) 

HD IPS 

Connectivity 

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 

Bluetooth 

NFC (Android Beam) 

Camera 

1.2MP front-facing camera 

Processor and memory 

32GB internal storage (actual formatted capacity will be less) 

1 GB RAM 

NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor 

Features 

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) 

4,325 mAh battery 

Accelerometer 

GPS 

Gyroscope 

Microphone 

Magnetometer

There are lots of advantages with buying Google Branded Hardware but one advantage that I personally like is that Google Branded Units (Nexus lines) are usually the first to get the software updates. Another plus point is the lack of too much bloatware that would be installed by most other manufacturers, though this point is one that is a matter of preference as many would still like the benefits that the other smartphone manufacturers provide. Overall, you really can't go wrong with purchasing this quad core Nexus Tablet powerhouse and with a very reasonable price point this can be quite a hard product to beat. 

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Review of Noom: Best Android Weight Loss Coach

In the spirit of prepping for the summer beach vacations where our top destinations for this year which is going to be Boracay in the Philippines and Bali, Indonesia, I have decided to give a Top Rated Android application called Noom Weight Loss Coach to see if this would be able to help me shed the pounds I have gained in the past year.

I used to be around 165-170lbs last year when I was considered quite fit for someone of 5'8" in height. After the holidays I now weigh about 185lbs. So in reference I have gained about 20lbs more or less and that is what Noom shall be helping me loose through a series of guided motivational point system that makes one aware of the practices that would have most certainly caused me to gain any more weight. Initially once you log in it'll be asking questions about your weight, age, and gender to determine your starting point. It'll also ask for a goal you would like to set for yourself and introduce you to a calorie centric methodology for loosing weight. Noom's philosophy is to make you aware of what you are eating by training you to diligently log in your food intake and you are responsible with strictly following your daily allowed calorie intake. The daily allowed calorie intake adjusts appropriately depending on your activities such as workout, how many steps you were able to take for the day and if you overate or didn't eat enough the previous day. It also gives bonus points when you read and do a particular challenge which requires internet access to be able to view, though generally the application works even without internet.

One downside that I noticed was the exercise mode wherein I had to bring my device say on a tread mill and run to record my progress. Using my Samsung Galaxy Note, that proved to be quite a challenge till I figured that I could just place it in my pouch bag strapped to my waist. I would most definitely have to get an arm brace for it to be able to be less convenient moving forward. The application tracked my workout progress pretty well but when it came to pilates and other floor workouts, I just couldn't figure out how it would be able to track those accurately. I also dont see how I could use it to track my workout if ever I had to swim knowing that most gadgets aren't water proof.

In terms of educating me with facts about weight loss and how to better manage my waistline, the Noom Weight Loss Coach has been very informative and the challenges were all worth doing. I have learned a lot in terms of the nutritional value of the food that I eat. I noticed that I was eating a lot of food that were in the yellow(average) and in the red(bad food such as white sugar and white flour) as compared to the ideal intake of food that are considered in the green (healthy food).

Being about two weeks into the Noom program I have personally lost about 2lbs though at times I would gain. I got worried actually when I gained but when Noom indicated that I should also monitor my waistline, I realized that I had gained muscle weight as I had lost an inch on my waist. Overall, the Noom is really a great weight loss coach but for it to be effective one should be very dedicated to follow its strict guidelines. I made it a fave application on my home screen so that I would be reminded to log in my food intake and more as compared to leaving it in the app drawer. I personally have no doubt as to being able to reach my goals for this summer in terms of weight loss, I just have to be mindful of what I eat and try my hardest to follow what Noom recommends.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Review of Ainol Novo 7 Venus: Premium Specs for a 7" Budget Tablet

I thought that I wasn't going to get blown away by any budget android tablet that is being introduced in the Philippine market, but the Ainol Novo 7 Venus has proven me completely wrong. It is a 7" power house that delivers high grade features to the masses with a price tag that just made me drop on the floor - Php 5, 560 only.

It is a fast, and very efficient. You wont be seeing any issues with the software of the Ainol Novo 7 Venus as this ridiculously priced device is powered by Google Android's Buttery smooth Jelly Bean OS. With Quad Core technology and 1GB of RAM to back this baby up, you won't be experiencing any lag with gaming and navigation. Resolution wise it uses a 1280 x 800 IPS screen display that dishes out pretty decent images considering it's very ridiculously cheap price tag.  Viewing angles are also pretty decent even in direct sunlight.

Storage wise you get 16GB of internal storage which is expandable to upto 32GB. It doesn't have 3G built in but does have a 3G dongle that allows users to plug in a USB 3G stick for wireless on the go. It supports Multi-Touch with 5 touch points and it has full Wifi Support of 802.11 b/g/n.

The only downside that I could find with regards to this unit was it's rear and front camera. Rear camera has a 2MP shooter which is decent enough but somewhat grainy even with ample light, the VGA camera fairs slightly better when it comes to Skype calling but you'd still have to stand in a place where lighting is good so you wont end up looking like a silhouette. 

Battery life is pretty decent as it has a 4000mAh battery and will get you through most of the day even with heavy usage and gaming considering that it is using a Quad Core CPU. Build wise I'd say it still has a somewhat plasticky feel to it but with what it packs inside I'd say it is pretty decent trade off considering the price range.

Here are it's specs just to get you drooling.

Ainol Novo 7 Venus Features:

OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
CPU: Quad Core Atm7029
GPU: Quad Core GC1000+
RAM: 1GB，DDR3
Storage 16GB
Shell Material     Plastic
Screen: Capacitive Touchscreen, 1280*800 High-resolution Screen
Size:   7 inch
Resolution:    1280*800  Pixels IPS Screen G+G
Gravity Sensor:   Yes
Visible Angle: 178°
Display:  IPS
Daul Camera     Front camera, 0.3 Megapixels
                        Back camera, 2.0 Megapixels

Ainol Novo 7 Venus Tablet PC Details:

Extend Card     Support TF card up to 32GB extended
Gravity Sensor     Yes
Multi-Touch     Yes, 5 points touch
Android Market     Yes
Skype     Yes
Email and Browser: Yes, built in
WIFI:    Yes, 802.11 b/g/n
3G :    Not built in, support external 3G dongle
Earphone Interface     3.5mm
Video     1080P, AVI/MOV/MP4/RMVB/FLV/MKV…
Music     MP3/WMA/WAV/APE/AAC/FLAC/OGG
Ebook     UMD, TXT, PDF, HTML, RTF, FB2…
Language : support Multi Language
Other Applications: Android Webkit,Google Search,Clock,File Manager,Gallery,Task Manager,Calculator,Calendar,OfficeSuite,Browser,iReader,Gmail…
Work Time: Up to 5~10 hours
Battery :4000 MAh

Ainol Novo 7 Venus contain:

1 x Ainol Novo 7 Venus
1 x USB cable
1 x Charger

Ainol Novo 7 Venus Weight:  316g

Ainol Novo 7 Venus Tablet Size: 186.3*126.9*10.5mm

Overall, I am pretty impressed with how this device performed and is a must buy for those that want premium quality features without having to sacrifice on the budget. I mean compared to it's closest contender out there such as the 8GB Google Nexus 7 (non-expandable memory) tablets which are retailing at around Php 11,000 this one is pretty hard to pass up.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Tips for First Time Travelers

By the end of this month me and a group of my friends shall be boarding a plane bound for Singapore, part of our one week itinerary is to get the chance to visit Asia's Theme Park Capital which is Johor Bahru in Malaysia just across the borders of Singapore. We are all pretty much excited to get the chance to visit the recently opened theme parks such as LegoLand and of course Sanrio's Hello Kitty Town, but on the side we would also like to check out what else Johor Bahru has to offer travelers like us who are giddy about doing a cross country tour.

The first thing on my research agenda was to check out what Johor Bahru has to offer and the best place to do that is go directly to the source - Johor's Official Tourism Website. Here you'll get to see all of the current events and promotions that Johor has to offer and it even provides things to do and places to visit which are recommended by the locals and other visitors of Johor. I particularly got drawn to the shopping tab (The website is neatly arranged by topics which is represented by tabs - making navigation simple and easy to use) which highlights the addresses of the most recommended shopping hot spots, its addresses and even contact information. This would be particularly helpful as I can get to use my Navigator Application to help me get around easily.

The next site I would be visiting would be the trusty TripAdvisor site and here one can get to see the best places to visit based on user experience. You can also download the TripAdvisor's travel Application if you want to get your information about a particular destination, which in this case is Johor on the go. Here I am also able to get information on how to get there from let us say Singapore from people that have already attempted to do so before.

If you’re traveling to Johor Bahru for the first time, you might want to pick up a little reading to help you plan your trip and get you through it with a minimum of fuss.

There are no guidebooks specifically for Johor Bahru, but several good ones for Malaysia in general. These can help you plan your trip to the city and if you decide to take a few day trips out of the city, can help with that as well.

Consider picking up a copy of an ever-reliable Frommer’s guide, such as “Frommer’s Singapore and Malaysia”, which provides you an in-depth look at travel to the two exotic countries. From an expert’s point of view, you’ll understand what makes these countries tick, what you must see and do, and interesting and unique places to eat.

If it’s your first trip to Malaysia, you might want to pick up a copy of “Culture Shock! Malaysia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette”. It’s important to understand the culture of any new country you might visit. In Malaysia, this is particularly important, so understanding the various customs and expectations can make your trip a much smoother one.

One very notable traveler has logged his 5 day travel itinerary of Singapore and Johor which I feel first time visitors should definitely check out - Ambot Ah Singapore and Malaysia Itinerary. Here you'll get to see how the author was able to go around and see what one can expect every step of the way. Coupled with very visually stunning photos it is definitely an easy read. 

Hopefully all of these can be useful for those that have decided to take on the challenge of traveling from Singapore to Malaysia and back. I'll be logging my own experience here in Sidestrip and hopefully get to share a few tricks along the way.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Ainol Novo 10 Hero II: Budget Tablet with Premium Specs

You’ve got to appreciate what Ainol is doing to the Android tablet scene in the Philippines.  Ainol has been offering affordable Android tablets with decent specs for the past months and this recent one is a feature-packed 10-incher.  The new Android tablet I’m talking about is the Ainol Novo 10 Hero II with features worthy of premium tablets but is surprisingly priced at only P9,800(available now in SM Cyberzone).

Ainol is definitely rocking the budget tablet scene with their latest entry called the Ainol Novo 10 Hero II. This latest entry is packed with premium features for a jaw dropping price of only Php 9,800. 

Given the price, The Ainol Novo 10 Hero II gives you a Quad Core Powered tablet with a nice 10-inch display, a huge battery, and Android Jelly Bean.  The Ainol Novo 10 Hero II uses a 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core CPU paired with a 1GB of RAM,  which should show you how smooth gaming and navigation must be with this device. The Novo 10 Hero II also uses a 10.1-inch IPS display with 1280×800 resolution, so videos and games should be easy on the eyes. The Ainol Novo 10 Hero II also uses an 8000mAh battery so I would guess that battery life shouldn't be much of an issue. 

The tablet though only has a 16GB storage capacity (thankfully it can be expanded via its microSD slot of upto 32GB) and the rear camera is at 2MP while the front facing camera uses a VGA lens that is decent enough for self portraits and Skype calling. It is a good trade-off considering it's overall specs in terms of price point.

Ainol Novo 10 Hero II Specs:

• 10.1-inch IPS display (1280 x 800 resolution)
• 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core CPU
• Vivante GC1000 GPU
• 1GB RAM
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 16GB internal storage expandable via microSD slot
• 2-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front camera
• 8000mAh battery
• mini-HDMI, micro-USB port

Overall I would say that this is something that even the heavy spenders can look into. If you want to grab something that isn't heavy on the wallet but yet provides you with a user experience that most high end brands would provide than this is most definitely something to check out as this is only a third of the cost of what has been put out in the market by most leading brands. 

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Ubuntu Mobile OS: A Promising New Smartphone Platform

It has just been revealed today that Canonical, the company that is behind the Linux Based Ubuntu OS has released its version of the OS for Smartphones and it is definitely looking really sweet. Though eventually it will be offering it's systems for TV and PCs as well but for now their main priority is to compete with the front running Smartphone providers such as Google Android, IOS, Windows and Blackberry. The Ubuntu system promises a better UI(User Interface) experience for its users. 

"We expect Ubuntu to be popular in the enterprise market, enabling customers to provision a single secure device for all PC, thin client and phone functions. Ubuntu is already the most widely used Linux enterprise desktop, with customers in a wide range of sectors focused on security, cost and manageability," said Jane Silber, CEO of Canonical. "We also see an opportunity in basic smartphones that are used for the phone, SMS, web and email, where Ubuntu outperforms thanks to its native core apps and stylish presentation."

Ubuntu has gotten the backings of both ARM and x86 processors which makes it an extremely viable contender for today's Android powered smartphones.

The Ubuntu Smartphone OS constitutes similar drivers kernel seen on Android. Canonical's chief Mark Shuttleworth showcased a Galaxy Nexus running the mobile version of Ubuntu featuring a swipe-based Menu. Other known features are voice command, a dedicated app store and personalised welcome screen.

The OS will have both web-based as well as native apps. Ubuntu is considered by many to be the best Linux distro out there, and it does enjoy a lot of developer/ community support. It is the latest in a series of smartphone operating systems from companies and associations not known for their smartphone lineup. This includes Open webOS, FirefoxOS, Jolla's Sailfish OS and Samsung-owned Tizen. 

While it’s a plus to have additional options in the smartphone marketplace, we have to wonder if there is enough room to support another mobile operating system. In the current mobile space, it appears to be a battle for third place between BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone 8 and now Ubuntu.

We have to note that native Ubuntu for smartphones is an entirely different platform and ecosystem than Ubuntu for Android. 

Jelly Bean Update for Samsung Galaxy Note N7000

I have got good news for all you Samsung Galaxy Note users, well at least those that are using the Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 Units as Samsung has confirmed that the device shall be receiving an update to the latest iteration of Android, Jelly Bean. This is the Android Version 4.1.2 as what was previously rumored in the past but will be final once the update has been officially released. 

The update, coined the Premium Suite, will be rolled out to users during the second quarter of 2013, and it will add many of Jelly Bean’s great features to the device, such as multi-window support, enhanced handwriting recognition features and Google’s Project Butter, which adds visual consistency to the device by ensuring a solid frame rate with its vsync timing system and some pretty impressive predictive capabilities which aim to guess where you’re going within your device, before you even get there.

Despite initial criticism the Galaxy Note has sold by the boatload since it was launched back in 2011, and users have heaped praise upon the hybrid device for its stunning screen, powerful drive-train and invaluable S-Pen, and now users who were thinking of trading in their beloved N7000 (this would include myself) for its successor can look forward to a few more months of service from their device before the sought after upgrade is finally debuted.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

****

Update on the release of Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy N7000 - apparently it now official as there Samsung Galaxy Note's Offical JB Webpage is now showing: Samsung Galaxy Note Premium Suite