The backpacker hell in Bangkok

We left Ko Tao in the afternoon, 24 hours of travelling ahead of us. Our goal was to get to Ko Chang as soon as possible to be able to meet Anni's friend, Onni, who was somewhere on an island close to Ko Chang. The ferry to Chumphon took about 4 hours and there we jumped into an overnight bus to Bangkok. The overnight bus took 2 hours less than expected.

We were woken up at three in the morning and we got dropped off somewhere that was not Khao San Road, like promised. Our next bus was supposed to leave from there, and we did not know where we were. It's not easy to stop and think when you just woke up in the middle of the night. We saw some people walking away and some jumping into taxis and tuk-tuks. We asked a taxi driver how far are we from Khao San Road, and he answered that it was far, and told us he would drive us there for 400 baht.

We told him we would pay him 200 baht, and he nodded and wanted to carry our backpacks into the taxi. Wait, what? Our previous experience in Bangkok had proven that the taxi drivers barely let you haggle. They either give you a price and you take it, or you spend half an hour looking for a driver that is actually willing to use the meter, and still you get ripped off by driving in circles. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. So we were saved by Anni's Nokia and its GPS and maps. She checked her phone and we realised we should be quite close to our destination. So we started walking. On the way we asked 7/11 cashiers, who confirmed that Khao San was about two minute walk away.

Last time we were in Khao San Road it was absolutely horrible. Khao San is THE backpacker hell in Bangkok with all the bars, touts, tailor shops, "cheap" clothes and souvenirs, two McDonalds's and guesthouses all somehow made to fit on this small street. By day, it was chaotic and busy. By night, it was bloody hilarious. We had plenty of time for people watching and indeed it kept us amused for five hours that we had to wait until our next bus at 8:00. The drunken people were fun to watch, and it was for sure safer waiting there than somewhere on an empty street. And you could get coffee and food at any time. Great!

We did not expect Koh Chang to be amazing, we hadn't even planned to stay there. And because of that, we actually did not really know what to expect. It proved to be not bad but ridiculously overpriced. Most of all it seemed to be a playground for middle-aged sex tourists. It was sad to see in many ways. Sometimes we couldn't decide if we should feel more sorry for the girls or for the old, desperate men playing happy family with their barely 18 year old girlfriends. Sure, there were real couples too. But mostly it didn't look like that. We'd love to know how many of those men getting drunk from early morning, spending their time in girl bars were married men on a "business trip". Or actually, never mind. I guess it's not our place to judge. But sometimes you just can't help wondering why.

Other than that, Koh Chang was okay. Beach was okay, island itself was okay, weather was okay. For some reason it was especially popular with Russian tourists, almost every sign was written in Russian, English and Thai. Ko Chang left us with the impression that there is not really anything to complain about but nothing special to come back for.

After resting for a few days we felt good about getting out of Thailand. Thailand was a much needed holiday from traveling. For a while it was fantastic to be in a country where traveling is as easy as it gets. But after a while it becomes a bit boring when everything is done for you. Traveling without thinking and fighting a little to get what you want is fun and relaxing, but never as rewarding. It was also sad to see South Thailand's backpacker scene slowly disappearing and turning into overpriced resorts for rich tourists and the old budget places putting up their prices without doing anything to improve the quality. And who can blame them? There are more and more people coming for short holidays, willing to pay. Why not? Easy money. I'd do the same.  - source

Read More

World’s largest commercial UHD TV at 110 inches

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today created the ultimate lean back experience with first-of-its kind Smart features, larger screen sizes with breakthrough picture quality and elegant designs that push the boundaries of technology across its 2013 TV product categories.

Regardless of consumers’ viewing preferences for LED, OLED or the innovative Ultra High Definition (UHD), Samsung’s 2013 Smart TVs allow consumers to enjoy a seamless, integrated and immersive entertainment experience. With increasing consumer demand for larger screen sizes, Samsung will also expand the number of models available in 60 inches and above, in addition to the world’s largest commercial UHD TV at 110 inches. - source

Read More

Recover Deleted Photos from Android Devices

DiskDigger is one of the most popular programs to recover deleted files from Windows, which encourage The Main Company To Create Some Other Program For the Android . Honestly After Trying This App I Was Very Impressed Of The Strength in the recovery of some deleted images.

However, it must be mentioned that the pictures that the program can retrieve are those who are deleted By mistake from the phone or from the Android panel in a short time only! That is, if you delete images from the phone for more than a week or a month, the program may be unable to retrieve all deleted photos by 100%, bescause the new images Can Take The place Of The deleted photos and this Will eventually cause the inability for the program to retrieve deleted photos From the Android phone.

Unfortunately, the program DiskDigger only works on Android rooted devices.

recover deleted pictures

After you download and Install the application run it and do a Scan for the path that deleted photos used to exist in it it You Were on card Memory phone but if it’s on Android device type the following path in the address box in the far left ‘ /mnt/sdcard ‘ then click on Scan device to scan all the deleted photos on the phone,where you can choose any of them and click on Save. Thus you will be able to retrieve most of the deleted photos from Android devices.

After you download and Install the application run it and do a Scan for the path that deleted photos used to exist in it it You Were on card Memory phone but if it’s on Android device type the following path in the address box in the far left ‘ /mnt/sdcard ‘ then click on Scan device to scan all the deleted photos on the phone,where you can choose any of them and click on Save. Thus you will be able to retrieve most of the deleted photos from Android devices. - source

Read More

PLDT launches digital HOME service

MANILA, Philippines - Dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has launched its digital servicing brand called HOME to connect all electronic devices such as smart TVs, smart phones, computers, and tablets for residential subscribers.

PLDT executive vice president and head of HOME Business Ariel Fermin said the new product using the powerful fiber optic broadband that runs at up to 100 Mbps to connect all electronic devices would boost the company’s retail offerings.

“Digital technology has indeed changed the Filipino family’s lifestyle, making constant connectivity an important part of their lives. The basic components of a connected home, which include computers and tablets, are now being adopted by more and more families in the Philippines,” Fermin stressed.

He explained that the various devices satisfy shared and overlapping needs of individual members of the family both inside and outside the home.

For instance, the smart TV is the center of information and entertainment for the whole family, the laptop or desktop is a major information, communication, and entertainment device, the landline is a major device for voice communication, the tablet is a digital entertainment hub, and the smart phone, an indispensable personal gadget.

“These devices can actually be networked or interconnected through PLDT HOME, enabling families to experience the new way of communication and entertainment using premium broadband,” Fermin said.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

According to him, the new HOME logo is inspired by the overlapping of four screens – the laptop, Internet TV, smart phone, and Telpad – showing how HOME interconnects all the devices of the family with one powerful broadband.

“With digital services such as myDSL, Telpad, and Fibr, all running on PLDT’s extensive 54,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, HOME’s cutting edge technology will definitely bring families closer together and establish the strongest connections at home,” he explained.

According to a 2011 Yahoo-Nielsen Net Index, generally all market segments have multiple Internet users at home more than 80 percent of the time.

The study also revealed that home internet users tend to access more frequently compared to their i-café and mobile counterparts, with more than 50 percent accessing the Internet at home once, or more than once a day.

Earlier, head of the technology group of PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. Rolando Peña said that the company would continue to spend bulk of its capital expenditures for its fiber optic technologies where it already spent about P40 billion over the past years.

Peña said the telco provider would earmark about 20 percent to 25 percent of its annual budget for capital expenditures for the laying down of optic fiber cable. - source

Read More

Asus Acer Netbooks End Life

The last two major netbook manufacturers, Acer and Asus, are closing the doors on these mini-laptops. According to Digitimes' Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai, Acer "has no plans to release more netbook products" such as its Aspire One, while Asus has already ended its Eee PC line.

Other netbook manufacturers, such as Samsung, have long since abandoned the market.

Why netbooks failed to catch on

Netbooks were "still enjoying strong sales" as late as 2010, according to an optimistic report by ABI Research. But the growth trend which it predicted flattened out and declined, thanks to four factors pointed out by the Guardian's Charles Arthur.

Not worth it for many, compared to notebooks

One is that the original, Linux-based netbooks failed to catch on, as they had trouble running Windows PC software. But Microsoft charged between $30 and $50 for each netbook's Windows license, and insisted that the new crop of Windows netbooks be larger and more expensive than the original Linux-based models. This placed them in close competition with low-end laptops, the prices of which were going down instead of up.

The rise of the iPad

The other biggest factor is that the iPad and Android tablets took the place of netbooks for many buyers. While Apple's iPad was the price of a full-sized laptop, the company soon introduced discounted or refurbished versions ... as well as the smaller, $329 iPad Mini, which doesn't cost much more than most netbooks. Besides that, the whole iPad line was even lighter than netbooks and had longer battery life, besides being more responsive and having more popular apps.

Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Barnes and Noble made $199 Kindle and Nook tablets, which beat out even the original $249 Linux-based Asus Eee's price tag.

A little bit bigger, a lot better

During the netbook's heyday, many called for Apple to make one of its own. As Apple tech expert John Gruber pointed out, however, netbooks were "cheaper, not better," which contradicted Apple's business model of selling high-margin, premium products.

When Apple did release a small laptop computer, it was the $999 11-inch MacBook Air, which went on to be a best-seller. Other PC manufacturers tried to follow in Apple's footsteps with Intel's "Ultrabook" specification, which is basically a recipe for MacBook Air clones that run Windows, but so far have failed to make a dent in the market.

Taking the place of netbooks

Besides Ultrabooks, the other notable netbook-like computers on the market right now are Chromebooks, ultralight laptops which start at $199 and run a slimmed-down OS based on Google's Chrome web browser. Former netbook manufacturers Samsung and Acer are both making Chromebooks, while Asus manufactured Google's popular Nexus 7 tablet.

Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008. - source

Read More

Fring for iPhone

Interested in the Fring for iPhone IM client? Fring for iPhone is a free iPhone IM client, offering users a feature-rich experience and access to AIM, Gtalk, ICQ, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger, in addition to free voice and video calls. Only available for iOS3.

Price: Free

iTunes Rating: 4+ (no objectional material)

Seller: fringland Ltd.

With Fring for iPhone, users can:

• send, receive IMs
• maintain multiple accounts over 3G, WiFi, GPRS and Edge
• make free voice and video calls (3G and WiFi only)
• enjoy Push notification
• real time status messaging

The Bottom Line: Fring for iPhone

Despite an otherwise enjoyable IM client, Fring for iPhone (at present) is extremely unstable and seems to have service which is accessible in the wee hours of the morning, if ever. Connecting to Fring for iPhone is often difficult, but I have been able to get in a few times during regular business hours.

The absence of landscape mode makes typing IMs difficult, and most of the time, even if you can get Fring to connect, the app seems sluggish. Efficiency is a real issue with Fring, unfortunately, for everything they advertise the app to be.

Fingers crossed that Fring gets fixed soon, and added to iOS4; the client could be a beautiful thing and a real competitor if only it worked every single time.

Read More

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange 2013 Upcoming Leaks

The government are trying their best to dominate WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, while blocking public search containing WikiLeaks, blocking banking donations, keeping him in under house arrest. But its is a undeniable that the enthusiasm and the will power of Assange can never be ruled or dominated. Again the above fact came into light when Julian Assange announced in a defiant speech from the balcony of Ecuadorian embassy here as his supporters shouted, and sang Christmas carols. In his speech Assange said that WikiLeaks have planned to release over one million new secret documents that would affect "every country in the world"

More Leaks are Coming in 2013 Said WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

It was his second ``balcony’’ address since he sought refuge there six months ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault. And he made clear he had no intention of leaving the cramped mission which he described as ``my home, my office and my refuge’’ until ``this immoral investigation continues’’.

Referring to the impasse over his extradition, Mr Assange said that as long as long as the American government sought to prosecute him and his native country, Australia, refused to defend his journalism, he would remain in the embassy. But, he said, he was open to negotiations. "However, the door is open, and the door has always been open, for anyone who wishes to use standard procedures to speak to me or guarantee my safe passage," he said.

Mr Assange has been given asylum by Ecuador but is prevented by the British Government from leaving the country arguing that it is under a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. He will be arrested the minute he steps out of the embassy. Police say he broke his bail conditions when he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy without informing them. Mr Assange claims the case against him is politically motivated and fears that Sweden would hand him over to Americans who have threatened to prosecute him for publishing confidential diplomatic cables.

While talking about Jullian Assange and WikiLeaks, we would like to give you reminder that in this year we got several leaks from WikiLeaks, among them -'Detainee Policies' containing more than 100 classified or otherwise restricted files from the United States Department of Defense covering the rules and procedures for detainees in U.S. military custody. SpyFiles, GI Files (Global Intelligence Files & Five Million E-mails From Stratfor) & The Syria Files Containing 2.5 Million Emails of Syrian Politicians, Govt, Ministries & Companies.

Read More

Huawei Bm622i MAC Changer Flasher by dBug

Today dBug from Symbianize Forum release his year end tutorial on how to change MAC address on CPE Huawei BM622i Wimax modem to the public. Yes the cost of the hardware is only 50 pesos about $1 believe it or not, you may now be able to tweak your CPE Huawei BM622i WiMAX modem such as changing the MAC address that many people have been awaited. In addition, bad firmware or brick WiMAX CPE is now possible to be repaired by this tiny electronic circuit its the (SPI Flasher/LPT). What you need are just this few things.

Download the rar file that include:

• BM622i bin 2010
• bm622i_public pdf file full tutorial
• X-Ways.WinHex.v15.9.SR-7
• SPI FlashROM Programmer 1.9c

SPI FlashROM Programmer 1.9c
****************************

SPIPGM - binary for Linux
SPIPGM.EXE - binary for DOS/Win9x
SPIPGMW.EXE - binary for Win9x/NT/2k/XP
IOPERM.DLL - low-level HW access library for Win9x/NT/2k/XP/Vista/7(NoUAC)

Version 1.7+ has improved LPT port handling resulting in 1.6x faster reading

You can check from here the list of supported SPI FlashROM:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx41Hy9aW5BaN25Dd1hWLWY5VjQ/edit?pli=1

http://rapidshare.com/files/1462160046/bm622i_fixed.rar

http://www.mediafire.com/?58z12yy533lc5ba

This article is taken from Symbianize forum you can check the original link here.

Read More

HTC Will Release Windows RT tablets in 2013

Once Microsoft revealed that Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 would be sharing a common core, we knew we'd see overlap between phone manufacturers and computer manufacturers eventually. The lines between phones, tablets, and computers are blurring and that means all bets are off on where companies will go next.

Now, that might just include HTC. Bloomberg reports that the manufacturer is planning to announce two Windows RT tablets next year. The first will be a 7-inch slate that will tout the ability to make phone calls, while the second will include a larger than average 12-inch display. Both tablets will be powered by Qualcomm chipsets (big surprise), and are due by Q3 2013. As to whether or not HTC would also consider making a Windows 8 tablet with an Intel processor, Bloomberg's sources said the company ditched those plans when the retail price soared over $1,000.

With another report pointing towards imminent plans of a Nokia Windows RT based 10-inch tablet early next year, it seems Windows Phone manufacturers are starting to understand the appeal/potential of a smartphone-tablet combination. We would literally drool at the thought of using a tablet with the same ergonomics and build quality as the Windows Phone 8X...

Read More

Samsung Acquires Nvelo

Samsung has just announced that it’s acquiring California-based Nvelo, a company developing SSD caching algorithms (or at least one). Nvelo software has been used with SSDs from other manufacturers such as OCZ Technology, Corsair and Crucial. The company’s one and only product is Dataplex, which uses a small SSD cache in combination with a mechanical hard drive.

This type of caching is not new; like similar solutions, Dataplex runs silently in the background and analyzes how data is moved on the disk. Frequently used files are moved to the SSD cache and consequently loads faster. These algorithms have proven to be quite effective and useful, although the performance improvement is of course never on par with an SSD-only alternative.

The main question is what Samsung has in mind for Nvelo, and whether its caching solutions will still be provided to Samsung’s competitors in the SSD market. Apparently, Nvelo and all its staff moved to Samsung, but few relevant details are known about the deal. It seems likely that Dataplex won’t be licensed to competing SSD manufacturers going forward.

Read More

Viber 2.1.3 dominates Skype

Viber is the free mobile communication platform from the Israeli company. The new version of the app, 2.3, includes additional features and works on both iPhone and Android devices and is called the “fun” app. The question on everyone’s mind is if it is destined to be the next Skype.

New and Improved

The new version includes emoticons, stickers that can be added to text and photo messages, and an updated interface. It allows people to share maps and they can use existing ringtones on the Viber platform.

Viber Media announced that it has 140 million followers and is adding 400,000 new people each day. The goal of the company is to be recognized as a rival to the leader, Skype. While it is recognized as a great communications tool for friends and family, the updated version of the app adds a bit of fun for everyone.

Who is Viber?

Viber was developed and owned by Viber Media, a VoIP and mobile messenging company that allows everyone to connect for free. Not only are calls on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Sumbian, Bada, and Nokia S40 phones free, but text and photo messages are free. It is used in 193 countries.

At the current rate, it is expected that Viber will exceed the 150 million user mark. While that sounds like a lot, VoIP users will be over 1 billion by 2017, which means that Viber still has room to expand and capture more of the market. However, Skype is not the only competition that the company has. Tango, WhatsApp, BBM, and others are also seeking to capture their share of VoIP. Of these, WhatsApp has been seen as the strongest competition with Viber as these startups seek to dethrone Skype as the king of VoIP. - source

Read More

Step by Step How to Used SPI Program Flasher

This tutorial for Wimax BM622i modem you need a know how in hex and electronics, you need also a hot air tools. Change MAC using LPT Flasher and dump files and SPI Program, There are humor that Bm622i is similar to xbox 360.

1. Be sure na connected yung programmer sa voltage source 9-12VDC at least 500mA.

2. Connect your LPT/PRINTER cable sa socket ng programmer. DO NO USED USB-LPT CONVERTER! It will NOT work!

3. Run the software and SELECT your LPT Port.

4. After selecting the port kung saan nakakabit yung programmer, TEST HARDWARE nyo po. Dapat DETECTED yung programmer nyo.

5. Once na detected na yung programmer, CALIBRATE nyo na.

6. Now we are ready for programming...

Sundan nyo na lang po sumusunod na images panu mag program at mag save ng DUMPS.

USED HEX WORK STATION TO EDIT DUMP FILE FIND YOUR MAC THEN EDIT

After Verify Device you done..

How To Put MAC? On your HEX Editor Find a MAC with COLON :

ang orig na mac ay 40:4d:8e:6c:1b:da

kahit 40:4d:8e lang i type mo sa search ok na

ang na search naman natin ay 40:4d:8e:6c:1b:d9 ( minus 1 kasi )

pwede mo na i edit o palitan ang mac.....

kung ang working na mac na ilalagay mo ay

40:4d:8e:6c:1c:88

ang ilagay mo ay

40:4d:8e:6c:1c:87

sa mga nalilito mag minus lalo na sa letters ito ang guide

• for wan mac, don ka sa offset 0008000C or 0007FFFF at yung text ang e-edit muh, minus 1 ka sa last digit ng mac..
• for lan mac, don ka sa offset ec0066 at yung hex ang e-edit muh, plus 1 ka sa last digit..

O ayan MALIWANAG PA sa sikat ng araw {makers}

MISLEADING
search mo ay NAI... yan yung may @globelines.com.ph.... hindi yan ang mac address

may colon dapat ang mac address na dapat mong i edit

Download Program: SPI FLASH Programmer
Download Hex Editot HEX Workstation
Download RBT USB TV-DVD_EEPROM_

Read More

VDSL1 vs VDSL2

Very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL or VHDSL) is a digital subscriber line (DSL) technology providing faster[vague] data transmission over a single flat untwisted or twisted pair of copper wires (up to 52 Mbit/s downstream and 16 Mbit/s upstream), and on coaxial cable (up to 85 Mbit/s down- and upstream); using the frequency band from 25 kHz to 12 MHz.

These rates mean that VDSL is capable of supporting applications such as high-definition television, as well as telephone services (voice over IP) and general Internet access, over a single connection. VDSL is deployed over existing wiring used for analog telephone service and lower-speed DSL connections. This standard was approved by ITU in November 2001.

Second-generation systems (VDSL2; ITU-T G.993.2 approved in February 2006) use frequencies of up to 30 MHz to provide data rates exceeding 100 Mbit/s simultaneously in both the upstream and downstream directions. The maximum available bit rate is achieved at a range of about 300 meters; performance degrades as the loop attenuation increases. - source

Read More

Reaver Pro and Xiaopan OS 0.4.2.2 x86

Reaver Pro & Xiaopan OS 0.4.2.2 x86 | 1.05 GB

With these distributions, you can crack WEP network to perform dictionary attacks and use Thief inflator for expert tuning and performance parameters that Reaver Pro net.Utility UNetbootin and LinuxLive USB Creator is ideal for users of Windows, to create Live USBs or CD-ROM without the need for virtualization.

The pack is great because you can hack WEP networks, perform dictionary attacks and use reaver inflator for expert settings and performance settings that Reaver Pro does not. The UNetbootin and LinuxLive USB Creator are great for Windows users to create live USBs or CDs without the need for Virtualisation.

Extras. Information: Reaver Pro | Hot Pursuit VMware BackTrack 5 Edition

Download: http://extabit.com/file/2a0q3kkt65wez/Reaver.Pro.and.Xiaopan_OS.rar

Mirror: http://ul.to/f18zlk1q/Reaver.Pro.and.Xiaopan_OS.rar

Thank you Hot Pursuit, dev-point.com and ALFA-550W

What We Know So Far

So far this has been tested in Parallels Desktop (select other linux kernel 2.6x, and install it). Do not run it live otherwise you will see no networks. It should also work for VMware, VirtualBox as well as LiveCD and LiveUSB. As far as we know it will work with any wireless card that supports injection. The Reaver Pro Kit comes with an ALFA RTL8187L device. - source

Read More

iPad That Finally Breaks The Mold of 7" Tablets

Conceived from its sleek, glossy 10" counterpart, the new iPad Mini boasts one gigantic new trait over the full-sized iPad: the ability to hold it in one hand. This almost revolutionary twist on the device that sparked a frenzy in the tablet world has finally brought joy to those that have held out hope of such higher portability in an iPad for so long. But does the iPad Mini live up to the hype? Absolutely.

Turns out, the iPad mini is indeed more than simply a shrunk-down iPad, though there may be an argument for it actually resembling something more along the lines of a blown-up iPod touch. In any case, the big question: is the iPad mini right for you? I'll endeavor to answer that for you here by taking you hands-on with the new model, plus I'll share from my past few years of iPad ownership experience altogether, especially for those who haven't yet had an iPad to call their own.

Plus, in hopes of making this the most helpful iPad mini review on Amazon, I'll also reveal a treasure trove of info on how you can legitimately download tons of quality apps and games for free!

My reviews tend to run long, so I've organized information by section, with headings, to help you quickly locate any specific info you're after. For example, see the heading "Downloading Apps and Games" for the info on obtaining free apps and games!

First, let's compare hardware specs between iPad mini and iPad, and what each means for you:

• Device: iPad mini vs. iPad (4th gen)
• Weight: 0.68 lbs vs. 1.44 lbs -- over twice as light as the iPad
• Thickness: 0.28" (7.2mm) vs. 0.37" (9.4mm) -- thin as an iPod touch
• Display: 163 vs. 264 pixels per inch -- less-crisp text, but equally long life for a smaller battery
• Resolution: 1024 x 768 vs. 2048 x 1536 -- half as many pixels as the current iPad, but still sharper than an iPad 2
• Battery: 10 hours (16.3 Wh) vs. 10 hours (45 Wh) -- smaller, lighter battery lasts just as long as the iPad
• Processor: A5 (dual core) vs. A6X (dual core with quad core graphics) -- same as the new iPod touch, but not quite as powerful as the latest iPad, yet it doesn't need to be because the iPad mini display totes a quarter as many pixels!
• Price: The iPad mini has a price tag that is indeed much more attractive than the 10" iPad. It's actually closer to that of the iPod touch.

===== First Impression =====

At first sight, there's a feeling of novelty to the iPad Mini, especially if you've used a 10" iPad or tablet. The more you use it, however, the more you realize that this is the size an iPad was meant to be: perfectly portable. The 10" iPad is so bulky and heavy in comparison, and I felt uncomfortable, embarrassed and awkward taking it with me and using it places, especially waiting in line. Not so with the iPad mini! It's super light, more than half the weight of the 10" iPad, and its sleek rounded edges are much more comfortable for carrying than the sharply-tapered edges of the iPad.

My initial reaction to the unveiling of the iPad mini was one of slight disappointment, mainly because it was closer to 8" than to the desired 7" of other tablets in its class. Why would Apple bother bringing a smaller iPad to market that's still not quite as small as some of the other 7" tablets floating around? Ah, but I was wrong.

Until I held it in my own hand, I failed to realize that Apple had made better use of the iPad mini's size than most 7" tablets do. What matters in a 7" tablet class isn't the screen size but the actual device size. The iPad mini is 3mm shorter and 7mm wider than the 7" Kindle Fire HD, yet it touts nearly an inch more of physical screen size.

===== Interaction Experience =====

Naturally, the iPad mini shares the iPad's same phenomenal multi-touch interface that is undisputedly second to none. Android tablets and other devices may tout "multi-touch" support, but usually this just means they support 2-finger gestures like pinch-style zooming. Apple, on the other hand, gives a whole new meaning to the term, supporting up to ten simultaneous touches, and app developers have certainly leveraged that capacity. For example, one popular app supporting ten simultaneous touches is the Piano app.

===== So What Can the iPad mini Actually Do? =====

Naturally, there are things you can do with the iPad mini right out of the box. You can browse the Web with Safari, set up your email, download your photos and videos from your computer via iTunes, as well as shoot new photos and videos using either of the two built in cameras. You can also surf YouTube via Apple's built-in YouTube app. There's also an iPod built in, so you can listen to your favorite tunes via the Music app, or download new music, movies and media via the iTunes app. Another popular app is iBooks, which lets you download and read e-books on your iPad mini. You can also jot notes, manage your calendar and contacts. You can even chat face-to-face with other Apple-device users via FaceTime.

Of course, the fun and usefulness of the iPad mini doesn't stop there. The App Store app is your portal to unending games and utilities. One thing Apple has been really good at is showing off just what you can do with an iPad, and the same goes for the iPad mini. All iPad apps work on the iPad mini. After all, the iPad mini is still an iPad. App developers have undoubtedly been busy creating unique experiences through their iPad apps, most of which have yet to be rivaled by (or ported to) Android and other tablets.

When Apple first announced the iPad they didn't tout it so much as an ebook reader as they did a "netbook killer" (due to its ability to surf the web, check email, watch videos, listen to music, and do a lot of the simpler tasks that netbooks were originally designed to do. But along its path to success, it sparked a revolution in the publication and delivery of full-color magazines, news and now even ebooks via Apple's iBooks app. Now, it's quite clear that Apple had the goal of a much more comfortable ebook reading experience in mind when they set out to create the iPad mini. You can easily hold it in one hand, just like a real book, and it's as light as a real book, two traits many users have been hoping to see come to fruition soon.

On the other hand, to use the iPad mini for more productive purposes, such as editing office documents, you'll need to download Apple's productivity suite iWork, a trilogy of apps including: Pages (word processing), Numbers (spreadsheets) and Keynote (slideshows). Each of the three apps can be downloaded separately for $9.99 each. Completely reworked for the iPad, the complete iWork suite will set you back a whole thirty bucks. So be aware of that before you go ahead and grab the iPad mini for use with work-related document editing, and so forth.

Also note that if you do intend to use the iPad for heavy writing or word-processing purposes, you'll find that your ability to type quickly will be greatly inhibited by the virtual keyboard. Thus, you should snag the external keyboard as well (Note: I'll also explain some typing techniques below). Either way, be prepared to pay more than merely the price for the iPad mini alone. There's clearly more than meets the eye if you intend to transform the iPad mini into something a little more productive than it might be for you out of the box.

===== Downloading Apps and Games =====

Downloading apps on your iPad mini couldn't be easier. Once you set up your iTunes account with a password and credit card (or iTunes gift card), all you need to do is launch the 'App Store' app, browse or search to find the app you want, tap the download button (usually it says the price rather than 'download', which then changes to 'install app' after you tap it), then tap again to confirm. Enter your password, and voila, you just bought an app. Behind the scenes, Apple then charges your card (or deducts from your gift card balance) the amount of the app plus tax, while you're already off enjoying your new purchase. This ease of access is a blessing and a curse, because you can easily empty your wallet if you're not carefully considering each purchase.

All apps in the App Store range in price from Free and 99 cents on up, always incrementing in whole dollar amounts (1.99, 2.99, 3.99, etc). The maximum price for an app is set to $999.99, of which there are only eight currently priced so outrageously. And don't even think of toying with them. Apple does not allow refunds on apps you have purchased--all sales are final!

Now for the juicy money-saving secrets of the App Store! With the proper resources, you can legitimately download thousands of high quality apps for free. I do it all the time and it's perfectly legal. You see, Apple allows developers to temporarily put their apps on sale (and even drop the price to free). Usually they do this in hopes that you'll write a rave review for the temporarily-free app. The secret to your success here is having the resources to help you spot these special app sales--so you know when and where to get them during these often extremely-limited-time promotions.

In hopes of making this the most helpful review on Amazon for the iPad mini, here's how to obtain these special promotional-sale and temporarily-free apps for yourself! - source

Read More

PLDT contractor sued for damages in Minglanilla

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and one of its contractors were sued for damages over the death of a motorist in Minglanilla which was allegedly caused by the company’s negligence.

The heirs of the late Sergio Genon, who died of a vehicular accident in Linao, Minglanilla on July 19, 2012, filed a civil case for damages against the PLDT and SLL International Cables Specialist Corporation.

Marichu Genon, who signed the complaint on behalf of the heirs, is demanding over P600,000 in actual, moral and exemplary damages as well reimbursement of the litigation expenses from the defendants.

Marichu said her father died after his motorcycle crashed into a barricade installed by the defendants in the middle of the highway. Marichu claimed that her father was travelling at the national highway on his way home to Cebu City from Minglanilla at 5:00 a.m. when he rammed into the barricade because of poor visibility.

The complainant claimed that the defendants failed to put in place the required early warning device that would have warned her father of the barricade ahead. Because of the accident, her family is allegedly drowning debt amounting to P503,072.87.

The money was allegedly used for the hospitalization of her father before he died 12 days after the accident.

The PLDT through its contractor was undertaking the opening/dewatering of manholes and installation or splicing of fiber optic cables along Natalio Bacalso Ave. starting from PLDT Bulacao, Talisay City to the junction of Naga Uling Toledo Road South Poblacion Naga City, Cebu.

Marichu said her father was not the first to figure in a vehicular accident in the area due to the “barricade and trench.” Moreover, she said due to the failure of the defendants to comply the conditions, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was compelled to cancel their permit. - source

Read More

PLDT completes network upgrade end 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) announced Tuesday, September 11, that it finished its P67-billion (USD$1.6 billion) network modernization program ahead of schedule, and that customers should already be feeling the benefits of better service.

“The group’s investments have produced a network that is unrivaled in terms of coverage, capacity, and resiliency,” PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno said in a statement released on September 11.

The two-year network modernization program began in early 2011 and the target completion date was end-2012. Finishing early means customers already feel the effects of the program, namely better quality and more reliable service.

The program - which involves expanding cell sites, laying new fiber optic cables and even completing an undersea international cable system - will more than triple voice and data capacity.

“What was already the most extensive and advanced network in the country has been further super-charged with our access network providing the widest coverage via the expansion of LTE sites and a transport network that rides on over 48,000 kilometers (kms) of fiber assets with an additional 6,000 kms of Fiber-to-the-Home rolled out,” said Nazareno.

“We are close to covering the whole of Metro Manila with the more reliable and faster fiber connection and gaining momentum in servicing the rest of the country,” he added.

Nazareno explained that 3G coverage now reaches the majority of the population, while even faster Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technologies are being piloted in a growing number of areas.

Even back-end IT services and platforms for customer relations management, billing and business operations have been revamped.

PLDT also undertook a core network upgrade that added an international undersea cable system that more than doubled the group's international bandwidth capacity.

“No other provider comes close to the network that we have now, not just in terms of capacity but more importantly, in terms of resiliency and efficiency,” stressed Nazareno.

He added that the group is prepared for the "data explosion" that is expected in the future.

Mobile data traffic worldwide is expected to see a tenfold jump by 2016, according to a 2011 study by Swedish telecom giant Ericsson. The predictions have been felt in Philippine telecommunication firms' bottomlines. PLDT alone saw mobile internet revenues nearly double, with 97% growth in the first 6 months of the year, compared to the same period in 2011.

Where Globe stands

Rival Globe Telecom expects its own $790-million network modernization program to be finished by the first quarter of 2013.

Already, the program is close to 50% complete. Upgrades have been completed in several areas including, South Luzon, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Apayao, Sulu, Tawi Tawi, Zamboanga, Sibugay, Sorsogon and Basilan.

Within Metro Manila, Quezon City is expected to be completed by this September, with the Ortigas Business District following in October, and Makati in November.

Globe President Ernest Cu has stressed that their network modernization is unique because it involves building a new network and not just rebuilding an old network.

“Others mask modernization with simply a business-as-usual change-out of old equipment. At Globe, our transformation is very different because it is indeed building a brand new network,” he said.

While the fiber assets are not as vast as PLDT's, Globe is installing 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, which will serve as the main backbone for providing faster mobile internet.

Globe said it is unrolling 3 times the number of 3G base stations to increase its coverage area and provide better service.

The upgrades are expected to address customer complaints about slow mobile Internet that can be felt on the overloaded older networks.

“In the Philippines, as we have said many times before in the past, the networks were actually built for text traffic and not for mobile internet. SMS networks are characterized by very thin backhaul capabilities. Very fast mobile internet almost requires purely fiber optics in terms of backhaul because of the tremendous amounts of data traveling from the base station all the way to the core and out on the internet,” explained Cu.

The CEO stressed that the new network will have “more capacity, lead to quicker, clearer and better quality call and text experience.”

Cu said Globe was also ahead of schedule and had been updating and installing more than 100 sites a week since this April.

“We are moving progressively forward and at a faster clip. We are ahead of schedule so it’s very likely that we’ll accomplish the total change-out by the first quarter of 2013. Today, there are already marked improvement in cities that are 100% complete,” said the Globe CEO.- source

Read More

Mini Pads Dunk & Drop Test Survivor

As is always the case with new iOS device launches, some early purchasers are interested in putting the products through drop tests and other experiments in order to test their durability. The iPad mini is no exception, and several drop and dunk test videos have already been posted.

Android Authority has a comparison between the iPad mini and Nexus 7 tablets, putting each device through a series of three drops from approximately chest high.

While the iPad mini did suffer a fair amount of damage, including a cracked screen, it did outperform the Nexus 7 in that it continued to function after being dropped.

Warranty company SquareTrade has also performed its own drop and dunk tests comparing the iPad mini to the Nexus 7 and the third-generation iPad. In the drop tests using a dedicated rig, the iPad mini held up well in a corner drop, but the screen did shatter on a face-down drop. In the dunk test, which involved placing each device in a tub of water for ten seconds, the iPad mini continued to function normally, while the iPad appeared to develop a sluggish home button and the Nexus 7 reset itself and became non-responsive. - source

Read More

Sun Cellular Interconnection with Smart Completed

MANILA, Philippines - Sun Cellular subscribers may now experience better services after the firm completed a P71-million interconnection project with Smart Communications, Inc.

"The establishment of this resiliency or 'fail-safe' infrastructure gives Sun Cellular subscribers more reliable broadband connections," Rolando Pena, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart's Technology Group Head, said in a statement.

"The increased interconnection will also dramatically lessen, if not eliminate service down times," Pena added.

The project involved the creation of 16 interconnect links between Smart and Sun Cellular. The links, each with a capacity of 10 Gbps (gigabits per second), allow the two telcos to connect on high-capacity fiber optic cables.

Moreover, the interconnection project is also capable of carrying high-bandwidth services such as 4G HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access Plus) and 3G HSPA, apart from 2G services voice and SMS (Simple Message Service).

PLDT completed its acquisition of Sun Cellular in October 2011. Sun Cellular has been kept as a separate brand of the dominant telco alongside PLDT's wireless arm Smart.

Read More

iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S3 vs Google Nexus 4

Google has finally unveiled its next generation of Nexus smartphone – the Nexus 4, which is built by LG and designed by Google. The Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 IPS display, a 1.5GHz Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The phone will come in two variants – 8GB for $299 and 16GB for $349, unlocked and without any contract. Surely this phone is priced very attractively and is a powerful offering from LG and Google.

The Nexus 4 is LG’s first attempt on building Google’s flagship – Nexus branded phone. The technical specs of this phone matches to that of the LG Optimus G smartphone but the Nexus 4 is priced more competitively.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5.

The Nexus 4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked 1.5GHz and Samsung is powering their Galaxy S3 by an Exynos 4412 1.4GHz. Apple on the other hand powers iPhone 5 with the 1.2GHz dual core A6 processor, which means that the iPhone lacks the same processing power as its Android rivals.

The Google Nexus 4 debuts with the latest version of Android – the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 4.2 version is still called as Jelly Bean, which can be considered as an upgraded version of 4.1. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 will soon be upgraded to 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Apple’s iPhone 5 already comes with the iOS 6 – Apple’s latest mobile operating system.

Talking from the storage point of view, then the Google Nexus 4 comes in both 8GB and 16GB variants and doesn’t comes with any microSD expansion. The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants and it also offers support to expand the memory up to 64GB via a microSD card. The iPhone 5 offers three variants – 16GB, 32GB or 64GB and doesn’t allows support for microSD card.

One thing that is missing on Nexus 4 is 4G LTE, whereas the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 comes equipped with 4G LTE. But then again, by looking at the price of the Nexus 4 at $299 SIM free for the 8GB model, we cannot complain much. For this price, you are getting a Quad-core processor, big screen and the latest version of Android. Surely Nexus 4 seems to be a budget-user’s dream of getting their hands on Android. - source

Read More

HTC 8X Windows Phone Review

The HTC 8X Windows Phone is one of three flaghsip devices for the new OS. Justin Williams gauges how it measures up to the competition in an increasingly-crowded sector.

I've always had a soft spot for HTC's phones. The Taiwanese company was among the first to bring a touchscreen smartphone to the UK and was an early trailblazer for Android back in 2007. Its HD7 was an understated but worthy competitor when pitched against Nokia's colourful Lumia range in the small group of devices that ran Windows Phone 7. And, of course, it sold container-ship loads of Android devices up until 2011 when sales – thanks to aggressive marketing by Samsung – began to fall off a cliff.

So there's a lot riding on the 8X for HTC. Again it's up against a big brash phone from Nokia in the form of the Lumia 920 which seems to have a Frankenstorm marketing effort behind it as well as a flagship Windows phone from Samsung. It may not be a make-or-break device but we should not underestimate how important it is for HTC that this phone holds its own against the Lumia.

Hardware

The bald specs may suggest that the 8X isn't anything special but let's make no mistake here – this is an absolutely gorgeous phone. From its unibody design with its polycarbonate back through to a fabulous 4.3" LCD 2 screen, the 8X oozes quality. At 10.6mm it is thicker than both an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy SIII. But the 8X has tapered edges giving it a good grip and making it feel as slim as both the Apple and Samsung flagships. The phone isn't especially light but it sits evenly in the hand and the polycarbonate makes the hard plastic finish of the SIII and HTC's own One X feel cheap and slippery by comparison. Only the iPhone beats it in terms of design quality.

The physical buttons on the 8X – the power button on the top and the rocker and camera switches on the side – as well as the camera and flash are all flush with the body giving the phone a smooth profile whatever the viewing angle and HTC has reverted to placing the micro USB port on the phone's base rather on the side as with the One series.

Our review phone came in California Blue and the 8X will also be available in black, red and yellow

The phone is sealed so there's no access to the 1,800mAh battery but we had no issues here getting a full day of high usage out of it in contrast to the One X which was a great phone badly let down by its battery life.

What will almost certainly be an issue, though, is that the 8X comes with only 16GB of storage on board and no microSD slot (Windows Phone 8 does not support this). HTC points to the free 7GB of Skydrive storage giving an 8X user the ability to stream music to the device ignoring the reality for most of us who spend much of our lives outside 3G or WiFi zones. With the iPhone 5 offering up to 64GB and even the Lumia 920 having 32GB on board, one really has to question what astral plane HTC’s design team were on when they plumped for such a parsimonius amount of memory.

If your previous experience with Windows phones stretches only to Phone 7 then you’ll find the 8X quick… very quick. It opens apps, renders web pages and fires up the camera at near light speed compared to, say, the Nokia Lumia 900 or even an iPhone 4S which was no slouch in its day.

Display

Coupled with Windows Phone’s Live Tiles, the 8X’s 720 x 1280 pixel HD display is stunning. The pixel density (342 PPI) is higher than on the Nokia Lumia 920 and even the iPhone 5. Colours are rendered accurately and, even zoomed in, details are sharp and clear. We couldn’t detect any noticeable colour bias and there isn’t a hint of oversaturation.

Glare does not appear to be a problem and we were able to use the phone even in strong direct sunlight.

Until now, I’ve found Kindle books to be difficult to read on anything except an iPhone’s Retina display but this is as pleasurable on an 8X as a larger device.

Cameras

The 8X has a f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens on the back coupled with a dedicated imaging chip which deliver the best results I’ve ever managed to squeeze out of a smartphone. The pictures are incredibly good for a point and shoot device whether close up or at a distance. Depth of field is good as is colour reproduction with sharp, accurately rendered colours that veer more towards under rather than oversaturation. Close-up, the macro performance is stunning with great detail reproduction even in low light.

Video capture is also up there with the best in class delivering 1080p at 30fps with a noticeable lack of wind noise and very speedy processing.

On the front, HTC has introduced a 2.1mp, f/2.0 wide angle camera allowing the social narcissists among us to start including up to three friends in those all-important profile and status shots.

Software

With Phone 8 development, Microsoft has gone down the Apple route opting to nip and tuck rather than radically overhaul the OS. It’s a brave strategy given the disappointing sales for Phone 7. But it’s the right decision – Windows Phone’s live tiles are far enough removed from the static icons of iOS and the confusing widget farm that Android has become to put clear blue water between Microsoft and its competitors.

Our testing predated the relaunch of the Windows Phone Store so we weren’t able to see the promised range of updated apps but it probably fair to say that this will continue to be very limited compared with the iOS App Store or Google Play. Those of us who desperately want to see a proper Twitter app or Dropbox on a Windows phone are likely to be still waiting months from now.

First introduced with its One series, HTC has included Beats audio technology with the 8X delivering an amazing depth and range of sound on even the cheapest in-ear earphones. But the inclusion of such an amazing sound system only serves to make the decision to limit on-board storage to 16GB appear even more bizarre.

What truly differentiates a Windows device from all the media-centric phones out there is its Office integration. With Phone 8 we’re still waiting for track changes on Word documents but tables and tabulation now render accurately and spreadsheets look and work like real Excel creations. For those of us who occasionally use a phone to grab a picture or a thought and share it with a desktop or tablet, the OneNote integration is fantastic and for the productivity minded this could be the deal sealer.

Microsoft is now bundling Nokia maps with all of its phones so you can download maps for most of the world and use them offline. This is a stroke of genius but one really does wonder what Nokia was thinking about when it decided to give away what was probably its last remaining USP.

I’d like to be able to say that web browsing on the 8X is pleasurable but Microsoft has failed to fix two of the biggest flaws with Phone 7: rendering and bookmarks. Pages still fail to render flawlessly leading to text and pictures overlapping on some sites giving the updated (and admittedly very quick) Internet Explorer an early 2002 Symbian feel. And as for bookmarks, the inability to manage and arrange your web bookmarks in folders or any other kind of coherent structure – rather than one long list – is baffling and, frankly, inexcusable.

Conclusion

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a beautiful device with a delightful form factor. It is without doubt the best phone that HTC has made and has enough punch to be seriously considered alongside the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy SIII. On paper, it seems to beat the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC has moved heaven and earth to get it to market on time which must give it a head start over the other Windows signature phones. The cameras – both front and back – are class leading and the image results breathtaking for a phone.

But it isn’t without its flaws, most notably the limited on-board storage which will make gaining adoption among music lovers an uphill struggle. - source

Read More