Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Android Smartphone Reviewed

Ever since the first rumors came out regarding the emergence of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, then known as the PlayStation Phone, the device has gotten immediate attention from the smartphone and gaming communities alike. It combines the versatility of an Android smartphone with the gaming capabilities of the PlayStation making it one of the most, if not the most, anticipated smartphone being released in 2011.

Is the buzz truly merited with all the hype surrounding the Xperia Play? Will it live up to the expectations of the smartphone and gaming communities? Read on for an incisive review of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play and decide for yourself if it is truly worth the attention being thrown its way.

Design and construction

Measuring 119 x 62 x 16 mm and weighing in at 175 grams, the Xperia Play is kinda thick and hefty. Its headline feature is its slide-out game pad. The game pad slips out from under the screen just like the QWERTY keyboards on numerous smartphones in the market. The spring-loaded sliding mechanism responsible of revealing the game controls is pretty flawless and movement is consistent and very smooth.

Mostly made of plastic with poor construction, squeaks and creaks are very apparent with the Play. In spite of this, the device still feels sturdy in the hand but the over-all glossy aesthetics tends to make it prone to scuffs and scratches.

Under the hood

The Play relies on a single-core 1GHz scorpion processor on a Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chip and comes with an Adreno 205 GPU for graphics matters. This pair is enhanced by 512MB of RAM and 400MB of onboard storage which can be expanded via a microSD card slot capable of taking up to 32GB.

The display

The front panel of the Play is taken up by the massive 4-inch LED-backlit capacitive touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Colors and viewing angles are so-so but is somewhat lacking in terms of brightness. The display is mediocre indoors and downright unusable outdoors at times. Under the right circumstances, pleasantly vibrant images may be obtained but the display of the Xperia Play could easily be one of the worst among “high-end” smartphones.

The gaming controls

The Xperia Play is defined by its gaming controls and prompts the most interest. Slide up the spring-loaded display and you get the D-Pad, PlayStation-style buttons (cross, circle, square and triangle), and two touch-sensitive analog controls that try to mimic a DualShock’s physical analog pads.

The physical keys are good and very responsive as to be expected but the touch-sensitive analog controls might take a little more getting used to. As for the L and R shoulder triggers, they are somewhat flappy but broad enough that they are easily found when the need for them arises.

The software

The Play runs Android 2.3.2 Gingerbread and on top of that, Sony Ericsson’s custom UI is added on for some unique Sony Ericsson user experience. However, the meat of the matter would be the two apps that make the Xperia Play THE PlayStation Phone: the Xperia Play (the software, not the device, very confusing I know) which showcases Android Market games compatible with the controls of the Play, and the PlayStation Pocket which has the PS One games that are to be enjoyed with this device.

No complaints here in terms of in-game performance with smooth frame rates all throughout. A little drawback here though is the black portion on the sides of the widescreen display since PS One games were coded for 4:3 aspect ratio. Another letdown is the Play only comes with one preloaded classic game which is Crash Bandicoot. Sony Ericsson has assured the masses though that the PS One library is already en route. Well, they better make sure about this.

The shooters

Just like most high-end Droids, the Play has two shooters: a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash that takes pictures up to 2592 x 1944 pixels and a regular front-facing VGA snapper. The rear-facing shooter is able to snap decent pictures but when used as a video recorder, well, that’s when things go downhill a bit. Instead of 720p video recording which is pretty much standard, you get WVGA resolution clips at 30fps which come out blurry and uninspiring. You wanna hear more? Nah, I didn’t think so.

Phone and battery

The Xperia Play provides decent in-call quality and the speaker phone is a little louder than most Droids owing its gratitude to the boosted speakers. In terms of juice, the battery life of the Play is far better than other Droids running Gingerbread.

It packs a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery that provides the device the needed juice to keep it running for 24 hours with moderate use. On a single charge, the Play should be good for 8.5 hours of talk time, 413 hours of standby time, and 5.5 hours of game play.

Final thoughts

With the strength of its gamepad, the Xperia Play should be able to round up the usual suspects willing to participate in its gaming revolution. Add the good ergonomics and extremely durable and effective spring-loaded mechanism and the number goes up.

However, the poor quality of the screen and the less than stellar hardware specs would be sort of a deal breaker at this time. Also, Sony Ericsson failed to embrace the availability of a broad selection of affordable games that are easily accessible – the same reason why iOS devices and Android gaming is so popular.

Is the Xperia Play the right phone for you? If you are a serious gamer who doesn’t mind the shortcomings of the device, go for it. If you are the cautious type of consumer, holding off is recommended until more game titles become available and Sony Ericsson decides to use higher-quality materials.

At the end of the day, the success of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will definitely be determined by the availability of cutting-edge games. This is what the Play was designed for in the first place, isn’t it?

Do you want to know the price of this magnificent Android smartphone? See this post: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Smartphone

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Alienware m17x 3D Laptop Computer Price and Features

Alienware m17x 3D Laptop Computer Price and Features: We’ve already seen entertainment and gaming laptops featuring true 3D display technology from the usual suspects like Toshiba Qosmio and Asus G73SW so it was no surprise that Alienware joined the fray with an update to its 17-incher m17x rig.

The 17-inch desktop replacement got upgrades in the form of the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processor architecture and NVIDIA’s GeForce and 3D Vision technology. The m17x is no doubt a gamer-geared rig that boasts of dazzling chassis lighting effects with a gorgeous display to boot designed to make even the most frigid of gamers to salivate with anticipation.

Find out in this review if this beast of a gaming laptop is as good as advertised.

Design and construction

To replace the aluminum chassis used on earlier versions of the m17x, the m17x 3D is done in the same rubbery-feeling finish that was used on the Alienware m11x R2. The matte finish helps keep smudges and fingerprints to a minimum and provides a nice background for the illuminated logo found on its lid. Choices of color include Stealth Black and Nebula Red.

Measuring 16.1 x 12 x 1.8 inches, the m17x 3D looks like a bigger version of the Alienware m11x R2 and has the same grille-work that is backlit and the similar beveled lid. The rig makes use of a dual-hinge mechanism that gives the notebook a solid, well-built feel. Weighing in at 10.1 pounds, 12.2 with the power brick attached, you can just throw mobility and portability out the window.

Under the hood

The m17x 3D draws its power from Intel’s second generation Sandy Bridge quad-core i7-2630QM clocked at 2.0GHz. As with the older Clarksfield quad-cores, the i7-2630QM can be overclocked up to 2.9GHZ with its Turbo Boost function.

Its beast of a processor is complemented by 8GB of DDR3 RAM to keep things running smoothly and all graphics matters is taken care of by its DirectX 11-capable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M with 1.5GB of GDDR5 video memory making it among the fastest among GPUs.

For storage, the m17x 3D is configured with two 7200RPM 750GB hard drives set in RAID 0 format giving it an awesome 1.5TB of total storage capacity. For maximum speed, you have the choice to utilize dual 256GB solid –state drives (SSDs) which will add 950 big ones to the total price.

The display

The m17x 3D packs a 17.3-inch display with a full HD 1920 x 1080 (1080p) resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio that most gamers and film buffs would drool over. The full HD screen offers a good contrast ratio of 527:1 and provides crisp, vivid colors.

Individual LEDs are responsible for illuminating the screen and provide for an evenly lit screen with a brightness distribution value of 89%. The range of horizontal viewing angles is extremely broad and there’s no apparent color distortion but using this beast outdoors might make you struggle with irritating reflections.

Input devices

The keyboard of the m17x 3D has an excellent layout and getting used to it doesn’t take that long. The standard-sized number pad and the large arrow keys make for easy use without looking down.

The rubberized, non-slip keys on the other hand reveals excellent keystroke feel and tactile feedback with just the right amount of pressure point.

The touch pad has generous dimensions and has a smooth surface with little friction. Cursor movement and gestures were recognized and implemented with just the slightest touch.

Gaming performance

The gaming performance of the m17x 3D leaves nothing to be wanted. A refresh rate of 30fps with the highest detail settings keep even intensely resource-demanding games such as Metro 2033 rather playable.

For the most part, the 3D quality of the m17x 3D is very good. There are several instances of crosstalk (a double image that is a common side effect of PC-based 3D technology) but did not detract from the overall experience. Game play was smooth and the 3D effect provided plenty of depth. With the m17x 3D, even the worst movie ever made will look awesome in 3D mode.

Battery life

A lithium-ion 8100 mAh battery is responsible in providing juice to this beast. With its size and the components lurking under its hood sucking on its juice like there’s no tomorrow, you’ll be surprised that the m17x 3D can last up to 6hours in idle mode until it draws its last breath. The juice of the m17x 3D can last up to 3.5 hours when surfing via Wi-Fi can and 4.5 hours when watching plain, old DVDs.

For such a high-capacity battery, the power pack of the m17x 3D only requires a mere 145 minutes to fully charge.

The verdict

The Alienware m17x 3D not only looks sweet but packs the necessary components that brings about performance that is without a doubt the apex of what is currently available in the notebook world. Combine the powerful Sandy Bridge processor with the dual 256GB SSD configuration and there’s no rendering, image-processing or conversion task that the m17x 3D isn’t fit for. Fortunately, that power does not come at the expense of the battery life.

It does come at the expense of your budget though. Priced at almost 3000 Benjamins in the US of A, the Alienware m17x 3D will leave a significant dent in your budget but I say it is all worth it.

Alienware m17x 3D Laptop Computer Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 72,000.00

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Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera Price in the Philippines, Features and Specs

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera Price in the Philippines, Features and Specs: It may not be a 'true DSLR' but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 with interchangeable-lens has features that may even outclass and put to shame some of today’s current DSLRs. The camera may even point toward where future DSLRs are headed in terms of video options and controls.

Design and construction

Measuring 3 inches deep, 4.9 inches wide, and 3.5 inches tall, the body of the GH2 is more compact by not much than that of the usual entry-level DSLR. Without a lens attached, its body weighs 13.8 ounces but is nearly 32 ounces heavy with a 14 – 140mm zoom lens attached to it.

However, despite the physical size, the GH2 doesn’t feel that heavy. In addition, the GH2 has a large right-hand grip making it comfortable to hold and use the camera. Its grooved handgrip is textured and is as comfortable as any handgrip can get.

The designers of the GH2 did a great job in placing nearly all of the controls of the camera on its top panel, all within easy reach. A nice touch is its feature where the camera is able to sense if it is being lifted to the photographer’s eyes and automatically turning off the LCD and activating the viewfinder instead. Very, intuitive, what else can I say?

The display

The GH2 packs a 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots and 100% field of view. With the accent on ease of use, the camera has a degree of touchscreen control too where scrolling through captured images or settings can be done with the swipe of a finger.

The screen of the GH2 is very bright and sharp. It even lets you shoot photos by touching the image of the subject on the LCD. Also, when shooting extreme close-up photos, the LCD will magnify extremely precise manual focusing. Talk about making your life easier huh?

Performance and image quality

Most advanced cameras create outstanding images but the GH2 is in a class of its own. With its 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, the GH2 can create extremely large prints and the image quality is among the best you can find in its class. There is very little to complain about in this regard.

With a 14 – 140mm lens mounted on the GH2, the camera was able to turn out crisp images with minimal noise and no apparent chromatic aberration. It also turned out decent photos taken in low-light conditions. It even lets you shoot in a variety if aspect ratios: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1.

Videos on the other hand can be taken at up to Full HD with stereo audio and files stored in AVCHD format. As an alternative, a slightly lower option of 1280 x 720 pixel option is available with a Motion JPEG format. Again, with ease of use in mind, one press of the provided red “Record” button immediately captures video clips no matter which mode might have been previously in play.

Not only that, with the specially designed lens of the GH2, even if you adjust your framing while you are recording a video clip, the focus will automatically adjust with it.

Aside from the strong image quality turned out by the GH2, the camera demonstrated strong performance levels as well. The auto-focus works very quickly and gives you the option to switch to manual focus if and when needed. The camera also starts up very quickly and there is no noticeable shutter lag when taking pictures.

A user will also find a balanced mixture of manual and automatic controls with the GH2. In a nutshell, the camera lets you manually control as much or as little of the shot as you want. If you are not confident in taking photos in a fully manual mode, you will find that the image quality is still very good in fully automatic mode.

The GH2 also lets you shoot using several different special effects such as black and white or film mode. You can also customize a few different image-control settings as each photo is taken.

The verdict

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is an incredibly versatile camera with image quality that comes close to a DSLR but in a body that is more compact and lighter. The camera makes photography a lot of fun and its system is one of the best in terms of ease of use. Other than that, it has an unbelievably excellent HD video quality that is the best in among its class.

If you are in the market for an interchangeable lens camera that is very capable in terms of shooting Full HD video clips, the GH2 is your best bet.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 43,000.00

You may also like: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Digital Camera

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Kia Sorento Price List (as of May 2011)

Kia Sorento Price List: The Sorento is an uber-sleek mid-size crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by Kia Motors since 2002. It is well-known for its overall good looks, spacious interior and excellent safety features. It is available in four or six-cylinder engine configurations and can go head-to-head with other fast and powerful compact-crossover vehicles like the Toyota RAV4. The advantage of Kia Sorento when you compare it to other mid-size SUVs like the Honda CRV-V is its fairly comfortable third-row seats making it a family-friendly car. Also, its whole interior is viewed as well-made, spacious, and elegant. The 2011 Kia Sorento is the latest model of this SUV.


If you are looking to buy a Kia Sorento, we have here the price list of its several versions or models in Philippine peso, and updated as of May 2011.

Kia Sorento 4x4 EX AT 2.4 Gas 7 seater: Php 1,790,000.00

Kia Sorento 4x2 EX AT 2.4 Gas 7 seater: Php 1,690,000.00

Kia Sorento 4x4 EX Gas 5 seater: Php 1,690,000.00

Kia Sorento 4X4 LX Gas 5 seater: Php 1,590,000.00

Kia Sorento 4X2 EX Gas 5 seater: Php 1,590,000.00

Kia Sorento 4x2 LX Gas 5 seater: Php 1,490,000.00

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Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station for iPhone/iPod Price and Features

Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station for iPhone/iPod Price and Features: With the iPhone and iPod becoming ubiquitous nowadays, speaker docks for the two devices also follow the trend. Consumers are bombarded with numerous choices from different brands that a person in the market for such speaker docks would have a hard time selecting one.

What’s worse is that these speaker docks all have the same features. Nothing in them sets them apart from other brands. And then there was Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station.

In an admirable attempt to create more than just another iPod dock, Pioneer came up with the XW-NAV1-K. Not only does it handle your iPod or iPhone, it also plays CDs and DVDs and connects to your TV via HDMI. In addition, it even has an FM radio on board to even sweeten the deal.

Is the NAV1 one of a kind? Have we found the all-in-one solution for all our entertainment needs? Does it justify the chunky price tag it carries? Read on for the full details of the Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station.

Features

Though the NAV1 is just slightly larger than your average handbag, it intends to take care of all your audio-video requirements. It comes in black or white and personally, I think the white is perfect for the kitchen or kids’ playroom.

The NAV1 is considered as a second point of entertainment kind of device and is very easy to setup with a smallish TV or even a decent-sized PC monitor.

Unfortunately, the NAV1 has a very limited LED display of its own so it needs a screen nearby. Should you be interested in fiddling with the more advanced features of the NAV1 like ripping CDs directly to a USB stick for example, you will need to use the included remote and the onscreen displays.

Not only is the LED display limited on the NAV1, the device itself also has limited controls. For example, there’s no way you can skip tracks on the CD without using the remote. However, if you are using the NAV1 as a docking station for your iPod or iPhone, this obviously isn’t a problem since all the controls are on the devices themselves.

The NAV1 may be challenged in terms of size but two 10-watt speakers and two passive radiators provide excellent audio quality for a device that’s only slightly larger than a handbag.

Performance

The NAV1 performs extremely well in terms of audio quality. The audio quality from CDs, DVDs or source compressed at a high quality (such as MP3 at 320kbps or higher or Apple Lossless) is just simply excellent. No questions about it. The midrange may not sound as spectacular as you would want it to be owing to the fact that the NAV1 has smaller, full-range speakers but the treble is crispy and the bass punchy.

However, the NAV1 doesn’t seem to favor heavily compressed audio very much. Tracks compressed at 192kbps that sound great your favorite cans or in-ears are exposed as the lossy contents that they really are. The midrange in heavily compressed tracks suffers in particular as it can sound very fuzzy, but that depends heavily on the genre of the music you are listening to.

The quirks

The design of the NAV1 has its share of oddball qualities though. For example, DVDs will be upscaled to 1080p via the HDMI connection but the device will not let you output the videos on your iPhone or iPod via the HDMI connection. This little quirk though is more the fault of Apple’s output than Pioneer’s ability to encode it for HDMI.

Also, it looks like Pioneer engineers haven’t thought well with regard to the positioning of the slot-loading DVD. With it placed on top of the NAV1, it makes it impossible to place the device under a TV or even on the average shelf. This is strictly a table-top or counter device. It’s a good thing the NAV1 looks so good it isn’t a problem displaying it anywhere in the house.

The verdict

The Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station is an excellent iPod/iPhone dock, a very good CD player and an average DVD player. In the right situation, it will provide your place a secondary entertainment zone. It doesn’t take up much space and it can push a decent wall of sound. Coupled with the fact that the NAV1 has features not commonly found on other speaker docks, the NAV1 is a bargain for just 199 Benjamins in the US of A.

Pioneer XW-NAV1-K Docking Station for iPhone/iPod Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 12,000.00

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Apple Time Capsule Wireless Router / Storage Device Price and Features

In an effort to prove that innovation in technology is still alive and kicking and in the process scream out that they lead the pack in terms of innovating, Apple came up with the Apple Time Capsule, a sleek network device that functions as a wireless router and a backup drive at the same time.

Folks are asking however: Does it work? Do its features justify the hefty price tag that comes with the device? Read on as we dissect and analyze the Apple Time Capsule.

Design and construction

The Time Capsule is housed in a sleek white case that measures 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches in keeping with the minimalist design theme of Apple. A single LED indicator on the front edge glows a steady green when everything’s fine and blinks if there is something wrong. A silver, mirror-like Apple logo adorns the top of the device and completes the ensemble.

Connectivity

The wireless router of the Time Capsule adheres to the draft 802.11n standard so compatibility with other Wi-Fi devices including 802.11 a/b/g access points and adapters made by manufacturers other than Apple is not an issue here.

In addition to its function of being a dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) wireless base station, the Time Capsule can also be added to an existing wireless network and have it act as an additional access point and the router is managed via the AirPort Utility application.

Setup and ease of use

Setting up the Time Capsule is very easy and a pretty straightforward process. With the AirPort Utility application, setup of the Time Capsule is very easy that even novices would have no difficulties in doing the process.

The Wizard mode of the AirPort Utility will walk you through the configuration process step by step. Should a user want to customize the router beyond the recommended settings, the utility has a manual mode that provides access to more advanced functions.

After the configuration process is done, the Time Capsule needs a restart for all changes to be applied. There are no hitches when setting the Time Capsule up and a user would be able to get it up and running in about 10 minutes or so.

Features

With the network established, Windows users should be able to see the hard drive in their network folder and read and write files to it just like any network-attached storage. You can also setup a password to connect to the drive and at the same time access Time Capsule’s drive remotely through a .Mac account which you have to pay for.

Mac users can also utilize the Time Capsule’s hard drive for basic storage but they get more benefits from the Time Capsule compared to the Windows folks due to the interface of the device with MAC OS X Leopard’s Time machine feature.

Time Machine for those not familiar with it enables you to setup automated backups from Macs on your network straight to the Time Capsule. Apple also has preset Time Capsule to perform several backups a day for the first week that it gets setup, several backups a week after the first week, and then through out each month until you run out of storage space.

Each backup session only saves changes in information so you don’t have to do the complete multi-gigabyte data transfer every time the backup process kicks in. A manual back up can also be done whenever you feel like doing so.

Performance

The capability of the Time Capsule as a storage device is good enough especially when a system is connected to it via Gigabit Ethernet cable. That kind of connection should make you feel comfortable knowing that the data transfer speeds lie within the range of what we expect especially when compared to other network-attached storage devices.

As a wide-bandwidth 802.11n wireless router, the Time Capsule is somewhat mediocre. Though backing up and moving data between the drive and various systems was reasonably fast, if you need you network to be speedy, several options in the market will fare better compared to the Time Capsule.

The verdict

With the Time Capsule, Apple was able to deliver a user-friendly, all-in-one router/backup device that offers good wireless range and simple archiving solutions, for Mac users that is. For the Windows crowd, it’s a bit of a different story though.

But anyway, if you are looking for a true NAS drive with RAID and remote management features, you better start looking elsewhere. However, if you are just a simple home user and don’t mind the big bucks you have to shell out, then the Apple Time Capsule will do just fine.

Apple Time Capsule Wireless Router / Storage Device Price in the Philippines:

Time Capsule 2TB: Php 25,990.00

Time Capsule 1TB: Php 14,990.00

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Review: Asus G73SW Gaming Laptop Computer Price and Features

With the look of a stealth fighter on the outside and having the combined power of a second-generation Core i7 processor and high-end NVIDIA GTX 460M graphics under the hood, it’s no wonder why the ASUS G73SW stands out in a crowd.

But for the price of almost 1,800 big ones in the US of A, mobile gamers insist on more than just great performance with pretty boy good looks, they demand something truly special. Will the ASUS G73SW stand up to the test? Will it fit the bill? Or it would just end up getting shot down in dogfight by either a Toshiba Qosmio or an Alienware m17x? Read on as we get down and dirty with the ASUS G73SW.

Design and construction

Measuring 16.6 x 12.8 x 2.3 inches and weighing in at 8.8 pounds, the G73SW would never be mistaken for an ultraportable and is significantly heavier than most other 17-inch laptops. Modeled after the F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber, the G73SW is all angles with a matte-black finish that looks both understated and killer at the same time.

It may not have the bling of colorful gaming laptops such as the Alienware m17x but its sleek, angular design and matte-black exterior easily make it one of the most attractive systems in its category. What makes it stand out even more is the rubberized material used on both the lid and deck of the G73SW which is incredibly comfortable to touch, resists fingerprints, stays cool and conveys a feeling of durability and quality.

Under the hood

Powered by a quad-core, second generation Intel Core i7-2630QM Sandy Bridge processor clocked at 2GHz which can further be over-clocked to as high as 2.9GHz with its Turbo Boost function, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX460M GPU to take care of graphics needs, the G73SW packs plenty of power and punch for intensive and system resources-demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing and HD media playback.

For storage purposes, you get a generous hard drive configuration where two hard drive slots are outfitted with two 500GB SSH (Solid State Hybrid) which combines the high capacity of familiar HDDs and the high speed of more modern SSDs.

The display

The G73SW packs a 17.3-inch Hannstar HSD173PUW1 display with a diagonal length of 43.94 cm and 16:9 aspect ratio. The 1920 x 1080 screen provided bright, sharp images and wide viewing angles and the integrated Blu-Ray drive can boast and show off its full potential with the screen’s Full HD resolution.

With the large screen real estate, you get ample screen space to work comfortably with several adjacent windows at the same time. A bit of a letdown though is the choice of ASUS of a glossy screen making the G73SW less suitable for outdoor use due to distracting reflections. Even when indoors, you need to pick your spot very carefully to avoid these pesky reflections.

Keyboard and touchpad

Another drawback is the G73SW’s backlit keyboard with tiny, stiff keys that make life difficult for typists and gamers alike. The keys give really weak tactile feedback and require hard and deliberate strokes. Also, the flat, square shape of the keys makes it difficult to feel your way around the rows.

The touchpad on the other hand is large with just the right amount of smoothness while the two discreet buttons provide good tactile feedback. Unfortunately, no touchpad on/off button is to be found to help people who use mice and want to avoid accidentally touching the touchpad while using the keyboard. In short, gamers, look out!

Graphics and gaming

With its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M GPU and 1.5GB of GDDR5 video memory, the G73SW is powerful enough to play even the most demanding games. In fact, the rig got an impressive rate in terms of frames per second when playing even the most system resources-hungry titles such as World of Warcraft, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Left 4 Dead at their highest settings with all effects turned up.

Battery life

The G73SW is outfitted with a powerful 8-cell 5200 mAh battery but with no graphics switching option, battery life is kinda mediocre. Under stress with maximum brightness and deactivated energy-saving options, its juice only lasted 65 minutes. The run time was much better though with DVD playback with the juice lasting almost 2.5 hours.

It is an important thing to note though that the G73SW is a much larger laptop and doesn’t pretend to be an ultraportable so it is safe to assume that it won’t spend too much time on the road.

The verdict

The ASUS G73SW offers a strong combination of blazing-fast graphics, performance under the hood, superb media playback and stylish looks. It is entirely successful as a gaming notebook but not entirely without fault with its painfully stiff keyboard that can make typing and gaming less comfortable than they should be.

All in all, the ASUS G73SW is a high-end gaming laptop that brings to the table good performance without breaking the bank.

ASUS G73SW-TZ023V Gaming Laptop Computer Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 99,500.00

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Sennheiser HD 650 Audio Headphones Price, Features and Other Info

Sennheiser HD 650 Audio Headphones Price, Features and Other Info: Located near Hanover, Germany, Sennheiser designs some of the best sounding headphones money can buy. TheSennheiser HD 650 is considered the crown prince of the Sennheiser line and has certainly achieved a high reputation among both domestic and professional users. In a manner of speaking, the price tag that comes with these cans is as high as the expectations a serious audiophile would have as word of mouth for the product has been overwhelmingly positive.

The question is: is the Sennheiser HD 650 as good as advertised? Does it even begin to justify the hefty price tag that comes with it? Read on as we gut the Sennheiser HD 650 from bow to stern to see if the performance matches the price tag.

Fit and feel

The HD 650 does not look or feel like cans that would burn a hole through your pocket or leave a substantial deficit on your budget. The construction of the cans is traditional and pretty straightforward: a simple strap across makes the ovals fit snugly onto your head.

The frame appears to be sturdy and built well enough to last a long time. The cans have an open-back design which means that sound escapes and people in a crowded elevator might hear what you are listening to. It also works the other way around wherein ambient noise from your surroundings might seep in unless you have the volume on full blast.

The left and right side of the cans are marked with an “L” and an ”R” and while reversing the L and R sides does not dramatically alter the quality of sound wafting onto your eardrums, theHD 650 fits better when worn properly.

The sound and the fury (treble)

Treble on the HD 650 sound very smooth, and laid back. The sound of cymbals is somewhat unable to attain a crisp, brassy sound but nonetheless sound very detailed. The extension and decay is very excellent and you can hear the cymbals trail away to the extremities. Overall, the HD 650 has a very relaxing treble, never sounding forced and practically never fatiguing.

The sound and the fury (lower treble/upper midrange)

Probably one of the more immediately noticeable traits of the HD 650 is that it has a dark overtone to it. Despite having this dark overtone though, the extreme upper treble is simply excellent with a high level of clarity.

Sennheiser deliberately softened up the lower treble/upper midrange in the HD 650 in an effort to reduce any form of brightness or glare. By softening up this area, the HD 650 becomes tremendously easy to listen to long term.

The sound and the fury (midrange)

The midrange of the HD 650 has great cohesion and is impeccably smooth. Though the midrange isn’t as euphonically musical as some wooden headphones tend to be, it still has that smoothness and flatness to it. The midrange is also quite clear-sounding especially when the foams of the cans are removed. With the foams in place, the midrange sounded a little muffed and warm.

Instrument detailing in this area is exceptional making it easy to separate out instruments but they never, ever sound completely separated from the entire musical performance. In visual terms, you can check out the details without losing sight of the big picture.

The sound and the fury (bass)

The HD 650 would not disappoint if you are the type of listener that loves the thump of the bass. It has tremendous upper bass impact and when the bass notes hit, they hit hard and have that eye-blinking impact at higher volume levels.

The bass notes on the HD 650 certainly have great impact and sound “loud” but it remains tight, tuneful and never once sounding flabby.

Final thoughts

The fact that the Sennheiser HD 650 is a very good pair of headphones cannot and will not be called in to question. The greatest impression the HD 650 tends to make is that these cans truly exemplify what a dynamic headphone is. They even come close to sounding like a pair of speakers, only turned into headphones.

The silky, extended highs, smooth, lush midrange and not to be forgotten, the thunderous bass just make these cans truly energetic and sounding like a pair of good speakers. At the end of a listening session, when you finally take the HD 650 off, you can close your eyes and take a moment to reflect on what you just listened to. You will come into the conclusion that it doesn’t quite feel like you listened to a mere headphone. It will make you feel you listened to something much bigger than that.

And that amigo, will make you forget about the hole in your pocket that got burned by the Sennheiser HD 650.

Sennheiser HD 650 Audio Headphones Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 25,000.00

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Review: Louis Vuitton Alma MM Bag Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details

Review: Louis Vuitton Alma MM Bag Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details - Louis Vuitton Malletier, often referred to as Louis Vuitton or just LV, is a fashion house of French origin founded by Louis Vuitton in 1854. The label is known for its LV monogram which is featured on most products ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses and books.

Renowned all over not only in circles of alta sociedad but among the common people as well, Louis Vuitton is one of the more recognizable brands today when it comes to bags and luggages. Well-heeled celebrities have these bags by the truckload while “mere mortals” dream of at least having one piece of bag that has the LV monogram.

Should you belong to the “mere mortals” category and have saved enough dough to go buy one of the bags from the extensive Louis Vuitton line to realize your dream of having one, your LV bag of choice should be the Louis Vuitton Alma Monogram Miroir or Vuitton Alma MM for short.

The Vuitton Alma MM handbag has a shape that is patterned and inspired by the shape invented by Gaston Vuitton in the 1930s. The Alma MM is a classic of the Louis Vuitton brand and its shape is as distinctive as it can get in the world of high-end handbags.

The style and design of the latest Vuitton Alma MM handbag has breathed a new life into the classic Alma MM line with its metallic effect and gives the impression that the handbag has been dipped in metal. The handbag comes with a vinyl (mirrored vinyl with embossed monogram pattern) and textile lining. The sparkling and shimmering look complete the overall radiant look and toting one of these handbags makes you shine even more.

Aside from the reflective light gold color, the Vuitton Alma MM handbag also comes in a chrome-silver version that is more low profile but is equally gorgeous and striking. The chrome-silver version of the handbag is accentuated by silver brass hardware while the light gold version has hardware that comes in gold.

With dimensions pegged at 15.1 x 11.2 x 7.3 inches, the Vuitton Alma MM handbag though modestly-sized, has a curved shape that allows for a larger interior capacity and is roomy enough to stash all those carry-with-you-everywhere essentials along with important documents and anything that would beautify you even more.

The inside of the Vuitton Alma MM handbag is made from soft textile lining and is outfitted with two patch pockets and a handy mobile phone compartment where your Vertu is supposed to go in. The rolled leather handles with a 5-inch drop are rounded, have link attachments and are comfortable when held either in the hand or the elbow. Serving as an accent piece, there is also a removable key bell with the padlock keys securely tucked inside.

The integral closure by double zipper ensures the safety of your items and a signature golden Louis Vuitton padlock on top provides extra security for the closure of the bag. At the bottom of the Vuitton Alma MM handbag, one will find that the bottom studs and the textile line trimmings can protect the base and edges of the handbag from unsightly scratches.

The monogram design of the Vuitton Alma MM handbag truly showcases its elegance and the light gold color further brings a feel of added luxury. In addition to that, the Louis Vuitton branding makes the handbag even more exuberant and further enhances the handbag’s luxury factor.

With all the features described previously, it’s no wonder why the Vuitton Alma MM handbag is the choice of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez among others. Not only that, models like Abigail Clancy, Luisana Lopilato, Daisy Lowe, Chiara Ferragni, and Ming Xi, musicians like Cher Lloyd, Tameka Cottle and Mel B of the not-so-hot-no-more Spice Girls, and TV personality Louise Roe are often seen toting the Vuitton Alma MM handbag around Tinsel Town. In addition, the Vuitton Alma MM handbag has also been sighted in TV shows such as Gossip Girl and Kourtney and Kim Take New York.

Priced at an approximately two thousand big ones in the US of A, the Vuitton Alma MM handbag is sure to not only burn a hole through your pocket but will definitely put a significant dent not only on your budget but on your bank account as well, if you are only a “mere mortal”, that is. However, if losing all that hard-earned dinero is a non-issue and toting one of these beauties will make you feel and shine like a star, by all means, get one and be immediately bathed in the luxury that the Louis Vuitton Alma MM handbag brings.

Louis Vuitton Alma MM Bag Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 97,000.00

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HP Pavilion g6s Laptop Computer Estimated Price, Features and Specs

HP Pavilion g6s Laptop Computer Estimated Price, Features and Specs: Notebooks for most people have now become something very important especially to those who require high mobility. In essence, notebooks have now become necessities, not just luxuries, needs not wants.

In keeping with that line of thinking, HP recently released the HP Pavilion g6s, a notebook that supports Intel’s Sandy Bridge platform while maintaining a price range that even the miserly Scrooges among us will find hard to resist.

HP has gone through some major revamps and upgrades and the release of the Pavilion g6s follows though from the success of the Pavilion g6 series. With a polished design, second-gen Sandy Bridge processor and Altec Lansing speakers, an interested buyer would only need to shell out not more that 600 big ones in the US of A for this entry-level laptop from the low-end series of the Pavilion line.

Read on for a more detailed examination of the HP Pavilion g6s and decide for yourself if it is as good as advertised.

Design and construction

Measuring 14.72 x 9.65x 1.20 inches and weighing in at 5.5 lbs, the Pavilion g6s comes in a variety of very eye-catching and attractive colors with you being able to choose from charcoal gray (standard), sonoma red, pacific blue, sweet purple, and luminous rose. You get the impression that the Pavilion g6s is a very sleek laptop once you get to feel its glossy plastic surface. It may have a smooth finish but the notebook seems to be very fingerprint-resistant while the palm rest on the other hand appears to be the exact opposite.

The Pavilion g6s feels very durable and sturdy despite the plastic used for the laptop’s chassis. The keyboard and track pad are decently sized and the latter has a touch-sensitive button at its left edge to deactivate the trackpad. The keyboard is composed of chiclet-like keys that provide very good tactile feedback.

Under the hood

The Pavilion g6s draws its power from a second-gen dual-core Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor clocked at 2.1GHz. The proc is boosted by 4GB of DDR3 RAM to keep things running smoothly and all things that concern graphics are taken care of by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000. Storage space is handled by the 500GB 5400 RPM hard drive and is now powered by a Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system compared to the Windows 7 Home Basic that its predecessors sport.

The display

The Pavilion g6s features a 15.6-inch LED-backlit display, which is pretty standard for this size with a rather lowly 1366 x 768 resolution. Despite the low screen resolution, the display has excellent screen brightness with vivid colors and nice contrast to boot.

The features

For a 15.6-inch laptop, the Pavilion g6s only packs 3 USB ports instead of the four or five that many laptops of this size are beginning to have. Given the fact that this is a budget laptop, don’t be surprised if there are no high-speed ports like USB 3.0 or eSATA/USB combo.

The Pavilion g6s still has the same cooling fan that its predecessors had. Interestingly, the g6s has a very powerful cooling fan but it was surprisingly quiet even when at full blast. HP CoolSense is also preinstalled on the Pavilion g6s, a program that lets you manually adjust the speed of the fan to further cool the laptop.

The Pavilion g6s also has built-in webcam. Though it only has VGA resolution compared to the 1.3-megapixel variety we commonly see on other laptops, it works very well even in low-light conditions and images in dim environments seem to be no different from those taken in places with adequate lighting.

As for connectivity and I/O, HP stuck with works such as 10/100 Ethernet LAN, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, VGA port, RJ-45 port, HDMI port, microphone, built-in Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Surround Sound, multi-format digital card reader, DVD SuperMulti and the optional Bluetooth.

Battery life

The Pavilion g6s is powered by a 6-Cell Li-Ion battery that provides enough juice of up to 4.25 hours to the laptop on a single charge. Those are HP’s estimates though and we still need some more real-life tests done to ascertain this information.

Final words

The HP Pavilion g6s manages to maintain a down-to-earth price tag while offering quality multimedia entertainment with excellent display brightness and clearer sound. Though not as powerful as I would like it to be, the decent specs and feature set at its price range makes the Pavilion g6s a steal. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers, right?

HP Pavilion g6s Laptop Computer Estimated Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 27,000.00

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Tom Ford Margaux Women’s Sunglasses Price and Features

Tom Ford Margaux Women’s Sunglasses Price and Features: Thomas Carlyle “Tom” Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for the work he has done in the Gucci fashion house along with the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the film A Single Man, which got an Oscar nomination.

One of the most respected designers of our time, Tom Ford is most renowned for his work at Gucci as a creative director for the fashion house. He joined the fashion house at a time when no one would dream of wearing a Gucci. With Tom Ford at the helm of Gucci’s creative ship, he was able to turn around the almost bankrupt company and placed it back at the front pages of high fashion. When Gucci acquired the House of Yves Saint Laurent, he was named the creative director of that label as well because of his earlier successes.

In 2005, he launched the Tom Ford Brand that includes his own range of sunglasses. The style of the sunglasses in his line depicts his sophisticated and unique sense of design and passion for high-end fashion. The Tom Ford Brand range of sunglasses includes a selection of the most prominent and trendy-styled sunglass frames. This includes the ultra-exclusive James Bond style with either a brushed silver or dark chrome finish lens.

Combined with superb quality, Tom Ford sunglasses are designed with vintage and retro-inspired designs. Coming in a variety of unique colors and textures, the eyewear in this line also has bold architectural designs.

Tom Ford’s new line of sunglasses is currently one of the hottest in the market due to their innovative and striking shape complemented by finely-crafted classic styles. His collection of sunglasses draw inspiration from decades past and features oversized yet very light frames which look very chic and sexy on women. To add an element of fun while showing his love for the essence of femininity, female names are used to identify the female line of sunglass frames.

If you are searching for a pair of sunglasses which are an attention-grabber – a little something that will make people give you more than that much-deserved second look – Tom Ford sunglasses in general and the Tom Ford Margaux in particular is going to be a great way to hedge your bets.

There is just something about the Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses that screams ultra-chic and modern. These pair of sunglasses focuses on exaggerated frames with sensuously curved silhouettes. Measuring 14.5 cm horizontally and 6 cm from top to bottom, Tom Ford created an extra vintage and classically glamorous look with the Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses.

The Tom Ford Margaux is a pair of sunglasses with graduated cut-out lenses. What sets these oversized shades apart is the extreme attention to detail such as the ribbed gold metal trim which surrounds the lenses while leaving cut-outs at the temples.

The Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses also have metal bands on its thin tortoise shell arms with the Tom Ford logo plate inlaid on both ends. The subtle signature Tom Ford logo is also etched discreetly on the left lens.

The Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses is great for those who love big frames and flashy designs and are said to be one of the most comfortable designs not only in the Tom Ford line but in the whole women’s sunglasses department with their adjustable nose pads and wire core temples.

Aside from being very chic and stylish, the Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses also serve their real purpose wherein wearing a pair of these eye-catching eyewear affords you 100% UV and UVB protection.

These Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses are also considered as the epitome of old Hollywood glamour with their edgy and luxurious style. In addition to that, a number of well-heeled Hollywood celebrities are often spotted wearing a pair of Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses and these include Mischa Barton, Jessica Simpson, Janice Dickinson, Kim Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, and Alex Curran Gerrard among others.

Priced at approximately US$ 300, the Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses are not only fashionable enough that wearing a pair would place you in the ranks of the beautiful people often photographed wearing these trendy pieces, they are affordable enough that they wouldn’t burn a hole through your pocket.

Tom Ford Margaux Women’s Sunglasses Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 15,000.00

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Samsung SMX-C200 Video Camcorder Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details

Samsung SMX-C200 Video Camcorder Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details: If you are on the market for a camcorder that stands out from the whole pack, the Samsung SMX-C200 is perfect for you. Available in ethereal colors like red, blue, black and purple, the SMX-C200’s glossy finish matches the stylish color accent motif that creates an elegant crystalline effect reminiscent of the rich, natural beauty of hand-blown glass.

Hand-blown glass? Makes me think Samsung now has a factory in Murano dedicated to the production of the SMX-C200.

Design and construction

Measuring 35.2 x 56.2 x 109 mm and weighing in at 145 grams without the battery, the SMX-C200 is as compact as it can get but still is packed with features that will surely satisfy your camcorder needs.

The lens and image sensor

The SMX-C200 packs a 680k pixel CCD image sensor with 1/6-inch image sensor size. Its lens on the other hand has a 24mm Focal Length and is capable of 10x optical zoom and 1200x digital zoom. The f-value of the lens of the SMX-C200 ranges from 1.8 – 2.5.

The display and storage

For viewing your recorded video clips, the SMX-C200 sports a 2.7-inch Color LCD 230k-pixel screen. Also, with the SMX-C200, there’s no need to buy blank miniDVs or DV8s or whatnot as this camcorder records video clips directly to an SD memory card via its SD/SDHC card slot.

The features

Looking at the SMX-C200, you’ll see that there is nothing even remotely boring about it. The unique and distinct infusion of color breaks from convention and the camcorder is obviously designed to feel as good as it looks.

The ultra-compact size, lightweight body and ergonomic contours feel natural and fit comfortably in your hand.

Another nice feature of the SMX-C200 is the way its lens is angled. With the lens slanted to 25 degrees, the camcorder promotes a healthy hand position that is comfortable and feels natural to use. Also, by adjusting the LCD screen, you get a clear, unobstructed view of what you are recording. The engineers of Samsung obviously put a lot of work in the design process to come up with this kind of design improvement that makes shooting videos a lot more comfortable to do.

In keeping up with today’s technology, the SMX-C200 even lets you share videos easily. All you need to do is simply select the files, press the Upload button and the selected files get sent directly to YouTube. Ain’t that very convenient?

Not only that, the SMX-C200 comes with intelli-studio 2.0, its own built-in PC software. When you connect the camcorder to a PC, intelli-studio automatically runs and lets you view, edit and share files from virtually anywhere.

In addition, the recording capacity of the SMX-C200 is just unbelievable. Insert a 32GB SD card on its slot and the camcorder lets you record over 12 hours of high-quality H.264 video footage that gives you the much-needed space to enjoy stress-free movie making.

The SMX-C200 even has a Time-Lapse recording feature that captures frames at preset intervals and automatically arranges these frames in sequential order to create a video file that condenses an extended period of time into just a fraction of that time.

Aside from doing its video recording duties, the SMX-C200 can also act as a still camera. The camcorder is equipped with an intelligent image enhancement feature that enables it to snap 1.9-megapixel digital still photos with 1600 x 1200 resolution with the images getting saved as JPEG files.

Another nifty, little feature of the SMX-C200 is its Interactive Thumbnail. This feature enables you to see what is in a file without having to play it and enter full playback mode. This feature definitely makes file management and selection mode more intuitive and very enjoyable.

And let us not forget the Smart Auto feature of the SMX-C200. while on Smart Auto mode, the camcorder automatically detects the scene setting that is best to use so that videos and photos are captured in their best conditions, anytime, anywhere. Smart Auto mode supports Portrait, Night Portrait, Night, White, Macro, Landscape, Indoor, and Outdoor scenes so you got pretty much every shooting condition covered.

The SMX-C200 packs an IA-BH130LB battery that provides enough to juice to keep the camcorder shooting videos for 2 hours and 40 minutes on a single charge. It can also be charged via the included USB cable giving you the freedom to enjoy a more mobile lifestyle.

Parting words

The good looks of the Samsung SMX-C200 camcorder is enough reason for me to want to go buy one and try it out. Throw in the feature set of this pretty camcorder and you definitely got a winner. Looks good, does what it is supposed to: well, what more could you ask for?

Samsung SMX-C200 Video Camcorder Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 12,500.00

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HTC Wildfire S Android Smartphone Price, Features and Specs

HTC Wildfire S Android Smartphone Price, Features and Specs: The first ever HTC Wildfire model played an important role in bringing HTC and Android to mass consumers. Though the original Wildfire was cheaper than its other HTC siblings with higher specs, it was also blessed with the build quality and Sense UI HTC is known for. The handset got an overall thumbs up with room for improvement notably in terms of screen real estate.

Enter the HTC Wildfire S. it is the sequel to the pint-sized Wildfire with subtle revisions aimed to rectify some of its predecessor quirks. Has HTC done enough to keep the Wildfire S relevant today? Has HTC managed to put the HOT back into this Wildfire? Read on as we dissect and analyze the HTC Wildfire S.

Design and construction

Measuring at 101.3 x 59.4 x 12.4 mm, the HTC Wildfire S is said to deliver a smaller package, better screen and even slicker aesthetics compared to its older sibling. Looking like a baby HTC Desire, the Wildfire S offers similar durability in a more compact form factor albeit at a lower price point.

The Wildfire S’ metallic body reminds you of the Desire S but doesn’t have the unibody construction of its bigger brother. It may not be as robust as the Desire S but the predominant use of metal in its construction gives it a solid, reassuring feel.

Under the hood

The Wildfire S draws it power from a Qualcomm MSM7227 processor clocked at 600MHz, a faster and more refined update to the original Wildfire’s 528MHz MSM7225 proc. This is complemented by 512 MB of RAM to keep things running smoothly while an Adreno 200 GPU takes care of all things graphic. It has 150MB of onboard storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot that can take up to 32GB cards.

The display

This is one of the biggest quirks of the original Wildfire. The Wildfire S now boasts of a 3.2-inch Gorilla glass TFT capacitive touchscreen with HVGA resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, a noticeable bump compared to its predecessors pitiful 240 x 320 pixel resolution.

While the Wildfire S retains the same 3.2-inch screen real estate, the bump in resolution resulted to increased sharpness, well saturated colors and good brightness and contrast levels. Sunlight legibility with the brightest conditions is somewhat lacking but outdoor viewing is more manageable compared to its predecessor.

The shooters, I mean the shooter

Despite the compact form factor, the Wildfire S sports a rear-facing 5-megapixel shooter with auto-focus and accompanying flash. Using the shooter turns out images that slightly under-saturated and are average at best. With its noise-suppression feature, low-light shots are not that grainy and the flash performs well but nothing more ambitious is to be expected.

The shooter also doubles as a video recorder but maxes out at 640 x 480 VGA resolution. The resulting video clip is of mediocre quality, jerky and has flat colors same as the stills. You do get an easy one-touch upload to YouTube though if it’s any consolation.

Software and performance

The Wildfire S runs Android 2.3.3, otherwise known as Gingerbread. Sadly, the device isn’t up to the task of taking advantage of many of Gingerbread’s best features. No video calls to enjoy here due to the lack of a front-facing camera.

Performance is reasonable but the handset is not recommended to speed-freaks. The 600MHz processor sitting under the hood makes the Wildfire S somewhat under-powered and the processor simply is just not up to the task of running the latest Android apps and games. HTC Sense along with its memory hungry widgets suffers considerably with occasional stutters and slowdown. The same goes for demanding game titles such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.

Battery life

The Wildfire S packs a 1230mAh battery that provides enough juice for the quoted HTC estimates of 5.8 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time. In practice, the juice will last you about a day of moderate usage for realistic expectations.

Parting shots

The HTC Wildfire S is a neat, compact smartphone and improves on its predecessor by boosting not only what’s under the hood but screen resolution as well. It also offers a more up-to-date operating system. However, it still is the same beast. The sluggish CPU feels behind the times, the device is left wanting in terms of shooter appeal and the small form factor results to some loss in functionality.

Still, the HTC Wildfire S is worth a shot if you are not expecting a top-of-the-range device and are not keen on gigantic, pocket-burning smartphones.

HTC Wildfire S Android Smartphone Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 15,000.00

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Review: Hermes Dogon Wallet Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details

Review: Hermes Dogon Wallet Price in the Philippines, Features and Other Details - Hermes International, S.A., commonly referred to as Hermes, is a French high fashion house created in 1837 specializing in leather, ready-to-wear, lifestyle accessories, fragrances and luxury products. Its logo, which is highly recognizable, is that of a horse with a Duc carriage.

The company has its share of ups and downs. Founded by Thierry Hermes, the company was first established as a harness workshop creating the finest wrought harnesses and bridles for the carriage trade, hence the horse with a Duc carriage in the company’s logo.

The company catered to the elite of Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia and the Americas and in the 1900s offered a bag specially designed for riders to carry their saddles with them. This is how the company got started in the ultra-luxury leather bag trade.

With the high-profile success the company is enjoying right now, one is not inclined to think that the company fell back in the 1970s compared to its competitors because Hermes aimed to use only natural materials for its products unlike other companies that utilized man-made and synthetic materials.

Notable bags made popular through high-profile clientele include the “Kelly bag” introduced in the 1930s and made popular by Grace Kelly and the “Birkin bag” which was named after actress Jane Birkin who co-designed the bag. Hermes bags have been featured on television shows well-heeled celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, Martha Stewart, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey are often seen using these bags.

Not to be outdone though are the Hermes wallets to complement these bags, an example of which is the Hermes Dogon wallet.

Measuring an approximate 8 x 4.5 inches when closed, the Hermes Dogon is spacious enough for most of the must-have wallet essentials and is very practical for all your day to day needs and can be used as a wallet, a purse or a general organizer.

The Hermes Dogon is made from clemence, a grained leather. The wallet comes in several colors and the stitching is in etoupe which contrasts nicely with the color of the wallet. It features the iconic Clou de Selle tab made from either palladium or gold where a leather strap goes through the tab to keep the wallet closed.

The Hermes Dogon has 2 credit card slots in the front, 2 large pockets and 3 additional credit card slots inside. The two large pockets are roomy enough to hold your currency notes, address book and other essentials.

With all the card slots that the Hermes Dogon has, it can hold up to 14 cards (as long as you double-store the cards in each slot) – driver’s license, credit card, discount card – you name it. As long as the size of the card is standard, the Hermes Dogon can hold it. 14 credit cards you say? Now that’s a lot of shopping plastic to carry around. I smell some serious shopping round the corner!

In addition, the Hermes Dogon comes with a removable compartment / zippered change purse. Not surprisingly, the change purse has 2 additional small slots good for carrying extra credit cards should the other cards in the main wallet get maxed out.

With its size, the Hermes Dogon can also be used as a passport case should you plan to fly from one trendy destination to the next. If you carry a lot of cards on a daily basis, the Hermes Dogon is perfect for you.

The last statement actually made me think of Lindsay Lohan. She is one of the Hollywood celebrities often seen toting a Hermes Dogon. Maybe because her career is going downhill nowadays, she doesn’t have enough walking-around cash to carry but has an over-abundance of credit cards, hence her penchant for the Hermes Dogon.

Seriously, the Hermes Dogon costs some serious money. Priced at an approximate US$ 1,575++, not everybody would be walking around town with this wallet. However, if you take into consideration the fact that due to the labor-intensive nature of its production methods and that the company does not use assembly lines and only one craftsperson worked on the Hermes Dogon you are about to buy, this is all the more reason why having one makes you a celebrity in your own way.

Hermes Dogon Wallet Price in the Philippines:

Hermes Dogon Compact Wallet: Approximately Php 50,000.00

Hermes Dogon Combined Wallet: Approximately Php 73,000.00

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HTC Desire Z Android Smartphone Quick Review

The trend nowadays for most high-end smartphones is to utilize a full touchscreen for its operation. Because of this, Android users who prefer having a physical QWERTY keyboard don’t have many devices to choose from. Enter the HTC Desire Z.

The Desire Z has a slide-out (or is it pop-out?) keyboard that we haven’t seen in an Android handset for the longest time. It is a nice and welcome change that will earn not only attention but a lot of praises from people not comfortable typing on a touchscreen. The device also has quite a lot of nifty features that makes it more attractive.

Does the Desire Z have what it takes to play with the bad boys in the big leagues? Or will just fade away to obscurity because of its shortcomings? Read on to get a feel of what the Desire Z has to offer.

Design and construction

Measuring 119 x 60.4 x 14.2 mm, the Desire Z makes an impressive entrance thanks to its smooth and stylish aluminum and soft to the touch gray, plastic chassis giving you the impression that it is one finely manufactured device. It is a bit heavy at 180 grams but it’s still a pretty hefty device.

Under the hood

The Desire Z is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7230 processor clocked at (just) 800MHz and is complemented by 512 MB of RAM and an Adreno 205 GPU that churns out better graphics and frame rates.

It looks undernourished with only an 800MHz proc considering that 1GHz chips in smartphones are getting more common but this doesn’t greatly affect the performance of the device. With the Desire Z running Froyo, it doesn’t feel any different when compared to 1GHz smartphones. It is snappy when performing most tasks and doesn’t feel any slower than a phone with 1GHz under the hood. There’s the occasional lag but other than that, things run pretty smoothly so no complaints in that department.

The display

The Desire Z has a 3.7-inch Super LCD touchscreen with a 480 x 800 WVGA resolution. Though not an AMOLED, the display still has quality written all over it. Saturation, contrast, and viewing angles are exceptional and at the same time beautifully crystal clear and sharp. Sunlight legibility is also very good and the display retains good contrast even under very bright conditions.

The keyboard

This is the Desire Z’s biggest draw. Called the “Z-hinge” hence the name of the device, the mechanism doesn’t simply make a sliding motion. When pushed, the screen raises ever so slightly before folding back down into its opened position. This is ingenuity at its finest I’m telling you.

The physical keyboard is also excellent. The 4-row layout is well thought of with a function and shift key on both sides. The keys are nice and large and provide nice tactile feedback making you get the hang of it in no time at all.

The shooter

The Desire Z only has one shooter: a decent rear-facing 5-megapixel autofocus snapper with LED flash. Under good lighting conditions, the quality of stills is quite good. However, more often than not, it is prone to blurring even if your hands are rock-solid when taking a snap.

The shooter also doubles as a video recorder and is said to be capable of recording 720p high-def video clips. Video shooting seemed a bit inconsistent though with the fps rate dropping as lighting conditions worsened.

Features

This Droid has everything you would ever want connectivity-wise in a smartphone: HSDPA, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, DLNA, and even A-GPS for satellite navigation.

Aside from running Android 2.2 Froyo, the Desire Z also comes with the latest version of Sense and a suite of online services that can be managed via the HTCSense website.

In a nutshell, this version of Sense adds useful apps such as free turn-by-turn navigation while access to the HTCSense website provides very useful security features when you lose your phone (God, hopefully not).

Battery life

The 1300mAh Li-Ion battery the Desire Z packs has no evidence of super-fast battery drain common among other Droids and is able to provide enough juice to power the Desire Z for a whole day of heavy usage on a single charge. Skimp on the online viewing of flash videos and use as a multimedia player and it can last for two full days on moderate usage with data, Wi-Fi and GPS used sparingly.

The verdict

Let’s face it: the Desire Z is a lovely device. It has a classy and elegant hardware design. Throw in the exceptional screen quality along with the very good physical keyboard at it just raises the wow factor. There are a couple of letdowns such as the 800MHz processor but it still is a pretty capable smartphone. If you are looking for Droid with a physical keyboard with the guts to go with it, you can’t go wrong with the HTC Desire Z.

Do you want to know the price of Desire Z here in the Philippines? Check out our previous post: HTC Desire Z Android Smartphone

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Review: Sony Bravia KDL-55NX720 3D LCD HDTV

With the rapid advances in technology we see touching almost everything in its path, it is no wonder that even the most mundane of things also get affected. Take the common television set we have always had in our living rooms. From the cabinet-type TVs we have back in the 60s to the sleek and very streamlined LCD TVs we have now, you can’t even begin to imagine what kind of technology is at work here.

The Sony Bravia NX720 series in general and the KDL-55NX720 in particular embody the technological advances we see in the realm of mid to high-end TVs and with the launch of these products, Sony reasserts its wanting to have a piece of the action in the market.

How technologically advanced is the KDL-55NX720? Will it be a trailblazer that Sony can rely on or will it just end up eating the dust of its competitors? Read on to find out what makes the Sony Bravia KDL-55NX720 tick and if its features will be more than enough to tickle our fancies.

Design and construction

The KDL-55NX720 is blessed with the Monolithic styling which was first showcased in the NX800 series released in 2010. This design which is built into the look of a number of Sony’s higher-end sets is kinda reminiscent of the black slab from the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

Sony also decided to use Corning’s Gorilla Glass on the KDL-55NX720’s 55-inch screen. Gorilla Glass does sound familiar as it is the same break and scratch-resistant material used on a number of high-end smartphones.

Features

Aside from the brilliant Full HD 1080p picture quality that is to be expected from the KDL-55NX720, it also features Dynamic EDGE LED backlighting technology that supports local dimming for serious contrast levels, deep blacks and brilliant whites.

The screen of the KDL-55NX720 also uses Sony’s OptiContrast panel which is said to improve image quality even in well-lit rooms. In short, say goodbye to glare and hello to vivid images whatever time of day it is.

For smooth and precise detail during fast action scenes, the KDL-55NX720 makes use of MotionFlow XR 240 that denotes a 240Hz refresh rate which reduces blur caused by quick camera movements thereby enhancing image sharpness and creates an overall clearer picture. Working hand in hand with this is its X-Reality Engine that analyzes each scene and brings out the best so you see sharpened images and amazing contrast detail for a more vivid, lifelike picture experience.

The same X-Reality Engine also employs intelligent MPEG Noise Reduction technology to automatically detect the incoming sources along with noise levels and applies the appropriate amount of noise reduction for each scene. Very intuitive, don’t you think?

Internet applications and connectivity

This is something out of an Asimov sci-fi novel: the Internet on your television courtesy of Sony.

With the use of your broadband connection and the integrated Bravia Internet Video, you get access to premium content such as movies, TV shows, music and videos from providers like Qriocity, NetFlix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and the like.

Social Networking fiend? No problem. The KDL-55NX720’s got you covered. With Internet widgets like Facebook and Twitter integrated into the system of your TV, not only do you get to connect and share, you also get up-to-the-minute updates while enjoying your favorite TV show. Can it get better than that?

Connectivity is no object as well with the KDL-55NX720’s built-in Wi-Fi. Connect to your wireless network as soon as you have the TV setup or mounted. No Wi-Fi? No problemo. Use the built-in Ethernet port for a wired connection.

The best part? The KDL-55NX720 is already Skype-ready. Connect to family and friends on your HDTV from the comfort of your living room with high-definition Skype-to-Skype calls.

Not only that, Sony also has plans of offering an app for iPhones and Androids that turns your smartphone into a TV remote and virtual keyboard with search and media playback capabilities. This is what I am talking about.

The Verdict

The moment you turn on the KDL-55NX720, sharp, vibrant pictures will leap back at you whether you are enjoying 2D or 3D content. The video processing technologies of Sony work seamlessly to deliver exceptional picture quality with reduced visual noises, enhanced color and overall image detail, even on 1080p sources such as PS3 systems or Blu-Ray players.

Does all the technology crammed into its slim body justify the hefty price tag? Well, if money is no object and you don’t have qualms in dropping nearly two US grands for a TV that well, lets you somehow surf the net while watching your favorite show, then the Sony Bravia KDL-55NX720 is definitely for you.

In all other cases, I’d split the two grand and buy a big-ass TV with one grand and a nice laptop with the other. That way, I can still surf the net WHILE watching my favorite show. But that’s just me.

Sony Bravia KDL-55NX720 3D LCD HDTV Price in the Philippines: Php 211,999.00 (Standard Retail Price)

You may also check out: Sony Bravia KDL-40EX700 LCD HDTV

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Barnes and Noble Nook Color eBook Reader Review: Price, Features, Specs

Ever since the ebook reader boom began, people have been wanting to get their hands on a reader with a color display. Barnes and Noble obliged them and released the Nook Color with a 7-inch color LCD display to satisfy that need.

Not only that, with the Nook Color running Android for its operating system, it has the potential to offer a tablet alternative that can do pretty much what an iPad or a Galaxy Tab can.

Is the Nook Color the next logical step in e-readers? Can it be a viable alternative to more expensive tablets? Read on as we dissect the Barnes and Noble Nook Color and see what it has to offer and how it stacks against the juggernauts of the tablet market.

Design and construction

Measuring 8.1 x 5.0 x 0.48 inches and weighing in at approximately 15.8 ounces, the Nook Color is both bigger and heavier than the Kindle or the original Nook. However, its construction makes it feel like a slab of aluminum with glass on top.

The edges and sides of the Nook Color are coated in a near-matte finish while the back of the unit is covered with smooth, soft rubber. The framing may be made of plastic but the device feels durable, to the point of being rugged, and certainly feels that it can take some beating.

Under the hood

The Nook Color is powered by a Texas Instruments OMAP 3621 processor clocked at 800MHz. This is complemented by 512MB of RAM that keeps things running smoothly. The device also has 8GB of onboard memory which translates to up to 5,000 ebooks which can be further expanded via microSD card slot that can take up to 32GB cards.

The display

The front of the Nook Color is eaten up by its stunning 7-inch VividView Color touchscreen. Its IPS display can show 16 million colors along with incredibly clear, sharp text and images at 1024 x 600 resolution and 169ppi.

The biggest upside of this kind of display is its excellent color and contrast that just blows E-ink away to the previous century. The LCD screen is also backlit for easy reading be it night or day. Since the screen is also touch-sensitive, you can navigate menus and turn pages with the swipe of your finger.

A bit of a letdown though is that the color display of the Nook Color eats up too much juice in the battery (which will be discussed later). The color display also somewhat causes eyestrain especially if the brightness is set to the maximum.

The software

The Nook Color during its launch ran Android 2.1. Recently however, Barnes and Noble brought out the Android 2.2 update which Nook Color owners have been waiting for. This update effectively transformed the little reader to a big boy tablet.

With this bump to Android 2.2, the reading experience has been significantly improved. For those who want a little visual flair with their reading, proper page turning animations can now be seen. Reading can now be done in landscape mode for anyone wanting to do so and books can now include videos and animations.

The updated software further enhances that experience with apps specifically developed for the Nook Color. Pandora, Angry Birds and Epicurious are included along with a full-fledged email client compatible with any IMAP or POP email account.

Nook Color users can also enjoy Flash videos as well as hundreds of enhanced interactive books with audio and video, the kind of content that takes advantage of the device’s large color screen real estate.

As a result of the Froyo update, the Nook Color’s browsing experience has been improved as well. Aside from the enhancements to the WebKit engine, the browser now has support for Adobe Flash 10.1 which can access and render all types of Flash content.

With all this enhancements, the Nook Color is still designed to primarily be a reading device which can at the same time bring the most requested features of the tablet experience to the ebook reader platform.

Battery life

The LCD color display of the Nook Color sucks the life out of the device’s battery and a single charge can only provide juice to the Nook Color for up to 8 hours. Because of this, bringing the charger of you device wherever you go is really recommended.

The verdict

Priced at $250, the Barnes and Noble Nook Color brings to the table a comfortable size, a nice screen and a rather accessible price. If you are a voracious reader whose appetite extends beyond books to include magazines and newspapers, the Nook Color can certainly support your habit.

The Nook Color may be pricey compared to other ereaders but the Android 2.2 Froyo update makes the pricing scheme somewhat a non-issue. The update may not make the Nook Color as nifty as other more expensive tablets but for users who want a device that lets you read e-books, magazines and newspapers, surf the Web with Flash support, do email and play some games, the Barnes and Noble Nook Color is your best bet.

Barnes and Noble Nook Color eBook Reader Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 12,000.00

You may also check out: Barnes and Noble Nook eBook Reader

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D&G Chamonix Multifunction Women’s Watch Price and Other Details

D&G Chamonix Multifunction Women’s Watch Price and Other Details: Accessorize your outfit with a good dress watch with the D&G Chamonix Multifunction Women’s Watch. With a variety of colors, bezel and bracelet designs to choose from, it’s easy to find the one that would suit your sense of style.

The D&G Chamonix Multifunction Women’s Watch is a smart and attractive looking timepiece that has Roman Numerals marked on the bezel to represent the time for a classic touch. There are a variety of face designs. Some feature a chronograph and a date function while others keep it simple with quartz movement and date function. The Chamomix women’s watch by D&G is water resistant up to 50 meters. It is a fine looking watch without too much color, adornment and distraction but still looks adorable and alluring despite its simplicity.

Details:

-Butterfly clasp closure.

-Band length: 185mm

-Band width: 15mm

-Case diameter: 40mm

-Stainless steel/mineral crystal

D&G Chamonix Multifunction Women’s Watch Price in the Philippines: Ranges from Php 9,250.00 to Php 10,750.00 depending on strap/bracelet and bezel design (chronograph/quartz)

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