Good news for Globe subscribers using Nokia mobile phones and smartphones! Buying premium apps, games, and other fun content from the Nokia Store is made much easier because the price of each download will now be charged to your prepaid load account or your postpaid phone bill. All you have to do is visit store.nokia.mobi from your phone’s browser, and you will be prompted to download the Nokia Store application. Once registered, you can start downloading great content and applications for a wide range of Nokia devices from mobile phones.

In the Philippines, some of the most popular applications downloaded for 2011 were Facebook Chat, an application that allows you to chat with your Facebook friends on your phone. Skype was another popular download, as it allows you to call or text family and friends abroad for free. As for games, you might want to try out AdventureOfTed, an exciting game that will make you jump, run and kick the enemies to bring Ted safely home.

To date, Nokia Store is seeing strong growth with more than 11 million global downloads per day. This milestone is a result of the increased demand for mobile content and the growing number of new apps and partner developers, complemented by new consumers signing up for Nokia Store. Try it out today!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year! or should I say Kiong Hee Huat Tsai! Hopes are up for the country as Filipinos join the Chinese community in welcoming the “Year of the Water Dragon,” which is predicted to ring in a string of luck for many local industries and particularly boost tourism and foreign investments.

Blackberry gets you started with this string of luck.

Did you know that there are two distinct cultural traditions of Dragons: the European and Chinese Dragon? Fire up your BlackBerry smartphone with BlackBerry App World to welcome the auspicious Dragon during this Chinese New Year!

Download Chinese Zodiac to read about your fortune for 2012 and it might just boost your red packets! Oh no, a relative gave you a red packet in foreign currency? Use XE Currency to find out how much the red packet is really worth! Now that you’re done with red packet collections, entertain yourself with Chinese Checkers or Mahjong to avoid conversation with the nosey aunt. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Chinese Zodiac

Chinese Zodiac is a Chinese astrology and horoscope application that converts your western birth date to Chinese lunar birth date and finds out your animal sign, giving you a detailed report that includes your health, career, relationships and lucky numbers!

This app costs USD 2.99 and can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World.

XE Currency

Convert more than 180 currencies on-the-go with the XE Currency converter for your BlackBerry smartphone! With live up-to-the-minute rates, this currency calculator is simple, powerful, and best of all, FREE!

XE Currency is free and can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World.

Chinese Checkers

Chinese checkers is a popular family board game that can be played by two to six people. The objective of the game is to place one’s pieces in the corner opposite their starting position of a pitted hexagram by single moves or jumps over other pieces.

This app costs USD 2.99 and can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World.

Mahjong for PlayBook

Mahjong is a classic Chinese tile game usually played by 4 players. This is the solitaire version where you try to match pairs of unblocked tiles while you attempt to clear the board. Mahjong has several different tiles sets to choose from, including celtic, hieroglyphics, flags and playing cards.

This app is free and can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World.

Do you have an app idea that you’re simply dying to develop? Here’s your chance for a big break! Nokia and De La Salle University are proud to present the Xtreme Java: National Inter-School Mobile App Development Challenge, a mobile app development competition among colleges and universities across the Philippines. Get the chance for your app to get published on Nokia devices as well as win cash and prizes worth P150,000!

The contest kicks off with Xtreme Java Training on January 14, 2011 from 9am – 5pm at Room 1103, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Ave., Manila. Get an overview on Java ME, Game API, performance guidelines and Java security, learn how to develop and deploy Java ME applications and get an introduction on the Touch & Type UI.

If you miss the Kick-Off, you can still register at http://netcentric.dlsu.edu.ph/xtremejava until February 15, 2012. Each college/university represented by mentors will be given a Nokia Store publisher account FREE of charge. You can choose to develop different applications following these 3 categories: Utility/Productivity Applications, Games, and Location-Based Applications.

To complete your registration, publish your Java app to Nokia Store and then submit the content ID until April 11, 2012. Apps submitted must be published on or before April 30, 2012.

One (1) winner for each Xtreme Java App Category will receive a Nokia Asha 303 plus P 20,000 cash!

What’s more, Nokia will be giving away special prices for the participants of this great app competition. The first ten (10) apps to be published will receive a Nokia C3-00 each! And the first five (5) individuals with minimum 3 apps published will each win a Nokia 500, P10,000 cash, and a Nokia Achiever Certification.

Participants should use the Nokia SDK for Java for the app development. It must support and successfully run on at least one Nokia Touch and Type and/or QWERTY device: Nokia X3-02, Nokia C3- 01, Nokia C2-02, Nokia C2-03, Nokia Asha 303, Nokia C3-00 and Nokia X2-01.Contestants can visit the Nokia Mobile Lab at Nokia Philippines office or NetCentric Laboratory at De La Salle University, College of Computer Studies to test their application.

For more information about the Xtreme Java challenge, check out http://netcentric.dlsu.edu.ph/xtremejava.

HP Folio13 designed to bridge gap between professional and personal life

Move over ultraportables. Check out the HP first business Ultrabook™. Why?

Who wouldn’t want a laptop that delivers longer battery life? Well HP just introduced its first business Ultrabook™, which features a thin and light design, strong security options and a responsive solid-state hard drive for the ultimate mobile experience.

The HP Folio13 also delivers up to 9.0 hours(1) of battery life, the highest performance available among Ultrabook™ devices currently on the market.

Measuring less than 0.75-inch thin(2) and utilizing an ultra slim 13.3-inch diagonal high-definition (HD)(3) BrightView display, the HP Folio13 weighs just 1.50-kilos.(4)

Powered by the latest Intel® Core™ processors,(5) the HP Folio13 also includes Intel® Rapid Start technology which gets your system up and running fast to help you save time.

The HP Folio13 includes a backlit keyboard for mobile users who work in low-light conditions. A full array of ports, including RJ-45 and USB 3.0, allows users greater flexibility to connect to the information they need. The HP Folio13 also includes a solid-state drive (SSD) with 128 GB(6) of storage for fast response times and increased reliability.

The HP Folio13 features HP CoolSense technology, which uses advanced hardware and intelligent software for a noticeably cooler notebook. The notebook also includes an HP Imagepad for highly accurate, advanced multitouch gesture support.

Additional features include an HP TrueVision HD(2) Webcam for brighter, cleaner HD images, and Dolby® Advanced Audio.
Users who need a desktop-like environment or additional audio, video, network and USB connectivity can connect the HP Folio13 to the HP USB 2.0 dock.

Pricing and availability(7)
The HP Folio13 is expected to be available from January onwards with a starting price of Php 55,990.

(1) Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features use, wireless functionality and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. Additional details are available at Mobile Mark07 battery benchmark: http://www.bapco.com/products/mobilemark2007.
(2) Measured at thinnest point.
(3) HD content required to view HD images.
(4) Weight will vary depending on configuration.
(5) Multi-Core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers, and applications enabled for Intel 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on hardware and software configurations.
(6) For SSD drive, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 30GB of system disk is reserved for system recovery software.
(7) Estimated street prices. Actual prices may vary.

Research in Motion (RIM) announced today the launch of five new Blackberry (BB) smartphone models based on the Blackberry 7 Operating system ()S) in the Philippines. To be made available by January 13 are Blackberry Bold 9790, Blackberry Curve 9380, Blackberry Torch 9810 , Blackberry Torch 9860 and Blackberry Bold 9900 in Pure white. You can get these models from carriers and authorized retail channels.

Francois Mahieu, the Research in Motion (RIM) Senior Director for Product Management in Asia presented the five new handsets. I got the prices from Carlo Ople’s Unbox (he was seated beside me the whole time):

BlackBerry Bold 9790: SRP: Php22,890

BlackBerry Curve 9380: SRP: Php16,990

BlackBerry Torch 9810: SRP: Php28,590

BlackBerry Torch 9860: SRP: Php24,690

BlackBerry Bold 9900 – SRP: Php31,690

The launch today was well attended by media, fans and analysts. What stood out among the 5 handsets is the Pure white Blackberry Bold 9900.

As most Blackberry fans know, the Blackberry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BB smartphone at only 10.5 mm. The pure white finish adds more premium value.

I got to review the Blackberry bold 9900 last year and it is the best BB that I have ever reviewed. The keys on the QWERTY key pad is just the right size for me. Though I am used to touch screen QWERTY, using the BlackBerry’s keypad was a breeze. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 feels great in my hand, and the styling is classy.

It looks like many are excited with the 5 new smartphones. The place so so packed that I could barely take photos. So I took photos of those taking photos of the blackberry models.

Just watch out for these five new Blackberry handsets that can give you a broader selection to match your lifestyle. I will write more about the technical specifications of each model in the coming days.

Start the year right by staying connected and organized with the help of the latest smart phones. To celebrate the arrival of 2012, LG Electronics Philippines is giving their customers exciting price drops and freebies on selected LG mobile phones from January 7 – 31, 2012.

Included in this promo is the latest from LG, the Optimus Net Dual Sim phone. Powered by the Android Gingerbread OS, this phone allows you to switch SIM cards with ease and efficiency. The Optimus 3D is also on sale at just P26,990 and comes with a car charger and HDMI cable.

Take advantage of these great deals from LG now!

How many dual SIM phones can a person really need? Today, Nokia unveils yet another dual SIM device – the fourth in the last six or so months (see the Nokia 101, Nokia C-200, and Nokia 500). The latest addition to their dual SIM offerings is the Nokia Asha 200, a colorful device with a full QWERTY keyboard and the capacity to manage up to five SIM cards. I don’t know why anyone would want to keep that many SIM cards but nonetheless, changing from one SIM to the other is made easy with Nokia’s Easy Swap feature, which allows the user to change SIM cards without switching off the phone or removing the battery. Other features include a dedicated key for email access, chat services through Nokia Messaging, and pre-installed Nokia’s Communities application for one-click sign-in to multiple social networks.

The Asha 200 comes in a range of vibrant colors like Pearl White, Pink, Aqua, and Graphite. Now available in Nokia stores nationwide for an SRP of PhP3,500.

Samsung will be presenting the “Future of Smart TV, Now” at this year’s 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. This video looks back at the many changes TVs and their owners have undergone over the past decades.

Year in each scene represents:

1958 – Considered dawn of the golden age of TV
1969 – Year of the lunar landing, a universally shared TV moment
1986 – The height of the VHS fitness craze, birth of MTV and midpoint for 80’s fashion and culture
2004 – The year high-def became reality for most people, and DVR’s started to see broad adoption
2010 – The Year of 3D

For more information about CES 2012, visit the event’s website: http://www.cesweb.org/default.htm

I don’t normally acquire new gadgets every year but 2011 was the year I upgraded the most. Here are my very own top 5 gadgets for the year:

1. from an HP Mini to a Macbook Air

I love my mobile notebook to be light and easy to carry. My HP Mini broke down so it was time to buy something light. I chose the Macbook Air. I love it but the battery life isn’t too long. Maybe my Macbook Air is defective.

2. from a Nikon D40 to a Nikon D 7000 plus SB 900

I gave my Nikon D 40 to my daughter when she left for Australia but I missed it so much so I got the top of the line Nikon D7000 last August. I got the speed light SB 900 as my Christmas present. I still am an amateur but I love to challenge myself and master photography.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note

For the first time, I did not upgrade to an iPhone 4s.

Instead, I bought my Samsung Galaxy Note in early December. This is like the gate changer of mobile phones this year with the cool S Pen. I prefer using the S pen compared to the QWERTY keyboard that is of course if I am not inside a moving vehicle. I also love that it serves as a hotspot and has HSPA capability up to 21 mbps.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is for my Smart number while the iPhone for my Globe number while the Blackberry is for my Sun Cellular number.

4. ZTE MF60 USB Modem

I can’t tell you enough how useful a portable modem is when one is travelling outside the country. Data roaming is quite expensive and buying a prepaid SIM is a good option which I did when I vacationed in Australia for three weeks. I have a Huawei e585 portable modem which served me well the past months but this ZTE MF60 USB Modem was much faster. The maximum capability of the ZTE MF60 reaches 10-12 mbps speeds.

5. Power bank external usb power station 5000mah

Mobile phones can tend to lose battery life with usage of the internet. A Power bank external usb power station 5000mah makes life easier by having something mobile to charge it with. This portable USB power station is such a handy companion for my mobile needs.

Some gadgets I would love to buy next year: the new iPhone 5 or the Blackberry Bold. But then again, technology changes so fast. What I wish for today will be obsolete by tomorrow.

Happy New Year to everyone!

The holiday season is a great time to indulge in delicious food while enjoying the company of family and friends. During Christmas, tables are decked with savory, saucy foods and colored drinks like lechon, fiesta ham, and red wine. This means that there’s a high chance for food stains to ruin beautiful dresses and crisp shirts.  

LG  Washing  Machines  provide wonderful features for anyone who wants thorough but gentle cleaning for their clothes. I was fortunate enough to review an LG washing machine. I thought it would consume so much water but after using the LG washing machine , I was proven wrong. I also love the features not present in my old washing machine.

After reviewing the LG washing machine for a month, I believe there  are five reasons why LG washers provide really great features.

Smart saving

LG washing machines come with an  Inverter  Direct  Drive, a feature that promises  a  more  efficient  and silent experience.  Washers  with  Inverter  Direct  Drive  are more  durable  and  require  lower  maintenance  cost.  To  ensure  that  the  feature  is  working at  optimum  level,  LG  washing  machines  contain  a  function  that  automatically  detects  the required use by 25% and 45%, respectively. To further maximize durability and efficiency, select a washer that comes with at least a 10-year warranty.

Baby friendly

A  push  of  a  button  is  all  one  needs  to  provide  care,  not  only  for clothes,  but  also  for  baby’s  skin.  LG  Washing  machines  come  with  Baby  Care  functions, which  minimizes  detergent  residue  that  cause  skin  irritation  and  allergies.

Superior washing ability

The superior performance of LG washers guarantees that  that  colored  clothing  comes  out  more  vivid  after  washing. It also cleans cotton and silk gently, without damaging the fabric.

High on Hygiene

Built with parts that are easy to clean, LG washing machines also have anti-bacteria filters to prevent bacteria growth.  Its tub-cleaning features also clean the inner and outer tubs to prevent the growth of mildew and to eliminate stubborn odors.

 Convincing convenience

LG  Washing  Machines  ease  the  stress  of  doing  laundry by increase  clothing  capacity,  as  well  as  various  temperature  options  that  are  applicable  to various washing needs.

Lower energy consumption

Each LG washer is equipped with Direct DriveTM  technology  that  provides  lesser  impact  on  energy  use  without  sacrificing washing efficiency. This means that you can wash more clothes and use less energy doing so.

This range of features makes the LG washing machine an ideal choice for your post-holiday cleanup, helping you stay clean and hygenic for the rest of the year.