Friday 10 November 2017
Marcher Malware Poses Triple Threat to Android Users
Wednesday 30 August 2017
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Car
Invention has taken over the world. Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Car. A quirky hatchback, the Fortwo Electric Drive stands out in the EV
world. An 80-horsepower electric motor with a single-speed transmission
sends power to the tiny two-seater’s rear wheels. The battery can charge
from 0 to 100 percent in three hours on a 240v charger. Features
include crosswind assist for highway driving to compensate for the small
size. A cabrio model is offered for top-down electric motoring. The
Fortwo ED won’t be taking long trips—Smart’s estimated range is 70 to 80
miles.
At $28,750 before any possible incentives, the cabrio isn’t cheap, but the Smart never has been. Still, the Electric Drive’s price represents a big jump over the outgoing, gasoline-powered cabriolet, which stickered for $19,650, at least before Smart decided to drop its gas-powered models from the U.S. market.
Anyway, this car is about being first away from the stoplight (to everyone else’s surprise), enjoying and taking in the city, snatching the last parking spot in front of the café, and looking stylish—or nerdy, depending on one’s perspective. The Fortwo executes all of this perfectly. The new model looks beefier than the outgoing one, and there are myriad individualization options: The range of colors is vast, and the Tridion safety cell—a part of the unibody that’s made visible through the sheetmetal—can be painted to match the rest of the car or in a contrasting color.
The mid-mounted, 80-hp electric motor produces a substantial 118 lb-ft of torque and punts the colorful gumdrop to 60 mph in 11.7 seconds, says Smart. That sounds slow, but the Smart is especially quick off the line. Top speed is governed at 81 mph; it could go faster, but higher speeds would severely cut into the range.
No car parks more easily than a Smart—and not just because of its diminutive 106.1-inch length. The turning circle is a remarkable 22.8 feet. The target was to beat the Scion iQ; Smart had been embarrassed by the fact that the iQ had a smaller turning circle than the last-gen Fortwo. The iQ has since been taken off the market (as has the Scion brand), but Smart buyers still benefit from the competitive spirit that went into engineering the new model.
2018 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Cabriolet
There is a natural habitat for most of today’s electric cars, it is the city. Their comparatively short driving range doesn’t matter as much in town, and their high efficiency at lower speeds plays out as an advantage. So it’s only logical that the quintessential city car, the Smart Fortwo, is offered with an electric powertrain. The latest addition is the cabriolet version. Its fabric top can be pulled back and lowered at the touch of a button; for even more open-air feeling, the roof bars can be removed and stored in the surprisingly spacious trunk.At $28,750 before any possible incentives, the cabrio isn’t cheap, but the Smart never has been. Still, the Electric Drive’s price represents a big jump over the outgoing, gasoline-powered cabriolet, which stickered for $19,650, at least before Smart decided to drop its gas-powered models from the U.S. market.
Anyway, this car is about being first away from the stoplight (to everyone else’s surprise), enjoying and taking in the city, snatching the last parking spot in front of the café, and looking stylish—or nerdy, depending on one’s perspective. The Fortwo executes all of this perfectly. The new model looks beefier than the outgoing one, and there are myriad individualization options: The range of colors is vast, and the Tridion safety cell—a part of the unibody that’s made visible through the sheetmetal—can be painted to match the rest of the car or in a contrasting color.
The mid-mounted, 80-hp electric motor produces a substantial 118 lb-ft of torque and punts the colorful gumdrop to 60 mph in 11.7 seconds, says Smart. That sounds slow, but the Smart is especially quick off the line. Top speed is governed at 81 mph; it could go faster, but higher speeds would severely cut into the range.
No car parks more easily than a Smart—and not just because of its diminutive 106.1-inch length. The turning circle is a remarkable 22.8 feet. The target was to beat the Scion iQ; Smart had been embarrassed by the fact that the iQ had a smaller turning circle than the last-gen Fortwo. The iQ has since been taken off the market (as has the Scion brand), but Smart buyers still benefit from the competitive spirit that went into engineering the new model.
Android 6.0 OS 5.7" HD IPS Display smart phone
Product Description:
Android 6.0 OS 5.7" HD IPS Display smart phoneAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow OS
13MP Rear-Facing Camera with 5MP Front-Facing Camera
5.7" HD IPS Display
LG Signature Rear Keys
Embedded Stylus
Touch screen type capacitance screen, multi-touch
The home screen size 5.7 inches
The home screen resolution of 1280 x720 pixel
Screen pixel density of 258 ppi
network
4 g mobile td-scdma LTE
WLAN WIFI function, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Navigation GPS navigation, A - GPS technology
Bluetooth 4.1 connection and sharing
hardware
The Android 6.0 operating system
The core number four nuclear
The CPU model qualcomm Xiao dragon 410 (MSM8916)
CPU frequency 1.2 GHz
RAM capacity of 2 gb
ROM capacity of 16 gb
Memory MicroSD card
Expand the capacity of 2 TB
Battery capacity is 3000 mah
camera.
The home screen size 5.7 inches
The home screen resolution of 1280 x720 pixel
Screen pixel density of 258 ppi
network
4 g mobile td-scdma LTE
WLAN WIFI function, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Navigation GPS navigation, A - GPS technology
Bluetooth 4.1 connection and sharing
hardware
The Android 6.0 operating system
The core number four nuclear
The CPU model qualcomm Xiao dragon 410 (MSM8916)
CPU frequency 1.2 GHz
RAM capacity of 2 gb
ROM capacity of 16 gb
Memory MicroSD card
Expand the capacity of 2 TB
Battery capacity is 3000 mah
camera.
Fitbit takes aim at Apple with new smartwatch launch
Wearable device maker Fitbit Inc <FIT.N> on Monday launched its
newest device, the Ionic smartwatch, with features ranging from fitness
tracking to contactless payment, as it gears up to compete with rivals
such as Apple Inc <AAPL.O>.
 |
| Smartwatch produced by Fitbit |
Once the market leader in wearables, Fitbit has recently
struggled due to fierce competition and had earlier blamed a shift among
consumers toward feature-rich devices and smartwatches for its revenue
decline.
Ionic smartwatches will feature GPS, heart rate tracking, water
resistance up to 50 meters, Fitbit Pay, on-board music, multiple clock
faces and a battery that will last more than 4 days, the company said in
a statement.Monday 28 August 2017
New Samsung Galaxy J7+ With Dual Camera Brings Live Focus and Bixby To Mid-Level Category
An actual, working unit of the upcoming Android handset recently surfaced in a Cambodian tech video review channel on Youtube named "Cambo Report" and off hand, it seems like the smartphone will be introducing a number of fresh features to the company's midrange J-Series.
See more of it images.................
Sunday 27 August 2017
OPPO Factory Tour in Shenzhen, China : What I Learned About OPPO's Manufacturing Process
Last August 2017, our friends from OPPO Philippines flew me as well my peers in the blogging scene and local media to China for a brief tour of their factory and global headquarters.
I believe that the company did this as a sign of transparency -- all while proving to us and our followers online that their manufacturing process is truly world-class and top-notch.
OPPO Mobile's factory is located in Shenzhen. China -- just like the factories of many other leading gadget manufacturers in the world.
I believe that the company did this as a sign of transparency -- all while proving to us and our followers online that their manufacturing process is truly world-class and top-notch.
OPPO Mobile's factory is located in Shenzhen. China -- just like the factories of many other leading gadget manufacturers in the world.
Success of OPPO and Vivo Smartphones in the Philippines, Explained
Within just a span of two years, Chinese handset brands OPPO and Vivo Mobile have been able to achieve tremendous success in the Philippines, the leading mobile devices market in the entire Asia Pacific region where competition among players in the smartphone industry is probably at its tightest.
In fact, based on the findings of a research conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC), OPPO and Vivo were actually the 3rd and 5th most prolific handset vendors in the country in Q2 2017 -- joining Cherry Mobile (1), Samsung (2), and CloudFone (4) in the Top 5.
For consumers and tech enthusiasts who have yet to get their hands on a phone made by these two players from China and are now wondering how these brand achieved great success in our market, IDC offers an explanation.
According to Mr. Jerome Dominguez - Market Analyst for Client Devices of IDC Asia/Pacific, "OPPO and Vivo disrupted the smartphone retail space through cash-rich marketing, aggressive sales promoter incentives and previously unseen levels of retailer support. This challenged the traditional vendor-dealer relationship smartphone vendors have been accustomed to, and while leading vendors have been able to adapt, smaller players with less marketing and merchandising budget on their disposal were unable to do so, thus suffering drops in market shares."
"As the battle for mindshare intensifies, top global and local mobile phone vendors were left with no recourse but to double down on marketing spending to maintain the brand presence. Aside from the tried-and-tested formula of appointing A-list celebrity endorsers and conducting roadshows, new marketing strategies such as co-branding and strategic product placements are being explored by local and global vendors as means to remain competitive against Chinese vendors," he added.
As a technology blogger who is part of both OPPO and Vivo's digital marketing campaigns, I would say that their active partnership with bloggers and online influencers also contributed to their dominance in this space. As a millennial mobile consumer, I think their Selfie-Centric brand positioning also helped in capturing the interest of millions of Pinoy consumers who love to take selfies alone or with their friends and loved ones. I've heard many Filipinos praise the selfie-taking prowess of smartphone made by these companies.
On top of all that, I would say that OPPO and Vivo's partnership with Home Credit, a financial company that helps consumers purchase gadgets at 0% installment, along with wise choice of celebrity endorsers (Sarah Geronimo for OPPO and Steph Curry for Vivo), and carefully planned mall shows in the metro and in the provinces also became instrumental to their success.
Qouting IDC, The rise of OPPO and Vivo further affirmed the importance of combining an expansive sales and distribution approach with strong marketing and advertising strategies to capture consumer mindshare. To preserve brand equity among consumers, leading global and local vendors who have previously cut down on marketing spend back in 2016 were seen to divert their resources to funding actively on integrated marketing campaigns this year. (source)
In fact, based on the findings of a research conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC), OPPO and Vivo were actually the 3rd and 5th most prolific handset vendors in the country in Q2 2017 -- joining Cherry Mobile (1), Samsung (2), and CloudFone (4) in the Top 5.
For consumers and tech enthusiasts who have yet to get their hands on a phone made by these two players from China and are now wondering how these brand achieved great success in our market, IDC offers an explanation.
According to Mr. Jerome Dominguez - Market Analyst for Client Devices of IDC Asia/Pacific, "OPPO and Vivo disrupted the smartphone retail space through cash-rich marketing, aggressive sales promoter incentives and previously unseen levels of retailer support. This challenged the traditional vendor-dealer relationship smartphone vendors have been accustomed to, and while leading vendors have been able to adapt, smaller players with less marketing and merchandising budget on their disposal were unable to do so, thus suffering drops in market shares."
"As the battle for mindshare intensifies, top global and local mobile phone vendors were left with no recourse but to double down on marketing spending to maintain the brand presence. Aside from the tried-and-tested formula of appointing A-list celebrity endorsers and conducting roadshows, new marketing strategies such as co-branding and strategic product placements are being explored by local and global vendors as means to remain competitive against Chinese vendors," he added.
As a technology blogger who is part of both OPPO and Vivo's digital marketing campaigns, I would say that their active partnership with bloggers and online influencers also contributed to their dominance in this space. As a millennial mobile consumer, I think their Selfie-Centric brand positioning also helped in capturing the interest of millions of Pinoy consumers who love to take selfies alone or with their friends and loved ones. I've heard many Filipinos praise the selfie-taking prowess of smartphone made by these companies.
On top of all that, I would say that OPPO and Vivo's partnership with Home Credit, a financial company that helps consumers purchase gadgets at 0% installment, along with wise choice of celebrity endorsers (Sarah Geronimo for OPPO and Steph Curry for Vivo), and carefully planned mall shows in the metro and in the provinces also became instrumental to their success.
Qouting IDC, The rise of OPPO and Vivo further affirmed the importance of combining an expansive sales and distribution approach with strong marketing and advertising strategies to capture consumer mindshare. To preserve brand equity among consumers, leading global and local vendors who have previously cut down on marketing spend back in 2016 were seen to divert their resources to funding actively on integrated marketing campaigns this year. (source)
Saturday 26 August 2017
Android Smartphones With Big 5,000 mAh Battery and Price Tag Below Php 10,000 or $200 USD
This year, it seems like a handful of phone manufacturers have agreed amongst themselves that 5,000 mAh is the perfect battery capacity to give a handset if they want to show to consumers that the device is capable of delivering tremendous uptime. This is especially true for models that have 5 to 5.5 inch displays.
For the benefit of my readers who are messaging me, asking for a list of budget-friendly Android smartphones with notably large 5,000 mAh battery pack, here are four sub-Php 10,000 handsets that has the said hardware feature. All of these 2017 models are now available here in the Philippines.
CloudFone Thrill Power
Price: Php 3,499
5-inch HD IPS
8 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6580 processor
1GB of RAM
8GB of expandable storage
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Dual SIM (micro + micro)
3G HSPA+ Mobile Connectivity
The most affordable of the bunch is an entry-level model by proudly-Pinoy handset maker, CloudFone. One of the best-selling models by the company for the first half of 2017, the Thrill Power not only has a big battery battery but also features a real-meal shell, which makes it more expensive than it actually is.
Alcatel Pixi 4 Plus Power
Price: Php 5,599
5.5-inch HD IPS
8 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6580 processor
1GB of RAM
8GB of expandable storage
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Dual SIM (micro + micro)
3G HSPA+ Mobile Connectivity
Now a subsidiary of TCL, Alcatel Mobile launched a number of new Android smartphones in the Philippines earlier this year. One of their more affordable offerings is the Pixi 4 Plus, which has both a big 5.5-inch HD display along with a large battery pack.
Motorola Moto E4 Plus
Price: Php 8,999
Splash-Proof
5.5-inch HD IPS
Gorilla Glass 3
13 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size, HDR, and LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam with f/2.2 aperture, 1.4 µm pixel size, Soft LED flash
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6737 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of expandable storage
Android 7.0 Nougat
Dual SIM (nano + nano)
4G LTE Mobile Connectivity
Fingerprint Scanner
The attractive and somewhat-water-resistant Moto E4 Plus, which has the iconic circular camera module of the more expensive Moto Z models, is made for discerning mobile consumers who love to take selfies and who are always on the go. It also has a removable aluminum back cover, which makes the phone look sleek and elegant.
Asus ZenFone 4 Max
Price: Php 9,995
5.5-inch HD IPS
Dual Camera ~ 13 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with f/2.0 aperture and 80-degrees field of view + 5 MegaPixels Wide Angle 120-degrees field of view, LED flash
8 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam with f/2.2 aperture, Soft LED flash
1.4 GHz Octa Core Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430
3GB of RAM
32GB of expandable storage
Android 7.0 Nougat
Dual SIM (nano + nano)
4G LTE Mobile Connectivity
Fingerprint Scanner
The metal-clad Asus ZenFone 4 Max has a number of things going for it. Not only does it look and feel durable and sophisticated but it also has a Dual Camera module at the back for standard and wide-angle shots as well as an 8 MegaPixel front cam with Soft LED flash and SelfieMaster beautification software.
Do you wish more smartphone makers would release mobile devices with unusually large battery pack? Let me know your thoughts via our comments section below.
For the benefit of my readers who are messaging me, asking for a list of budget-friendly Android smartphones with notably large 5,000 mAh battery pack, here are four sub-Php 10,000 handsets that has the said hardware feature. All of these 2017 models are now available here in the Philippines.
CloudFone Thrill Power
Price: Php 3,499
5-inch HD IPS
8 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6580 processor
1GB of RAM
8GB of expandable storage
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Dual SIM (micro + micro)
3G HSPA+ Mobile Connectivity
The most affordable of the bunch is an entry-level model by proudly-Pinoy handset maker, CloudFone. One of the best-selling models by the company for the first half of 2017, the Thrill Power not only has a big battery battery but also features a real-meal shell, which makes it more expensive than it actually is.
Alcatel Pixi 4 Plus Power
Price: Php 5,599
5.5-inch HD IPS
8 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6580 processor
1GB of RAM
8GB of expandable storage
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Dual SIM (micro + micro)
3G HSPA+ Mobile Connectivity
Now a subsidiary of TCL, Alcatel Mobile launched a number of new Android smartphones in the Philippines earlier this year. One of their more affordable offerings is the Pixi 4 Plus, which has both a big 5.5-inch HD display along with a large battery pack.
Motorola Moto E4 Plus
Price: Php 8,999
Splash-Proof
5.5-inch HD IPS
Gorilla Glass 3
13 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size, HDR, and LED flash
5 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam with f/2.2 aperture, 1.4 µm pixel size, Soft LED flash
Quad Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6737 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of expandable storage
Android 7.0 Nougat
Dual SIM (nano + nano)
4G LTE Mobile Connectivity
Fingerprint Scanner
The attractive and somewhat-water-resistant Moto E4 Plus, which has the iconic circular camera module of the more expensive Moto Z models, is made for discerning mobile consumers who love to take selfies and who are always on the go. It also has a removable aluminum back cover, which makes the phone look sleek and elegant.
Asus ZenFone 4 Max
Price: Php 9,995
5.5-inch HD IPS
Dual Camera ~ 13 MegaPixel Autofocus Camera at the Back with f/2.0 aperture and 80-degrees field of view + 5 MegaPixels Wide Angle 120-degrees field of view, LED flash
8 MegaPixel Fixed Focus Front Cam with f/2.2 aperture, Soft LED flash
1.4 GHz Octa Core Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430
3GB of RAM
32GB of expandable storage
Android 7.0 Nougat
Dual SIM (nano + nano)
4G LTE Mobile Connectivity
Fingerprint Scanner
The metal-clad Asus ZenFone 4 Max has a number of things going for it. Not only does it look and feel durable and sophisticated but it also has a Dual Camera module at the back for standard and wide-angle shots as well as an 8 MegaPixel front cam with Soft LED flash and SelfieMaster beautification software.
Do you wish more smartphone makers would release mobile devices with unusually large battery pack? Let me know your thoughts via our comments section below.
Wednesday 23 August 2017
Samsung Galaxy Note8 Price in the Philippines is Php 49,990, Pre-Order Starts on September 8, 2017
Through an exclusive 'Unpacked!' media event held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on August 23, 2017, Samsung Mobile Philippines formally unveiled the 2017 iteration to their popular Galaxy Note flagship smartphone series.
The follow-up to the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note7 of 2016 - which was recalled due to battery explosion hazard, the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy Note8 introduces a handful of "firsts" to this popular handset line by the Korean Giant.
Lets talk about these "firsts".
The SGNote8 is the first model in the Note series to don a Hardware-Home-Button-less Infinity Display, which is similar to what consumers will find on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. To be specific, the SuperAMOLED screen of this new phablet measures 6.3-inch and has a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels.
Also, this release is the first ever Galaxy Android smartphone to have a Dual Rear Camera module. Made up of Dual 12 MegaPixel optics with differing f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures and field of views, this set-up gives Galaxy Note8 2X Lossless Zoom capability and LiveFocus, which is Samsung's version of Depth of Field or Bokeh Effect.
You can watch a demo of the Dual Camera features and learn more about the other key selling points of this new flagship phablet via our Quick Review video of the Samsung Galaxy Note8:
For those who enjoy taking videos, the phone's rear camera set-up also shoots 4K clips at 30 frames per second and benefits from Optical Image Stabilization as well as Auto-HDR for video recording.
One of the key features and main selling points of the Note line is its S-Pen capacitive stylus support. And like its predecessors, this release will likewise have this -- with even more natural and more accurate handwriting support.
In terms of design and construction, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 looks and feels almost exactly like the Galaxy S8 and S8+ as it has the exact same glass-metal-glass sandwich build. The main difference is that this phablet has a more squarish or masculine footprint.
In terms of internal hardware, the new Note is more or less just as powerful as the older Galaxy S8 and S8+. In Asia, Galaxy Note8 units will run its Grace-UI-skinned Android 7.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 processor that's complemented by 6GB of RAM for multitasking, and expandable storage starting at 64GB.
Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be up for pre-order in the Philippines starting on September 8, 2017 until the 17th with prices starting at Php 49,990. The stylus-toting phablet will be out in a number of downright elegant colors, namely, Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, and Maple Gold.
Smart Communications, the Philippines largest network, will likewise offer the Samsung Galaxy Note8 bundled with their leading postpaid plans.
TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST) Name : Samsung Galaxy Note8
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Phablet with Stylus
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 162.5 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm
Weight : (TBD)
Available Colors : Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Black, Maple Gold
Operating System : Android 7.1 Nougat with Grace UI
Display : 6.3 inches (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2960 pixels (~522 ppi pixel density), SuperAMOLED Infinity Display, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 Octa
RAM : 6GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64/128/256 GB ROM options, expandable via hybrid nano SIM2 slot
Camera : Back: Dual 12 MegaPixels, f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), 2X Optical Zoom, Dual Tone LED Flash
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/1.7 aperture
Video Capture : Back - 4K 60fps, 1080p 120fps, 720p 240fps, Dual Video Recording, Video HDR
Front - 4K 30fps
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C 1.0 reversible, USB OTG, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v5.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner, Heart Rate, Barometer
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,300 mAh Li-Po battery with Qi Wireless Charging and Fast Charge support
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Camera Module, S-Pen Stylus Support, Infinity Display, New Design, Iris Scanner, Bixby Assistant, Improved Selfie Cam, Samsung Desktop Experience
Announcement : Philippines - August 23, 2017 via Unpacked! Event
Availability : Philippines - September 23, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 49,990
The follow-up to the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note7 of 2016 - which was recalled due to battery explosion hazard, the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy Note8 introduces a handful of "firsts" to this popular handset line by the Korean Giant.
Lets talk about these "firsts".
The SGNote8 is the first model in the Note series to don a Hardware-Home-Button-less Infinity Display, which is similar to what consumers will find on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. To be specific, the SuperAMOLED screen of this new phablet measures 6.3-inch and has a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels.
Also, this release is the first ever Galaxy Android smartphone to have a Dual Rear Camera module. Made up of Dual 12 MegaPixel optics with differing f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures and field of views, this set-up gives Galaxy Note8 2X Lossless Zoom capability and LiveFocus, which is Samsung's version of Depth of Field or Bokeh Effect.
This background defocus effect is more or less similar to what you'll experience on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. This mimics - to some extent - the bokeh effect that can achieved when using a DSLR with at least f/1.8 lens.
You can watch a demo of the Dual Camera features and learn more about the other key selling points of this new flagship phablet via our Quick Review video of the Samsung Galaxy Note8:
For those who enjoy taking videos, the phone's rear camera set-up also shoots 4K clips at 30 frames per second and benefits from Optical Image Stabilization as well as Auto-HDR for video recording.
Samsung Galaxy Note8's front-facing selfie camera has 8 MegaPixel resolution, f/1.7 aperture, and auto-HDR.
One of the key features and main selling points of the Note line is its S-Pen capacitive stylus support. And like its predecessors, this release will likewise have this -- with even more natural and more accurate handwriting support.
In terms of design and construction, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 looks and feels almost exactly like the Galaxy S8 and S8+ as it has the exact same glass-metal-glass sandwich build. The main difference is that this phablet has a more squarish or masculine footprint.
In terms of internal hardware, the new Note is more or less just as powerful as the older Galaxy S8 and S8+. In Asia, Galaxy Note8 units will run its Grace-UI-skinned Android 7.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 processor that's complemented by 6GB of RAM for multitasking, and expandable storage starting at 64GB.
Personally, I love the fact that flagship Galaxy models still have a 3.5mm audio jack. I often use a lapel microphone when recording videos using my handset for better quality and as such, I totally appreciate this feature. I would imagine that you'd also like this if you love listening to music on the go -- even if there are already many wireless earphones in the market.
Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be up for pre-order in the Philippines starting on September 8, 2017 until the 17th with prices starting at Php 49,990. The stylus-toting phablet will be out in a number of downright elegant colors, namely, Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, and Maple Gold.
Smart Communications, the Philippines largest network, will likewise offer the Samsung Galaxy Note8 bundled with their leading postpaid plans.
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Phablet with Stylus
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 162.5 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm
Weight : (TBD)
Available Colors : Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Black, Maple Gold
Operating System : Android 7.1 Nougat with Grace UI
Display : 6.3 inches (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2960 pixels (~522 ppi pixel density), SuperAMOLED Infinity Display, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 Octa
RAM : 6GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64/128/256 GB ROM options, expandable via hybrid nano SIM2 slot
Camera : Back: Dual 12 MegaPixels, f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), 2X Optical Zoom, Dual Tone LED Flash
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/1.7 aperture
Video Capture : Back - 4K 60fps, 1080p 120fps, 720p 240fps, Dual Video Recording, Video HDR
Front - 4K 30fps
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C 1.0 reversible, USB OTG, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v5.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner, Heart Rate, Barometer
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,300 mAh Li-Po battery with Qi Wireless Charging and Fast Charge support
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Camera Module, S-Pen Stylus Support, Infinity Display, New Design, Iris Scanner, Bixby Assistant, Improved Selfie Cam, Samsung Desktop Experience
Announcement : Philippines - August 23, 2017 via Unpacked! Event
Availability : Philippines - September 23, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 49,990
Tuesday 22 August 2017
Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie Philippines Price, Initial Review, Specs, Dual Front Camera Features
Back in August 2015, Taiwanese electronics company Asus launched their Asus ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL, which - as its name suggests - was targeted towards consumers who enjoy taking self-portraits using the front-facing camera of their handsets.
That earlier model had a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with Dual Tone LED flash right above the display, allowing the user to snap clear and crisp regardless of the lighting condition.
Oddly enough, it took the company almost two years to come up with follow-up to that selfie-centric handset. But what's good is that, the 2017 iteration already incorporates neat enhancements as well as new features that go along the latest trends in snapping selfies.
In terms of design and build, the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie represents a clear upgrade coming from its predecessor.
Not only is this newer model far thinner and lighter but it also flaunts a real metal frame that makes it look and feel more elegant and sophisticated. I mean, just look at these photos.
The rear camera resolution had also been bumped up to 16 MegaPixels coming from 13 MegaPixels on the predecessor. And what's nice is that it now has Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) which locks in the subject far faster.
Also, the camera interface is now more intuitive and easier to use. There's even a Pro mode that lets you tweak settings - like White Balance and ISO - to get the exact look that you want to achieve in your photos. And I'm sure you'll appreciate the one-click Background Defocus button that gives you virtual Bokeh effect in your shots where the background of your subject is beautifully blurred.
Of course, the main selling of the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie ZD553KL is its all-new Dual Front-Facing camera module, which incorporates cool tech trends in snapping selfies and groufies.
The first one is the front-facing Softlight LED flash, which is more less similar to that of the older model. This feature allows the user to snap clear and crisp selfies even in low to zero lighting conditions such as in bars or clubs. The bulb supports both flash and torch light illumination for self-portraits and videos up to Full HD resolution.
The Dual Front Camera Set-up is made up of a 24 MegaPixel Selfie shooter with standard field of view and another 8 MegaPixel lens with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view.
With just a click of an on-screen button in the camera app, you can quickly toggle between the regular selfie shooter and the groufie or - as Asus calls it - WeFie wide-angle camera to shoot photos with your friends or with better view of your background. Both optics benefit from Asus' all new SelfieMaster photo and video beautification mode that instantly evens out the user's skintone in every shot or clip.
To be fair, you'll find other Android smartphones in the market with Soft LED front flash or Dual Front-Facing Camera Module -- but if my memory serves me right, only Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie offers both of these at the same.
Under the hood, Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie runs its near-bloatware-free, Zen-UI-4.0-skinned Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset that's complemented by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can easily be expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot. The handset is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery that should be good enough to deliver around a whole day of uptime.
So is the handset worth recommending? Well, having played with the device during the event, I'd say if you and your friends love to take selfies and wefies, you should certainly include this model in your bucket list. The Dual Front Cam, the SoftLight Front Flash, and the top-notch SelfieMaster beautification software combine to make Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie one of the best 2017 handsets in delivering those kinds of shots. However, if you're a heavy mobile gamer or a power user, you might want to look at other mid-level smartphones by Asus or other brands with better CPU and GPU.
Personally, I wish that this device's 5.5-inch IPS display had a Full HD resolution instead of just HD -- but I guess it's a compromise that Asus made to keep the price of the phone fairly affordable all while adding new features and improving the design and build of the product.
For those who are interested, Dual-SIM 4G-enabled Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie is now available at all Asus Concept Stores and partner retailers across the country. Currently out in just one color - Black, this smartphone dons an official suggested retail price of Php 13,995.
TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST) Name : Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie ZD553KL
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 155.7 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 144 grams
Available Colors : Black
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat with ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio), 1280 x 720 pixels, IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 2TB
Camera : Back: 16 MegaPixels, Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), LED flash
Front: Dual Camera Module - 24 MegaPixels (for Selfie) + 8 MegaPixels with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view (for WeFie), SoftLight LED flash
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner in front
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : Whole Day of Regular Use (TBC)
Value-Added Features : Dual Front Camera Module with Wide Angle Shot, Front Flash, Aluminum Alloy Shell
Announcement : Philippines - August 19, 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Suggested Retail Price in the Philippines - Php 13,995
That earlier model had a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with Dual Tone LED flash right above the display, allowing the user to snap clear and crisp regardless of the lighting condition.
Oddly enough, it took the company almost two years to come up with follow-up to that selfie-centric handset. But what's good is that, the 2017 iteration already incorporates neat enhancements as well as new features that go along the latest trends in snapping selfies.
In terms of design and build, the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie represents a clear upgrade coming from its predecessor.
Not only is this newer model far thinner and lighter but it also flaunts a real metal frame that makes it look and feel more elegant and sophisticated. I mean, just look at these photos.
The rear camera resolution had also been bumped up to 16 MegaPixels coming from 13 MegaPixels on the predecessor. And what's nice is that it now has Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) which locks in the subject far faster.
Also, the camera interface is now more intuitive and easier to use. There's even a Pro mode that lets you tweak settings - like White Balance and ISO - to get the exact look that you want to achieve in your photos. And I'm sure you'll appreciate the one-click Background Defocus button that gives you virtual Bokeh effect in your shots where the background of your subject is beautifully blurred.
Of course, the main selling of the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie ZD553KL is its all-new Dual Front-Facing camera module, which incorporates cool tech trends in snapping selfies and groufies.
The first one is the front-facing Softlight LED flash, which is more less similar to that of the older model. This feature allows the user to snap clear and crisp selfies even in low to zero lighting conditions such as in bars or clubs. The bulb supports both flash and torch light illumination for self-portraits and videos up to Full HD resolution.
The Dual Front Camera Set-up is made up of a 24 MegaPixel Selfie shooter with standard field of view and another 8 MegaPixel lens with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view.
With just a click of an on-screen button in the camera app, you can quickly toggle between the regular selfie shooter and the groufie or - as Asus calls it - WeFie wide-angle camera to shoot photos with your friends or with better view of your background. Both optics benefit from Asus' all new SelfieMaster photo and video beautification mode that instantly evens out the user's skintone in every shot or clip.
To be fair, you'll find other Android smartphones in the market with Soft LED front flash or Dual Front-Facing Camera Module -- but if my memory serves me right, only Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie offers both of these at the same.
Under the hood, Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie runs its near-bloatware-free, Zen-UI-4.0-skinned Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset that's complemented by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can easily be expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot. The handset is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery that should be good enough to deliver around a whole day of uptime.
So is the handset worth recommending? Well, having played with the device during the event, I'd say if you and your friends love to take selfies and wefies, you should certainly include this model in your bucket list. The Dual Front Cam, the SoftLight Front Flash, and the top-notch SelfieMaster beautification software combine to make Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie one of the best 2017 handsets in delivering those kinds of shots. However, if you're a heavy mobile gamer or a power user, you might want to look at other mid-level smartphones by Asus or other brands with better CPU and GPU.
Personally, I wish that this device's 5.5-inch IPS display had a Full HD resolution instead of just HD -- but I guess it's a compromise that Asus made to keep the price of the phone fairly affordable all while adding new features and improving the design and build of the product.
For those who are interested, Dual-SIM 4G-enabled Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie is now available at all Asus Concept Stores and partner retailers across the country. Currently out in just one color - Black, this smartphone dons an official suggested retail price of Php 13,995.
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 155.7 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 144 grams
Available Colors : Black
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat with ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio), 1280 x 720 pixels, IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 2TB
Camera : Back: 16 MegaPixels, Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), LED flash
Front: Dual Camera Module - 24 MegaPixels (for Selfie) + 8 MegaPixels with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view (for WeFie), SoftLight LED flash
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner in front
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : Whole Day of Regular Use (TBC)
Value-Added Features : Dual Front Camera Module with Wide Angle Shot, Front Flash, Aluminum Alloy Shell
Announcement : Philippines - August 19, 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Suggested Retail Price in the Philippines - Php 13,995
Android 8.0 Oreo, Officially Announced : Eight Cool New Features I Like!
After months of keeping everyone guessing which sweet-treat starting with letter O will be the name of Android 8.0, Google Inc. - earlier today, August 22, 2017 - finally disclosed that the latest version of the Android operating system will be officially named Android 8.0 Oreo!
This the second time that Google partnered with a food manufacturing company to name a firmware version of the world's leading mobile operating system.
In September 2013, Nestle OK'd the name Android 4.4 KitKat and even allowed the inclusion of the chocolate-covered wafer brand in Google's marketing materials.
Made by Nabisco in the United States, Oreo is a world-famous brand of cookies consisting of two chocolate-flavored biscuits sandwiching a sweet creme filling.
This the second time that Google partnered with a food manufacturing company to name a firmware version of the world's leading mobile operating system.
In September 2013, Nestle OK'd the name Android 4.4 KitKat and even allowed the inclusion of the chocolate-covered wafer brand in Google's marketing materials.
Made by Nabisco in the United States, Oreo is a world-famous brand of cookies consisting of two chocolate-flavored biscuits sandwiching a sweet creme filling.
For Android fans, here are eight new features of Android 8.0 Oreo that's I'm most excited to experience:
1. Project Treble finally address the long-standing problem of having a modular architecture that will allow all device manufacturers to deliver Android updates faster and more easily. This is perhaps the most important feature of this software upgrade.
2. Picture-in-Picture allows the user to manage two tasks simultaneously in one screen. It works by letting you run a smaller window for another app while you're in another task. It's similar to the experience of playing videos, minimizing the clip, and searching for new ones in the official Youtube App for Android.
3. 2X Faster Boot-up Time lets you be more productive on your mobile device by cutting the amount of time it takes for the unit to be up and running.
4. Background Limit minimizes background activity in apps you use the least and helps extend battery life as well as improve overall performance of the device.
5. Autofill remembers your login information - with your permission, of course - so you can sign-in to your fave apps faster.
6. Notification Dots give you a quick look at the most recent activities and updates in your social networking applications (among others) without having to launch them.
7. Google Play Protect keeps your unit and data safe from misbehaving or contaminated apps by scanning billions of apps in the Play Store every day.
8. Wi-Fi Assistant is a built-in tool that auto-connects you to high quality open WiFi in your current location and even secures your connection via VPN back to Google.
A lot to look forward to, right?! Well, Google will start rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo software update to Pixel and Nexus devices today, August 22, 2017. On the other hand, flagship Android smartphones that will be launched within Q3 and Q4 2017 are expected to already run Oreo right out of the box.
Sunday 20 August 2017
Asus ZenFone 4 Max Philippines Price, Specs, Initial Review, Dual Camera Feature Explained
Donning an official suggested retail price of Php 9,995 in the Philippines, the all-new Asus ZenFone 4 Max is the most affordable of the give new Android smartphones that Taiwanese electronics company Asus officially unveiled via their media and consumer event held last Saturday - August 19, 2017 - at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Although the metal shell and overall footprint of Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL are largely the same as that of its predecessor - the Asus ZenFone 3 Max - which was released earlier this year, this new model does offer a number of enhancements in specs as well as fresh features that we're seeing for the first time in the Max series.
The face of the handset gives you two new obvious enhancements coming from the older model. To specific, there's now a physical home button below the display, which features a Fingerprint Scanner for quickly unlocking the device all while making it more secure.
Also, above the 5.5-inch HD IPS display, underneath the 2.5D Curved Glass touchscreen, you'll find the Soft LED Flash for the 8 MegaPixel f/2.2 front-facing camera, which comes in handy when snapping selfies in low to zero lighting conditions.
Sidenote: Asus ZenFone 4 Max's aluminum unibody enclosure looks and feels almost exactly like the shell of the Asus ZenFone 3 Max, which is not a bad thing given that the earlier release was one of the better-looking handsets in its price category. On a separate note, the concentric Zen design element of this new smartphone is found on the real metal volume and power buttons.
Another notable improvement implemented on the ZF4Max is its even bigger battery pack! Whereas the 5.5-inch ZF3Max was powered by an already big 4,100 mAh Li-Ion battery, the follow-up has an even higher capacity 5,000 mAh non-removable pack, which ensures longer uptime with regular use and gives more juice when the phone is used as a powerbank via reverse charging.
Apart from the larger battery, my favorite new feature of the Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL is its Dual Rear Camera module, which is made up of two 13 MegaPixel optics with varying field of view.
The first lens has a standard 80-degree field of view while the other is wide-angle at 120-degrees. Hence, with this Dual Cam set-up, you can capture a wider view of the subject in front of you with just a click of a button -- no need to take a few steps back. This comes in handy when taking photos of buildings or even groups of people.
As I've mentioned above, Asus ZenFone 4 Max supports reverse charging, which gives it powerbank functionality. Simply use the USB-On-The-Go cable provided in the package to use this phone as a power source for your other mobile devices, including other Android smartphones.
On the software side, the biggest enhancement that Asus fans will experience on this model is its new ZenUI 4.0 interface for Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system. This version of the UI is simpler and has fewer bloatware, giving users a near-vanilla Android experience and eliminating unnecessary apps and processes running in the background.
Overall, I think all these improvements make the Asus ZenFone 4 Max a great option for consumers who are looking for a fairly affordable mid-level 2017 Android smartphone -- even if some say that the internal hardware - which include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage - could have been better.
If anything, however, I wish the company retained the Full HD resolution of the Asus ZenFone 3 on this refresh. But I understand that to keep the price of the device low all while incorporating new parts, they had to make such compromises. Not so sure, though, how fans of the brand will take this.
For those who are interested, Dual SIM 4G-enabled Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL is now available at all Asus Concept Stores and partner dealers across the Philippines. It's out in three classy colors, namely, Sand Gold, Rose Pink, and - the one I have here - Titanium Gray.
TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST) Name : Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 154 x 76.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight : 181 grams
Available Colors : Rose Pink, Sand Gold, Titanium Gray
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat with ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio), 1280 x 720 pixels, S-IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 3GB RAM
Internal Storage : 32GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: Dual 13 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, standard 80-degrees and wide-angle 120-degrees field of view
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/2.2, LED flash, 85-degrees field of view
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner in front
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : 3 Days of Regular Use (TBC)
Value-Added Features : Big Battery, Dual Camera Module with Wide Angle Shot, Front Flash, Aluminum Alloy Shell, Reverse Charging
Announcement : Philippines - August 19, 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Suggested Retail Price in the Philippines - Php 9,995
Although the metal shell and overall footprint of Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL are largely the same as that of its predecessor - the Asus ZenFone 3 Max - which was released earlier this year, this new model does offer a number of enhancements in specs as well as fresh features that we're seeing for the first time in the Max series.
The face of the handset gives you two new obvious enhancements coming from the older model. To specific, there's now a physical home button below the display, which features a Fingerprint Scanner for quickly unlocking the device all while making it more secure.
Also, above the 5.5-inch HD IPS display, underneath the 2.5D Curved Glass touchscreen, you'll find the Soft LED Flash for the 8 MegaPixel f/2.2 front-facing camera, which comes in handy when snapping selfies in low to zero lighting conditions.
Sidenote: Asus ZenFone 4 Max's aluminum unibody enclosure looks and feels almost exactly like the shell of the Asus ZenFone 3 Max, which is not a bad thing given that the earlier release was one of the better-looking handsets in its price category. On a separate note, the concentric Zen design element of this new smartphone is found on the real metal volume and power buttons.
Another notable improvement implemented on the ZF4Max is its even bigger battery pack! Whereas the 5.5-inch ZF3Max was powered by an already big 4,100 mAh Li-Ion battery, the follow-up has an even higher capacity 5,000 mAh non-removable pack, which ensures longer uptime with regular use and gives more juice when the phone is used as a powerbank via reverse charging.
Apart from the larger battery, my favorite new feature of the Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL is its Dual Rear Camera module, which is made up of two 13 MegaPixel optics with varying field of view.
Regular or Standard View
Wide-Angle View using the secondary camera
Notice the subtle protrusion of the Dual Camera Module at the back.
The first lens has a standard 80-degree field of view while the other is wide-angle at 120-degrees. Hence, with this Dual Cam set-up, you can capture a wider view of the subject in front of you with just a click of a button -- no need to take a few steps back. This comes in handy when taking photos of buildings or even groups of people.
As I've mentioned above, Asus ZenFone 4 Max supports reverse charging, which gives it powerbank functionality. Simply use the USB-On-The-Go cable provided in the package to use this phone as a power source for your other mobile devices, including other Android smartphones.
Connecting your other smartphone to the Asus ZenFone 4 Max via charging cable and USB-OTG instantly activates Reverse Charging or Powerbank feature.
On the software side, the biggest enhancement that Asus fans will experience on this model is its new ZenUI 4.0 interface for Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system. This version of the UI is simpler and has fewer bloatware, giving users a near-vanilla Android experience and eliminating unnecessary apps and processes running in the background.
Overall, I think all these improvements make the Asus ZenFone 4 Max a great option for consumers who are looking for a fairly affordable mid-level 2017 Android smartphone -- even if some say that the internal hardware - which include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage - could have been better.
If anything, however, I wish the company retained the Full HD resolution of the Asus ZenFone 3 on this refresh. But I understand that to keep the price of the device low all while incorporating new parts, they had to make such compromises. Not so sure, though, how fans of the brand will take this.
For those who are interested, Dual SIM 4G-enabled Asus ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL is now available at all Asus Concept Stores and partner dealers across the Philippines. It's out in three classy colors, namely, Sand Gold, Rose Pink, and - the one I have here - Titanium Gray.
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 154 x 76.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight : 181 grams
Available Colors : Rose Pink, Sand Gold, Titanium Gray
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat with ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio), 1280 x 720 pixels, S-IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 3GB RAM
Internal Storage : 32GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: Dual 13 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, standard 80-degrees and wide-angle 120-degrees field of view
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/2.2, LED flash, 85-degrees field of view
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner in front
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : 3 Days of Regular Use (TBC)
Value-Added Features : Big Battery, Dual Camera Module with Wide Angle Shot, Front Flash, Aluminum Alloy Shell, Reverse Charging
Announcement : Philippines - August 19, 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Suggested Retail Price in the Philippines - Php 9,995
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