Gaget Info: Januari 2017

Selasa, 31 Januari 2017

Report: BOC Seized Alleged Smuggled Gadgets From A Popular Online Store!

After acting on intelligence reports, BOC or the Bureau of Customs has seized alleged smuggled electronic devices from the warehouse of Kimstore in Lakandula Street, Tondo Manila.

It includes units of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

According to the report of GMA News those electronic devices includes the likes of Macbook notebooks, Samsung Galaxy S7 series, Huawei Nexus 6P, ZenFone 3 Ultra, Sony Xperia, Canon cameras, tablets, audio accessories, and etc.

"Among the items seized were units of iPhone 7 cellular phones, Macbook laptops, Samsung Galaxy S7 series phones, Nexus 6Ps phones, Zenfone 3 Ultra phones, Sony Xperia phones, Canon cameras, tablets and music players, audio accessories, and gadgets for safety and security," the BOC noted.

"There are plenty of cases wherein high-end communication and electronic gadgets are smuggled into the country through misdeclaration schemes – a top form of smuggling – used by smugglers to defraud and avoid paying correct duties and taxes to the government," Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Neil L. Estrella said.

"Kim Store is owned by a certain 'Francis', a Filipino-Chinese businessman in Binondo, who is engaged in selling smuggled items online," the bureau said, citing an initial report submitted by Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin, team leader of the CIIS operating unit, to Customs Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon.

"We are still validating some intelligence reports, and we will fully identify the real owners of Kim Store in the next few days," Pinawin reported.

"BOC, under my watch, will often conduct raids in warehouses, storehouses, and depots, to combat the malpractice and related crimes, and finally jail perpetrators, once and for all," Faeldon

Why? Kim Store's depot failed to present documents for the imported items. As we all know, anything that doesn't have proper importation documents and NTC seal are considered as illegal.

Most likely, those "smuggled" gadgets also doesn't have proper warranty and support from the official carriers of those brands.

Right now, the warehouse of that certain Kim Store was padlocked by the bureau. All seized items inside are guarded by CIIS agents.

Report: BOC Seized Alleged Smuggled Gadgets From A Popular Online Store!
Report: BOC Seized Alleged Smuggled Gadgets From A Popular Online Store!

The OPPO F1s With 4 GB RAM And 64 GB ROM Is Priced At Just PHP 13990!

Few days after announcing that the upgraded version of the F1s will be available in our local shores, Oppo Philippines gave us more info about this very popular selfie phone.

The upgrade!

First, this new variant of the OPPO F1s is priced just PHP 1K higher compared with the older F1s. You'll get bigger 4 GB of RAM and double the storage at 64 GB w/ expandability via micro SD card up to 128 GB.

OPPO F1s Specs

Display: 5.5 Inch HD TFT 1280 x 720 resolution w/ 2.5D curved glass and Gorilla Glass 4 protection at 267 ppi

CPU: 1.5 GHz 64 Bit MT6750 octa core processor

GPU: Mali T860

RAM: 4 GB

ROM: 64 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB (dedicated)

Back Camera: 13 MP f/2.2 w/ AF and LED flash

Selfie Camera: 16 MP f/2.0

Battery: 3,075 mAh

OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop w/ Color OS 3.0

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM

Others: Fingerprint sensor, Colors: metallic grey

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, proximity, orientation, sound, magnetic, gyroscope

Dimensions: 154.5 x 76 x 7.38 mm

Weight: 160 g

Price: PHP 13,990

Second, the said device with upgraded specs will be available nationwide starting February 3, 2017!

What do you think guys?

The OPPO F1s With 4 GB RAM And 64 GB ROM Is Priced At Just PHP 13990!
The OPPO F1s With 4 GB RAM And 64 GB ROM Is Priced At Just PHP 13990!

Honor 8 Lite With Kirin 655 Chip Leaks!

After the success of Honor 8 in the western region, leaked images inside a case of a "Lite" version of the said device about to be released in UK appeared.

Honor 8 Lite leaks!

To start things up, Huawei's Honor 8 Lite sports a stylish design with some identical specs to P8 Lite 2017.The phone is said to have a 5.2 inch FHD 2.5 screen and will run with the home-brewed 64 bit Kirin 655 octa core processor paired with Mali T830 GPU.

Slim bezels, 2.5D curved screen!

There's 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable storage, 3,000 mAh battery, single camera at the back, regular micro USB port, LTE connectivity, and fingerprint scanner behind. The phone is also rumored to run with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box!

Honor 8 Lite Specs

Display: 5.2 Inch FHD IPS 1920 x 1080 resolution w/ 2.5D curve glass at 424 ppi

CPU: 64 Bit Kirin 655 octa core processor

GPU: Mali T830

RAM: 3 GB

ROM: 16 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB

Back Camera: TBC

Selfie Camera: TBC

Battery: 3,000 mAh

OS: TBC

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, A GPS

Others: Fingerprint sensor

Price: TBC

The Honor 8 Lite might be available starting early March with a possible USD 300 price tag. We'll let you guys know.

Honor 8 Lite With Kirin 655 Chip Leaks!
Honor 8 Lite With Kirin 655 Chip Leaks!

Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 With Dual Pixel Cam And Up To 6 GB Of RAM Leaks!

Recent leaks slides states that the successor of the Redmi Pro is already on its way. Obviously it'll be named as the Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 will have a brushed metal finish and powerful specs.

Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 leaks!

The processor is still unknown for now, though many are expecting it to be a higher-end MediaTek chip. It'll sport either 4 / 6 GB of RAM, 64 / 128 GB of storage, and a bigger 4,500 mAh of battery capacity.

Coming from the dual camera setup of the original Redmi Pro, the Redmi Pro 2 will only use a single camera but with much improved specs. There will be a 12 MP f/1.7 Sony IMX362 sensor behin w/ 1/2.55 inch sensor, large 1.4µm pixels, and Dual Pixel autofocus like the Galaxy Note 7.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 has an expected SRP of CNY 1,600 for the 4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM model and the 6 GB RAM / 128 GB ROM at CNY 2,000.

Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 With Dual Pixel Cam And Up To 6 GB Of RAM Leaks!
Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 With Dual Pixel Cam And Up To 6 GB Of RAM Leaks!

BenQ Unveils The W1090 Home Projector!

It isn't exactly every day that people choose home
projectors over massive HDTVs for the sake of big screen entertainment at your humble
abode. But when you do, there's always one around the corner that may be up
your alley. That's where BenQ's latest W1090 Home Projector comes in!

BenQ W1090

The W1090 comes with several features that let its users watch
in crystal clear quality. We're talking about 1080p high-definition on a
100-inch screen, making it perfect for your movie nights during those film
showing with friends. Of course, the audio aspect is also important, and BenQ
doesn't leave it behind all thanks to its Waves audio that makes every detail superb
and life-like.

Now if you're not really fond of doing several tweaks just
to get it right, the W1090 comes with a Sport Mode that enhances the video and
audio performance. The Sport Picture Mode brings beautiful color reproduction
to put you at the center of the entertainment. On the other hand, Sport Sound
Mode can be your cup of tea if you like watching concerts on the big screen,
but this time you have the VIP access on your couch.

If you hate the hassle of setting devices up, the W1090
brings it to a much easier degree – its throw rate is only at 1.15 if you want
to get that 100-inch display on a 2.5-meter distance. No need to put it way way
back at the room just to get that size. It also comes with an easy-to-use UI to
help you fine-tune your settings even if it's your first time using the device.

As far as the pricing goes, the BenQ W1090 carries a USD 899
price tag, or around PHP 45,000 before taxes and duties when converted to the
national currency. It will arrive in the local market soon, so stay tuned if
you have plans on getting a capable home projector!

BenQ Unveils The W1090 Home Projector!
BenQ Unveils The W1090 Home Projector!

Nokia 6 Vs Infinix Zero 4 – Camera Comparison

The Infinix Zero 4 is one of the much hyped photography centric phone due to its use of Sony's 16 MP IMX298 main camera. It's the same camera sensor found with higher-end popular photography smartphones like the ZenFone 3 and OnePlus 3.

Nokia 6 and Infinix Zero 4 main camera comparison!

To check out its prowess, we pitted it against the 16 MP main camera of of Nokia 6, that's getting some praise recently. Can sub PHP 12K Infinix Zero 4 keep up with the Nokia 6 in mostly point and shoot modes? Let's check it out!

Disclaimer: All images are described based on our subjective opinions and experiences.

Nokia 6 vs Infinix Zero 4 – Camera Comparison!

Specs	Nokia 6	Infinix Zero 4
Back Camera:	16 MP f/2.0 w/ PDAF and LED flash	16 MP f/2.0 Sony IMX298 w/ laser AF, OIS, and dual tone LED flash

Scene 1 – Natural daylight, detail check

Nokia 6 details

Infinix Zero 4 details

On this scene, the Nokia 6 produced an image with great amount of details with slightly underexposed tone. The Zero 4 has got the same amount of details with more color punch. Infinix Zero 4 – 1 point

Scene 2 – Daylight blur

Nokia 6 daylight blur

Infinix Zero 4 daylight blur

On this scene, it is the other way around. Nokia 6 got the livelier image with better highlights and shadows. The Infinix Zero 4 wasn't that left behind though. Both produced decent background blurs. Nokia 6 – 1 point

Scene 3 – Indoor background blur

Nokia 6 indoor background blur

Infinix Zero 4 indoor background blur

The Nokia 6 handled this indoor lowlight shot well. Details are okay and it looks bright with good close to natural looking bokeh. On the other hand, the Infinix Zero 4 Plus delivered better depth, details, and dynamic range. Infinix Zero 4 – 2 points

Scene 4 – Ourdoor night close-up

Nokia 6 outdoor night close-up

Infinix Zero 4 outdoor night close-up

The image taken by Nokia 6 is duller, but it has great sharpness level, colors, and dynamic range. On the other hand, the photo take by Zero 4 is brighter but has blowout highlights and has less details. Nokia 6 – 2 points

Scene 5 – Outdoor night

Nokia 6 outdoor night

Infinix Zero 4 night

On this other night shot on auto mode, image quality is close. The Zero 4 got the brighter image and better background highlights, but ring-lights and and details on the building is sharper on the Nokia 6 again. Nokia 6 – 3 points

Verdict

A pretty close fight, on daylight we liked the way the Zero 4 was able to match or even beat Nokia 6 in few conditions. However, the differentiation happened in lowlight shots. While the Zero 4 produced decent images, Nokia 6 captured sharper details.

Nokia 6 Vs Infinix Zero 4 – Camera Comparison
Nokia 6 Vs Infinix Zero 4 – Camera Comparison

PLDT Launched Smart SOS Dispatch For Emergency Response!

PLDT Inc., via PLDT Enterprise has unveiled the Smart SOS dispatch mechanism for robust national public safety and emergency response.

Smart SOS Dispatch launch

It's a revolutionary end-to-end incident management solution designed for both small and large communities like large-scale corporations, local government units (LGUs), and even university campuses.

The executives with Smart SOS Dispatch

The solution was designed to give those communities public safety answer points (PSAPs) and emergency response systems (PSERs). Smart has a variety of mobile devices paired with their trustworthy network coverage that with Genaker IP-based PTT (Push To Talk) and NowForce emergency response application for rapid, long distance, and high-speed communication between the command center and responders. The SOS Dispatch uses several ruggerized Android powered devices w/ IP68 shock and water resistances and up to 1.5 days of battery life perfect for emergency situations.

It's backed with NowForce cloud system for reliable the entire emergency reporting, response, and recording process.

"The 911 emergency response system of the United States has always been a model to emulate with regards to security and public safety. The technology to make the same happen in the Philippines is available through mobility and the Internet-of-Things (IoT). Smart SOS Dispatch is designed to do just that," says Jovy Hernandez, FVP and Head of Enterprise groups at PLDT and Smart. "We look forward to partnering with all local government units in implementing the system nationwide. Technology cannot do it alone. Technology plus People is the right formula."

The SOS Dispatched was also especially to be augment seamlessly with the 911 system of the Philippines. This is inline with the government's mandate to modernize current systems in the administration, some LGUs that have already partnered with PLDT and Smart for the purchase and full implementation of Smart SOS Dispatch solution are the city of Bacoor in Cavite, and the province of Ilocos Norte.

"Smart SOS Dispatch is highly beneficial for LGUs, especially in barangays where responding units should be more accessible and centralized. In fact, we are currently in discussions with our partners from Bacoor, Cavite, to expand the implementation of this system in each barangay in the city for more improved and seamless incident report and management," adds Hernandez. "This is a great model for all LGUs, especially those in regional hubs such as Manila, Cebu and Davao where growing populations demand higher levels of security and public safety. Through this, we can build the path to finally establishing an integrated security system on a national level."

The Smart SOS Dispatch comes at exclusive package for LGUs for PHP 3,500 per month for each device. It comes with a ruggedized Android Device, Genaker PTT and NowForce applications, Unlimited Calling Circle and allocated SMS for all networks for 30 months.

PLDT Launched Smart SOS Dispatch For Emergency Response!
PLDT Launched Smart SOS Dispatch For Emergency Response!

Senin, 30 Januari 2017

Meizu Pro 7 Leaks, A Beast With 4K Screen And 8 GB of RAM!

A new PC grade smartphone? We might see an actual unit that can do that from Meizu soon. Based on the leak photos featured by Anzhuo.cn, Meizu is about to release a beastly smartphone soon.

Meizu Pro 7 leaks!

Dubbed as the Meizu Pro 7, the said handset will rock a titanium body w/ 5.7 inch 4K screen (3840 x 2160 resolution at a whopping 771 pixels per inch). Under the hood, this monster will be powered by MediaTek's Helio X30 deca core processor, 4 / 6 / 8 GB of RAM, and 64 / 128 GB storage.

Super sharp 771 ppi!

On the camera part, the Pro 7 it'll sport a 12 MP Sony IMX362 main camera w/ PDAF and 10 ring LED flash.

CMOS camera behind

The leaked pricing states that the 4 GB RAM / 64 GB model is priced at CNY 3,299 (around PHP 24K), 6 GB RAM / 128 GB will retail at CNY 3,599 (around PHP 26K), and the 8 GB RAM / 128 GB variant will go on sale for CNY 3,799 (around PHP 28K).

Sounds awesome, but let's wait for its official release. Let's also hope that this handset will have large battery capacity.

Meizu Pro 7 Leaks, A Beast With 4K Screen And 8 GB of RAM!
Meizu Pro 7 Leaks, A Beast With 4K Screen And 8 GB of RAM!

Razer Bought Nextbit, Will We See A Razer Phone Soon?

Razer has acquired Nextbit, a startup company who designed a handset to seamlessly work with around cloud. They were popularized by the Nextbit Robin smartphone who recieved a final pledge around USD 1.3 million.

Razer x Nextbit anyone?

Going back to the story, Razer now owns Nextbit. But, Nextbit will have its own independent division. They just now have more resources for very exciting and innovative products soon.

We've got some pretty exciting news to share, Rebels

I'm thrilled to announce that we're joining the Razer family! They're rebels like us, they speak from the heart, and they share our need to push boundaries. Nextbit will operate as an independent division inside Razer, focused on unique mobile design and experiences. To put it simply, we'll be doing exactly what we've been doing all along, only bigger and better. If you're curious what this means for Robin, don't worry. While we have stopped selling Robin and all accessories through our official channels, we are still dedicated to supporting all of you. We will continue to fulfill warranties for 6 more months. And as promised, we will continue to provide software updates and security patches through February 2018. More than anything we want to preserve the community we've built on our forums and our social streams, we're really proud of what we've accomplished together. I want to thank all of you for your support. We would not be the company we are today without our backers, our supporters and our community — our band of Rebels. We love you guys. Sincerely,Tom Moss

What's exciting there is the innovative minds of both companies will surely have something in store for us. Razer Nextbit phone? Razer Nextbit tablets? Razer Nextbit gaming PCs? Please make it happen!

Razer Bought Nextbit, Will We See A Razer Phone Soon?
Razer Bought Nextbit, Will We See A Razer Phone Soon?

Sale Alert: OPPO A37 Is Now Priced At Just PHP 6990!

In a recent press release, OPPO Philippines gave us a word that they're treating smartphone shoppers by slashing PHP 2K off on the A37.

It is now more affordable!

As a refresher, the OPPO A37 is an affordable handset with sleek metal unibody design and 5 inch HD IPS Gorilla Glass 4 protected 2.5D screen. It's powered by Snapdragon 410 chip, has 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable storage, and 2,630 mAh of battery capacity.

This handset highlights an a 1.32 inch sensor 8 MP f/2.2 shooter behind and a 1/4 inch 5 MP f/2.2 camera w/ screen flash in front for shooting decent images and upload ready selfies. It also has WiFi, LTE, OTG, HiFi audio chip, and dual SIM card slots.

"Like OPPO's other smartphones, the A37 stands for awesome performance and stunning upload-ready selfies," said OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Stephen Cheng. "We are happy to offer the A37 at a special discounted rate especially for those who are looking for a new smartphone experience."

OPPO A37 Specs

Display: 5 Inch HD IPS 1280 x 720 resolution w/ 2.5D curved glass and Gorilla Glass 4 protection at 294 ppi

CPU: 1.2 GHz 64 Bit Snapdragon 410 quad core processor

GPU: Adreno 306

RAM: 2 GB

ROM: 16 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB

Back Camera: 8 MP f/2.2, 1.32 inch sensor w/ AF and LED flash

Selfie Camera: 5 MP f/2.4, 1/4 inch sensor w/ screen flash

Battery: 2,630 mAh

OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop w/ Color OS 3.0

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, HSPA+, LTE w/ VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.1, OTG, GPS, A GPS, dual SIM

Others: Dirac HiFi audio chip, Colors: rose gold, grey

Dimensions: 143.1 x 71 x 7.7 mm

Weight: 136 g

Price: PHP 6,990

From the regular SRP of PHP 8,990, the A37 is now available nationwide for just PHP 6,990.

Sale Alert: OPPO A37 Is Now Priced At Just PHP 6990!
Sale Alert: OPPO A37 Is Now Priced At Just PHP 6990!

Asus ZenFone 3S Max Nougat OS And Big Battery Announced!

Asus, the popular Taiwanese electronics company will launch a new ZenFone in India this February 7. Dubbed as the Asus ZenFone 3S Max, it is a metal clad midrange handset packed with 5,000 mAh of battery capacity.

Asus ZenFone 3S Max

The device sports a 5.2 inch HD screen w/ 1.5 GHz 64 Bit MT6750 octa core processor inside. It also has 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of expandable storage up to 256 GB, 13 MP f/2.0 main camera w/ PDAF, and 8 MP front facing camera. Then there's WiFi, LTE, OTG, GPS, and dual SIM slots.

This smartphone loads with Android 7.0 Nougat OS w/ ZenUI 3.0 on top.

Asus ZenFone 3S Max (ZC521TL) Specs

Display: 5.2 Inch HD IPS 1280 x 720 resolution at 277 ppi

CPU: 1.5 GHz 64 Bit MT6750 octa core processor

GPU: Mali T860

RAM: 3 GB

ROM: 32 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 256 GB

Back Camera: 13 MP f/2.0 w/ PDAF and dual tone LED flash

Selfie Camera: 8 MP

Battery: 5,000 mAh Li Pol

OS: Android 7.0 Nougat w/ ZenUI 3.0

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, LTE, OTG, FM Radio, GPS, A GPS, dual SIM

Others: Fingerprint sensor

Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass

Dimensions: 8.9 mm slim

Weight: 175 g

Price: TBC

Stay tuned for the pricing this early February!

Asus ZenFone 3S Max Nougat OS And Big Battery Announced!
Asus ZenFone 3S Max Nougat OS And Big Battery Announced!

Infinix Zero 4: First Camera Samples!

The Infinix Zero 4 is marketed as a great photography device in the sub PHP 12K range. It's packed with a 16 MP f/2.0 Sony IMX298 w/ laser AF, OIS, and dual tone LED flash at the back and an 8 MP w/ wide angle lens and LED flash in front.

First snaps on Zero 4 by Infinix!

Just like what we stated before, the technologies found in the main camera sensor of this handset is identical to some higher-end flagship phones of last year. This even has manual camera controls w/ ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, and manual focus adjustment. It's quite impressive because this handset is priced at just PHP 11,990.

Related: Infinix Zero 4 Unboxing And First Impressions – Priority In Mobile Photography?

So without any further delay, here's some of the first few snaps we took using the Zero 4 on auto mode.

Camera Samples

Daylight flower shot

Indoor dim light

Indoor close-up

Night on auto

Selfie on auto mode

Our first snaps using the main camera are promising! Colors look natural, highlights are well presented, and it has good dynamic range. Details are also on point and it can produce good background blur on close-up shots.

Highlights on selfies are a kinda blown out, but sharpness level are still fine. We speculate that Infinix intended tune it that way to make us look whiter in selfies. It has wide angle lens as well.