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Mostly Everything

Tonino Lamborghini L700 Limited Edition: Android 2.3, 5.0MP camera, plus lots of affluence; sells for PHP 135,000.00

Here it is folks. Would you buy this for PHP 135,000 (HK$23,800.00)? From a technical perspective, the specs are basically your run off the mill Android device from 2011. 5MP camera + Android version 2.3. But that’s not the point. This is the phone for the opulent as its rather small 3.7″ screen is treated with sapphire and built to spec according to Tonino Lamborghini’s design precision: all 650 parts.

Categories
Mostly Everything

Lenovo launches two new dual SIM phones: 3.5″ A60+ for PHP 4,999 and 5″ S880 for PHP 14,999

UPDATE: BOOM! CES 2013. We have the lowdown on 3 new Android phones announced with pricing! Check them out!

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The dual SIM Lenovo S880 looks amazing in white.

Lenovo is becoming more and more agressive with their phone launches. The other day, Lenovo Global paid a visit to the Philippines to introduce two new phones — the A60+ and the S800. In summary, the A60+ is the spiritual successor to two phones they launched in the last few months — the Lenovo A60 and the Lenovo A65. To those of you who bought an A65, you **might** experience some buyer’s regret as the new A60+ comes with more or less the same specs, with a slightly different form factor. It is also more affordable at only PHP 4,999.00

Categories
Mostly Everything

Jollibee brings NFC technology to their stores with the ‘happyplus’ Card

I laud Jollibee for being the first retailer pushing for fast adoption of NFC technology in the Philippines.

Geeky Explanation: (warning, nosebleed)
NFC stands for “Near Field Communication” and is a prevalent piece of technology similar to Bluetooth or QR codes and is based on the current RFID technology. The difference is that the “near field” in NFC means that as soon as you point your device (in this case a card) to the kiosk sensor within 4 centimeters, the “tag” is recorded. The not-so-recent Android 2.3 Gingerbread upgrade enables NFC for several of their models like the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Non-Geeky Explanation:
Your mobile phone (or any device with NFC) is now a debit card.

The HappyPlus Card seems to be Jollibee’s way to condition the minds of Filipinos to adopt NFC as a part of their daily lives. This is a bridge. It is no secret that the final product will be to use NFC-enabled smartphones (many Android devices already have it built in but aren’t being used by Pinoys) but the cards are a good way of pushing the market to familiarize with this tech. Essentially, it’s something Filipinos have been doing for a while, claiming rewards points with their load, using Passa Load services, etc. Jollibee’s move makes sense as they already have staked their claim in a mobile app for smartphones (aka Netphone).

The service will be available starting January 23 2012. The card itself will cost PHP 100.00 and will enable rewards points to accumulate. You can use the points to purchase from Jollibee, Chowking, Red Ribbon, Greenwich and soon, Mang Inasal. In essence, NFC eventually replaces the CBTL Swirl Cards and SM Advantage cards we have come to love.

Current Phones that support NFC:

Android
Nexus S
Google Nexus S 4G
Samsung Galaxy S II (not all versions)
Samsung Galaxy Note (not all versions)
Galaxy Nexus

Meego
Nokia N9

BlackBerry
Blackberry Bold 9790
BlackBerry Bold 9990/9930
BlackBerry Torch 9810/9860
Blackberry Curve 9350/9360/9370

The iPhone does not officially support NFC technology.

2012 is the year NFC will be introduced and will grow. Smart has started pushing it as well for bazaar entrances. You can use your smartphone (w/ NFC) to enter bazaars. Who knows what’s next? Concert tickets? MRT tickets? Endless!

Categories
Geek

Download the “It’s More Fun In the Philippines” Android App

Developed by Lester Bambico, Android users can now create their own “It’s More Fun In the Philippines” meme with this easy to use Android app. It’s free!

[DOWNLOAD HERE] or do a search for “It’s more fun in the Philippines” on the Android marketplace.

More details and screenshots after the jump.

Categories
Mostly Everything

We’re not there, yet: Thoughts on Voice and Artificial Intelligence

I have two old acoustic guitars at home. They’re pretty smashed up. You could almost peel the body apart if enough force was exerted. In effect I keep it glued together with a lot of electric tape. Aesthetically it’s horrendous, but it does give off that artistic vibe, which truth to be told isn’t my aim. My aim is simply to hold the instrument together because you can’t replicate that sound anywhere else. More than 10 years worth of playing. The sound grows with you and, somehow, evolves into what you make it.