Android 4.2 Jellybean Forgot Christmas

Photo From TechWeekEurope

It's the time of year when everyone is so excited because Christmas is coming, we prepare gifts, make lists, plan Christmas vacations and mark certain dates in our calendars. Everything is going fine until you picked up your smartphone running on the latest Android 4.2 Jellybean OS and realized that THERE IS NO DECEMBER 2012 ON YOUR CALENDAR! Yes no December on your calendar, panic arises but Hold on! Wait! Maybe it's just a bug, Android didn't predict the end of the world on December, It's just a bug being experienced due to the Android 4.2 update which debut on the Google Nexus 10 Tablet and LG Nexus 4 Phone.

Apparently Android 4.2 OS users noticed that there is no December 2012 on their Smartphone Calendars, According to an article written by Mr. Steve McCaskill, of Tech Week Europe, Google is aware of it but is not yet confirming that it is a bug.

RANT:  I really found this funny, i'm currently waiting for this jellybean update for my Galaxy Note and I really hope that I could see this one for myself, kidding aside I hope they fix this one up really quick because although this is just somewhat a minor mishap, it will be a very irritating situation for those who use their calendars alot and for those who are forgetful (anniversaries, birthdays, meetings, etc.)

Source: Photo and Article from www.techweekeurope.co.uk

James Bond Chose Android: Hello To The Sony Xperia TX LT29i

So Mr. Bond chose an android phone. . . maybe he thought that the iPhone 5 was just too mainstream for his taste don't yah think?? Well anyways with all the fuss going around due to the showing of another installment to the 007 franchise entitled SKYFALL it gave me an idea to look a little closer to the now dubbed as the BOND PHONE, the one and only Sony Xperia TX.

I've always been a fan of the Sony smartphone line and is always amazed with it's Bravia Engine Phones I always wanted to have one but left with only being able to touch them through demos on stores or through borrowing it from friends, well then what's up with the BOND PHONE you might ask, then I'll answer you with an "I'll show you what's up with it!".

The Bond Phone boasts it's 4.55in screen display accompanied with a 13MP primary camera and a 1.3MP front facing secondary camera. Packs a punch with its Dual-Core 1.5GHz Krait Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon Chipset, 16GB Internal memory with MicroSD card slot allowing an expansion up to 32GB, 1GB RAM, running currently on android 4.0.4 ICS which will later be upgraded to 4.1 JB. And if that's not enough may I remind you that it is the Phone used by Mr. Bond!!!!

Notes: I know the looks of the Sony Xperia TX is much like the other latest smartphone releases by Sony but the mere fact that it is the phone used by JAMES BOND makes it ride the coolness level way way up! specs are nice might be so-so compared to other triumphant smartphones nowadays but still it is the BOND phone and the coolness factor is still right there.

Rants: Ok I know that buying a smartphone does not depend on who used it or what movie it was used in etc. but hey you can't blame me if i'm a James Bond fan! (so what if I am?? LOL) well anyways if you're wondering how much is it? well here is the scoop!

KIMSTORE is selling them for Php 22,900!!!!

Source: GSM Arena for the specs and photos, Kimstore for the price and skyfall photo

The iPad Mini and The iPad 4

Finally Apple ended the rumors about the new iPad Mini with their announcement of the actual product on their event last Oct 23, 2012 including lots of other bits of surprises.

Rumors were that Apple will be penetrating the 7inch tablet market and Apple did not disappoint with their release of their newest addition to their list of wow gadgets that Apple fans will be very delighted of, The iPad Mini, it's the smaller version of the iPad but don't be fooled by this little devil, it may be small in size but it pars with it's bigger brother when it comes to specs, this iPad Mini packs a punch with it's more compact build of a thinner and lighter iPad with a 7.9-inch display, holding an A5 dual core processor, and coming in with a HiDef Front Facing Facetime Camera and a 5MP Backside iSight Camera, this mini gem runs on the lates iOS 6 from Apple.

Ok so it's fast, light, compact, and has a gorgeous display, let's face the question that everyone always asks... HOW MUCH? to answer that oh so old question here are the market price list.

***

Wi-Fi versions

16GB - $329 (Php 13,700 rough estimate with present exchange rate)

32GB - $429 (Php 17,800)

64GB - $529 (Php 21,900)

WiFi + 4G versions

16GB - $459 (Php 19,000)

32GB - $559 (Php 23,200)

64GB - $659 (Php 27,300)

***

Apples announcements don't end with the iPad Mini, they also released a 4th generation to their iPad Series call the iPad 4. The upgrade of the NEW IPAD sports the same sized screen traditional to the iPad series but now has a HiDef Facetime Camera, and an A6X chip processor, running on the latest iOS 6 from apple, prices are stated as follows.

***

Wi-Fi only version

16GB - $499 (Php 20,700)

32GB - $599 (Php 24,800)

64GB - $699 (Php 29,000)

Wi-Fi & 4G version

16GB - $629 (Php 26,100)

32GB - $729 (Php 30,200)

64GB - $829 (Php 34,400)

***

Note:  US Dollar top Philippine Peso conversions are rough estimates based on current exchange rate.

The iPad 4 and the iPad Mini are both availabe for pre - order on Oct. 26, and will be shipped on Nov. 2 for the following countries, US, Europe, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Source: VR-Zone

Notes: Definitely this will be a game changer on the 7inch category of the tablets dominated by the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire. Google Nexus, And Galaxy Tablets. Apple made a smart move by releasing both the iPad Mini and the iPad 4 at the same time so that the mini doesn't kill the market for their own iPads.

Rants: I really recommend the iPad Mini to the consumers due to the fact that it is more compact but performs as well as it's bigger brother, if the price release are as stated then the mini really deserves a look for the budget conscious tech savvy geek. If the specs are really as good as they say then it is a must buy for the holidays but still, it has yet to be tried for it to be dominant performance wise. Got my eye on the mini for the holidays.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Trade-In Event SM Mall Of Asia Philippines

Samsung Philippines recently announced that they will be having a trade-in event for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and I was really interested on buying the said smartphone / phablet so I went to the SM Mall Of Asia to actually try and trade-in my Samsung Galaxy Note. 

So here is the scoop on what's going on in the event. There are promotions, they held games, and there are alot of Samsung Galaxy Note 2's to try out, and they said that the Younghusband brothers were there but I wasn't able to see them.

Regarding the SGNote 2 definitely a good looking spec monster, I do not say this just because I want to have it but upon testing it, actually holding it in my hands, and comparing it with my Note 1 I would have to say it really has the edge over other flagship smartphones even including the S3. The Note 2 is really fast and responsive, even in multitasking mode and even the S Pen which was a little laggy on the Note 1 was good.

Now regarding the actual trade-in, there are a lot of issues here regarding how they price and assess the phone that you will try to trade. Most common issues after hearing some of the people who tried to get their phone assessed were these:

1. They price the units for trade in a little low. Low as in lower than what a pawnshop would pay if you pawn your phone. Seriously Php9,500 for my Note 1, I know they have standards and this isn't a get the Note 2 for free event but it actually somehow hurts my pride that they priced my smartphone that way while heading to my next problem.

2. They priced some phones without even touching them, asking when was it bought, checking the specs, or even holding the phone etc. I was so amazed that they priced my smartphone without even looking at it.

Oh well I was already focused on the fact that they will not really be giving high prices for the trade-in phones so it wasn't really that bad. It just lead me to believe that maybe - 

**the assessment team were already given the instructions for a Phone=Price deal meaning there were already specific prices or price range for the different models that were accepted for trade-in and

**that they already have a sealing maximum price which is the 50% (roughly Php16-17k) of the price of the Note 2 which is in my opinion will only be attainable if you presented an iPhone 5 which was only bought yesterday.

Ok so maybe my speculations are wrong but who knows, I talked to the guy next to me and he said that his iPhone 4s was assessed to be tampered with already ( LCD Screen Changed to be precise ) just by looking at it.

But all in all the event was good, I had a great time playing with the actual SGNote2 and experiencing it was really cool! still definitely will buy 1 maybe when the price drops or when they release the LTE models of it.

Oh and regarding the prices, they will actually accept cash and installment payment with credit cards for the remaining balance that you have if you actually went on with the trade.

Prices are : 

Php 32,990 for cash basis

Php 34-35,000 for 6months installment with credit card

Php 37-38,000 for 12months installment with credit card

(prices are as stated by the event staff)

Here are some of the photos of the event.

All in all still a good event, met some interesting people and got fascinated with the Phil Younghusband hologram endorser. Those interested can still go tomorrow (Oct 21 2012) and have your phone priced.

Notes: please don't be a jackass if they price your phone too low for your expectations, this is not a charity event where in you could trade in your phone for a better one for a price that you think is right, remember that this is business and you are still just a consumer, if they price your phone low walk away and sell your phone elsewhere then buy the Note2 elsewhere too.

Rants: just really hope they make some proper assessments on the phones. and please somebody from the event tell me that I'm wrong with the prices being too low.

Thanks for reading, I hope this was informative, again comments are welcome, and please someone who went to the event and had their smartphones appraised please comment. thanks!