Sony Vaio and its new line of laptops for Spring 2010
This is a rather delayed post on the Sony Vaio launch event we attended last week to welcome their Spring 2010 collection of new laptops. Some revelations: this brand remains posh, with its high-end Vaio Z model priced at Php 150,000 (more expensive than the Mac!). We figured it is worth it since the lean machine runs on Intel Core i5 processor.
However, did you know that they have the Vaio W that’s priced at Php 29K as well? That’s more like it in terms of affordability, considering the low, low prices of netbooks these days. The Vaio W (pictured below) comes free with a carrying case, instead of a carton, when you purchase. This is also the most eco-friendly line-up in the bunch since some parts, like the top panel and bottom housing, are made from recycled materials.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 debuts with special introductory price
Mobile phone fanatics who prefer their smartphones to do more, other than offer seamless connectivity and push emails have something to look forward to with the soon-to-be launched Sony Ericsson Xperia X2. It’s a Windows Mobile QWERTY touch phone that also appeals to your artistic side by boasting of an 8.1 megapixel camera, WVGA video recording and a 3.2 inch high resolution touchscreen that provides DVD quality viewing.
Get a discount of one thousand pesos when you reserve the Xperia X2 prior to its commercial availability. The phone’s special introductory price is at P28,500 when you purchase the handset from February 1-12, 2010. For inquiries, visit the nearest Sony Ericsson Experience shop, participating dealers or call the Customer Service Hotline 789-1860.
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My ‘lost’ cellphone gets returned, for a change ….
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Having lost big and small things like jewelry and a 21-inch TV to rogues in the past, I’ve gotten the impression that am quite the alluring magnet to bad elements. That, or it’s just the hassle of living in the city where even policemen steal for a living. That’s why it was quite a breath of fresh air when my cellphone, which I thought I had lost, was returned to me over the weekend. It makes me believe that kind souls still abound in Manila after being cynical about this place for quite some time.
I was about to pay some purchases at the SM Department Store in the Mall of Asia that Sunday afternoon when I realized my slim cellphone wasn’t in my wallet, as it usually was. So we hurried back to the Kenny Rogers resto where we ate 30 to 40 minutes before, just to try my luck at asking if they found it. I was already prepared for the worst, but somehow regretting the fact that my friends and contacts would have to find me again. I don’t subscribe to a postpaid line because I hate paying the surcharges and I only maintain one phone because am not a text and call addict either. But with the frequency that I lose my mobile phones, I’ve gotten into the routine of changing my phone number every six months or so.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3: the perfect compact camera for me
During my birthday last year, the hubby gifted me with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. This has been on my wishlist for quite some time, especially after we both agreed to retire the Verzio M700 digicam which I got as some schwag from a presscon. It helped that a number of bloggers already own the Lumix LX3 and gave positive reviews about it.
More than two months after holding the Lumix, I do find that it is the perfect camera companion for a lazy SLR user like me. Mine is a sleek black, and it doesn’t look too attractive from outside. But you’ll surely appreciate how, even with its small size, it functions as a workhorse. In fact, your mini SLR personified.
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Google Nexus One superphone
That’s right. One of my 2010 New Year’s resolutions is to buy a new mobile phone, after having decided that the last Christmas season was a bad time to buy one (prices were high and thefts were on the rise). Unknown to friends, am only using a basic phone and have two other high-tech phones just hidden in the drawer, tee hee. The plan is to give the basic phone to my son (it’s time he has one since he’s on the verge of high school) while am gonna trade in the two others for a single phone with good video capability. Any suggestions out there?
Anyway, mobile phone fanatics are all agog about the just-launched Google Nexus One smartphone. I mean, whatta way to greet the beginning of 2010. The only caveat is that it’s not available in the Philippines. But nothing’s preventing our newspaper, the Manila Bulletin Technews lab from reviewing it. Watch out for the review soon!
In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about the Google smartphone, in case you insist on buying it from abroad:
Processor: Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHz
(versus only 600 Mhz on the iPhone 3GS, Motorola Droid and Palm Pre)
Google GPS and wi-fi positioning
Bluetooth, wi-fi and HSDPA at 7.2Mbps
Voice-enabled keyboard so that you can just dictate your text message or Facebook update instead of typing it
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Samsung Corby phones for the youth’s social networking lifestyle
With Christmas just around the corner, demand for mobile phones is skyrocketing again. It’s certainly out there as one of the most in-demand holiday gifts. Parents, youngsters as well as young professionals are all saving up for the shiny new phone they can parade around just in time for Christmas.
Like most people, I’ve tried almost all cellphone brands. It was a long time ago since I’ve owned a Samsung. ’twas a slider phone to be exact. I had a great time being reacquainted with this brand again over the weekend. They had invited the media for an event launching three new phones of their Samsung Corby line which is geared for the youth and young professionals. They’re colorful, they’re sleek, they look hip and they’re all affordably priced, which is what matters most of all.
The new HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje : coming soon!
The HP Mini 1100 Vivienne Tam Special Edition has been hugely successful that I hear a Version 2 is in the works. Ever since I’ve written about it here before, I’ve been eyeing the netbook as a suitable companion to my aluminum Macbook which I don’t take out of the house too often, due to my tendency to lose things – even the most valuable ones, ahem.
A netbook also appeals to me because it is simply nifty to bring around wherever you go. This probably explains the growing fashion phenomenon of selling laptop bags and sleeves, in different patterns and colors. I like the fact that you can carry the netbook with a firm grip on the handle or close to your chest. Its extreme portability simply means that there’s no reason to leave the house without it.
Anyhoo, HP seems to be setting the trend for tapping well-known designers to design their laptops and the latest to work for them is Dutch-born Tord Boontje. He’s probably not as familiar to us as Vivienne Tam (Vivienne is into fashion, Tord is into product design), but his bio lists him as having made chandeliers for Swarovski and assorted products for Alexander McQueen, among others.
The new HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje should delight lovers of white. Its pristine, lace-like effect stems from the first-ever three-dimensional PC surface technology called the HP Imprint 3D. This gives the HP Mini an edge over the classic white Macbook or those of other brands.
I do like how the floral pattern extends to the notebook’s palm rest and touchpad. There’s nothing quite like it 
Food photography with the Nokia 6700
Why do I have a feeling that the new Nokia 6700 is a blogger’s best friend? Okay, make it food blogger! 
Recently, we were invited to the launch of Philippine Tatler’s Best Restaurants 2009 and one of the things on showcase was a life-size gallery featuring delicious photos taken by society photographer Alex van Hagen using the Nokia 6700. See the pics behind the lovely ladies.
Too bad I was too busy with my old Verzio cam (incidentally my favorite for portability) and failed to test shoot the Nokia 6700. A camphone that’s excellent for taking food photos certainly appeals to me. I would have wanted to take pictures of the yummy hors d’ oeuvres that was in full array that night.
Why is the iPhone 3G more expensive than the iPhone 3G S?
One week to go and Globe Telecoms will be making available the iPhone 3G S to its postpaid and prepaid subscribers. Am making special mention of Globe because the last time I asked at the cellphone tiangge in Robinsons Manila, they gave no indication that they’ll have it handy before Globe’s July 31 release to the public.
Am certainly very interested in getting the new iPhone and studying my options at the moment. That is, do I subscribe to a Globe plan or just buy an unlocked unit? I’ve remained a prepaid subscriber all these years because I hate paying monthly bills and it enables us (rather, the husband) to budget cellphone bills effectively. The only downside I see in this is that I change my phone number every time I lose my cellphone which is OFTEN, hehehe.
Looking at the Globe site, it was kinda weird to see that the iPhone 8GB and 16GB will be a lot more expensive than the iPhone 3GS (both 16 and 32 GB) when the latter is made available. For example, cash out for the iPhone 16GB at Plan 2199 is at P15,350 while for the iPhone 3G S (32GB!), it’s only P13,150. At Plans 399 to 2199, cash out for the old iPhone is from 20-40 percent higher than the 3G S.
First sighting of the iPhone 3GS in the Philippines…. w00t!
As expected, I got my first sighting of the much-coveted iPhone 3GS in the Manila Bulletin Technews Lab yesterday. Picture is kinda blurred, but that’s tech editor Art Samaniego having a blast with the Apple gadget, which will be made available by Globe to the public on July 31 yet.
As an Apple user, I can’t help but salivate at this latest version which is touted to be two times faster than the iPhone 3G.
Easily one of the highlights is the digital compass and installed software like Google Maps which will be able to tell you where your location is, and tell you where you’re going. Art says “it’s the best there is!” We were just wondering why the Quiapo district is shown in the iPhone Google Map as Quiapo DVD. Is Il Pirata country now an official landmark? Hehe.
Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
