PC Free..

(In case anyone asks, the speaker above my phone is the JBL Micro Wireless. It has Bluetooth to connect to devices. You can buy

Earlier in the week, I used both my phones instead of my laptop. She had her own laptop but it was broken because the SSD (solid-state drive) stopped working. Being the good brother that I am, I allowed her to use my laptop for her school works. During those days, all I used was my iPhone and my Android phone. I wanna share my experience being PC Free, even for just a few days.

Back in the day, it would be hard for me to do anything without my laptop. I needed it to listen to music, check Facebook and Twitter, post to my blog, and do school work. Nowadays, the smartphone replaced my laptop for most of these tasks. I am able to check my Facebook and Twitter even when I'm in the office, and I am already able to post to my blog from it. A smartphone is one of the best examples of portable gaming (sorry Nintendo and Sony, smartphones are eating up your lunch) and is the best way to pass the time when you're waiting for anything.

With that in mind, I watched a few episodes of Legends of the Hidden Temple in YouTube on my Android phone. One thing I love about Android is that Google services work very well with it. Google may have iOS apps but the integration just isn't there. Too bad Android doesn't have a lot of games going for it and that's why I always turn to the iPhone.

Tech speak aside, I think there are still some things that the smartphone cannot replace such as using productivity software like Office, but tablets may have a chance at this one. Still, I feel that I can do more work with a laptop. If I were asked what the PC will be in a Post-PC era, I would say that the future of the PC is more in the laptop.

Whether you agree with me or not, smartphones have already made a huge impact in our lives and I don't think any wearable technology can beat the innovation that happened in smartphones.

iPhone 5s and 5c Philippine Price Guesstimate for Globe

Apple announced two new iPhones: the 5s and the 5c. I've been thinking of what could be the possible pricing of these two new phones. Then I found these two brochures containing the cashout prices of the 4S and the 5 when getting a postpaid plan from Globe.

This is from the brochure of the 4S:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P23,976

32GB - P30,299

64GB - P35,299

And this is from the brochure of the 5:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P19,200

32GB - P23,976

64GB - P30,000

As you can see from the prices, the cashout of the 5 is actually lower than the 4S! If this trend continues to the 5s, we may see the same or even lower cashout prices than this.

Here's my guesstimate for the cashout prices of the 5s:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P16,800/P19,200

32GB - P19,200/P23,976

64GB - P23,976/P30,000

With that in mind, there's still one more question to be answered: how will the 5c be priced?

If I were Globe and I would want to sell many 5c's, this would be the cashout pricing:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P2400/P4800

32GB - P7200/P9600

Let me remind you guys that these are merely guesses and I could be wrong. I just wish this is correct and call it a day. Haha.

iPhone 5S: The Forward Thinking Way of Apple's iPhone Fork Road

Apple.com

Apple had their September 10 event, and boy all those leaks were real. There were not one, but two new iPhones announced at this event: the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. I have a separate post for the 5c, so this is all about the 5s. This one's the typical "S" upgrade to the flagship model that they do a year after they've done a redesign, but this is touted as the biggest one yet.

From the outside, it really looks like an iPhone 5: the aluminum unibody, same thinness and lightness, and the same 4-inch Retina Display. Since this is an "S" upgrade, the usual suspects come out like the better camera, better processor, and a new feature to entice users to purchase. The three things I mentioned are the three core upgrades Apple has with the 5s.

The A7 Processor + M7 Coprocessor - This one's been a staple of the "S" upgrades, but there's this one detail that Apple really touted in the new A7 chip: 64-bit. We've seen the shift from 32-bit to 64-bit in our desktop and laptop computers. Smartphones are basically also computers but in a way smaller form factor. What 64-bit means is that the processor can process more at once, so things like opening an app will be faster. The M7 Coprocessor is a separate chip that is responsible for checking the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. With this, the A7 chip doesn't need to be fired up when using those three sensors. This allows for a new generation of apps which take advantage of all this.

The Improved iSight Camera - Another staple of the "S" upgrades, the camera has been a big selling point of the iPhone ever since the iPhone 4. In every iteration since then, they've made the iPhone have the best camera on a smartphone and here they go again with significant improvements to it. The camera now has a wider f2.2 aperture meaning more light can go in the camera. It stays at 8 megapixels, but the sensor has 1.5 micron pixels, so more light can be accepted by the sensor. Another big change in the camera is in the flash, which the 5s now has "True Tone" flash. This basically means that there is a dual LED flash: one that's white, the other amber. This means the flash in the 5s would help in taking better pictures rather than make them worse. Other notable features include auto image stabilization and burst mode.

Touch ID - This feature has been long-rumored ever since last year because of Apple's purchase of AuthenTec. The 5s now has a fingerprint sensor that's been conveniently built into the Home button. This may sound subtle, but this means that you would be using this feature most of the time. All you need to do to unlock your phone is to touch (not necessarily press) the Home button! Your purchases from Apple's online stores are confirmed by your fingerprint.

The iPhone 5s is $199 on-contract for 16GB of storage, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. I'm not going to go through the rest of the features of this phone since it's just in Apple's website and every other tech site that exists. What do I think of this phone, you might ask? Well, I have a lot to say about that.

My Thoughts

Apple.com

I just got the iPhone 5 and based on past experiences, when you have a non-"S" generation of the iPhone, it's going to be a tough sell to upgrade to the "S" generation because the upgrades are incremental. Don't get me wrong, this is a great smartphone to get. It's just that the jump from the 5 to the 5s for me isn't really that substantial. The camera on the 4S has already been touted as the best smartphone camera which has been improved on the 5 and now again on the 5s. I trust that Apple has done a better job with the camera. The one thing that would make me wanna upgrade or not is Touch ID. If it works as advertised (and not end up like Antennagate), then it would be an incremental but fundamental step to what could happen down the line with the iPhone. I'm sure the A7 will do a good job since the A6 is blazing fast. Until I get my hands on one and try it out, I might just skip this one.

iPhone 5C: The Colorful Way of Apple's iPhone Fork Road

Apple.com

Apple had their September 10 event, and boy all those leaks were real. There were not one, but two new iPhones announced at this event: the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. I have a separate post for the 5s, so this is all about the 5c. I didn't expect Apple to do this since I was used to the notion that Apple only does one iPhone a year but if they needed to move forward and maintain their dominance, this is one way of testing the waters.

The iPhone 5c is a first for Apple, a test whether they can market a new breed of iPhones. The 5c is basically an iPhone 5 in a new "beautifully, unapologetically plastic" shell. It has the same specs as the iPhone 5: A6 processor, 8MP camera, 4-inch Retina Display, LTE. Its differences from the iPhone 5 are better battery life, better FaceTime HD camera, and more LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world (except the iPhone 5s, which also has the same number of LTE bands as the 5c).

Another difference that matters is that this phone is $99 on-contract for 16GB of storage, and for the first time for a mid-tier device from Apple, $199 for 32GB. The thing is that this costs $549 off-contract. The reason why I'm stating this is because this was supposedly the phone that would be friendly for emerging markets. I'll be explaining more of this in my thoughts of the 5c.

My Thoughts

Apple.com

Honestly, it's a good thing that Apple went back to color. I don't know if this is the right time or it should have been last year. The iPhone 5c takes what's good with the iPhone 5 and made it new by putting it in a new shell and with better battery life. I honestly love the blue one! If I didn't have an iPhone 5, I would seriously consider this. I honestly believe that this is the phone that they will promote heavily. Check Apple's website and tell me which iPhone appears first. The first test of this phone is through the preorders. If they are able to deliver, then this will be another huge win for Apple.

Apple and September 10: What To Expect And Do

Last year, Apple held an event in September to launch the iPhone 5 and I did a post about what to expect. Now we're at that same situation, I'm gonna do it again. Last week, Apple made it official that they will have an event on September 10, 10AM PT (that's September 11, 1AM here in the Philippines). A LOT of rumors have been swirling around as early as June and they're only getting more credible (but not to the point of being official) as the months go by. We won't have to wait much longer, but here's what you need to know and how to prepare for the coming announcement.

What To Expect

iPhone 5S - This one is a no-brainer. After doing the release pattern of releasing an "S" model after a redesign twice, I'd be shocked when they name this something else. Anyway, it is rumored that the iPhone 5S keeps the beautiful design of the 5 and brings internal improvements like a new A7 processor, 12MP camera with dual-LED flash, the fingerprint scanner and a possible 128GB storage option. It is also rumored to have two new colors, GOLD (or Champagne) and GRAPHITE (it's more or less gray). They better have one more thing up its sleeve.

iPhone 5C - I've been doubtful of this at first, but the leaks are just keeping it real. If the rumors are correct, then this phone is a plastic-cased version of the iPhone 5. As you can see above, it will come in COLORS. This is aimed more at emerging markets who cannot afford the high-end iPhone. I just hope that the plastic doesn't feel like Samsung's. Gaaaaaah. Both the 5S and 5C will run iOS 7 out of the box if the rumors are correct.

New/Refreshed iPods - Based on announcements on previous years, new iPods are typically announced alongside the iPhones. Don't know what to expect here except that there will be new ones.

What To Do

DO NOT BUY THE IPHONE 5 YET.
- This has been my warning for each year that a new iPhone is about to come out. Do not buy the one that's out right now unless you really need one. You may end up regretting the purchase if the iPhone 5 gets cheaper.

Essentially, that's it. Save up guys, it's going be another expensive holiday season!

iPhone 5 Review

It's been a long time coming. I've been wanting to write this review for so long but I just couldn't find the right time to do it, until now. I know, I know, the next iPhone's going to be announced next week, but if this phone doesn't get phased out, the iPhone 5 would be a bargain at a lower price point! For reviews from this point on, I'll focus on three things: Hardware, Software, and Ecosystem. Hardware would include Design, Specs, Battery Life, Call Quality, and etc. Software is self-explanatory. Ecosystem is where the media, apps, and cloud services are in consideration. Without further ado, here's the review:

Introduction

The iPhone's been here for a long while. Six years, in fact. A lot has changed since Apple launched their first foray into the mobile industry. I used to bash on Apple because I never believed that touch screen phones would be the next big thing in mobile. Turns out, it was more than just a touch screen phone. It had full internet browsing through Safari, the soul of an iPod, and applications that were built for touch. When the iPhone 3G came out, the App Store arrived. That's when the potential grew a hundredfold as developers could create anything they want the phone to do. Since then, it became a giant money-maker for Apple and led to the creation of another successful device which is the iPad. Like I said, times have changed. Android now dominates more than 2/3 of the smartphone market and Windows Phone is starting to gain some (some may sometimes be an exaggeration) traction. Has Apple maintained the gold standard with the iPhone 5?

Hardware

Apple has yet outdone itself at this department. The major change with the iPhone 5 is that it has a 4-inch screen as opposed to the 3.5-inch screen on the previous models. Despite the bigger screen, Apple managed to dramatically shave off weight from the phone. It weighs 112g, and is 7.6mm thin. When I first held the phone, it felt too light! I couldn't believe that it was this thin and light. I have to put on a case so that the weight would be okay. Another change they made is that the headphone jack is placed in the bottom of the phone. This could come in handy for pulling it out of my pocket and start using it in the right position.

Even though I put a case on the iPhone 5, I would be fine without one since they switched to an aluminum unibody with glass in the top and bottom portion of the back of the phone in order for cellular radios to go in easily. Speaking of that headphone jack earlier, beside it is the Lightning connector. That new connector caused a big debacle to owners of accessories with the 30-pin connector which was used for the previous generations. Good thing that accessory makers reacted as quick as they possibly can so by the time the new one comes out, this would be less of an issue. The good thing with the Lightning connector is that it's reversible so whenever it's dark, I don't need to worry about the position of the cable.

The iPhone's camera has always been praised for consistently taking great photos. This one's no exception and boosts the capability of the iPhone 4S's camera with "better" low-light. I did the quotes because I failed to see what's better because it's still quite dark but not as dark as the 4S's. The camera assembly is covered with Sapphire crystal. I dropped the phone a few times already and nothing really happened to it. Overall, the camera was really as great as they claim it to be. Call quality is really good with the iPhone 5, dropped calls are very rare. I was using a Globe Telecom iPhone 5, so results may vary if you're with another network.

Apple doesn't really compete in the specs department, but they don't fail to impress. Although it may be the "slowest" (in terms of raw performance) phone right now, it was the fastest by last year's standards. It sports a dual-core A6 processor clocked at 1GHz (although its maximum clock speed reaches 1.2-1.3GHz), has 1GB RAM, has 16, 32, and 64GB storage, finally has LTE (and DC-HSDPA for those in Europe) and has a 1442 mAh battery. This phone now requires a Nano-SIM instead of the micro-SIM which is also a hassle, but was done to manage space properly. Now with regards to battery life, it can last from about half a day (with heavy usage on LTE and/or gaming) to a day and a half (light web browsing through 3G, calls, texts, and music playback). It seems decent but I miss those days where phones can last 3-4 days before charging. I hope battery technology gets better because that's what Apple needs. That aside, the phone is blazing fast. Operations on iOS are simply faster, even against the 4S which was already fast enough. It's like the speed never faded when I tried using a Beta version of iOS 7! More about that in the next part.

Software

I'm gonna divide this part into two since I have experience using the iPhone 5 with two versions of the operating system, iOS 6 and a beta version of iOS 7. I won't do a comprehensive look at the iOS 7 part since it is still beta software and bugs are to be expected. I will get back to this review if there are any changes made between the beta and the final version.

iOS 6

Since iOS 6 is built-in to the iPhone 5, this version runs perfectly! All the operations that you do with this are very smooth and blazing fast despite it having a dual-core processor. The new stuff with iOS 6 like Facebook integration and Passbook are nice additions. Siri to me is nice for setting alarms and reminders, sending texts and opening apps when I tend to get lazy but after I got through all that, I got bored a bit. The most disappointing part of iOS 6 though is the new Maps app which Apple made. This was a very big fail in Apple's part since they launched a product that wasn't up to their standards. The software and user interface was good for first-generation software, but lacks a lot of points of interest. And with Google Maps containing a lot more data, it's really hard to surpass that. I never found the user interface to be really ugly, but sometimes I get bored of it because it looks like the OS when it just started. It's still functional, but it needs some change.

iOS 7 Beta

The change I mentioned earlier, is found in iOS 7. What shocked me when I first ran it is that it never lost the smoothness and speed. Despite beta bugs, iOS 7 on the iPhone 5 is still fast enough to operate although the next one would hopefully be faster. The UI has a much needed change and improvements like Control Center and AirDrop make this phone a bigger bargain than it was when it had iOS 6.

Ecosystem

iOS didn't really have a strong ecosystem at the beginning. Apple pushed for web apps the first time around. It did have iTunes early on, but the value proposition wasn't there yet. Then the App Store came and here comes the money for Apple. Thanks to that, it spurned a phenomenon where smartphones have apps that turn them into what they were designed for. If there's one thing that makes people stick to Apple, this is it.

I don't really have a lot to say here except that music, movies, TV shows, and apps are very well integrated that I have no complaints using it. iCloud is good but has flaws in document syncing. iCloud Backup is really a great backup solution for iOS devices and data for each app is retained once restored to a new iPhone. Transferring from one iPhone to another is seamless because of this feature. Photo Stream is another underrated but good feature. Pictures can be stored in the cloud these days but not everyone does that.

Conclusion

APPLE MADE A GREAT PIECE OF HARDWARE IN THIS PHONE. ALL IT NEEDS NOW IS BETTER SOFTWARE.

The iPhone 5 has been a pleasure to use, even for a technologically-inclined person like me. It's because of how well the hardware and software is integrated, and how the ecosystem has great support from developers and users alike. Apple keeps innovating in hardware which is amazing, but they are now lagging behind in software. Sure some parts of the hardware like the battery could use improvements, but the energy should be directed into doing great software because that's where Android is excelling at right now. I am hopeful that iOS 7 can change that, but I wish they could do more than just an overhaul of the user interface. There needs to be something that can wow us again and would really make us buy the next one.

For first-time smartphone owners, the iPhone 5 is a great choice although I would hold off a little longer since Apple's having an event next week and they're unveiling the next iPhone (possibly more than one?). After which, this phone will get cheaper if it stays in the lineup. If you're looking for a high-end smartphone but can't afford one, this would certainly catch your eye even more when the price drops.

iOS 7 for the Long Haul...

I just read this article from a writer at PhoneDog (read it here) about how he's not going back to iOS 6 because iOS 7 feels very familiar but has that much needed facelift. Last July 10th, I decided to go to Beta 3 in the hopes that it would be more usable than previous betas. After using it for days, I wanted to stick with using it. Despite the usual bugs you would find in a beta, Beta 3 proved to be usable for day-to-day use. Most of the apps I use don't crash as often anymore.

Almost a month later and now using Beta 4, they've made some welcome changes like having the subtle arrow that acts as a guide for the user to "Slide to Unlock". The arrows on the lock screen were traded for pill-shaded handles. The animations are faster than ever as we get closer to the final release. I think there will be two more betas before the Golden Master will be released to developers and the final version to all users. Until then, I'm sticking to iOS 7 Beta. Like the writer, I don't wanna go back.

The iOS 7 2-Week Beta Cycle

iOS 7 may be the most significant and most important thing Apple's going for right now. There may be a mixed bag when it comes to the design overhaul, but it may be what iOS needs right now.

That said, even Apple makes mistakes and there may be parts of the user interface that doesn't work well with users. This is why Beta software comes out early for Developers so that they can check out the new OS and make their apps jive with the new UI. When Beta 1 came out the same time iOS 7 was announced on June 10, it was just for the iPhone. 2 weeks later, the iPad got a taste of it in Beta 2. This morning (July 8th in the US), Beta 3 came out this time with more bug fixes and UI tweaks. What does this tell us?

I think Apple's 2-week cycle for Beta releases is good since it can help the developers in tweaking the apps well in preparation for the final release and at the same time, lets Apple improve the OS through immediate feedback from them. If they keep up the pace of the releases, here's the roadmap for iOS 7 Beta Releases:

• Beta 4 - July 22
• Beta 5 - August 5
• Beta 6 - August 19
• Beta 7 (if possible) - September 2

After Beta 6 or 7, they're gonna release a Golden Master to all developers. A week after that, the final version will be out for all users. Having the 2-week Beta cycle will be good since there will be a lot of opportunities to squash a lot of bugs well ahead of the final release. I really hope that Apple will hit the nail on the head with this one, and compelling hardware to come along with it.

The iPhone Experience: iPhone 4.

I never really posted a lot of iPhone experience posts. It's hard because I never had a major significant event that involved this. It's actually composed of thousands of little moments that made using this phone very satisfying.

Before getting into this, I'd like to say that I first got this phone with iOS 5 on it and it is locked to work with Globe SIMs. I upgraded to iOS 6 as soon as it came out and some opinions have changed since then. Android has also affected stuff I experienced with this phone since it has grown to be a formidable rival to Apple's platform. So here we go.

The iPhone 4, as Steve Jobs wants it to, "just works". Sure it may be almost 3 years old and two successors already exist after it that are better than this, but I never once complained about its overall usability. Even in 2013 where flagship phones already come out as early as February like the HTC One, the Xperia Z, and the Galaxy S4, I was never swayed from using this phone.

APPS

Apps in particular are one of the reasons why I never swayed away to an Android phone. There are games which are non-existent on competing mobile platforms like The Walking Dead or Infinity Blade. Even though popular apps like Flipboard and Path are already on Android, Tweetbot is still only on iOS. Here is my latest home screen, which right off the bat has a lot of apps. Three of the apps on this page of my home screen are iOS only. I know it's not much, but developers usually innovate in user interfaces of third-party apps. Until there is major shakeup with iOS devices that would sway them away, iOS is THE platform to develop for FIRST.

I can't really say that I have favorite apps because I like each one for different reasons. I use Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Flipboard, and The Verge more often though. My experience with each app vary though. There are times when it would slow down or crash but not all the time. Maybe that's because some of these apps are already taking advantage of the iPhone 5's power. I was getting concerned with how apps are storing stuff on my phone. Is there any way that we could remove just the data of the app but not the app itself? I found this pretty annoying when I have limited amount of space left because Facebook and Instagram store way too much data.

BATTERY LIFE

Battery life decreases over time in every phone. The iPhone 4 is no exception, but it decreases slowly. After almost a year having it, it still lasts for at least a day. Apps and games are the ones that kill this easily. The more graphics-intensive the app is, the faster my battery goes down. Cellular data clearly does not help the situation. There were times where I had to set my phone on Airplane Mode so that it doesn't consume battery while the screen was off. I just wish that Apple would just have a bigger battery on future phones.

iOS

Since I've been through three iterations of iOS, the mobile operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch, I could definitely say that Apple needs to change it up a bit. Not that it doesn't work at all because it's still as functional as it can be. There are just some parts at which I already got annoyed and wishing that Apple would implement an easier way to do such things. For example, the Settings app (shown in the right) is still clunky and there are things that could be integrated into a shortcut menu where you can toggle stuff on or off. My favorite feature of the OS though is Do Not Disturb. Even though glitches came to it when 2013 struck, it works like a charm. I can set a schedule as to the times that it will go on and off. When it's on, it really works. The only way I'll know when they're there is when I turn the screen on. Despite that, it's best for Apple to change the user interface and functionality of iOS. I'm sure it'll never be the same after Jony Ive will now be in charge of Human Interface. Having high hopes for iOS 7!

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I love having the iPhone 4. The design is still good despite the glass back, and there are still reasons for me to stick with it except that I want my phone to be faster. I've always wanted the latest and greatest and although this isn't it, I would still love to keep it. iOS needs to change (especially in UI) but they should maintain the quality of apps that are churning out in the App Store. If Apple still rests on their laurels, Samsung might just win this war altogether. As for my next phone? Well, you'll figure it out. Maybe you will, even before Path to Five is over. :)

The Galaxy S4: Samsung's iPhone 4S.

I've been particularly known by my friends as an Apple fanboy (which I wholeheartedly admit) but that doesn't mean I ignore the rest of the products that are churning out of everyone else's factories. Samsung in particular has come from just another no-name phone manufacturer to the No. 1 phone maker in the world. From their low-end Galaxy Pocket to the Dual SIM Galaxy Grand to the flagship device last year that is the Galaxy S III, Samsung has proven to be synonymous to Android last year.

Riding on the success of the S III, Samsung has launched the Galaxy S4 a while ago (March 14 in the US). At a glance, it looks like the S III but it's actually larger, thinner, and lighter. It has a 5" Full HD Super AMOLED screen, which is what's a trend in recent Android phones like the Sony Xperia Z and the HTC Butterfly (Droid DNA in the US). Depending on where you live, it either has a Samsung Exynos 5 (which has 8 CORES!) or a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but with Samsung's TouchWiz on top. Samsung has also put a lot of new features including Air View and Air Gesture, Dual Shot, Drama Shot, and S Health.

Specs aside, this marks a change in Samsung's strategy for their flagship device. Design looks the same while updating the specs? This sounds like what Apple would do! They would do something that the industry calls a "tick-tock" strategy in the annual refresh cycles of the phones. The major redesigns, such as the iPhone 3G, 4 and 5, are the ticks while the incremental updates, such as the 3GS and the 4S, are the tocks. It may sound like it wouldn't work but Apple was able to gain mindshare large enough that they could get away from sticking to one design for 2 years.

The S4 looking like the S III means that Samsung is adopting that same strategy. They are confident enough that sales won't be affected despite the same design. They want to prove to us that they're just as popular as Apple is. They have proven their worth in marketing, so they're here to prove that the strategy works for them. I personally think that since they copied Apple's strategy, I think it will work. Too bad I still hate the design and the specs wowed me but aren't gonna woo me over to them. Yep, still want the iPhone.

Temple Run 2 is Here! First Impressions

I was completely letting my guard down when I found out that Temple Run 2 was coming today! I've seen countless games that have similar gameplay as this over the months that the original was out and they were equally addictive. The first thing I did when I got home today was try out Temple Run 2 as it already released on the App Store for the Philippines. It already surpassed my expectations of a true sequel while still keeping the simplicity and fun of the original.

It may look the same but you can see here that they've changed the visuals and it really looks better. You may also notice that the bonus points bar has been replaced with the Power Meter where you double tap to activate the power on the top left (the default is Shield, which protects you from anything but falling) which is harder to fill up this time around because it needs around 200 coins for the meter to be full. I also found the game generally harder compared to the original because it now lets you rely more on your skill in this game rather than gathering more coins (although you still have that strategy present here).

Overall, I loved this game just as much, maybe even more than the original. I will update this for new developments with Temple Run 2 and I hope those who loved the original will love this too!

Here's the link to download (iOS only, Android coming next week): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/temple-run-2/id572395608

ENJOY!

How To: Get Paid iOS and Android Apps for Free!

(Welcome to a new post series called How To where I'll show you useful tips for anything technology-related or sometimes even outside. Let me know what you think about this in the comments below.)

I wanna share this with you guys because I want you to experience getting paid apps for free! I've done this for a long while now and I'm here to show you how to get them. Here are two of the best ways:

FreeMyApps (iOS & Android)

This service is one that I use most of the time. What you do here is you download Sponsor Apps (in my case, I have to wait since there aren't any sponsor apps that I haven't downloaded yet), try them for 30 seconds each, and get credits! It's that simple, really.

The first thing you need to do is click on this link (http://bit.ly/geekfreeapps) on your device and it will prompt you to install a profile (for iOS only) OR download the application (for Android only). After that, you can start downloading Sponsor Apps!

After accumulating points, you can claim gift cards from Amazon, iTunes, Hulu Plus, Google Play (newly added), and even Fandango! Unfortunately, you need a US iTunes account to earn credits and redeem the iTunes gift cards. Don't you worry, Apple's got you covered in this link (http://bit.ly/bpusitunes) in order to create one. Once you are able to use FreeMyApps, you can also share a link that they provide you in order to earn 200 credits.

FeaturePoints (iOS and Android)

At first, it may seem similar to FreeMyApps. Like it, you need to click on this link (http://bit.ly/geekfreepoints) on your iOS or Android device to start using this. It will also ask you to install a profile. Then, you download apps to earn points similar to earning credits on the first one. When you earn enough points, you claim gift cards too. 

Here's the difference: you can claim apps (like the Angry Birds Star Wars game), Paypal funds (AKA MONEY), and even REAL gadgets like the iPad mini! Another one is that for every friend you refer through your link that they provide, they earn a 50-point sign-in bonus and you earn half of the points they earned!

Free App Slots (iOS only)

Unlike the two I mentioned before this, this lets you earn credits simply by playing SLOTS! Click on this link (http://bit.ly/bpfreeappslots) to start. You just have to spin the wheel, and you get credits depending on the combination you got. You get 2 free spins a day and you can get more by sharing your link to friends. When you earn enough credits, you can get apps (which change weekly) and real iOS products (such as the iPad mini)! Like the previous two solutions, it will ask you to install a profile on your device.

There you go! THREE ways for you to get paid apps for free! Share this with your friends so that they too can harness the power of FREE and LEGAL paid apps!



UPDATE: I included Free App Slots as a solution. :)

UPDATE 2: I updated the links for sharing. Try these services now! :) Post now reflects that FeaturePoints is now available for Android.

iOS Needs A Visual Refresh

iOS 6 launched in September 2012, but still has the same user interface as when the iPhone was first introduced in 2007.

In 2007, Apple launched the iPhone in a world where RIM reigned supreme with their line of Blackberry smartphones. It ushered in a new way of using a phone, with its Capacitive Multi-Touch display and its revolutionary user inteface. It was indeed a great innovation because even though there were touch screen devices before, never has it gone mainstream like the iPhone.

Fast forward to 2012, where Android has now reigned supreme over the iPhone in terms of market share and most high-end Android phones are now on par (if not, better) than the iPhone. Android's UI has dramatically changed since its launch with the T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) in 2009. iOS hasn't changed much and still looks the same. It's been increasingly noticeable that iOS is getting STALE. 

For that reason, iOS NEEDS a visual refresh. Apple needs to prove that they can still innovate on the software side. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny the triumph of industrial design that Apple bestows upon the world. The software isn't really telling of what Apple can really do in software right now, especially with Google pulling all the stops in their iOS apps (the UI in the Google Maps iOS app is waaaaay better than the Apple Maps app).

There is a glimmer of hope though, as Jony Ive is now responsible for "Human Interface". That role, along with his current role in Industrial Design means that he could now focus the hardware and the software as a whole and how they could interact to give a great impact to the consumers. Also, they did a major shakeup which resulted in Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving, and many other Apple higher-ups getting the jobs that they left behind.

Apple, you've made the changes you need. Now show us what the "increased collaboration" can do.

iPhone 5 is Officially HERE! First Impressions From A Current iPhone User

An iPhone 5 display unit in a Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu.

Months after it was released in the US, the iPhone 5 will be available to customers in the Philippines, as well as more than 50 other countries on December 14. 

GLOBE and SMART are currently duking it out for the attention of the customers so that they would buy iPhone 5s from them. Tweets from news sites and telco representatives are reporting on their respective launch parties:

The stage is all set for the #GlobeiPhone5 launch event at new Glorietta. twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/…
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) December 13, 2012

At Dillingers with @smart_kimberly :-) Visit us here! We're really excited for the #SmartiPhone5 launch!! twitter.com/SMART_Tob/stat…
— SMART Tob (@SMART_Tob) December 13, 2012

Here in Cebu City, where I live, I managed to get first-hand experience with the iPhone 5 since it was on display at the Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu today. I was so ecstatic that I had to try it as soon as I saw it! Remember, these are just first impressions. This means that I only had a few minutes with the phone since it was a display unit in the store. Here we go..

Thin and Light? CERTAINLY.

The first thing I noticed when trying out the iPhone 5 is that it is really lighter! According to Apple, it only weighs 112g. It really feels very light in the hand, that if it wasn't for the thing that holds it to the podium, I might have dropped it. Good thing they went for an aluminum back this time in order for it to be more durable than the 4 and 4S.

 

It is thinner as well, I tried comparing it to my iPhone 4 and there is a noticeable difference at 7.6 mm. I could easily clamp more of the iPhone 5's screen with my hand. The industrial design is simply unmatched by any other manufacturer out there. I was truly amazed by the weight and thinness of this phone.

The 4-Inch Screen

When I saw that the iPhone 5 had a larger screen, it was a mixed bag for me. Although it would be a good thing, I wasn't so sure how the apps that are not updated would work. Good thing Apple decided to put black bars on the sides so that apps would not look weird. On the black model, it isn't obvious as the black bars match very well with the phone so it seems that the phone got taller without the increase in screen size. 

Of course, the apps that take advantage of the new 4-inch screen look amazing. Watching video and listening to music while looking at full album art is nice. While reading articles from tech sites like The Verge, I could read a lot more than I could on the iPhone 4 I have now. It's amazing how even a half-inch screen bump matters. No wonder Android's been doing it ever since.

A6 Processor = (A5 Processor x 2) = (A4 Processor x 4)

It wouldn't be a new iPhone without a speed bump. The iPhone 5 now has a dual-core A6 processor that is clocked at 1GHz (although there are times that it would clock up to 1.3GHz). This equates to more power and better performance and I have to say, it's VERY NOTICEABLE, especially when using it against the iPhone 4. Despite the larger screen, apps web pages load quicker, and Siri responds faster.

LTE is nonexistent (YET)

Unfortunately, the LTE component of the iPhone 5 is inactive here. This is a bit disappointing even though Apple has to test the LTE networks of both Globe and Smart here in the Philippines before activating this. Besides, they haven't launched their LTE networks for smartphones so it doesn't make sense to promote this with LTE unless Globe or Smart surprises us.


Those are my first impressions on the iPhone 5. As an iPhone 4 user, I REALLY WANT THIS PHONE because it makes the one I have really slow. HAHA. This phone is really worth the time and money that it is spent on being made. 

Comment below for suggestions on what I should do with an iPhone 5 OR maybe find me a sponsor for one? :) Just comment below for your opinions. Til then, guys!

Dear Philippines: Do Not Buy an iPhone 4S (Yet)!

Source: technobuffalo.com

As you may have heard and seen now, the iPhone 5 has been released in the US and 30 more countries, with 22 of them just released today. This means that the 2 previous generations of the iPhone has their prices cut off, with the 4S now costs $99 and the 4 is now FREE (based on US prices, on a 2-year contract with a wireless carrier).

It also means that the price of the 4S that the local telcos are pretty inconsistent with the ones in the US. There are even tech-savvy Filipinos who realize this and either shell out tons of cash to get the latest right away or wait for it to arrive here.

It has come to my attention that the telcos are still pushing to sell the 4S at the same price as it was before the iPhone 5 came out and there are people who actually buy it. Sure there are promos to lower that price but not everyone can avail such.

From a fellow Filipino, I advise you to NOT get the 4S until the telcos announce the iPhone 5. If you feel that there isn't much difference, you can just get the 4S at a cheaper price (depends if the telco will still offer it). I sincerely don't want anyone to regret their purchase.

The iPhone 5 is Still A Great Smartphone

apple.com

After months and months of speculation, Apple finally launches the iPhone 5. The thing is, bloggers have been putting out rumors about this product so much that by the time that it was announced, some people were underwhelmed. I can't blame them because all the rumors that pointed to this were true. To be honest, I was really hoping that Tim Cook and Co. would surprise me but unfortunately everything was predictable.

But this doesn't mean that it isn't a great smartphone. It still has iOS, the EASIEST-to-use mobile operating system ever despite the competition heating up with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Windows Phone 8. And with iOS 6, new features were still introduced like the new Maps application and the Panorama mode. I gotta say though, Apple has to step up in the user interface if it wants the iPhone to last for generations.

Also, two of the biggest features that the iPhone really needed are now here in the iPhone 5, and they're both fours. One is 4G LTE, the fastest cellular network available. This means that you can surf the web, download apps, and stream HD movies with blazing-fast speeds! With the iPhone 5, LTE could go mainstream AND HOPEFULLY, will not slow everyone else's data connection down. The other one is the 4-inch screen, which is a big change in itself since the iPhone has been carrying a 3.5-inch screen since its inception in 2007. Apple obviously understands about the comfort of holding a phone with one hand and just made the phone taller and not wider so that no one will be alienated with holding it.

Apple just wants to make sure that average people would enjoy the iPhone 5 even though there were changes to be made. This phone may not please everyone, but it will be one of the reasons why the smartphone market will continue to grow. 

Sept. 12 + Apple: What to Expect, What to Do and NOT Do

theverge.com

As the invite that Apple gave to people says, It's almost here.

After months of rambling rumors, leaks, videos, and pictures, we are now about to find out what Apple has in store for us. I have this list of what to expect from this event, what to do, and NOT to do in preparation for this event. Read on as I don't want you to do anything dumb as we draw near to this.

What to Expect (and not expect):

The next iPhone - iPhone 5, or whatever they're calling it, the signs are all pointing to the next iPhone being launched in this event. Expected features include LTE, a bigger screen, a smaller dock connector, and more.

New iPods - It's been a while since there have been design changes on the iPod lineup. They deserve a much needed refresh as it is rumored that there will be new ones coming side-by-side with the new iPhone. This includes a 4-inch screen iPod touch, and a redesigned iPod nano that may have iOS design features. Here's to hoping for cheaper "gateway drugs" to Apple products.

iPad mini (?) - This elusive device has been in the rumor mill for quite some time and although it is rumored to launch on this event, signs point to October for the launch event of this to put the spotlight on the iPhone.

More goodies from iOS 6 - I've been testing out iOS 6 lately, and I have to say that the bag of tricks they have are few. As an iPhone user, I sincerely hope that what they showed in WWDC last June was all that it could do. There should be that one reason to buy any new iOS device.

What to Do (and NOT to Do):

Ask if your carrier supports 4G LTE - Smartphones these days now carry 4G LTE, at least in the US and some parts of the world. A way to check that is by looking at the specs of the New iPad HERE, then check the frequency that your carrier uses for 4G LTE. If they match, there is a good chance that the new iPhone will support it.

Don't lose hope though, as there is no final specs on the new iPhone, things can change.

DON'T BUY AN iPHONE RIGHT NOW - By now, I think you've realized this one. Just in case you didn't get it, THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO BUY ONE NOW unless you're on a budget and you REALLY REALLY need it. Or just be patient and look out for September 12 (September 13 Manila time) to check if the new one's worth it. 


Here you go. I hope I've helped you in at least the basic details on the event. If you want to follow the coverage, check out The Verge and other tech sites for detailed coverage.

Apple, please don't disappoint me.

Thoughts on Apple's WWDC 2012

(This is the first post where you comment and get a chance to win an iPod shuffle or an 8GB USB flash drive! Comment here! :D)


(All pictures here: Copyright © 2012 Apple Inc.)


Let me start by saying this: I used to hate Apple. I would rant that an iPad is just a "giant iPhone" and even said that the iPhone was a gimmick and only a few people would actually buy this due to its price. As usual, I would bash the Macs for being the most expensive computers ever made. Well, that was the old me. The me that used to hate Apple has now turned into an Apple user. What can I say? I fell in love with the mobile devices.


It all started with an iPod touch. Introduced in 2007 months after the release of the original iPhone, it would be a device that has the best of what the iPhone can do except of the phone capabilities. I owned a first-gen iPod touch and I was still contented with the content I had with it. Since then, I followed Apple's announcements, news, and even posted opinions here in my blog about what Apple and its competitors are doing.


In this post though, I will focus on Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote presentation last Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) and put out my unbiased opinion on what Apple has in store for us over the course of the next few months.


By the way, I'm sorry if this was overdue, but I had to finish my "Final Days of Summer" and OJT Series in order for me to do this complete reaction to this event and all the new stuff they released.


Here are the three things that highlighted this year's keynote:


MacBook Pro with Retina Display

I gotta say, I was surprised that they actually did this. Rumors spread around that there would be Retina displays throughout the whole MacBook line but never I expected that at least one of them would really get that significant upgrade. So, here it is, the new king of the MacBooks. This beast has a lot going for it, so here are the base and the maximum specs:

• 15.4" Retina Display with a 2880x1800 resolution
• 2.3GHz 3rd generation quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6MB shared L3 cache (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) (processor up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz)
• 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory (up to 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory)
• 256GB flash storage (up to 768GB)
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
• 720p Facetime HD camera
• Connection ports: Magsafe 2 port, 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports, 2 Thunderbolt ports, HDMI port, 3.5mm headphone jack, SDXC card slot
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networking
• Backlit keyboard
• 7 hours battery life

Honestly, I can't believe they shoved all this into a laptop that's 0.71" thin and weighs 4.46 pounds! The design is simply well-thought and Apple clearly applied what they've learned over the years. Although the lack of an ethernet port is a worry since this is mostly aimed at professionals, there's a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter so I hope this wouldn't be much of an issue. Overall, this notebook gives more compelling reasons for people to buy this, although a big turn-off would be its price: it starts at $2199. :( Still, I would recommend this to anyone who can shelve off a LOT of money. Moving on...




OS X Mountain Lion




Yes, yes. After a year with the Lion, we get another update which is Mountain Lion. This update focuses more on how the Mac can connect with your Apple mobile devices even better. This update includes Notification Center, which was carried over from iOS and implements it in the same way, Game Center, also from iOS which supports cross-platform gaming over Macs and iOS devices (which I think is cool), and AirPlay Mirroring, where with the help of an Apple TV, you can stream whatever's on the screen of your Mac to your TV.


To me, this feels like Lion with a few good updates and improvements that people will enjoy and I'm sure that $19.99 price would convince all the current Mac users to upgrade. Moreso, the new buyers of Macs will get this for FREE. It's coming this July.



iOS 6

This may be considered the highlight for users of Apple's famous iPhone and iPad, and the iPod touch. iOS 6 brings more to the table as they bring another package of features which help boost their usability and benefits the user. Here are some of the highlight features of the new major software update:


Maps - The most-rumored new feature of iOS 6, the Maps application has now been revamped and gone are any references of Google Maps. Everything in the new Maps is now made by Apple (since they bought a lot of mapping technology companies) and has now new features. The iPhone can now do turn-by-turn navigation, a feature that has long been in the Android ecosystem for a long time. Another feature is Flyover, where it displays 3D satellite images of major cities, which looks amazing. Other features include Traffic, which notifies users of realtime traffic.


Siri - Siri is now smarter in iOS 6. It can now show you sports scores and info, movie times, restaurant reservations, powers the turn-by-turn navigation in Maps, can accept Tweet requests and Facebook posts, and launch apps. It's becoming a more useful personal assistant.


Facebook - Speaking of Facebook posts, Facebook is now integrated into iOS. You can now post Photos, web pages, and more to Facebook using the same functionality done with Twitter. You can now also "Like" apps and more.


Passbook - Passbook is where you can store your virtual gift cards, membership cards, airline and movie tickets, and even sports games tickets in one single place. It even notifies you if you're nearby the certain place where that pass is needed.

Other features include Phone improvements with Remind Me Later or Reply With Message, Safari enhancements with Offline Reading List and Full Screen Landscape mode, Shared Photo Streams where you can share certain photos with friends including comments and likes, FaceTime over Cellular, Pull to Refresh and VIP Inbox in Mail, and Guided Access for easy use of the iPhone and iPad with Single App mode.


Software enhancements are great but I wish there was even more. A UI redesign would be nice, but I think they're either holding it off for the next iPhone or not doing it at all, which is sad. I still like the enhancements they bring to the 4th generation iPod touch, iPhone 3GS and later, and iPad 2 & iPad 3rd Gen. Sad to see the original iPad go as well. Times have changed though.




Overall, Apple's WWDC 2012 stayed in the tradition of new things. The new hardware was a surprise, but the software improvements fell a little bit flat for me. I hope that we will see a shocking Fall as Apple strikes back against the Android army. Best wishes, Apple.