Tag: iPhone

OnePlus 8 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro

This comparison is close to my heart for I’m about to renew my phone this year.

In 2017, I passed up on the iPhone 8/8 Plus/X and went for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 instead, primarily because of the price. Never regretted it. The Android of recent years is leaps ahead of its predecessors of the early 2010’s. Gone are the days of overheating Samsung Galaxy S2.

Anyway, the guy in the video above drew the following conclusion: Continue reading

Can I use the GOMO Sim in a Pocket Wifi?

GOMO is so far the only cellular service that offer 25GB for ₱299 and that don’t expire. But is the sim only usable in a smartphone? Can I also stick it into a pocket wifi or a prepaid home wifi, to enjoy the unexpiring data?

I was looking for the answer around the web, but couldn’t find any. So I hit them up on Twitter, and here’s what I got:

So yes, you can use the GOMO Sim in a pocket wifi, Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi, or any unlocked/open-line wifi router device, only that you have to activate the sim first in a mobile phone (Android or iOS/iPhone) app.

How Apple Could Bring Back the Glory to the iPhone?

As soon as the iPhone 11 series of iPhones hit the shelves in September, rumors about the next iPhones hit the rumor mill, like the new offerings don’t at all tickle the fancy of most people, the normal iPhone users and tech bloggers (and vloggers) alike. After all, except for the triple rear camera configuration, not much has changed in the design department from the previous iPhone.

MacRumors suggests there will still remain 3 varieties of the iPhone next year, and following this year’s naming convention, they’ll be called the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, shunning away from the S-intermediary name.

iMore is saying Apple might bring back the metal frame just like that in the iPhone 4. That metal frame is iconic. I used to own an iPhone 4, and I loved it. I would have kept using that phone if not for its outdated specs.

The iconic iPhone 4

According to SBD, there is a good chance that the new iPhone generation brings in a 3D camera. I wonder if Apple will once again lead the innovation in the smartphone arena with this feature, if ever this comes to fruition.

Of course, we can’t ignore the obvious — 5G connectivity. Telcos might not be ready with the widespread connectivity given their current infrastructure, but Apple wouldn’t want to wait that long to keep in line.

For me, though, I liked the idea of a metal frame iPhone. Also, what kept the iPhone ahead of its competition in the past, in my opinion, is the idea of One iPhone to rule them all. I mean, if you get an iPhone, you get the iPhone. If you’re a little short in your budget, you get the older earlier versions.

Lastly, the price. It’s hard for me to stomach paying for a phone for more than $1,000. With how the market received the iPhone 11 series prices, as reflected in their sales figure, Apple should know better next time.

The Search for the Android Todo App with Persistent Notification

In an effort to stay organized and productive, you whip out a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the list of your impending todos. As you move along your day, you tick off those tasks that you have completed, leaving the unmarked ones for tomorrow, hopefully.

A couple of days later, that piece of paper is now buried in various pages of office printouts and drafts, leaving the rest of your todos ignored, and thus, undone.

Therefrom, you installed a todo app on your smartphone. That way, you can schedule important tasks that need to be done on a particular time. Your phone will remind you when that task is due. Efficient and effective, you thought. Until the day you were in a meeting for a while and left your phone on your desk gathering notifications after notifications.

Overwhelmed by these notifications, you decided to clear them all. And thus, you missed your tasks again– ignored, undone! Continue reading

How to completely turn off mobile data in Android?

When you own a smartphone, are you expected to be subscribed to a data plan with it?

Apparently, the answer is yes if you own an Android device.

Turning off Mobile/Cellular Data in the Settings

In iPhones, if you turn cellular data off, it means no cellular data — completely. As long as it stays off, you will not be charged for any unintentional background data use.

That is not the case for Android. Apparently, even if you turn off mobile data in your Android device and solely use wifi for internet connection, the system still uses mobile data and connects to the internet from time to time.

So now you can’t fault me when my money mostly goes to my ever reliable iPhone in the battle between the two systems. Continue reading

The real reason why I’d still go with the iPhone

It’s already 2017. You’d think Android devices have already caught up with the iPhone, especially in terms of performance.

Just watch the video below. Just remember that the iPhone 7 Plus was released the earliest among the phones tested, which include Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6, Google Pixel, and OnePlus 3T.

The iPhone experience is beyond specs sheets

galaxy-note-7

I was at the mall yesterday and I was looking through the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on display. Personally, I found it so gorgeous that I kept thinking to myself how come I’m still sticking with the iPhone when the Samsung Galaxy series of phones (and even Android for that matter) have gone a long way since I last owned a Samsung Galaxy S2.

But then, later in the evening, I found this video: Continue reading

Evernote’s New Pricing Plans

Evernote revealed a couple of weeks ago that they’re changing their pricing plans:

Beginning today, the prices for our Plus and Premium tiers will change for new subscriptions, and access from Evernote Basic accounts will be limited to two devices.

So, for Basic accounts like mine, I’m now limited to accessing my Evernote notes in up to 2 devices. Although Evernote‘s regional pricing plans for the Philippines offer a much lower price at PHP550 per year (roughly less than $12/yr.) for the Evernote Plus account, I’m not too keen on paying for something that I can actually get for free in other services. Continue reading

The Mobile Gaming Phenomenon that is ‘Pokemon Go’

Ever since Pokemon Go was announced in March and eventually launched in July (initially in select countries), it has taken the world by storm. Social media friends have started posting their virtual Pokemon finds, along with their own punchlines, which in the process captured the curiosity of those who are uninitiated in the Pokemon Go world. Eventually, every one has to try it out! That, regardless of news about armed robbers using this same mobile game to find their victims.

pokemon-go

So, what really is Pokemon Go?

Pokemon Go is a free mobile game for iOS and Android developed by Niantic. It is a GPS-based augmented reality game that allows players to capture, train and battle virtual Pokemon that appear throughout the real world. Although it is free, it supports in-app purchases for players who are maybe too lazy to go out and catch them outside their comfort zones and instead take some shortcuts.

This video trailer pretty much summarizes the game in less than 2 minutes: Continue reading

Philippine Banks Catching Up with Technology

Banks should be at the forefront of technology, especially in this internet age, delivering real-time data about their customers and their accounts.

The Philippine banks may not be as nimble in adapting the latest technologies in rendering their services as that of banks from other countries, but at least we know that the effort is there in trying to catch up.

Internet Banking

Disclaimer: I currently own Metrobank, BPI and Security Bank accounts, although I used to own PNB, BDO, EastWest and even Equitable-PCI (before their merger with BDO) bank accounts.

From my experience, the first to offer the most reliable (in terms of security, uptime, utility, and convenience) internet banking service was Metrobank. I have to admit, though, that BPI was able to catch up and in my own opinion (sans the downtimes that recently plagued their online banking) offer the best internet banking experience, especially when coupled with the convenience in managing your investment accounts via BPI Express Online.

Continue reading