PH Gadgets: Android phones

Showing posts with label Android phones. Show all posts

Who needs a projector on the fly? I know students do. People who need to present to über-busy clients, in a 5 to 20-minute sliver of time that may be given to them, do so also. Seminars held in a paradise nestled deep into the mountainous boondocks where lugging a 3-lb laptop isn't exactly a happy thought, employees needing to commute from one branch to the other who need to travel light, these are the potential consumers of a portable projector.

With technology moving to pack greater functionality in smaller packages, handy projectors are now available for anyone wanting to snap them up. In fact, one may be able to buy one off of CDR-King. But who'd want one of those things, still clunky by all means, when one can have a projector right on their phones?

Yup. Someone thought about sticking a projector into a Samsung Galaxy. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Beam. One of PC Mag's picks for MWC 2012's 5 Best Phones.

Aside from the projector, here are the specs at a glance:

8GB Internal Storage
768MB RAM
1 GHz CPU Speed, Dual-Core Cortex-A9
5MP Cam, autofocus, LED Flash

Not super-stellar, given that the trend now leans towards Quad-Core, but not shoddy by any means, either. These could possibly qualify as mid-range specs, now that everything is bigger and faster in Android gadget hardware.

But when you think about the fact that you have a projector ready in your pockets, the relatively lower specs may be a good enough concession.

What do you think? Would you snap up one of these babies?

And by the way, this isn't the first time that Samsung gave a shot at creating a projector phone.

In-Depth Reviews Here:

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Photo Credits: GSM Arena

Samsung Galaxy SII: 2011's Phone of the Year for the T3 Gadget Awards. We at Android Alliance Ph found Samsung Galaxy SII users and give us their first-hand stories of their experiences with the Samsung Galaxy SII.

So, shall we?

First things first: What went into your decision to purchase your specific Android?

RaF: It's the best competition to the iPhone the market has to offer.

Achilles Tan: I wanted to upgrade my original Android phone: the LG Optimus One, since it was too slow. I began looking for phones with better specs and stumbled upon Samusung Galaxy S2 on gsmarena.com.

What were your considerations?

RaF: Text, Call, Camera

Achilles Tan: I was first impressed with the Processor speed which is 1.2ghz (Dual Core), and the camera was my second benchmark at 8.0 MP.

Price was a factor, but I wanted the phone (SII) really bad and gave myself reasons to rationalize buying it, though I wouldn't spend more than 30k for it.

What were your options?

RaF: SGS2, SGS1, iPhone4 (Not a chance that I'll get this), Nokia Something.

Achilles Tan: It was this or the LG Optimus Black.

Why did you finally choose your specific Android?

RaF: Friend gave me a good deal.

Achilles Tan: I was convinced with its performance and reviews. It was dubbed the iPhone killer and won the phone of the year award. So that stapled my decision to REALLY get this phone.

What were your first impressions upon unboxing?

RaF: Gotta love the big screen.

Achilles Tan: It's so light!

What did you like best about your Android?

RaF: Alot of cheap/free apps.

Achilles Tan: The SG S2 has everything I need in a phone and even more. I could watch videos in 720p!

What did you dislike the most?

RaF: Short battery life, battery charging takes so long.

Achilles Tan: Some minor glitches occasional phone reboots, but nothing that turned me off completely.

Would you recommend this model?

RaF: Yes

Achilles Tan: Yes

Any other thoughts?

RaF: SGS2 kicks Apple's ass anytime!

Achilles Tan: I am eagerly waiting for ICS update for S2.

There you have it guys, the readers' first-hand review of the Samsung Galaxy SII. We'll have more of these in the coming days!

If you have questions or concerns regarding certain phone units, send them over at talk-to-us@androidalliance.ph.

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"RaF" is a SAP-ABAP It Consultant currently based in Mandaluyong City.

Achilles Tan is an Android enthusiast, an active member of the Philippine Android Community, who works from home in an international IT Company. He is based in Iloilo City.

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Photo Credits: MobileSyrup

Are you an Android phone addict? Do you want to be able to buy several Androids throughout the course of the year? Here is how you may be able to save on your Android phone purchases:

One great thing about the Android is that it is an Open Source platform. Meaning, it's not tied to the company that made it, and Google has built a business model around it that allows it to keep the platform free, open and highly customizable to whichever company wants to make use of it on their phones. Thus, if you hate the fact that there is only one and only one single form factor for the iPhone, then the Android may be a better alternative for you.

But what if you just wanna have them all?

Let's face it. Not everyone earns Php 50,000 a month. Let alone Php 35,000 or Php 20,000. Thus, it may not be realistic to keep a bad Android phone addiction. However, if you're serious on getting your phone every month or every other month, how about using these Android phone-acquisition strategies?

Buy Used. If collecting Androids is your hobby, then you honestly don't need to buy every single Android you earn, brand new. You may buy your Androids on the cheap, used, from either Sulit.com.ph, TipidCP.com, or even eBay.com/eBay.ph or other websites with User Feedback and Ratings systems. This way, you can ensure that you will be buying from a reputable, trustworthy seller.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that you buy ONLY from sellers with 100% Positive feedback. If there are Negative feedbacks, check what the nature of the customer dissatisfaction is. If it's something you can live with, like either an isolated case or something that got resolved later, then proceed to buy from the seller. If the negative feedbacks are serious, like at least two people with defective items who were not compensated properly, then it's time to look elsewhere.

Get A Postpaid Plan. Phone plans are so affordable lately, that you can get a Samsung Galaxy Y at Plan 349 on Smart Gold, Plan 350 on Sun Cellular, and Plan 499 on Globe Telecom. Also postpaid plans are fully customizable and budget-friendly lately, so you will be able to find one that will suit your needs. When you find the perfect plan for you, you may also enjoy being able to get another phone, on retention/loyalty rewards, every 2 years, or depending on the number of months stated on your contract with your network.

Get Multiple Plans. This is a little crazy, but given the unlimited offers for the three giant networks and their sub-networks, you may find that while you need your Sun plan with the significant other, you may also need the Globe plan for your workmates or business partners, or a Smart plan for your family in the province. Given that Unlimited calls and texts are readily available on Sun for Php 350 per month, or Smart and Globe at Php 599 a month, each, getting 3 brand spanking new Android phones to have and to keep at the end of every two years may be worth the monthly billS.

Buy And Sell. This is probably the craziest notion of all. Buy a new phone, and sell it for less than the original price after a while. While this would usually mean that you would have to transfer contacts every single time you give up your phone to sell it, on an Android, you won't need to worry about the tedious task of transferring every entry. Contacts are regularly synced with your Google Account, so you will be able to retrieve your Address Book as soon as you register your next Android. All you will have to do will be to backup and then wipe out the other data on the Android you're selling.

Feeding an Android addiction may be costly, but if you think it's worth it, these four ideas will give you the spark and the excuses to fuel that Android phone addiction.

Don't blame us for your Android phone buying mania, though. :p

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Photo Credits: Shake Them All and screenshot

Cherry Mobile, Torque and MyPhone, as we've mentioned in previous posts, have caused a stir in the Philippine mobile telephony market when they entered the scene. As is wont of Filipinos, we tend to be skeptical, even downright critical of things "Made In The Philippines."

We don't trust brands made in local shores, thinking that these are not going to be as sturdy as those made in, say, Japan.

However, there's one thing I've increasingly discovered, as my days in the Android beat add up: Cherry Mobile's Androids are worth trusting.

As a sidenote: I'm not sure how or where Torque gets their stocks, but given that their Androids are powered by MediaTek processors, I'm not sure if they perform as well as Androids powered by Qualcomm chips. I'm not sure if they have the same system of procuring models like Cherry Mobile, but we'll work on finding that out, in the days to come.

Now back to scheduled programming.

I started to develop a greater appreciation of my Cherry Mobile Nova, as well as the rest of CM's Android Lineup when I had to read through Geekier Chick's sources. I discovered that the Cherry Mobile Nova is actually a Spice Mi-300 in disguise.

In like manner, the other models in the Cherry Mobile Android Lineup are actually whitebox models, rebranded:

Cherry Mobile Cosmo -- Spice Mi-310
Cherry Mobile Nova -- Spice Mi-300
Cherry Mobile Orbit -- Gigabyte GSmart G1310
Cherry Mobile Stellar -- Gigabyte GSmart G1345
Cherry Mobile Magnum HD -- Huawei Ideos X6
Cherry Mobile Magnum 2x -- Micromax A85

If you take a look at the OEM brands that Cherry Mobile chose to use for its lineup, you'd realize how sturdy and actually impressive these are. These OEM brands are definitely not small fry, in terms of hardware. With Huawei Ideos X6 alone, you'd know that your machine has been crafted with attention to detail, and built to last.

When I realized that the Cherry Mobile Android Lineup had been chosen this way, I realized then that this lineup is not to be tossed out like their, sorry to use the term, "disposable" models. The Cherry Mobile Android Lineup was meant to give you your money's worth.

Suffice to say, hearing Sheila* tell me that Cherry Mobile's high-end lineup had the fewest returns of all the Cherry Mobile products was no longer a surprise. Rather, it was a confirmation about what I realized since coming across the information that Cherry Mobile's OEM's were among the better and sturdier brands of the international mobile phone market. And what I realized is this: Cherry Mobile's Androids are not meant to be crossed off one's list. In fact, they are good enough to compete with the likes of the established brands. If it's higher value for a good bargain that you're looking for, look no further than Cherry Mobile.

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Photo Credits: Pinoy Ambisyoso

*Sheila is a sales staff of Play/Cherry Mobile kiosk in SM City Iloilo. We first mentioned her here.

I'm back! This Android Searcher went on a two week vacation in my hometown, Bacólod City, to clear my thoughts and write better articles for Android and your convenience. Just as when I thought I would not be seeing Androids for a couple of weeks, I was wrong. I went to Comer.cio Food Market to check out the food, when I was introduced by some friends to their relatives who also went to the event. When I mentioned I was on the lookout for anything Android-related as The Android Searcher for AndroidAlliance.ph, a friend's relative immediately quipped that he has an Android phone. In a city where iPhones and Blackberries dominate, there are actually some people who took up the Android challenge and, soon enough, turned into a Android-loyalist.

His phone? An LG P500 Optimus One. Bought just months ago, he has been a contented Android user since. Asked with what he liked with Android, he immediately mentioned the free apps. In his work as a telemarketer, he was able to download apps for his day to day chores. Apps like online organizers for jotting down little notes, mention it and there is an app out there for it. The greatest advantage of Androids for him is its affordability and the system is pretty much upgradeable to the latest version of Android. His contentment with Android encouraged his cousin to also buy the same phone. Pressed for comments regarding my usual observation of Android phones having the signature lag, he said that, on his end, he did not experience any annoying lags in his Android for months of use.

In the course of our conversation, I mentioned to him my recent discovery of the Sky Vega Racer with the inbuilt Skype function. He told me that that was the kind of phone he was looking for; I immediately told him, however, that it is not yet available in the Philippines. His apparent enthusiasm gave him the idea of actually buying one in a planned trip to South Korea in the middle of this year. I guess we might be seeing a first Filipino user of the Vega Racer here. After a few pleasantries and some cold drinks, he thanked me for my valuable input about Android phones. Bacólod City may not have the epiphany of how awesome Androids are, just yet, but with people like him, we just might get there soon enough.

I have personally not yet recovered from the knowledge that Android Superphones are coming our way. Yes, it's already awesome to know that Cherry Mobile has already rebranded the Micromax A85 and it's a Dual-Core Android running on 8GB of Internal Storage, at around 2/3 the price of regular premium smartphones of the same specs, and yet, close on the heels of this release, we already have a new innovation looming on the Android horizon: Quad-Core Smartphones.

It's not even 2012 yet, and already, a Chinese company has announced their entry into the Quad-Core Android arena, set for making a splash in May 2012.

The Meizu MX caught GSM Arena's attention with its iPhone-esque form factor, powered with an Android "brain." With an Exynos Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 chipset and 16GB Internal Storage and 1GB RAM, could you go wrong with anything at that?

How about look like a standard Chinaphone, in terms of display?

Judging from the photos of the Meizu MX, its display colors may be washed-out, seen live. Even the review at GSM Arena cited the Meizu MX display's failings in quality, not to mention the fact that its 8MP camera still leaves much to be desired, a tragic, though rather standard, Chinaphone flaw.

But looking at the Meizu MX's profile and form factor, you'd have to agree that it does look pretty, well, pretty.

And it doesn't hurt to remember that 1.4 GHz in CPU speed, 16GB in Internal Storage and 1GB of RAM makes for one pretty powerful Android.

How would the Meizu MX fare as a Quad-Core Android offering? By May2012, we will know.

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Photo Credits: GSM Arena

Remember those phones we still call the "Safeguard" phones? Back when GSM was still an innovative tech breakthrough and when top-of-the-line cellphones were still Nokia and Siemens, and when Bosch still had a phone lineup, there was that phone with the "Safeguard," the soap, form factor.

That was the Alcatel. And even then, they still prefixed their lineup with the "OneTouch" brand.

Who could forget the "Safeguard" phone, eh?

But most of us probably did. Especially when Nokia became THE brand to beat.

Just like Motorola, they experienced a certain degree of being pushed into obscurity for a while. Then in recent years, Alcatel started regaining lost ground with a line of good Dual-SIM and WiFi-capable phones. They also joined the QWERTY phone craze, and their lineup now consists of a strong product line of QWERTY and Dual-SIM offerings.

Today, just like the Motorola, they also moved to up their ante in relevance with the Android. Alcatel Mobile Philippines now has five Android phone models to its name.

The most recent model they've released is the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 918N, also known as the OneTouch Blaze Glory.

This phone is powered by Gingerbread, 3G, and 650MHz of MediaTek CPU processing speed, 150MB Internal Storage.

Ho-humm. So what else is new?

How about:

Dual-SIM Standby
WiFi Hotspot
HSDPA/HSUPA at 7.2MBPS max download/5.76MBPS max upload

All at Php 5,999?

There has been a clamor for Dual-SIM Androids of late, and the closest competitors to this, as Dual-SIM Androids, are only the Cherry Mobile Stellar and the Lenovo A60.

The closest competitors to this model, in terms of price, would be the single-SIM Samsung Galaxy Y and the Cherry Mobile Cosmo, but both are single-SIM Androids.

Should you want to get a more affordable Dual-SIM Android, there is the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 890D, at Php 4,399. The only drawback is a smaller, resistive screen. The Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory has a Capacitative touchscreen, so there would be a better touch screen experience with this one.

For its price and its specs, the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory is the phone to have. In terms of durability, Alcatel phones do have their record of surviving quite a bit of user misuse. However, you'd have to see tomorrow's Dual-SIM Android specs shootout for a more informed comparison. Also, take note that Alcatel has indicated that this is a PROMO price. Though, Alcatel has been known to keep their phones at "Promo" prices for months.

Things sure are looking awesome on the Android front! Later today, my review of the custom ROM I installed on my Cherry Mobile Nova, the Firetrap Lollipop.

Enjoy this chilly Tuesday!

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Photo Credits: Alcatel Mobile Philippines

The Philippines is a multi-SIM phone-crazy country. Thanks to the three networks' Unlimited Call and Text services, Filipinos prefer to keep at least two SIM Cards so that their contacts will be able to text them when these are on unlimited promos. Thus, the multi-SIM phone industry is booming in the country. In fact, it is because of these conditions that the Philippines' local mobile phone brands were able to build their businesses around.

So speaking of multi-SIM phones, how about we add one thing more to your 2012 wishlist?

How about the dual-SIM version of the Samsung Galaxy Y?

Announced just yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy Y will have its Dual-SIM twin brother, the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos. This entry-level Samsung will boast of better specs:

384MB RAM
3.15MP Camera

The ROM is at 512MB, though it does not state how much of that is user-available Internal Storage.

What is exciting about this new Sammy is that there is a possibility that this may be able to host the data connection of the two separate SIM cards. As to the veracity of that, we will have to confirm.

Are you excited? I am.

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Photo Credits: GSM Arena

Thank You: IntoMobile

As I mentioned earlier, I was going to give the long-overdue in-depth review of the Cherry Mobile Nova. I had written my first impressions about it on my personal Tech blog, but that was that: first impressions. Four months into using my Cherry Mobile Nova, and here is my verdict:

The Experience:

Unboxing my Cherry Mobile Nova was painless -- I carried it out of its box right after it was paid for in Shangri-la EDSA Mall. I asked the ladies in the store to already install its screen protector. Cherry Mobile was considerate enough to bundle the phone with a screen protector and a 2GB Micro-SD card. Asking for the screen protector to be installed on it was probably the best decision I've made for my Cherry Mobile Nova. Back in the early days of China Phones, around 2009, I had had a resistive touchscreen phone and it "died" a month or two before it hit a year with me. While it still turned on, its touchscreen no longer responded. I guess the lack of a screen protector hastened its demise. To think that it had a really good camera, for a China Phone.

My Cherry Mobile Nova, on the other hand, has been protected with the screen protector from Day 1. So I expect that this will "live" beyond a year with me.

The Cherry Mobile Nova came with Eclair, Android 2.1.6. Even though the box said it came with Froyo, well, it didn't. But that didn't bother me much -- until I maxed out the paltry internal storage (around 150 to 170MB) and wanted to move my apps to SD, a feature found only on Froyo and up.

So I vacillated between keeping it on Eclair or upgrading to Froyo. I finally took the plunge when I found The Technoclast's article on upgrading it. They made it sound so painless, that I thought that I should give it a shot. If I brick it, I'm using Cherry Mobile's ROM anyway. I could probably bring it in for repair, should things go awry.

It didn't. After around 20 minutes of cooling my heels and biting my nails and getting jeers that I'll brick my phone (I bricked my SmartBro USB dongle earlier that week), I proved my detractor wrong: I successfully upgraded my Cherry Mobile Nova to Froyo. Wasn't that wonderful.

After that, I happily re-installed my apps and restored the data from the backups I created. And I fired away at the App to SD function. Oh was I happy to have moved everything to SD and have more space remaining in my Internal Storage.

On hindsight, I wished I installed an App Backup to SD app. Android Assistant now has that function (Backup Apps to SD/Restore Apps from SD). That way, I wouldn't have needed to manually reinstall everything. What I did was that I typed all the names of the apps I had then installed them one by one from that list. Such tedious work! Should you want to attempt an upgrade, do use an app backup/restore application, to save you the hours. Unless you enjoy being OC like that.

Fast forward to today: I don't know what happened with my Internal Storage, but I believe that all the install/uninstall of apps that I've done has seriously compromised my Internal Storage. I tried re-installing the Software Upgrade from the Cherry Mobile website, but nothing happened. No change. That's why I'm seriously considering rooting this phone so that I'll have access to the ROM files and delete the file fragments left by uninstalling apps.

However, even though I'm a daring kid who doesn't mind the risk of bricking her phone, I'd have to say that I'd rather take a calculated risk. So, I'm waiting until I can get another Android unit (with 3G and portable WiFi hotspot functions) before I root and mod this.

See, after a while, I discovered that I still hate typing on a touchscreen. I completely abandoned the use of my Cherry Mobile Nova as a texting phone. I also completely abandoned all of its call functions except on occasion that all my other phones had their microphones conk out.

I barely even use my Gmail on this. When in the past I had been so fond of the Sun Cellular SMS2Email service, and wanted a Blackberry badly so that I can get email on the fly, today, my email is just a peripheral concern; 80 to 90% of my work communications and project management are on a secret Facebook group, and somehow, viewing that on an Android just doesn't cut it anymore.

So, the Cherry Mobile Nova is now just my WiFi router, blog, news and Bible reader, YouTube viewer, mp3 player, task manager, budget tracker and calendar manager.

Credit it to the fact that this baby isn't rooted, I can't even install an eBook reader anymore, because of the lack of space. I need to root this Cherry Mobile Nova, and soon. But for now, I'm happy using it as it is.

The Good to Great Stuff:

WiFi Hotspot functions -- As I said, this is the primary use of my Cherry Mobile Nova now. I decided to do it this way because of one major thing: ADSL in my area is pretty dismal in speed, uptime, and general service. I am absolutely reluctant to subscribe to a monthly plan simply because I know I will only get frustrated when the Internet conks out, plus, with the very transitory nature of my life so far, I have been wont to leaving a place long before I hit finish the lock-in period. And since 3G is very portable, it's the most convenient form of Internet connection for me so far. So, I host my 3G on my Cherry Mobile Nova, and I connect from the work laptop to the Internets through the Cherry Mobile Nova. While some speed and bandwidth freaks may say "WEAK!" well, I don't torrent. And I'm not exactly a YouTube hog. The only thing that makes me tear my hair is Facebook and its buggy, heavy code. But Facebook is always going to be buggy and heavy, no matter what your connection or equipment is, so I can deal with the occasional snags.

Plus, I've downloaded software on this connection, and so far, so good. No complaints here. Happy camper.

3G Connectivity -- My decision to host my WiFi on the Cherry Mobile Nova came when I realized I wanted to be able to Facebook wherever I went. That time, I still had my 3G Router with me. Now, I loaned it to a friend, because I realized that it's better to host my internets on the Cherry Mobile Nova. Prior to that decision, I'd move my Globe Tattoo SIM from the dongle attached to the 3G Router and onto the Nova whenever I go out. Then I realized how insanely inconvenient that is, especially when my Nova gained WiFi hotspot functionality when I upgraded. So I decided to just use the Nova as my sole WiFi router. Killed two birds with one stone: hosted my WiFi, and provided my means of going online wherever I was.

So I happily Facebooked whenever I got stuck on some grocery queue. I Facebooked whenever I had an interesting thought when I walked. I Facebooked as I climbed stairs, rode the tricycle, and even as I crossed the street. YES, it got THAT crazy. It was so crazy I was staring at the nose of a bus one time as I Facebooked. I'm still here, so it means I didn't get run over.

The Facebook mania was brought to a halt when I saw that the Facebook app had ballooned to 11MB. I thought it was going to take over my whole Internal Storage, so I promptly uninstalled the app from the phone. After that, I realized I was too online. So I took to leaving the Android at home whenever I went out. There were times when I regretted leaving it, like whenever I discover that I was going to be confronted with a queue and I have nothing to occupy myself with as I stood in line.

But, realizing that I was too online made me decide to make an effort to be less connected. So there are periods where I'd actually turn off my 3G connection just for some peace and quiet and Plants vs. Zombies.

Reader and Media Player -- The biggest surprise that the Cherry Mobile Nova brought me was its sound quality. When I tried its stock earphones, I was impressed! It looked and felt cheap and plasticky, to be honest. But the sound quality was almost as good as the sound you'd get from a pair of iPod earbuds. That was the most awesome part for me. I'd expect that the earphones produced crappy diffused and un-optimized/un-equalized sound, but no. It was perfect enough for me.

As a reader, the YouVersion Bible App redefined the Bible reading experience on my end. I loved how I could highlight verses and in different colors. I loved how I could bookmark my next readings. It was a great change in how I read my Bible.

As a blog reader, and YouTube video viewer, the Cherry Mobile Nova added ease to my life. Sitting down for so long tires a human body, and when one would like to read or watch a video, it would be great to do it just before they drop off to sleep, right? Having the Cherry Mobile Nova made it possible for me to do just that. I read the bubblegum news on Yahoo just before I sleep. I do have bookmarks to BBC, CNN and even ABS-CBN News and Inquirer, but, you know, it's just easier to read news from Yahoo. Having this Android gave me the convenience of that.

Viber and Trillian -- I'd have to say that Viber and Trillian gave me more reasons to enjoy my Cherry Mobile Nova. Viber is a great messaging/chat app, and if you're fond of sending MMS pictures, it's a better, cheaper way to do it. Viber sends pictures instantly, so there's no wait for retrieving it from the server.

I've never been a fan of MMS, and up to today, I still haven't perfected the art of setting it up. But I'd have to say that I love sharing the things I see in my world, even the most mundane. Viber lets you share photos in seconds. Not much of upload time, not much of a lag.

Plus, with Viber, I get to text friends abroad who are on Androids and iPhones with no charge at all.

Trillian lets me connect to multiple accounts at once: Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, and even Facebook Chat. It is multi-platform, meaning it has apps for Windows, Mac, the iOS devices, the Android, among other platforms. I use it both on the Windows XP work laptop I use, and my Android. So whenever I need to run out for groceries and I get stuck on a queue, I can still connect with friends who are online and whittle away at the waiting time by chatting the minutes away.

Data Transfer and Storage -- At times, I need to take pictures for work, and not just filch a photo from somewhere. So whenever I use my Cherry Mobile Nova for taking pictures, I once used the imgur app to upload photos directly to my work or personal accounts. But since I have an Internal Storage space problem, as I mentioned, I had since deleted the app. What I do now is that I regularly remove my Micro-SD and archive my photos to the work computer by date.

On the other hand, I've needed to transfer text messages, notes and other data online. What I did was that I copied the data to an empty Google Docs document and saved it. Or I copied it to a fresh email and sent it to one of my other Gmail accounts.

I could have just used an SMS backup app, but as I said, I'm not keen on installing more apps on this anymore.

The strength of the Android is in its selection of apps available on the Android Market. Undeniably, the Blackberry still has a better calendar in my opinion, and still has unbeatable email delivery capabilities. But if there's one thing that the Cherry Mobile Nova has made me realize, it's that I don't really need email as much as I thought I would. Also, I learned that I don't need to be online 24/7.

The Cherry Mobile Nova gave me a good taste of what it feels like to have and use an Android. Thanks to getting my feet wet on this baby, I learned that while I still want to try an iPhone and see what it's going to be like using it, and I still want a "proper" Blackberry (mine has limited capabilities), even if I'm not The Scribbler of AndroidAlliance.Ph, I know that Androids will be my staple phones until better technology replaces it. I love the customizability of the Android, the fact that everything is functional on its dashboard, and I love that there's a wide selection of Android phones on the market. Being on the Android has allowed me to see the possibilities of open-source tech. Plus, jailbreaking an iPhone or even just an iPod Touch isn't exactly as good as rooting an Android. Rooting an Android may void your warranty, but it isn't illegal. Jailbreaking your iOS machine is going to void its warranty and is actually illegal. Plus, rooting gives you the capacity to install different "flavors" of the Android OS. So if you're an easily-bored kid like me, you may find yourself changing OS flavors every month. Or every other week. I'll bet that once I get started rooting this Cherry Mobile Nova and get the hang of it, I may well be trying different versions every month, as I see fit. Or maybe I'd be too lazy and just be happy that I can manage my data and internal storage space better. We'll see. I'm looking forward to that day.

Summary:

Great: The Cherry Mobile Nova gives you the full Android treatment, without needing to spend more. It is among Cherry Mobile's best models, and it is very sturdy. Its build and profile are sleek, making it perfect as a lady's phone. It has the same specs as the Cherry Mobile Orbit, without the bulk, but also without the secondary SIM. (Cherry Mobile Orbit is dual-SIM)

The Cherry Mobile Nova is also pretty sturdy. To date, I believe it's slipped from my hands or the table thrice, and it's still standing. No difference with call or signal quality noted. Proof of the solidness of its construction.

The Cherry Mobile Nova shares the same kind of battery as the Cherry Mobile Trident. Thus, if you also have a Cherry Mobile Trident (like I do), you can share and swap batteries between the phones. You may also be able to find a similar type of battery from the Nokia product line.

Dismal: This isn't Cherry Mobile's problem, but the Android/Gmail app's problem: Sync and email delivery isn't in real-time, and keeping your Sync function on simply drains batteries much faster. If the Android's chief complaint is its dismal power management, turning your Sync on all the time may worsen this flaw. For those who expect their smartphones to deliver snappy email and have a very long battery life, don't expect that of an Android, of ANY Android, for now.

The Cherry Mobile Nova's Internal Space may leave much to be desired for the space hogs. So if you're looking to fill your phone with apps, look elsewhere. Try a Gingerbread phone, root and mod your Cherry Mobile Nova to Gingerbread, or get a phone with bigger specs. The Cherry Mobile Magnum HD would be a great start for a higher-spec Android, as it has 2GB of Internal Storage. Not to mention it looks beautiful, and is priced beautifully, as well. Other Androids at 12k actually have less Internal Storage than the Cherry Mobile Magnum.

Also, if you're looking for a great camera on your phone, don't look for it in a Cherry Mobile phone. Maybe it's the fact that these are whitebox models, but the images from Cherry Mobile Androids we've seen so far are similar to images taken from China Phone models. If image quality is crucial for you, you may want to look elsewhere.

Conclusion:

The Cherry Mobile Nova is a standard Android phone. Meaning, it has the same specs as an LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson Phone of its price range and from the time it was released. Circa 2010 Androids will have the same specs as the Cherry Mobile Nova, so if you're on Eclair or Froyo, on a phone model released around 2010, you'll have the same problems I faced: rapidly diminishing space.

But if you're on a similar-spec'd phone but on Android 2.3/Gingerbread, you may have a better experience managing your disk space. Gingerbread moves your apps to SD the moment you install them, thereby conserving Internal Storage.

On the whole, if you're looking to have your first Android, I would recommend getting this phone. I eventually realized it actually has a clearer, better screen than the Samsung Galaxy Y.

I was looking to upgrade with the Cherry Mobile Orbit or the Cherry Mobile Stellar (as both are dual-SIM models), but then I discovered that the dual-SIM Androids don't have 3G/HSDPA on their 2nd SIMs, defeating the purpose I was considering these models for: hosting 2 different 3G broadband providers. Since this is how dual-SIM Androids are, for the moment, and if your purpose is to host or access 3G from two different providers on one phone, you may not be able to do that for now. As far as I know, there isn't any dual-SIM Android that has 3G on both its SIMs in the market just yet. Let me know if I missed something.

The Cherry Mobile Nova's construction may very well be among the best in the Cherry Mobile Android line: I noticed that they still priced it higher than the other phones whose prices they bumped down for the Christmas season. The Cherry Mobile Nova is Php 400 more expensive than the Cherry Mobile Orbit! There must be a reason behind that, and as far as I've experienced, it's pretty much justified.

Would I recommend the Cherry Mobile Nova to a first-time Android user? YES, wholeheartedly. If you're looking at a Torque phone and a Cherry Mobile Nova, choose the Cherry Mobile Nova. This one is on a Qualcomm chipset, while Torque is on MediaTek.

Would I recommend a Cherry Mobile Nova over an LG Optimus Me? Yes, if you're going to root your Android. If you're going to be a casual user, then go ahead and choose the LG Optimus Me. The LG is going to have a better screen and a better camera. So if that's what you value, then go for LG.

Would I recommend a Cherry Mobile Nova over a Samsung Galaxy Y? Yes, if you want a crisper screen and a sleeker profile. Plus, if you want to be able to buy extra batteries at a lower cost for your Android, yes, definitely choose the Cherry Mobile Nova over the Samsung Galay Y. Take note: just make sure you don't mind shelling out around a thousand pesos more. Cherry Mobile Nova is at Php 6,899, while the Samsung Galaxy Y is at Php 5,990. You'll have to spend at least Php 700 for the Samsung battery, however. One was spotted in the wild at Php 900. You may be able to get a Cherry Mobile/Nokia replacement battery at less than Php 500 for this particular model.

The bottom line is that the Cherry Mobile Nova is great for first-time Android users who are thinking about trying to root and mod their phones. It is great for those who value durability and reliability. It is great for those who want to see if Cherry Mobile phones are up to scratch.

As someone told me today:

"Cherry Mobile really shouldn't have put out their cheaper/disposable models. If they came out in the market with their top-of-the-line Androids, maybe they'd have earned more love from satisfied users instead of the hate they're getting from those who got bum phones."

He's got a point, no?

With that, I'm letting you know that tomorrow we'll be posting about the pros and cons, and the risks of rooting and modding your Android. Enjoy the last two nights before Christmas Eve!

Any audiophile will say that one of the most important factors in the audio experience is the device's sound quality. There's no point in using high-quality audio encoding/compression for one's music files if one is going to use sub-par audio players. And whether one wants to admit it or not, there are just certain gadgets that can deliver high-quality sounds.

Take for one, the iPod line of mobile audio machines. Prior to the iPod, I had used a TwinMos mp3 player. When I got an iPod Nano, however, I realized the vast quality gap between an iPod and a run-of-the-mill audio gadget. An iPod has superior sound quality over any other generic mp3 player.

Which brings us to another point: even if you may not be listening to your tunes through an iPod, if you have good quality speakers or earphones, you'll be a happy camper.

That's the concept behind companies creating lines of high-quality earphones and speakers. Pre-Skullcandy, there was Shure. Shure was a brand of in-ear earphones, which are designed to shut out all ambient/environmental sounds. Noise-canceling, in short. Shure was the choice of audiophiles who want better sound for their iPods, even though the earbuds that came with the iPod were already great enough.

Then Skullcandy came. Fashion met ear candy. And as of 2011 Beats Electronics LLC has overtaken the audio accessory industry. With exclusive lines developed for Dr. Dre, Lady Gaga, P. Diddy, Justin Bieber and even LeBron James, Beats eclipsed the entire earphone industry with the branding and marketing hype. It's so famous, China copied it, too.

Beats Audio has catapulted itself into the quintessence of audio sexy that HTC just had to ink a partnership with Beats. And now, we have an entire line of HTC phone models coming with Beats earphones:

No doubt, HTC will be shipping more of its models with Beats audio in the coming phone release cycles. Two models already in the rumor mill are touted to be carrying Beats earphones:

HTC Zeta
HTC Ville

Tech pundits say it's not really about the audio quality -- most don't notice, anyway; it's really all about teh sexy.

If Steve Jobs was able to jack up the mp3 player and turn it into THE must-have iPod, would Beats jack up HTC's sexy and make it THE music phone to have?

Only time will tell. Meanwhile, I'll have to say that even run-of-the mill Androids like the Cherry Mobile Nova do make music sound delicious. I was even surprised that its stock earphones were good enough, that I couldn't even detect much of a difference in sound quality between this and my old iPod Nano. Imagine how much more delicious music would sound through an HTC Sensation XE with Beats.

We're sure you'd be making a last-minute run to an HTC store for the HTC Sensation XE just before Christmas.

Next up, a long-overdue review of the Cherry Mobile Nova.

***

Photo Credits: Wired Gadget Lab

We depart from the usual parade of affordable Androids with this special. Have you ever come across those "Separated At Birth" types of articles popularized by celebrity blogs (most notably Perez Hilton)? Well, we came across this beauty of a phone:

That, our Android Alliance friends, is the LG Prada 3.0. It is reportedly priced at £500, or $777, or Php 34,000. Just like the iPhone, only... Flatter.

Most of the Android phones, especially the high-end ones, seem to carry the rounded corners form factor. Even the iPhone, even as it upgrades and develops, seems to be kept with its corners on the curvy side. Rarely do you see phones with sharp, defined corners slated for the high-end market. In fact, rarely would you see Android phones being designed with sharp corners at ANY market. Across the board, manufacturers -- and the buying public -- seem to favor the sleek rounded-corner factor.

There are even tech reviews of certain sharp-cornered phone models that tout the sharp corners as "old skool" in form. But look at this. Not only is the LG Prada 3.0 a high-end premium phone, it is also marketed as a luxury phone, carrying the designer brand Prada.

If you're a caveman, we're sure you won't be able to appreciate that word. But if you know a bit about high fashion and how women would sell a kidney or a slice of their liver for a Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Hermes or PRADA bag, then you'd know how much bling the "Prada" label is supposed to add to this particular LG Android phone.

If you're not impressed by the name, then let's see if you'll be impressed by the specs:

ROM: 8GB
RAM: 1GB
CPU: Dual-core Cortex-A9, TI OMAP 4430 Chipset, 1GHz
GPU: PowerVR SGX540
Connection/Speed: 3G HSDPA, 21 MBPS; HSUPA, 5.76 MBPS
Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
4.3" IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M Colors
Camera: 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Secondary Camera: 1.3 MP

On the other hand, the iPod Touch has better internal storage than that, at around a third of its price. But that's just me being a curmudgeon.

Now for the killer. Check out the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD:

Separated at birth, don't you think?

Now for the specs:

ROM: 2GB
RAM: 512MB
CPU: Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon, 1GHz
GPU: Adreno 205
Connection/Speed: 3G, HSDPA 14.4 MBPS
Android 2.2 Froyo (2.3.4 Gingerbread update already available)
4.1” WVGA capacitive touchscreen (480 x 800 pixels)
Camera: 5 MP, autofocus, LED flash
Secondary Camera: Front facing, VGA (0.3 MP)

The Differences:

ROM: 8GB for LG Prada 3.0 vs. 2GB for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (6GB difference)
RAM: 1GB for LG Prada 3.0 vs. 512MB for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (512MB difference)
CPU: Both Dual-Core, both at 1GHz
Connection/Speed: HSDPA, 21 MBPS for LG Prada 3.0 vs. HSDPA 14.4 MBPS for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (6.6 MBPS potential maximum speed difference)
Screen Size: 4.3" for LG Prada 3.0 vs. 4.1" for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (0.2-inch difference)
Camera: 8 MP for LG PraDda 3.0 vs. 5 MP for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (3 MP difference)
Secondary Camera: 1.3 MP LG Prada 3.0 vs. 0.3 MP for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD (1 MP difference)

The Price Difference:

Php 34,000 for LG Prada 3.0 vs. Php 11,999 for Cherry Mobile Magnum HD.

Php 22,001 difference, for some differences in specs.

In my personal opinion, some of you won't feel it much, in terms of performance, but all of us will feel the price difference acutely.

So is the LG Prada 3.0 worth the extra Php 22,001 on its price tag? Only those who can afford it will be able to tell.

Either way, they do look like spitting images of each other, right? Welp, guess which one's on MY wishlist and which one isn't.

More Android news later today. So stick around for that!

***

Edit/Erratum: The Cherry Mobile Magnum HD runs on Qualcomm's Scorpion MSM8255 processor, a member of the Snapdragon line of processor chips. These are the specs of this specific product:

Model Number: MSM8255
Semiconductor Technology: 45 nm
CPU Instruction Set: ARMv7
CPU: 1 GHz Scorpion
GPU: Adreno 205
Memory Technology: Dual-channel 333 MHz LPDDR2
Wireless Radio Technologies:GSM (GPRS, EDGE), W-CDMA/UMTS (HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+), MBMS

So the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD may not be Dual-Core, but since it's on a Qualcomm Scorpion from the Snapdragon S2 line, this is the kind of technology it actually runs on, from ExtremeTech.com:

As Qualcomm moves forward, they aren’t done innovating. The new dual-core Snapdragons are beginning to make their way onto the market in devices like the HTC Sensation and Evo 3D. Unlike competing the dual-core chips from Nvidia and TI, the Snapdragon with its custom Scorpion cores is capable of asymmetric use. This essentially means the cores can be clocked independently and have different power draws. Users will see better power management from these chips, even in a dual-core world. [Source]

On the other hand, these are the specs for the LG Prada 3.0's Texas Instruments OMAP 4 Chipset:

Model Number: OMAP 4430
Semiconductor Technology: 45 nm
CPU Instruction Set: ARMv7
CPU: 1-1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
GPU: PowerVR SGX540 @ 304 MHz
Memory Technology: Dual-channel LPDDR2 memory controller

I'm not an expert at looking at those specs, but these resources may show you why Qualcomm is the industry leader in mobile processor technology:

Snapdragon vs. Hummingbird vs. OMAP - the mobile CPU war beyond 1GHz

And here are SeekingAlpha articles on Qualcomm being the industry leader, in terms of stocks, for mobile computing hardware:

So the bottom line is that the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD is NOT on a Dual-Core processor, but its Qualcomm MSM8255 has computing capabilities that are possibly close to what the Texas Instruments OMAP 4330 may provide, especially given the fact that Qualcomm IS the industry leader in mobile processors, as well as given the price point for the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD. :) --Ed

***

Photo Credits: La Esencia de Disney, Android Community, Mobile Phone Reviews 2012, Pinoy Tech Blog, StreetSmartChic

Today officially marks the 12th Day before Christmas. From now to December 25, we'll be featuring one Android phone model, up until the very day when Christ's birth is celebrated. While most (if not all) of your Christmas presents would have been opened and enjoyed by the 25th, any day is always a good day to think about an Android machine. Plus, post-Christmas and post-New Year sales and price drops will abound, not to mention that most employees will be getting their 13th Month Pay. From now until the end of January may well be a great time to think about upgrading your Android, or even getting your first Android.

So, to open our 12 Days of Christmas series with a bang, we're giving you the Top 3 Cheapest Android Phones.

If you wonder why these picks aren't actually the market's cheapest models, here is the one single standard for the brands and models that made it to this list:

The Android phone has to have 3G. Androids make no sense if they're WiFi-only. They just don't. Why? For one, being able to use your Android as a Portable WiFi Hotspot is a major feature. Also, downloads from the Android Market, and even basic online navigation is much faster on a 3G connection. So if you were to enjoy your Android to the maximum, you're going to have to choose one with 3G/HSDPA.

However, for those who don't mind using a WiFi-only Android, as long as it's the market's cheapest, we're going to feature the Top 3 Cheapest WiFi-Only Androids in a future post in this series.

Ready? Here you go:

#3 Php 5,499 SRP -- It's a Tie!

Cherry Mobile Cosmo

ROM: 512MB (User-available Internal Storage is around 150 to 170MB)
RAM: 256MB
Processor: Qualcomm MSM7227, 600 MHz
3.2” HVGA Capacitive Touchscreen
Android Froyo 2.2
2MP Camera

Alcatel OneTouch Blaze 906

User-available Internal Storage: 200MB
RAM: N/A
Processor: N/A
2.8" TFT Resistive Touchscreen
Android Froyo 2.2
2MP Camera

#2 Php 4,990 -- Samsung Galaxy Y

User-available Internal Storage:180 MB
RAM: 290 MB
Processor: ARMv6, 830 MHz
3.0" TFT Capacitative Touchscreen
Android Gingerbread 2.3
2MP Camera

#1 Php 4,799 -- Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 890D

User-available Internal Storage:150 MB
RAM: N/A
Processor: MTK6516, 420 MHz
2.8" TFT Resistive Touchscreen
Android Froyo 2.2
2MP Camera
Dual SIM

The Samsung Galaxy Y is offered at that rate when you buy it via Smart Rewards, as we mentioned before. Cherry Mobile Cosmo and the Alcatel OneTouch phones are on special sale rates. Cherry Mobile Cosmo's price may stay that way, because Cherry Mobile has the tendency to keep their sale prices as the new price of their phone models after the sale seasons.

Alcatel, on the other hand, keeps their phones at sale prices for months, though they do revert to regular price after.

So if you're on the market for good, 3G-Capable Androids, these are the most affordable options the market has to offer!

***

Photo Credits: Best Christmas Gift For

An ordinary week it was, or so I thought, until Android Pub got me interested with something. Seems like your Android Searcher stumbles upon a pot of Android gold ever so often, doesn't he? This time, it was not a mobile phone stall or a chance encounter with a new Android store.

Rather, this recent "pot of Android gold" was...

My first-ever Android phone!

Yes, my very own Android phone. Android Pub just bought his new Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc from Macau, and since two phones suffice for what he needs, he interested me in starting out on Android with the Cherry Mobile Orbit.

Cherry Mobile Orbit had been a pretty memorable model, since this is the phone that Mom proposed as the replacement to her "ancient of days" touch screen phone. On the technical side, the Cherry Mobile Orbit is a Dual-SIM Android that runs on Froyo 2.2, and powered by 528 MHz of a Qualcomm MSM7225 Processor, as well as 512MB ROM and 256MB of RAM.

Android Pub introduced me to a lot of Android features that definitely caught my interest. One feature he particularly liked and is the Phonebook sync with Gmail and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+, which, after discovering the potentials of this function, I also instantly liked. True enough, when I added contacts on the phone and tried the sync features, it did sync with my Gmail and Facebook contacts. It means that if I chance upon another good Android phone and will replace this one, I need not move my contacts manually but just have to open Gmail and sync in.

Applications-wise, I did not have a hard time finding games and other app necessities on the Android Market. Sure enough, all those apps I am interested in come for free in the Android Market. From FourSquare, Food Spotting, to Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, I had was like a child in a candy store, downloading everything I wanted -- and needed -- immediately. A little bit of a damper, however: while playing some game apps, it didn't take long before I encountered the same problem the befalls almost every Android phone (except for the Sky Vega Racer, so far): The Lag.

Angry Birds did not have that problem but when it came to some games that required a lot of touch screen moves, that's where the problem came in. Nevertheless, I love how it has GPS features which interested my Mom very much and scared me a bit. Will it be possible for me to be tracked wherever I go? Not really; it turns out that the GPS is just for you (and me) to find your way back when you're lost.

How was my first Android phone experience? Not bad at all! Apart from my issues with lag and occasional mysterious exits while I am surfing through Facebook, it's a good entry level phone. How will I fare with this Cherry Mobile Orbit? My Mom got interested with the phone and gave me a juicy offer I could not resist.

So for now I'll take my sweet time while on the road to finding the best Android phone that I would surely love. I have my sights on the Sky Vega Racer, but since it is not yet available in the Philippines, I'll bring you the latest releases of Android phones from your most trusted brands soon.

On my way to a coffee shop in Ortigas Park, I met a Korean friend who was also on his way to the same coffee shop. After a few pleasantries of "Annyeong haseyo" and "How are you?", we got into a talk of what we're currently doing. When I mentioned that I was working as a writer for Android phones in this online magazine, he began talking about how much he loves Android phones. Since he is Korean, of course his staple should expectedly be that of LG and Samsung. Great brands, indeed and two of the first mobile phone companies to utilize Android as their OS. He showed me his LG phone which was very cool: With an in-built Facebook Chat system, he can go Facebook chatting anytime, anywhere either with Wi-Fi or a mobile internet plan. If you think my feature is on an LG or Samsung phone...

No!

It's something exclusive; an Android so remarkable, that the market has only caught whispers and glimpses of it prior to this post.

Meet the Sky Vega Racer! Long name isn't it? What brand is it then? Not Samsung, not LG... But Sky.

Sky is a line of mobile phones made by Pantech Curitel, the third largest mobile phone company in South Korea, just behind Samsung and LG. This specific Android phone is the property of a pretty gal pal of the Korean friend I met on our way to the coffee shop. She is also Korean, which explains why she was able to have -- and hold-- the Android beauty that is the Pantech Sky Vega Racer.

On a cursory glance, one could mistake the Sky Vega Racer for an iPhone. Just like the iPhone, the Vega Racer is a touch screen phone, from end to end. An interesting, distinct feature of the Sky Vega Racer, however is its double speaker. On the top part, there is a speaker on both ends of the phone which can also function both as phone receivers. For sound, movie and other media buffs, this feature is truly a must-have. Those double speakers are best used for movies while on long trips.

The Korean girl was kind enough to let me explore the features of the phone. I immediately searched for the phone profile and found out that it runs on Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread), and the 1.5 GHz processor runs on Qualcomm MSM 8260 v1.444, Snapdragon, the same processor powering the HTC Sensation.

To test the processor, I flipped on the phone several times and played a short game. This made me say "Wow!" Unlike the other Android phones like Samsung and LG, this one is really fast: just like iPhone, this particular model does not have that "trademark Android" split-second drag! Both the home and app screens are fully customizable; what's more, with this phone, you can make calls on Skype hassle-free! The slick Skype call features are both a blessing and a curse for the phone since you can call on your loved ones anywhere with a WiFi connection or a mobile internet plan. The big catch? Overusing Skype may take a toll on your Sky Vega Racer's battery life.

"So what?" I, The Android Searcher may say, since this is THE Android phone I have fallen in love with.

This phone poses as a direct competitor for Samsung S-II phones with a faster processor at a cheaper price (around a few thousands lower than the Samsung S-II). Talk about convenience, affordability and style. The phone can be seen in the Philippines but among the Korean residents only. Will it hit the Philippines soon? Some "whispers" say maybe next year, and by storm. For now, if you have a chance to swing by South Korea and have loads of tourist budget, don't forget to get yourself one. It's worth the cost. Don't worry about the language feature, since Sky Vega Racer has an English language mode.

Have I found the perfect phone for me? Maybe. But I'll still be on the prowl for that perfect first Android Phone, and when that happens, you'll be the first to know!

Samsung Galaxy Y is probably the market's best-priced, best-spec'd entry-level Android as of the moment.

Boasting of 830MHz of processing speed, 290MB of RAM and 180MB of user-available memory, this Android baby actually has better chops than upper mid-range models released a few months ago. Those models are still at the Php 8,000 to Php 12,000 price point, and their computing power is nowhere near this Php 5,990 Android.

Samsung Galaxy Y retails for a range of Php 4000 online and up to Php 5,990 for Smart-locked prepaid units. As we mentioned, you may avail of the Samsung Galaxy Y for only Php 4,990 using 1000 of your Smart Rewards points.

Some of those who have availed of their retention plans in their respective carriers sell the Samsung Galaxy Y for cheaper than market rates. Others are online sellers who opt to sell their units at rates that are closest to factory price. There are even users who sell their used units online. Some may even throw in awesome freebies like unlimited Open VPN access. All you need to do is to make a quick search through Sulit.com.ph, and even TipidCP.com and you'll be able to find a range of prices for this phone.

If you're not keen on buying online, there are mall shops that sell the Samsung Galaxy Y at lower rates. Previously, we spotted the Samsung Galaxy Y at Multicom in Robinsons Pioneer retailing for Php 5,880. Since that was back in the last weeks of October 2011, prices may have changed by now.

On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy Y's retail for only Php 5,500 at 5th Avenue in Trinoma. One of the better deals the metro has to offer so far.

The Samsung Galaxy Y Experience

Look and Feel

The Samsung Galaxy Y hardly feels like an Android that costs only Php 5,000 to Php 6,000. In fact, you may be able to say that it's like a miniature of a Samsung Galaxy SII. It doesn't feel cheap at all. The screen is crisp, clear, and has vivid colors.

It helps that it comes with a textured metal back cover. While other Androids may come in plastic back covers, the metal makes the Samsung Galaxy Y feel pretty luxurious.

The small size also comes as an attraction. Mid-range Android models are usually at 110cm up. The Samsung Galaxy Y comes at 104cm. On paper, this doesn't seem like a big difference. But when you hold a 110cm Android side by side with a Samsung Galaxy Y, you will note the difference. And if you're a girl, you may squeal in delight at this phone's cute form.

Navigation

The Samsung Galaxy Y is a multi-touch Android phone, so it works just like any other Android. One thing it has over the other models in the market is that it is powered by Android 2.3, Gingerbread. The Gingerbread UI is definitely an upgrade to the Froyo: with colors for the menus (Froyo is monochromatic black/gray, for the menus and settings only), better widgets, better Notifications area (there is a built-in power bar on the Notifications area in the Samsung Galaxy Y), the experience is degrees better than when you're on a Froyo-powered Android.

Navigation is just like any other touch-screen Android, so if you've been on an Android , whether Donut, Eclair, Froyo, or Gingerbread, most likely wouldn't have much of an adjustment.

Swiping through the apps is different from the Froyo, as the layout of the apps collection is oriented in a horizontal manner. But just like in Froyo, you will be able to drag and drop apps from the app collection and onto a dashboard.

As for physical buttons, there are two located on the phone: the Power button, which is a slim but long key on the top-left side of the phone, and the Navigation button, which is located on the bottom-center of the phone. Flanking the Navigation button are two soft keys: the Home softkey on the left and the Cancel softkey on the right.

The Navigation button allows the user to access his recent activities when he long-presses on the said button. The Navigation button also brings him back to the dashboard. Another function of this button is to activate the phone if it has gone to sleep, unlike in other phones that may make use of the Power button. The Cancel and Home button serve similar purposes as in other Androids: the Home button brings up the Settings menu and other administrative options, while the Cancel button either cancels actions or brings the user back to a previous menu or out of an app.

The keyboard is a distinct implementation by Samsung. Even big-fingered people may find it a pleasure to type on because of the excellent spacing and design of the keys.

The Verdict

An Android is an Android, whatever brand or model it is. There may be a few differences in the UI, the implementation, and the hardware, but the experience is similar across brands and models.

The Samsung Galaxy Y is no different. Given its specs and its make, it makes for a great Android experience, even in a small package. Because the Samsung Galaxy Y is powered by Gingerbread, those who are on Froyo may experience a bit of OS envy. The colors are attractive; the speed and data management are awesome.

On the other hand, we said that there is no perfect gadget. And I do have a couple of complaints. Truth be told, I wasn't particularly impressed with the Gingerbread's horizontal layout of the apps. I prefer that it be arranged vertically, as in Froyo (or the iOS). Was this an attempt at differentiating the Android from the iOS? We could only speculate.

According to friends who have more experience on the Gingerbread, the only way to change the orientation of how to navigate through the apps would be to install another launcher or even change the ROM (the OS, not ROM size) of your unit. A maneuver that most regular phone users wouldn't even think about doing. So if you're really antsy about the orientation of the apps, read up on how to install launchers or changing your Samsung Galaxy Y's ROM.

As for other dissatisfactions, I also noticed that the graphics of the icons in the application collection area tend to look and feel gaudy. Lastly, I don't like the fact that the Navigation key isn't a trackpad or even just a trackball. A static Navigation button just doesn't feel right on an Android.

These flaws are not dealbreakers for me, however. Take into consideration the fact that this Android can be had for anywhere from Php 4,000 to Php 5,990, at 800MHz/290MB RAM/180MB ROM, on Gingerbread, this is already a great deal, even a steal. And if you get your hands on this baby (for free!) either through Sun Cellular's Plan 350 or Smart Communications' Plan 349, guess how much sweeter that deal would be?

In short, there is no wonder why this phone keeps getting sold out in Smart Communications and Sun Cellular outlets nationwide: it delivers a phenomenal bang for your buck, all in a cute, compact, even mini package.

Tomorrow, we'll be discussing the Samsung Galaxy Y on Plan 499 on Globe. Watch out for that one!

***

Related:Y for Young – A Review of the Galaxy Y Netphone

Photo Credits: Animetric's World

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Quad-Core Android Smartphones Coming Soon?

Android Gadget Overview: Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory

Scoop/Just Announced: Samsung Galaxy Y Duos

A Thorough Review Of The Cherry Mobile Nova

Introducing The HTC Beats Line Of Phones

"Separated At Birth": The LG Prada 3.0 and the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD

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The Android Searcher: Cherry Mobile Orbit (The Android Searcher's First Android)

The Android Searcher: Sky Vega Racer

Android Gadget Review: A Closer Look At The Samsung Galaxy Y

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