We have a lot to catch up on for the 12 Days of Christmas, so we thought it'd be great to start -- right about now.
We have 5 days to make up for, so we brought 5 gadgets to the table for you to think about and consider today:
- The MSI WindPad Enjoy
- The Lenovo Ideapad K1 Tablet
- The Toshiba Thrive
- The HTC Flyer
- The Motorola Xoom
If you notice, all of these are tablets. What sets our list apart today is that we're giving you the lowest prices we've seen so far, from online dealers.
As we give you the best prices for these and where to buy them at those rates, we'll also give you the specs per machine.
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MSI WindPad Enjoy 7"
ROM: 4GB
RAM: 512MB
CPU: ARM Cortex A8, 1.0GHz
OS: Android 2.3, Gingerbread
WiFi Only
Display: 7-inch multi touchscreen display, 800 x 400 (16:9), Capacitive
Dual Camera
Php 11,995 at Villman Computers
Also Php 11,999 at Villman Computers' Multiply Store
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MSI WindPad Enjoy 10"
ROM: 4GB
RAM: 512MB
CPU: ARM Cortex A8, 1.0GHz
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
WiFi Only
Display: 10" 1024 x 768(4:3), MultiTouchScreen Display
Dual Camera: Front 2MP / Rear 2MP
Php 14,995 at Villman Computers
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Lenovo Ideapad K1 Tablet
ROM: 32GB SSD
RAM: 1 GB Onboard LPDDR2 600MHz
CPU: NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 T20 Dual Core Processor, 1.0GHz
OS: Android 3.1, Honeycomb
WiFi Only
Dual Camera: Front 2MP / Rear 5MP Camera
Php 24,984 at Villman Computers
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Toshiba Thrive
ROM: 8GB Internal Storage
RAM: 1GB RAM
CPU: Nvidia Tegra 2 T20 Dual-Core A9 Cortex, 1GHz
GPU: ULP GeForce
OS: Android 3.1, Honeycomb
Dual Camera: Primary 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus / Secondary 2 MP
Php 17,000 at Gadgets and Things Multiply Store
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HTC Flyer
ROM: 16GB
RAM: 1GB
CPU: 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, TI OMAP 3610 chipset
OS: Android 2.3.3, Gingerbread
3G HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Dual Camera: Primary 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus / Secondary 1.3 MP
Php 24,500 at Gadgets and Things Multiply Store
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Motorola Xoom
ROM: 32GB
RAM: 1GB
CPU: Nvidia Tegra 2 T20 Dual-Core Processor, 1GHz
GPU: ULP GeForce 333 MHz
OS: Android 3.2, Honeycomb
WiFi Only
Dual Camera: Back: 5MP with 8× digital zoom, autofocus, dual LED flash / Front: 2MP camera
Php 19,000 at Gadgets and Things Multiply Store
Php 25,700 at Kimstore Multiply Store
Wi-Fi + 3G Version - Php 32,200 at Kimstore Multiply Store
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This long list of tablets to feast on thinking about and considering should sate you for a few hours more. Later, a closer look at the Motorola Xoom, and more Android gadget goodies to wish, think about, and possibly even pray for!
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Photo Credits:
As we mentioned, we're giving you 12 unadulterated days of Android gadget goodies, as ideas for the 12 days ramping up for Christmas. Today, as promised, we're giving you the 12 Days of Christmas Android Specials, Installment #2: Bargain China Android Tablets.
We've already given you a primer on How To Take Care Of A China-Made WhiteBox Android Device (Or Any Other Mobile Device), so you should be all set on the proper care of a China Android. But before we give you an unbiased review and leads to the Internet's best suppliers of China gadgets, we have to issue this three-point warning:
- You get what you pay for. A 4,000-peso Android Tablet is no Samsung Galaxy Tab.
- Remember that IF you take the plunge, ANY China machine will always have defects. So set your expectations accordingly.
- This is both for learning and entertainment purposes, so if you visited this post, you must have gotten curious about these China Android Tablets in the first place. Feel free to leave this post without feeling pressured to buy a China Android Tablet.
Now that we've laid that down, presenting, these five China Android Tablets that are popular buys on Sulit.com (two featured here, three in links only):
Ken Kho's MID/APad with FM and TV
ROM: 884MB Internal Storage
RAM: 256MB
CPU: WM8650, High-performance CPU, 800MHZ
Android 2.3.1 Gingerbread
WiFi
Expandable Memory via MicroSD, up to 32GB
TV
Radio
1.3MP Front Camera
Microsoft Office
Facebook
Three other models from Ken Kho:
Android APad/MID Device from Sulit Seller jo669063:
RAM: 512MB DDR2
CPU: VIA WM8650 processor, 800Mhz
Android 2.2 Froyo
802.11b/g/n WI-FI CERTIFIED network connection
Battery Life: approx. 1-2.5 hours (depending on usage)
Display: 7 inches 16:9 Widescreen 800x480 TFT LCD
Touch control: Full-size RESISTIVE (pressure sensitive) touchscreen operation
Expandable Memory via MicroSD, up to 32GB
Orientation Sensor: Landscape, Portrait
Built-in speakers, digital camera and microphone.
Standard earphone jack.
We chose these particular models because of the seller's reliability, based on user feedback, as well as the product's price point and value for money (Price vs Specs). Also, the APad with TV and Radio from Ken Kho's product lineup is an item that only few China gadget sellers carry. So far, we've spotted only Ken Kho and Kyndapresenta sell this item. We recommend Ken Kho for one particular reason: feedback and longevity as an online seller.
On the other hand, Sulit Seller jo669063 also has a long line of POSITIVE feedback, and his APad model is the lowest-priced in the lot: the most affordable, and yet reliable. Other low-priced listings in Sulit.com.ph have negative feedback on their sellers' profiles, so we'd rather steer you clear of those.
As we mentioned in the three-point list of expectations that we set earlier, a China gadget is NOT a perfect Apple, Blackberry, or even HTC or Samsung machine. Rather, it is expected to be flawed and expected to have glitches. Should you want to persevere in purchasing a China unit for yourself, remember to research, to check for feedback, and ask for other users' experience with the machines.
The bottom line is that this is a risk you're taking. Make sure that you go into the risk considering all the possibilities and being prepared for the worst-case scenario, and make sure you won't blame the seller for the product's defects. Negotiate, ask for the best service and make use of your warranty. But never, never expect perfection.
For more details and user feedback, here are more resources we've prepared for you:
We hope you enjoyed this post! Tune in for more of the 12 Days of Christmas series here on Android Alliance Ph!
***
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
My daily routine takes me to Ortigas and back to Quezon City, often passing by SM Megamall. One afternoon, I was in a hurry for a chore when I spotted an HTC booth on the entrance hallway of Megamall B. The booth said "savings," and a bell started ringing in my head, as I knew then and there that I hit another Android jackpot. Not minding delaying my chore, I decided to check the booth out.
HTC is one of the hottest smartphone brands in the market. A quick check in the corporate background tells us that HTC came from the land of Acer and Asus: Taiwan. I first came across HTC when I spotted a billboard advertisement by Smart beside the MRT Ortigas Station. If Smart Communications is marketing HTC itself, then it goes to say that HTC is a quality brand with a touch of class. Friends had a good review of this phone before and have been contented users ever since. These same friends are also iPhone or Blackberry users, and quipped that HTC Android phones are comparable to these Big Two smartphone pillars. Some may even say that the HTC is more user-friendly than the other smartphone counterparts.
The phone that caught my attention first is the HTC Desire S. Since there was an existing promo, this PhP25,000+ phone now runs between PhP19,000 to PhP20,000. Even at that price, it costs PhP5,000 less than the most popular smartphone brands in the market (i.e. the iPhone, the top-of-the-line Blackberry Bold Touch/9900, the Samsung Galaxy S-II, etc.).
HTC Desire S runs on Android Gingerbread 2.3. The display available was a weight-filled model casing, but I was given a chance to see an actual working phone. With the dimensions of 115 x 59.8 x 11.63mm, this is one sleek phone. The screen resolution is good enough for my eyes and fares well to touch, especially that I love playing games using my phone. Definitely a big advantage over the Cherry Mobile Candy I also reviewed previously. Equipped with a 5 megapixel camera and various sensors, this competes well with other popular smartphone brands with less the price. Like any other Android-operated phone, there is still a problem with touch screen drag of a split second but less than the lag that I noted with Candy.
HTC Desire S fares well for those who want a cheaper, sleeker yet comparably classly alternative to the usual expensive smartphone brands like iPhone and Blackberry. Will this finally be my Android phone? Not yet; but with the good impression and initial review, this will fare high in my options.
As we mentioned yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy Y is the "It" entry-level Android as of the moment. For one, all three networks have created dirt-cheap postpaid plans around this phone, and it's all good for the consumer. Just in case you didn't catch our brief on some of the best deals in Androids this season, here's the link: Sale Watch: What's Happening This Christmas.
We didn't catch wind of Globe's Postpaid offering on the Samsung Galaxy Y until just this weekend. Yugatech spotted the promo flyer back in October 2011 and blogged about it here.:
As it says there, as well as on this post the Samsung Galaxy Y is available for free on Globe's Plan 499. If you're familiar with Globe's Plans, these are fully customizable with add-on promos. The Plan is the basic MSF you will be paying, and depending on which Plan you choose, you will be able to take advantage of freebies from Globe.
For Plan 499, you can choose 2 Freebies to go with your Plan. Below is a photo showing the Freebies you may choose from, using your plan.
The downside to Globe's Postpaid Plans (especially those on the SuperPlan system) is that, if you want to avail of unlimited promos and offers, they will be added ON TOP of your plan. Unlike Sun Cellular's Plans, where the unlimited promos can already be factored in with your MSF, in Globe's SuperPlan system, you will have to configure your personal SuperPlan. Then the total bill will depend on the basic MSF, plus whatever promo you take advantage of.
Take for example, this demo SuperPlan we configured is based on Plan 499, with a MySuperText (Unlimited Text to Globe/TM) add-on, and we chose 6 hours worth of mobile surfing as freebies.
This plan is basically consumable, meaning whatever value you accrue when you text, call or surf, will be taken out of the MSF allotment, at regular rates.
So whereas you can get unlimited calls and texts on a Sun Cellular Plan 350, or unlimited texts, unlimited access to social networking, and even unlimited chatting via YM and FB Chat (via SmartNet) on a Smart Postpaid Plan 349 (a Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone exclusive plan), you will get a regular SuperPlan 499 on Globe Telecom. Just to emphasize, SuperPlan 499 is just good old Php 499 you can consume, plus a couple of other services you can choose as freebies.
Does this scheme make sense? Maybe the table below will help you decide:
That's it for the Samsung Galaxy Y for now. Hope you enjoyed this two-part series, and watch out for more gadget overviews here on AndroidAlliance.Ph!
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
Two things about the Samsung Galaxy Y for you Android Fanatics today: A bargain and the Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone Edition.
The Samsung Galaxy Y, or Samsung Galaxy Young, is an entry-level Samsung phone designed to serve the basic needs of Android users, with a price that’s also at the baseline. These are the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Y:
- Android OS v.2.3.5 (Gingerbread)
- 256MB RAM
- 832MHz CPU
- 160MB Internal Memory
If you’re about to turn your nose up at these specs, wait till you read the price of the Samsung Galaxy Y that we saw in Robinsons Pioneer.
Five-thousand, eight-hundred eighty pesos. That’s right, the openline Samsung Galaxy Y we saw at MultiCom is less than Php 6,000.
However, for nothing more than Php 110 extra, you get to tether your Samsung Galaxy Y to the SmartNet system.
Yup, you read right. Smart Communications is selling the Samsung Galaxy Y at only Php 5,990 on Prepaid, and you get to use the SmartNet network for free until December 31, 2011. Remember that though SmartNet may be made available for other users to use on non-Netphone Androids, so far, only Smart Communications Consultant Jayvee Fernandez has been able to get his hands on the SmartNet app. Not only that, there are rumors that Smart will only give access to SmartNet for free on its Netphone models, and may charge non-Netphone users certain fees for the use of the system. Thus, if you want to get the most out of a Samsung Galaxy Y as a Netphone, it’s no biggie to spring an extra Php 110 for SmartNet access, right?
But if you prefer to save the Php 110, and Robinsons Pioneer is accessible to you, head on over to MultiCom for the cheapest Samsung Galaxy Y we’ve seen so far. If you find something cheaper, do let us know!
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