Showing posts with label Filipino Androids. Show all posts

Why You Should Trust A Cherry Mobile Android


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:


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.
Android phones
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Dual-SIM Android Shootout: Cherry Mobile Stellar vs. Lenovo A60 vs. Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory


I promised to give you an impressions shootout of the Lenovo A60, the Alcatel OneTouch Glory (918N), and the Cherry Mobile Stellar, and finally, here it is. I didn't have the luxury of getting to play with all three phones for a week, but I will do my best to find these phones' users and interview them for you, soon.

But for those who are in a hurry to buy any of these three models now, here are my impressions of these three:

Cherry Mobile Stellar -- Php 7,899

The Cherry Mobile Stellar is probably the stateliest-looking of these three phones. Just one look at this beauty was enough to get me to believe that this may be my next Android. Its pictures online just don't give it justice. It has a gorgeous metallic finish and a beautiful bottom ridge that ensures a good grip. The screen is also beautiful and wide enough for games.

At 512MB ROM/512MB RAM, and powered by a Qualcomm 7227T Processor, clocking at a paper speed of 800 MHz, my instant love for this Android is justified.

The downside, however, is that the Cherry Mobile Stellar feels very light to the touch, a testament of its plastic build.

On the other hand, the lightness may be a boon for users who usually carry their Androids in their jeans pockets. If you've ever gone beltless, or you just don't believe in wearing one, you'll understand what heavy gadgets will do to your jeans. Just make sure that you keep your Android in a good, sturdy protective case, as pocket pressure tends to be the demise of many a touch screen phone.

Lenovo A60 -- Php 7,990

When I first saw the Lenovo A60 in the wild, used by a high school classmate and dear friend at that, I let out a shriek. It meant one thing: I would be able to play with the Lenovo A60 and tinker with it up close!

And I did. I immediately went to the Settings area and bugged my classmate about it. Indeed, like we heard, the Lenovo A60 only has 3G in one of its SIM Card slots. SIM #2 only hosts a 2G network, though SIM #1 can connect to 3G.

In terms of its build and profile, the Lenovo A60 is sleek and slender, perfect for both ladies and men who don't like bulky phones.

Its camera, even at a "mere" 3.2 MP, takes really clear, good-enough pictures. If you've been on a Chinaphone or a Cherry Mobile for so long, you'll appreciate the camera on this one.

All in all, I believe that the Lenovo A60 is good for a consumer who will use his Android as a phone.

Last, but not the least, the much-talked-about Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory.

Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory -- Php 5,999 (Promo Price)/Php 7,999 (Regular Price)

My first impression about this phone is this was meant to be a guy's phone: with a rubberized coating and a bit of a heft in its profile, this isn't for those who are looking for the sleek phone types. Rather, when seen wielding a OneTouch Blaze Glory, you will be labeled a "Barako," and they will be justified in saying so.

The phone looks like it can withstand a number of falls and even tosses across the room. However, we weren't at a liberty to test that theory.

The screen is clear and much better than a Samsung Galaxy Y. Its implementation of the Android is standard, and, aside from some Dual SIM Management features and APN menu differences, if you've used an Android, you'll find your way fine with the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory.

There's a bit of a speed bump, however, as the SIM card placement isn't the usual one SIM card stacked upon the other, with gold contact points all facing down to touch the terminals. Rather, with the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory, you have to position your SIM Cards to face each other, with their gold terminals touching each other. Odd, but that's how it goes with this unit.

Dual SIM and 3G

Indeed these three Androids are 3G-Capable, however, these are the differences with their network implementations:

Lenovo A60:

The Lenovo A60 is 3G-Capable on SIM 1 only. And, you will not be able to swap your 3G connection to be hosted from SIM 2. As this implies, SIM 2 is 2G-only.

Cherry Mobile Stellar:

Cherry Mobile Stellar appears to allow 3G for BOTH its SIM Card slots. There was an option to assign SIM 2 to be "2G Network Only," in order to save battery, with this battery-saving note also indicated in the menu. I believe that implies that unless you choose to assign 2G-only for SIM 2, it is connected to 3G on a regular basis.

Data management is accessed via the Wireless and Networks/Data Management menu.

Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory:

Just like the Cherry Mobile Stellar, both its SIM Cards are 3G-Capable, with just some Data Management swapping involved. Its 3G toggle options are accessed via the "SIM Card Management" menu, however, which, conveniently is also on the Wireless and Networks menu. You can choose to turn either SIM card off.


Collective and Comparative Impressions

I believe that the best buy for a regular phone user would be the Lenovo A60. It has all that you need and more: a great cam, the ability to host a 3G Connection on your phone, as well as a great screen. All that, packaged in a sleek profile, sans the "signature Android lag."

On the other hand, if you're a non-phone Android user like me, meaning your Android is really used as a MiFi/Mobile Internet device, then it would make better sense to get the Cherry Mobile Stellar instead. It seems to be able to host 3G simultaneously, and is the fastest Android of the three.

On the other hand, for those who are looking to buy an Android at the most affordable rates, then there's no stopping you from catching Alcatel Mobile Philippines' promo of the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory. At the promo price of Php 5,999, this is the best buy of the three, price-wise.

In terms of the "signature Android lag," however, I would have to say that I experienced it just starting up and tinkering with the fresh Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory. For a machine running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on 256MB RAM and a 650MHz processor, at Php 5,999, I don't think you can expect much.

The Bottom Line

If you're looking for power, go for the Cherry Mobile Stellar. If you're looking for an awesome phone with awesome standard phone features running an Android, go for the Lenovo A60. If you're looking for a rugged, sturdy form factor, at a price you won't be able to resist despite a lag that you shouldn't mind, then the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory is for you. Just remember to buy it soon, as it may revert to pre-promo price.

Edit, 1/11/2011: 

In my research for this article, I discovered that the Cherry Mobile Stellar may just be similar to the Lenovo A60 in its 3G/HSDPA functions. Check out the Manual and the Product Page on the links.

 

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Photo Credits: 
Alcatel
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Obscene Price Drop: The Nokia 3310 A Decade Later


Yesterday, one of the biggest tech surprises greeted me when I went out to meet friends in Iloilo City: the Nokia 3310, once a premium, sought-after, popular phone, now costs only Php 190.

I lusted after the Nokia 3310 back in the years 2000 to 2001, when I was in my 4th year of high school, and about to graduate. I remember that when it debuted on the market, it cost Php 11,000. Within months, the price had dropped to Php 8,000. My mother got my unit for around a few hundred pesos shy of Php 8,000. By the year 2004, the 3310 was picked off of my bag, while I was walking towards SM City Iloilo.

Today, a little over a decade later, the thing that cost almost as much as a Cherry Mobile Magnum, HTC Wildfire S, a couple of Samsung Galaxy Y's, now only costs as much as a month's worth of Sun Cellular's Power Text Unlimited 200. Or but 50 pesos more than a month's worth of Text Unlimited for both Sun Cellular and Talk and Text*. Imagine that.

As to its durability, I'm not so sure about that. I'm thinking about getting one before I go back to where I live, mid-January.

Last year, when I was still based in Iloilo City, the 3310 had cost around Php 490 to Php 590. Today, they dropped the prices to such an obscene level, presumably because no one who can afford better phones would want to buy a 3310 anymore.

With Cherry Mobile, Torque and MyPhone offering *brand new* DUAL-SIM phones ranging from Php 700 to Php 2,000, who, in his right mind, would even still consider a 3310, in this day and age?

Well, ideas are popping up in my mind, but I believe, this obscene price drop bodes good news for quite a lot of people:
  • People who were held back from joining the texting populace, like the blue collar workers, the household help, and other people from lower-income circles now have access to mobile phones. They can now buy the phones they need to text friends and family!
  • People who hire household help need not think twice about purchasing mobile phone units for their staff. At these prices, who would think twice?
  • Events organizers, office managers and other people who need a massive number of phones can easily allocate a budget for 10 to 20 units. Come elections, it would be a fast and easy ordeal to deploy 20 units of 3310s. Ten units will cost only Php 1,900, while 20 units will cost Php 3,800.

This also means bad news for certain circles:
  • Bad elements will now have faster, easier access to mobile phones. Maybe it would be a great idea for shop owners to register the IMEI's of the phone units purchased for their companies, or to keep a registry of bulk purchases.
  • This means that those who are in the market to buy phones will now have to think twice about whether in 10 years' time, they'll see their units for sale at a little more than 1/100th of its original price.

The first concern may be a very legitimate one, and the authorities should actually be on the lookout for crimes aided by the ease of purchase of mobile phones. The second one is nothing but mere vanity, but for those who are concerned, the phone brands I've seen that were knocked off the most, or sold at these rates were Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola. Take note that these are 100% similar to the original units, since these are still GSM/2G phones, and not like the Chinaphones/Smartphone copies: these look like their knockoffs, but the software that powers these are clearly Chinaphone OS'.

With the speed that technology is developing, buyers wonder what's a good measure for upgrading or buying their phones: How often, at what rate, how soon after release, those kinds of things. Let's answer this question tomorrow!

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*30 Days of Unlimited TEXT for Talk and Text, at Php 150: Text U150 to 4545

Photo Credits: Nattstad via Google Images

Note: My apologies for answering the parting question a day after the "tomorrow" I promised. Here it is. Enjoy! :)
Filipino Androids
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A Thorough Review Of The Cherry Mobile Nova



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!
12 Days of Christmas
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"Separated At Birth": The LG Prada 3.0 and the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD


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


***
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The 12 Days Of Christmas Android Alliance Ph Special: Day 1 -- Top Three Cheapest 3G-Capable Android Phones


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




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.
Affordable Androids
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Editor's Notes: Love It, Hate It -- There's No Perfect Gadget In This World; Not Yet, Anyway

 
Everyone's a critic, so to speak.

Just about anything is debatable, simply because everyone has their own personal preferences, not to mention opinions on whatever matters to them. The same thing goes for gadgets. Mobile phones, which have graduated from mere means of communication to extensions of oneself, are targets of differing opinion, even overly high expectations. And overly high expectations, once unmet, tend to graduate into criticism and downright hatred.

Recently, we've been checked by a reader by our note on LG phones not having good enough specs to make it to our lists. In fact, the word used in the article was "dismal." We apologized, and moving forward, we will choose to use more neutral language. If we slip, do feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

We do have to admit that we are partial to Cherry Mobile for now, because of the fact that it's quite admirable for a Philippine brand to be able to consolidate a great lineup and market it aggressively (even virally). Also, we note that Cherry Mobile updates its lineup several times a year. Plus, price-wise, Cherry Mobile specs are pretty remarkable: Only Cherry Mobile powers its Androids with Qualcomm processors so far (Torque's comparable model is powered by MediaTek).

Thus, in terms of bang for the buck, we admire Cherry Mobile for stepping up to the plate.

In terms of other, established phone brands, we do have higher expectations. These established phone brands include Acer, Lenovo Mobile, LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC, and even Motorola. We have higher expectations because these are international players. Not only that, with the exception of newer players like Acer, Lenovo Mobile and LG, these phone brands have been in mobile telephony for at least 5 years. Thus, they are expected to work seamlessly out of the box.

Unlike Cherry Mobile and Torque, which are not only newbies in the mobile telephony arena, these are also Philippine brands. Also, the models that these two companies carry are whitebox machines: meaning, these are manufactured in China, then repackaged and rebranded for local distribution. The major difference that they have from your run-of-the-mill China phones and tablets are the consistency in branding, and the local aftersales support.

That being said, these companies will not be able to please everybody. Understand that in order to keep the market price at affordable rates, there will be some concessions made. Quality may be compromised, or, if they choose to go the other way, specs may be lowered.

In the case of LG, it is then understandable why they may have kept their specs at, as we quipped, "dismal" minimum. However, it is very disappointing to note that their offerings are launched at prices upwards of 20K pesos. The same specs or even better can be had in Motorola, HTC and Samsung models for much less than their prices. And these said brands are the Android pillars in mobile telephony at that.


It is also disappointing that some models like the LG Optimus Pro C660 have a premium-leaning (though still mid-range) price tag, but the specs are trounced by cheaper models like the Samsung Galaxy Y or the Cherry Mobile Stellar.

Worse, comments like these show up on their page:


Comments like those would be understandable, even expected for Cherry Mobile models, but definitely shocking for LG products.

Let me make this clear, however: We at Android Alliance Philippines are definitely NOT against LG. I, as a writer and gadget pundit, just have different expectations based on a set of mental categories in my head. LG is a premium brand, therefore I expect more from it. Cherry Mobile is an awesome new entrant, so I expect less, and thus am easier impressed by it. In terms of the rest of the Android Alliance Team's views on the matter, we may differ in our opinions on tech. But one thing is for sure: we love the Android as an OS, an ecosystem, and as something that kicks iPhone (not to mention Nokia) butt.

We industry pundits, observers and online blabbermouths have this as one of the purposes why we blog and express ourselves: we serve to give checks and balances to companies that otherwise won't improve. More so if all they receive are empty praise. As regards pointed comments from our readers, they also serve the exact same purpose.

Moving forward, I have one last thing to say: Cherry Mobile has so much room to grow. Being an avid Cherry Mobile user and one who has witnessed how it is to be in their main support center branch, they really do have more to improve on. But we know and trust that they are stepping up to the plate. On the other hand, LG has matured. They can definitely do better than offer just that.

On a brighter note for LG, however, we discovered that the LG Optimus ME retails for only Php 6,500 in Kimstore, while the LG Optimus One P500 retails for Php 7,850. For specs, clicking the brand names/product models will lead you to the GSMArena specs sheets of these.On this link is a comparison of the LG Optimus ME and the LG Optimus One P500. On this other link is a comparison between the LG Optimus ME and the Samsung Galaxy Y.

Again, our apologies for the sharp words we used to use. We look forward to taking a more objective tone, and thank you for sending us your feedback. We look forward to getting more of these in the days to come!


To the courageous reader who dared to let us know your no-holds-barred thoughts, thank you. It is on criticism that improvements are born. We owe this one to you. :) And THAT is the reason why we publish comments, even if they are critical.

From the bottom of our hearts here in Android Alliance Philippines, thank you, and have a happy Thursday!



***

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***
Photo Credits: Droid Cell Phone
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The Complete Cherry Mobile Android Lineup: Your Holiday Gift-Giving Selections From Cherry Mobile



Last week, we promised to give you hot Droid deals and sales for Christmas. As we mentioned, among the top bargain Droids on our Christmas list are Cherry Mobile Androids. Cherry Mobile Androids have always been priced lower than the market's lowest-priced Droids, and usually with specs that give you better value for money.

Today, we bring you the Complete List of Cherry Mobile Androids, compared side by side in a table we made just for you:





From left to right, we've listed down the Cherry Mobile Droids, from tablets to entry-level offerings. We've also charted their specs side by side so that you can compare their products.

If you want to view this chart in a tab on its own, [CLICK HERE].

Our editor is still partial to her Cherry Mobile Nova, and it does seem interesting that Cherry Mobile maintained its price at Php 400 higher than the Cherry Mobile Orbit, despite the Orbit being a newer release (the Cherry Mobile Orbit seems to be a precursor to the Cherry Mobile Stellar) and a Dual-SIM model at that. Could it be that the Nova is of a higher-quality make than the newer models? These are just our speculations. Our publisher has also mentioned the Cherry Mobile Nova's durability, given that he had already dropped his own Cherry Mobile Nova to the point of actually unhinging the back cover. Still alive and kicking, up to today.

Take note, too, that the models Eclipse 2.2, Candy and Candy Chat are rudimentary WiFi phones. The big advantage to these models over the run-of-the-mill WiFi phone, is, of course, the Android OS inside. Not even the older generations of WiFi and 3G- capable Symbian OS phones can compare to the sleek interface of the Android.

These are the selections of Cherry Mobile Android gadgets that you can give (or give yourself) this Christmas. We'll be giving you more bargains and more Android selections this holiday season!

***

Photo Credits: ISP101.net
Android Buying Guide
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The Android Searcher: Cherry Mobile Candy


My phone has been with me for almost two years now. As technology advances, it seems that my current phone is getting outmoded as smartphones are invading the local market. I decided, that's it! I need to replace my phone, and soon. While people are mostly attracted to smartphone platforms like the iPhone and Blackberry, a freeware innovation attracted my attention: the Android. Just to backtrack a little, the Android was released in 2005, derived from the Linux kernel. For those who are most familiar with Linux, it is a free operating system. Even though Google bought the development rights and absorbed the Android Dev team as a sub-unit of Google, the Android continues to be a free operating system for mobile smartphones and tablets. Since the Android is a free operating system, a number of companies, most notably Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG to name a few, adopted the mobile OS. 

In the Philippines, a mobile phone company called Cherry Mobile took the chains in providing cheap but quality mobile phones. And in its moves to expand and grow its market, it also released a good selection of Android phones. The mobile phone brand has been popularized by variety show host Willie Revillame in his show at the local television network, TV5.

On my way to church, I passed by a Cherry Mobile booth in the lower ground floor of Robinson's Galleria. Having Android in mind, I decided to check it out. What caught my attention is the Cherry Mobile Candy and its QWERTY version, Candy Chat. At less than PhP4,000, Cherry Mobile Candy is the cheapest in the market and comes in different colors: even purple, my favorite. 

The phone boasts of being powered by Android Froyo 2.2 Froyo, the Android Kernel version before Android Gingerbread 2.3. Froyo is also the second most utilized Android platform in the market, second only to Gingerbread.

I got to hold an actual phone which is actually lightweight and easy to carry around. The saleslady mentioned that the Cherry Mobile Candy and Candy Chat boasts of a wide variety of apps which one can get for free! Yes, for free, the advantage of Android phones. 

I got to check how the touch screen works but the resistive screen does not go well with my touch; which falls short for me, as I'm pretty fond of mobile games. The resistive touchscreen creates a gaming handicap, as mobile games require a lot of pressing. If you are not a game freak though, the touch resistance may be just fine. For a phone that costs less than PhP4,000, its a good deal with wi-fi capabilities and a 16gB capable SD Card memory slot. Stylish and reliable at a cheap price: not bad at all. 

Will this finally be my new Android phone? Maybe or maybe not. I need to soul-search more for Android phones in the market to find "the one" for me. Follow me as I search for more of Android, its market perks and features that would be worth my pocket's spend.

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-The Android Searcher
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A Cherry Android for Christmas?


I saw a question on the Facebook Page of the Philippine Android Community revolving around the Cherry Mobile brand. Well, here's some candid talk on Cherry Mobile phones. I got a Cherry Nova early this year. The main reason why I got it was because I knew that the chip inside was a Qualcomm chip. This phone did not disappoint at all. It has been dropped a few times and is still in perfect working order.

Furthermore, last summer, I brought this to the US and inserted a T-mobile SIM with 4G service. I must say that the performance was impressive! Wow if only we had that kind of service, we can really maximize our Android phones to the level they were designed to operate.

Net, I can really say that if you are looking for an entry level Android, the Cherry Nova is a good unit to start with.

-Pub
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Sale Watch: Cherry Mobile Orbit, Torque TV Phones, And Macs On 24-Month Installment

The Cherry Mobile Orbit is one good entry-level buy: it comes with Dual-SIM card slots, Android Froyo, 3G, and you can turn it into a portable WiFi hotspot as well. It may not have the jaw-dropping specs at a very pocket-friendly price as the Cherry Mobile Magnum, but the Cherry Mobile Orbit is a great Dual-SIM Android phone that has all the basics that the Android user could need – and the capacity to host two SIM Cards at a time, too.

From October 15, 2011 up to October 31, 2011, the CherryMobile Orbit will retail for only Php 6,999, down from its regular price of Php 9,999. Don’t wait for Christmas to get your Cherry Mobile Orbit! You have the chance to do so, at a discount, until the end of the month!

For a full review of the Cherry Mobile Orbit, check out Jerome Ancheta’s Review.

In other news, Torque is also holding a TV Phone sale up to today. You may still be able to catch it!  

For Apple Fanboys and Fangirls, Digital Hub and Citibank also bring you the "Go Insane With Citibank" Apple Product Sale. Buy an Apple Product via Citibank credit, add an Apple Care warranty plan to your purchase, and you get to pay for your Apple machine on installment, for 24 months. 

So what's the big deal with getting an Apple product on 24-month installment? Well, most, if not all machines are sold on credit for a maximum of 12 months via installment plans. An Apple is rather expensive, so even at 12-month installment plans, getting one via credit feels like it'd still cost you an arm and a leg. Getting one on a 24-month installment plan is definitely saner and feels more like buying a PC laptop, with more bang for your buck.

For some items, there will be freebies and accessories, such as a Hisense Bluetooth Headset, a Western Digital My Passport external hard drive, or even both, for some items. Promo will run from October 13 to November 16, 2011.

This seems to be a great month for gadget-a-holics, so take advantage of these bargains as soon as you can!

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Photo Credits: WowBatangas.com
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