PH Gadgets: Phones

Showing posts with label 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

The Blackberry used to be the gold standard of smartphones. And still, its engineering and construction are still a gulf above the competition, considering its level of encryption and unparalleled data management. And you have to admit that the Android is nowhere near the Blackberry. Not yet, anyway. Thus, it is still worth saying that the Android QWERTY still has a lot to learn from the Blackberry.

Here are my thoughts on why the Blackberry still reigns:

Standard Keys, Across Models

Ever notice that an entry-level model of Nokia QWERTY will differ from the high-end model's keypad orientation? It seems to me like they're still figuring out the kind of QWERTY layout they'll keep. The same is true for the Android QWERTYs. Good luck syncing your keyboard tapping between a Samsung Galaxy Y Pro, an HTC Chacha and a Cherry Mobile Candy Chat.

Military-Grade Encryption

Did you know that the Blackberry got banned in different countries, because it handles data encryption so well, it bypasses these countries' firewalls?

Makes you feel like a spy, if you tote one of those beautiful Blackberry babies, right?

And yet, it gives a user a better night's rest when he knows that no hacker will be able to intercept his work, and even personal mail, thanks to Blackberry's encryption and self-hosted email servers.

Efficient Data Management

Ever wonder how the Blackberry could handle email after email, message after message, then diary entry after another, on its sometimes-jeered internal storage space? Me too. I wonder how it can fit all of that in internal storage sizes ranging from only 64MB on its early mature models (on the Blackberry 8800, still available on the market) to 512 MB storage/512 MB RAM for its latest Blackberry Curve 9380 or even up to 8GB storage/768MB RAM for its Bold Touch 9900, Bold 9790, Porsche Design P'9981 models.

This is what the Android should do. Given that the HTC Chacha has only 512 MB ROM/512 MB RAM to its name, and given how the Android's user-available Internal Storage just fills up so easily, I'd have to sneer at how it should do better than that.

Efficient And Effective Battery Management/Long Battery Life

I may be an Android advocate of sorts, but this is another area that I, along with a good number of disgruntled users, am picking on.

The Android, I guess, is much like Windows in this respect. Unlike the Mac, which has both the hardware AND the proprietary OS with its products, Windows computers have been notorious for battery or power management malfunctions, because the hardware/software interaction was less than seamless. Maybe it's the same for the Android. Since it has been only last year that Google bought out Motorola and will thus be working more closely in developing the "Android Standard," no company has yet perfected the Android's seamless interoperability with their hardware.

It's not sad, it's just that it's a work in progress, for now.

By contrast, Blackberry models have batteries that last for DAYS. Thus, Blackberry users enjoy days of not needing to charge their phones.

Standard Quality Across Models

Because the Android is an Open Source system, allowing OEM's to use the system as they please, there may be differences between brands and models, making the quality different from brand to brand. This is why some Android users who choose less sturdy brands end up dissatisfied or leaving the Android as an ecosystem altogether and switching back to the iPhone or the Blackberry.

While the devs at Android Inc. are working on creating a standard for the OEM's, the user who is particular about the phone's quality will be better off either choosing from the Android's best brands and models, or, sad to say, choose the iPhone or the Blackberry, or even a Nokia or Windows Smartphone instead.

Even though tech pundits are saying that the Blackberry is losing ground in significance, one thing is clear, it is still top-notch in quality, and unparalleled in these areas I outlined.

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Photo Credits: Wireless Ground

A writer is a writer is a writer, as they say. Writers will be found carrying their favorite pens -- or a whole handful of them. They love fancy notebooks, and to be able to collect Moleskines is a treat for them. The more successful ones toted the first Macbooks in the Philippines, back in the time when Windows PC's ruled the market. And whenever they can, they will scribble their notes on anything. And I mean anything.

If caught in a coffeeshop without a laptop or even a pen and paper to capture their thoughts with, they'll resort to asking the barista for a handful of table napkins and the store's pen.

I know, because I never thought the day would come when I'd need to resort to that -- but then it did.

But these times mark the age when writing has become profitable (thank you Google and SEO!) and writers can now afford to invest in gadgets and machines that will make their lives and compulsive note-taking a whole world easier.

Writers may have said "hello" to the smartphones and helpful gadgets by now.

Here are some machines that I know would be handy for writers and other compulsive note-takers and thought-catchers:

iPod Touch -- The cheapest thing you can get to an iPhone, without the phone capabilities, the iPod Touch is the note-taker's delight. With a camera that can take pictures of handwriting pretty well, a writer and his pals will no longer need to run to the nearest photocopying shop in order to take copies of notes written. They only need to snap photos of those notes, and they will be able to share notes, and even pages off of books, on the fly.


The notes that can be taken by the iPod Touch's reportedly only 0.7MP cam.

You can even take pictures of pages off of books, which you can share with your other writer-friends.

Another method of recording one's thoughts is in the form of pictures. As they say, "A picture paints a thousand words." If the beauty of the sight that a writer is beholding is just too much for him to express in words, then a picture would surely beef up what he is meaning to write.

Lastly, voice recordings will never be able to replace the beauty, clarity and convenience of reading the written word, but it'll suffice as a way to record thoughts on the fly. With the iPod Touch's configurations starting at 8GB, a writer can certainly ramble hours of thoughts away.

Blackberry, any kind -- The Blackberry cornered the Smartphone market a few years ago, because it pioneered the handy QWERTY machine. Thanks to that, we now have Nokia's QWERTY's and even QWERTY Androids like the HTC Chacha and the Cherry Mobile Candy Chat.

But nothing really beats the Blackberry in how awesome its keys are engineered. They were built to be tapped on, for hours on end. That is why I completely understand why Blackberry users have been stereotyped as "Crackberry" addicts who tap away at their SMS or email even on dinner tables and family gatherings.

A writer can leverage a Blackberry by taking notes on the Blackberry's memo apps, or even on the Calendar. I find that it's very convenient to make notes on the Calendar, as it records the date when you had that thought. Thus, it's easier to go back to when you need to.

What is great about the Blackberry over an iPod Touch or even an iPhone or a touch-screen Android is that it is handy to type on even when you're in an uncomfortable situation. I mean, only crackpots will be writing their next articles on the commuter train while their in transit, right? But it happens, and thoughts and ideas can and will seize you, even when you're in tough spots.

Long bus rides are another thing. It would be hard to tap out a full-length essay or article on an iPod Touch on a bus ride, and it would be all the worse to start talking your thoughts into it, as other passengers may look at you funny for that. Thus, it is definitely quieter and easier to tap away a diary entry, an essay, an article, and even a short story or a novel chapter on one's Blackberry.

Samsung Galaxy Note -- Being a writer and an Android advocate, the Samsung Galaxy Note is definitely high up on my wishlist. As I said, I am attracted to the capabilities of its S-Pen, not to mention the fact that its screen is so wide, it can surely accommodate big fingers typing away.

One big irritation I have with touch screen devices is that I may get the hang of typing long messages on it when I really push myself to do it, but after a while, I find that I've gotten clumsy with typing on touch screens again.

One big promise that the Samsung Galaxy Note has for writers is that it's going to be an all-in mobile thought capture device: something to research with on the fly, something to take notes with, something to record voice messages (to oneself) with, and something that will allow for doodles, screenshots and diagram-making thanks to its S-Pen.

Check out the Samsung Galaxy Note, free on Smart's Unlimited Plan 2000.

While the writer-by-blood will always go back to his favorite tools of the trade: the trusty notebook and the ornate, colorful, or fine-writing pens, this age does favor him, with all the tools, gadgets and toys that will add to, but never replace, the writer's arsenal of pens and paper pads.

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Photo Credits: Intro to Information Technology

Android Alliance Philippines has seen many Android Searchers like me help in their decisions on the best Android phones and tablets for them. Twenty-twelve (2012) holds much promise for the Android as an ecosystem. Ever since its boom in the Americas in 2010, and its rise in Asia in 2011, there seems to be no stopping the Android's growth.

Last January 10, the Android Alliance Ph Team was invited for the press launch of Alcatel's latest line of OneTouch phones at Relik Tapas and Bar in Bonifacio Global City. Android Pub and I were there to check out this proud new product of Alcatel. On the event, I was able to meet some Android App developers who were just happy to introduce to me their new app, which I will write about soon on a separate article.

The event was graced by none other than former Ateneo Blue Eagles top player and Smart Gilas shooting guard Chris Tiu, a proud user of the Alcatel Blaze Glory 918N, one of OneTouch's Android phones. The phone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a good set of useful default apps like a podcast app and app killers to save on battery life and resources. Apart from the tons of apps that one may get, the phone is Dual SIM and will help with people who are always on call from different network services. With two colors to choose from, white and black, one can follow in his own style and preference. For yfrog ethusiasts and with Instagram now available for Android users, photosharing is easy with the 3.0 megapixel camera.
This phone line aims to attract working class people who want premium-quality phones, yet with affordable prices. Indeed, for Php 5,999, it is an awesome buy for a phone with full features, directly competing with Samsung's Galaxy Y.

The question, though, is not the price but the phone's performance. Good thing that the event organizers got us to try out the phone, for the duration of the event at least. For a phone that is relatively cheap in price, I expected to see lags like that of Cherry Mobile Orbit but I was proven wrong. Alcatel's Blaze Glory 918N has a smooth touch and none of that dreaded signature lags I have noticed with Android phones which gives the product some plus points.

Alcatel Blaze Glory 918N is now available on the market for my fellow Android searchers to try out. Aside from this one, the Asia Pacific General Manager for Alcatel, Harry Au, promised that more of these cheap but quality phones will be available on the market, and soon. They are working on their tablet line, as well, though there is no timetable yet for a launch.

With Alcatel stores spread all over the country, it will be hard to miss the Alcatel OneTouch line of mobile phones. If you ask me the usual question if I will get this phone to replace my current Android phone, that is one big possibility, though I'll always be on the lookout for awesome Android phones, tablets, and possibly other devices that may be invented. If you want a phone that is budget-friendly yet is worth more than the price, I'd recommend this one.

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 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:

GSM Arena

Cherry Mobile

Lenovo Mobile Philippines

The other day, I broke the news that the Nokia 3310 now retails for only Php 190 in a certain store in MaryMart Mall (the section with the Iloilo Supermart grocery) in Iloilo City. In that same article, I noted a series of questions that gadget buyers may be thinking about:

How often should one buy a new gadget?
At what rate/price should a buyer make that decision to get a new machine?
How soon after release is it "safe" to buy without regret?

These questions may be considerations that a gadget consumer is thinking about, given that technology seems to upgrade at rates that consumers' wallets may not be able to keep up with. In fact, I've personally noted some bloggers getting disillusioned with Android Smartphones because of this "bad habit" that gadget manufacturers seem to be adopting.

We also discussed that gadget manufacturers have one concern: to get consumers to buy and upgrade constantly, and up to bigger and better specs, every single time. Thus, as a wise consumer, there is one thing you can do to protect yourself:

Don't believe the hype.

That's basically it. When you know what you want, and you know what you can be contented with, you won't need to get flushed out with the flood of advertising that companies can inundate you with. All you need to do is to take a stand. Don't mind, don't care.

But how do you deal with the gadget envy that plagues techies everywhere, when specs get better with every new release, which seems to happen every single month?

How about set a benchmark and refuse to budge unless the gadget meets it?

The Android Searcher has constantly noted that Androids have this "signature lag" which isn't experienced on an iPod Touch or an iPhone. Even as an Android evangelist of sorts, I would have to honestly agree. Whenever I play Pumpkins vs. Monsters, I do get that annoying "catch" and lag, but I can say that it's pretty much tolerable. I'm on a Cherry Mobile Nova, and at 256MB/600MHz, you can't expect much. But here is what I do to deal with this, when ignoring is no longer an option: remove all widgets, kill all previously opened apps, then go back to playing the game. Using Android Assistant also helps, as its "Quick Boost" button frees up the RAM itself.

This is what happens when you're on a low-spec Android. But if you're on a Samsung Galaxy SII or a Sky Vega Racer, this shouldn't be a problem.

Usually, dissatisfaction with one's gadget is the main reason that prompts users to upgrade. But for those who are limited by the amount of resources in their hands, it would be wiser to grin and bear the defects for a few months more, and then upgrade when able.

It would also make sense to just make a list of gadgets you can, and will buy for that year and stick to it. Unless you do that, you may get prone to wanting every new release that comes out on the market.

Now, to answer the three questions posed earlier:

How often should one buy a new gadget?

How about every two years?

Take the benchmark of postpaid plans: Postpaid plans will issue a new phone as a loyalty reward for its subscribers, every 24 months. That means that they will give you a new unit to use with your plan every two years. I believe this is a sensible benchmark for upgrading phones. New units may have significant hardware upgrades every 2 to 3 months, but these are not truly necessary for day to day use. You don't really need to have your Facebook load lightning-fast. It pays to get disconnected every now and then.

At what rate/price should a buyer make that decision to get a new machine?

I'd rather wait for a gadget to depreciate up to half its original price, if possible. I've always had that sick feeling to my stomach whenever I bought a machine, only to find that it's depreciated considerably, just months after. I also have a smug feeling whenever someone else (usually my significant other) made the stupid decision to buy a gadget I wanted at first-release price, only to see it depreciate to half or even a quarter of its original price, a year later. Thus, I've learned to make the purchase when the price has gone down to a comfortable level, or the lowest it can go.

How soon after release is it "safe" to buy without regret?

Frankly, I won't buy a gadget when it comes out. I'd rather wait a year or even two years before I get it. Nevermind that the market will make me think it's obsolete. It's not. It will be faster than my previous machine, and it will be exactly what I need, even though months, even years have passed since I first wanted it.

I don't and will never buy the patterns that the manufacturers will try to set for the market. While the Androids are on a race to be bigger and better in terms of months, and Apple's machines will always have a 2-year timeline for its gadgets, I will maintain that it would be better to be a wise and sensible consumer. As I said, two articles by now, manufacturers only want one thing: your money. It is your job to stand your ground and not be taken in by their wiles.

Hope this guide helps!

More on my personal experience here.

With thanks to Karen Ang for unwittingly sparking the idea for this article. :)

***

Photo Credits:

Abbey Linville

Xtreme Systems

PureMobile

C'est La Vie by Bavarian Filled

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.

It's New Year's Eve: the perfect time to look back, and also the perfect time to build new dreams.

When it comes to dreams, we're told to "dream big." And even if it doesn't seem reachable or budget-friendly at the moment, those big dreams have their purpose: they keep a person "hungry": willing to dream, willing to work, willing to reach out until they get what they want.

Thus, let's change the tone of our budget-conscious discussions on Android gadgets, and for today, DREAM BIG.

When it comes to Android phones, there's no other way to dream big than to think and consider the Android Superphones. Thanks to the Samsung Galaxy SII setting the trend of creating a smartphone to beat the iPhone, Android phone and tablet makers like Motorola, HTC and even LG are working hard to follow in the rubber marks that Samsung had left in the Android innovation pavement. Thus, expect that Androids will become more and more powerful as the days go by.

I'm actually a very practical girl. I prefer "doable" and "reachable" than the ostentatious. I do not see the point in owning a Php 20,000 phone, and I once swore that I would never spend more than Php 3,000 on a phone, because I got traumatized when my then-de rigueur 3310 got picked from my knapsack's back pocket. In front of a church, at that. But since then, innovation could no longer be contained, and now, I'm absolutely all for spending a reasonable amount on a good Android phone.

I still have my spending "set point," the maximum that I'd go for any phone. I still feel like it's too much to spend Php 25,000 and above on a phone, no matter how amazing it is, at the moment. So my strategy will be to wait until the prices drop as the companies release new models.

But price points notwithstanding, here are my personal picks for high-end SuperDroids:

Motorola Droid 3 -- One of the reasons why I'm not interested in a Samsung Galaxy SII is that I want to hold out for 4G/LTE. The technology is currently being implemented by Smart Communications, and I want to take advantage of that when it's fully rolled out in the country. If I choose the Samsung Galaxy SII as my "ultimate" Dream Droid, I may limit myself to 3G connectivity at around the same price. So as I was thinking about looking for the "Ultimate Androids" that I may want to purchase within 2 years' time, I decided on finding a 4G Android and putting it on a sort-of bucket list to think about and, well, pray for. I found this! And the next phone.

But before I go on to the next Dream Droid, I want to say one more main reason why I put this on the top of my list:

I chose this phone because of the Slide-Out Keyboard. As I just mentioned in my recent comprehensive review of the Cherry Mobile Nova, I am re-realizing that I hate texting for long periods on a touchscreen phone. I seriously need a physical keyboard, and by Seriously, I mean SERIOUSLY. So when I came across the Moto Droid 3, I was happy to have found a better, 4G model similar to my first slide-out keyboard "crush," the HTC Desire Z.

HTC Amaze -- While everyone else is obsessed by the HTC Sensation XE because it is among the Beats-branded Androids of HTC, I'm yawning. I'm not impressed because of one major thing: it's just not powerful enough. While the HTC Sensation XE has 1.5GHz CPU speed/768MB RAM/4GB ROM size/1GB user-available Internal Storage, the HTC Amaze has, to pun around, more amazing specs at 1.5GHz CPU speed/1GB RAM/16GB ROM size. Imagine the difference. Plus, it has an HSDPA speed of up to 42MBPS. Can you say "whoa" with me? Here's a side-by-side GSMArena Comparison chart so you can see why I'm amazed.

Samsung Galaxy Note -- While I'm not into the Samsung Galaxy SII, I'm really going goo-goo eyes over the Samsung Galaxy Note. For one, it is marketed as a tablet/phone hybrid with a stylus and some functions for note-taking and journaling. I'm more attracted to the S-Pen than anything else on this unit. But I'm also happy at the fact that: It is LTE, it is wide enough for handy browsing, reading and note-taking, and, it's not as chunky as the Samsung Galaxy Tab(lets). The real draw for me is really on the fact that it has handwriting support. It doesn't hurt that it's on Gorilla Glass, either.

Will I be able to buy all three Androids within the next three years? I'm not sure. I'd settle for either the Moto Droid 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Note, actually. Either way, I'm not in a hurry. My Android journey is only beginning, after all. :-)

***

Photo Credits: Xylker.com

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.

***

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!

***

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.

***

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!

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