Earlier today, LG launched their latest and most stylish Android phone yet, the LG Prada 3.0. If you will try to remember, it was in late 2008 when they released their LG Prada 2.0 which is just a feature phone with a QWERTY slider so this latest version is a huge leap from 2.0.

The design on LG Prada 3.0 is inspired by the Prada fashion brand, with a mix of sleek curves on a slim, gorgeous black body. It looks like a bigger Optimus Black with the curves of the Nokia N9 (or Lumia 800) and I like it a lot. The buttons look inconspicuous especially those on top lending to a sophisticated design.

The inconspicuous buttons. L-R, Power/Sleep, microUSB latch, Activate front camera button

You can definitely see the Prada branding on this phone as it’s the only thing you will see in front when the phone is turned off. At the back is Prada’s signature Saffiano pattern giving it a unique premium feel and again, with the Prada brand. The LG logo is also embossed at the back so it’s hard to see without looking closely.

The textured back of the LG Prada 3.0, very classy

Having a 4.3-inch display, it’s one of LG’s biggest Android phone, the other one being the Optimus 3D. The IPS display is nice but it only has an 800 x 480 resolution, just average for 4.3-inch phones in the market but the same as the Samsung Galaxy S2. The HTC Sensation has the highest at 960 x 540.

The curves remind me of a slimmer Nokia 9

What’s nice with the LG Prada 3.0′s screen is the NOVA display we first saw on the LG Optimus Black. It sports a display brightness of 800 nits which is higher than that of the Optimus Black (700 nits). Comparing it to the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, the LG Prada 3.0 has the brightest screen by a long shot making it very usable under bright conditions.

This phone also has a 1GHz Dual-Core / Dual Channel architecture just like the Optimus 3D although the Prada 3.0 has a 1GB RAM. This feature allows the phone to function smoothly despite heavy multitasking. If you’ve been using a dual-core phone, you would still notice some short lags here and there as more apps are running in the background. LG claims their dual channel architecture handles multitasking much better than ordinary dual-core phones in the market. Something to look out for in reviews.

Other features you will get out of this premium phone is an 8GB internal storage, 8-megapixel camera with flash capable of recording full HD videos and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. LG says the Ice Cream Sandwich update for this phone will be available (hopefully) on the 2nd quarter of the year.

So how much do you need to shell out for this fashionably sleek phone? The LG Prada 3.0 has an SRP of just Php29,990 and should already be available this month in all LG Concept stores. I was actually surprised at the price considering typical device collaboration with fashion brands tend to be outrageously expensive.

According to All Things D‘s sources, Apple is planning to hold an event on the first week of March to announce the iPad 3, or whatever Apple is going to call the next iPad.

Looking back last year, it was also the first week of March (March 2 to be exact) when Apple announced the iPad 2. Then it was made available in less than a couple of weeks so there’s also a possibility that people will be owning the next iPad next month.

So what can we expect from the iPad 2′s successor? If rumors and speculations are to be believed, we’ll be seeing a faster processor, a better graphics chip and also higher display resolution.

Frankly speaking, if these are the improvements we’d get, then it’s going to be one unexciting update. I’ve been using the iPad 2 a lot again lately and it doesn’t seem to lag at all, and games play well for the most part. I don’t find the display lacking either despite other tablets out there have better display specs. These upgrades would just force developers to create more graphic/resource-intensive games which would then cripple previous iPad versions.

What would make a good iPad 3? iPhone 4S quality camera perhaps? Longer battery life is always a good thing. Bigger storage at a cheaper cost, or a microSD slot? We need to consider that premium iPad games are eating up a lot of storage. A slightly smaller size for more portability might also shake things up but it won’t bode well for app developers.

Anyway, the mere fact that we’re near the announcement of the next iPad is an exciting moment by itself.

So what do you like to see on the next iPad?

[All Things D]

Mobile Wonders, distributors of all sorts of portable mini speakers sent us the Woof iPod speaker for review. It’s not a new product and you’ve probably encountered or owned one already but to those who don’t, here’s a review for you.

The Woof is a lightweight portable speaker with a clever design. It has an expandable diaphragm at the back to give your sound more bass and depth. Because of this feature, the Woof sounds really good even in loud volume even if it’s made of plastic.

At first I thought it was made specifically for iPods with its built-in Apple 30-pin connector and no 3.5mm port, until I saw the included miniUSB to USB/3.5mm jack cable which allows you to plug and use it as a speaker for your devices. The miniUSB port is located on one side for charging and audio input.

The back has the On/Off switch and also the volume control. The back also has the expandable vacuum which you release by simply twisting.

Now my concern is that you want the front and back to be exposed to get the most sound from it but the design doesn’t have any stable stand to do so especially if using a bigger iPod like the Touch. The only solution for this is to go with wires and just use the 3.5mm jack so the Woof is free to stand on its own.

Ok so for the sound quality, the Woof is exceptionally loud for its size and build. I used it at the beach and it drowned out the sounds coming from other set-ups of other beach goers without sounding clanky.

Expanding the vacuum is a must as it really gives your music that “oomph” or “woof” and range. I tried my music with the diaphragm collapsed and it sounded flat and lacking. Your only concern is how to prop it well so that the diaphragm won’t hit any surface that would give off vibrations.

Now for battery life, the Woof can go all day provided you use the 3.5mm connection. Slapping an iPod on the 30-pin connector will leech off battery from the Woof into your iPod which is a good or bad thing depending on where you want your juice to go.

If you want a big sound coming from a small portable device, the Woof is alright and costs Php1,500. It’s not made for serious listeners but more for an outside party use as background music for livelier conversations.

When the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 was launched last weekend, it suddenly made the still new Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus irrelevant, or did it? Those who were thinking of buying the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus are now thinking whether to get the Galaxy Tab 7.7 instead. Is the 7.7 a worthy upgrade over the 7.0 Plus?

Let’s take a closer look at the two.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (left) and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (right)

The obvious difference between the two is the size of both the tablet and its display. The Tab 7.7 may be bigger but not by much due to its narrower black bezel as compared to the 7.0 Plus. The Super AMOLED Plus display on the 7.7 is a huge deal as well providing deeper contrasts and more vibrant colors. It made the display on the 7.0 LCD looked washed out in comparison.

On the aesthetic side, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is thinner by 2mm and lighter by 10 grams. In practicality, that’s not a lot and you won’t really feel the difference between the two.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (left) and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (right)

What you will feel, and see, is the difference of the back panel. The Tab 7.0 Plus has a glossy plastic back while the Tab 7.7 has a combination of plastic and metal with a brushed finish giving it a premium, solid look.

Now let’s look at the specs comparison between two:

For performance, the main difference is just the .2GHz advantage of the 7.7 Plus. And according to a recent testing by Engadget, here are the benchmark scores between the two.

The Quadrant score on the 7.0 Plus looks bogus but it has something to do with Quadrant’s algorithm favorite screens with lower res. But for the most part, there’s no significant advantage in terms of performance coming from the Tab 7.7.

Also, based on the same test by Endgadget, we learned that the Tab 7.7’s 5100mAh battery boasts of a class-leading 12-hour life. Well past the 10.5-hour life of the iPad 2 and very well ahead of the Tab 7.0 Plus’ 8-hour battery life.

Lastly, with all of these perks of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 over the Tab 7.0 Plus, there’s also a huge price difference to the tune of Php9,000. The Tab 7.7 is indeed pricey for its size.

Now the decision. Tab 7.7 or Tab 7.0 Plus? If you have the money to burn and want the best of what the 7-inch tablet market has to offer, definitely go with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. And if you’re fine knowing that your tablet’s display isn’t the best out there, or has a fragile plastic build, or can work with the 8-hour (which is not bad at all) battery life, then the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus should suffice for you.

Good news for Nokia owners waiting for Symbian Belle, the long wait for the update is now over… well for some at least. It was leaked before that the update would begin globally on Feb 8th but they decided to start early as some owners are already seeing the update for their phone.

The Symbian Belle update is available for the the Nokia N8, E7, X7, C7, E6, and C6-01. Although the Nokia 500 supports Belle, the update for it will have to wait.

Updating is pretty simple but you need to have a PC and an internet connection to do it.

1. Download and install the latest Nokia PC Suite (v3.3.86)
2. Connect your supported Nokia handset to your PC
3. Click the Software Update in the Nokia PC Suite

Now there are two things that can happen at this point. The PC Suite will start downloading the update (300+ MB, for the C6-01 at least) or it will say that your phone is already updated. You can try to click on the Update button (maybe it can’t connect to the server at that time), or just try again a different day (maybe the update is not yet ready).

Don’t worry if you can’t update your phone at the moment. You’re not alone and it’s also possible that Nokia is still in the process of releasing the updates for other devices.

To check if the update for your device is available, you may visit the Nokia Belle Availability site. (Thanks JonJon for the tip)

Key in *#0000# to check for your handset’s product code.

The first quad-core, Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, Asus Transformer Prime, has finally arrived in the Philippines and the good folks of Asus PH allowed us have a brief time with it.

At first glance, you wouldn’t view the Transformer Prime as a tablet. It is packaged with a keyboard dock and there’s no option to get it as a tablet-only device. And without 3G support, I see it as a hybrid notebook than a tablet.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a hybrid tablet or a hybrid notebook, one thing’s for sure is that the Asus Transformer Prime is a gorgeous device. It looks very solid and expensive taking its design cues from the Asus Zenbook with the sand-blasted metal with concentric patterns. Really good-looking compared to the first Asus Transformer.

The keyboard dock houses the standard Asus chiclet keyboard commonly found on their Eee PCs except for the Function keys which has no business on an Android platform. It also gives the tablet an additional 6 hours and houses the USB port and an SD card reader making it an Android-based notebook with exceptional battery life.

I wasn’t able to play much with the Ice Cream Sandwich on this one but expect a smooth experience now that the new and mature Android OS knows how to make use of multi-core processors. The Super IPS+ display may not be as fancy as Super AMOLEDs but it has its merits, like wide viewing angles and truer white colors.

For those of you who are waiting for a tablet that can also properly double as a laptop for your basic productivity, well the Asus Transformer Prime would fit the bill.

Although Window Phones are not that popular here in the Philippines, there are still a lot of loyal fans who will be happy to hear that the Windows Phone Marketplace is now open for business in our country. Along with Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines is one of the five countries who can enjoy access to free and paid apps in the Marketplace.

It was just last month that Windows Phone app submission place, App Hub, became available for developers to submit their apps to the 5 new markets including China. This opened the doors for local developers to earn from their games and apps, and also introduce localized apps that would suit the Filipino user.

With the addition of these five countries, the Windows Phone Marketplace is now available to 41 territories but not yet in China. You can however, submit your app to be made available to China once their Windows Phone Marketplace opens.

Right now, the latest Windows Phone which is the HTC Radar, didn’t get much traction in the local market but the coming of the Nokia Lumia phones in the near future may give the WP7 platform the boost it needs in the country.

[Windows Phone Developer Blog]

In these times when everybody is going to the cloud, Buffalo takes a step to bring your files into the cloud too, or having your very own personal cloud storage solution. Buffalo designed a storage solution that partners well with smartphones and tablets. It provides a place to securely store and share data for all Droids, tablets, PC’s and iDevices, allowing you to access photos, videos, audio files, or documents anywhere in the world.

The Buffalo CloudStation is a simple plug-and-play cloud storage solution that comes with everything you need to get started. Installation is an easy two-step process that invites users to plug the storage device into any Wi-Fi router, access Buffalo CloudStation’s website and click ‘activate’ to register the device.

It leverages the PogoPlug streaming service for photos — indeed professional photographers will be the first to appreciate the combo of storage and uploading service that Buffalo has brought. Buffalo CloudStation does not need any software for installation.

Buffalo CloudStation enables users to decide what, where and when to share data stored on the appliance. Similar to a hard drive that operates inside the computer, Buffalo CloudStation is accessible from a PC or Mac computers as well as via browser from your smartphone or tablet. And with Pogoplug apps for mobile devices (Apple / Android), users are only seconds away from their valuable content.

The Buffalo CloudStation is available in two models:  CloudStation (Single Bay) and CloudStation Pro Duo (Two Bay). The CloudStation  (Single Bay) 1 TB and 2 TB SRP is Php9,270 and Php11, 160, respectively, while the CloudStation Pro Duo 2TB and 4TB is Php19,380 and Php23,250, respectively. It also comes with a three-year warranty.

CloudStation is distributed by MSI-ECS in the Philippines. For product availability, pricing and technical infos, go to their website, or check their Facebook page.

SteelSeries is known for their high performance gaming gear used by professional gamers worldwide. They provide gaming keyboards, mice, headsets and other accessories which may be vital to the gamer’s arsenal. SteelSeries was kind enough to send us one of their best headsets in the market, The Siberia v2.

The box is full of information you need to know about the Siberia v2. It also has a window for you to check out what it looks like. The Siberia v2 has a 1m cord with 3.5mm jack for audio input and output. SteelSeries also provided a 2m extension cord if the 1m cord doesn’t cut it.

Based on the name, one can tell that this is a revamped version of a previous Siberia headset. This is not just some minor overhaul; this is a complete redesign from aesthetics to the innards of the headset. I haven’t tried the v1 but these headsets are so comfortable you can fall asleep with them on (assuming you sleep in supine). The headband is great and fits almost all head sizes with its flexible design. It comes in a wide variety of colors too which you can check out on their website.

The v2s have a closed design, which means the soundstage wouldn’t be that big but they’re pretty accurate when listening to directional audio. I used this while playing Batman: Arkham City and the direction in which you can hear the voices are very accurate. Positional audio is very useful for playing online shooters. The retractable mic design is also useful when you’re just out for a walk. According to players on the other side, they hear me perfectly fine without any hisses and what-not.

Boasting 50mm drivers as opposed the v1’s 40mm, Siberia v2 produces a more accurate sound reproduction at higher levels. The Siberia v2 sounds good, although I’m not convinced about the “Crystal clear high, low and mid-tones” on the packaging. Bassheads might be disappointed because it lacks booming bass, but for me it has just the right amount of bass I need when gaming. Listening to my FLAC collection, I’m just feeling that the highs are just not cutting through. Mid-tones are good as the vocals really shine. Then again, this was advertised as a gaming headset and audiophiles might be in the wrong section if they’re looking at this headset.

Did I mention that they are comfortable? They sit well on your head although I’m not a fan of the circular earcups because I have slightly large ears and sometimes it puts pressure on the cartilage making them uncomfortable if worn for very long periods. The earcups does a good job of keeping outside noise out and makes you focus more on what you’re listening to.

Overall, the Siberia v2 delivers one of the best performances in its price range of gaming headsets. Since audio is subjective, I suggest that you audition these ‘phones first before buying them. The SteelSeries Siberia v2 retails for Php4,999.

SteelSeries Siberia v2 Specifications:

Headphones

• Frequency response: 18 – 28.000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• SPL@ 1kHz, 1 Vrms: 112 dB
• Cable length: 1 + 2 = 3 m (9,8 ft.)
• Jacks: 3,5 mm

Microphone

• Frequency response: 50 – 16.000 Hz
• Pick up pattern: Uni-directional
• Sensitivity: -38 dB

Yesterday, we attended the launch of the latest addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab family, the Galaxy Tab 7.7. You have to be wondering why Samsung decided to create a tablet between the 7.0 and 8.9 but no concrete answer was given to me. I guess they just want to give consumers a lot of options and I heard that an 11-inch Galaxy tab is also on its way.

Anyway, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is their first tablet in our market that has the brushed metal back giving it a premium look. Pair it with high-end specs such as a Super AMOLED Plus display at 1280 x 800 resolution, their 1.4GHz dual-core Exynos chip, HSPA+ capability, and you’ll get a high-end tablet rivaling the Samsung Galaxy Note. The only thing we can complain about is the 3-megapixel rear camera but how often would you use it on a tablet anyway?

One thing I noticed with the Tab 7.7 is that despite the 0.7-inch increase in display, the overall size difference from the 7.0 Plus is not that big. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is just 3mm x 10mm bigger and this is due to the smaller bezel compared to previous Samsung tablets. This one has a thinner profile too.

It’s also important to note that the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is only one of the two current Samsung tablets (the other one is the 7.0 Plus) running on Honeycomb that supports Call and SMS feature. Even if the Tab 8.9 and 10.1 already runs on Android 3.2, it lacks the necessary hardware to use the Call and SMS function of the latest Honeycomb OS.

The Galaxy Tab 7.7 also has a microSD slot aside from its 16GB internal storage making it more flexible than the Tab 8.9 and 10.1.

Aside from that, everything looks and feels pretty much the same as other current tablets from Samsung. You’ll get a smooth performance on Sammy’s familiar TouchWiz UI out of this new tablet. It’s also upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich which is only a matter of when.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has a retail price of Php32,990 and will also be available for free on Globe’s Plan 3499. We were informed that Smart won’t be carrying it.

If you want to compare prices here are the SRPs of current Samsung Galaxy tablets:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus – Php23,990
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 16GB – Php27,490
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 32GB – Php32,490
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 32GB – Php34,990
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 – Php32,990