Showing posts with label 4G. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4G. Show all posts

Feb 16, 2013

SmartBro Pocket WiFi Hands On Snap


When we moved from our condo in Las Pinas to an apartment in Laguna we had our telephone line and internet (PLDT and DSL) transferred as well. We were in a two-year contract with PLDT and it will be costly if we will have it cut and apply for a new line.


For 2 weeks in November, we don't have cable, landline and internet. Local antenna can only get Qtv channel, thus we would only watch TweetBiz. And oh, Jeng loves Tim Yap is an understatement all sarcasm. It's ok not to have cable because we can always watch downloaded movies and tv series. The hardest part is not having internet. Life gets boring without internet.

One day, I got home and are house was once again a wifi zone. Jeng bought a Smart Bro Pocket Wifi!


From the name of the unit itself, you will have an idea that this is a small gadget. It's small like a mobile phone, it can fit in your pocket.

The unit itself costs P3600. During that time, there was promo where you can pay for the unit for 2 years. That will be P150 a month. Not bad! The internet cost P495 for 50 hours/month. That’s like P10/hour. You will be charged P10/30mins on the succeeding use of internet after the 50 hours. All in all, we are billed P645 per month. Internet speed is up to 2MBPS. I actually don't understand what an MBPS is. Hahaha. Jeng said 2 MBPS is already fast. But I think fast is relative. Well, for a non-techie person (Like me), as long as I can open facebook, twitter, log in into this blog and open all the other sites I usually check, that is fast. At the same time, speed varies depending on the smart signal on your location.

The unit comes with a battery similar to that of a mobile phone. Of course a charger is included when you purchase the unit. Battery lasts for about 2 to 3hours of continuous used. It can be use while you are charging it.


Once the landline and DSL was up we limit the use the pocket wifi when we are out. Jeng driving from Laguna to Marikina and vice versa, I’m using it. Dinner and coffee with friends in Tagaytay, we used it. Going to a friend’s party, we let them borrow and use it. Basically if we are not home, we bring and use it. 5 laptop and/or phone can connect all at the same time, according to smart website. Yes, I am walking wifi zone, as the radio commercial says!

We are still maintaining it today because this can be used during emergencies. Like this week, we learned that our DSL was cut off. Jeng did not pay last month's bill because we are asking for an adjustment from PLDT for the two weeks that the phone was installed but we didn't have dial tone and of course no internet. The telephone line was not cut off, it was just the internet. Weird ‘no?

Good thing we kept the pocket wifi.

This article is written by katiyay, posted by my guest blogger.

Smartbro Pocket Wifi ZTE MF30

Smartbro Pocket Wifi a.k.a. ZTE MF30 is a mobile Wi-Fi router with HSUPA 7.2Mbps downlink, 5.7 Mbps uplink. It supports up to 5 users connected via Wi-Fi (including PSP, digital camera, laptop, and MP4). Quad band GSM and tri band UMTS. Supports up to 32GB Micro SDHC memory. It can cover a 50 meter radius.


Quick Overview
  • WCDMA/HSDPA 2100/1900/850(900)MHz
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • 5.76Mbit/s HSUPA, 7.2Mbit/s HSDPA
  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11b/g compatible with any Wi-Fi enabled device.
ZTE MF30 3G Router Main features:
  • This HSUPA device is peak rated at 7.2 Mbps downlink speed.
  • The MF30 uses 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connection so no installation is required. Simply enter the password key supplied and get on line immediately.
  • Small, lightweight design.
  • Four LED status indicators.
MF30 USB Wireless Mobile Router Specifications:
  • WCDMA/HSDPA 2100/1900/850(900)MHz
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • 5.76Mbit/s HSUPA, 7.2Mbit/s HSDPA
  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11b/g compatible with any Wi-Fi enabled device
  • Internal Antenna
  • indication LED (battery, signal, WIFI, network)
  • Micro SD card up to 32G
  • Dimensions: 98.5mm*54mm*13.9mm
  • Weight: 80g
  • Compatible OS: Windows 2000, XP, Windows 7, Vista, Mac OS , Linux.
Notes:

1. In areas of low network coverage the battery may not fully charge.
2. If you have changed and lost your password you can reset the unit to factory defaults:

From the powered up state press the power key and the WPS key at the same time. Re-power the device and enter the default password from the label under the battery.

SmartBro 4G LTE Huawei E392 My Beta Test


I have been under the Smart LTE Closed Beta Testing Program for quite some time now and from what I can say, it certainly beats other wireless ISP when it comes to speed. As a wireless internet user for around 4 years and using around 4 wireless internet connections here at home I can say that the Smart LTE has got some potential, albeit the rumors going around that the price plan for the upcoming Smart LTE is primed for premium plans or in layman’s term high priced plans.


Im no smart broadband user so I have no idea how fast is “fast” for this connection. Plus for the fact that my location here in Manila does not receive a LTE signal means that it might take time until I can consider the Smart LTE as one of my preferred connections, but that’s just me.

Though I don’t have the Smart LTE connection, the USB Dongle Huawei E392 which I am using right now for the Smart LTE receives HSPA+ signal which is fast specially during off peak hours that my speed skyrockets at 4mbps tops. I bet it could go higher if I am in a place with less walls or in a higher floor.


It would depend on what kind of internet user you are. But if you are an internet user who is always on the go or maybe a home user that needs a fast internet connection without minding the budget, then the Smart LTE might just do the job. Otherwise, you can just stick to your trusty internet connection until the Smart LTE has spread out.

Check here if you want to know if your location is being catered with Smart LTE Signal with the Smart LTE Sites List.

This article is written by Louis James Diaz, posted by my guest post blogger.

Jan 29, 2013

New HTC 8X and 8S Smartphone Windows 8


HTC lunches new Windows 8 Phone handsets, Welcome the 8X and 8S.

High Tech Comupter (HTC) has had a long and productive relationship with Microsoft for the better part of fifteen years.

Ever since HTC’s investment with Android and its Sense user interface, their relationship with Microsoft had been over shot. However, all that appears to be changing with HTC’s new Windows 8 smartphones – The 8X and 8S.

At first glance the 8X appears to have influences from Nokia Lumia designs, from the display to the button arrangement. Design attributes aside its made in full partnership with Microsoft including on-stage support by their CEO for the launch.

HTC’s CEO Peter Chou asked his team to focus on a Windows Phone 8 handset and sent them to the drawing board. The 8X – their flagship model features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch super LCD2 display with Gorilla Glass, Beats Audio and a front facing camera, capable of capturing 1080p video.

HTC has matched technology with style to create an elegant, lightweight Windows Phone 8 device that will rival Nokia and Samsung’s new Windows based smartphones.

According to HTC the 8X is designed to represent the colors that are found in Windows Phone 8, so if you buy a California Blue Windows Phone 8X Then you’ll get the blue tiles throughout the OS too. The depth recedes towards the edges, taking inspiration from a live tile so the phone feels a lot thinner when you hold it.

HTC said the 8X would launch in 50 countries in early November across 126 mobile operators, while the 8S would be available in 52 countries with more than 146 operators.

Unlike Nokia, HTC does not have everything riding on these two products, HTC still has their Android platform to fall back on.

The 8X and 8S are beautiful cutting edge devices, However HTC remains committed to both Andriod and Windows Phone 8.

Full Spec List for the 8X:
  • SIZE: 132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12 mm\
  • WEIGHT: 130 grams with battery
  • Display: 4.3 inch touch screen Ser LCD 2with Gorilla Glass
  • Resoltion:HD 720
  • CPU: Qualcomm S4 1.5 GHz, Dual-core
  • Platform: Windows Phone 8
  • SIM CARD TYPE : Micro SIM
  • Memory: Total Storage 16 GB, Available capacity Varies
  • RAM: 1GB
  • NETWORK: GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • HSPA/WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
  • SENSORS: G-Sensor, Digital Compass, Proximity Sensor, Ambient light Sensor
  • Connectivity: 3.5 mm stereo audio jack, NFC capable, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
  • Main Camera: 8 megapixel with autofocus, LED flash and BSI sensor
  • F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens, 1080p video recording
  • Front Camera: Ultra-wide-angle front camera, 2.1 Megapixel Front camera
  • Battery: Embeded and rechargeable Li-ion Polymer battery, 1800 mAh Capacity

Unlocked HTC Velocity 4G Vodafone

HTC is now becoming the leading company in international market for launching the mobiles with high-tech performance. The addition in its wide range of mobiles is Velocity 4G Vodafone that is a blend of astounding aspects.


Take a tour of all the features loaded inside it. While holding it, you will feel an S-LCD capacitive touch screen with 16M colors that streams information and graphics with outstanding quality. The screen size is 4.5 inches and you can watch full movies on it without missing any detail. The chic HTC mobile phone is integrated with primary and secondary cameras of 8 mega pixels and 1.3 mega pixels respectively.

You can capture the precious moments of your life and can store them in its dedicated memory of 16GB. If you face any scarcity while storing the data, there is an external card slot to use memory card with storage capacity up to 32GB. The mobile phone is 4G network communication device that is another dominant feature.

You will love the fastest results of your assigned queries to this 4G Vodafone, which has an Android operating system and a chipset technology of Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon. The system can operate the Dual-core 1.5 GHz scorpion CPU and Andreno 220 GPU. It is very difficult to find any hitch in this HTC mobile phone.

It is modeled to entertain you with interesting adds-on like Stereo FM radio, MP3 and MP4 players, latest games installed through Java MIDP emulator and lot more. The most essential feature latest mobiles are the speedy browsing of internet and the Wi-Fi hotspot integrated in the mobile will do it for you. The standard battery will let you in touch with your loved ones for a long time on calls. Simply, the HTC Velocity 4G Vodafone mobile phone is a tough challenge for other companies to take it far behind in the race.

HTC Velocity 4G Snap Review

The HTC Velocity 4G launched last week by Telstra is the first LTE/4G mobile phone available in Australia. Until now the only device able to use Telstra’s new mobile network has been a 4G USB laptop modem that we tested in late 2011.
When used in Telstra 4G coverage areas the new HTC Velocity 4G smartphone promises theoretical peak speeds of 2-40Mbps down & 1-10Mbps up, with some important caveats.

Besides it’s flagship 4G speed the HTC Velocity 4G features a 4.5” 540x960 screen, speedy 1.5 GHz dual core CPU, 16GB storage onboard expandable with 32GB microSD, 8MP/1.3MP back/front cameras, HD voice support and swappable battery.


Telstra plans to release four 4G phones this year and one tablet so there will not be much 4G mobile handset choice for customers. It is not known whether one of these four phones will be a 4G iPhone.

Optus isn’t launching its 4G network until Q2 2012 and Vodafone has not announced a date yet for its launch.


We tested the Velocity 4G in the Sydney CBD 4G coverage area as well as a 3G coverage area in Sydney’s western suburbs. Potential buyers should be aware of issues that affect all first generation 4G phones – short battery life and patchy coverage.

The Velocity 4G is like a speedway hot rod in that the payoff for smoking 4G data transfer rates means the battery charge depletes very quickly, as soon as 5 hours if used a lot.

The 4.5” screen also uses up the battery faster than a smaller phone so it’s a shame that HTC has equipped the Velocity 4G with an undersized 1620mAh capacity battery as a “fuel tank”.

Telstra 4G coverage is available within 5km of the GPO in each of the 8 capital cities as well as about 80 regional towns and cities.

As well as being Australia’s first 4G phone the Velocity 4G’s less well known capability is that it’s the first Australian phone that’s capable of dual channel (double the standard) 3G data transfer speed when outside 4G zones.

Telstra’s new 4G data network currently has far fewer customers using it than their 3G network so it’s like flying along an empty motorway at 110km/hr. We will judge how it handles a heavier load of users as more customers start using 4G during 2012.

So is the HTC Velocity 4G worth purchasing? This phone can definitely help your mobile workers increase their productivity if they spend a significant amount of time conducting business activities within 4G coverage areas and keep a second charged battery with them.

For business customers the key selling point in our eyes is the huge time saving speed difference (up to 10 times faster in our tests) between 4G and 3G when uploading large files, such as reports or presentations, to email or cloud storage.

Hopefully Telstra’s tendency to take quite some time to test updates is given a kick along so the Velocity 4G’s Android 2.3.7 phone operating system will be updated to Android 4.0 well before the end of Q1 2012.

The HTC Velocity 4G is initially available outright for $876 or to individual customers for free on a $79 plan and business customers on a $90 plan. Both require 24 month contracts that include 2GB of data/month. Extra supplementary data packs can be purchased if required.

It is highly advisable to keep a close eye on how quickly this 2GB gets used as faster 3G/4G speeds mean the amount of data transfers included in your plan will get used in much less time than before. With 4G speeds it’s easy to burn through several 100MB of downloads in the blink of an eye.

Be careful to avoid bill shock because Telstra's business mobile plans do not throttle/shape data usage after it goes over the included quota. Nor is there an opt-in for throttling/shaping - a Telstra spokesperson told us “business doesn’t want to be slowed down”.

Telstra's data usage meter theoretically lags one hour behind reality but call centre staff told us it’s best to assume the figure is 12 hours behind. They suggested customers SMS the word “use” (without quotes) to the number 176 for free to receive an instant SMS back with current data usage.

Oct 29, 2012

HTC 8X Windows Phone Review

The HTC 8X Windows Phone is one of three flaghsip devices for the new OS. Justin Williams gauges how it measures up to the competition in an increasingly-crowded sector.


I've always had a soft spot for HTC's phones. The Taiwanese company was among the first to bring a touchscreen smartphone to the UK and was an early trailblazer for Android back in 2007. Its HD7 was an understated but worthy competitor when pitched against Nokia's colourful Lumia range in the small group of devices that ran Windows Phone 7. And, of course, it sold container-ship loads of Android devices up until 2011 when sales – thanks to aggressive marketing by Samsung – began to fall off a cliff.

So there's a lot riding on the 8X for HTC. Again it's up against a big brash phone from Nokia in the form of the Lumia 920 which seems to have a Frankenstorm marketing effort behind it as well as a flagship Windows phone from Samsung. It may not be a make-or-break device but we should not underestimate how important it is for HTC that this phone holds its own against the Lumia.

Hardware

The bald specs may suggest that the 8X isn't anything special but let's make no mistake here – this is an absolutely gorgeous phone. From its unibody design with its polycarbonate back through to a fabulous 4.3" LCD 2 screen, the 8X oozes quality. At 10.6mm it is thicker than both an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy SIII. But the 8X has tapered edges giving it a good grip and making it feel as slim as both the Apple and Samsung flagships. The phone isn't especially light but it sits evenly in the hand and the polycarbonate makes the hard plastic finish of the SIII and HTC's own One X feel cheap and slippery by comparison. Only the iPhone beats it in terms of design quality.

The physical buttons on the 8X – the power button on the top and the rocker and camera switches on the side – as well as the camera and flash are all flush with the body giving the phone a smooth profile whatever the viewing angle and HTC has reverted to placing the micro USB port on the phone's base rather on the side as with the One series.

Our review phone came in California Blue and the 8X will also be available in black, red and yellow

The phone is sealed so there's no access to the 1,800mAh battery but we had no issues here getting a full day of high usage out of it in contrast to the One X which was a great phone badly let down by its battery life.

What will almost certainly be an issue, though, is that the 8X comes with only 16GB of storage on board and no microSD slot (Windows Phone 8 does not support this). HTC points to the free 7GB of Skydrive storage giving an 8X user the ability to stream music to the device ignoring the reality for most of us who spend much of our lives outside 3G or WiFi zones. With the iPhone 5 offering up to 64GB and even the Lumia 920 having 32GB on board, one really has to question what astral plane HTC’s design team were on when they plumped for such a parsimonius amount of memory.

If your previous experience with Windows phones stretches only to Phone 7 then you’ll find the 8X quick… very quick. It opens apps, renders web pages and fires up the camera at near light speed compared to, say, the Nokia Lumia 900 or even an iPhone 4S which was no slouch in its day.

Display

Coupled with Windows Phone’s Live Tiles, the 8X’s 720 x 1280 pixel HD display is stunning. The pixel density (342 PPI) is higher than on the Nokia Lumia 920 and even the iPhone 5. Colours are rendered accurately and, even zoomed in, details are sharp and clear. We couldn’t detect any noticeable colour bias and there isn’t a hint of oversaturation.

Glare does not appear to be a problem and we were able to use the phone even in strong direct sunlight.

Until now, I’ve found Kindle books to be difficult to read on anything except an iPhone’s Retina display but this is as pleasurable on an 8X as a larger device.

Cameras

The 8X has a f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens on the back coupled with a dedicated imaging chip which deliver the best results I’ve ever managed to squeeze out of a smartphone. The pictures are incredibly good for a point and shoot device whether close up or at a distance. Depth of field is good as is colour reproduction with sharp, accurately rendered colours that veer more towards under rather than oversaturation. Close-up, the macro performance is stunning with great detail reproduction even in low light.

Video capture is also up there with the best in class delivering 1080p at 30fps with a noticeable lack of wind noise and very speedy processing.

On the front, HTC has introduced a 2.1mp, f/2.0 wide angle camera allowing the social narcissists among us to start including up to three friends in those all-important profile and status shots.

Software

With Phone 8 development, Microsoft has gone down the Apple route opting to nip and tuck rather than radically overhaul the OS. It’s a brave strategy given the disappointing sales for Phone 7. But it’s the right decision – Windows Phone’s live tiles are far enough removed from the static icons of iOS and the confusing widget farm that Android has become to put clear blue water between Microsoft and its competitors.

Our testing predated the relaunch of the Windows Phone Store so we weren’t able to see the promised range of updated apps but it probably fair to say that this will continue to be very limited compared with the iOS App Store or Google Play. Those of us who desperately want to see a proper Twitter app or Dropbox on a Windows phone are likely to be still waiting months from now.

First introduced with its One series, HTC has included Beats audio technology with the 8X delivering an amazing depth and range of sound on even the cheapest in-ear earphones. But the inclusion of such an amazing sound system only serves to make the decision to limit on-board storage to 16GB appear even more bizarre.

What truly differentiates a Windows device from all the media-centric phones out there is its Office integration. With Phone 8 we’re still waiting for track changes on Word documents but tables and tabulation now render accurately and spreadsheets look and work like real Excel creations. For those of us who occasionally use a phone to grab a picture or a thought and share it with a desktop or tablet, the OneNote integration is fantastic and for the productivity minded this could be the deal sealer.

Microsoft is now bundling Nokia maps with all of its phones so you can download maps for most of the world and use them offline. This is a stroke of genius but one really does wonder what Nokia was thinking about when it decided to give away what was probably its last remaining USP.

I’d like to be able to say that web browsing on the 8X is pleasurable but Microsoft has failed to fix two of the biggest flaws with Phone 7: rendering and bookmarks. Pages still fail to render flawlessly leading to text and pictures overlapping on some sites giving the updated (and admittedly very quick) Internet Explorer an early 2002 Symbian feel. And as for bookmarks, the inability to manage and arrange your web bookmarks in folders or any other kind of coherent structure – rather than one long list – is baffling and, frankly, inexcusable.

Conclusion

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a beautiful device with a delightful form factor. It is without doubt the best phone that HTC has made and has enough punch to be seriously considered alongside the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy SIII. On paper, it seems to beat the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC has moved heaven and earth to get it to market on time which must give it a head start over the other Windows signature phones. The cameras – both front and back – are class leading and the image results breathtaking for a phone.

But it isn’t without its flaws, most notably the limited on-board storage which will make gaining adoption among music lovers an uphill struggle. - source

Sep 19, 2012

HTC Launches Windows Phone 8X and 8S


Nokia and Samsung aren’t the only phone makers embracing Microsoft’s next-generation mobile OS. Today, HTC unveiled a pair of colorful handsets that have Windows Phone 8 in their names. Dubbed the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S, both devices have HTC’s high-speed camera chip, Beats Audio and come in wide range of bold colors. The 8X will be available on AT&T, T-Moible and Verizon.

HTC Windows Phone 8X


HTC’s new flagship Windows 8 handset features an attactive 4.3-inch, Super LCD 2 screen that operates at a 1280 x 720 resolution for a PPI of 341.54, a bit better than the 4.5-inch Nokia Lumia 920′s 332 PPI. Inside, the 8X is powered by a 1.5-GHz, dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB of RAM and a 16GB eMMC storage. An 1,800 mAH hour battery promises reasonable endurance while Beats audio with 2.5-volts of amplification offers loud, accurate music playback and NFC chip will allow the device to work with mobile payment systems and tap-to-share applications.


The Windows Phone 8X’s camera features the same speedy “ImageChip” as HTC’s One phones, but none of the custom imaging software that HTC bundles with its Android handsets. Because of the ImageChip, the both the 2-MP front and 8-MP back cameras can fire up and shoot an initial picture under a second while also supporting burst mode. With a f/2.0 aperture and BSI sensor, the rear-facer promises sharp images with strong low-light performance that’s designed to compete with Nokia’s Lumia 920 and its PureView camera.

However, the Windows Phone 8X’s design is the real star of the show. Available in bright Flame Red, California Blue, Limelight Yellow as well as Graphite Black, the .39-inch thick handset has an angular shape that looks nothing like most Android devices, but reminded us of Nokia’s Lumia 920. At just 4.5 ounces, the 8X is a full 2 ounces lighter than the Lumia 920 as well. In a brief viewing, we were particularly impressed by the dark blue Windows Phone 8X, which an HTC rep told us is the device’s “halo color.”

The Windows Phone 8X will support LTE and be available on Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. There’s no word on pricing, availability or what carriers will get what colors.

HTC Windows Phone 8S


The mid-range HTC Windows Phone 8S has more modest specs, but a design that’s just as attractive, if not more so. With a 4-inch, 800 x 480 resolution Super LCD 2 screen, the 8S doesn’t provide as rich a visual experience and its 1-GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU is also a bit slower than its big brother’s while it provides half as much RAM (512MB) and a quarter the internal storage (4GB). However, at just 4 ounces, the Windows Phone 8S is lighter than the 8X though it is the same thickness.

The Windows Phone 8S does not have the ImageChip and has a lower-res rear-facing 5-MP camera with a shallower f2.8 aperture lens and only the ability to record 720p video. There’s also no front-facing camera at all so forget about video chat. And though the 8S also has Beats Audio, it does not have the same 2.5-volt amplification as the 8X.


That said, we really like the vibrant two-tone design of the Windows Phone 8S, which has one color on its front and a second color on its back with small panel of the front color as a back accent. Available in yellow / gray (High-Rise Gray), dark red / light red (Fiesta Red), blue / black (Atlantic Blue) and white / back (Domino), this mid-range phone really stands out in a crowd.


There’s no word yet on pricing or availability for the Windows Phone 8S, though we expect it to cost significantly less than the high-end Windows Phone 8X. We also don’t know whether it will support LTE or not. - source