Techie Gadgets

Looks like the 3D fad won’t end at 3D HDTVs and 3D gaming laptops; it turns out that the IFA 2010 trade show at Berlin next month will be seeing a bunch of 3D camcorders too!

American brand Aiptek will be exhibiting a new 3D camcorder called the Aiptek i2 next month. It has two 5MP cameras inside which can record 2D HD video at 720p. Besides 3D recording (though there’s no info on the mechanism by which it can capture images in 3D), it has an autostereo display that allows you to watch 3D movies without glasses! Its software also lets you upload 3D movies to YouTube, though you will need a 3D monitor and glasses to enjoy these. The best part is that the device costs only $199, though one has to wonder about how good the 3D quality of this device really is.

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I didn’t realize that it’s been two years since I last checked the speed of my three internet service providers. One lesson learned from my past reviews is to make sure the modem is in working condition. I had been complaining in early 2007 that my PLDT mydsl connection had dropped connections and it was only a year after , that I found out that the problem was the modem. Since May 2008, I have not encountered a single problem with my PLDT mydsl connection. I decided to do another speed test to be consistent with the past reviews. Take note, I am a paying subscriber located in Pasig City near the Quezon City area. The speed test was done at night , taken in the same hour , when internet connection often slows down. Speed tests results were obtained from speedtest.net and repeated three times to make sure results were consistent. The results are quite interesting. I wanted to see who was delivering promised speed results or who fell below it. Just take a look.

1. Smart Bro – 999 pesos for a 512 kpbs connection- installed March 2, 2007

Smart Bro wireless broadband serves well as a backup internet connection for my daughter, Lauren when our Globe Broadband connection fails at night. We have had no trouble with Smart Bro since 2008. With its speed reaching 43% of the promised speed, it can still deliver when the regular ISP is not working. The Smart Bro is not often used because the speed is just too slow for my daughter’s needs.

Download: 220 kbps
Upload: 100 kbps
Promised speed: 220kbps reaches 43%

2. Globelines Broadband Budget Bundles – 2 MBPS with landline. at 1,995 pesos, installed March, 2007

The Globelines broadband is attached to my daughter’s computer and this is where we get WIFI connection for the whole house. I notice that the connection slows down at night the past months but the results were not bad at all. The speed test results hits 72% of promised speed.

Download: 1.43Mb/s
Upload: 350 kbps
Promised speed: 1.43 MBps at 72% of promised speed (2.0 Mb/s)

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Tags: globe broadband, globe tattoo, internet service providers, pldt mydsl, smart bro, speed test

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BlackBerry users in the Philippines can now download the updated version of the BlackBerry App World, the official app store for the BlackBerry. The new version provides users with intuitive features, allowing them to discover, download, and recommend mobile applications for personal and business use. Perhaps the most convenient feature of the new BlackBerry App World is that the credit card payment option; no need to have your bill sent to your carrier account! BlackBerry App World accepts Paypal payments too. Other notable features include an enhanced search features and a new user identification system called BlackBerry ID. Every user is provided with a device-independent user ID, which enables your credit card payment. QR barcode scanning is also supported, allowing you to scan QR codes associated with apps from anywhere.

Download the new BlackBerry App World directly to your device by visiting www.blackberry.com/appworld or mobile.blackberry.com.

Tags: BlackBerry

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This year’s IFA Consumer Electronics Show will be held in Berlin on September 3 til September 8 and there are already sneak previews of the gadgets to be unveiled. From the looks of it, there are going to be a bunch of Android Tablets at the event.

Rumors of a 10-inch Android Tablet from Toshiba were confirmed when photos of the leaked device were published on NotebookItalia. The tablet, called the SmartPad, has a sleek-looking metal frame with rounded edges and a smooth black surface. There are four buttons on one side of the touch screen, HDMI and USB ports, plus a webcam. No other information on specs is known.

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Tags: archos, tablets, toshiba, viewsonic

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As part of their continuing goal to provide users with innovative mobile phones, Nokia just unveiled the incredibly slim Nokia X3 Touch and Type. This gorgeous device combines the best of both worlds – a touch screen and a traditional 12-button phone keypad. This allows users to enjoy the familiarity of a typical mobile keypad and the convenience of just tapping on the colored touch screen.

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Tags: nokia x3

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