(UPDATE, November 5: Added ADB method, which requires more work.) Local tech company Cherry Mobile recently confirmed to me that the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OTA update for its second-gen Android One release, the Cherry Mobile One G1, will roll out starting this week.
Lazada Philippines to hold biggest sale of the year on 11/11
It’s that time of year again: Lazada Philippines will hold a massive sale called the “Lazada Online Revolution Sale” starting November 11 (11/11) until the 12th of December (12/12).
SkyCable rolls out up to 300Mbps broadband service in Metro Manila
You may have heard that local Internet service providers PLDT and Globe Telecom are now offering ultra-fast fiber broadband service to residents in select upscale condominiums and communities in Metro Manila. What may have escaped your notice, however, is that SkyCable has also updated its broadband offerings to lure higher-paying customers who want faster Internet speeds sans the constraints of a monthly data cap.
OPPO Neo 7 with 5-inch screen, Android Lollipop now on sale in PH
Following the launch and subsequent release of the OPPO Mirror 5 and R7 Series, OPPO has officially made the Neo 7, the successor to its Neo line of budget handsets available in the Philippines. The global smartphone maker is obviously aware that sub-P10,000 devices are making a killing on the local market these days, hence the announcement of another value-for-money contender.
Smart unveils iPhone 6s, 6s Plus pricing details
Globe Telecom has earlier announced its P1,799 data plan for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus, leaving existing and would-be Smart subscribers to wonder what this year’s iPhone upgrade holds. Well, they can wonder no more: Smart has now made official its postpaid pricing for the latest iPhones, which will be available beginning November 6.
Globe announces P1,799 data plan for iPhone 6s, 6s Plus
I previously wrote about the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus finally getting a release date in the Philippines, courtesy of local operators Globe Telecom and Smart Communications. To reiterate, the date to remember is November 6, 2015, which is exactly a week away.
Acer PH draws flak for controversial ad campaign
(UPDATE, November 1, 2015: Acer Philippines’ PR agency on Sunday issued an apology, and the company has updated the #LikeABoss campaign to address the issues raised in this article. You can read the full apology below. I’m told Acer Philippines will also send out a statement “ASAP.”)
Smart prepaid, postpaid users get free P2,500 Airbnb voucher
For a limited time, local telecom Smart Communications is giving its customers another reason to book their accommodations on Airbnb, the wildly popular short-term rental platform, which currently has over 2 million listings in 34,000 cities and 190 countries. Think Uber, but for accommodations in the Philippines and abroad.
Harsher penalties, not competition, is key to improving PH Internet speed
Slow Internet? I hear you. If you’ve lived in the Philippines long enough, you may have come to the realization that local broadband speeds could conjure images of a turtle slow-walking on a swath of peanut butter, something you wouldn’t find distractingly cute or hilarious if you were in the position of the guy waiting — for weeks — for a game he had bought from Steam to finish downloading. Having the same issues? You could look for faster internet by searching broadband deals site like usave.co.uk.
NTC: PH Internet service providers fall short of speed claims
You may have heard in the news earlier this year that the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission] is looking to crack down on the telecom industry and bring Internet service providers to task if they fail to hit the NTC-set minimum downstream of 256Kbps or don’t deliver on their advertised broadband speeds.
NBA treats PH fans to free League Pass access until November 3
Another NBA season is scheduled to tip off tomorrow (October 28 if you live in the Philippines), and as has been the case the past couple of years, the NBA is treating its fans to an appetizer of sorts by granting free and full access to League Pass, the league’s official video-streaming service that features live and on-demand games, for a very limited time. The offer runs until November 3, though I’m not sure which time zone the deadline refers to.
OPPO announces Neo 7 with modest specs, mirror finish
Global smartphone brand OPPO has announced a refresh model under the Neo line, following the naming scheme of other creations in the company’s stable. Say hello to the OPPO Neo 7 (OPPO, unsurprisingly, chose to skip the Neo 6 entirely), an Android Lollipop-based phone with modest specs and a design that features a metallic trim and a glossy, mirror-like finish on the back.
Here’s when you can buy the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus in PH
If you’ve been wondering when the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus would be officially available in the Philippines, wonder no more: Both Globe and Smart have made an announcement as to when we could expect to see Apple’s new smartphones in stores, with the former confirming what the latter had earlier said in a press release dated October 24.
Comparison: Globe’s 1Gbps broadband vs other countries’ offerings
Tomorrow, Globe Telecom will begin offering its fiber-broadband network at adjusted rates that won’t be prohibitively pricey for many, albeit initially only in upscale communities and condominiums. The top-tier offer promises superfast speeds at one gigabit, or 1,000 megabits, per second, by far the fastest commercially available broadband plan in the Philippines.
Is Globe seeking price cuts on fiber service? (UPDATE: Yes!)
(UPDATE: Globe has just confirmed new pricing tiers for its fiber-based broadband service: 50 Mbps for P2,499 per month; 100 Mbps for P3,499; 200 Mbps for P4,499; 500 Mbps for P7,499; and a whopping 1 Gbps for P9,499. Check how it compares with plans being offered in other countries here.)
HOOQ update adds Chromecast support to mobile app
HOOQ just got a lot better. The subscription video-on-demand service has just pushed an update to its mobile app, adding what it earlier promised, and what many users have been waiting for: Chromecast support. The update means you can now stream any of the 30,000-plus videos on the HOOQ platform to an HDMI-compliant TV or monitor fitted with a Chromecast dongle, which is sold separately. HOOQ now works with the Chromecast dongle, allowing you to stream any of the 30,000-plus videos on the platform to a TV with an HDMI input. Globe Telecom is currently bundling the first-generation Chromecast with broadband deals starting …
Deal alert: Select games on Google Play go on sale for just P5
If you own an Android device, and you’ve been hoping to score a killer deal on quality games, then stop what you’re doing and fire up the Play Store app now. You’ll find that several titles from Electronic Arts and its subsidiary, Chillingo, can be bought from the Google app store for just P5. No, that’s not a typo. Normally, these games would cost you around P200, but for a limited time you can get them for almost nothing. If you must pick only one, at least pick Need for Speed: Most Wanted or Dead Space; from experience, they’re worth …
Samsung Galaxy S7 may launch sooner than we think
If reports are accurate, we might see a new Samsung flagship immediately after the holidays. In January at the earliest. A recent post by South Korea’s Electronic Times claims: “Samsung Electronics have confirmed that it will announce its next strategic smartphone ‘Galaxy S7’ in January of next year.” The article, citing “people in [smartphone] parts industries” as its source, adds that Samsung finalized the Galaxy S7’s design in September of this year, and that the Korean company is currently sourcing components for the device. It’s obvious why Samsung would choose to launch the Galaxy S7 so early: The company wants …
Uber offers free ambulance service in PH in case of accident
Image via jamesdeakin.ph Taking an Uber in the Philippines could mean fewer worries now that the app-based ride service has entered into a yearlong partnership with Lifeline Rescue, a private ambulance service. The deal allows an Uber passenger to summon a Lifeline Rescue ambulance (by calling 16-911) free of charge in the event of a serious accident involving an Uber, and the driver of the vehicle or the passenger “has to be taken to the hospital.” Uber didn’t go into detail as to what should be considered as grounds for seeking hospital treatment, but that’s probably to your advantage. It’s …
Altec Lansing reintroduces itself to PH, rugged speakers in tow
Earlier today, Altec Lansing announced its comeback to the Philippine market with a fresh batch of compact, rugged Bluetooth speakers, which the company describes as “everything-proof.” This includes the Life Jacket, Mini Life Jacket, Jacket H20, and Mini H20, which combine long battery life (up to 16 hours of playback for the Life Jacket) with rich sound quality that would make bass-heavy tracks come to life. There’s also speakerphone functionality for taking calls, as well as an auxiliary input for those who don’t have a Bluetooth device. Altec Lansing announced its comeback to the local market with a slew of ‘everything-proof’ speakers …