News

Honor 10 offers the best of Huawei minus the premium price

Gives up only a few features

Published

April 20, 2018

Marvin Velasco

Huawei has done it once again, releasing a more affordable alternative to its latest flagship smartphone lineup and placing it under the more budget-friendly Honor brand. This time, we’re looking at the newly launched Honor 10.

Make no mistake about it, the Honor 10 is a feature-packed device. A lot of the high-end specifications found on the Huawei P20 series — such as the top-of-the-line Kirin 970 processor, glass and metal body, and latest EMUI 8.1 software (based on Android 8.1 Oreo) — are mostly here.

And yes, there’s a notch on top. It fits inside the 5.84-inch 1080p LCD with a 19:9 screen ratio. Underneath the display is the front-mounted fingerprint sensor, although Huawei’s usual facial recognition feature is available if you prefer that for unlocking your phone.

This being a Huawei device, you can expect the cameras to be great. In this case, there’s a 16- and 24-megapixel combo on the back, with the latter having a monochrome image sensor for sharper photos. Not to be outdone, the selfie shooter is of the 24-megapixel kind, as well. Unfortunately, there’s no Leica branding in sight, which explains why this phone can be sold cheaper, but you do get artificial intelligence in the cameras for smarter scene recognition.

Memory and storage configurations are excellent, with 6GB for the former and a choice between 64GB and 128GB for the latter. And because this is a big phone, a 3400mAh battery is found inside, just like on the P20. What’s extra special is the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio port, something Huawei flagships have given up on since the Mate 10 series.

Pricing starts at CNY 2,599 (US$ 412) for the 6GB memory with 64GB storage variant, and CNY 2,999 (US$ 477) for the model with 128GB of storage (neither of which can be expanded using a microSD card). There’s some difficulty in translating the exact color names to English, but rest assured there are four to choose from: black, gray, purple, and blue.

Apps

Google discontinues Datally, its mobile data saving app

It’s gone from the Play store

Published

October 18, 2019

Kenrick Buduan

Using the Datally app from Google? It’s time to move one and find another as Google officially discontinues its mobile data saving app.

In the official support page of Datally, Google notes that the app is not available on the Play store. True enough, visiting the link to Datally throws the app not found error.

Users of the mobile data saving app can continue using it, but the app will not receive future updates. To speed up its discontinuation, the app is giving a warning that it is incompatible with Android 10. So, users who upgraded to the latest OS can’t use the app anymore.

Datally launched last 2017 to help users control their mobile data usage. The app shows the data usage of every app as well as overall data usage metrics. It also let users block background data.

Apps

Google Maps will now show you speed traps

You can also report road closures and accidents

Published

October 18, 2019

Shivam Vahia

Google Maps is borrowing several features from the company’s other popular navigation app, Waze. Google today announced a series of new features that will allow drivers using the Maps app on iOS to report accidents, speed traps and traffic jams.

Hazard reporting was introduced on Android earlier this year, but this is the first time that iPhone users can also help crowdsource traffic snarls. Google has also expanded the types of road hazards that can be reported through its incident feature to encompass ‘construction, lane closures, disabled vehicles, and objects on the road.

These features have been unique to Waze and many users preferred to use it over Google Maps. It was long-speculated that when Google purchased Waze for US$ 1.1 billion five years ago that the features would be swiftly migrated to Google Maps. The transition has been extremely slow, but it’s finally happening.

To report an incident, open Maps and start navigating to your destination. You’ll see a small location pin with a + sign button on the left side, tap it. Now, you’ll have multiple options that include speed traps, construction, lane closure, and more. Simply select one and you’re done.

Google’s algorithm constantly looks out for these reports and helps in rerouting other riders. These crowdsourced features made Waze a perfect alternative to Google Maps and many users claim they’ve reached faster.

A few months back, Google also added augmented reality support for pedestrian navigation. The feature has been highly appreciated since GPS accuracy may not always be very on-point.

News

OPPO Reno2, Reno2 Z launch in Singapore

Challenges people to #CreateYourWorld

Published

October 18, 2019

Rodneil Quiteles

The OPPO Reno2 series launches in Singapore featuring the OPPO Reno2 and OPPO Reno2 Z. The series has a focus on content creation, specifically video.

The series builds on the foundation of the OPPO Reno with fantastic cameras and a premium design.

The Reno2 features a quad-camera setup that applies the same 5x Hybrid Zoom from the OPPO Reno Series’ photography features to video shooting, enabling users to not only get closer to their video subjects, but to also uncover different perspectives that may otherwise seem ordinary from further away.

Meanwhile, the OPPO Reno2’s Ultra Steady Video brings users closer to an exceptionally clear and smooth video shooting experience and reduces the need for additional stabilisation equipment.

#CreateYourWorld and be a #BeAStorygrapher

The content creation is even more evident with the #BeAStorygrapher short film competition.

The challenge is for aspiring filmmakers to use the new OPPO Reno2 to create a short film that represents their own perspective of Singapore. Up for grabs are cash prizes totaling SG$ 6,000, OPPO Reno2 smartphones and an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai.

Call for competition entries will be open through December 2019. For more information, visit OPPO Singapore’s official Instagram and Facebook pages.

Price and availability

The OPPO Reno2 comes in Luminous Black and Sunset Pink with 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM starting at SG$ 899. And the OPPO Reno2 Z in Luminous Black and Sky White with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, starting at SG$ 599. Both will be available island wide from October 26, 2019.

Customers who pre-order the phone will receive a free pair of OPPO Enco Q1 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones worth SG$ 179 at the NEX OPPO Roadshow from October 21 to 25 2019.

Collection of pre-ordered phones will take place at the NEX OPPO roadshow from October 26 to 27 and the first 100 customers to collect their phones will walk away with an OPPO 10,000mAh Power Bank worth SG$ 69.

The OPPO Enco Q1 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones in Midnight Black and Sunny Orange will be available from October 26 2019 at OPPO concept store and OPPO official online store on Lazada, Qoo10 and Shopee, starting at SG$ 179.