News

Vivo V3 Max gets PH price and release date

Published

May 16, 2016

Monch Lopez

When Vivo debuted its new V3 line of smartphones in India last month, the Chinese smartphone maker claimed they were “faster than faster.” Earlier today, when it made the V3 Max official in the Philippines, the phrase that came to mind was: “cheaper than the competition.”

At P16,990, the 5.5-inch V3 Max isn’t necessarily inexpensive, but it’s priced aggressively enough, attractive enough, and feature-rich enough to give the Samsungs of the world a reason to worry. And at a time when just about every OEM is trying to horn in on the premium-for-less space.

Encased in an aluminum unibody with a curved-edge frame and a fingerprint sensor around the back, the V3 Max features an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor — which is said to be the spiritual successor to the top-end Snapdragon 810 — alongside 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage that can be expanded up to an additional 128GB using a microSD card.

The 3,000mAh quick-charge battery, as well as its imaging capabilities are nothing to scoff at, either — the primary and selfie cameras use 13- and 8-megapixel sensors, respectively.

In fact, the only spec that’s arguably disappointing is Android 5.1 Lollipop, but considering Vivo’s heavy-handed approach to software — an attitude it shares with so many Chinese brands — you probably won’t mind too much.

The Vivo V3 Max is already available for preorder in the Philippines with a street date of May 21. For more about the device, and it’s little brother, the Vivo V3, you can read our first impressions here.

[irp posts=”1944″ name=”Vivo V3, V3 Max Hands-On Review”]

Entertainment

Netflix confirms ads are coming later this year

In a cheaper subscription tier

Published

June 25, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

Netflix is currently in a bind. As the platform’s rivals grow, Netflix has started shrinking and losing subscribers. The company has also started pondering on alternative strategies to maintain its grip on the streaming world. One of the most recent ideas involves the introduction of a cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier. Now, after much strategizing, Netflix has all but confirmed its addition later this year.

During the recent Cannes Lion advertising festival (via The Hollywood Reporter), Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed that the platform is indeed adding a cheaper option for subscribers by the end of the year. While the platform was initially averse to including ads, Sarandos has stated that some subscribers actually don’t mind ads in return for a cheaper price per month.

Prior to an official announcement, Netflix has not announced how much the new subscription will cost on launch. Likewise, they haven’t confirmed whether the tier will come to all countries and territories where Netflix is present.

If anything, Netflix isn’t alone or the first in adding an ad-supported subscription tier. Hulu, for example, already offers such a tier. Hulu’s partner streaming platform, Disney+, is also considering adding a similar tier later this year.

Besides adding the ad-supported tier, Netflix is also pumping up its presence in the gaming world. They are also considering another payment system meant for users who share their passwords to non-subscribers.

News

ROG Phone 6 shows off its design ahead of launch

Featuring a second screen

Published

June 25, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

In a few weeks, ASUS is unveiling the ROG Phone 6. The next generation of gaming smartphone promises stellar performance packed inside a sharp design. Naturally, the power inside the phone isn’t a gigantic surprise, given what’s already out in the market today. However, figuring out what it will look like is always a treat. Now, a short time before the official launch, the ROG Phone 6 makes a small debut elsewhere, revealing the phone’s drip.

Recently, the phone popped up on TENAA. As with most filings, the entry comes with a set of photos that reveal both the front and the rear of the coming device. While the new device does share some similarities with its past siblings, the ROG Phone 6 has its own unique appeal.

Like the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, the new phone will have a secondary screen on its rear. However, while the former looks sleek and smooth, the latter has a more industrial charm, paired with a larger camera island. It looks like something from Guardians of the Galaxy, as opposed to the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s Iron-Man glam. That said, the new phone still looks interesting.

In terms of hardware, the phone is expected to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, 16GB of RAM, and 6000mAh of battery life. ASUS is launching the phone on July 5.

SEE ALSO: ROG Phone 6 will launch in July

News

Xiaomi Smart Band 7 now official

Step up your game

Published

June 24, 2022

GadgetMatch

The new Xiaomi Smart Band 7 will be available in Singapore and the Philippines over the weekend.

You will get what is expected from an entry-level wearable as the Smart Band 7 features a 1.62-inch AMOLED high-resolution display, all-day heart rate, SPO2, and sleep monitoring, as well as over 110 workout and sports modes.

For those who want to check their health stats constantly, there is an Always-on display option.

The smart band also comes with an all-new VO2 max professional workout analysis for health and fitness junkies to be able to check the maximum amount of oxygen they can utilize during exercise.

Design-wise, it comes with multiple color options for its straps and over 100 watch faces available via the Mi Fitness app.

It also boasts up to a 14-day battery life on a single full charge, and is water-resistant.

Pricing, availability

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 will be available for sale in Singapore starting on June 25, 2022 through the following outlets:

Leading e-commerce platforms
Shopee and Lazada
Xiaomi authorized stores

It will retail for an early bird price of SG$ 54, a considerable discount from its recommended retail price of SG$ 69.

In the Philippines, the smart band can be purchased starting on June 27, 2022 on Shopee
at an early bird price of PhP 1,999 (from PhP 2,399) which includes one free strap worth PhP 359.