Author: Carl Lamiel

Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016)

Carl Lamiel

In need of great-sounding cans for cheaps? We heard you, and this Fast Five brings you to this year’s list of great-sounding in-ear cans that are priced under Php500.

f5-under500-headphones-2016

We’ve started compiling audio lists last year, and we’ve seen more peripherals break the much-coveted sub-Php500 price to the point that they are in for a much-needed update. These may cost cheap, but we’re definitely sure that these are worth the purchase.

AKG Y10 (Php499, Egghead)

akg-y10

First up on our list is AKG’s most affordable in-ear monitor called the Y10. It touts that it can deliver high-output sound with excellent frequency response, rich and warm tones, and great bass. It’s solely for listening to media, as there’s no in-line microphone present. Still, we recommend this for people looking for good-sounding earphones at this price point.

Creative EP-600M (Php495, Octagon)

creative-ep600m

Creative also has a nice earphone priced at Php495. The EP-600M offers comfort with different earbud sizes, noise isolation, punchy bass, sonic boom through 10mm Neodymium drivers, and well-balanced audio playback with in-line microphone and one-button remote control. We’ve seen this one being sold at Octagon.

A4Tech AK-750 (Php380, PC Options)

a4tech-mk750

A4Tech also has three new in-ear monitors released locally this year that are priced under Php500, but we’re only featuring one — the AK750 that touts great bass and superb sound quality coupled with an inline microphone and remote, all for Php380. We’ve seen this being sold at PC Options in Gilmore, as well as several shops at SM City North EDSA Annex (Check out that store carrying lots of A4Tech stuff beside CD-R King selling this for Php390!)

Sennheiser MX 400 II (Php319, Lazada)

sennheiser-mx400-ii

We may have featured Sennheisser earphones last year, but that doesn’t stop us from bringing yet another model, this time the MX 400 II. It’s said to pack a lot of complex and high- end, dynamic sound despite being really cheap at Php319.

You can also find a few pieces for sale at the Landmark Department Store in Trinoma, which carries the traditional two-year warranty as seen in its package.

Ekotek Ekobuds Lifetones (Php299, Ekotek)

ekotek-earbuds-lifetones

Last on our list: Ekotek’s recently-released Ekobuds IEMs called the Lifetones that offer decent sound at Php299 a pair and is available in four different colors. It also has a switch for clearer music both on basic phones that don’t support inline microphones and smartphones. I bought one the other week, and it’s a good buy — it doesn’t feel cheap, the sound is decent with good bass lines, and it fits nicely on the ears.

That’s it for this year’s list of IEMs priced under Php500. We know there’s a lot of other great-sounding cans around (AWEI has some of the most well-balanced, bang-for-the-buck earphones today), and we’d love to see you share your recommendations with the comments section below.

The post Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016) appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016)

Carl Lamiel

In need of great-sounding cans for cheaps? We heard you, and this Fast Five brings you to this year’s list of great-sounding in-ear cans that are priced under Php500.

f5-under500-headphones-2016

We’ve started compiling audio lists last year, and we’ve seen more peripherals break the much-coveted sub-Php500 price to the point that they are in for a much-needed update. These may cost cheap, but we’re definitely sure that these are worth the purchase.

AKG Y10 (Php499, Egghead)

akg-y10

First up on our list is AKG’s most affordable in-ear monitor called the Y10. It touts that it can deliver high-output sound with excellent frequency response, rich and warm tones, and great bass. It’s solely for listening to media, as there’s no in-line microphone present. Still, we recommend this for people looking for good-sounding earphones at this price point.

Creative EP-600M (Php495, Octagon)

creative-ep600m

Creative also has a nice earphone priced at Php495. The EP-600M offers comfort with different earbud sizes, noise isolation, punchy bass, sonic boom through 10mm Neodymium drivers, and well-balanced audio playback with in-line microphone and one-button remote control. We’ve seen this one being sold at Octagon.

A4Tech AK-750 (Php380, PC Options)

a4tech-mk750

A4Tech also has three new in-ear monitors released locally this year that are priced under Php500, but we’re only featuring one — the AK750 that touts great bass and superb sound quality coupled with an inline microphone and remote, all for Php380. We’ve seen this being sold at PC Options in Gilmore, as well as several shops at SM City North EDSA Annex (Check out that store carrying lots of A4Tech stuff beside CD-R King selling this for Php390!)

Sennheiser MX 400 II (Php319, Lazada)

sennheiser-mx400-ii

We may have featured Sennheisser earphones last year, but that doesn’t stop us from bringing yet another model, this time the MX 400 II. It’s said to pack a lot of complex and high- end, dynamic sound despite being really cheap at Php319.

You can also find a few pieces for sale at the Landmark Department Store in Trinoma, which carries the traditional two-year warranty as seen in its package.

Ekotek Ekobuds Lifetones (Php299, Ekotek)

ekotek-earbuds-lifetones

Last on our list: Ekotek’s recently-released Ekobuds IEMs called the Lifetones that offer decent sound at Php299 a pair and is available in four different colors. It also has a switch for clearer music both on basic phones that don’t support inline microphones and smartphones. I bought one the other week, and it’s a good buy — it doesn’t feel cheap, the sound is decent with good bass lines, and it fits nicely on the ears.

That’s it for this year’s list of IEMs priced under Php500. We know there’s a lot of other great-sounding cans around (AWEI has some of the most well-balanced, bang-for-the-buck earphones today), and we’d love to see you share your recommendations with the comments section below.

The post Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016) appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016)

Carl Lamiel

In need of great-sounding cans for cheaps? We heard you, and this Fast Five brings you to this year’s list of great-sounding in-ear cans that are priced under Php500.

f5-under500-headphones-2016

We’ve started compiling audio lists last year, and we’ve seen more peripherals break the much-coveted sub-Php500 price to the point that they are in for a much-needed update. These may cost cheap, but we’re definitely sure that these are worth the purchase.

AKG Y10 (Php499, Egghead)

akg-y10

First up on our list is AKG’s most affordable in-ear monitor called the Y10. It touts that it can deliver high-output sound with excellent frequency response, rich and warm tones, and great bass. It’s solely for listening to media, as there’s no in-line microphone present. Still, we recommend this for people looking for good-sounding earphones at this price point.

Creative EP-600M (Php495, Octagon)

creative-ep600m

Creative also has a nice earphone priced at Php495. The EP-600M offers comfort with different earbud sizes, noise isolation, punchy bass, sonic boom through 10mm Neodymium drivers, and well-balanced audio playback with in-line microphone and one-button remote control. We’ve seen this one being sold at Octagon.

A4Tech AK-750 (Php380, PC Options)

a4tech-mk750

A4Tech also has three new in-ear monitors released locally this year that are priced under Php500, but we’re only featuring one — the AK750 that touts great bass and superb sound quality coupled with an inline microphone and remote, all for Php380. We’ve seen this being sold at PC Options in Gilmore, as well as several shops at SM City North EDSA Annex (Check out that store carrying lots of A4Tech stuff beside CD-R King selling this for Php390!)

Sennheiser MX 400 II (Php319, Lazada)

sennheiser-mx400-ii

We may have featured Sennheisser earphones last year, but that doesn’t stop us from bringing yet another model, this time the MX 400 II. It’s said to pack a lot of complex and high- end, dynamic sound despite being really cheap at Php319.

You can also find a few pieces for sale at the Landmark Department Store in Trinoma, which carries the traditional two-year warranty as seen in its package.

Ekotek Ekobuds Lifetones (Php299, Ekotek)

ekotek-earbuds-lifetones

Last on our list: Ekotek’s recently-released Ekobuds IEMs called the Lifetones that offer decent sound at Php299 a pair and is available in four different colors. It also has a switch for clearer music both on basic phones that don’t support inline microphones and smartphones. I bought one the other week, and it’s a good buy — it doesn’t feel cheap, the sound is decent with good bass lines, and it fits nicely on the ears.

That’s it for this year’s list of IEMs priced under Php500. We know there’s a lot of other great-sounding cans around (AWEI has some of the most well-balanced, bang-for-the-buck earphones today), and we’d love to see you share your recommendations with the comments section below.

The post Fast Five: IEMs under Php500 (2016) appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Niantic Labs: No Pokemon Go rolling out for PH yet

Carl Lamiel

Will there be hope? Hold your horses, as Niantic Labs has settled the score concerning the rollout of the Pokemon Go mobile game in more countries across the globe with an official statement.

pokemon-go

Sent through an email to IGN SouthEast Asia through its communication agency fortyseven communications, the Pokemon Go developer has denied rollouts will be done in other countries except where it has launched in the fast few days. See the official statement below:

“The team is currently heads down working on the game. We do not have any announced plans for countries beyond New Zealand, Australia, US and Germany at the moment.”

Chris Kramer, Vice President, fortyseven communications

This comes amidst all reports from other sources that the much-awaited mobile game is expected to roll out in several Asian countries, including the Philippines, within the week.

We’ll constantly keep an eye for more updates as soon as we get it, so stay tuned. Why not play other GPS-based games for the meantime?

Source: IGN SEA

 

The post Niantic Labs: No Pokemon Go rolling out for PH yet appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Cloudfone Thrill Plus Hands-on, First Impressions

Carl Lamiel

My quest to find a new replacement phone continues! More than a week ago, I bought the Cloudfone Thrill Plus, an entertainment-centric device packed with a 5.5-inch HD display, an eight-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture, and Android Marshmallow right out of the box.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (3)

The Thrill Plus is a symmetrically-designed device that may look a bit odd at first due to the huge chunk of bezels surrounding the 5.5-inch FHD display, but one would soon realize the importance of its design. The front has both the top and bottom covered with a row of speaker grill right on the edge, and each one has its own call speaker. As such, this phone can be used in either way when answering calls as it features a Rotate Inversion feature.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (6)

There’s also the front selfie flash and a couple of sensors right at the middle of the top part of the device, with the camera laying at the top-right area.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (2)

The right side of the device houses the power/lock button protruding from the chamfered edges of the unibody back casing. The placement of the buttons are quite convenient as it is easily reachable, and they are easy to press.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (1)

At the bottom lays the microUSB 2.0 port, which is places at the left side. The other speaker gill, call speaker, and a proximity sensor is also noticeable. At the top of the device is the 3.5mm audio jack, which is placed directly in proportion with the microUSB port at the bottom.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (5)

Flipping the device around is the back plate with a premium-looking design. The hybrid back plate in itself is built with a metal plate placed over a polycarbonate shell to create better signal reception. Our unit, donning a dark gray color, presents itself with textured patterns both at the top and bottom parts, an eight-megapixel rear camera emblazoned inside a shiny metal accent, and an LED flash bearing the same design characteristic as the module placed above it.

cloudfone-thrill-plus-review-philippines (4)

Prying the device open would reveal its internals: the antenna modules are exposed at the back casing, as well as the 2500mAh removable battery, and slots for two micro SIM cards and a microSD card. Our initial benchmark with AnTuTu clocked the device at 24,239.

CloudFone Thrill Plus specs:
5.5-inch IPS LCD display @ 1280 x 720 pixels, 267ppi
1.3GHz MediaTek MT6580 quad-core processor
2GB of RAM
16GB internal storage
Expandable via microSD card
8-megapixel autofocus rear camera w/ LED flash
5-megapixel wide-angle front camera
Dual SIM
3G
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS w/ A-GPS support
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
2500mAh removable battery

What’s inside the box?
Device
Battery
Green Spotify Earphones
microUSB 2.0 cord
Wall adapter
Clear jelly case
Screen protector
Manuals and other paperwork

Cloudfone’s media-flavored Thrill Plus is now available in stores for Php3,999 in dark gray, metal silver, gold, and rose gold color offerings. Does it get plus points for bringing entertainment at an affordable price? I’m using it as a daily driver, so expect a full review soon.

Author’s Note: I personally buy the budget phones featured on this quest to find a new replacement phone for personal use. This one was bought from Cloudfone’s kiosk at SM Light Mall in Mandaluyong.

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