Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: April 2015

Bored on your #Staycation or #Laboracay trip? Why don’t you take some time to read the top stories that definitely made a scene this April? Here’s a list of what made it into our Top Stories the past month.

YTS-201504

It had been a pretty busy month for both the local and international tech industry. A leading tech company just announced new ways to expand its new operating system and mobile device operations, and two companies merged together, forming a new entity.

In local news, a top smartphone brand took its new devices off the wraps to be released this quarter, and an international brand just created on a storm on the local tech market by offering its latest bang-for-the-buck device at a price less than expected. Here are our top ten stories in April 2015, in descending order.

10. Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Power: Octa-Core, 4000mAh for Php5k

flares3power

Who couldn’t resist this offer from Cherry Mobile? You’ve got an octa-core processor and a long-lasting 4000mAh battery capacity with a Php5k price point. Many eager folks who want to get their hands on this device are waiting for its release, slated to be anytime this quarter.

9. Rumor: There’s a move to position G2, G Pro 2 against Zenfone 2

lg-g2-32gb

In light of recent Zenfone 2 developments, we heard that there’s a dealer-initiated promotion to get the LG G2 and G2 Pro 2 to compete with the Taiwanese tech giant’s bang-for-the-buck smartphone. We heard it comes with a free smartphone too!

8. Facebook starts banning jeje names and Jejenese

Facebook Jejemon Ban

We kicked off this month with three stories that may be too-good-to-be-true, and everyone seemed to be behind on the idea that Faceboook started to ban jeje names and ‘Jejenese’ in the social networking platform. Come on, who wouldn’t be irritated whenever you read status updates from ‘BhOzSx’ and read ‘Ik4w lNg s4pH4t nuh’ on comments? I’d be thankful if this ever comes true.

7. Asus officially reveals regional ZenFone 2 pricing

zenfone 2

The Asus Zenfone 2 was launched in the SouthEast Asian region more than a week ago, and prices were revealed which were apparently meant for the Indonesian market. Until we get the official prices, we wish it would stay on the rumored prices as stated below.

6. How to spot a fake Xiaomi Mi Powerbank

Look Ma, no lights!

Look Ma, no lights!

A Xiaomi Mi Powerbank is an affordable godsend for those who need the extra juice to carry on with their activities throughout the day. As scarce as the flash sales may be come the proliferation of fake ones in malls, online sites, overpasses, and even sidewalks. Here’s how you can able to distinguish a fake powerbank from a genuine one.

5. What to expect for Zenfone 2: exact variants, prices, release dates

zenfone2-price-philippines

We got insider info on how much will the Asus Zenfone 2 variants be priced in the country, as well as its rumored date of availability. Take it with a grain of salt, though, as anything can still change up to the last minute.

4. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML Review

zenfone2-ze551ml-review-philippines

Three of our top stories the past month involves our interaction with new devices, this variant of the Asus Zenfone 2 for one. The ZE551ML boasts top-tier specs for a price mostly seen on other brands’ mid-range devices. Can Asus live up to the Zenfone 2 hype? Only time can tell.

3. Alcatel Flash Plus in the flesh, first impressions

alcatel-flash-plus

We also laid out our first encounter with the bang-for-the-buck Alcatel Flash Plus. With a 5.5-inch screen, octa-core processor, 2GB RAM and 3500mAh of battery as its selling point, it has set itself to be a competition that should not be taken for granted.

2. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML Review

zenfone2-yugatech

The Asus Zenfone has so many variants that might be hard to memorize. The variant in this review, for one, sports a 5.5-inch HD screen and 2GB of RAM. Quoting our review, “It comes with a familiar and solid design, pretty good hardware with LTE support, all packed in a very price-conscious offering.”

1. Philippine Call Centers under scrutiny from AT&T data breach

att-headquarters

Our top story for the past month involves our Business Process Outsourcing industry and US telecom AT&T. Reports surfaced that there are customer privacy regulations the telecom has violated, and it paid a staggering $25M in fines. As a result, a lot of BPO offices holding AT&T accounts, including those that are here in the country, are on the company’s watch list.

These are the top stories in YugaTech that mattered to you this past month. Which story marked the most?

The post Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: April 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: April 2015

Bored on your #Staycation or #Laboracay trip? Why don’t you take some time to read the top stories that definitely made a scene this April? Here’s a list of what made it into our Top Stories the past month.

YTS-201504

It had been a pretty busy month for both the local and international tech industry. A leading tech company just announced new ways to expand its new operating system and mobile device operations, and two companies merged together, forming a new entity.

In local news, a top smartphone brand took its new devices off the wraps to be released this quarter, and an international brand just created on a storm on the local tech market by offering its latest bang-for-the-buck device at a price less than expected. Here are our top ten stories in April 2015, in descending order.

10. Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Power: Octa-Core, 4000mAh for Php5k

flares3power

Who couldn’t resist this offer from Cherry Mobile? You’ve got an octa-core processor and a long-lasting 4000mAh battery capacity with a Php5k price point. Many eager folks who want to get their hands on this device are waiting for its release, slated to be anytime this quarter.

9. Rumor: There’s a move to position G2, G Pro 2 against Zenfone 2

lg-g2-32gb

In light of recent Zenfone 2 developments, we heard that there’s a dealer-initiated promotion to get the LG G2 and G2 Pro 2 to compete with the Taiwanese tech giant’s bang-for-the-buck smartphone. We heard it comes with a free smartphone too!

8. Facebook starts banning jeje names and Jejenese

Facebook Jejemon Ban

We kicked off this month with three stories that may be too-good-to-be-true, and everyone seemed to be behind on the idea that Faceboook started to ban jeje names and ‘Jejenese’ in the social networking platform. Come on, who wouldn’t be irritated whenever you read status updates from ‘BhOzSx’ and read ‘Ik4w lNg s4pH4t nuh’ on comments? I’d be thankful if this ever comes true.

7. Asus officially reveals regional ZenFone 2 pricing

zenfone 2

The Asus Zenfone 2 was launched in the SouthEast Asian region more than a week ago, and prices were revealed which were apparently meant for the Indonesian market. Until we get the official prices, we wish it would stay on the rumored prices as stated below.

6. How to spot a fake Xiaomi Mi Powerbank

Look Ma, no lights!

Look Ma, no lights!

A Xiaomi Mi Powerbank is an affordable godsend for those who need the extra juice to carry on with their activities throughout the day. As scarce as the flash sales may be come the proliferation of fake ones in malls, online sites, overpasses, and even sidewalks. Here’s how you can able to distinguish a fake powerbank from a genuine one.

5. What to expect for Zenfone 2: exact variants, prices, release dates

zenfone2-price-philippines

We got insider info on how much will the Asus Zenfone 2 variants be priced in the country, as well as its rumored date of availability. Take it with a grain of salt, though, as anything can still change up to the last minute.

4. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML Review

zenfone2-ze551ml-review-philippines

Three of our top stories the past month involves our interaction with new devices, this variant of the Asus Zenfone 2 for one. The ZE551ML boasts top-tier specs for a price mostly seen on other brands’ mid-range devices. Can Asus live up to the Zenfone 2 hype? Only time can tell.

3. Alcatel Flash Plus in the flesh, first impressions

alcatel-flash-plus

We also laid out our first encounter with the bang-for-the-buck Alcatel Flash Plus. With a 5.5-inch screen, octa-core processor, 2GB RAM and 3500mAh of battery as its selling point, it has set itself to be a competition that should not be taken for granted.

2. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML Review

zenfone2-yugatech

The Asus Zenfone has so many variants that might be hard to memorize. The variant in this review, for one, sports a 5.5-inch HD screen and 2GB of RAM. Quoting our review, “It comes with a familiar and solid design, pretty good hardware with LTE support, all packed in a very price-conscious offering.”

1. Philippine Call Centers under scrutiny from AT&T data breach

att-headquarters

Our top story for the past month involves our Business Process Outsourcing industry and US telecom AT&T. Reports surfaced that there are customer privacy regulations the telecom has violated, and it paid a staggering $25M in fines. As a result, a lot of BPO offices holding AT&T accounts, including those that are here in the country, are on the company’s watch list.

These are the top stories in YugaTech that mattered to you this past month. Which story marked the most?

The post Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: April 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: March 2015

March has passed, and so are the stories that made it to the headlines. Here are our Top Ten stories in YugaTech for the past month.

topstories-032015

Last month was just as eventful. With Mobile World Congress happening in March, we saw the launch of three new flagship devices from two global brands. We also saw a local player unveil their budget flagship, and the debut of a new Filipina character in an international game franchise. Here are our top stories, in descending order.

10. All the 7 Philippine ISPs to Choose From

dsl-philippines

The call for a more open competition in the internet service space is becoming louder as major players started to shift into volume based charging. While most people might think there are just 2 players in the Philippines, we tried counting and found 7 significant ISPs to choose from.

9. Lazada scheduled to sell the ZenFone 2 on May 10

zenfone2

We got some confirmation from a source close to Lazada Philippines that the e-commerce site is scheduled to sell the upcoming ZenFone 2 in May 10, 2015. This is a more accurate date than the one we gathered from a different source earlier that week that points to a Q2 release.

8. Free WiFi internet access across PH to rollout in July

wifi philippines_1

Good news for our folks out there: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is planning to rollout its free public WiFi internet access project across the Philippines beginning July of this year.

7. Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge prices in the Philippines

SamsungGalaxyS6-S6Edge

We got word that the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be priced higher than expected when it is released in the Philippines this month.

6. Alcatel Flash Plus coming May 1 for about Php6k+

alcatel-flashplus

The bang-for-the-buck smartphone competition instensifies. We also got confirmation that Alcatel’s very affordable yet capable smartphone, the Alcatel Flash Plus, is set for release in the Philippines by May 1, 2015 with a price tag of around Php6k or more. Launched in China earlier under a different name for $RMB899 (Php6,300), the Flash Plus is positioned to be a very powerful and capable entry-level handset.

5. Globe clarifies details on new broadband plans

basic-internet-globe

In an press release sent to us by Globe Telecom, the company has clarified that existing subscribers will not be affected by the changes introduced in their broadband plans. This is in response to our report about the new data scheme.

4. Specs Comparison: Meizu M1 Note vs ASUS Zenfone 2

meizum1note-vs-asuszenfone2

Novo7 Tech’s Meizu M1 Note went on sale last March 10 at Novo7 Tech stores around the Metro. At the same time, the ASUS Zenfone 2 has also been launched in Taiwan and is available in different models. We picked the variant that’s close to the M1 Note in terms of specs to determine which of these offer the better bang for your buck.

3. Asus Zenfone 2 now on Lazada for Php10,999

zenfone2-lazada

We discovered that the new line of Asus Zenfone 2 is now up and available in the Philippines thru online store Lazada. Upon further investigation, we also found out that the device being sold in the e-commerce website is direct from a Hong Kong retailer.

2. ASUS Zenfone 2 launched in Taiwan, starts at Php7K

zenfone2

The past month also saw the launch of the ASUS Zenfone 2 in Taiwan, introducing four variants with the base model starting at NT$4,990 or around Php7,000.

1. Globe DSL switches from daily to monthly data caps

globe-dsl-2015

Our top story in March 2015 has earned the ire of many of its existing subscribers. New subscribers of Globe Tattoo DSL will have a new subscription offering which puts the daily data cap to a monthly cap. Old subscribers will continue to follow the old plans while renewals or new subs will be offered monthly caps ranging from 10GB to 500GB per month.

That’s it for our some of the top stories in YugaTech this past month. What news or original feature left an impact the most for you? Leave your reactions down the comments section below.

The post Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: March 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: February 2015

We take you back to the news and original articles that we ran last month. Here are our top tech stories in February 2015.

topstories-feb2015

A lot of events sure happened in the local tech scene last month. We saw the launch of a network’s Digital Television broadcast, a new video streaming service entering the country through one telecom provider, and the entrance of Google’s Android One Program in the country through its partner brands: Cherry Mobile One and MyPhone Uno. Here are our top stories, in descending order.

10. Five Earphones under Php500

earphonesunder5002

For the music-loving people, an audio accessory is a must-have. Who wouldn’t want affordable, decently-sounding earphones? We round up five of the best ones we’ve seen and used, and are priced below half a grand.

9. ASUS MeMO Pad 7 (ME70C) Arrives in PH, Starts at Php3,995

ASUS-MeMO-Pad-7-Philippines

ASUS Philippines has ended January on a strong note by officially announcing a slew of new devices, including the competitively-priced slate dubbed as the ASUS MeMO Pad 7.

8. Meizu M1 Note Slated to Arrive in PH for Php7,990

meizu m1 note_1

While conversing with the product manager of Novo7 Tech during the local launch of the Meizu MX4 Pro, we were told that they’ll be releasing the Meizu M1 Note in the Philippines soon.

7. This is the Samsung Galaxy S6, revealed in photos

Galaxy S6 1

After seeing the huge design improvements in Samsung’s recent smartphones like the Galaxy Alpha and the Galaxy Note 4, a lot of people are excited about the Galaxy S6’s design. If you’re one of those people, then wait no more! The Samsung Galaxy S6 may have just been accidentally revealed through some photos on the internet.

6. Sony to exit the smartphone market?

Following reports that its smartphone division is not doing well, Sony is now looking at exiting the smartphone market and will instead focus on its other profitable businesses.

5. Techbox offers Buy 1 Take 1 on LG G2 and other smartphones

techbox

Techbox offered a great Buy 1 Take 1 deal when you purchase an LG G2. Really awesome deal, if you’d ask me. It ended yesterday, sadly.

4. Which is Better: More RAM or More Processing Cores?

ramvsprocessor

If you’re stuck choosing between two gadgets, one with a higher amount of RAM and one with more CPU cores for processing, which do you pick? Don’t worry. We’re here to explain.

3. ABS-CBN TVplus now available for Php2,500

abscbn tvplus_1

We reported that ABS-CBN will launch today its Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service. Now the TV network has announced that its ABS-CBN TVplus, also known as “The Mahiwagang Black Box”, is now available for purchase.

2. What causes Android smartphone lag? (and how to fix them)

smartphonelag-android

Lags are some of the common and perennial issues plaguing Android devices. Those occasional slow performances, app freezes, and delays in touch responsiveness exhibited by your device do decrease overall productivity. We take a look at five of the reasons why it does, and give your our own take on solutions to solve them.

1. Scammers produce fake deposit slips for online sellers

fake-deposit-slip

Our top story in February 2015 is our report on scammers faking BDO deposit slips to process orders. Recent incidents pointed to a group of online scammers producing fake BDO deposit slips to show to online sellers in order to process orders.

That’s it for our some of the top stories in YugaTech this past month. Check out our continuing Mobile World Congress coverage on the banner link below.

mwc2015-loop

The post Top Ten Stories in YugaTech: February 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.