Author: Chris Eilers

Nokia has been the topic to talk about everywhere these days. With 150 year of history and still growing, Nokia definitely proved their name in the smartphone industry. After years of absence, the piece of news that Nokia is coming back in 2016 has excited users worldwide…

5 Best Nokia Smartphones World’s records 

However, beside being the legend in the mobile technology, there are much more stories about Nokia hidden here and there that not everybody knows. That is why I want to get you guys to know more about Nokia fun (and admirable) facts.

1. The most listened to ringtone in the world

It is the famous Nokia tune: Grand Valse. The tune was written in 1902 by Spanish composer Francisco Tarrega, Anssi Vanjoki along with Lauri Kivinen. Such melody have been used so widely and for such a long time that I bet most of us can hum along. It has been estimated that the Grand Valse is heard worldwide more or less 1,8 billion times a day.

2. The world’s first and most popular mobile game

I bet most of us still can not forget the snake game first introduced to the Nokia 6100 series. The game is pre-installed into over 350 million Nokia phones and mobile devices all around the world. However, the game stops being published several years ago.

3. The world’s best selling phone

Yes, you are right. It is the Nokia 1100 – a featured phone launched in 2003.  Since then, 250 million units of Nokia 1100 were reported to ship all over the world, making it the best selling phone and electronic device ever.

4. The biggest cinema screen in the world. 

Yes, as I mentioned above, Nokia is not just about phone. The company once produced a cinema screen so big that it had to be seen from outside. Measuring 51 x 28 meters (1,428 meter square), the Nokia biggest cinema screen weighted about 140 kilos.

5. The world’s most anticipated come back

Nokia come back – although not being statistically  proven, is definitely the most anticipated ever found worldwide. Nokia reputation, together with their long term absence, together with endless rumors and leaking, are what contributed to attract more and more people into the “waiting team” Nokia rocks! I love them more for these 5 Nokia world’s records. Count me in, I am looking forward to their come back!

Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow is officially available to download, smartphone producers are starting to detail their lists of devices to get update to the latest Android 6.0.

Sony, one of the biggest smartphone manufactures out there, have pioneered in announcing the exact Xperia smartphones and tablets to join the club. If you are a Sony user, or have been following Sony news, you may have thought of some in your mind already. And you may be very correct on this.

Sony have published on their official blog – a list of devices that they will “make Android 6.0, Marshmallow available”

We won’t keep you waiting any longer, here are the Sony Xperia smartphones (and tablets) that will be the first to update Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

1. Sony Xperia Z series

– Sony Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 compact and Xperia Z5 Premium: This is quite obvious since the trio are Sony’s latest and most premium flagship smartphones. It would be no surprise if they are the first to get any kind of update the smartphone industry has to offer.

– Sony Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. Yes, we miss the Xperia Z4, which is launched exclusively in Japan.

– Xperia Z2

2. Sony Xperia M series

After the Z series, Xperia M is Sony’s second best selling series at the time being. That is why we find many of those mentioned in the list.

– Sony Xperia M5 and Xperia M4 Aqua

3. Sony Xperia Selfie series

Selfie smartphones, of whatever brand, are always warmly welcomed by consumers. When it comes to Sony, with their famously high quality camera sensors, selfie-centric smartphones are loved more than ever. So, Sony is going to update Android 6.0 Marshmallow for:

– Sony Xperia C4 and Xperia C5 Ultra

4. Sony Xperia tablets

In the tablet category, we have

– Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet, Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and Xperia Z2 Tablet.

The Japanese company also promises to share more details about the updates as soon as possible. However, it is good to know for whether your device are subjected to the new Android 6.0 OS. Personally, I am happy with this list, since I am using the Xperia M4 Aqua. How about youself?

Lately, a piece of information has mentioned that Samsung is very optimistic about the future of the new Exynos 8890 chipset with Mongoose CPU. It will give high productivity and be used for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S7. However, another source has informed that Samsung Galaxy S7 will not only be run by the Exynos 8890; there are up to 3 variants with 3 different processors…

It is said that Samsung Galaxy S7 will not only be run by the Exynos 8890!

Yes, it is said that Samsung will probably offer 3 versions of Samsung Galaxy S7 perhaps in order to satisfy more types of consumers. Moreover, Samsung has planned to add the Exynos 7422 chip into Samsung Galaxy S7 Specs for Indian market, and Exynos 8890 (as known as Exynos M1 achieving some super impressive scores in benchmark testing) for Korean, Japanese and European ones. Meanwhile, the well-known Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 will also appear in another ver for American and Chinese markets.

If everything turns out to be true, it can be the first time Samsung releases a flagship with 3 different chips. Yet, we wonder if that is a wise strategy or not when they do something unusual.

We are not sure whether Samsung Galaxy S7 launch date will happen in early 2016 and reach consumers by the end of the Quarter 1, 2016. Though, in the end, no matter how hard the company is trying to introduce their device as soon as possible, it has to take some more months until the phone is completed. And things can change! Well, what do you think about the above idea? And which one would you like to choose? Share with us your opinions 😉 !

Nokia and Microsoft: once working together under the same name – now have their own ways of business. We put their most anticipated smartphones under comparison: Nokia C1 VS Lumia 950XL.

Nokia C1 is said to be the first Nokia Android-based smartphone when the Giant comes back in 2016 after years of absence. Lumia 950XL, on the other hand is considered the most premium Microsoft smartphone produced in the last quarter of 2015 that runs on Windows 10 OS.

Let’s take a closer look at both device.

Nokia C1 VS Lumia 950XL: availability and specs

A render image of Nokia C1 smartphone was first leaked earlier last month, in September 2015. By spotting the device in the wild, Nokia fans have been more excited than ever. Nokia C1 is said to be the first ever Nokia Android smartphone. Some Nokia C1 specs rumored by now include: a handy 5” display, 2GB RAM, and 16GB storage. The Nokia C1 cameras will hopefully be 8MP/5MP or higher.

We have been guessing that the Nokia C1 price in Philippines at launch date in 2016 will be in our most favorite category: sub PHP 15K.

In opposite, Lumia 950XL is Microsoft’s high end flagship for 2015. The company even promoted this beast as “The most productive phone you’ve ever picked up”. In terms of Lumia 950XL specs, we got a combination of the best in our market: 5.7”, 3GB RAM, 20MP Pureview, Snapdragon 810. This makes the Lumia 950XL price in Philippines much higher than its counterpart: around PHP 25K.

Nokia C1 VS Lumia 950XL: popular Android VS signature Windows 10

While Nokia decided to “go with the wind” – picking the popular Android, Microsoft still goes on their own way by featuring Windows 10 OS. Personally, I find both strategies reasonable. The popularity can guarantee Nokia’s chance of success when coming back, but hard to impress and make a “legend”. On the other hand, Windows 10 OS will help build Microsoft’s signature in the smartphone industry but may limit the number of interested users.

Nokia C1 VS Lumia 950XL: Mid-range VS higher-end flagships

Targeted at the mid-range market share, I bet Nokia wants their come back to reach the widest range of potential customers possible.

Featuring a premium flagship, Microsoft might want to propose their ability in producing such high-quality product. Also, this could be a nice move to prove how competitive they can be in this fast-growing industry.

Closing note

Whether coming up or already available, both Nokia C1 VS Lumia 950XL are highly anticipated devices. One is loved and expected because of the wait for a legend’s reborn. One is appreciated for its high quality and the courage to go on its own way. No matter what strategies each company is having, they both are amazingly successful brands – and as a result – their devices are among the best you can ever found.

Rumors have it confirmed that, Xiaomi is going to launch their first ever Mi Laptop in 2016. Xiaomi is known as the biggest smartphone producer in China, and one of the biggest all around the world. The impressive company does not plan to stop at where they are now. Xiaomi is planning to even join the PC market with their upcoming Xiaomi Laptop.

As 2016 is coming closer, updated leaks starting to pile up more and more every day.  No matter how successful Xiaomi is in the smartphone industry, it is obvious that they have zero experience in producing a laptop device. Yes, that is exactly where rumors came in.

Some Chinese sources are suggesting that Xiaomi is calling for cooperation from an important ex-Lenovo employee. The reasons for this are quite clear: Lenovo is among the giants in the PC industry, and the company is also based in China.

Xiaomi Laptop to be Android-powered?

According to Lao Yao, Secretary General of the China Smartphone Alliance, the individual Xiaomi is trying to hire is a former Senior Official from Lenovo’s Laptop department. (Wow, it sounds big – yes). Also from Lao Yao, we have heard another very interesting piece of news: Xiaomi Laptop might be running on their own MIUI. In order words, the Xiaomi Laptop could be the very first PC device to feature Google’s Android OS.

Appealing as it may sound, an Android-powered laptop device is something we never witness before in this industry. So the question being asked: whether this is a wise tactic that will turn out as a huge hit, or will fail tragically?

Since Windows operating system is still the most popular among PC devices nowadays, it is also said that Xiaomi will launch both versions for their upcoming laptop

Xiaomi Laptop specs, price and release date

In terms of Xiaomi Laptop specs, the device is expected to sport a 15” display or bigger. The laptop will be powered by 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD. We also hope Xiaomi will include at least an Intel Core i5 for its processor.

For now, we don’t have any information about the Xiaomi Laptop price in 2016 yet. However, as Xiaomi’s signature we believe the device will carry a much cheaper price than those laptop at the same level made by Lenovo or other brands. If nothing changes, we will have Xiaomi Laptop release date set in 2016, hopefully in the first half of the year.

I bet many of us are still 4G LTE a very strong feature in smartphones these days. Although 4G LTE smartphones still do the trick, there is a hint that 5G connectivity is already on its way. 

Huawei + NTT DOCOMO is testing 5G connectivity

Right now in Japan, NTT DOCOMO (a leading mobile phone operator in Japan) is working with Huawei Mobiles to test 5G wireles date. Of course it is aimed for the fast growing smartphone market. The 5G connectivity will be using sub 6GHz bands. Since we know how powerful 4G LTE is (much faster than most internet connections in our country – I bet), the idea of an updated 5G itself is amazing enough to overwhelm us.

Recent reports have suggested that, the two companies are testing the 5G in a public place, which makes it much more effective than being done inside a lab. From what we heard for now, after many trials, the 5G technology from Huawei and NTT DOCOMO has reached the peaks of 3.6 Gbps.

Is 5G connectivity fast?

Am I making it too technical? Don’t worry, here is the clearer comparison. Open Signal’s data provided that, the average of the best 4G LTE speeds (measured in Spain) is 18 Mbps. This means the 5G connectivity speed measured in Japan is about 200 times faster than our current best networks! (You don’t want to compare with our domestic network in Philippines – I bet again)

Do you more more examples to be convinced how awesome it is if we have 5G connectivity? From what we know, one of the best options we have right now for home internet (which is NOT wireless) is Google Fiber. And it reaches the average speed of 1 Gbps. Now you can do the calculator! 5G connectivity = 3.6 x Google Fiber + wireless. The future feels so bright now already.

Living in the Philippines, where the internet is more or less slowest in the whole world, are you willing to pay for a package of 5G wireless connectivity to know what it tastes having super fast internet speed?

(Source: Android Authorities)

There are some people only loving to use what they have on their phones, for example the operating system. However, there are some who prefer to have 2 systems at the same time, so they are able to use the apps that cannot be compatible with this OS, but can be with the other. In today’s post, we will mention some Windows programs which are enabled on some selected Android devices, thanks to WINE.

Firstly, we would like to provide some short definitions. For Android OS, it is a “mobile operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.”

Meanwhile, WINE is an “application layer that fills in the missing ‘bits’ that aren’t found on Linux or other non-Windows platforms”. It will allow Windows programs to work at the same speed they have on a Microsoft device (running Windows OS). Anyhow, you may have to wait a bit for WINE to come at the end of the year.

Though the idea of running Windows programs on an Android phone sounds exciting (which means dual boot woot woot), you have to bear in mind that WINE is not an emulator and Windows programs will require an x86 processor. Yet, most Android handsets run ARM-based chips, so they will not be able to utilize the WINE tech.

On a brighter side, Intel-powered Android machines are increasing, especially in the tablet area, and some of them are seeing a few well-received Intel-powered options, like ASUS ZenFone 2. If you are owning or going to have such a phone, you totally can sign up and get notification when WINE for Android is available.

Well, the idea is so great for those who want to run popular Windows programs on Android. But how about you? Share with us your feelings and opinions 🙂 !

It has been a while since we had sight of the last Nokia phones. The legendary giant has disappeared for a long time, being missed by so many users around the world. However, it has been confirmed that Nokia come back is set to happen in 2016 – which is just several months ahead from now.

As the big day is approaching closer and closer, rumors started to flow intensively. Personally, I feel that it is quite easy to get confused by so many different sources of news surrounding us. And that motivated me to come up with this articles. I want to share with you the following main points about the Nokia come back historic event. Here are (mostly) all you need to know about such day!

1. Nokia’s contract with Microsoft ends

In 2011, Nokia and Microsoft signed a contract, marking the start of their partnership. According to the contract, Nokia only featured smartphones that ran on Windows OS and emphasized on their premium camera quality.

In 2013, Nokia agreed not to use its name on smartphones and will not produce any mobile devices under the Nokia name till December 31st, 2015. (Source: Wikipedia)

2. Nokia buys Alcatel

In preparation for the crucial Nokia comeback, the Giant proposed to buy Alcatel and got approved by European regulators. However, Alcatel (full name: Alcatel-Lucent) is not a smartphone producer. It is actually a French global telecommunications equipment company, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. Being a monster in the tech industry, Alcatel is believed to help provide the best technology for upcoming Nokia smartphones.

3. Nokia seeking for talents

Since 2013, Nokia became a department under the control of Microsoft. This means, they were no longer an independent company. As a result, mostly all of Nokia employees back then came to work for Microsoft. In order to have a well-prepared Nokia come back, the Finnish Legend are extensively looking for new talents to join their promising business.

4. Nokia to rebuild best-selling phones in the past?

Recently on PricePony, I featured the best-selling ever Nokia 1100. This was not a non-purposed topic. In fact, rumors have it said that, on their come back, Nokia is planning to bring back some good old phones of their past business. Of course this time, they will make it “smart” to catch up with the fast-growing market we have now.

5. Nokia to feature Android-powered smartphone

We all know how much users these days love Android-powered smartphones. And by knowing about the Nokia come back, I have heard it over and over again that our readers would love the first Nokia smartphone in 2016 to run on Android. Here is the good news: Nokia seems to actually plan the same thing.

I bet you still remember the Android Nokia C1 smartphone we spotted several months earlier? Yes, that is the best message Nokia come back can hint for us. Keep hoping, we may actually have a Nokia Android smartphone soon

Back to September, 2015, Huawei launched their new product Huawei Mate S with a common size of 5.5 inches. And lately, we are aware of the Huawei Mate S rose gold version with Huawei Mate S price set at 4,199 Yuan (about PHP 30K). So, we wonder if Huawei is aiming at Apple iPhone 6S rose gold when releasing such a sweet but powerful device…

Huawei Mate S Specs:

Huawei Mate S carries a high-end metal design like Huawei Mate 7 with a smaller Full HD screen, 5.5 inches, plus Force Touch technology (which allows its 2.5D AMOLED panel to recognize a light tap and a hard press in order to respond appropriately) for selected markets. Moreover, the whole phone is powered by the newest chip of Huawei – Kirin 935, paired with 3GB RAM and a fingerprint sensor.

Here are some basic features that Huawei Mate S is equipped with:

Huawei Mate S specs

Huawei Mate S design:

Well, Huawei Mate S comes with not only more powerful specs but also more beautiful look than those of Apple iPhone 6S. Speaking more specifically in case of Huawei Mate S rose gold, it has an all-metal body from head to toe Meanwhile, iPhone 6S has a subtle Rose Gold undercurrent, which does not cover the entire phone.

The tweet from Huawei aiming at Apple iPhone 6S Rose Gold variant

Huawei Mate S price and availability:

Recently, Huawei has announced and started selling their Mate S rose gold to the world. Moreover, the Huawei Mate S rose gold price is 4,199 Yuan (PHP 30K for Huawei Mate S price in Philippines), which is much cheaper than the iPhone 6S rose gold (iPhone 6S price in Philippines : starting from PHP 37,5K).

Closing note:

For those who like a cute smartphone with powerful hardware, especially girls, you can take Huawei Mate S rose gold into consideration from now on 😉 !

You know how it feels when your smartphone suddenly drops into water, be it a swimming pool, bathtub or toilet. Unless you are using a waterproof smartphone, (either it is from the premium Sony Xperia series or other brands), there is a very high chance your phone will be water damaged.

However, it is not always the end of the world when you smartphone gets water damaged. There are several useful tips that can help you “rescue” your babe if applied appropriately. I am not saying these tips will always work for all devices, but it does no harm if you know them. Might save you hundreds of dollars from buying a new handset.

What to do immediately if your smartphone gets water damaged

1. Take it out of the water and make sure it is turned off

Of course, first and foremost, try to get your smartphone out of the water as soon as possible. Yes, even if it is staying in the toilet bowl, you will need to forget that feeling and save your device first.

After it is in a drier environment, make sure your water damaged smartphone is completely turned off. Even if it is still working by then, shutting down the power will prevent water from further harming the phone.

2. Dissemble the removable parts

Actually, I mentioned this earlier in the previous post about why we should keep smartphone battery removable. When the handset gets wet, it is always advisable to immediately take out the battery, SD card, back case and any other parts that can be removed. This is the preparation for the next step, where you will dry your water damaged babe.

3. Towel is not only for bath time.

Now you can safely use a soft towel to rinse the back case and exterior parts of your smartphone. Remember to carefully rinse the whole thing, without leaving any dot of water remained.

4. Vacuum machine could help

Many people may mistaken that using a hair dryer to blow away the water will help dry it out. This is not totally useless. However, as you blow hot air into your device, it may have some side effects to the chips and smaller parts that naked eyes don’t notice.

The best way that I suggest here is a normal vacuum machine. As the machine works by sucking out everything on the surface, it will do well drying out water and also any dust remaining.

5. Time to completely dry out your water damaged smartphone

The easiest and most Asian way to completely dry out your water damaged smartphone inside out can be found in any household: RICE. Put you smartphone in a ziploc bag of rice and leave there for 2-3 days. The rice is very good at absorbing humidity in the air, and s as a result helps completely dry the smallest parts in your device.

Closing note:

After all, if you think you have high chance of having a water damaged smartphone, the best way is just to get a waterproof one instead. However, remembering those tips will absolutely be useful in emergency cases 🙂 If it works, you can thank me later 😀

Semiconductors and displays are the main factors that help Samsung revive. Their shares increased with the highest rate since 2009…

According to some analysts, Samsung Electronics could generate profit below market expectations due to its unimpressive performance of the mobile unit. However, recently, Samsung has released a profit report which proved them wrong.

Specifically, Samsung’s shares increased 8.7%, which is said to be the biggest jump since 2009. Though the whole results were not totally announced, just looking at the operating income that rose to $6.3 billion can tell how great the company has done. That is a HUGE 79.8% jump if compared to the same period last year. Good job, Samsung!

In addition, semiconductors and displays are the ones that help Samsung become so strong. They contributed much to the success of many recent Samsung Galaxy flagships that are competing well with Apple iPhones together with Chinese and Indian devices. Moreover, the semiconductor business of Samsung is gaining profits from providing components for Apple iDevices. And if Samsung just keeps doing well, they will be able to stand still at the top place among semiconductor producers, making it five quarters in a row.

Also for the mobile division, analysts’ expectations are 24% rise compared with the last year (which is around $1.9 billion). And this time, Samsung will be able to see the year-on-year rise for the first time in sever quarters.

However, that is for the third quarter of 2015 when Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus were launched one month earlier than Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. In addition, Samsung smartphones have to fight with many high-end but cheaper handsets and low-end ones from Chinese and Indian makers. Note that the sub-$200 phones are mainly responsible for increasing the sales

Apart from such an impressive report, we wonder if Samsung can continue to do that in this Q4 once Samsung Galaxy S6 shipments are dropping “significantly” according to an IBK Securities analyst. He also adds that the Average Selling Price in September dropped 14%.

Well, anyway, we would like to congratulate Samsung on their results in Q3 and hope that they will remain the same or even develop more at the end of the year.

As we march close to 2016, we are getting more and more excited to welcome back the giant Nokia. The piece of news that Nokia is returning to the smartphone market confirmed several months ago was so good we have heard people talking about it over and over again. And to mark the Nokia return huge event, aspiring designers everywhere introduced their creative concepts inspired by the company.

Earlier, I have introduced to you the top 4 Nokia concepts that fans expect to really come true. Although all of them are amazing, I have to say that, out of the 4, there are 2 I especially love more than others.

It might sounds a bit strange, but I just had the idea of putting them together in a comparison. We all love it when 2 or more smartphones are compared to see which one is better in which aspect. Then why not comparing these 2 wonderful Nokia smartphone concepts? Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger

1. Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger: outstanding features

Sometimes, just one very unique feature can help a smartphone to sell super well. Nokia Power Ranger wins customers’ hearts by sporting dual Boot. This means the device will support both Window Phone and Android OS. What is so appealing? Users can freely choose whichever they like – and enjoy the best it can offer

Meanwhile, Nokia Swan concept is a smartphone + tablet hybrid. It can be used normally as a complete smartphone (5.3” display), fits in the hands and works super smooth. Then when you want, it can be opened and turned into a phablet (11” display) in no time. WOW, no more wondering whether to buy a smartphone or tablet: problem solved 😀

2. Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger: specs

Both devices in the concepts come with popular 4GB RAM, which never ceases heat up the smartphone environment.  However, in terms of specs, the Nokia Power Ranger seems to lead ahead with enormous 512GB ROM and 24.2MP Pureview camera – signature of Nokia devices. In contrast, the Nokia Swan “only” feature a 216GB ROM together with 4GB RAM

3. Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger design comparison

Smartphone design is that one important thing that attract customers’ attention to a handset. Both the Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger design looks very sexy and premium. They both sport large display with slim bezel and high-class square shapes.

However, the Nokia Power Ranger comes with more colorful options, which may reminds us of Lumia products. The Nokia Swan concept, on the other hand, is absolutely metallic and styling.

Nokia Swan vs Nokia Power Ranger: Conclusion

Because both of the Nokia Swan VS Nokia Power Ranger are just concepts for now, I could not do a comparison in detailed specs. The 3 points I mentioned above are my personal viewpoints of what similarities these 2 share and what differences they have. Like I said, I love them both. And more than everyone else, I am really hoping Nokia will take at least one of those ideas and bring into life!