Manila Bulletin's Art Samaniego Jr. talked to Tony Velasquez to sample the new iPad Pro, Acer Jade Primo, Samsung S7 and S7 Edge, and iPhone SE.
Apple has said the iPad Pro is more than just an upgrade of the iPad as it rivals the capacity of a personal computer (PC). It was touted to be the it-gadget for graphic designers as it came with the Apple Pencil. It was also compatible with the Smart Keyboard for users to type more efficiently.
Now, they have introduced a version that comes in a nifty 9.7" package, quite like the original iPad.
Like it's predecessor, the 9.7-inch tablet has a an A9 processor and an M9 motion co-processor.
Compared to the normal iPad, the new tablet produces richer sound quality with its four speakers--one on each corner. Apple has also improved its rear camera, going from 8MP to 12MP.
It is also equipped with True Tone technology, which uses light sensors to adjust the display to maintain consistent colors in a variety of environments.
According to Samaniego, "for sketching, the bigger is better. The iPad Pro 9.7 is for people who love the idea of the iPad Pro, but wants the size of the original iPad plus better camera"
Now here's a quirky idea for the mobile generation: a phone that can be your PC's Central Processing Unit (CPU).
Because it runs on Windows 10, the Acer Liquid Jade Primo is almost literally a handy PC because it supports Microsoft's feature called "Continuum." This means that with a specialized dock, you can connect it to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and it will run basic Windows apps.
The Primo carries a 21MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. It also has a 5.5” full HD AMOLED screen, Qualcomm hexa-core processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage.
It is not graphics-intensive, and Samaniego said it's not compatible for video editing, so one must not put his hopes up too high.
But he added, "many people don’t like to store their data in the Cloud—they’re afraid of security, they want it in their possession. This is one of the solutions."
The phone will sell at P25,000 but the dock and keyboard will be sold separately.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are the latest offerings from the Korean tech giant.
S7 and S7 Edge have Quad HD super AMOLED display measuring 5.5” and 5.1” respectively. Both phones have cameras with 90% improvement from previous models.
Pre-ordered S7 and S7 Edge was bundled with Samsung's virtual reality headset, the Gear VR.
"It’s an improved version of the [Google] Cardboard which you have featured a long time ago. This one now has easier controls," he said pertaining to the touch pad located at the headset's side.
The Oculus app has to installed on the phone, then it must be docked into a slot in the headset for you to enjoy the 360 experience.
The Gear VR supports only Samsung Note 5, S6, S6 Edge, S7, and S7 Edge but the headgear may be bought separately for P4,000.
Apple recently backtracked and released a smaller phone in the form of the iPhone SE (Special Edition).
Samaniego described it as a phone "with 5S body with 6S specs" and added that this could be a good phone for first-time iPhone users.
The SE shares the 6S' 12MP rear camera and retina display but not its 3D touch feature.
While the 6S sells at $649, the SE will sell at $399.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
