Top smartphones that make perfect Christmas gifts

Local tech experts have listed the hottest smartphone units that may be perfect gifts for your loved ones.

1. O + Ultra

A competitive smartphone with a price that is less than P10,000, that's O+ Ultra.

Mark Macanas, Editor-in-Chief of TechPinas.com, said O+ Ultra is perfect for the road warriors with a battery that can last up to 2 days.

Macanas said O+ Ultra boasts of a front camera has a soft LED flash, capturing memories even in dark places.

2. Apple's iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

Macanas said while it practically looks like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the 6S versions bare the latest of the smartphone innovations. With the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, you'll get Apple's latest technology called the "3D Plus" which recognizes pressure to perform a certain function.

With the high competition on phone cameras nowadays, iPhone 6S and 6S have also leveled up their camera with the 12MP iSight shooter.

3. Sony Xperia Z5 series.

Macanas said website DxOMark chose Sony Xperia Z5 series --Z5, Z5 Premium and Z5 Compact-- as the best in world when it comes to camera phones. DxOMark criteria include how fast a phone takes pictures and how fast it zooms in to the subject.

Macanas said, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, the smallest of the three, proves that a phone's performance cannot be judged by its size.

With Sony Xperia Z5 series' 23MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and competitive imaging features, Macanas suggested to have one if you want to get the best imaging performance from a smartphone.

4. Sony Xperia C5 Ultra

For that picture-perfect selfie, Macanas said the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra is the best. C5 Ultra has a full HD display and both its rear and front camera is 13MP, not to mention its front camera's soft LED flash.

Adding wonder to the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra is its 64-bit octa-core processor, making fast gaming performance and smooth touch response possible.

5. Asus Zenfone 2 Laser

For P8,000 or less you can get this smartphone, and easily enjoy its sleek form factor and fast focusing capability.

6. Blackberry Priv

Tech Editor of Manila Bulletin, Art Samaniego, highly suggests Blackberry Priv.

Samaniego said the Blackberry Priv, a 5-inch device with a sliding keyboard, combines the best of the Blackberry security and the Android ecosystem is the surprise gadget of 2015.

7. Blackphone 2

With security issues and hacking prevalent nowadays, Blackphone 2 may be your best bet.

Samaniego said Blackphone 2 is an encrypted device and if someone attempts to modify the firmware, the phone will self-destruct.

8. Starmobile Knight Spectra

For local smartphone supporters, Macanas recommended the Starmobile Knight Spectra.

Macanas said the Knight Spectra has all the best features of the company's Knight flagship line, including a 5.5 full AMOLED HD display, a 3GB RAM and a digital TV Tuner.

9. LG V10

Concluding the list is the LG V10 recently launched in the Philippines.

Macanas said the metal-clad LG V10 has cameras that can be placed on manual professional mode, allowing enthusiasts to operate the camera's white balance, shutter speed, ISO and depth of field.

LG V10 also boasts of a super crisp and brilliant picture quality when connected to an external 4K display.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Christmas gift idea: Homemade Biscoff desserts

MANILA – Can’t decide what to give your friends and colleagues this Christmas? Delight them with these easy homemade treats.

Biscoff suggests these two recipes that can be used as gifts or treats for the office or barkada Christmas party. Each recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare and has minimal ingredients.

Rice Crispy Treats with Biscoff Spread

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup of Biscoff spread
1 10-oz package of about 40 regular marshmallows or 4 cups of miniature marshmallows
6 cups rice crispy cereal

Directions:

    Melt butter and Biscoff spread in a large, non-stick saucepan over low heat.
    Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
    Mix in rice crispy cereal and stir until well-coated.
    Spread the mixture using a buttered spatula evenly on a 13x9x2-inch pan coated with cooking spray.
    Cut into 2-inch squares when cool.

No-bake Biscoff Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1 cup melted unsalted butter
1 cup Biscoff spread
4 tablespoons Biscoff spread
1 1/2 large dark chocolate bars

Directions:

    In a large bowl, mix the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix the butter and a cup of Biscoff spread. Pour the dry ingredients and mix.
    Press the crust into a 9x9-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Use a pastry roller or hand-press into the pan.
    Break the chocolate bar into bite-sized chunks. Place in a small microwave-proof bowl and cover with 4 tablespoons of Biscoff spread. Microwave the mixture in 30-second segments, stirring in between until smooth. Pour the mixture over the Biscoff crust.

4. Allow to set for at least an hour before cutting.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Christmas gift idea: Philip Stein's Legacy Petite watch

MANILA – This new watch collection is made available exclusively in the Philippines first, just in time for the holiday season.

Philip Stein’s Legacy Petite watches are as chic and elegant as its predecessors and come in two styles – the stainless steel oval case and the rose gold-plated version.

Each timepiece has Philip Stein’s signature dual time zone dial in white mother of pearl, fitted with mineral crystal, and comes with interchangeable silk calf straps available in black, white, pink and light blue.

It is also equipped with Philip Stein’s Natural Frequency Technology, a chip that acts like an antenna to help the wearer “tune in to the earth’s positive alpha waves.”

Broadway star and “The Voice of the Philippines” coach Lea Salonga, an endorser of Philip Stein, co-created the Legacy Petite collection.

Priced from P37,100 to P47,950 each, the Legacy Petite watches will be available in Philip Stein stores nationwide in late December.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Christmas gift idea: UAAP watches, pendants

MANILA – Do you have a friend or a relative who is a die-hard fan of the UAAP games? Here’s a gift that he or she will surely love.

Just in time for the Christmas season, ABS-CBN and UniSilver launched a collection of pendants and timepieces showcasing the designs of seven participating schools of the UAAP.

UAAP fans can choose from the logos of the Adamson Soaring Falcons, Ateneo Blue Eagles, Far Eastern University Tamaraws, National University Bulldogs, University of the East Red Warriors, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

De La Salle University is not part of the tie-up.

“ABS-CBN is proud to showcase a timeless collection of pieces that very well represent the premiere university sports league, UAAP, which students and fans will surely love. We are happy to be in partnership with UniSilver, one of the country’s leading brands of jewelry and watches,” said Karen Coloma, head of ABS-CBN Licensing.

The UAAP watches and pendants are available at UniSilver stores and on the brand’s website. Timepieces are priced at P1,595 each, while the pendants with chain range from P840 to P1,690.

 source: www.abs-cbnnews.com