Hands on with the new BoostCase for iPhone 5 battery pack
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 30th, 2013Finally, it’s here in local shores! The iPhone 5 is a beautiful device, but suffers (like all other smartphones) from drained battery woes especially when you have LTE turned on the whole day. Although the battery management has slightly improved (speculation has the iPhone 5 battery carrying a wallop of 1400 to 1700mAh), these numbers are meaningless to the general consumer! The BoostCase for iPhone 5 adds about a full charge + 50% more battery life to your existing iPhone. So that means if that your iPhone is pulling 6 hours before drain, the BoostCase will give you 9 hours aggregating your total count to roughly 15 hours. That’s for the 2200mAh one.
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BoostCase for iPhone 5 starts at PHP 3,250 for 1500mAh
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 20th, 2013For fans of BoostCase, the wait is finally over. It’s thinner and more stylish than the previous BoostCase for the iPhone 4/4s and will be available starting Wednesday, April 24 2013. The stores that will be carrying it include: Beyond the Box, Digital Hub and Digital Walker Branches.
Boostcase Hybrid 1500 mAh – SRP P 3,250
Boostcase Hybrid 2200 mAh – SRP P 3,950
BRAVEN BRV-1 weatherproof wireless speakers + charger goes for PHP 7,450.00
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 15th, 2013BRAVEN. I love this word. This is because it sounds like one of my favorite descriptors in the English language — the adjective ‘brazen’ which meant ‘without fear or shame.’ And perhaps this descriptor is apt as a brand name for hands down, the most impressive rugged portable speaker system I have encountered.
Many brands take portability to the next level by displaying a line of speakers that’s centered more on portability than function and with this norm dominating the ‘casual’ speaker scene, this is something completely different. The BRAVEN’s BRV-1 is king of the hill of portable speakers: rugged, light, wireless, splash-proof and wow, the sound (WOW!). I was completely blown away when I first turned it on in my living room: 6 watts of booming audio filled the space. None of that rickety audio that seems like it’s coming out of a tin can: Full bass, full mids and great highs. The BRV-1 is about the size of a DSLR (body only) giving it enough oomph for the bass to tremble.
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**MIND BLOWN** Toys that come to life with your iPad: Hot Wheels, DC Universe, WWE, Monster High, etc
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 31st, 2013You know, every time I walk into Datablitz these days I get more and more tempted to pick up a copy of Skylanders. If you go there often, every branch has a store display of ‘Skylanders’ action figures that are not only toys — but are also integral to the Skylanders video game. When you place an action figure onto a “Portal of Power” (which is simply a Bluetooth enabled NFC device) the character comes to life inside the game. So not only do you get a new character to play with in Skylanders, you also get a collectible toy.
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A Guide to buying LEGO (and its imitations)
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 26th, 2012They go by many names:
Pirated LEGO.
Cheap LEGO knock offs.
China-made LEGO.
LEGO imitations.
The nomenclature will always change but there’s no doubt that they’re all referring to the same thing: the prolific rise of LEGO imitations in bazaars around the metro. Whether you found them in Toys R’ Us, Toy Kingdom, the NBC Tent Weekend Bazaar or the Zonta Filinvest Christmas bazaar a few weeks ago, one thing’s for sure: they’re here to stay. I had some free time before the holidays and actually compiled the latest and the greatest LEGO competitors in the market today from Japan, Canada, South Korea and China.
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iPad mini prices in the Philippines; good luck finding one because they’re out of stock
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 21st, 2012OK am I really supposed to add an introductory block of text? I guess it’s really just a formality then, right?
iPad mini Price List
MD528PP/A NEW iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi (Black & Slate) 15,990
MD529PP/A NEW iPad mini 32GB Wi-Fi (Black & Slate) 20,990
MD530PP/A NEW iPad mini 64GB Wi-Fi (Black & Slate) 25,990
MD531PP/A NEW iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi (White & Silver)) 15,990
MD532PP/A NEW iPad mini 32GB Wi-Fi (White & Silver)) 20,990
MD533PP/A NEW iPad mini 64GB Wi-Fi (White & Silver)) 25,990
MD534PP/A NEW iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (Black & Slate) 21,990
MD535PP/A NEW iPad mini 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (Black & Slate) 26,990
MD536PP/A NEW iPad mini 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (Black & Slate) 31,990
MD537PP/A NEW iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (White & Silver)) 21,990
MD538PP/A NEW iPad mini 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (White & Silver)) 26,990
MD539PP/A NEW iPad mini 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (White & Silver)) 31,990
Geeky ‘bobble’ water bottles filter potable water for PHP 595.00
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 3rd, 2012
Hi all! Guess what? I found the geekiest water bottle in the metro. I first heard of the bobble from dive buddies who carried these around when we would take boat trips out to dive sites. The touch of geek-ness comes from the tip of the bottle which is actually a carbon filter cap that (further) purifies potable drinking water. The bottles were not yet available in Manila at the time so access was very limited. Until recently.
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Grab a Google Nexus 7 with a SMART Communciations FlexiSurf Plan
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 23rd, 2012
The highly coveted Google Nexus 7 Android tablet can be yours with SMART Communications’ new FlexiSurf plans. If you’re looking for a way to offload your gadget costs for the next year, this is definitely a deal to consider.
To avail the Google Nexus 7, you will need to shell out PHP 600.00 for 24 months with FlexiSurf 599 (0% interest). That’s essentially about PHP 1,199 a month if you can’t afford to put out USD $199 for the tablet. For surfing, you also get a Smart Bro FlexiSurf Pocket WiFi device which you can also use to connect to the Internet. So imagine, for 2013 you’ll be all rigged up with a Pocket WiFi to connect your new Nexus 7 tablet, your smartphone, and perhaps another WiFi device, such as a Playstation Vita that only sells for about PHP 9,950.00 cash from Datablitz.
Definitely a good deal. Sign up here to apply:
http://flexisurf.smart.com.ph/
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Datablitz now selling Wii U games (but no Wii U yet)
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 23rd, 2012
It’s a funny announcement. Since the very recent launch of the Nintendo WiiU, the games have been rolling out at a steady pace. The launch was a sell out, which is probably why we still can’t find new WiiU units in the Philippines. And that’s fine — simply because this console needs to simmer a while, waiting for the ecosystem to expand in its roster of titles. In any case, Datablitz just wants you to know that they’ve got you covered with the initial launch title games.. except ZombieU!
First batch of Wii U games from Datablitz:
• Mass Effect 3 – Special Edition, P1,995
• TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2, P2,395
• FIFA 13, P1,950
• Madden NFL 13, P1,950
• Darksiders 2 (With Bonus Content), P2,395
• Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper, P2,395
• Tank! Tank! Tank!, P1,995
• Funky Barn, P1,995
HP SpectreXT ultrabook sells slim and power for PHP 55,990
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 16th, 2012
If you’re all about light and fancy, you may want to consider the new SpectreXT ultrabook from HP. This lightweight [portable delivers decent performance with the standard Intel HD Graphics 4000 card which comes built into the new 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processors.
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Star Diamond: Cheapest LEGO knockoffs for PHP 35.00 only
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 14th, 2012
OK so I just found the dirt-cheapest place to buy knock off LEGO figures. I’ve seen a handful of knock off LEGO bricks — Wange, Sluban and now Star Diamond and I have to say that for PHP 35.00 a piece, they make the most practical Christmas gifts. Yes, they’re knock offs but after opening and assembling a number of them, I really have to say that you can’t go wrong with the price.

Star Diamond kits come in many sizes and the most affordable is a small box that will barely make a dent in your wallet. PHP 35.00 for the smallest kit gives you a “minifig” and a vehicle / accessory. Pictured here are the crane kit and the SCUBA diver with DPV kit. Compared to the real LEGO, the main difference lies in the minifig copies because they require more assembly versus the real deal which I honestly don’t mind doing.
Where can you find this? I found an accessible stall at the NBC Tent Weekend Bazaar. The unmarked stall is found towards the end of the tent hall and you can find several other brands from China as well as the real stuff.
















