Kitkat Upgrade for LG G2 from Philippines is now available!

With the screenshot taken from my LG G2 purchased from Globe Telecom, it suggests that Kitkat upgrade is now available via LG Software Upgrade Tool. This also means that it will be availale tomorrow via OTA. 

Connect your LG G2 to your PC now and and try to upgrade via Upgrade Tool and let us know if you're able to upgrade.

Globe's Great Gadget Sale (Dec 27-29, 2013)

In case you have not heard, Globe will be holding the "Great Gadget Sale"  tomorrow at Glorietta 5.  From the details, they'll allow you to trade-in your old phone to get as much as 90% discount on their phone offers. 

Rumor Mill: LG Nexus 5 to be released in the Philippines

LG Nexus 5 (Left) with it's fraternal twin, LG G2 (right)

Photo courtesy of PhoneArena

Rumor has it that LG Nexus 5 will be released in the Philippines next week! The phone will be sold through a major carrier, and other "legit" gadget shops.

If this is indeed true, I will assume that the major carrier is Smart since they released the LG Nexus 4 last year. It is also safe to say that it will be free under LTE data plan 1500 as the Nexus 4 is free at Data Plan 1500.

For the unlocked LG Nexus 5, I guess the price range will be from P18,000 to P23,000 which is clearly far from the original retail price of the phone in the US.

I just hope the 32GB version of LG Nexus 5 will be free on LTE Data Plan 1500, or will be largely be at stores as this phone does not have an microSD expansion slot.

Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE (GT-N7105) receives official Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update

Similar to its brother (Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100), Samsung has just started rolling out Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy Note II LTE (GT-N7105). It’s been a long time since Samsung updated the Galaxy Note II to a new version of Android. Jellybean 4.1.1 is the stock OS installed out of the box, so 4.3 update is indeed a welcome change to all users.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ANDROID 4.3 UPDATE
- GALAXY GEAR Support
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- Samsung KNOX
- Samsung Wallet (Pre-loaded)
- Better RAM management
- Core UI elements updated to the ones on the Galaxy S4 (Galaxy S4′s theme all over)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- GPU drivers have been updated (Higher GPU benchmark scores)
- New Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
- New screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
- Daydream
- Driving mode
- Actionable notifications
- Move-to-SD-card feature
- New Camera mode : Sound and Shot
- New Additions in Notification Centre
- Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the Galaxy S4)
- Implementation of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
- New Samsung Apps: Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Gallery, Music
- Full screen Samsung apps
- New S-Voice (from Galaxy S4)

Source: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/11/19/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-lte-gt-n7105-receives-official-android-4-3-jelly-bean-update/

Samsung Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100) receives official Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update

Photo courtesy of SamMobile

The wait is over! Samsung has just started rolling out Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy Note II in India and, then China.

In case you dont know, Samsung Note II users like me have not received a major update as it is launched with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. The last update it received it the upgrade to 4.1.2. Samsung pulled out their plans to update it to 4.2.2 when they learned that 4.3 is a major upgrade.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ANDROID 4.3 UPDATE
- GALAXY GEAR Support
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- Samsung KNOX
- Samsung Wallet (Pre-loaded)
- Better RAM management
- Core UI elements updated to the ones on the Galaxy S4 (Galaxy S4′s theme all over)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- GPU drivers have been updated (Higher GPU benchmark scores)
- New Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
- New screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
- Daydream
- Driving mode
- Actionable notifications
- Move-to-SD-card feature
- New Camera mode : Sound and Shot
- New Additions in Notification Centre
- Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the Galaxy S4)
- Implementation of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
- New Samsung Apps: Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Gallery, Music
- Full screen Samsung apps
- New S-Voice (from Galaxy S4)

Source: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/11/19/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-gt-n7100-receives-official-android-4-3-jelly-bean-update/ 

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time, out on Android!

Android fans rejoice as "Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's about time" is finally out at Google Play... but it is only downloadable if you are from Australia or New Zealand, so  fans from the Philippines will have to wait a little longer.

If you recall, this game is initally available in iOS. It took a few months before it gets ported to Android, but we're not complaining at least we do not have to wait for more than a year just like the first one.

Can't wait for it to be available in Google Play Philippines? Download it's APK and data file. 

Disclaimer: The link is already out of this blog, download at your own risk.

BBM for Android and iOS now LIVE in the Philippines

UPDATE [9/22/2013]: Blackberry disabled the leaked BBM for Android app due to overwhelming traffic and says it caused an issue to their part. If you install the APK now and attempt to login or register, you will be redirected to the BBM webpage and there's no way to login. We'll update thei page once the offical APK becomes available in Google Play.

As most of you know, September 21 is the launch of BBM on Android worldwide, and a day after for iOS. However it turns out it's the other way around in the Philippines. iPhone users get to see and download BBM from the App store, while fake BBM apps continue to flood Google's Play Store, and the original BBM app is nowhere to be found.

As you see on the screenshot below, you can login using your existing Blackberry ID, however it will provide new a new PIN, just like when you upgrade to a newer Blackberry phone. I also need to point out that logging-in did not import my existing BBM contacts from my old Blackberry (which is weird and needs to work on to). Other than that, so far so good. It gives me the same feel of the same old BBM on the Blackberry. I am also able to invite and chat with BBM users on Android, iOS, and Blackberry platforms.

Anyway, to tease you more, here are photos of BBM on Android installed in my phone and friend's tablet. You can also add me on BBM. Enjoy the photos!

Can't wait for it to appear on Play store? Follow this link, download, and  install the APK. Enjoy! 

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