Category: Technology

I’m very happy with my iPhone 5 and yes, I still feel the same happiness whenever I hold the phone in my hand even after more than a month use.  It’s an awesome device!  No matter what people say, for me, the iPhone 5 is the BEST smartphone out there!  But hey, nothing’s perfect.  Admit it or not, we will never be fully satisfied with anything.  My beef with iPhone 5 is its battery life.  I guess it has something to do with the way I use my cellphone.  I tweet a lot and I check the internet almost every few minutes.  With that kind of major usage, my iPhone 5 doesn’t last more than 4-5 hours.  I have to do something because I cannot always find an outlet to charge my iPhone whenever I go out.  I then discovered iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank Case for iPhone 5.

What I like about the iBattz Mojo Hi5 case is this: it’s a case.  I’m serious!  Most battery enhancers are external devices that you just connect to your gadget.  With the iBattz Mojo Hi5, you can snap it on your iPhone 5!  It was a great innovation and I believe we should give iBattz some credit for thinking out of the box!

For just Php 3,750, you’ll get more than your money’s worth.  Imagine that you get two cases (black and white) apart from the battery power bank.  That’s like getting three different accessories in one!

While I’m not a fan of the case design, I understand why it was done that way.  You see, there are three holes at the back of the case.  There is a purpose for that.

You connect the powerbank through those holes.  It’s really cool because you don’t need to adjust.  You still hold your iPhone 5 the same way.  (I have to take the iPhone 5 off so that you can see clearly how to assemble the iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank case).

Once you snapped on the powerbank to the case, you’ll have to use the flexible cable in order to transfer power from the case into the iPhone 5.

Now, one thing to note is that you have to buy the lightning to Micro USB adapter separately.  It is not iBattz fault because Apple became so strict with accessories using lightning cable.  Apple has so many restrictions that makers like iBattz decided to stick with Micro USB for the meantime.  I bought the Lightning to Micro USB adapter for Php 990 at the Philippines iTunes Store.

iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank Case Experience

I gave myself 2 weeks to use the product before I review it here in HeaRty’s Haven.  Overall, I loved the iBattz Mojo Hi5 case!  It functions as advertised.  It really does give 150% more power to the iPhone 5!

There are three things to remember:

• charge the power bank fully.  One full charge takes 5 hours.

• You can charge the iPhone 5 from 0-100%.  That’s basically what the 2500 mAh iBattz Hi5 case can do: one full charge & gives power to the iPhone as well while charging on the go!  It’s the slimmest power bank in the market too!
• You can do charging on both the power bank and the iPhone 5 at the same time!

I feel 5 hours is tad a bit long for charging.  The amount of time that I can use with the iBattz Hi5 case is almost the same as its charging time.  For now, this is the best solution in my constant battery issue with iPhone 5.  It’s working for me and I continue to use it until I find a better alternative.

Should you buy it?  Well, it will depend on your need.  I want to reiterate though that you’re getting 2 different cases PLUS the power bank.  If there’s only one accessory that you need to buy for your iPhone 5 then the iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank Case is for you.

But wait, there’s more!

While the iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank Case was created for the iPhone 5, you can actually charge other mobile devices as well.  The only thing here is you cannot use the cases included in the package since those were meant for the iPhone 5.  For the power bank, that’s totally usable to any mobile devices as the iBattz hi5 is powered by USB.

Power specifications:
Input : 5V DC, 500 mA
Output : 5V DC, 1A
Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh Li-Ion
Battery Charging Time : ~ 5 hours
Battery Life Cycle : 500

Official features:

• Slim minimalist, detachable unibody aluminium design.
• Detachable Design: Attached via a Protective Snap-On iPhone 5 Case.
• Pass Through Charging Support: Charge both the power bank and iPhone 5 at the same time.
• Fast Charge: Halves the charging time of your iPhone 5 compared to a standard 500 mA USB power output.
• Versatile: Can charge other mobile devices that are powered by USB.
• Intelligent Power Management: Over-Charge, Over-Current and Short Circuit Protection.

Are you one of those who feel that the existing LTE plans in the Philippines are expensive?  Then this news that I will share is fit for you!  Smart Communications recently launched Smart LTE Plan 1299!  Now, this kind of pricing will definitely urge a lot more netizens to experience blazing fast internet connection.

Why blazing fast?  Well, LTE will give you connection speed of 42mbps!  If 42mbps, isn’t fast (especially with the kind of normal speed we usually get in our mobile data plans), then I do not know what is 🙂  Normal data plans will only give you 1-3mbps.  Actually, you are already lucky if you get more than 1 mbps.  We’ve learned to live with it but imagine if you have a connection speed of upto 42mpbs.  That is just going to be so awesome!

Here are details about the new Smart LTE Plan 1299:

• offers internet speed of up to 42Mbps
• 5GB of data
• Expanded coverage in key cities around Metro Manila
• Also compatible with 2G/3G/HSPA/HSPA+ networks
• 24 months lock in period

You can choose to get the Smart LTE modem/dongle worth Php8,000 for free or add a one-time fee of Php 2,000 to get yourself an LTE Pocket WiFi.  I highly suggest you get the pocket WiFi unless you only need to use LTE on one device.  Oh my, imagine how you can share your blazing fast connection to your mobile phone, tablet, laptop or any other Wifi-enabled devices.

If you are the type to treat gaming seriously, like what I used to do when I played World of Warcraft (MMPORG), you won’t get any issues anymore especially when you’re doing group quests.  Lagging won’t be something you’ll experience anymore.

If you have a loved one abroad and you do a lot of video conference calls, every minute of your call will be well-spent.  Skype, Google Hangout and Facetime will be your favourite applications if you have LTE connection.

How about downloads??  Admittedly, I too feel frustrated if I’m using my home DSL connection (it is slow).  With LTE, you won’t even notice anymore how big your downloads or uploads are.  Because files as big as 1GB can be downloaded in minutes, you won’t even notice it!

The only thing that might take you aback is the limit of 5GB for Smart LTE Plan 1299.  If you’re not a heavy internet user, or will need that kind of blazing fast connection only during occasional times, then you should consider getting LTE Plan 1299.  Try to measure your data usage.  If you have an iPhone, you can easily do that by checking out the settings.

Of course, there are other Smart LTE Plans like the 3500 which offers 21GB of data and the 1749 which offers 10GB of data.  Take your pick!

One good news about this is that Smart not only made LTE affordable for everyone but they expanded its coverage!  Smart LTE is now available in over 600 hotspots in 10 cities!  How cool is that?

If you see the LTE sign in an establishment or area, you’ll know that you can use LTE and you can be assured of blazing fast connection.

I remember when LTE was first launched last September 2012, there were only 49 locations available.  I never thought they expanded that FAST!  It’s funny that they are doing it just as fast as how we expect LTE connection to be.

Smart has also partnered with several establishments such as Chowking, Dome, DQ, Figaro, HK Choi, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Malcolms, The Burger Project, Teriyaki Boy, Sugarhouse, Yoshinoya, Yellow Cab, Tokyo Cafe, Hard Rock, Shakey’s, Pizza Hut, Subway, Barcino, Wee Nam Kee, Fridays, Burgoo and Burger King so you should expect to use LTE at those places.  I don’t think I’ll be able to name all Smart LTE locations in this post so I urge you to click this link to get information –>  http://www1.smart.com.ph/bro/lte/locations.

Get more information about Smart LTE Plan 1299 and other existing LTE Plans on the Smart website.  Are you ready to live faster and live more? #SmartLTE

I was watching TV today when I saw the Smart ad with celebrities apl.de.ap and Jessica Sanchez.  The TV commercial had me thinking, what made me Jump In to Smart?  In all honesty, I even shared just two months ago about how I stayed with Sun Cellular for a long time.  But being an Apple fanatic, I couldn’t resist not getting the new iPhone 5.  Sun doesn’t offer it, and I couldn’t afford to always buy expensive open-line iPhones.  Plus, I’ve been hearing good things about Smart’s network coverage.  I thought why not jump in?

It’s funny that I reminisced about how I decided to finally get a Smart postpaid line.  It actually took me three years to upgrade my iPhone 3GS.  I’ve been wishing to upgrade my phone year after year but ended up not doing so.  What is it with iPhone 5?

Well, here are three major reasons why I did it:

1. I was really getting tired of my iPhone 3GS.  This year alone, I had both the home button and original back case replaced.  It was already out of warranty and it’s starting to act really slow.
2. The retina display of iPhone 5 is too awesome for anyone to pass up.  I also appreciate that the 5th generation iPhone is much lighter and thinner.  Oh yes, it looked sooooooo good!  Even my friends who own iPhone 4S like it!
3. I heard iPhone 5 was Steve Jobs’ last project.  Whether the news is true or not, I had to own one.  Steve Jobs is my ultimate idol, and my wish to meet him in person will never happen.  However, getting myself an iPhone 5 is my way of giving tribute to the man.

Now, what’s the use of getting the most amazing smartphone in the planet if network connection isn’t good?  I did some research, asked several friends and monitored social media posts regarding existing PH mobile networks.  It was a no-brainer.  Smart was the best choice so I jumped in!  How fitting with the Smart Jump In video, right?

Apart from loving apl.de.ap (due to Black Eyed Peas) and Jessica Sanchez (American Idol), I appreciate the message of the video.  Things like being brave in order to live our life, not hesitating and jump in to the things we like and taking a leap and jump in to the future.

With that, I’m sharing with you my Jump In tech-related Resolutions for Year 2013:

• Learn iOS App Development.
• Create a simple iOS app by end of the year.
• Get ipadpinas.com up and running with consistent updates.

How about you?  Do you have any Jump In resolutions in mind?  Why don’t you share it to us by tweeting it with the #SmartJumpIn hashtag? 🙂

You love the new iPhone 5 design.  You love how thin it is and how nice the new body of the phone is.  You want to protect it but do not want to cover up the beautiful looks of the iPhone 5.

You are a fashion-forward person.  You want to match your iPhone with your outfit for the day.  You want to have the flexibility of changing the way your iPhone look.  You want to have a lot of color options for your iPhone case.

You want an affordable iPhone 5 case that would cover almost every lil concern that you have.

Do any of the above statements describe you?  If yes, take a look at a case made by Simplism, the Crystal Cover Set for iPhone 5.

There are 8 Simplism Crystal Case Cover Set available namely clear, red, smoky black, sky blue, milky white, navy, floral pink and mint green.  I have chosen smoky black for myself as I already have a red case.

At one glance, I didn’t think that Simplism Crystal Cover Set is a good iPhone 5 case.  I actually didn’t choose it while I was looking at the different cases available for sale at the shop.  The saleslady recommended it to me saying that it was a cool case considering that it’s thin and super effective in showing the wonderful design of the iPhone 5.

When they showed me how it would look like with my iPhone 5, I was immediately sold!  The phone looked great in it!  The Crystal Cover Set doesn’t have those nifty features but it’s functional!

Staying true to its brand name, the crystal cover set is simple but boy, it works!  Here are five simple reasons why:

• Invisible Protection

Simplism Crystal Cover Set is basically a  thin hard cover that protects your iPhone from dust & scratches.  It’s clear & transparent design makes the case unnoticeable thus showing off the beauty of your iPhone 5.

It has direct access to all controls (sleep/wake, ring/silent, volume control, camera, audio jack, speakers & power port) covering only what is needed.

The material is made of polycarbonate which makes the crystal cover set heat and impact resistant.  Most of all, installation is easy!  You just have to apply crystal case from the back of the iPhone.

• Anti-Scratch Coating

One of my biggest problem with hard cases especially clear ones is that it can easily get scratched.  Apart from that, you can see those ugly scratches all over the case.  Yuck, right?

Good thing, Simplism applied an anti-scratch coating on the Crystal Case Cover for iPhone 5.  According to the manufacturer, the coating doesn’t guarantee scratch-proof but it helps to reduce appearance of scratches under normal use.

• Useful Accessories Included

the ff. items are included with every purchase of a Simplism Crystal Cover Set for the iPhone 5:

– Shiny and invisible Japan made Crystal Clear film
– Microfiber cleaning cloth
– Leveler to squeeze out air bubbles under the film
– Dust-removing tape for cleaning before applying film
– Cable Clip to organize excess cable

Considering that the case is relatively cheaper than other brands in the market, you will be surprised that Simplism included all those items!

I was actually planning to buy a screen protector but I didn’t need to anymore!  The screen protector is very nice!  The clear protective film is totally invisible and complements the iPhone 5’s awesome retina display.  In order to apply the transparency film easier, Simplism included microfiber cleaning cloth, dust-removing tape & leveler to the iPhone 5 Case set.  Here’s how: use microfiber cloth & dust-removing tape before applying the film.   This will ensure that you remove any dust or fingerprints on the iPhone surface.  Then, apply the film and use the leveler to remove air bubbles.

For your cables, the Crystal Cover Set has the cable clip to help organize them.  You can clip to your pocket or bag.  Your choice 🙂

• Antibacterial Protection

The package says that the Simplism Crystal Cover set protects the iPhone from germs & bacteria.  I cannot attest to that but it’s a welcome feature! Haha!!

• Value for money

Lastly, for just Php 899.00, I believe that the case is a great value for money.

If you just got yourself an iPhone 5 and you don’t have time to analyze/research which case to get, I would suggest you get the Simplism Crystal Cover Set Case for iPhone 5.  It has everything you need for your iPhone 5. A nice accessory to have!

I initially planned to use my new iPhone 5 without a case.  For all the years that I used an iPhone, I wasn’t able to really appreciate the full design of the gadget.  The cases that I used covered the beautifully engineered iPhone.  However, worry and stress consumed me during the first two days of going iPhone-naked.

I kept contemplating then I finally decided that I cannot just let my iPhone go case-less.  It’s just too precious, too fragile and too expensive for me not to give it protection.  Well, I decided on it at around 1 AM.  If you know me, I’m very impulsive.  Whenever I decide on things, I wanted to do it ASAP.  Good thing, a local shop named Beyond the Box is open 24 hours during fridays & saturdays!  I immediately prepared and drove to its One Rockwell branch in Makati to get myself some cases for my beloved iPhone 5.

No-brainer for a girl named Roch to pick color red for an iPhone case.

Speck PixelSkin HD immediately caught my attention.  I love the rich red color!  I knew it would fit perfectly with my white-colored iPhone 5.

Surprisingly, the Speck PixelSkin HD for iPhone 5 is not so bulky like the other cases in the market.  It also felt different!  I guess the material that Speck used made such a big difference and that’s what made me love this case even more.

Q: What is the PixelSkin HD case made of?
A: PixelSkin HD cases are made of TPU – Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU is one of the world’s most awesome polymers (plastics) because it can be mixed to very specific consistencies, which allows us to get the perfect blend of elements to create the perfect texture and material. PixelSkin HD is not as soft and squishy as silicone ( our “regular” PixelSkin) – it’s still a soft, flexible plastic, but it’s much slicker and more dense- allowing it to slide in and out of your pocket easily. The density allows us to make a skinny, form-fitting case that still packs a very protective punch.

The cutouts (port & button covers) are very, very cool!  I loved how every part of the case are well thought of.  In spite of the buttons being covered up by rubber, they are still very responsive!  It’s awesome!

• the cutout for the mute button is perfect for me.  However, I think people with big fingers might have an issue with this.  If you have long nails, this wouldn’t be a problem.  For guys, this wouldn’t be as smooth.
• the volume keys and sleep/wake button are all covered up yet still as responsive!  A cool feature indeed!
• I think that the cutout for the rear-facing camera by PixelSkin HD was perfect!  the black border around it looked so good especially when on a white iPhone 5.
• I have a bit of an issue with the power port.  I feel Speck could have covered more of it to only allow for the lightning cable to fit.  Whenever I try to charge the iPhone, I have to look into the port just to be sure I insert it at the right area.
• the more protection, the better is my motto for an iPhone case.  Speck PixelSkin HD covered up the speaker ports and this was genius, totally met my expectation!

Most of the high-end iPhone cases have their logo plastered at the back of the case.  I’m glad that Speck moved it to the side which complements the design very well.

Speck PixelSkin HD looks really nice especially the red one coupled with a white iPhone 5.  There won’t be any fingerprints visible due to the matte finish of the case.  Apart from that, PixelSkin HD provides you with a better grip, no more worries when you put your iPhone in your pocket because it’ll less likely slip out.

If you like changing cases, you will love Speck PixelSkin HD.  The case is so easy to apply and remove.  It fits the iPhone 5 very well too due to the raised bezel that keeps the screen safe.

Best of all, it is light.  Most people appreciate the lightness of the iPhone 5 and the case should be complementing that feature.

I know I said this earlier but the case really looks beaaaauuutiful!  The square grid at the entire back of the PixelSkin HD was pretty to look at apart from it being protective.

The PixelSkin HD for iPhone 5 comes in a five different colors — Graphite (grey), Pomodoro (red), grape (purple), harbor (blue) and black.  It’s pretty cheap at a price of Php 950!  If you’re looking for a good case for your brand new iPhone 5, I highly recommend PixelSkin HD from Speck.