Philips SHE1360 wired earphones/ear-buds: Review

This is the only earphones/ear-buds that I would buy for its cheap price and good build/quality in the Philippines.  For around P200 (around $4.50 US), you get to listen to your music and sounds from your gadget without disturbing the people around you.  

Please note, this packaging is a bit old, latest packaging of this earphone is much smaller, but still in the price range of P200-P220 ($5 US).

There are a lot of cheap earphones being sold with prices around P100-P180 ($3.50 US), but they tend to be poorly made for the price and won't last as long as this earphone.  The build of this earphones is pretty good.  The rubber cable could handle a bit of tugging and will not get loose, unlike the other cheap brands that come off easily.  Cable length is adequate for everyday use, on devices that are on the go.

I have bought china made earphones in Canada, and when I accidentally tug them and then right away they are unusable and dangerous to use due to exposed wires, I had to exchange them for new ones.  The replacements also had the same lifespan and was not functioning after a few uses, but this Philips earphones still functions after all this years.

Pros and Cons for this earphone:

Pros

• Solid build
• Cable does not get tangled
• Cheap price for the quality you will get
• Delivers the sound you need for the low price

Cons

• Sound is standard, not stunning quality (better than most on this price range)
• Cable get hardened after years of use

I have three (3) of this earphones currently.  The first one was given to me as a gift.  It still functions and the cable is a bit hardened.  The second one, I bought as a spare in case the first one loses its sound.  But until now the first one still functions.

The third one I bought is for the purpose of these review.  And to test, if this earphone is still the same quality after 5 years.  It seems, it is still the same.

A little note.  Please test these earphones when you purchase at the store.  Don't buy if they say this earphone has no warranty when you purchase.  I bought my 3rd one from SM appliance, and it was a factory defective unit.  It sounded like tin cans and no vocals.  I had them replaced right away, and also a lesson for me not to buy without testing.  Even though my first 2 units worked without problems, the current batches may have factory defect sold in stores.  I should have doubts when the packaging was a little bit crooked and offset.

I highly recommend this earphone for the price.  If your intention is an earphone for the daily commute, this is the earphone for you.  Especially when you only intend to use it for radio and mp3s.

iPad Mini Wifi version: Review and Recommendation

My iPad Mini: Wi-fi Version Review

iPad mini in landscape orientation

Weight and Feel of the tablet

I was hesitant to get the iPad full large version, since one(1) it is heavy, two(2) hard to handle with a single hand.  But, with the iPad mini, I was right away impressed by the weight and beautiful design it has.  Even though it doesn't have a Retina Display, I still like its impressive display output and an advantage of longer battery life, compared to iPad with Retina Display.

iPad Portrait orientation

Battery Life

Battery life of iPad mini is significantly very impressive.  With minimal use (1-2 hrs a day), I only recharge once a week.  With heavy use, I need to charge it after 8-10 hrs of constant use for games such as Real Racing 3.

With movie, audio, the iPad mini charge lasted longer.  Also, the unit does not heat up as oppose to Galaxy S3, on internet browsing, where the back heats up after a few minutes of browsing.

speaker is only found at the bottom, with lightning port

Sound

The sound is in stereo, and is quite good coming from a small device.  It does not sound like it came from a tin can.  Although, the problem I have with the sound is it only comes out from the bottom of iPad mini in portrait mode.  Unlike Samsung's tablets that have their speakers on both sides in landscape mode.

I'm sure Apple thought of it, that when people watch a video; they do it in landscape mode.  Maybe they will have left and right speakers in later releases, that is just typical Apple strategy to make people to upgrade on their later releases.

Reference of iPad Mini to a sharpie and ballpen

Findings

The iPad Mini is a nice tablet to hold, light weight and sturdy.  Display is good enough, I think there are better display out there, but using the current iPad Mini does not result in any complaint on my part.  I can read my comics and books without any problems, since its size is equivalent to a standard paper notebook.  In fact, the case I bought looked like a plain notebook, and can be placed on a table unnoticed by people if I closed the front cover.

The only disappointment I have with iPad mini, is its processor.  It at times loads a bit slow.  Also, the download isn't multiple.  I notice, I can only download one at a time. Either it be a application, or a podcast, or a YouTube video.

Strong point of the iPad Mini, is its long battery life.  It really is an impressive to only charge once or twice a week on minimal use of podcast viewing, surfing the web.

iPad Mini case with cover

Recommendation

I recommend getting the 32gb (32 Giga-byte) version rather 16gb.  I was planning to get just the 16gb version, but it was out of stock.  Good thing the 16gb was out of stock and I got the 32gb version, since iPad mini does not have a memory card expansion slot support.  I could be deleting contents more frequently than I ever want to on my videos and files, if I got the 16gb version.

I have been using my iPad Mini for a month now.  I constantly download my podcast in HD, and placed some music and movies, my iPad mini 32gb is already almost full.

Although, if you only plan to put e-books and mp3s on your iPad mini, then a 16gb won't be a problem.  Good luck finding a 16gb, since most only want to try iPad and probably already bought that 16gb you want.

Another recommendation I have is pick a good case to protect your iPad.  Its price is equivalent to a laptop (P16,000 above), shouldn't you protect it?  iPad case prices ranges from P1,200 to P5,000 or more.

I haven't regret getting an iPad Mini.  Except maybe at times when I want free apps, that are not available in Apple Store.