Samsung Galaxy Note 8 wifi version Review

This is my review on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, wifi version.  It's a little bit dated, but this is a personal look and review after more than a couple of months usage.

Note that I also own and have reviewed the iPad Mini (http://philgadgames.blogspot.com/2013/05/ipad-mini-wifi-version-review-and.html).  So, I may at times mention the iPad mini on my review.

The pros and cons on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8:

Pros

• it has a stylus pen.
• has a large 8 inch screen
• cost less than the iPad Mini
• can expand the memory with SD memory slot
• has apps exclusive to galaxy note line

Cons

• Shorter Battery life (Compared to iPad Mini) it drains so fast
• Non-removable battery
• screen is not gorilla glass, could be scratch easily if not protected by a case
• default screen color tone is very vivid, can be changed to soft color in settings
• can accidentally touch the return and menu button when in landscape mode

After using the Galaxy Note 8 for more than a month, it's something that I can use next to my iPad Mini.  People say Apple product users are just nuts spending that much on the same device, but I say to them, don't judge unless you have used an Apple product yourself.  You get what you pay for in Apple products, that's all I have to say, and move along to the Galaxy Note 8 review.

Galaxy Note 8 is a nice android tablet, with something special attached (a stylus pen).  Although, I seldom use the stylus pen, when I use my Note 8.  I only use it when I want to draw something, this is where Note 8 differs with other tablets.  The stylus is really nice to write on the tablet since it has pressure sensitivity, making it write like a brush and a pencil.  And this stylus was developed with Wacom (known for their stylus and tablet products).  Maybe also one of the reason why it is more expensive.

Having the stylus feature out of the way, we now focus on the tablet itself.  The Note 8 tablet was the first Samsung try on the 8 inch arena, following the release of iPad Mini, since before Samsung only have the 7 inch tablets.  And it seems, to me, the 8 inch is just the right size and weight for a tablet. 

Screen is sharper and more vibrant than the iPad mini.  Being an android device it give the user an option to place widgets and customize initial content when you open the tablet.

The tablet has both a front 1.3 megapixel camera and back facing 8 megapixel camera. One of the reasons why this device is more expensive than most available android tablets out there, but you get what you pay for.   Other tablets are cheaper, but only have one camera that is crappy or none at all, like the Polaroid tablets.  I often scratch my head when I look at the price tags of these Polaroid tablets based on their outdated specs.

To be honest, I only own 2 tablets, one is the iPad mini and this Samsung Galaxy Note 8.  I have handled a cheaper android tablet, and trust me, usually if you buy a cheap tablet, don't expect a premium device.

Galaxy Note 8, currently priced at the range of Php14,500 - Php16,000 a bit cheaper than the iPad mini.

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.

CD-R King Mobile Power Bank 5600mAh PWB-065-R(PB-201) - Review

This is my review of CD-R King's Mobile Power Bank 5600mAh PWB-065-R(PB-201).  I had it more than a couple of months now, and had charged it more than a couple of times and used it on multiple of devices.

Here is my impressions and review of the product, after using it more extensively on a number of days:

• It retains the charge and does not drain as fast without using it for a while
• High capacity device such as a tablet (iPad mini) drains it super fast and will only charge the tablet a fraction and completely drain the power bank within an hour.
• Heats up on charging with tablets, and large capacity 2400mAh battery phones
• Its indicator is helpful in determining the charge capacity of the power bank and pretty useful in cases where you need to drain and recharge it

Pros and Cons for the Mobile Power Bank 5600mAh PWB-065-R(PB-201)

Pros

• you get a led flashlight, a quick mobile charger with power level indicator, for the cheap price of Php580.00 (around $13 USD).
• it's small and easy to put on your pocket or bag.
• it can charge phones several times without recharging for a while

Cons

• there are times it heats up a bit when charging with a phone, really heats up when charging a tablet.
• not all devices are compatible with this charger (notably the Galaxy S Duos)
• it takes about 5-6 hours to fully charge.

The verdict on this device:

It's a nice portable device that does not take much space on your bag.  It can retain it's charge for more than a month without recharging.  You may have to check the charge level at times and need to recharge it in a couple of months to maintain good battery life, when you don't usually use it.

This is a good choice for a power bank, since it has a LED flashlight that can be used in cinemas or when you need a quick light in the dark.  And the LED charge level indicator is very helpful to determine if you need to recharge it already.

My verdict: This is a good buy, just don't expect it to last long.  I'm sure after a couple of years you need to change it with a new model, depending on how much you use it over time.

Last time I was in CD-R King - SM Megamall branch, this model is still available and for sale.