iPad Mini 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery recharged using CD-R King Mobile Power Bank PWB-049-ZG 2800mAh

The title is a bit long, but these are my findings on recharging an iPad mini with a CD-R King 2800mAh Power Bank.

I ran out of power and need to be somewhere else, so I recharged my iPad mini with my CD-R King Power Bank, expecting it to be recharge at least more than half, like my Galaxy S3 (63% charge from completely drained).

I guess my math was a bit off. Galaxy S3 is 1/3 the size of iPad mini, so I should be happy getting 1/3 of the charge I got from S3.  I was surprised how fast the iPad mini drained the Power Bank.  It was empty in only 1.5 hours.  My iPad mini got a charge of 33% from 5% in one and a half hour.

So there you go, iPad mini charge test for CD-R King Mobile Power Bank PWB-049-ZG 2800mAh, it got the mini charge at 1/4 capacity.  Provided you turned the iPad mini off during the charge.

I was really surprised, the Power Bank got drained that fast by the iPad mini.

GrabTaxi App for the Philippine Android market

I just found out, there is an app here in the Philippines to call a taxi.  This app was advertised on a taxi that I took last time.  

I haven't used the service yet, but want to just let people know what is available in both the Apple Store and in Google Play.  If you ever need a taxi and have P70 to spare, then this app may help you when you can't seem to get a taxi and need to be somewhere else.

I am in no way linked to this app, install and use it at your own risk.  It has high reviews in Google Play, but how do we know the reviews are genuine users and not planted by the developers themselves?

GrabTaxi app is available for download for free in Google Play Store.

People in gaming media have been talking about Xbox One

People or media have been busy right now praising or talking about the new Xbox One.  It now has blu-ray, major hardware upgrade, a far superior Kinect, and better game pad.

I'm more interested in the Kinect since they say it will replace the remote.  Good luck to us Filipinos, since the current kinect cannot even recognize some of our words.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the new Kinect which I probably won't buy since, I'm more of a PC and tablet kind of guy.

Smart offers iPad mini and iPad with retina display affordable plans

Latest news I found is that Smart Telecom in the Philippines is now offering an affordable plan for iPad mini and iPad with retina display.

There are different monthly options, the iPad offer is a wi-fi with cellular model.  Meaning you need to avail a 24 month lock-in period with their plan.  Smart is offering iPad plan 499, with 65minute internet per month, excess will be charge  P10/30mins in excess.  So you will probably be turning your mobile internet on and off and probably be using the iPad mostly in wifi at home.

Good news for some who don't have a credit card, but want to avail of the iPads thru monthly installments of 24 months.  There is no cash-out required.

Visit the smart website for more details: http://www1.smart.com.ph/Pages/ipadmini/miniplans

Read my review and recommendation on the iPad mini: http://philgadgames.blogspot.com/2013/05/ipad-mini-wifi-version-review-and.html

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.

CD-R King Mobile Power Bank PWB-049-ZG 2800mAh - Product Review

Mobile Power Bank - lipstick style

I never thought I would be need to buy a power bank for my phone.  Why would anyone need that? Then it happened, I was so busy with work and I forgot to charge my phone.  I happened to me twice that I was thinking of charging my phone while on the move.

There are a lot of power bank products out there, I just happened to want a cheap one, that is why I went with the CD-R king brand.  Now, I don't know if this product will last since I only had it for a week and I only used it twice to test if it does what it says it does.

unboxed - click to enlarge

Build
My take on this product, is it is what it is.  It is a cheap plastic build on the connectors but sturdy looking body.  I just don't know if it will survive a drop, since the body is made of plastic.  What do you expect for a Php280 (around $7) product?  There is no way I would spend more for this kind of product, especially on batteries.  It will be depleted after a number of cycles, so it's better to buy cheap and replace it after a 1,000 cycles (around 28 cents per charge).  Battery is indicated as Li-ion kind, I just hope it is as indicated on the box.

click to enlarge

Ease of use
The product has 2 color LEDs to indicate it charging or fully charged.  On my first try I timed it for 5 hours, and 5 hours have passed but the indicator is still red.  I gave it another 30 minutes for the LED to change color, still nothing I just unplugged it so it doesn't over charge and damage the battery.  After draining it for charging my phones, I charged it overnight.  Morning came, the LED changed into a blue color, which could mean fully charged.

You only need to connect the connector to your USB on a PC or if you have a charger brick directly to an AC power outlet.

Connectors Included
I was disappointed when I was about to buy the unit, since it does not include a mini USB connector.  4 kinds of connector, but none for my device.  I had to use my own from Samsung.  The Output connector is USB, so no problem there if the charger you have is USB connected from the power brick charger.

Does not include a power charge brick.  They expect you to connect it to a PC or laptop.  Or your existing charger that has USB port.


Actual usage feedback
I was excited to test it, I tried using it to charge my Samsung Galaxy S3.  The Power Bank only charged it around 63% full, from completely drained S3.  And it took a long time to charge, I think it also took 5 hours to charge to that point of completely draining the Power Bank.  But on my Samsung Galaxy Y, it charged super fast.  So I guess, it depends on your cellphone's battery capacity.  Smaller batteries charge faster, while larger power hungry phones take longer to charge.

Note:  I had to disable my mobile internet and GPS for my S3 to charge, otherwise the phone will not charge at all, it will actually take longer to charge and actually drains the phone somehow.  This is my observation for this particular Power Bank model on S3 charging.

size compared to a 5 peso coin

Overall
The power bank, does what is says it does, and will be more appreciated by phones with smaller battery for fast charges.  But for huge phones, it is a pain to use and takes longer time to charge.  You just have to be patient in using this mobile power bank, if you have a huge phone that need charging while on the go.

I bought my mobile power bank in Araneta Center Cubao, same floor as the LRT station.  Last I was there, they still have ample stocks only color Orange and purples.

CD-R King product page: http://www.cdrking.com/index.php?mod=products&type=view&sid=15704&main=157

Update:
As of May 3, 2013 - This model of power bank was out of stock in LRT station branch of CD-R King.  I guess power banks that are cheap are in high demand this days.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown PC version Review

XCOM: Enemy unknown is a very addictive game, if you are into the classic turn based strategy games.  I find myself spending half a day playing the game without realizing it already took more than 3 hours playing a couple of missions.

The game itself has a following, since the original XCOM game was release a decade ago.  The game is like a chess game, you have your troops go against the alien threat.  You move your troops individually and give them the weapons they need in battle.  It's micro-manage game at its finest.

I still dream of playing it before, but was not able to do so in faster PC, since the processor speed has improve, playing the DOS game was like seeing "The Flash" in all my troops.  This new release of the same game with improvement is a great reincarnation of the original.

What is the game all about?
The game is all about strategy, individual movement of troops, tech research, and total elimination of the alien threat.  You basically, have a base where you do your research, improve the capability of your troops with better weapons, buy & sell alien tech, launch satellites, produce weapons and armor, and other great things no other game provides.

This new version of the game, is the best I have seen.  It has the core concept of the original, with great improvement in game play and overall experience. There are other releases from other companies with the same XCOM title, but this one is the only one with high praises from game critics.  Why they gave it such a high rating?  Due to the great new layout of the base, they made it like an ant farm concept.  They made the game play a bit simple.  Another improvement is the micro-management isn't as hard as the previous releases of the game.

Replay Value
As a fan of the original X-com game, this is the best remake I have played.  Sure there are some things the game can improve on, but this release is great and not as messy as other releases.

The replay value for me is very high.  I still play the game after a couple of months I bought it.  I have completed the game a couple of times, in easy and normal mode.  The game has a high replay value, since I still enjoy playing it even when I have finished the whole campaign twice before.

Overall
Overall, I give this game a must buy.  I have played a lot of computer games before, but this game is just the right game for people who have a bit of time to play, but wouldn't invest much on leveling up, getting trophies, and buying items with real money.

It's a great value for your money.  Just for the pure fun and replay-ability you get what your money is worth and more.  I don't regret buying this game.  With just this game on my laptop, I can have hours of fun, without me thinking of other games I should be playing with right now.  And since, it's a turn based game, you have all the time in the world to think of strategy and tactics.  No one will hurry you up, you can sip coffee, eat your sandwich and still enjoy your game.