My Day Job: Battery Kingdom

Wasup guys! Sorry for the lack of updates from me, just been really busy with my day job, and staying on that topic, here’s what I’ve specifically been busy with, our new website. www.batterykingdom.net, our little way of making your battery needs, whatever they may be, a little easier to deal with and find. Give our site a click to find a branch near you and to see what products and services we offer, or drop me a line at info@batterykingdom.net for any inquiries.

Anyways, as for Vantage, expect more regular updates with news, music, fashion, gadgets, and more reviews so stay tuned and spread the word!!!

iPhone 3GS Coming To Manila July 9?

With the new iPhone 3GS beyond the horizon, Filipinos are already beginning to wonder when this new handset will be arriving here. Apple recently released an official statement stating the release dates for various countries, but there was no mention of The Philippines.

Well folks, rumor has it that the iPhone 3GS could be arriving here sooner than you think. July 9th to be exact. Globe has released a press release yet, but this is what we've been hearing. So for those eager beavers putting away cash for this, stay tuned for an official announcement, I believe that we'll be getting one real soon.

For complete specs of the new iPhone 3GS, visit the Apple Website.

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Could This Be The Next iPhone 3G?

MacRumors is claiming that this could very well be the next iPhone 3G. As you can see, it basically looks like the current 3G but with a matte finish.

Now as most of you should know, all this is simply rumor, and Apple has yet to confirm these leaked photos. Stay tuned for updates.

When I look at this picture, I do think that the matte finish looks cool, but I always thought that the new iPhone's look was gonna change considerably. I mean, if we compare the first-gen iPhone to the 3G, we can see that there's a pretty big difference, so I assumed it would be the same for the next-gen 3G. Now whether or not this is the final look, I can't say, but I seriously hope not. If this is the new iPhone, then I think I'd stick to my shiny white. But I guess it's all preference. I mean, this should be more scratch resistant.

What do you think? Comment!!

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PSP Go: Confirmed!!

With E3 just around the corner, rumors of upcoming titles, systems and handhelds have flooded the internet, leaving gamers roaring for confirmations! Well one thing that VANTAGE can confirm for you guys is the upcoming PSP Go.

The PSP Go is the evolution of the Sony PSP, which sports a brand new look, and is packed with loads of new features! Features like a sliding screen that hides the buttons and UMD drive, 16GB of internal memory, bluetooth, and many more. 

More titles have also been rumored to be released for this handheld. Titles like Kojima's new Metal Gear installment, Little Big Planet, and Gran Turismo.

Here are a few more pics:

I'm definitely loving Sony's new sleek design for this handheld. I definitely wouldn't mind owning one of these if I were to base my purchase on hardware alone. But  let's admit it, the first generation PSP also looked cool as hell, but it failed to make sales and generate cash for Sony. Nintendo's DS was definitely king in the handheld wars. My advice to Sony, make sure that they release some big name titles if you guys wanna sell this. I mean, it looks great,the features sound promising, but nobody's gonna buy this if there aren't any games to play. Metal Gear, Little Big Planet, and Gran Turismo is definitely a step in the right direction. Now let's keep the games coming! 

Oh and another thing, one tip I wanna share with you guys, don't buy one right away. Sony is definitely gonna release a variety of colors, so be patient. I'm definitely holding out for a white or red one!

What do you think? Comment!!

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T3's iPhone Nano.....

T3 had recently commissioned a team of writers/designers to come up with some concepts of some of the future products that are just around the corner. This covered everything from shoes to television sets. The iPhone Nano was also one of the products that they worked on.

This concept would supposedly come with EDGE (No 3G), 16gb of flash memory, a 5MP camera, A2DP, and a nice aluminum case.

I totally love T3's idea on this phone. My personal favorite has got to be the aluminum case. Yeah, I know it would certainly add to the weight, but I fell like it gives the phone a more elegant look.

Who of you would like to see this iPhone Nano in production? Comment!

See more pics HERE.

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iPhone 3.0 Will Take Better Pictures

According to iPhone.ru, the 3.0 firmware will also improve the quality of the images taken by its camera. A series of tests were held, and results are shown on the image above. Apparently, 30 pictures were taken, with the result all coming out very similar. 3.0 blurred the cat a lot less than 2.2.1.

This new firmware is definitely looking to be the must-have update for all iPhone users!! I mean, the camera of the iPhone is ok, but of course, Apple has left a lot to be desired. But as always, I'll reserve my judgements until the firmware is released.

What do you think? Comment!!

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iPhone 3.0 OS Guide

Apple is currently working on their much awaited 3.0 software for their iPhone, iPod, and any other device Apple comes up with.

This new software finally features the demanded copy & paste feature.

• Copy & Paste text. When you double-tap over text, you will get a "cut, copy, and paste" bubble dialog. Double-tap again and a "paste" bubble will appear if there's anything stored in your clipboard.



If you accidentally paste something that you didn't want to paste, a simple shake of the iphone will undo this.

• Copy & Paste photos. You can also copy and paste photos. Now you will be able to select multiple photos by tapping the action button, copy some of them, and paste them in an email, ready to send.

• New Spotlight. iPhone OS 3.0 will allow you to search across the entire information contained in your device, no matter where, as soon as the information is supported it. If an application is written to support the new Spotlight, its data will also be available in the search.



• Search in Mail, Calendar, and iPod. These Apple applications have specific search interfaces. The search in Mail doesn't support the message content yet, but it supports searching in IMAP servers—that will save a lot of time logging into Gmail.

• 3G Tethering. This feature will allow you to connect your iPhone 3G to a laptop, to use it as a modem to access the internet. Carriers still have to sign-off on it, and probably charge more for it. None have announced it yet.

• Landscape keyboard. Apple has added the landscape keyboard mode to other applications, like Mail, SMS, and Notes.



• Multimedia messaging. A big one to send rich content to people without mail-enabled telephones: The new MMS function will allow you to include everything, from images to sound to vcards (no word on video, however.) Personally, I find these usesless having email, but some people seem to want it.

• Support for new calendar types. In iPhone OS 3.0 you will be able to subscribe to calendars on the web using two protocols: CalDAV—supported by Google and Yahoo—and subscriptions via the .ics format—which is what Apple uses in iCal.



• Improved stocks application. The stocks application now allows you to read related news, so you can enjoy yourself learning about the latest market scandals, stock crashes, and executives getting bonus packages from government aid while their companies sink into hell. Thank you, Apple.

• Stereo Bluetooth A2DP audio. You will be able to pair your iPhone 3.0 with a stereo Bluetooth A2DP device, like headphones or speakers.

• Note syncing with iTunes.

• Automatic login in Safari. The new version of Safari will remember login credentials, so you won't need to introduce your username and password again while accessing Scoreland your work intranet.

• Shake to shuffle music. If you are in your iPod application, you just need to shake it to start the shuffling mode. Hopefully this will be optional for sports people out there.

• Wi-Fi auto-login. In case you have a subscription to a paid hotspot, your iPhone or iPod touch will autolog into it.

• Anti-phishing. Mobile Safari now can warn you against malicious sites trying to scam you.

• Extended parental controls. Adult content filters can now be applied to movies, TV shows, and applications, in addition to web sites and music (porn apps, here we come).

NEW APPLE APPLICATIONS

Apple will include new widgets in the new version of the iPhone operating system:

• Voice memo application. Obviously, allows you to record voice or any other sound, so you don't forget any idea or want to play FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper.



• Send and receive files. A dedicated application to exchange files between iPhones or iPods touch.

NEW THIRD PARTY APPLICATIONS FEATURES IN IPHONE OS 3.0

The new iPhone OS 3.0 adds 1,000 new APIs to extend the capabilities of new applications.

• Peer-to-peer Wi-Fi Bluetooth connectivity. A new API will allow for two iPhones to connect directly—peer-to-peer—via Bluetooth.



They will be able to discover each other using Bluetooth, and then start a Wi-Fi connection transparently.

This opens a lot of possibilities. I doubt they will allow you to pass music, but you would probably be able to pass any other information, as well as directly communicating between applications in the two devices. One example: A pets game that allows two dogs to play with each other.

This feature could be combined with push notification, so your iPhone may receive a note from another iPhone, inviting you to play a game one-on-one.

• Browse remote content. While the built-in iPod application doesn't allow you to browse songs in other people's iPhones or iPod touch, third-party applications will allow you to do that, according to Apple's Forstall.

• Use your iPhone/touch to control peripherals. A new API will let you use your iPhone or iPod touch as a control to your accessories. In this example, the iPhone is being used to equalize the sound in a loudspeaker.



• Maps inside other applications. New applications will be able to use Maps directly, which is now an API.

• Turn-by-turn directions. Developers will also be able to create turn-by-turn applications using the GPS information from the iPhone and combining it with their own maps, without depending on 3G connectivity or Google.



• Push notification finally coming. Hopefully this time it will be true. Push notification means that your iPhone OS 3.0 applications will finally be able to receive messages from the intarwebs automagically, so you can have an Instant Message application and have your iPhone vibrate or make a sound when a new message comes in, even if the application is not running.

• Voice communication in applications. iPhone 3.0 applications will also be able to access a Voice over IP service. This means that you will be able to chat with other users while playing against them in a game, for example. This won't use the telephone, but the internet over a Wi-Fi connection.

• Rumbling. Games—or any other application—will also be able to rumble, like your console joystick.

• Audio recording. Audio recording will also be possible from third-party applications using a standardized API, instead of custom workarounds.

• Access your music from applications. Future applications will also be able to access the iPhone/iPod music library. This means that applications will be able to play your own music while they run.

NEW FEATURES IN THE APP STORE

The new OS will also offer an enhanced App Store, opening new possibilities for developers and consumers.

• Subcriptions to apps.
• Purchase additional content for apps, like new cities for a city guide application.
• Purchase additional levels for games.

Basically, this will allow developers to sell more things on top of their apps, and to consumers to expand their experience with those apps.

• This will work straight from the applications, so you can purchase new things through the software itself, even while it still goes through the App Store internally.

PRICE

iPhone OS 3.0 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone users, including the first generation (not all features will be supported in the first generation, like Stereo Bluetooth support). iPod touch users will be able to but it for $US9.95.

I am definitely excited about this update!! This new OS is just packed with so many features that the iPhone could finally be complete? I mean, wow. My favorite features have got to be the copy & paste, the landscape messaging, and the peer to peer connectivity. It's nice to know that Apple is listening to their consumers, and that they're actually giving them what they've been asking for. There have been no confirmed release dates on this new OS, but rest assured that I will be downloading it as soon as it's released!

For those who can't wait and have balls of steel, you can download the BETA version HERE.

Source: GIZMODO

What do you think? Comment!!

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Leica M8 Special Edition White

I'm not much for one on cameras, I'm more of a point and shoot (with times of artsy enthusiasm) kinda guy, so whatever looks great and does the job is perfect for me. I DO know Leica though, and this is one sweet ass piece of retro looking tech. It also comes complete with a very sweet price of an arm.. or roughly P440,000 bucks (~$9000). Who knows how this will look after handling but what matters is that it looks great now! For more info, check out the link.

The King Lives In This New Bose Ad

Bose has released a new ad campaign that features famous musicians drawn in speaker-drawn portraiture. The artists responsible for these awesome graphics is an artist named, Nirmalya Chakraborty.

The King, Elvis Presley is the first to be featured in this campaign.

I'm definitely feeling these drawings. I mean, the drawing itself yells out B-O-S-E, but at the same time, it's able to look fresh, relevant, and definitely eye-catching. I mean, I actually wouldn't mind wearing a shirt with this graphic as the design. Hahahaha!

What do you think? Comment!!

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MacBook Mini, Real Or Fake?

A leaked photo of the rumored MacBook Mini has been found on some Russian magazine. Now whether or not this picture is legit or just some crazy rendering, I want one!! This work of art just looks too perfect to be true, but please God let it be real!! Hahahaha!

Here are its rumored specs:


• 10.4" WXGA display.
• 1280 x 768 pixel with LED backlighting.
• NVIDIA MCP79
• Intel Atom Z740 1.83GHz with 1MB L2 cache.
• 2GB DDR3-800.
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
• 64GB Solid State Drive.
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
• 1 x USB 2.0
• 1 x Mini Display Port
• Battery Li-Ion 5100mA





This rumored MacBook will arrive sometime in 2009 according to the Russian magazine. It also states that it will be priced at $899.00.

Like I said, this thing just looks too good to be true, so I will reserve my comments until we reserve confirmation from Apple themselves. But if this is real, then I'm sold!! Hahahaha!

What do you think? Comment!!

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Headphones Inspired From Our Music.....

Nokia had recently asked for Bluetooth headphones whose designs were inspired from some of the most recognizable songs of today!

Songs that ranged from Daft Punk, to R&B's R. Kelly, and to the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.

Here's what they came up with:

Inspired by Daft Punk's "Robot Rock"

Inspired by R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"



Inspired by Michael Jackson's Free Willy Theme, "Will You Be There"

Now all of these look amazing if you ask me. I think that it's definitely a nice concept, and very original. But if I had to choose a favorite among the three, I would have to go with the Daft Punk inspiration. I myself am a fan of tech that look very futuristic, and those Daft Punk headphones are about as futuristic as you can get! Hahahaha! But don't get me wrong, I also think that the Michael Jackson inspirations look very cool and trendy! I think these headphones will be very popular with the younger demographic. My question is, how's the sound quality on these?

What do you think? Comment!!

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Paul Frank Cellphone....Huh??

For all you Paul Frank fans out there, I think you guys will enjoy this post I have for you.

Paul Franks has decided to step into the cellphone industry by releasing their first ever cellular phone. The clamshell phones is modeled after none other than their famous monkey mascot. The phone will sport a 1.6-inch screen, a microSD slot, FM radio, music player, bluetooth, and stereo speakers. It'll come with a 1.3 megapixel camera in the monkey's eye.

This funky handset is priced at a very reasonable price of $140.

I consider myself a Paul Frank fan. I mean, I like their clothing, I think I have around 4 or 5 of em actually. But this phone just don't float my boat. I like my phone sleek and elegant, not weird and funky. But hey, I'm sure that there are tons of people out there who can appreciate a phone like this. I mean, it'll definitely catch people's attentions when you whip it out to answer a call. Hahahaha!

What do you think? Comment!!

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LG GD900 Introduces A See-Thru Keypad

A site called Boy Genius has recently posted about a new cellular phone that LG has been developing. Now, LG doesn't usually interest me in any way, shape or form, but when I heard that the keypad was going to be see-thru, I had to see it for myself. Their calling this one the LG GD900!

Now, there aren't really a lot of details released about this upcoming phone yet, but rest assured that we will keep you posted. The only thing that we can tell you is that the keypad glows when it is exposed.

So until more details are released, just admire the cool design. Heheheh!

In my opinion, I think the phone looks fucking sweet!! If I were to pick up a phone that wasn't touch, I'd probably consider this one. Why? Cuz it's definitely introducing a new look for phones, and I'm really just a sucker for gadgets that look like their from the future!

What do you think? Comment!!

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Yet Another Reason Why I Love Apple........

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

I am, absolutely speechless.....I'm simply amazed!! I think the video is pretty self-explanatory anyways!!

What do you think? Comment!!

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Control Your iPod Using Only Your Voice!!

This next post if for those who are extremely lazy, and feel like they shouldn't have to use their hands to control their iPods anymore!!

A company call Accenda has released a voice-controller for our Apple iPods. It allows you to control your iPod by speaking commands to its receiver.

It's very simple to use actually. All you gotta do is to hook your headphones up to the Accenda receiver, then hook the receiver up to the dock connector, then voila, feel free to be lazy!! Hahahaha! Although the device is targeted at english-speaking consumers, it is trained to learn and adapt to other languages, and for those people with strong accents. It can work with the iPod Nano (1G, 2G, 3G) iPod Touch, iPod Classic and all other older devices.

The Accenda iPod Voice-Controller is priced at a reasonable $79.00.

I think that this could actually be very useful. I mean, I do at times, find it a little hassling to have to stick my hands into my pocket to increase or lower the volume. It's even worse for me since I have a protective jacket on my iPod, making it even more difficult to work the iPod while it's in my pocket. I think this voice-controller will eliminate that problem for me, and make life easier. But there is the possibility that people will think you're a freak since you will be speaking to yourself!

What do you think? Comment!!

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iPhone Finally Getting Its Flash On

According to our sources, Adobe's Shantanu Narayen is finally developing flash for the iPhone. It has been in development since June 2008, and is a customized solution for the iPhone.

According to Apple, regular flash is just too heavy, and would use up the battery life too quickly for an iPhone, and that flash lite is just not good enough. Hahaha! So, Steve Jobs has been able to close a deal with Adobe to produce a solution for this problem. Narayan was quoted saying, "the ball is in our court. The onus is on us to deliver." It is believed that this solution depends a lot more on Adobe's engineering team than that of Apple's.

Back in 08, Adobe had actually stated that a solution could be produced "very soon" if Apple had approved of it. Obviously, Apple didn't make the right decision and rejected the proposal. Tsk tsk. But then again, Adobe could've just dropped the project themselves. Who knows!!

I absolutely think that it is about time!!! I seriously did not understand why Apple chose not to release their 3g with a flash!! I mean cmon, most standard phones nowadays come with flash!! But hey, I'm glad that Steve Jobs has finally come to his senses and has decided to listen to his consumers!!

What do you think? Comment!!

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Sony's PSP In New Carnival Colors!!

Sony has recently announced that they will be releasing their popular handheld, the Sony PSP in new carnival colors! Although, I'm not sure new colors can save this losing battle for the PSP. I think that some new features or functions would've been better.

Anyhoo, beginning Mach 5th, colors like Radiant Red, Vibrant Blue, Bright Yellow, and Spirited Green will be made available in Japan. They are said to come alone for about 19800 yen (regular price for a PSP) or with a matching wrist strap/case and a 4gb memory stick for about 24800 yen (about $280.00).

Like I said, I believe that new colors isn't the answer for Sony. I've recently been to Japan, and believe me when I say that a huge chunk of the people walking around with handhelds are walking around with the Nintendo DS. I can't say for sure why, but my guess is that, maybe bacause the DS really has more to offer, functionality wise that is! But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

What do you think? Am I Wrong? Comment!

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Apple iPhone 2.2.1 Update Available Now!

For all you proud iPhone & iPhone 3G owners out there, VANTAGE would like to inform you guys that Apple has just released their 2.2.1 update. This update is suppose to fix the minor bugs in Safari, Mail, and Camera.

This update is said to apply to iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch. It doesn't seem like this update will be installing new features, but stay tuned cuz I will personally be installing the update myself today! The update is 245.7 MB.

For all you nast jailbreakers, it is recommended that you guys hold off on your jailbreaking until it is confirmed that 2.2.1 can be jailbroken. The same thing goes for all you unlockers!

What do you think? Comment!

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Something To Consider For Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, us guys need to be preparing to shower our girls with gifts and flowers. But for those who are single and on the prowl. then I suggest you guys prepare for Valentine's with this handy device!

This device is called "The Kiss-O-Meter." Basically, what it does is alert you when you have bad breath. Yup, bad breath. A player can't get action if he's breathing toxic ya feel? This device has been proven to detect bad breath 80% better than breathing into cupped hands. Sounds good to me!!

Using "The Kiss-O-Meter" doesn't require you to be a genius either. You simply breathe into the device, and it gives you 1 out of 5 possible outcomes: "Kiss Me", "Possible", "Maybe", "Risky", and "Never".

I don't know about you guys, but I definitely think that this could come in handy. I mean, no one wants to go into battle unprepared right? Hahahaha! So for those lovers looking to get some action this Valentines, this device is available for only $30.00 at Urban Outfitters.

What do you think? Comment!!

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Sony's OLED TV?

Hey guys, so I though I'd post some more stuff I found during my vacation in Japan.

So here is more cool tech I found during my vacation in Japan. This could "possibly" be Sony's much talked about OLED TV. When I saw this, the first thing I noticed was how ultra thin it was! Like you wouldn't believe how thin this thing was. This is considered to be the first OLED in the US, and features a 1 000, 000:1 contrast ratio, low power consumption, and rapid response time.

The OLED however only comes in an 11 inch, I wouldn't suggest picking these up for your home theater.

Oh, and for those who don't know, OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode.

Here are some details abut this anticipated TV:

XEL-1 Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Television
Available in January for about $2,500

• North America's first Organic LED television

• 11-inch screen is ultra slim with a depth of only 3 millimeters

• Light emitting structure delivers 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, very deep blacks and unmatched color expression and picture detail

• Extremely bright picture with low power consumption

• Rapid panel response time for a clear, blur-free picture

• Exceptionally wide viewing angles unmatched by other TV devices

• Remarkably wide color range surpassing other displays

The only thing I can say about his TV is "DAMN" The width of this thing is unbelievable! I can't even imagine a TV getting thinner than this! But hey, I wouldn't be surprised. If I had $2,500 to burn, I'd definitely head to the nearest Sony to pick this bad boy up! I personally think that the specs justify its price.

What do you think? Comment!!

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