Nokia sets sights a little lower

Okay, when I said "lower," I meant, LOW, and Nokia is taking respectable measures, to put it nicely. The world's largest mobile phone maker just announced a 66% yearly drop in Q2 profit, as well as lowering its market share target for 2009. Nokia is definitely feeling the pressure from its closest rivals, Apple, RIM and Samsung, which coincidentally, lead the smartphone market.

This looks to really spell trouble for Nokia. They had actually expected their market share to rise in 2009, but it looks like they set their sights a little too high. Nokia had probably expected an increase in market share because of the successful launch of its flagship phone, the N97, but other than the S60 groupies, the N97 hasn't actually received critical acclaims... not even anywhere close. With their trump card, the N97, receiving bland reviews (probably because it was launch after its competitors with no real advantages or revolutionary features) and with nothing special being announced by Nokia, their troubles may have just began.

PS3 Slim in the Philippines?!

For the gamers out there, I'm sure you've already heard, the PS3 Slim has been spotted in the Philippines, coincidentally where we're from. I know, I know, we're late on the news, but I've actually been following a thread on the Pinoyps.com site (local PS3 forum) for updates and someone was actually supposed to check it out yesterday so I was hoping to wait for the news and post it here right away. But it seems that someone bought it before our contact could check it out.



For those who are still in the dark, news thus far is that the one who was selling it said it came from the States and now, the unit has been sold to someone for around P22k ($460), most likely to be re-sold at a much higher price (that's the way the Philippines works). A group of curious cats on the pinoyps.com forum have said that they will go today and look for it, finally validating whether or not this is a hoax.

BUT, since this is Vantage, it's never complete without our point of view... and I call BULLSHIT! Although I dont really need to explain myself, I will anyway. Some of my major arguments is that if it is indeed out, leaked, stolen or whatever, and is in the hands of someone out there, why hasn't Sony said anything? This news is out on probably all the major gaming sites, yet Sony has kept quiet. Why? Cuz its probably fake! If its already out and someone has it, how can Sony not acknowledge or confirm it when its already in someones hands? And out of all the places in the world for it to be leaked, why the Philippines? I mean no offense to our country, cuz after all, its my home too, but why not China, Japan or Korea? Correct me if im wrong, but aren't PS3's made in Japan or China? Why would it be leaked in the States and go as far as to be brought here?

Another argument is that hey, this is the Philippines, the land of fake stuff! There are PSP hand held look-a-likes that aren't real, Vii's, iPhones that claim to be iPhones but are fake, Nokia 6300's from China that hella look like the real deal, and even a Nokia N98.... yeah, N98, what the F#@K is that?! And for the guy who has it not to post pics or something on the net is also very suspicious.

Another thought is that it could be a "re-pack." What I mean by that is that someone got a hold of the fake/leaked casing from a few months ago, and just transfered the internals of the original PS3 into that one. Also maybe switching out the harddisk to a bigger one and making the power supply external, much like the PS2 Slim.

Anyway, I could go on and on about why I call this one a big hoax, but hey, I COULD be wrong. These are just my reasons why I don't think its real. I've gotta see it to believe it. Anyway, only time will tell, after those who have ventured to the land of the fakes to look for the coveted Slim PS3.

8 reasons why a Mac is better than a PC

Great article I read, so I just wanted to share it to those non-believers. I have both a Mac and a PC and have used both for quite awhile. I've always thought that I needed to have a Windows based PC just in case for compatibility reasons, but now, I'm switching completely over to the Mac, running only the Mac OS rather than both. I find no more need for Windows and here are some reasons provided by www.pcadvisor.co.uk. I can definitely think of more than 8, but this one is a good start. Read Read...

While PCs may be the most widely used computer platform in the world, there are still lots of extremely rational reasons to choose a Mac running Mac OS X over a Windows PC.

Macs can leave you happier and more productive than you would have been if you'd bought a Windows system, and feeling you got good value for your money even though a Mac is never the cheapest option.

1. Macs are consistently consistent

Windows Vista reminds me of a haunted mansion - they type of place with endless wings and far-flung rooms connected by twisty staircases and secret passages. And every time Microsoft does a redecorating job (also known as an upgrade), it moves some stuff around for no apparent reason.

OS X's logical, minimalist interface simply involves fewer things that must be learned and relearned, and Apple messes less with it in new releases such as Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Bottom line: it's easier to get stuff done.

2. The joy of predictability

Anyone who's ever suffered the indignity known as a Kernel Panic knows that Macs aren't bulletproof. But logging thousands of hours both on Windows PCs from multiple manufacturers and on Macs has convinced me that the average Mac is meaningfully less flakey than the average PC.

In my experience Macs crash less, suffer from fewer inexplicable slowdowns, deal better with tight memory situations, and boot up and shut down quicker and more reliably. Also I suspect it doesn't hurt that Apple is the only company in the business that writes its own operating system and designs its own hardware.

3. Who needs security headaches?

If the internet's bad guys ever decide to pummel OS X with the same intensity that they've pounded on Windows for years, the free ride for Mac fans may end. But for now, this fact is indisputable: a Mac owner who uses no security software at all runs less risk of being infected by spyware or a virus than a Windows user who obsessively protects his or her PC.

4. Crud, or the lack thereof

Windows is an infinitely better operating system when it isn't smothered by the demoware, adware, and other unwantedware that so many PC manufacturers splay onto the Start menu, the desktop, and the System Tray.

Macs are utterly free of such junk, as well as native-to-Windows irritations like word balloons burbling out of the System Tray, Windows Activation, and User Account Control.

5. Details count

You can buy a perfectly pleasing Windows PC that matches a Mac's CPU speed, RAM, hard-drive space, and other specs for a lot less money. But it won't have an AC adaptor with hooks that let you wrap up the cord for travel, or a MagSafe connector that won't get damaged if it's accidentally yanked out of the computer.

It won't have an oversized touchpad with multitouch gestures that help you navigate through documents and around the web. And it will probably be heavier and bulkier than a comparable Mac.

6. Apple is one of the world's best software companies

Forget about all those Macs, iPods and iPhones for a moment: Apple's applications are useful, enjoyable, and innovative, from the iLife creativity suite (whose presence on every new Mac is in itself an argument for the platform) to industrial-strength tools such as Final Cut Pro.

Most run only on OS X. (The Windows versions of iTunes, Safari, and QuickTime are okay, but Apple does its best work on its own operating system and hardware.)

7. The Apple Store's Geniuses rock

Buy a Mac, and you qualify for free in-person technical support from a patient rep with a deep knowledge of your system. I've had Geniuses do everything from reinstall my OS to replace broken keys on the spot.

Microsoft has announced plans to train 'Windows Gurus' to provide similar customer care at other retailers; it's worth trying, but there's no way it's going to replicate the Genius experience.

There are simply too many PCs from too many companies running too many variations on Windows for any one person to be an expert on everything.

8. Hey, Macs are PCs

By which I mean that Leopard's Boot Camp feature - and better yet theParallels Desktop and VMware Fusion virtualisation utilities - let you run Windows, and Windows applications, on a Mac.

I'm listing this last because I ultimately see running Windows on a Mac as a last resort: it's usually not necessary, and it degrades some of the other virtues of the Mac, such as protection from Windows security risks. But when it's valuable, it's really valuable.

Next iPhone to launch in June?

There has been a lot of buzz in the mobile world on a new iPhone, and it looks like it could be just around the corner! Apple has reportedly been sourcing for different parts from suppliers such as LG and other Taiwan-based companies. So far, its rumored specs include a 3.2mp still/video CMOS camera, digital compass, 802.11 wifi, more storage, MMS, copy and paste, among others. Its also rumored that the infamous iPhone nano will debut as well.

But for those who know Apple, we know that they aren't the type to announce what they are working on or what/when things are coming out, so I guess we just have to wait. June isn't that far away, but then again, a new iPhone anytime in '09 would be great. Looks like its time to upgrade again!

Looks like the iPhone is up against some coming competition this time around in the mysterious Huawei phone & Sony Ericsson's Idou. But I'm still rooting for you iPhone! iPhone FTW!

OnLive, could our console days be numbered?

The past week here at Vantage has been dedicated to the long and on going "console wars," between Xbox 360 & Playstation 3 fanboys. But new tech called OnLive has come outta no where and could make these consoles obsolete. Its basically a lil box that connects to your tv and lets you stream and play games just like when we view videos from YouTube. Tests have been done with games such as Burnout Paradise & Crysis (which require a fast frame rate and/or a high end PC) and they ran great.



Crazy right?! BUT, hold your horses as we all know, there IS always a catch. Since its based online, services will highly depend on your internet connection. Sure the people in the North America & Europe will have no problems, but what about 3rd world countries such as ours? We'll probably end up being more frustrated then impressed (because let me tell you first hand, the net in Canada is at least twice as fast as my PLDT 5mbps connection).




There has been no discussion on price and although OnLive promises to be competitive, it may be hard in my opinion based on how expensive it is now to develop AAA games. Also, will this even be available in other countries? Well, only time will tell, and we'll be here to bring you the latest news.

Follow the link for more details.


New Tech Could Make Consoles Obsolete

Sony Touchscreen Walkman!

Sony is also joining the line of touchscreen gadgets with its new Walkman, scheduled to be revealed @ CES 2009. This will be the most advanced music, video and photo Walkman music player Sony has released to date. All the usual suspects are here... WiFi, browser, large amounts of audio & video codec supports, YouTube, and an OLED 3" screen with around 10,000 contrast ratio. Wait a sec... OLED 3" screen with a 10,000 contrast ratio?! Thats not normal! What's that you ask? Well, lets just say that this screen will put the ones on our iPhone's and iPod's to shame! SHAME I say!

Other notable features is that it includes FM radio! Where has that been on our iPod's, Apple?!?! It will also have some kind of search feature which can tell you more about the artist you're listening to, the album, music video's etc... With this Walkman, I'm not even gonna go into sound quality cuz Sony has never been lacking in that department.

As much of an Apple Fanboy as I am, Sony still holds a place near and dear to my heart... and this Walkman looks to definitely be capable to break that iPod streak I've been on for the past few years (3rd gen, Mini, Mini 2nd gen, Nano, 5th gen U2, Touch)! Now, all that matters will be it's styling. Can it do better than Apple? If so, Sony, you've got my pick for the best music player!

14 Things You'll Out Live.

1. Facebook.

First Friendster ruled. Then MySpace. Now Facebook. Tomorrow some other smart upstart will take the lead. Doesn't matter if we're talking about business or your girlfriend's past: Don't be intimidated by a strong predecessor. Nobody's unbeatable.



2. Cellphone contracts.

There's good reason Europeans have abandoned these vestigial entanglements. Electronics evolve faster than a frog at Chernobyl, and committing 2 years to anything with a battery is like marrying a woman who ages twice as fast as you do.

3. Red State/Blue State.

More than a century ago, Americans went bonkers over the government's coining of unlimited amounts of silver. But now it's a settled fight—just like today's most drawn-out battles will be one day. So who cares if the election is over? On issues you care about, raise your voice before it's too late.



4. Bands with guitars.

Just kidding. But Decca Records execs notoriously turned down the Beatles because, they claimed, "guitar groups are on the way out." Music, like fashion and art, is cyclical. Chase trends and you'll always be following someone else.



5. Your dog.

Sure, it's a sad thought. But it's better than the reverse. Besides, there's a pound dog out there that really wants to play tug-of-war with you.



6. Gasoline's dominance. 

Cheap trips to the pump are never coming back, but that's fine: One day everything will run on hydrogen or ethanol or flux capacitors, and moving around will be more environmentally friendly. Never mourn the erosion of the status quo. There's always room for improvement—with everything.



7. Garfield. 

The fat cat earned his last chuckle in, like, 1995. It doesn't matter if you're a cartoonist or a conversational comedian: Leave 'em wanting more instead of wanting you to leave.

8. The Florida Marlins.

It's the team the fans don't like—not the ballpark. Yet the Fish are expected to build a new $515 million stadium anyway, which proves that in any relationship, business or personal, it's always important to recognize the real problem. Force a fix and you've found a costly way to delay the inevitable. 



9. Skinny jeans.

Denim was made to cover your legs, not turn them into shrink-wrapped stilts. Nuff said.



10. Outback's Bloomin' Onion.

Here's hoping common sense (or America's obesity epidemic) erases this 1,580-calorie grease sponge before it inflates everyone who eats it. You've opted for the grilled chicken, right?



11. The Plymouth red-bellied turtle.

It's a cute little thing from Massachusetts—endangered, of course. The world's full of fleeting beauty that you'll never see unless you unchain yourself from that desk. Think of it this way: Your boss can wait; the turtle really can't.



12. Your childhood idol.

He's older, so he'll croak first. Life's harsh, and short. But it doesn't take a superhero to impress a kid. Shouldn't you be trying to earn your own fan club?

13. "Manscaping" and "metrosexual."

Men care about how they look. And once the world gets over that shock—the shock!—these labels will have lost their purpose.

14. Keith Richards.

But just barely. The walking wrinkle is proof that life, not longevity, is what's worth living for.

More Wireless Please...

Okay okay, everyone has wireless phones, wireless computers, wireless internet, remote control this and that. But i'm pretty sure not to man people have wireless dvd players, am I right? okay now if you do, can yours send signal to 4 different receivers(tv's, PC's, random monitors)? No? I didn't think so. Then I guess it doesn't have a 65 foot radius for its signal either huh? I mean why would you need that right?

Well Sony thinks it necessary to go that far. Thats why Sony has created the Sony DMX-SW1. Not only is this some new tech, but its also a nice accent to the home.



The DMX-WL1, DMX-DVD and DMX-SW1 link modules from Sony hook up to their BRAVIA TVs to provide wireless streaming of HD video from anywhere up to 65 feet away. The DMX-WL1 is a two-piece system that has five HD sources (four HDMI and one component) that's $800 in October. The DMX-DVD is an upscaling 1080p DVD player for $200, and the DMX-SW1 adds four additional HDMI inputs for $150, both of which are available now.

Doneski.