D1 • 9 August 2010 • EVERY MONDAY Technews

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Section Editor: Art Samaniego, Jr.

HTC Wildfire
is scorching hot
lower center where the body and that
By LEN AMADORA trademark (though not too obvious)
chin of an HTC phone meets. The
fter the overwhelming usual visible buttons (menu, search,

A
success of their playful home and back keys) now lie imme-
Tattoo, HTC this time diately below the 3.2” multi-touch ca-
came up with a serious, pacitive
mature yet stylish and LCD touchscreen just above the
sophisticated “budget” optical trackpad; similar to that of the
phone; the HTC Wildfire. Stylish and Nexus One leaving a clean, smooth
sophisticated as it is, Wildfire runs on and flawless slate making it look sleek
Android 2.1 and is definitely packed and more professional.
with all the smartphone features you The back houses the loudspeaker,
can think of. With all these, is it totally the 5-megapixel camera and the LED
far from being a budget phone? flash. You might be wondering where
Wildfire resembles more like HTC the camera button is because the
Desire only smaller, a bit wider and only visible button remaining is the
this time without the distinct buttons volume rocker accompanied by the Behind that serious look lies
at the lower end of the device. The micro-USB port on its left side. Sur- a playful heart. Beginning the wild- while the “transfer data” app lets you
only visible and tangible button is the prisingly, the optical trackpad acts as fire experience was easy. Thanks are already loaded with widgets and easily transfer everything from your
sensitive optical trackpad right in the the camera button as well. to HTC’s Sense UI, in fact it was too apps depending on your priority or old phone to the Wildfire via blue-
easy. First time users of HTC phones mood. tooth.
won’t actually need a manual. The de- Scrolling smoothly or flipping Even with its 528 MHz proces-
Editor's note vice will ease you through the whole through each homescreen can be sor, when in use, Wildfire is rela-
HTC Wildfire
Specifications
set-up process of adding/creating amusing and entertaining, but for tively quick. With all the navigating,
your Google account, inputting your some it may just be confusing or time scrolling, flipping through web pages,
General 2G Network GSM 850 / The HTC Wildfire Facebook or Twitter account and consuming that is why HTC has pro- homescreens, numerous apps, etc,
900 / 1800 / 1900 e-mail settings. vided the Leap View (activated by I never experienced any lag or slug-
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100 should also be In just a few seconds, you will be just a pinch to zoom movement on gishness. It was in fact smooth and
Size Dimensions 106.8 x 60.4
x 12 mm nicknamed the "wild surprised how integrated everything the touchscreen) where you can see seamless. An avid HTC user may see
Weight 118 g child" of the short is down from your Google account up all the homescreens appearing like the difference in the screen.
Display Type TFT capacitive to your contacts and social network thumbnails. It gives you an overview That is because unlike the “more
touchscreen, 16M colors list of budget phones sites. Contacts are integrated with so- of all 7 homescreens and all you have expensive” units that boast of AMO-
Size 240 x 320 pixels, 3.2 inches
- Multi-touch input method so rich in features. cial network sites namely Facebook to do is just click on the homescreen LED screens, Wildfire opted for an
- Accelerometer sensor for UI and Twitter and also with your Gmail you were looking for. LCD (with 320 x 240 QVGA resolution)
auto-rotate This is one gadget we account and when I say integrated, it “Friend Stream” is one wid- touchscreen. Hence, images may not
- Touch-sensitive controls
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-
did not hesitate on truly is even up to its caller ID. get I particularly like for it gathers be as sharp as one would expect. Nev-
off getting. It doesn't burn Customizing Wildfire’s 7 home- all recent updates from Facebook ertheless, for a “budget phone”, even
- Optical trackpad screens are, as expected, fun and and Twitter without having to open with this little nip, Wildfire would still
- HTC Sense UI a hole in your pocket, easy. With all the widgets, icons and any application. “App Sharing” and be ahead of its contemporaries.
Memory Phonebook Practically
unlimited entries and fields, and is actually cool. applications available in the handset “Transfer Data” features are likewise Wildfire may be a budget phone
and even more in the “Android Mar- worth mentioning. but none of it screams cheap. From
Photocall
Internal 384 MB RAM; 512 MB
Word's out: There's a ket”, I’m pretty sure you would enjoy The first app lets you share your its built, look, style and features, Wild-
ROM wildfire out there. every minute of it. downloaded Android apps to your fire gives you more than what you can
Card slot microSD up to 32GB But if you are not the type, then friends by just sending a link via text ask for; much more from what you
Wildfire has pre-loaded scenes that message, e-mail, Twitter or Facebook paid for.

My buddy, the Flip

Ultra HD camcorder
citizen journalism in early Au- I didn’t want to spend on a new which means that all speech on the
gust 2009, during the wake of Flip video camera because my Flip clips will sound clearer than before.
former President Cory Aquino. holds sentimental value to me, and With the included HDMI output, en-
My Flip helped me be a witness I believed it still could be repaired. joying captured moments on HDTV
to the outpouring of love from Eager to document the Inaugural is as easy as uploading them to my
all walks of life as I took videos and the State of the Nation Address, computer. Additionally, the Flip Ul-
of the scene unfolding before I was hoping that my Flip would be tra HD comes with two rechargeable
me while seated, feet drenched fixed just in time before those his- (and replaceable) AA batteries that
inside my shoes, on top of a torical dates. charge up when I attach the device
moving truck for nine hours. to my computer.
The people braved the rains, The Flip Ultra HD
(Continued on page D4...)
the long queue, and the wait As luck would have it, a good
just to see their beloved Presi- friend lent me his Flip Ultra HD
dent Cory off to her final resting Camcorder while he had my camera
place. My Flip served me well repaired in Singapore. Like my own Editor's note
as my constant buddy in all the Flip, the Flip Ultra HD Camcorder
interviews as I took the new is a pocket-sized, easy-to-use digital The Flip-side of the
role of editor in a voters' educa- camcorder that records videos with
tion portal, BlogWatch.ph. a single press of a button. story: This writer
My Flip captured video foot- The Flip Ultra HD is slightly larg- was offered to take
age of presidential candidates er than my Flip, but has the same the new Flip Ultra
Manny Villar, Ed Villanueva, Nick simple user interface that allows me
Perlas, JC de los Reyes, Gibo Te- to start recording the moment I turn HD Camcorder for
odoro, Dick Gordon, Noynoy Aquino, the device on. With its convenient a spin, and she gave
and many senatorial and congressio- flip-out USB plug, I can upload videos
nal candidates as they explained the directly to my Macbook and netbook
it one heck of a ride.
By NOEMI LARDIZABAL-DADO
plans they had for our country. without untangling any cords. With She took the new Flip
Holding my Flip in my left hand the pre-installed FlipShare, I can Ultra HD to, among
lot of people are often and typing on my netbook with the easily edit the video clips and upload

A
amazed as they motion era when my sister, Lorna, shot a right, I captured all their promises them to my YouTube channel. other places, the
towards the Flip Video video of my daughter as she dressed on video. My Flip witnessed the What makes the Flip Ultra HD dif- Presidential campaign
Ultra I hold snugly in up for a Halloween party in Chicago crowded precincts on election day, ferent is that this device can capture
my left hand as I pan in 2008. I didn’t think much of it un- the breakdowns of the PCOS ma- videos in HD820p (1280 x 720) at 30
and the first state-of-
the activity in the room. I simply say, til May 2009, when Lauren surprised chines, and the frustration of tired frames per second (fps) progressive the-nation address of
"It’s The Flip". me with an advanced birthday gift, voters waiting in line for hours. scan, resulting in crisp, clear images the polls race. The unit
My Flip was a head turner in 2009, The Flip. I know how to edit videos in The Flip served me quite well, un- that look stunning on an HDTV. If I
when few owned the Flip Video Ultra my Macbook using iMovie, but using til it conked out shortly after election was amazed at the clarity of the vid-
came back still in one
in Manila. My Flip is black, but there the Flip made my editing task much day. Though I could easily use my eos from my trusty old Flip, the video good piece, plus this
are other colors like pink, green and easier and faster. iPhone and Sony Ericsson cellphone quality of the Flip Ultra HD was even interesting story.
white. If my Flip could talk, it would tell camera, it just wasn't the same as more impressive.
I first heard of the Flip Video Cam- you the story of my first attempts at my buddy. It’s also equipped with AAC audio,