Review: Huawei Ascend Y300 on Bell and Virgin

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

While newer and more expensive Android flagship smartphones are going for bigger screens, more powerful processors and fancy colours while attempting hyper-intuitive user interfaces, it's great to see some vitality in the entry level of the spectrum.

Huawei's Ascend Y300 brings dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4-inch IPS display, 5 megapixel camera, a fairly recent build of the Android OS (4.1), voice control, and 4G-LTE connectivity for under $100. That's truly impressive.

Click to read more ...

HTC allies itself with Robert Downey Jr. for new 'Change' brand platform

You're as good as the company you keep. HTC has joined forces with Robert Downey Jr. for their new marketing campaign called Change.

According to an HTC release, "the Change brand platform is a long-term strategy that celebrates HTC’s disruptive impact on the mobile industry over its 17-year history. Ushering in an innovative new approach that will transform the industry, the campaign represents HTC’s largest-ever investment in marketing and will reach consumers through a broad spectrum of traditional and digital media outlets.

To mark the launch of the global platform, a new above-the-line campaign will be rolled out from August 2013. Featuring acclaimed actor and director, Robert Downey Jr., the first ad creative will screen on YouTube on 15th August, to be immediately followed by a series of cinema and TV executions." Interesting. Hit jump for the full PR and details of this alliance.

Click to read more ...

Apple's Back to School promo offers gift cards for Mac, iPad and iPhone purchases

It's that time of the year again when the back to school season means new computers, tablets and smartphones but also a plethora of deals and promos. Apple's giving away a $100 gift card for buyer of new Mac portables or desktops and a $50 card for new iPad or iPhone sales. The uniquely designed cards can be used at the iTunes Store, the iBookstore, and the Mac App Store. 

Since this is an educational promo, to qualify for the App Store Gift Card and get education pricing on a Mac, you must be a postsecondary student, a student accepted to a postsecondary institution, a parent buying for a postsecondary student, or a faculty or staff member from any grade level.

Breaking: BlackBerry considering sale as 'strategic alternative'

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

After some murmurings last week that Waterloo, ON based BlackBerry was looking to go private in order to better restructure the company as it struggles to regain its foothold in mobile smartphone market it once pioneered, news today of more aggressive measures including the sale of the company are being explored.

BlackBerry says its board has launched a formal review of "strategic alternatives" to fix the ailing company and among these alternatives is the sale as a whole or in part of the company. The end result of the review could be BlackBerry forming joint ventures, strategic partnerships or a sale of BlackBerry. In other words, all offers are on the table.

BlackBerry attempted to make a comeback this year with the year-late launch of its BlackBerry OS 10 devices and operating systemr. The company launched three new smartphones but sales haven't been stellar and the company continues to struggle in a highly competitive mobile economy ruled by Apple and Samsung.

“As the Special Committee focuses on exploring alternatives, we will be continuing with our strategy of reducing cost, driving efficiency and accelerating the deployment of BES 10, as well as driving adoption of BlackBerry 10 smartphones, launching the multi-platform BBM social messaging service, and pursuing mobile computing opportunities by leveraging the secure and reliable BlackBerry Global Data Network,” BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins said in a statement.

For Canadians, this news is painfully reminiscent of what happened to Nortel Networks right before that company folded.  BlackBerry, then known as Research In Motion, was the most valuable stock in the Toronto Stock Exchange. Below is the full press release from BlackBerry

Click to read more ...