Hello everyone! Sorry if I missed out on last week’s episode of Tech Tuesdays on TFL. I was kind of busy with all the Christmas party preparations, exchange gifts and the likes. But now that I’m back,  we’ll be talking about a very timely topic that most of you might have already done with your Christmas bonuses and your 13^th month pay – SHOPPING.

According to a survey done by Google Philippines, a lot of Filipinos are now searching more for information about gadgets especially during the start of the holiday season. I believe it is primarily because the gadgets that we use today have come to a state so advance compared to previous decades that they are more intricately intertwined with our lives making them more and more of a necessity rather than a luxury. 

Moreover, our gadgets have evolved so far that they can now perform multiple functions in one package.

So if you’re planning to get yourself or get a loved one a new gadget this Christmas, it can easily become a pain when choosing which gadget would you buy and which would you likely to avoid. Well, despair no more, as today we will be talking about which gizmos are a match to your lifestyle and personality. If you’re all set, shall we begin?

Netbooks vs. Ultrabooks – the portable computer system is taking a major turn these past few years. As power and flexibility is crossing over into the mobile domain with the introduction of powerful devices with slim form factors, a trend is slowly becoming visible in terms of what the future of mobile computing will be. And that future is probably be the one ruled by ultrabooks.

As more and more PC manufacturers are developing machines that fit the ultrabook or slimbook profile, competition is slowly becoming stiffer by the minute. Ultrabook prices are slowly going down so if you’re really that excited to get one, I suggest waiting a bit more to let the prices stabilize. But if you’re really into saving a lot of money and you’re not that critical whether or not your laptop has an ivy bridge processor or a super slim profile, a netbook can be a good option for youl.

Black Berries – Research in Motions Black Berry smartphones have recently experienced a massive price drop. But don’t be fooled, because it might be that retailers are just emptying their BlackBerry shelves in order to give way to the new fleet of RIM devices coming in January 2013. These new devices will sport updated features that will most likely make current BB devices look old and out dated.

For hardcore BB enthusiasts, getting an upgrade or an extra berry today might not be the best idea and you’d be better off waiting for the L-series next year. But for those who just want a bare bones BlackBerry experience, getting a RIM device right now seems to be a right choice.

Gaming Consoles – Gaming consoles have also experienced a huge dip in retail prices this past few months. The Xbox 360 with Kinect now sells for around P14k which comes bundled with at least 3 games. The same goes for Sony’s PS3 which retails at almost identical price point. The Nintendo Wii on the other hand now retails for less than P10,000 for the base unit which makes it extremely affordable compared last year.

And with the exception of the Wii U, the Xbox 360 and PS3 are still the flagship gaming consoles for Microsoft and Sony respectively which ensures that you’ll still be getting the first serving of games from developers.

iPhone 5 – the iPhone 5 has made waves this year. It was one of the most anticipated devices to be announced and released this year just alongside the Google Nexus 4 and Microsoft’s Surface tablet. However, in my honest opinion, getting an iPhone 5 today may not be a smart move especially for fans of Apple out there.

This is because, in true Apple tradition, the announcement of a new generation device would mean the coming of a much faster and slightly improved “S” version the following year, which is what happened with the iPhone 3 and 3GS and the iPhone 4 and 4S. So if you’re really into the Apple iPhone craze, you might want to hold your horses until next year when Apple would release an iPhone 5S.

DSLRs and ILCs – Camera systems have recently enjoyed success and patronage among Filipinos. As more and more Pinoys are getting hooked to photography, camera manufacturers are improving their product line by adding more affordable yet equally powerful DSLR cameras. This, just like what happened with ultrabooks have pushed prices down and heightened the competition among different brands. That is why getting a full size DSLR would be a great idea for this holiday season as these camera systems are slowly becoming mainstream.

ILCs on the other hand are still quite expensive. They are also quite rare, with manufacturers only producing one to three models of interchangeable lens cameras in their entire product line. For now, their less bulky profile doesn’t trump over their high price tag, so it wouldn’t be advisable to get one now. Instead get a less pricey DSLR with the same specs of the ILC that you want.

Windows Phones – Another grey area when shopping for gadgets would be Windows phones. There are currently two types of Windows phones on sale right now – the legacy devices powered by Windows Phone 7+ and the newer Windows Phone 8 devices. And just like its direct competitor, Blackberries, Windows phones have two sides of the story.

On the one side, WP7 devices are now very affordable compared 12 months ago. Nokia’s Lumia phones, which include the Lumia 610, 800 and 900 are now all priced below the P20,000 price range, so for those looking for the Metro UI experience, getting the first generation of WP devices would be a really good bargain. The only catch is that Microsoft would have very little support for these devices in the future as they have already planned to push for WP8.

On the other hand, WP8 devices are still quite expensive and few. The only manufacturers which have a ready supply of Windows Phone 8 smartphones out in the market would be Nokia with their Lumia 920, 820 and the budget friend 620; and HTC with their 8X and 8S devices. However, owners of WP8 devices are ensured that they will be getting future updates in contrast to users of WP7+ platform.

So there you have it. I hope this post was able to help some of you who are still undecided on getting a new gadget this holiday season. If you have any comments, suggestions and reactions, please do share them with us by leaving a comment below. You can also reach us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterst and Google Plus or subscribe to our blog for the latest and freshest news, features and updates about Filipinos and their lifestyle.

Professional and sub professional camera systems are now incredibly within reach to ordinary consumers thanks to lowered prices and wider options in terms of brand and features. Digital SLRs for example have experienced a considerable price drop compared three to five years ago. But nowadays, a new batch of more compact camera systems are slowly emerging and gaining popularity over consumers due to their sleek designs and less bulky bodies.

These camera systems are called ILCs or Interchangeable lens cameras or simply mirrorless cameras.  ILCs or sometimes referred to as EVIL (electronic viewfinder with interchangeable lens) cameras are basically trimmed down versions of ordinary DSLR cameras. Aside from their smaller size, they feature almost the same set of capabilities as their full size cousins. But if you’re currently looking to upgrade from your point and shoot camera to more powerful tool, will an ILC suffice for your needs or would a DSLR be a smarter investment for you?

Well, there are quite a few things to consider before deciding which system works best for you. And in today’s Tech Tuesdays episode, we’ll be talking about the different things that differentiate these two types of cameras from each other to help us identify which system would be the best choice for a person.

DIMENSIONS – Of course the main difference between a DSLR and an ILC are its dimensions. ILCs don’t have a mirror or pentaprism which is the mirror that reflects the light from the lens to the optical viewfinder that photographers use to see their subject before taking an image.  The removal of the pentaprism and the optical viewfinder allows for ILCs to be smaller in size compared to digital SLR cameras.

As a replacement for the optical viewfinder, EVIL cameras would usually make use of a small LCD screen just like ordinary compact digital cameras, which is permanently active whenever the camera is set to take a shot. There are also some models that have an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that works like a mini-LCD display, showing all the shooting options available.

BATTERY and SPEED – as a result of having an EVF that usually stays active while the camera is in use, ILCs are consumer more power compared to regular DSLRs. Another thing one has to worry about is the camera’s speed. For users who are interested in sports and action photography, a DSLR might be a better choice as they are more adept in capturing high-speed shots.

However, a lot of manufacturers nowadays have claimed that they have improved on this feature and speed of ILCs can now match those of digital SLRS.

SENSOR SIZE – Another major consideration before choosing the camera system for you is the sensor size. As ILCs are generally smaller in size compared to digital SLR cameras, imaging sensors are also restricted by their more compact forms. With the exception of Sony’s and Samsung’s ILC line, most of the brands that offer EVIL cameras have equipped their products with smaller image sensors.

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In general, photographers would prefer devices with larger sensors as they are less prone to digital noise issues at higher ISO sensitivities and are often more effective especially in low light conditions. There is also an issue with compatibility of lenses available in the market. Most ILC are incompatible with existing lenses and a user would need to use an adapter in order to use lenses that are not native for that brand.

And since lenses are the most expensive components of a camera system, this feature may make EVIL cameras a more precarious investment compared to the trusted DSLR.

Pricing may also play a factor as most brands would position their product in a segment that caters to casual photographers who want an upgrade from their point and shoot cameras but are not yet ready for a full-fledged DSLR camera. In fact there are certain models of ILCs that are more expensive than other entry level digital SLRs.

However, advanced users may also choose an ILC over a digital SLR if they want the flexibility that the former provides due to its smaller and more bag-friendly size. Having said all these, the choice between getting a DSLR camera and an ILC camera would definitely depend on how a person will use it (just like what I always say when purchasing gadgets).

So there you have it guys. I hope this post was helpful to a lot of our readers. If you have anything to say about this article, please do leave a comment below as comments and suggestions are always welcome here at TFL. You might also want to add us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or subscribe to our blog in case you want to get more Filipino lifestyle stories.