AI is now the main technology ingredient behind Apple’s iPhone range
In September this year, when Apple unveiled the latest iPhones, Tim Cook introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a game-changing roadmap component behind almost every aspect of the device. Apple manufacture 15.6% of the world’s phones, but capture more than half of the industry’s revenue. Their strategic focus on AI is a worthwhile reminder of the importance of the opportunity that AI represents.
It’s not just Apple, however, who stand to benefit from this new, ubiquitous technology. With AI continuing to be the technology offering the most potential of our time, and mobile now a key part of every digital customer interface, there is no industry which can expect to be free from the need to find a way to garner AI’s benefits.
AI as a concept has been around since the idea was first generated by John McCarthy in the late 1950s. Today, well beyond claims of ‘hype’ it is fundamentally redefining every industry, starting with mobile. Source: Medium
It’s no exaggeration to suggest that AI in Smartphones will redefine the field of mobile technology.
According to Gartner, 80% of Smartphones will have AI capabilities by 2022. AI is paving new ways to meet both specified an unspecified customer expectation and turbo charge the use of mobile technology in research.
AI’s success is derived, most fundamentally, from 3 things.
First, it can be applied, in various forms to any industry, something we haven’t seen in many years– since air conditioning, indoor plumbing, the jet engine and other innovations of the 20th Century were rolled out.
Second, it thrives on computing power and big data sets, two things which we now have in quantities never before seen.
Finally, AI automates the most important aspect of the cutting edge of computing interfaces, personalization. Here are some examples of how those important AI principals are being applied to mobile.
AI and the IoT (Internet Of Things) – A match made in heaven
The internet of things (IoT) is the name given to the concept of cheap sensors and computing capabilities being embedded in to everyday aspects of our lives – everything from smartwatches, to smart buildings, rubbish bins and even children’s backpacks. Information from those now connected products is delivered through mobile phone (cellular) networks connected to the internet with increasingly cheap data plans.
In some senses, the Internet of Things is just at its beginning. Forbes suggest that 45% of business are aiming to implement IoT sensors in the machinery in their organizations. This is the first tranche of the rollout – since these sort of industrial implementations offer the fastest payback for an IoT investment.
We take it for granted that our desktops and selves are connected to the internet with laptops and smartphones respectively. Over the next decade, every other physical asset worth more than $50 will also be added to the mix. Just like our computers and phones, these artifacts will start to generate huge quantities of information about their status and environments.
Early implementation of IoT will affect industry, where paybacks are fastest. However, B2C – Business to Consumer applications will also occur in the next decade. Source: Statista
In this IoT world, AI assists in picking the signal from the noise of data which are generated by newly connected devices. Combined, of AI and the IoT helps means that the information obtained from such a broad array of sensors, can be filtered and put to good use.
The results will improve efficiency where, currently, we don’t have information to realize how we could optimize.
As usual, Google are ahead of the curve, and have applied AI algorithms to their data centers, optimizing them with invisible AI algorithms to cut the power used by an incredible 40%.
AI and Digital Conversation – An altogether different experience
We take for granted that our current interface with mobile technology is the common touchscreen, introduced most famously, again, in the original iPhone back in 2007. This may not be the case for much longer, however, and AI is, again, the tool which is bringing these new interaction methodologies to the fore.
Now, people are getting used to ‘talking’ (or having real time Instant Messaging ‘chats’) with chatbots which answer their queries in much the same way a human would.
Most people have interfaced with one type of ‘bot’ even now. If you’ve talked to Siri or said ‘OK Google’ to perform a search with your voice – you’ve been dealing with a ‘personal assistant’ – a specific type of Chatbot.
Now, the same technology is being rolled out by banks, phone companies and even government departments to manage the huge volume of calls and chat requests they receive from people every day.
The beauty of chatbot is the ability to communicate with a large number of people at the same time – importantly – at a zero marginal cost. Over time, these bots are much, much cheaper than employing people to do the same thing.
Chatbots have started to become a crucial aspect of customer relationship management, learning from mistakes, providing more accurate answers to the most common questions and getting better at the root of the problem from a computing / AI perspective – establishing a user’s intent from what they say ( ‘utterances’ in techno-speak.)
Does using chatbots work? More than 95% smartphone users feel that customer service has seen improvement since the inception of AI fueled chatbots.
AI and mobile technology – A lethal weapon for research
AI-powered tech may well be the key component driving the future of every form of mobile research.
80% of research is spent compiling and analyzing the information required. A great deal of the most useful research undertaken starts with a deep understanding of human needs and behaviors. The data available from mobile devices, aligned with AI to sort the wheat from the chaff, has now made that information easier to collate.
Consider the amount of information a smartphones gathers. Simply studying people’s movements using the GPS feature on a phone can be useful for research purpose. Other device sensors (most phones contain accelerometers, GPS, microphones, RF antennae and so on) can be used to gather information on people and cross reference that with other variables, either established through the phone data or derived from another source, to reach a research objective.
One specific, work undertaken at Dartmouth University, used data collected from students’ smartphones, to determine their levels of depression, stress and loneliness. Their movements, audio signals and position information were correlated with survey questions asked directly of the students using one of those targeted apps. The results could be used to predict psychological wellbeing on other students phones (those who had not answered the questionnaire.)
Further, the strict mathematical models behind AI can also be used to practically remove human bias from the research process, something hard for humans to do but which can materially and negatively impact the value of any research undertaken.
AI and smartphone security – Two sides of the same coin
Finally, AI is catering to the biggest concern of the mobile economy – security.
Security is a difficult subject to contend with for those developing any consumer product, especially when it’s used to address the needs of mobile users.
The nature of security solutions is that they offer an uncomfortable trade off – between the safety of and the convenience of access to information. It’s an important balance to get right, given the quantity of personal information that the average smartphone now contains.
AI ‘fuzzy’ pattern matching is allowing developers can predict vulnerability levels and app security. The technology will keep a eye on ‘suspicious’ (note how vague that term is) activities, identifying them from the coalescence of similar patterns in the past – and raise an alert when ‘unusual’ behavior (of the sort which might indicate a ‘hacker’ is working) is encountered.
AI has the potential to find the loopholes and reduce the risk of intruders attacking the smartphone of the customer through their apps.
Bringing it all together
Most fundamentally, AI helps computers behave in a more human manner, delivering more personalized experiences in an automated way. When your phone recommends a song playlist you love, containing tunes you’ve never heard before, when your mobile interface to Netflix guesses a show you’ll enjoy or when Amazon show you products that you might like to consider – AI is behind those suggestions and transforming the experience you have with your mobile technology.
Artificial intelligence is slowly revamping the entire economy, including its mobile component with its immense power to connect the facilities we’ve listed above. The IoT means more data is collected, often in real time for analysis. AI makes collecting and analyzing it more secure. It offers better ways of interfacing with technology than our current screen technology, in the form of chatbots and voice agents ‘why’ act on our behalf.
Are you getting a weak signal from your Smart Bro Prepaid Home WiFi? There’s a way to fix it!
Boost the signal by adding antenna correctors and outdoor antennas!
This will also work on the PLDT Prepaid Home WiFi. It is essentially the same modem, just a different brand. Be warned: doing this notification will surely VOID your warranty. It is up to you whether to proceed or not.
Disclaimer: We are not responsible if things go wrong.
Also, your mileage may vary. In my case, this modification boosted my signal indoors. But it may or may not be the same for you, it depends on your area. There are a number of factors that may affect wifi signal strength; (1) thick walls, (2) microwave oven, and (3) actual distance from the router/modem.
There is also a video version of this guide. Watch below:
Things you need to buy/required for this modification:
Antenna SMAWiFi Pigtail Cable IPX to SMA (₱99.00 on Lazada)
1/4 and 3/16 drill bit. (I used multi-purpose)
Drill
Marker (any color will do, as long as you can easily see it).
Ruler
Thin plastic (like a guitar pick or gift card).
Box cutters
Use the ruler and marker to write lines on the back of the modem as shown in the picture.
Take the box cutter and slowly insert it into the left side modem, when doing so, make sure it face down at a 45-degree angle. Insert the cutter in the middle to avoid damage to the internal antennas, just in case you want to use it again the future.
Once the cutter is inserted. Grab a thin plastic (guitar pick, gift card, etc), and insert it next to the cutter.
Once both the cutter and thin plastic are both inserted, slide the thin plastic throughout the perimeter of the modem. If you’re having trouble sliding the plastic through, yank out the cover a little bit to ease the plastic through.
Once the cover is off, disconnect the two antennas (circled in red) gently.
Drill two holes (circled in blue). Start out with the 3/16 bit on each, then finish them off with the 1/4 bit also on both.
Loosen the nut on the SMA to u.FL connector and install each one onto the holes.
Insert each SMA connectors on each hole. Don’t forget to install the nuts afterward.
Connect u.FL connectors onto the motherboard (where you disconnected the internal antennas from back in step 5). It doesn’t matter which one is which you connect them to.
Put the cover back, and snap it in place.
Connect the antennas.
Turn on the modem and see the improved reception. Your mileage may vary, depending on your area.
Before:
After:
If you want to use this without the outdoor antenna, you could purchase an external SMA antenna (as shown in the picture below) and hook it up to the modem, or open the modem again, and connect back the internal antennas.
There you go! Your very own DIY external antennas for a better wifi signal strength!
If you don’t want to go through the hardware DIY, you can ask your internet service provider if your Wifi Modem has the capability of connecting to a “range extender.” Range extenders look like small wifi boxes with external antennas and you can install as many as you can to areas where you have poor wifi strength or none at all.
Range extenders, as the term defines, ‘ extend’ your wifi’s range. You can easily purchase one from any store near you, but for the convenience they offer, they might come a little bit pricey.
The Sony Xperia XZ3 is the last flagship phone in the XZ series released this year.
Unlike its predecessors, this flagship phone comes with an impressively bigger 6in screen display. What makes this phone a beast is that it’s the first ever Sony Xperia phone to have an HDR OLED display, making images as crisp as watching them in a Sony Bravia TV.
The phone looks like your typical 2018 Samsung; its screen had the iconic curves at the edge. Unlike most Android phones this year, this one thankfully doesn’t have a notch.
A notch would have ruined its beautiful display.
Going by the book, the Sony Xperia XZ3 came out with the latest Android operating system, customized into the Sony graphic user interface. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with 64 GB internal memory supported by 4 GB RAM.
It has a 19MP rear camera with a motion eye technology that can also record in 4K HDR. At the front, there is a 13.2MP camera, which we think is a total letdown, since it can do so much better for selfies.
Sony Xperia XZ3’s Build and Design vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9
In its borderless slim appearance, Xperia XZ3 came in with four different color variations you can choose from; Black, White Silver, Forest Green, and Bordeaux Red.
Both theSamsung Galaxy Note 9 and the Sony Xperia XZ3 have aluminum frames and curved glass panels in the front and back. Both are also IP68 water and dust resistant. As mentioned earlier, the Xperia XZ3 has a cunning resemblance to Samsung Galaxy phones.
The XZ3 stands 6.2 inches with bezels at the top and bottom leaving 6 inches for the screen display, but Note 9 is still a bit taller. But the XZ3’s size is more ergonomic to hold than that of Note 9, which are too large to hold.
And since the XZ3’s screen is HDR OLED, it’s arguably better than Note 9, which has Super AMOLED. It has a slightly bigger pixel density, which means it has high contrast ratios and deep blacks.
However, Note 9 has a bigger display and slightly smaller bezels than that of the XZ3.
HDR video support, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
Camera
Main: 19MP
Front: 13MP
Main: 12MP
Front: 7MP
Main: 12MP
Front: 24MP
Dimensions
6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 inches (158 x 73 x 9.9 mm)
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
6.23 x 3.04 x 0.33 inches (158.2 x 77.2 x 8.3 mm)
Colors
Black, White Silver, Forest Green,
Bordeaux Red
Gold, Silver, Space Grey
Black, Gold, Green, Blue
Weight
6.81 oz. (193 g)
7.34 oz. (208g)
6.63 oz. (188g)
Materials
Main: Glass
Accent: Aluminum
Main: Glass
Accent: Stainless Steel
Main: Glass
Accent: Metal
Biometrics
Fingerprints
Face ID
Face ID
Fingerprints
System Chip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SDM845
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81
HiSilicon Kirin 980
Processor
Octa-core, 2800 MHz, Kryo 385, 64-bit, 10 nm
Hexa-core, 2490 MHz, 64-bit, 7 nm
Octa-core, 2600 MHz, ARM Cortex-A76 and ARM Cortex-A55 , 64-bit, 7 nm
RAM
4 GB
4 GB
4 GB
Internal Memory
64 GB
512 GB
128 GB
Storage Expansion
Up to 512 GB
Up to 256 GB
Sony Xperia XZ3 Camera
Motion eye system is still in-use and the predictive capture in this phone that gives you the opportunity to capture 4 photos before clicking the capture button has been showcased to its predecessors already.
Just like the Note 9, the XZ3 has slow-motion recording, but the latter has higher resolution. The XZ3 can record in 1080p at 960fps while the Note 9 can record 720p at 960fps. However, recording on Note 9 is way easier because it has motion detection.
The Sony XZ3 also has a bigger front camera 13MP with f/1.9 on portrait mode, while the Note 9 has 8MP with f/1.7 selfie focus.
Sony Xperia XZ3 Performance
The processor of this smartphone is the Snapdragon 845. Having a faster processor means conserving energy since it cannot take so much time in optimizing a command.
The XZ3 has 4GB of RAM, while the Note 9 has 6GB and 8GB RAM variants. We think this is what a $100 price difference is worth.
Nonetheless, the XZ3 is compatible with wireless charging and comes out of the box with Android Pie, the latest Android operating system.
The biometrics of this phone is still in fingerprints. We are still waiting if Sony has a plan to follow Apple through their Face ID, Samsung’s Iris Scanner or they’ll be able to develop a much safer and convenient way to secure phones in the near future.
Sony Xperia XZ3’s display is definitely way ahead than that of Samsung Galaxy’s Note 9. It’s arguably better than Note 9 in so many aspects, and we think that with the Xperia XZ3, this is Sony’s golden year for smartphones.
After the release of Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra, Sony released another phone for the mid-range market, the Xperia XA2 Plus.
Just like many of Sony’s flagship phones, the Xperia XA2 Plus is designed for entertainment. It has a huge screen, a conventional design, and a huge battery capacity. It is built with a 6 inches aluminum and glass body, and had two different sets of memory capacity and RAM; 32GB with 4GB RAM and 64GH with 6GB RAM. You can get in 4 different colors; silver, black, gold, and green.
What makes this phone stand out in the upper midrange arena is its 23MP rear camera. If you’re greatly inclined to photography and filmmaking, you definitely need to check this phone out.
This high- level tiered phone is crafted with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 with metallic finishing. The edges are done with diamond cuts bringing an elegant curve that is ergonomic to your hands.
Its total height is 6.2 inches, but only 6 inches of it was spent to the 1080 x 2160 resolution full HD display screen. It’s not bezel-less and it a small chin at the top and at the bottom of the screen.
Thus, although the bezel is thinner than Xperia AX2 and Xperia Ultra, it can never be compared with other Android phones that already achieved the bezel-less look e.i. iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone Xr.
Located at the top of this phone is the audio port for 3.5 mm headphones that enhance by DSEE and High- Resolution Audio technology. In addition, the LDAC that heightened the wireless music streaming is available on this phone too.
Sim and micro-SD slots are located at the upper left side of the phone. Located at the other side are the camera key, power button, and the volume adjuster.
The battery capacity of this phone is in 3580 mAh, however, the processor of this phone is still in Qualcomm Snapdragon 630. The performance is expected to be slower than Xperia XZ2 and shorter battery life.
Nonetheless, it’s one of the few mid-range phones that have a huge battery and the operating system is justified by its price.
It doesn’t have dual rear cameras but having a 23MP single rear camera compensates what it lacks. You won’t see this from mid-range phones coming from other manufacturers.
Even the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 only has a 12MP rear camera at the back, and it’s a flagship at that.
Having an 8MP front camera is not that bad, too. You still have a bokeh effect and other common camera features other phones of the same price range have.
The security feature of this phone is fingerprint scanning. It is located at the back along with the camera.
The touch system of the pre-installed keyboard to this phone is very smooth and there’s no delay. Other phones may pause if you’re typing too fast; there are none in this phone.
Sony’s XA2 series offered mid-ranger phones that really stand out in performing their daily tasks in serving you.
XA2 Plus is the upgraded version of the regular XA2. It has bigger RAM and internal memory more than its predecessor and the capacity to accommodate external memory has enlarged too.
On the flip side, after the release of XA2, XA2 Ultra is launched having the same specs with XA2 except for its front camera having the amount of mp twice as compared to XA2 and XA2 Plus.
Despite that, the XA2 Plus has a bigger RAM capacity. If you’re looking for speed, this is your best bet.
The Xperia XA2 Ultra is priced almost the same as the Xperia XA2 Plus, the latter doesn’t have lesser specs, it’s just a matter of deciding what you are able to compromise.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is the “plus” version of the Sony XZ2 that was released on the first quarter of this year. This “premium” flagship phone obviously has upgraded features compared to the XZ2, starting off with a bigger screen size display and a bigger RAM capacity.
It ticks off pretty much all the basic features that we expect, and of course, the electronics giant kept all the good stuff they had with the XZ2. Inside and out, the Xperia XZ2 Premium is an A+ flagship that deserves a second look.
It is obvious that Sony’s targets are people who are enslaved by entertainment. With its 5.8-inch screen display, you will enjoy watching YouTube videos and Netflix, playing games, and taking photos. It’s 4K HDR display is 100% spot-on even when you’re recording movies.
If you like it loud, this one’s going to make it to the top. This phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but Sony made up for the lack by giving you LDAC, DSEE HX, and 2 loud front-facing stereo speakers that are truly loud.
According to Sony, these are the loudest Xperia speakers ever. The audio experience makes the viewing experience more surreal.
And if that’s not enough, this flagship phone also has a Dynamic Vibration System, that “analyses audio data and lets you feel the action with your hand.” If that’s not immersive, we don’t know what is.
Closer Look: Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium Specs and Features
The screen of XZ2 premium is still IPS LED, which is definitely energy saving compared to Samsung’s OLED Screens.
It’s also Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which means it’s built tough- a standard for most flagships. XZ2 Premium is available in two color variants, chrome black, and chrome silver. It stands 6.2 inches, a wee bit taller than the XZ2, and has a 5.8 inches of screen display.
It is not bezel-less like most 2018 phones are, but again, the amazing video and image quality on this phone makes up for that minor lack.
RAM and Memory. The most notable upgrade in the specs that we’ve seen is its huge 6GB RAM, which makes this phone more power efficient. Moreover, it comes with a 64GB internal memory, that is expandable with an external card up to 400GB.
Camera Experience. The camera features of this phone are definitely way better than its predecessor. It has a 13MP front camera and a 19MP and 12MP dual rear camera. The selfie and dual rear cameras have low light sensors and can capture crisp photos in any light.
The rear cameras have an AUBE fusion sensor at the back that fuses both the data from the 19MP RGB color and 12MP monochrome (black and white) camera. This helps you capture better video than what your eye sees real time in ultra-low light settings.
This phone is absolutely a god-sent device for someone who is addicted to photography and video recording.
Battery life and efficiency. The battery capacity of this phone has an 11% increase to that of the XZ2. And for sure, you can play all day or watch movies loud without having to worry about recharging or losing power in between. Its enormous 3540mAh battery guarantees that.
And its powerful and fast Octa-code Snapdragon 845 Qualcomm processor increases your phone’s power efficiency, making it last long even when you’re multitasking or using different apps at the same time.
Build Quality and Security. In addition to having a strong screen, this phone is also IP68 water and dust-resistant. You can take this phone with you wherever your adventure might be.
As for biometrics, this phone is still using fingerprint security and not the facial ID.
Despite being heavyweight and not-so ergonomic in size, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium truly embodies what a premium flagship phone is like.
Xperia XZ2 Premium vs. Xperia XZ2 vs Xperia XA2 Plus
We’ve compared the specs and features of the latest Xperia phones out in the market. If you’re a Sony fan, we hope this will help you decide which one’s are worth the compromise.
The upgrades available in Xperia XZ2 Premium is noticeable. Consider yourself lucky if you haven’t purchased any of the Xperia phones out yet. Camera-wise, the XZ2 sucked while the XZ2 Premium excelled.
If you have $1000 to burn for a flagship phone of this caliber, you’ll definitely not regret getting the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium.
This guide will help you unlock your Evoluzn FX-PR3L; which will allow you to use any SIM cards, provided that both the device and network (carrier) use the same frequencies. Note that this does not require disassembling the device. This guide will work up and beyond firmware V13.
For those who want a video version of this guide, please watch below.
Download Software to Unlock the Smart LTE Pocket WiFi (Evoluzn FX-PR3L)
Write down or take a photo of the IMEI and the MAC address of your device, you will need this later. To see the IMEI and the MAC address, remove the back cover of the device and lightly remove the battery. You will see them in the battery’s housing, like the one pictured below:
Download and extract the files you will need in order to do this tutorial. This contains six folders, Starting from “Step 1” all the way through “Step 6″.
Installing the WTPTP Driver.
Step 1 is a basic installation of the WTPTP Driver in your computer.
On your computer, navigate to the “Step 1” folder.
Launch ‘DrvInstaller” if you are on a computer with 32-Bit/x86 Windows, or “DrvInstaller_x64”, if you are on a 64-Bit/x64 Windows. (If you don’t know. Press Windows + R and type in “msinfo32”
If prompted with “Do you want to allow this app from an unknown publisher to make changes to your device?”. Click “Yes”.
Click on “Install Update”
Once done, you should see this dialog box saying that the driver installation is a success. If you see any error, click on “remove” and then click on “install update” again. If that doesn’t solve it, try to reboot your computer and re-do the whole process.
Close by pressing “Quit”.
Flashing the FX-PR2L firmware.
Step 2 involves flashing a different firmware on the device. This is necessary for us to successfully unlock it. Don’t worry, we are going to flash the original firmware back once the unlock process is complete.
Remove and disconnect everything on your Evoluzn FX-PR3L device. If it’s connected via USB, disconnect. Remove both SIM and battery.
Go to the “Step 2” folder, and run the “SWDownloader” program.
Click on “File”, then “Open”.
Navigate to the “SWD” folder, (if you don’t see it, it’s located on the “Step 2” folder).
Then select “Nezha_MiFi5_LWG_Only_Nontrusted.blf” file.
Click on the green lightbulb icon.
Connect the FX-PR3L Pocket WiFi via micro USB cable and plug it into the computer’s USB port.
As fast as you can, insert the battery, then hold the power button. Until you see “welcome to Smart”, then the arrow button.
You should see flashing green progress bar on the bottom of SWDownloader.
Once done, there should be a dialog box, saying so. Press “OK”.
Quit out of “SWDownloader”, by clicking X on the top right.
Disconnect the micro USB cable, and remove the battery.
Reinstall the battery, turn it on, and plug the cable back in. On the device, it only shows a white screen. But that’s ok.
When you see a dialog box that says the disk can’t be read, just click “Close”.
Installing the Marvell Drivers
Open “Device Manager” (Press CTRL+R) then type “compmgmt.msc”. then click on “Device Manager” on the left pane.
Double click on “Mobile AT Interface” (under “Other devices”), and click on “Update Driver”.
Click on “Browse my computer for driver software.”
Click on “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.”
Double click on “Show All Devices”.
Click on “Have Disk…”
Click on “Browse”.
Navigate to the “Step 3” folder, and double-click on “MSUBSer”
Click “OK”.
Click on “Marvell AT Interface”, then click on “Next”.
It should tell you that you the driver has been successfully installed. Click “OK”.
Do the same steps above for the “Mobile Diag Interface”. But choose “Marvell DIAG USB Device Version: 2.0.0.1 [10/11/2012]”.
Close out of Device manager.
Rewriting the IMEI, MAC, and Serial to the FX-PR3L Pocket WiFi.
Navigate to “Step 4” folder. Then run ‘MIFITOOL1.0.0.3.”
Click the first bottom “????”. This should locate where your Pocket WiFi is. For me, it’s located on COM3, but yours may vary.
Click on the first “?IMEI” button.
Type your IMEI number from that picture you took or wrote down earlier.
Press the second “?IMEI” button, twice (just to be sure).
Press the first “?IMEI” button again, to ensure the IMEI you entered has been written.
Click the first “?MAC” button.
Type in the MAC address from the picture you took or wrote down earlier.
Click on the second “?MAC” button, twice (just to be sure).
Click on the first “?MAC” button, to ensure the IMEI you entered has been written.
Type in the serial number you wrote down or took pictures of earlier.
Click on the second “?SN” button, twice (just to be sure).
Don’t bother clicking the first “?SN” button, as it will freeze up the program.
Close out of the MiFi Tool by clicking X on the top right, or by clicking the very last button “??”.
Flashing the FX-PR3L V9.0 firmware.
Disconnect the micro USB cable.
Connect to the Pocket WiFi via WiFi.
Open the browser, and go to 192.168.1.1.
Type in “smartbro” for both user and password.
Click “Skip”.
Click on “Software Information”.
Click “Browse”.
Navigate to “Step 5” folder, and select “NZ_MF_FX-PR3_AT2.22_SB_V09.bin” file.
Click “Upgrade”.
It will now flash the FX-PR3L V9.0 firmware, and Pocket WiFi will reboot once done.
Entering the unlock code
Remove cover, remove the battery, insert a SIM (any SIM but none from Smart, Sun, and TNT).\
Insert SIM and battery. Put cover. Turn the Pocket WiFi on.
It should say “PH-NET PIN”.
Connect to Pocket WiFi via WiFi. The password is “smartbro”.
Click on “UnLock” once. UnLock should now turn into “Lock”.
The Pocket WiFi should now reboot.
Congratulations! Your PocketWiFI is now unlocked!
You can now change and customize its network name (SSID) and password. If you want to update the firmware, download the “Smart Bro Pocket WiFi” app. It should automatically download the latest firmware when signed into the app. Updating the software doesn’t change the unlocked status of your device. We uploaded the latest firmware, firmware V14, and the unlock still persists.
Any questions? Feel free to fire away on the comments section below!
Around the first quarter of this year, Sony offers another flagship phone to the market, the Sony Xperia XZ2.
It is your typical 2018 phone; it comes with a huge Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen display powered by the latest processor octa-core unit Qualcomm Snapdragon 845.
To video vampires out there, this Android phone is supported by Sony’s Bravia TV; giving you an experience of a movie theatre within the size of your palm.
Xperia XZ2 released a refreshing pocket-friendly and palm-fit design with gentle curves at the back, trashing the brick-like structure of the older models of Sony.
The outer hard parts of this flagship phone are toughened by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the strongest glass available today. It’s accentuated with an Aluminum metal that contributed to earning its rating—IP68 dust- and water- resistance.
It’s 6 inches tall, with 5.7 inches of screen display.
The only caveat is that it is not coated with the anti-fingerprint coating. It should be cleaned regularly to keep its shiny look. It is still with IPS LED which is energy saving.
This is finished with four different color coatings—liquid black, liquid silver, deep green, and ash pink.
This phone has two variations, one has a single Nano sim and 4GB of RAM (H8216), and the other model has a Dual Nano sim with 6GB RAM (H8296).
In addition, the external memory is expandable up to 400GB. It is best for storing numerous videos, movies, music videos, and other entertainment kinds of stuff.
The battery capacity of this phone is a whopping 3180mAh. The energy consumption is lesser due to its faster Snapdragon 845 processor, the latest in Qualcomm technology.
Its powerful processor makes your battery last longer than your normal usage.
And if convenience is a major concern, Sony Xperia XZ2 has wireless charging capability. Its battery is refilled using a dock, and the hassle of using coiling wires is now gone.
In this phone, Sony sticks to fingerprint biometrics, which is not a bad move, since Face ID security is still shrouded with a lot of security and usability issues.
This flagship phone carries a 19 MP rear camera with their latest technology called Motion Eye, bringing photos and video experience into HDR. It is also draped with new photo features that will really boost your creativity.
Our favorite is their 3D capturing. You can now scan a 3D photo in 360˚ and share it.
On the other side of the leaf, its 5MP front camera is such a letdown, too low for the likings of selfie addicts.
Headphone jacks are out for this model. This is replaced by Sony’s LDAC technology, a wireless/Bluetooth headphone. But if you’re insistent in using headphones, a USB Type- C to 3.5mm Audio Jack adapter is included in the packaging.
Sony Xperia XZ2 vs Huawei Mate 20 vs. iPhone XR
This is the specs of Sony Xperia XZ2 versus the other flagship phones of two known brands circulating the market.
These three flagship phones offer HDR features in their camera. However, if you are into taking selfies, this might not be the best phone for you.
The output of its front camera is bad and looks cheap. Really bad, like taking a picture with a lot of mosquitos in it. Definitely not for your Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter stories. A big thumbs down.
On the other hand, if you’re engrossed in watching TV, movies, videos, and other forms of visual displays, Sony Xperia XZ2 is the better choice.
Still, choosing a phone will depend on your personal preference as a buyer.
The holiday season is here and surely there will be a lot of gatherings and parties everywhere. You are ready, but what about your phone? If you are looking for the best phone to bring to every party this holiday season, try checking the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 out!
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is accompanied by a powerful S pen that is now connected to Bluetooth for easier control in capturing photos, doing presentations, and watching videos. It is with a 6.3 inches screen display lighted with Super AMOLED technology. It comes with 256 GB internal memory expandable up to 512 GB.
Decades back, the term phablet was born, and it is used to describe phones with a screen size between that of a regular smartphone and a tablet. It gained a negative reputation for being too big for hands to hold and for not being pocket-friendly.
Samsung, being one of the pioneering manufacturers of phablets, did not disappoint the world by releasing the Galaxy Note series, which we know are truly remarkable when it comes to design and build quality. And this year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 made its debut.
Just like it’s predecessors, the outer parts of Galaxy Note 9 is made with glass and accented with aluminum; it has smooth curves at its edges really identical to the former Galaxy Note 8. Its outer appearance is polished with three different colors— Ocean Black, Midnight Blue, and Metallic Copper.
Its height is 6.4 inches- having an almost bezel-less Super AMOLED screen display.
The processor of this device is the Google Android version 8.1 Oreo. It’s a total bummer because Android Pie was already released before its debut, and that could have added more features and security.
The sim slots of this are in dual nano sim or it could be a hybrid (one nano sim and one micro SD card).
The S pen in Note 9 is now connected via Bluetooth, and it has added functions, too. It can control the camera, pause videos, and much more. It is located at the base of the phone together with the 3.0 mm headphone jack and a USB type- C cable port.
In the back is its dual camera; having 12 mp for the main camera is not bad but still lacking compared to humungous models of other smartphone manufacturers. Its front camera is only in 8MP, which is also a big thumbs down.
We expected the price of this device to be justified by its camera’s finesse. You can get a better camera with other flagship phones for the same price.
The internal storage of this phone is in 256 GB and can be increased up to 512 GB, making it perfect for storing pictures, videos, and files for keeps from this holiday season.
This phablet rivals the iPhone Xs Max in terms of price but if you’ll look into the specs and features between the two, major differences can be seen.
Note 9 and Xs Max have main cameras both in 12 mp. However, Note 9’s front camera is 8MP while the Xs Max only has 7MP. That’s a slight difference in numbers but a huge difference in picture quality.
On the other hand, besides being a little bit cheaper compared to the two, Huawei’s Mate 20 leave a huge gap in the camera aspects, having 24 mp in its front camera, but having only a 12MP main camera.
The only edge the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has it its improved S-pen.
Conclusion
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, is one of the most powerful phones out in the market today. You’ll never go wrong with an 8GB RAM in any day. Whether you use this phablet for work or for just having fun, this phablet could be the perfect gift to yourself for this year’s holiday season.
Waited too long to own a new iPhone but don’t want to play the cards wrong? Torn between the three newly released iPhones?
Well, your waiting is not in vain. Apple brings out its latest flagship phone, the iPhone Xr with its Liquid Retina HD screen display, a first in all iPhones.
After launching iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, Apple releases iPhone Xr later in the same month. Many believe it to be the upgraded version of iPhone 8 plus, but they can’t be blamed, the features are almost the same. At least, there’s a visible improvement.
It stands 6.1 inches tall, with an IPS LCD display screen. It ’s dual sim, has a 3 GB RAM, 3 internal storage options (64 GB, 128 GB & 256 GB), and 6 choices of colors.
There’s nothing controversial or life-changing about the iPhone Xr’s camera, but just like the rest of the latest iPhones, its TrueDepth feature will surely satisfy your need for taking simple yet memorable photos.
You can get it at T-mobile for $0.00 down at $20.84/mo (36x mo). You can buy it unlocked starting at $749.99.
The hardware parts of iPhone Xr is made of surgical steel glass and aerospace-grade aluminum. It has earned a rating of IP67; it is splash, water, and dust resistant.
This look is completed by a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating in 6 color finishing choices—black, white, red, yellow, blue, and coral.
The caveat is that it is not pressure sensitive. You can’t customize the sensitivity that you can use in pressing the screen of your smartphone, too bad.
iPhone Xr is supported by an A12 bionic chipset with a hexa-core processor; the latest technology Apple has to power their iPhones. It is remarkably faster than the older iPhone models.
It is supported by a 3GB RAM, which is good, but it’s going to get problematic if you use a lot of heavy apps at the same time. Its new features like TrueDepth, Location assistance, etc would eat up a lot of the phone’s memory capacity and this can slow down the iPhone Xr’s response time and performance.
iPhone Xr surprised many iPhone users because of its switch from Super Retina to Liquid Retina HD display; which means we’re back to good old IPS LCD from OLED.
We liked the fact that iPhone Xs and Xs Max have an OLED screen and it’s such a let down to know that iPhone Xr’s screen technology is IPS LCD. This meant not having brighter images and deep blacks that OLED can offer.
On the other hand, liquid Retina filled the screen of iPhone Xr edge-to-edge, but it still has that iconic notch at the top similar to iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
It also offered a natural, wider color variation in a 326-pixel density.
In terms of cameras, iPhone Xr has a 7MP(front) and 12MP(rear). Not bad, but nothing compared to other Android flagship phones.
The TrueDepth Camera feature gives a much better bokeh effect, depth control, and portrait lighting than the previous iPhones.
The table below shows the notable specs between the previous releases of iPhone compared to their latest.
iPhone Xr
iPhone Xs Max
iPhone 8 plus
Display size
6.1 inches
6.5 inches
5.5 inches
Dimension
5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches (150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm)
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 inches (158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm)
Weight
6.84 oz (194 g)
7.34 oz (208 g)
7.13 oz (202 g)
Materials
Main body: Glass; Accents: Aluminum
Main body: Glass; Accents: Stainless steel
Main body: Glass; Accents: Aluminum
Resolution
828 x 1792 pixels
1242 x 2688 pixels
1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel density
326 ppi
458 ppi
401 ppi
Technology
IPS LCD
OLED
IPS LCD
Camera
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
RAM
3GB
4GB
3GB
Internal Storage
256 GB
512 GB
256 GB
System Chip
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81
Apple A11 Bionic APL1W72
Biometrics
Face ID
Face ID
Fingerprints
GPU
4 core
4 core
3 core
Battery Capacity
2942 mAh
3179 mAh
2691 mAh
iPhone Xr is quoted as the descendant of iPhone 8 plus and really live up to its name. The ‘it -is- iPhone -8 -plus- but- not -really’ vibe is there.
A few upgrades can be seen in this smartphone from a bigger bezel-less display size, system chip, GPU, and biometrics (from fingerprints to Face ID).
However, if you own an iPhone 8 plus, we don’t think the upgrade is enough to make a switch with your current phone yet.
On the other hand, compared to iPhone Xs and Xs Max; iPhone Xr is inferior in both specs and features. Thus, it was justified by its price, since iPhone Xr is more affordable than iPhone Xs and Xs Max.
If you’re having second thoughts about Samsung or the rest of the flagships, you must really take a look at LG V Series’ newest release, the LG V40 ThinQ. It comes with five (5) cameras that will definitely turn your camera experience around.
No, it’s not just hype; its 3 smart rear cameras will give you 3 different options in capturing a picture.
It has a huge 6.4” QHD OLED FullVision Display with a notch, and it’s powered by an Octacore unit Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with 64GB internal memory, built-in battery, and of course, the crowd favorite, a headphone jack.
LG V40 ThinQ’s look came in four different colors—Platinum Grey, Aurora black, Moroccan blue, and Carmine red.
Standing 6.4 inches tall, this smartphone is comparably lightweight, weighing only 5.96 oz (169 g) following the standard weight for LG V series.
The screen is almost bezel-less except for a notch at the top. Trying to copy the iPhone X’s design may not be such a bad thing after all. As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery.
This smartphone uses Plastic OLED (P-OLED) instead of AMOLED which is the glass version of OLED. However, there are known issues of burn-ins in other models using P-OLED. We hope this will not happen in this flagship phone.
Its main feature is its 5 cameras: 2 in front and 3 at the back. We’re used to seeing dual lenses for wide angle shots, but LG chose to have a third rear camera solely meant for taking zoomed in portrait shots of your subject.
There are three (3) lenses located at the back of the phone—- 45˚ Telephoto Zoom Camera in 12 megapixels, 107˚ Wide Angle Camera in 16 megapixels and 78˚ Standard Camera in 12 megapixels.
They added a feature that allows you to take photos using the rear cameras at the same time and it is quite handy if you want to have the perfect angle for your pictures.
The two remaining lenses are located at the front—-Wide in 5 megapixels and Standard in 8 megapixels. They are perfect for selfie shots.
Also, the Cine Shot feature makes photos livelier and will surely be loved by Instagram users and aspiring filmmakers. This revolution in taking pictures is happening, thanks to LG.
Not only that, it is rated with IP68 water and dust resistance, so you can take on more pictures with your adventures.
And yes, LG V40 ThinQ is keeping the headphone jack- it’s not a common sight on most flagship phones nowadays, even on the iPhone Xs Max. LG is surely dominating the audiophile niche.
In the table are the features of the three newest released smartphones by their companies.
LG V40 ThinQ
iPhone XS MAX
Huawei Mate 20
Display size
6.4 inches
6.5 inches
6.5 inches
Dimension
6.25 x 2.98 x 0.3 inches (158.8 x 75.7 x 7.6 mm)
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
6.23 x 3.04 x 0.33 inches (158.2 x 77.2 x 8.3 mm)
Resolution
1440 x3120 pixels
1242 x 2668 pixels
1080 x 2240 pixels
Pixel Density
537 ppi
458 ppi
381 ppi
Color
Black, Silver, Blue, Red
Silver, Gold, Grey
Black, Gold, Green, Blue
Weight
5.96 oz (169 g)
7.34 oz (208 g)
6.63 oz (188 g)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SDM845
A12 Bionic Chipset
APL1W81
HiSilicon Kirin 980
RAM
6 GB
4GB
4 GB
Internal Storage
64 GB
64, 256, 512 GB
128GB
Battery
3300 mAh
3179 mAh
4000 mAh
Camera (front)
8 mp
7mp
24mp
The pricing difference between these expensive phones is not too big. It all goes down in each phone’s specs and features.
If you love taking pictures and making videos, LG’s V40 ThinQ is your bestie. The upgrades they’ve done in this field really blew up other smartphone manufacturers. They have greater and clearer resolutions compared to iPhone Xs Max and Huawei Mate 20.
LG V40 ThinQ also has power and processor advantage, it’s a phone with a ginormous 6GB RAM and spacious 64GB Internal Memory.
In terms of outer appearances, the matte coating effect of LG V40 ThinQ is such a letdown. It looks so plain and cheap looking compared to the other two.
Moreover, if you already own V35 upgrading to V40 is not really advisable.
Yes, LG V40 ThinQ has new features that are not available to V35 but if you’re not into selfies or video making, you might not enjoy the fact that this phone costs around $920 when bought outright.
