Samsung Galaxy S III mini: big surprises inside

How I got my Globe Samsung Galaxy S III mini can be summed up in this phrase: From little things big things grow. That expression also sums up how the smaller version of Samsung’s flagship phone stands out among other smartphones.

In her first blog giveaway, Filipina blogger and social media icon Noemi Dado (@momblogger) featured the S III mini. The instruction was very simple: Just tweet: @momblogger #IWantGlobeGalaxyS3Mini [cite/name a feature or reason].

I tried my luck and tweeted at the last minute that I want the S3 mini “because its mega features will make me a more effective netizen for change.” I badly needed such powerful phone especially with my very busy social media life and hectic advocacy work, with phone photography on the side. Also, my previous smartphone was stolen in January.

Two days later, I was surprised to find out that my 140 character-response was luckily chosen as the winning tweet among dozens of tweets! Imagine, I won a smartphone worth P14,000+ in just 140 characters! Small things really lead to big surprises.

The S III mini is a downscaled S3 version with big surprises inside. Well, the S III mini is not actually small as it sports a 4”-inch super AMOLED display (similar to Apple iPhone 5’s screen size), and is bigger than most phones in the midsize category. Moreover, the display is at 233 pixels per inch (ppi) density, giving you a crisp rendering of graphics. The phone runs on the latest version of Android Jellybean.

Luckily, I got the blue S3 mini 🙂

Speed is one of my top criteria for smartphones, and the S III mini is exceptional at that. Its dual-core processor clocks at 1 GHz while RAM is at 1 GB, making homescreen switching and application startups lag-free. Even If I already installed a couple of applications, swiping homescreen to the left or right is flawlessly executed. Web browsing is almost problem-free, making Twitter and Facebook interactions like what it is supposed to be: real-time.

The S III mini also features a 5-MP camera, and based on my test shots the result was decent. The phone also allows you to choose from a range of shooting modes: continuous (burst shots), panorama, smile shot, and cartoon.

In terms of distinct features and functionality, S III mini has Smart stay, which detects if the user is looking at the display to keep screen awake. This is perfect especially for those who love to read e-books and view short clips while on the go. Also, the phone has S memo, which is a pimped version of Google calendar with a user-friendly interface and neat side tab. This feature will be very helpful in keeping tab of crazy schedules and tasks.

The only thing that disappoints me is its very small keyboard (which is less than half of the display). This presents troubles for those who have big fingers like me. But overall, the power-packed mini version of S III is a mega gift to treasure – especially since I received it FREE!

Sabah crisis: Why is Aquino hell-bent to undermine Sulu sultanate’s claim? (Part 1 of 2)

first published on Blogwatch.ph

It may seem that President Benigno Aquino III is once again showcasing his knack for crisis situation mishandling amid his sloppy response to the ongoing Sabah crisis, which has already claimed the lives of 52 Filipinos. To many, the President’s indifference to the slaughter of his compatriots seems startling amid the United Nations call for anend to violence in the volatile town of Lahad Datu.

It should not be dismissed though that this is just the President’s love for massacres and incompetence working on the situation. Actually, the President is working real hard right now – not to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis but to discredit the Sulu sultanate’s claim even at the cost of more Filipinos’ lives.

Many pundits have diligently made their historical treatises on who really has the rightful claim over Sabah. It would be ill-timed though to dwell on such topic at length and yet disregard the serious humanitarian question at hand. The Sabah issue isn’t just about territorial claim, for it has already acquired a human rights dimension amid the massacre of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s followers, the illegal arrests of Filipinos in Sabah, and the possible deportation of hundreds of thousands of Filipino migrant workers working there.

Which brings us to mind-boggling questions: Why is the Aquino administration tolerating, even endorsing, the grave human rights abuses against Filipinos in Sabah? Why is the US embassy, which usually reacts to the slightest of diplomatic tensions, mum on the escalating crisis in Sabah?

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