Coby CMP500 Nitrox Product Review

Bought the Coby CMP500 mobile phone today, and so far, I can say I'm pleased with it. It appears to be one of the better smart phones available for a person on a low budget.

The only hitch I had with it initially was that Windows 7 didn't recognize the device. Even after installing Universal Android drivers for it, the device "wasn't showing up as a drive" in the way I'm used to with other mobile phones. But the device has an ftp WiFi option where you can transfer files once you input the WiFi address to your PC. After that, transferring files was a breeze.

The following are the specs behind the box:
Display: 4.98" LCD (540 x 960) qHD Panel
Processor: 1.3 GHz MTK6582 Quad Cortex A7
Memory: 8 GB NAND Storage, 1 GB RAM
Camera: Dual Camera: Front 2 MP, Rear 8 MP
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 /b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0 3G; WCDMA 850 / 2100 MHz 2G; GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Sim Card Slot: Dual SIM
Power: Battery: 1900 mAh

To enable an FTP transfer, go to File Explorer and click on the "FTP" tab. Then click on "Start Service". Use the IP Address given to you. It usually starts as "ftp://192." Go to your drives, right click, then choose "Add a network location". Click on "next" then click on "Choose a custom network location". Type in the IP Address you obtained and just keep following until you name the folder. You should now be able to access the files on your mobile phone via this folder.

P.S.

10/24/2015
After seven months, the charger that came with the phone was busted. The charger was treated as an accessory even though it was part of the phone package. (It was in the box together with the earphones and the phone unit). And because it was an accessory, it wasn't covered in the warranty.

To make matters worse, the vendor does not sell Coby accessories. They only sell units. Coby after-sales support has been shitty at best. It's a good thing CD-R King sells those 60 peso USB chargers which you can attach the USB cable to. Just make sure you get the charger with a 5 volt and 1 ampere output.

TM-1151 Ultrasonic Tape Measure

My friend is an Architect so I decided to give her the TM-1151 Ultrasonic Tape Measure (UTM) as a Christmas Gift. I field tested the gift for her. And I must say that I have mixed feelings about the device. The UTM is that size of about 2 scientific calculators placed back to back. It uses a 9-volt battery. And it works using the principle of sound waves, where you send out a wave and wait for it to echo back. In order for the tape measure to actually work, you have to be facing a literal perpendicular wall so that ultrasonic sound can bounce back. Even the slightest angle can result in the signal getting lost, resulting in a reading that will display ERROR. The laser pointer is great for checking if you are pointing in the right direction, but it is only useful at night. If there is a lot of foliage, or obstructions between the wall and you, then expect an ERROR signal once again. So while the device claims an accuracy of between .5% to 1% deviations, getting an actual reading will be a challenge. If you are on a geological survey team, with nothing but nature on the field, then this gadget is not for you since how many natural rock formations resemble an actual perpendicular wall? So this device will only probably work great in urban areas. The device advertises a maximum range of 60 feet. But I was only able to measure a maximum distance of about 10 meters. So again, think twice before you even make this purchase. I'll try to field test the device first before actually paying for it.