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Uber and other app-hailing services become legal in the Philippines
Uber has finally caught a break in the Philippines. It's no secret that the company's dealing with a bunch of issues, from sexual assault complaints to resistance by local taxi businesses and permit problems with governments across the globe. But in the Asian archipelago, the ride-sharing service is now completely legal, after operating without formal regulations for almost a year. In fact, the Philippine transportation department has created a whole new classification for Uber called Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS). That category recognizes all app-based transportation services, which means rivals like Lyft can launch in the country with zero issues.
Smart Communications' new 4G LTE launch details slip out in Philippines, quickly get pulled
Mabuhay, Philippines. We've covered the Pearl of the Orient Seas' affinity for electric tricycles, green billboards and a certain cool-looking logo before. This time, it's all about the Gs as select locations in Metro Manila are apparently in line to get high-speed wireless coverage via a new 4G LTE network being launched by Smart Communications on August 25th. The launch was first reported by Philippines-based site MisterJonjon.com, which has since taken down the post at the company's request. Areas scheduled to get coverage include parts of financial center Makati as well as locations around the SM Mall of Asia and the University of the Philippines' Diliman campus, to name a few. The site also reported that Smart will offer customers a Huawei USB LTE stick for free and charge a monthly rate of 3,500 Philippine pesos (about $83). All in all, the company is set to activate 49 LTE base stations during the launch. For more, check out the snapshot of the pulled post through the source link. [Thanks, Neil]
HTC Mega ROM reveals new-look TouchFLO 2D
We know what's in the pipe for the next generation of TouchFLO 3D -- but what about TouchFLO 2D, the lightweight version of HTC's WinMo skin currently employed in devices like the low-end Touch Viva? For the answer to that, we need look no further than an alleged leaked ROM for the upcoming Mega, which appears to have revealed a treasure trove of heretofore-unseen goodies. TouchFLO 2D 2.0 looks, dare we say it, damn near as pretty as its higher-end 3D counterpart -- and conveniently, you can get this up and running right now if you've got a QVGA set running a leaked 6.5 ROM. We know you're a risk-taker if you're running 6.5 code right now, so you may as well give this a shot too, right?[Via wmpoweruser.com and pocketnow.com]
Meralco planning internet over power lines in the Philippines
While the concept of channeling the internet over power lines is far from new, it has yet to be implemented in any significant manner. If a top power distributor in the Philippines has its druthers, however, all that will change in the not-too-distant future. Manila Electric Company, better known as Meralco, is gearing up to use its power lines to bring broadband internet to more of the country, which currently sees just 20 million out of its 90 million inhabitants with access. In fact, the company has already made clear that it is "set to implement the pilot test," with the results guiding it in "determining scope and coverage of the project." Come to think of it, we've got a few dollars to spend on a rural broadband initiative here in the States. Hmm...
HTC's WinMo 6.1 "Manilla" interface gets pictured
No sooner does Microsoft make Windows Mobile 6.1 really official than we see a slew of screenshots to put that build to shame. The so-called "Manilla" is touted as a customized interface that lies on top of the standard WinMo 6.1 Professional OS, and what you see above purportedly came from a "cooked X7150 ROM with the Manilla aspect thrown in from an unreleased VGA device HTC is working on." For what it's worth, it's also noted that Manilla and TouchFLO 2.0 aren't one in the same, and just in case you aren't totally in love already, tap that read link to witness a gallery full of eye candy.
HTC TouchFLO 2 "Manila" leaks out, are you brave enough to install it?
Alright, HTC Touch owners -- who's going to take the hit and install this leaked build of TouchFLO 2.0 that's been spreading around under the codename Manila? From the screenshots, it looks like it does a better job of taking over from the standard WinMo interface, but it still retains the reskinned-launcher relationship with the OS that we find slightly awkward. Still, we're curious -- who's got the stones to give it a shot?[Via The Unwired]
