2019 v19n6 - NEW TECH by Gadgets Magazine

Maribelle M. Alba

Ren Alcantara

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Managing Editor

#GIRLBOSS

Être fort pour être utile

@bellealba

@hisnameisren

PRESY ALBA

MIA CARISSE BARRIENTOS

EDITOR-AT-LARGE I don’t travel light, I lug too many gadgets, I can walk for miles exploring and I never say no to the local fare.

If you ask me a Kpop-related question, I’ll respond with an essay

@presy1121

@miaissocoollike

THERESA ELORIAGA

Jewel Sta. Ana

ASSOCIATE Editor

ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

Garmonbozia.

Nope, I don’t have a pawnshop

@theresaeloriaga

@monsterjewfloat

JAEL MENDOZA

President & CEO

Marisa Consuelo

Accounting manager Accounting Staff

Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

HR & ADMIN MANAGER Administration Staff

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano Clifford Dela Paz

PR & MARKETING STAFF DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER Legal Counsel

GRAPHIC Artist

Maribelle Alba

Sales AND ADVERTISING MANAGER Account executive

Carol Agabin

Paula Candoy Jerico Lutrania Alba Law Office

Julius dalay

She holds a sketchpad on one hand, and a music sheet on the other hand

staffwriter

Political Analyst. Urban Planner

@jaellaura_m

RONEL BAUTISTA

ARNEL DORIA

GRAPHIC Artist

The incarnation of the award-winning, hit single ‘ Torn ‘ by Natalie Imbruglia.

Consultant, Mobility Section

Marketing guru. Automotive industry veteran. Road safety advocate.

@sailorapollo11

JOSE ALVAREZ

GERRY GAVIOLA

CONTRIBUTOR

Cineaste. Audiophile. Gadget addict. @gerry.g626

Jose loves football, video games, computers, and history, but not necessarily in any order. @josealvarez

GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Inc. Address all correspondence to Unit 801-802, The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., 1104 Quezon City. Our telephone number is: 288-8588 Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

All unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations and photos submitted must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Gadgets is fully accurate; however, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. Gadgets Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Inc.

MARLET SALAZAR

CONTRIBUTOR Marlet is a book-lover, and can forego lunch to buy a book. @marletds

FEBRUARY 2019

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2019 | Volume 19 No. 6

Parade

GadgetsLab

New tech, coming through!

Beyond the Horizon

We put these cool devices to the test.

Mobility Everything on wheels.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

It’s the ultimate showdown you’ve been waiting for!

FEBRUARY 2019

Innovations from AI and they help us get by.

Olight S2R Baton II

Your next go-to pocket flashlight.

Pioneering tech devices brought by our Russian muse, Eva Gorshkova.

AI and I

Hobbies: CDs Physical digital.

M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass

The Eastrail 177 trilogy has come to an end.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Artist Corner: Erickson Arcilla Contemporary surrealism at its finest.

Madurodam

A refreshing attraction awaits you in the Netherlands.

Cybersecurity News, trends, and threats in cyberspace.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Level Up

CES 2019

Google puts the spotlight on indie game developers.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rundown of the cutting-edge devices from the famous tech show.

Pampanga Food Trip Prepare yourself for a festival of flavors.

Bits and Bytes Keep yourself updated with the current news in tech.

Enterprise Read up on the current happenings in the world of business.

Deep Blue

Meet the supercomputer that felled giants.

FEBRUARY 2019

PARADE

Honda Goldwing Big Bike

The Honda Goldwing is the Touring model, that has embodied long range comfort, luxury, and quality for over 40 years. The latest edition has been redesigned from the wheels up to be sharper, lighter, and more compact, while maintaining its myriad of advanced features. This bike is hailed as the ultimate performance tourer with its 1,833 cc liquid-cooled horizontal opposed 6-cylinder SOHC engine, 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), slipper clutch, cruise control, and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). This tourer also provides superior handling and riding comfort with its double wishbone front suspension, all-aluminum swing-arm, combination-ABS, electronic suspension pre-load, radial front brake calipers, and ISG (Integrated Starter Generator). It comes with ride mode features for different riding conditions such as tour, sport, rain, and econ to deliver maximum functionality during any type of ride. With top-of-the-line equipment and automobile-based technology such as throttle by wire, hill start assist, walking/reverse mode, keyless ignition (SMART Key System), LED lights, and airbag, the Honda Goldwing provides the rider the best handling and most comfortable rides.

PHP 1,880,000

FEBRUARY 2019

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Honda CB650R Big Bike

The Honda CB650R is a Neo Sports Café roadster designed with a modern and minimalist styling concept. Its four-cylinder engine is fully on display, complementing the signature round headlight and sculpted fuel tank. This compact, middleweight naked sports bike is equipped with full LED lighting, a digital LCD panel, and tapered handlebar. The design also gives it a more aggressive riding position while offering superior handling and riding comfort, thanks to its lighter frame (13 lbs lighter than CB650F), Showa Separate Function front suspension (SSF), and 4 piston radial mount brake calipers. The CB650R is equipped with a powerful liquid-cooled in-line 4-cylinder 649 cc DOHC engine with assist/ slipper clutch. The model also comes with Honda Selectable Torque Control, 4-2-1 exhaust which makes it a perfect a combination of looks, performance and top-line specifications.

PHP 501,000

Honda CB1000R Big Bike

Another roadster, the CB1000R also features Honda’s Neo Sports Café design with a more compact and muscular naked bike look. Adding to the overall style is the iconic circular headlight, flangeless fuel tank, and aluminum radiator cowl. Like other models in the lineup, the Honda CB1000R is built for superior handling, riding comfort, and convenience thanks to its lightweight mono backbone steel frame, full LED lights, radial mounted dual disk brake, Showa separate fork function big piston (SSF-BP), ride modes, a full LCD display, and throttle by wire. Its engine is a liquid-cooled 1,000 cc DOHC in-line 4-cylinder 16-valve powerplant with Honda selectable torque control (HSTC), delivering maximum performance for all riding conditions.

PHP 865,000

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FEBRUARY 2019

D-Link COVR-C1203 Wi-Fi Mesh Router

Offering optimal performance in a stylish package, the newest dual-band Wi-Fi system from D-Link provides seamless coverage for your entire home. The COVR-C1203 gives high-speed wireless connectivity, thanks to its dualband AC wave II with data speeds of up to 1200 Mbps and expands Wi-Fi connectivity zones by up to 460 square meters, eliminating dead spots. Through Smart Roaming technology, the Wi-Fi mesh router automatically links your mobile devices to the strongest uninterrupted signal available. There are also dedicated Ethernet ports for connecting Network-Attached Storage (NAS), media centers, and gaming consoles to the internet for efficiency and flexibility. Intelligent and intuitive, its Smart Steering feature reduces network congestion by directing connected devices to the best wireless band without dropouts or lag.

PHP 14,780

D-Link DCS-8100LH Smart Camera

Guard your humble abode 24/7 with the latest smart camera from the pioneer in network solutions, D-Link. Giving you a 180-degree field of view with its high-definition 720p sensor, the DCS-8100LH is designed to fit your remote camera needs. It has built-in night vision, as well as sound and motion detection that allows you to maintain digital surveillance over your home or office day and night. Accessible through its dedicated mobile app, you can now monitor and communicate with your loved ones even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away from home with its 2-way audio system. Thanks to its micro-SD slot that supports up to 128 GB of storage, backing up videos and images is also a breeze.

PHP 9,340

FEBRUARY 2019

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D-Link DIR-882 AC2600 Wi-Fi Router

Packed with unique specifications for remarkable performance, the DIR-882 AC2600 is a wireless router made for hardcore streamers. Equipped with a dual-core processor, it can run the most demanding online software and games that support HD, 3D, and 4K videos. Apart from delivering faster Wi-Fi speed up to 2,533 Mbps, simultaenous dual-band capabilities, state-of-the-art QoS engine, and providing wider coverage, the wireless router supports MUMIMO technology that allows seamless, simultaneous streaming of multiple devices. Its Advanced AC SmartBeam feature, meanwhile, keeps track of linked devices for enhancing internet speed and range.

PHP 11,490

Acer Predator Triton 900 Gaming Laptop

Bearing an innovative design that’s first in its class, this convertible gaming laptop features a CNC-machined Ezel Hero Hinge that transforms the device into four different forms: notebook, Ezel, tablet, and display—for productivity, entertainment, and gaming. Amazingly thin at just 23.75 mm, its 17-inch, 4K IPS touchscreen display is compatible with NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology for sharper and smoother gameplay. It can be configured with up to Intel’s hexacore 8th Generation Core i7 processor and paired with the new RTX 2080 GPU, NVMe PCl SSDs, and supports 32 GB of DDR4 memory for running even the most demanding AAA titles. Apart from its trackpad, the newest addition to the Predator lineup has an Xbox wireless receiver to support Xbox controllers, and features Waves Maxx with Waves Nx for 3D audio experience.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Lenovo Yoga A940 AiO All-In-One PC

Built for digital content creators, the Yoga A940 AiO is a powerful creative canvas with a large 27-inch QHD or 4K IPS touchscreen display powered by Dolby Vision, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. It is also coupled with a Dolby Atmos Speaker System for rich, moving audio. For remarkable flexibility and stability, it features a rotating hinge that enables the display to tilt up to its 25-degree drafting mode. The Lenovo Precision Dial, on the other hand, allows for more precise selection and adjustment. Its hardware includes an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage or a 2 TB HDD, and an AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU for its high-end model. With Lenovo Smart Assist AI-enabled features and stunning audio and visual specifications, the Yoga A940 is the ideal centerpiece in any content creatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home or work space.

Lenovo IdeaPad D330 Hybrid Laptop

The Lenovo D330 hybrid laptop features enhanced power and portability for productivity on-the-go. The 2-in-1 IdeaPad D330 allows users to easily switch between two modes. Simply detaching the 10-inch HD display from the keyboard enables tablet mode, while attaching it back turns it into a fullfledged laptop. It also has four usage modes: Notebook, Stand, Tablet, and Tent, each designed to enhance the user experience. Powering the D330 is an Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor along with 4 GB of RAM. It is equipped with Intel Integrated Graphics, 128 GB eMMC storage, the latest USB 3.1 Type-C support with power display for quick charging, as well as runs on the Windows 10 Home OS. The IdeaPad is travel-friendly, with the display weighing just 600 g while the keyboard is at 525 g. It also has 2 MP front- and 5 MP rear cameras, and promises up to 12 hours of battery life.

PHP 24,995 (Starting price)

FEBRUARY 2019

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Lenovo Smart Clock Smart Clock

Lenovo has collaborated with Google to create an ultimate bedtime companion. The Google Assistant-powered Lenovo Smart Clock helps users cultivate healthy sleeping habits by setting up sleep routines. Ergonomically designed for sitting on nightstands, its 4-inch IPS touchscreen display flashes time and date, notifications, daily events, and reminders in a more refreshing UI as you kickstart your day. With a multi-room audio function, users can add the smart clock to an audio system to stream tunes, play audiobooks, podcasts, and even tune in to your favorite radio station through its built-in 6W speaker with Dolby’s latest background noise reduction technology. As the latest addition to Lenovo’s smart home family, the voice-activated intelligent clock transforms the way you live, pushing users to be more productive and efficient.

Lenovo Smart Tab P10 Tablet

Powered by Amazon Alexa, the Lenovo Smart Tab P10 runs your home in a smarter way, and encourages a more productive lifestyle. The newest addition to the brand’s own series of home devices functions as a tablet and a smart screen when used together with its complementary Lenovo smart dock. Opening up new and exciting ways to manage your household, the dock boasts Dolby Atmos speakers, filling the room with your favorite beats, and controls other smart home devices through voice-activated commands. At the core of the 2-in-1, Android Oreo tablet is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chipset paired with up to 64 GB of internal storage. Among its other features include the immersive 10.1-inch FHD display, 5-megapixel and 8-megapixel front and rear cameras, three far-field microphones, and fingerprint sensor.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Sony GTK-PG10 Audio System

Dubbed as the ultimate party accessory, this portable wireless speaker is more than just an audio device. The foldable panel reveals a splash-proof table with cup holders, and two tweeters powered by a Digital Signal Processor that automatically adapts and optimizes outdoor audio performance. Boasting a compact cube design and tripod compatibility, the GTK-PG10 can be easily carried and stowed anywhere—from your living room to your own backyard. It also provides plug and play connectivity options through its audio input and USB port, and has 13-hour battery life, built-in FM radio tuner, voice control function via the Fiestable app, and wireless control through the Sony Music Center app.

Sony SRS-XB32 Bluetooth Speakers

Give a bass boost to your party anthems through Sony’s SRS-XB32 two 48 mm, full-range stereo drivers that work together with its dual passive radiators, enhancing low-end tones. Engineered for outdoor use, the Sony XB32 has a solid body that’s waterproof, dustproof, and can withstand knocks, bumps, and scrapes. It still holds the brand’s signature features like the Live Sound Mode for producing concert-like threedimensional audio, Party Booster for controlling volume and LED lighting, and Wireless Party Chain for linking up to 100 Sony compatible speakers. Providing wireless music streaming through Bluetooth and NFC, the portable speakers can last all day thanks to a huge internal battery.

FEBRUARY 2019

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LG Signature OLED TV R OLED TV

First appearing at the recently concluded CES 2019, the groundbreaking roll-up TV from the Korean tech brand defines the next generation of entertainment. Boasting a sleek, 65-inch display, LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship 4K OLED TV features great viewing angles, HDR, a brushed aluminum housing, and is equipped with a 4.2-channel, 100W Dolby Atmos audio system. It offers three viewing options: Full view, Line view, and Zero view that saves more space and blends with the aesthetic of your home. At the heart of the OLED TV R is the intelligent Alpha 9 Gen 2 processor that supports Amazon Alexa, as well as Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit for easy media playback and device mirroring. Its Line mode drops down the screen to about a quarter of its full size, allowing easy control of smart home gadgets, music playback, weather updates, and photo viewing.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Bluetooth Headphones

With the looming obsolescence of the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the poor adaptation of the USB-C audio standard, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones allows you to connect your headphones to your device through Bluetooth and NFC. As with all high-end Sony earphones, it features class-leading adaptive sound control and high-quality audio with DSEE HX and LDAC plus a solid noise cancelling technology. A full charge takes roughly 3 hours and it lasts long enough for up to 30 hours of music, or 38 hours, with active noise canceling disabled. Sony has again raised the bar high with their WH-1000XM3 Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones and is sure to win the hearts of hard-core audiophiles.

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FEBRUARY 2019

DJI Smart Remote Controller Drone Remote Controller

DJI’s Smart Remote Controller with a built-in display pairs excellently with the brand’s drones. The Smart Controller makes flying DJI drones a lot easier and more enjoyable with its large screen, advanced controls, and connectivity options. Now, pilots no longer have to go the trouble of installing flight control applications, and connecting and controlling their drones with a smartphone or tablet. Compact and travel-friendly, it features a 5.5-inch screen that provides a real-time feed from the drone’s camera. Its display, with an output of 1000 cd/m2, is bright enough to be used even in direct sunlight. Additionally, it has 2.5 hours of battery life and is able to operate in extreme temperatures. A customizable Android dashboard supports DJI GO 4, DJI Pilot, along with various third-party apps such as editing programs.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics Card

The much-awaited graphics card from Nvidia has come to life. Offering a more immersive gaming experience, the RTX 2060 is built for running AI-powered, AAA game titles. It combines the speed and efficiency of the previous generation, featuring 240 Tensor cores with 52 teraflops of deep learning power, and 6 GB of GDDR6 RAM. Fronting a sleek design and dual-fan setup, it delivers 5-giga rays of real time ray tracing at 60 frames per second, giving realistic visuals and boosts the game boot up to 60 percent. Defining the next generation of gaming, the mid-range graphics card comes with capture and sharing tools useful for streamers through its exclusive GeForce Experience app.

FEBRUARY 2019

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MSI GS75 Stealth Laptop

When gaming, having capable gear is one of your best bets to scoring a win. And in this battlefield, MSI is a brand you can trust. The brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly unveiled GS75 Stealth packs a massive punch. Its 18.95 mm-sized trim body is equipped with up to the latest GeForce RTX 2080 graphics, to offer stunningly realistic graphics through its thin-bezel-framed 17.3-inch 144Hz IPSlevel display. Well-built and beautiful, the GS75 Stealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chassis sports golden hinge accents and aluminum alloy. It also comes with an extra-large touchpad with a silky smooth glass surface and passive radiator speakers that deliver stunning bass and powerful audio despite its minuscule chassis. While you mash its Per-Key RGB Steel Series gaming keyboard by SteelSeries shooting baddies, its up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor gives it unrelenting power throughout your gaming session.

Fuji Xerox ApeosPort-VII C series Multi-Function Printer

A trusted provider for document machines and office solutions, Fuji Xerox Philippines Inc. has launched 14 new models of its cutting-edge multifunctional printers that aim to increase work productivity. Integrating an interactive user experience, the digital office printer is equipped with a 10.1inch touch screen display for controls and alerts. It offers seamless mobility through its Cloud Service Hub and streamlines scanning, allowing direct document access from the printer. Ensuring data security from external attacks, the ApeosPort-VII C series protects and limits access to internal files through secured authentication via IC cards, duplication control, log monitoring, and usage restrictions. Among other revolutionary enhancements included shock-absorber mechanism for its duplex document feeder, non-standard size scanning, 12.5 x 47-inch banner printing, cloud on demand guest printing, and remote device health check.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX531z Gaming Laptop

Asusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ROG Zephyrus S GX531 is offers a compelling deal to those in the market for a gaming laptop. The ZEPHYRUS S GX531 features an all-Nvidia graphics affair with choices from GeForce RTX 2080 (Max-Q), GeForce RTX 2070 (Max-Q), or GeForce RTX 2060 which is then mated with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor. It can be configured with up to 32 GB of system memory and choices of NVMe SSD capacity from 256 GB up to 1 TB depending on the model, ensuring enough capacity at the fastest speeds possible. The display is an ultra-sharp 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel with super-narrow bezels and a144 Hz refresh rate, while the overall thickness is at 15-35-16.55 mm making this a slim, sexy beast.

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Gaming Laptop

For those looking for a slim laptop with a big screen, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is worth considering. Like its smaller GX531 brother, the ZEPHYRUS S GX701 is another Nvidia graphics showcase with choices from GeForce RTX 2080 (Max-Q), GeForce RTX 2070, or GeForce RTX 2060 coupled with an Intel Core i78750H processor. It is capable of up to 32 GB of system memory and depending on the model, an NVMe SSD capacity of either 512 GB or 1 TB assuring users of fast read and write speeds as well as adequate capacity. Games are displayed on a 17.3-inch FHD IPS display with super-slim 6.9 mm bezels resulting in an immersive 81 percent screen-to-body ratio for a footprint thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closer to a conventional 15-inch laptop.

FEBRUARY 2019

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Asus ROG PNK LTD Gaming Peripherals

Asus’ ROG peripherals have just gotten a facelift. Launched at CES 2019, the new PNK LTD lineup includes the ROG Strix Flare mechanical keyboard, ROG Strix Fusion 300 headset, ROG Gladius II Origin mouse, and the ROG Sheath mousepad all done in lemonade pink with soft grey accents. The Flare retains the per-key RGB lighting powered by Asus Aura Sync, a detachable palm rest, dedicated media controls, and Cherry MX switches. The optical mouse meanwhile, sports a PixArt PMW3360 sensor with a maximum DPI setting of 12000 for fast response and precise control, Omron switches, a dedicated DPI switch and a durable braided cable that’s built to last. Underneath the pastel exterior of the headset lies 50 mm Asus Essence drivers that deliver 7.1 virtual surround sound for less audio distortion. Completing the package is the extra-large mouse pad that ensures pixel-precise tracking for unmatched command and control.

Asus ROG Mothership GZ700 Gaming Laptop

Made with no-compromise portability and performance in mind, the Asus ROG Mothership GZ700’s main feature is its tablet-like structure with a detachable keyboard that makes playing a bit more flexible. Keeping such form factor cool are two self-cleaning fans, eight heatpipes, and four heatsinks inside the aluminum chassis, while the 8 GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 and Intel Core i9-8950HK processor do all the heavy lifting. At 4.7 kg and 29.9 mm thick, Asus’ portable gaming laptop is no tablet, but delivers power that can put some gaming desktops to shame.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Asus ROG Strix SCAR II Gaming Laptop

For FPS gamers who want a competent gaming laptop with the capabilities of a highend model for nearly an entry model price, the Asus ROG Strix SCAR II gives you that balance in a camouflage-inspired design in 15- and 17-inch variants. The 17-inch Strix SCAR II is equipped with an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor, while the smaller 15-inch variant has an option of running the same i7 processor or an i5-8300H processor. It is then mated with a 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, or 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU and up to 32 GB 2666MHz SDRAM. The smaller 15-inch model sports a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display while the bigger 17-inch model has a 17.3-inch FHD IPS display, both of which is capable of 144 Hz refresh rate. The Asus ROG Strix SCAR II is a testament to how mid-range gaming laptops could give high-end models a run for their money.

Asus ROG Strix Hero II Gaming Laptop

Gamers who want to experience a full-fledged gaming laptop without breaking the bank should look at the entry-level Asus ROG Strix Hero II laptop with its classic two-tone styling and narrow-bezel design. It is equipped with either an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H or a Core i5-8300H, 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce RT 2060 graphics, up to 32 GB 2666 MHz SDRAM, a crisp 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, side firing speakers, and VR support. The Asusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; entry-level ROG Strix Hero II exceeds expectations with its powerhouse specifications that can surely win the hearts of cash-strapped yet passionate gamers who wish to upgrade their hardware.

FEBRUARY 2019

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Brother Innov-ís A150 Sewing Machine

Sew like a pro with Brother’s Innov-ís A150. The A150 sewing machine boasts reliable stitch quality and sturdy construction. It is equipped with extra powerful needle penetration for use on different kinds of fabric, a maximum sewing speed of 850 SPM, a mono LCD display, 150 built-in stitches, and built-in lettering font styles of gothic, italic, bold, and one Japanese font style. To keep your hands safe, the machine has a built-in safety detection sensor that prevents accidental use of the needle when changing the bobbin. Its keypad button, meanwhile, locks the machine when it’s time to change the needle or presser foot, or clean the machine. To further aid users in the operation of the machine, the supplementary Brother SupportCentre App contains how-to videos, an operation manual, stitch pattern chart, and needle, and thread suggestions for different fabric types.

PHP 29,995

Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition Smartphone

Part of its NEX premium line of smartphones, the new Vivo device sports not just one but two screens. Flaunting a groundbreaking dual-display design, the new Vivo NEX has a 6.39-inch Ultra FullView Super AMOLED display on the front and another 5.49-inch Super AMOLED display at the back. Joining the rear display panel is a triple camera setup consisting of a 12 MP Dual-Pixel IMX 363 sensor with 4-axis OIS, a camera dedicated for night shooting, and a Time of Flight (TOF) 3D camera for point-to-point distance measuring, 3D Modeling and more. The cameras are complemented by NEX’s camera modes Mirror and Pose Director, as well as AI Scene Recognition, AI Filters and AI Portrait Framing, and diffusion lighting from the Selfie Softlight. The rear of this NEX iteration also has a Lunar Ring feature which creates a glowing band of colors to alert the user of new messages and notifications, and will pulse to music. Powering the NEX Dual Display is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor. It is also said to ship with 10 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM. Like other recently released Vivo smartphones, the new NEX comes with the brand’s In-Display Fingerprint Scanning technology and 3D sensing technology for enhanced security. The future is NEX.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Columbia Calpine Interchange Set Apparel

Combining Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-selling Voodoo Falls 590 TurboDown liner jacket and a lightweight, outer layer hoodie, the Calpine Interchangeable Set is the perfect outdoor apparel for the modern day multi-tasker. Its outer layer is made from Omni-Tech nylon fabric that guarantees waterproof protection against heavy snow and rainfall, while its thermally reflective, Omni-Heat inner wear provides insulation in freezing environments. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an adjustable hood, zippered hand and chest pockets, interior security pocket for your valuables, and snapback powder skirt that keeps the wind from sneaking up inside the jacket.

Columbia Outdry Rogue Interchange Jacket Apparel

Designed for versatility, this hybrid jacket from Columbia is one of its bestsellers. An outdoor piece that you can wear from trekking to skiing, it features an insulated, puffy jacket and a waterproof parka made of Outdry Extreme polyester and Omni-Tech nylon fabric. Thanks to its Thermarator insulation, it provides needed warmth without wearing a much thicker, heavier outerwear. It also has an adjustable storm hood that protects your head from heavy rainfall, multifunctional zip pockets for more storage of valuables, and cuffs and hem for added utility.

FEBRUARY 2019

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Columbia Bugaboo 80th Anniversary Interchange Jacket Apparel

The iconic 3-in-1 jacket from the 80s gets a new look. Providing exceptional comfort and style for snowy or rainy adventures, the limited-edition Bugaboo ensemble consists of an Omni-heat, buffalo check inner fleece liner and a waterproof, Omni-Tech nylon outer layer. Apart from its remarkable zip-in and three-point interchange layering system that helps you stay comfortable and protected from quick-changing weather, the interchangeable jacket has an interior security pocket for your valuables, adjustable sleeve cuffs, a special 80th anniversary embroidery that quotes Columbia chairman Gert Boyle, and a Bugaboo 1986 historic patch.

Honor 10 Lite Smartphone

The Honor 10 Lite has a handsome, premium build that’s both nice to hold and great to look at. Its sky blue variant comes with a gradient-colored back where a dual-camera setup—13 MP and 2 MP—boosted by AI, and a fingerprint scanner can be found. The phone has a 24 MP front camera with F/2.0 aperture, scene recognition, as well as filters such as soft, and stage lighting. This snapper sits inside a Dewdrop notch on its 6.21-inch, full HD, 1080 x 2340 resolution screen, and 19:5:9 aspect ratio. The Honor 10 Lite also comes with the brand’s AIS Super Night Shoot mode now with an antishake feature for detailed, clear photos even at night. Powering the device is Huawei’s Kirin 710 chipset that works in tandem with the latest Android OS (9.0 Pie)—with the EMUI 9.0 overlay.

PHP 10,990

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FEBRUARY 2019

Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R Mirrorless Camera

Capturing exciting moments in a smaller package, the new Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R promise better performance and portability in a mirrorless body. The Lumix S1 and S1R features a 35 mm full-frame image sensor which translates to 47M pixels for the S1R while 24M pixels for the S1. It also supports 60p/50p 4K video recording with dual image stabilization which ensures the smoothness of the videos captured. This mirrorless camera has dual XQD and SD memory card slots and supports the L-mount compatibility standard for its lenses which would allow L-Mount Alliance manufactured lenses to be utilized, expanding its lens choices from other manufacturers.

ForwardX Ovis Smart Luggage

Frequent business travelers who yearn for a suitcase that can do more than just store your belongings can finally rejoice in the ForwardX Ovis. The Ovisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; main feature is its smart luggage feature which allows it to travel and be tracked through GPS plus 3G and follow you at a maximum speed of 6.2 mph with a range of 13.7 miles on a single four-hour charge. It also features an IP 56 rated PP+Carbon Fiber body that makes it a lightweight and durable suitcase, an Off-mode which unlocks the rear wheels for omni-directional motion, and USB ports. This smart luggage contains an AI system which is controllable through a downloadable smartphone app making travel a lot more enjoyable.

FEBRUARY 2019

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GADGETS LAB

Specifications: Package: 52 W soundbar and 20 W subwoofer Driver: 3.1ch Surround Sound: max 7.1.2ch Audio formats: Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Amplifier: S-Master HX, 400 W Ports: HDMI (ARC)/optical-audio input/analog in (stereo mini)/USB type A, ethernet Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2

What’s Hot: -Vertical Surround Sound engine creates deep, thumping sound -Packaged subwoofer What’s Not: -Pricey

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FEBRUARY 2019

Specifications: Display: 23.6-inch LCD Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Response time: 4 ms Viewing angle: 178 degrees Connectivity: HDMI, VGS, 3.5 mm audio out Weight: 3.07 kg 93 ppi What’s Hot: -Flicker-free display -Curved -Looks great What’s Not: -Menu needs work

FEBRUARY 2019

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Specifications: Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | GPS Enabled | Connects to GoPro App Photo: 12 MP, SuperPhoto, HDR, RAW Photo Burst: Auto, 30/1s, 30/2s, 30/3s, 30/6s, 10/1s, 10/2s, 10/3s, 5/1s, 3/1s Night” Auto, 2s, 5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 30s Shutter Max Video: 16:9, 4K, Wide FOV at 60, 30, 24 fps Design: Waterproof to 33 feet Battery: 1220 mAh Connections: USB-C, HDMI type D Display: 2-inch LCD, front monochrome LCD What’s Hot: -HyperSmooth -LCD touchscreen -Voice commands What’s Not: -Battery life could be better -Prohibitive price

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FEBRUARY 2019

Specifications: Display: 15.6”(39.6cm), 16:9, Full HD 1920x1080, LEDbacklight, 178° viewing angle, 120Hz Anti-Glare Processor: Intel Core i5 8300H Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 4GB GDDR5 Memory: 8 GB, DDR4 at 2666MHz Storage: 2.5” 1TB Up to 2TB Hard Drive M.2 256GB Up to 512GB SSD 2.5” 1TB Up to 2TB HDD + M.2 256GB Up to 512GB SSD Connectivity: 802.11 ac, Bluetooth V4.0, LAN 10/100/1000/Gigabits Mbps Camera: HD Web Camera Speaker: 2 x 3 W, with DTS Headphone X DAC Ports: 1 x USB 2.0 2 x USB 3.0 Type A 1 x Kensington Lock 1 x Audio Jack 1 x RJ45 LAN 1 x HDMI, Support HDMI 1.4 1 x DC-in Power Supply: 120 W Power adapter Dimensions: 38.4 x 26.2 x 5 ~2.5 cm (WxHxD) Weight: 2.3 kg What’s Hot: -Strong and stand out design -Ergonomic backlit keyboard -High quality DAC for headphones What’s Not: -Occasional lag -No USB Type-C connection -Processor could be better

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COVER STORY

Words by Gadgets Team | Art by Theresa Eloriaga

We live in a world that’s run by computers. Airline prices, stock trading, the Internet, all of these tick along through the use of clever coding, and machine learning. If you think your life hasn’t been invaded by AI, you’re actually quite wrong. In this month’s CoverStory, we take a look at how much we actually use AI today. From cars, devices, and even in our homes as we sleep, AI is there, helping us get the job done. Far from the scary realities presented by science fiction, AI is a great tool that allows us to get more done, with less effort. Come join us and see how deep the rabbit hole goes. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Words by Ren Alcantara

Humans are great at adapting to different situations, learning, and coming up with solutions to complex problems. We’re not too great at reacting to things quickly, and staying focused for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of the latter involved in driving. This is where AI comes in. While we’re not in a world where autonomous cars dominate the streets, smart technology does take a lot of the drudgery out of driving, and helps keep drivers safe. If you’ve not been keeping up with car technology, here’s a quick rundown of the kind of tech we can find in cars today.

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Parking assistance For those who hate parallel parking, manufacturers created technology to help make that task a little less painful. Ford’s Active Park Assist technology uses sensors to determine if a parking spot is suitable, and then takes over steering duties, while the driver shifts and operates the accelerator and brake to get the job done on the first try. Perpendicular parking is just as simple, and as long as you put your trust in the system, it does an excellent job. Active cruise control Subaru has been very aggressive with pushing smart technology for their cars. Starting last year, they’ve started to offer Eyesight technology that uses a pair of cameras to give the vehicle stereoscopic vision, allowing the car to almost drive itself. While on the road, the driver can give the car instructions to follow a set distance behind the preceding car. Eyesight then takes care of throttle and braking to stay within the driver’s parameters, slowing down and speeding up as appropriate. It does a lot to free your feet up from operating the pedals in stop-and-go traffic. Lane departure warning Long drives can be a pain. It’s tiring, and pushing close your limits is a sleep-inducing experience. Different manufacturers take varying approaches to warn the driver that they’re starting to drift into the neighboring

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lane, such as street-facing cameras to watch the lane markings, coupled with driver-facing cameras to watch eye activity. Once the system determines that the driver is losing focus and starting to stray off their lane, they either get an audible beep, or gentle vibration to snap them back into attention, and make the necessary corrections, keeping the car, its occupants, and those around them safe. Collision detection More than just simple warning lights and sounds that alert the driver that an obstacle is in the way, current-generation technology adds active braking to reduce the chances of collision. You can head out right now and purchase a car that will constantly scan the road ahead, making sure there’s nothing in the way, and stopping you before it becomes a problem. More advanced technology can even distinguish the obstacles, be they another car, a pedestrian, or a bike, and react in an appropriate manner for each. Some even extend this feature to watch over the driver and keep them from running into a wall while backing out of a parking spot in case drive is engaged instead of reverse. What’s ahead What makes all these technologies interesting is the processing the vehicles do in order to keep the driver and occupants safe. Cameras, radar, or sonar sensors scan the road ahead, identify dangers, process them against the current vehicle speed and driving

conditions, and apply changes to power and braking all generally faster than a human can, especially during lapses in concentration. The systems are always alert, and barring any sort of malfunction, can be relied on to work consistently, regardless of how the driver is doing. The next step is even more interesting. While self-driving cars just take these existing technologies and add more layers of safety, and more complicated systems to ensure reliability, even greater autonomy can be achieved with constant connectivity. Imagine a world where cars have all the autonomous functions we see now, along with the ability to talk to each other. Cars will then know where they are relative to each other, and with the right programming, be able to avoid accidents even before the drivers even know something could have potentially gone wrong. A network of cars, all in constant communication, all moving at just the right speed, going in just the right direction would offer unprecedented levels of safety, particularly when put in place with current-gen smart features, and a backup human driver, just in case everything else fails. Machines, when they work properly, react much faster, more consistently, and more reliably than human operators when faced with the correct task. And while a robot will never be able to deliver the joy of driving, it will take a lot of the tedium out of it.

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Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Technology continues to transform industries. In just a short span of time, we have gone from visualizing futuristic gadgetry, to living out our science fiction dreams. Complex technologies such as artificial intelligence are no longer confined to computer labs, as it has crossed over to the mainstream, making its way into our homes.

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The once apprehensive consumer market has welcomed this new technology, and has freed us from mundane, repetitive tasks. AI has truly altered the way we live our lives, and we will continue to witness its evolution and benefit from its application in the years to come. AI Assistants The idea of a smart home is quite novel. I remember back in school, I would daydream about a pen I could speak to. The pen would jot whatever I was saying down, sparing me the pain of a sore writing hand. While this particular kind of smart pen hasn’t quite materialized, this musing has remotely become a reality through virtual assistants. The intelligent virtual assistant is the poster child of AI application in the home. Its most common form is manifested in devices like Amazon’s Echo, or Google Home. These wireless devices come in different shapes and sizes, and are built with any of the more developed virtual assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Cortana. While speakers are mainly for audio playback, with the integration of a virtual assistant, they can be controlled by voice and can perform a variety of useful tasks when connected to compatible devices. For consumers looking to getting a smart speaker, the market is flooded with choices. There are familiar options such as the aforementioned Amazon Echo, and Google Home, as well as Apple’s HomePod, but many audio and electronics companies have also ventured into the smart speaker market. JBL, Sony, Lenovo, Sonos, Harman Kardon, as well as a number of other brands have released outstanding wireless smart speakers and audio systems to state a claim in the immensely growing market. Smart displays, or a touch panel with speakers and virtual assistant built-in, have also taken their share of the limelight in recent electronics shows—and for good reason. These displays are meant to occupy your countertop or nightstand, and serve as replacement to picture frames, alarm clocks, cookbooks, calendars, among others in that they perform those functions and more. With just a tap on the display, you can begin searching for recipes on video streaming sites, or switch appliances on or off. Smart displays available in the market include the Lenovo Smart Display, JBL Link View, LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK9, Google Home Hub, Amazon Echo Spot, and more.

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IoT Devices While smart speakers can stand alone, using it just for hands free audio playback or answering calls fails to realize its full potential. This is where smart devices come in. Built with hardware that allows them to collect and exchange data, smart devices are among the things that make up the Internet of Things (IoT). In the simplest of terms, these are devices that can connect to the Internet. To put things into perspective, think a refrigerator that can inform you of expiration dates, a coffee maker that brews on schedule, a light bulb you can dim, or change color, or an air-conditioner that turns on minutes before you enter the room. This is possible through smart hubs i.e. smart speakers and displays, through which commands are coursed. Usually, a supplementary app is used to manage the devices. These apps, let say for example for an air purifier/fan, feature simple controls such as power on and off, as well as more advanced utility like monitoring the air quality and filter state. It might seem a lot to take in, but companies are keeping it simple by building their own smart ecosystems. Lenovo has a suite of smart home devices ranging from a smart display,

light bulb, smart plug, smart wireless camera, and their Lenovo Link App to tie all these together. Apple has the HomeKit platform on which you can control your iPhone, iPad, HomePod, and other Apple devices. Interestingly, products within the ecosystems are not exclusive, and can be used alongside smart products of other brands. It’s a win for consumers. Security in the IoT era Devices collecting information and communicating them across the Internet may seem unsettling, but brands take information security very seriously, as their reputations are at stake. To prevent consumers’ personal data from falling into the hands of cyber thieves, most of these smart gadgets come built with safety features. It is also imperative for end users to be mindful of data they put on these devices and take the liberty of installing antivirus software. Security solutions now also come with features that keep smart home owners from being hacked. AI has, in so many ways, revolutionized the home. And with machine learning allowing these devices to cope with user behaviours, better recognize commands, and get smarter, life is bound to be easier for us.

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Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

Artificial Intelligence or AI might be a complex and overwhelming subject to discuss, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not quite at the level of autonomous robots and rogue computer programs that science fiction might have described. Many have thought that the technology is too early for primetime but might want to rethink their stand. We can see it now almost everywhere from vehicles to smartphones, and its learning capabilities have become a vital key in improving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle and productivity. 32

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Mobile devices can now think, learn, and function according to the behavior of the users. This allows us to forget about the little adjustments and details, and focus more on the task at hand. Smarter cameras Single cameras are out, dual camera sensors are in. Doubling the power of smartphone cameras, various brands have focused on enhancing camera features like subject detection, automatic scene recognition, and intelligent beauty mode essential for capturing IG-worthy shots. This enables average consumers to simply point and shoot special moments with their phones, and still achieve spectacular results. As the name suggests, subject detection figures out what you’re shooting and changes the camera’s settings accordingly. Photography enthusiasts and beginners usually enjoy this feature since it makes the whole process simpler, without sacrificing results. When in the past, taking picture-perfect group photos with poor lighting was a struggle, AI and modern camera sensors now can adapt to conditions to deliver near DSLR-level images. Another great example of this is the incorporation of a bokeh effect for a more dramatic image. Intelligent beauty mode, facial unlock, and 3D cameras are also some of the fads that smartphone manufacturers have incorporated in their latest devices. Oppo is one of the firsts to introduce it in 2017 with the F5 and further refined it last year with its mid-range F9. Equipped with AI cameras, intelligent beauty mode delivers more natural-looking selfies that highlight strong points on your facial features. For fast and reliable facial unlock, most camera sensors have highly-advanced optics that can map out facial points swiftly. With the Stealth 3D cameras from Oppo Find X, users may share and take 3D images useful for creative reference.

Honor recognizes this potential, paving the way with devices like the Honor Play. Through GPU Boost technology, gamers can dramatically improve their mobile gameplay experience by increasing processor performance when games are launched. Some phones even determine a game is being played, blocking calls, texts, and other notifications to prevent unwanted lag during the game. Out of the box AI management is also now offered by most devices, maximizing control and allowing seamless multitasking for busy users. Smartphones have become an all-in-one device people can use as a remote control for their IoT devices. All it takes is a stable internet connection to perform actions from outside the home, like turning off lights in your bedroom. From smart LED lights, cameras, power switches, and other smart home devices, remote home control, and even home automation is no longer a sci-fi dream. Made possible by deep learning algorithms, your smartphone collects real-time data from the connected smart home system through a dedicated mobile app.

By understanding their users’ needs, these AI-powered virtual assistants can decide and suggest solutions when users converse with them. Top virtual assistants pre-installed on phones—Apple’s Siri, Samsung’s Bixby, and Google’s Assistant—remind users of appointments and events, play music, give weather updates, read text messages while driving, call people via voice commands, and perform web searches. Powered by an AI bionic chipset with Apple’s Neural Engine, the third generation iPad Pro boasts advanced functionalities, and AR abilities to boot. AI also prolongs battery life through machine learning. By recording the usage patterns, phones can properly allocate resources to more frequently used apps, shutting others down earlier to save power. Guiding consumers to perform their tasks with accuracy, AI is just beginning to do things to help make our lives easier. It opens up a world of possibilities which can be a key in upgrading the way we live.

User interfaces (UIs) are more neat For people who are always on-the-go, less is more. A redesigned, user-friendly interface is the logical companion to a phone with top-tier specs. Virtual assistants are also developed to make tasks simpler, and give information relevant to each individual user.

AI-centric hardware and IoT From cameras, we jump back to the heart of every device: its internal hardware. There’s a lot of magic going on behind a unit’s sleek and ergonomically designed body. With machine learning, processors are able to predict and optimize the phone’s overall performance through AI-focused SoCs (system on chip) on smartphones and tablets.The collection of real-time data based on the most-used apps and mobile games, duration of usage, energy consumption, and graphics settings are essential to translate this technology into reality.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Words by Gerry Gaviola

I always thought of AI as an entity with two eyes—a camera, and the Internet—with the pair comes a fresh visual perspective alongside a plethora of applications. The talk of AI has always been intriguing. It’s proved itself to be a disruptive tool across diverse industries, and has made its way to the lifestyles of everyday consumers. Artificial Intelligence, they say, forces people to break habits of the repetitive, and to grow both in skill and in talent. It’s been around for awhile, has become ubiquitous, yet its relevance as catalyst for innovation has yet to fade. Although not apparent to the average consumer, AI has actually made its way to our everyday devices, especially those equipped with cameras. 34

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Birthed from the IT industry, AI is branch of computer science that attempts to let a device function, think, and learn like a human. Rather than simply executing automated tasks, AI goes beyond, integrating machine learning into the process. Like a human, it adapts and learns from analyzing different patterns. Enhancement is the key of AI as it helps individuals, and in this case, photographers and videographers focus on what is most necessary—composition—rather than wasting time tweaking camera settings, or hours in post-production software. AI and phone cameras: the future is now! Before delving in photography or videography use, let’s take a glance at one of the most practical uses of AI and cameras in terms of phone security. Back in 2017, Apple released the iPhone X, and with it, a new biometric security feature, Face ID. Now, there are four main components of this technology that makes unlocking your phone seamlessly yet securely; the Dot Projector that flashes 30,000 invisible dots on a face to create a unique visual map; the Flood Illuminator which flashes infrared light to a face to aid facial recognition in the dark; and the Infrared Camera which reads the dot pattern, captures an infrared image, and sends the data to Apple’s Bionic chip. Technicalities aside, Face ID is amazing feat. A new natural security that uses your face as a password is certainly a game changer, is it not? Combined with AI, Face ID becomes attention and history aware—it adapts over time, and will work even if you put glasses on, grow a beard, or naturally age. And although face unlocking has been around for a while, nothing of this level of safety and security has been brought to a mass-produced user friendly product. Meeting standards of high-security biometrics, many, including banks and institutions, have integrated these with their respective mobile applications. Now let’s talk Google. As a company that is known for collating and storing data for easy accessibility, it’s interesting what the company has done in terms of combining both data and cameras. The application Google Lens, for instance, allows the user to simply point his/her mobile camera to something, and receive relevant results and information at an instance. And it doesn’t matter

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where you point it at. Point it at a restaurant or store front and instantly be greeted with the menu, or reviews. Point it at an item for sale, and find out how much it is. The applications are simply infinite, and the fact that you can use your camera as a “third eye” with all the smart functions is amusing in itself. Although Apple, with its iPhone XR release, as well as many other Chinese brands have mimicked the bokeh effect with a single lens, it was Google with its Pixel phone that began the trend. Simply put, sophisticated AI technology is a well enough substitute for things that are absent, in this case, an expensive DSLR/mirrorless camera lens or a dual lens camera phone. Google has done it again with ultra-smart HDR. Ever tried taking a picture of a subject with a bright landscape as your background with your phone? Tricky isn’t it? It’s either you expose for the background, and get a dark subject, or expose for the subject, and get blown out highlights. With smart HDR, all aspects of the photo are well exposed. Taking it to the next level, Google has also used the same concept to enable users to take photos in extremely dark situations. Computational photography made possible by AI in phones is, without a doubt, an innovation leaps and bounds better than what was initially possible. Sometimes even running circles around much more expensive cameras, the level of AI intelligence integrated into camera phones have yet to be overtaken by what is natively offered in higher-tier devices. Mirrorless/DSLR cameras Now let’s talk about professional cameras. There’s a product out there called Arsenal, and it almost feels like you’re cheating when taking a photo. Why? Because the Kickstarter product unlocks the full potential of a camera by optimizing the camera settings using AI. Simply giving the camera a smarter brain, the device analyzes subject motion, hyperfocal distance, diffraction, and many more factors, automatically adjusting the camera settings for the user to take the perfect photo without any hassle. For landscape photographers, there’s focus stacking to get the entire scene in focus. Smart HDR is also present in Arsenal, enabling users to automate photo stacking techniques, to capture a photo with

balanced shadows, midtones, and highlights. Another feature that is to be loved by landscape photographers is the ability to capture creamy looking photos with long exposure that is guided by the averaging pixel values. If ever you’ve held a DSLR/mirrorless camera and equipped it with a zoom lens, you’d figure that zooming is better because it physically adjusts the lens’ glass to either zoom in or zoom out of a subject a.k.a, optically zooming. If you’re using a single lens camera phone, and zoom in, you’re digitally zooming, which means that you’re basically zooming in an image or cropping digitally, hence, losing quality. Now if you’ve held a relatively recent Sony camera, you may have come across Sony’s Clear Image Zoom Feature, a feature similar to digital zoom, only smarter. The technology allows you to zoom digitally up to 2x without any loss of quality. How? The technology compares patterns of adjacent pixels, and creates new pixels to match the pattern seamlessly. Think of it this way, say for instance you’re assembling a puzzle, and are missing some pieces. Through AI, the whole picture is still created. Why does this matter? If you’re carrying a single 50 mm prime lens, you’re able to transform that into a 100 mm lens without any hassle, and without losing quality. Wearables Google Glass didn’t take off because the technology was raw, and although its appeal was intriguing, many have left it for novelty use. Yet Epson, with its different approach, continues to make a mark. Targeting businesses, rather than consumers, the technology has allowed professionals to work more productively. Almost like having robotic vision that’s featured in numerous sci-fi films like Terminator, Robocop, or Transformers, Epson’s Moverio Glasses fuses AI and cameras to create an augmented world with easily viewable data. Such a world with enhanced vision changes things, especially for professionals looking into accelerating their workflow.

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PHOTO FEATURE

BEYOND THE HORIZON Technology updates itself just like we humans grow. From small changes that tweak functionality, upgrades change the very way we interact with the world.

Society has witnessed numerous breakthroughs over the years, many of which have had a big impact on how we create and develop, but there is always more to do. From helping us get healthier, to allowing us to create things that reshape the world, technology is always ready to give us a hand. This year, as we welcome groundbreaking advancements, let’s look forward to what lies ahead of us. Be fearless and limitless. Think out of the box. Our time is now.

ART DIRECTION BY Ronel Bautista PHOTOGRAPHY BY Carlo Dans Isidoro HAIR AND MAKE-UP BY Patricia Aquino STYLING BY Paula Candoy ASSISTED BY Theresa Eloriaga Jael Mendoza Mia Carisse Barrientos Jewel Sta. Ana Julius Dalay Jerico Lutrania MODEL Eva Gorshkova of Women’s Folio Management COVER CREDITS Dress by Miss Selfridge

Pleat Wrap Jumpsuit by Warehouse 36

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Honor 10 Lite Capture nightscapes with vivid colors.

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White Jumpsuit by Miss Selfridge

MSI GS75 STEALTH A super slim gaming laptop like no other.

SONY XB12 Portable Bluetooth Speakers Drop the bass anywhere you go.

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Foil Wrap Dress by Warehouse Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

ONE STEP AHEAD 40

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Everyone, especially the ones who are currently in their early twenties, is a work in progress. The journey to greatness is not easy, it involves a lot of twists and turns, self-doubt and frustration. But if you are brave enough to get out of your comfort zone and face challenges, with resilience, you’ll be able to conquer the world. Eva Gorshkova lives by this mantra. Radiating a youthful vibe, this Russian beauty became a full-time model just four months ago, though she has lived in the Philippines for more than two years. She might be timid and shy, but the 21-year-old muse transforms into an energetic ball of fun once she steps in front of the camera. Her growing portfolio includes exclusive projects from international and local fashion brands like Plains and Prints. She has also worked with premier Filipino couture designers such as Mark Bumgarner and Patty Ang.

The 5-feet-8-inch model is a fur parent to two dachshunds, Diego and Frida, who were both named after prominent Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. She also has a soft spot for cats, and actually adopted one whom she named named Belka—Russian for squirrel. According to her, she rescued the poor kitten from a mall’s parking lot and decided to take it home. Eva is also a strong environmental advocate who encourages the use of recyclable materials instead of plastic. When asked about a device she would love to see become a reality, she said she would love to develop Hi-Fi headphones that works even when users lay on their side. ”I’m pretty minimalistic. Most of the time, I use my phone and my earphones to listen to my playlist, and watch fashion and health-related vlogs as well as ASMR videos.”

Born and raised in the city of Sochi, Eva is a visionary and a creator. She was a full-time visual artist before stepping into the world of professional modelling. Fond of abstract painting, the passionate artist’s favorite medium is acrylic on canvas. ”I usually paint emotions or feelings… about my experiences in life. I don’t use any particular After the Philippines, she is set to conquer China subject, I just paint what I feel,” she cheerfully to collect new unforgettable memories while expanding her modelling experience. shared.

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MOBILITY

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot: - Auto Brake Hold! - Good looks - Performance and handling

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not: - Is the PHP 200k premium worth it? - Audio system is obviously after-market

Bottomline: Definitely go to your nearest Honda dealer and ask for a test drive.

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What’s Hot: - So much power - Steering is on-point - Plenty of great tech What’s Not: - It’s the last one

Bottomline: If I had about PHP 2M to spare, I wouldn’t have given it back.

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FEBRUARY 2019

BULLET POINTS

Olight

S2R Baton

Words by Ren Alcantara

While I generally get lights that are able to use conventional, grocery-store batteries, those usually leave one wanting in either output or burn time. My latest use case: a flashlight to be used on an electric scooter--demanded more than any of my conventional choices could deliver, and as such, I had to make the jump to something that had a little more output and stamina. I needed capacity and power density only 18650 could deliver, so I went straight to my go-to brand of late: Olight.

One of their most recent offerings, the Olight S2R Baton II had just what I was looking for. It blasts a powerful 1150 lumen beam of light that has the perfect amount of spill for use as a scooter headlight, sustained burn time in high 400 lumen mode that runs hours rather than minutes, and is still just about the size of my older AA/14500 light. Design-wise, the Baton II does things a little differently from its predecessor. The knurling is larger, more raised, and offers a much better grip than the older style, but still remains rounded enough to keep from immediately shredding the pocket of your jeans. As a bonus, you even get two clips: one in the usual black, and another in what I will now refer to as Olight blue. Olight has also included compatibility with their new magnetic charging cable which just snaps on to the bottom of the light, and delivers greater current for decreased charging speeds. It’s an improvement over the previous version in every way. Bear in mind though that the charging cable will only work with the included 18650, 3200 mAh battery, as it has a special terminal to accommodate the system. The numbers on the light are impressive. Maximum output is 1150 lumens, for 2 minutes at a time, and 230 meters of throw. The next level is significantly dimmer, at 400 lumens, but the light can keep this up for a staggering 4 hours at a time. Next is 120 lumens for 14 hours, then 15 lumens for 100 hours, and .5 lumen for a solid 60 days of light. Modes are selected by holding down the power button, or you can go straight to its maximum output with a quick double press. A triple press will activate strobe mode, if that’s your thing. The light is slick. Despite having an 18650 power source, it doesn’t take up a whole lot of pocket space, thanks to the short emitter head. The clip offers great retention, and rides very deep in the pocket, so it doesn’t constantly knock into things, and has a smaller chance of snagging. Emitterdown carry is of little utility though, as keeping it in that orientation leaves half the light sticking

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out, just begging to fall out of your pocket into oblivion. I’m a fan of the new knurling on the shaft. It offers superb grip, without being too detrimental to fabric or skin, and feels totally secure in the hand. The clip has been improved vastly. It now stays firmly in one orientation, and no longer spins around the outside of the light thanks to channels in the shaft that keep it fixed in place, thereby keeping the power button in the same spot all the time, which was a constant source of frustration in the previous version. The button remains wonderfully tactile, and gives positive feedback, and a little LED inside the button lets you know roughly how much power is left in the battery so you aren’t left unexpectedly in the dark. While 1150 lumens with 230 meters of throw phenomenal, 400 lumens is a much more practical level to use on a regular basis, even against a reasonable amount of ambient light. This is the mode I use the most, and thankfully, the light does have a memory function that stores the last used output level and runs that when you switch the light on. With intermittent use, burn times are a little better than advertised, coming up to a bit more than four hours of cumulative use on 400 lumens. For a daily use light, this ticks all the right boxes. While it’s not as small as my usual Baton Mini, I greatly appreciate the additional burn time it allows, as well as a better fit in my hand, particularly when gloved. The fact that the clip keeps the power button in the same spot in my pocket all the time is a huge bonus, and one that I greatly appreciate. Overall, this is a light that has a place in your daily arsenal if you have a little extra room. The peace of mind from having the extra capacity, convenience of magnetic charging (that is by the way compatible with the older cables), and updated clip design make it a worthy addition, particularly if all you have at the moment is a CR123-powered light.

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GAMING

Words by Jose Alvarez Developers: Bandai Namco Studios, Sora Ltd. | Publisher: Nintendo | Platform: Nintendo Switch

20 years ago, Super Smash Bros. took the world by storm when it came out on the Nintendo 64. It was innovative enough to feature characters from various Nintendo franchises such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu fighting each other in the same game for the first time. Instead of life bars, players were instead encouraged to knock characters off of the stage. The game wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t complicated like most fighting games were at the time. You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to know a bunch of button combinations just to be good at the game. You and three other friends could just pick up the game and play.

Over the years, Nintendo released Super Smash Bros. for its various consoles: Melee (GameCube, 2001), Brawl (Wii, 2008), Super Smash Bros. (Wii and 3DS, 2014), and the current installation for the Nintendo Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was widely rumored that it would be the final Super Smash Bros. game ever released. Game creator Masahiro Sakurai is known to be a workaholic and deeply immerses himself into his projects. This is not unusual in the Japanese culture, with some workers clocking in 100+ hours a week, but there is even a term for this: karoshi (overwork death). Sakurai himself suffered from health problems during the development of the previous Smash Bros. game, and was largely mum on whether or not Ultimate would even be made back in 2015. Ultimate retains all previous game modes and characters from the previous Smash games, including 11 new characters: Inkling from Splatoon, Princess Daisy from the Mario series, Ridley and Dark Samus from Metroid, Simon and Richter Belmont from Castlevania, Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening, King K. Rool from Donkey Kong, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, Ken

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from Street Fighter, and Incineroar from Pokemon Sun and Moon. Players will start off with only the eight original characters from the 1999 game, which means players will have to unlock 66 other characters. Several other characters will be available via DLC namely, Piranha Plant from Mario, and others through the Fighter’s Pass. The first paid DLC fighter will be Joker from Persona 5. He is the only known paid DLC fighter as of writing.

can be used to power up fighters, earn new spirits and can be obtained through character-themed battles. For instance, to obtain the Rayquaza (from Pokemon) spirit, players must beat a largerthan-usual Ridley with wind blowing across the battlefield. These spirits can be found in the single-player adventure mode, the World of Light, where Kirby must go around rescuing captured fighters and spirits who have been locked away by the evil Galeem.

Players will be able to play in several new modes, such as Smashdown where you can only play each character once, Squad Strike where players will battle in teams of multiple characters, and Tournament Mode that allows up to 32 players to fight in tournament brackets. There is a new mechanic known as spirits, which replaces the previous games’ collectible trophies. These spirits

Whether it’s your first Smash game or you’ve been playing religiously for the last 20 years, Ultimate is a great way to bring the younger generation into the Smash series or bring nostalgia back to people who have been playing since the Nintendo 64 edition. Players will enjoy the simple yet addicting fighting style that has come to define two decades of Super Smash Bros. action.

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HOBBIES

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VISUAL SPACE

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VISUAL SPACE

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APPS

Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Some people would argue that technology gets in the way of learning. While we agree that too much tech can be a distraction, technology, when utilized properly, can do a great job to help us learn.

In recent years, we have seen the rise of technology dedicated to the advancement of learning. Among those who see the most benefit are children with little to no access to quality education. Smart Communications, seeing the potential in the merging of education and technology to aid instruction and reach children even in isolated communities, continues to make initiatives that would push forward digital education. In 2018, under the #LearnSmart campaign, the network service provider launched a slew of programs that encourage the use of technology to champion efficient learning. Part of this campaign are its recently-launched mother tongue-based apps. The five literacy apps, namely Bahay Kubo, Kaalam, Taallam and Tahderiyyah, and Matigsalug were developed by Smart in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), local stakeholders, colleges and universities. These interactive apps were developed to facilitate learning strategies, promote diversity by keeping local language and culture alive, as well as support inclusive education. Mother-Tongue Based Apps The Bahay Kubo app teaches Tagalog alphabet and numbers through fun, colorful games and stories. It is a collective effort between Smart and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, an attached agency of the DepEd. This digital learning companion is meant for children aged 2 to 6 years old. The Kaalam, which is Cebuano for knowledge, features animated folk tales such as Ang Diwata sa Konta and Ang Kwentas ni Ingkco Candido, retold by residents of Argao town in Cebu province. The application was developed in partnership with DepEd Cebu City and Cebu Province, Local Government of Argao, Cebu Technological University – Argao Campus, and University of CebuBanilad. The Ta’allam, to learn in Arabic, was developed specifically for Filipino Muslims by content and multimedia partners such as DepEd General Santos and Sarangani, Local Government unit of Sarangani, Mercy Foundation, Young Moro Professionals, and ACLC College Gensan. Aside from entertaining reading and counting exercises, the app also has Islamic prayers such as Dua, Surah, Salah, Wudhu presented in a way that’s easy to www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

follow. The first literacy app for the Bangsamoro children, the Tahderiyyah, Arabic for Kindergarten, meanwhile, features stories with Islamic values and expressions on top of Arabic alphabet and number games. Its developing team consists of reps from the Bangsamoro Development Agency, FEU Institute of Technology, and Teach Peace Build Peace Movement. Smart also developed Matigsalug, the first tribal app of its kind. It showcases songs, dances, and chants from the Matigsalug tribe of Davao and Bukidnon. Through the app, users can learn how to properly pronounce Matigsalug letters and

numbers and write them through app-tracing games. It was created in partnership with Matigsalug tribe of Sitio Contract, Datu Salumay, Marilog District in Davao, Pamulaan Center of IP Education, ACLC College Davao and Gensan, and Skeptron Business Solutions. Smart will also be launching more apps based in the mother tongue this year, including Sanut Ilokano for Ilokano-speaking regions, Gnare Blaan and Tagakaulo for children of Sarangani, and the Singsing Kapampangan app. The mother tongue based apps are available for download on Google Play. FEBRUARY 2019

Indie Game Developers Level up

at the Google Play IGA Words and Photos by Mia Carisse Barrientos

If you think beating game bosses are hard, think about the amount of effort that went into creating the level youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to beat. The people involved in the development of some of the mobile games we enjoy today were the stars of the first-ever Google Play Indie Games Accelerator (IGA) for SEA, India, and Pakistan in Singapore. At the IGA we got a look at the behind-the-scenes of the game creation process as well as hear wonderful stories from the game developers themselves.

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The first batch of IGA graduates from SEA, Pakistant, and India

For years, Google has been keen on helping people and organizations reach their full potential and succeed the same way they did. Paying it forward, Google has created various programs for businesses and start ups. Through these dedicated programs, Google gives participants the skills and tools to develop, and allow them to find their place in the fast-emerging digital economy. IGA is a huge stride towards the expansion of these efforts. Indie Game Accelerator The mobile gaming industry is now a USD 50 billion market, which accounts to almost half of the worldwide gaming revenue. With easy access to capable smartphones and increased internet speeds, there will be more active mobile game players, which translates to more opportunities for mobile game developers. The numbers are clear: there has never been a better time to be an Android game developer in the region. There’s a vibrant ecosystem with over 300 million gamers and growing by leaps and bounds, as well as a talented pool of untapped potential in the indie game creators. These developers possess fresh ideas and a drive to innovate, that when given just the tiniest boost, they will be able to realize their potential. With the IGA, Google Play intends to help these fledgeling developers in every possible way. Google Play called for entries in June of 2018 and received an overwhelming amount of applications. After thorough deliberation, Google was able to put together a solid cohort of 30 talented independent game developers. The bootcamp The developers were flown to Singapore for an

all-expense intense two- and five-day bootcamps. As Philippine representatives Allen Tan, CEO and game developer at Monstronauts, and Howard Go, co-founder and game developer at MochiBits put it, IGA was unlike anything they expected. Coming into the program, they thought they would just have to sit through a couple of talks on how to better their games, and they were proven wrong in the most pleasant way. Google curated the IGA curriculum to help indie developers create quality games that would represent them on the global stage and have them started on the road to business sustainability. To achieve this, IGA wasn’t just a standard workshop of listening to talks and a couple of breakout sessions, it was an immersive and engaging experience for everyone involved. The program was built on five different steps: build, grow, earn, test, and lead. Since Google was dealing with game developers, a huge bulk of the program was dedicated to building their apps. Google enlisted mentors who are experts in the business, including some independent game developers who have created an empire out of their unique creations: Fruit Ninja, Farmville, Dhoom 3, and more. These developers are giving back by teaching the group everything they need to know from how to make games render smoothly, to aspects that make UI design more pleasant, to make games run smoothly across devices, and other development details to bring up the quality and playability of their games. Howard and Allen shared how they would sit down, one on one, with different mentors everyday throughout the bootcamp. They would watch as the mentor plays their game and would be given laser feedback right after. Mentors would evaluate them, point out strong and weak points that otherwise they wouldn’t know.

Games weren’t all the program was about. The developers were also taught how to develop and grow their businesses through sessions with Google personnel and indie game developers who found success. Google wants to empower the indie developers, helping them to create hit after hit, monetize their games better, and help them become better leaders by honing their management skills and dynamics with their own teams. The IGA concluded with a two-day leadership workshop, re-evaluation, and graduation ceremony where they were each awarded Google Pixels and USD 20,000 worth of Google Cloud Platform and Firebase credits along with training and support. The developers will also have access to exclusive gaming events throughout 2019 including Unity “Unite” and Google I/O. More than the perks and learnings, IGA has created lifelong relationships that would help drive the gaming industry and bring more quality games for mobile device users worldwide to enjoy. Howard and Allen shared that they also plan to impart the knowledge they gained in the program to Filipino indie game developers. Championing indie games IGA isn’t Google’s first showing of support for the indie game community. Within the Play Store, they have an Indie Corner on which they put the spotlight on amazing, carefully selected indie games. This boosts their games’ discoverability, connecting them to users across the globe faster. Google is set to scale up IGA, now including indie developers outside emerging markets for its second iteration. Look forward to our March issue where you’ll see more of the 30 developers’ works.

Vineet Tanwar, Business Development Manager, Google Play facilitating the SEA, India, and Pakistan indie game developers’ Q&A with the media.

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Google APAC HQ:

At a Glance Words and Photos by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Though there is an abundance of food, Google encourages its employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Snacks with low nutritional value are kept away from the line of sight e.g. drawers and areas you need to crouch down or climb up to reach, while front and center are healthy treats. Staircases, meanwhile, are in strategic locations such as being near snack bars or lounges so that employees would use them. And for those keen on really staying fit, there’s also a gym and fitness center within the HQ. As it is a second home to their employees, Google sees to it that they cater to these different types of personalities. For when someone needs to be away from the crowd to get things done, there are private nooks and cozy pods to run off to. If employees would rather spend their break getting their creative juices going, they can turn to the tech library to do some quick reading. More than the awesome perks, being part of tech giant Google itself is a dream come true.

What does your ideal workplace look like? If you picture it having tall ceilings, massive work spaces, and delectable free food, a visit to Google’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore will give you a taste of nirvana. Located in the sprawling Maple Tree Business City, Google’s biggest HQ in the SEA region spans three multiple-level buildings and houses over a thousand employees from different parts of the world, making it a melting pot of cultures in a country where diversity thrives. Like other Google HQs, the APAC center employs the open office concept, and a look at the wonderful universe Google has created is a telling that they’re doing it right. Google employees are free to stay and work anywhere across the HQ. This work flexibility proves to facilitate productivity as well as encourage collaboration and accountability. Each of the floors is built around a concept and are uniquely different. There’s a floor that interprets the galaxy by way of art and is designed with galactic furniture and decor. Countries in the region are also well-represented at the APAC HQ with rooms named after historic sites, and fixtures that draw inspiration from iconic symbols around SEA. When employees find themselves in a creative rut, at the Google APAC HQ, they can break out of it in more ways than one. There are game rooms across the establishment where they can enjoy activities such as playing VR apps, billiards, and arcade games, shoot hoops, or snack until a eureka moment comes. Most of the levels have snack areas with counters filled with a selection of bite-sized delights, drawers filled with goodies, and refreshments from sodas to juices. Lunch time, however, is another story. Their cafeteria is a massive hall with food stations for different types of eaters.

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WishTrip Hopes to Give Tourists Worry Free Travel Experience: Travel app that serves all tourism stakeholders Marlet D. Salazar

There is some truth to that J. R. R. Tolkien line “Not all those who wander are lost,” but when you are circling around the same area for hours, it no longer applies. There are numerous apps out there that help navigation-challenged travelers. Google Maps can sometimes be unreliable, sometimes directing you to enter at the back of a park instead of the proper entrance. Most navigation apps available today are not tailor-fit for travelers. They serve drivers and pedestrians. Travel navigation app WishTrip was created to serve the needs of travelers, especially free independent travelers, who want to explore a country on their own. Businesses and establishments also benefit from this because travelers can easily locate them using the travel app. In just one year of being on the market, WishTrip has nearly 450,000 users. “WishTrip’s mission is to help all of the different stakeholders in the tourism sector create richer, fuller, and more personalized experiences for tourists,” said Sarah Hein, director of Marketing at WishTrip in an email interview. “We believe that crafting better and more personalized experiences for tourists is the key to making tourism more viable for the stakeholders and for ensuring that the whole economy benefits from tourism.” The idea behind the app is for tourist organizations to promote themselves through the app. It’s not a straight advertisement but it allows businesses to be included in the list of things to do or places to see followed by directions on where to find them. More than an app, WishTrip is considered as a Tourism Experience Management Platform that gives destinations and tourism businesses the power to shape and influence tourists’ experiences. “For promotion and engagement, WishTrip creates location-based tours and treks which can be utilized in several ways,” said Hein. “A locationbased tour is an interactive digital experience which is created on-the-ground and can be relived anywhere on the globe. You can literally see the footsteps that the traveler took, their pictures and sometimes even their thoughts. These treks can be found in the WishTrip app and can also be embedded into a destination’s or organization’s website. A destination or any www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

organization can use their own treks or touristgenerated treks.”

that’s another soul that could help decongest the overpromoted tourist spots.

It’s almost like having your own tour guide. Everything that a tourist needs to know is in the app and more importantly, it can save a huge amount of time, preventing users from getting lost, since directions are also included in the app. Operators that offer tours and treks also give suggestions for people who may want to explore road less traveled destinations.

Hein also addressed the issue of privacy and said that WishTrip adheres to the rules of European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization has chosen WishTrip as one of the Top 20 Travel Tech applications out of 3.000 from 132 countries for the year in September 2018. “Having readily available and easy-to-digest tours help keep tourists engaged which leads to better and richer experiences,” Hein said. “For destinations, encouraging people to go to less traveled parts of the site helps promote local businesses and ensure that the greater community benefits from tourism revenue.” According to Hein, WishTrip automatically creates a location-based trek for every driving or walking adventure that one experiences while on the app. Tourists can also relive their trip anytime they want. The treks and subsequent videos that are created with the app can be easily shared on social media and other digital channels.

“We take our users’ privacy very seriously,” she said. “Mainly, our users choose when to sign up and what data to share with us. We also don’t share personal information with any third parties. Our app is a social network and businesses platform, by nature both travelers and businesses decide what information to make public. It is also worth noting that WishTrip’s revenue doesn’t come from advertising but from businesses subscribing to and using the SA’AS platform. Ultimately, WishTrip just aims to ensure that every tourist experience is a positive one. Through the app, it hopes to turn every destination to a “smart destination,” connect local communities in every part of the globe with tourists, promote businesses of all sizes, create a support network for visitors, and break down language barriers.

With these suggestions, WishTrip also addresses undertourism and overtourism. If travelers see a destination that interests them more than what they usually see in blogs and shows, FEBRUARY 2019

FEATURE

Words by Julius Dalay

From burgers to vehicles that move through unconventional motion, the Annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this 2019 has almost everything in store for the consumer of today and tomorrow. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 8-11, 2019, it features more than 4,500 exhibits with more than 20,000 products from different sectors to the 180,000 attendees.

Hyundai Motor Corporation’s “Elevate Utility Mobility Vehicle” Concept.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 Mobile Processor.

The event was graced by the executives of different brands especially from the owner and producer Consumer Technology Association (CTA) lead by its President and CEO Gary Shapiro, Vice President for Market Research Steve Koenig, Senior Director of Innovation and Trends Ben Arnold, and Director of Research Lesley Rohrbaugh. Visitors of the event were in for innovative technological treats starting off with the South Korean giant LG. Their booth at CES was one of the most extravagant featuring the capability of its curved OLED screens through an exhibit entitled “Massive Curve of Nature OLED Display” that utilized 260 55-inch OLED TVs. Hyundai Motor Corporation’s exhibit featured its “Elevate Utility Mobility Vehicle” or “Elevate UMV” concept. One of the largest displays in the automotive sector this year, it showcased a vehicle that is able to transport people from point A to B through almost any terrain and at any direction.

Intel and Qualcomm released their latest signature processors namely the 9th generation Core series and the Snapdragon 855 series respectively. The latter is the first commercially available platform designed for 5G enabled mobile devices expected to be adopted by flagship smartphone models from different manufacturers this year. ZTE’s new sub-brand called Nubia on the other hand, took the stage to announce themselves as a separate brand, and to showcase their futuristic flagship dual screen Nubia X to the US market. The dual-sided screen is Nubia’s answer to the bezel-less design wars of most mobile phone manufacturers today, as it allows Nubia to use a single camera that can be utilized as either the front or the rear snapper, depending on the mode and display you wish to activate. Not to be outdone in the bezel-less wars are the laptops which is led by Asus with the unveiling of the ZenBook S13 UX392FN which has the world’s best screen-to-body ratio of 97 percent. The device is able to achieve such a feat without resorting to a notched screen. In fact Asus’ implementation is touted as an “anti-notch” through their frameless four sided “NanoEdge” display. Together with its slim form factor, the

Impossible Food’s Impossible Burger 2.0.

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LG’s “Massive Curve of Nature” Curved OLED Display

9th Generation Intel Core i9 processor.

ZenBook S13 UX392FN stunned participants on how a massive screen could be placed into such a compact device. Surprisingly the food sector’s contender, Impossible Food’s new Impossible Burger 2.0 is a vegan alternative to the classic burger. The Impossible Burger 2.0 won the coveted Top Tech of CES 2019 owing to how much it had improved, putting it almost at par with premium animal-based meats.

Schaeffler’s Bio-Hybrid Bike.

Other noteworthy products from different sectors include BrainCo’s Focus1 headband that aids in memory retention and behavior, iFLYTEK’s Translator 2.0 that is said to provide high accuracy transcriptions, Schaeffler’s Bio-Hybrid E-bike which is essentially an electric car-bike hybrid, and Royole’s Flexpai which is the first commercially available flexible and foldable smartphone-tablet, edging out competitors from established brands. Only time will tell which innovations showcased at CES 2019 will be adopted in the months or years to come.

The dual-screen smartphone Nubia X.

Royole’s Flexipai Flexible and Foldable Smartphone-Tablet.

Asus’ ZenBook S13 UX392FN, the world’s best screen-to body ratio laptop.

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The countertop craft beer making device, LG’s Homebrew.

iFLYTEK’s Translator 2.0.

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TRAVEL

Words and Photos by Presy Alba

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Miniature Parks are popular tourist destinations these days, with each one having their own theme and spin. Madurodam in the Scheveningen district of The Hague in the Netherlands is one of the first of such parks. It is the inspiration of many miniature parks that followed including Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Storybook Land. The park is popular among young and old alike. It is a place to learn interesting facts, like how much you weigh in Cheese. And it is quite fascinating to see buildings and landmarks you passed along the highway in 1:25 scale at the park including the right sized trees and plants in the surroundings. Visitors to Madurodam also learn how the flood control systems that protect the Netherlands from storm surges and other forms of flooding work. It is very interesting to watch how the tidal gates work to prevent water from spilling over into the Dutch territories which are mostly below sea level. Madurodam is not very large so multi-generation families with grandparents and small children can walk around in a relaxed pace, and there are plenty of scenic backdrops for plenty of selfies and family photos. Visitors have fun watching the kids try to put out a tanker fire and see scale models of different types of trains rush by and watch draw bridges open to allow tankers and large ships to pass through. Madurodam was built in 1952 and named after George Maduro, a young war hero who fought

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the Nazis during World War II and died at the Dachau Concentration Camp in 1945. His parents donated the seed money that started the Park as a memorial of their son who was awarded the Medal of Knight 4th class of the Military Order of William, Netherlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest and oldest military decoration in the Kingdom of Netherlands for his bravery during the war of Netherlands against the German troops. The Park has its own Mayor and City Council who are elected among students around The Hague. The income generated by the park supports many charities around the Netherlands. The right time to visit Madurodam is either at the beginning of your tour of the Netherlands so that you get to see most of the Dutch lifestyle and landmarks and get a glimpse of what to expect, or toward the end of your Dutch visit and be reminded of all the amazing architecture and technology you experienced during your trip. There is no wrong time to visit Madurodam, but if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re visiting during early Spring or in the Fall, make sure to be bundled up well as a majority of the attractions are outdoors.

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FOOD To experience traditional kapampangan cuisine, we went to the farming town of Sta. Rita where the Alviz Farms is located. The lush and serene culinary destination is currently owned by Celi Alviz, and can be rented out for private parties and getaways. A breakfast buffet was served upon our arrival at the rustic rest house. The stars were the sumptuous Tidtad--their local version of dinuguan, the flavorful Kilawing Bangus marinated in vinegar and lime, a healthy Ensaladang Talong that’s a refreshing break from all the intense flavors, the unique combination of salty and sour Longganisang Guagua, and the appetizing Taba ng Talangka rice that is rich and delicious. Since the town is known for growing rice crops, Celi Alviz offered us to try their organic, glutinous rice called Duman dipped in hot chocolate and Suman Pasko for dessert. According to Alviz, Duman is only available during December and only grows in cold environments which makes it more expensive.

Words and photos by Jewel Sta. Ana

When people talk about the Northern part of the Philippines, the places that usually come to mind are either Baguio City or the surfing spots in the province of La Union. But when it comes to delightful cuisine and colorful history, there’s one province in the North that stands out the most: Pampanga. There are a number of hidden culinary gems that foodies love to frequent, and all offer more than just sisig. Cruising on Scania’s first-class Marcopolo passenger bus, we went on a memorable food tour that both filled our tummies and hearts with the richness of Kapampangan culture.

Our second stop was known for its giant lantern festival, heritage house district, and railway station. Apart from these celebration and landmarks, the City of San Fernando also houses a famous restaurant owned by local chef Poch Jorolan who also served as our guide during the food tour. Pampanga’s signature exotic dishes like Kamaru (fried field crickets) and Betute (fried native frogs), as well as other authentic Kapampangan offerings, drives local and foreign tourists to pay Everybody’s Cafe a visit. Welcoming us to its function hall was a vibrant mural explaining the country’s history in a nutshell. Established in the 1960s, the timeless local diner has retained their recipes and traditional ways of cooking, which made them popular to both millennials and older generations. Among their specialties are the best-selling Morcon Kapampangan made with ground pork and beef, duck eggs, and queso de bola covered in caul fat, the refreshing Pako Salad topped with salted egg and fresh tomatoes, the Fried Catfish that is best when wrapped in mustard leaves and paired with buro (fermented fish paste), creating delicious flavor combinations. One mustn’t miss the beef Kare-Kare with shrimp paste, and the national favorite Pork Sisig that oily, spicy, rich and superb. For dessert, Poch served us the Kabigting’s special halo-halo with sweet and creamy yema. For pasalubong and other assorted treats, we traveled back to Sta. Rita to witness the whole process of making the delectable Turones de Casoy and Sansrival at the Ocampo-Lansang House. Currently, Ramon Ocampo-Lansang, a former educator, runs the mini-pasalubong center. Even with the presence of machines, Ramon and his team continues to follow the traditional way of making the sweet, nougat-like roll and the decadent layered dessert. The province of Pampanga is full of yummy treats and underrated historical attractions that are worth discovering. Should you find yourself needing a short break from the metropolis, then this destination in the north will definitely refresh your mind and soul, and fill your belly in the process.

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ENTERPRISE

Sophos Appoints New Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan The global endpoint and network security company, Sophos, has recently appointed a new executive officer to drive strategic business growth plans and excellence in channel experience. Gavin Struthers, the new regional vice president for Asia Pacific and Japan, has been in the IT industry for almost 30 years focusing on IT sales leadership and general management, including channel and cybersecurity expertise. Before joining the company, Struthers spent 16 years at McAfee, another software security company, where he held several senior positions in the Asia-Pacific region and United States. He collaborated with partners and distributors, as well as managed service providers to implement sales strategies and growth across the region during his time as McAfee’s APAC senior vice president and president. Sophos senior vice president for worldwide sales Michael Valentine expressed his excitement for the new member of the company. He believes that Struthers’ credentials will help them in their expansion plans across Asia-Pacific countries.

Struthers, on the other hand, understands that nurturing supporting the right channel partners is the key in growing a successful business in the region. “The innovation that Sophos is delivering to the industry through its synchronized security vision uniquely positions the brand in the market.

I’m thrilled to join the company as it continues to lead an industry that’s constantly evolving and rising to meet new challenges.” He’s currently based at the Sophos headquarters in Singapore.

Globe Introduces the First High-Speed DIY Internet at Home Globe Telecom upgrades its home internet portfolio by introducing yet another breakthrough. Dubbed as Globe At Home Air, the latest in wireless internet technology offers higher speeds and higher data allocations with speeds of up to 20 Mbps, data capacity of up to 600 GB, and free access to content. The new addition to the Globe At Home Postpaid portfolio introduces a fully DIY end-to-end experience for its customers. To apply for a subscription, customers need only to drop by at the nearest participating Globe store, fill out all required forms online, and present one valid ID to get the Globe At Home Air modem for easy self-setup at home on the same day. Setting the device up at home is a breeze. Just plug in the modem, wait for the blue light to turn on, and connect to the WiFi by logging in with the designated WiFi Key once the indicator light turns on. In just two easy steps, you can download videos faster, play more games, and stream all you want, whenever you want.

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“Globe At Home Air aims to elevate customer experience to a level that no one has ever seen before in home broadband services. Built with faster speed, higher data allocations, and a unique self-install process, this new technology makes internet at home as reliable, accessible, and user-friendly as it can get,” said SVP and head of Broadband Business at Globe Telecom Martha Sazon. Currently available in select areas of Cavite and Bulacan, the Globe At Home Air plans cost as low

as PHP 1,299 for up to 5 Mbps and 400 GB. The plan also offers speeds up to 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps, with 500 GB and 600 GB data allocations inclusive of free six months subscription to DisneyLife, FOX+, and HOOQ, for PHP 1,599 and PHP 1,699 respectively. To avail the plans, you may visit participating stores at SM Dasmariñas, SM Rosario, and SM Bacoor in Cavite and SM Baliuag and SM Marilao in Bulacan. This new service from Globe At Home will be available in more areas soon.

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Perfecting the Cloud Recipe for Success Words By Chin Ying Loong, VP, Cloud Platform, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines

It is no secret that the cloud has democratized access to technology previously reserved for only the largest of organizations, leveling the playing field. With it, the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has changed. No longer is the CIO’s core focus that of ‘keeping the lights on’, and ensuring that technical operations function optimally. Today, the CIO is a partner to the business, driving innovation at DevOps speed and scale, and playing a key role in supporting the company’s go-to-market strategy. Conceptualizing the perfect cloud approach is not an easy task, especially in today’s fastpaced business environment. Too often, business leaders spend a lot of time debating configurations, especially when deploying enterprise applications – only to find that the business has changed by the time they are done. Thus, in this new cloud-driven world, the imperative is to move at the speed of business. This will ensure that organizations adjust and move beyond failing fast, to embrace “succeeding fast”.

The hybrid cloud platform – a CIO’s key to cloud success

Achieving successful outcomes from the cloud increasingly involves taking a hybrid approach to deployment. Organizations need to be able to utilize different forms of cloud solutions that can best cater to their requirements while simultaneously meeting regulatory benchmarks, including data governance and evolving security regulations in the markets that they operate in. The financial services industry, for example, has specific rules about how data is collected, used and stored. Oracle Cloud at Customer helps organizations in the sector enjoy the benefits of a public cloud, while allowing them to stay in control of their data and where it is located.

The secret in the “sauce”

Today, several vendors offer cloud stacks and solutions. So, how can CIOs choose the right option for their business, especially in a rapidly changing market that is moving beyond the cloud to incorporate advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and automation?

A walk in the clouds

This is giving rise to a whole new category of services. This new autonomous cloud is underpinned by three core tenets; being selfdriving (where it literally runs itself, eliminating considerable human labor by self-tuning, self-patching, and self-scaling), self-securing (including intelligent threat detection, remediation and automatic encryption) and selfrepairing (enabling the system to keep running even as patching and maintenance takes place).

If a business realizes the need for additional computing firepower as a result of dynamic shifts in the industry landscape or a requirement to play less in the datacentre space, that’s where Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) comes into the picture. After the computing resources needed are determined, businesses can easily look at scalable resources, instead of being stuck with constantly underutilized capacities.

This new cloud platform infrastructure has the potential to positively disrupt business models - enabling reduced risk, lower costs, and maximization of a business’ most important asset, their data. In the longer run, the resulting ‘autonomous organization’ has the potential to reach an ideal state where manual processes for running day-to-day operations and maintaining core IT systems can be completed without human interference. Instead, manpower can be redeployed toward valueadded roles, enabling companies to redirect revenue and focus on innovating amid changing market dynamics.

In the pre-cloud days, IT infrastructure deployment was a tedious and complex process. Monolithic applications meant dealing with multiple vendors and lengthy provisioning timeframes. Today, with the evolution of the cloud, ‘outsourcing’ software (Software-asa-Service) to be delivered and managed by the experts, while you focus on running your business, is becoming the mainstream.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) forms another critical component of cloud infrastructure, including components such as a database, analytics, integration, mobile, security, etc., that can be consumed on-demand. Not only is the approach time efficient, but these cloud stacks can also help with building the extensible platform needed to support strategic business outcomes by lowering entry barriers and accelerating the go-to-market.

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adoption continues to grow. Witnessing shifts within its business and customer demographics, driven by the rising tide of consumer e-commerce, Indonesia’s leading express logistics provider, JNE is introducing the OracleManagement Cloud to manage innovative applications, including a Business Reporting System for e-commerce customers. This enables end users to see where their items are at each stage of their journey and provide JNE with end-to-end visibility of all transactions to ensure performance and response times for deliveries. Evidently, this new approach truly represents a new era of IT, where things are finally made simple, business leaders have a clear view of all applications and most importantly, glean actionable insights from data. Modern CIOs are now leading the charge in the way forward for their organizations with this new, enterprisegrade cloud that enables them to focus on supporting business strategy and leave the techie ‘how to’ to the cloud service providers. In this new form, the cloud won’t just be “as a service,” but at your service – providing unprecedented access and ease of use to CIOs and their businesses.

The Journey Forward

Already we have moved far in the journey to the cloud. Some years ago, even established companies were wary of the cloud; today, cloud acceptance and

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Kaspersky Lab Partners with MSI ECS PH to Strengthen its B2B Market The global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab has recently partnered with MSI-ECS Philippines to expand its presence in the enterprise market. Carrying over 40 major tech brands with an established dealers nationwide, MSI-ECS is known as one of the biggest IT product and solutions providers in the country. Its appointment as the newest distributor of Kaspersky Lab’s suite of B2B cybersecurity products and services will boost its market growth in the Philippines with its young and highly-active online population. The global cybersecurity company has consistently kept an eye on the nation’s state of cybersecurity through its Kaspersky Security Network. As of third quarter of 2018, the company revealed that more than eight million Filipino internet users were targeted by online threats, placing the Philippines as the 10th most attacked state in terms of online malware. Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager of Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia, said: “The Philippines has gained a lot of attention from the cybercriminals this 2018. Our latest figures even showed that the attacks Kaspersky Lab has blocked for the third quarter are 400 percent more than the infections we detected in the same period last

year. With this strategic partnership with MSI-ECS, we’re confident that we’d be able to provide the most comprehensive protection to local organizations which need the best support as they build the cybersecurity of their businesses and ICS environments. We believe the proven track record of MSIECS in the local IT industry and its extensive channel network will make it a strong ally for Kaspersky Lab in this part of the region.” The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DITC) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have shown active implementation of laws and programs through a Data Privacy manual which is needed to establish a cyber-resilient framework for the country. “The current steps being taken by our government to improve the state of cybersecurity in the Philippines clearly shows that the expertise Kaspersky Lab offers is highly relevant on the

homefront. We welcome this new partnership and we are excited to work closely with Kaspersky Lab. As we take on the SMB and Enterprise segment for the brand, our customers will now have access to next generation protection against intensifying cyber attacks,” said Jimmy Go, president and CEO of MSI-ECS Philippines. Under the agreement, MSI-ECS’ resellers will be able to provide customers with Kaspersky Lab’s enterprise line products including, but not limited to standard endpoint security for business and cloud, security for Microsoft Office 365 and hybrid cloud, threat management and defense, industrial cybersecurity, and fraud prevention.

Emirates and flydubai Partnership Reaches New Heights The two biggest airline companies in the Dubai, Emirates and flydubai, continue to open up the world for travelers as it expands new destinations on its daily flights. Through the codeshare partnership, Emirates customers can access 67 additional destinations through flydubai’s network, while flydubai customers have 115 additional destinations they can travel to on Emirates’ network. The partnership has since delivered a number of benefits to both airlines’ customers, such as offering greater global connectivity through more destination choices, flexibility with flight options when planning trips, one integrated frequent flyer program, and the convenience of traveling on a single ticket with seamless point-to-point baggage handling.

Expanding global connectivity

The partnership started with codeshare flights to just 29 cities, and has since expanded to 84, including new flydubai destinations such as Catania, Krakow, Dubrovnik, and Helsinki. This year, it is set to add new flights in Naples, Budapest, and other countries in due time. Flights to Chittagong via flydubai will also restart from January 20, while flights to Kozhikode, Kerala, will be on February 1.

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Delivering better connections

To improve the connections between Emirates and flydubai flights to Belgrade, Bishkek, Bucharest, Catania, Helsinki, Krakow, Mineralnye Vody, Prague, Rostov-on-Don, Salalah, and Zagreb among others, 11 flydubai flights started to operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. This move has enabled customers to travel these destinations, as well as check-in at the Emirates Business Class and Economy Class desks in the departures area of Terminal 3. Business Class passengers can also use fast track on the ground and enjoy other Business Class services, while transiting passengers have a smooth and quick transit time.

One frequent flyer program

To provide customers with an easy way to accrue and redeem air miles, flydubai adopted Emirates Skywards as its frequent flyer program in August last year. The loyalty program allows Emirates Skywards members to earn Skywards Miles and Tier Miles, as well as enjoy shared travel benefits

when flying across the combined networks. Members earn the same currency with both airlines, reaching rewards faster and rise easily through the tiers of the program. Among the perks offered are Business Class check-in desks when flying Economy Class, and extra baggage plus priority baggage delivery. Currently, the combined networks of Emirates and flydubai is 216. By 2022, it is expected to reach 240 destinations, offering customers across the world far reaching global connectivity via Dubai.

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McAfee Unveils New Innovations in Gaming, the Connected Home, and Cross-Device Security

McAfee, at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019, announced new solutions and collaborations that further expands its presence in the consumer cybersecurity industry. The newest addition to the consumer security lineup is McAfee Gamer Security which is designed from the ground up to protect gamers without affecting gameplay. McAfee also advanced its protection in the connected home and device security through integrations with Dell, Google, and Verizon, as well a new cryptojacking protection within McAfee WebAdvisor. “As the threat landscape continues to evolve in both speed and sophistication, we understand that people can feel overwhelmed by navigating the online security space,” said Terry Hicks, executive vice president, consumer business, McAfee. “That’s why we are creating solutions that more than half a billion and growing customers can easily use to address real world digital security challenges. From securing the gaming experience to safeguarding the connected home to protecting against cryptojacking, we’re enabling our customers to protect what matters to them by delivering the peace of mind needed to connect with confidence.”

Gaming Security

In McAfee survey Game Over: The Future of Gaming Security, three-quarters of gamers revealed they are worried about the security of gaming in the future. Even with the persistent threat, 17 percent of gamers do not know if

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they have antivirus software installed on their PC. Having antivirus software remains one of the best ways to stay secure. With the McAfee Gamer Security, PC gamers get protection and enjoy optimized gaming experience. The McAfee Gaming security includes features such as Game Mode which automatically boosts and optimizes resources like CPU, GPU, and RAM, as well as suppress notifications and pop-ups while the user is in game. It has a gamer-centric interface which consists of a dashboard displaying system status, allows system monitoring, and has modification options. Gamers also enjoy lightweight security protection with the McAfee Gamer Security having smaller resource footprint.

Connected Home Protection

According to McAfee Labs 2019 predictions, cybercriminals will begin using trusted devices like smartphones and tablets to try to gain control of Internet of Things (IoT) devices via password cracking and exploiting vulnerabilities. This all the more reinforces the need for appropriate endpoint protection on all devices as well as protection for the home network itself. McAfee and Verizon are working together to provide protection for the home network through Verizon Home Network Protection (HNP), which protects against malicious websites, provides parental controls, and helps protect all devices connected to the home network, including IoT devices. McAfee will also soon provide McAfee Secure Home Platform voice commands for the Google

Assistant. This will be possible through a McAfee Secure Home Platform-enabled router that can seamlessly use voice commands to customize and monitor security of their connected homes. McAfee Secure Home Platform also provides a built-in layer of security that automatically protects internet-connected devices on the home network from a variety of threats and delivers comprehensive parental controls.

Cross-Device Security

In an expansion of its existing collaboration with Dell, McAfee software will be pre-installed on PCs and laptops globally for its Consumer and Small Business customers. Additionally, customers who purchase a new PC or laptop will have the option to extend McAfee protection beyond their Dell computer by installing McAfee cross-device software on their smartphones and tablets. Dell Consumer and Small Business customers who purchase Dell Inspiron, XPS, Vostro and G-Series laptops globally will get a 30-day or 1-year subscription. Alienware, OptiPlex, Latitude and Precision customers will have the option of adding a 30-day free subscription or purchasing a 1-year subscription. To help protect users from malicious hijacking of their devices, McAfee WebAdvisor, which helps block malware and phishing attempts, now includes CryptoJacking Blocker. CryptoJacking Blocker shuts down the ability for websites to mine for cryptocurrency and is included in all the McAfee suites that include McAfee WebAdvisor.

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What to do in the Event of a Data Leakage?

Everyone in the age of internet is vulnerable and can fall prey to cyber criminals. According to global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, data leaks and breaches have now become a common occurrence, and not addressing this issue puts everyone involved at huge risk. Only recently, a massive database dubbed Collection # 1 exposed millions upon millions of email addresses and passwords. In the Philippines, meanwhile, financial services firm Cebuana Lhuillier confirmed that about 900,000 people were affected in a data breach involving their email server used for marketing purposes. In the thick of cyber attacks, Kaspersky Lab strongly urges internet users to apply unique passwords for each of their online accounts to minimize the chances of being affected by data breaches. “This massive collection of data harvested through data breaches had been built up over a long period of time, so some of the account details are likely to be outdated now. However, it is no secret that despite growing awareness of the danger, people stick to the same passwords and even re-use them on multiple websites,” says Sergey Lozhkin, security expert at Kaspersky Lab.

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“What’s more, this collection can be easily be turned into a single list of emails and passwords and then all that attackers need to do is to write a relatively simple software program to check if the passwords are working. The consequences of account access can range from very productive phishing, as criminals can automatically send malicious emails to a victim’s list of contacts, to targeted attacks designed to steal victims’ entire digital identity or money or to compromise their social media network data,” he adds.

website that allows internet users to check if their personal data has been compromised by data breaches. Type-in the e-mail address that your accounts are associated with and you will find out if that address was included in any of the leaked databases the aforementioned site is aware of.

Lozhkin strongly recommends to everyone who uses email credential for online activities to take the following steps as soon as possible:

5. Use trusted security solutions such as Kaspersky Security Cloud that has features to alert you of breaches.

1. Use strong passwords for your most important or sensitive accounts, such as internet banking, online payment or social media networks, and change them regularly.

6. Consider switching to a password manager such as Kaspersky Password Manager that can help create many unique and strong passwords with no need to memorize them. Password managers can also help change the passwords faster whenever you need it.

2. Use long and unique passwords for each and every account. This way, if a service is breached, you’ll need to change just one password. 3. Check if your email account has been exposed online by going to haveibeenpwned.com—a

4. Enable two-factor authentication wherever it is possible. It will not allow hackers into your account even if they managed to obtain your login and password.

Experts at Kaspersky Lab says that a lot more data breaches are expected to happen in the future, so it’s best to take precautionary steps to not get affected by data breaches.

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BITS & BYTES

Holcim Philippines Launches Young Builders Challenge Holcim Philippines, Inc. has just launched the Young Builders Challenge (YBC), which is a design competition that is aimed at encouraging the next generation of building professionals to have a stronger sustainability mindset. Along with the competition announcement, Holcim Philippines is also now accepting YBC entries which will be open until April 2019. Participating engineering and architecture students must be currently enrolled and at least in third year college. Projects that have commenced prior to December 2018 and have been entered in other competitions may are still qualified to enter YBC, provided that they have not won any local or regional competitions of the same nature. The proposed projects will be evaluated on aesthetic elements, financial feasibility, as well as envisioned environmental and social benefits. YBC will have three winners who will each receive a cash prize of up to PHP 80,000, and PHP 20,000 to their schools. Holcim Philippines vice president for Communications Cara Ramirez: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe it is important to instill a sustainability mindset during the formative stage of aspiring industry professionals, and this is one way our company is

contributing to this goal. We are excited to receive entries from students from across the country and see their ideas that can address the sustainability challenges we are facing.â&#x20AC;? The YBC is inspired by the LafargeHolcim Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sustainable Construction Awards, a global design contest that encourages construction industry professionals and students to put forward visionary projects and bold ideas for a sustainable future.

Honda Kicks Off Environmental Sustainability Project in Romblon Honda Motor Co. Ltd., has successfully started testing of its Mobile Power Pack in Romblon in support of its sustainable society vision. The Mobile Power Pack developed by Honda is a portable and swappable battery that stores electricity generated through renewable means, and can be used as a power source to run electric devices. Its first demonstration testing in Asia was held in the island of Romblon where diesel power generation is the primary source of energy and citizens have to deal with constant fluctuations due to electricity demand. Honda conducted the testing with Komaihaltec, with the latter installing a wind power generator. Honda, meanwhile, installed an Exchanger where surplus electricity will be stored in the Mobile Power Packs. These efforts are aimed at reducing CO2 emissions

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in the province through the replacement of diesel generators. Soon in Romblon, Honda will also utilize PCX ELECTRIC, an electric motorized scooter, to be installed with the Mobile Power Pack to help in the production of renewable energy in Romblon.

Honda is expanding its efforts toward the realization of local generation and local consumption of energy and a carbon-free society by combining technologies to generate, get connected and use for energy. The company continuously innovates to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and carbon-free environment.

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PLDT Announces All-New Google Wifi Plans

PLDT has just introduced its new PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans for uninterrupted, high-speed internet at home. Starting at PHP 2,299 per month, subscribers can enjoy unli Fibr in every room thanks to the mesh network system, Google Wifi, and PLDT Home’s superb internet speeds. The new plans will come bundled with three Google Wifi units, which will serve as Wi-Fi points users can control via an app (available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store), a free landline with unlimited calls to Smart, TNT, and Sun, as well as free service from the Home Geek Squad to aid in the setting up of the Google Wifi units. This new Unli Fibr package is offered in speeds ranging from 30 Mbps for PHP 2,299, 60 Mbps for PHP 3,299,120 Mbps for PHP 4,299, and up to 250 Mbps for PHP 6,299.

Smart School-in-a-Bag Promotes Inclusive Education Smart’s School-in-a-Bag is a portable digital classroom designed to facilitate learning in basic education. Each bag contains a teacher’s laptop, student tablets, a projector, DVD player, and pocket WiFi. The devices are preloaded with educational content, while schools with no sufficient electricity also receive solar panels. School-in-a-Bag beneficiaries also receive Dynamic Learning Program modules, teacher training courses, and regular monitoring and evaluation from Smart. School-in-a-Bag is part of the telco’s efforts to promote digital education, which also includes its recently launched mother tongue-based apps. “Our mission is to develop mother tongue based apps as interactive tools that can help support learning strategies, as well as help preserve and promote local culture and heritage for the present and future generation,”

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said Ramon Isberto, PLDT-Smart Public Affairs Group head. If you wish to learn more about Smart’s educational programs or donate a School-in-

a-Bag, you can visit the Smart Communities Facebook page or email learnsmart@smart. com.ph.

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Columbia Sportswear Celebrates 80 Years of Outdoor Wear Innovation The American sportswear company, Columbia, elevates shopping experience for its customers with the relaunch of its flagship store in SM Mall of Asia. Located at the north wing of the mall, the newlyrenovated shop has drawn its inspiration from the Timberland Lodge, national landmark that attracts 2 million tourists annually. Its interiors are patterned after the rustic aesthetics of the ski resort which matches the adventurous image of the apparel brand. The concept store incorporates evergreen displays, spacious fitting rooms, and the meticulously planned amphitheatre that warmly welcomes the customers while maintaining its branding. The initiative to redesign the store aligns with the brand’s 80th anniversary celebration. Through the years, Columbia has developed groundbreaking technologies like the Omni-Tech, Omni-Heat, and Omni-Grip that provides optimized comfort and protection from all weather conditions. Continuing its legacy in innovating sportswear and commemorating its 80th year in the industry, the brand has brought back its best-selling Bugaboo Interchange Jacket in the 80s. The 3-in-1 jacket consists of a fleece liner that provides body insulation and waterproof

hoodie that guards from heavy rainfalls. It can be worn separately or together as an ensemble, featuring the thermal-reflective, Omni-Heat liner and waterproof, Omni-Tech breathable outer layer which makes it warmer and drier from its original version. Embellished with a special 80th anniversary embroidery, quotes from Columbia chairman Gert Boyle, and a Bugaboo 1986 history patch, the limited edition jacket serves as a reminder of the brand’s commitment from the very beginning—to build gear that will help you stay outside longer. Present in the relaunch were Columbia brand manager Ramdy Arcilla, Columbia brand ambassador Thumbie Remegio, as well as Columbia AVP and SBU head Tiffany Batungbacal.

GMA Network, PLDT-Smart Partner to Revolutionize TV Viewing GMA Network, Inc. – through GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) – and PLDT-Smart Communications, Inc. entered into a technology, content, and distribution agreement through which the companies will launch game-changing innovations that will power and transform the TV viewing-experience in the Philippines. “This partnership is a clear statement that we are welcoming disruption and embracing digital with open arms. By riding the wave of disruption with PLDT and Smart as partners, we will not only upgrade the quality of content we are producing but we are also setting the stage for a new age of digital television,” said GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon. “As we transform our business from being a legacy telco into the premier and most trusted digital enabler in the country, this partnership will enable us to power GMA’s digital pivot and help deliver to our millions of fixed and wireless subscribers GMA 7’s unique and compelling content, as well as exciting new digital experiences to more Filipino families,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

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Under the partnership, Smart and PLDT will launch innovations that will power GMA’s digital transformation initiatives.

Jimenez; NMI President and COO Judd Gallares; and NMI Senior Vice President and General Manager Dennis Caharian.

Present during the partnership announcement were GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; GMA Network Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network’s Executive Committee Vice Chairman Joel G.

Representing PLDT and Smart were Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, SVP and Head of Consumer Business– Market Development; Ernesto R. Alberto, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer; and Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO.

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Petron 85 Years and Beyond: Fueling a Sustainable Tomorrow On its 85th anniversary, Petron Corporation, the country’s number one oil company continued to uphold its commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the communities it serves.

Petron employee-volunteers and residents of Brgy. Manalo in Puerto Princesa, Palawan work in unison as they plant mangrove propagules last November 26

Residents from Petron’s fenceline communities, local government representatives, and local DENR offices joined Petron employees in nationwide reforestation efforts through the company’s “Puno ng Buhay” program, which aims to build Petron forests of mangroves, bamboos, or endemic tree species. The program came in full swing in 2018 as Petron adopted at least 85 hectares for reforestation in different areas around the country. The sites in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Nasipit, Agusan del Norte were populated with mangrove propagules while the area in Tagbilaran, Bohol was planted with bamboo seedlings. Similar activities were also held in other areas including Tacloban, Roxas, and Limay. This brings the total hectarage of reforested sites to over 100 and the total number of mangrove Thousands of Petron employees have contributed to the success of Petron’s environmental efforts. In addition to the Puno ng Buhay activities, they have helped clean up shorelines, rivers, and creeks, and distributed empty drums to serve as waste bins for fenceline communities. Many of these activities are timed to commemorate global events such as Earth Day, Environment Month, and International Coastal Cleanup Day. 85 Years of Being A Force for Change More than the figures, the success of these programs can be measured by how much they have changed or improved the lives of their beneficiaries. Petron continues to work towards its goal of growing more ‘Petron Forests.” In Tagbilaran, the company planted bamboo seedlings as part of its 85th anniversary

and tree seedlings planted to over one million since the program was formally launched in 2016. Petron remains steadfast in its commitment to fuel the environment as it plans to adopt more areas for reforestation in Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao this year. “As we mark our 85th year, we hope to leave a significant and lasting impact on the environment and in communities where we are present. We see ourselves as an enabler of growth and progress, so ultimately we help shape the future where our country is stronger, more resilient, and able to meet the aspirations of our people,” said Petron President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

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In the next three years, this nationwide reforestation program is expected to see at least 200,000 new trees and mangrove planted. These areas are expected to capture at least 63,000 tons of carbon annually. With the continuing decline in forest cover, Petron hopes to further contribute to government efforts to protect the environment, especially through DENR’s expanded National Greening Program. Fueled by Volunteerism Achieving this massive undertaking means tapping into the volunteerism spirit of Petron employees and the company’s stakeholders to take collective action.

As part of the Limay, Bataan community for nearly 60 years, Petron is more than just a business but more a reliable and helpful neighbor, especially in times of need. “Kaya kung anuman ang problema namin, alam namin na nandiyan lang sila,” (Whatever our problem is, we know we can always count on them),” shares Rose Santos, President of the Kabaranggay Alangan Tungo sa Isang Gabay (KATIG), a Limay-based people’s organization composed mostly of fisherfolk. With Petron’s help, the group preserves the area by planting mangroves within its vicinity. Mangroves offer a host of benefits: serving as natural greenbelts to reduce disaster vulnerability, preserving critical watersheds and ecosystems, and providing a source of livelihood for the local community.

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Realme updates the C1 to ColorOS 5.2.1 Improving the multitasking function of the phone, users are afforded an option in launching apps without the need to go back to the home screen with the Smart Bar. The Google Assistant can now be launched through a half second press on the power button which allows for the quick launch of the AI virtual assistant when hands-free functions are needed. “We’d like our customers to know that similar toother higher-tier smartphones, the Realme C1 can keep up with the latest trends through updates being rolled out in the market. Built to last, the Realme C1 is designed to be future-proof so as to welcome new and better features such as the updates to the ColorOS. Our smartphones are ready to offer powerful performance for a long period of time,” said Realme Philippines CEO Jacky Chen.

Realme, through its commitment to provide support to its patrons, has just updated the C1 to the new ColorOS 5.2.1 that aims to ensure the continuous smooth and efficient mobile experience. The ColorOS 5.2.1 brings a set of new features to

the C1 including the Smart Bar, Google Assistant Quick Launch, reboot function, single swipe notification dismissal, and status bar headset icon as well as some security and performance updates. Among them are an Android security patch, settings reminder, and improved touchscreen fluency.

Owners of the Realme C1 who wish to experience the new features that the ColorOS 5.2.1 may update their devices through the phone’s settings. A feature-packed, entry-level smartphone at a very competitive price in the segment, the first device under the belt of Realme Philippines is poised as a powerful and stylish yet affordable smartphone in which avid fans could expect to expand this year.

Score Greater Discounts When you Purchase Brother P-Touch Bundles Brother Philippines offers irresistible deals to its business clients. Save as as much as PHP 13,995 with its P-Touch bundle deals that make industrial tube labelling more efficient to offices and industries needing a reliable wire or cable ID solution. Selected models of high quality and efficient P-Touch labeller machines bought at suggested retail price now comes with additional TZe Tapes and other accessories, allowing buyers to save more. A leading Japanese brand, Brother offers a wide range of labellers ranging from industrial compact labelling systems and machines, handheld electrician and datacomm label printer, wireless label printer, to Wi-Fi enabled industrial tube & label printer. Promo runs until March 30, 2019 in Mega Manila only. You may visit https://labelsolutions.brother.com. ph/ for more information on Brother P-Touch product models.

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Panasonic Launches New Generation of Home Appliances Panasonic has recently introduced new models to their home appliances line up that encourage Filipino consumers to live fresh and easy. The new generation of washing machines, air-conditioners, and refrigerators maintain the brand’s DNA through their ergonomic designs, eco-saving features, and unique technologies. Delivering advanced Japanese technology to kitchens, the new Panasonic refrigerators are now equipped with multiple features that give Prime Fresh Freezing that keeps food fresh up to seven days, a soft freezing function that retains the nutrients from fish and meats, Nano-e technology that kills bacteria, and an AG filter that eliminates unwanted odor in the fridge. It s multi-door, NRDZ600GK unit also has separate compartments for fruits and vegetables, Intelligent Eco Navi sensors, and inverter system for optimizing energy usage. The newly improved No Frost BP models, on the other hand, boast slim bodies, superior energy saving and cooling performance, as well as fresh and clean storage drawers. The top-load models for the Panasonic washing machines bring superior wash performance with just one touch. Perfect for a past-faced lifestyle, the latest V7 series boast StainMaster+ that kills bacteria and delivers intensive stain removal. Other models such as the X7 series and A7 series have an extra–wide opening for bed sheets and comforters, Active Foam System technology for

easy lifting of dirt from the clothes’ fiber, rear control panel for convenient control navigation, Tangle Care for easy unload of laundry, Auto Tub Clean for effective tub cleaning after use, and Econavi for efficient energy, water, and time consumption. Completing the roster of the brand’s groundbreaking home appliances are the new Panasonic Air Conditioners that aim to provide total air solutions for home, office,

and commercial establishments. The Nano-e technology on the Sky, Aero, XU, and PU series helps deodorize odor, purify air, and prevent the spread of germs and other pollutants. Through the electrostatic atomized water released by the units, it promotes cleaner and healthier indoor environment. The Panasonic 2019 Home Appliance collection will be available soon at its authorized dealers nationwide.

Sony Interactive Entertainment New PlayStation 4 Dual Pack Includes Gamer Favorites Sony Interactive Entertainment has just announced the availability of the Masterpiece pack, a new, dual blu-ray disc pack for PlayStation 4. The pack includes best-selling titles Detroit: Become Human, and the Game of the Year title God of War. God of War circles around Kratos. Living as a man outside the shadow of the gods, Kratos must adapt to unfamiliar lands, unexpected threats, and a second chance at being a father. Together with his son Atreus, the pair ventures into the brutal Norse wilds and fight to fulfill a deeply personal quest. Detroit: Become Human, meanwhile is groundbreaking for its gripping, narrative–driven experiences. Set in 2038 Detroit, where Androids have gone rogue, players discover what it really means to be human in a powerful, emotional journey made of choice and consequences. The Masterpiece pack will retail for PHP 2,699, and will be available for purchase at PlayStation retail stores and authorized dealers nationwide.

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2019 v19n6 - NEW TECH

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