EDITOR’SNOTE PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TECHNICAL EDITOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTORS
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR INTERNS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Ten years ago, from the vision of our publisher Maribelle Alba and a handful of staffers, Volume 1, Number 1 of Gadgets Magazine made its debut. It had brought into reality the dream of putting up a homegrown tech publication that caters to a wider audience. The magazine sought to provide a venue for all the technological innovations to come together on a local level. Over the years, Gadgets has gone through major transformations—both in its look, its content, its staff and even its management. It has experienced numerous hurdles and difficulties; but we trudged on. In the 10 years past—with the continued assistance of advertisers and printers—nearly all the aspirations, hopes and dreams that brought about Gadgets Magazine have been realized in its pages. Although its direction has been ever changing according to the whims of its current editor, the magazine survives in a state of comparative good health. The one constant during all of the years has been our conscientious and tireless publisher—“Mommy” to all of us here at Gadgets—who has faithfully gathered up the loose ends, prodded advertisers, printers, editors and staffers, and set the wheels in motion on each of the 95 issues to-date. The magazine is part of her family, and from infancy to now its almost-adolescence stage, she has tended it with solid devotion.
Maribelle Alba Armin Amio John Nieves Michelle Callanta Presy Alba Danee Torres JC Ansis, Benjamin Arnold, Francis Tan Paolo Toledo, Raymond Tribdino, Steven Vea Chad Villarmino Benjamin Arnold Jeremy Ong Chuan, Kenneth Garanilla Maribelle Alba
SALES & ADVERTISING MANAGER Marisa Consuelo ACCOUNT MANAGERS MJ Gonzales-Esteban, Carol Agabin ADVERTISING AGENTS Bess Zamora, Val Villamar ONLINE MARKETING & EVENTS OFFICER Francis Tan CIRCULATION ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Lorie Bernardo, Salvador Da, Jr. Tess Pascua, Amy Christine Giray
GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Incorporated. Address all correspondence to
9-B Evening News Street, West Triangle, Quezon City. Our telephone numbers are 332-4004, 376-7356 and 514-8321. Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Our email addresses are:
editors@gadgetsmagazine.com.ph gadgetsmagazine@gmail.com 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 Incorporated.
THECOVER
With our publisher Maribelle and the staff, I bid you cheers and hoping for your continuing support to Gadgets Magazine in the succeeding years.
Armin A. Amio Editor in chief
Editor-in-Chief Armin A. Amio with Tech Editor John Nieves and Lifestyle Editor Michelle Callanta
CEO/Publisher Maribelle Alba with the Gadgets team
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Photographed by Xander Angeles for Edge of Light Art Direction by Chad Villarmino Styled by Danee Torres Make up by Robbie Pinera Hair by Raymond Santiago for L’Oreal Dress by Popo Go Accessories by JÔ Joyce Oreña
BEHINDTHESCENES
COVER SHOOT
We've been trying to get Anne Curtis on the cover for a long time and we couldn't be happier that we finally booked her for our anniversary issue. We had to work around her schedule as she was only free on a weekend and earlier that day we also participated in the Run2Read 5K fun run but it was totally worth it. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed making it!
DESIGN OF A DECADE SHOOT
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We picked out the best 10 covers over the past decade and remixed them with the help of our two beautiful models, Roni Callanta and Kaye Homecillo. Many thanks to our intern Jeremy Chuan who assisted Senior Art Director Chad in sticking the shiny, little shards on our model. (Those were cut from old CDs!)
MOBILITY
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SAMSUNG PX2370 LED monitor Looking for a monitor that’s stylish, eco friendly and has great performance? Then Samsung LED PX2370 might be the monitor you’re looking for. Elegant and unassuming, the PX2370 has a thin profile of only 16.5mm and elegantly showcases’ Samsung’s Touch of Color charcoal-gradation finish. Being an LED monitor, it’s capable of producing a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, ensuring the blackest blacks and excellent picture quality. Digital photographers, graphic artists and professional illustrators will be thrilled to hear that the PX2370 is capable of 100% sRGB color reproduction. The PX2370 also has something for the avid gamer and film buff as it’s also capable of fast 2-millisecond (G2G) response and 1,920 x 1,080 full HD resolution.
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THE LATEST NEWS
OFF THE
ioSAFE Hard drive ioSafe hard drive is a fire- and flood-proof hard drive designed to protect business and even personal data. Much like a “disaster plan-in-a box", it represents the highest value solution for consumers, small- and medium— scale enterprises, and even government entities to protect their records. It is most commonly used as a remote office backup, a replacement to tape or online vaulting, in filling back up or data recovery gaps, or in combination with continuous data protection software. The ioSafe hard drives come in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.
FROM
In today’s fast-paced world, it pays to be kept in the loop, from the hottest celebrity gossip to the latest news. But there lies the problem: you want to keep in touch, but it’s simply not practical to stay glued to your computer or TV all day - you have things to do, places to go, people to meet. Well, now there’s a better way to get the hottest news: HotPress from SMART Buddy. SMART Buddy’s HotPress delivers the latest world, national, local, sports, entertainment and breaking news on the screen of your mobile phone. While your phone is idle, a ticker will appear containing titles of fresh and important news items. If you like what you see, you can then click on the HotPress icon on your home screen or the HotPress link which is automatically saved on the right soft key of your phone when you download the application. There you can read the news item in more detail. Quick and easy! The best part is that while the ticker is automatically updated free every two hours, when a breaking news story is hitting the wires, the ticker is again updated immediately; making sure you won’t be left behind on the hottest news of the day. There are six distinct channels in HotPress: National, Local, Breaking, World, Sports and Entertainment News.You can also customize which part of the archipelago you get your local news from, either from Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao. 12
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RICOH CX3 Digital camera
Subscribers of the service will be able to receive ticker updates free, and are only charged when they read the full news articles. But from July 5 to August 4, HotPress will be offered entirely for free! After such period, HotPress will be at a special introductory price of P10 per day. Downloading HotPress however is perpetually free from SMART. Subscribers only need to go to http://m.smart.com.ph/hotpress on their mobile web browsers to download. All mobile phones that have Symbian S60 and S40 operating systems are capable of running Hot Press, as well as Java-capable mobiles. For more information on phones that work with Hot Press, visit http:// www.smart.com.ph/buddy/services/ hotpress. The hottest news and more to come from SMART Buddy, let’s play!
Taking photos will never be more enjoyable with the Ricoh CX3, a new digital camera featuring a high-magnification 10.7x (28-300 mm) optical wideangle zoom lens, a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, and an enhanced noise reduction function. The new CX3 has dramatically improved image quality even when shooting low-light scenes. When the camera is pointed at the subject, the new "scene auto mode" will switch to the optimum scene mode. Since the camera automatically changes to the optimum shooting settings, you can enjoy easy shooting of beautiful photographs. Other enhancements include the addition of a 1280 × 720-pixel HD movie function, high and low luminance priority settings for "dynamic range double shot mode" dynamic range expansion effects, and a "pets" scene mode.
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TOSHIBA REGZA XL700 LED TV Before we get carried away with 3D TVs, know that regular 2D TVs are still very much alive and are increasing in performance and getting more affordable every day. Case in point is the Toshiba Regza XL700 LED TV. It’s armed with Toshiba's proprietary Resolution+ technology that allows details of images to be drastically improved through complex analysis and refinement during the upconversion process. This edge backlight LED TV is jampacked with a host of other innovative technologies like ClearScan Pro100 that produces a smoother image by eliminating motion blur, and Autoview which uses a built-in ambient light sensor and intelligent algorithms to ensure that whatever the lighting or time of day, your TV picture parameters are adjusted for optimal viewing.
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LG OPTIMUS GT540 Android smartphone LG Electronics joins the Android realm with its LG Optimus (LG GT540). Dubbed as the Android-powered smartphone for first-time users, the LG Optimus allows users to enjoy diverse Android applications and automatic account synchronization with all Google mobile services. With an automatically synchronized Google account, users need to only log-in once to enjoy YouTube, Gmail, Gtalk, Google Maps and more. An advanced media player allows users to watch DivX and Xvid videos directly without separate encoding and browsing multimedia files is especially enjoyable with the 3D thumbnail gallery. The phone’s 3-megapixel camera supports geo-tagging, auto face-tagging and face-to-action technology to allow users to create and share multimedia content from the phone. The LG Optimus has a built-in video editor with storyboard function so that users can add music and text to videos directly on the phone.
Php12,900
LG COOKIE FRESH GS290 Mobile phone There’s a new cookie in town, the LG Cookie Fresh (LG GS290). This phone follows its predecessor, LG Cookie, which sold over 13 million units worldwide. With smart social network service connectivity and other unique features such as LiveSquare, the LG Cookie Series allows users to keep in touch with online friends more easily by offering a visually dynamic interactive experience. What’s more, LG Cookie Series has a fun, cartoon-styled UI with colorful theme options and supports downloadable applications including The New York Times, eBay Search, Amazon Search and Fox News for a more enjoyable user experience.
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ALTEC LANSING OCTANE PLUS, BXR1220 & VS2621 Speakers What's the point of building a great desktop PC or buying the latest entertainment notebook if you're just going to listen to them with cheap speakers? Don't you think you deserve the better than that? Altec Lansing, world-renowed manufacturer of speakers and audio equipment has created small and relatively compact 2.1 surround sound systems for your desktop and notebook that delivers excellent aural performance.
Altec Lansing Octane Plus
Massive sound is the Octane Plus's specialty. Packing seven custom designed drivers, it will literally knock your socks off. Unique down-firing midrange drivers hidden inside each satellite speaker send the sound rocketing to all directions. It's relatively compact so you'll be able to enjoy rich, full sound without losing precious desk space.
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Altec Lansing VS2621
The VS2621 three-piece speaker system for computers and MP3 players was built with one purpose in mind—i.e. deliver blow-your-socks-off sound without making a dent in your pocket. The uniquely angled shape of the satellites directs full-spectrum audio toward the listener for improved audio dynamics while the side-firing subwoofer pumps out impressive bass. Its compact size makes it ideal for small spaces, although there’s nothing small about the sound.
Altec Lansing BXR1220
While you should be concerned about your budget, you should not sacrifice audio quality. The Altec Lansing BXR1220 hits all the right notes—it's small, handy, is powered through a single USB connection so you won't have to plug it in, and best of all, it's affordable.
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EPSON STYLUS PRO GS6000 Large-format printer This 64-inch wide inkjet printer is designed for both indoor and outdoor applications, including photo applications and fine-art reproduction. It has an exceptionally wide color gamut which provides enhanced support for commonly used spot colors. The Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 has a resolution up to 1440x1440 dpi and a smallest ink droplet size of 3.7 picoliters. The printer uses the first eco-solvent UltraChrome GS ink technology which offers 8 individual colors, including an all-new orange and green.
Php 1.327 million
ASUS ENGTX460 Video card ASUS ENGTX460 graphics cards enter service as the newest addition to NVIDIA’s GeForce 400 Series. Exclusives include Voltage Tweak overclocking and endurance features GPU Guard, EMI Shield and Fuse Protection. On top of the cool overclocking capabilities, ASUS ENGTX460 graphics cards are optimized for native performance in Windows 7, delivering mind-blowing graphics to showcase DirectX11 done right, plus full 3D Vision Surround, PhysX and CUDA support.
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LENOVO THINKCENTRE A70Z All-in-one desktop PC Lenovo reshaped its ThinkCentre business desktop line by introducing its first all-inone (AIO) desktop PC, the ThinkCentre A70z. This AIO delivers a compelling alternative to the traditional desktop PC. It comes with Intel Core 2 Duo processors and delivers blazing fast boot-up time as one of Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience certified PCs for Windows 7. The compact ThinkCentre A70z includes a 19-inch; 16:10 widescreen LCD monitor packed into a 2.4-inch black frame that complements just about any office environment.
Starts at Php 40,000
LOGITECH ANYWHERE MOUSE M905 Wireless mouse It’s annoying when you find out your laser or optical mouse doesn’t work on the surface you’ve set your notebook on. You may be in a hurry, opening your notebook and trying to cram a few last minute notes on a shiny marble table or working on a glass table—whatever the case, your standard optical mouse won’t work. The Logitech Anywhere Mouse M905 is the exception to that rule however. With its Darkfield Laser Tracking feature, the M905 can happily work on all surfaces including glass (4mm thickness minimum). Its unified receiver allows you to work with multiple wireless products with just one receiver—perfect if you want to go wireless without the clutter.
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TOSHIBA PORTÉGÉ R700 Notebook Why choose between portability and power when you can have both? The Toshiba Portégé R700 delivers premium mobility without sacrificing power and performance. Billed by Toshiba as the thinnest and lightest 13-inch ultraportable around, the R700 provide both consumers and business professionals with unprecedented performance in a highly mobile form factor, and at mainstream prices. Measuring in at less than 19mm thick, users can choose between different processors to meet their needs. To achieve the R700’s thin and light proportions, Toshiba used a light yet durable magnesium alloy casing reinforced with a new Honeycomb Structure much like the ones used in the components of Formula 1 cars.
TOSHIBA LIBRETTO W100 Notebook You think your notebook is small? Well, you probably haven’t seen the libretto W100 yet. This tiny, dual screen notebook is your ultimate travelling companion. Its small size and weight (819 grams) allows it to fit in your bag or purse without much fuss. The dual 7-inch capacitive diagonal screens are the perfect tools to watch movies, view pictures or read e-books. The libretto is powered by Intel Pentium U5400 (1.2 GHz, 3MB L3 cache) and Windows 7 Home Premium, so you get the full computing experience without compromise.
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MAC MINI Desktop computer Apple’s redesigned Mac mini features a more powerful graphics processor, a new HDMI port and a new SD card slot, all in an amazingly compact aluminum enclosure. Created with the unibody construction process pioneered by Apple, the new Mac mini features a compact aluminum enclosure just 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thin. A new integrated power supply eliminates the need for an external power adapter, reducing the overall system volume by 20 percent, keeping cable clutter to a minimum. A removable panel underneath provides quick access for memory expansion. Inside its sleek, compact enclosure, the new Mac mini includes the fastest integrated graphics processor in the market today. With 48 processing cores, the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor delivers up to twice the graphics performance of its predecessor, making Mac mini ideal for graphics intensive applications or visually rich games. Standard package includes a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard and 2GB of RAM
Php 38,990
GENIUS METALSTRIKE PRO Joystick MetalStrike Pro by Genius is the right choice if you need a joystick for your flying games. It features an amazing vibration function, allowing you to experience real flying action. Feel the thrill with every take off, flight, bump, and crash. MetalStrike Pro has a 4-axis functions: X, Y, Z, and rudder for Aileron, Elevator, Throttle and Power control. MetalStrike Pro has 13 buttons, and an 8-way “point of view” hat switch. To make your simulated flight games even more enjoyable, MetalStrike Pro has a turbo function for auto repeat which is great for shooting! The handle position is adjustable for comfort with three levels of air control to keep your hands cool and dry.
Php 1,730
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S5550 S5350
S3550 SAMSUNG SHARK SERIES Mobile phones
Samsung’s Shark series— the candy bar Shark (S5350) and slider phones Shark 2 (S5550) and Shark 3 (S3550)—has been developed for active, multimedia-hungry users who value style and design as much as they value constant access to their social networks, friends and family. The curved, ergonomic form provides a better grip than the conventional straight-lined models, while its slim (11.9mm) profile ensures it is perfectly pocketable. These stylish phones are packed with multimedia fun, from music to advanced camera features.
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SAMSUNG CHAMP Mobile phone Samsung’s spreading the touchscreen love with the Champ. Stylish and compact, the Champ is able to give users a full touch experience with its 2.4-inch QQVGA display with embedded stylus. The TouchWiz Lite UI makes it easy to navigate and use the Champ’s menus and features.
Php 4,980
SAMSUNG C750 3D LCD TV If you think that LED TVs are the only ones pushing 3D, then you should consider the Samsung C750 3D LCD TV. It has all the features of a decent 3D TV with Samsung’s exclusive web-connected apps, you can enjoy a wealth of content. Like its LED siblings, the C750 is fully capable of handling 3D content and converting 2D pictures and video glorious 3D. Lest you think the C750 is only good for the third dimension, it’s also fully capable of handling full HD content and is equipped with Samsung’s Wide Color Enhancer that delivers the entire spectrum of color and luminance for rich, saturated images with intense detail.
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PANASONIC PLUS STYLE VEGERATOR Two-door refrigerator Panasonic’s Plus Style Vegerator two-door ref incorporates the patented Intelligent Inverter technology. Available in two CFC-free models—NR-BY601V and NR-BY551V—the Plus Style Vegerator is designed to meet not just the world’s top levels of eco performance in refrigeration, but also every home consumer’s demand for a healthier lifestyle. Both models have been shown to reduce electricity consumption by up to 40 percent and feature the Intelligent Inverter, Panasonic’s original advanced power control technology. This information is transmitted to the compressor, which then automatically adjusts its rotation speed to match the needed temperature inside the fridge. Operating at a sleep-easy level of quiet, the Plus Style Vegerator has seven stages of power adjustment to suit temperature conditions and maintain optimum levels of energy-efficient cooling.
ZOTAC GEFORCE GTX 460 1GB & GEFORCE GTX 460 SYNERGY EDITION Graphics card Zotac International, a leading innovator and the world’s largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, mini-PCs and small form factor platforms, unleashes two new affordable GeForce GTX 400 series graphics cards. The new ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 series deliver class-leading features and technology to gamers, enthusiasts and all PC users looking for a thrilling visual experience. Stunning visuals are made possible with the powerful NVIDIA Fermi architecture that delivers superior graphics processing power and Microsoft DirectX 11 technology that powers the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 series. Hardware tessellation takes 3D games to the next level of visual realism with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 series by enabling increased visual details in every object and environment in the latest games DirectX 11 powered games for a cinematic gaming experience that rivals the latest CGI-animated Hollywood masterpiece.
2010 AUGUST
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SENNHEISER MX 680, CX 680, OMX 680 & PMX 680 Sports earphones Top German brands Sennheiser and Adidas combined forces to come up with a line of sports earphones that offer top-quality sound, have excellent wearing comfort and are insensitive towards external influences such as water, sweat and cold.
MX 680
The MX 680 stereo earphones feature Sennheiser’s patent-pending EarFin holding system that ensures the ear pieces fit securely and comfortably in the ear. A simple twist fixes the innovative “fin” to the outer ear.
Php 2,399
CX 680
The premium-quality CX 680 ear canal earphones are also fitted with the new EarFin system and come with various ear adapters offering excellent insulation against external noise. The earphones are ideal for sports enthusiasts who want to concentrate on their music while working out.
Php 3,299
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OMX 680
The OMX 680 has adjustable ear clips and a special ear fitting system with three adapters that are best even for the most grueling training sessions. The ear clips are made of a flexible material and offer optimum wearing comport.
Php 3,299
PMX 680
The PMX 680 guarantees a secure fit with its sturdy and ergonomically designed band. The single-sided cable also offers plenty of freedom of movement even while jogging or working out. An additional feature is the reflective strip on the neck band for extra safety in the dark.
Php 4,499
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PALIT GTX 460 1GB SONIC PLATINUM Videocard After the somewhat lackluster reception of NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX465, it seems the company is set to redeem itself with the GTX460. Palit is jumping on the latest Fermi card with the Palit GeForce GTX 460. Based on the identical Fermi architecture but with better DX11 performance, the Palit GTX 460 1GB Sonic Platinum aims to deliver to 5x faster DX11 Tessellation performance than their competitors. The Palit GTX 460 1GB Sonic Platinum Edition is factory overclocked to 800 MHz core and has 1GB of high speed GDDR5 and boasts a performance boost 17.5% higher than the nonoverclocked GTX460.
eMACHINES eMD730 Notebook High performance and affordability go hand in hand with the eMachines eMD730, a 14-inch ultraportable laptop packing full-sized features, complete with speedy and responsive Intel Core i3 processor technology and a huge 250GB hard drive. Weighing only 2.2 kg (with a 6-cell battery pack), the eMachines eMD730 notebook comes with functional design features that add even more value to an affordable package. A 14-inch high-brightness, highdefinition LED-backlit LCD widescreen delivers stunning video performance, while two built-in stereo speakers provide solid high-definition audio support. A built-in webcam with 1280 x 1024 resolution makes the eMD730 an ideal videoconferencing and online collaboration solution.
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PACSAFE CAMSAFE 200 Camera Bag People value their prized cameras—and all it takes for your prized baby to belong to that goon that has been following you for the past hour is a well-timed slash at the shoulder strap. So why take the risk? The PacSafe CamSafe 200 camera shoulder bag is perfect for photography enthusiasts who need to know that their gear is secure and protected wherever the location. The CamSafe 200 can be customized to fit a digital SLR camera with zoom lens, flash and extra lens. It also has specially designed pockets for smaller items such as cords, batteries and SD cards.
HTC HD MINI Smartphone Compact yet full featured, the HTC HD mini is an HTC Sense-based Windows Phone focused on delivering the popular experience of the HTC HD2 in a condensed design. The HTC HD mini continues the same focus on people-centric communication with complete Outlook integration. It helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life by providing a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations regardless of whether it was a call, text, status update or email. HTC’s Windows-based Twitter application, HTC Peep, enables you to tweet and follow your Twitter stream. HTC HD mini includes capacitive touch screen for viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures with just a pinch of your fingers. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD mini also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices. The HTC HD mini can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a variety of applications from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Php 29,200
2010 AUGUST
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AOC LUVIA, ECO 7 & MASKK LED monitors AOC’s LUVIA line debuts the newest care-for-the-customer technology, i-care. It detects the intensity of available light and adjusts the monitor’s brightness automatically for maximum eye strain protection. Completing the dreamy ambience is the blue LED light, which gives a pleasant glow to illuminate the keyboards even in dark to low-light environments. It features an ultra-slim crystal frame design that can be decorated with Pop Art stickers. The ECO 7’s infrared sensor reduces brightness or automatically turns off to save more power. MASKK’s 24-inch monitor comes with a protective glass screen, protecting your display from dust and scratches.
MASKK
ECO 7 LUVIA
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TRANSCEND STOREJET 25D2-W Portable hard drive Featuring a sleek glossy white finish and certified compatibility with Mac laptops and desktop computers, this brand-new Apple friendly hard drive is a musthave for Mac enthusiasts. The StoreJet 25D2-W offers immense storage capacity for synchronization and backup and features anti-slip rubber feet that provide a stable base for resting on a table or computer case. Also an eco-friendly drive, the StoreJet 25D2-W is designed to automatically go into power-saving sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, allowing energy-savings of up to 30%. Available in 500GB capacity.
MY|PHONE S Q27 DUO Mobile phone The S Q27 Duo is the My|Phone group’s effort to deliver a pretty phone to the Pinoys. With its China-based R&D team, the group collaborated with Swarovski with the objective of combining technology and jewelry and producing a high fashion electronic accessory. The three Swarovski cubic zirconia stones on the Menu and Call buttons give the S Q27 Duo that unmistakable bling. Its swivel action makes the phone sexier than the usual clams or sliders in the market. The S Q27 Duo is a tri-band, dual active SIM mobile phone with: Bluetooth connectivity, 2-megapixel camera, FM radio, calendar, notes and alarm. It also has an expandable memory card slot of up to 8GB so it can also act as a personal music box, excellent with the high quality earphones that come with the package.
Php 5,990
2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB SAMSUNG C7000 3D LED TV
The Third Dimension beckons
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SONY VAIO Z1
HTC HD MINI
ASUS N61JV
No-compromise computing
Small smartphone w端nderkind
Magnificent multimedia machine
Notebook
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Smartphone
Notebook
GADGETSLAB
LOGITECH G35 Headphones By John Nieves
I play a lot of online games, and one of my recent obsessions is DICE’s excellent team-based firstperson shooter, Bad Company 2. Here, teamwork is everything and even an inexperienced team can pull out all the stops and defeat a bunch of veterans as long as they are communicating properly. I’ve gotten by with a cheap microphone, but since that died recently I’ve been looking for a proper gaming headset. My prayers were answered by the Logitech G35. The G35 is a massive headset. It’s definitely has a lot of heft to it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a comfortable fit or cumbersome to use. Quite the opposite in fact, as the G35 comes with three swappable headband pads to help ensure a snug fit. The G35 also features a rotatable microphone that folds up and automatically mutes when you don’t need it. The overall design aesthetic fits Logitech’s G series of products, and as such it has three programmable buttons on the left earcup, along with a volume dial and a mute button for the microphone.
Unlike other headphones, the G35 uses the USB port instead of a 3.5mm slot to connect to your computer, avoiding messy paired analog cables and getting the sound straight from the source. The downside is you won’t be using the G35 on anything else other than with a computer, which is a shame, because sound quality is amazing. One of the best features of the G35 is its virtual surround sound. Some people are wary of “virtual” surround, and often they have a good reason to be—manufacturers have a habit of treating this particular feature as an added bullet point to their product boxes without actually implementing it properly. The G35 is a different case however, as it utilizes Dolby’s virtual surround sound system and the implementation is very, very good. You can clearly hear footsteps of your enemies around you and the added benefit of being able to locate your enemies by sound helps tremendously. The microphone also features a noise-canceling function that reduces ambient noise and
improves voice quality considerably. I found this feature extremely helpful since my house is near the main road and my voice is consistently drowned out by noise from tricycles and such. Another voice related feature of the G35 though not as useful is the voice morphing function. Pretty self explanatory really—it morphs your voice to six presets: Troll, Mutant, Alien, Giant, Cyborg and Space Squirrel. There are only a few issues with the G35, chief of which is its actual design. While the shortcut keys on the right earcup are useful, they have a bad habit of being pressed accidentally, especially when you put on or take off the headphones. The weight of the G35 might not appeal to some, and to be perfectly honest it was still pretty comfortable during marathon gaming sessions. Still, your mileage may vary. The G35 has officially become my go-to headphones for serious play. Its competitive advantage can’t be denied. I consistently played better with it than with my stereo
speakers. While the USB audio limits its use to purely PC and notebook use, the edge it gives you when playing online especially with FPS more than makes up for it.
WHAT’S HOT Excellent sound Noise cancelling microphone Volume dial within easy reach
WHAT’S NOT USB connectors mean that it can only be used with desktops and notebooks Its heft may not be comfortable for everyone
8.8 BOTTOMLINE The Logitech G35 is definitely a must buy for serious gamers. 2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
SAMSUNG C7000 3D LED TV By John Nieves
The tech world is literally being overwhelmed with 3D. With almost all TV manufacturers unveiling their own version of the tech, 3D is the new HD—THE technology that the major manufacturers are brandishing as the future of TVs. It was only a matter of time of course, until we finally got a taste of Samsung’s 3D vision in the form of the C7000, a breathtakingly slim and modern 3D LED TV that aims to immerse you in the third dimension. Like Samsung’s previous LED efforts, the C7000 is mind-bogglingly slim, sleek and sexy. The unit sent to our office was a 40-inch affair with a pair of 3D glasses and a demo USB drive containing 3D samples. Samsung assures me that each purchase of the C7000 comes with two pairs of glasses, with additional glasses available for separate purchase. I usually don’t devote space for the remotes included with the TVs I test, but I felt that the one included with the C7000 deserved special mention. It looks absolutely ace, made with what looks like aluminum or a similar metal. The buttons are flat, with only the volume, channel, power and navigation getting raised nubs. The whole thing also lights 42
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up when you touch it, so you won’t be playing Braille every time you want to change the channel or the volume levels. The C7000 has all the features you’d expect from a top of the line LED TV – full HD resolution, dynamic contrast ratios of millions, internet connectivity and breathtaking image quality. The black levels are excellent, which is not surprising, as the C7000 is capable of local dimming, improving black levels substantially. That’s all well and good, but the one feature people are looking forward to on the C7000 is its 3D performance, and it doesn’t disappoint. The included 3D glasses are bearable and don’t make you look dorky, and it’s roomy enough to be worn on top of prescription glasses. To start watching 3D, all you need to do is press the 3D button on the remote. The TV will ask you about the nature of the content—if it’s 2D to 3D conversion, left-right stereoscopic or top down. In the demo material’s case, it was leftright (wherein two images recorded for both the left and the right eye are shown in sequence). The images
were definitely in 3D, and had a definite depth to them. The Black Eyed Peas concert sample was the biggest example of this as there’s certainly a difference in depth watching Fergie and the rest of the crew when compared with the audience. The 2D to 3D feature works well, but it’s a bit of a hit and miss—maybe not because of the hardware, but because of the content. It’s always been difficult to re-render a flat, 2D image into 3D, and as a direct result the images aren’t nearly as deep as ones made with stereoscopic cameras or 3D rendered CGI. What you get depending on the source is either a trip to the uncanny valley, where the extra depth feels tacked on and unnatural (Die Hard 3) to mild 3D, where action on screen blends a bit better with the 3D effect (Black Hawk Down). The 3D effect is much more pronounced in scenes with wide, sweeping shots and depth. The C7000 is an excellent TV even without the 3D trimmings, and its performance, image quality and image processing makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a high performance set.
SPECIFICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 3D LED SCREEN SIZE 40-inches CONTRAST RATIO Millions, too high to count PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 1,092.3 x 653.2 x 26.5mm HD CAPABILITY Full HD
WHAT’S HOT Slim Excellent picture quality and image processing 3D is well implemented with the right content
WHAT’S NOT 2D to 3D effect is a hit and miss affair, hugely dependent on the source There isn’t much 3D content offered at present
8.5 BOTTOMLINE While the lack of 3D content is obviously limiting, that shouldn’t stop you from buying the Samsung C7000. Call it a future-proof investment.
GADGETSLAB
2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
ASUS ENGTX465 Videocard John Nieves
While NVIDIA’s Fermi-based 470 and 480 have been setting record benchmarks and generally been getting good reviews since their release, everybody knows that the real money lies in penetrating the mid-market where ATI’s 5850 reigns supreme. The ASUS ENGTX465 is one such card, and while the shiny new Fermi core delivers performance, it’s not yet quite up to the task of dethroning the 5850. Like most mid-market cards, the ENGTX465 is massive—you’ll want to police the cables of your rig and make sure that the card isn’t impeded when it’s plopped down in a PCI-E slot. Externally, the ENGTX465 looks the part of an expensive card, and is covered with a carbon fiber design on the outside. One of the nice things about the ENGTX465 externally is that the power connectors are on the side, rather on the front of the card, minimizing the chances of it interfering with your hard drives during installation. The ENGTX465 uses the same GF100 GPU as its bigger brothers the 470 and 480, with a few features cut down, of course. There are only 352 stream processors to the 480’s 480 and the 470’s 448, although the ENGTX465 44
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does share the same clock speeds of its beefier brothers, with the stream processors running along at 1,215MHz and the core running at 607MHz. The test bed for the benchmarks is powered by an Intel Core i5 661 running at 3.33GHz, with 4GB of DDR3 memory. The first thing you’d want to do after installing the card in your rig is to download the latest NVDIA software driver for the 400 series of cards version 275.21. The newest drivers add increased functionality and better performance than the version 197 driver that’s included in the box. I benchmarked the ENGTX465 with the UNIGINE Heaven version 2.1 benchmark software and Battlefield Bad Company 2 by way of Fraps, a program that allows users to record and average frames per second. Performance was good, typical of what you’d find in a mid-high end card. I ran the UNIGINE Heaven benchmark with the resolution set at 1920 x 1200, DX11 enabled and settings on high, and the ENGTX465 scored a score of 734 with an average of 29.1 FPS—a decent enough score, but lower than I was expecting from the card.
Considering all the hype surrounding the launch of NVIDIA’s Fermi line, the score was more than a little disappointing. I personally own an ASUS 5850, and when compared to the ENGTX465, the 5850 performed better. Even hard-core NVIDIA aficionados are finding the benchmark results of the GTX465 hard to swallow, especially in terms of TDP (thermal design power) and power consumption. Ironically, while the GTX465 flounders in terms of game performance in comparison to the 5850, it excels in benchmarking software like 3DMark Vantage. It all boils down to Fermi’s new design and capabilities, and in time games will be designed to take advantage of its advanced tessellation capabilities. Of course, none of these shortcomings are ASUS’ fault, since they work with the hardware ATI and NVIDIA provides, and tries to add their own twist via hardware tweaks and software add-ons. There’s still the ever reliable ASUS Splendid tech which the company claims makes the picture better and ASUS Gamer OSD which allows gamers real-time overclocking, benchmarking and video capture.
WHAT’S HOT Based on NVIDIA’s Fermi GF100 architecture Has 3D vision capability and advanced tessellation features Easy to overclock via ASUS’ GamerOSD software
WHAT’S NOT Pricier than the 5850 Performance isn’t at par with the 5850
7.7 BOTTOMLINE While the performance of the ASUS ENGTX465 doesn’t quite live up to the hype, it’s still a solid video card that gamers should consider.
GADGETSLAB
ASUS N61JV Notebook By Steven Vea
Laptops are slowly escalating to the level when it can serve as your entire entertainment system. And why shouldn’t it? The increasing capabilities and performance level of notebooks can virtually eliminate the need for any other multimedia equipment, especially if you’re on a tight budget. While its name is certainly complex, the ASUS N61Jv’s excellent performance and aesthetic quality is certainly straightforward. Its glossy black exterior hosts a wealth of possibilities lurking beneath the lid. Flipping open the 16-inch HD/LED LCD display reveals the multimedia wonder that is the N61Jv. Below the display is Altec Lansing’s silver speakers (which we will discuss later) which runs horizontally across the work surface. On the left hand side are buttons for volume control, playback as well as the Power4Gear shortcut (a utility that manages a laptop’s battery life). To the right is the laptop’s power button, whose design is rather curious as it resembles an odd fusion of a rotary knob and an electric fan. Below the speakers is the chicletstyle keyboard, which also hosts a number pad, adding positively to the N61Jv’s value. The arrow
buttons, through the use of the Fn key, can also be used as shortcuts for media playback. The touchpad is situated in the usual spot, and its multifunction feature is not one of the most user friendly or ergonomic aspects of this laptop, as it can be quite cumbersome and confusing, although it does not hamper normal functions in anyway. It is simply a unique addition to an already stellar piece of hardware. So what’s inside this entertainment machine? It seems that ASUS was able to fit the power of a desktop inside of this laptop, as it boasts an Intel Core i5-430M processor at 2.26GHz. But since it is coupled with Turbo Boost Technology, it can reach up to 2.53GHz. In addition, its 4GB of DD3 Ram at 1066MHz (expandable up to 8GB) provides you a wealth of processing and multitasking power. That should curb any doubts you have about the power of this Asus laptop. If you want to be impressed some more, the N61Jv is equipped with NVIDIA’s GT325M graphics engine which boasts 1GB of dedicated DDR3 VRAM to deliver the best viewing experience possible. Movie buffs will not be disappointed at the LCD display, as the image quality
can certainly rival any television set. HD movies at full resolution are no problem for this laptop, whether it is a downloaded file or playing from a DVD. Moreover, gamers will find that their gaming lust will be quite fulfilled, since the N61Jv can handle a number of recent titles with no problem.
its marketed capabilities of being a multimedia powerhouse. If you’ve been using your laptop as your main entertainment center of late, this piece of hardware should definitely be on your list of musthaves.
The core of the N61Jv’s quality lies in its Altec Lansing speakers, which boasts SonicMaster audio technology by “highly trained” members of ASUS research and development team. Taking into account that Altec Lansing already has a stellar reputation for constructing desktop multimedia speakers, this should already calm and qualms. This is quite possibly one of the best speakers outfitted onto a laptop that I have ever heard. Tonal quality is great—the highs are crisp and lows resonate enough to provide an excellent entertainment experience. Moreover, the overall volume can reach a high decibel level. While you obviously can’t entertain a party using these speakers, watching movies and listening to music by yourself or with a few people can certainly satisfy your media needs.
MEMORY DDR3 1066 MHz SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket for expansion up to 8GB SDRAM
Overall, the ASUS N61Jv lives up to
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE 16" HD (1366x768) Vesa Like
CPU AND CHIPSET Intel Core i5-430M Processor 2.26 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53GHz WIRELESS USED Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 38.4 x 26.5 x 2.79cm WARRANTY 1 year warranty
WHAT’S HOT Excellent laptop speakers Hardcore multiprocessing power Great graphics engine
WHAT’S NOT Three finger multi touchpad
9.7 BOTTOMLINE The ASUS N61Jv should be your next laptop purchase, especially if the computer is your main media center. 2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
SONY VAIO P P115 Netbook
By Michelle Callanta Anyone who has ever seen the Sony VAIO P immediately comments on how “cute” it is. Surprisingly thin and unbelievably compact, it has taken netbook portability and mobility to a whole new level. Though it may not exactly fit into your pocket (The back pocket of your over-sized jeans, maybe. But why would anyone want to keep a laptop there?), it does fit comfortably in any purse or regular-sized bag. It actually resembles a woman’s clutch bag of sorts, not just in shape but also color as it sports a vivid Ruby Pink—very enticing for the fashionable and trendy female who needs to bring her work along with her, without cramping her style. The Sony VAIO P’s revamped series of netbooks has more than just a faster processor. It offers an 8-inch wide LCD screen and an isolation keyboard for comfortable operation. The keys were tactile and 46
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SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE 8-inches; 1600 x 768 pixel resolution WEIGHT 594g (including the supplied battery)
easy enough to type with, but the trackster may be a bit trickier for those with bigger hands. That’s why Sony added an optical trackpad on the lower right hand corner of the LCD screen and mouse buttons on the lower left hand corner as an alternative for easier navigation. There are three buttons just beside the right and left mouse buttons on the bottom of the keyboard. First, the Assist button recovers the system’s software in case the machine crashes and you need to reinstall the operating system. Next, the middle button with the tiny little squares allows you to switch screen resolutions so that you can instantly zoom in to text. The Web button instantly starts the web browser without having to boot into Windows for a more immediate browse. The screen itself has a 1600 x 768 pixel resolution, great for reading text and browsing the web but not so great for high-
resolution videos as it tends to be a little choppy so it would be better to play videos using the standard rather than the full screen. The Sony VAIO P also has two USB ports as well as one memory stick and one memory card slot. One for SD cards while the other for MagicGate HG Duo. I found this quite convenient especially when I needed to instantly transfer files from my camera as well as my mobile phone. Battery life is only about 3 hours on simple browsing and typing documents. Overall, the Sony VAIO P may not be as appealing to the male population as it would for the females who aren’t exactly heavyduty users. But it sure makes a great accessory to go along with those pretty pink heels and that pretty pink summer dress whilst sipping your light mocha frappucino at the corner café.
MEMORY 2GB DDR2 RAM CPU AND CHIPSET Intel Atom Z540 @ 1.86GHz WIRELESS USED WiFi Atheros 802.11b/g/n PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 245 x 19.8 x 120 mm WARRANTY 1-year PRICE Php 59,999
WHAT’S HOT Light-weight Compact Fashionable Short-cut buttons
WHAT’S NOT Pricey
8.0 BOTTOMLINE If you’re a fun, fearless, fashion forward female who wants to be both tech-savvy and lifestyle-trendy, the Sony Vaio P will be a great item to add to your collection.
GADGETSLAB
SONY VAIO Z1 Notebook John Nieves
It has been said before: buying a notebook is an exercise in compromise. A small, light and long-lasting notebook usually doesn’t have enough processing power for meaningful content creation, and one that does is usually too big or too heavy to be lugged around. The list of notebooks capable of both is a short one, a list that the VAIO Z tops almost without effort. The Z1 is a 13-inch notebook that, despite its size, boasts extremely powerful hardware. Even with Sony’s exacting build standards, the Z1 stands out—everything from the keys, wrist rest, hinge and lid is extremely solid and has a premium feel to it. The body and lid has been made with a material that’s close to carbon fiber which leaves the Z1 with a manageable 1.41-kilogram weight. The islandstyle keys have excellent travel, are back lighted and easy to type on. Near the left hinge of the machine you’ll find the toggle for the dynamic hybrid graphics system, which is geek speak for graphics control (more on this later). There are also four shortcut keys near the top right. Connectivity won’t be a problem with the Z1 as it’s armed
with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi N, 3 USB ports, a Blu-ray player and multiple card readers. The Z1’s internals is as impressive as its exterior. Powering the Z1 is an Intel Core i7 M620 running at 2.67 GHz with 8GB of memory. The Z1 has two GPUs—a built-in Intel Media Accelerator HD and a discrete NVIDIA 330M. There’s 240GB of storage on tap, courtesy of quad 64GB SSDs in Serial ATA configuration. Sony has also included its VAIO care software that allows users to diagnose a host of problems on their own. Creating content and enjoying rich multimedia has never been as enjoyable as the Z1, and while I’ve reviewed a fair share of desktop replacements that roughly have the same specs as the Z1, they were a pain to bring along. The Core i7 processor of the Z1 coupled with the NVIDIA 330M discrete graphics solution made it the perfect tool for content creation, and enough power to run both Photoshop and multimedia editing software without a hitch. Of course, all of this power and portability won’t be much use if
battery endurance suffered and in that regard the Z1 excels, partly due to the dynamic hybrid graphics system. It has three settings— speed, which disables the built-in graphics and turns on the much more powerful discrete NVIDIA 330M GPU, stamina which does the opposite and auto. As a result, the Z1’s battery endurance is about 4 ½ hours on stamina setting. While other notebooks definitely have more endurance, they’re usually powered by weaker CULV processors that are only a notch above netbooks in terms of power. Using the Z1’s speed setting while untethered to a power socket is guaranteed to drain your battery fast as both the processor and the discrete card are massive power hogs. The Z1 was a definite pleasure to bring along, and its versatility made it ideal for power users. Probably the only negative is its premium price—a heart-stopping Php 179,999, making it a hard purchase to justify save for the privileged few. Then again, so are most things in life, and you could do worse than a Sony VAIO Z1.
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE 13.1-inch wide (Full HD: 1920 x 1080) TFT color display MEMORY 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM CPU AND CHIPSET Intel Core i7-620M Processor 2.66 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.33 GHz WIRELESS USED Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 314 x 210 x 23.8mm WARRANTY 1 year warranty
WHAT’S HOT Excellent construction Light weight Powerful Switchable graphics
WHAT’S NOT Pricey at Php 179,999
8.8 BOTTOMLINE While the Sony VAIO Z1’s price make it a mere pipe dream for most of us, the people who can afford it (or justify its price) are the truly lucky ones. 2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
PACSAFE CAMSAFE 100 Anti-theft camera bag By Benjamin Arnold
Whenever my friends see me taking my camera out of my backpack, they always ask me: “You brought your camera?,” instantly followed by: “Why did you bring it?” and I always answer with the same thing: “I bring it with me all the time, wherever I go. It’s my life!” And each time I say that, I mean it. My camera is my life. It documents what I do, where I go and what I see. It is part of my personal, as well as my professional, life. There is rarely a moment that I don’t have my camera with me. This is because I may need it out of nowhere, for something that happens spontaneously, and largely because I feel like the safest place for my camera is on me, within my sight and at arm’s length. This changed when I was tasked to review the PacSafe 100 antitheft camera bag. I must admit, it took me a while to be comfortable with the fact that I don’t have to worry as much about my camera anymore. I slowly learned to relax and feel more confident that it won’t get stolen. The PacSafe camera bag has a variety of anti-theft features that are sure to keep any photographers camera and accessories safe from 48
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even the trickiest of thieves. First among its anti-theft features is the eXomesh Slashguard panels (thin stainless steel mesh wires) fitted in the lower front and bottom panels of the bag. This helps prevent bag slashers with little razor blades, from attempting to make a small incision in the bag to make the contents fall out. Another anti-theft feature is the same stainless steel wiring lined along the body strap to prevent snatchers from slashing the handle and running off with the bag. Although I was tempted to cut into the bag just to test the steel wires, I knew the steel meshing was there, as I could feel it through the fabric of the bag. It also weighs heavier than it would have, had it been fabricated with cloth and thread alone. Another nifty feature is the looped zipper which opens to the rear of the bag (right up next to the person wearing the bag) where anlock could be inserted to ensure unwanted access to the main compartment. This is paired with a 4-digit combination anchor lock to the right side, which serves as a dual-purpose locking device for the zipper, or as a wrap-around lock for the bag which you can attach to a
chair, a post or larger equipment, should you need to leave the bag unattended while at a shoot without fear of someone swiping it when you’re not looking. But don’t go thinking that PacSafe put all the thought of the design into the safety of the bag and the contents alone. They also thought of “space-saving” measures and how the contents would rightly fit into it. Within the main compartment, I could fit the body of my camera with a lens attached and a secondary lens next to it, separated and held in place by a removable Velcro divider. It also has little compartments within the bag that could easily hold a memory card or an extra battery pack. Underneath the front flap are more compartments with dividers designed for a variety of camera accessories such as battery backs, memory cards, and external flashes. It even has a key chain for you to attach your keys to. They also kept in mind the traveling photographer by putting an extra pocket on the outside of the bag to fit a water bottle for those exhausting shoots done outdoors. The downsides are the extra weight due to the exomesh stainless steel
wiring which, when added with the already heavy camera and accessories, becomes unwanted extra weight. Another would be the combination lock system, if looped through the main zippered compartment, could mean missing out on a once-in-a lifetime sudden need for my camera, because of the time-consuming aspect of putting in the code to unlock the bag. On hindsight however, the added safety features on the PacSafe 100 more than makes up for these downsides, knowing full well that my camera will be there when I go looking for it. I suppose it’s the peace of mind that spells the difference.
WHAT’S HOT Slash-proof, snatch-proof and tamper-proof because of the exomesh slashguard and the anchor lock system. Lots of space and compartments for a camera, lenses and camera accessories
WHAT’S NOT Additional weight due to stainless steel mesh Time consuming to take off anchor locks
9.5 BOTTOMLINE The PacSafe 100 anti-theft camera bag is a camera bag that makes you worry-free, so that you can focus on that perfect shot!
GADGETSLAB
2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB This was, for me, the setback of such a promising beach and watersport buddy since processing speed is vital in any outdoor (and especially underwater) shooting. These situations will require you to be on the alert and ready to snap moments and objects that are in constant rapid motion. In other words, finding Nemo might take you a lot longer than just a full-length feature film. Of course, I exaggerate…but you get the picture. And speaking of picture, image quality of the camera was decent enough for use. It’s no high-end professional underwater camera to being with, but the shots in good light are well balanced for an entry sport camera. But in less desirable lighting conditions, the quality dips down and images are less defined. This is true for both above and below water. And although the flash works well, resulting images underwater are often faint and lack detail, unless you shoot objects up close.
SPEEDO AQUASHOT Waterproof camera
Enter the Speedo Aquashot, a 5.0-megapixel waterproof camera that offers a reliable and fun way to capture underwater action just like you were above ground. It allows you to snap away until 3 meters deep and resists shock and drops from up to 1 meter high. It also boasts the ability to record VGA video at 30fps with sound, and can operate with the same basic settings, modes and functions of a start-up digital camera. Off the bat, it’s obvious that the Aquashot is an eye-catcher. The form and feel of the camera already sets its purpose for shooting in a pool or out at sea, and that it can handle a few knocks and bumps. The hard casing and rubber contours complete the overall sturdiness of the build, and even the selection of 50
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SPECIFICATIONS RESOLUTION 5 megapixels
By Paolo Toledo
When we think water, we think Speedo. The world’s largest-selling brand in both recreational and competitive swimwear has always been top-of-mind when it comes to top quality clothing and accessories in the wet.
With 8x digital zoom (non-optical, which means images are artificially enlarged), and it’s other limitations on resolution, focus and light sensitivity, the Aquashot seems to end up being less than the expected high-performing gadget, and more on the playful novelty item.
SCREEN SIZE 2.4-inches
pastel accent colors provide good contrast in the water (or the sand) to ensure that you will always spot the device in event that it swims away from your grip. Developed to be a sporty pointand-shoot, the size and weight of the camera is wonderful. Small and equipped with good grip to handle in one hand, while also surprisingly light and buoyant. Yes, buoyant— because one of the cool things about the Aquashot is that is floats on water. Also, like any good piece of sporty point-and-shoot equipment, the interface and features are both simple and easy to operate. The front of the camera houses the lens and a strong flash that provides ample lighting underwater, but tends to be a bit too bright when used out of water. It’s actually better to keep the flash off to get better photos, and just turn it on to when situations call for its use. On the side of the camera is the battery door, which when flipped,
opens to another secure inner door to provide maximum protection from water and unwanted debris. Inside and alongside the battery, is the SD memory slot, which is neatly tucked in to also prevent accidental tampering. The camera top has the power and shutter buttons, while back of the housing contains the 2.4-inch TFT LCD screen, multifunction navigation buttons and zoom toggle. All buttons are big, protruding and even highlighted for easier operation in low light and when relying on your fingers to fiddle through the features. Unfortunately, as simple as they look, these buttons are a bit weird to the touch when pressed and this adds to the undesired “toy” feel of the camera. Furthermore, the main inconvenience of the Aquashot is that it’s rather slow. Overall response was a bit of a drag especially when in accessing menus, zooming in and out, image processing, and switching between various modes and shooting options.
VIDEO RECORDING VGA 30fps with sound MEMORY SD / SDHC, 32MB internal storage PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 7.8 x 11.1 x 4 cm WEIGHT 140 g
WHAT’S HOT Waterproof up to 3 meters, splash and dust resistant Shock resistant up to 1-meter drop Takes VGA video at 30fps Highly durable, compact and functional design
WHAT’S NOT Slow overall speed and response Limited image quality No optical zoom
7.8
BOTTOMLINE A decent non-professional sport camera that allows you to shoot outdoors and underwater, with added video functionalities and an ergonomic design that highlights ease of use in water. Its sheer novelty makes it a fun vacation accessory.
GADGETSLAB
AVT PN-501 Portable GPS navigation device By John Nieves
When the AVT A800 debuted last year, it was hailed as a milestone in the country. While it wasn’t the first GPS device to debut here, it was the first that had the Philippine market squarely in its sights—with a large library of maps of the entire country, including Metro Manila. AVT’s newest portable GPS navigation device, the PN-501, improves on the shortcomings of the A800 and retains most of the features I loved when it was released. The PN-501 isn’t dramatically different from the A800 I reviewed a year ago—it still retains the boxy style of the A800 and still has a 5-inch resistive touchscreen. It is dramatically thinner though, is lighter and eschews the external antenna that the A800 needed to function effectively, instead relying on a GPS receiver with a higher intensity. There’s a bunch of added functionality like Bluetooth capability, a multimedia player, wallpapers and games but the display and GUI feels the same as the previous model. As mentioned before, the PN-501 eschews the external antenna add-
on of the A800 with an internal one. The PN-501 acquires a signal much faster than the previous model, and will have a solid fix of your position in less than 2 minutes. It also calculates routes faster, and has better accuracy than the previous version. Any GPS device is only as good as its maps, and the PN-501 doesn’t disappoint. AVT has done a good job mapping not only Metro Manila and its surrounding regions, but major towns and provincial cities as well. I’m actually pretty pleased to see “San Mateo Rizal” finally show up in the display after years of testing GPS devices with maps that ended at the San Mateo-Commonwealth Bridge. There’s also plenty of new points of interests this time around, and includes recently erected buildings and centers like the UP-Ayala TechnoHub along Commonwealth. During inter-city commutes the PN-501 performed well, and most of its routing information was spot on. I even managed to find an airsoft game site with only vague directions and a handful of street names, relying mostly on the PN-
501’s map to guide me to the right place. Like its predecessor, the PN501 is able to route you through U-turns and is relatively updated to the one way streets of the Metro, especially in Makati and Manila. It’s also more responsive this time around and doesn’t lag when you zoom in and out and explore the map to find nearby POIs. The PN-501 does have its fair share of quirks, especially when it comes to routing. On Day 3, had I followed the PN-501’s fastest route calculation from my house to the office, I would have plowed through a very tight street instead of going through the national road like I do every day. It’s the nature of the beast that is GPS navigation, and the best thing really is to be aware of your surroundings and the road you’re driving on. Another relatively minor quirk is the unit’s battery life, or lack of one. Unplugged, it’s going to last maybe an hour tops, but that’s really not much of an issue because it comes with a car charger and you’ll rarely take it out of your vehicle anyway.
SPECIFICATIONS DISPLAY 5-inch color TFT touchscreen CPU Sirf Atlas IV 500MHZ OS Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 SDRAM 64MB DIMENSIONS 132 x 80 x 10.5mm WEIGHT 250g
WHAT’S HOT Slim, easy to use Touch interface is responsive Faster route calculation Internal antenna, acquires GPS signal fast
WHAT’S NOT Route calculation is quirky at times
8.6
BOTTOMLINE The AVT PN-501 is a definite step up from previous models, both in form and function. It’s highly recommended if you’re the sort who likes traveling but hates asking for directions. 2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
SONY VAIO E VPCEA16FG Notebook
by Danee Torres I had a laptop when I was in college. It had an electric blue finish and weighed about 7lbs, around the same range a newborn baby would weigh. I had to deal with shuffling from class to class with it on my back. Needless to say that was a very tedious time in my life, and while it got the work done, it wasn’t very groundbreaking in terms of design or portability. Years later, I meet the Sony Vaio E VPCEA16FG. It’s the complete opposite of my first laptop, as it has a glossy transparent finish overlaying a dot gradation and its ATI Mobility Radeon GPU makes for a plus for gamers, but we’ll get to that. I am stuck admiring the finish on this device. It somehow looks like glass was set atop a dot pattern and ridden with shimmer. Nothing loud, just enough to make your device get a “glow” when light is present. There is no discernible difference of the trackpad from the arm rest, apart from the recessed, textured 3x2-inch square area, which I particularly like because it ensures traction. It doesn’t intrude on the VPCEA16FG’s overall look but rather contributes to the understated but 52
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stylish design. This particular unit I tested had a pink metallic frame as inside housing of the screen, stretching all the way until the top part of the keyboard. Sony seems to have taken its laptop production in two ways— the super-small-it-can-fit-inyour-pocket collection and mega machines that are powerful enough to replace your desktop. The VPCEA16FG could very well tread between the two, as it is too stylish to keep at home and its equipment is certainly boast-worthy. It may not be as portable as the C1 or the P, but for people who are looking for a device that strikes the perfect balance of computing and flair, the VPCEA16FG should be a formidable frontrunner. The entire area of the keyboard is in black, which provides a nice contrast to the “pinkishness” of the device. However, it is not backlit, which may be a cause for concern for people who are working in areas where light is scarce. I experienced this first-hand when the power went out and I had to endure typing on the VPCEA16FG while struggling with keys I couldn’t see. The keyboard itself though is
a work of art. Sony has kept the raised chiclet keys, still no number pad but I didn’t mind it that much. Three buttons above the keyboard launch a Help program, an internet browser and the Media Gallery software (launched by the Vaio button). Battery life is excellent, as it ran for two hours on a full charge with only 30% of battery drain. On to the ATI Radeon Premium Graphics card, it is just right for a user who needs high-resolution video gaming. The bright and glossy WXGA:1366 x 768 Vaio display maximizes the upper lid without compromising space for the motion-eye webcam. Its brightness and color quality is excellent, allowing the user to view photos and videos clearly. The speakers provide decent sound, but is challenged when volume is turned up completely, giving the user a somewhat tinny sound with speakers struggling to balance enough bass with too much treble. All in all, the VPCEA16FG is a good computer to have if your work entails a lot of writing and a little computing. Honestly, I wish I had this laptop when I was in school.
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE 14-inch wide 1366x768 TFT color display, LED backlight MEMORY 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM (upgradable up to 8 GB) CPU Intel Core i5-520M Processor 2.40GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz WIRELESS USED Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 345.8 x 27.3-32.9 x 238.7 mm WEIGHT 2.35 kg PRICE Php 76,999
WHAT’S HOT Tactile trackpad Dot gradation finish Quick launch buttons
WHAT’S NOT Price is a little steep
8.7 BOTTOMLINE The VPCEA16FG is a good computer to have for both stylish and busy people.
GADGETSLAB
road affair—nothing to get excited about. For audio, the HD Mini has a 3.5mm headphone jack for your nasty headphones, and uses the standard microUSB for charging and syncing. The 1200mAh battery squeezed out two days' use; even with WiFi turned on the whole time and regular Twitter polling. The HTC HD mini is a generally well-rounded device, but these days, that's just not good enough. It's well-built and charmingly small, but with Microsoft launching its new Windows Phone 7 OS later this year, it's hard to recommend it. I needed a little extra convincing; it’s not a bad device but rather that it lacks an allimportant spark, something to make it unique and interesting. Though there a few merits on the general performance and responsiveness of the mini, its design succeeds with flying colors.
SPECIFICATIONS OPERATING SYSTEM Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional
HTC HD MINI
CPU Qualcomm 7227 600 MHz processor LCD SIZE 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 103.8 x 57.7 x 11.7 mm WEIGHT 110 grams
Smartphone
BAND GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 2100
By JC Ansis
Remember the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids? Yeah well, it looks like Rick Moranis also shrunk the HTC HD2 and turned it into a more pocketable alternative. Originally known as the Photon, the HTC HD mini is equipped with the same processor, screen size and resolution as HTC's Legend, but running the HD2's Windows Mobile 6.5.3 under a WinMo-specific Sense skin. The HD mini owns a 3.2-inch HVGA 320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen. Though it doesn't offer an AMOLED display like its Android-wearing sibling, it does its best to emulate one. Lined up on the bottom are five touch-sensitive buttons for Call, Home, Start, Back and End that work surprisingly well. For a smooth and sophisticated appearance, the plastic back cover— which offers a pleasing, grip-friendly surface—envelops most of the body. It’s a nice aesthetic touch, easily one of the smallest devices of its class.
INTERNAL MEMORY 384 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, expandable storage via microSD
But I did pick a few niggles, such as the lack of a dedicated camera button. Also, the cover is a pain to remove and having to take out the battery to replace SIM cards isn't ideal, but those shouldn't be things that will trouble you on a daily basis.
making me peck away at the buttons with the sort of care and attention that we're supposed to lavish on our loved ones. I found it more difficult typing on the HD mini than I did the Legend, often pressing the wrong letters.
Loaded with a mundane 600MHz processor and a 384MB of RAM under the hood, the HD mini runs the ageing Windows Mobile 6.5, toting the HTC Sense interface on top. This is an OS with a pretty steep learning curve.
Wi-Fi connectivity was strong and fast throughout, though I didn't have an opportunity to test out its 3G receptiveness properly. I’ll just assume it's on par with the competition and move on with my life. It’s preloaded with the Internet Explorer and Opera browsers, but has issues with rendering web content that can get plain ugly on a rich media page.
Switching between programs and navigating through the sideways menu bar was a real hassle. Scrolling through the Twitter feed resulted in an almost-frozen screen at times. With so much going on, the Mini is unstable—sometimes I found it sluggish and certain screen transitions were choppy. The soft keyboard doesn't provide big enough keys in portrait mode,
There’s no hardware shortcut for the 5.0-megapixel camera, but the app relatively loads quickly. Photos are passable, above average for most mobile phones but the lack of LED flash makes low-light photos come out very noisy. Video, on the other hand, was your typical middle of the
WHAT’S HOT Multi-touch support in many apps Solid battery life Vivid screen Great build quality and design with eye-catching screws HTC Sense makes Windows Mobile usable
WHAT’S NOT Some features need polishing Windows Mobile is on its way out, so expect updates and apps to dry up Lag was a real issue, unstable and buggy at times
7.3 BOTTOMLINE If you need a Windows Mobile phone for work purposes, the mini is an impressive option that manages to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. 2010 AUGUST
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ASUS 1015PE SEASHELL SERIES Netbook
By Steven Vea ASUS is a name that almost everybody recognizes today, and while their products are often hitor-miss (due to its tendency to experiment and often innovate), the SeaShell series is surprisingly traditional. For a company that usually outfits its products with a fresh and intuitive feature, the ASUS 1015 is a basic netbook at its core. “A stylish on-the-go companion for all-day computing” is ASUS’s ad slogan for its SeaShell series of notebooks. This reviewer agrees that it is stylish in its own subtle way. The 1015PE’s black matte exterior is classic and simple. The screwless design makes the netbook appear streamlined and sleek. If something eye-popping is more of your speed, you may opt to purchase the exclusive Karim Rashid collector’s edition of this netbook, which comes in a radiating neon pink finish. Opening the lid reveals the 10.1inch LED backlight WSVGA screen, with a resolution of 1024x600. The display itself is bright and vivid, and although one would expect to have a difficult time with the minute screen size, you will be 54
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quite surprised at its clarity and warmth. The ASUS 1015’s workspace consists of the mainstay items found on most netbooks. Above the chiclet-style keyboard on the top right edge is the sliding power button, and to the left edge is the Bluetooth/WiFi switches. The touchpad and the keyboard are adequately sized considering the petite dimensions of the 1015, and you will probably find it quite ergonomic and comfortable. However, if you’re used to standard-sized keyboards on desktops or larger laptops, you might find yourself cracking your knuckles and stretching your fingers from time to time. Operating Windows 7 Starter and armed with the Intel Atom Pineview-M N450 and 1GB of DDR2 RAM, you may already have a guess as to the performance of the 1015. Furthermore, what continues to draw in a lot of consumers to netbooks is that despite the lower hardware specifications, the speed of WLAN (802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz) still remains up to par compared with other larger and more expensive
laptops. So with all the other alternatives out there, why should you sway towards the ASUS 1015? Well, this little netbook (along with its cousins in the Sea Shell series), boasts an amazing battery life of up to 13.5 hours. This advertised statistic from the company, however, depends on the utilization of either the Power4Gear utility (which provides alternate modes of computer power usage such as High Performance, Quiet Office, Power Saving, etc.) or other battery saving methods. Running on the battery pack alone and at the highest possible computing performance, the ASUS 1015 will still last a good 4-6 hours, which is very impressive. All of this is due to what ASUS calls its “exclusive Super Hybrid Engine technology (SHE)”. When the 1015 is set to its Battery Saving mode, you may expect the it to perform somewhat sluggish since hard disks and memory devices are set to consume less power. In summation, ASUS once again delivers, and packs all the essential functions needed on a compact,
lightweight netbook with the added bonus of a super extended battery life. If you like your computing to be mobile, then the ASUS 1015 might be for you.
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE 10.1-inch LED Backlight WSVGA Screen (1024x600) MEMORY SO-DIMM 1GB DDR2 (Maximum 2GB) CPU AND CHIPSET Intel Atom Pineview-M N450 WIRELESS USED WLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 262 x 178 x 23.6mm WARRANTY 1 year warranty
WHAT’S HOT Long battery life Lightweight
WHAT’S NOT Small-sized keyboard
8.5 BOTTOMLINE If you’re looking for a compact companion for your computing needs, the ASUS 1015 Seashell series is perfect for you.
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2010 AUGUST
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GADGETSLAB
CANON IXUS 300HS Digital camera
SPECIFICATIONS MEGAPIXEL COUNT Approx 10.0 Million pixels
By John Nieves
ZOOM AND OPTICS 3.8x zoom, 28(W) – 105(T)mm PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS 100.0 x 54.1 x 23.6mm
Canon’s IXUS line has always been for the point-and-shoot crowd, the people who wanted to take pretty pictures without being bothered with manual controls. It’s surprising then that the Canon IXUS 300HS is a point-and-shoot that does exactly the opposite—give users a wealth of manual controls to get that perfect shot. It’s also one of the first Canon cameras to be fitted with the firm’s HS system for better low-light performance and high-speed photography through a combination of a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processor. The IXUS 300HS looks worthy of the IXUS line cosmetically as it sports an angular and compact stainless steel body that’s easy to grip and hold. A 3.0-inch PureColor II G LCD screen with a strong tempered glass outer layer provides 56
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the requisite display duties. Externally, the IXUS 300HS has very few controls—there’s the rotary dial at the back along with the playback and menu button, plus the requisite zoom, shutter and a small sliding switch for different shooting modes. One of the things that the backilluminated CMOS sensor brings to the table is excellent low light performance. With the ISO set at 3200, there’s still a wealth of detail to be had from the pictures though you’ll notice there’s a lot of noise suppression going on. Still, it’s better than most point and shoot’s currently in the market today, with most of them barely able to reach ISO 800 without horrendous noise marring the picture. Most of the credit belongs to the sensor, but having an f/2.0 wide-angle lens certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Putting the ISO setting at high speed is the IXUS 300HS ability to shoot continuously at 3.7 frames per second until the memory card is full. While DSLRs achieve a number over and beyond that, most point and shoots struggle to get past 1 frame per second. The IXUS 300HS is also capable of shooting HD video at 30 fps and in slo-mo mode at 240 fps—but at the expense of audio.
WEIGHT 175 grams MEMORY MEDIA USED SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus card, HC MMCplus card
WHAT’S HOT 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor Excellent low light performance Can record video at 240 fps Fantastic picture quality
WHAT’S NOT A bit pricey
9.3
One potential issue for users may be the lower 10-megapixel count when compared with other cameras. I frequently tell people that it’s not the megapixel count that’s important; it’s the post-image processing software and hardware. The IXUS 300HS’ manages to consistently deliver highly detailed pictures that I could find little fault with.
BOTTOMLINE Don’t let the Canon IXUS 300HS’ compact frame fool you. This is a feature-packed camera that’s hard to match.
GADGETSLAB
2010 AUGUST
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MOBILITY
Since the first-generation Nissan Patrol rolled out of assembly lines in Japan in 1957, it has become synonymous with power, refinement and dignified grace. It continues to reign supreme on both the unforgiving sands of Arabia to the slick city streets of cosmopolitan capitals.
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MOBILITY Around View Monitor (AVM). AVM gives an overhead view from every side of the immensely impressive vehicle. It provides utmost comfort with the world’s first upper and curtain vents. Both thoughtful and innovative, curtain and upper vents keep the heat from penetrating the cabin for an even cool temperature for a truly luxurious ride. It packs in superbly exceptional power and performance with a class-leading 5.6 liter V8 engine mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission for undisputed on-road and off-road ascendancy.
And now, the kingmakers at Nissan take the legend to the next level, skipping several generations to bring you the ultimate expression of all-terrain supremacy and luxury. Carrying more than half a century’s worth of technological innovations and unquestioned capacity and reputation, it marks the advent of a new dawn in the highly competitive world of automotive technology development. From the illustrious blood line of the famed Nissan Patrol comes the newest and greatest heir out to conquer the world. Nissan Patrol Royale is the one and only true king of the road, giving new meaning to royalty unlike
any that has come before. It is the future and the future is here and now. The all-new Patrol, Nissan’s flagship vehicle, combines advanced technology and impressive history, resulting in a number of unique and oneof-a-kind features formed around a pioneering platform. It takes tremendous pride in the world’s first advanced Hydraulic Body Motion Control Suspension (HBMC) System, making the all-new Patrol the incontestable benchmark for impeccable performance on-road and off-road. Unique to the all-new Patrol, the HBMC system provides superior controlled cornering, maximum on-road tractions, and resistance to body roll for that ultimate on-road performance and exceptional off-road prowess. It puts the latest innovations in your hands with Asia’s first All Mode 4WD System with Variable Mode Select, allowing you to effortlessly switch among sand, on-road, snow and rock modes with the quick turn of a dial and a simple push of a button. The all-new Patrol enables safe, quick, and skillful driving on any terrain and road condition. It makes safety a priority for both driver and passengers alike with the country’s first 360°
The all-new Patrol takes luxury to higher echelons with Nissan Infiniti-inspired interiors fit for true royalty. Its multi-source entertainment system allows for individual configuration of its two screens for a unique and personalized multimedia experience. The all-new Patrol is also fitted with plush leather seats with power and memory functions, polished and sleek multi-info displays, a premium 13-speaker Bose audio system with 2GB music box hard drive, the Nissan intelligent key and a push start button for an unrivaled premium riding experience. The all-new Patrol is the embodiment of richly crafted luxury yet still maintaining its commanding road presence. Unparalleled heights of sophistication impeccably combined with a stately demeanor rightfully make the all-new Patrol the undisputed leader in the world of SUVs. Its angled-strut motif front grille is distinctly Patrol while its chrome accents, powerlift tailgate, high intensity discharge (HID) and LED rear lamps, and 20-inch alloy wheels reflect the vehicle’s modern and radical exterior design direction. With the all-new Patrol’s myriad of lavishly comfortable amenities and category-defining performance features, Nissan rewrites the rules on what a full size SUV should be. It combines distinguished heritage with state-of-the-art technology and innovation for the only vehicle that offers uncompromised luxury, ultimate off-road prowess and dynamic on-road handling for an undoubtedly premium riding and driving experience non-pareil.
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MOBILITY
CRUISING IN A
CHEVROLET CRUZE If you drive around the metro as often as I do, you’d be bored by the cars plying the roads. They all look so similar, so alike, that you will find it hard to differentiate one from the other.
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MOBILITY
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MOBILITY
Since its launch early this year, the Chevrolet Cruze has given the streets of Metro Manila a welcome breather. At first look, you cannot help but be mesmerized at its proud bearing—purposeful and masculine. The headlight clusters intersect at a bi-level mesh grille that highlights the well-known Chevrolet bowtie emblem while the rounded integrated fog lamps on the bumper break up the lower angles. At its back, you get a refined “look” similar to sporty luxury vehicles on the road. This look continues inside the Cruze with the polished instrumentation cluster
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housing the beveled gauges lighted by blue digits and red needles on the gauge faces. Accents of brushed aluminum accents are everywhere (thankfully, no faux wood in sight!).
control with the standard dual front airbags, side airbags, and safety belt load limiters and pretensioners. Interior NVH (or noise, vibration and harshness) is bare-bones minimal—at time, nonexistent.
The silver gray top-of-theline test unit, the LT variant, features a 1.8-liter VVTi Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Ride is smooth although acceleration is a bit measured. Stiff chassis that keeps body roll to a minimum, plus you’ll feel ultra-safe with the Cruze’s ABS and brake assist system that comes with traction
Chevrolet is well known for making solidly built vehicles and the Cruze is a true testament to this workmanship. You get a bigcar feel even with this ample sedan. The Cruze retails for Php 1.888 million in all Car Covenant Company dealerships nationwide. Armin A. Amio
"The silver gray top-of-the-line test unit, the LT variant, features a 1.8-liter VVTi Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission."
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MOBILITY
NISSAN SENTRA: VERSATILE POWERPLANT
To my mind, the Nissan Sentra is one of the most underrated cars plying the streets. Forced to compete with its other Japanese-made sedan relatives, the Sentra, I believe, is one car that can truly hold its own.
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MOBILITY
Nissan Motors Philippines Inc. recently sent a test unit for a five-day spin, and I must admit it was such a joy to reconnect with this years-old fave drive. Now coming from Nissan’s Global C sedan platform, the Sentra’s styling cues belong to a hip, new generation of the Japanese maker’s design concept. It promises a powerful yet fuel efficient and comfortable driving performance with the integration of technology such as the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and the 6-speed manual transmission. You don’t get a small-car feeling when you drive the 2010 Sentra. It now commands distinction on the road with its longer wheelbase, stylish headlight and tail light design, proud front fascia and grille, fog light covers and new body side moldings with chrome inserts and trunk finishers. Inside is superbly and impeccably finished. Aircon power is tops—typical of any Nissan drive.
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Step on the accelerator and you get to experience its powerful new-generation MR20 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine fitted with either an Xtronic CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) tranny. The Sentra’s engine delivers 140 horsepower and
199nm/4800rpm of torque. Its aluminum engine contributes to lighter weight resulting to less vibration and excellent fuel efficiency. Handling is superb with the integration of first-class suspension system usually found in luxury cars. The Sentra features an independent strut front suspension and torsion bar rear axle with integrated stabilizer bar and ripple shock absorber and rebound springs. Safety-wise, the Sentra 200 is equipped with the Nissan advanced airbag system, tabular door for side impact protection, electronic brake force distribution, antilock brakes and monocoque body that provides rigidity, flexibility, lightness, resistance and shock absorption. The Sentra 200 retails for Php 1.15 million. Armin Amio
MOBILITY
2010 AUGUST
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MOBILITY
Get BETTER Fuel Efficiency with the SUZUKI ALTO Getting the most miles from every drop of fuel has become a skill that drivers need to master these days. In 2008, the word “hypermiling” was selected as the best new word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary, which defined this as “the attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuelconserving adjustments to one’s vehicle and one’s driving techniques.” Although hypermiling techniques are not recommended for street driving, www.gasbuddy.com lists the following fuel saving tips.
sticker on the driver’s door. One tire under-inflated by 2psi can result in a 1% increase in fuel consumption, depending on the load condition of the vehicle.
• Avoid high speeds. Since aerodynamic drag increases with speed, driving at 60–80kph (or within the speed limit) can help reduce fuel consumption.
• Have your vehicle serviced regularly. Observe the regular preventive maintenance to ensure clean air filters, new spark plugs and proper fluid levels. Make sure to bring in your Suzuki Alto to an accredited Suzuki dealership/service center for the regular service check every 5,000km of use.
• Do not accelerate or brake hard. Smooth driving that comes from paying attention to the road and anticipating traffic, and avoiding sudden acceleration or hard braking can help conserve fuel. • Keep tires properly inflated. Make sure to follow the recommended tire pressure. To know your vehicle’s correct tire pressure, always check the 68
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• Avoid heavy loads. Remove excess luggage and other items that you don’t need as the added weight can take a toll on your fuel efficiency. • Purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle. Of course, choosing
the right car is probably the single most important decision that you can take to ensure good fuel economy. The Suzuki Alto is a proven gas miser, having recorded an impressive 34-kilometers per liter in the Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy Run in 2008. One of the most popular compact cars worldwide, the Suzuki Alto is recognized for its fuel efficiency, stability and affordability. Its compact dimensions make the Suzuki Alto an extremely nimble and agile vehicle, with its small 4.6m turning radius giving it a definite advantage in tight parking spaces. Safety features are not compromised, with 3-point ELR seatbelts, third brake light, and side impact beams. With thoughtful
amenities that include an indash CD MP3 audio system, powerful air-conditioning, a headlamp leveling device, front cupholders and a cargo cover. Exterior features include multireflector halogen headlamps, multi-reflector taillights, and rear wiper-washer. The Suzuki Alto Deluxe variant also has electronic power steering, front power windows, power door locks, and color-keyed bumpers. Possibly the most affordable Japanese brand sub-compact in the Philippine car market, the Suzuki Alto Deluxe and Standard come in superior white, dazzling red, and silky silver metallic colors. The Suzuki Alto Deluxe is priced at Php 408,000 and the Suzuki Alto Standard is priced at Php 369,000.
MOBILITY
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BIKES
2010 DUCATI
MULTISTRADA 1200
ITALIAN BIKE WITH SWISS ARMY KNIFE INTENTIONS
By Raymond B. Tribdino
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BIKES
“Multistrada” literally means many roads. chosen setting. Since there is no cable to directly throttle the engine, the RBW system enables three different engine mappings to adjust the total power output and the way in which it is delivered. The three maps offer 150hp with a sports-type delivery, 150hp with a progressive delivery and 100hp also with progressive delivery.
D
ucati, the Italian motorcycle maker the dream of all underbone riders and the brand plastered on almost every replica big bike, recently released its newest, and possibly its most expensive salvo in the ultra-luxury motorcycle segment, the 2010 Mulitstrada 1200.
“Ducati Multistrade è la migliore motocicletta dell'Italia!” (Ducati’s Multistrada is the best Italian motorcycle!), exclaimed an Italian guest during the fancy launch event in front of Cantinetta along the now ultra-in Burgos Circle. Toti and Joy Alberto hosted over a hundred Ducati owners, fans, bike enthusiasts and media reps at the event which rolled off and roared about the super cool and ultra-expensive Italian bike. Mutlistrada translated speaks of prowess and versatility. Multi = many + Strada = roads. “Multistrada” literally means 71
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many roads. First developed in 2003 from a simple design brief of “a new biking concept” this Italian bike is in touch with the “multi-tasking” features of most European made gadgets. With its on-the-fly power and handling changes it could very well be designed by the Swiss Army, for the Italians. Initially produced with the aircooled 1000 DS engine, which was later upgraded to 1100cc in 2006, the Multistrada immediately made a name for itself with its bold personality. Thanks to an impressive technical specification it soon became synonymous with pure riding pleasure, being equally at ease on mountain roads and motorways, ideal for long distances while agile and manageable in town. Access Plus is the exclusive Philippine distributor of this new Ducati. Now packing a displacement of 1200 cubic centimetres, from a 11-degree engine configuration, hifting the mix of power and torque, stiffening or softening the suspension settings, even increasing the traction can all be modified, on-the-fly and even while riding! This enables the motorcycle to adapt to the needs of the rider
increasing rider confidence and control. In fact, the new Multistrada 1200 Ducati enhances the “many roads” concept consolidating four-bikesin-one with four Riding Modes: sport, touring, urban and enduro. The four-bikes-in-one concept uses three technologies which interact to instantly change the chassis setup and character of the Multistrada 1200. Fitted as standard equipment on all versions, the electronic ride-bywire system administers three different engine mappings to change the character of the engine, while Ducati Traction Control (DTC) uses eight levels of system interaction to enhance control. For the ‘S’ version, Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) instantly configures the suspension setup to suit ‘rider only’, ‘rider with luggage’, ‘rider and passenger’ or ‘rider and passenger with luggage’. The 4-mode, push button control is a computer controlled on-time “intervention program” that detects through many sensors around the bike, conditions that improve safety and road handling. Along with sensors a combination of ride-by-wire and traction control systems ensure that the bike will have optimum performance based on the
Using its racing heritage and mile-long roster of racing victories Ducati developed its Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system. DTC is a highly intelligent four-way interface between engine, suspension, rear wheel and the rider’s right hand. It acts as a filter between the rider’s input and the rear tire. Within milliseconds, DTC is able to detect and then control rear wheel-spin, adjusting constantly to keep the wheels on the ground increasing the bike’s safety and performance. The system offers eight ‘levels of sensitivity’, each programmed with a level of rear wheel-spin tolerance in line with progressive levels of riding skills classified from one to eight. Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) is also a result of the racing DNA allowing special solenoids in the gas charged shock absorbers to stiffen or soften the suspension based on the setting. The system is also in constant interaction with the computer when there is full intervention. The electronic suspension adjustment can either be made by using the pre-set riding modes, which have been developed by Ducati test riders, or in independent mode, which allows riders to use their own personal settings. Adjustments made via the instrumentation sends a signal that initiates electronic actuators mounted on the suspension units. Standard version of the Mutlistrada uses Marzzochi suspension systems.
BIKES
Within milliseconds, DTC is able to detect and then control rear wheel-spin, adjusting constantly to keep the wheels on the ground increasing the bike’s safety and performance.
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The starting point for the complex and innovative Multistrada 1200 is the Testastretta Evoluzione engine displacing 1198cc. This best ever L-Twin performance engine smoother and more user-friendly was indeed a challenge, but Ducati’s innovative designers and engineers met the challenge by creating the revolutionary Testastretta 11° engine. For a motorcycle intended for touring, city riding, some offroad and adrenalin-charged sports riding, this main engine characteristic that enabled this 11° configuration was the valve overlap angle.
when under drive from the engine, enabling the reduction of the clutch spring rates. This results in a much lighter clutch lever at the handlebar, ideal in stop-start traffic or long journeys.
The Multistrada 1200 features an oil bath clutch with ‘slipper’ function and super-light feel at the lever. Its design uses a progressive self-servo mechanism that presses the plates together
The Multistrada 1200 is also equipped with a Bosch-Brembo ABS system, optional for the standard version and fitted as original equipment on the ‘S’ version. It delivers outstanding
The front brakes use twin radially mounted Brembo four piston, two pad calipers actuated by a master cylinder with an adjustable lever. The front is fitted with 320mm discs, while a single 245mm disc on the rear is gripped by a single Brembo calliper. Typical of all Ducatis, these components ensure high performance braking and set the standard in this segment.
braking performance in all conditions and provides a major contribution towards performance safety. An option to disable the ABS is available via the instrumentation, but is automatically reactivated at the next ignition-on. Selling for over a million pesos, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 is available at Ducati fans at Access Plus in Cubao.
FEATURE
The Flavors of Android By John Nieves
Android, Google’s open mobile operating system, is currently the darling of the technology industry—and it’s not hard to see why. Android is fast becoming the operating system of choice of not only big-name manufacturers like Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola but smaller start-ups and upstarts as well. It has made its way from smartphones to tablets, and is now trickling into the mass market as well. We’ve compiled this little guide to help you understand Android a little better, and to harness the full potential of this awesome operating system from Google.
So, what is Android? Android is the operating system developed by Google and is based on the Linux kernel and GNU software. It’s an extremely flexible operating system, and has been seen on smartphones, tablets and even netbooks. Android is currently open source and although Google is actively developing the platform, they are still allowing hardware manufacturers and carriers to use their software without charging them license fees. Google is also giving away the SDK (software development kit) for Android to developers so theoretically almost anyone can make an application for the device.
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FEATURE
What’s all the talk about Éclair and desserts have to do with Android? The desserts you often hear when a manufacturer is touting their latest Android powered phone is the codename of the Android version powering it. There are currently 4 versions of Android in the wild: Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), and Éclair (2.0, 2.1) with Froyo (2.2) being the latest. Each Android iteration is slightly different from the other, as each version adds significantly more functionality over the previous versions.
Cupcake (1.5) improved on the functionality of Android and saw the first wide release of the operating system on multiple smartphones (Android 1.0 was released only on the HTC G1 Dream). The release gave users the ability to record and watch movies taken by the camera, added a soft keyboard and new widgets and folders in the home screen.
resolutions.
Donut (1.6) brings
an improved marketplace experience to the table, a gallery interface and an updated voice search plus optimizations to the overall code for WVGA screen
Éclair (2.0, 2.1) first
debuted on Motorola’s Droid smartphone, and brings a whole host of functionality tweaks and new features for Android including Live wallpapers, new wallpapers and HTML 5 support, improved Google maps functionality and a revamped UI.
That’s all well and good, but what does that mean for me, the consumer?
Froyo (2.2) is the latest version of Android, and
aside from the usual tweaks and fixes that the other versions had during launch, Android mobiles with Froyo can now enjoy USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality and support for Flash 10.1
It’s important to know what particular flavor your Android powered device is, and though they’re all powered essentially by the same OS, each version is considerably different, both in the features they carry, their overall look and feel and their application compatibility. An HTC Hero running on Éclair is a completely different experience from the same unit running Donut. Applications are also version sensitive—an app made for a higher version won’t run in a lower version unit, and won’t show up
in the Android marketplace when you search for it. As a consumer, it’s paramount that you know what version of Android you want to purchase because it defines the tempo of the user experience and may potentially limit the applications available to you. As with any purchase, research is a must and as general rule you’d want to get an Android device that is running the current version (Froyo or higher) or if that’s not possible, get a device that can be updated to a higher version down the line.
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GADGETEER
She Loves Her Gadgets MARIBELLE ALBA: CEO/PUBLISHER OF GADGETS MAGAZINE What began with just a love for the new and the innovative has become a passion she has been known to share with other techsavvy and like-minded individuals for the past 10 years. Belle Alba now shares with us her personal favorites as we peek into the life and likes of the top honcho of Gadgets Magazine. What are the gadgets you can’t leave home without? More appropriately, the gadgets I lug around are an iPhone 3G S and a Nokia E71, both paired to a Jabra BT8040 dual-device Bluetooth headset, then an iPad paired to a Philips Tapster Bluetooth stereo headset, Swiss Army knife card, and a Sony credit-card AM radio bag hanger.
What are the gadgets that you use in your work? Basically a 15-inch Macbook Pro, a Samsung PX2370 LED monitor, Brother HL-4050CDN color laser printer, a calculator, an electric stapler and date stamps. Where do you usually get information about gadgets? Surfing tech sites and browsing in computer shops. What was your first gadget purchase? I think it was a Sony Walkman‌ or the Philips portable black & white TV. What was your latest gadget purchase? An Apple iPad. Where do you source your gadgets? Online sellers or Greenhills shops.
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GADGETEER
"
I've never regretted my gadget purchases, but I do have stuff lying around that I hardly use like my Nintendo Wii Fit, Nintendo DS Lite, Osim uZap, three types of BaByliss hair gadgets. Maybe I should list them on eBay.
How do you maintain/store your gadgets? Do you dispose of gadgets you have no use for? First thing I do is get a screen protector and a case. I'm the early adaptor in the family so when I upgrade, the older version is usually passed on to a sibling or a niece. What are your favorite gadgets? No contest, my iPad and iPhone. I also rely heavily on my AVT Navigator to get around the metro. Being OC, I love labelers (I have 3 different types). What are the gadgets you wish you did not buy? I've never regretted my gadgets purchases, but I do have stuff lying around that I hardly use like my Nintendo Wii Fit, Nintendo DS Lite, Osim uZap, three types of BaByliss hair gadgets. Maybe I should list them on eBay.
What are the gadgets on your wish-list? Plenty! My top 10 are: 1. HP multifunction color laser printer (it’s a toss-up between CM3530 or CM2320) 2. 32GB white iPhone 4 (although i don't mind waiting till they work the kinks out, so maybe this should go lower on the list) 3. Android phone (no particular preference - what's the best one out there?) 4. New 15-inch MacBook Pro 5. Compact DSLR (Panasonic Lumix GF1 or Sony NEX-5) 6. ENA5 fully automatic espresso machine (preferably red) 7. Garment steamer 8. Waterless washing machine (that will take care of dry cleaning bills) 9. Roomba vacuum cleaning robot 10. iHome iP47BR Bluetooth clock radio and speakerphone for iPhone
2010 AUGUST
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GAMING
DEVELOPER: High Moon Studios PUBLISHER: Activision
By John Nieves You’d think that making a game based on giant, transforming robots would be easy just because they’re giant, transforming robots. Alas, this isn’t the case with the Transformers, and the series has sadly been treated to extremely terrible games ever since its debut back in 1984. I went into the review expecting another disappointing romp through the world of the Cybertronians, but developer High Moon Studios have seemingly managed to do the impossible— that is make a good Transformers game. If the title hasn’t clued you in, Transformers: WFC takes place in Cybertron, the home planet of robots in disguise during the 80
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planet wide civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Players will be able to play both sides as iconic characters like Megatron, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Starscream and more. The story is actually pretty decent and does a good job of paying homage to the origins of the franchise as well as adding to its legacy to the point where Hasbro considers the story of WFC a part of the Transformer canon. The story gives players a good sense of what they’re fighting for and answers some of the questions that fans have had since the beginning of the series, like the circumstances of Starscream’s defection to the Decepticons and how Optimus Prime became the leader of the Autobots.
GAMING
The game plays out like a traditional third person shooter. Your character gets two weapons plus a melee weapon, a variety of grenades and two special abilities The overall art design is good, and High Moon Studios have done a good job into not only creating its own version of the iconic characters, but in animating them as well. The characters aren’t just static models—they’re living, breathing amalgamations of steel and as such they’re really not standing idle at all. Parts shift and move even when characters are standing still. The transformation animations are excellent, and the sound effects that go with it complete the whole Transformers feel. The game utilizes the Unreal Engine and while it’s not the latest graphics engine around it still manages to generate excellent set pieces and memorable boss fights. The missions aren’t exactly what you’d call original as they mostly range from getting to point A to point B while taking out the opposition, VIP protection and all that jazz but, thankfully, art direction and level variety help break the monotony. Transforming into your chosen character’s alternate form isn’t particularly useful (although the jet sequences are pretty awesome) other than getting you in melee range faster. What really gives WFC its legs is the multiplayer function. Players are able to select their preferred class of Transformer and battle it out over multiple levels and gametypes. There’s also some class customization present, and you’ll be able to squeeze a good 20 or more hours from the game’s multiplayer alone. Fans have long been waiting for a game like Transformers: War for Cybertron and their patience has finally paid off. Even if you’re not a fan of the robots in disguise, it’s still a solid third person shooter with strong multiplayer. Definitely a must buy. 2010 AUGUST
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WEBSITES
RELIABLE
TECH WEBSITES By Presy Alba
They say that time flies when you’re having fun, and it’s all true—it’s almost unbelievable that Gadgets Magazine has turned 10 this month. Looking back on those 10 years is like watching a baby grow into an adult, and every issue is always unique and refreshing.
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WEBSITES
I love great quotes and Ralph Waldo Emerson has two that has certainly worked for Gadgets Magazine for the past 10 years. He said “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” and “that which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved”—and I totally agree that the key to Gadgets Magazine has always been that everyone plunges into each issue with ENTHUSIASM and that we PERSIST in doing it better every time. To celebrate Gadgets Magazine’s 10th Anniversary, I would like to share 10 of my favorite tech websites with you. These websites, aside from Gadgets Magazine’s own of course, are the ones I always rely on for information and opinion on new gadgets.
WWW.APPLE.COM
WWW.CNET.COM
The Apple website is just not for Mac users anymore, although they remain the website’s primary target market. I like to visit the Apple website because I like to see what new things they have developed. I love how the people at Apple have embraced the passion for design and significance as part of their corporate culture. As Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Rightbrainers Will Rule the Future, said functionality or utility is no longer enough. In this world of abundance, adding significance with design elements gives our gadgets more value. That in my opinion is what Apple delivers to its users—the right-brain directed experience. Apple products always have the ahh! factor, that’s one of the reasons why I periodically visit this website— just to see what’s new at Apple.
You can get fair product reviews, compare prices and download trial versions of just about everything here at CNET. Whenever a new product becomes available in the market, I always check if CNET has a review because it always gives a fair picture of what the product can or cannot do. CNET News is a good place to beef up on the latest in tech news. I particularly like how the editors periodically post top 10 must-have gadgets and also give their top choices in almost every category.
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WEBSITES
WWW.DPREVIEW.COM Whenever I’m in the market to purchase digital cameras and accessories, I never miss checking out this website. I especially like the side-by-side comparison in the buying guide section. It always helps me make the final decision and get the best camera for the price.
WWW.FIXYA.COM Whenever I have a problem with a gadget, the first site I go to is this site and I’ve always found the solution here.
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WWW.ENGADGET.COM I visit this site regularly because I always learn something new—and read about news updates that normal news channels would probably hesitate to post.
WWW.GADGETS-REVIEWS.COM This is not just another consumer review website. Readers get to vote on the stories they like. I like reading articles here because the reviewers compare similar gadgets side-byside and give the readers a more holistic view of what each gadget can or cannot do.
WEBSITES
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WEBSITES
WWW.GIZMODO.COM This site is a brainchild of Peter Rojas, who later moved on to create a similar weblog, Engadget. It gives readers a variety of news, updates and product reviews. This is another great source of finding out what’s new in the market and how good the new product really is.
WWW.POPSCI.COM In my opinion, a 10-best list on technology is not complete if this site is not in it. For a present and future look on technology, this is the IT site.
WWW.GSMARENA.COM When it comes to mobile phones, nothing beats this website in learning each device’s features. Whenever I need to find out about a feature of my phone, and I don’t have the manual on hand, this is the fastest way to get the information. It is also a very helpful site when I need to troubleshoot my phone.
WWW.TESTFREAKS.COM This is another must-visit site for tech reviews. I like the way they score the products while providing plus points for design, value for money and features.
As we look forward to the next 10 years of Gadgets Magazine, you have my promise that I will always enthusiastically and persistently find great new websites to share with you. 86
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WEBSITES
2010 AUGUST
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LEISURE PURSUITS
JUNK ART Brian Sergio, graphic designer, visual artist and musician recognized and regarded in the independent local art and music scene, has taken over this month's issue of Gadgets Magazine. With his latest creation entitled “Crapola” (Urban term for junk, popularly used in the comedy School of Rock), he shows the innovativeness of modern art and showcases God’s better creations: Women. Interviewed By Michelle Callanta
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LEISURE PURSUITS
"
I believe that a camera is a space within a space device, and in that context, a space that I don't own.
“I shoot with different types of cameras, mostly owned by my model. I’d like to capture a woman's essence by invading her private life as a spectator while using her personal belongings. I believe that a camera is a space within a space device, and in that context, a space that I don't own.” How did you get into this kind of work? Nobuyoshi Araki is my all-time idol. His photographs have a certain impact and I’d like to extract his philosophies on shooting women and painting over the prints. I've always been fascinated
with women as a focus or a subject matter, like in classical paintings, photography, comic book illustrations etc. The social presence of a woman for me is different from a man and it is quite powerful. I’d like to think that there are ambiguous questions regarding a woman's social presence, and I’m looking for answers.
that women have a feel of awkwardness and candidness that some people wouldn't understand.
pictures and experimenting on compositions, and getting drunk with other artists.
What do you like best about what you do?
You combined acrylic and photography in your works, how did this interest you into making it into a work of art?
I think creating art work comes naturally to me. Either graphic design or fine art, it really has no difference to me and I like the aspects and challenges of it all.
As an artist, everyone develops their What kind of reactions do you get when people see your work? own technique in painting, how were you able to develop your own? I get mixed reactions, since Years of art practices, exploring all mediums and its capabilities and conservatism is quite a factor in textures, reading about and mimicking our Philippine culture, I’d like to show them what is necessary— classical and modern masters, taking
Remember when you were a kid and you made fun of images by taking a marker and putting doodles on them like drawing mustaches, darkening parts of teeth, putting pimples. That gave me an idea, since it’s intriguing, humorous, and quite entertaining. I thought these things were possible elements for a successful artwork for the viewers. 2010 AUGUST
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DOWNLOAD DOWNLOADING...
AWESOME SCREENSHOT Multi-platform
There are times when you need to capture screenshots from your web browser, and it’s not the easiest thing to press print screen, paste on paint and start editing out sensitive information. There’s an easier way to do it, at least on Google Chrome: Awesome Screenshot. Awesome Screenshot makes it easy to either grab a DOWNLOADING... selection of the webpage you’re currently viewing or
DOWNLOADING...
the whole thing with a single click. You can scroll, edit, blur and crop portions of the webpage you want and you can easily annotate it with text, circles and lines to draw attention to a particular portion of the page. Once you’re finished, the file is uploaded to the Pict image sharing site and you can get a URL link to your file. Awesome Screenshot is free and does not require you to register for a download.
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DOWNLOAD FLIPBOARD iPad
By John Nieves
GMOTE Android
Gmote allows you to control your PC from your Android-powered device, letting you control media playback, volume, browse your file system and even use the device as a keyboard or mouse. There are Mac, PC and Linux versions of Gmote, and all you need to do is install the app on your phone and connect the mobile client to the Gmote server by IP address, and start controlling your PC from your phone.
DOWNLOADING...
Flipboard is a digital magazine with a twist. It lets you see what your friends are reading and tweeting about in Facebook and Twitter. It integrates with your Twitter and Facebook accounts and delivers content it thinks you want to see from images, articles and stories your friends have recommended. There’s also a large collection of articles and videos from Flipboard ensuring that you’ll never run out of things to read or view. You can also share and receive updates from your friends while in Flipboard, allowing you to see what they’re up to while checking on what’s up in the world. Flipboard is free for the iPad through the Apple app store.
DOWNLOADING... DOWNLOADING... 90
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COVERSTORY
marks the spot the ten best gadgets in their respective categories over the past ten years.
A
s the first Tech and Lifestyle Magazine, we have been fortunate enough to have experienced hundreds of gadgets go through our grubby little hands in the past ten years. In that time period, we’ve been privy to folding mobiles, slim TVs, even slimmer notebooks and cameras designed for the Facebook generation. When Gadgets started ten years ago, the latest mobile phone was the one that was capable of three lines of text, the latest ultraportable was at least four kilos in weight, and the best TVs in the world used cathode ray tubes. Now mobile and smartphones are almost like miniature computers, the lightest notebooks are less than a kilo in weight and TVs are sucking us into the third dimension with glasses and content that leave us in an utter state of shock. So we think that’s its only fitting that we pay homage to the gadgets and tech that paved the way for our gadget generation. We assembled a list of gadgets that were revolutionary, cutting edge, and just downright cool when they were released, gadget pathfinders that led to thinner, smarter and better products that we all enjoy, and more importantly, can’t live without today.
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COVERSTORY
Mobile Phones
Nokia 5110
Motorola RAZR V3
Everyone who’s ever owned a Nokia 5110 will attest to the phones ruggedness and reliability. They just don’t make them like they used to. The Nokia 5110 is one of sturdiest, non-rugged phone ever to be made. It’s able to take more abuse than a red-headed stepchild, and we even had a unit slip out of moving car and hit the pavement with no apparent ill effects.
When the original RAZR V3 came out in 2004, people were smitten at how remarkably thin the phone was. While its 13.9mm thickness would be considered bulky now, back in 2004 the RAZR V3 was the most anorexic mobile phone in existence, and not even its $500 price tag could deter the most avid fashionistas. Over the RAZR’s four-year run, Motorola has managed to sell more than 110 million units.
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Samsung SGH-D500
Nokia 3210
Samsung U100
It might not seem like it now, but there was a time when electronics giant Samsung’s phones where considered by some as wannabee Nokias. That all changed in 2005, when Samsung’s SGH-D500 won GSM Association's award for Best Mobile Handset. The awarding body cited the D500’s strong features, including Bluetooth, email, and SyncML connectivity for the award. It was also extremely popular with consumers because of its elegant styling, smooth slide action and helped to popularize the 'active' sliding phone concept across all brands.
The Nokia 3210 makes the list because of a revolutionary feature that came with it: an internal antenna. Phones up to that point have always had an external antenna after fashion, and the 3210 bucked the trend by omitting it entirely, leaving a smooth and stylish exterior. The 3210 was also one of the first mobile phones to be marketed to a younger audience, and like the 5110, it’s one of sturdiest phones ever made.
If Motorola invented thin with the V3, Samsung perfected it with the U100. Out‘anorexing’ the RAZR V3 by 8mm, the 5.9mm razor thin U100 can literally fit anywhere, without sacrificing the feature set that consumers expect from the manufacturing giant.
COVERSTORY
Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman The Sony Ericsson W800i is the company’s first Walkman branded mobile phone, and as such it excelled in delivering a different audio experience. It’s one of the pioneering mobile phones that put a premium on multimedia functionality in a time where MP3 playback capability was a mere after-thought.
Samsung Armani P520 Samsung made a big splash when it unleashed the Armani branded phone in 2007. It wasn’t just a reskinned mobile phone with the Armani badge; it was a mobile phone completely designed from the ground up with Giorgio Armani himself.
LG Chocolate BL40
Nokia N93
Samsung Soul U900
While other brands have been content to align themselves with iconic designers and fashion personalities, LG has quietly decided to go the other direction and focus on designing stylish mobile phones without anyone’s help. The LG Chocolate BL40 takes mobile phones in bold new directions, and cements LG as a major player in the fashion couture mobile phone category.
The Nokia N93 pushed the limits of what a camera attached to a phone could do. While other mobile phones at the time were simply content at pushing megapixels, the N93 took things to the next level by pairing a Carl-Zeiss optical zoom combined with a Vario-Tessar lens to allow users to shoot video in VGA resolution at 30 FPS, resulting in extremely smooth video, a feat that no other phone during that time could achieve.
The U900 from Samsung truly has soul. It has all the requisite features for a phone of its caliber: 5-megapixel camera, 3G connectivity and a touch pad that morphs and changes depending on the context of the phone. It was sleek, pretty and had substance— everything you could ever want in a mobile phone.
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COVERSTORY
Notebooks Toshiba Portégé R500 While Macheads cheered when the Macbook Air was released, PC users were still pining for their own notebook that had similar specs and portability. Toshiba answered their call with the Portégé R500 that managed to nab the title of world’s lightest notebook when it was released, weighing in at just 2.4lbs.
HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam is hailed by HP as the world’s first digital clutch. Small yet vibrant, the outer shell of the Vivienne Tam was conceptualized and designed by the fashion designer of the same name, lending her own brand of fashion into HP Mini 1000. The first Vivienne Tam-branded HP Mini featured pink and purple peony flowers, which, says the designer, are the most beautiful flowers and have many layers of unfolding blossoms—much like the layers of a busy woman's life.
Macbook Air
Say what you want about Apple, but its obsession for delivering simple, easy-to-use and drop-dead gorgeous products can’t be denied. The Macbook Air is one of the most beautiful and revolutionary products this Cupertino-based firm has ever produced, and has attracted its own fair share of imitators.
HP DV 2809TU Artist Edition Notebooks have always been viewed as soulless, boring machines made for the corporate stooge. The HP DV 2809TU Artist Edition is exactly the opposite—it’s for fun loving, creative professionals that aren’t afraid to show their true selves. The DV 2809TU Artist edition features a tough, scratch resistant imprint finish and one of the best keyboards of its day.
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ASUS Eee PC 700
If you asked anyone how much an ultraportable PC would cost back in 2006, and they’ll likely reply with answers anywhere from Php 60,000 to Php 120,000. Those prices were the norm if you wanted a small, portable notebook with you. Enter the ASUS Eee PC 700. It was one of the smallest notebooks during its launch, and sparked the creation of an entirely new segment of PCs—the netbook.
COVERSTORY
Acer Ferrari 4005
The Acer Ferrari 4005 was, at the time of its release in 2005, one of the fastest notebooks around. A product of Acer’s partnership with Ferrari, the 4005 sported a (then) top of the heap AMD Turion Athlon64 mobile processor purring away at 2GHz and a luscious carbon fiber lid with the Prancing Pony emblem.
ASUS Lamborghini VX1
ASUS is not one to take things lying down, so when their fellow Taiwanese company Acer teamed up with Ferrari, they made a partnership of their own with another Italian sports car legend—Lamborghini. The product of their collaboration was the ASUS Lamborghini VX1. Powered by a dual core Intel processor and NVidia GeForce Go7400VX graphics, the Lamborghini VX1 promised speed and luxury—for a price.
ASUS Eee PC 1201N Netbooks are great for content consumption, but not much else. Netbook owners that wanted to do more with their devices suddenly realized that their machines were woefully underpowered to do anything else than browse the web and type word documents. Enter the ASUS Eee PC 1201N. The ASUS Eee PC 1201N had the small, slim profile of netbooks but had NVIDIA’s ION graphics solution, allowing it to do more than just browse the web.
Sony VAIO X When we thought notebooks couldn’t get any thinner or lighter, along comes the Sony VAIO X. Out-thinning the competition at a mere .55-inches and weighing in at an incredible 1.6 pounds, the VAIO X is the notebook for the ultimate road warrior. It’s tougher than it looks too, and is constructed from tough carbon fiber, so it can take a beating and still survive.
Toshiba libretto W100 Probably the youngest item on this list, the Toshiba libretto isn't any less deserving than its contemporaries. With the libretto W100, Toshiba has once again demonstrated the innovative drive that they are known for worldwide. The libretto W100 is the world's first dual touchscreen computer, and it's one of the smallest too. It was received with a lot of enthusiasm when it was launched just last month, and it's not hard to see why. 2010 AUGUST
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COVERSTORY
Panasonic TH103PZ600U Plasma TV If screen size was the equivalent of a whosestick-is-bigger contest, then the absolutely gigantic Panasonic TH103PZ600U would be crowned the winner of everything. This absolutely monstrous 103-inch plasma takes things to the next level, and at over four feet tall and close to 700 pounds, you’ll be hard pressed to find a bigger model.
Samsung C7000 3D LED TV
Everyone’s been beating consumers over the head with 3D since CES back in February, and the first commercially available 3D LED TV offering from Samsung certainly lived up to the hype. Able to handle both 3D and regular HD video, the C7000 offers consumers the best of both worlds.
LG LH60 Scarlet LCD TV Blocky and boring are not words that you’ll use to describe the LG LH70 Scarlet. Slim, sexy and more importantly, affordable, the LH70 gave consumers on the lookout for an affordable yet stylish TV a reason to rejoice.
Samsung R7 LCD TV Back in 2005, LCD TVs were simple, uncomplicated, and a bit ugly. Curves were seemingly banned from designs and you could have whatever color you wanted—as long as it was black. The Samsung R7 went against the norm and featured rounded corners, a glossy finish and came in different colors. Finally, there was an LCD TV that was both stylish and feature packed.
Sony Bravia 70-inch SXRD Grand WEGA
Epic movies need epic screens. The Sony Bravia 70-inch SXRD gave film buffs a massive screen to enjoy their movies on, and offered them 2-megapixel picture resolution and a fast response time of 2.5ms.
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TVs
COVERSTORY
Samsung UA55B8000 LED TV Samsung’s quest for creating extremely razor thin TVs seemingly reached its zenith with the UA55B800. This 55-inch LED TV is only 29.9mm at its thickest point, and boasts all the features you’d want in a TV: 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio, auto motion plus 240Hz anti-motion judder, wide color enhancer and so on. It’s also able to hop online via Samsung’s Internet@home feature and watching fast paced content like basketball games is made better by the 240Hz auto motion plus feature.
Toshiba RV600 LCD TV
TCL P10 LCD TV The TCL P10 caught our eye not because of its gloss black exterior coupled with red highlights, simple yet elegant design (although that helped) but because of its ability to play back HD content in glorious full HD (1080p) without ever needing a separate player. You just need to plug in your thumb drive into the USB slot and start enjoying your content. The TCL P10 can also play H.264 encoded content and supports external hard drives—no need to purchase a separate streamer to play downloaded HD video.
Combining highly advanced Regza technologies with modern sensibilities, the 42-inch Regza RV600 redefined our viewing experience. Utilizing Toshiba’s Meta Brain image processing technology, the RV600 delivers clear and crisp pictures, whether it’s the latest Blu-ray movie blockbuster. The Autoview feature lets users enjoy the best possible picture, intelligently adjusting the contrast in all lighting conditions, which means less fiddling with the remote and more time enjoying your TV.
LG LE5500 Sanyo Vizon 24-inch K40 LCD TV
The Sanyo Vizon K40 makes the list not because of its features, but because of its price. The K40 is one of the most affordable HD TVs currently out in the market and can be had for less than Php 16,000. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a wealth of features—the K40 is equipped with Sanyo’s new generation Vizon engine that produces high resolution pictures with brilliant colors and sharp contrast.
LG's passion in creating exceptional products has never been as evident as it is in the LE5500. They've managed to create an exceptional balance of features, aesthetics, and performance into a gorgeous package. Whether you enjoy watching the latest episode of House, enjoying the Hollywood's latest blockbuster or surfing the web, the LE5500 gives users an experience that they'll always remember. 2010 AUGUST
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Canon PowerShot S60
Canon Powershot A80 Easy for first-time users, yet with an impressive range of features and accessories so you can grow to a more advanced level. The PowerShot A80’s 4.0 megapixels with 3x optical zoom, ideal for shooting everything from landscapes to portraits, can create high-resolution images. It has approximately 11x combined digital and optical zoom then allows you to get even closer. It has an easy-to-use Mode Dial with 12 shooting modes such as Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Movie and full manual modes. The PowerShot A80 can automatically detect your subject. It chooses the best focus point from nine fixed focusing areas across your shooting scene. Unique in its class, the PowerShot A80 has a vari-angle LCD that can be twisted in different directions to free you from shooting constraints. The PowerShot A80 meets the new PictBridge direct printing standard, to simply connect to any other PictBridge-compliant printer for easy printing without a PC.
The PowerShot S60 camera is equipped with a redesigned 3.6x zoom lens that goes from a wide-angle focal length of 28mm to a telephoto of 100mm (35mm film equivalent). This new lens features an Ultra high refractive index, which makes it thin and compact. The ultra-high refractive index Aspherical (UA) lens allows for a 28mm wide-angle zoom while increasing image quality and slimming the body of the camera for a sleek design. Armed with Flexizone AutoFocus and AutoExposure modes and a multimode electronic flash, the S60 may also be used underwater with an optional accessory (purchased separately). It has Digic technology and is PictBridge compatible so you can print pictures without requiring a computer.
Nikon D60 With outstanding 0.2 megapixels and a wealth of innovative and user-friendly features, the D60 enables both photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography to capture incredible images like never before. Nikon D60 Features at a Glance Extraordinary 10.2-megapixel DX-format Nikon Picture Quality. It includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.55.6G VR (Vibration Reduction). The D60 does all this while delivering extraordinarily vivid and detailed pictures, ensuring that fleeting expressions, special moments and memorable events are captured beautifully. Packaged with Nikon's new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, the D60 camera and lens outfit delivers striking image sharpness.
Nikon D2H The professional digital SLR camera Nikon D2H delivers high speed, high resolution, and improved handling for action photography. The D2H showcases a skillful integration of such innovations. The first of a new generation of Nikon Digital SLR cameras, the D2H offers an impressive array of exclusive features to improve speed, response, resolution and handling that will establish it as the professional's choice in photojournalism and sports photography. The D2H is the first digital SLR in the world capable of continuous shooting at 8 frames per second for up to 40 consecutive JPEG or 25 RAW (NEF - Nikon Electronic Image File) full-resolution (2,464 x 1,632-pixel) images.
Canon PowerShot G7 Canon’s acclaimed G-Series has a new top-of-the-line model, and serious photography enthusiasts have a lot to be excited about. A matte black, retro-hip design houses impressive capabilities and top core specifications, including 10.0-megapixel resolution and a powerful 6x optical zoom. Loaded with Canon’s latest and most advanced technologies, including an Optical Image Stabilizer for clear shots throughout the zoom range, PowerShot G7 is a camera to be reckoned with.
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COVERSTORY
Kodak DC4800 The KODAK DC290 digital camera takes brilliant, dazzling pictures, thanks to 3.3-megapixel Ultra resolution. But what makes it the ultimate in digital flexibility and control is its ability to "learn" scripts and applications—much like you'd customize your PC with different software applications. Adjust, edit, apply special effects and create animation. Control and customize camera settings. Whether it's for the most demanding business applications or sophisticated personal use, the DC290 is one very smart purchase.
Samsung 2View ST550
Olympus µ770 SW
The 12.2-megapixel Dual LCD digital camera with a 1.5-inch front LCD screen, a revolutionary feature in the industry, lets you take part in capturing the moment like never before. The Samsung Dual LCD digital camera lets you see every scene in a completely new and exciting way. Just use the front LCD screen, and set up the perfect shot with you in it, time after time. A host of top-ranked features and technologies, from the lens to the user interface, turns this camera into a true must-have. And the small, handheld size makes it easy to take it with you everywhere you go.
It’s time for a camera that stands up to life. The Olympus µ 770 SW is the world’s first compact camera that’s waterproof to 10m, shockproof against falls to 1.5m and crushproof to an unbelievable 100kg! It’s even a delight to tote around - with a stylish metal casing that’s available in three attractive colours: Midnight Blue, Titanium Grey and Mocca Brown. Test the limits of tough photography with this charming addition to the µ family—because if it’s in your life, it’s in your Olympus µ 770 SW.
cAMERA Kodak DC290
Sony Cybershot T2 The slim, 8.1-megapixel T2 is more than a high-function camera. It's a new concept model with a large 4 GB internal memory, which means that you can digitally copy the pictures sleeping on your PC at home, and carry them around as a digital album, show your past pictures to your family and friends at the very instant you want to show them. Face Detection and Smile Shutter mode help you catch people at their best, the Sony Double Anti-Blur Solution and Carl Zeiss 3X optical zoom lens design deliver sharp color images even in low light, and HD output lets you share images in high definition on your Sony Bravia HDTV or other compatible HDTV screens.
The KODAK DC290 digital camera takes brilliant, dazzling pictures, thanks to 3.3-megapixel Ultra resolution. But what makes it the ultimate in digital flexibility and control is its ability to "learn" scripts and applications—much like you'd customize your PC with different software applications. Adjust, edit, apply special effects and create animation. Control and customize camera settings. Whether it's for the most demanding business applications or sophisticated personal use, the DC290 is one very smart purchase.
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COVERSTORY Nokia N95 Nokia has long been a frontrunner in the mobile phone industry, but as consumer demands have evolved, so have devices. The N95 is one of Nokia’s best attempts to satiate the thirst for smartphones, as this particular model runs Symbian OS S60 and has a two-way slide too access media or a keypad. It is equipped with GPS, a 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics no less and wireless connectivity through HSDPA and Bluetooth. The old Nokia staples of messaging are in place, but with added Office suite and organizer functions with provision to run thirdparty applications.
Palm Treo 600 Palm made waves when they released the Treo 600 as both a phone and a PDA, but broke even more barriers with enabling it to multi-task. This allows users to check their calendars while using the phone, dial directly from the contacts list and take pictures or send emails. It consists of a full QWERTY keyboard and a 160x160 color touch screen. While it is a bit bulky to carry around, back in the early 2000s, it certainly got the job done.
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RIM Blackberry Research In Motion (RIM) is a Canadian company known for developing the Blackberry, a smartphone primarily targeted for executives. The first BlackBerry was actually a two-way pager launched in 1999 but the company has since expanded the Blackberry smartphone to support push e-mail, text messaging, Web browsing and even Internet faxing. Navigation on the device was primarily through a scroll ball or a track wheel, but this has since been changed to a trackpad. The Blackberry is worthy of this list as it made headway by focusing on mobile e-mail.
SMART
Motorola Q
Sony Ericsson P900
Motorola is not to be undone, as they released their own version of a smartphone as well, the Q. At 11.43mm, the Q became thinner than other smartphones during 2006. A 2.4� color screen, voice activated dialing and a 1.3 megapixel camera with photo lighting kept it at par with other multifunctional devices, but also added other features like an mp3 music player and web surfing capabilities. The Motorola Q ran on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 platform.
One of the endeavors of Japanese electronics giant Sony and Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson is the P900. It followed the P800 but is slightly slimmer and lighter, with a gray finish and more memory. The P900 is one of the first smartphones to both have a superior 65,536-color touchscreen display and a physical keypad. It also plays video files; syncs with MS Outlook through USB and can view and edit attachments.
COVERSTORY Apple iPhone Where do we begin? This little wonder truly broke smartphone barriers. Its 3.5-inch widescreen Multi-Touch display boasts of a 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi and is covered with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. At 115 x 62 x 12.3mm, the iPhone is a powerhouse of features. It has support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously, connectivity on UMTS/HSDPA, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, GPS capabilities, not to mention countless options to download apps, games, music and videos. It’s a music player, a computer and a phone all in your pocket.
Nokia Communicator 9000 The Communicator 9000 was considered a powerful device in its time. Released in 1996, it was powered by an Intel 24MHz 286 CPU with an operating system of GEOS 3.0 and had 8MB of memory. It wasn’t the lightest of them all, weighing in at 397g, but it was considered a technological triumph in its heyday.
Google Nexus One Google has continued to branch out from search, to owning a video website, to creating their own smartphone. The Nexus One is considered to be an alternative for people who appreciate the advancement of the iPhone but the capabilities and freedom of Google programs and products. The Nexus One has a 3.7” widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen with a 5MP camera with LED flash equipped with autofocus from 6cm to infinity. It has connectivity on 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and 3 UMTS bands, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). It is powered by a Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHz and the Android Éclair 2.1 OS. Memory is amazing as well at 4GB expandable to 32GB.
PHONEs HTC Dream The HTC Dream is the first Android-enabled phone launched in 2008. The Dream allows one-touch access to online search (not surprising as Android was created by search expert Google), map exploration and more. It also has access to the Android Market, thereby giving the user freedom when it comes to installing their favorite applications, music or games (and giving the Apple developers a run for their money). The Dream dazzles with a crisp 3.2” display and while it has a touchsensitive screen, it also has a full five-row QWERTY keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy S The Samsung Galaxy S represents the pinnacle of what the Android operating system is capable of. A 4-inch, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display gives a superior user experience, and the ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor ensures that the Galaxy is blazingly fast.
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LIFE&STYLE
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Anne Curtis: PHOTOFEATURE
Isn’t She Lovely? LIFE&STYLEPARADE
A PREVIEW OF THE NEWEST LIFESTYLE ITEMS TO HIT THE METRO BEAUTYLAB
AHAVA MINERAL MAKE-UP CARE 102
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D PHOTOFEATURE
esign of a
Photographed by Niko Villegas of EDGE OF LIGHT Assisted by Glenn Tungol of EDGE OF LIGHT Art Direction by Chad Villarmino and Michelle Callanta Styled by Danee Torres Asssisted by intern Jeremy Chuan Professional Artistry by Julie Ebio and Archie Valencia of MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Team Assisted by Lance Vasquez Clothes by 10th Street Manila Accessories by Vita Fede Models: Veronica Callanta and Kaye Homecillo 104
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PHOTOFEATURE
decade Gadgets Magazine celebrates 10 years of tech-lifestyle heartiness with 10 of its top covers from each year along with a personal message from CEO and publisher, Maribelle Alba.
Gadgets Magazine was born at the turn of the millennium. At that time, computers and other electronic gadgetry were already widely available in the Philippine market, but there was no locally produced magazine that featured these products. Gadgets was born out of this felt-need to provide trendy and discriminating Filipino consumers with a magazine that would showcase all the latest technologies without intimidating the reader with technical jargon. At that time, Filipino readers relied on imported tech publications that were overloaded with information directed at true-blue techies. So our starting point was to target ordinary consumers like me who enjoyed buying
new stuff but do not necessarily want to be swamped by technobabble —hence, the tech-lifestyle concept. From the start, we decided to use local talent and content, and this became our strength. Being homegrown and using 100% local content, we did not rely on foreign evaluations of gadgets. This meant that the Gadgets staff who wrote the reviews actually handled and tested the gadgets featured in our pages. This gave our readers the guarantee that the reviews they read was the exact model and had the same features as the product they could buy in the stores and that the price printed in the magazine was the actual store price in pesos and not some ballpark amount based on some currency conversion estimate.
Throughout the past decade, we have always strived hard to deliver the best with each issue of Gadgets Magazine, and we’ve continuously challenged ourselves to make each one better than the one before. As we pass the 10th year milestone, we take stock of what we’ve accomplished so far: By using local talent, we proved that Filipinos are talented and highly competent in the techlifestyle realm. We also proved that consumers appreciate being informed about the product options available locally, particularly with regard to specifications, pricing, functionality, ease of use, etc. Our 10-year journey has also proven that there is a dynamic and vibrant Philippine market
for electronic products. It has been a fun ride over the past decade. Starting out with the iconic Nokia 3000 series, we are now testing the latest Android phones, 3D television sets, computers in all shapes and sizes, and so many more gadgets than before. So as we move on to the next decade of Gadgets Magazine, here are some promises we are making to our loyal readers: Gadgets will continue to be the tech-lifestyle leader. Gadgets will be a consistently high-quality publication. Gadgets will enthusiastically improve and move to the next level. Watch out for the Gadgets evolution as we expand our reach through social media and other platforms.
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PHOTOFEATURE
Samsung Champ Mobile Phone
The Champ gives people the chance of owning a touchscreen mobile phone without killing their budget. Armed with a small touchscreen display, TouchWiz lite and different color variations, the Champ seems likely to become Samsung's most sought after budget touchscreen mobile yet.
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PHOTOFEATURE
ASUS Eee PC 1015PE Netbook
ASUS' latest effort in their Seashell line of netbooks has resulted in the Eee PC 1015PE, one of their prettiest netbooks so far. Able to stay on for 13.5 hours and delivering stylish computing on the go, the ASUS Eee PC 1015PE is a must for anyone who does heavy travelling.
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PHOTOFEATURE
Samsung NX10
Mirrorless Digital Camera
The Samsung NX10 combines the portability of a point and shoot with the versatility of a DSLR. Lighter and slimmer than a traditional DSLR, the NX10 is fully capable of shooting with the best of them, and its 14.6 MP APS-C size CMOS sensor is able to capture whatever you are shooting in all its rich, vibrant glory. 108
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PHOTOFEATURE
Asus Eee PC T101MT Netbook Tablet
The ASUS Eee PC T101MT is a compact and stylish netbook that can double as a tablet via its swiveling screen. Built with simplicity in mind, ASUS has included their TouchGate software to help users access information that's most important to them.
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PHOTOFEATURE
ASUS NX90 Notebook
The ASUS NX90 is big, brash, and isn't afraid to show it. ASUS has partnered with audio powerhouse Bang and Olufsen to deliver an aural experience like no other with the ASUS NX90. It's part notebook, part all-in-one, the NX90 is sure to turn heads whenever it's seen in your home or when it's blasting the latest hits on its two gigantic speakers. 110
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PHOTOFEATURE
Acer 1825 Tablet Netbook
Acer Timeline X Notebook
The Acer 1825 gives users a world of versatility - you can use it like a regular notebook and in a pinch, if the mood strikes you, can transform into a tablet PC. Easy to use and carry, the Acer 1825 gives users mobility and versatility in a striking package.
The Acer Timeline series of notebooks gave users an impressively long battery life when it was first released. This time around, Acer has seen fit to improve the performance of the line with a better processor and updated internals. The result: The Acer Timeline X. 2010 AUGUST
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PHOTOFEATURE
AVT Navigator PN-501 Portable GPS
Getting to where you're going needn't be a chore. The AVT Navigator PN-501 helps you get where you're going quick, whether it's to the nearest mall or gas station. Updated with the latest maps of the Philippines, you'll never get lost again.
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PHOTOFEATURE
Canon IXUS 300HS Digital Camera
The IXUS 300HS may be the best point and shoot Canon's ever made. Don't let its smaller 10 megapixel backlighted CMOS sensor fool you - this camera is has phenomenal low light performance, can shoot photos in fast succession without any problems, and shoot slowmo videos.
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PHOTOFEATURE
LG Cookie Fresh Mobile Phone
LG Cookie Wi-Fi Mobile Phone
The LG Cookie Wi-Fi gives users a captivating touchscreen and internet experience without the associated high costs. Stylish and sexy, it boasts a 3-inch touchscreen that lets you go online with minimum fuss.
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With smart social network service (SNS) connectivity and other unique features such as LiveSquare, the LG Cookie Fresh allows users to keep in touch with online friends more easily by offering a visually dynamic interactive experience. What’s more, the LG Cookie Fresh boosts the fun, cartoon-styled UI with colorful theme options and supports downloadable applications including The NewYork Times, eBay Search, Amazon Search and Fox News for a more enjoyableuser experience.
PHOTOFEATURE
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PHOTOFEATURE
Sony VAIO Z1
Notebook
The Sony VAIO Z1 is the ultimate mobile tool - it's extremely light and handy because of its specially designed hybrid carbon body and one-piece milled aluminum palm rest. It doesn't sacrifice performance for mobility - it's powered by an Intel Core i7-620M processor that delivers 2.66GHz (3.33GHz) and quad SSD drives that deliver top performance on the go.
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BEAUTYLAB
AHAVA
Mineral Make-up Care By Michelle Callanta
I
nasmuch as I love makeup, I oftentimes feel that it takes quite a toll on my face. This is why I only wear makeup when I have to go out to some party or event or any other place where looking good is a must. Otherwise, I let my skin breathe and take a break from all the preparation, application and removal that makeup comes with. But now there's a makeup that feels light on the face and gives it that all-natural luster while keeping it healthy. Introducing AHAVA Essential Dead Sea Treatment, which is formulated using minerals from the Dead Sea. It is a skin-friendly line that allows you to look good while doing your skin good. Ahava’s mineral makeup contains dunaliella, a Dead Sea algae with powerful anti-oxidant and antiaging properties, a mineral skin “osmoter” to hydrate the skin with Dead Sea minerals, and pure mineral powders for that all natural tone and glow. There are four healthy formulations in this mineral makeup line: Dead Sea algae rich foundation, light foundation, compact powder and loose powder. Each product has a different texture that gives off a different finish so that you can decide what kind of coverage you want for any time of the day. The light foundation is a light, oilfree fluid that’s great for
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deadsea algae loose powder Weightless ultra-sheer powder for a natural soft-focus look. Enriched with avocado oil and vitamin E. Suitable for all skin types. Easy to use for diverse makeup needs.
deadsea algae compact powder Light, silky and extremely delicate texture. Glides onto the skin, for a matchless, even tone. Creates a natural blurring effect, fading out fine wrinkles and imperfections.
everyday use to even-out skin tone. The rich foundation is a creamy fluid that gives full coverage and a more radiant finish. The compact powder is a silky pressed powder that evens out skin tone and gives off a natural blurring effect to fade out fine lines and wrinkles. The loose powder is a weight-less, ultrasheer powder that gives a natural soft-focus look and is diverse enough to use during the day or night. The compact powder is a bit more space-saving than other compact designs with the mirror completely filling the entire inside of the lid. However, I did not like the rather flimsy and thin sponge it came with while the loose powder had no sponge or powder
puff at all. I had to use the sponge I had from another compact. Now considering the price of these products, I thought better sponges/ powder puffs would be in order. As far as being a mineral makeup, Ahava’s line does have its unique qualities. The scent of the makeup, particularly the powder, has that earthy, natural scent. The foundation glides smoothly onto the face and doesn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable. It doesn’t cake either so it maintains a natural, even tone. Another thing I noticed is that after a long night of wearing it, I didn’t break out into tiny rashes the next day like I normally do when I’ve been out all night and sleepdeprived.
deadsea algae light foundation Light and fresh oil formula, smoothes over pores and imperfections providing an even skin tone. Total protection for daily use.
deadsea algae rich foundation Nourishing creamy texture spreads on evenly. An ideal full coverage foundation for more mature skin and an injection of new found vitality
Michelle is wearing deadsea algae light foundation with the deadsea algae compact powder for an all natural base.
FEATURE
Why is Rhian having more fun these days? First as a beautiful face that caught our attention with her McDonald’s McJelly Duo TV ad, Rhian Ramos now has the titles “bankable actress,” “multi-talented host,” “versatile model,” “promising singer,” and “hot leading lady” attached to her name.
Her classical beauty, melodious voice and innate elegance, often make Rhian seem poised and sophisticated. It’s easy to forget that she’s only 19, a teenager who’s still focused on having fun, making friends and living life to the fullest. So when HTC Corp., a maker of smartphones, approached her to be the “Official Face of HTC Smart” in the country, it was the perfect match!
HTC Country Manager for the Philippines Mark Dewey Sergio said HTC Smart is the company’s response to customer demand around the world for an easierto-use, affordable smartphone. Utilizing Qualcomm’s Brew Mobile Platform operating system allows this smartphone to offer high-end capabilities at an attractive price point.
“It’s such a fun and lively smartphone!” said Rhian. “Although it appeals to a broad range of people, HTC Smart is designed specially for the young and young-at-heart. Its affordability, social-oriented and easy-to-use features give them the chance to experience what a smartphone is truly capable of.”
Lightweight and with a friendly, compact design, it integrates the new HTC Sense, an interface that puts people—not applications— at the center by focusing on three core areas: Make It Mine, Stay Close, and Discover the Unexpected. Its unique Friend Stream function neatly places all your interactions with your friends—be it email, text, Facebook or Twitter update—in one stream under their pictures.
She owns a number of electronic gadgets, though she says she’s no techie. “Tech has to be userfriendly; the reason we have technology is to make life easier,” she explains. “I usually don’t carry a bag, just a wallet and one gadget in my pocket.” Which is why she’s pretty thrilled with her new phone.
Since Rhian is a Twitter fanatic, the HTC Smart is heaven-sent. “I like Twitter for it’s direct to the point..and I appreciate how fast reactions and replies come. When I’m home, I spend an hour or two on my laptop, but when I’m out and about, I’m still online via my phone naman. Kasi, I wanna be able to tweet about something
as it is happening, parang that’s more interesting. Thanks to my HTC Smart, I can go online anytime and anywhere.” This music lover keeps inspired as well by listening to Incubus and the Rakes which she can easily do through her HTC Smart. HTC Smart also lets you create Scenes to suit your mood, and automatically changes the apps viewable on your phone’s screen depending on the theme. On busy weekdays, for instance, your
home screen can be filled with email, calendar and web browser, while your weekend Scene can have music, camera and photo album apps. Plus, you can organize your contacts into specific social circles such as groups of friends, colleagues or any other way that makes sense to you. Rhian is convinced that it is a phone that ‘gets’ her needs. “I like how HTC Smart is very personalized. It makes me feel like my phone adjusts to me. It adjusts to my texting style, the layout I want. It prioritizes what’s important to me.”
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MUST-HAVE BEAUTY PRODUCTS LIFE&STYLEFEATURE
By Danee Torres
Every time I go to the mall I can’t help but pop into my favorite beauty store and check out what’s new. The problem is, sometimes I get too enticed that I end up going home with more things than I actually need. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has this problem, and to curb the impulse-buying, I put together a Top Ten list of must-have beauty products.
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Pond's Cold Cream has been said to be a staple on every beauty queen's vanity table. While I am unable to verify that statement, I can say firsthand that its affordability and ability to clean skin is unrivaled.
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This is a personal family secret. Almost everyone in my family uses this, from my grandma down to my uncle and cousins.
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Pond’s Cold Cream This rich cream deep cleans pores to remove the most stubborn dirt and impurities (including makeup), it doesn’t strip skin of moisture nor does it have harsh detergents and will not leave behind any residue. This is a personal family secret. Almost everyone in my family uses this, from my grandma down to my uncle and cousins. We’re a vain bunch, but we believe in these classic skin staples more than visits to the dermatologist. VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face and Body Shield 60 An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and this rings true with caring for the skin. While eating “glow” food is no doubt a big factor in the over-all health of the body, protection from the elements ranks high on the list as well. You’ve got pollution, UVA and UVB rays to deal with, and your best bet is VMV Hypoallergenic sunblock. This weightless, anti-oxidant crème works to banish wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of photoaging while providing protection from indoor and outdoor UVA, UVB, Infrared and Visible Light. When used every day, it also helps erase melasma.
MAC Studio Fix Busy ladies, listen up. This onestep application of foundation and powder is sure to maximize your precious time while giving your skin a smooth, flawless, all-matte, full-coverage finish. Don’t worry about reapplication, as it lasts for up to eight hours.
LIFE&STYLEFEATURE Chapstick Your puckers need as much protection as your skin does. Thankfully, they’ve got their own sunscreen. Chapstick Skin Protectant is enriched with SPF 4 to prevent sunburn and relieve dry, chapped lips. Our lips are one of the most noticed features on our face, and quite frankly, if they’re not moisturized, lips are quite unattractive.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub Exfoliation is a big part to having and maintaining healthy skin, as dead skin cells constantly need to be sloughed off to reveal smooth, glowing skin. St. Ives has been creating products to do just that—specifically, its award-winning Apricot Scrub that exfoliates to clean pores and prevent blemishes.
Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat It doesn’t matter if you’ve got wavy or straight hair. Beautiful hair depends on how much it shines, and thanks to Splash’s line of hair shine boosters that is now possible without burning a hole in your wallet. Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat transforms dull and unmanageable hair to silky, shiny hair—saving you a trip to the salon.
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Benzoyl peroxide dries up those annoying red spots and should clear up in a day or two
Benzoyl Peroxide While this is more of a cure than prevention, it’s important to stock up on this especially if you have pesky pimples that pop up when you least expect them to. Being the active ingredient in most acne treatments, such as Panoxyl and ProActiv, Benzoyl Peroxide dries up those annoying red spots and should clear up in a day or two—depending on the strength of the gel as they range from 2.5% to 10%.
Cetaphil skin cleanser Some skin cleansers remove more than they should but Cetaphil cleanses, moisturizes and gently removes what your skin doesn’t need, without stripping away natural emollients and oils. Cetaphil Cleansers are specifically formulated for dry, sensitive skin, although they have recently come out with a line for oily skin.
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Oil Control Film could very well be a busy girl's best friend. When lacking time to dash to a powder room, just whip out these blotting sheets to tame the shine
Oil-Absorbing Sheets Shine is good on your hair, but not on your face. Whether it’s the branded kind or not, oil-absorbing sheets should be a staple in every girl’s purse for the primary reason that having an oily T-zone is a hindrance to looking and feeling fresh. No worries, oil-absorbing sheets are compact, and can even be used without smudging makeup.
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We all need a little help hiding those tired eyes and blemishes.
Maybelline concealer It's thick, creamy and covers up blemishes, undereye circles and any discoloration. Plus, you can throw it in your purse for touchups because it comes in a wonderful lipstick-like packaging. It doesn’t cake and allows full coverage. The best part is, it adjusts beautifully to Asian skin. 2010 AUGUST
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FEATURE
HP: Print more, save more In today’s cost-conscious environment, everyone’s looking to reduce expenses and raise revenues. Everything is about efficiency and speed, to the point that businesses are cutting corners in the wrong places—like inks, for example. That’s a bad idea for a number of reasons, and while they think they’re cutting costs by using refilled inks and remanufactured cartridges, they’re actually spending more.
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Most people believe that the majority of printer technology is in the device itself. While there’s certainly a lot of tech powering the printers like Wi-Fi connectivity, being able to print and scan directly to your USB, etc., the majority of the innovation goes into the cartridges and toners. Companies like HP spend millions of dollars in research and development to ensure their customers are getting the best in terms of print quality and coverage, a feat no refiller can ever hope to accomplish. This is essential for SMBs since they create literally hundreds, if not thousands of documents ev-
ery day. They have absolutely no room for substandard inks, especially remanufactured and refilled ones. To drive the point home, HP commissioned a 2010 TÜV SÜD PSB study on original HP Inkjet cartridges versus refilled Inkjet cartridges found that original HP Inks deliver twice the number of pages compared to refills and 42% of refill ink cartridges fail. A separate new 2010 QualityLogic study on original HP LaserJet cartridges versus refilled LaserJet cartridges found that on average more than 60% of toner cartridges from refilled brands tested were found to be Dead on Arrival (DOA) or of Low Quality (LQ). In addition, it also found that on av-
FEATURE
erage, sample pages from refilled toner cartridges tested exhibited over 7 times more issues with toner adhesion than HP. The environment has been a hot button issue for big businesses everywhere, and HP is no exception. In line with this they have developed laserjet print cartridges with energy-efficient toners that enable energy savings of up to 35% on every page. In particular, HP’s patented spherical monochrome toner print cartridges increase the precision of the toner placement to deliver bold, crisp text, sharper images and energy savings, making it possible to produce HP’s smallest LaserJet printers—like the HP LaserJet P1000 series and the HP LaserJet P1566/P1606 series.
Laser toner picture quality has improved immensely since it was first introduced. HP has introduced the EasyColor advanced technology that improves print performance and print quality on its Color LaserJets. HP EasyColor optimizes color printing and improves print performance for image intensive documents, such as Microsoft PowerPoint documents. It automatically selects optimal color treatment, enabling prints that best match the colors on screen. The EasyColor feature has been optimized based on the specific toner development properties of the ColorSphere toner to deliver these ease of use and performance features.
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PHOTOFEATURE
Anne Curtis:
Isn’t She Lovely? We’ve all seen her on television, in movies, even on billboards along EDSA. But really, what is her draw? Simple. She’s absolutely lovely.
Photographed by Xander Angeles of Edge of Light Assisted by Nico Villegas Art Direction by Chad Villarmino Styled by Danee Torres Makeup by Robbie Pinera Hair by Raymond Santiago for L'Oreal Dresses by PoPo Go Gown by Manelle Chamian Accessories by JÔ Joyce Oreña Shoes by Via Uno Shot on location at Edge of Light studios
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PHOTOFEATURE
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PHOTOFEATURE
Sodolite and dark red coral bib from JÔ Joyce Oreña. Semi-sweetheart neckline bustier-based short dress w/ a chiffon front drape, accentuated with beadings, Indian beads and Swarovski crystals by PoPo Go. 126
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PHOTOFEATURE Argento antico maxi chain bracelet with crochet, 3-knots blue cords bracelet with Swarovski crystals and metal findings, oval chain necklace with insertion & swarovski crystals all from JĂ” Joyce OreĂąa and semiempire bustier-based short ruffled dress in charmeuse satin and chiffon, with Swarvoski pearls and crystal accents by PoPo Go
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PHOTOFEATURE
“I’m kind of a ],” [
gadgeteer
Interviewed By Danee Torres
w
as one of the most surprising statements I’ve ever heard from superstar Anne Curtis. Sure, she’s gorgeous and is an absolute delight to work with, but never in our wildest dreams did we think that she liked gadgets as much as she does. As she’s prepped for the shoot, she tells us about her very own Top Ten, which is quite an impressive list. She counts among her favorites a My|Phone S Q27 duo phone, a Powerbook, a Flip video camera, a Sanyo Xacti underwater video camera, noise-cancelling Bose headphones, an iMac desktop and a Sony PS3. It doesn’t end there. She whips out her Apple iPad and proceeds to show us some of her favorite apps. “It’s mostly games, like Scrabble, Diner Dash and Plants vs. Zombies, but I have books too,” she says. It’s not unexpected as she also owns an Amazon Kindle and is a big Paolo Coelho fan. “I was able to transfer some of my ebooks from my Kindle to the iPad.” The said ebooks are The Alchemist, The Celestine Prophecy and The Shack. One of her choice gadgets, a Panasonic GF1. Anne could very well earn an award for being one of the most hardworking young actresses today. She just finished shooting a new movie, half of which was shot in the United States, called In Your Eyes. Directed by Mac Alejandre for VIVA Films, she shares the screen with Claudine Barretto and Richard Gutierrez in a story about two sisters who eventually share the love of one man.
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During weekdays, she co-hosts the widely popular talent show Showtime and on this particular day, went straight to location after her weekly stint on ASAP. To help her look fresh and fabulous in between jobs, she shares with us a few of her preferred beauty products. She keeps her face clean with Shu Uemura cleansing oil and Lancome facial wash. While her tresses are cared for by L’Oreal Elsève shampoo and her long, sexy eyelashes are defined by applying L’Oreal Lash Architect mascara. She was fitted with hair extensions by Raymond Santiago for the shoot, amidst little protests of pain at the attachments. But even her complaints were gentle, not something we expected from someone who just came from a nine-hour, high-energy gig. That’s what makes her so endearing. Right before we got her into the first Popo Go dress, we asked her what she would be wearing on a regular day, if she didn’t have any work. She says although she loves her Dolce and Gabbana pumps, sometimes she just likes to kick it in a men’s v-neck shirt paired with cutoff denim shorts and Havaianas flip-flops. One thing’s for sure, she can be glamorous but she can also rock the casual look. And despite juggling daily and weekly shows with filming for a movie and magazine cover shoots, she’s still able to keep her sunny disposition and stay pleasant to people around her. She has an arsenal of gadgets that could rival the stock of The Sharper Image but she also keeps a handy stash of prettifiers around. That is why, she is absolutely lovely.
PHOTOFEATURE
Argento palladio mini chain lace necklace by JÔ Joyce Oreña. Shantung alaskin and silk organdy in turquoise blue with cut beads and Swarovski crystals by Manelle Chamian. 2010 AUGUST
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Khaki and blue bracciale il pontevecchio with Swarovski crystals and metal findings, nichel brunito catena il pontile bracelet with crochet, navy and gunmetal bracciale il pontevecchio with natural components, Swarovski crystals and metal findings, moss opal silver rhodium plate ring (left hand), faceted turquoise with bumble bee with garnet and peridot stone pin/pendant, all from JĂ” Joyce OreĂąa. Turtleneck short dress in velvet-brocade upper bodice and tulip skirt with pleated satin detail, embellished with crystals by PoPo Go.
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PHOTOFEATURE
Carved mother-of-pearl flower bumble bee silver ring, midnight bamboo coral with argento ramato verniciato anello doppio chain necklace, all from JĂ” Joyce OreĂąa. Sweetheart neckline bustier-based short dress in dull satin and heavy georgette, with crystals, Indian beads and matsuno beads. embellished with crystals by PoPo Go.
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PHOTOFEATURE Argento palladio mini-chain lace necklace by JÔ Joyce Oreña. Shantung alaskin and silk organdy in turquoise blue with cut beads and Swarovski crystals by Manelle Chamian.
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FEATURE
Customize my (prepaid) phone plan By Armin Amio
Samsung E2120 and Nokia 1680 (Plan 299)
BlackBerry Curve 8520 and HTC Tattoo (Plan 1,799)
Self-expression is a big part of the customization trend. Consumers are hungry for ways of demonstrating individuality—whether through original creations or limited editions. People love to show off a one-of-akind creation. We have seen this in the outfits we wear, the shoes we put on, the accessories we pile on, the widgets we put on our phone screens—the list can go on and on. 134
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Samsung C3053 and Nokia 2690 (Plan 499)
Samsung B7610 and Nokia X6 (Plan 2,499) Globe Telecom now offers postpaid clients a way to “customize” their plans. Martha Sazon, head of Globe loyalty programs, said the My Fully Loaded Plan offering allows customers to choose which plan fits their lifestyle. A “first” in the world, the My Fully Loaded service lets Globe subscribers decide on their unlimited plans—giving them the flexibility to select their plan and consume their monthly service fee the way they want. Sazon said clients can even change their “freebies” monthly—depending on their wants and needs. The main targets for this program are the heavy prepaid subscribers who can upgrade to postpaid plans and postpaid clients who can switch to higher brackets. Globe currently only has 5% of
Samsung 3510 and Nokia X3 (Plan 999)
iPhone 3Gs 16GB, BlackBerrry Bold 9700 and Samsung Galaxy S (Plan 3,799)
its total subscriber base holding postpaid subscriptions. The My Fully Loaded Plan offering, which will end this month, comes with a free latest handset and a range of free services. Sazon explains clients can choose their freebies depending on their plan, lifestyle and calling habits. Subscribers are given the freedom to choose between five all-consumable plans—with monthly fees of Php299, Php499, Php999, Php1,799, Php2,499 and Php3,799. Depending on their chosen monthly fees, users are given freebies such as free calls and texts to Globe or TM numbers, or to other networks, free international calls and texts (to 10 destinations), free three hours of
mobile surfing, and free unlimited calls and texts to one Globe number. If you get the Plan3,799, you get nine freebies plus unlimited surfing. Subscribers can also choose from a wide range of mobile handsets, for free—depending on the plan choice. On offer are Samsung E2120 and Nokia 1680 (Plan 299), Samsung C3053 and Nokia 2690 (Plan 499), Samsung 3510 and Nokia X3 (Plan 999), BlackBerry Curve 8520 and HTC Tattoo (Plan 1,799), Samsung B7610 and Nokia X6 (Plan 2,499), and iPhone 3Gs 16GB, BlackBerrry Bold 9700 and Samsung Galaxy S (Plan 3,799).
LIFE&STYLEPARADE
A PREVIEW OF THE NEWEST ITEMS TO HIT THE METRO
ANDY WARHOL NY Rock Collection Featuring artworks from Warhol’s early days as a fashion illustrator which laid the foundation for the Pop Culture movement, the NY Rock Collection brims with imagination, confidence and creativity. These groundbreaking designs are integrated into the NY Rock Collection, pushing the boundaries of art and maintaining the relevance of the visionary pop artist. The collection blends Warhol’s tongue-in-cheek brand of humor, his playful use of zany colors and his ironic nonchalance—all in the name of stylish accessorizing. Each is definitely a collectible must-have, whether you’re a fun and free-spirited bohemian, a style-savvy artist-type or an independent-thinking maven who dares to stand out and break free from the crowd. 136
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CROCS Whether you want to look sleek indoors, or simply choose to display a stunning fashion look outdoors, you are sure to find your style in the Versastyle Collection, with perfect choices for any occasion. Lenora and Lady deliver a simple fashion flat in hit colors of gold, blush, and plum, while Casey is a bold wedge that lifts your grace up high in the spotlight. Based on Crocs’ ergonomically beneficial Croslite material, the Versastyle collection assures you comfort even as you enjoy the stylish designs.
AVON ANEW - Php 1,200 A concentrated essence that makes skin not only dramatically fairer but more importantly visibly reduces dark spots and skin discolorations. It is a serum that holistically repairs skin intensively from the 3 most critical points in skin darkening process. In just 3 days, 79% of women showed improved skin whitality (whitening + vitality). Anew was developed with three key purposes: to inhibit melanin production of key enzymes, to remove darkness from the very root of the skin and to promote the discharge of existing melanin that gives you a whiter and more even skin tone.
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LIFE&STYLEPARADE
NIKE Nike has been a trusted name in sportswear for over three decades now, and they continue to hold up to their reputation. Apparel is important for any athlete, that’s why Nike ensures that their products are excellent essentials in the quest for optimum performance. This new Nike collection exhibits an incredible soft layer for instant graband-go athletic style, with light fabrics that enable movement without compromising protection.
GROUP de VILLE at 10th Street Manila Group de Ville is a lifestyle brand that is inspired by the growing sneaker and urban culture. The concepts revolve around the elements of these cultures has permeated to T-shirts and it has given a fresh look at the sneakerhead lifestyle. We believe that sneakers are not just things we wear on our feet―instead it’s a lifestyle, a culture, a vice. The Good Vice.
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LIFE&STYLEPARADE REEBOK ZigTech – Php 4,995 Everything about Reebok’s ZigTech is designed to conserve and return energy to the athlete for a soft and springy ride. The one-of-a-kind ZigTech bottom unit showcases innovative, lightweight foam engineered to reduce wear and tear in key leg muscles by up to 20 percent, allowing the wearer to train harder and more efficiently. The unique sole works by absorbing the impact of heel strike, sending a wave of energy along the length of the shoe and propelling the athlete forward with each step. Reebok ZigTech is sure to change the way you train. VIA UNO The premium leather brand from Brazil teams up with super model Bianca Klamt to represent the energy, femininity and exoticism of this collection. Braided embroideries and Afro-Ethnic accents highlight the strong presence of rustic style. Stone details with glamorous elements can be found in sandals and platforms.
TOMS In 2006, Blake Mycoskie created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. As of April 2010, TOMS has given over 600,000 pairs of shoes to children in need, through the purchases of caring customers. Today, TOMS releases their new collection that make you look good while doing good.
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HUGO BOSS The round dial with Roman numerals has been the face of time for around 800 years; the rectangular case launched almost a century ago made the newfangled wristwatch popular among men as the perfect complement to a well-cut suit. These classic formats endure because in the hands of a talented designer, they are always contemporary. The new Hugo Boss collection of wristwatches for 2010 illustrates this flair for bringing a fresh and modern look to these ancient standards. It’s all in the details: a new take on the traditional chapter ring with Roman numerals and a sunray finish that radiates energy and optimism. Contrasting textures, clear dials and restrained styling are the hallmarks of the new “classic contemporary models.”
VITA FEDE Known for attention to detail, Vita Fede is committed to using only the finest materials and techniques for quality that is evident in the look and feel of each piece. Manufactured in the same factories used by Fendi, Gucci, YSL and Dior, Vita Fede’s detailed craftsmanship is unmistakable.
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Updating Ferragamo’s iconic Vara into a ballerina style, the Varina has kept the gold plaque and fabric bow, along with a grosgrain ribbon stitched along the trim. In 2010, Salvatore Ferragamo introduces new sensual models with a glamorous look.
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LIFE&STYLEPARADE FINO This fine leather shop is very popular with shoppers for its array of distinctive and expensive-looking products: billfolds, wallets, bags, executive briefcases, planners, desk sets, card cases, writing folios and clocks. Items are made of top-quality leather imported from Italy, Australia and South America. The functional yet elegant designs, along with the reasonable prices, make Fino items much sought after by lovers of good taste and fine quality.
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Each member of FEEN has a set of different influences. My influence is a breed of classic rock and ambient /IDM. Ado was originally a jazz musician and is a liquid drum and bass DJ, while Kishore likes hardcore drum and bass/IDM.
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wanted to do this experiment— and voila! Prior to that, in 1998 Kishore and I were introduced by Malek of Drip, and from then on we've always wanted to collaborate. Bumping into Kishore years after was the perfect time for him to join the group.
FEEN
feening for music
Interviewed By Benjamin Arnold
Independent group FEEN is out to give us a musical experimentation. They are a group of artists (Juno, Kishore and Ado) who have created a new kind of music that combines rock, electronica drum & bass, and ambient to create beats and rhythms that promote a different perception and sensitivity to their music style. Founded in 2008, this group started recording under Road Runner Productions, focusing on electronica subgenres that emphasized on faith, human reaction, inspiration, and purpose. They have been around music bars and hangouts in the metro namely NUVO Greenbelt 4, Padrino’s at A-Venue and more.
Juno, vocalist and songwriter of Feen, gave Gadgets Magazine a heads-up on what’s going on with their group and what’s in store for them in the near future. Where did the name FEEN come from? FEEN is a modern-urban term for “obsessing,” like, “I'm feening for chocolate” or “feening for music”. Plus, just by the sound of it, it triggers ideas of “purity,” like the word “clean”—which is what 144
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electronica music is all about; a noise-reduction. If ever there is an overdub, it still sounds organized and in order. How would you describe FEEN and how do each of you contribute to the band? FEEN pushes electronica music beyond its 'limitations.' FEEN is an experiment, we're not confined to any certain genre, whatever sounds good and whichever delivers the emotion, we do it. From the Amen break to microscopic
beats, drums and bass. Intimate lyrics and extremely introvert songs that reveals all. The process is simple. Kishore/ Ado compose the music bed. I write the melody, sequence, and lyrics. (There are also moments when the song is written in one full jam.) Ado polishes the arrangement including guitar riffs. We finally deliberate, we LISTEN, and we improve from there. The electronica scene is not very big. DJ Evo Evolver introduced me to Ado a.k.a. Flipperbaby. We all
You guys play mostly Ambient Electronic Rock, what influenced you to choose this style of music, and be identified as such? Each member of FEEN has a set of different influences. My influence is a breed of classic rock and ambient /IDM. Ado was originally a jazz musician and is a liquid drum and bass DJ, while Kishore likes hardcore drum and bass/IDM. So the output is not really a choice, it’s the jumble of all our various influences. Your lyrics are very deep. What was your inspiration for your lyrics and what do they mean? Are they based on personal experiences or just random ideas? All lyrics are inspired by personal experiences. Being described as 'DEEP' is good, but 'Honest' would rather be more appropriate. When I write... when I utter my thoughts…it’s like baring myself in public since the song is an offshoot of some very, very unique experiences. Personally, what is the best part about being in FEEN? We get to play the music that we want, without having to compromise. We love what were doing, and we like to gather the niched listeners that appreciate the kind of music that we play. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? Still as FEEN, hopefully with more albums released, and touring and being an essential part of electronica communities around the globe.
10 LISTEN
TOP
from NAMM
By Steven Vea
If you’re a music gear head, you’ve definitely heard of the popular trade shows held by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Each year, during the summer and winter seasons, the organization sets up a venue where manufacturers in the music industry (both software and hardware) showcase their latest products and prototypes in development. Let’s take a look at the top 10 products that were showcased at the NAMM conventions.
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Teenage Engineering OP-1 There’s a certain allure that toy-like vintage synths have, and this is exactly what the OP-1 has attempted to replicate. First announced at Frankfurt’s MusikMesse in 2009, Teenage Engineering’s revolutionary product certainly looks like a futuristic toy, but its features are fully professional. Akai SynthStation25 With the recent release of Synth Station, an iPhone synthesizer app, Akai Professional has created a USB/MIDI controller to complement the software. The SynthStation25 is a two-octave controller that features 25 velocity sensitive keys, pitch bend and modulation controls as well as soundbank keys. It is also fully compatible with other MIDI equipment and also features its own RCA stereo output. Eigenharp Tau Eigenlabs made a stunning entrance into the music scene with its flagship product, the Eigenharp Alpha, which featured an innovative design and stunning capabilities. The company has introduced the Eigenharp Tau, which is a trimmed down version of the Alpha, featuring 72 main keyboard keys, 12 percussion keys, a strip controller and breath pipe. Just like its big brother, the Tau presents the same infinite musical possibilities.
Korg Kaossilator Pro Since the release of the original Kaossilator in 1999, Korg’s innovative gadget has captured the soundshaping imagination of the public. The Kaossilator Pro still features the infamous X-Y touchpad for real-time soundsculpting, and boasts over 200 synth sounds. In addition to an Electribe based arpeggiator, Korg’s gadget has four loop recording banks that can sample external sources, and 8 quick access program banks.
Roland Octopad SPD30 It’s been quite a while since Roland has added to their infamous SPD series of digital percussion pads. The SPD30 looks like it lives up to the tradition of its predecessors, featuring 8 fully isolated velocity sensitive pads, a phrase loop function, USB/MIDI connectivity, 37 effects, 8 instrument parameters (tuning, muffling, etc.) and four external trigger inputs, allowing the connection of multiple pads.
Dave Smith Instruments Mopho Synthesizer Keyboard Some might argue that analog synthesizers are making a comeback, but they’ve actually never gone out of style. The Mopho Keys is a classic example—a compact and powerful monophonic synth from the makers of the popular Prophet ‘08. Featuring 32 full-sized semi-weighted velocity sensitive keys, coupled with pitch and modulation wheels, the monosynth features a host of quality oscillators, filters, and other modulation options, all programmable with a 16x4 step sequencer.
Amplitube iRig Voted the top release at Summer NAMM 2010, iRig provides iPhone owners the capability to have a complete guitar/bass rig onstage. Simply plug in the interface to your iPhone, plug in your guitar/bass to the iRig and your output signal runs through the iPhone, providing you real time multi-effect manipulation.
Moog Taurus III Bass Pedals There’s no need to dispute the innovativeness and sound quality of a product that bears the name of the late great Bob Moog, one of electronic music’s pioneers. The Taurus III is a limited edition release, and is a resurrection of the classic instrument. It’s classy exterior hosts 13-note velocity sensitive pedals, 2 programmable foot-wheel controllers, and 9 bank/preset footswitches. Moreover, its full analog audio signal path is accompanied by 2 voltage controlled oscillators and filter, 2 envelope generators, LFO and 1 arpeggiator with latch mode.
Arturia Analog Experience Keyboard While the company is more known for its software, Arturia has released a 32key velocity-sensitive controller for the Analog Factory Experience. It is made of an ultra-thin aluminum and wooden case, and includes 11 encoders, 4 sliders, 11 switches, as well as modulation and pitch bend wheels.
Serato and Ableton’s The Bridge Ever since the two companies announced their collaboration in 2008, there’s has been immense anticipation surrounding their product. The Bridge is exactly what the name implies, “the missing link between digital production and DJ’ing.”
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Mind Your Music
The MultiModal Brain Orchestra By Steven Vea
The nature of man’s relationship with musical instruments has always been based on the premise that in order to make that device communicate, he had to relay some form of information to it—usually in the sensory form of touch. Whether it was plucking a string, banging on a drum skin or blowing on a bamboo reed, without the touch of its human counterpart, the musical instrument was simply another inanimate object .
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Often, what has separated the artist from (for lack of a better term) the “layman,” is that not only does the former possess the abstract quality of musical thought within him, he also has the ability to relay that information to an instrument in a coherent and organized manner—resulting in pleasurable music. Whether it is in the form of improvisation or reading musical scores, musicians rely on their brains’ ability and their bodies’ capability to quickly decipher the needed information to play a certain musical piece. Timing and tempo are as important as the tones and notes. In the realm of music, man has created numerous innovative
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instruments, ranging from the traditional to the extreme. However, before music actually entered the airwaves, the original musical instrument was the brain—the greatest gadget ever made (and it is still in production). What if there was a device that could directly read the synapses and electric impulses in our brain and ultimately allow one to immediately translate musical concepts into sonic reality? If you’re a musician, you’re familiar with those extraordinary moments when your entire energy and focus is dedicated to the unwavering and subconscious creation of musical tones, where the world drops out and time stands still. What if you could replicate that moment every single time you perform without pause or error? And what if you could fall in sync with the rest of
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the musicians you are playing with in perfect harmony? This concept is now closer to science than fiction. A new era of musical performance has begun. The MultiModal Brain Orchestra (MBO) is a project produced by the Synthetic, Perceptive, and Cognitive Systems Group (SPECS) in collaboration with composer/ director Jonatas Manzolli and visual artist Behdad Rezazadeh. Together, they explore the possibilities of music made directly from the mind through the use of a Brain Computer Interface (BCI). According to MBO, what makes their performance unique is “ the use of a multiperson orchestra to control virtual instruments through brain states, the integration of multi-person physiological states in an evolving synthetic
audio-visual composition, and the real-time control of the affective expression of a performance by the real-time physiological state of a human, the, so called, emotional conductor” In short, the orchestra has four “performers” who wear G-Tec caps that are laced with electrodes to read the active electrical signals in the brain in real time. Two members are given a visual stimulus which affects their mood and brain state, which subsequently sends that information onto specially made virtual instruments to produce musical sounds. The other two members in the orchestra, using the same method, produce video images which are then projected onto a screen to be viewed by the audience. The last member of the orchestra is an “emotional conductor”, whose
heart rate serves as the basis for tempo, by measuring the mind state’s reaction to a series of specially constructed images shown on virtual reality glasses. In short, a new concept of “realtime” now emerges. Have we finally reached that point when the realm of the human mind as the direct purveyor of musical tones can eliminate the physical skill required? How will this affect the quality and method of music in the future? Will this technology hinder and enhance creativity? The possibilities offered by this emerging new technology is endless, as the wake of musical performance that transcends the limits of the body enters into our developing history. Now that’s something to think about.
In the realm of music, man has created numerous innovative instruments, ranging from the traditional to the extreme.
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CDREVIEW
TANYA MARKOVA Tanya Markova MCA Music Inc. By Paolo Toledo
Tanya Markova. The name itself brings about many questions and assumptions about the band, whose music is as colorful and imaginative as their characterization. Yes, they are quite a bunch of characters, but with striking musical talent that sticks to the Pinoy psyche of being makulit. With a self-titled debut release, the band opens the door to a brand new sound that manages to capture our kiliti, accompanied by their deviant appeal and a whole lot of dark-circus-fanfare. Coincidentally, the name is actually an anagram for “dead neighbor” in Ilokano, while the band’s fictional background, and individual personas bring about the ghoulish memory of a crazed Beetlejuice. Their shared admiration for Marilyn Manson has shrieked out, and when combined with their unique brand of “shock pop,” the group has certainly crossed borders and escaped boxes to deliver a totally unique package. The album marks their territory amongst Pinoy modern pop, with catchy melodies, campy rhythms, and nonsensical lyrics that deliver everything from emo kids, Linda Blair, Alma Concepcion, and the wonderful world of Disney. Their theatrics and flair for deadpan humor are a surprising complement to their pop that blends in heavy doses of punk, rock, metal and new wave. Think dark nursery rhymes being sung with a haunting falsetto back-up, and defining pop-rock songs reminiscent to the Eheads, Yano, Grin Department, Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee. Tracks such as Picture Picture, Linda Blair, Hoy! Bampira Ako!, and the melancholic ode to wishing upon a star, Disney, deliver the playful stamp that Tanya Markova lays upon open ears. The album is an overall experience that amuses and will haunt the local pop charts.
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THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND
CAROLE KING & JAMES TAYLOR
Universal By Francis Tan
MCA Music Inc. By Benjamin Arnold
The Phenomenal Handclap Band The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a collective of artists from New York headed by music visionaries Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand. This indie electronica band was formed after years of searching to assemble a power group of musicians. The band defines their music as equal parts anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral, borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro, and psychedelia. It’s simply out of this world. The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s self-titled debut album is released by the highly acclaimed Brooklyn indie label Friendly Fire Recordings. The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s selftitled album is unlike anything familiar and for most people; it’s going to be something they’d love or hate. It starts with the progressive sound of The Journey to Serra Da Estrela which begins with slow beats but picks up with epic synth action at around 1:20 into the track. The track you shouldn’t miss in this album is definitely 15 to 20 featuring Lady Tigra. It’s ridiculously funky, unique and somewhat has a retro groove to it. Another noteworthy track is All of the Above which is filled with energy and has beats to get you going. Hearing this band on record doesn’t even compare to their live performances, which is both overwhelming and spectacular. I would have to say that not all tracks in their album appealed to me but the ones I like really got my head bobbing and hips swaying. Regardless, if you’re into indie electronica, PHB would definitely be a good addition to your collection.
Live at the Troubadour
Listening to Carole King and James Taylor’s “Live at the Troubadour” album brings back memories of my younger years of hanging out in the living room drawing while my mother would play their music on the stereo. The easy strumming of the guitar, the gentle tunes from the piano, and the smooth blending of their voices—Carole King and James Taylor truly are legends in their own time. Nothing beats the melodies of So Far Away, It’s Too Late and my personal favorite You’ve Got A Friend. Fire And Rain and Will You Love Me Tomorrow bring back age old feelings that make you warm and comfortable. In this continuous, non-stop recording of their live concert at the Troubadour, they have come together after so many years, and they still have the magic that they had, way back when they started. You can tell just by listening to them sing songs like Machine Gun Kelly, Something In the Way She Moves and Sweet Baby James that these two people once shared a love that should’ve lasted. Adding to that magic is the audience reaction these most-loved tunes that make you wish you could fall in love all over again. The entire album makes me remember my childhood, warm and comforting, even though their music is not of my own time.
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CDREVIEW
GROOVE ARMADA
TIAGO IORC
FEEN
Universal By Paolo Toledo
Universal By Francis Tan
By Benjamin Arnold
Black Light
The London-based electro duo of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay has built a sound reputation (pun intended) in a dynamic genre, while successfully diverting from the common pull of club credibility. Although making their mark early on in the 90s amongst the chillout compilations with the classic “At The River,” their evolution within down tempo, big beat, house, electronica, synthpop and triphop have proven that Groove Armada is indeed a breathing and growing organism. Their sixth studio album, "Black Light", is such an example of their legacy. Dubbed as their “darkest album” to date, the 11-track LP reestablishes the duo’s consistent production skill that now blends in the right traces of refined pop, with honed songwriting and a deeper, warmer feel. It’s another avenue they have chosen to blaze through in the aims of mastering their craft and perfecting their total sound. Throughout the album, Cato and Findlay provide an eclectic journey through the night of haze, heavy beats, and a disco of collaborators. It has a twisted sense of midnight seduction with jabs of action popping in and out such as in the bassriddled Warsaw, MGMT-influenced Not Forgotten and the synthpop guitars on Time & Space, which features the Kate Bushslash-Stevie Nicks-sounding newcomer, SaintSavior. The aforementioned singer also shines on I Won’t Kneel, as her pathos collides beautifully with the buzzing of rich synths. But the most notable track of the bunch is the evocative Shameless, which perfectly fits in the persuading Bryan Ferry as his seductive lazy-crooning swims above a suave and deep electro wave. With another personal favorite, History, rounding up the album on a hypnotic note, "Black Light" is indeed Groove Armada’s shining moment into the night.
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Let Yourself In
Brazilian Tiago Iorc is a 24-year-old singer/ songwriter who moved to UK and the US during his early years. He started playing with an acoustic guitar when he was 8 and practically grew up with it—exploring new ways to improve his music. He started performing in small local clubs during his teens and in 2007, his career took flight as his debut acoustic single Nothing But A Song was featured as the theme soundtrack of a popular Brazilian TV series. This success got him a record deal in 2008 and more recently, he was able to release his debut album "Let Yourself In". Although generally categorized as pop, this album has 11 diverse tracks ranging from pop rock, jazz, blues, acoustic, and also includes covers of some 60’s hits—Ticket to Ride and My Girl. His most popular song—Nothing but a Song, both in regular and acoustic version is truly engaging with a lovely beat and heartfelt lyrics – a good showcase of Tiago Iorc’s talent indeed. Another notable track is Fine, which is a song you’d want to wake up listening to. It really has a real upbeat, positive tune to it that can simply put a smile on your face; easily my top pick in his debut album. Tiago’s remake of My Girl is particularly fun listening to. It’s both a familiar and fresh, modern rendition of the 1960s hit by The Temptations. If you’re a fan of contemporary pop bands such as Jamie Cullen, John Mayer, and the likes, Tiago Iorc’s music will surely appeal to you.
Propaganda 1.0
Electronic Rock and Trance are relatively foreign music to my ears. That’s because they have never been at the top of my playlist, and I’ve never quite found a liking for this music genre. Their mix of beats doubled up with the endless pounding of drums and bass, is all I hear when I visit casual bars or party hangouts. For me, it’s a background that plays behind my mind, while I focus more on the rowdy conversations surrounding me. So when I was tasked to review the 10-track album of Feen entitled "Propaganda 1.0", I didn’t feel I possessed sufficient background knowledge on their music genre. It was essential for me to listen with an open mind. The album has a very interesting mix of beats that merge well with the very deep lyrics of their songs. Take the opening song, Tapestry, for example: Step inside my enemy/said the spider to the fly/Let me tell you this my friend/You're over the line!/ I was fooled but not again/Will I play the same old game/A memory returns to me. The lyrics conjured up a vision of betrayal, regret and anger somewhere in there. Other songs on the album follow a similar grain. My personal favorite on this album was Amaranthine, because it has a chorus that fits perfectly as a possible movie soundtrack, which is something I can personally relate to. I enjoy soundtracks, particularly those that play on my emotions, while linking my thoughts to what is being visually portrayed on screen. So if the music hits me emotionally, I would most likely include it in my playlist.
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Famed for bringing comfort and fun, Crocs unveiled its latest addition of flip-flops, the Almost Barefoot (ABF) Collection, recently at the Enchanted Kingdom BiKi WaterWorld. The ABF Collection launch was filled with activities and shows that engaged families to have a “feel-good” experience, only with Crocs. Kids and adults walked the runway, showcasing the latest ABF styles and the hip SS10 models. The fun did not stop there, as guests fearlessly played the giant Crocs relay game, and fans from all corners of the metro were hyped up from cheering for the competing teams. Because ABF is all about experiencing the Almost Barefoot Freedom, Crocs prepared an ABF Test Drive Booth to give the audience a first-hand experience of what it feels like walking almost barefoot. To top it all off, Crocs raffled six months' supply of shoes. Franco Limjoco, Vice president of All Condition Gear Philippines Inc., Crocs' official distributor in the Philippines, said, “It is rewarding that we were able to share Crocs Feel Good Revolution through the activities we prepared. Every day, we receive overwhelming support from Crocs fans, and this is why we made this launch not only as an extension of their summer, but more importantly, a day spent with their families.”
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CROCS Enchants Fans with the ALMOST BAREFOOT COLLECTION
ADVERTORIAL
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TCL Commemorates its 10th year in the Philippines TCL Sun Corp., a joint venture between TCL Overseas Holding Co. Ltd. and Philippine AA Commercial (of the Solid Group Company) has just commemorated its 10th year in the Philippines in a grand gala celebration held in the Harbor Garden Tent at the Sofitel Hotel last July. Many of TCL’s executives and VIPs were in full attendance including Yi Hao, Managing Director of TCL Overseas Holdings Ltd., as well as their distributors and resellers from the entire country. Also in attendance was Mengke Bateer, former NBA player and current center for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. During the event, TCL expressed its appreciation to its dealers and the press for their continued support and launched new LED and LCD TVs armed with their proprietary technologies. At the forefront was TCL’s NaturaLIGHT II engine, a refined and much improved version of the NaturaLIGHT technology that offers more energy-saving, economical features as an innovation that is ideal for home entertainment. Natural light technology transcends the technical limitations of passive luminance in LCD TV by creating the visual effect of natural light. It involves the use of circular polarized light technology and dynamic backlight control. By pioneering this technology, TCL has enhanced image quality, eye protection, environmental awareness and energy conservation. Also on the spotlight was TCL’s Blu-ray capable TVs. In a nutshell, these TVs are capable of running high definition encoded media files, such as Matroska (.mkv) files without the need for a separate streamer or player. You just need to plug in the device that has the file into the USB slot of the TV and start viewing your content. 158
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TCL is also entering the 3D ring with its 3D capable LED TVs. These 3D TVs carry hallmark TCL technologies like the NaturaLIGHT II engine yet still retain TCL’s competitive prices. TCL is also planning to introduce internet-capable TVs that allows you to stream content from the web to your living room. To underscore their commitment to the local market and their strong desire to be the market leader for TVs in the country. When asked if they would be pulling out from the CRT TV business, Yi Hao smiled and replied, “No, we are going to be the last man standing for CRT TVs. As long as there is demand, we will still make CRTs.” TCL is known locally for its affordable yet feature packed TVs, and is very bullish about the local market. Expect to see TCL’s latest offerings in malls and appliance centers nationwide.
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EYE-CATCHING WORKS OF ART ON DISPLAY Converse made history anew last July 3 at the Araneta Center in Quezon City when it featured not one, but several outstanding works of art, not by professional artists, but by students from various high schools and colleges in and around the Metro.
The works on canvas by the high school participants from Manila Waldorf School Inc., Notre Dame of Greater Manila, The Seed Montessori School, Philippine Women’s University JASMS Quezon City, University of the Philippines Integrated School, University of the East Caloocan, De La Salle Araneta University, Multiple Intelligence International School, and Kostka School Inc., and the upcycle installations by college participants from University of Sto. Tomas, University of the East Caloocan, Philippine Women’s University, Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines Diliman, Miriam College, Mapua Institute of Technology and the Asia Pacific College takes center stage throughout the day-long event. What makes the event more exciting and truly a celebration of creativity is the inclusion of talented student artists providing customization of authentic Converse shoes while you wait. Creativity does not end with a painting or drawing that reflects your personality, friendly lacing crews were also at hand to help you jazz
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up your Chucks even more with lacing styles that are sure to be the envy of your friends. The freedom wall truly became a freedom of expression as participants and guests alike expressed their own creativity with doodles and drawings that covered three large canvasses. Music was provided by amateur bands throughout the day such as Khat, Monopond, Ginoong Vitalis and Circa. Even celebrities dropped by to spend a few hours among truly inspiring works of art. Local powerhouse bands Callalily, Kenyo, Silent Sanctuary, and Sugarfree performed to end the night with a bang to a truly creative day. Catch these inspiring and fabulous works of art on display in Gateway Mall and Ali Mall located at Araneta Center, Quezon City compound and log on to www.converse.com. ph or visit us on Facebook (www.facebook. com/conversephilippines) for a dose of daily updates, future promos and upcoming event announcements.
NEWSBITS&BYTES RISING DEMAND FOR SMARTPHONES SEEN THE 2ND TINTA AWARD IS ON Over one in 10 handphone sets purchased by consumers in Southeast Asia and East Asia in the last quarter (Jan-Mar 2010) was a smartphone, and judging by the upward trend that has been consistently showing across the markets in the region, it appears that smartphones will soon be a common commodity widely owned not just by the affluent. Within a span of one year, combined smartphone sales in these two regions jumped two-fold, from 16.2 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to over 36.6 percent in the same period the following year, indicating that smartphones are becoming increasingly affordable and progressively making up a larger percentage of all mobile devices purchased by consumers in these regions. GfK Asia’s retail audit reports showed that the total number of smartphones bought by consumers in East Asia and Southeast Asia in the last quarter increased 68.6 and 31.4 percent, respectively, compared with the previous quarter. In East Asia alone, smartphone sales contributed 16.8 percent to the total mobile device sales pie in the first three months of this year, registering a healthy growth of 6 percentage points from the previous quarter (Oct-Dec 2009). A growth of 2.3 percentage points was also recorded for Southeast Asia quarter on quarter. “Network service providers in Asia have started offering affordable 3G data services and bundling such services with smartphones. Together with global manufacturers' introduction of more affordable mobile devices
and their efforts to build a holistic mobile ecosystem, such as launching more application stores, lifestyle features, and service integration, it is no surprise that the growth of mobile device sales in this region have largely been driven by the wider consumer acceptance of smartphones,” said Gerard Tan, regional account director for telecommunications at GfK Asia.
Among the markets surveyed, Malaysia recorded the highest jump in smartphone sales contribution to the country’s overall mobile phone pie. Thailand, on the other hand, is the country which registered the lowest acceptance level when it comes to smartphone. Out of the overall mobile phone sales pie, only close to a fifth (19.3%) was contributed by smartphones, although this is an improvement of 10.4 percent over the previous year. The market which recorded the highest smartphone take-up is Hong Kong, where smartphone sales contribution occupied over threefifths (61.3%) of the overall pie. Going by the upcoming new smartphone launches in the pipeline by major manufacturers worldwide, the smartphone marketplace is deemed to be highly-competitive in the months ahead. “GfK Asia expects the smartphone phenomenon to continue for the rest of 2010. With the recent launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S, as well as the impending launches of Apple's iPhone 4, Nokia's N8, and Sony Ericsson's X8 in the later part of 2010, the strong growth momentum of smartphone in the region will sustain, if not escalate further for the rest of the year," said Tan.
FORD CELEBRATES ALL-AMERICAN FREEDOM FESTIVAL Ford Group Philippines celebrated its annual All-American Freedom Fest last month as it gives away weekly trips to Hong Kong Disneyland, Singapore’s Universal Studios and for the grand prize, a five-day adventure package to Disneyland in Anaheim and Universal Studios in Hollywood. Participants of the 2010 Ford AllAmerican Freedom Fest can join in two easy ways. A purchase of any Ford vehicle until September 30 can land you one of 21 trips to be raffled off in the main draw
on October 13th. You can also test drive a Ford vehicle at any Ford dealership during the same period and be part of a weekly raffle that gives away a total of 10 destinations until October 13.
Calling all Philippine-based advertising agencies, media independents, print media publishers and advertisers, the 2nd Tinta Award is on. The competition is spearheaded by the United Print Media Group (UPMG) as part of its efforts to raise the profile of print media in the Philippines and encourage creativity and excellence in print advertising. Entries must have been published in magazine or newspaper publications in the Philippines, for the first time, between October 2008 to September 2010. At stake are Gold, Silver, and Bronze Tinta Awards in more than a dozen categories including Fashion, Food, Financial Products and many others. Special Awards will also be given in several Technical Categories and a Creative Media Execution Category. Find more information about the Tinta Award 2010. Call (632) 4039859, 403-7787, 227-7532 and mobile no. (0929) 973-4439. Email address: upmg.secretariat@gmail. com
is an exciting year for us at Ford Philippines and this is just one of the ways we would like to share this excitement with our customers.
SKYBROADBAND AWARDS MACBOOK TO TRIVIA OVERLOAD CHAMPION SkyBroadband announced the smartest and fastest of them all: Marnie Garbo of Sta. Cruz Laguna for besting all 4,000 players of the Trivia Overload game on Facebook. Netizens flocked to the Facebook application powered by SkyBroadband —the Trivia Overload page—to challenge their own trivia geniuses. Played over 110,000 times, the Trivia Overload Challenge provided a productive online activity to the virtual community. The winner for Round 1 and 2 is Christopher Andres of Novaliches, Quezon City, who bagged a 32GB iPod Touch and 10-megapixel Canon Powershot A2000IS, but also took home cool SkyBroadband portable speakers for being a runner-up in the last round. Marnie, aside from championing the game, also dominated the third round to bring home a Samsung Corby Touch Phone. The runners-up for the 3rd and final round who each took home snazzy SkyBroadband portable speakers were Christopher Andres, Mitzi Veron and Mary Rose Andres of Novaliches, Quezon City, and Lorenzo Santiago of Intramuros, Manila. “SkyBroadband is looking for different ways to make online activities a totally exciting experience,” Jed Dijamco, brand manager, said. “Since we can offer service that is up to 12 MBPS and is four times faster than any residential DSL, we created quality applications that fully utilize speed on the internet, making users appreciate the capabilities of SkyBroadband even more.”
“We invite everyone to check out your nearest Ford dealership and join the 8th Ford All-American Freedom Fest as more than thirty international dream adventure destinations await our lucky winners,” said Steven Tan, vice president for sales and marketing at Ford Group Philippines. “2010 2010 AUGUST
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MOTOLITE ANNOUNCES FACEBOOK 370MOTO HERO WINNER
KIA MOTORS HONORS TOP 4 DEALERS Kia recognized and honored four of its authorized dealers in the Philippines, part of Kia Motors Corp.’s (KMC) network of dealers around the world, with Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards as part of its Kia Dealer Excellence Program or K-DEP, which is the Korean car company’s major dealer enhancement program. The Philippine awardees, together with their trophies, were announced during a Dealer Awards Night held at The Grove pavilion recently. Kia Pasig (Autocircle, Inc.) received the coveted Platinum Dealer Certification, a recognition only bestowed to those that would meet Kia’s Global Dealer Standards. Dumaguete romped away with the Gold award for their achievement in Kia’s Act Smart Campaign. The Silver award was won by Kia Congressional while Kia Marikina got the Bronze Award. This year’s overall winner for sales is Kia Cebu which also received recognition for topping the sales
in the Visayan region. Other dealers who were cited for their outstanding sales achievement in 2009 include Kia New Manila for Metro Manila, Kia Pampanga for Luzon and Kia Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao. After-Sales Awards were conferred on Kia Pasig for Metro Manila, Kia Batangas for Luzon, Kia Cebu for Visayas and Kia Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao. Gina Custodio, general sales manager of Kia Marikina, Bronze Award; Michael Mabilog, general manager of Kia Pasig, Platinum Award; K.S. Lee, regional service manager of Kia Motors Corporation; Felix J. Mabilog, Jr., president & COO of Columbian Autocar Corporation; Alex Roleda, general manager of Kia Dumaguete, Gold Award; and Nikholo Sebastian, CEO of Kia Congressional, Silver Award.
HONDA HOLDS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP USING THE CR-V Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), in cooperation with Canon Marketing Philippines, recently organized a basic car photography workshop for Club EOS members under
the supervision of master photographer, John Chua. The workshop dubbed as, “Honda CR-V: Capturing Cross Over with Club EOS,”
Motolite, the country’s leading automotive battery brand, has taken advantage of social media to promote awareness of its Express Delivery service. 370MOTO is a Facebook application where users can be a hero by saving friends from car battery trouble. Launched in April 15 to June 27, players in the Facebook 370MOTO Heroes game vied for hall of fame honors. Each week two winners were awarded weekly, receiving gift certificates. With each save, 370MOTO Heroes also increased their chance to win a Lenovo Ideapad, with Fritzie Carla Gomez emerging as the grand prize winner. 370MOTO (370-6686) is the Express Delivery hotline for Motolite’s 24/7 battery delivery service in Metro Manila. Since there is no sign that one’s battery is about to conk out, busy professionals are often victimized with a dead battery at the most inconvenient time and/or place. Motolite eases the experience with its 370MOTO, the country’s first door-to-door automotive battery delivery service.
recommend the appropriate automotive battery, which is then delivered to your location in 30 to 45 minutes. The service representative also takes care of removing the old battery and installing the new one as you just watch and wait in comfort. Delivery and installation are absolutely free of charge; you just need to pay the cost of the new battery. Major credit cards are accepted for convenient payment. Motolite is the leading brand of automotive batteries in the Philippines. Its manufacturer, Philippine Batteries Inc. is the largest manufacturer, exporter and distributor of automotive, industrial, solar and motorcycle battery products in the Philippines. The company exports more batteries than are sold in the domestic market, and Motolite batteries are found in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the rest of Asia.
When availing of the Motolite Express Delivery Service, a service representative will ask you about your specific vehicle model and provided 29 club members the opportunity to learn the key fundamentals in car photography by conducting onsite and studio lessons.
WESTERN DIGITAL COMPLETES HOYA UNIT ACQUISITION Western Digital Corp. recently completed the previously announced acquisition of the magnetic media sputtering operations of Hoya Corp. and Hoya Magnetics Singapore Pte. Ltd. for approximately $233 million. The acquisition will support anticipated growth in hard drive demand.
Master photographer John Chua (seated 2nd from left) and HCPI’s Marketing Adviser Toshio Kuwahara (seated 8th from left) led the car photography workshop for Club EOS. 162
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WD has acquired the facilities, equipment, intellectual property and working capital of Hoya's media sputtering operations, based in Tuas, Singapore, as well as certain related equipment at Hoya's Nagasaka, Japan, research and development facilities. A multi-year commitment of Hoya glass substrate supply related to these operations was included in the agreement.
NEWSBITS&BYTES
FIRST DLS PHILIPPINES OPEN COMPETITION TLS Marketing Corporation in partnership with DLS Audio of Sweden staged the 1st DLS Philippines Open Competition on July 17, at the Tiendesitas Mall in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. DLS Audio, the leading brand in car audio competition and show-off events, will be flying in Peter Flodqvist, an international EMMA (European Mobile Media Association) sound quality head judge. Aside from showcasing the DLS Audio brand, the event also aims to train car audio enthusiasts, including car owners as well as car audio
dealers and installers, on setting up competition-level car audio. Focusing purely on Sound Quality (SQ), the 1st DLS Philippines Open Competition requires competitors to set up a standard installation package consisting of a JVC KDR705 head unit paired with DLS amplifier CA-31, speakers RM6.2 and sub-woofer RW10. For the 1st DLS Philippines Open Competition, other audio electronic enhancers are not allowed. Judging will be based on how well the installation overcomes the problems of vehicle acoustics and makes the music sound like the original without noise and distortion. There will be two competition categories — the classic category with the standard DLS package and the ultimate category with any existing DLS set-up. The top prize for the competition is a free trip for 2 to an Asian destination. Consolation
ISUZU ALTERRA NAVIGATES HISTORIC LANDMARKS USING CALTEX DIESEL Isuzu Philippines Corp. continues to upgrade its best-selling and awardwinning Alterra SUV as it introduces the vehicle’s 2010 special edition, which boasts a class-leading GPS navigation system. To demonstrate the convenience of this feature, Isuzu invited select members of the press to visit historic places using the Alterra’s AVT iNav device. The event, dubbed “Isuzu Alterra navigates historic landmarks using Caltex Diesel w/ Techron D,” likewise aimed to pay homage to the Philippines’ celebration of its independence in the month of June,
hence the historically significant route. It was scheduled last June 22. Caltex Diesel with Techron D was chosen as the official fuel due to its enginecleaning properties. The teams had to rely on the Alterra’s iNav device to plan their route. Since they could choose which landmark they wanted to visit first, it was all down to strategy with the help of the GPS system. During the trip, the journalists took notice of the 2010 Alterra’s other new features, including the chrome-plated door waist molding and body molding outside, and the new graphics for the instrument panel inside.
prizes are also up for grabs to deserving entries. Since its establishment in 1979, DLS has focused on developing and producing in-car speakers for music lovers. Over the years, they have won numerous awards for their speaker systems, and have been very successful in car audio championships not only in Europe but in the rest of the world. The DLS Scandinavia Series earned the 20092010 EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) Award as Best Product for In-Car Speaker System. In the Philippines, DLS Audio products are exclusively distributed by TLS Marketing Corp., and are sold through car audio dealers nationwide. For more information, visit www.dlscaraudioph.multiply. com or “Like” the DLS Car Audio Philippines page on Facebook.
“Since its launch in the Philippine market in 2005, the Alterra has been a perennial favorite among Filipino SUV buyers because of its executive looks, excellent riding comfort, state-ofthe-art in-car entertainment system, and powerful but very efficient diesel engine,” said IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki. “With the addition of the AVT iNav device, the Alterra has just upped the ante once again.” The Alterra’s iNav system features touchscreen operation, customized graphic user interface, turn-by-turn voice prompts, realistic route view, lane assist, off-road direction, English and Chinese languages, and multidestination search with 86,000 points of interest.
INDUSTRY FORUM CAPS AUTO AWARDS LAUNCH The “2010-11Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards”, Sunshine Television’s (STV) annual nationwide public poll to determine the country’s most popular automobile brands and models, was launched recently at the Valle Verde Country Club. The poll, which will run from July 1 to September 30, is now on its 6th year and is presented in conjunction with BDO, whose auto financing packages are considered among the most innovative and affordable by the motoring public. It extends “Model of the Year” awards in 12 distinct categories with the much-coveted “Automobile of the Year” honor going to the brand/model that tops all the others. Voters who wish to participate can log-on to and register at the poll website at www:autofocus.com.ph. The public may also obtain and mail-in ballots printed weekly in the Motoring Section of the Philippine Star and in the July, August and September issues of Top Gear magazine. The highlight of the evening was the “2nd Auto Focus Industry Forum” which sought to form an outlook and prognosis of the local automobile industry and market, and determine what new initiatives the incoming government administration might consider to support local car makers and distributors.
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CANON LAUNCHES GREENNATION CAMPAIGN Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc. (CMPI) recently launched its local efforts supporting the worldwide Canon Green campaign.
Dubbed as Canon GreenNation, it is a sustainable environmental program that focuses on the proper disposal of PIXMA and Selphy ink cartridges and toners. It aims to instill caring for the environment a part of the lifestyle of every citizen of Canon GreenNation.
Ms. Earth winners with CMPI president and CEO Alan Chng
GreenNation’s first project is an ink cartridge collection program, which was also launched alongside the campaign. With this, Canon Selphy and PIXMA users can simply place their empty printer cartridges in designated recycling bins inside Canon concept stores in malls.
ACER IS TOP PC BRAND, GARTNER SURVEY SAYS
SUN CELLULAR LAUNCHES 0.FACEBOOK.COM
Acer is now the No. 1 overall PC brand in the Philippines, according to the latest ratings report released by industry research specialist Gartner. Based on latest figures released by Gartner’s PC Tracker results for the first quarter of 2010, Acer showed great numbers in terms of volume shipment of desktops and notebooks, overall market share and year-on-year growth rate. These vital performance factors helped contribute to make Acer the No. 1 brand in notebooks and the number one overall PC vendor to become the top PC brand in the country today. The report bared that Taiwan-based Acer Group, Inc., represented here in the Philippines by its subsidiary, Acer (Philippines) Inc., posted a
GE HEALTHCARE FOSTERS GREEN HOSPITALS Demonstrating its commitment to be a complete solutions provider of healthcare systems, GE Healthcare showcased a wide range of medical-related technologies and services at the Hospital Build Asia 2010 exhibition and conference in Singapore last May. 164
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17.2-percent market share against its closest competitor and at the same time obtained a 105.6 percent year-on-year growth rate among the Top 10 PC vendors in the market today. According to Acer Philippines, Inc. General Manager Manuel Wong, these latest results from Gartner about Acer’s performance in the country prove that indeed, the brand had gone a long way.
Sun Cellular recently launched its 0.facebook.com service, allowing its customers to browse for free using the new 0.facebook.com site. By sponsoring 0.facebook.com, Sun Cellular is enabling customers to stay connected through Facebook with their friends and family from any mobile Web browser using WAP
Wong likewise hinted of more good things to come from Acer in the next few months. “We’re excited of what the future holds for us. Definitely, we will not stop here. With this latest development, it only challenged us to strive even harder to reach our goal, which is to be top-ofmind brand not just for Filipino PC users but for the rest of the world.” GE Healthcare’s green hospital approach is focused on improving energy efficiency, optimizing resource consumption, and increasing the share of renewables in energy generation for a significant reduction of carbon footprint. It is also able to leverage the breakthrough innovations of its Global Research Centers to develop leading-edge green hospital concepts. Its broad-based technologies offer a portfolio of solutions for green
hospitals, including: the Jenbacher CHP system, which utilizes the waste heat incurred during engine operation to generate overall plant efficiencies of more than 90 percent; a suite of energy efficient equipment, such as in the area of medical imaging; and advanced energy management systems. As lighting is one of the critical factors to be taken into consideration at many hospitals, GE Healthcare highlighted a range of energyefficient lighting products to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.
The campaign favors the safe disposing of ink cartridges as it works better for PIXMA or Selphy printers compared to refilling them with nonCanon ink. Doing so would eventually damage printers. The recycling bins are located at the Canon Showroom (McKinley Hill, Taguig), Canon Customer Care Center (Paseo De Magallanes, Makati), Canon Customer Care Center (Liberty, Mandaluyong), Canon Dzone Megamall, Canon Dzone Mall of Asia, and Canon Dzone SM North EDSA. The recycle bins will also be deployed at Canon Dzone Glorietta and Canon Dzone Trinoma before July ends. Canon invites everyone to join GreenNation and be part of the solution towards a greener future. as an access point without incurring any data charges. Facebook’s 0.facebook.com site is optimized for speed. It is a new faster, lightweight version of Facebook’s mobile site m.facebook. com. The site does not have graphics or photos. To view a photo a person only needs to click on a link to the photo and they will be prompted that they are leaving 0.facebook.com. Standard data charges of Php 10 per 30 minutes will apply when a person leaves the site to view photos.
NEWSBITS&BYTES
SMARTBRO MICROSIM NOW AVAILBLE
Cut up your SIM cards no longer! Smart Bro began offering its new microSIM on Sunday, July 25, at the NCR, Cebu, Davao and Baguio Wireless Centers and through accredited agents within those areas. The plan is exclusive to Plan 999 Unlimited, and will require a lock-in period of only six months. Only the SMART Bro 3G Micro SIM comes with these superior features: • The fastest mobile Internet speeds - 2 Mbps • Nationwidest Coverage • Unlimited surfing at postpaid Plan 999 So take your 3G Internet devices to the next level of surfing fun, only with Smart Bro!
KENNY ROGERS OPENS NEWPORT BRANCH For a traveler wanting a satisfying meal before catching his flight, a casino patron craving a hearty breakfast or someone looking for a great place to dine with family and friends, Kenny Rogers Roasters’ newlyopened branch at Newport City is the ideal place to be in. Located at the Ground Floor of the Star Cruises Centre just across Maxim's and Marriott, this restaurant is a celebration of many “firsts” in Kenny’s history.
setting. There is an elevated space that can accommodate big groups of diners and is ideal for meetings and social functions.
TM
For Deliciously Healthy Food.
It is the first Kenny Rogers Roasters branch to offer full service dining and a number of new, deliciously healthy dishes. Try out the hearty Seafood Chowder soup and entrees such as the scrumptious Grilled Norwegian Salmon and the savory Grilled Porkchop. Both these entrees come with your choice of side, rice and Kenny's famous corn muffin. For breakfast, there are a number of new choices added to start off the day right. Sleek and modern interiors and furnishings provide a pleasant and comfortable
INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE FOR MEDICAL SECTOR LAUNCHED BY LIFEDATA SYSTEMS More and more companies are showcasing a wide range of medicalrelated technology portfolios with the promise of better quality healthcare. One of the latest developments for doctors, patients and healthcare institutions is the launching of LiFEDATA EMR Clinic software by LiFEDATA Systems, Inc. Awarded the "Groundbreaking Technology of the Year" for Healthcare by DTI and CITEM at the E-Services Award '08, it is a webbased electronic medical records system developed by Filipinos for modern-day clinical practice that will make them more efficient, secured, productive, paperless and borderless. The EMR CLINIC Software will
simply modernize and organize his practice. Everything from scheduling appointments, patient encounter, SOAP charting, prescription writing; referrals to labs, hospital admission, and to other doctors, including billing, collection and reporting summaries will all be done electronically. Charts with user-friendly icons and illustrations are used for the doctor to simply navigate by pointing and clicking on familiar yet customizable electronic medical templates. If the doctor chooses to use the web-based EMR CLINIC Internet version, his patient records will be stored electronically in an online encrypted data repository accessible only through his secured username and password.
PINOY CONTESTANT WINS 1ST RUNNER UP IN T.G.I.FRIDAY’S WORLD TILT T.G.I.Friday’s once again gathered the best bartenders who competed in the recent 2010 World Bartending Championship held at Friday's Worldwide Headquarters in Carrollton, Dallas, Texas. After an intense competition participated in by 10 mixologists (bartenders) from around the globe, the Philippines’ Raminad “Ram” Ong garnered the second spot among the world’s best! He received $5,000 and a trophy. Brian Zachau of T.G.I.Friday’s Minnesota was
adjudged champion while Atillia Farmasi of Hungary placed third. “I have been practicing a lot here from morning till night,” the 24-year old bartender said. “I studied bartending videos, researched for my own spiels and did flairs as soon as I wake up and before I sleep.” He was trained by other Friday’s best bartenders including Jojo Almanza, third runner-up 2005 World Bartender Championship. 2010 AUGUST
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THE SUNDIAL By Presy Alba
Time has always been a paradox to me. I know time is measured with such precision, a device may track the passing of a hundredth of a millisecond, and yet it always runs out on me and I end up running late. I would love to have the power to stop, slow down or even stretch time for just a bit. I guess most of us do, but time always has a way of slipping out of our grasp. All we could ever do is to keep track of its passing to the best of our ability. Our intrinsic desire to control time is probably why our ancestors tried so hard to understand how time passed by creating gadgets that kept watch of it. The earliest known time-keeping device is the sundial, starting with the Egyptian obelisks way back in 3500 BC, and scientists are still looking for ways to improve how we tell time—even today.
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The sundial, according to Wikipedia, is a device that measures time using the position of the sun. In the most common designs, the sun casts a shadow from a style to a marked flat surface that is lined to distinguish the hours. As the sun moves across the sky, the sun hitting the style casts a shadow on the different hour-lines on the flat plate. Positioning what is now considered the classic sundial vary in different parts of the world. The style, which is a thin pole or a sharp
straight edge, must be positioned to point to the true north, and its angle with the plate should be equal to the sundial’s geographical latitude. Fast-forward a few centuries more and we find ourselves literally surrounded by so many timekeeping devices we could not escape knowing what time
it is. Where before we needed to wear a wristwatch, today its just another accessory as almost every gadget we own has a clock in it. Unless there’s a global disaster that destroys all the mechanical and electronic time-keeping machines, people today have no real use for sundials except as a intriguing gizmo in a public park, or an interesting relic to show kids how people used to tell time in school campuses, or in the case of ancient sundials, a tourist attraction to let people know how advanced the local civilization, or else as compelling scientific instrument that students could examine.