EDITOR’SNOTE PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TECHNOLOGY EDITOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTORS SENIOR ART DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR
Maribelle Alba Armin Amio John Nieves Michelle Callanta Presy Alba Danee Torres Benjamin Arnold, Francis Tan Paolo Toledo, Steven Vea Chad Villarmino Benjamin Arnold
“What’s new?” I’ve often heard friends ask me that especially when we haven’t seen each other for a while. I live a very sedate life, so most of the time, a complete rundown of what’s been keeping me busy will not take more than five minutes. Ask the same thing about technology and the answer might have to be categorized and classified, similar to the Dewey decimal system (if libraries still use that kind of classification system). Innovations in the field of technology change by the minute that it’s so hard to keep up. New phones, computers, netbooks, notebooks, printers, cameras, even the latest fitness trend get launched almost every day. Newly developed mobile applications come by the hundreds, if not thousands. Scrolling the Android marketplace from beginning to end could take you months. For this issue, we attempt to give you what’s new (at least up until press time)— including the latest innovations and trends about town. Our cover story gives you an inventory of what technologies to expect in the very near future. Even our three-girl cover is something new for Gadgets Magazine (although we’ve done two and five in previous issues). Printers make a big splash in this issue. Of course, there’s the Christmas wish list preview in Tech Parade. Change happens all the time, but it can sometimes be difficult to accept. Since most people feel more comfortable with the familiar, change can seem foreign. But just as change itself is a process, so is the move toward accepting it. So sit back, relax and read on. Welcome to ‘Innovation Revolution.’
Armin A. Amio EDITOR IN CHIEF
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NOVEMBER 2010
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SALES & ADVERTISING MANAGER ACCOUNT MANAGERS ADVERTISING AGENTS ONLINE MARKETING & EVENTS OFFICER CIRCULATION ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE LEGAL COUNSEL
Maribelle Alba
Marisa Consuelo MJ Gonzales-Esteban, Carol Agabin Bess Zamora, Val Villamar Francis Tan Lorie Bernardo, Salvador Da, Jr.
Tess Pascua, Amy Christine Giray Alba Law Office
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 Photographed by Niko G. Villegas for Edge of Light for Nikon D3s Art direction and styling by Chad Villarmino Clothes from Risqué DareWear Makeup by Jo Ticzon for Benefits Style Salon Hair by Donn Donato of Benefits Style Salon Shot at Edge of Light Studios
PARADE
2010 NOVEMBER
7
PARADE ASUS N53JQ NOTEBOOK
What do you get when you want great graphics, epic sound and powerful computing? You get the N53JQ from Asus. This 15.6-inch notebook has all the right features to make it your go-to device for playing games, listening to music and watching movies. Powered by an Intel Core i7-740 QM mated with Nvidia GeForce 400M graphics and Optimus technology, the N53JQ gives you the perfect mix of power and portability. The N53JQ is also equipped with Asus’ own SonicMaster technology, a new audio hardware and software standard co-developed with Bang & Olufsen. With it, the N53JQ produces results at par with standalone audio systems, establishing a new yardstick by which to measure sound performance.
Php 79,995
ASUS EEE PC 1018P NETBOOK
Php 79,995
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NOVEMBER 2010
Meet the latest addition to the Asus Eee PC family: the 1018P. While its guts aren’t that different from your typical netbook—Intel Atom N455 running at 1.66GHz, about 1GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive—it’s the styling that takes the cake. Built with both plastic and aluminum, its stylish white exterior makes it stand out from the crowd. You’ll also be able to enjoy an additional 500GB cloud storage from Asus, so you won’t run out of storage space anytime soon.
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2010 NOVEMBER
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MILI POWER SPRING
EXTERNAL BATTERY Basically sporting the same features and capacity as the Power Skin, the Power Spring has a spring-type cover that pulls back for easy insertion of your iPhone into the case and gently snaps back into place to secure your device.
MILI POWER PICO MOBILE PROJECTOR
Php 2,950
The first folding-design mobile projector, the MiLi Power Pico Projector is capable of projecting videos and other images on a projector screen from your iPhone, iPod touch, MP4 player, DVD, STB (set-top boxes) and laptops. The projection screen size can range from 5 to 70 inches, with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Contrast ratio is 100:1 from lamp brightness of 10-lumens. The LED lamp has a rated life of 20,000 hours. For sound output, there is a built-in 2W speaker as well as an audio-out port for connecting headphones or external speakers. What makes this pico projector unique is that it doubles as an external power bank to charge your iPhone, iPod Touch, or other mobile devices. It has a lithium-polymer battery pack with 11.1V/1200mAh capacity. Maximum input is 14V-2A and maximum output is 5V-1A. Php 26,000
MILI POWER PACK MILI POWER SKIN EXTERNAL BATTERY
Packing 1200mAh of reserve power, the Power Skin is the thinnest external battery for the iPhone/iPod Touch at only 0.7-inches thick. It is rated to extend battery life: standby time up to 230 hours, audio playback up to 19 hours and video play up to 5.4 hours. Php 2,950 10
NOVEMBER 2010
EXTERNAL BATTERY This 2000mAh Li-Pol (lithium-polymer) power source doubles the battery life of your iPhone or iPod touch for up to 390 hours of standby time, 6.5 hours of talk time on 3G and 13.5 hours on 2G, 6.5 hours of 3G internet and 8 hours on WiFi, 31 hours of audio play and nine hours of video play. A manual activation feature allows you to power up your iPhone/iPod touch only when you need to.
Php 3,200
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MILI POWER SPRING 4 EXTERNAL MOBILE POWER CASE
Don’t blame yourself if you suddenly find your iPhone 4 out of juice—the darned thing is so packed with features and doodads that using it till the battery quits is almost expected. The MiLi Power Spring 4 gives your Apple device an additional 1,600 mAh of power without adding to the bulk. Once the Power Spring 4 runs out of juice, it’s as simple as plugging it into your PC, notebook or USB adapter. It also acts as a syncing tool from your iPhone to your computer. Php 3,200
OPT ARMOR CASE IPOD PROTECTOR
If you’re looking for a protection solution for your precious new iPhone 4 yet are not too keen on settling on plastic, then you might want to check out Opt’s Armor Case. While it may look like a simple leather case, Opt’s offering actually has a lot of things going for it, like its patented corner protection that protects the corners of your iPhone when it’s accidentally dropped. And if you find your precious device covered in fingerprint smudges after playing too much Angry Birds, you can use the microfiber lining of the Armor Case to clean the screen. The design of the case is also meant to prevent you from accidentally touching the iPhone 4’s external antenna, making dropped calls a near impossibility. The Armor Case also utilizes highgrade genuine leather, making it resistant to wear and stylish as heck.
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2010 NOVEMBER
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ASUS WICAST EW2000 WIRELESS HD TRANSMITTER
Want an affordable option to wirelessly transmit HD quality video to an HDTV? Look no further than the Asus WiCast EW2000. The device utilizes Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) technology to wirelessly transmit high-definition video and audio signals from a user’s notebook to a display TV or an LCD monitor. You can hook it up to whatever has HD content and an HDMI port—game consoles, hometheater PCs even camcorders—and beam the signal to a compatible HD capable device, like HDTVs and projectors. The WiCast is capable of latency free transmission (less than 1ms), so there won’t be lip-sync issues when projecting your content. The WiCast is capable of transmitting up to a distance of 33 feet, so you can place your device in a location that’s convenient for you.
CHERRY MOBILE RED LABEL COLLECTION MOBILE PHONES & TABLET
Craving portability but on a tight budget? Cherry Mobile’s Red Label Collection has the answer. Equipped with a smartphone’s advanced features, Nova boasts of a large, 3.2-inch touchscreen and camera resolution of 5.0 megapixel with flash. This WiFi, Gmail, Maps and Marketplaceready smartphone meets the demands of technophiles alike who wish to be connected 24/7.
Nova Php 11,490
The Magnum HD, powered by Android 2.2, has a 4.1-inch capacitive touchscreen for smooth navigation, endless hours of entertainment and functionality with USB tethering. Features include WiFi connectivity, 3G, and 5.0 megapixel camera with flash. With a sleek gun metal finish, this device is sure to attract stylish consumers. Mobile web and mobile phone technology is fused into a light, 7-inch tablet to give consumers a portable device that can browse web pages, view pictures and stream videos. The multi-touch technology lets users’ fingers zoom in and out photos, websites and pages in a snap. With an expandable memory of 16GB, a 3-megapixel camera with autofocus at the back and a VGA camera up front, the Superion gives the tablet market a run for its money.
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Superion Php 19,990
Magnum HD Php 18,990
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LG Cookie Snap GM360i Php 9,990
LG wants you to dip your hand into their cookie jar as they’ve released four brand new additions to their Cookie family. The Cookie Snap GM360i, Cookie Pro GT350, Cookie Mini T300 and Cookie Style T310i give users a whole lot of choice when it comes to color, complexity, style and connectivity.
LG Cookie Pro GT350 Php 7,990
LG COOKIE SNAP GM360I Enhance your mobile life with full touchscreen LG Cookie Snap GM360i just designed for you. The new phone features a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and the optical zoom that enables you to zoom without losing any picture quality. You can share the supreme moments via real time push email and convenient mobile SNS.
LG COOKIE PRO GT350 With its effortless connectivity and instant access to SNS sites, LG Cookie Pro GT350’s user interface was specifically designed to make it easier than ever to enjoy real-time interaction with friends on popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. A live social network feed appears on the phone’s 3-inch WQVA touchscreen and a quick tap of the refresh button brings up the latest updates instantly. Its four-row QWERTY keypad offers a spacious layout that reduces mistyping and customizable shortcut keys provide direct access to optimized interfaces for each network. The LG Cookie Pro GT350 offers WiFi support for faster internet access.
LG COOKIE MINI T300 Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of a hand, LG Cookie Mini is the most compact phone in the line-up. LG Cookie Mini is proof that touch phones don’t all look alike. Its compact form factor slips easily into a pocket or purse but still manages to include a generous 2.4-inch display.
LG COOKIE STYLE T310I LG Cookie Style T310i is the stylish phone in the series with a 2.8-inch LCD display and boldest design. Cookie Style is available in a variety of color options with accents on the front button panel, making it one of the most fashionable full-touch phones on the market. The phone’s colorful mix-and-match design will appeal to the young mobile generation’s desire for selfexpression.
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LG Cookie Mini T300 Php 4,490 LG Cookie Style T310i Php 6,990
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2010 NOVEMBER
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EPSON ME32 & ME320 INKJET PRINTERS
There’s a new breed of printers from Epson built for Maximum Economy. Designed for personal and SOHO use, the ME32 and ME320 are designed for low print volume users (average of 200 pages or less) but still wish to lower their printing costs and achieve the lowest total cost of ownership possible. These printers feature fast print speeds of 28 A4 pages per minute for monochrome and 15 ppm for color in draft mode. Both are also able to produce 4x6-inch photos in 65 seconds with border or 91 seconds without. The ME320 is an all-in-one that comes with an easy one-touch panel allowing users to duplicate documents effortlessly at efficient speeds of 11 seconds per page for monochrome and 38 seconds per page for color.
ME32 Php 2,995
ME320 Php 4,995
SAMSON STUDIO GT ACTIVE MONITOR SPEAKERS
Studio GT combines exceptional monitoring performance with a USB audio interface, providing a complete desktop solution for recording audio to your computer thanks to its 4.25-inch magnetically shielded, inverted cone, copolymer woofer and 1-inch silk dome high frequency driver. Equipped with 2 x 20 watts of internal power, Studio GT provides precise reproduction of highs and lows with the added convenience of a USB audio interface. Studio GT houses two mic and instrument/line inputs along with gain control, clip LED, and two 1/8-inch stereo headphone outputs with independent level controls. Also included is a 2-position switch for no-latency direct mono and stereo monitoring. Designed to make home recording easy and professional, Studio GT includes Cakewalk Sonar LE music production software for enhanced control over the development of your creations.
Php 11,790
NOKIA C1-00 DUAL-SIM MOBILE PHONE
Now dual-SIM is not the sole arena of China-made phones. Nokia has finally decided to ship in the Nokia, C1-00 to Philippine shores. This phone offers a large phonebook that can store up to 500 entries, a multi-phonebook for up to 5 users, a large memory enough to store 250 messages, and a standby battery time of up to six weeks with up to 13 hours talk time, the longest ever for a Nokia mobile phone. There’s the standard flashlight paired with a vivid color screen and FM radio with standard headphone jack.
Php 2,070
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NOVEMBER 2010
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2010 NOVEMBER
19
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ELBA 136 EX 634 FREE-STANDING RANGE
Channel your inner Giada de Laurentiis or Tyler Florence with the Elba 136 EX 634. This free-standing range has all the bells and whistles needed by the home chef with 6 gas burners, 2 vitroceramic high-light zones, extra heavy-duty cast-iron pan supports, cast-iron wok stand and griddle, matte enamel burner-caps and safety devices on all burners The thermostatic electric oven has an electric grill function, fan cooking mode, electronic programmer (for start/end cooking), interior light, a double glass door and even a pastry plate. Another thermostatic electric oven at the bottom left is for bigger food items and features a rotisserie for chicken and say, cochinillo. While the third oven at the top left features a grill pan.
ELBA AC 911-800 X BUILT-IN OVEN
This stainless steel design built-in oven is a cook’s dream with an electronic programmer and removable glass door. The top oven has a grill and has two heating elements. The bottom oven also features a grill and a fan. Measuring 88.8 x 59.4 cm, this Elba oven is a power miser with an A/A power rating class.
SONY ERICSSON XPERIA X8 SMARTPHONE
Sony Ericsson’s latest offering is a mix of old and new. In a capsule, it’s an Androidpowered machine that’s still sporting the Donut 1.6 version of Google’s mobile OS. But don’t let that stop you from wanting it though—it’s a real looker, with customizable home screens and widgets that’ll help you customize it to your own taste. It’s also equipped with WaveSecure —a program that protects your data in an event of theft or loss, and can even track your phone down to help you recover it. Php 11,600
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NOVEMBER 2010
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2010 NOVEMBER
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SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB SMARTPHONE/TABLET
While there’s certainly demand for tablets nowadays, there are not a lot of devices to choose from. Sure, there’s always going to be the fruity one, but users who don’t want to be part of the walled garden experience and are looking for a smaller device with plenty of free apps should look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Tab. This 7-inch tablet runs on Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo, and has access to thousands of free apps available from the Android marketplace. The Galaxy Tab runs on a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, which ensures enough power for any and all applications that you might want to put on this baby. The Galaxy Tab also has two cameras, one up front and one at the back, so you’ll be able to take pictures and potentially do video calling whenever the situation demands it. Php 34,900
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NOVEMBER 2010
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2010 NOVEMBER
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SONY BRAVIA NX810 & NX710 TV
60" NX810 Php 449,999 55" NX810 Php 349,999
Extending the 3D BRAVIA lineup with two new network models, BRAVIA NX810 and NX710, Sony is ready to transform consumers’ living space with a lethal combination of 3D capability, connectivity and stunningly elegant Monolithic design. With the NX810 and NX710, users can easily go on a 3D journey by connecting the TV to the 3D Sync Transmitter and putting on Sony Active Shutter 3D glasses to start enjoying life-like highdefinition 3D entertainment. Quality is assured even in 2D, as the TVs feature BRAVIA Engine 3 high-definition video processor, Dynamic Edge LED backlighting and Motionflow technology of up to 200Hz, resulting in incredibly sharp images, smooth motion and ultra-high contrast of over 1,000,000:1. The BRAVIA NX Series provides you with the ultimate 3D set-up. Surrounded by sleek brushed aluminum, the sleek glass screen are set perfectly flush with the frame to accentuate the luxurious and meticulous nature of its construction. Put on Sony’s Active Shutter 3D Glasses for amazing Full HD 3D pictures on the BRAVIA NX810 Series.
46" NX710 Php 227,999 40" NX710 Php 188,999
SONY BDV-E970W AND BDV-E370 BLU-RAY 3D HOME THEATER SYSTEM
Giving the home the full cinema package, the BDV-E970W and BDV-E370 are two advanced Blu-ray 3D Home Theater System from Sony that delivers incredible surround sound. Coupled with Sony’s 3D Surround technology, the 3D entertainment experience takes on a new depth and realism that is bound to completely envelope viewers in each and every scene. Featuring Sony’s signature Monolithic design and the award-winning XrossMediaBar (XMB) on-screen menu, the stylish and easy-to-use BDV-E970W and BDV-E370 are ready to play high-definition 3D content from Blu-ray discs, as well as access a wide range of ondemand content from BD LIVE and the BRAVIA Internet Video platform.
BDV-E370
BDV-E970W
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NOVEMBER 2010
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2010 NOVEMBER
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MOBILE WONDERS BUG & CURVE
APPLE MACBOOK AIR (11-INCH)
Nothing beats dedicated speakers for sharing music. But finding a pair that delivers good sound that’s portable enough to take with you everywhere is definitely challenging, to say the least. The Bug and Curve portable speakers by Mobile Wonders are set to scratch that portable speaker itch. Small and easy to set up, the Bug and Curve won’t take up much space and are powered by rechargeable batteries. The Bug is a dual-capsule speaker deal. Aside from providing sound on the fly, it’s also capable of grabbing tunes off the airwaves, thanks to its built-in FM tuner. The Curve is a single-speaker device and features a patented extendable resonator system that supposedly mimics a subwoofer.
This is what Apple dubs a result of a hookup between the iPad and the Macbook, and true enough, it has features from both. It now adapts the same intuitive unibody casing and design of the current Macbook Pros. It is equipped with a glass trackpad which allows multi-touch gestures for precision and control. With booming specs such as Intel Core 2 Duo 1.4 GHz, Nvidia GeForce 320m, 2GB DDR3 RAM, and a Facetime camera to boot—it is now faster, unbelievably thinner and lighter that netbooks can’t even compare. The new MacBook Air also runs on flash SSD which means it boots up in an instant—just like your iPad. The battery life is noteworthy as well—5 hours of wireless web use and up to 30 days on standby. It also comes preinstalled with the newly released iLife 11. It’s beautiful. It’s lust-worthy. Students on-the-go should definitely watch out for this one.
PORTABLE SPEAKERS
Mobile Wonders Bug
NOTEBOOK
Starts at Php 51,990
KINGMAX HDD KE-71 EXTERNAL HARD DISK DRIVE
Whether it is file synchronization or backup operation, users can save a lot of time with the Kingmax KE-71. This HDD can rapidly complete large files transfers, greatly reduce wait times, and is thus incredibly convenient. With USB3.0 interface, the speed of KE-71 is increased from 480Mbps to 5Gbps (625MB/sec). It takes 14 minutes with USB2.0 to transfer a file with 25GB. To facilitate identification, KE-71 has multicolor LED to indicate USB 2.0/3.0 connection type accordingly. In terms of power supply, KE-71 with USB3.0 supplies 900mA of power, an 80% increase over USB 2.0 (500mA), and users on average can save up to 50% of power consumption. With a weight of only 170g, Kingmax KE-71 is very slim. Has a glossy design that is scratch-resistant. A silicone gasket is adopted for enhanced adhesion, durability and sealing protection and this enables KE-71 to be shock-resistant. KE-71 offers 640GB capacity which can store 16,000 MP3 files, 192,000 photos, or even 1,280 hours of video files.
Mobile Wonders Curve
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NOVEMBER 2010
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2010 NOVEMBER
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HP G42
NETGEAR JWNR2000
NOTEBOOK
Stylish and affordable, the new HP G42 is the one to get when you’re looking for a fashionable notebook without breaking the bank. The stylish HP imprint finish permeates completely throughout the whole chassis and is present even on the touchpad. The pocketstyle keyboard is easy to press and has the right amount of travel, perfect for writing reports and articles. Buyers have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting the processor that goes into the G42 as you can get to choose between an Intel Core i3 and an i5 to better suit your needs. Starts at Php 37,990
NOKIA N8 SMARTPHONE
Nokia’s upping the ante in how-manymegapixels-you-can-fit-in-a-phone-race, by outing the newest member of the N series family: the N8. The N8 is packed with a massive 12-megapixel sensor paired with Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon flash, which is pretty much on par with some of the digital cameras sold today. Now you’re able to shoot and record whatever you want in glorious HD. The N8 is also able to output the HD footage you shot via an HDMI connection, so you can easily show off your images, videos and music on compatible televisions and projectors. It’s also a robust media player by its own, and you can enjoy up to 50 hours of music playback with the N8 before it runs out of juice.
Php 23,699
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NOVEMBER 2010
WIRELESS ROUTER
Go wireless with the Netgear JWNR2000 wireless router. It gets you connected faster and allows you to get on 2x faster in security mode of WPA-PSK and WEP. Connect to your secure network simply and quickly using the WiFi Protected Setup, and enjoy better wireless speed and range thanks to the N technology. Additional features include double Firewall protection, Denial-of-Service attack prevention and multiple SSID support with separate security and access restrictions.
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Php 6,790
GENIUS MOUSEPEN M508 TOUCHPAD TABLET
Featuring an innovative touch-pad for scrolling, zooming in/out and brush control functions, the Genius MousePen M508 allows you to get more work done in less time. It has four express keys to instantly access some functions: eraser, undo, new layer or brush type selection and it also comes bundled with easy to use software. You can write, draw, sketch, and sign emails on its wide 5 x 8-inch working area. It even comes with a mouse.
ACER ONE D255 & ACER ONE HAPPY NETBOOKS
Acer has come out with a new line of netbooks based on Intel’s new mobile dualcore Atom processors which enables new levels of support for applications like games, as well as Adobe Flash technology for access to some of the country’s most visited Web pages including online air ticket booking systems and multimedia sites such as YouTube. The Acer One D255 provides stunning design and full-day power and comes in coffee brown, red, black, blue and white. The Acer Aspire One Happy, on the other hand, comes in bursting-with-joy colors such as Hawaii blue, lime green, candy pink, and lavender purple and is the perfect digital accessory for young, fashionable people who are highly mobile and constantly connected with their social network. 1TB: PhP 4,650 2TB: PhP 7,900
ACER ONE HAPPY
BUFFALO DRIVESTATION AXIS HD-LBU2 EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
The DriveStation Axis USB 2.0 Hard Drive HD-LBU2 external hard drive is equipped with Buffalo Tools—a feature-rich suite of optional software included on many Buffalo DriveStation and MiniStation storage products. What’s more, the DriveStation Axis also comes with a TurboPC feature which boosts the overall performance of your Windows PC with its file transfer rates of up to 180% faster compared with other USB 2.0 hard drives. It is compatible with both PC and Mac. Simply connect it to your computer and you're all set. ACER ONE D255 30
NOVEMBER 2010
GADGETSLAB 35 PAGE|
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB SMARTPHONE/TABLET
ANDROID TABLET FUN
"...a 7-inch tablet that’s powered by the latest version of Android, the Froyo 2.2."
39 PAGE|
41 PAGE|
ASUS WICAST EW2000
HP MINI 210
WIRELESS CINEMA MADE EASY
NO BRAINER NETBOOK
WIRELESS HD TRANSMITTER
NETBOOK
33 PAGE|
ASUS EEE PC 1018P NETBOOK
BREAKING THE MOLD
2010 NOVEMBER
31
GADGETSLAB
PALIT GEFORCE GTS 450 By John Nieves After its solid GeForce GTS 460, it seems like Nvidia is on the right track to dominating the price point that pays the bills— the mainstream and entry-level markets. Their newly released GPU aimed at the budget gamer, or in their own words, the LAN party pwning gamer, is the GeForce GTS 450. Designed to run at mainstream resolutions, namely in 1680x1050 and 1280x1024, the GTS 450 sits squarely at the $120 (Php 5,500) and $99 (Php 4,500) price range. Our first review sample of the latest addition to Nvidia Fermi family comes by way of Taiwanese manufacturer Palit. The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Overclocking Edition comes in a plain box with little extras. You get the card, an installation CD, quick startup guide and a bit of cable. While the Palit GeForce GTS 450 occupies two PCI-E slots, it’s not much longer than your typical video card. After you plug it in and install the necessary drivers, you’re good to go. In and out in less than five minutes. 32
NOVEMBER 2010
The DX11, on the cheap, is the main selling point of the GTS 450 family of products, so I downloaded BitSquid’s Stone Giant benchmark that has full DX11 support. Tessellation is one of the main components of DX11, and with the help of a technique called displacement mapping, results in more realistic graphics. I also ran the Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic through Unigine’s Heaven benchmark. And since no amount of benchmarking will ever replicate actual game performance, I tested it with two games. Running the Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic with Unigine’s Heaven benchmark in 1920 x 1200 and 4x AA yielded a less-than-impressive 433 score and 17.2 FPS average. Of course, the card wasn’t designed to run in such high resolutions, so I ran it again through the benchmark with a slightly more forgiving 1680 x 1050 resolution on 4x AA and came away with a much better score of 521 with an average of 20.7 FPS. BitSquid’s Stone Giant benchmark ran a bit
better, and the card managed a nice 30 FPS average with the resolution set to 1920 x 1200 through the whole run, with the FPS counter only dipping to 20 FPS during the intense parts. Next on the list is game performance. The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic ran Capcom’s Dead Rising 2 without any problems, with the frame rate never quite dipping below 35 FPS in resolutions at and below 1680 x 1050. It was the same with our multiplayer favorite, Battlefield Bad Company 2. In resolutions of 1680 x 1050 and lower, the card was able to keep up with all the action on the screen, and the frame rate never dipped below 40 FPS. The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Overclocking Edition also has the distinction of being overclocked from the factory, but there’s still plenty of headroom for people who like to tinker with their cards and get more speed out of them.
"
VIDEOCARD
...the card managed a nice 30 FPS average with the resolution set to 1920 x 1200 through the whole run...
WHAT’S HOT
"
Reasonably powerful Can play the latest games without a hitch Consumes less power than the 460 series
WHAT’S NOT A few more software extras would’ve been nice
8.8
BOTTOMLINE The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Overclocking Edition is proof that Nvidia isn’t going to rest until it starts dominating every price point. With a retail price of Php6,450, this particular card gives gamers on a budget the best bang for their buck.
GADGETSLAB
ASUS 1018P NETBOOK
By Steven Vea What’s in a netbook? The primary things to look for are a compact size, durability and the ability to carry out basic computing tasks. So how does the Asus 1018P differ from the rest of the netbooks in its class? Out of the box, this netbook is strikingly easy on the eyes. The lid’s white matte finish and aluminum body is expertly crafted and combines aesthetics with functionality by providing a firm grip for when you’re transporting this laptop around. The 1018P’s physical dimensions put it a notch above the rest. For starters, this netbook’s display creates a new definition of slim—at approximately only a few centimeters thick. While the laptop is definitely lightweight (approximately 1.1kg), its construction is anything but. For such a miniscule laptop, it feels like you can drop it and not expect it to shatter into bits and pieces. Furthermore, when one tilts the display, the laptop surprisingly remains rooted in its resting position—one can actually tilt the screen with one hand without keeping another on the base to make sure it doesn’t flip over.
Once the slim lid is lifted and prepped for use, the 1018P’s main workspace is revealed. The white chiclet-style keyboard has been vastly improved compared with previous Eee PC netbooks, and users will find that it is relatively ergonomic and comfortable. The only drawback is that the left Shift key is quite petite, which seems odd since this is perhaps one of the most used keys. Furthermore, the number 2 and quotation keys were mislabeled/switched, and this reviewer cannot confirm if this is an isolated incident or if this mix up exists in other units. If you don’t consider this a hurdle however, the feel of the keyboard is quite amazing. Furthermore, Asus didn’t skimp on the touchpad as well—it is spacious for a netbook, and its texture is pleasantly smooth. Located directly above the keyboard in the workspace’s center are the main indicator lights (power, hard disk, WiFi and caps lock), and the barely visible builtin speakers. While this reviewer might not usually comment on a netbook’s speakers, the 1018P just might surprise users with its clarity and loudness.
On the left side of the 1018P you will find the VGA port, 1 of the 3 USB ports, the cooling vent and Kensington Lock port. The right side has the 2 remaining ports, the LAN port, mic/headphone jacks, power adapter input and the card reader (which supports SD/SDHC/ MMC). Operating Windows 7 Starter and armed with the Intel Atom N455 at 1.66Ghz and 1GB of DDR3 RAM, the 1018P will definitely satisfy your needs for a laptop that can perform the basic and necessary tasks when you’re on the go. With an WSVGA display at 1024x600 resolution partnered with the Intel GMA 3150 graphics card, the 1018P can hold its ground for browsing photos, streaming video and even basic presentations. But when it comes to playing videos, the 1018P struggles quite a bit. It is not capable of HD and even videos at 624x352 caused stutters and distortions in initial play and resumption of playback. Considering that the 1018P has all the essentials that you might need in terms of connectivity, (WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a webcam with a cover) and with a battery life of up
to 6 hours, the 1018P is a slim and sleek computing companion for your travels. While its lightweight frame is ideal for transport, its sturdy construction will guarantee that the hardware and your files will remains intact.
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE10.1-inch WSVGA display MEMORY1 GB CPU AND CHIPSETIntel Atom N455 1.66GHz WIRELESS USEDWLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz, Bluetooth 3.0+HS PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS262 x 179 x 18mm
WHAT’S HOT Aesthetic design Sturdy construction Webcam cover Bluetooth 3.0
WHAT’S NOT Mislabeled/switched keys Graphics card/performance
8.8
BOTTOMLINE The Asus 1018P is a great netbook to bring along while travelling. It fulfills basic computing tasks and does all of this in a pleasing white and aluminum finish. 2010 NOVEMBER
33
GADGETSLAB
MICROWAVE OVEN
By Michelle Callanta
Had I been given a microwave while I was living at a dorm during college, I’d probably had bettertasting meals other than instant noodles or tuna straight out of a can (which I actually used to heat with a rice cooker.) Now for most people (especially those with gas stoves), you may think that microwaves are simply for reheating meals and not so much for cooking. You turn a knob, set it to the number of minutes on the timer and you’re done. But these days, microwaves are becoming more intuitive. One such model is the Samsung AMW73F-W, a simple and stylish microwave oven that brings practicality and style to your kitchen. On the right hand side of the microwave door are the touchcontrol buttons and a push button instead of a handle to open the door. The touch control buttons replace your typical timer and temperature knobs with a numeric keypad for better time 34
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and temperature accuracy. But this is only for manual heating. If you want to make life easier in case you’re not sure just how long something should be heated for, the AMW73F-W comes with eight auto-cook functions that can assist you so you’re sure not to over-heat anything. You may need to read the manual in order to maximize the Samsung microwave’s benefits as it comes with a highly intuitive menu that allows you to really customize your cooking needs. Other microwaves will allow you to only set the timer and press start. But with the AMW73F-W, you can adjust the temperature (it comes with 11 power levels of cooking starting from 0 to 100% power) as well as identify the correct temperature and time of cooking/defrosting according to weight. There are also six dedicated buttons that make up the Instant Menu for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage and dinner plate. Assuming that these six foods are the most microwavable,
the Samsung AMW73F-W helps you with an automatic time and temperature setting. What multitasking home-maker would not want that? I have a curious little three-year old who likes copying me in the kitchen. Luckily, the Samsung AMW73F-W comes with a lock function, which renders the microwave unusable.
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SAMSUNG AMW73F-W
Samsung AMW73F-W, a simple and stylish microwave oven that brings practicality and style to your kitchen.
WHAT’S HOT
"
Instant Menu dedicated buttons
Now I was able to test the microwave’s powers by making myself an actual breakfast of potatoes, scrambled eggs and fish fillet. I was afraid that the microwave would undercook my potatoes since I’m used to boiling them, or that my eggs would come out raw, and my fish may come out rubbery. But surprisingly, my food came out the same way it would’ve come out had I used a stove. The possibilities are endless. With the Samsung AMW73F-W, you’re sure to be on your way to making gourmet meals in no time.
Time/Weight Defrost functions Power level selection
WHAT’S NOT May be a bit complicated if you don’t read the manual
8.2
BOTTOMLINE For someone who loves to cook as well as to eat and needs a reliable hand, the Samsung AMW73FW is one appliance that should be included in your kitchen artillery.
GADGETSLAB
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB SMARTPHONE/TABLET
By John Nieves
Since the release of Apple’s iPad in April, the fruity one has singlehandedly dominated the tablet scene and has set the bar for the competition. While there have been half-hearted attempts to compete with the Cupertino juggernaut’s latest product, there hasn’t been a clear competitor to the iPad. Until now that is. Samsung is putting all its weight to bear on the tablet scene, and the result is the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch tablet that’s powered by the latest version of Android, Froyo 2.2. The Galaxy Tab’s design is an exercise in minimalism. Aside from the volume rocker and the camera shortcut key on the right side, the body of the Galaxy Tab is completely flat. There are also two cameras in the Tab—a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls. Navigation is done via the 7-inch touchscreen LCD and through the four touchsensitive controls located right below the screen. Charging and data go through the proprietary slot on the bottom. There’s also a microSD and SIM card slot. No cutting SIMs here; you’ll be able to use your regular SIM with the Tab. Powering the device is an ARM
Cortex A8 processor, 1 GHz processor with PowerVR SGX540 graphics. Looking at the processor you know that the Galaxy Tab isn’t messing around; it has the horsepower to drive all of the newest Android applications that you want to throw at it, and more. Samsung has seen fit to layer its own GUI, TouchWiz 3.0, on top of the existing Android software. If you’ve managed to get a hold of the Galaxy S or the Bada-powered Wave, it’s a similar experience. Of course, the whole tablet experience is still anchored to the underlying operating system which is Android. Unfortunately, Hugo Barra, director of products for mobile at Google has expressed that Android, specifically Froyo 2.2, is not optimized for tablets. It’s not that the whole experience isn’t enjoyable, because it is—it’s more the fact that the OS is being tasked to do a job it wasn’t designed for, and the device suffers because of it. The device refers to itself as a phone in most of the menu selections, and can even send SMS messages and make phone calls. While the former is convenient, the latter is a bit out of place, especially for such a large device. It would have been better if Samsung restricted the device to
data only, like what Apple did for the iPad. But in spite of that, Samsung has done a good job working with what it had. The experience is pretty slick, and device is extremely responsive. You’ll still be able to enjoy the Android marketplace, though some of the applications and games won’t run full screen and essentially run windowed. The Galaxy Tab also has its own ebook reader in the form of the reader’s hub. Three separate services allow you to read the latest news, books and magazines and are powered by PressDisplay, Kobo and Zinio, respectively. As of writing, only Kobo is up and running in our demo unit. Using the Galaxy Tab as an ebook reader is nice, and the unit’s overall weight isn’t a burden, especially when lying down. One of the upsides of using Froyo as an OS becomes apparent when you start browsing websites, as the Galaxy Tab is able to display Flash content, meaning you can watch embedded videos right on the website you’re currently browsing without being redirected to the YouTube app. Battery life is about a day of typical use.
At the end of the day, the Galaxy Tab is a solid tablet alternative to Apple’s iPad. While the platform it’s built on isn’t the best, Samsung has done what it can and the result is a slick, responsive device that’s easy to use.
SPECIFICATIONS
OPERATING SYSTEMAndroid 2.2, Froyo CPUARM Cortex A8 processor, 1 GHz processor; PowerVR SGX540 graphics LCD SIZE7-inch capacitive TFT Touchscreen PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS190.1 x 120.5 x 12 mm WEIGHT380 g BANDGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 INTERNAL MEMORY (INCLUDING EXPANDABLE MEMORY CAPACITY)16/32GB internal storage, can be expanded through microSD cards
WHAT’S HOT 7-inch screen is bright and clear Takes regular SIMs Powerful processor Easy to use Works as an excellent e-reader
WHAT’S NOT
Taking calls with it feels strange
8.8
BOTTOMLINE Samsung’s first tablet is a solid device with definite mass market appeal. 2010 NOVEMBER
35
GADGETSLAB
MILI POWER PICO PORTABLE PROJECTOR
By Francis Tan
“Remember the days when people used to plug in their laptops to huge projectors?”—That’s probably what we’ll be hearing from the next generation seeing more and more products shrink and become portable. Portability is the inevitable trend with netbooks, mobile phones, and more recently, Pico projectors. MiLi is heading toward the right direction with it very own MiLi Power Pico Projector. It’s a chunky portable projector that won’t exactly fit in your pocket, but is easy enough to carry around. Being originally a battery manufacturer, MiLi has incorporated a lot of energyrelated features in this device. Specifically designed for iPods, this projector not only serves as a dock charger, but as a battery extender as well. It also has a USB port where you could charge other USB charging devices. They claim that this device can last up to 20,000 hours: that’s more or less five years if you use the device on a regular basis. 36
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The projector itself is cleverly designed in a way that the top part of it can pivot out to reveal an iPod/iPhone dock inside. It is made with a glossy plastic material, which gives it a sleek finish. Personally, I think there could be room for improvement on the general look but functionalitywise that’s beside the point. The top part encases the lens so the viewing angle could be adjusted. It feels tight and sturdy enough to hold the position. The buttons are touch-sensitive even if they don’t exactly look that way. It also comes with a remote that’s relatively easy to navigate. There are a few settings that could be adjusted like color balance and contrast, but based from experience, it’s not needed. It takes about 3 hours to charge and it lasts about 1½ hours while projecting—which is good enough for a short movie, or maybe three to four episodes of your favorite sitcom. It could last longer when plugged but I wouldn’t really
recommend it because the device gets rather hot with prolonged use—which is duly noted in a warning sticker on the back. The projected display looks gorgeous but has some limitations to it. It has a contrast ratio of 100:1 and a brightness of 10 lumens, which is slightly above the standard among current Pico projectors. It is capable of displaying from 5 to 70 inches but the quality degrades the bigger it gets. At around 5 to 15 inches, it looks absolutely crisp and bright. A fair warning though that it is hardly visible when projected in a lit room so make sure you use it in a dark place. It has built-in speakers that produce decent sound. At higher volume levels though, the sound starts to tear up. It’s good enough for movies when watching with a friend or two but you might want to attach an external set of speakers for clarity. If you’re not an owner of any of
the beloved Apple products, you need not worry because there are other options available. You can find supplementary AV input and VGA cables so you can hook it up to your DVD player, laptop and video camera among others. For curiosity’s sake I tried hooking it up to my old 3rd-gen iPod nano and it works for that as well. I can conclude that if your device has a compatible output as the ones available for the projector, it will most likely work. If your media player only supports HDMI out, you could get an HDMI to VGA/AV adapter but that accessory is sold separately. When connected to an iPod touch or iPhone, the display shuts down while you navigate through menus or run any application other than the video player. This may be a good thing because it saves on battery life but then that means you would have to give up playing your favorite games on big display. For laptops, it displays the entire screen at a 640x480 VGA resolution. With this resolution,
GADGETSLAB
Globe Business clients experience a Telepresence conference demo with AT&T executives from Hong Kong and the US.
THE GLOBE TELEPRESENCE Advantage for large enterprises
A product this feature-packed won’t come in cheap. It has a steep suggested retail price of Php 26,000 and is currently available only in an order basis.
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you’re going to want to stick to your standard LCD monitor for your Starcraft 2 or Civilization 5, but at least it’s good enough for movies and simple presentations, which is where the MiLi Pico Projector really shines.
The projector itself is cleverly designed in a way that the top part of it can pivot out to reveal an iPod/iPhone dock inside.
WHAT’S HOT
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Extends iPod battery life, dock is well designed Compatibility with a lot of devices Clear crisp image for a portable projector
WHAT’S NOT
Steep price tag A bit too chunky
7.8
Incompatible with apps and games for iPod/iPhone/iPad
Globe Telepresence brings together people across multiple locations around the world in real time, so they get the feel of being in the same room although meeting participants could actually be halfway across the globe. This was exactly the experience of Ayala Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Foundation USA which have successfully conducted a press briefing at the Globe Telepresence public room in Makati City, where they announced the first-ever Philippine Development Forum that took place in Fairmont San Jose in San Jose, California. Offered by Globe Business, Globe Telepresence enables a life-size “in-person” meeting experience for interaction and collaboration in real time. The solution allows enterprises such as Ayala Foundation to connect to colleagues and partners all over the world using high-definition screens with spatial audio. It allows face-to-face meetings across a virtual table, for critical discussions and negotiations where facial reactions are discernable for clarity and effective communications.
Some of the benefits that Ayala Foundation realized in using Globe Telepresence to achieve its objective of gathering people from different parts of the world are savings on travel costs. It was even able to save time. Still, this technology has many other benefits including carbon emission reduction by saving on business travels. In the Telepresence Revolution, a Carbon Disclosure Project study by independent analyst research firm Verdantix, it said deploying telepresence offers significant environmental advantages. The study said US and UK businesses with revenues over $1 billion that substitute some business travel with telepresence can cut nearly 5.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing more than one million passenger vehicles from the road for one year. The study was sponsored by AT&T.
Ayala Foundation’s press briefing held at the Globe Telepresence public room in Makati.
BOTTOMLINE If you’re creative you can do a lot with the MiLi Pico Projector, however, because of the steep price tag on it, it might not be for everyone.
2010 NOVEMBER
37
GADGETSLAB
YAMAHA RXV467 AMPLIFIER
By Steven Vea In this day and age of increasingly complex media connectivity and obsoletism, it is valuable to pay attention to your audio/video (AV) receiver purchase. Typically, you should look for a receiver which hosts the necessary inputs for your current entertainment setup while anticipating future purchases. Yamaha has brilliantly done this with the RXV467.
familiar volume knob on the right side. In the center is the RXV467’s main fluorescent display, along with the “Scene” buttons, which provide quick shortcuts to select the appropriate media device (BD/DVD/TV/CD and radio) and corresponding sound parameters. On the front a mini stereo jack is also conveniently located for easy connections of MP3 players.
AV receivers are usually included as a requirement when you purchase a “complete” entertainment system (television, media player, surround speakers, etc.) and most consumers will often hire help to take care of the necessary connections since it can be quite technically confusing and time consuming. However, AV receivers play an important role in your entertainment setup, and the RXV467 makes all of this easy while including a host of features.
At the back of the RXV467, you will find the main connections board. There are 4 HDMI 1.4 inputs, 2 component video inputs, 5 composite video inputs, and 2 sets of optical and coaxial digital audio inputs. The speaker terminals are also located here. In addition to main inputs and outputs, a connection for optional accessories for a universal iPod dock and/or a Bluetooth receiver is also provided. If you’re worried about how to connect everything, a very detailed instructional manual is included in the box that guides you through the setup process.
Out of the box, the RXV467 is sleek—its black metal finish is a great combination of vintage and retro aesthetics. Furthermore, upon looking at it, you will immediately notice its simple interface which is vital to AV receivers, as not to send consumers cowering away at the potential complexity of operating the product. The power knob is on the top left side and the 38
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Once your physical connections are complete, Yamaha has also added an intuitive method of calibrating the RXV467 called the Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO). With the help of a small microphone,
YPAO automatically analyzes the acoustics of the area of your media setup and configures your settings for the best sound quality. If you’re unsatisfied with the results, you can also manually adjust the parameters. For a mid-range receiver, the RXV467 offers an astounding abundance of features. One of its highlights is its support for HDMI 1.4 for 3D video and an Audio Return Channel, the latter of which eliminates the need for an extra S/PDIF cable to listen to your television’s sound through the receiver. The RXV467 has support for a multitude of surround sound audio decoders (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio) and will not leave any consumer wanting more. The unit’s Compressed music Enhancer works quite well, which makes downloaded MP3s with poor encoding sound richer and fuller. Another great addition is the Adaptive Dynamic Range Control which is useful for when certain dialogs in a film or TV show become too soft. Ideally, the RXV467 is best for consumers who own or plan to
purchase an HDTV, a (3D-ready) Blu-ray player, or a gaming console because of the HDM 1.4 support this AV receiver offers. The ability to easily switch between media via the “SCENE” mode allows consumers to fully enjoy their entertainment system without the complication of connections and or confusing text menus. If you’re looking for a product that can seamlessly integrate all of your media devices audio outputs into one hub, then the RXV467 is an excellent choice.
WHAT’S HOT Multiple inputs HDMI 1.4 support Easy connections
WHAT’S NOT The unit’s vent is prone to dust
9.7
BOTTOMLINE In its price range, the RXV467 offers a host of inputs and features that cater to your existing system while leaving room for future purchases, which makes it a great product.
GADGETSLAB
CAPTURE AND SHARE LIFE Much like the way the wearable Vicon Revue takes digital photos throughout the day as a means of recording the wearer's life, so the Looxcie records continuous video for a similar purpose.
ASUS WICAST EW2000 WIRELESS HD TRANSMITTER
By John Nieves
the resolution to fit to your TV.
In a nutshell, what the WiCast does is transmit video from the source to your TV or projector, wirelessly. The solution comes in two parts— the transmitter, which is the size of a small external hard drive, and the receiver which is about the size of a wireless router. Both units need external power provided by the bundled AC adapters.
The WiCast really shines with PC gaming. I hooked it up to my gaming rig and started my regular gaming routine of killing dudes online with Battlefield Bad Company 2, and let me tell you, it is fun. There’s little to no lag when it comes to gaming, and it’s the perfect device to scratch that bigscreen PC gaming itch you may get from time to time.
Setting up the WiCast is simple. The whole setup takes less than five minutes, and thankfully does not involve mucking about in a custom GUI to pair both devices. When plugged in to a computer, it treats the WiCast as another display, so it’s easy to configure
Playing HD video and movies with the WiCast on an HDTV is nice, especially when you have full control of where the content is coming from. People who download a lot of videos from the web and want to enjoy them on big screen is the obvious target of the WiCast, as it eliminates a lot of the hassle when getting content on the TV.
The WiCast isn’t just for PCs, however, and it seems that it’ll work with most devices that have an HDMI port. I tested it with an Xbox 360, and sure enough I was out and about shooting cowboys in the nuts in Red Dead
Redemption 2 without worrying about screen lag. Probably the only complaint I have with the WiCast is that it doesn’t have an audio optical out, so if you’re eyeing it for your aging home entertainment system you’re out of luck.
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Getting content from your PC or notebook to the boob tube isn’t the simplest of tasks. Sure, you can always just plug an HDMI cable from your notebook (if it has one) to your TV, but that presents its own set of problems, not to mention that good cables aren’t exactly cheap. The Asus WiCast EW2000 looks to solve that particular dilemma with an elegant, easy to use, wireless solution.
The WiCast really shines with PC gaming.
WHAT’S HOT
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Easy to setup and configure Eliminates clutter
WHAT’S NOT No audio optical out means that older amplifiers and receivers won’t work with it
8.8
Launched by a California company with the same name, the Looxcie (pronounced “look-see”) is a wearable Bluetooth camcorder that lets users capture video of everything they see. The device fits comfortably over the ear, the company says, and points wherever the wearer looks. It's always on, so the user needn't worry about turning it on when they want to record. When something memorable happens, though, they simply press a button to save a permanent, sharable clip of the last 30 seconds. Otherwise, Looxcie continuously purges the oldest video in its storage, which can accommodate up to five hours of recording. An accompanying smartphone application turns the user's phone into a Looxcie viewfinder, remote control and editing tool for creating clips up to 30 minutes in length. Clips can also be uploaded to a Mac or PC via the device's USB connector for archiving, viewing, editing or additional sharing; a preprogrammable auto-share feature lets users automatically send clips to a preset email address. Looxcie currently operates with the majority of Android 2.0 and higher smartphones, with support for additional operating systems coming soon.
BOTTOMLINE
Website: www.looxcie.com
The Asus WiCast EW2000 is a simple and elegant way to get your PC content on to the big screen.
Source: Springwise
2010 NOVEMBER
39
GADGETSLAB
LG 32LE5500 LED TV
By John Nieves
As I mentioned thrice now, the LG 32LE5500 is supermodel thin, coming in at only 1.2-inches. The set is tastefully designed and crafted, and has a nice rosewood color on the edges. What is becoming the norm for TVs of this type, the manual controls are all located on the front of the bezel, are touch sensitive and appear when you run your fingers to them, and disappear after a bit of time has passed. The back panel has all the relevant connections you’d ever want, including 4 HDMI ports. The included remote control is easy to use, but it would have been better if it had backlit illumination so you wouldn't be groping for the right key combination in the dark. 40
NOVEMBER 2010
Being an LED TV, the 32LE5500 is generally more power efficient than regular LCD TV models. If that’s not enough, the TV also has an energy saving mode that will further cut down power consumption for all you power misers out there. Other features include TruMotion 120Hz, an antimotion judder tech and NetCast, which basically gets you online via YouTube, Picasa and AccuWeather. com. One nice touch is the ability to adjust the amount of judder reduction. Another feature that’ll certainly endear the 32LE5500 to children are the built-in games. The games aren’t sophisticated by any stretch of the imagination, but as I said, it’s a great distraction for the kiddies. The 32LE5500 was able to pick up on our local channels right away, and to be honest I was taken aback by the picture clarity, something we’d always had a problem with other units. Setup took less than five minutes, and the 32LE5500 was able to pick up all of the channels that our provider offered.
The 32LE5500 uses a technology called local dimming, which basically means that the TV is able to control how much light the individual LEDs put out. The 32LE5500 is an edge-lit model, meaning that the illumination for the picture comes from the edge, not from the back. While the 32LE5500 had good black performance, better than say a regular LCD screen, I did notice stray illumination and blooming in dark scenes in the movie Black Hawk Down. On the upside, the 32LE5500 had very good color reproduction, and is capable of reproducing accurate skin tones.
SPECIFICATIONS TECHNOLOGYLED SCREEN SIZE32-inches DYNAMIC CONTRAST RATIOMeasured in millions, too high to count HD CAPABILITYFull HD CONNECTIONSDVI, HDMI, Component, USB
WHAT’S HOT
Ability to go online through NetCast Slim and elegant design
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Most TVs that come out now seem to subscribe to the “let’s make it thinner!” design mantra. Thinner is better they say, and looking at the 32LE5500 I’d be inclined to agree. Anorexic would be the term I’ll be using liberally to describe it, and the South Korean firm has managed to make the 32LE5500 thin enough to stand out although not too thin that it makes it a chore to connect and actually use the thing.
Good color reproduction
WHAT’S NOT Some stray illumination and blooming in dark scenes
8.4
The set is tastefully designed and crafted, and has a nice rosewood color on the edges.
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BOTTOMLINE The LG 32LE5500 is a solid LED TV and a great buy for the holidays.
GADGETSLAB
HP MINI 210 MINI NOTEBOOK
By Danee Torres
Consumers these days have discerning tastes when it comes to gadgets, and as technology progresses, so do their needs. Anyone can see there’s been a drastic increase in the demand for portability in the past couple of years and more recently, all-inone devices. However, there are still some people who prefer to keep their gadgets separate, and lucky for us, HP has no shortage of options. The HP Mini 210 is one such device. Light and compact, it’s for users who appreciate the classic laptop format challenged by the emergence of tablet devices. Weighing in at 95kg, it is no chore to carry around, and HP has built this little machine to have all the essentials: three USB ports, an earphone jack, a microSD card slot and a 15-pin port. One of the best features of the Mini 210 is the keyboard, whose spacious island keys ensure minimal adjustment from using a full-size keyboard. What’s great about HP is they know which functions to keep. I, for one, liked the fact that they kept the directional, delete and backspace buttons as stand-alone
instead of pairing them up with other keys accessed by holding down the function button. It says a lot about HP’s foresight in considering both space and user needs in designing a mini notebook by giving the important keys a primary function while media buttons take a back seat as alternate functions. When it comes to looks the HP Mini 210 is similar to other HP mini notebooks. I have to hand it to the designers as sticking with the rounded edges and elevated screen hinges were a good call. Working on a device this small at an angle is more comfortable for the user overall and the rounded edges give a touch of modernity and sleekness HP minis are known for. Speaking of working, I have praises and questions about the new touchpad design. It’s designed so that the mouse buttons are built into the lower left and right corners, and while the entire pad allows you to select and click, the inability to discern where the mouse buttons are is a little inconvenient. You might select an icon and want to right-click on it
but finding yourself tapping the touchpad to no avail as you’re a millimeter off the actual button. Installed with HP QuickWeb, the HP Mini 210 gives you easier access to multimedia, web and email upon startup. Personally, I prefer launching Windows 7 instead because I’m really not used to navigating using QuickWeb. However, QuickWeb is faster as it requires no rebooting time.
SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE10.1-inch display MEMORY1 GB CPU AND CHIPSETIntel Atom N450 1.66GHz
During the test, I viewed photos, watched videos and surfed the net (it comes with the standard 802.11n WiFi) and the HP Mini 210 proved to be quite a strong player in those fields. Running on the Intel Atom N450 is sufficient for the above-mentioned tasks, although for tougher demands having a desktop would still be advisable. When it comes to mobility though, the HP Mini 210 is an ace.
WIRELESS USED802.11b/g/n WLAN PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS1.1 X 10.5 X 6.9 inches
WHAT’S HOT Light and compact Spacious keyboard
WHAT’S NOT Touchpad has no physical partition for mouse buttons
8.4
BOTTOMLINE HP has a slew of computing devices, and if you already have an HP desktop, your next move should be getting an HP Mini as it addresses all portability needs. 2010 NOVEMBER
41
MOBILITY
MOBILITY
Suzuki SX4:
SPORTY YET SWEET By Armin A. Amio
I had my first brush with a Suzuki vehicle when I was being tutored the intricacies of off-roading a few years ago. We were in a Suzuki Samurai, and I told myself that this vehicle must have been a true road warrior to be able to go through all the paces of a really tight and difficult trail. Suzuki made a big impact on my motoring world that day. I waited with bated breath as to when I can finally get my hands on a Suzuki vehicle again. That day came a few weeks ago when Suzuki Philippines said I can pick up the SX4 Crossover on my way to work. Up close, Suzuki SX4 is very cute. Small, yes, but comfortable, surprisingly tall, incredibly well equipped—and with a gutsy 1.5-liter motor that is perfectly adequate. The test unit was a four-speed auto tranny version. The Crossover comes with everything you need on the safety front—driver and front passenger airbags, ventilated discs up front and solid one at the rear. Not to mention standard anti-lock brake system and side-impact door beams too. I couldn’t be happier space-wise as it was more than ample for my needs, with plenty of storage space and cup holders. There’s even a hidden drawer beneath the front passenger 42
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seat for stowing away my makeup kit and other knickknacks. The interior is refined, even understated—yet classy. I also enjoyed the useful radio controls on the steering wheel that run the integrated CM/MP3/auxiliary port audio system with 8 door-mounted speakers. Luggage area at the rear is spacious—enough for two golf bags and the standard retractable cover will keep your stowed belongings away from those prying thieves’ eyes. Suzuki says the SX4 is a four-wheel-drive sports crossover—the S for Sport, X for crossover and 4 for all-wheel drive, although strictly speaking it’s only a front-wheel drive. Nevertheless, I loved driving the SX4—it’s easy to drive and park, easy to turn, and because there’s lots of
glass you have amazing visibility all over the place. The McPherson strut with coil spring up front and Torsion beam with coil at the rear made for a very sleek drive with nary a body roll—even when driving on zigzag road. The more technically minded will want to know the engine produces 110 horsepower at 5600 revs per minute and 150 Nm of pulling power at 3800. At Php 899,000, the Suzuki SX4 Crossover is a steal. I want one for Christmas!
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LEXUS Unveils Hybrids Lexus Manila launched the first full-hybrid luxury vehicles in the Philippines recently—the 2011 RX450h, a ruggedly handsome hybrid model, and its elegant counterpart, the LS600hL. Both models are equipped with the Lexus Hybrid Drive, an advanced marriage of a gasoline engine with powerful electric motors. Unlike mild hybrids, the Lexus Hybrid Drive has a unique system which allows the vehicle to run completely on electric power resulting in zero gas emissions. When extra power is needed, both the gasoline engine and the electric motors work in conjunction to deliver unrivaled throttle response and breathtaking performance. Lexus Hybrid Drive integrates various features into a full system to deliver maximum performance with ecological responsibility. These features include a regenerative braking system which converts braking energy which is normally discarded as heat into power for the batteries. It has an exhaust heat-recovery system which quickly diverts exhaust heat to warm the engine faster thereby reducing fuel usage and emissions. The RX hybrid luxury SUV was the first luxury 44
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hybrid vehicle launched in 2005. Since then, Lexus has completed a line of performance hybrid vehicles. The 2011 RX450h is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) running on the innovative and fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle. This is combined with front and rear, high output, permanent magnet electric drive motors for a combined system output of 295bhp. Part time all-wheel drive is taken care of by the rear electric drive motors to ensure added agility and grip upon requirement. The RX450h’s hybrid powertrain is completed by the adoption of an electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission with intelligence (ECVT-i) to ensure smooth, powerful, yet fuel-efficient acceleration and cruising. The RX450h is equipped with a 9-speaker Lexus premium audio sound system, 10 airbags, dualzone climate control, fully powered seats with seat memory and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) type-high intensity discharge headlights with an adaptive front-lighting system.
MOBILITY
NAVARA TRUCK & TRACK CHALLENGE
The country’s first and only Sport Utility Truck, the Nissan Navara, once again proves it’s the truck to beat as it gears up for a power-packed finish this year with the Navara Truck and Track Challenge held October 16 at Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal. The Truck and Track Challenge pitted eight teams with four members each from the motoring media, Club Navara Philippines and prospective buyers in a series of off-road tests to demonstrate the Navara’s key strengths. Universal Motors Corp. (UMC), local assembler and distributor of Nissan light commercial vehicles, led by its chief operating officer Elizabeth H. Lee, kicked off the event with a fun ride and drive to Timberland Heights via the Sierra Madre route for the best way to experience the Navara’s sporty handling and power on mountainous zigzag roads.
The 2011 LS600hL redefines the word “flagship,” combining the fun of a lead foot with the responsibility of a green thumb. This longwheel base limousine is powered by a 5.0 Liter V8 with dual variable valve timing with intelligence and electronic valve timing (VVT-iE) and a high-output, permanent magnet, electric drive motor. The full-hybrid system delivers a combined maximum output of 438bhp to all four wheels through a full-time all-wheel drive system equipped with a TORSEN limited-slip differential. The LS600hL comes in both five-seater and four-seater variants, amenities include a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, DVD player with touchscreen, 10 airbags, 4-zone climate control, seat airconditioners and rear reclining seats with seat vibrators for the five-seater variant, while the four-seater variant adds specialized rear seat features including an ottoman rear seat with seat massager (choice of shiatsu or stretch massages) and a rear DVD screen. The Lexus full-luxury hybrid vehicles give more to the driver and take less from the world.
The Truck and Track Challenge features an especially designed off-road course to test and prove the mettle of the class-leading Nissan Navara Sport Utility Truck. Driving over alternating mounds and craters is easy enough with the Navara’s superior suspension articulation, highest ground clearance and unique 8-crossmember ladder-type frame. A first in its class, the 8-crossmember chassis provides uncompromised stability, comfort and security even in the toughest terrain. Driving through slippery slopes, steep inclines and declines is also a breeze with the Navara’s approach, departure and break-over angles as well as low range gearing for no-brake deceleration or creep as well as navigating through strips of mud, clay and loose rocks with the vehicle’s 4WD traction and limited slip differential. The Nissan Navara Sport Utility Truck remains to be the most powerful, fastest, toughest and strongest pickup truck around. It is also the most awarded—hailed as the Best Pickup for the third consecutive year during the Annual C! Magazine Awards and chosen as the Best Pickup during the recently concluded Auto Focus People's Choice Awards. Navara Truck and Track Challenge is presented by Timberland Heights, the official venue partner, in cooperation Total Philippines Corp., Spyder, Vitwater and Ortigas Home Depot. 2010 NOVEMBER
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BIKES
SUZUKI LAUNCHES
SMASH COOL 115 The new Suzuki Smash 115 comes in two colors— Pearl Mirage White and Candy Summer Red.
Suzuki Philippines recently launched the latest model of the Suzuki Smash 115, with an upgraded engine and a GSX-R inspired design. Targeted primarily for consumers who are considering their first bike purchase, the new Smash 115 has many ingenious features that make it ideal for novice riders. 46
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Designed for everyday use, the new Suzuki Smash delivers higher power output while maintaining fuel efficiency. A high-revving, strong-pulling 115cc engine produces speed and power at low fuel burn. A durable fourspeed transmission transmits power in a wide and accessible band, eliminating dangerous partial shifts for easy operation and safety. Suzuki’s patented PAIR (Pulsed Secondary Air Injection) System ignites unburned gases inside the exhaust port, maximizing engine efficiency and ensuring cleaner emissions. A large x 100mm-diameter muffler with built-in oxidation catalyzer contributes to a greener environment while a sporty look. In keeping with the Smash’s winning record
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in the racing scene, the new Smash 115 has a GSX-R inspired design that will surely win over racing fans. Aerodynamic styling and leadingedge sport-bike appeal have been devised to uplift every rider’s character. A distinctive highwatt multi-reflector headlight is complemented by a rear combination lamp with multi-polygon reflector and transparent cover. For that hightech feel, the dashboard features a sports watch-inspired speedometer with gear position indicator. Other design features include a slim, diamondtype compact chassis developed for easier and smoother handling. Its seat height is set to a low 750mm, well-proportioned for easier leg reach. A telescopic front fork suspension allows quick reaction to road imperfections and shields the rider from jarring impacts. Its reduced spring vibration ensures a stress-free and more enjoyable ride. Taking into consideration the rider’s convenience and comfort, Suzuki has also given the new Smash 115 a large 8-liter underseat compartment to store personal items as well as other essentials like a rain gear and emergency tools. A magnetic key shutter safety feature ensures peace of mind as the ignition can only be accessed with the correct magnet attached to the tip of the ignition key. Completing the performance package for the new Smash 115 are sleek mag wheels mounted on Dunlop tires. During the launching event, Suzuki Philippines president Satoshi Uchida noted that: “With the new Suzuki Smash 115, we are confident that we have a bestselling model that will appeal to a large segment of motorcycle fans, ranging from novice riders who want an easy-handling entry level bike, to company employees who want an affordable and reliable vehicle for their daily commuting needs, to experienced riders looking for a durable performance machine.” The new Suzuki Smash 115 comes in two colors—Pearl Mirage White and Candy Summer Red—and is now available at all Suzuki motorcycle dealers nationwide. 48
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MOBILITY
2010 OCTOBER
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GAMING
BY JOHN NIEVES
I like zombies. In fact I like those rotting, shambling carcasses so much that I try to play whatever zombie-related game that comes out—games like Valve’s stellar Left 4 Dead and the phenomenal online flash game Last Stand. So I was a bit annoyed that Capcom’s non-Resident Evil-related zombie romp, Dead Rising wasn’t available for the PC. Well, that’s ok because Capcom has released the sequel, Dead Rising 2 for all the major consoles— including the PC. Ever since I got a copy of the massively bloody and entertaining zombie slice and dice simulator, I’ve been dreaming of new ways to dispose of the bloody horde. Dead Rising 2 puts you squarely in the shoes of Chuck Greene, an exmotorcycle champ who’s trying to make ends meet for his daughter, Katie, by joining the reality TV show Terror is Reality. Katie was bitten by a zombie, and now relies on daily doses of Zombrex to keep the virus at bay. During one of the scheduled broadcasts of Terror is Reality, where people knock off the undead for money, all Hell breaks loose and it gets pinned on Chuck. He and other survivors get hemmed in at a safehouse at Fortune City where the show takes place, and it’s up to Chuck to save as many people as he can while trying to clear his name, in a city that’s filled to brim with zombies. As Chuck, you run around Fortune City trying to complete missions within a certain timeframe. You’ll have someone relaying messages to you and possible locations of survivors, and it’s up to you if you want to rescue them all. Rescuing survivors nets you PP, or player points, which are basically the game’s version of exp. Get enough to level up and 50
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you’ll earn new moves, more inventory space and combo cards that allow you to wail on zombies much more efficiently. One of the things the series is known for is being able to use literally anything in the game world as a weapon. Barrels, guitars, rakes and wheelchairs are all fair game in zombie warfare, but Dead Rising 2 takes it up a notch with combi-weapons. You can now take one item and combine it with another and the end result a weapon that’s more efficient at zombie disposal than singular items. Combined items are also much sturdier,
and since all items have a finite durability, it allows you to bash zombie heads in twice as long. And really, who can resist the allure of improvised Wolverine claws? The story isn’t as complex as a Dan Brown novel, but surprisingly I was genuinely interested in how everything would turn out. There are a few cringe-worthy dialogue choices, but overall the voice acting was good. Graphics are excellent, and for the most part the system requirements aren’t that taxing. I was playing with a GeForce GTS 450 video card with the resolution
set on 1680 x 1050 and the details set on high with no stuttering whatsoever. PC owners of the game will also enjoy twice the number of zombies on the screen as opposed to console owners. Of course, the game isn’t perfect. Chuck runs like a girl, specifically, a girl that’s suffering from a bout of laziness. It would’ve helped tremendously if there was a sprint ability integrated
to allow him to dash from one place to another quickly, without the aid of motorized transport. Psychopath boss battles are also sometimes annoying, especially the ones near the end, and made finishing the game a chore. Of course, the ability to replay the story with your current character level and combo cards helps to alleviate that problem a bit. If you’re looking for a good zombie game or in the mood for some good oldfashioned zombie killing, then Dead Rising 2 is your game. But just remember: duct tape is your friend.
DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD
Compiled by John Nieves
This month, we serve up a healthy dose of augmented reality for your smartphones—learn the ways of the world with Wikitude, and find out where your car is via Car Finder—and slip and slide in the awesome mobile racing game Reckless Racing.
Wikitude World Browser 5 Stuck in a place you’re not familiar with? Want to know the nearest pizza place? Download the Wikititude World Browser 5 and see the world around you in a different light. Wikitude is an augmented reality browser that scans your surroundings for geo-referenced content using the camera and the device’s sensors. The objects’ information is displayed in the cam right where the real object is located. Providers (known as
AVAILABLE FOR: iOS4, Android, Symbian
Car Finder
Reckless Racing
While it’s not hard finding our cars on multi-story car parks, things get more difficult when we leave them in large, open parking spaces. Car Finder for the iOS4 simplifies things by allowing you to mark where you left your car, how far it is relative to your position and its general direction. It even comes with a nice parking meter timer that tells you when you have to top up. The app needs access to GPS satellites, so it’s not too useful in multilevel parking garages, but it’s a God-send when you’re forced to park in an open area you’re not familiar with.
Looking for a killer game to waste some time on? Then you might want to check out Reckless Racing, a game developed by Swedish firm Pixelbite. Reminiscent of old school top down racing games like the retro Micromachines, Reckless Racing lets you compete against CPU opponents in a variety of locales. The graphics are nothing to laugh at, and are very pretty. The game is pretty easy to get into and offers a variety of control schemes to suit your needs. The game is available for $2.99, or about Php 129, so get downloading.
AVAILABLE FOR: iOS4
worlds) have created POIs in almost every corner of the globe, and you’ll be able to look around using your smartphone and see what’s around you. Jonesing for some good grub? The powerful location aware search engine scans all the local worlds for your search terms and gives you the relevant matches in your immediate location. It’s a great tool for exploring a new country, or even just looking at your old haunts in a new light.
AVAILABLE FOR: IOS4, ANDROID
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WEBSITES
Abundant INNOVATIONS By Presy Alba
American journalist William Allen White once said: “Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move on. But the old orders should not be moved easily— certainly not at the mere whim or behest of youth. There must be a clash and if youth hasn’t enough force or fervor to produce the clash the world grows stale and stagnant and sour in decay.” The dynamic changes in technology today just prove how strong the young are as the driving force of innovation. 52
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But it is not just youth that determines why we are in the middle of such creative fervor. As Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-brainers Will Rule the Future, said, “We are entering the conceptual age where left-brained reasoning is no longer enough and that we need to use our right-brain qualities to flourish in this new age.” The need for significance or creativity in addition to the regular utilitarian requirement of logical thinking in the corporate world has been validated by a recent IBM survey of more than 1,500 CEOs from around the world. IBM’s press release (www-03.ibm.com/press/
us/en/pressrelease/31670.wss) of the results, which stated that “more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision—successfully navigating an increasing complex world will require creativity… CEOs are confronted with massive shifts— new government regulations, changes in global economic centers, accelerated industry transformation, growing volumes of data, rapidly evolving customer preferences—that, according to the study, can be overcome by instilling “creativity” throughout an organization.” In a world where creativity has become a basic requirement
WEBSITES www.seatguru.com
www.ted.com www.designmom.com
for even a modicum of success, websites that stand out are those that cater to the left-brain’s need for utility while pandering to the right-brain’s need for significance with interactive design elements. I would like to share a few examples of these websites. For the world traveler, it pays to know what to expect during the long-haul flights. www.seatguru. com provides seat charts, flight amenities and available services on virtually all international flights. All you need to do is select the airline from the list, then enter your flight number, and Seatguru will show you a map of the seats of the plane that is assigned to your flight. The diagram will give you an idea of where the lavatories, galley and exits are located. The seat chart shows where the good seats are, and which seats have some drawbacks or which rows have poor seats. When click on drawing, a pop-up dialog box provides additional information about seat type, video, legroom and storage space available.
If you plan to do any traveling in the near future, a visit to www. seatguru.com will help you plan for your trip and make it a more enjoyable experience. Letting your travel agent know where you want to be seated will certainly make the flight more comfortable. Knowing what the entertainment options are during the flight will also make your trip more relaxing and agreeable. The information superhighway is jampacked with websites of every shape, size, color or topic, and with a little patience you will find more than a few that will capture your imagination. When I surf the web, I tend to gravitate towards the artsy websites, but once in a while, I stumble into a site that is not just artistic, it is a collection of fun ideas that just fires up the imagination. www. designmom.com is such a site. Created by designer Gabrielle Blair, the website which offers a wide array of design ideas all gleaned from her rich family life. Married and with six children, Gabrielle draws from her life experiences
and shares her finds, her ideas and creative flair. The site is full of a cornucopia of information, it will literally take you days to just browse through her posts, and you will not be disappointed—you will find posts that share great gift ideas for kids. The site is really worth a visit it was even named by Time Magazine as one of the Best Websites of 2010. Another website that is worth a visit is www.ted.com. Short for Technology Entertainment and Design, TED is a collection of what the site refers as “riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” TED is known as the venue where the world’s best and brightest share their ideas to the rest of the world, and although tickets to their events are both pricey and difficult to obtain, the talks become available online soon after the event. On a recent visit to the site, I watched Melissa Gates’ talk on “what nonprofits can learn from Coca-Cola”—and was wowed by her intriguing presentation of how nonprofits could emulate the marketing savvy of Coca-Cola
to reach its target market. TED is one site where the world’s experts and best thinkers share their knowledge and ideas with the rest of the world—for free. And while we’re on the topic of the best and brightest ideas, BBC’s World Challenge is an annual event that we should not bypass when it comes to innovation for this is the competition where the world’s great ideas are recognized. The 2010 finalists have already been announced and voting is going on. This year, the Philippines is one of the finalists, and I am proud to say that the hydraulic ram pump is a project of a nonprofit foundation from Negros. The ram pump is not a new invention, but like many innovations, it has to wait for its time and it looks like the ram pump’s time is finally here. Using the river’s power to push water up mountainous areas is making life better for many communities located in the highlands.
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FEATURE
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2010
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K209a
HP UNLEASHES INK ADVANTAGE HP Officejet 4500 AIO
After the war of the printer prices now comes the battle in the ink realm. HP just announced a new line of printers and consumables called the Ink Advantage.
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This full suite of ultra-low cost printers offers customers reduced printing costs of up to 50%. This new offering is in response to strong demand for the HP Ink Advantage System that provides customers with lower printer running costs and purchase price. Customers will now be able to enjoy up to 50% savings versus other inkjets with cost-per-page from as low as Php 0.63 and ink cartridges starting at Php 390 each; experience HP’s New Ink Advantage cartridges which uses the same dualdrop volume technology found in other Original HP inks and purchase a new HP Ink Advantage printer from as low as Php 3,599.
The new HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 Allin-One, allows users to print, scan and copy everyday documents affordably while the HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-All-in-One is designed to suit frequent or moderate color photo printing at an affordable price and even without a PC. The HP Officejet Advantage 4500 All-in-One is an affordable flatbed all-in-one that offers savings of up to 50% and features Ethernet connectivity for increased productivity at work or at home. “Since we launched the HP Ink Advantage system for the small business segment last year, we have been receiving an overwhelming response from home users”, said Erwin
FEATURE
Creencia, market development manager for inkjet and web solutions for the Imaging & Printing Group. “This shows that many home users are looking for great value printers with low running costs. Fueled by this strong consumer demand, we decided to introduce a full lineup of Ink Advantage printers to offer home users greater choices.” HP first launched the Ink Advantage printers in 2009 to offer small businesses a way to print affordably without compromising the quality and reliability of using original ink. However, a recent third-party survey commissioned by HP shows that over 70% of users who purchased Ink Advantage printers are home users.
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K109a
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2010 Printer – This affordable printer is designed for everyday use that is tested to perform even in extreme conditions such as hot, humid or dusty environments without the need for extra attention. Also designed with the environment in mind, the printer is composed of 45% recycled plastics. Available for Php 3,599. HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 All-in-One – A compact, all-in-one printer, the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 AiO prints, scans and copies everyday documents while offering to cut printing costs using ultra low-cost high-capacity inks from HP. This printer also increases productivity by producing print outs in as fast as 20 seconds in draft mode. Available for Php 4,999. HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AIO
HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-All-in-One – Get print lab-quality photos that dry instantly, resist smudging and last for generations. The HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AiO also features the latest revolutionary technology, ePrint that allows users to print from across the room or across the country using any mobile device. Users can also enjoy quick, easy, access to popular digital content via an entirely new web-based printing platform with HP applications (apps). Available for Php 7,999. HP Officejet Advantage 4500 All-in-One – Increase productivity with the reliable and affordable HP Officejet Advantage 4500 AiO which can print, scan, copy and fax. Users can easily share resources and stay connected with built-in Ethernet networking. Available for Php 8,999. HP 703 Black and Tri-Color Ink Cartridges used in the new HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-All-in-One and the HP Officejet Advantage 4500 All-in-One offer up to 600 pages in black and 250 pages in color, delivering detailed graphics, laser-quality text, and archival-quality output. HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 AIO
The New HP 704 Black and Tri-Color Ink Cartridges used in the New Deskjet HP Ink Advantage Printers offer up to 480 pages in black and 200 pages in color and is composed of up to 70% recycled plastic. 2010 NOVEMBER
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FEATURE
DIGITAL CLOUD PRINTING THE HP WAY HP printers and web-devices collaborate to improve workflows for businesses. By Francis Tan Music and photos have gone digital; and printing is just tailing behind. This is the new age where printers are no longer dumb devices hooked on to a computer. Web-connected devices are literally everywhere—people use it for work, for play and for personal use. HP recognized this and created intuitive solutions that integrate printing in the picture. HP recently introduced over-the-air printing from virtually any device with their new ePrint technology. Users can to print simply by sending an email with almost any type of document attached—from Microsoft Office documents to PDFs to Photos—to any ePrint capable device. this eliminates the need to download and install printer drivers or special software—just print directly from your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet PC. There is no compromise for HP when it comes to security
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as each ePrint email address is unique and can be reset anytime. Emails that go into ePrint servers are fully encrypted and administrators can tweak accessibility for different users or workgroups. HP brings the ePrint technology to the next level this time around by applying it to business environments. John Solomon, Senior Vice President Imaging and Printing Group Asia Pacific and Japan, says, “If you can email it, you can now print it.” Furthermore, he adds, “This opens up a new world of possibilities for businesses. And what’s more we are breaking the barriers for business acceleration with innovations that are truly industry first.” Truly an industry first, HP also enables two-way print through the cloud with HP’s Print Apps. This gives users an instant access to relevant,
printable web content straight from the devices’ LCD panel, even without a PC. These apps are accessible directly from the printer’s touch screen display. Applications include Google Docs, Box.net, and Biztree, among others. These apps work by gathering content from the web and formatting the pages so all these can be printed directly the printer. With a focus on developing locally relevant content, HP plans to release software development kits to programmers in the near future. “We have innovations that will arm businesses to leverage the power of imaging and printing to accelerate their business for growth,” reiterated John Solomon. “All the new innovations and products launched translate to businesses being able to better manage their flow of content.”
FEATURE
HP LaserJet CP1025
HP is all about efficiency and optimization, that’s why they introduced the Open Extensibility Platform (OXP) and its accompanying firmware, FutureSmart. This common development platform will enable Print apps to work on devices running on OXP from 2005 to present, even until far in the future. This makes app development a breeze for the developers, HP claims, as it becomes the unchanging standard. This means apps in the future will run with current printers with OXP; as well as Print apps today will work on devices in the future. OXP also utilizes cloud technology for processing to increase device performance. On the management side of things, OXP allows you to control all OXP devices from a central location—both for administration and software upgrade. OXP makes it possible to have one common user interface among all devices—old and new—to create a consistent experience. FutureSmart, on the other hand, is the new generation firmware these iPrint apps run on and is designed to be compatible with future technologies, along with backwards compatibility. The first wave of HP Laserjet, OfficeJet and DesignJet printers which carry the ePrint technology, running on OXP have been announced as well. Here’s a quick rundown of
the bunch. For the OfficeJet series there’s the HP Office Jet pro 8500A e-All-in-One series which allows small businesses to “create professional-quality color prints, marketing materials, and other business documents for up to 50 percent lower cost per page while using 50% less energy.” The HP OfficeJet 6500A e-All-in-one integrates fax, copy, and scan, and has a 2.36 inch color touch screen display. The HP OfficeJet 7500A Wide format e-All-in-One is the world’s first wide format all in one device with web connectivity, which also includes a 2.36 inch touch screen display. For the Laser jet series, popular for its Multifunction Printing (MFP) capabilities, there’s the HP LaserJet pro CM1415fnw MFP, the first LaserJet printer that is capable of printing directly from the web and mobile devices. It has a 3.5-inch color touchscreen control panel that allows users to print, copy and fax. For a more space-saving and cost efficient device, there’s the HP LaserJet pro CP1025nw color printer, the world’s smallest color laser printer, which is also the one of the most energy efficient printers.
Lastly, HP has also adopted its ePrint platform to the DesignJet Large Format Printers (LFP). As a solution primarily for Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries and enterprises where color and precision are non-negotiable, HP promises nothing but superior quality prints with these printers. It is spearheaded by the powerful HP DesignJet T2300 e-Multifunction printer (eMFP), which is designed to match today’s collaborative and mobile work styles, HP made it easy to print, manage, and share content among project members, no matter where they are in the globe. “Our printer range offers a compelling solution for all business needs. With ePrint, it offers an unmatched preposition to drive productivity and cost efficiency for SMBs,” said Ng Tian Chong, Vice President, Imaging and Printing Group, Consumer, Inkjet and Web Solutions, Asia Pacific and Japan. Being the industry’s market leader, with broad portfolios of products, solutions and services, HP aims to help customers improve workflow and maximize business productivity.
HP Designjet T2300 eMFP-1
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FEATURE
imagePRESS C7000VP
BUSINESS BOOMS IN COLOR Quality separates highly successful enterprises from their fledgling counterparts. Reason tells us that in order to achieve quality output, one must invest in top-of-class services and products. This holds true for the usually underestimated yet indispensable print industry. Almost all companies have a level of printing requirement, and just like any other aspect of business, the quality of printed documents should never be compromised. In the last two years, there has been a noticeable migration of users from monochrome printers to multifunction color printers. This is because of the increasing affordability of multifunction color Laser Shot LBP5970
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printers and their soaring demand of multitasking devices in the market. With such diverse business sizes, an equally diverse line-up of product options is required—a diversity that Canon Business Imaging Systems (BIS) is keen on delivering. SOHOs on the go Despite its size, the modern SOHO’s (small office/home office) printing demands are as sophisticated as its larger peers, requiring fast, quality printing, uncomplicated interface, and connectivity. Luckily for SOHOs, Canon has all bases covered. imageCLASS MF8350
Canon’s Laser Shot series brings excellent laser color printing within everyone’s reach, offering excellent dependable performance, vivid colors, faster prints, higher print resolution, and compact design suitable for SOHOs’ limited space. Laser Shot printers are equipped with Canon’s Advanced Printing Technology (CAPT 2.1) and High Smart Compression Architecture (Hi-SCoA) that enable the delivery of faster print-outs at lesser memory space and without the need for memory upgrade. Canon’s ImageCLASS Laser All-InOne series offers convenient print, copy and scan features which help make multitasking in small imagePROGRAF 6300
businesses effortless. PGA perfect For production and graphic arts enterprises or PGAs, Canon provides a line-up of products with print quality equaling that of commercial offset printers. ImagePRESS production printing systems are designed with unsurpassed color and speed quality to meet the high demand of the modern PGA. One of the advanced common features of imagePRESS is gloss optimization which evens out the glossiness of the paper surface without relying on the amount of toner used. This
FEATURE
feature gives printing quality close to commercial printing and reproduces shadows by matching the type of the media. The series’ Intermediate Transfer Belt has elasticity added to the conventional plastic belt. This helps transfer the toner evenly on media surface that is uneven, reproducing lines, text, and images with the best quality. The imageRUNNER Advance series was released early this year, creating a new range of multifunctional print platforms that blends hardware, software, and strategic offerings to help businesses achieve better quality of work with less time and effort and even lesser impact on the environment.
more crisp printing results of black line drawings and text that appear next to color prints. Graphic arts market, photo studios, and a whole lot more Canon answered the need of the country’s photographic, proofing and graphic arts market industries with color large format printers that combine superior print quality, speed, and lower cost per printing than any other large format printers available in the market.
imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5045
The imagePROGRAF series features advance large format printing technology that reduces the cost of commonly used marketing materials such as banners, posters, signage, labels, presentations, and collaterals.
CAD ready Canon provides solutions to the printing needs of the computer aided design (CAD) industry with its high-capacity large format printers. Its ImagePROGRAF 5 color large format printers are designed to provide solutions to the demanding need of the CAD industry for high speed image processing and advanced color technology.
For the big boys Companies and multinational firms with enormous printing requirements need not outsource their massive printing and reproduction needs. Canon’s imageRUNNER series provides an instant reprographics department with quality color documents, versatile document handling and finishing capabilities, and affordable price.
This series highlights the new 5-color dye and pigment reactive ink system to produce sharp text and line drawings that minimizes smudge on color boundary for
The series’ advanced all-inone capabilities—copy, print, scan, send, fax—bring all the functionality needed in a single complete package.
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FEATURE
FUJI XEROX – ENVIRONMENT INNOVATORS By Michelle Callanta “Unity of words and deeds” – this is one quality that Fuji Xerox has held in the highest regard since 1962, when it was first founded in Tokyo, Japan. Now after almost 50 years later, Fuji Xerox is still an active participant in coming up with the latest innovations to improve their products at competitive costs. Over the years, Fuji Xerox has made itself a brand that specializes in print technology and boasts many awards that serve as a testament to their dedication to provide highquality products while reducing the company’s environmental footprint. And if they say they want to lead in the printer business, they will find the means to do it. In its continued commitment to create highly innovative products that promote the preservation of the environment, Fuji Xerox
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has introduced two of its latest technologies that are sure to revolutionize the way we print and maintain its position as one of the leading brands in document management. Media participants from all over Asean were invited to Fuji Xerox’s Ebina Center and Research and Development Center in Yokohama, Japan recently to learn more about Fuji Xerox’s latest range of products for small and mediumsized businesses. Cost-effective products and improved solutions services are also just some of the other priorities Fuji Xerox has planned in the following months for its consumers. Fuji Xerox has developed a highprecision, multifunctional light intensity calibration technology
and achieved commercial production of a new LED printhead that provides high image quality while making it possible to build even smaller devices. This new innovation that offers several advantages which include a compact engine with smaller parts, lower power consumption, low noise, higher reliability, and improved imaging control. Using the newly-developed Self-scanning Light Emitting Devices (SLED) which reduce the number of wiring required; Fuji Xerox has succeeded in developing an even smaller printhead. Smaller printheads means a more compact printer, which is why applying this LED printhead technology for low-end products is also in the works. In line with Fuji Xerox’s strict
adherence to the three R’s of environmentally-responsible behavior, the company has also developed the EA-Eco toner, a special toner that enables a lower fusing temperature by more than 20 degrees Celsius compared with conventional EA toners. This is one innovation Fuji Xerox actively pursued as toner fusion is the most power-intensive process in multi-function devices and printers, accounting for 50% to 80% of total power consumed as instant high-temperature fusion require a massive amount of energy. With these two advancements, printers will not only be more compact and cost-effective, they will also consume less energy. Truly in this case, less is definitely more.
FEATURE
LG DOODLES FOR GOOGLE GOOGLE IS ON A MISSION, THAT’S WHY IT ASKED LG TO “DOODLE.”
Google, which runs the world's most popular Internet search engine, set a goal to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. For Google, the mobile world was the next natural step. After all, it's a rare situation to find oneself in front of a desktop PC or laptop when the need for specific information arises. Because of its strong market presence globally, operational excellence, proven track record of innovation in technology and design, and openness to outside partners, LG was the one approached by Google to develop a smartphone that can help achieve their mission and business strategy. It was then that LG incorporated and optimized a device for the Froyo platform and Google Mobile Services earlier than other device makers. The result is LG Optimus One with Google, a smartphone that blends design with ease of use, making it the entry point for prospective smartphone owners. Playing a key role in achieving both Google and LG’s mission, “The LG Optimus One with Google is developed to provide optimum smartphone experiences and serve as a leader in the popularization of smartphones
by increasing the number of Android users and expanding the overall Google mobile experience around the world,” said Richard Javier, mobile communication division head of LG Electronics Philippines. The phone provides easy access to Google’s Android Market where over 80,000 mobile applications are fully available. With the phone’s speedy Android 2.2 Froyo OS, consumers can enjoy all the applications and services with 2 to 5 times faster browser performance than the previous Éclair OS. LG Optimus One with Google will be available in the Philippines in time for the holiday season. In another development, LG is closely at work with Google to integrate a tablet-optimized OS into what will be a superior tablet device. Javier said the company will introduce the best-in-market tablet that will stand among the best existing products, especially among hardware and software. “Android 2.2, or Froyo OS, was designed specifically for smartphones and is not optimized for tablet use. We do not intend for our tablet to be a large smartphone.”
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FEATURE
SAMSUNG CELEBRATES THE RAINY SEASON WITH BUDGET-FRIENDLY WASHING MACHINES With the rainy season now officially underway, doing laundry truly becomes a chore: no thanks to the damp winds, clothes take forever to dry and when they finally do, they’re usually left with an odor so unpleasant, you have no other choice but to rewash. Samsung solves this dilemma with its latest line of washers and dryers. Of its array of front-load washing machines, Samsung’s top-of-the-line Heba Combo (WD-8754) combines the convenience of a 7.5-kilogram washer and dryer, together with such fine features as an air wash system that removes unpleasant odors using heated fresh air, without the use of any detergent or other chemicals. This unique function requires no water while washing which help decrease
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the frequency of dry cleaning your clothes. Diamond Drum-wherein the design of the drum is uniquely embossed with holes that are located deep within each diamond-shaped depression. Fabrics do not get caught in the drum and are subsequently not damaged. Ceramic heaters, on the other hand, last up to 10 years. The average life span for conventional heaters is less than 3 years due to chemical reaction with mineral molecules in water. Ceramic heaters have a surface that is less porous, therefore less susceptible to scale build-ups.
Ideal for large families, the new Samsung’s WA14P9 is a fully-automatic top load washer that packs a whopping 12 kilograms of laundry into its Diamond Drum. The machine also comes
with a double storm technology-designed specifically to enhance washing performance and minimize tangles, and air turbo drying system enhance the drying time of your laundry, saving your time for your family. Doing the job just as nicely is Samsung’s WA80U3, the fully-automatic Top Load Washer which fits 6 kilograms worth of laundry in its plastic tub. This amazing appliance comes with an air turbo drying system, double storm pulsator and magic filter that ensures better collection of lint when the water level is low because the filter is positioned lower than those in conventional washing machines. The filter also makes use of a light indicator to let you know when to perform the effortless routine cleaning.
FEATURE
ACER LIQUID E FERRARI: PASSION MEETS POWER
At a time when mobile phone users are clamoring for products that serve as smart extensions of themselves, Acer unveils a head-turning high-performance smartphone that stands, more appropriately, as a stunning expression of individuality. Fast, sophisticated, and powerful, the Acer Liquid E Ferrari Special Edition is an Androidbased smartphone inspired by Acer’s creative collaboration with the Italian sports car brand. It bears exclusive design elements—a carbon fiber Ferrari shield (with the famous logo of the black prancing horse), a speaker designed after Ferrari’s distinguished air intake inlet and a Marchetta red finish—combined with a rich feature set that made the original Acer Liquid E platform a best-in-class mobile multimedia powerhouse. The Acer Liquid E Ferrari Special Edition weighs 135 grams and boasts of a curvaceous,
highly ergonomic design, but within its stylish lightweight exterior is a smartphone that embodies quality, performance, natural excellence, and passion for function. The intuitive Android 2.1 Éclair operating system brings an exciting level of mobile freedom with features like voice-activated functions, quick sync and multitasking options, three predictive keyboards, a sleek five-page home screen, a web browser that supports HTML5, and instant access to over 50,000 apps on the Android Market; while the all-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon processor powers multimedia playback and brings YouTube
videos, advanced 3D games, GPS maps, and streaming content to vivid, high-definition life. Other features include WiFi and HSDPA 7.2Mbps connectivity, a large-memory SD card ( GB) for storing rich multimedia content, a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, 480p video recording, and geo-tagging capabilities, an energy-efficient battery standby time of up to 400 hours, and a free Acer Ferrari Bluetooth headset with noise suppression and echo cancellation technology. The smartphone also comes with a custom Scuderia Ferrari pouch for added protection from dust and shocks. It will retail for Php 29,900.
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FEATURE
MICROSOFT BLUETRACK: TRACKING LIKE NO OTHER
Mobility is no longer a luxury for computer users, it’s essential. Consumers want to use their notebooks everywhere—not just at their desks, but on the kitchen counter, in the living room on the couch, on the floor, even outside. Demands on mobility for computers aren’t restricted to the laptop—they apply to the mouse too. Microsoft Corp. has invented a new goanywhere tracking technology called Microsoft BlueTrack technology. It allows mice to work on virtually any surface such as hardwood floors, granite or marble counters, even on carpet. It is difficult to find a place where this mouse doesn’t track. BlueTrack Technology debuts in two high-end mice—the Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse—offering two sizes and power options to consumers. The Explorer Mouse is perfect
for larger hands, or for consumers seeking a rechargeable mouse. The Explorer Mini Mouse is more compact and runs on standard battery power. Both mice feature snap-in transceivers so consumers can easily take their mice with them. The Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse use a proprietary, Microsoft-designed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip with advanced algorithms and pixel architecture for more precise tracking. It is Microsoft’s fourth-generation applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC) using CMOS technology. Microsoft’s proprietary high-angle imaging optics generate more exact surface images— even of shiny surfaces such as granite and marble—instead of blurry, out-of-focus images, as can be produced by many of the leading laser mice. And blue light helps create high-
resolution, high-contrast images for better navigation. The wider beam enables illumination of a larger surface area and allows more light to return to the sensor. This helps for tracking on irregular surfaces such as carpet, where a smaller beam could get lost between the individual fibers. The BlueTrack Technology light source is optimized to provide illumination at the tracking surface that is more uniform than current laser or optical mice. This illumination is accomplished by using a new optical element, never before used in a mouse. The light source is encapsulated in a diffusing optic that smooths out hot spots within the illumination profile. While the concept of diffused lighting is well known, the application of diffused light sources to mice is a Microsoft proprietary technology.
DESIGN AND STYLE Both mice emit a cool blue glow when you pull out the transceiver or when they wake up from the energy-saving sleep state. Chrome highlights are attractive and eye-catching, and the right-handed, ergonomist-approved design offers hours of comfortable use.
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PHOTOFEATURE
BEHIND THE SCENES
This issue was a tough one, because not only did we have to dress up more than one model, but we had to make some of the shots look like it was taken on a runway show. Luckily, Edge of Light studios was gracious enough to let us shoot there and we brought along the attention-hog of the day—the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The three ladies were a breeze to work with, and thanks to our speedy and talented makeup artist, Jo Ticzon, and photographer, Nico Villegas, we wrapped up in time.
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LINKS
2010 AUGUST
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GAP
Celebrate with Gap this Holiday 2010, as it debuts a more elevated capsule line fit for every party and gathering you will ever need to attend. Women can look to more chic party alternatives with skirt and top options, in colors grounded on dark neutrals, highlighted by shades of deep purples and reds. Basic tees merge functionality with style, as seasonal details accent perfect fitting basics for her. Men on the other hand can keep seasonal dressing hassle-free by opting for dressier button-down tops and bottoms in more unique washes.
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DAVIDOFF CHAMPION
50ml EDT - Php 3,598 90ml EDT - Php 4,898 Champion will trigger in men a desire to develop the latent potential within them—that deep, fundamental instinct for victory and power. Davidoff Champion is about the daily ritual of taking the time to build physical and mental strength as the top note creates an immediately refreshing impact thanks to the zestful bergamot and lemon. The heart note then gains ground with its energizing galbanum essence and aromatic clary sage. It is completed in its dry down by the masculine classic cedarwood all the while keeping a durable oak moss allure.
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BALENCIAGA PARIS
30ml EDT – Php 4,098 50ml EDT – Php 5,698 75ml EDT – Php 7,198 This scent gives off a much-needed spring-like feel of airy dresses and fleeting glances especially needed in damp, dreary weather. It builds your anticipation for when springtime finally comes: when violets and dried petals are in the air while the sun shines brightly. Balenciaga Paris opens on a peppery note and swells over calm, mossy wood. It is a fragrance full of light with a few dark apertures.
COLUMBIA
It seems a little odd to find heat-trapping clothing in a tropical country, but the demand for such exists. With the harsh cold in our mountainous terrain and the unpredictable torrent of rain that could engulf us in a deep deluge, living in the tropics is by no means sunshine all throughout. The latest breakthrough in outdoor apparel pioneer Columbia Sportswear is the Omni-Heat technology. This helps maintain warmth and prevent heat loss, keeping the wearer comfortable in cold weather. Perfect for every adventurer, the Omni-Heat line will keep one warm when needed. The cold, crisp air of the last quarter of the year will call for a cozy, warm get-up.
TOMS
For men, new cordones can be worn without laces or make a bold statement with colors and corduroy. If he likes to rough it up, gear him up for more adventures with TOMS version of boots! For the ladies, glitters are back in pink, black, gold and silver, perfect for the Holidays. Classics are given an eye-popping makeover with grommets and bold colors. If your better half likes to walk around declaring love, buy her a pair of limited edition Love is the New Black. If you still haven't heard of the One for One Movement, here is the simple and powerful promise: for every pair of TOMS sold, another pair is given to a child in a developing country.
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TISSOT
Tissot's latest collections: Tactile, the T-Touch Expert that incorporates state-of-the-art technology with features like permanent analog display of time and functions accessed via the touch-crystal (meteo, altimeter, chronograph, compass, alarm, thermometer) and Sea Touch, the sharp, strongly angular watch that's suitable for divers and fashion-conscious jocks alike. The latest Sports collection includes the T-Racing, a gentleman's chronograph, water resistant watch with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and quartz movement, the T-Race, a watch inspired by two-wheeled sports with crown protection, slanting ventilation shafts, braking discs and speedometer-like counters, and Veloci-T, the watch geared towards active consumers who like to show off some sporty arm jewelry every now and then.
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GUERLAIN
TOMMY HILFIGER The Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Automatic Watch has a multitude of distinguishing features: Rose gold-toned stainless steel case, an off white dial with classy Roman numerals, self-winding skeleton movement shown between 7 and 8 position, oversized crown with “H” signature, luminous hands and stitched brown croco pattern leather strap. Each watch is presented in a special box, which includes a certificate with a unique serial number. The compelling edition is limited to a numbered series limited to 888 pieces worldwide.
TERRACOTTA 4 SEASONS
This year, the Terracotta adventure presents a new powder: Terracotta 4 Seasons. A unique bronzing powder enriched with pure gold that plays with four tones for a tan to match your every desire and equally luminous, no matter what the season. And the dream is heightened during summer: Two new skin and tan enhancers join the legend: the Terracotta Touch highlighter and the Terracotta Teint D’ Ailleurs tinted moisturizer. Two must-haves, two unprecedented textures specially designed for the summer season. Terracotta Light: the shades warm up and this iridescent bronzing powder comes in two new limited-edition harmonies. Terracotta Gloss is renewed. A comforting, melt-away formula to comfort and embellish lips exposed to the sun. Finally, Terracotta Fard Metal and Terracotta Khol trace the eyes with sensuality, the true signature of the Terracotta woman.
KULTURA FILIPINO Kultura Filipino began as a small Filipino handicraft store during the late 1950's, over the years it evolved into a lifestyle retail store when in 2003 it became a part of SM Incorporated. It is the largest Filipino lifestyle retail chain in the country offering a definitive shopping experience for Philippine culture and crafts consisting of shellcraft, woodcraft, fibercraft, food and souveniers, apparel, accessories and others.
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ADIDAS NEO The collection offers the fashionable teen an assortment that inspires individuality and self-expression, while offering design that reflects the latest trends. The adidas NEO label offers casual sportswear, including apparel, footwear and accessories featuring vibrant hues, geometric graphics and exciting patterns. Keeping the interests of the style-forward teen in mind, the assortment includes customized pockets for MP3 players and holes for headphones worked into apparel and bags, creating fashionable solutions for youngsters.
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CDREVIEW
is nothing short of its name. It’s a collection of instantly likable songs that by your second listen you’ll find yourself attempting to sing along— even with the ones in Spanish.
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS EUPHORIA MCA MUSIC INC. Enrique Iglesias has always been known for his catchy ballads, sultry eyes and, until recently, a beauty mark on his cheek, but what his newest album “Euphoria” delivers
The album starts out on a fast-paced, danceable song called I Like It, Iglesias’ collaboration with pumpedup-music expert, Pitbull. If Electronica and Disco got together and had a baby, it would probably be this song. Not a bad beginning to the album as it keeps you on your toes for the next one, but this is where I am puzzled as the next track presents a drastic change in theme, tempo and style. This might confuse the listener as to why, after a song made to build energy, the next track would take it down in such a big way. It’s like going to a club and dancing your feet off, and as you walk out the
door find yourself at a beach chilling with a group of locals pounding on percussion. You are somehow left to adjust and look for a place where you should store your dance mode. On second thought, this may also be appropriate to signify the breaks in between upbeat songs as provision for rest. The next tracks are much more cohesive, as the song Heartbeat keeps with the theme of the last song but you can tell that it’s building up to another “pump-you-up” song. Nicole Sherzinger doesn’t try to push her vocal range only to sound like a banshee, and her voice is actually pleasant in this collaboration. The build-up is not in vain, as Dirty Dancing featuring Usher forces you to turn on dance mode once again. The transition to Dirty Dancing is
remarkable. Another quick worded rap track is One Hit Combo featuring Gloc9, which, with its witty play on words that, I think, only Parokya could pull off, enlightens the listener about the joys of writing music and setting up an awesome band.
PAROKYA NI EDGAR MIDDLE-AGED JUVENILE NOVELTY POP ROCKERS UNIVERSAL RECORDS
The best wines are those that taste better and better as they get older. But in the case of Parokya ni Edgar, change the “wine” for a beer and “getting older” with “staying young at heart,” and you get a new album that is amazingly better and yet style that taste distinctively the same. After three years since the release of their previous album, “Solid,” Parokya is back with a new album whose title alone perfectly explains where they are now as a band. "Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers," a 15 track album that is filled with pop rock tunes, fast paced word play, great times and good vibes about friendship, love, life and having fun. Opening this fun filled album is a classic Parokya style rap track entitled Original Song which is an upbeat song about how much is put into the process of coming up with a song that is both unique and
One of the main highlights of this album would have to be the lead single Paki-Usap Lang (Lasingin Nyo Ako) which is a fun catchy track about one of the world’s most popular pastimes—drinking. The track perfectly describes the feeling people crave for: to just hang out with friends, drink and have fun—a feeling almost everyone could relate to. Other songs on the album include Reunion (Panahon ng Kasiyahan), Orange, Parangarap Lang Kita featuring Happy Sy, Red Pants, Walong Baso, Lolo Bye, OK Lang Ako, and a variety of fun fillers that show that though Parokya ni Edgar has been around for years, they never really grew out of their pop rocker greatness. –Benjamin Arnold
GENERAL LUNA GENERAL LUNA
WARNER MUSIC PHILIPPINES Way back in October of 2005, a few of my friends thought of putting together a band. Since they were just starting out, they didn’t really have any of their own material, so they would play their own versions of popular songs by Pinoy rock bands like those of 6cyclemind, Cushé and Sandwich. Because of my friends, it sparked my interest in Pinoy rock bands. Now, in 2010, I have been tasked at reviewing General Luna, another Pinoy rock band, which brings back memories of drum solos, head banging and guitar jumping. With Nicole on lead vocals, Caren on lead guitar, Alex on bass, Audry on rhythm guitar, and Bea on drums, this all girl rock band is both easy on the ears and on the eyes. Their self-titled debut album has 12 hard rocking tracks filled with loud guitar riffs and heavy melodies, which are enhanced even more by their low hard vocals.
smooth as opposed to the first two tracks, and the listener at this point should remove all assumptions that this is either a dance or a chill-out album, as it is both. Tracks like Ayer which sounds a lot like the work of Ryan Tedder, and Cuando Me Enamoro, conjure up images of dinner by candlelight on a patio amidst rose bushes and after, if you fancy some more romance, you might just have a slow dance on the plaza. I think I might’ve even heard some castanets in the background of Cuando Me Enamoro, an excellent addition to the soothing melody and guitar work. Enrique Iglesias has noticeably captured the essence of feel-good music and bottled it up with this album that it leaves the listener quite happy, and even euphoric, if I may. –Danee Torres
The opening track of the album, Red Heaven, which has been said to be the song that best showcases General Luna’s style of music, is a song describing how a nightmare feels with deep lyrics like: Are you falling deeper/hearin’, echoes of laughter/chasing you down/thinking of going get out, oh//This is just a dream/we won’t remember/ so, if we never wake/then all the better. The second track, Nandito, is about the relationship of a parent with a child and the things often shared or kept secret between them. Other tracks on the album include Dala Ng Ulan, Maria, Hinga, Tila, Pagmulat, Pavement, Walang Bintana, Wala Ng Mas Sasakit Pa, Blind Man and Usok all of which have deep moving lyrics that may prove to be a little too deep for the common ear, but then again, that is what makes rock music awesome, the fact that only a select few can appreciate it. As for General Luna, with their Pinoy rock style and smoking hot looks, they will obviously pull in classic hard rock fans and those who are hearing it for the first time, showing that girls deserve a place in the male-dominated world of rock bands. –Benjamin Arnold
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MOBILE MUSIC LISTEN
By Steven Vea
The introduction of the Apple iPhone and iPad has ushered in a new phase of digital music production and has inspired software developers to create a multitude of music applications for these devices. This list consists of the top five applications which musicians should consider adding to their existing arsenal of equipment.
Intua Beatmaker (Music Production) Intua BeatMaker literally places a sampler on to your palm. The graphic interface of this app alone demands attention as it boasts of 16 sample-based trigger pads in a 4x4 grid reminiscent of the Akai MPCs. Aimed at the more experienced musician looking for a mobile production center, BeatMaker allows users to sample, compose, arrange and record patterns on-the-fly. Although patterns are limited to a maximum of four bars in length, the number of patterns that can be strung together to form an entire composition is limitless. BeatMaker includes an original
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sound library with preset sounds from a variety of genres, but this app’s capability to record and sample external sounds via the mobile device’s built-in microphone/ headset jack is its standout feature. Intua has even included a sample editor, allowing users to chop and fine-tune their samples all within the app itself. If that wasn’t enough, BeatMaker also features 3-band equalizers, two effect channels with a choice of various filters, delays and a bitcrusher to sweeten the mix. And once the song is finished, this app can export the finished mixdown into a WAV or MIDI file for further editing with other desktop software. www.intua.net/products/beatmaker
Sonoma Wireworks Studio Track (Multitrack recording) If you hail from the days of 4-track cassette recorders, then you will probably appreciate Sonoma Wireworks’ amazing app. So, as long as you have your mobile device on hand, you’ll no longer suffer the frustration of losing a musical idea because you weren’t able to lay it down on “tape.” Studio Track’s sleek interface looks the part, and features recording of up to 8 individual tracks. While you cannot record multiple sound sources simultaneously, the key to this app would be overdubbing, or layering the tracks one at a time.
However, since Studio Track has the capability to “bounce” tracks (combining a mix of two separate tracks to a single channel) the number of layers becomes limitless. Several individual track effects are available, but perhaps the most useful feature of Studio Track is a compressor-limiter and 4-band parametric EQ on the master stereo bass/output, which aids in thickening up your mixdowns. If you would rather clean up the mix on other desktop software however, you can export your files via WiFi sync. Studio Track records at CD quality (16-bit, 44.1 kHz), which is quite impressive, but don’t expect this application to be the main hub of recording studios. This innovative
LISTEN
and powerful app is simply a handy mobile utility to have when you’re out and inspiration strikes. www.sonomawireworks.com
Saitara Software’s AC-7 Pro (Control Surface) The AC-7 Pro is aimed at producers/ recording engineers who want a mobile touch surface to control their software based Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Since the app uses the Mackie Control Universal protocol, it is aimed to complement host programs such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc. The sleek interface of the AC-7 Pro features nine multi-touch faders,
track metering, a time display, jog wheel, and programmable multi-function and mode buttons. Ultimately, the app’s usability will depend on the software it is controlling. The AC-7 Pro requires some technical programming to get it up and running, but Saitara provides detailed instructions on their website on how to do this. All in all, once users get this app to function, it is a innovative mobile solution to controlling DAWs remotely. This application will definitely be worth following to see its future improvements. www.saitarasoftware.com
Mixr (DJ’ing) Although Mixr is yet to be officially released, the product’s tagline, “Finally, A DJ App Done Right,” might live up to its marketed hype. Mixr features a graphic interface of two turntables and a simplified mixer, allowing users to manipulate a track’s speed and volume via touch, for cueing and beatmatching. EQ and effects (auto filter, delay, bit-crusher, chorus/flanger) are part of the setup, with the added capability for DJ’s to record their live mixes, the latter of which can prove to be quite handy. Perhaps one of the most attractive features of Mixr is the music library, which the developers describe as a “realistic 3D crate.” It is similar to the familiar iTunes coverflow, wherein users can quickly “flip” through albums via touch and tap the covers to quickly load the songs for cueing. www.ipadmixr.com/
IK Multimedia’s Amplitube + iRig (Effects Rig) IK Multimedia has been a standard name in music software, and the release of the iRig adapter has reawakened their forgotten popularity. The iRig is a simple adapter consisting of a ¼-inch mono line input (i.e. guitar) and a 1/8-inch stereo jack that connects to the microphone input of the device. This simple interface creates the necessary bridge for musicians to use the Amplitube app on their mobile device as a compact onstage and in-studio effects rig. Amplitube features 11 stomp box effects, 5 amp models, 5 cabinet models and 2 microphone simulations. What makes the app versatile is the ability to combine any of the different parts in countless ways, allowing for a fully customizable effects rig. Not only can you combine all the parts, but Amplitube allows users to store up to 32 presets for easy recall. Amplitube also features a built-in metronome with a tap function and a chromatic tuner, which are useful add-ons. Another great addition is the ability to import songs into Amplitube to play along with, and users can loop certain sections of songs for easy accompaniment. www.ikmultimedia.com/irig 2010 NOVEMBER
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PAROKYA NI EDGAR FEATURED ARTIST
Interviewed By DinDin Moreno
After almost two decades and seven albums later, the well-renowned comic relievers of Filipino rock show no signs of stopping (making music or simply, being funny), as Parokya Ni Edgar introduces its latest album “Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers,” a true testament of the fact that sometimes, the way things were and how they used to be are oftentimes better than reinvention and innovation. DinDin Moreno, PNE drummer and Gadgets contributor, reveals the reason the behind the hiatus and shows how even “middle-aged juvenile novelty pop rockers” remain young at heart. It has been 3 years since you released your last album, why did it take so long to release Pop Rockers? Since playing live is our bread and butter, we have been busy with gigs here and there. So one time in the studio is staggered in between gigs. The same is true with the songs. It would take months to compose a song especially when we play four to five times a week.
Where did the album name “Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers?” come from and why did you choose it? The album title best describes the point in time where we are now. All of us are middle-aged, we still think like kids, and we play novelty pop-rock!
Are there any similarities between your previous albums to the current one? How are they different? There is not much difference from before. We still sing about, girls, love, relationships, food, getting drunk and a host of other things that not a lot of people care about. And in this album, we tried to go back to the feel of the music from the ‘90s when things were much simpler.
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Do you think your sound has matured as you have gotten older? Not much. We admit that we are not that musically proficient so the room for improvement is a small one. What we lack in talent, we make up for it by playing our hearts out night after night.
Is there any track from this album that stands out or connects to you as individuals or as a band All the songs are somewhat our own personal experiences. And we see our songs as our own “children.” There are no favorites. But if there is a song that talks about the relationship of the band, that would be Reunion.
Besides weapons, spoons and forks (based from the album cover) what other gadgets do you use to pass the time? All of us own Sony PSPs and iPods which we use to keep us occupied duringlong trips or before gigs. Now, we here upgraded to iPads which we use to play against each other and to update our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
What is the story behind the track Francis Vincent Montaner? Francis Vincent Montaner is the full name of Vinci. It started out one day when he bragged about a song he composed. He recorded it on his phone and sent it to Chito. What you hear on the album is the original one he sent!
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Celebrating the
LUCKY 0917
Globe keeps finding more ways to make merry, now with a glamorous party to celebrate the Lucky 0917, the select group of Globe customers who have been with the brand since it opened its doors in 1994. To celebrate its most loyal customers, Globe hosted Lucky 0917, a chichi party for its longtime customers on October 6 at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City. The Lucky 0917 were wined, dined and feted according to their status as Globe’s pioneer subscribers. They also got the chance to win one of 200 limitededition BlackBerry Bold 9700 handhelds, in a chic snow-white hue that cannot be found in stores. An additional 20 white BlackBerry Bold 9700 phones were raffled off to other Globe customers. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is a top-notch smartphone with high-performance features including crisp screen resolution, long battery life, connectivity via WiFi, Bluetooth and HSDPA. And 106
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when coupled with Globe’s Super Surfing capabilities and the myriad indulgent perks that come with being a Globe user, the Bold is perfectly poised to meet the needs of even the most astute users with their multifaceted lifestyles. Jay Beltran, head of Loyalty and CRM, said: “Our customers are our reason for being, and forging lasting relationships with them is important to us. Everything we do is intended to delight them and to assure them that they made the right choice when they picked Globe. And for our pioneer customers, those who have been with us from the very beginning, we want to make it truly rewarding to be Globe-connected.”
In its 16-year heritage, Globe has broken ground in communications, introducing a host of firsts: the country’s first text messaging service, SMS or Short Messaging Service; Globe Platinum, the first exclusive membership providing preferred service for discerning subscribers; the first selection of customizable design-yourown freebie-enriched postpaid plans, My SuperPlan and My Fully Loaded Plan; and recently the largest and most comprehensive rewards program in the industry, My Rewards, My Globe, open to over 24 million Globe, TM and Tattoo postpaid and prepaid users. A leader in innovation and the number one postpaid brand in the country, Globe will continue to offer more to delight its millions of customers.
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Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International (5th from right) together with Microsoft Philippines directors, toast to Microsoft's accomplishments on its 15th year in the Philippines
MICROSOFT Celebrates 15 Years IN THE PHILIPPINES Microsoft Philippines recently celebrated its 15th anniversary in the country, joined by its employees, customers and partners in the government and the industry at a gala dinner at the Grand Ballroom, The Marriott Hotel. For 15 years, it has been the company’s mission to help Filipinos realize their full potential and transform the Philippines into a globally-competitive economy. Starting with 10 employees in 1995, the organization is now comprised of over 80 employees. The Microsoft Ecosystem, which includes resellers and Independent Software Vendors, has grown to more than 1,600 partners. During the celebration, JeanPhilippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, noted the importance of the Philippine market to the company. “The Philippines is an important market for Microsoft because it is recognized as a competitive 108
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player in various industries such as outsourcing, retail, telecommunications and many more. This is the destination of choice for companies seeking to outsource services, including Microsoft. Filipinos adapt quickly to technology and possess the skills and creativity to harness it. The country’s young population also provides various opportunities for consumer and retail businesses.” Courtois also reinforced the company’s commitment to the Philippines. “We believe deeply that we are going toward a world where not only will every device be connected, but every application, and more importantly
every person will be connected to the Internet and therefore to each other. This is something we’re going to be working on for at least for the next 15 years here in the Philippines. I am confident that Microsoft Philippines will be making some important contributions to this future.” He also mentioned the related mission of Microsoft’s Citizenship programs, designed to help transform public school education and provide e-skills training for underserved people of all ages in partnership with community-based organizations. These programs, said Courtois, equip people with the IT skills required by employers.
Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, speaks during the dinner
Jean-Philippe Courtois with Cecile Oebanda, president, Visayan Forum Foundation, and Susan Ople, president, Blas F. Ople Center
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Asus Philippines with dealers and members of the media
Ellis Chua discusses the features of the Asus NX90 Asus Country Manager, Mr. Stanley Chen awards top dealers
ASUS REGATTA Making Waves in Subic Asus, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, recently held a dealer event in Subic Bay, Zambales. The event highlighted new offerings from Asus and included several technical seminars on the features and capabilities of the new products. 110
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Asus unveiled new models for the K-series, N-series and Eee PC line, including the NX90, a notebook that was developed by both Asus and Danish audio giant Bang and Olufsen. Aside from strengthening its cloud storage offering for users of the Eee PC netbooks, Asus users now have access to a wealth of applications, programs and games via the application portal http:// access.asus.com.
and the entertainment-minded N53JQ, the successor to their wildly successful N61J.
Also launched were the drop-dead gorgeous Asus Lamborghini VX6, the marketed-for-tweens Eee PC 1001PQ, the Asus WiCast which is included in this month’s review,
Asus also took the time to recognize dealers and resellers who made them the strong No. 3 vendor today.
The technical seminars were conducted by key Asus executives: Don Navarro, who gave a detailed explanation of Asus’ strong cloud offerings; Ellis Chua, who explained the capabilities of the NX90; and Jason Teh, who demonstrated the new N53JQ.
NEWSBITS&BYTES
SUZUKI RAIDER BREED WARS: THE QUARTER MILE BATTLE Suzuki Philippines, one of the leading motorcycle brands in the country, is bringing drag racing to a legal venue by staging the Suzuki Raider Breed Wars: The Quarter Mile Battle.
FASHION DESIGNERS MEET BARBIE
What do you get when you pair The Council of Fashion Designers of America Inc. (CFDA) and Barbie? The two banded together in celebration of the little black dress (LBD) and Barbie in a brandnew doll collection, the Barbie Basics doll line. The collection includes 12 gorgeous dolls with 12 unique takes on the LBD and plenty of accessories to choose from in the four accessory packs (sold separately).
To celebrate the launch of the Barbie Basics line, 10 renowned CFDA accessory designers including Vera, Betsey, and Rachel, among others, customized and accessorized their very own Barbie Basics doll. Each one-of-a-kind doll was auctioned off by the CFDA on eBay, with proceeds benefiting the CFDA Foundation and the organization’s scholarship and educational programs.
HP CONTINUES LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
With its new imaging and printing portfolio, HP continues to solidify its leadership position and continues to pursue real, energy-efficient solutions for SMBs worldwide. To assist SMBs in quantifying the business and environmental impact of their printing and imaging systems, HP also unveiled the HP Print Effectiveness Index (PEI), powered by market intelligence firm, IDC.
Created to determine the effectiveness of the SMB printing environment, the online assessment will help SMBs understand the impact of their current printing environment, and will provide recommendations on how to improve the productivity of their print environment, while at the same time reducing both costs and environmental impact. The online survey also aims to identify ways in which an SMB could
be more print-effective on how it integrates printing and imaging as part of their day-today business processes or help accelerate their business growth. The Print Effectiveness Index is now available to HP resellers worldwide. For decades HP has been an environmental leader, driving company stewardship through its HP Eco Solutions program, which spans product design, reuse and recycling as well as energy and resource efficiency. HP influences industry action by setting high environmental standards in its operations and supply chain, by providing practical solutions to make it easier for customers to reduce their climate impact and through its research on sustainability solutions that support a low-carbon economy. More information is available at www.hp.com/ ecosolutions.
Aware of the dangers posed by illegal drag racing which is usually held in open roads at night, Suzuki organized the Raider Breed Wars to give drag race enthusiasts a legal and proper venue to showcase their skills. The first leg kicked off on May 30 at the Old Airport Road in Sasa, Davao City, and attracted a crowd of more than 5,000 riders, racers and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over Mindanao. The second leg held at the Clark Speedway in Pampanga on July 4 was targeted at motorcycle fans from the northern Luzon area.
Project in Cebu City, and attracted riders from the Visayas. The fourth leg will be on November 7, at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas City, with competitors expected from southern Luzon and Bicol regions. The top two finalists in each category from all the different legs are expected to vie for championship honors in the Final War to be held on December 5, in Manila.
motorcycles have a strong following in the sporty underbone category, particularly among those who expect highperformance features in an affordable package. The three variants in the Suzuki Raider Breed line-u —Raider R150, Raider J Pro and Raider J—showcase advanced features and innovations in safety, reliability and performance, making them the new leaders of the motorcycle pack in the market today.
Considered as the bestselling range in the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, the Suzuki Raider
The third leg was scheduled for October 10, at the South Reclamation
FORTINET WINS "SECURITY VENDOR OF THE YEAR" AWARD Fortinet recently bagged the 2010 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Award for Network Security Vendor of the Year. Voted by a panel of C-level executives from key industry verticals and Frost & Sullivan analysts, Fortinet was evaluated against the top leading network security vendors on the market and has been selected for its exemplary growth and performance in 2009 in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Fortinet has made tremendous strides in the network security market, an achievement undoubtedly driven by its foresight in leveraging on the rapidly emerging trend of security technology convergence,” said Edison Yu, industry manager for Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Practice. “Despite a weakened business environment, Fortinet was able to significantly
expand its business in 2009. Its technology innovation resonates strongly with enterprises and their vertical based approach, along with a strong technology strategy, cements Fortinet’ s position as a major network security player in the Asia-Pacific region.” In an effort to further accelerate enterprise market penetration, Fortinet enhanced its partner program. Fortinet’ s FortiPartner Program (FPP) aims at driving value and commitment for Fortinet’ s distributors and resellers by focusing on channel profitability, technology leadership and a strong certification program, through the recruitment of authorized training centers in each country.
a multiple city channel roadshow—including in the Philippines—to update partners on Fortinet’ s holistic channel strategy with key programs in the areas of marketing, support, renewal, certification and training. Jeff Castillo, country manager for Fortinet in the Philippines, said: “We will be selectively attracting and recruiting committed partners to support our aggressive growth plan. The FPP program will make it easier for Fortinet to communicate to its channel and educate our partners on our business and technology value proposition to the end user community. This is an important step to affirm our leadership and allow our partners to benefit from strong margins.”
To launch its FPP program, Fortinet will be rolling out 2010 NOVEMBER
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GLOBE GCASH LAUNCHES ATM CARD deducted from their GCASH wallet.
The application process for the GCASH Card is very simple and easy. Interested GCASH subscribers only need to fill-up the online application form at www. globe.com.ph/gcashcard, upload their pictures and choose their preferred design.
GXI President Rizza Maniego-Eala explains the features of the new GCASH Card with Sales Head Jim Fraginal and Product Head Paolo Baltao.
G-Xchange Inc (GXI), the wholly owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, breaks new ground as it launches the GCASH Card, the first customizable ATM card linked to a mobile wallet in the country, giving its subscribers 24/7 access to GCASH. With the GCASH Card, subscribers need not rush
to beat business hours as they are given 24/7 access to their GCASH wallets. The GCASH Card allows users to withdraw funds in their GCASH wallets via any of the 9,000 Bancnet, Megalink, ExpressNet or Encash Automated Teller Machines nationwide. Subscribers are charged Php 20 per transaction that will be automatically
Upon submission of the form, GCASH automatically sends an SMS to the subscriber to confirm the application. The applicant simply needs to reply with his/her MPIN to complete the transaction and allow GCASH to collect Php 100 from the applicant’s GCASH wallet for the processing, production and delivery of the card to the subscriber’s nominated address. A reference number is provided on the success page upon confirmation of the payment.
LENOVO OPENS THINK EXCLUSIVE STORE
Lenovo Philippines continues to expand its retail presence in the market, with the opening of its first Think Exclusive Store and eighth Lenovo Exclusive Store at Digital Alley in Greenbelt 3 Mall, Makati City. Both stores are aimed at providing customers with the convenience of an integrated end-to-end retail experience spanning products, technical support and customer service, all provided under the same 112
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establishment. “Lenovo is committed to growing the consumer and SMBs markets in the Philippines,” said Michael Ngan, country manager for home and small-medium business at Lenovo Philippines. “In fact, we are growing twice as fast as the market and have already outperformed worldwide market growth for five consecutive quarters in all GEOs, products and customer segments.”
The Lenovo ‘Think’ brand has a heritage of strong engineering, product innovation and reliability. The ThinkPad has won over 2,000 industry awards, more than any other notebook PC. A May 2010 report by Technology Business Research ranked Lenovo as the sole PC vendor to be No. 1 in terms of quality and reliability in its Corporate IT Buying Behaviour and Customer Satisfaction Studies report.
NOKIA'S OVI SERVICES GAIN MOMENTUM With the number of active Nokia service users now reaching 140 million worldwide, the company announced that more than 200,000 people are currently signing up daily to Ovi, and that Ovi Store has reached the milestone of 2.3 million downloads per day. Available in more than 190 countries, Ovi is discovered through Maps, Music, Messaging, Store and in select countries, Life Tools.
The growing popularity of the Ovi experience has also led to 70 developers and publishers each surpassing the million download mark for their content in the Ovi Store. Developers and publishers reaching and moving past this milestone include Digital Chocolate, Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Indiagames, PepsiCo, Qik, Shazam, HeroCraft and Offscreen Technologies. "At Nokia, we believe that connecting people with great mobile experiences is at the heart of what Ovi is all about," said Tero Ojanperä, executive vice president, Services, Nokia. "Today people discover Ovi through Maps, Music, Messaging, Store and Life Tools. With a new generation of amazing devices, like the Nokia N8, developers are looking at Ovi as a good business decision and a chance to innovate and create next-generation mobile experiences for our family of new Symbian smartphones." Milestones include: • An updated Ovi Store experience—debuting on the newly available Nokia N8 and coming to the full range of new Symbian smartphones—giving a
friendlier look and feel, faster content discovery and more popular content choices such as foursquare and the smash hit game Angry Birds.
• Improvements for developers including new development tools and benefits such as free Java and Symbian signing, inapp purchase and beta inapp advertising programs, improved revenue share and advanced developer analytics. • Significant enhancements to the Nokia Qt Software Development Kit (SDK) have resulted in a 70 percent reduction in the number of lines of code required when developing for the company's family of Symbian smartphones. • Continued expansion of Ovi Maps around the world and the integration of more new features. Walk and drive navigation is available in 78 countries and 46 languages and includes public transit details in more than 80 cities, and features such as check-in that supports location as the new social connector. Every day, maps usage is the equivalent of driving around the world 80 times. • Available in 38 markets around the world and with approximately 11 million tracks in the global catalogue, Ovi Music is complemented by the popular interconnected Gig Finder app that uses personal music preferences to find relevant entertainment venues. Nokia is the largest single source of digital downloaded music revenue in Brazil, Mexico, India, Finland and South Africa.
NEWSBITS&BYTES
BOSCH HERALDS GERMAN-FILIPINO COOPERATION AT ANNUAL EXPO
Robert Bosch Inc., Philippine flagship company of Germany’s Bosch Group, joins the German-Filipino business community in celebrating 20 years of German reunification. Bosch unveiled its latest automotive and building technology at Mabuhay Germany—the country’s largest exhibit of German products and services. Being a founding member of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (GPCCI), organizers of Mabuhay Germany, Bosch supports the trade fair’s third iteration, which is expected
to draw some 15,000 visitors at the Bonifacio High Street. “Bosch products have been distributed in the Philippines as early as 1926,” says Joseph Hong, managing director of Bosch Philippines. “Since then, the company has stood witness to the country’s unfolding history and has grown along with the developing economy.” As the largest supplier of automotive technology parts and diagnostics systems in the local aftermarket, Bosch showcased its service expertise via a free car
service clinic along 9th Avenue at the Bonifacio grounds. The company conducted free vehicle diagnostics, emission tests and safety checks for members of German car clubs: Mercedes Benz Car Club of the Philippines, BMW Car Club of the Philippines and Porsche Club of the Philippines. For Mabuhay Germany, Bosch also engaged the Habitat for Humanity Philippines with which it shares a 10-year partnership in building low-cost houses, most notably in Baseco, Manila, where Bosch power tools technology helped build the first 1,000 homes since 2005, according to then HFH president Alberto Jugo. As of late, Bosch renewed its support in the organization’s new site in Calauan, Laguna which serves as a relocation site for riverside residents in Pasig.
PIXMA HELPS USERS KEEP IN TIME After giving away free designer eyewear in its successful Back-to-Cool promo, Canon Pixma heralds the holiday season by handing out free timepieces. Through its Partners in Time promo, customers can get free His and Hers Timex timepieces upon purchase of any Canon Pixma printer and Canon Genuine Inks. To get the watches, buyers simply need to submit a
photocopy of the receipt or sales invoice of the printer or ink, along with the actual ink box or the serial number cut out from the printer box within the promo period to Canon’s head office or any authorized promoter, regional office or service center. The timepieces will be delivered to the buyer’s doorstep free-of-charge. For more details, call 8849000 or log on to www. canon.com.ph/PIXMA.
The event also witnessed the launch of the company’s new line of Bosch measuring tools that aid interior outfitters in precision installations, the latest class-leading lithium-ion cordless tools, and Bosch Hammers with vibration control, which are widely used in local construction and mining.
FLYING HIGH WITH MABUHAY MILES MASTERCARD Mabuhay Miles acknowledges that next to miles earned from airline flights, the credit card comes as the most viable source of miles for most of its members. Indeed, cards with a mileageearning component like the Mabuhay Miles MasterCard, have given members a convenient way to earn miles for credit card purchases. Mabuhay Miles is undoubtedly one of the most generous frequent flyer programs you can get into today. Combine this with Allied Bank Mabuhay Miles MasterCard that lets you enjoy a permanent lowest point to Mabuhay Mile conversion of only
Php 33/point. Even your earned points can be converted into airline service class upgrades, too! So imagine traveling to your favorite destinations with your Mabuhay Miles MasterCard and being upgraded from Fiesta Class to Mabuhay Class. Aside from the points you earn when you charge the transaction on your Mabuhay Miles MasterCard, you also get additional Mabuhay Miles for flying Philippine Airlines. The Mabuhay Miles World MasterCard also presents you with automatic round-theclock emergency medical
and travel support via International SOS, a leading provider of medical assistance, international healthcare, security services, and outsourced customer care. So the next time you shop and travel, make sure you have your Mabuhay Miles MasterCard around. 2010 NOVEMBER
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KIA SORENTO NAMED “AUTO OF THE YEAR” The Kia Sorento emerged as the overwhelming public choice for “201011 Automobile of the Year” during the recent “BDO 2010-11 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards.” The Kia Sorento also was voted as the “Midsize SUV of the Year.” Other winners are the Kia Rio which won the “Subcompact Sedan of the Year” award with the Toyota Vios as runnerup. The Chevy Cruze was named the “Compact Sedan of the Year” with the Audi A4 as runnerup. “Midsize Sedan of the Year” award went to the recently introduced Hyundai Sonata with the Audi A6 in 2nd place. The Porsche Panamera Turbo became a back-to-back “Large Sedan of the Year” titlist with the BMW 7 Series in the next spot. A tight contest for “Sports Car of the Year” honors saw last year’s winner, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe retain the title via a slim margin of only 266 votes over the Runner-up, the Audi R8. The R8 was ahead in the Phil Star votes but was upended in the Top Gear and On-line voting. The Isuzu Crosswind
kept its hold on the “AUV of the Year” for the 3rd consecutive year over the Toyota Innova, which last year was also voted as Runner-up. The Kia Carens was again voted as “Minivan of the Year” over the runner-up Toyota Previa. And last year’s Automobile of the Year, the Hyundai Starex earned the public’s nod for “Full-size Van of the Year” with fellow Korean model the Kia Carnival as runner-up, a similar onetwo placing as last year. The Nissan Navara was the top pick with last year’s winner, the Mitsubishi Strada coming in as 201011 runner-up. The top-selling Hyundai Tucson won overwhelmingly over the soon-to-be-replaced Kia Sportage in the “Compact SUV of the Year” derby. The Tucson also garnered the second highest number of votes for the Automobile of the Year award. The Mitsubishi Montero, 2009 winner of the “Midsize SUV of the Year” crown came out second to this year’s awardee, the Kia Sorento. And finally, the Porsche Cayenne again topped the “Large SUV of
KENNY ROGERS OPENS KATIPUNAN BRANCH The newly renovated Kenny Rogers Roasters in Katipunan recently opened its doors, unveiling an exciting and innovative concept. While the food is still the primary offering of the restaurant, customers frequent the place because of what it is a hip and happening hub right at the heart of Katipunan. This Kenny branch has integrated a Seattle’s Best Coffee (SBC) outlet, making it the ideal place to hang out from morning till night, enjoying one’s favorite Kenny dishes and hot and cold SBC coffee concoctions. 114
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Kenny-Katipunan occupies two floors and has an al fresco section. This 300-seater branch boasts of a chic and modern design while maintaining the Kenny feel that customers have come to love. You’ll see the signature red and black stripes that have been quite closely associated with every Kenny restaurant. Aside from food murals, there are interesting posters and food photo collages, artistically displayed on the walls. Kenny Katipunan is open daily from 6 am until 12 midnight. Call 533-8888 for delivers service. Free parking is available.
the Year” category over the next-placed Chevrolet Suburban. Sunshine TV chairman and CEO, Ray Butch Gamboa, said, “This annual exercise that determines the most preferred models in each category and the most of popular automobile in a given year hopes to improve the overall quality of vehicles that are being sold in the country.”
CIGNAL BRINGS DIGITAL TV TO FILIPINO HOMES If you’re tired of snowy images, bad reception even with cable TV and want HD programming delivered straight to your HD TV, then you’ll love Cignal. Backed by the solid business foundation of the PLDT network, Cignal Digital TV delivers clear, digital signals to Filipinos wherever they may be. They’ll be offering a wide selection of channels, and
depending on the plan that you choose HD versions of popular channels. MediaQuest president and chief executive officer Ray Espinosa said “Analog cable providers are going to be out of business very soon.” Cignal’s hook here is its all-digital transmission and technologies. Even if the signal isn’t a digital one, i.e. free channels like
TV5 and the like, they automatically convert it to a digital one from their end which coincidentally, also improves picture quality. Their set-top boxes are compatible with both legacy CRT systems and newer LCD flatscreens, but of course you’ll only get to enjoy HD on HD ready devices. Its HD signal transmits up to 1080i depending on the source, and channels like HBO also have digital 5.1 surround embedded in the signal.
LINKS
TECH ASUSWORLD
Showroom & ASUS Notebook Service Center Cyberzone, 4TH Floor SM Megamall, Bldg. B Tel. 638 2955
ROBERT BOSCH INC. 14th Floor, LV. Locsin Bldg. 6752 Ayala Avenue cor Makati Avenue Philippines Tel. 817 7274
CANON MARKETING (PHILIPPINES), INC.
3RD Floor, Southpark Plaza, Phase 1 Santiago Street, Paseo De Magallanes Commercial Center Makati City Tel. 884 8000
CHERRY MOBILE
Cosmic Technologies Inc. 1002 Pearl of the Orient Tower 1240 Roxas Boulevard Manila City Tel. 400 0340
EPSON PHILIPPINES CORPORATION
8th Floor Anson's Centre 23 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center Pasig City 1605 Tel. (+632) 706-2609 TOLL FREE 1800-1063-EPSON www.epson.com.ph
HEWLETT PACKARD
37/F Robinsons Summit Center 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati Tel. 888 5900
HTC
Ambassador Appliances L2 Shangrila Plaza Mall Mandaluyong City
VIEWSONIC, LOGITECH Innovista Technologies 3rd Floor, ATCO Building, 137 Aurora Blvd. San Juan Tel. 723 4276
LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD. – PHILIPPINES Unit 15-A,15th Floor, Citibank Tower, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1200. Tel. 556 3106
LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES INC. No. 15 F. Legaspi St., Maybunga, Pasig City Tel. 641 4181
MILI PHILIPPINES
mili.philippines@gmail.com Tel. 0915 484 3268 www.miliphil.com
MSI
NetEssentials CSP Building, 173 EDSA Mandaluyong City Tel. 721 1981
NOKIA (PHILIPPINES), INC.
40/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati Tel. 886 1234
POWERMAC CENTER 2nd Level, Greenbelt 3; 3rd Floor Powerplant Mall; 4th Floor Bldg B, SM Megamall; G/F Cyberzone Plaza, SM North EDSA 2nd Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, PHILS. CORPORATION 7/F Hanjinphil Bldg., 1128 University Parkway North Bonifacio Global City Taguig Tel. 1-800-SAMSUNG
SONY PHILIPPINES, INC. 11th Floor Marajo Tower #312 26th Street West cor 4th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1624 Philippines Tel. 860 3333
TOSHIBA NOTEBOOKS Tricom Dynamics, Inc. Metro House 345 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Tel. 890 6525
YAMAHA
Avesco Marketing Corporation 810 Aurora Blvd., cor. Yale Street, Cubao, QC Tel. 912 8881
MOBILITY LEXUS MANILA
GUERLAIN
G/F Greenbelt 5 Ayala Center Makati City
DAVIDOFF CHAMPION
LuxAsia 25/F RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Tel. 729 3226, 843 2176
RISQUE DAREWEAR
risquedarewear@yahoo.com 0917 622 5131, 0922 490 8218 www.risquedarewear.com
3402 8th Avenue cor. 34th Street Bonifacio Global City , Taguig City Tel. 856-5050
KULTURA FILIPINO
SUZUKI
TISSOT
Suzuki Philippines Inc. Danny Floro Street Bagong Ilog Pasig City Tel. 6719724
Washington Watch Gallery Co., Level 1, Robinsons Manila Midtown Pedro Gil Street Malate, Manila
NISSAN
TOMS
Universal Motor Corp. 2232 Don Chino Roces Ave. Makati City 1200 Tel. 810-0151 www.mynissan.com.ph
2/F SM Mall of Asia Pasay City
G/F Nothing But Water Glorietta 3 Ayala Center Makati City
LIFESTYLE BALENCIAGA G/F Greenbelt 5 Ayala Center Makati City
CROCS
B7, Bonifacio High Street 11th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. 856 1358
GAP
2/F SM Mall of Asia Pasay City
GODIVA
Wilson cor. Ortigas Avenue San Juan City
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PALM PILOT RELIC
By Presy Alba
Nowadays, we feel disconnected if we don’t have our mobile phones on hand. But more than a way to communicate, most of us have literally our whole life on our smartphone—from our contacts, to emails, and even access to money and bank transactions. But before the smartphone, people kept track of their schedules, contacts and appointments with a PDA or Personal Digital Assistant which is a step up from the Personal Organizer. Palms first debuted as a gadget for executives who had to keep track of their schedules and transactions. It was like having a digital notebook in your pocket. Of all the PDAs in the market at that time, the PalmPilot 1000 was considered the best of the lot. It was small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, but it had 128KB RAM (Random Access Memory)— enough to hold around 500 names and addresses, and it had a touchscreen display and had a handwriting recognition software. Being able to synchronize data from the Palm to a PC or Mac was one of its best features.
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The first Palms had no infrared port, backlight or flash memory but as technology advanced, newer versions of the Palm increased its capability and storage capacity. Accessories and external packs added more options and power to the PDAs. The idea of a digital assistant captured the imagination of younger generation and soon it was on everyone’s wish list. In just over a decade, technology has advanced in leaps and bounds—not because there are more people with bright ideas but because there are so many ideas floating that it is almost inevitable for a convergence to happen somewhere down the line, and the snowball effect is still going on—it’s exciting to see what comes next.
RELIC
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RELIC
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