2011 v12n4 - WISHLIST by Gadgets Magazine

THE PHILIPPINES’ FIRST

TECH LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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SAMSUNG GALAXY Y NETPHONE Better the second time around

BEST GADGETS OF

2011

TOSHIBA QOSMIO X770

The War of

MONITORS

Elite gaming & multimedia enjoyment

GIFT IDEAS FOR

EVERYONE Original Online Filipino Music

ASUS EEE PAD X101H Affordably chic

BIANCA MANALO

REVIEWED:

Alcatel OT990 smartphone ASUS Eee PC X101H netbook ASUS O!Play Gallery HD media player Epson EB-S10 LCD projector Nokia X7 smartphone Popcorn Hour A-210 Media Streamer Sony Xperia PLAY smartphone Toshiba Qosmio X770 laptop

DREAMY IN ANTHONY RAMIREZ

Wishlist?

WHAT’S ON YOUR

Visit our website www.sony.com.ph

HD Movies, 5.5 fps,16.2 Megapixels

February2011

editorsnote

Full HD Movies, 10 fps, 16.1 megapixels

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editor’snote

a few words from our editor

I have a love-hate thing about Christmas shopping. I embrace the thought of giving gifts to friends and loved ones. My Christmas shopping list is prepared months in advance, at one time, even as early as July. And just because I hate the crowds during this Yuletide season, I try to spread out my Christmas shopping schedule for the entire year just so I won’t be harassed into deciding on what to buy for whom. This way, I can spend hours and hours combing the aisles in the shopping malls and booths in tiangges for the perfect gift for my family and friends. Yes, I even try to sneak in a bit of this Christmas shopping during trips overseas. Yet, I face the holiday season with a knot of anxiety raising its ugly head. It’s the dread of being unsure if I did find the right gift that’s causing possibly the worst angst I suffer every time the “ber” months arrive. A multitude of questions race through my mind. Will they like my gift? Does this mean I failed and I didn’t know my friends and loved ones well? Did Santa ever suffer such fears? Anyone shopping for holiday gifts understands my worries. This is the reason why we have come out this month with the Christmas Wish List where you can find a variety of gift ideas for possibly everybody. Our cover girl Bianca Manalo shows us the way to this shoppers’ aid. Over 100 gift ideas are featured in this issue to give you a variety of choices. Just call us Santa’s Little Helper. Happy hunting!

Armin A. Amio EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CMY

White dress by Anthony Ramirez

November2011

Photographed by Paul Ticzon Make-up by Jo Ticzon & Hair by Donn Donato for Benefits Style Salon Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold & Michelle Callanta-Toledo Styling by MR Gavin Shot at The Attic Studio

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.

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PUBLISHER Maribelle Alba EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Armin A. Amio ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michelle Callanta-Toledo EDITOR-AT-LARGE Presy Alba MOBILITY EDITOR Mike Antigua WRITERS MR Gavin Steven Vea Benjamin Arnold Roni Callanta John Nieves Paolo Toledo SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Benjamin Arnold GRAPHIC ARTIST Patrick Jude Ilagan INTERNS Mary Dominique Castro Juan Carlo Gruta Ana Umacob CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Maribelle Alba

SALES & ADVERTISING MANAGER ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE DIGITAL ONLINE EDITOR ADVERTISING AGENTS

CIRCULATION OFFICER CIRCULATION ASSISTANT ACCOUNTING MANAGER ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT HR OFFICER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Marisa Consuelo Carol Agabin John Nieves Bess Zamora Lorie Bernardo Salvador Da, Jr. Tess Pascua Marla De Guzman Amy Christine Giray

LEGAL COUNSEL Alba Law Office

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contents

Volume 12 Number 04 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2011

photofeature BIANCA MANALO

Bianca Manalo channels Cinderalla and helps your gadget wishes come true.

47 coverstory November2011

GADGETS MAGAZINE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE We help you pick the right gifts for your loved ones this Holiday season.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

contents

content Volume 12 Number 04 • November 2011

Features Tech

08 techparade

The holidays are coming up! Find out what’s new in the tech world.

As the year comes to a close, we take a look at the gadgets that made waves in the world of technology.

An exclusive interview with DLSU dragon boat team president, Michaela Lim Camitan.

Whether for movies, games or just everyday use, everyone needs a great monitor.

23 gadgetslab

Tried and tested. Here are our expert opinions.

34 tablets

Accessorize your tablet

35 gaming

Driver: San Francisco Classic gameplay with a unique twist.

36 apps

“12 Must-Have Apps.” Apps. Apps. Apps. Everyone simply must have these.

38 websites

Love to make lists? Check this out.

39 snapshots

How to create a healthy productive atmosphere in a photoshoot.

Lifestyle

72 lifestyleparade

CK One’s Shock Scents, kicks from Pony and Sperry Top Sider, get that glow with Etude house, and more.

79 yin&yang

Achieve harmony and balance with these feng shui tips.

76 beautylab

Flash those pearly whites with lightaccelerated bleaching

Music 80 listen

Check out what’s next in the world of DJ’ing

82 featuredartist

The exclusively OPM online radio station.

84 cdreview

Beyonce’s “4”, might make it to no. 1 “Bad Meets Evil” is for hiphop heads, Limp Bizkit is back.

78 wellness

A healthy way to clean out your system

November2011

Mobility

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Bits&Bytes 85 events ASUS LAUNCHES the N-Series

and Eee Pad Slider TW Steel unveils new watch Samsung redifines TV “viewing” Toshiba’s Concept Store in Pampanga Pioneer launches DJ Controllers

40 42

Ford reinvents the Explorer.

90 newsbits&bytes

BMW leads the luxury segment. JD Power’s Satisfaction Survey.

92 buyersguide

Isuzu Alterra Road Trip Series.

Everything new about (tech) town.

Getting a new gadget? Let us help you out.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

February2011

contents

techparade

be up-to-date on the freshest gadgets to hit the market

ASUS N-SERIES (N45SF, N55SF) Notebook

ASUS takes “sound to the next level” with its new N-Series notebooks, sporting a complete redesign aimed at bringing the best multimedia experience. Conceptualized in tandem with master designer David Lewis, the re-imagined notebooks have an elegant streamlined finish, with polished metal edges and a sleek sound wave-inspired speaker mesh. To guarantee powerful and pristine sound, the N45SF and N55SF feature 32mm Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers and an external SonicMaster subwoofer. Not only do the notebooks cater to your multimedia needs, but ASUS has improved its efficiency as well, sporting a quick resume time of only 2 seconds and a standby power on battery of up to 15 days. The N-series runs on Intel’s 2nd generation i5 (aka Sandy Bridge) processors along with an Nvidia GeForce GT555M for high-spec gaming and eye-popping visuals. In short, the N45SF and N55SF is the perfect notebook if you’re looking for a portable multimedia powerhouse.

ASUS EEE PAD SLIDER Tablet

ASUS continues its trend of innovation with the new Eee Pad Slider, an award-winning design tablet with a slide-out keyboard. It features a brilliant and vivid 10.1-inch IPS display that has an ultra-wide viewing angle of 178°, providing rich and lifelike visuals for your multimedia pleasure. Rest assured that the Eee Pad Slider will ensure the best performance, since it is running on Android 3.1 (upgradeable to 3.2), and is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor.

ASUS ML239H LCD Monitor

Find true colors from every angle with the Asus ML239H. This LCD monitor adopts 178˚(H) / 178˚(V) ultra-wide viewing angle IPS panel that eliminates color shift on your screen no matter where and how you look at it. The ASUS ML Series is one of the two in available IPS Panel Monitor the market. It even enhances the display’s contrast by adjusting the luminance of the backlight to achieve the darkest black and brightest white—delivering lifelike images.

ASUS-AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI (VX7) Notebook

October2011

Taking design cues from the Automobili Lamborghini and Murcielago LP640, the VX7 is stunning, sexy and downright sleek. It will surely drive computing excitement like never before as this notebook fully loaded with the newest technology and breathtaking power for your multimedia, gaming and productivity. Expect people to notice. Compacted with Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate or other editions available, you’re assured performance that races past the competition. NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 460M graphics with 3GB video memory set the stage for high-res gaming while the new Intel 2nd Generation Core i7 processors propel computing with extreme quad-core performance for better HD multimedia and multitasking so you get more done—and faster.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

techparade

techparad

CANON PIXMA E500 Printer

Say goodbye to your spending woes, as Canon offers the new Pixma E500, an ink-efficient printer that offers low cost per page while maintaining an impressively high output. It can produce monochrome documents at only Php 0.74 and colored prints at Php 1.74, which can easily rival prices offered at computer shops and printing stations. Not only is its cost per page impressive, the E500 can yield up to 800 pages of black and white documents and 400 pages with color in standard mode, so think about how much it can produce when used in draft mode. Despite its low costs per page, this Pixma printer retains Canon’s high-quality standards, thanks to the company’s FINE (Full photo-lithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology, and its ingenious Chromalife 100, which guarantees that your photo prints will last for a century. So if you want to cut down on costs but remain highly productive at the same time, then the ink efficient Canon Pixma E500 should be on the top of your list.

Php 4,495

E4200

LINKSYS E-SERIES Wireless-N routers

Linksys E-series wireless routers get an upgrade and now have new features such as 3x3 spatial stream configuration for improved coverage, external power amplifiers to maintain signal strength over a greater distance and reduce dead spots, and virtual USB technology to connect USB printers, storage and other devices to the network. Native IPv6 and 6rd support are also new on select E-series models.

E1200 – Php 2,895; E1500 with SpeedBoost – Php 3,295; E2500 Advanced Dual-Band – Php 5,595; E3200 High Performance Dual-Band – Php 7,995; E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band – Php 8,595

ASUS CM 6730 Desktop PC

The Essentio CM Series Desktop offers an immersive cinematic experience through connecting to an HD monitor or TV with the HDMI port. Consumers will be able to enjoy 7.1 surround sound with high-quality integrated Realtek high definition audio. Store your favorite music, photos and videos in a single hard drive, which maximize your entertainment experience. The Essentio CM Series has the exclusive ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) chip, is the world's first PC energy-saving controller.

ASUS ZENBOOK Ultrabook

November2011

The long-anticipated ASUS Zenbook has been finally revealed, fusing masterpiece design and incredible performance.The silver exterior panel features a concentric circle design that refracts a halo of light that excites the senses. With a thickness of 3mm in the front; 9mm in the rear, the Zenbook’s exterior lines are sleek, making it the thinnest ultrabook on the market and perfect for users constantly on-the-go or in the classroom. It uses the latest Intel 2nd generation Core processors (optimized for mobile use), SATA Revision 3.0 solid state storage (SSD), Bluetooth V4.0 and USB 3.0. ASUS has even added the USB Charger+ technology, which uses the powered USB 3.0 port to recharge portable devices in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

techparade

techparad

HTC & BEATS INTRODUCE

NEW HTC SENSATION XE WITH BEATS AUDIO:

THE FIRST PHONE WITH INTEGRATED BEATS AUDIO HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the new HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio—the first in a new line of HTC smartphones to feature Beats Audio technology to deliver studio quality audio. Taking HTC’s flagship handset to a new level of high fidelity audio, the HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio offers consumers the ultimate multimedia experience, setting a new standard for audio quality in the mobile market. In addition, the HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio boosts performance and battery life even further with the addition of a blazing fast 1.5 GHz dual core processor and an extended battery of 1730 mAh that enables you to listen, watch, speak and browse for even longer. “We believe that audio is a crucial part of any consumer’s mobile experience and will continually push the audio boundaries to encompass not only improved voice but music, movies and games,” said Lennard Hoornik, President of HTC South Asia Pacific.

“The HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio offers a truly incredible experience that demonstrates our leadership in innovation and technology, as well as our commitment to place consumers at the centre of their mobile worlds.”

The Ultimate Audio Experience The HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio is the first handset to offer a Beats Audio experience—a combination of software & hardware that allows you to hear music the way the artist intended. When used with the exclusive custom made Beats headset, the handset automatically switches to the bespoke Beats Audio sound profile, delivering audio tracks tuned specifically for the headphones. Plug in your custom made Beats headset and you’ll instantly notice a fuller bass and crisper vocals and a new level of clarity and range as the specially designed headphones work seamlessly with the HTC Music application.

June2011

New 1.5 GHz dual core processor and longer battery life extend the HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio’s sophistication and overall experience

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Beats Headphones The HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio also ships with a microSD card (8GB) allowing you to carry thousands of songs. The exclusive custom made Beats headset feature a remote control, allowing you to pause, play or skip through tracks and answer/end calls while the phone is in your pocket.

Availability The HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio will be available across key markets in South Asia by end Q4 2011.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

techparade

techparad

ACER ICONIA TAB AT100 Tablet

There’s nothing like an ultra-compact device, and Acer’s Iconia Tab AT100 fits the bill. With a brilliant 10.1-inch display and weighing only 410g, this tablet is easy to take with you anywhere you go. Equipped with Android 3.2, Acer brings you all of Honeycomb’s outstanding features, powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual Core processor. When you’re on the move, you can plan out your day with Acer’s Day Planner, and you can keep in touch for on-the-spot video conferences via its 2-megapixel front camera, so you can always stay in the loop. But it doesn’t have to all be about business, for the AT100 also has a 5-megapixel rear camera, allowing you to snap great images and instantly upload it to your social networks, or you can save it on the tablet’s built in 8GB/16GB of storage(with 32GB microSD support) to be viewed later on. In short, the Acer Iconia Tab AT100 provides everything you’ll want and need in a tablet, offering you mobility at its very best.

ACER ASPIRE S3 SERIES Ultrabook

Php 17,900 (8GB)

Slim. Sleek. Lightweight. These are the three words that completely capture the essence of the Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook, codenamed “Hummingbird.” It has a razor-thin body that measures only 13mm at its thinnest point and is a featherweight contender at a mere 1.5kg, which makes it the perfect portable companion. This ultrabook has the “Acer Green Instant On” feature which can resume from sleep in under 2 seconds, boot and shutdown in under 6 seconds, and can extend battery life in sleep mode up to 50 hours on a full charge. This excellent power performance is complemented by its efficient power usage, because the Hummingbird consumes 35% to 50% less energy.

Php 44,900

DELL INSPIRON 13Z Laptop

DASHER ELECTRONICS Keystone Inserts

November2011

Eliminate those unsightly wires and cables and create a clutter-free environment with Dasher Electronics’ keystone inserts. Made from highquality materials, these keystone inserts will enable you to mix and match, fully customize and connect you to today’s progressive lifestyle in homes, schools, offices and even warehouses. Available in 1,2,3,4, and 6-hole wallplates.

Banana Plug Speaker Inserts are great for that ultimate surround sound experience. HDMI Insert for unwavering video and audio quality to your digital display devices such as LCD and LED TVs and Projectors. USB Insert so you can access your movies, music and pictures via USB flash or external hard drives. Cat5E Insert for use in structured cabling for computer networks, wired internet access and intercom devices. RG6/RG59 Coaxial Insert so you can connect your cable service via standard coaxial connector. PAL Coaxial Insert eliminates the need to use inefficient adaptors which reduces picture quality. RJ11 Telephone Insert for landline telephone systems.

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The new Dell Inspiron 13z combines sizzling performance, rich features, and chic design in a small, take-anywhere “companion” laptop. Featuring a brilliant high-definition widescreen (1366-768dpi) display and built-in SRS Premium Sound HD, it enables users to enjoy a theater-like experience by streaming full HD movies and video wirelessly with Intel Wireless Display technology. It comes with blazing fast 2nd generation Intel Core processors, and high-performance on-processor graphics. The Dell Stage user interface is preinstalled, which offers one-click access to your favorite content including music, photos and video, and SyncUP powered by Nero can keep content and personal information synched with other Stage-enabled Dell PCs and mobile devices within your home WiFi network.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

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EPSON K-SERIES Printers

For small and medium workspaces that only need to print black and white documents, the Epson K-series are monochrome printers that offer the quality and efficiency of a laser printer. This new line consists of the K100 (monochrome inkjet printer), K200 (All-in-One monochrome printer) and the K300 (all-in-one monochrome printer with automatic document feeder). Printing documents will be extremely light on your finances, as the K-Series has a cost per page of a mere 45 centavos, which is a staggering 70% lower than laser printers in a similar price range. Not only will you cut costs, but you will also increase output as well because it can print at an incredible speed of 16 pages per minute in its default mode. Say goodbye to smudges, fading and dampened pages, for the K-Series utilizes Epson’s DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, which is ultra-resistant. To top it all off, it has built-in Ethernet for easy network sharing, and consumes 70% less power than laser printers.

K100 – Php 6,195; K200 – Php 8,495; K300 – Php 9,495

GENIUS EASYPEN M506 Tablet

The Genius EasyPen M506 tablet brings a more enjoyable and flexible designing experience. Unlike other existing tablets in the market, this 5 x 6-inch ergonomic tablet is reversible, making it the ideal tool for the left or right-handed user. Input is courtesy of a cordless and battery-less pen or stylus to sketch, paint, draw or trace onto the tablet's surface similar to the way a person draws images with a pencil and paper. The high 4000 LPI and 1024 pressure sensitivity enables designers to experience a more realistic and smooth sketching process. Four express keys provide instant access to eraser, undo, zoom in and zoom out functions. Compatible with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP, Mac OS 10.4 or higher systems.

Php 5,895

DIVOOM IRIS-05 Speakers

There’s nothing like hearing great sound, so do your laptop some justice by partnering it with the Divoom Iris-05. It has a pair of specially crafted 2.25-inch full range aluminum cone speakers and a built-in digital amplifier, which guarantee enormous sound and pristine clarity. You will be satisfied with its bass output as well, since the Iris-05 features Passive Oscillation Bass technology, which gives it that extra bump. While these passive speakers are designed to be USB-powered, you can purchase a separate power adapter if you want to pair it with your MP3 player or smartphone, making them ultra-flexible and versatile. What’s more, the Iris-05’s design is gorgeously sleek and simple—not only is it a pair of powerful compact speakers, but it’s a work of art as well.

EPSON L-SERIES Ink tank Printer

Epson’s newest printers are aimed to bring about maximum efficiency in both productivity and cost. The L-series is the world’s first genuine ink tank printers with the lowest cost per page in today’s market and is comprised of the L100, L200 and L800.

November2011

The L100 and L200 are four-ink color printers, and these are able to print up to 4,000 monochrome pages with a staggering cost of only 6 centavos per page. Moreover, they can also print 6500 color pages at an extremely low 12 centavos a page. The L800, which is a dedicated six-ink photo printer, can print up to 1,800 4R size photographs at a mere Php 1.67 per photo, which is definitely cheaper than going to a store to have them printed out. The L-Series features Epson’s Fast Ink Top-up technology which is made up of three components: ink tanks, special ink tubes and a choke valve to ensure easy refilling and transportation of the printers. So you can rest assured that Epson has placed careful thought into the L-Series to make sure that optimal quality is delivered, while remaining both cost efficient and energy efficient as well.

L100 – Php 7,800; L200 – Php 9,360; L800 – Php 13,800 14

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

techparade

techparad

NOONTEC A6II Media player

The A6II media player is a simple yet elegant addition to your home theater with its ultra-thin design and black highly bright UV. It also supports all popular HD video codecs like mkv,ts,m2ts,mts,tp,trp,wmv,ifo,i so,vob,dat,avi,mpg,mp4,mov,rm,rm vb,xvid,flv,avs, and includes 802.11n Wi-Fi, card reader, 2 USB Host, 1080P decoding, DOLBY, True HD, DTS HD. It supports nTV internet streaming with programs collection functions. Users can add their favorite fonts as subtitle and menu language. Offers a preference interface with background wall photos. An entry level in the media player market that supports NAS functions, File Server, BT function and iMediashare capable of using your Apple and Android devices.

Php 4,999

NOONTEC GIGALINK N5

NAS media center Just imagine having your very own iCloud storage at home, office or anywhere. Introducing Noontec Gigalink N5, an ideal media center for home sharing. Thanks to the simple user interface, you can enjoy all of your favorite movies with ease. The N5 supports mobile access for iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones in your local area network and serves as File, FTP, and Samba Server as well as Bittorent and PT downloads.

Php 2,999

NOONTEC V8

November2011

NAS media player The Noontec V8 strives to create a more professional NAS file management function and supports removable 3.5-inch HDD SATA capacity up to 3TB, USB 3.0 super speed data interface, touch power button and LCD display. It includes a card reader, USB host, and supports all popular HD video codec 1080P decoding, DOLBY, True HD, DTS HD, and even nTV internet streaming. Users can add their favorite fonts for subtitle and menu language. The V8 also offers a user preference interface with background wall photos. Supports NAS functions, File Server, BT function and iMediashare capable using Apple and Android devices.

Php 6,999 16

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

NOONTEC VENUS Battery pack

The Noontec Venus mobile battery pack will fully charge your iPhone 4 by its 2200mAh power capacity. It is equipped with an intelligent charging management system and a soft control switch button and will automatically charge your iPhone 4 and stop after the charging process is completed. A great help for an extra power supply when you travel. Comes in 4 different colors: black, white, yellow and red.

Php 1,999

Battery pack

The Noontec PowerMe Polo will fully charge not only your iPhone, but also your iPod, smartphone and other handheld devices with its 4000mAh power capacity and six different connectors (for Samsung, Nokia, and LG devices). The PowerMe Polo is simple and ultra-slim with a 14.5mm frame. With its smart charging management system, the PowerMe Polo automatically charges your devices and stops once it is fully charged. Comes with 3 color variants: white, black and red.

Php 2,999

techparade

NOONTEC POWERME POLO

techparad

SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS Smartphone

The result of Samsung Electronics and Google, the Galaxy Nexus is possibly the world’s first smartphone running on Android 4.0 (or Ice Cream Sandwich), the latest release of the Android platform. This new phone features a 4.65inch HD Super AMOLED display technology at 720p resolution and a 1.2GHz dual core processor. Ice Cream Sandwich brings an entirely new look and feel to Android. It has a redesigned user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, WiFi hotspot, NFC support and a full web browsing experience. Galaxy Nexus features software navigation buttons, a first for Android smartphones. There’s a People app, which lets you, browse friends, family, and coworkers, see their photos in high-resolution, and check their latest status updates from Google+ and other social networks. The Galaxy Nexus’ redesigned camera introduces panorama mode, 1080p video capture, zeroshutter lag, and effects like silly faces and background replacement.

SONY a77

Digital interchangeable lens camera Serious photographers will definitely want to get their hands on Sony’s a77, which currently holds the world record for the fastest interchangeable lens (ILS) camera with an APS-C size sensor. With 24.3 effective megapixel resolution, Sony has improved even further on their already award-winning Translucent Mirror Technology, which boasts an impressive 19-point autofocus system that delivers lightning fast and accurate AF speeds. A brand-new BIONZ image processor grants you the ability to take blazingly quick photos at 12fps that remains ultra-sharp with ultra-low noise. That same processor also allows the a77 to become the world’s first ILS camera with an APS-C sensor to shoot AVCHD Ver.2.0 (Progressive) Full HD movie.

TOSHIBA PORTÉGÉ Z830 Ultrabook

The Portégé Z830 is Toshiba’s first ultrabook offering equipped with Intel’s 2nd generation core processors. Weighing only 1.12kg and measuring only 15.9mm thin, this laptop redefines what it means to be ultraportable. Despite its featherweight dimensions, it has a rugged casing that is made of a light and robust magnesium alloy reinforced with a unique Honeycomb Rib, which provides shock absorption and increased durability. It has a 13.3-inch HD LED backlit display coupled with Toshiba’s Audio Enhancement technology that will ensure the best multimedia experience possible, whether it’s for work or pleasure. Other features include a full size spill-resistant keyboard and USB sleep & Charge, so you can recharge your devices even when the laptop is turned off.

TOSHIBA PC 1 POWER CHARGER LED TV

November2011

The superstar product of Toshiba’s Power TV lineup is the PC1 Power Charger. It is one of the world’s first 24-inch LED LCD TVs that was carefully crafted to operate on battery power, and will prove extremely useful during those times when brownouts occur. It has a revolutionary LED backlight panel that consumes low power and can provide up to an impressive 2 hours of uninterrupted viewing on a fully charged battery. Normal TV operation is guaranteed to continue in the event of a power outage, and so expect your neighbors to wonder why your family can watch TV even during brownouts. The PC1 Power Charger’s 24-inch display will grant stellar picture quality. You can view movies in Full HD 1080p that will have deep blacks and fine contrast, thanks to Toshiba’s Intelligent Backlight Control. It also has an astonishing 20W of sound packed into this slim and sleek television, which you can alternatively use an extra computer monitor.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

June2011

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NOKIA BH-111

Bluetooth Stereo Headset If you’re looking for a new stylish Bluetooth headset to enjoy crystalline audio, the BH-111 may be right up your alley. Whether it’s for enjoying the soothing sounds of music or to ensure crisp quality during phone calls, Nokia’s new Bluetooth headset features ergonomic earpieces that have been designed for maximum comfort and effective noise isolation. The BH-111 wirelessly syncs to your device via Bluetooth with a maximum range of 10 meters. Up to two devices can be paired at once, which is great if you’re toting around both a smartphone and dedicated MP3 player. The Nokia BH111 stereo headset comes in five vibrant colors: black, white, green, cyan and magenta.

KASPERSKY ANTI-VIRUS & INTERNET SECURITY 2012 Anti-virus software

Staying safe from today's complex Internet threats requires a new kind of approach. That’s why Kaspersky Lab offers the 2012 versions of its consumer security software products. The Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 offer the best of both worlds with hybrid protection. It’s anti-phishing and anti-spam features keep those spam e-mails from reaching your inbox. While surfing and downloading, Kaspersky tells users if a link is trusted, malicious or questionable by checking its worldwide reputation. KIS and KAV 2012 can make it easier to spend time online, whether shopping and banking, or interacting on social networks.

1-user license Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 - Php1,160 1-user license Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 - Php920

NOKIA PLAY 360°

November2011

Portable speaker

While most people enjoy music on their devices privately these days, there’s still nothing like sharing it with others. The Nokia Play 360° is a portable speaker that you can take anywhere, and virtually anyone can sync to it via Bluetooth, near-field communications or with the traditional 3.5mm jack. With an impressive portable play time of approximately 20 hours unplugged, the Nokia Play 360° is the perfect companion to have if you want music on the go. Its unique design is also functional, as this speaker provides 360° degrees of omni-directional sound, guaranteeing the same audio regardless of your position in relation to the speaker. With a wireless range of 10-100m, a maximum output of 81db, and equipped with 2.5-inch peerless full range drivers, the Nokia Play 360° offers a spectacular sphere of sound. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MILI POWER QUEEN Universal battery pack

November2011

Want instant power for your portable devices? The MiLi Power Queen is the ultimate universal battery pack for it provides a multitude of different “tips” or connectors to ensure compatibility with a plethora of gadgets, include the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPad 2. All you simply have to do is plug in the Power Queen to your device and it will instantly charge and provide you with power when you need it the most. What makes this universal battery pack amazing is that for an extremely compact device, it can give you an additional 2.7 hours of juice for your laptop, 50 hours for your mobile and up to approximately 3,000 hours for your digital camera, which is more than enough to suit the needs of just about everyone. With the MiLi Power Queen in your bag, you’ll never worry about losing power ever again.

MILI POWER STAR HB-M60 Portable Battery Pack

Are you looking for the total portable solution for your smartphone’s power woes? The MiLi Power Star is a 2000mAh compact battery pack that can offer your device an additional 13 hours of usage, 17 hours of talk time and 45 hours of multimedia. What makes the Power Star stand out is its expertly concealed built-in microUSB and USB cables, providing you with a single, seamless palm-sized device. This portable power bank is more than just a battery—it grants you more hours of productivity, entertainment and socializing to enhance your life. The MiLi Power Star is ultimate portable solution, and it’s compatible with BlackBerrys, Androids and other smartphones.

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SONY VAIO Y SERIES

UNDERSTANDING SMARTNET Just what makes the Smart Netphone different from every other device in the market? There is so much more to the Netphone than its hardcore hardware. At the heart of it all is SmartNet—the very thing that brings the future of the mobile phone at the palm of your hands. SmartNet is not just a software, a mobile website, or an app. It is a revolutionary platform of operator-managed services that are designed to cater to the mobile warrior’s needs in today’s an all-IP (Internet protocol) environment.

Notebook

Remember the letter Y this season, for it stands for both Yuletide and Sony’s VAIO Y series. If slim is in, then prepare to see heads turn when they spot this stylish and sleek 11-inch notebook. It is the perfect companion when you’re on the go, as this fabulous VAIO only weighs a mere 1.46kg. Sony has placed particular emphasis on its design, with tapered top and bottom panels that make it easy to slip into any purse or small backpack. Moreover, when you’re out and about, you can rest assured that you have everything you need, for the VAIO Y series come packed with AMD’s new Dual-Core E-450 processor and the AMD Radeon HD 6320 Discrete Class Graphics that guarantees maximum high definition for your multimedia. Add to that WiFi, Bluetooth and an impressive battery life of four hours, what else could you want in an ultraportable laptop?

Php 26,999

“SmartNet enables the Netphone to become more than just a device for calling, texting, and browsing,” said Smart broadband internet and data services head Giovanni Bacareza. “With it, the Netphone becomes a certified cloudphone as it becomes capable of using, receiving, and even availing of services, announcements, and software updates directly from Smart,” he added. Once registered on SmartNet, you can enjoy the full benefits of the platform. Even non-Netphone users can register via www.smartnet.ph. One example of a service that is unique to SmartNet and the Netphone is the Global Directory. The Global Directory allows Netphone users to search for friends and family on SmartNet simply by typing in their names on the phonebook’s search bar. As soon as they’ve found the person they wish to connect with they can send a friend request similar to what is done in popular social networking sites. Once the receiving party approves of the request, his or her contact information will automatically be added into the requestor’s phonebook. Another feature that sets SmartNet and the Netphone apart is Safe Browse. Safe Browse is a solution made by Filipinos for smartphone users in emerging countries. “The modern smartphone is designed to be constantly connected to the web, thus making unexpected data charges more common among subscribers,” said Bacareza. “Safe Browse addresses that problem as it makes ‘bill shock’ a thing of the past,” he added. Instead of turning off the phone’s data connection altogether to avoid unintended data use, Safe Browse makes available white-listed sites and services. Once users try to visit unauthorized sites, Safe Browse even warns them of potential additional charges. As a leading proponent of Filipino innovation, Smart has also taken measures to protect the Intellectual Property Rights on several technologies used in the Netphone and on SmartNet. While SmartNet makes it possible for the Netphone to take advantage of the power of the web, it also allows for new ways of connecting with others. Netphone-to-Netphone messaging is a standard feature which lets users chat for free. FX messaging, too, improves on traditional means of communication as it allows users to send emotive messages with the help of videos and moving images. Fancy telling someone you love them? Why not send a kiss?

November2011

Finally, there is Social Stream which aggregates feeds from your Twitter, Facebook, and SmartNet account so you can keep track of what’s going on in the web. You can even post your own updates at no extra cost.

Even though SmartNet is still in its infancy, it already shows tremendous potential. Newer and better services and features are already in the works and will be deployed soon. “We’re crafting new services and software as we speak. Like the ones that are already available, these are made with the needs of the Filipino in mind so expect nothing but the best for SmartNet and for the Netphone,” he said.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

SONY CYBER-SHOT TX55 Digital camera

Capture the memory of Christmas parties this year in high style with Sony's new Cyber-shot TX55, the world's slimmest fashion camera. Not only is it glamorous, but it’s quite the performer—it can impress any DSLR with its image quality and it can capture Full HD video and spectacular 3D images as well. With a maximum resolution of 16.2 megapixels coupled with Sony’s By Pixel Super Resolution technology, you can zoom up to 10x without any loss in image quality. The Sony Cyber-shot TX55 is guaranteed to impress even the most seasoned photographers with the images it will capture, and it will make photos of your memories seem even better.

gadgetslab

tried and tested to find out what’s hot and what’s not

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ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 990

SMARTPHONE

ASUS O!PLAY GALLERY

HD MEDIA PLAYER

ASUS EEE PC X101 NETBOOK

EPSON EB-S10

3LCD PROJECTOR

NOTEBOOK

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SMARTPHONE

POPCORN HOUR A-210

MEDIA STREAMER

SONY ERICSSON XPERIA PLAY

November2011

Toshiba Qosmio X770 29

NOKIA X7

SMARTPHONE

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Alcatel One Touch 990 SMARTPHONE

By Roni Callanta

SPECIFICATIONS OPERATING SYSTEM: Android Froyo 2.2 CPU: 600 MHz processor LCD SIZE: 3.5” capacitive touch 262k RESOLUTION: 320 x 480 PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 116 x 62.2 x 12.2 mm WEIGHT: 140g BAND: 2G – GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G - HSDPA 900 / 2100 WHAT’S HOT: • Similar iPhone physique and interface • Optical trackpad • Reasonably priced • Facebook button for easy share WHAT’S NOT: • Faulty touch-sensitive controls • Lags on command • Small touchscreen keypad

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: The Alcatel One Touch 990 displays your basic needs in social networking sites at a reasonable price.

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November2011

Almost everyone I know has a Facebook and/or Twitter account. Nowadays, it is all about being able to manage your social networking sites right at the palm of your hand. And that’s where the smartphone sashays right in.

Sporting a seemingly similar physique to the iPhone, the Alcatel One Touch 990 catches your eye with its sleek and stylish exterior. Quite an impressive look to a brand that is fresh in the smartphone game. Packing Android 2.2, WiFi, HSDPA connectivity and a 3.5-inch capacitive screen, the smartphone allows you to display images with large and sharp resolution (320x480). www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Photo and video-taking are made convenient with its 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus, and an additional sensor on the front for video conferencing. Not only does the One Touch 990 have similar exterior features to the iPhone, but it also has almost the same interface—navigation is made just as easy with a few swipes of your thumb from top to bottom, left to right.

The One Touch 990 packs your basic smartphone necessities such as Google Chrome, (Opera Mini - surf the Internet with Google Chrome and Opera Mini browsers), instant messengers, push e-mail and various social networking sites, as well as an FM radio and an assisted GPS. With only 200 MB of internal memory space, packing the smartphone up is only made possible with a microSD card slot

that can carry up to 32GB. Despite the Alcatel One Touch 990 being relatively new in the smartphone business, it gets the job done when it comes to your browsing, Facebook and Twitter needs. The Alcatel OT900 retails for Php 8,999.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

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ASUS O!Play Gallery HD MEDIA PLAYER

By Roni Callanta

SPECIFICATIONS FILE SYSTEMS: FAT 16/32, NTFS, HFS/ HFST, ext3, Power (DC) input, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB/eSATA combo, LAN port (10/100Mbps), HDMI I/O PORTS: Composite AV, Component, Optical digital (S/PDIF), Coaxial digital (S/PDIF), CF card reader, SD/MMC card reader, MS/MS-Duo card reader DIMENSIONS: 230.0mm x 178.0mm x 60.5mm WEIGHT: 720g WHAT’S HOT: • Supports all major media formats including formats for iPhone and iPod WHAT’S NOT: • Lags on command

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: Impressive purchase for the HD entertainment junkie

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Hitting your local movie theater to catch a flick has become quite a task nowadays. There is lining up and/or booking reservations, and sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, you get to sit in front of that one kid who always seems to be kicking your seat from behind.

November2011

How would you want to enjoy high-definition entertainment that supports all major media formats without requiring any additional software right at the comfort of your own home?

The Asus O!Play Gallery HD media player does just that, enabling its users to enjoy HD entertainment on television, as well as a streaming function O!Direct exclusively from Asus. At first, I did catch myself in a panic—seeing all of the wires and cables of the O!Play Gallery. They all looked like alien life forms to me but when I was able to figure it out, www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

I ended up being cooped up in my room for a whole day. The beauty of the O!Play is that it features updated specs and can stream all sorts of video and audio content in both wired and wireless modes. Users can store all sorts of media content right on the player and another fun bonus is that apart from the high-speed USB 3.0 connection interface available, the O!Play can also be upgraded to feature a 3.5-inch hard drive via an internal SATA 6Gbps port. The O!Play can playback content

directly from memory cards and its software is built to work with online entertainment services such as YouTube, various online TV stations and radio streams, Flickr, Picasa and others—a home entertainment center that is perfect for video, photos and music. Packing the latest USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s devices and support for 7.1-channel Dolby TrueHD audio, connectivity with the iPhone and iPod is made possible with the O!Play, which can be displayed in full HD on an HDTV. In addition, transferring files from a PC and /or laptop to the O!Play Gallery is made easier and faster.

The O!Play Gallery also has other features such as Full HD 1080p and Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel support via an HDMI connection, a Gracenote software interface (when an optional 3.5-inch hard disk is installed), compatibility with a wide range of media formats including ISO files and iPod/iPhone Full HD streaming support. With the O!Play Gallery, I doubt if one will hit the movie theaters anytime soon. HD entertainment at home is just too good to pass up.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

NETBOOK

By MR Gavin

November2011

ASUS Eee PC X101

SPECIFICATIONS DISPLAY: 10.1” LED backlight WSVGA screen OPERATING SYSTEM: MeeGo PROCESSOR: Intel Atom N435/N455 processor MEMORY: DDR3, 1 x SO-DIMM, 1GB DIMENSIONS: 262 x 180 x 17.6 mm WEIGHT: 0.92 kg with battery

WHAT’S HOT: • Portable • Social networking friendly • Personalized homescreen • Fast startup WHAT’S NOT: • Poor Meego interface • Can’t support other media formats • Poor program design

A netbook should be portable, lightweight, thin and easy to slip into your bag. That’s something the ASUS X101 can well offer. Its form and weight is designed for those who just have a little space in their bags for a netbook. It is 17.6mm thin, thinner than most of the average netbooks out in the market today. It has a matte finish with wave patterns to add texture to its form. As soon as you open the netbook, it will reveal a chiclet-type keyboard giving you more space and making it easier to type. The touchpad is wide and responsive but there is no separation for the left and right click, which is a small drawback to its navigational features.

There are eight buttons on the upper side of the home screen. The buttons will bring you different panels where you categorize apps and other features. First is MyZone, where you can customize what goes in that space. It may be your favorite social networking stream or a document you are working on. Second is Zones, where all

I customized MyZone with the ASUS app store, dropbox, calendar, tasks and a video icon of the current series I am watching. It was a breeze working from MyZone

because everything I need is all in one screen and I don’t need to navigate through each page to look for things I need. This is one of the most social networking-friendly netbooks for me because users will be able to link their social networks into one stream even without opening a web browser. I synchronized my Twitter and Facebook accounts on my home screen, making it easier to see updates and notifications. Other sites such as Tumblr and Multiply can also be placed on the homescreen, depending on how you like it. I often use my netbook to catch on news and series; it is my television away from home so multimedia is pretty important in my book. I tried playing music files and videos on the Asus X101 but sadly it does not support some audio video formats. You will need to add additional decoder to be able to enjoy some of your files. There is only one slot for your mic and earphones, a downer if you want to plug them separately. There are two USB ports and a microSD

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card reader, just enough ports for a small netbook. You will be able to switch from window to window with the unique zone switcher that enables you to multi-task easily. You can personalize each window depending on the things you are doing. One window might be for work another for social networking or e-mail, there are a whole lot of possibilities for your meeGo. When you turn-off the X101, it automatically saves the feed you have on your homescreen and the windows/panels you are working on. When turned back on, it automatically opens previous panels which puts you right back on track. The X101 is also a learning tool because of the British council English language learning application. It has interactive games, videos and MP3s that are pre-installed. It has over 300 English language training materials that were awarded with Intel’s performance learning solutions. Like they say, with MeeGo you run the show.

gadgetslab

Turning on the netbook is really easy, I estimated less than 20 seconds to load and launch. The ASUS Eee PC X101 is running on MeeGo.

applications you’re using appears. You have the choice to organize them whichever way you want. Next is the Internet where you can save tabs and see your favorite pages or most viewed. There is also the Status panel where your social networking sites can be synchronized and managed. The fifth one is the People panel, it is where instant messaging is synchronized. It is like a chatroom for your IM accounts. The Media panel is the equivalent of the media player for Windows. It enables you to play audio and video files. The Application panel is something you will always need, it has all the programs and applications you will need. It is sub-categorized to easily find what you need. Last is the Devices panel; it manages your computer, the devices you plug in and your settings. Aside from that buttons, there is an extra one for networks. It is where you check connectivity like WiFi or wired internet service.

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: If you don’t mind changing from your windows os to another, then you may give the Asus X101 a shot, especially if you are a social networking addict who wants easy access to everything.

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Epson EB-S10 3LCD PROJECTOR

By Benjamin Arnold

SPECIFICATIONS: PIXEL NUMBER: 480,000 dots (800 x 600) x 3 NATIVE RESOLUTION: SVGA ASPECT RATIO: 4:3 LAMP HOURS: Normal Mode: 4000 hours; Eco Mode: 5000 hours BRIGHTNESS: Normal Mode - White Light Output 2600 lumens, Color Light Output 2600 lumens; Eco Mode - White Light Output 2040 lumens, Color Light Output 2040 lumens CONTRAST RATIO: 2000:1 DIMENSION: 228mm x 295mm x 77mm WEIGHT: 5.07 lbs WHAT’S HOT: • Comes with carrying case • Plug-and-Play with quick boot up • USB connection option • Bright even in fully lit room • Great security option • Remote control works both as pointer and mouse WHAT’S NOT: • When connected via VGA connector, the color red is subbed with black • Causes computer to lag when connected via USB

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: Though it has a few snags here and there, the Epson EB-S10 3LCD Business Projector gets the job done with bright visuals and an easy-to-handle carrying case.

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November2011

The Epson EB-S10 3LCD projector may have been designed for the busy business man in mind. At 5.07 lbs., one can easily bring this projector from the car straight to a presentation as it comes with a simple carrying case that holds all the needed accessories. With the plug-and-play feature, all you have to do is set up the projector and hit the power button and it boots up straight away. Upon clicking the power button it took around 10 seconds to turn on and another 20 seconds to warm up the light to its full brightness.

The Epson EB-S10 features adjustable legs that ensure that you can set up the projector anywhere with easy just by sliding the legs to the height you need. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature the auto keystone and angle detection that its sibling models (the EB-X10 and W10) feature. So it takes time to adjust the angle of the projection properly. This is okay though, as the menu of the projector is easy to maneuver through and simple to understand. There are multiple ways of connecting the projector to your laptop. I am not sure if it was just the unit I tested or all the units www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

out there, but when using the VGA connector, for some reason the projector wouldn’t display the color red, and instead substituted it with the color black. Even after adjusting the settings of both the computer and projector and testing it out on multiple units, I couldn’t get the red to project. This led me to using the USB connector. With the USB connector, all I had to do was connect the cable and install the driver that auto-plays upon connecting the cable to the computer and I was good to go. This remedied the problem of the VGA connector and projected

the visual in a bright and vivid full-color projection. The problem though with the USB cable is that it slowed down the refresh rate of my computer and caused it to lag. It also wouldn’t let me play any movies for some unknown reason. I could tell it was from the projector as the moment I turned off the projector, the movies started to play, and the lagging disappeared. In terms of brightness, the projector is superb. Even in a fully lit room, the images displayed by the projector were still vivid and bright. When in a small room though, the images can get so bright that it

becomes blinding, but that was an easy fix by simply adjusting the brightness of the projector. It also makes the projector heat up pretty quickly, but the large exhaust fan compensates for this. There is also a security feature that allows you to chain the projector to a stand if necessary, as well as apply a lock and password so that others can’t mess around with the settings or protect it from theft. It also comes with a remote that can serve both as a way to adjust the settings as well as a pointer and mouse.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

SMARTPHONE

By Steven Vea

November2011

Nokia X7

SPECIFICATIONS DIMENSIONS: 119.7 x 62.8 x 11.9 mm WEIGHT: 146 g DISPLAY: 4.0 inches, AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 360 x 640 pixels, Gorilla glass AUDIO: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack MEMORY: 8GB included (32GB max), 256 MB RAM, 1 GB ROM, CONNECTIVITY: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, 3G, HSDPA PORTS: 3.5mm jack, microUSB 2.0 CAMERA: 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, dualLED flash VIDEO: 720p@25fps CPU: 680 MHz ARM 11 processor

WHAT’S HOT: • Great aesthetic design • Excellent battery life WHAT’S NOT: • Dodgy OS • Over sensitive touch response

There’s no doubt that touchscreen smartphones are now the go-to mobile phone today. With several manufacturers clearly dominating the market, let’s see how beloved industry veteran Nokia shapes out, with one of its latest releases, the X7. The greatest selling point of this smartphone is its highly attractive exterior. The X7 has a sleek minimalist design that embodies the air of an executive’s mobile. Its predominantly rectangular form is accentuated with slightly slanted edges and a smooth curved metal backplate, that gives it a modern and futuristic look. Although the X7 is also quite heavy for a smartphone, this helps make it feel lavish, expensive, and ruggedly solid.

While the metal backplate certainly looks great, taking off the cover for the SIM card slot posed quite a great challenge—unhinging and re-

Turning the X7 around for normal use greets us with a bright and well-illuminated 4-inch AMOLED display, which is thankfully protected by Gorilla glass. Overall, the display is visually impressive— colors are vivid and details are crisp, making widgets and icons appear to pop out from the screen. Located directly below the gorgeous 360x640 resolution display is the sole physical button on the front side of the X7, which serves as the HOME/BACK key. Running on the Symbian Anna OS, users navigate via 3 familiar homescreens, which can be scrolled by touch-sliding sideways or by tapping on a button in the bottom center. The homescreens are fully customizable as well, so

you can place shortcuts to your favorite widgets and applications. Additionally, there are two touch function buttons on the bottom left and right, which serve as a shortcut to Options and as a Call/Exit button. The touchscreen on the X7 is responsive, but perhaps a little too responsive for my taste. The slanted edges of the body and the miniscule space between the display and the phone’s edges tend to repeatedly cause undesired touch commands. To effectively use the phone, it seemed more practical to either place it on a flat surface or to cradle it in the palm of my hand and “poke” at it (for lack of a better term). Moreover, it was quite difficult to type with the X7 because of two reasons: the touch keys are too small and too sensitive. It disappointingly took a great deal of effort to compose messages, even when used in landscape orientation. However, general navigation and performing mundane actions were satisfactory on the X7. Although at times a little sluggish and

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seemingly counter-intuitive, what is a great selling point is its excellent battery life. With constant use (including consistent Wi-Fi), it was able to last roughly two days before requiring to be recharged, which is impressive. Moreover, its 8-megapixel rearfacing camera shoots crisp photos, and has great post-processing options installed such as color filters and “bubble” fish-eye emulators. But you can expect hurdles in finding a decent way to hold the phone without any unwanted grazes to the touchscreen. In short, I personally found myself wanting more with the X7. Its great aesthetic design had my hopes up, but after getting around to using it, this particular mobile fell short of my personal expectations from a titan manufacturer such as Nokia. Here’s to hoping that subsequent releases will feature vast improvements.

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When looking at the X7, you’ll notice almost every port or button is smoothly concealed in its sleek design. On the top you’ll find the port for the microUSB/charger, 3.5mm jack and the power button. When you turn it around to view its backplate, all you will see is the 8MP camera, the volume rocker, camera button, and the slots for the microSD and SIM card.

inserting it took several frustrating minutes to achieve. Moreover, since the backplate is sealed tight, you will be unable to access the battery, which poses the question of how to replace it. Unhinging the microSD slot, on the other hand, was curiously and satisfyingly easy.

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: The Nokia X7 is a good phone, but it could have been a lot better.

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Popcorn Hour A-210 MEDIA STREAMER

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS MEDIA FORMATS: MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V),MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG, DAT, VOB),MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MTS),AVI, ASF, WMV,Matroska (MKV),MOV (H.264), MP4, RMP4; AAC, M4A,MPEG audio (MP1, MP2, MP3, MPA),WAV,WMA,FLAC,OGG; Photo FORMATS: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF DIMENSION: 265mm x 135mm x 45mm WEIGHT: 2.2 lbs MEMORY: 512MB DDR2 DRAM, 256MB NAND Flash WHAT’S HOT: • Able to play almost all media files currently out • Excellent picture and sound quality • Has support for both standard and hidefinition setups • Supports 3D WHAT’S NOT: • Simplistic menus • Novices will have a hard time setting up the advanced features of the device

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: Simply put, the Popcorn Hour A210 is probably one of the best media streamers we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. Grab it if you can.

Not all media streamers are created equal. Just like any gadget out in the market, they come in a variety of models and features, from the basic, USB streamer to more complicated NAS (network attached storage) capable models. Made by Syabas in Hong Kong, the Popcorn Hour A210 delivers all you’d ever want in a media streamer—even if the experience is slightly unhinged by a less-than-friendly UI.

November2011

There’s not much to say about styling when it comes to digital streamers—they’re usually just boxes with fans and a few physical controls. The Popcorn Hour A210 follows that particular design mantra, although it does look better than its competitors. The A210 uses a nice brushed metal material for its housing which gives the unit better heat dissipating qualities and a better overall aesthetic.

The A210 has a whole suite of connections that range from standard definition (composite, component and RCA jacks for audio) as well as HD (HDMI). There’s an Ethernet port thrown in for home network integration. USB connections are also provided, and the A210 can reliably play content contained in thumb drives and HDDs. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

While the A210 can play media from external sources, it’s perfectly capable of taking both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDDs for storage and playback. Putting the drives into the device is easy enough, and the drive caddy is designed in such a way that even the most novice of users can figure out how to do it. When talking about media streamers, one of the main things people look for is file compatibility. You’ll be happy to know then, that the A210 can literally play almost every file currently out—.MKV, .MOV, .WMV—if it’s an audio or movie file and it has a dot and acronyms, you can bet that this baby can play it. It’s even capable of playing 3D Bluray files and a myriad of 3D video, so it’s the streamer to have if you already have a 3D capable HD TV.

Video quality is fantastic for the A210, especially if you already have a properly calibrated TV. Images just seem to pop out at you, and everything just...looks better. Obviously lower bitrates and badly encoded movies will still look like garbage, but even decently encoded movies look fantastic on the A210. Audio pretty much follows the same trend as video – simply put, we were blown away. The A210 has support for the latest lossless audio codecs and the result is fantastic sound. Probably the A210’s only fault is its simplistic menu system. Items are listed via text file names, and you’re also shown the subfolders of whatever media you’re accessing. Compared with the elegance of Apple’s GUI, the A210 looks

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primitive, but then again, it is far more capable than Cupertino’s offering. There are also a number of additional features in the A210, like advanced networking features, being able to stream videos directly from networked PCs and downloading torrents and the like, but unfortunately using them isn’t as easy as pressing the play button. The Popcorn Hour A210 is a great media content streamer. Sure, it’s simplistic menus and more complicated features need a bit of learning, but you’ll also be getting a streamer that’s able to play almost any file imaginable with excellent picture quality and unbelievable sound.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

SMARTPHONE

By Michelle Callanta-Toledo

November2011

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

SPECIFICATIONS: FORM FACTOR: Touchscreen with slide-out game pad OS: Android OS, v2.3.4 (Gingerbread) LCD SIZE AND CLASSIFICATION: 4-inch, LED-backlit LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors BAND: HSDPA 900 / 2100m, HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 INTERNAL MEMORY: 400 MB, 512 MB RAM; microSD, up to 32GB, 8GB included PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 119 x 62 x 16 mm WEIGHT: 175 g

WHAT’S HOT: • Android OS, v2.3.4 (Gingerbread) • Slide-out game pad • Preloaded games WHAT’S NOT: • No HDMI port and 4G • Not exactly easy to use at first • Occasional crash

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: For Php 19,990, you get a packed smartphone and videogame—a must appeal to true mobile gamers out there.

If looks can be deceiving then the Xperia PLAY’s design is guilty as charged. This device doesn’t look any different from other Android smartphones despite its game pad duality. It has an impressively large 4-inch touchscreen display encased in a glossy black finish with silver trim along its side and chic curved edges for that nice comfortable grip.

But though they say “it’s what’s inside that counts,” in the case of the Xperia PLAY, it’s not what’s inside, but what lies beneath as the Xperia PLAY has a slide-out game pad which pretty much is the reason for its bulk but just a wee bit lighter than your Nintendo DS and PSP. The entire pad is matte silver and

looks very much like your typical game pad with the D-pad on the left and the familiar face buttons (triangle, circle, cross, and square) on the right. The Select and Start buttons are located to the lower right while a menu button sits in the lower left, and the left and right shoulder buttons on the top (right side when seen as a smartphone). In the middle of the game pad is a long inset oval with two circles inside it. These two touch-sensitive circles essentially replace the two analog joysticks. The Xperia PLAY runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread so you get the easy-to-maneuver five customizable home screens and the crawling main menu that fades to black. It also offers users a faster keyboard and download management. Other features include Facebook and Twitter, text and multimedia messaging, Gmail and other

email, Google Maps 5.0, voice navigation, search, YouTube, the WebKit browser, and basic tools like a calendar and a calculator. The phone also comes with Office Suite for reading and editing Office documents. The phone also supports WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a speakerphone, and voice dialing but unfortunately, it doesn’t have and HDMI port and 4G. But that’s as a smartphone. To play games, you either access the Xperia PLAY app on the menu or slide open the game pad. It comes preloaded with Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, FIFA 10, Star Battalion, Sims 3 and Crash Bandicoot. There’s also Tetris which you can only play using the touchscreen. Maybe it’s important to know that I was never all that great a gamer nor am I a “seasoned” smartphone user. So perhaps that’s why it took awhile to get used to the Xperia

PLAY. It took three days for me to figure out where the Inbox was (after I had accidently deleted all my messages) and how to adjust the settings of my phone from the volume to the vibrate mode. Sometimes, while I typed a message, it would simply crash and a message would appear:”Sorry! The application messaging (process com.sonyericsson.conversations) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.” The gaming part was fine. In fact, what made it so immersive was the brilliant 854x480-pixel FWVGA resolution display and 16 million colors that gave deep blacks, sharp graphics, and crisp text. It’s a great way to while away the time. And after a while of getting acquainted with the phone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY does grow on you. You really just need to play with it.

gadgetslab

Below the screen are four Android hot keys for the Back, Home, Menu, and Search functions. On the left side, you’ll find a USB port for the charger while on the right, you’ll find the volume arrows and two buttons that have L and R on them (obviously, left and right shoulder buttons for the game pad). At the back, you’ll find a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash and encased behind a rather flimsy and fragile back cover is the battery, SIM, and microSD slot.

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gadgetsla

Toshiba Qosmio X770 NOTEBOOK

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS SCREEN SIZE: 17.3-inch Full HD MEMORY: 8GB DDR3 CPU & CHIPSET: Intel Core i7-2630QM (2.0@GHz) PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 413 x 274 x 28mm WARRANTY: 1 year on parts and labor WHAT’S HOT: • Powerful hardware • Excellent sound • Full 3D HD performance WHAT’S NOT: • Heavy • Pricey • No direct update from Nvidia for drivers • Has quite a bit of bloatware

BUY METER

BOTTOMLINE: The Qosmio X770 is Toshiba’s first real stab at the lucrative gaming market, and to be fair, the company has done quite a few things right. If you’re a fan of Toshiba and have the cash to drop, then you might want to consider it.

Toshiba has been making its Qosmio line of entertainment notebooks for years, but it’s only recently that it decided to shift its sights to gaming. The Qosmio X770 is one of the three new notebooks that they’re offering for the gaming crowd (the other two being the F750 and the F750 2D).

November2011

Like any good gaming notebook, the Qosmio X770 is big. It’ll take up about 413 x 274 x 28mm of space, and registers a backbreaking weight of 3.34 kilos. It’s equipped with a 17.3-inch full HD display that’s capable of 3D via Nvidia’s 3D Vision solution. The whole notebook is treated with Toshiba’s new Fusion X2 Finish which the company says repels smudges and prints better than gloss designs. While we weren’t a fan of the somewhat gaudy design (web speaker grills, really?) we would have to agree on the whole repel fingerprints part of the equation.

Being an absolute behemoth of a notebook, the X770 has enough room for a full-sized keyboard, complete with a keypad on the left. There’s a whole manner of ports and plugs—USB ports, HDMI out, Ethernet, audio and D-sub. A Blu-ray disc player is also included. There’s a touch sensitive shortcut bar near the hinge that allows you to do a variety of things like turn the 3D www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

effect on/off, control the volume, play media, turn off WiFi and so on. The keyboard feels good and has good travel, though some keys feel a bit mushy to the touch. The keyboard is also illuminated. Hardware-wise, the X770 is a beast. Under the gaudy black and gray hood purrs an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor that’s running at 2.0@ GHz. Graphics is provided by an Nvidia GeForce GTX560M (1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM) mated with 8GB of DDR3 memory. Storage is by way of a 1TB, 7200RPM HDD and audio is provided by a pair of Harman Kardon speakers with a built-in subwoofer. Gameplay tests with both Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and the multiplayer beta of Battlefield 3 yielded better results. In Battlefield 3, the Qosmio X770 managed to nab an average of 26 FPS with everything on high and the resolution set to 1920 x 1080, which is actually pretty good,

considering the game is still in beta, and we were using unofficial Nvidia drivers. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit fared better, with the device registering an average of 60 FPS with the resolution on 1920 x 1080 with the settings on high. Battery life, however, is dismal. You’d be lucky to get more than an hour’s worth of performance with this particular device. Audio performance is top notch, with the built-in subs adding an extra oomph to engine revs in the games. There still are a few issues that need to be addressed, with two being the most important when it comes to gaming notebooks: driver support and bloatware. Like many other notebooks, the X770 uses a non-generic version of Nvidia’s GTX560M GPU, which means that the X770 won’t accept driver updates from Nvidia’s site. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but since the X770 is a gaming machine, driver updates are critical—both

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NVIDIA and ATI frequently come out with updates to their drivers that improve game performance. Bloatware has always been an issue with Toshiba notebooks. Seriously, nothing is worse than buying a high-end machine and gaming with it, only to be taken out of the action by a pop-up because you haven’t updated such and such. If you’re the type that wants to drop in and play games, the X770 might not be the device to get, especially since you will have to jump through quite a few hoops to get the right drivers running. But if you’re the sort who doesn’t mind mucking around to make things work (which admittedly is the primary audience for this device), then the X770 should be right up your alley. Of course, that’s assuming you’re willing to pay Php 129,990 for it.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

gadgetslab

tablets

a portable personal computer

Accessorizing Your Tablet By Presy Alba

Kensington PowerBack battery case KeyFolio Bluetooth keyboard ShowWX+ Laser Pico projector

ZaggFolio ZaggMate with keyboard KeyFolio Pro Performance keyboard case

The Compass mobile stand for iPad and iPad2

November2011

Getting a tablet PC and going “lite” is so freeing—you don’t need to bring along a separate bag for your laptop. You can just slip the tablet in your carry-on luggage or even tuck it under your arm. Your tablet is complete by itself: it can deliver everything that you need when you’re away from your office and on-the-go. But we are all creatures of style and accessorizing makes things more personal.

ZAGG does not have the monopoly of creating great folios and keyboard cases. You might also want to consider what Kensington (www.kensington.com) has to offer.

The first accessory that any new Tablet owner should get is a folio or some kind of protector, cover or shield. But as you do more work on your tablet, you will surely miss the additional convenience of having a separate keyboard. For less than $100 you can get a great folio with a Bluetooth keyboard.

The KeyFolio Bluetooth keyboard case for iPad and iPad2 will protect your tablet from bumps and scratches. The keyboard comes with tactile rubberized and spill-proof keys, and the adjustable stand will securely hold your iPad on different horizontal positions.

The ZaggFolio (available for Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and iPad2) has a sleek and stylish design can only enhance the look of your tablet. Made of sturdy carbon fiber with microfiber lining, the ZaggFolio will provide excellent protection as a carrying case. The built-in stand and keyboard will improve your productivity on the road, turning your Tablet into a stylish touchscreen netbook.

For iPad 2 owners, the KeyFolio Pro Performance keyboard case offers even better features. The frame allows the user to rotate the iPad to landscape or portrait mode and the Bluetooth keyboard is designed for the touch typist. The reinforced polyurethane fabric cover provides great protection to your iPad2.

For iPad owners, the ZaggMate with keyboard is a great option. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish, it matches the iPad perfectly. The added convenience of the embedded wireless Bluetooth keyboard can make work go faster, and it only add ¼-inch to the iPad’s thickness. The Logitech keyboard case by ZAGG for iPad2 has all the features of the ZaggMate, and is even thinner as it only adds 1/8-inch to the tablet.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

The Kensington PowerBack battery case with kickstand and dock can add 5 extra hours to your iPad. It comes with built-in speakers and the microUSB port allows you to charge and sync without removing the PowerBack. The built-in 3-position steel kickstand conveniently and securely holds your iPad while typing in portrait or landscape modes. Watching videos or reading books on the Tablet are very convenient, and having a sturdy stand makes

for a better hands-free experience. The Compass Mobile Stand for iPad and iPad2 is a very stylish and compact folding stand that works like an easel and a typing stand. Set up as an easel, Compass displays the iPad well in both portrait and landscape modes. To make it into a convenient typing stand, you simply flip down the secondary leg and compass will sit at a perfect angle that is comfortable for touchscreen typing on your iPad. When you’re done using the Compass, it conveniently folds into a small candy bar. Traveling light does not mean that you have to leave your presentation equipment and trust that you’ll have access to a projector when you need to do a presentation. In business, it always pays to be prepared—justifying why you should add the ShowWX+ Laser Pico Projector to your wish list. I intentionally saved this for last because it is quite expensive at a little less than $500. But if the product delivers on its promises, it will provide you with up to 100” image size with a high resolution of WVGA 848x480 and a widescreen with autofocus feature. It is just the size of an iPhone and will work perfectly with your iPad. You can make a 2-hour presentation or watch a movie on a single charge. With this gadget on hand, you will not only impress your clients, you will also have an entertainment center on hand wherever you go.

gaming

where playing around is a good thing

Developer: Ubisoft Reflections Publisher: Ubisoft By John Nieves

The Driver series of games have always held a nice, warm place in my heart. The original game was released for the PC in a time when Grand Theft Auto was still a senseless, top down affair. But since the release of GTA 3, the series have always seemed to play catch up, losing relevancy release after release. Ubisoft finally wised up and said enough, and have decided to stop playing catch-up to the dark story and gameplay of GTA 3 and have instead returned to the roots of the series—pure driving bliss. I initially balked at doing the review because Ubisoft announced that they’d be slapping draconian always-on DRM on the PC version of Driver: San Francisco. So a friend of mine volunteered to let me play on his PC to finish the review, and I’m glad I did. DSF is probably one of the best driving games to come out this year, even if it is saddled with ridiculous DRM. You play as John Tanner, ex-race car driver and undercover detective. You and your partner have just volunteered to put your arch-nemesis and perennial Driver antagonist Jericho behind bars when he’s sprung out of jail by a beautiful accomplice, putting you in a coma in the process. John Tanner isn’t aware of this however, and in his mind he’s still trying to bring Jericho back in chains—and this is where things get interesting.

The cars in Driver: San Francisco are the main stars of the show, and there’s plenty to choose from. There are 125 cars available to drive, from Tanner’s iconic Dodge Challenger R/T to the more modern Nissan Fairlady Z

to the totally desirable (and expensive) Pagani Zonda Cinque. Each one has been lovingly modelled to represent their real life counterparts, and each one has their own way of driving. Speaking of driving, the driving model of the game is good, and while it’s not as complicated as the driving in sim-minded games like Forza or Grand Turismo, it’s still close enough to what petrol heads expect. Four wheel drive vehicles work better on dirt than rear or front wheelers for example, and older American muscle cars have more torque and drift better than more modern vehicles. If you’re looking for a driving game to whet your appetite this holiday season, you might want to check Driver: San Francisco out. It’s available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

The whole its-not-real-you’re-just-in-a-coma shtick gives the devs an opening to introduce a gameplay gimmick that helps drive the story along: shifting. Shifting basically allows John Tanner to inhabit the body of drivers around the city, which also puts him in control of whatever car they were driving at the time. This new gameplay mechanic lends to some exciting, overthe-top sequences, like trying to stop fleeing suspects by possessing on-coming traffic, slamming into their vehicle and finishing a team race in both second and first place.

apps

there’s an app for that

12 MUST-HAVE APPS Compiled by Mary Dominique Castro

TOP FREE APPS LinkedIn iOS4 / Android / Blackberry OS

iSpeech Translator Blackberry

HeyTell Android / iOS3 or later

This app is not just for business-as-usual but for business-so-awesome. The best way to have all your professional stuff is just one tap away through LinkedIn. It connects you to 70 million professionals all over the world plus the details you need for any interview or client meeting. Also, get all your important updates for keeping your status up-to-date in real time.

Longing for praises? Amaze everyone with iSpeech Translator on your BlackBerry. It has a speech recognition feature in multiple languages which can translate any word or phrase just by speaking or typing it. The translation will then appear in the text box. Share your favorite translated phrases with friends on all networking sites.

Why SMS when you can talk to your Android and iPhone-holding friends with HeyTell? It has twice the frequency range when making a phone call and is a cross-platform voice messenger connecting you to loved ones and friends for free! No account needed. What a convenient and fun way to keep your friends posted!

Free at Blackberry App World

Free at Android Market; Apple App Store

We Rule iOS3 or later / Android

BrainCube Blackberry

GlowHockey2 Android

Farm, build and rule as you dress your very own kingdom the way you want it. This game app, available on iOS4, is definitely a lot better than any popular farm games. Take control as you give orders, ruleS and direct your citizens to pay taxes, farm the land and harvest their crops for sale. Mine natural resources and improve road and real estate’s infrastructure turning them to new golden roads, orange groves, blacksmith shop, sword and the stone, barn and the ox edifice.

It’s now time to enter the addictive world of Brain Cube. Have your central headquarter work for you this time, roll the cube and solve each puzzle to enter the next level. Its multiple levels have different obstacles and mazes keeping you entertained for hours.

Though easy to play, GlowHockey2 offers an unusual trick to enjoy hockey. This app allows two players to play on the same device. With four selectable paddles, pucks and a colorful neon graphics style. Have you imagined a game that has up to an “insane” level? This one has and is sure to break the ice.

Free at Apple App Store; Android Market; Blackberry App World

November2011

GAME APPS

Free at Apple App Store; Android Market

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Free at Blackberry App World Free at Android Market

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

ENTERTAINMENT APPS November2011

Puppet Pals HD iOS 3.2 or later

Funniest Yo Mama Jokes Blackberry / Android

Paper Camera Android

Bring out a long lost dream of being a storyteller or writer. With Puppet Pals HD, you have all the tools to animate a very unique show of your own. Choose photos of friends to play as actors, pick out a backdrop from any of your phone pics (you can have up to 5 backdrops) and combine them just as you wish. You can even include famous people with its wide range of creative characters to download, and purchase a director’s pass to receive current and future contents. All movements and audio files will be recorded in real time plus a chance to show them off with friends as you post it on Twitter!

Brighten your mood with the Funniest Yo Mama Jokes, a collection of the most hilarious jokes for all seasons about someone’s mom. Enjoy the jokes at your convenience and let others have a peek on this handpicked collection that will surely spread serious laugh therapy to everyone. Free at BlackBerry App World; Android Marketplace

Imagine a world when you “cartoon-ize” your friends and family. Paper Camera can. Choose from a selection of effects: cartoon/sketch/comic book/half tone/noir/neon and discover how you can be cool with your pics. Php 80.83 on the Android Market

Free at Blackberry App World; Android Market

Available for free on the App store Director’s pass - $ 2.99 Free at Apple App Store

HEALTH and LIFESTYLE

20 Minute Meals - Jamie Oliver iOS 3.1.2 or later / Android

Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal Blackberry

Fashion Style Android

You’re just one app away from making mouthwatering recipes. Invite a celebrity chef into your kitchen as you download 20-minute meals by Great Britain’s Jamie Oliver. Included are 60 luscious dishes with stunning full-screen photos with an easy and unique step-through mode and a cool shopping list feature.

Take those extra pounds off and get movin’ with the MyFitnessPal. Customize your food consumption and exercises, track all major nutrient intake, generate progress reports, set goals based on your diet profile, and more. It has over 760,000 food choices in its database and over 350 exercises. What a good and easy way to be in shape.

Fashion will never be a hitch with the help of Fashion Style. Dress up and be the diva as you enjoy the latest designs from renowned top designers. You can even get updates from the latest shows in New York, Paris, London, Milan fashion weeks.

$7.99 on the Apple App Store; Php 338.93 on Android Market

Free at Android Market

Free at Blackberry Appworld

apps

websites

What’s On Your List? enter the internet

By Presy Alba

I confess. I am a list person. I make all kinds of lists everyday: to-do lists, shopping lists, packing lists, wish lists, etc. The problem with having so many lists in different places is that I sometimes forget where they are. I’m better organized now since I have most of my lists on my iPad synced to my MBP, but they’re still all over the place that I wish there was one list that compiled all of my lists from everywhere.

gawande.com/the-checklist-manifesto

In spite of the confusion I create for myself with these lists, I have not given up searching for the best way to organize my life. Earlier this year I stumbled upon an audio book called the Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right written by Atul Gawande (gawande.com/the-checklist-manifesto). Thinking that the book might help me become better organized by showing me how to make better lists, I started listening to it and soon discovered that rather than teaching me how to make effective lists, he was instead discussing how checklists could make communication, processes and flow more efficient. The book told of many anecdotes about how checklists could improve many routine tasks and still maintain the highest quality standard at each cycle. Samples of checklists available on the site are for WHO H1N1, Cessna 172 and Boeing 777.

www.projectcheck.org

www.donothingfor2minutes.com

November2011

www.amiawesome.com

www.listverse.com

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

As an offshoot of the Checklist Manifesto, Project Check (www.projectcheck.org) was set up and designed to provide ordinary people easy access to many lifesaving medical checklists. It also created a “checklist for checklists” guide that walks any one through the process of creating a valid and useful custom checklist, which may then be submitted to the site for validation and sharing with others. By following some of the guidelines discussed in the Checklist Manifesto and the samples posted on the site, I have improved my workflow, which has also made me more efficient, I think. But my love for lists does not just stem out of my need to become more organized or efficient – I just love reading through lists even those that span from the useful to the ridiculous. A good example of a list that I should have passed but didn’t is: www.alistofsites. com/# —this is a site that I bookmarked a few months ago while just trawling for lists—it is a website with just a list of web addresses of ridiculously useless websites, starting with the first item on the list: www. donothingfor2minutes.com—the page loads to a beautiful seascape complete with the sound of the waves and birdcalls in the background and allows you to pause and relax for a bit in the middle of a busy day. Another site on the list, www.amiawesome.com is a great site to visit when you’ve done something great (you think) and nobody noticed or affirmed your great deed—this is a must visit website for when you need

a little affirmation. Going through the list of useful, funny, ridiculous and useless websites can help you kill time and even get you out of your doldrums. But of all list sites that I’ve visited, I like visiting www. listverse.com best because every day offers a new top 10 list of incredibly awesome or truly obscure or bizarre information, and the list always surprises and catches my interest. The website’s overview states that: “Listverse serves over 10 million pages a month to more than 2 million readers. We are focused on lists that intrigue and educate, specializing in the bizarre or lesser-known trivia. Every day we present a new unique list in any one of our fifteen categories, from art & literature to science and nature.”

Listverse is a website where you can find a new list each day, and if you have interesting lists of facts, you may also want to share them with the rest of the listverse fans. Reading at least one list a day, I recently learned that the top 10 legal addictions are: 10-Shopping; 9-TV; 8-MMORPGs; 7-Celebrity Gossip; 6-Fast Food; 5-Gambling; 4-Pornography; 3-Alcohol; 2-Cigarettes; and 1-Prescription Drugs. Also on Listverse, I learned that death is just #2 in the top 10 strong human fears: 10-Losing your freedom; 9-the unknown; 8-pain; 7-disappointment; 6-misery; 5-loneliness; 4-ridicule; 3-rejection; 2-death; and the #1 fear of humankind is FAILURE. Moving on to happier topics, I am hunting down the top 10 Best Christmas Duets for the holidays that I read on Listverse: 10-Angels We have Heard on High by Josh Groban and Brian McKnight; 9-Joy to the World by Billy Porter and Vanessa Williams; 8-Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl; 7-Every Time It Snows by Olivia NewtonJohn and Jon Secada; 6-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Christina Aguilera and Brian McKnight; 5-The Angels Cried by Alan Jackson and Alison Krauss; 4-Baby It’s Cold Outside by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan; 3-Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth by David Bowie and Bing Crosby; 2-The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion; and 1-White Christmas by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

snapshots “Composing” By Benjamin Arnold

digital photography in a snap

COMPOSURE

hen it comes to bringing the best out of a model, Dan Yusay Harvey has a few tricks up his sleeves. Starting out as a model before stepping into the world of photography, Harvey has worked with photographers from both ends of the spectrum. “I’ve had the opportunity to experience really good photographers and really bad ones in different aspects. I treat the talents the way I want to be treated as a model—as being a model can be really tiring and stressful even though it looks glamorous, so knowing how to work with your talents in a friendly way [can help you get the image you are after]. I know if a photographer is rude or demanding, it pisses off the talent [ruining the mood of the shoot].” One way of getting your model to loosen up is to talk to them and get to know them to better understand how to work with them. Harvey says, “Try to be as sociable as you can with them, and their accomplices. It helps to be genuinely nice to them and personable.”

To get the most out of the shoot, Harvey suggests briefing the model

fully before the shoot and showing visuals of the concept that must be achieved. “I inform the model, usually while they are having makeup or just before we shoot, of my expectations, the shots I want to get, examples of some poses, and the mood of the shoot. It is also helpful to show them the mood-board and pegs. Basically you just want the model to be well informed of what you are trying to accomplish.” When working with groups of people, Harvey suggests changing it up. “Group shots are always interesting because it takes the collaboration of everyone to get the picture [right]. If everyone has the same pose or is standing at the same level, the picture looks and feels boring. Varying the camera angle can change [how everyone appears.] When I shoot group shots, I try to make sure that everyone is doing something different.”

When it comes to following rules, Harvey has followed the rule of thirds, but prefers to experiment. “I like to say there really aren’t rules in photography, as long as you (or your client) are happy with the shot. Don’t be afraid to experiment or be unconventional.” For those who wish to get into photography, Harvey has a few simple tips, “Don’t stop shooting. Shoot every day, even if it’s with your camera phone. Don’t be afraid to try new things because if you don’t step out of your safety bubble, you won’t improve. Don’t be afraid to try to do shoots based on your favorite photographers, or try to copy an ad campaign or editorial that you see. Watch behind the scenes videos, read magazine articles and blogs, and shoot, shoot, shoot. Information is free, as long as you are willing to put in the effort to find it.”

DANYUSAYHARVEY Commercial Photographer/ Model/Host Filipino-American model turned photographer, Dan Yusay Harvey migrated to the Philippines in 2008 from San Francisco. Harvey had no professional photography training but rather learned everything from books, magazines, internet articles and videos. Specializing in product, lifestyle and advertising photography, he got his interest in photography at the age of 10 when his grade school teacher gave him old darkroom equipment. WHAT HE USES: Canon 5Dmk2, Sandisk memory cards, MacBook Pro, Elinchrom strobes, Lowepro bags, Pelican Hard cases, Wacom Bamboo 4x6, Manfrotto and benro grip WHAT HE WANTS: Canon 5D mk3, Hasselblad or phaseone medium format camera, 27-inch iMac, Wacom Intuos 4, MacBook Pros i7, A new BlackBerry

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

Depending on the concept and who you are shooting, some models work better being posed or told what to do, while others are better at being natural. “Sometimes you get lucky and get to work with models that have personalities that really come out during the shoot.”

FROM A COLLAGE PROJECT CALLED EXPRESSIONS. IT IS A FUN WAY OF LOOSENING UP THE TALENTS. THIS IMAGE WAS USED FOR DAVID DIMUZIO'S CONCERT PROMOTION. HARVEY EXPERIMENTED BY SHOOTING ONE OF HIS FRIENDS.

mobility

Ford

the hottest machines that get you places

Reinvents the Explorer

November2011

Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic Explorer has been reinvented to create new expectations for the SUV segment. Combined with its bold and sporty SUV design, it is geared up to match the needs and lifestyle of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SUV customer.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

“This all-new Explorer adds class-leading fuel efficiency to a legendary portfolio of capability, performance and customer convenience,” said Randy Krieger, Ford Philippines president. “SUV customers in general—and Explorer customers specifically—told us they want the freedom and empowerment Explorer always has stood for, with improved performance and significantly increased fuel economy.”

Mechanical efficiency, performance and fuel economy have been improved through Ti-VCT, a low-tension drive belt featuring a one-way clutch for the alternator, a direct-acting mechanical bucket valve train with polished buckets to reduce friction, piston-cooling jets, improved

The Explorer V6 has been engineered for durability with a chain-driven camshaft, highstrength forged powder metal connecting rods with floating pins, fully counterweighted forged steel crankshaft, a die-cast aluminum deep-sump oil pan and four-bolt main bearing caps with side bolts through the engine block. Noise, vibration and harshness characteristics are controlled and reduced through a tuned composite upper and lower manifold, the silent-chain cam drive and an acoustic engine cover. The unique six-speed transmission paired with the Explorer offers performance and economy advantages with the flexibility of optimum gearing for every situation. Lower gears provide the benefit of improved acceleration from a full stop, while higher gears help increase fuel economy by allowing the engine to operate at lower speeds when cruising. The Explorer Limited model offers a SelectShift Automatic transmission, allowing drivers to manually change gears using a shifter-mounted +/- toggle switch. The All-New Explorer targets top safety ratings

with a stiff unibody structure and a class-leading suite of active and passive safety features and technologies. With its AdvanceTracwith RSC features Curve Control functionality to provide braking, optimized by each individual wheel. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for outboard second-row positions, for safely securing child safety seats. Safety Canopy side curtain airbags and Tire Pressure Monitoring System is also available for optimum safety. An industry first, the MyFord Touch system includes 2 cluster-mounted configurable displays and an 8-inch color LCD touchscreen, paired and powered with Ford SYNC, replaces many of the traditional buttons and gives you control over your vehicle’s entertainment and climate through a simple button click, voice command or touch screen tap. MyFord Touch addresses the infotainment explosion, launching vehicle interiors into the realm of popular personal electronics. An industryexclusive, the MyFord Touch driver connect technology adds convenience while helping keep customers engaged and focused on road. The all-new Explorer is on sale at all dealerships nationwide at Php 2,350,000.

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The Explorer 3.5-liter V6 is offered as standard equipment in the Limited model. This smooth and powerful V6 enables intelligent four-wheel drive with terrain management. The improvement in efficiency helps Explorer to surpass fuel economy in other vehicles in its segment. Using Ti-VCT for optimized fuel economy and reduced part-throttle emissions, this engine delivers an estimated 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. This V6 engine has been highly developed for the Explorer application, with multiple actions that enhance mechanical efficiency, increase fuel economy, lower emissions, reduce operating costs and bolster durability.

bay-to-bay breathing through the cylinder block and composite cam covers that reduce engine weight. The 3.5-liter V6 also features improved deceleration fuel shutoff technology to maximize fuel economy in closed-throttle situations.

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BMW continues to lead premium luxury car segment Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the country, continues on its successful course as the Philippines’ leading premium car brand as it registers a 30% increase in sales from the month of August to September. Year-to-date sales performance records over 560 BMW cars, securing its 32% share in the premium segment. Driving pleasure, premium quality and guarantee of reliability frequently earns the BMW brand highest acclaim in international as well as local automobile markets. That has been confirmed yet again with the result of CAMPI sales figures indicating that BMW has maintained a steady hold on its leadership with an 8% increase in year-to-date sales for September of this year in the Philippines. “At the core of BMW’s growth is the strength of its products, which carries the momentum upon which BMW has ridden its success,” said ACC president Maricar Parco. This increase in yearto-date retail sales [versus the same period in 2010] was powered by the strong performance of the X Series, 7 Series, 5 Series and 1 Series. While the total automotive industry is down, the total premium luxury segment registered a 3% increase in September 2011 year-to-date figures compared to the same period in 2010. The upward trend of BMW local sales is reflective of the global performance of the leading premium car brand. BMW Global has reported its best September

sales ever with a 9.3% increase in sales versus 2010, resulting in a 14.5% year-to-date growth in sales over that of last year. In September 2011 alone, BMW sold 128,446 units worldwide. “The growth of BMW in the Philippines is testament to our customers’ continued patronage for vehicles that they want and value,” said Parco. “Achieving this position was not easy, but it is a challenge we persistently pursue with a simple formula – delivering joy to our customers.”

ACC President Maricar Parco

ACC Executive Director Glenn Dasig

“But keeping this leadership does not depend on product alone,” said ACC executive director Glen Dasig. “One major pillar in our success is the strength of our dealership network around the country.” ACC has the largest dealership network in the premium luxury segment, with five dealerships in strategic locations in the Philippines. Efforts are being made for the expansion of this network to the southern regions with the construction of another dealership in Cagayan de Oro, expected to open before the year ends.

Chevrolet, Suzuki, Ford Top Customer Satisfaction Survey

November2011

Customers receiving their vehicle within 10 minutes when picking it up after service is completed are more satisfied with their overall service experience, compared with those who waited more than 10 minutes to receive their serviced vehicle, according to a recent J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2011 Philippines Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Study SM.

The study finds that more than half (55%) of customers waited longer than 10 minutes at the dealership counter to complete paperwork and pick up their vehicle after service was completed. Just 14 percent of customers waited five minutes or less to pick up their serviced vehicle, and approximately 30 percent of customers waited between six and 10 minutes. Satisfaction averages 815 on a 1,000 point-scale among customers who waited five minutes or less when picking up their vehicle. Among customers who waited six to 10 minutes, satisfaction decreases to 808 and further decreases to 783 points among owners who waited beyond 10 minutes. Now in its 11th year, the study examines five factors that contribute to overall satisfaction of vehicle owners who visit an authorized service center for maintenance or repair work during the first 12 to 24 months of ownership (in order of importance): service quality; vehicle pick-up; service initiation; service advisor; and service facility. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Among the 11 brands ranked in the study, Chevrolet ranks highest with an overall score of 827, followed by Suzuki (821) and Ford (811). In 2011, Suzuki achieves the greatest improvement in score from 2010 (+43 points), followed by Chevrolet (+41) and Mazda (+20). Overall customer satisfaction averages 796 points in 2011, with a total of seven of the 11 ranked brands demonstrating year-over-year improvements. The study finds that advocacy and loyalty are closely related to satisfaction levels with the overall service performance of the dealer. Nearly 59 percent of highly satisfied customers (service satisfaction scores averaging above 856) say they “definitely will” return to the same dealership for post-warranty services. In contrast, fewer than one-third (29%) of customers with low satisfaction (scores averaging 745 and lower) say the same. “Manufacturers and dealerships today realize the bottom-line impact of satisfying owners and are investing in driving service excellence in their dealerships,” said Arora. “The improvements in the industry in 2011 demonstrate this impact, with five nameplates achieving double-digit gains from 2010.”

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

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Remembering What Matters By Steven Vea

November2011

Every now and then, it’s important to take a breather take a detour from life’s daily demands, so that you can re-center yourself and reconnect with what truly matters. I was fortunate enough to have had such an opportunity during Isuzu’s Alterra Road Trip leg to Tagaytay.

Our starting point was the Midas Hotel in Pasay City, and as I waited for the final preparations to be made, I took the time to take in the favorable weather, which was a sign of the great things to come. As I quietly lingered, the multiple drones of Alterra’s common-rail direct-injection engines starting up, officially signaled the start of the trip.

the weighted atmosphere of the inner city, we eagerly began trekking through the farm’s winding road, surrounded by vast patches of lush greenery as far as the eye could see. We were told that everything cultivated on the farm is organic, which included beloved favorites such as lettuce, rosemary, thyme, basil and parsley.

Hopping into my assigned Alterra, my companions and I studied the I Nav GPS System on the 7-inch touch panel display, since the CAVITEx route we were to take was unfamiliar to all of us. Our first scheduled stop was the Gourmet Farm, which is situated along the border of Tagaytay and Silang, Cavite.

As we walked towards the popular Gourmet’s Café to sample some of the organic products, we immediately began to smell the delectable aroma of fresh coffee being ground, as we approached the coffee and tea facility. Inside, we could see the raw variety of the finest blends that can be had, such as Arabica and Robusta. However, it was time to keep moving toward the Gourmet’s Café, wherein we sampled a wonderful salad topped with their original dressing and anyone oriented toward a healthier and eco-friendly lifestyle is guaranteed to love the Gourmet Farm and its Café.

As we traveled down CAVITEx, which exits at the southern end of the Manila-Cavite Expressway, driving down the road’s expanse treated us to an eclectic range of postcard scenery, beginning with timid panoramic landscapes that eventually led to the charm of narrow provincial roads teeming with life. After a couple of hours of cruising smoothly, we eventually heard the I Nav count down the distance to our destination. Gourmet Farm After we entered the Gourmet Farm and disembarked the Alterra, we were greeted with the unmistakable fragrance of fresh air with a dash of scents from fresh produce and herbs in the nearby plantation. Instantly uplifted from www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Cornerstone Pottery Farm After the refreshing meal, our next stop was the Cornerstone Pottery Farm located just a few minutes away, accessed via a dirt road that intertwined through thick uninhabited forestry. The Alterra breezed through the tricky terrain, exhibiting its efficient torque, grinding its rear wheels against the dirt. The off-road bumps could barely be felt within the cabin, with flexible suspension that countered every challenging off-road hurdle.

The elusive Cornerstone Pottery Farm is situated up a small hill and is literally a patch of oasis in the jungle. Once we alighted from the Alterra, we were promptly greeted by EJ Bautista, who co-runs the pottery farm with his wife Eva. He patiently weaved us in and out of their humble factory and showed us the delicate hand-made results in their modest shop. Although Cornerstone Pottery Farm primarily offers workshops, EJ eloquently explained the pacifying qualities that pottery making can awaken within an individual, because the act of patiently molding earth with your bare hands helps re-center your spirit and reconnect with your surroundings. And so, although the farm serves as a place to bond and create, it is also a haven and shelter for those seeking rediscovery. Taal Vista Lodge After brief attempts at our own clay creations, it was now time to travel to the Taal Vista Lodge, where an array of insatiable food awaited us, ranging from Pinaputok na Tilapia to good old fashioned mouthwatering Bulalo Soup. After the filling meal, we could all feel the curtains of fatigue slowly coming on, as the early afternoon haze began singing the hypnotizing call to siesta. Fortunately, our next activity was a relaxing massage at the Asmara Spa, located within the Taal Vista Lodge. Upon entering the facility, we

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November2011

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“This journey, although brief, was a much-welcomed break from the daily grind of life.” were instantly welcomed by the soothing aromas and ambient music that was sure to pamper us to sleep. As my masseuse led me to my room, she told me I would be receiving a traditional Thai massage, and so I courageously welcomed the invigorating challenge. After entering the sun-kissed room, I slipped into something more comfortable, knocked on the door to signal my masseuse, and lay down to prepare for the massage. With my eyes softly shut, my weary and vulnerable body welcomed the firm pressure of her fingers unthread my muscles, and the thick afternoon air instantly cast a lullaby’s spell. As I yielded to a state of halfsleep, I was slowly captured by a soothing energy that coursed throughout my entirety, as if a huge weight had been pushed off my shoulders. Half an hour passed, and the massage ended but the feeling of calm remained. Since the lodge was still peacefully silent, I strolled over to the viewing balcony to treat myself to a breathtaking view of Taal Volcano, set in the backdrop of a bright auspicious sky. Restaurant Verbena Alas, a few more hours passed and the sun began to make its artistic descent, painting the sky with a warm hue. Boarding the Alterra once again, we made our way towards the Restaurant Verbena at Discovery Country Suites, to wrap up with an early dinner before returning to the city. The night was concluded with a fabulous array of mouth watering delicacies such as baked oysters topped with oozing mozzarella and perfectly cooked lamb chops. The meal was made even more memorable by the picture perfect scenery we had that overlooked Tagaytay, coupled of course, with the friendly banter among newfound friends. What Matters As night finally descended, a healthy exchange of goodbyes signaled the trip’s end. We left the haven that is Tagaytay to return to the city. November2011

This journey, although brief, was a much-welcomed break from the daily grind of life. And so, as we travelled down the darkened roads, I sank into the Alterra’s leather seats, closed my eyes, and let myself be sailed to another quiet journey of my own before resuming the routine of life. For in the end, while all journeys leave a lasting imprint in our lives, the one that truly matters is what lies on the road ahead.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE WITH THE GIFT-GIVING SEASON JUST AROUND THE CORNER, TRICKY QUESTIONS BEGIN TO ARISE: SHOULD I GET THEM CLOTHES? HOW ABOUT A GADGET? I WONDER WHAT HE WILL LIKE? WOULD SHE ACTUALLY NEED THIS? ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS LEAD TO ONE CONCLUSION: FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE. TO HELP YOU OUT, WE HAVE TAKEN IT UPON OURSELVES TO FILL IN THOSE BLANKS IN YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST. THIS YEAR, WE TAKE THIS LIST IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BY BREAKING IT DOWN INTO FIVE PERSONALITIES: THE HEALTHCONSCIOUS FITNESS-BUFF; THE CREATIVELY SKILLED ARTIST; THE FASHIONABLY STYLED TRENDSETTER; THE INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED THINKER, AND THE TECHSAVVY GADGETEER.

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WORDS BY BENJAMIN ARNOLD STYLING BY MR GAVIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK ILAGAN

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f f u B s s e The Fitn

Php 1,000

For those who are OC about counting calories and spend more time at the gym than they do in their own home, this is the list for you.

My VMVery Favorite Things, VMV Hypoallergenics Php 1,635

Earphone Jacket, 21 Men Php 815

Php 295

Plain White Tee, 21 Men Php 699

Php 1,325

Khaki Shorts, 21 Men Php 4,888

Shades, Speedo Php 249

Owl Print Sweater, Forever21

Denim Skirt, SM Department Store

"LOVE" Connector Ring, Jellybean

Php 2,500

November2011

Php 1,590

Champion Skippers, KEDS* 48

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Champion Seasonal, KEDS

Prepair II Clogs, Crocs

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

ASUS Eee PC X101*

ASUS WAVI Xtion*

Edifier Breathe*

Php 19,999

Php 17,990

HTC Wildfire S*

LG-P970 Optimus Black

Neo Basic B5106N

Php 12,990

Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0

Toshiba Portege R830*

Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman*

Toshiba Satellite P745* *prices available upon request

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Speedo Aquabeat*

Samsung HMX Q10*

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Php 2,205

Php 815

ans, le Je b a s r Reve n* Oxyge

Varsity Jacket, 21 Men

Oatmeal Longsleeves, 21 Men

Php 2,950

Php 649

Belt, Banana Republic

Floral Sundress, Jellybean

Php 249

Men's Php 1,899 Women's Php 1,799

Php 3,998

Yellow Half Cab, Vans

Php 3,500

Php 5,999

Animal Print Connector Ring Jellybean

Php 400

November2011

Fedora, Jellybean

Swatch X Kidrobot

The Artist

Jean Paul Gaultier, Melissa Shoes

Php 3,495

Creativity comes in many forms. Styled, original and eccentric best describe those that live an artistic life. Casandra, Gold dot

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Php 11,090 November2011

AOC Razor X

ASUS Xonar U3*

Canon EOS 1100D*

Canon Image Formula P-150*

Canon Pixma MG5270*

Creative WP-400*

Php 7,990

HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AIO

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Western Digital My Book Studio*

Samsung NX11*

Western Digital TV Live Hub* *prices available upon request

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Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam,*

Php 34,990

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r e t t e s d n e r The T

Php 299

Key Connector Ringn Jellybean

Php 450

The well-styled trendsetter knows how to dress to impress.

French Braided Necklace, Extreme Finds Co.

Php 865

Logo Top, 21 Men

Php 1,375

Vest, 21 Men

Plaid pants, 21 Men*

Php 899

Girbaud*

Php 899

Shorts, Jellybean

Spaghetti Strap, Jellybean Php 2,995

November2011

Php 2,995

Hawaii, Pony 52

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Charm, Gold dot

Sanuk*

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November2011

Altec Octiv Mini*

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101*

BlackBerry Bold 9780*

Php 3,190

BlackBerry Bold 9810*

Php 69,990 to Php 129,990 LG LV5500

Samsung SH100*

Sony a77 camera*

HTC ChaCha*

Samsung SyncMaster TA350*

Sony Vaio S*

*prices available upon request

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Smart Netphone 701*

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2010

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Php 1,135

Php 1,115

Cardigan, 21 Men

Plaid Longsleeve, 21 Men

Denim Jeans, 21 Men

Php 649

Cardigan, Jellybean

Tube Top Blouse, SM Department Store*

Floral Skirt, Jellybean*

Php 3,995

November2011

Top Sider, Sperry

Php 2,995 Blue Cloe Pumps, Parisian*

The Thinker

Salvatore Ferragamo*

For the people who value their intellect without sacrificing fashion and comfort, this is for you. Daisy, Marc Jacobs*

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Php 5,690 November2011

Altec Lansing Muzix Mesh*

AOC Razor LED

ASUS Eee Pad Slider* Php 14,900

ASUS K Series laptop*

ASUS Padfone*

carNavi PRO TV

Php 29,990

HTC Desire S*

Sony Cyber-shot DSCT110*

LG Optimus 3D

Toshiba Regza AT100* *prices available upon request

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Philips SHM7000*

HTC Sensation*

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r e e t e g d a G The

Php 935

Laid back and always playing around with the newest gadget, we have put together the perfect items for tech enthusiasts.

Necklace, Forever 21 Php 805

Php 3,950

Php 1,635

Printed Top, 21 Men

Navy Zing, Banana Republic

Cargo Pants, 21 Men

Php 349

Plain Blouse, Jelly bean Php 2,390

Plaid Top, SM Department Store*

Denim Jeans, Jelly bean*

November2011

Php 4,000

Steadfast Daypack, High Sierra 56

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Shooter, Pony*

Soule Phenomenon, Slumberdoll

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Php 9,999 November2011

AOC T2242we

ASUS ROG G74Sx*

Canon Vixia HF R20*

Php 3,990

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 AIO

Php 19,990

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Razer lachesis + Ironclad*

Toshiba Qosmio X770*

Toshiba Tecra R840*

If you really are stumped on what to get for your family, friends or special someone this holiday season, get them a subscription to Gadgets Magazine, where there is a little something for everyone. *prices available upon request

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e t a m i t l The U Gift

Php 29,990 Samsung Galaxy S II

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Gatdrgoecktesd

Tha

2011

By John Nieves

November2011

It’s hard to believe we’re ramping up to the end of the year, but here it is. It feels just like yesterday we were drooling at the new products announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2011, but time has a way of creeping up on you. What were just simple mockups and sample devices have materialized into real, tangible products that you can buy and enjoy. Here are some of the more notable ones that were launched this year—and the reasons why you should have them.

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Want to stay up-to-date on the latest Tech and Lifestyle News?

Stay connected with the Philippines’ First Tech Lifestyle Magazine The revitalized www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph, along with our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages, features the latest, most up-to-date tech lifestyle news and daily updates. Read about the latest products straight from the box and the hottest events and news INSTANTANEOUSLY. Interactive online copies of current issues—which you can read from cover to cover—are available at our website—absolutely FREE.

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iPhone 4S Apple products get refreshed at a pretty regular pace, so every year we go through the same old schtick of rumors, speculations and hype ramping up to the release of their newest iDevice. This year was no different—almost everyone thought that this would be the year of the iPhone 5. Alas, it was not meant to be. What did materialize was the iPhone 4S which, like the 3GS before it, is just an incremental update. But don’t think this is the same old device with some tiny added bits. The iPhone 4S may look like the iPhone 4 externally, but internally it’s a whole new beast. A newer, faster processor beats inside it (which incidentally, powers the iPad2), along with Siri, the amazing voice recognition software that could double as your own personal assistant.

LG Optimus 3D While everyone is still trying to figure out a way to get glasses-less 3D on HD TVs, LG has managed to squeeze in a glasses-less 3D display on its newest smartphone. The Optimus 3D is one of the few devices currently out in the market (and the only one that’s officially in the country as of this writing) that can do glasses-less 3D via its 3D LCD screen. Don’t think that the 3D feature is just a gimmick, the Optimus 3D is a fully capable smartphone, thanks to its dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a suite of 3D games made just for the device by Gameloft.

2 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

It’s no secret that Google made Honeycomb to try and fight Apple on the tablet front. While the new version of Android was capable of taking Apple head-on, the initial crop of devices it released was not. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually went through several revisions (including one when the iPad2 was launched) before finally settling on the one that’s currently in the market. While it essentially sports the same hardware on the inside as its competitors, Samsung managed to make it thinner and lighter than the iPad2, which is no mean feat. If you’re looking for a Honeycombbased tablet, you really need to take a look at the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Samsung Galaxy S II The Samsung Galaxy S II is probably the finest smartphone that the Korean tech giant has ever made. There’s just something about it that it that’ll captivate you. Maybe it’s the thin profile of the device, the speedy 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor that beats inside it, or the gorgeous, 4.3-inch super AMOLED+ screen on it. Whatever it is, it’s working. Samsung has now managed to sell 10 million of the things, and we’re pretty sure that number is bound to rise come the holidays.

November2011

Asus Zenbook

5 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

It’s fact of life for ultraportable notebooks—you can’t have performance and extreme mobility in a notebook. Until now. Meet the Asus Zenbook UX 21 and 31, which are currently the thinnest notebooks in existence (as of writing). The UX 21 and 31 are part of a new category of notebooks called ultrabooks that marry extreme mobility with no-compromise computing, and these units deliver on both! Both devices are powered by Intel’s second-generation of Core processors and both are only 9mm at their thickest point, making them the most portable notebooks you can ever want.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Pentax Q November2011

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras have been around for a while now, but it seems that the current size of the models available in the market out today isn’t as small as some would like. The Pentax Q solves all of that, being literally no bigger than a playing card yet still possessing the versatility and utility of bigger, interchangeable lens cameras. While it only sports a smaller CMOS lens sensor compared to the APS-C sensor on proper micro four thirds cameras, the Q makes up for it by being extremely small to the point of absurdity. It’s probably the only interchangeable lens camera that you could put in your pocket (with a lens and all) and for that very reason, we want one.

6 Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 You’d think putting a keyboard in a tablet would defeat the entire point of a tablet in the first place, right? Well, that’s what we thought so too, until we tried Asus’ Eee Pad Slider SL101. The addition of a full QWERTY keyboard brought a comfortable typing experience to a device that has traditionally not been the best thing to type on. As such, the SL101 becomes sort of a hybrid device, being light enough to be taken in lieu of a notebook and flexible enough to type a report or two on.

7 BlackBerry Bold 9900 The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the epitome of BlackBerry devices. Keeping true to the tradition of creating solid messaging devices, RIM has kept the iconic keyboard of its previous BlackBerries and has combined it with a faster, 1.2GHz processor and the newest iteration of their mobile OS, simply called OS 7 into a device that’s a pure joy to type on.

8 Toshiba Qosmio X770 It’s big, it’s brash, and it’s all you’ll ever want in a gaming machine. Sure, it takes up a huge amount of space, is expensive and barely qualifies as a notebook but the trade-off is that you get a nice, premium notebook with excellent sound. Did we mention it does 3D pretty well too?

9 Nokia N9

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When the Nokia N9 was unveiled earlier this year, many immediately wanted it. Why not? Aside from sporting a massive, 3.9-inch super AMOLED screen, this is also the company’s first (and last) MeeGo powered device, right before the company completely switches over to Windows Phone 7. It’s ridiculously easy to use, has impressive camera specs (8-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and super wide 28mm) and is set to become a collector’s item due to the facts we previously stated.

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m a e T t a o b n o g a r DLSU D

Interviewed by Michelle Callanta-Toledo

For those who aren’t familiar with dragon boats, these are human-powered watercrafts that originated in China but has gained popularity for its test of unifying strength, will and discipline that goes beyond age and gender. Gadgets Magazine learns more about the sport of Dragonboat racing with the De La Salle University (DLSU) dragon boat team president, Michaela Lim Camitan, and their recent second place win in the 2011 Shanghai International Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament. How do you train for a race? Is it different when the team is about to compete? We have boat training as a team for about an hour every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Manila Bay. We sometimes have land trainings and gym training as well. Training schedule changes around two weeks to a month before a race; that’s when we train Tuesdays to Fridays.

“you don’t just want to do, but feel the need to because it has become a part of you.”

What makes dragon boat as a sport different and fulfilling in its own way?

November2011

Dragon boat racing has become a habit borne out of discipline, determination and dedication to something that we don’t just want to do, but feel the need to because it has become a part of us. It is the ultimate team sport. The boat will not move without each person moving in synch with the rest of the team and will definitely not reach the finish line without the combined strength, technique and desire in the hearts of every member to win. At the end of the race, it’s not just winning that gives us fulfillment; it’s the fact that the team helped each other and worked and moved as one.

Does the team use any particular gadget/s to aid in their training or performance? We use a Spalding stopwatch for timing our practice races during training and cameras like the Nikon D90 and Canon EOS 450D to capture images and videos of our races. We do this so that we can watch and review our strokes. Videos are very important because we can watch it in slow motion and later on correct our mistakes and avoid them in future races. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

What are some of the important things you have to always keep in mind when you participate in a dragon boat competition? Are there any safety precautions you follow? Focus, of course, is very important. It’s not advisable to look at the competition; the team should focus only on the boat that they’re in. Everyone must remember that we trained for the race; belief in oneself and fellow team members is essential to be able to finish first. As for safety precautions, we make sure that all paddlers know the rule of sticking always to the side of the boat and know how to swim at least 200 meters in light clothing. We also remind paddlers to stay calm and stay still in their seats in the event of a collision.

What are the team’s plans in the future? Any goals or future competitions in the works? The DLSU-dragon boat team wants to establish itself as the top university team in the world. We compete in local as well as international competitions to further hone our skills. The team has plans to join the Club Crew World Championships 2012 to be held in Hong Kong. We hope to bring home glory not only to our school but to God and our country.

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Monitors Worth Looking At

By JC Ansis

Most people spend a lot of time these days in front of the computer—whether it’s doing work, accessing media, playing video games or watching movies. To be able to enjoy these ever-growing forms of entertainment to their fullest potential, it is necessary to have a monitor that can provide the high-definition picture that we all seek. Normally, in purchasing a “good” monitor, you would want something that displays good text reproduction, accurate colors and brightness levels, and excellent viewing angles. What we need are monitors that are not only capable of dazzling looks, but can also deliver stunning images and great performances.

November2011

Here are a few recommended monitors of different sizes that you may want to consider in case you have no clue which one to buy.

21.5-inch Monitors (Price range: Php 7,000 – 8,500)

23-inch Category (Price range: Php 8,000 – 10,500)

24-inch and Above Category (Price range: Php 10,000+)

Samsung has been known to be one of the top brands in manufacturing monitors with outstanding quality, design and performance. The Samsung S22A300B is no exception. This sleek and modern monitor features a 21.5-inch LED flat-panel display which has impressive energy efficient features that allows you to control how much energy the monitor consumes. With its unique MagicAngle feature, the S22A300B provides unmatched crystalclear picture quality no matter which angle you look at it, the ability to maintain superb image quality even if you are leaning back or lying down. The vibrant colors, sharp images, the physical look and design are all great aspects of the Samsung S22A300B. Priced at Php 7,700.

The HP x2301 is a 23-inch, 1800p display that’s thinner than a cracker. Well, not actually, but it does have a slim panel that measures 9.8mm thick. It’s got a well-designed OSD array and menu, and easy-to-access connection options for VGA- and HDCP-supported DVI-D and HDMI connectivity. The x2301 isn’t exactly a high-end model, but the LED backlight is designed to have a more rapid performance and good response time, reducing blurry and ghosting effects. It doesn’t fail in the “looking good” part either. The stylish HP x2301 offers great performance at a price that isn’t too heavy on the pocket, costing only Php 8,350.

Showing off the goodness of VA (Virtual Aligned) panel technology, the BenQ EW2430V is a 24-incher that can spit out good image quality. This chic-looking monitor, which carries a pair of 2W speakers, features a native 3,000:1 contrast ratio, minimal light leaking, and an improved viewing angle. This monitor also offers a good viewing experience with almost no reflections because of its semi-matte screen finish. It’s got a full range of ports (two HDMI and four USB), allowing you to connect virtually anything to it. With a tag price of P 11,600, the BenQ EW2430V provides great performance and money value for a 24” VA panel monitor.

Other suggested 23-inch monitors: LG 2360V, Samsung SA23A300B, Hanns-G HL231

Other suggested 24-inch and above monitors: Viewsonic VX2450, Hannspree HF257HPB

Other suggested 21.5-inch monitors: Dell ST2220, ViewsonicVX2250, AOC E2236VW

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

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ASUS

Eee Pad Slider

November2011

Everything is In the palm of your hands with the Eee Pad slider from ASUS. You are your own entertainment powerhouse with a mini-cinema that plays speedy HD, powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor. It runs on Android 3.1 Honeycomb plus comes bundled with Polaris Office 3.0, making it the complete package for a tablet.

THIS PAGE: White halter dress, Coco Cabana (Php 499.75); OPPOSITE PAGE: White Dress, Anthony Ramirez; Earrings (Php 435), Ring (Php 365), Bracelet (Php 685), Forever21

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November2011

dream COME TRUE A

Photographed by Paul Ticzon | Make-up by Jo Ticzon & Hair by Donn Donato for Benefits Style Salon Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold & Michelle Callanta-Toledo | Styling by MR Gavin Shot at The Attic Studio

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If a dream is really a wish your heart makes, then in this issue, Gadgets Magazine shows you how to fulfill your heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire with these latest devices.

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NOKIA X7

November2011

Aside from the Transformer-like appearance, the Nokia X7 runs on the Symbian platform. It is a multimedia phone and boasts of a 4-inch AMOLED touchscreen and HD capability for a better multimedia experience. Your social networks and e-mail can be synchronized and placed on your home screen for easy access.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

Qosmio X500 Gaming is now supersized with the Toshiba Qosmio X500. It will power up your games and viewing experience with its glasses-free 3D technology. It is multi-core for ultra-fast video playback, video editing and HD entertainment; topped off with Harman-Kardon speakers.

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TOSHIBA

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Manalo BIANCA

eauty queen Bianca Manalo shares her love for gadgets and how all things from Apple has fulfilled her heart’s wishes to communicate with loved ones and keep entertained when on the go.

On her favorite gadgets I love my iPhone, iPod and iPad. I just cannot leave my house without my phone; it's a necessity. It’s how my family, friends and I communicate while I’m at work. I also can’t live without music so I love my iPod! When I don't have anything to do, I play games in my iPad or watch a movie or read a book because the iPad has almost everything!

Can’t live without my… One gadget that I cannot live without is a cellphone. Because when you have a phone, you can communicate with whomever, wherever you are and whenever you want.

Coolest gadget ever I think the coolest gadget of all time is the iPhone! It’s just magical for me; it was the first gadget that made me want it when I first saw it.

On technology and her work

November2011

Technology helped me as an actress by making my life easier. For instance, I can surf the internet and send emails with my iPhone. I can call anyone anywhere, not needing a landline or a payphone using a call card anymore. The people who are important in my life can reach me with a call or a text.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

Xperia

play

The Xperia PLAY from Sony Ericsson is a dream come true as the Playstation and smartphone just got combined. This Playstation phone lets you intensify your gaming experience anytime, anywhere. It runs on Android Gingerbread and has its own console for better and easier gaming.

Purple dress, Anthony Ramirez Shoes, modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own

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SONY ERICSSON

lifestyleparade Compiled by MR Gavin

simplify your lifestyle decisions

SHOCK for him by CK One Men will become chick magnets with CK One Shock for him; it keeps them fresh with its clementine and cucumber layer along with black pepper, cardamom and black basil. The smell will keep them coming back for more.

3.4oz/100ml (Php 3,398) 6.7oz/200ml (Php 4,498)

SHOCK for her by CK One You will be followed around with CK One Shock for her. Its scent is a mix of passion flower, pink peony and jeweled poppy flower intensified by blackberry, jasmine and narcisse. Its scent is addictive and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll soon be wrapped in second skin musk.

3.4oz/100ml (Php 3,398) 6.7oz/200ml (Php 4,498)

Champion Energy by Davidoff

November2011

Champions have to smell like one: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about energy, audacity and power. With this scents dynamic profile, daring, fresh and lighthearted fragrance, the new Davidoff scent truly embodies a champion.

30ml (Php 2,598) 50ml (Php 3,398) 90ml (Php 4,698)

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Love Potion Cologne by Bath Junkies November2011

Time to get high with Happy Hazeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out of the shower fresh smell. Each mist begins with a fresh blast of joyful freshness and dries down to a light and squeaky clean finish. Love potion carefully infuses pure essential oils with 100% active botanicals.

Groovy Bath Bar by Bath Junkies Comfortably refreshed skin is always in style, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Bath Junkies bring us the Groovy Bath Bar. A pure, aromatic and premium grade body bar that is made of the finest natural ingredients that are not harmful to the skin. It is available in six exciting scents that will surely groove your way into smelling fresh and clean.

Php 150

KALDI

Make the holiday season more festive with a cup of your favorite Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf drink, personally made by you by your personal barista. Merging the timeless design and effortless functionality, the Contata satisfies the eye as well as the palate. Its compact design and classic color appeal to its intricate taste and form. Kaldi is sleek and vibrant with its bright colors, smooth curves and gleaming metallic finish. It has an innovative one-touch technology that delivers perfection in every cup.

Php 13,750 CONTATA

lifestyleparade

CBTL Single Serve Beverage System by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

lifestyleparad

Foil-It Nail Polish by Bobbie Tired of the same old shades and colors for your nails? Then make a bold statement with glitter and glimmer with the Bobbie nail careâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foil It Colors and Heavenly Glitz nail polish collection. Foil It Colors instantly adds spunk to your nail color and is available in adored bronze or electrified silver. The Heavenly Glitz collection has four tantalizing shades to choose from, depending on your mood for striking colors or more subtle ones. Color your nails with Bobbie, guaranteed toxin-free and fierce.

15ml (Php 29.50)

Syn-Ake Wrinkle Cream by TONY MOLY More known as Botox in a bottle, the Syn-Ake has fast smoothing properties that reduces visible wrinkles, laugh lines, frown lines and leaves your skin smooth and glowing. It is safer than botox injections because there is a small neuropeptide that mimics the effect of a temple viper snake and is not invasive like botox injection. A set of Syn-Ake will last 2 to 3 months of usage.

Php 2,698

Intense Repair Live Snail Essence by TONY MOLY

November2011

Replenishing skin and making it young and vibrant has never been this easy. The Tony Moly intense repair live snail essence has moisturizing properties from Korean snail slime that has great self-healing ability, botanical stem cell ingredients, phyto-callus complex and anti-aging properties. It heals your skin from damage and regenerates it while keeping it moisturized. Healthy and desirable skin is just a dab away.

Php 2,228

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Feed the Cat & Hawaii by PONY

November2011

FEED THE CAT

For everyone who’s on the go and who wants to be fashionable at the same time then Pony is perfect for you. Bring out the rock star in you with Pony Feed The Cat and dress up with the Hawaii high-tops. Take your pick, any way you will be the talk of the town.

Feed the Cat Php 2,590 Hawaii Php 2,995

HAWAII

Seasonal & Celeb by KEDS Women can’t jog around all day in high-heels, that’s why Keds for her is on the rescue. Your feet need some rest after a long day of errands and it can rest fashionably with Keds seasonal in solid aqua. It’s for those spunky gals out there who will never walk the streets unnoticed. The celeb suede gold can be your back-up for those glittery high-heeled shoes. Who says comfort can’t be this fashionable?

CLASSIC BOAT

Seasonal (Solid Aqua) Php 1,590 Celeb (Suade Gold) Php 2,795

SEASONAL SOLID- AQUA

CHUKKA SUADE

Top-Sider Boat Shoes by Sperry Be fashionable and comfortable with Sperry’s top-siders, its vulcanized products provide a stylish, no-slip grip for every possible activity. It is hand sewn with especially treated leather to withstand multiple wettings, anodized aluminum eyelets with genuine rawhide laces.

Classic boat shoes Php 3,995 Chukka suade Php 4,495

lifestyleparade

CELEB SUADE- GOLD

beautylab FROM

LIGHT WHITE TO

beauty secrets revealed

ant to have white teeth? At Dental Prime, one hour sitting on a chair is all you need to have a bright pearly white smile. This is achieved quickly and effectively through light-accelerated bleaching. This technology involves two elements: an LED light and a dental-grade hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. The gel is used to coat the teeth after which it is exposed to the LED light to excite the molecules and speed up the whitening process.

By Benjamin Arnold & Michelle Callanta-Toledo MICHELLE SAYS: I’d been an avid Coke drinker as a child and then moved to coffee when I became a young adult. My smoking did not help in lightening my teeth. It’s good that despite some discoloration, my teeth remained pretty light. I was lucky in that beauty department. But I did still want my teeth whitened.

November2011

Of course, teeth-whitening isn’t free. In fact, it’s surprisingly pricey—ranging from Php 20,000 to Php 30,000 depending on how high-end the “material” being used is (they used POLA white advanced whitening system). Before this procedure, I always thought my wisdom tooth extraction would cost way more. But apparently, there’s more to it than just brushing your teeth with some special whitening toothpaste.

Prior to the whitening process, a gum protector gel is used to line up the gums to avoid contact with the whitening gel. This is needed because concentrated hydrogen peroxide burns. Lighting it with a laser doesn’t make it any more pleasant. Also during this entire procedure, you have to wear a rather uncomfortable dental mouth opener www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

so only the teeth is prominently displayed. Each “cycle” is about 15 minutes long and you can go up to (albeit, they encourage you) as many as 4 cycles or until your personal whitening kit is finished. At first I thought it would be a quick and painless procedure. You will soon realize that you will feel a certain amount of discomfort, if not from the mouth opener or the heat

from the light or the gel making your teeth sensitive. Now if you already suffer from sensitive teeth like I do, the pain might become a bit more prominent with each cycle. By the second cycle, I had to “tap out” because my teeth could no longer take the bouts of pain shooting from the nerves. But even after only two cycles, my teeth were so white, they had even become

whiter than one of my front-tooth fillings. After the gum guard was removed and fluoride was applied to my teeth, I kept my mouth closed and covered while I nursed the pain. I had to take three pain killer tablets just to keep the pain at bay. The following day, the pain was gone and all I wanted to do was find reasons to smile at anyone.

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BENJAMIN SAYS:

Benjamin’s teeth after the procedure. The image shows the minor whitening caused by the LED light to the gums.

Before the actual procedure, the dentists had Michelle and I fill out a form with our vital stats as well as past dental history. Upon completion they led me to the “chair” where they began the process of whitening my teeth. They first did some minor cleaning before placing the gum protector and guards. They followed that up with a whitening gel and then exposed my teeth to the beautiful blue LED light. Unlike Michelle, I felt no pain during the whole procedure, and was able to reach 4 cycles of the gel and LED light. There was a bit of discomfort,

like that feeling of when your tooth is being pulled by floss. The dentist advised us to avoid or minimize the eating and drinking of foods that have color such as coffee, soft drinks and teas. The recent whitening also forced Michelle and me to cut our food into little pieces, use a fork to place it at the very back of our mouth and chew it there just to avoid staining our teeth.

November2011

Michelle’s teeth after the procedure. showing the noticeable change in color

Compared to Michelle’s teeth, my teeth were not at as white to begin with. Teeth just naturally begin to discolor as you grow older, so having a chance to get my teeth whitened was quite a simple (vain) joy indeed.

After the procedure, the dentist applied pure fluoride onto my teeth to help protect the freshly whitened teeth as well as vitamin E onto my gums as the LED light can (and did) burn my gums. The burning was very minor and my gums turned white then returned to its natural pink color after a few minutes. As Michelle puts it, “The vain don’t complain.”

Special thank you to Giselle Soriano, DMD and Michael Vincent Sta. Cruz, DMD of MSGS Dental Prime Clinic.

beautylab

wellnes

Toxins away the Juju way By MR Gavin

Every now and then, we have to clean out the trash from our body. From all the fats and processed food we intake and the polluted air we inhale, we tend to accumulate toxins in our colon, lymph node and blood stream. When these toxins build up, it blocks the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. We should give our body a break and treat it for a relaxing day or in the case of Juju Cleanse, a day or three. Many may have heard of Juju cleanse from some local celebrities. Each Juju Cleanse kit contains a day’s worth of detoxifying drinks that will keep you nourished while giving your digestive system some rest. This cleanse helps the body for easy nutrient and vitamins absorption, rehydration, alkaline restoration, cleansing and weight loss.

November2011

Cleansing is not that easy because you will have to slow down on eating specifically processed food and other un-natural food. One should increase intake on fruits, water and vegetables, going natural to help the body detoxify better and absorb nutrients. During cleanse, you should jumpstart your day with a fresh cup of tea then drink your Juju Cleanse bottles slowly and according to the schedule included on the package. There are three levels of the Juju Cleanse process, depending on how you would like it. For starters, it would be smart to start with Level 1. It is designed to help you start on the program gently, this way you will not be overwhelmed with too much green veggie goodness. When you’ve had too many drinks, have been eating too much or feeling over-worked, the Juju cleanse will help you get back up and jump start a healthier you. On the one-day cleanse for Level 1, there are six bottles. All of them are made naturally, mostly from those green leafy vegetables and fruits.

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The Green Bomb is a mix of celery, cucumber, coconut water, malunggay, pineapple, romaine lettuce and spinach that loads you with important nutrients and enzymes that your body needs. It is actually the best tasting of all the drinks, just like salad without dressing. There are two Green Bombs on the program so you can get as much nutrients as you need, and drinking it the second time is much easier than the first. The Red Giant is rich in alkaline elements that help in cleansing and flushing out those toxins. It is made of beets, carrots, ginger and pineapple which are really good for the liver and increases stamina. Ever heard of Spicy Lemonade? Cayenne pepper, honey and lemon are the main ingredients of this unusual lemonade. It will help your body pH level be in a more alkaline state and speed up your metabolism. Coconut water, grapefruit and pineapple are on Alkazest. It is full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that are designed to replenish electrolytes and boost energy levels. The initial price for a 1-day cleansing kit is Php 2,500, with following 1-day kit purchases costing only Php 2,300 . For a 3-day kit, initial cost is Php 7,100 and subsequent purchases will cost Php 6,900 thereafter.

know your gadget’s fortune

It’s All About Directions The art of feng shui involves the study of the environment and the surroundings merged with the art of placement of auspicious symbols. It is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics, believed to have been developed over 3,000 years ago, that use the laws of both Heaven (Chinese astronomy) and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi or chi.

Seven Star Quartz Tray

You can apply basic feng shui tips to harness the potential of yearly Flying Star energies. Every year, these energies change their order which determines which ones are the lucky and unlucky directions. The feng shui chart shows all these stars and the direction where they reside for a particular year. Signs herald one’s personal luck, and if there are things bound your way, we cannot change them for these are determined according to one’s date of birth. There are ways to counter unlucky directions in feng shui. Auspicious symbols (or so-called “cures”) help ease their effect. There are also “cures” that enhance good luck. This way, you will be able to balance luck for you and your space.

Relationships will be lucky with the Romance star that is on the northeast direction. Place a seven star quartz tray to magnify, channel, amplify and energize ones wishes especially when it comes to romance. It is said to enhance or attract romantic opportunities. When placing a luck item, make sure that the area is clean, well-lit and clutter free in order to reach its full potential.

Brass Bowl with White Jade Gourd

By Princesse Lim-Fernandez

Feng shui expert Princesse LimFernandez of Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony at the Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel was trained under the watchful eyes of two masters—the late Master Paul Lau Tak Lun who established Yin and Yang with her—and Master Joseph Chau Kam Shing of Hong Kong who is now the resident feng shui consultant of the Mandarin Oriental group. Princesse graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in management engineering and now has successful businesses in various industries that are aided and supported by her knowledge of feng shui. Princesse and Master Chau have been vital in the popularity of Mandarin Oriental’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations. Their clients include both corporate and private individuals from all around the world.

yin&yang

“Signs herald one’s personal luck, and if there are things bound your way, we cannot change them for these are determined according to one’s date of birth.”

For the west direction, you must place a Brass Bowl with White Jade Gourd, this way it can enhance prosperity of one’s home. West is the direction where the Prosperity Star and Three-Killer stars reside, the jade gourd on the brass bowl provides protection, especially for frequent travelers.

October2011

yin&yang

listen

Spinning hit the right beats with the latest sound tech

Sound

By Steven Vea

From the humble days of cramped radio stations and basement parties, the face of DJ’ing has changed dramatically over the years. However, the scene isn’t the only thing that has evolved—the equipment has changed dramatically as well. A Few Cue Points From the humble beginning of “presenting” and commenting on vinyl albums on-air, DJs migrated from the booth to the basement—providing entertainment for parties, “sock hops” and eventually, larger public venues like clubs. After some time, they would become a new breed of musicians that would invent the delicate art of seamlessly weaving different songs together (aka beatmatching), as well as “manipulating” records (i.e. scratching) on turntables to create new sounds and songs. Alongside the evolution of the term DJ and its associated art form, their weapons of choice went through several changes as well. The commercial introduction of the compact disc (CD) format in the 80s by Sony and Philips resulted in the “Big Bang” of digital audio, because it was quickly and passionately embraced by consumers and manufacturers alike. The digital medium had a tremendous impact on the subculture of DJ’ing for it gave birth to the CDJs, a device that allowed users to manipulate songs on CDs like vinyl on turntables. Spearheaded by Pioneer, DJs could now cue, beatmatch, alter pitch and even add effects to digital audio in one convenient device.

In 1998, time-coded vinyl records partnered with an external soundcard (“Final Scratch”) were invented by a two-man Dutch company called N2IT, which would set the stage for the next phase. These altered vinyl records allowed users to sync and manipulate audio on their computers in tandem with the traditional turntable setup. It was quickly adopted by a number of manufacturers (i.e. Rane, M-Audio, Native Instruments, etc.) and propelled the trend at an incredible speed, due in part to a number of factors: the widespread success of compressed audio formats (i.e. MP3, FLAC) and the incredible rate at which the World Wide Web and laptops were improving its performance and possibilities. This has resulted in the domination of the laptop-based DJ setups that we see today. Now that more and more DJs download music and bring around their entire library stored on external hard drives, manufacturers have now addressed the need to create a more compact and portable rig: the DJ Controller.

SOUND FACTS November2011

The “Jockey” in Brief

Walter Winchell is credited as having coined the term “disc jockey” in 1935 to American radio announcer Martin Block, describing how the latter began playing records as part of the show Make Believe Ballroom. The show became a hit because it gave listeners the impression that a live band was actually performing in the studio, which was the customary method of broadcasting music at the time. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

The commercial introduction of the compact disc (CD) format in the 80s by Sony and Philips resulted in the “Big Bang” of digital audio, because it was quickly and passionately embraced by consumers and manufacturers alike.

What is a Controller? A controller, loosely defined in the field of music, is a device dedicated to manipulate musical software or other hardware. They do not have any on-board preset sounds and traditionally connect via MIDI or USB when used with a computer. Controllers commonly adopt the form of a musical keyboard and are used in tandem with a sound module or similar device to generate sounds, although designs vary greatly today. They usually come equipped with an array of rotary knobs, faders, drum pads and the like – depending on what it was primarily designed to control. Controllers often need to be “mapped” out within the software, which means assigning specific functions of each button, fader, etc. have to be pre-defined.

On the other hand, one of the main disadvantages is latency—which is a lag or delay between the time you operate a control on the hardware, and its corresponding response in the software. Latency has been a long time issue with computer-based setups, and many users have found ways to compensate. While these lags are typically only milliseconds, it’s a significant factor when trying to seamlessly match tempos. Additionally, latency is more of an issue for those who have begun on hardware because traditional setups (turntables, CDjs) offer zero latency. Therefore, those who dive straight into laptop-based setups with controllers don’t have a basis of comparison.

Nevertheless, the efficiency of digital controllers has drastically improved in only a short amount of time, and they offer an excellent amount of versatility and creativity. Not only do they offer a fresh approach, but controllers double up as audio interfaces with built-in recording features, allowing them to be used as independent musical instruments. Furthermore, with the emerging trend of tablets, controllers such as the Numark iDJ have been emerging, offering an even more compact rig. While there are many analog purists out there that keep the traditional format of DJ’ing very much alive and well, the impact of the digital era is inescapable. In truth, it challenges DJs to think differently and approach their craft with a different frame of mind. Digital DJ controllers are great devices—they are portable and offer a vast amount of creativity possibilities, and they could be, if they aren’t already, the next great standard in DJ’ing.

listen

DJ controllers are a specified breed—they typically connect via USB and control dedicated DJ software. They are usually all-in-one rigs, which mean that they are comprised of a combination of two “platters” and a mixer. More often than not, they are designed to match a specific program, providing hands-on control of the software’s interface. One such example is the Pioneer DDJS-1 and DDJT-1, which are designed to be used with Serato ITCH and Native Instruments’ Traktor, respectively.

What benefits do controllers have over traditional setups? For starters, they are more portable and convenient, which makes a very efficient gig rig, since the only other essential items to pack are a laptop and a pair of headphones. Moreover, several controllers even have built-in card readers and USB ports, which allow several DJs to change shifts during a live set without needing to stop the music.

featuredartist

the musicians and their toys

Original Filipino Music Sari-Sari Sounds has been busy bombing the net-waves for a good part of the year 2011. The online radio station dedicated to putting Filipino music at the forefront of the local and perhaps global consciousness has been streaming 24/7 since Christmas last year, with more songs, artists and features coming in every day. It’s no easy feat, and the challenge of consistently putting out quality content for Pinoy netizens is often harrowing. That being said, the cadre of young DJs, writers, producers, programmers and the like make sure of two things: that everything done is to uplift Filipino music, its artists and the culture and values they stand for, and that they all have tons of fun while at it.

November2011

One striking fact about the people behind Sari-Sari Sounds is the family atmosphere: a composite of close friends and barkadas already existent prior, strung together by the love for music, and in this case, awesome OPM. Everyone brings great ideas, distinct flavor, and quirks to the table, providing listeners with a set of unique experiences anytime they tune in. What they get, is an uninhibited, inebriated stab at radio, with a heavy dose of local melody and rhythm at the core.

The Hangover Club with Roni and Michelle

Café 808 with Switch

Roni’s make-up by Monique Jaramillo-Señeres Michelle’s make-up by Patricia Milanes Hair by Agee D.

Special thanks to WipCaps

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

The immediate goal is to break stereotypes and stigmas that surround contemporary Filipino sound, with much regard to a massive amount of unheard material that piles up almost daily. To that end, Sari-Sari Sounds has a show for all kinds of OPM, for all sorts of tastes: Pinoy Rock (Kalokalan/ Stompbox with Roziedel), Flip-Hop (Cafe 808 with Switch), Electronica (Tunog ‘Tronica with Migi and Chesca), Slow Jams (Quality Time with T-Mac), Regional OPM (Off the Grid/ Off the Grid South Check with Six, Ria and Dane), Easy (Downshift with Q), Good vibe tunes (Merrienda Shop with Los) Oldies (Musikaraan with Marty) even an intro for the uninitiated (OPM Idiots with Bryce and Miki).

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

Tito Radio with Tito Tito and Tito Gary

Bigkas Pilipinas Kooky’s make-up by Monique Jaramillo-Seneres Dress by Hot Young Designers

“The immediate goal is to break stereotypes and stigmas that surround contemporary Filipino sound.” Off The Grid with Dane, Ria and Six Ria’s make-up by Patricia Milanes Top by Hot Young Designers

Also in the mix are album reviews (Sound Trip with APLM), artist features (the Setlist with Dianna) and behind the scenes peeks (Prod’ Prime: the Hostile Takeover with Casas), as well current events/ commentary (Bad News with Casas and Raf), and other crazy talk (Hangover Club with Roni and Michelle; Tito Radio with Tito Tito, Tito Gary and Chelsea Balingit; Saturday Gang Bang with Quincy, Glenn and Los).

Still in its infancy, Sari-Sari Sounds is not an end in itself but rather just a step albeit a rather big one in a predictably long journey. It carries on the ongoing movement of uplifting not only Filipino music, but also culture, values and identity. Seems like a lot to chew when you look at it that way. But when taken in with a healthy amount of laughs and fun times, then it’s one fantastic ride. The Bad News with Casas and Raf

Photos by Dianna Jeraldine Capco and Nikkorlai Tapan (for Kooky of Bigkas Pilipinas)

featuredartist

Many of the shows on the station, particularly this latter four, are considered unsafe for work, and rated PG to say the least, as they often involve more mature themes and language. Recently added to the weekly schedule are At the Womb FM with Miggy and King, a collaboration with online music hub AtTheWomb.com, and the return of Bigkas Pilipinas with Kooky, a beloved and long missed (since it went off-air] spoken word showcase featuring a thick roster of Pinoy poets.

cdreview

get our take on the latest tracks to hit the market

BEYONCE 4 (Deluxe Edition) Sony Music Philippines By Paolo Toledo It seems pop music has evolved from what was once the realm of the real diva. There was a time when names such as Whitney, Mariah, Mary J and Janet commanded with a voice that could only match an equally stellar influence. Now it seems as though we have replaced them with electronic wind-up dolls that only last for a good single. Good thing the world still has Beyoncé. Indeed, Beyoncé Knowles is one of the few female icons in pop-R&B that still exude the word diva—a consummate goddess of music with a powerful air and artistry. She just can’t seem to do any wrong. Now the soon-to-be baby momma of Jay-Z releases her latest album, which deserves as much reverence as her royal reputation. The latest album aptly titled, 4, did have a rocky start. Critics doubted the originality of its first single, Run The World (Girls) which seemed like

Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel (Deluxe Edition) MCA Music Inc. By Paolo Toledo Hiphop heads can thank the gods for reconciling two lyrical heavyweights, the slick-tongued Eminem and the rampaging Royce Da 5’9. After a few years of falling out, they’ve managed to put differences aside to create Bad Meets Evil – a villainous union of hard-hitting emcees who come together like dark clouds and doomsday. Ironically, this match made in heaven now debuts with an extended EP called, “Hell: The Sequel.” The showcase of wit and wordplay shine as expected, but the production equally holds its own and brings it all together. With producers

LIMP BIZKIT Gold Cobra MCA Music Inc. By Paolo Toledo

November2011

It’s another Limp Bizkit album, and yes, Fred Durst is still at it—six years after their last release comes this year’s redemption entitled, “Gold Cobra.”

A strong suit for the album is actually the rest of the guys backing Durst. The rhythm section of Wes (guitar), Sam (bass), and Otto (drums) spawn a pumping metal beast that shreds heads to pieces. They bring back their signature sound so well that it actually makes you proud to have witnessed it the first time around. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

another girl-power anthem over a reused Diplo beat. However, the naysayers stopped there. Apparently, Run The World (Girls) does not do justice to the work that was done on the rest of the album. Giving Beyoncé’s 4 a real listen reveals a lot about the direction of the artist and her music. Stripped away are the booty-shaking club songs, and instead are honest and soulful mid-tempo ballads over an impressive vocal range, and multi-themed production stretching influences from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. There a few house-mixed tracks peppered in the deluxe edition, but overall, it’s a well-balanced album that exposes a lot of fresh angles from the artist. Standout tracks include the eclectic and powerful I Care, the soulful Love On Top, and the playful Countdown—all glimpses of the maturity that radiated from Beyoncé, and which she channeled into another classic studio album. With that, I dare say that her number 4 can actually end up with a score of No. 1’s.

such as Havoc, Bangladesh, and Eminem among others, the EP opens up the different sides of darkness and multi-syllabic storytelling. Every track on the album offers something different, but all of them equally neck-breaking. Except for the pop-ready Lighters (featuring Bruno Mars), listeners will find themselves lost within the perfect combination of heavy beats and lyrical content. From their first single Fast Lane, a quick-witted romp through a looming beat, to the cinematic strings in Above the Law, featuring singer Claret Jai, and even the old school break beat of Living Proof, the debut of Bad Meets Evil is a success that takes any hardcore hiphop fan for a ride through Hell, and back.

Bring It Back is one of the best tracks as the verse arrangement thumps back and forth into a thrashing by Wes and Otto. Shark Attack also shows the band at what it does best: a hiphop induced heavy metal mayhem. The rest of the songs, seem to be a mix of pure awesome, or just awful. It’s a huge hit-or-miss on every track. Speaking of misses, Fred Durst causes more pain than pleasure with the same old lyrical style, and weak content. The themes seem quite repetitive, shallow, and sadly defensive, as he struggles to channel a 40-year old bully trying to be cool by “not caring.”

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TW Steel & David Coulthard Unveil Watch

By Steven Vea

Thirteen-time Formula One champion David Coulthard was recently in the Philippines as a TW Steel brand ambassador to reveal a specialedition watch in his name, as well as to meet and greet his lucky fans. The unveiling was held at a formal press conference in the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City as members of the media were able to get a glimpse of the David Coulthard Special Edition Watch for the first time. What makes this timepiece even more significant for TW Steel is that it also serves as the introductory model for its elite CEO Tech Collection. “CEO Tech, to me, is about being the best and that’s a philosophy I know David [Coulthard] shares,” said Ton Cobelens, TW Steel’s chief design officer. “I wanted his special-edition [watch] to capture people’s attention and showcase the very best we have to offer in terms of affordable luxury.” Known primarily for distinct oversized timepieces, TW Steel designed the David Coulthard Watch with a “steel sandblasted” case and PVD dark titanium plated bezel. The polished finish features a dial with Coulthard’s name, offset by the chronograph and tachymeter in bold red. Time is measured to 1/20th of a second thanks to its Miyota 0S24 chronograph movement, and it is water resistant to 10ATM. It’s available in 44mm and 48mm executions.

November2011

After the press conference, a meet and greet was held at the TW Steel boutique at the Podium mall in Ortigas City, which is the first TW Steel boutique in the world. Fans lined up for hours prior to David Coulthard’s appearance to catch a glimpse of their favorite Formula One driver. After waiting in line, they were duly rewarded with a personal encounter with Coulthard, and fans had various memorabilia autographed. Executives from TW Steel were present as well. The TW Steel David Coulthard Special Edition watch is available at the TW Steel boutique in Podium, Lucerne, Shangri-La and Cebu, Adora Greenbelt 5, Chronos, Swiss Gear and Wrist Pod boutiques nationwide. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Pioneer DJ Launches the DDJS1 and DDJT1 Controllers

By Steven Vea

Pioneer has been the go-to brand for DJs and it comes as no surprise that the company is upping the ante once again, adapting to the growing trend of laptop-based DJ’ing. The products were locally launched on September 28 at Capital G C.A.L.Y.E., which is in the Sports Loop on the 3rd Floor of Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas. The launch was hosted by Chelo A. and Knowa Lazarus and included several visiting members of Pioneer DJ based in Singapore, local club owners and several club DJs. What makes the DDJS1 and the DDJT1 unique is that they were crafted specifically to be used in tandem with Serato ITCH and TRAKTOR, two of the industry’s leading DJ software manufacturers. They connect to the laptop via USB, and one of the controllers’ unique features is a “docking” space that allows users to slide their laptops underneath it, negating the need to for a laptop stand. It similarly allows the laptop’s display to be closer as well, and it also creates a clearer path of sight between the DJ and the crowd. Both controllers also feature dedicated controls to browse through playlists and “smart crates,” which virtually eliminates the need to use the laptop’s keyboard. The DDJS-1 and DDJT-1 also function as audio soundcards with its own dedicated outputs and inputs, which also has the ability to record samples in MP3 quality for quick on-the-fly creations.

November2011

Pioneer DJ aims to reiterate its already solid presence in the DJ market with these USB controllers that offer a complete all-in-one rig that is ultraportable and brimming with features. The Pioneer DDJ-S1 and DDJ-T1 deliver “ultimate operability” to the growing digital DJ population.

Pioneer DDJS1

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By Steven Vea

November2011

ASUS Launches Eee Pad Slider and New N-Series Notebooks

Held at the Museum Café in Greenbelt, Makati City, ASUS once again shows why it continues to enjoy a healthy presence at the forefront of innovative technology. With the tagline: “When was the last time you heard something incredible on a laptop?,” ASUS has risen to the challenge of bringing high-quality audio to its new line of N-Series notebooks, the N45SF and N55SF. The laptops were completely redesigned in cooperation with David Lewis, a renowned designer that previously worked with ASUS on the NX90 notebook. The graceful and sleek design includes elegant metal frames, a polished surface and a sound wave-inspired speaker mesh.

Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101

The flagship feature of the new N-series is the 32mm Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers coupled with an external SonicMaster subwoofer with improved technical specifications, which aim to take mobile sound to the next level. Moreover, these notebooks boast improved performance as well, with an ultra-quick resume time of 2 seconds and standby battery power that can last up to 15 days. Powered by Intel’s 2nd generation i5 (aka Sandy Bridge) processors and a GeForce GT555M, the new N-Series brings highperformance and visuals for both gaming and high-definition multimedia.

Running on Android 3.1 (upgradeable to 3.2), the Eee Pad Slider is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor to cater to your high-definition needs. It features numerous connectivity options to ensure that you can share and sync your data on the go—it has a built-in USB port, microSD card reader and a mini-HDMI port. Its

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Additionally, ASUS also launched the new Eee Pad Slider SL101, which continues to prove the company’s dominance in innovation. The tablet has already won in the International Design Excellence awards this year. Featuring a 10.1-inch IPS display with a 178-degree ultra-wide viewing angle and a unique slide-out keyboard, the Eee Pad Slider aims to be the perfect tablet for both work and pleasure.

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Samsung

Redefines TV ‘Viewing’

Samsung, a leading innovator in the electronics industry, has truly redefined ‘style and substance’ with the introduction of its mightiest product yet: the Samsung LED D8000 Smart TV—a piece of technology that is as close to art as televisions can get. In celebration of this breakthrough, a lavish Samsung Smart TV D8000 Viewing Party was held at the Continental Room in The Tower Club, Makati City, hosted by tech blogger Jayvee Fernandez of abuggedlife.com. At the party, guests witnessed the absolute brilliance of the Samsung Smart TV firsthand. A demonstration of the television’s up-to-date features was well-received by guests and VIPs alike, as they discovered the unbelievable power the LED D8000 wields with its Search All function, Samsung App Store, Social TV, web browser, and Skype capabilities. Samsung representatives also presented the television’s amazing 3D capabilities to the audience! The Viewing Party also offered an irresistible deal to its guests. Every purchase of the Smart TV made on that night will include a bundle of freebies, including five 3D glasses, a 3D Blu-ray player, a 32-inch LED TV, among other amazing Samsung products. Aside from the irresistible limited offerings, guests experienced viewing movie trailers on YouTube, browsing the perfect apps for each member of the family, accessing Twitter while watching the nightly news and Skype-ing with digital filmmaker-of-the-moment Marlon Rivera. The Samsung Smart TV D8000 viewing party was the perfect way to appreciate this magnificent piece of technological art. Another testament that Samsung gives a whole new definition to home entertainment as it turns regular TV viewing into a mind-blowing experience only the Smart TV can offer.

Citoy Lopez and Eva Abesamis

November2011

Chiqui Torres Tan (Corporate Marketing Head of Samsung) and Atom Henares

Eddie Jarque and Letty Lopez

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Henry Nguyen and Bianca Fernandez

Eddie Jarque, Andre Kahn, Nini Licaros and Dr.Bong Javier

November2011

Toshiba Opens Concept Store At SM Pampanga www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

By MR Gavin

In line with its expansion program, Toshiba Philippines—in partnership with Tricom Dynamics Inc.—recently opened an exclusive Toshiba concept store at SM City Pampanga. The store sells exclusive Toshiba products and offers after-sales servicing.

This concept store in SM Pampanga will be the third in the Philippines to sport a new design for Toshiba concept stores after the ones opened in Abreeza Mall in Davao City and SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. It sells Toshiba notebook PCs including Qosmio, Portégé, Satellite and Tecra series, as well as projectors. Customers can also tinker with Toshiba’s new Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D notebook PC.

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“Toshiba is very pleased to open our first concept store in Pampanga. Pampanga is an important market for us and we hope to enhance our customers’ experience when they walk into our concept store and are presented with our latest and complete range of notebook PCs, options and accessories,” said Krislyn Chia, assistant manager at Toshiba’s digital products and services division. “This shop also serves as our first service center in Pampanga, so as to provide better after-sales service to our valued customers,” she added.

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Canon Bags Boracay forms human chain for the environment European Product Awards Canon has received three 2011-2012 European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) awards for being the best products in their categories. Canon’s EOS 600D DSLR earned European Camera 2011-2012 honors, EF70-300mm f/45.6L IS USM telephoto lens received European Professional Lens and Legria HF M41 got European Camcorder. Noted for its very strong set of features, the 18.0-megapixel Canon EOS 600D with vari-angle screen was recognized by the EISA jury for its excellent resolution and low-noise performance, calling it an extremely desirable model for entry-level users. The EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM telephoto or long-focus lens was recognized for its high image quality performance, extremely durable construction and surprisingly compact design. Both products are available in the Philippines. The compact Legria HF M41 was noted for its extremely fast auto-focus performance and extremely good picture quality. It earned praise from the EISA jury for its exceptionally low level of noise, even in poor light. Its local counterpart is the VIXIA HF M40, which only differs in memory space.

Boracay residents and tourists joined hands to form a seven-kilometer human chain along its world-renowned white sand beach to celebrate the first anniversary of the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) on September 24. BBMP is a multisectoral initiative for the protection, sustainability and enhancement of the island’s coastal and marine resources. The anniversary program, led by Malay Mayor John P. Yap, was attended by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje, Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection Nereus Acosta, and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno.

EISA is composed of 50 special interest magazines from 19 European countries focusing on such categories as photography, audio, video and mobile devices.

Paje noted that with proper planning and development, Boracay could further evolve to accommodate more tourists while maintaining environmental sustainability. He also lauded the initiative of Mayor Yap in leading the dynamic private-public partnership that has successfully achieved significant improvements in coastal resources management, water and waste water management, solid waste management, watershed protection, hazard prevention, local governance, and information, education and communication.

First launched in 1982, EISA awards are presented to products released in Europe within the past 12 months deemed representative of their product category by a judging panel composed of editors of EISA-affiliated magazines specializing in that product division.

Aside from the human chain, the anniversary program also included the launch of the Adopta-Tree program in Boracay, which aims to plant 30,000 seedlings in the island within one year. To jumpstart it, nearly 2,000 seedlings were distributed to Boracay high school students and

L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2011

October2011

This year, L’OréalProfessionnel brings Colour Trophy, the salon industry’s most prestigious event, to the Philippines. Launched in the United Kingdom more than 50 years ago, Colour Trophy has become a tradition eagerly awaited by hairstylists worldwide. Dubbed as the Oscars of Hairdressing, the L’Oréal Colour Trophy competition celebrates the talent of hairdressers worldwide as they interpret an international colour theme while maintaining hair integrity.

For L’OréalColour Trophy 2011, Filipino hairdressers nationwide interpreted the theme BeautéOriginelle, L’OréalProfessionnel’s international Fall/ Winter 2011 Color Collection. Inspired by the fusion of high fashion and pure nature, BeautéOriginelle interprets the rustic beauty of the untouched wilderness, the undeniable power of tribal forces and the free spirit of the savage mystique.

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Out of the hundreds of entries L’OréalProfessionnel received this year, 25 made it to the finals. Each interprets the theme in one of four categories: The Next Generation category unleashes the talent of stylists aged 23 and below and showcases talent of up-and-coming hairdressers who are the future of the industry The Men’s Best Image category creates wearable, fashion-forward looks that every Filipino man could sport The Ladies’ Best Image category interprets the trend to suit every Filipina The Total Look Category blends colour, cut and style to create a fashion statement using the revolutionary hair colour of the future: INOA.

Boracay human chain for the environment. (from left): Petron Foundation general manager Malu Erni, Environmental Management Bureau director Juan Miguel Cuna, Mrs. Jojo Paje, DENR secretary Ramon Paje, Malay Mayor John Yap, presidential adviser on environmental protection Nereus Acosta, and Mrs. Abby Yap participate in the 7-km human chain along Boracay’s beach front to mark the 1st anniversary of the Boracay Beach Management Program.

foresters who pledeged to plant these trees in their backyards and school grounds. This was followed by a clean-up drive to highlight Boracay’s anti-smoking and anti-littering campaign. One of BBMP’s convenors, Petron Corp., contributed to the environmental protection drive by providing free emission testing for public utility vehicles at the Petron service station. As witnessed by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Juan Miguel Cuna, Petron’s Carbon Flush product demonstration resulted in a dramatic reduction in smoke emission values from 3.753 to 0.399, or an improvement of almost 90%. Key members of the champion Petron Blaze Booster team, including most valuable player Arwind Santos, were on hand to add star power to this activity and the rest of the anniversary festivities.

Malu Erni, general manager of Petron Foundation, which introduced the globally-recognized Integrated Coastal Management to the BBMP, reaffirmed their organization’s commitment to provide resources and expertise for long-term sustainability. To encourage the youth sector to strengthen its support for BBMP, San Miguel Corp. (SMC), another staunch supporter, introduced a star-shaped mascot to embody the slogan “Sali Ako Dyan!,” paving the way for the next stage of BBMP’s advocacy. Petron and SMC, in partnership with the Province of Aklan, the Municipality of Malay, and the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) launched the BBMP and the “Para Sa Boracay Ako! For Boracay I Will” advocacy in 2010 to engage the island’s various stakeholders in an integrated program that would ensure the island’s environmental sustainability.

Globe is only Local Telco with MEF-Certified Professionals Globe Telecom, one of the leading telecommunications providers in the Philippines and the first local carrier to be certified by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), announced that three of its employees recently passed the MEF Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF CECP) examination. To date, there are only 69 MEF CECPs out of the over 130 professionals who took the test worldwide. The title is awarded to individuals that successfully pass the exam to become MEF Certified Professionals. It validates the professional’s knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technologies, standards, services and applications. Individuals who pass the exam have the knowledge and skills required to support and promote Carrier Ethernet solutions, and ultimately accelerate its worldwide adoption.

The MEF is the defining body for Carrier Ethernet, whose mission is to accelerate the global adoption of Carrier-grade Ethernet services. Globe was the first Philippine carrier to join MEF back in 2009. The MEF is currently made up of more than 190 members, which include the world’s top service providers and major equipment vendors. To ensure that its Carrier Ethernet services conform to MEF standards of quality and performance, Globe passed numerous compliance tests and has achieved MEF certifications for its services. Globe was the first Philippine telco to achieve MEF 9 certification, which validated the functionality of its Ethernet services. Soon after, Globe earned MEF 14 certification, validating the performance of its Ethernet services.

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Korea’s Best Is Here

Filipinos can enjoy South Korea’s best as Bulgogi Brothers opened its first international branch in the Philippines at the third level of Greenbelt 5, Makati City. This 120-seater restaurant invites guests to feast on Bulgogi, prime cuts of beef or pork marinated in a number of ingredients that enhance its flavor and tenderness, served on the spot!

A Korean BBQ restaurant serving various kinds of Bulgogi and other Korean dishes, Bulgogi Brothers opened its first branch in Seoul in 2006. Since then, it has been providing customers with a dining destination where they can share various Bulgogi’s cuisine with family and friends.

Cartridge World Philippines signs up as COTY-PH sponsor. Officers of the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) recently inked a sponsorship agreement with Cartridge World Philippines for the latter’s support in the 20112012 Car of the Year-Philippines. In photo are (from left): CAGI director Bess Zamora, CAGI president Ferman Lao, Cartridge World Philippines chair and CEO Babylyn Decena-Niewfield, and CAGI director Andy Sevilla.

Cartridge World Philippines has signed up to support the 2011-2012 Car of the YearPhilippines (COTY-PH). The global ink and toner experts, Cartridge World Philippines counts car dealers and manufacturers among its client base. According to its chair and CEO Babylyn Decena-Newfield, an avowed car enthusiast: “We want to be part of the industry in our own little way by partnering with CAGI. Our products and services may not be aligned with the industry, but complements the idea behind the value of approved and quality products.” By offering remanufactured and refilled ink and laser toner cartridges, Cartridge World Philippines also believes it is reducing waste and helping protect the environment.

Now considered the world leader in inkjet and cartridge refilling, Cartridge World started in Australia in 1997 and currently has about 1,800 branches in 53 countries. In the Philippines, the franchise has 7 outlets—Pasay Road, Shaw Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Acropolis, Sucat, Biñan— and one in Cebu opening very soon. The Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) is an award-giving body composed of motoring journalists. Every year since 2004, CAGI invites automotive manufacturers and distributors to submit their new vehicle models for technical and qualitative testing. Test results are summarized and subjected to external audit. Awards are given in various categories, with the most prestigious award being the Car of the Year Award.

Canon Launches Pixma Printers Canon has introduced 5 new PIXMA Printers that aim to cater to the developing demands of consumers: the MP287, MG8270, MG5370, iP4970 and the E500. Held in the Cyberzone at SM North EDSA Annex, the new printer series offers a great aesthetic design with improved functionality, cost effectiveness, and several eco-friendly features.

The new PIXMAs The PIXMA iP4970 (Php 6,495) is perfect for those who want an affordable dedicated photo printer that has the quality that Canon is always known for. It uses FINE, Hybrid and ChromaLife100+ technologies to produce vibrant photographs that are guaranteed to withstand fading due to light and gases, and can last up to 300 years in a photo album. The PIXMA MP287 (Php 3,495), is an integrated All-in-One (AIO) printer that addresses the basic personal printing needs at an affordable price point. It’s intended for personal use at home

The PIXMA MG5370 is an AIO photo printer with five individual ink tanks and built-in WiFi, so that it can connect across multiple computers. What makes it a great printer is that it can print directly from iPhones, iPads and devices running with Android. The MG5370, along with the MG8270, are equipped with PIXMA Cloud Link, a new service that allows printers to connect directly to online photo albums without a PC. The PIXMA MG8270 is another AIO printer that features an LCD panel with a dedicated navigation area equipped with the Intelligent Touch System. It has six individual ink cartridges, including gray ink to ensure that black and white prints come out with great contrast and detail. Moreover, it will be perfect for those that would like to digitize their negatives, as the MG8270 is capable of scanning film. The PIXMA E500 is canon’s ink efficient printer, offering low costs per page while producing results at maximum efficiency. Monochrome documents will only cost Php 0.74 and can print up to 800 pages before requiring a refill. Colored prints only cost Php 1.74 a page and yield 400 pages in standard mode before the cartridge needs to be changed.

Bulgogi Brothers was brought to the country by The Bistro Group of Restaurants. This exciting new concept is expected to follow the footsteps and the success of Bistro’s other casual dining concept, namely: Italianni’s,

“We are happy to collaborate with the Bistro Group for the launching of our first international store in the Philippines. With some 40 successful restaurants under their management, we are confident that Bulgogi Brothers will enjoy the same acceptance and patronage of the local market. We believe that there is tremendous potential here as we provide authentic Korean taste, quality of service, value and a modern, welcoming atmosphere to customers, “said Zeus Yi, Bulgogi Brothers Korea president.

In a keynote presentation at the recent GITEX conference in Dubai, Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie unveiled a new way for BlackBerry® smartphone users to connect with one another and share multimedia content.

seamless,” said Balsillie. “BlackBerry Tag opens a new dimension to the BlackBerry platform that is powerful, simple and intuitive and we think it will be welcomed by both users and developers.”

BlackBerry Tag, which will be incorporated in the next BlackBerry 7 OS update, will allow users to share contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content by simply tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also enable friends to instantly add one another as contacts on BBM. (BlackBerry Messenger).

BlackBerry Tag takes advantage of Near Field Communications technology included in the recently launched BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 smartphones, and these are the first BlackBerry smartphones that will support BlackBerry Tag.

RIM unveils BlackBerry Tag

“BlackBerry Tag is an exciting and innovative feature that makes sharing contact information and multimedia content effortless and

RIM also announced plans to expose BlackBerry Tag through APIs on the BlackBerry platform, allowing software developers to take advantage of “tap to share” functionality from within their own applications.

Samsung Galaxy S II

Smart Postpaid’s New All-Net Services

Global Sales Top 10 M Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Says the Samsung Galaxy S II (model: GT-I9100) has achieved 10 million global channel sales, doubling from five million in just eight weeks. The Galaxy S II is Samsung’s flagship smartphone device—a beautifully thin (8.49mm) and lightweight dual-core smartphone that combines an unmatched SuperAMOLED Plus viewing experience with powerful performance, all on Android, the world’s fastest-growing mobile operating system. The next-generation smartphone also includes Samsung’s four content and entertainment hubs, seamlessly integrated to provide instant access to music, games, e-reading and social networking services. “Since its launch in late April 2011, the Galaxy S II has seen continued sales success, demonstrating Samsung’s industryleading capabilities in—and commitment to—the smartphone market” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s mobile communications business. “In just five months the Galaxy S II has seen tremendous growth, reflecting its tremendous popularity with customers around the world, who in selecting the Galaxy S II as their device of choice have driven the device’s strong market position globally.”

Smart Communications, Inc. recently launched its new All-Net offerings, the latest services under its All-In plans that give postpaid subscribers affordable rates on voice and SMS services to all networks. Unlike other postpaid offers that add on extra charges for each service that one avails of, Smart Postpaid All-In plans incorporate all the services a subscriber needs into one convenient package. With the introduction of the All-Net services as part of the All-In portfolio, Smart now has the lowest postpaid call and text charges to all networks. Smart Postpaid All-Net Talk lets subscribers cut their postpaid call charges in half with 80 minutes of calls to all networks at a rate of only Php 250 for 30 days bringing down the voice call rate to only Php 3.12 per minute, while other providers charge as much as Php 7.50 per minute. Meanwhile, Smart Postpaid All-Net Text costs only Php 350 for 30 days for 2,500 text messages to all networks, which is equivalent to only Php 0.14 per SMS instead of the standard rate of Php 1 per text charged by other networks. Data services under the Smart Postpaid All-In plans also give the widest range of data volume on demand, from 25MB to 2GB. With the IDD bundle saver, you can make international calls at local rates, plus 5 minutes free for Php 200.

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These printers also cater to consumer’s creativity, by offering five Fun Filter Effects such as Miniature, Fish-Eye and Toy Camera effects. A utility is also available called Auto Photo Fix II that can help adjust levels to achieve the optimal color balance. Moreover, a new feature that is available for the entire PIXMA range is Full HD Movie Print, which allows users to print video content in different stylistic options.

as a printer/scanner, can power on almost instantly, and comes in a compact and pleasing design.

TGIFriday’s, Flapjacks, Fish & Co, Pig Out, Krazy Garlik and The Stock Market. “Bulgogi Brothers is going to be more than just good food as it is known for in Korea. It has a family atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home with every visit,” said Jean Paul Manuud, Bistro Group of Restaurants’ chief operating officer. “The restaurant will be stamped with the same extraordinary service that Bistro is known for. This, plus exceptional food and a warm ambiance guarantee a pleasurable dining experience.”

October2011

Cartridge World Philippines supports COTY-PH

buyers’guide

advertisers’ row

SAMSUNG

NEO

SAMSUNG GALAXY MINI S5570 3.14-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 600 MHz processor 110.4 x 60.8 x 12.1 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 10,690

ELAN L4300-3D 15.6” HD Led Intel Core i7 740QM 4 GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 500 GB Hard Disk Drive Php 99,999

B3362 N 10.1 WSVGA Intel Atom N455 2 GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 250 GB Hard Disk Drive Php 11,999

B4200 N 14.0” HD Led Intel Pentium P6200 2GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 320GB Hard Disk Drive Php 17,999

SAMSUNG GALAXY FIT S5670 3.31-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 600 MHz processor 110.2 x 61.2 x 12.6 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 12,890

B3410 N Intel Celeron T3500 2GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 250GB Hard Disk drive Php 15,999

B5700 N 14.0 HD Led Intel Core i7-2630QM 2GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 500 GB Hard Disk Drive Php 30,999

B5100 N 14.0 HD Led Intel Core i3-2310M 2GB DDR3 1-year Warranty 500 GB Hard Disk Drive Php 24,999

*Models denoted with N do NOT have OS

REDFOX

SAMSUNG GALAXY ACE S5830 3.5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 800 MHz ARM 11 processor, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset 112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 16,500

WIZPAD T1032IW 10-inch Backlit capacitive LED Intel Atom 455 32GB SSD Windows 7 Home Premium Php 37,999

Tablet

WIZPAD T1030IW 10-inch Backlit capacitive LED Intel Atom 455 16GB SSD Windows 7 Starter Php 31,999

November2011

Desktop

ICITIZEN EZ100-16AW 15.6-inch LED monitor AMD Athlon Processor LE-1640 1GB DDR2 1-year Warrranty 250GB HDD Php 16,000

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WIZPAD T1034IW 10-inch Backlit capacitive LED Intel Atom 455 32GB SSD Windows 7 Home Premium Php 41,999

Notebook

EVOLVE ET18510ANW 18.5-inch LCD AMD Athlon Processor X2 215 2GB DDR2 1-year Warranty 320GB HDD Php 28,499

ICITIZEN IC1040I 10-inch LED Intel Atom N450 1GB DDR2 1-year Warranty 250GB HDD Php 15,000

ICITIZENW1040I 10-inch LED Intel Atom N450 2GB DDR2 1-year Warranty 320GB HDD Php 17,990

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ASUS November2011

K42N-VX057O 14-inch LED AMD V140, 2.3 GHz 2GB DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM 1-year Warranty parts and labor 320 GB HDD Php 18,995

EEE PC 1215T 12-inch LED AMD V105, 1.2 GHz 2GB DDR3 1-year Warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 19,995

K42F-VX329 Intel Core i3-380 2GB DDR3 1066 Mhz SDRAM 500GB HDD, 14" LED Display, Super Multi ODD, Card Reader, BT, 0.3MP webcam HDMI port, No OS, Bag Php 26,995

ASUS CP6130 WITH VH2197T 18.5” LED panel DVI input with HDCP Intel Pentium Dual Core processor G620 2.6GHz DDR3 1333MHz 4GB500 GB HDD Intel GMA X4500 HD HD hardware solution Php 24,995

N43SL-V1G-VX132 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 2410M (2.3 GHz) 2GB DDR 1333 Mhz SDRAM 1 year Warranty parts and labor 500 GB HDD Php 39,995

1005PXD Red, 10.1" Anti-Glare display, N455 1GB DDR2, 250GB HDD, BT, 802.11 b/g wireless, 2 USB, BT, Card reader 0.3MP webcam, Win 7 Starter Available in red, blue, and black Php 14,995

EEE PAD TRANSFORMER 10.1” LED Backlight WXGA Android Honeycomb Nvidia Tegra2 Nvidia Tegra2 16GEMMC Memory 1.2MP front camera G Sensor Php 29,995

K43SJ Intel Core i3-2310, 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA GT520 1GBgraphics,Super Multi ODD, Card Reader, WiFi B/G/N, BT, 0.3MPwebcam, HDMI port, No OS, No Bag Php 27,995

ML SERIES (ML229H) Wide Screen 21.5” Full HD 1080P Trace Free Technology Net Weight (Esti.): 3.1kg ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio Php 9,490

K42SJ 2nd generation Intel Core i3-2310 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM 500GB, 14" LED Display, NVIDIA GT520 1GB graphics, Super Multi ODD, Card Reader, BT, webcam, HDMI port Php 26,995

A SERIES (A43SJ-VX335) 14” LED Display DDR3 1333 MHz Intel B940 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM 500GB HDD NVIDIA GT520 512MBgraphics Super Multi ODD Php 24,995

CM SERIES (CM6730) Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 2 x DIMM Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066/800 MHz. SATA3 3.5” Supported Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD Php 31,995 w/ monitor

HTC DESIRE Z 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 800 MHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM 7230 chipset 119 x 60.4 x 14.2 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 30,800

HTC DESIRE HD 4.3-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset 123 x 68 x 11.8 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 33,500

HTC HD7 4.3-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen Microsoft Windows Phone 7 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon chipset 122 x 68 x 11.2 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 36,900

CM SERIES (CM6730) USB 3.0 Flexible 3.5” HDD storage with NAS support TrueHD with 7.1 channel surround audio DLNA Php 6,990

buyers’guide

HTC

buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;guid November2011

AGFA

HP MINI 110-3101TU 10.1-inch LCD Intel Atom N475 1GB DDR2 1-year warranty parts and labor 250GB HDD Php 18,990

MINI 210-2005TU/ 2025TU BLACK/RED 10.1 LED flush display Intel Atom N475 2GB DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 22,990

MINI 210-1102TU/1103 RED/BLUE 10.1 LED flush display Intel Atom N475 1GB 667DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 250GB HDD Php 21,490

PRECISA 1430 14.1 Megapixels 2.4-inch Auto Brigthness LCD 20MB internal memory expandable via SD card 3x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 92 x 60.5 x 30.35mm Php 2,995

CQ42-357TU 14-inch LED Intel Pentium P6200 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 26,990

CQ42-254TU 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 350M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 29,990

CQ42-292TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 350M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 38,990

OPTIMA 145 14.1 Megapixels 2.7-inch Auto Brightness LCD 64MB internal memory expandable via SD card 5x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 97.7 x 60.5 x 21.58mm Php 4,995

CQ42-268TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 350M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 33,990

CQ42-263TU 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 450M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 34,990

G42-366TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 380M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 35,990

OPTIMA 147 14.1 Megapixels 3-inch Auto Brightness LCD 64MB internal memory expandable via SD card 7x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 99.5 x 56.9mm x 21.23mm Php 5,995

G42-368TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 380M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 39,990

G42-370TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 460M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 40,990

G42-372TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 460M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 43,990

SELECTA 14 14.1 Megapixels 2.7-inch Auto Brightness LCD 13MB internal memory expandable via SD card 15x Optical Wide Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization 103 x 74 x 68mm Php 8,995

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

November2011

CANON

EOS 1100D 12.2 Megapixels 2.7-inch LCD with Live View shooting SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card EF-S 18-55mm f.3.5-5.6 IS II (Kit lens) 129.9x 99.7x 77.9mm Php 31,950

EOS 600D 18 megapixels 3-inch wide LCD with vari-angle SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card EF-S 18-55mm f.3.5-5.6 IS II (Kit lens) 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7 mm Php 49,950

EOS 1D MARK IV 16.1 megapixels 3.0 inches TFT colour liquid-crystal monitor Type I or II CF card, SD memory card, MicroDrive 156 x 156.6 x 79.9mm Php 249,950 (body only)

EOS 1000D 10.50 megapixels 2.5in TFT color liquid-crystal monitor SD card, SDHC card 18-55mm kit lens 126.1 x 97.5 x 61.9mm Php 27,950

EOS 5D MARK II 21.10 megapixels 3-inch TFT color liquid-crystal monitor with Live view shooting Type I or II CF card, UDMA-compatible Canon EF lenses 152 x 113.5 x 75mm Php 129,950 (body only)

EOS 7D 18 megapixels 3.0-inch TFT color liquid-crystal monitor SD, SDHC and SDXC card 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3mm Php 89,950

DIGITAL IXUS 310 HS 12.1 megapixels 3.2-inchPureColor II Touch LCD screen SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 4.4x Optical zoom 100.6 x 55.4 x 25.0 mm Php 19,950

DIGITAL IXUS 220 HS 12.1-megapixels 2.7-inch PureColor II G LCD SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 24mm, 5x zoom, Optical IS 92.2 x 55.9 x 19.5 mm Php 16,950

POWERSHOT A800 10.0 megapixels 2.5 TFT LCD SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card 24mm, 5x zoom, Optical IS 6.6 - 21.6mm, 3.3 optical zoom Php 3,950

POWERSHOT A1200 12.1 megapixel 2.7-inch type TFT colour wide viewing angle type SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 97.5 x 62.5 x 30.7mm Php 4,590

POWERSHOT A3300 IS 16 megapixels 3.0-inch TFT LCD SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 5.0 – 25.0 mm, 5x optical zoom 95.1 x 56.7 x 23.9 mm Php 9,950

POWERSHOT A2200 14.1 megapixels 2.7-inch TFT colour wide viewing angle type SD, SDHC memory, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 93.2 x 57.2 x 23.6mm Php 6,950

“Simplify your shopping choices” VIXIA FS400 2.7-inch widescreen colour 37x optical zoom SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card 53 x 59 x 122mm Php 12,950

buyers’guide

POWERSHOT SX130 IS 12.1 megapixels 3.0-inch TFT colour LCD with wide viewing angle SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 113.3 x 73.2 x 45.8mm Php 15,950

links Technology ACER

NOKIA

Lifestyle

Unit 3401 Pbcom tower 6795 Ayala avenue corner Herrera Makati City Tel. 8153588 http://www.acer.com.ph

Nokia (Philippines), Inc. 40/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati Tel. 8861234

bathjunkies@yahoo.com Tel. 6655875

ASUS

NOONTEC

Asus Technology Philippines, Inc. Hanston Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 6340309 http://ph.asus.com

noontec.ph@gmail.com Tel. 09178128418 09209158316 09228840909

CANON

Samsung Electronics, Phils. Corporation 7/F Hanjinphil Bldg., 1128 University Parkway North Bonifacio Global City Taguig Tel. 1-800-SAMSUNG

Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. 3RD Floor, Southpark Plaza, Phase 1 Santiago Street, Paseo De Magallanes Commercial Center Makati City Tel. 8848000

EPSON Epson Philippines Corporation 8th Floor Ansonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centre 23 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center Pasig City 1605 Tel. 7062609 Toll Free 1800-1063-EPSON

KASPERSKY Unit 404, 77 Visayas Building, Visayas Avenue Quezon City Tel. 5028030

SAMSUNG

SONY ERICSSON Sony Ericsson Philippines 7/F Octagon Building San Miguel Avenue Ortigas Center Pasig City Tel. 7891860

TOSHIBA Toshiba Notebooks Tricom Dynamics, Inc. Metro House 345 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Tel. 8906525

Wellness Mobility JUJU CLEANSE 21 Dona Mary Alabang Hills Village, Alabang, Muntinlupa City Tel. 4783067 http://www.jujucleanse.com

MLSB Dental Prime Clinic

November2011

247 Unit 11 Kaminari bldg. Banaue st. Quezon City Tel.4153837

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FORD

Ford Group Philippines FGP Bldg. #1 American Road Greenfield Automotive Park SEZ Santa Rosa, Laguna Tel. (049) 5415000

ISUZU 114 Tech avenue phase 2 Laguna Techno park Binan Laguna Tel. 541 0224

BATH JUNKIES

BOBBIE Rm. 505 5th floor Culmat Bldg., 1270-1330 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City Tel. 7215944

CBTL 4678 Ayala Avenue Makati City Tel. 9322403

CK ONE/DAVIDOFF/ MARC JACOBS Luxasia Philippines 7/F, Net Cube Center 3rd Ave. cor. 30th St, E-Square Cresent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Tel. 8561853

DIVOOM divoom.phil@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/DivoomPH Tel. 09175754812

ETUDE HOUSE G/F SM Megamall building B Julia Vargas Avenue Mandaluyong City Tel. 8361869

PONY/SPERRY/KEDS Gallop ventures group, Inc. 30/F, PSE East tower Ortigas center Pasig City Tel. 7060614 to 15

TONY MOLY Crossings Department store Trinoma North Avenue Corner EDSA Quezon City Tel. 9013785

your gadgets directory

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