D1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
mslocalgov@gmail.com
ELECTRIC VEHICLE GROUP PUSH FOR TOURISM
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MASBATE RODEO. A young cowboy tries to tame a bucking bull during one of Masbate’s patented rodeo shows in this file photo. The Philippines’‘Rodeo Capital’ can expect more visitors starting Feb. 15 when CebGo, a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, operates a once-a-day flight from Manila to Masbate. See story on D2.
SINULOG FESTIVAL KICKS OFF; CEBU MUSLIMS ASSURE SAFETY C
EBU CITY—Organizers kicked off the 2017 Sinulog Festival, one of the country’s biggest tourist drawers, with a Mass and a parade here Friday afternoon.
Held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, the Mass preceded a parade with dancing contingents from 14 schools in the city. Meanwhile, the Muslim community in Cebu vowed to work closely with the Police Regional Office 7 to ensure a safe celebration of Sinulog on Sunday, Jan. 15. Najeeb Rasul, Mufti of Cebu and Voice of Islam president, made the assurance in a meeting with police officials at the PRO 7 offices. He encouraged his fellow Muslims to set aside their differences with Cebuano Catholics and help everyone celebrate Sinulog peacefully. “For a society to become peaceful, to become united, we need to have tolerance. We call on our brothers in Mindanao not to let violence come here. Cebu City is my city and I don’t allow them to come here,” Rasul said. Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, PRO 7 deputy director for operations, said the cooperation of the Muslim community will assure a calm and harmonious Sinulog celebration. But Lawas still advised residents and tourists to be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the nearest government office or police designated in their area. Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, Cebu City Police Office director, said they have increased the security personnel to be
deployed during the Sinulog from 5,000 to 8,000. Doria said they will include personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and force multipliers. They have also tapped the “habal-habal” or motorcycle-for-hire drivers in their security preparations. Some 150 habal-habal drivers have been trained to detect bombs and other explosives, Doria said. The initial Sinulog parade started from the basilica, passing through Osmeña Boulevard to the Fuente Osmeña rotunda and to the Cebu City Sports Center. Some roads leading to Osmeña Boulevard were closed to vehicular traffic since 1 p.m., but were reopened as soon as the parade passed by. Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director, said the opening of the Sinulog Festival went on smoothly. The Sinulog Festival will be capped with the Sinulog Grand Parade on Jan. 15, which is expected to be watched by millions of both foreign and local spectators. A portion of Osmeña Boulevard was also closed to vehicular traffic from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday to give way to contingents of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo (Sinulog for the Youth in Cebu Province) 2017. The same area will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday for the Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo (Sinulog for Cebu City Villages). All the winners in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo and the Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo will qualify to join the Sinulog Grand Parade on Jan. 15. PNA
BAGUIO CITY BRACES FOR MISS UNIVERSE OUTING ON JAN.18 By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—Final preparations get under way for the One-day Miss Universe spectacle in this city as local organizers here aim to assert Baguio as the country’s undisputed Summer Capital and put the Pines City back into the world tourism map. Andrew Pinero, media officer of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, said that on Jan. 18, Miss Universe pageant contestants together with reigning Miss Universe beauty titlist Pia Wurtzbach will be arriving in the city and will immediately participate in a 3-kilometer parade from the rotunda of the Department of the Interior and Local Government along Upper Session road up to the Baguio Country Club premises. Wurtzbach and the 32 Miss Universe beauty contestants will board four beautifully decorated floats with street-dancing contingents from Tabuk City, Kalinga, La Union and some schools in the city will during the festivity-filled day.
Local Gov’t Units
The city’s business and other sectoral groups led by HRAB have pooled their resources to ensure the successful holding of the event. HRAB sponsored the multi-million peso (hosting fee) for the one-day visit of the select beauty contestants to the city, including the cost of the floats for the parade proper. Local organizers will be taking the tab for the accommodation costs, chartered flights for the contestants, taxes, etc. and the performer’s fees during the parade, among others. “Baguio City will definitely gain from this as the pre-pageant events and the main pageant itself will be aired in 160 countries in the different parts of the globe,” Pinero added. While in the city, the beauty contestants will join a mini-golf tournament at the Baguio Country Club golf course. The pageant contestants will be entertained with performances of the Tam-awan artists that will showcase Cordillera region’s rich culture and traditions, particularly the Igorots attire and lifestyles.
Pinero said security preparations for the visit of the Miss Universe contestants to the city have been finalized to make sure that their stint
in the city will be safe and worth remembering not only for the residents but for the visiting contestants as well.
GIFTS FOR SENIORS. Senior citizens in Barangay Banca Banca, Victoria, Laguna received wheelchairs, free medicine and reading glasses from the office of Laguna third district Rep. Sol Aragones (left, standing) on Saturday. A former television news reporter, Aragones is now on her second term. Roy Tomandao
BUILDERS and makers of electric-powered vehicles in the country are pushing for the use of “green-transport” program aimed at providing environment-friendly vehicles to boost the ongoing greentourism program of the travel sector. Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines Executive Director Bong Cruz, in a statement said that their group is now encouraging tourism industry players to help develop green tourism in the Philippines. “I believe this is one lesson we can learn from the Vietnamese: Provide tourists with shuttle vehicles that are quiet, comfortable and smoke-free. This will be good for everyone in the tourism industry.” In anticipation of the firstever Asean Electric Vehicle Summit slated to be held in Manila this year, EVAP recently sent a representative to Vietnam to study EV applications in a country with driving terrains and conditions similar to those in the Philippines. Cruz noted the proliferation of electric vehicle shuttles within the tourist areas in Hanoi such as around the Old quarter, the French quarter and the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, he adds. The electric vehicles are actually the big six-seater golf cart varieties which are smaller yet very similar to the 14-seater electric jeepneys now plying in Makati, Filinvest City Alabang, Muntinlupa and Ateneo. He says that in the Philippines, EJeepneys are used for public transport. “This is understandable since the jeepneys are the backbone of the Philippine mass transport system. But in Vietnam, the EVs are used more in the tourism industry to promote green and convenient tourist transport that is quiet and smoke-free!”
HOUSING LOAN MORATORIUM FOR ‘NINA’ VICTIMS AS PART of government’s efforts to help victims recover from the aftermath of Super Typhoon “Nina,” borrowers of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. who were affected can avail of the six-month moratorium on their housing loans. All NHMFC borrowers/buyers whose accounts are updated or in current status as of Dec. 24, 2016 are qualified and may apply not later than Jan. 31. The moratorium will be implemented for a period of six months effective on the first due date after January 2017. In the event of payment by the claimant during the six-month period, such will be posted after the moratorium. The application should be supported by a certification from the barangay chairman to attest that the borrower’s/buyer’s property was damaged by Typhoon "Nina." The borrower’s loan term shall be automatically extended equivalent to the same number of months that the account is under moratorium. Reports from NHMFC’s satellite offices say roughly 1,050 accounts were affected by Typhoon "Nina," with 800 in Bicol, 200 in Mimaropa, and 50 in Quezon province.
LGUs
D2
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
DAVAO DRUG REFORMISTS By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) has started to implement reform programs for drug users and dependents who voluntarily surrendered for rehabilitation aimed at restoring their lives and well-being. CADAC action officer Michael Denton Aportadera said that they are aiming to reach out to all religious sectors to help their campaign on providing spiritual awareness and giving a different future for the drug surenderees in the city. “The involvement of the spiritual aspects is very important, we have our Muslim brothers and sisters, the Catholic, Protestant and even the Buddhist willing to help if ever there is a need for them to seek spiritual guidance,” he said. Aportadera said that the religious sector will help them get back on their faith as they reform themselves out from drug addiction. Aportadera though clarified, that there will be no indoctrination involved. He said that this is also one of their answers to the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that the church should help the drug addicts to go on the right path of life. He said that they will help restore the moral as well as spiritual aspects of the lives of the drug reformists through the recently established Tabangan Ang Reformist Aron Naay Asenso (Help the reformist to have an improvement) or “TARA NA.” “We will bring them reform through the TARA NA project we will do the necessary assessments and screening of each and every surenderees, prior to their inclusion in the program, to ensure that they all receive appropriate attention and guidance Aportadera said”. The TARA NA program is under the umbrella of the Davao City Community-Based Rehabilitation Aftercare Program for Persons with Substance Use Disorder. Aportadera said that the community based efforts will likewise provide reformists initial livelihood and educational opportunities for deserving reformists. The CBRAP aims to revive the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in all 183 barangays in the city to help assist the needs of the reformist in their respective communities and step up efforts to eradicate illegal drug use in their locales. Out of the 183 barangays, only 46 of them have activated their BADAC. As part of the program, the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents aims to improve and expand their facility through the private-public partnership with the Resorts World (RW) Manila.
Some of the participants in last year’s Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta prepare their blimps in this file photo. But with the Clark International Airport hosting more flights, the event may have to move away from the former American military base.
AIRPORT CHIEF: HOLD HOT AIR BALLOON FEST OUTSIDE CLARK C
LARK, Pampanga —The chief of the Clark International Airport Corp. will recommend that next year’s Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta be held outside Clark, following the national government’s push for the immediate and full use of the Clark International Airport.
“Given the full support of President [Rodrigo] Duterte and [Transportation] Secretary [Art] Tugade for the immediate development of CRK, the company will recommend to concerned parties that next year’s hot air balloon fiesta be held outside the immediate air space of CRK,” CIAC president Alexander Cauguiran said.
“While we also subscribe to the objective of the hot air balloon fiesta to promote local tourism around Clark, priority must be given to the increasing number of commercial airlines at CRK. More commercial flights at CRK would mean a limited window of hours that hot air balloons may fly around Clark Free-
port,” Cauguiran said. The three-year Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2014 by the Clark Development Corp., the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Foundation, and CIAC will expire this year. Ritche Nacpil, manager for airport operations at CRK, assured that no commercial flight at Clark will be affected by the hot air balloon fiesta. “In fact, it is an explicit instruction from CIAC president Cauguiran that no balloon will take off until the only commercial flight scheduled to depart at 7 a.m., which is the Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong, has already
DAILY FLIGHTS SEEN TO BOOST MASBATE
LITTLE WINNERS.
SM Little Stars 2016 Grand Winners Sheena Kirtsten Bentoy and Marcus Rayden Cabais flash winning smiles during the grand finals and coronation night at SM Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Roy Tomandao
PANGASINAN, LA UNION FISHERFOLK GET PROJECTS SUAL, Pangasinan—Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, accompanied by Governor Amado I. Espino III and other local officials, turned over 70 fiberglass-reinforced boats and fishery projects worth P5.4 million during a dialogue with fisherfolk from Pangasinan and La Union here. Piñol said the 70 boats are the initial delivery of 700 boats intended for the 14 coastal municipalities in Pangasinan, aside from the 381 pieces of fishing gear distributed to 500 fisherfolk beneficiaries from the two provinces. Joining Piñol were Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Rep. Toff de Venecia, Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue, DA Regional Director Valentino Perdido, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional
left. During the past 20 years that the balloon fiesta has been held at Clark, no commercial flight has been delayed due to this event,” Nacpil said. He explained that the Notice to Airmen or NOTAM that CAAP regularly issues during the balloon fiesta “is a standard measure for the information, guidance and safety of all concerned. But as always, airport operation is the top priority.” Nacpil also said that similar NOTAMs are issued whenever popular remote-controlled drones with camera, sky lanterns or fireworks are used within the immediate air space of CRK. PNA
Director Nestor Domenden, and other officials. Governor Espino told Piñol Pangasinan needs more farms-to-market road projects along with important farming equipment and facilities. “We need your help. We have pending requests under your department, FMRs under TPR-DB program, post-harvest facilities for our farmers and other important farming equipment,” the governor pleaded. Espino also mentioned Pangasinan’s winning the Corn Achievers Award for the third time in November last year and the Pagasa Award conferred upon the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to recognize its meritorious implementation of the provincial rice program last December. “Your coming here to our province is an assurance of your care for the welfare of our
farmers and fisherfolk,” the governor told the secretary. Piñol responded that the national government has P39 billion intended for FMRs all over the country. “All you have to do is provide a 10-percent counterpart from your LGU funds,” Piñol said, noting that the World Bank-funded project is part of the Philippine Rural Development Program. Piñol also distributed checks to fund the construction of four community fish landing centers, the municipal wharf for Infanta, maintenance of marine protected area and fish sanctuary project for Anda, P2 million worth of projects for Agno and Bani, and some 250 units of handline fishing gills. Dexter A. See
THE country’s “Rodeo Capital” tourism potential will further be enhanced with the official announcement of the provincial government that daily direct flights will be operational starting next month. Cebu Pacific Air’s wholly-owned subsidiary, CebGo, flies to Masbate starting Feb. 15. Flight DG 6177 will fly daily from the Naia Terminal 4 at 8:20 a.m., and will return from Masbate via Flight DG 6178 at 9:50 a.m., utilizing the airline’s new ATR-72-600. Masbate Vice Governor Kaye Revil said the new flight is a fruit of the persistent requests of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the City Government of Masbate via official resolutions since 2013 to provide a more affordable air transportation alternative to the province. The lady vice governor said that for the past few years, the provincial government has been pursuing tourism and promotions, special events, and has put in place the Tourism Code to entice the airline to assign an aircraft to the Masbate route. At present, passengers usually fly to Legazpi City Cebu Pacific for affordable flights, then take a 1-hour van to Pilar port in Sorsogon and a 2.5-hour fast-craft to Masbate City. Revil, a tourism advocate, noted that the new flight will help boost the forthcoming Rodeo Festival, the country’s biggest cowboy-themed event which gathers ranchers from “across the archipelago to showcase their skills,” she said. For their part, Cebgo president and CEO Alexander Lao said that their company remain firm in bringing people together through safe, affordable, reliable, and fun-filled air travel. He said the addition of this new route will allow passengers to easily visit this fast-rising island province which is strategically located in the Bicol region and near the Visayas.
Gadgets & Games
HUAWEI LAUNCHES NEW MID-RANGE PHONES L
AS VEGAS—Chinese electronics giant Huawei announced Tuesday a global launch of its mid-range Honor 6x smartphone which includes dual-lens camera technology and is aimed at young consumers. The smartphone, which was launched in China last year, will be available in 13 new markets this month, including the United States, at a price of $249 to $299, the company announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in las Vegas. Huawei marketing director George Zhao said the device is a successor to the Honor 5x launched a year ago, which sold 11 million, and that he expects the upgraded model will sell even more. “Twenty million,” he told an audience. Huawei has emerged as the world’s third largest smartphone vendor but has had only limited success in the United States. It sells mostly unlocked devices through online and mass-market retailers, which amounts to a small segment of the US market. Zhao said the specifications of the new handset make it a worthy competitor to those of its larger rivals Apple and Samsung. It estimates battery life of over two days with normal use, and has improved the software for photo processing to deliver improved images even with low light conditions. Huawei, which has stated its goal of becoming the number one smartphone maker, faces a crowded market behind the top two sellers, competing against other Chinese firms such as Lenovo and Xiaomi and South Korea’s LG, which have also slated announcements at the electronics show. The handsets, priced below Huawei’s flagship devices, go on sale from this week in the US, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with other markets to follow. In another development, Huawei is adding Amazon’s artificial intelligence application Alexa to its flagship smartphone for its US launch. The number three global smartphone brand, Huawei announced at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show that its Mate 9 handset would include the personal digital assistant developed by Amazon. The Mate 9, a large -screen “phablet ” marketed as a rival to the big handsets from Apple and Samsung, will be available to US buyers in “early 2017,” the Chinese firm said at the Las Vegas tech show. Huawei said this is the first smartphone to pre-install Amazon Alexa, a cloud-based, voiceactivated digital assistant that can control smart home devices or respond to questions. Amazon is making Alexa available to third parties as it seeks to boost its presence in the consumer electronics field with artificial intelligence and home automation. Alexa is battling similar services developed by Google, Microsoft and Apple that can be used on a smartphone or home speaker hub. Huawei, whose US presence is limited mostly through direct-to-consumer sales of unlocked
George Zhao, president of Honor, a division of Huawei, speaks during the company's press conference at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES2017) in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP
devices, launched the Mate 9 late last year in Europe and other markets, but without Alexa. Buyers in those markets will be able to install the Amazon application through an over-theair update. The Mate 9, which could get a boost from the woes of Samsung’s recalled Note 7 handset, is touted by the company as a high-performance device with fast charging and extended battery life, and upgraded photography with a dual-lens system developed in cooperation with Leica. Huawei claims its fast computing performance will remain for at least 18 months, and that its chipset is designed with machine learning capabilities to make the phone
smarter as it is used. “Response to Huawei Mate 9 has been extremely positive, resulting in numerous industry awards and accolades,” said Zhendong Zhu, president of Huawei Device USA. “With Mate 9, we set out to improve every element of the smartphone experience, creating a dynamic and powerful device that takes a big step forward in what consumers expect in a smartphone. We’re excited to introduce the Mate 9 flagship device to the US market.” The launch was the second in two days at CES for the large Chinese firm. On Tuesday, it unveiled its upgraded mid-range Honor 6x smartphone that will be sold starting this month in 13 markets, including the United States. AFP
ELEVATE HOME LIFE WITH HAIER
EVERY New Year comes new resolutions, but before laying down any health, relationship, or financial goal for 2017, take a good look at your home. “How we organize our homes reflect how we see ourselves,” said Joseph Alexis Bandol, Haier Philippines’ Director for Product Marketing. “Surrounding our homes with our dreams and aspirations can inspire us to work towards what we want to become.” A New Year makeover is the perfect opportunity to transform our homes into spaces that motivate us to accomplish positive changes in our lives. Let’s start with the most practical elements: appliances. Older models are often less energy efficient than more modern counterparts. Newer designs also come with improved functionalities as well as better aesthetics. Appliances play a vital role in raising quality of life—a core concept behind the innovations of global electronics leader Haier. Here are some of the brand’s appliances that have been designed to elevate home life to inspired living.
Ultra HD TV
With four times the resolution of full highdefinition television, 4K TVs bring unbelievable visual clarity that makes TV watching no different from looking out the window. To further heighten the experience, Haier’s 4K Ultra HD LED TV comes with a
Automatic Washing Machine
Laundry day doesn’t have to be another time-consuming chore. A large-capacity, fully automatic top-load washing machine can reduce the effort needed to clean a week’s worth of dirty clothes. For added convenience, Haier’s largecapacity automatic washers are designed with a Tub Dry feature and Magic Lint Filter for easy maintenance, as well as 10 water level options and eight washing programs to accommodate different volumes of laundry.
Cooking Appliances
Appliances play a vital role in raising quality of life—a core concept behind the innovations of global electronics leader Haier
48-inch screen along with an upscaling feature, auto volume leveler, and powersaving technology.
Inverter Refrigerator
Unlike traditional refrigerators, inverter models consume electricity by half or even less by minimizing energy consumption when temperatures are already optimal. Haier takes this up a notch with inverter compressors equipped with Flexible Double Frequency conversion technology to cut power use to less than 0.1 watts when
idle—the lowest in the industry.
Green Air Conditioning
It’s time to replace those clunky energyguzzling air conditioners with units that save on electricity. Even at 0.5 horsepower, Haier’s window-type ACs can cool a bedroom without dramatically increasing the utility bill. These air conditioners also use ecofriendly refrigerant to cool homes while lowering environmental impact. The compact, space-saving design further adds modern elegance to any space.
Good kitchen efficiency means having an easier time following a healthier diet. With Haier’s 2,100-watt induction cooker, you can prepare nutritious meals with no worries thanks to different pre-settings for various cooking styles. For busy days, a 23-liter microwave oven from Haier will let you cook simple, hasslefree meals through six power levels so you won’t have to resort to fast food when you’re on the go. “Positive change starts at home.The small improvements we make at home can help create an environment that encourages us to become better people, not just for ourselves but also for others,” Bandol said. Welcome New Year with a home that inspires good living. For more details, visit www.haier.com/ph.
D3
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
SING B4 U BUY GRAND Videoke, the leading name in the industry, is mounting an advocacy called Sing B4 U Buy. The message is simple but important. Sing B4 U Buy encourages consumers to properly and thoroughly experience first-hand a videoke system before making a purchase. Here are some practical pointers you can ponder on. First, check the song library. Some machines may have thousands and thousands of songs, but you’ll be surprised to find out that a huge number of them are actually duplicated, not just once but sometimes up to four times! With the Grand Videoke PLUS series, you get an extensive library of more than 6,000 built-in songs. No song is duplicated, no public domain songs included. All tracks are handpicked favorites, the songs you actually want to sing! Another tedious task with some videoke machines is finding the songs you want. While some may offer on-screen searching through a remote control, this is still far from being a seamless process. To remedy this, Grand Videoke Symphony 2.0 PLUS, the flagship of the series, offers the GeeVee™ Voice Command feature. Just speak the song title directly to your microphone and you can find your favorite song in just about 5 seconds. Another feature often ignored in videoke machines but no doubt one of the most important is storage. The storage system used can determine the longevity of the device. External storage options such as optical discs (CDs or DVDs) and SD cards are more prone to damage and data corruption. That’s why Grand Videoke PLUS uses an internal memory storage system that is more secure, which means more peace of mind for you. As far as song quality is concerned, a well-produced song is one that lets you hear all its beautiful and harmonious details. Grand Videoke PLUS features a dedicated Dream Sound Module that is able to produce high-definition sound. Much care was devoted to song production, with some even featuring full orchestral accompaniment and back-up singers. It’s like starring in your major concert right at the comforts of your home. When it comes to vocal quality, a good microphone must be able to reproduce your voice naturally and clearly. The Grand VideokePLUS wireless microphone utilizes cardioid pro audio technology precisely tuned for vocals, resulting to clearer voice reproduction and better voice pick-up. This makes singing an effortless and confidence-inspiring experience. Finally, the words “sophistication” and “videoke” doesn’t always go together, but Grand Videoke PLUS is set to change that perception. With its steam-injected piano black finish, the Grand Videoke PLUS exudes a premium look and feel. The unique clarinet-inspired wireless microphone is iconic—a conversation piece in and of itself. Grand Videoke is offering a free WOW Digital TV Box worth Php 1,500 for every purchase of Grand Videoke Symphony 2.0 PLUS (TKR-372MP PLUS). This promo runs from Nov. 15, 2016 to Jan. 15, 2017 and can be availed in participating dealers such as SM Appliance, Gadgets Hub at The SM Store, Astroplus, Odyssey, Robinsons Appliance, and other leading appliance and music stores. It can also be purchased online via Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) and The WOW Store (www.thewowstore. com.ph).
TECH...
From D4
Humanoid robots
The show is also expected to feature advances in robotics, with more human-like robots and the public debut of “Professor Einstein” from Hanson Robotics. Getting a boost from artificial intelligence, some new robots at the show will keep an eye on the kids, play chess or help with homework. Gold said he expects to see a large number of drones looking for a slice of a surging market. “This is really the year of the drone, and everybody is trying to get into this market,” he said. But he added that the strongest potential for drones may be with businesses, with uses including aerial photography. On the smartphone front, South Korea’s LG will show a range of new “mid-range” handsets and China’s Huawei has a smartphone event scheduled. TCL, the Chinese firm which owns the Alcatel brand, will unveil new BlackBerry handsets following its deal for the troubled Canadian brand. The show floor will see a host of new and improved connected home technologies that manage everything from light bulbs to refrigerators. “We’re pretty close on things like the smart home, where we’re going to get up one day and everybody is going to speak to their refrigerators,” said NPD analyst Stephen Baker. AFP
D4
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games NETWORK SECURITY IN ERA OF MILLENNIALS
Attendees look at a sign marking the 50th anniversary of CES at The Venetian Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs from January 5-8 and is expected to feature 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. AFP
TECH SHOW LOOKS BEYOND SMART, 'NEW REALITIES'
S
AN FRANCISO—The mega-extravaganza of the tech world in Las Vegas is showcasing an array of new devices that get smarts from computer chips, sensors and artificial intelligence, but go further by opening doors to augmented or virtual realities. The Consumer Electronics Show, which begins with a series of media events Tuesday will offer trade professionals a look at new robotics, connected cars and a dizzying assortment of gizmos from connected sneakers to drones. This year’s show will see results of a boost in computing power from artificial intelligence, which can help power things like autonomous cars, and deliver new experiences such as augmented or virtual reality. “Virtual reality is changing the game for a variety of industries including health care, agriculture, manufacturing and business,” said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Technology Association that organizes the annual show, in a Reddit chat. “Doctors are using VR to enhance traditional therapies, architects use VR to design stronger buildings and travel agencies are using it to simplify vacation planning.” CES will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the gathering, and organizers promised it would have the largest showcase of VR technology ever. One CES panel discussion will examine how virtual reality is transforming television, movies and even news with immersive forms of video. A host of virtual reality experiences will entice attendees at the trade-only show. Cars will feature virtual reality displays to provide a better sense of the environment around them, while similar technologies will be showcased
for smart glasses, medicine and beauty makeovers.
Enhancing reality
Robin Raskin, who heads the Living in Digital Times center of the show, said augmented reality is catching on with try-and-see beauty apps, in-store virtual mirrors and toys. Augmented reality, she said, “lets us look at the real world and add valuable, entertaining and immersive information to it.” Analyst Jack Gold at J. Gold Associates said that despite the potential benefits of virtual and augmented reality in business or industry, “gaming is where it is going to take off first,” because that’s where people are spending money. “The issue is not whether it has the potential to transform things, but whether you can put it into a space where consumers can afford it and give enough additional information so people are able to use it,” Gold said. CES is among the world’s biggest trade shows, and last year drew 177,000 attendees over exhibit space of 2.47 million square feet (230,000 square meters). This year, 150 countries will be represented. It will include big industry names such as Sony, LG and Samsung in electronics, with the perennial battle to have the sleekest most gorgeous television screen. Meanwhile, in attendance will be more than 600 startups from 33 coun-
Nvidia Founder, President and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang delivers a keynote address at CES 2017 at The Venetian Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP
tries, including first-time participants -- the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Ukraine. Auto-industry titans including Ford and BMW are increasingly using CES to show off technology packed into vehicles for efficiency, safety, entertainment and navigation.
Race for autonomy
The show will feature demonstrations of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, including one from Japan’s Honda said to be equipped with an artificial
intelligence“emotion engine”that aims to better understand its occupants. Electric car startup Faraday Future, one of several manufacturers taking on Tesla, is expected to unveil its first production car a year after showing a prototype. Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has promised to discuss “a major technological breakthrough in the realization of a zero-emission, zerofatality world for everyone,” according to a statement from CES organizers. Turn to D3
VIBER BOASTS OF NEW FEATURES VIBER, one of the world’s leading messaging apps, has released its new version, giving users three major updates to the platform. The new version features new instant video message, chat extension that lets users access 3rd party services and quickly search for stickers, and redesigned emoticons with a fun new look.
Instant Video Messages
Viber Chat Extensions Giphy.
With just a quick press and hold, users can now start recording a video message for their friends. The new feature is built right into the chat window and is accessed with quick swipe on the voice message button. Users can quickly toggle between
voice and video messages, letting them chat with their friends just the way they want. Instant Video Messages in Viber will be presented as circular videos and limited to 30 seconds, keeping them light, simple, and fun.
Chat Extensions
Users can now access 3rd party services right from Viber. The new version features support for Giphy, Wikipedia, and TheMovieDB, with more being added on a continuing basis. Accessing these services will be easy—users just need to tap “@” and chose the service name followed by a search query. In addition, users will be able to
access Viber’s collection of playful stickers the same way. So just typing @stickers or tapping the@ symbol will let users quickly start a search for their favorite stickers. “Viber is a feature rich platform that gives our users multiple ways to communicate with each other. Instant Video messages give users a simple and personal way to chat, and with the addition of Chat Extensions, our users will be able to access a wide variety of external services that will enrich their experience on Viber even further,” said Michael Shmilov, COO of Viber. “We look forward to adding support for even more 3rd party services and are excited to hear from the
developer community about connecting their products with Viber.”
Redesigned Emoticons
On top of the new features, Viber has redesigned all of the emoticons available in its app. The new images were designed with a flat, colorful esthetic that gives them a visual pop and makes them way more fun. The updates will give Viber users significant new ways to stay in touch with their friends and contacts, and open up the platform to even more possibilities with the addition of 3rd party services. The new version is now available on Android and iOS.
ONE of the toughest gigs in IT is the job of keeping an organization’s network safe. It is also one that is getting tougher with the rise of the millennial generation. Millennials—those in their 20s to mid-30s—are starting to dominate workplaces around the world. More than one-in-three workers in the US are millennials, a 2015 study by Pew Research Center found. And this demographic group will account for half of the global workforce by 2020, according to PwC. The term “millennial” has many connotations. Among them: They like sharing on social media. They won’t put up with bad user experiences. They want a flexible approach to work. They move on quickly if their expectations are not being met. These characteristics will define the culture of the future workplace. They will also put the current network security regimes of many organizations to a stern test. Here are some considerations. 1. Social media To block or not to block? Many organizations have probably considered this question when it comes to their employees’ use of social media in the workplace. A study by HR software provider CareerBuilder, which polled employers from North America, found that 37% of employers see social media as one of the major productivity killers at the workplace, behind mobile phone and texting (55%), using the Internet (41%), and gossiping (39%). Three in four employers say two or more hours are lost a day in terms of productivity because employees are distracted. From a network security perspective, social media is a vector for malware and socially engineered attacks. It is easy to ban or restrict social media sites at the network level. Static URL filters in Web filtering software can block or monitor specific URLs. The category-filtering feature can block entire groups of websites. But that doesn’t mean CIOs should start blocking social networks at the workplace. A better approach is to relook at how network security is being enforced holistically. Having a clear social media policy and training for staff is a good start. 2. Know thy security layers Layered security, whereby different layers of security controls combine to protect data, devices, and people, is widely adopted today. It ensures that when attacks occur at different sources, whether at the network, application, device, or user level, they can be detected and stopped before they spread. It also offers an effective safeguard against different types of threats. With the changing workplace habits brought on by millennial workers, CIOs should relook at how they are setting up each layer of protection. 3. Tackle shadow IT Shadow IT is a term used to describe the use of applications and services, often cloud based, not sanctioned by the organization. Its uncontrolled nature poses a security threat and governance challenge. Consider the scenario of employees using their smartphone to open a file. It is likely the phone will make a copy of the file, which could then be sent to an unapproved online storage destination when the phone performs its routine automatic backup. Just like that, your secure corporate data has been moved to an insecure location. In the same way, the many social collaboration apps favored by millennials can shift sensitive company information to insecure locations. Mandating that staff stop using non-sanctioned devices and applications is unlikely to stop their growth in the organization. Frankly, with the ubiquity of smartphones, employees are using social networks and their personal cloud apps whether your policies prevent it or not. What could be more effective is to educate users, as well as implement technology—such as data encryption, access control, and traffic monitoring— to manage the issue. From a larger perspective, shadow IT happens when your staff is not happy with the solutions provided by the organization. While CIOs may not be able to prevent staff from seeking out alternative apps for, say, collaboration, they can keep things in check by being attuned to their needs.