2017 v17n8 - THE ROAD TRIP ISSUE : Mindoro

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april 2016 27

Maribelle M. Alba Editor-in-chief

The quintessential gadgets girl who loves all things Mac, red, and blingy. In a parallel universe, she organizes motorsports events and professional conferences.

@bellealba

REN ALCANTARA managing EDITOR

PRESY ALBA

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Ren likes puppies, long walks in the park, and zombies. His idea of a perfect day would be a long walk in the park, with a puppy, during a zombie apocalypse. @hisnameisren

In a parallel universe, she’d be a travel writer. In this dimension, she’s a multi-tasker who makes full use of her IT knowledge and her Apple devices to be productive and efficient. She also loves to listen to audiobooks while doing routine stuff like driving or shopping. @presy1121

MIA CARISSE BARRIENTOS

BENEDICT ASAL

A bibliophile who reads fiction, dystopian, chick-lit, to just plainly weird novels in paperback or eBooks.

Fascinated with gadgets and speaks fangirl lexicon and gibberish.

Goodbye :) Thank you!

EDITOR’S NOTE

Getting stuck at a desk in an office can drive one a little stir-crazy. We are not immune from that in the least, so this month in Gadgets, we head out for the open road, across the sea, and Cover to follow hihi to Mindoro Oriental!

No, don’t worry, we didn’t head to the usual Mindoro beaches. We avoided the beaten path, giving you the side of the island that fewer tourists frequent. It was a heck of a trip, and we had a few close calls, but in the end it was all worth it! For those of you who would rather stay home, we didn’t forget about all our usual labs, and other regular sections to keep you occupied while you’re comfy indoors under electric lights. We put a lot more effort than usual in this issue, so we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

Ren Alcantara, Managing Editor

President & CEO

Sales Manager Account executive

Accounting manager Accounting Staff

Maribelle Alba Marisa Consuelo Carol Agabin Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

HR & ADMIN MANAGER Administration Staff

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano Clifford Dela Paz

PR & MARKETING STAFF

Jonah Mendoza

Legal Counsel

Alba Law Office

All unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations and photos submitted must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Gadgets is fully accurate; however, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. Gadgets Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Inc. APRIL 2017

ART director

@julyabirdkaliper

@miaissocoollike

ROBBY VAFLOR

theresa eloriaga

Between Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue to John Coltrane’s Blue Train, how blue are you?

An introvert with a happy soul who loves food and cats more than life.

STAFF WRITER

@emotioncensor

GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Inc. Address all correspondence to Unit 801-802, The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., 1104 Quezon City.

Our telephone number is: 288-8588 Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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JUNIOR EDITOR

GRAPHIC ARTIST

@theresaeloriaga

JONAH MENDOZA

JAEL MENDOZA

When my daughter turns 18, I’ll be mistaken for her sister.

Spreading lines and colors for our Creator.

CONTRIBUTOR

Graphic Artist

@jaellaura_m

@jonahmendoza

JOSE ALVAREZ CONTRIBUTOR

You’ll never find Jose without a controller in his hand—in fact, the WASD keys on his keyboard have been worn out over the years. Aside from games, he also religiously follows several sports, especially soccer, and always has a joke ready to lighten any mood and put a smile on someone’s face. @awperative

Ronel BAUTISTA Graphic ARTIST St. Jolina, pray for us.

@sailorapollo11

Martin Patiño CONTRIBUTOR

Martin is a freelance writer and website developer.

Aside from writing for several publications here and abroad, he spends his time writing for his own blog, making videos on YouTube, playing video games, and watching anime @midnyt17

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CONTENTS

APRIL 2017 VOlume 17 no. 8

PARADE

Road trip essentials and the best of new tech

Sarah G. and THE Oppo F3 Plus: Twice is Nice Selfies and Pop Star Royalty.

Mobility

Our road trip rides and the latest in motoring news

Horizon: Zero Dawn

The hours lost playing is all worth it

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08 32 52 78

24 39 77 80

GADGETSLAB

We got our hands on some cool toys for this issue

Mindoro Less Traveled With the beaten path well-avoided, adventure ensued

Globe Art Gallery

The spotlight is on abstract photographer Mayie Delgado’s “Poetic Images”

Ghost Recon: Wildlands Guns, vehicles and the open world.

Time to get kill-y.

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Creating the Perfect Mixtape

It’s not just about clicking and dragging

Dr. Shimmian Aesthetic Center Gore-Tex Technology Pioneering innovation on a classic procedure

On the Edge Knife Care 101

Bits and Bytes

Stay up-to-date on technology

Relic: Gasoline

Learn how it became our fuel of choice

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82 85 87 90 95

84 86 88 93

Polarity Physiotherapy Center A look at where athletes affected by injury go to get better

Tobu Sakura Matsuri 2017 Lovely cherry blossoms

New Food Haven for Busy Bees

A food park up north is serving up some tasty snacks

Enterprise

Read up on the current happenings in the world of business-related tech

APRIL 2017

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PARADE

Merrell Agility Charge Trail runner shoes

Merrell’s trail runner shoes, the Agility Charge, provides the utmost in comfort and stability. These shoes feature the Hyperlock TPU film heel counter for added security when descending or turning, Merrell Select GRIP+ outsole with skeleton-like lugs which provide excellent traction even on wet trails and mixed terrain, and the FLEXconnect EVA dual-directional flex-groove midsole for agility and stability on uneven terrain. These shoes also sport M Select FRESH antimicrobial agents to help reduce odors.

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Merrell Luton Hydration pack

Feeling adventurous this summer? The Luton is the perfect companion whether you’re just going out for a run, or going for a nice hike up a mountain. This hydration pack comes with a twoliter bladder with a smartly placed tube for quick and hands-free fluid-replenishment. It has a front zipped pocket with reflective print and an internal mesh pocket to store valuables and perhaps an energy bar or trail mix. In terms of security and comfort, the bag has a padded back panel system, ventilated shoulder straps, and adjustable sternum straps. A safety whistle is also built into the bag.

Tivoli Model One Digital Wireless speaker

Radio for the 21st century: Tivoli Audio’s digital update to the Model One is a speaker designed for audio streaming. The Model One Digital gives nods to the retro with its minimalist design coupled with an unobtrusive, circular, monochromatic display. The past stops there, however, with support not just for FM stations, but also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The speaker supports several apps like Spotify, TuneIn, QQ Music, Tidal and Deezer. It also has a 3.5 mm input jack, if you’re still into wires. The Model One Digital also allows seamless connection with other Tivoli ART collection speakers.

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April 2017

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Sherpani Camden in Birch Three-way Bag

Sherpani Camden in Birch is a modern, minimalist bag for stylish and practical women. This versatile three-way bag is the perfect gear for various activities. For the active woman, it converts into a backpack for morning gym sessions; for the office girl, it can be a tote bag to accentuate her corporate OOTD; for the laidback lady, the bag can be converted into a cross body bag for evening movie dates and weekend shopping. This bag has a sophisticated and sleek exterior with a luggage pass-through back pocket and adjustable padded back and cross body straps. Additionally, it has a padded sleeve to fit a 15-inch laptop and inside pockets to keep your stuff well-organized. On top of it all, by using the Camden, you’re doing your part in helping the environment as it is made from 100-percent recycled materials.

Focused Space Curriculum Backpack

Function and style mesh together in the Curriculum. This backpack from Focused Space has a distinctive twist compared to other ho-hum utility bags. The best-selling Curriculum backpack features a classy grey quilted Houndstooth design and the ability to retain shape and form no matter its content. It has padded 15-inch laptop and tablet compartments to keep these gizmos safe and scratchfree. Meanwhile, dual side slip pockets, an easy L-zip front pocket opening, a large zippered main compartment, a structured body with reinforced base panel, and padded diamond quilt material blocking complement the modern dapper’s overall look.

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Lenovo Miix 510 2-in-1 Laptop

For those who need the performance of a laptop with the convenience of a tablet, Lenovo has just released the Miix 510. This twoin-one runs Intel’s latest Kaby Lake processor, offering great performance, power, and efficiency, perfect for a device such as this.

The 12.2-inch FHD touchscreen makes sure you have all the space you need for work and play, while a thin, light profile means you’ll never want to leave home without it. Should you need to scribble a quick note, or sketch an idea, the Miix 510 works just like a paper notebook, thanks to Lenovo’s Active Pen, so you can write, draw, and doodle to your heart’s content. With up to 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a massive battery capable of delivering 7.5 hours of use, this is a device no mobile office worker should be without.

PHP 47,990

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Headphones

The airport, the train, the street, the lavatory: these are just some of the places you will look good in while wearing Sennheiser’s new generation Momentum headphones.

The 2.0 is built with cool stainless steel covered with a soft leather band over very comfortable ear cups. Underneath the timelessly beautiful exterior are 18-Ohm neodymium transducers that reproduce music accurately, even capturing the finer details from the high chimes to the low booms. The Momentum 2.0 also supports smart device integration with call, music and volume buttons.

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Sony Xperia L1 Smartphone

Set to be an affordable phone with midrange specs, Sony’s upcoming Xperia L1 boasts of a large 5.5-inch display with 720p resolution, a 13-megapixel main camera and a five-megapixel front-facing camera.

It runs on Android Nougat with a MediaTek MT6737T quad core processor. Memory-wise the L1 has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage expandable with a 256 GB microSD card. It supports dual SIM cards, is LTE and NFC-ready, and plugs in via USB Type-C.

Xperia XZ

Smartphone The Xperia XZ brings new and improved camera technology to produce the best pictures from a smartphone regardless of the shooting conditions.

Maximizing Sony’s acclaimed image sensor, two additional assisting sensors are present in this handset to create Sony’s triple image sensing technology.

The Xperia XZ features Sony’s original Exmor RS for mobile image sensor, allowing intelligent tracking, predicting, and shooting of objects in motion.

Adding to this is a Laser AF sensor with distance sensing technology.

Meanwhile, the 23 MP main camera gives you clear shots along with a super-fast start-up. It’s also built with Sony’s SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode to enable superb video. For the selfie perfectionists, there’s the 13 MP front camera with an ISO as high as 6400 and 22 mm/90-degree wide angle lens. It has a stunning loop surface design, with the 5.2-inch glass display and metal back of the Xperia XZ becoming one to make it a perfect fit and feel solid in the hand. Sony’s expertise in functional design is carried through to the Xperia XZ which features a water resistant design and an IP65/68 rating to take the worry out of a little splash of water. At the core of the Xperia XZ is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor to provide a seamless experience on your phone. Along with X12 LTE, the XZ supports ultimate connectivity, graphics, photography, power, and battery efficiency.

PHP 37,990

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April 2017

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Pioneer DJM-250-K2 Audio mixer

Whether you’re an aspiring home brew musician-slash-producer, or you’re a DJ who just wants more bang for his or her buck, Pioneer’s DJM-250-K2 is an affordable mixer loaded with tons of features. The pro-DJ mixer has full 24-bit digital processing at 48 KHz for clear sound quality as well as EQ effects to create your signature sound. Lights are built into the filter knobs so you can easily see which filter is engaged. The DJM-250-K2 sports a three-band isolator-type equaliser with a maximum boost of 9 Db and a cut of up to infinity on each channel. The mixer also features a Fader Start-Play function and a Cross-fader Curve Adjust so you could fine-tune your mix. The DJM-250-K2 supports up to eight sources including a microphone input and has an XLR output that guarantees good quality sound when you play live on any stage.

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Lenovo Vibe K6 Note Smartphone

The Lenovo Vibe K6 Note is a power–packed smartphone that features a massive battery, fast processor, 4G LTE connectivity, and all–in–all smooth performance.

Power users will enjoy the Vibe K6 Note’s large 4000 mAh Lithium-polymer battery which provides users more than enough juice to stream music and videos for hours on end. An immersive audio experience awaits with Dolby Atmos sound technology integrated into the handset. The latter complements the Lenovo K6 Note’s 5.5-inch full-HD IPS display, 16MP rear camera with Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), and 8MP front camera. Breeze through day-to-day tasks without a hitch with this smartphone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 64-bit 1.4GHz octa-core processor, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, and 4GB RAM. With the phone’s built-in fingerprint reader, your security woes are solves. On top of all these, the K6 Note comes in a sleek, all-metal unibody design and is available in sophisticated colors dark gray, gold, and silver.

PHP 11,599

Google Jamboard Smart whiteboard

Workplace collaboration just got cooler with Google’s Jamboard, set to be released this May. The rolling smart white board has a massive 55inch, 4K resolution display which allows 16 simultaneous touch points. Designed for open collaboration, the Jamboard features a UI free from borders or grids which allows users to attach pictures, videos, and other files to the idea board and annotate them. The device synchronizes with office enterprise suites and natively supports Google Cast, search, and Hangouts to increase connectivity among co-workers. The Jamboard comes with a built-in wide-angle camera, down-firing speakers, microphones, two HDMI, a USB type-C and two USB 3.0 ports. It also allows both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. It also has two fine-tip styluses, microfiber cloth, and an eraser peripheral to make it still feel somewhat like a regular white board.

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Aukey 30,000 mAh Portable Charger Power Bank

On a road trip, it’s only normal to use your devices for entertainment during long hours on the road. A power bank comes in handy for topping up your gadget when its juice hits a critical low. The Aukey 30,000 mAh Portable Charger with Quick Charge 3.0 and Lightning Input is a gadget not to be missed when you’re about to hit the road. Apart from its behemoth of a battery capacity, it comes with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 that allows 4x-faster charging. It is also equipped with INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage) Technology for fine-tuned power output and more optimized charging cycles. On top of these, it also ships with Aukey EntireProtect to safeguard your device against excessive current, overheating, and over charging. This power bank features universal compatibility and 24-month warranty.

Aukey Lens Kit Power Bank

Camera phones are capable of some truly amazing things now, but for those who want a little more, there’s the Aukey Lens Kit. The kit comes with an easy-to-attach clip that lets you fasten one of three lenses: macro, wide-angle, and fisheye, so you can pick the lens that you need, when you need it. Broadly compatible with most mobile phones, it’s the perfect companion for you this summer.

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April 2017

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Nokia 3310 (2017) Cellular phone

The phone that spawned a cult following among device classicists along with the thousands of memes that formed in the aftermath is back. The updated version of the Nokia 3310 retains its super durability and insane battery life, while getting a new look and a software overhaul. Some other stuff you wouldn’t see in the original include a 2.4-inch full color display, a headphone jack, and even a two-megapixel camera. The blissfully simple phone also has an FM radio and MP3 player coupled with 16 MB of on-board storage expandable up to 32 GB via a MicroSD slot. The phone costs 49 EUR or around PHP 2,600: an affordable commute phone that carries all that nostalgia.

Sony MDR-XB80BS

Wireless In-Ear Headphones In the market for a new workout companion? The new MDRXB80BS Extra Bass Sports wireless in-ear headphones might just be the gym buddy for you. Targeted at gym junkies who prefer punchy, deep tunes while working out, these headphones are specially tuned for EDM, which has the best matching tempo (120 to 140 beats per minute) to give you that extra push needed to enhance your performance. The MDR-XB80BS is designed with a secure ear hook style with cable adjuster for a stable fit and wireless freedom while you work out. The MDR-XB80BS is also IPX5 splash-proof and washable, which means that you can put it under the faucet after exercising without worrying that you will damage it.

This headphones have a battery life of seven hours so that you can tune in to high-quality wireless music and make calls even after your training.

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Oppo F3 Plus Smartphone

The king of selfie camera phones, the Oppo F1s, just had an upgrade: the F3 Plus. The phone carries not one, but two lenses in its front-facing camera system. The 16-megapixel main front camera takes gorgeous, detailed photos with all the classic Oppo camera app features we all know and love while the 8-megapixel lens takes ultra-wide angle photos to get more of your friends and family in the photo. The rear camera is 16 megapixels with a sensor which Oppo developed with Sony Semicon that works with a large f/1.7 aperture to take well-lit photos in any lighting condition. It has a Qualcomm MSM8976 octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of built-in storage expandable via microSD up to 256GB. Selfies are so passé; all hail the “groufie.”

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April 2017

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10 february 2017

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GADGETSLAB Specifications: Sensor: 16MP Sony Sensor Field of view: 170-degree Battery: 1000mAh Battry Photo quality: 20MP Still Photos Display: 2-inch color display What’s Hot: - Affordable!

- Decent Quality - GoPro compatible accessories

What’s Not: - Not totally 4K quality output

Supremo 4K Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

What’s life without a little adventure? Everyone needs to go out every once in a while and experience the joy of exploring a new trail, paddling down some rapids, or racing down a steep singletrack. In this world of “pics or it didn’t happen” though, some form of visual record of your exploits is nice to have for both posterity, and to find stills of face in the midst of sheer terror. Supremo, one of the challengers for the top spot in the world of action cams, now allows you to do that in glorious 4K. DESIGN The Supremo 4K is not unlike other action cameras in the market today. It’s narrower than their previous model, looking like a rounded-off square from the front. The lens sticks out from the top right quadrant of the camera’s face, and controls are positioned on the top edge and front of the device. There’s a slide-out panel to the side which hides the battery, and a removable cover that keeps the ports and microSD card safe.

The case, which is an equally important part of the system, feels appropriately robust. The lock is beefy and positive, the seal is nice and thick, and the body feels tough enough to handle the kind of bumps one might expect an action camera to encounter. The mounting system is the same as basically every other mainstream action camera on the market today, so you’ll be spoilt for accessories, though you do get a whole bunch in the box already.

HARDWARE The heart of the Supremo 4K is a 16MP Sony IMX sensor that enables the device to capture in (surprise surprise) 4k. The lens, on the other hand, gives the Supremo 4K a 170-degree field of view It also trumps its competitors by coming with a built-in 2-inch LCD, which is something I didn’t know I wanted on my action cams. It’s powered

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by a removable 1000 mAh li-ion battery. Ports and outputs include a microUSB port for charging and data transfer, and a mini HDMI port for output. The kit also comes with a wrist remote that allows the user to start recording or take photos remotely.

USER EXPERIENCE If you’ve used any other action camera in the past, getting off the ground with the Supremo 4K should be no problem at all. Pop a battery and SD card in, press the power button, and you’re immediately ready to take videos. Should you want to change modes or settings, the process is once again similar to what you would have to do on other action cameras–that is to say, a fair amount of trial and error. The display takes the sting out a bit, but I would suggest getting some practice in before you have a critical need to change settings. Wi-Fi is likewise easy to get going. You’ll need to download the included app, hit the Wi-Fi button on the front, connect to the camera, and you’re set. The app does have a few issues with stability, and since it’s Wi-Fi, you will experience a little lag, but it’s usable, if slightly rough around the edges.

Should you want to take videos in more challenging environments, just pop open the included waterproof case, stick the Supremo in, and close it up. You’ll have easy access to the buttons thanks to the plungers on the outside, and the clear back still allows you to see what the

camera is seeing. If you need to, you can do time lapse videos, all the way from a single frame per second, to one per minute, or 120 FPS slow-motion footage in HD, and 240 FPS in VGA. An additional feature of the device is car mode, which will let it record in 3-, 5-, or 10-minute clips, so you can make use of the Supremo 4K as a dash cam. This will of course require you to plug in, but it’s a handy extra feature that gives the little device even more value for money.

Image quality is perfectly fine, if just a little washed out at times. Details do come out nicely in the 20MP (actually 16MP interpolated) images.

Outdoor performance doesn’t suffer too much from the washout unless you’ve got a bright subject in a dark field. Video shot in 4K does have significantly more detail that our other FHD action cameras, but it’s not quite as high as what we expected from a 4K device. It’s a solid in-between though, and still better than FHD. Nothing to really complain about, given the price.

VALUE This is where the Supremo 4K really shines. At less than PHP 4,500, you get a lot of camera. Sure, it’s not going to be perfectly 4K, but man, at that price, you really won’t have a lot to complain about. This, plus the fact that it’s compatible with GoPro accessories is the cherry on top.

Bottomline Want an action cam, but on a tight budget, here’s the answer!

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Specifications: Display: 5-inch qHD TFT Cameras: 8 MP w/flash rear and 5 MP w/flash and f2.2 aperture front Processor: Mediatek quad-core 1.4 GHz Internal storage: 8 GB expandable via micro SD RAM: 1.5 GB Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow Connectivity: LTE CAT 4, dual SIM slots Battery: 2,600 mAh What’s Hot: - Handy - Front-camera with flash - LTE support What’s Not: - Plasticky build

Samsung Galaxy J2 Prime Reviewed by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Looking to get a not–so–costly upgrade to your tattered smartphone? This Samsung entry-level newcomer might just be the perfect phone for you.

DESIGN At first glance, you can tell right away that the Galaxy J2 Prime is a Samsung phone. It sports the same boxy form factor that is reminiscent of members of the Galaxy line of devices. Part of the Samsung lineup aimed towards the young and socially active, the J2 Prime is filled with various features you’d take delight in.

The J2 Prime flaunts as 5-inch qHD display on its front, along with its 5 MP front camera and home button flanked by two capacitive keys. It sides are home to a power/lock button, volume rocker, and audio jack port and micro-USB ports. Flipping it on its back reveals its 8 MP camera with flash and speaker grilles. Pop its rear cover open and you’ll be greeted by its removable battery along with its SIM and micro-SD card slots.

HARDWARE This entry-level smartphone comes with basic smartphone components, but it’s no slouch .

Under its hood is a Mediatek quad-core processor that clocks in at 1.4 GHz and works in tandem

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with 1.5 GB of RAM. In use, processes were quite speedy with even when multi-tasking. Though, this combination is not meant for graphicintensive gaming.

Its 5-inch qHD TFT display was a pleasant feature for the entertainment junkie like me. Images come out with just the right detail and color punch.

Likewise, having LTE support meant blazing fast internet speeds in 4G areas.

What makes this smartphone special is its 5 MP front camera with front flash. They say in photography, finding the light is key. With the J2 Prime’s front flash feature, the light follows you.

This results to stunning selfies sure to rake in likes on social media.

to the Samsung ecosystem, it might take some getting used to. Though, I have to say, navigation was very smooth and straightforward.

This smartphone ships with a removable 2,600 mAh battery, which I have to point out is great since you can just purchase a new one instead of buying a new phone when it goes belly-up. The J2 Prime also has an Ultra-Power Saving feature to help you get by in critical situations.

VALUE The Galaxy J2 Prime offers no frills to stun onlookers but it is a smartphone you’d likely keep for years for its functionality. This entry-level phone retails for only PHP 5,990 and is packed with capabilities such as LTE support, full-HD screen, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and on top of it all, a front camera with flash.

USER EXPERIENCE Using the Samsung Galaxy J2 Prime as a daily driver offered no surprises but it is undeniably a very handy smartphone. The phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow but is overlaid with Samsung’s signature user interface. I have no qualms here since I’m also a Samsung user, but if you’re new

Bottomline It is endorsed by the beautiful Liza Soberano. There’s that.

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Huawei Mate 9 Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

Over the past couple of years, Huawei has set out to change the smartphone game as one of the brands responsible for removing the stigma from Chinese brands in the past decade. The Mate 9, released only a couple of months ago, is the brand’s newest note-category smartphone and is followed only by the flagship P10. I got the chance to bring it on the road trip for an extended field test to find out if all the fanfare is warranted.

DESIGN Upon holding the Mate 9 for the first maybe two seconds, I immediately knew that this was a premium phone: the texture of brushed metal against its glossier bevels, the accents on every perfectly placed button and other exterior elements.

While other people would argue that it looks and feels same-y, I personally like its minimalist, no-frills design—and in this case “no-frills” is so far from flimsy. It’s a solid device, built with the utmost care to last for some time; at least it feels that way. The Mate 9 is available in seven colors from space gray to mocha brown, and whatever color it’s in, it looks pretty darn sweet.

HARDWARE The Mate 9 is built on the inside in the same way as that of its outside: strong. It boasts of an octa-core Kirin 960 processor with four cores clocking in at 2.4 GHz and the remaining four cores clocking in at 1.8 GHz. Couple that with 4 GB of RAM and a Mali-G71 MP8 graphics chip and you get a very powerful device capable of running anything from your staple social media to resource-hungry mobile games.

Famous for its partnership with premium camera manufacturer Leica, the Mate 9 possesses a dual, 20-megapixel monochrome plus 12-megapixel RGB lens setup for its main camera with f/2.2 aperture, 2x zoom, phase detection and laser autofocus. This allows the camera to shoot highresolution photos with excellent contrast and videos with a resolution of 2160p at 30 fps.

Other hardware specs include a 4000 mAh battery with Huawei’s fast charge feature, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, 64 GB of on-board storage expandable up to 256 GB via a microSD slot, and a 5.9-inch screen with full 1080p resolution. While others would diss the Mate 9 for not having a 4K resolution screen, but on a smartphone, you don’t really need that pixel density.

USER EXPERIENCE So let’s get this out of the way of the rest of the review: the Leica optics camera takes very beautiful photos; and I mean beautiful. Taking photos of 26

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passing scenery on the fly while on the camera was a challenge for the relative clunk of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but rarely did I find myself missing them when I had the Mate 9 with me.

The phone had a variety of adjustable settings like ISO and exposure time for the manual mode, while color, flash and environment settings were adjustable on just about every photo mode there was. But the magic of the camera was with the point-and-tap. Even users who are not well-versed in the ways of manual photography can take gorgeous photos anywhere, anytime. Colors came out beautiful, and the amount of detail from the monochrome lens was superb.

In terms of the UI and using it for day to day, there is very little to say other than how simple and fast it is. Huawei’s own UI based on the Android Nougat manages phone resources well and does not have bloatware that tends to slow down other custom UIs. Even with several applications open, the phone hardly flinched and could probably take on more punishment, but by then you’d probably run out of stuff to open up.

Specifications: Screen: 5.9” FHD display Chipset: Huawei Kirin 960 Octa-core CPU (4 x 2.4 GHz A73+ 4 x 1.8 GHz A53) GPU: Mali-G71 MP8 Memory: 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM expandable up to Storage: 256 GB via microSD Camera: 20 MP Monochrome + 12 MP RGB, f/2.2 main camera 8 MP AF f/1.9 front camera Battery: 4000 mAh battery with Huawei Quick Charge What’s Hot: - Main camera is excellent - Great sound quality - Fast UI What’s Not: - Nothing to be honest

As advertised, the phone’s charging is excellent with a full charge obtained after about 40 minutes of charging that would last roughly ten days on standby or two days of regular use. A great surprise for me, however, was its built-in stereo speakers which was so loud and clear that it sort of eliminated the need to use tiny Bluetooth speakers.

VALUE Priced at PHP 31,990, you get a lot of phone for your money considering its competition and their prices that go only north of here. This is one of the rarities in the market that the price is somewhat justified. And to sweeten the deal even more, the phone comes with a pair of headphones and a hard shell case in the box.

Bottomline If you want a nice, classic-looking camera that doubles as a phone, you cannot go wrong with a Mate 9. I know I’d buy it. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Nikon KeyMission 170 Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

When people hear “action camera,” most people would think of the brand-that-mustnot-be-named, but as with any other product, the top spot for the action camera category is in contention. Part of the KeyMission Series of action cameras, the 170 represents Nikon’s first efforts into the action photography market. I sought to find out if the 170 is up to snuff.

DESIGN As with its DSLRs, Nikon’s KeyMission 170 is well-built from top to bottom. Its compact design allows it to be placed just about anywhere, and its relative density just makes it feel that much durable. That’s because it has built-in weatherproofing without the need of an external case. The camera is shockproof at 6.6 feet, freezeproof at 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius), and waterproof at 33 feet.

The 170 has two large textured buttons on top with easy-to-see markers: one to take photos, and another to take videos. At the back is the big enough LCD screen with a minimalist button interface. On the side, a dual-locked hatch covering the battery slot, the microSD slot, the micro USB port, and the HDMI port. The lens hood can be taken off with a twist, and at the bottom, there is a standard ¼-inch socket that can be used to mount the camera to traditional mounting accessories like tripods and chest harnesses apart from the myriad of action camera accessories available in the market.

The flaw that I found in the KeyMission 170’s design, however, is its charging, which requires the camera to be plugged in via USB. This restricts the option of carrying extra battery packs because you have to rely on charging them one at a time.

HARDWARE Apart from the weatherproofing, the hardware isn’t exactly spectacular, although it does meet the standards of its competitors quite easily. The RGB CMOS sensor has 8.3 effective megapixels, which has an ISO sensitivity that ranges from 100 to 1600. The camera can shoot videos in 2160p at 30 fps or in 1080p at 60 fps with a super-slow motion shooting mode in 720p at a maximum of

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240 fps. The lens has a very respectable f/2.8 aperture with an angle of view equivalent to a 15mm lens in 35mm format. The monitor is 1.5-inches across with a 345,000-dot resolution.

In terms of storage, the KeyMission 170 supports up to 256 GB microSDXC high-speed memory cards.

USER EXPERIENCE When the KeyMission 170 came out, Nikon boasted about its image quality. And true enough, the 170 took very nice photos and videos.

Colors were more vivid as other action cameras tend to take watered down photos due to their sensors. Details were also sharper than other action cameras that I’ve tried. While in Mindoro, the camera’s images had nice lines with decent contrasting and bright, more accurate colors.

Sound quality from the video recordings was also quite nice. They didn’t sound as muddled. I know, sound isn’t really something people are looking for in action cameras, but it is a nice bonus to have that even without external microphones, you can shoot a decent enough video to show to friends and family.

Specifications: Sensor: 8.3 megapixels 1/2.3-inch RGB CMOS sensor ISO range: ISO 100 - 1600 Display: 1.5-inch TFT LCD monitor microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC up to 256 GB storage Video: Up to 2160p video at 30 fps Battery life: 250 shots/60 minutes of video per threehour charge IPX8 waterproof up to 10 meters IP6X dustproof Shockproof up to 2 meters What’s Hot: - Caseless weatherproofing - Good quality photo and video What’s Not: - In-device charging is a hassle

The program interface is very easy to learn, and the addition of the free KeyMission application just gave me that extra bit of control and flexibility.

No more taking selfies and hoping they turn out nice. With the app, I was able to see the image as I take photos, and directly upload them to my cloud storage or to my device.

VALUE Competitively priced at PHP 20,900, the KeyMission 170 is an excellent alternative to other action cameras out there. And with Nikon, you can be sure of its solid build quality, and the quality of images that it can take.

Bottomline With built-in weatherproofing and excellent 4K-resolution photo and video, you really can’t go wrong with this action camera.

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Moto M Reviewed by Mia Carisse Barrientos

The variety in the smartphone market has democratized the once premium device. Now, the choice rests upon the customers. With so many interesting handsets up for grabs, phone manufacturers are stepping up their game to claim a spot in each price points. Moto, which is not relatively new to the game, has released its best bet into the midrange market, here’s what we think of it.

DESIGN As someone who has been in the industry of reviewing gadgets for over three years now, I’ve grown so accustomed to smartphones that I’m no longer easily impressed by even elaborate formfactors. But when I got my hands on the Moto M, I’d have to say I wanted to take one home right off the bat.

The Moto M strikes the perfect balance between power and style. It has a unibody, all-metal design with nano-coating that’s just right up my alley.

What’s more, it has a slim, curved body that perfectly fits the hand. Considering its worth, its form factor has the characteristics of a premium device and will make other phones within its price point shake in their boots.

Taking spotlight up front is the Moto M’s 5.5-inch full HD display. Also located on the device’s front are its 8 MP front camera and a subtle Moto logo below the display. The right side of the device is populated by the volume-rocker and power/lock button. The left side is designated for the pop-up slot for Nano-SIMs and a micro-SD card. Speaker grilles, USB type-C port, and a port for audio jack are placed at the bottom and atop the device respectively. On its rear are a beautifully crafted 16 MP camera and LED flash combo flanked with its finger print scanner.

HARDWARE The Moto M’s hardware is the beast to its beauty.

Beneath its appealing aesthetics are powerful features on the inside. It is driven by a 2.2 GHz Helio P10 octa-core processor mated to 4 GB of RAM; a powerful combination that allows the phone to breeze through tasks. I’ve been using the Moto M as my primary phone for weeks as of this writing and I’m quite fascinated with what it is capable of. It’s not flagship–powerful, but it definitely doesn’t fall far behind.

For taking awe-inspiring landscape shots, this handsets’ 16 MP PDAF rear camera has you covered. It is able to capture fine-detailed shots in well-lit conditions and does a decent job in underlit situations. What I’m very happy with about its snapper is its ability to focus without delay on subjects—a function that would come in handy when taking quick shots. Taking selfies using its 8 MP front camera was also quite pleasant, albeit not as sharp as you would expect from its megapixel count, it still does great.

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If I had to nit-pick about one feature of this phone, it would have to be the rather poor quality produced by its rear camera when zoomed in. I tried using it on two occasions: one, during an indoor concert; and two, on a garden wedding.

The former was poorly lit so I was kind of thinking that it had something to do with the pixilation, but using it during my friend’s garden wedding— on a bright and sunny day—made me realize that one can’t really have it all.

On the one hand, sound produced by this handset is amplified by Dolby Atmos technology, immersing you in complete auditory entertainment experience. I actually found myself listening through its organic speakers than using my pair of cans.

USER EXPERIENCE The Moto M runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and has a stock Android user interface which in my opinion adds to its appeal. Navigating and getting used to it was no hard task.

I’ll throw caution to the wind, I’m not a fan of finger print scanners. Whenever I review a phone with this utility, I dread the deed of having to register my finger print. I guess I prefer physical buttons more than new innovations. But just to get it out of the way, I didn’t skip that part upon startup.

Registration was very quick—probably the fastest out of all finger print processes I’ve made. And, recognition is sharp and I feel that my data’s really secured.

Specifications: Dimensions: 151 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm Weight: 165 g Display: 5.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive display, 1080 x 1920 resolution (401 ppi) Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow Processor: 64-bit Mediatek Helio P15 2.2 GHz octa-core processor RAM: 4 GB RAM Internal Storage: 32 GB internal storage, expandable via micro SD slot Cameras: 8 MP front and 16 MP rear cameras Battery: 3050 mAh non-removable battery Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C port, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, LTE Audio: Dolby Atmos audio enhancement Security: Fingerprint reader What’s Hot: - Stylish, all-metal, and splash-proof body - Fast finger print scanner - Dolby Atmos audio What’s Not: - Pixelated video when zoomed in - Lack of aftermarket accessories

Additional icing on the cake is a 3050 mAh rapid– charging battery that lasts up to a whole day even with data and location enabled.

VALUE For only PHP 14,999, the Moto M is a midrange phone well its worth. It fits the bill as a stylish and sleek phone that powers through everyday tasks. Its beautifully crafted body along with other useful knickknacks makes it a phone worthy of checking out.

Bottomline If your budget permits, get the Moto M now. There’s no question about it. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Canon M10 Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

Mirrorless cameras have become great alternatives to the unweildy DSLRs for both amateur and professional photographers. These days this young camera classification has amassed some serious power and can go head to head with DSLRs. Does the Canon M10 have what it takes to do so?

DESIGN The M10 is compact and lightweight. Given that its design is targeted towards travelers and on-the-go photographers, Canon has done a pretty good job of catering to that need. It is 66.6mm high and 108 mm thick. The body on its own is quite light and weight is more centered on the lens which will take some time for DSLR users to get used to. Having said that, the M10 is sturdily built with all the buttons and toggles within comfortable reach of the fingers and thumbs.

The only issue I have with the design is the lack of grip space at 35 mm thick on the palm grip end of the camera, making the M10 feel more like a phone than a camera to hold. However, the positioning of the buttons do make up for this, and eventually users will get used to its petite size.

HARDWARE The M10 has an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor with a native aspect ratio of 3:2. It uses the DIGIC 6 processor and the Hybrid CMOS autofocus system with phase detection built into the sensor. The autofocus has 49 maximum points with oneshot and Servo autofocus modes. It also allows automatic selection and manual focusing via the lens. In terms of ISO sensitivity, the camera has a range of 100 to 12800 in one-third increments.

It can be expanded up to 25600. The focal-place shutter is electronically-controlled and has speeds ranging from 30 to 1/4000 of a second making it possible to shoot at high speeds in decent lighting or take long exposure shots at night.

The three-inch, tilt-type LCD monitor can be controlled by touch and allows on-the-fly photo

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editing. It has a built-in flash, but no viewfinder (a separate viewfinder can be added to the mount).

The kit that I got had two lenses: a 15-45mm and a 55-200mm lens; other kits will have just the 15-45mm lens.

USER EXPERIENCE I am used to fiddling with the manual settings of my camera, and the Canon M10 does not really allow instantaneous changing of settings like ISO sensitivity and aperture size. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that even on automatic settings and focus, the photos came out beautifully with a vibrant depth of color and a stark depth of field.

From the well-lit outdoors to the dim indoors, the photos come out almost perfect every time.

Specifications: Sensor: 18.5-megapixels with 3:2 native aspect ratio Auto-focus: 49-point AF maximum Hybrid CMOS AF II ISO 100 - 12800 (expandable to 25600) Electronically-controlled shutter at 1/4000 to 30 seconds Photo formats: RAW + JPEG photo formats Video formats: MP4 AVC/H.264 video format FHD at 30fps

What’s Hot: - Gorgeous photos - Easy to use

What’s Not: - Very little grip space

Due to the lack of a viewfinder, Canon sought to remedy it by adding a focus assist on the screen display, turning elements that are in focus red on the screen, quickly subsiding my initial disappointment.

The M10 is the perfect camera to bring along on holiday or while travelling: it’s light, compact, easy to use, and quite powerful. You get the practical strengths of a DSLR without the clunk and complication, and when you’re on the go, you rarely have the time to fiddle around.

VALUE With a price ranging from PHP 20,998 to PHP 24,000 depending where you’re looking and on the kit you’re buying, the M10 is a highly affordable camera to take on your next adventure. I sure am thinking about it.

Bottomline The Canon M10 is a decently-priced, no-fuss camera that takes stunning pictures.

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Lenovo K6 Note Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

Flagship phones might be the cutting edge of smartphone technology, but the midrange is where it’s at. Here, manufacturers play with the delicate balance of performance versus price, and do their best to snap up that incredibly valuable market segment. To neglect that is folly, so the greatest efforts are extended to make sure phones in this price range is competitive. Lenovo might know this best of all, continually offering some of the best value for money phones we’ve seen in recent years, and they’re at it again with the K6 Note. We got our hands on it for a few weeks, and here’s what we think.

DESIGN The design of the K6 Note is something of a mixed bag. While I do appreciate the elegance of the curved edges of the display, and glossy accents, there seems to be just a little too much gold on it.

The metal back, wrap-around sides, and even the face of the phone are all a deep gold, which is fine, if you’re into that, but a little over the top for me.

It’s got a lovely shape to it, and the 5.5-inch screen is just the right size for carrying around all day, so it is a win on the whole.

The back of the phone isn’t perfectly flat, as it does have a little camera bump, the bezel of which does rest on the surface you lay your device on, so do be careful, as this may cause scratches.

The front is home to a front camera, and three capacitive buttons on the chin of the phone, below the screen. It’s a bit of a stretch to reach the multitasking button, but doable with my mediumsized mitts.

Buttons are where your thumb would rest, holding the device in your right hand. This lets you access the volume rocker, as well as the rearmounted fingerprint sensor, without having to adjust your grip. The speakers are located on the bottom of the device, and fire downwards, so you needn’t worry about accidentally muting your phone be putting it speaker-down on your bed.

HARDWARE The K6 Note has a few tricks up its sleeve apart from the large 5.5 inch, FHD screen. It has RAM in abundance. It has 4 GB of the stuff, which is more than my year-old flagship, and 32GB of expandable storage. Sure the Snapdragon 403 chipset might not be the fastest horse in the stable, but it’s more than capable, and a 1.4 GHz octa-core processor rounds things off nicely. In the camera department, you get a 16 MP PDAF deal, and an 8 MP deal up front.

The K6 note is powered by a non-removable 4000 mAh battery that promises all-day performance, and delivers it.

USER EXPERIENCE I do love me a midrange phone, and the Lenovo K6 Note is up there with some of my favorites. Firstly, the fingerprint sensor. It’s surprisingly fast. While it’s not as instant as some of the newest phone available now, it’s certainly as fast as I need, and I’m quite particular about how fast my devices

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unlock. It’s also quite accurate. I haven’t had a false negative yet, and I’ve used it quite a bit at this point.

The generous 4GB of RAM is on the higher end of the spectrum, and seems to do the job well. There were no infuriatingly long load times opening apps, and I was switching between live and background programs with complete impunity.

The OS, which runs Android 6.0.1 (oh boy, Google Assistant!), has Lenovo’s overlay, which is quite a good thing. It does have some bloatware, but it’s thankfully kept to a minimum. It’s not obnoxious, or annoying, and doesn’t affect the performance of the device.

The camera is one of the things Lenovo wants to highlight on the device. It’s a 16MP deal, with a few special features to make it stand out. Firstly, you can, from any screen, double tap either of the volume buttons to instantly snap a photo. The camera app itself has a “smart” mode that guides you in taking the perfect photo. With the plugin enabled, the camera tells you where to position your subject, and whether you should move closer or back up a bit. The result is actually significantly better–composed that if I went at it freehand, so that’s a win. The photos from the K6’s camera is a little on the fuzzy side, even with the MP count.

Colors are a little washed out in moderate light, so if you want them to pop, you might want to hit it with a filter, or tweak the levels in post.

Specifications: Dimensions: 151 x 76 x 8.4 mm Weight: 169 g Display: 5.5-inch full HD display, 441ppi Processor: 1.5GHz Snapdragon 430 octa-core CPU Memory:4GB RAM Storage: 32GB internal, expandable via microSD Camera: 16MP PDAF rear camera w/ LED flash, 8MP front-facing camera Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS w/ A-GPS Battery: 4,000 mAh What’s Hot: - Solid build - Interesting camera functions - Metal body

What’s Not: - Gold variant has a bit too much gold

Battery life on the phone is great as expected.

With such a large one in there, and a single sim in the tray, you’re going to get well over a workday’s worth of power. No need to worry about having to scramble for a wall outlet or powerbank, and you probably won’t even have to switch on power saving mode.

VALUE It’s god some solid specs, and a sticker price to match. At PHP 12,999, it competes with the cheaper midrange phones out there, and with decent specs, a solid design and Lenovo reliability, you’re not likely going to regret this midfielder.

Bottomline Midrange smartphones just keep getting better and better.

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AMD Ryzen 7 1800X Reviewed by Martin Patiño

Fans of AMD have been waiting for the company to release a new generation of high-end performance desktop processors ever since the launch of its last FX series of processors under its Piledriver microarchitecture back in late 2012. After the Piledriver-line of FX processors was released, it seemed as if AMD was throwing in the towel and conceding the highend market to Intel in favor of its dominance in the entry-level market with their line of APU processors.

But in 2015, the company unveiled the new Zen architecture, which signaled the company’s return to the high-end CPU market.

DESIGN The Zen architecture, which Ryzen is built on, is a completely new architecture designed by AMD based on Samsung’s 14nm FinFET process. While the Zen architecture was originally unveiled in 2015, it wasn’t until the middle of 2016 when the excitement for the company’s new processors reached its peak due to AMD showing off a preview system running a Zen-based processor. And after months of anticipation, AMD finally unveiled the Ryzen 7 series of processors, its new generation of high-end performance CPUs.

HARDWARE The Ryzen 7 series is available in three different models including the 1800X, the 1700X, and the 1700. While all three models feature the same number of cores and threads (8 and 12, respectively), they differ mainly in their out-ofbox base and boost clocks as well their TDPs (Thermal Design Power). The Ryzen 7 1800X is the top-end variant of the series. Apart from the aforementioned 8 cores and 12 threads, it features a base clock of 3.6GHz, a boost speed of 4.0GHz, an L3 Cache of 16MB, and a TDP of 95W, among others.

To help us with our Ryzen 7 1800X review, AMD supplied us with a few components to go along with the CPU itself including a motherboard, RAM, and a cooler (since the 1800X doesn’t come with a cooler in the box). Here’s our test setup: Motherboard: Gigabyte Aorus AX370-Gaming 5 RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) at 3000MHz Cooling: Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4 PSU: Seasonic M12II Evo 620 Watts Storage: HyperX Savage SSD (256GB) GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB) OS: Windows 10 Pro

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USER EXPERIENCE To test out the Ryzen 7 1800X, we ran it through several benchmarks including the single and multicore tests of Maxon’s Cinebench R15 as well as the built-in benchmark tools of Rise of the Tomb Raider and Ashes of the Singularity.

The Ryzen 7 1800X performed quite impressively in our synthetic benchmarks with only one area of concern. In Cinebench R15, it was able to get a multicore score of 1617 and a single-core score of 158, which beats out Intel’s i7-6900K’s multi-core score of 1465 but slightly falls behind the Intel chip’s singlecore score of 157.

Sadly, the 1800X also fell behind the i7-6900K in our gaming benchmarks as it was only able to achieve an average frame rate of 103 fps in Rise of the Tomb Raider while the 6900K was able to achieve a faster average framerate of 132 fps. In Ashes of the Singularity, the 1800X achieved a framerate of 71 fps while the 6900K achieved a significantly higher framerate at 90 fps. Nonetheless, the performance of the 1800X is still incredibly impressive.

As for its temperature performance, the 1800X was a mixed bag. In idle, it ran pretty hot at an average of around 60-degrees, which is quite hot for a processor at idle, while it only went up as high as 74-degrees during heavy load, which is impressive. But according to AMD, the 1800X (and the 1700X as well) have a +20-degree temperature offset on the readings displayed by monitoring software at the time of this writing. So the 1800X is actually running quite cooler than what the numbers above show, specifically by 20-degrees, if AMD’s announcement is true.

And with its impressive performance in other areas coupled with an SRP of only PHP 27,000, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X offers a price-toperformance ratio that is incredibly hard to match. Especially considering the Intel Core i76900K is priced at more than double the 1800X at around PHP 58,000.

The long wait for AMD’s return to the high-end performance processor market was definitely worth it. And the Ryzen 7 1800X is a great chip to lead the renewed charge. Things can only get better from here for AMD, its fans, and anyone who wants an impressive high-end desktop processor without completely breaking the bank.

What’s Hot: - Amazing multi-core performance - Incredibly competitive pricing - Unmatched price-to-performance ratio What’s Not: - Single-core and gaming performance fall behind competition

VALUE Overall, while the Ryzen does have its weaker points, specifically in its gaming performance and temperatures, promised updates from AMD as well as video game developers getting more time with the Zen architecture could only mean those issues will eventually be remedied.

Bottomline The Ryzen 7 1800X offers amazing performance coupled with a great value proposition over its competitors and should be highly considered.

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PHOTOFEATURE

There’s a lot to be said about the art of taking a selfie: you need the right light, angle, subject, and of course, camera. Never one to be outdone, Sarah Geronimo knows just how to get the job done. Her selfie game is strong, without a doubt—she’s a local showbiz sweetheart for a reason. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help. OPPO knows the importance of good hardware when you want the perfect selfie, and they have what might just be the one selfie phone to rule them all, the OPPO F3 Plus. With dual selfie cameras, and the beautiful Sarah Geronimo, what we have is a match made in heaven.

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SARAH GERONIMO AND

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Power Button

3.5mm Headphone Jack

Sim Card and microSD card tray

Volume Rocker

Also available in Black

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The OPPO F3 Plus is the perfect selfie companion. With the Android 6.0-derived Color OS 3.0, dual front-facing cameras, and a large aperture, you’re assured of the best possible shot each time. The F3 Plus is more than just a great snapper.

4 GB of RAM, and a 1.9GHz octacore processor means you can multitask all you want, and 64 GB of expandable storage assure you of all the space you need to keep each and every photo you take.

With a massive 4000mAh battery, you get all-day use away from your wall charger, and LTE connectivity means you’ll never have to worry about being constantly connected.

When you do need to top up, VOOC fast charging gives you a full charge in just 30 minutes. If keeping your precious selfie collection safe is a concern, it also features a fingerprint scanner, to make sure all your data is safe from prying eyes.

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If the United States has Taylor Swift, the Philippines has Sarah Geronimo.

This 28-year-old superstar is in a league of her own. Selling out shows and albums, starring in blockbuster movies, and endorsing big brands; there’s no end to her charms.

While considered a veteran in the industry, Sarah never fails to surprise everyone with new and charismatic performances every time she goes on stage. But how does someone always in the limelight like Sarah remain upbeat despite her jam-packed schedule? Just like the rest of us, Sarah finds relaxation in travelling.

She recently was in Japan to enjoy its remarkable culture and incredible sceneries. On her days off, she also braves challenging activities like mountain climbing and racing.

In all these fun and thrilling undertakings, Sarah has the OPPO F3 Plus to document her shining moments in high definition glory. Thanks to its dual front cameras and powerful hardware, Sarah is able to take expert selfies wherever she wanders off to.

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EVENTS “The F3 Plus was developed for both selfie lovers and photography buffs who want a smartphone that lets them take stunning shots wherever they are, no matter the time of day.”

OPPO Launches the F3 Plus Chinese mobile technology giant OPPO launched the F3 Plus, the company’ flagship selfie camera phone, at a star-studded event last March 23 at the City of Dreams in Pasay. takes clear photos even in low light with a third of an inch-thick sensor coupled with an f/2.0 aperture.

“Since OPPO started the Selfie Revolution in the Philippines with the F1 Series, we’ve gone through incredible growth especially when we became the country’s second bestselling smartphone in 2016. We are very excited to see the F3 Plus start a new trend in groufies and reinforce our position as the Selfie Expert,” said OPPO brand marketing manager Stephen Cheng.

The OPPO F3 Plus builds upon the technology of its predecessor, the F1s, by adding a second sixpiece, 8-megapixel lens to its main 16-megapixel front-facing camera. This allows users to take ultra-wide angle pictures with a field of view of 120 degrees, revolutionizing the “groufie” and allowing more people to fit in a self-portrait shot.

The main front-facing camera on the other hand,

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The 16-megapixel main camera has been upgraded with a new custom-built 1/2.8-inch Sony IMX398 co-developed with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation. The sensor is coupled with a large f/1.7 aperture and dual-phase autofocus, improving focus, speed, and performance in low light settings.

In terms of hardware, the OPPO F3 Plus carries a Qualcomm MSM8976 Pro octa-core processor with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of on-board storage wthich is expandable with an additional 256 GB via a microSD slot. The six-inch display is in full

high-definition, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for unparalleled durability. The phone supports dual 4G SIM cards, and has a 4000 mAh battery that charges using OPPO’s patented VOOC technology.

“The F3 Plus was developed for both selfie lovers and photography buffs who want a smartphone that lets them take stunning shots wherever they are, no matter the time of day. Our newest camera phone packs state-of- the-art hardware and software in a sleek body to deliver outstanding performance and style, perfect for the urban lifestyle,” Cheng added.

The OPPO F3 Plus will be available in Southeast Asian markets including the Philippines and India on April 1. The suggested retail price for the phone in the Philippines is PHP 23,990, and will be available in gold and black colors.

Lazada, the phone company’s official online partner, along with all OPPO concept stores, are accepting pre-orders beginning March 24 to 31 and comes with a free Bluetooth headset and a selfie stick.

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COVERSTORY

MINDORO The road less traveled Words & Photos

by Gadgets Team

The last of the cold winds have left, giving way to the scorching heat of summer, and that can only mean one thing: it’s Roadtrip season! This year, we head over to Oriental Mindoro!

While Mindoro might mean little more than Puerto Galera for most of us, this gem hidden at the end of Luzon, right before the Visayas region has so much more to offer. In this Roadtrip, we uncover some of the secret places and fun activities you can experience, all just a drive away! So pack some snacks, buckle up, and get your Spotify playlists ready! We’re hitting the road!

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Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos Photos by Gadgets Team

The sun high up in the sky and warm breeze brushing up against the skin are textbook indicators that it’s time to hit the road. Whether traveling to the beach to get a nice tan or traversing long stretches of paved and bumpy roads to get to majestic sceneries, there’s no lack of beautiful destinations to indulge yourself in an archipelago made up of over 7,000 islands.

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A list of must-see destinations in the Philippines go as long the San Juanico Bridge, but one never missed is Puerto Galera. This town, in the island of Mindoro, is a hit to local and international tourists for its accessibility and is revered for its long, curved White Beach and diving village Sabang.

As a tourism hotspot, Puerto Galera is usually jam-packed, more so during peak seasons like summer. This might be a red flag for people who turn to trips for tranquillity. But the province offers so much more than its popular attractions, and we were fortunate to visit those places.

Mindoro is an ideal destination for its proximity to Manila. You can go by air or sea depending on which mode of transportation you’re most comfortable with. What most travelers do is, from Manila, travel to port of Batangas on rollon/roll-off (RORO) buses with Mindoro as endpoint. It is considerably cheaper, and travel time from Manila to the province is just roughly around three to four hours, if ferry schedules are met. Our team also took this route but aboard our own vehicles, and Fastcat as our ferry of choice. Soon enough we were at the port of Calapan and ready to take on the roads of the province.

Our first stop was the Municipal Hall of Baco where we paid a courtesy call to the town’s vice mayor, Eric Castillo and provincial tourism officer, Orlando Tizon.

Baco is in the northerly part of Oriental Mindoro and as the provincial tourism officer describes, offers scenic sites

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to behold, some overlooking the province’s striking beaches. The humble municipality is also home to one of the most treacherous treks in the country, Mt. Halcon and several Mangyan communities.

After a quick introduction of the province, we were well on our way.

If you ask a local where to go in Baco, Infinity Farm is an answer that would most probably come up. Getting to this hidden gem is quite tricky. More than half of the roads leading up to it are already paved, while some parts of the trail are very rocky and narrow—albeit not a perilous ride.

Tourism officers suggest renting out jeeps or off-road vehicles for easier passage, but we got there just fine on-board our vehicles.

The Infinity Farm is a beauty and there’s no better way to describe it. It’s a natural series of streams that virtually extends infinitely from the mountaintop down, hence its name. At the landing is a picnic spot where you can feast while your feet are soaked in its clear and refreshing waters. You can plunge in the cool pools in this part of the farm or choose to walk its picturesque trail to see more cascades and pools of clear to bluish waters you can jump right into.

For couples visiting Infinity Farm, one attraction they’ll appreciate is its “love lock” bridge. Akin to Paris’ Pont des Arts Bridge, Infinity Farm’s love-lock bridge is where lovers can freely attach pairs of padlocks as a symbolic act of affection and devotion.

Once they’re done, they can proceed to the highest part of the farm to be enchanted by the sight of crystal clear waters cascading down from the hilltop.

The entrance fee to Infinity Farm is only PHP 100 per head. It has shaded cottages, grills, and restrooms, making it perfect for family gatherings, barkada hangouts, and a place to cool off when Manila heat is wearing you down.

After a quick dip in Infinity Farm, we were once again welcomed by cool and calming waters, this time at Tagbungan Mountain Resort & Lantuyan River. This area, not far from our first destination, greets guests in search of oasis with its many spring and manmade pools exquisitely landscaped into nature. The mountain resort features cottages with karaoke machines, a long water slide, and a view of a Mangyan community just across the river.

rm is a a F y it n fi “The In ’s no e r e h t d n beauty a scribe e d o t y a better w ies of r e s l a r u t it. It’s a na irtually v t a h t s stream from ly e it n fi in extends wn, o d p o t in a t the moun name.” s it e c n e h

If you want a break from crowded beaches, you can find sanctuary here. Entrance to the resort is only PHP 50. For kids aged one to seven, cost of admission is waved.

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Nikon’s Key Mission 170 came in handy when we were splashing about in the cool waters of Infinity Farm.

Harsh conditions are no challenge to the Catalyst Case for the iPhone 6.

The Lifeproof Fre case sealed the iPhone 5S from water that could potentially damage it.

If you plan to go for a swim in one of the pools of Tagbungan, toss in the Nyne Aqua for entertainment.

Music filled the cottage we were resting at in Tagbungan thanks to the powerful audio of Nyne’s TT.

Every step taken during the day was recorded on the UP2 Jawbone fitness tracker.

The Supremo 4k captured our adventures on the road in high resolution.

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We were able to capture the magnificent sites of Mindoro with the help of the Aukey 3-in-1 clip-on lens.

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DAY 2: THE ADVENTUROUS ROUTE Mabalbay Falls | Bucayao Silonay River Villa Cerveza Victoria, Oriental Mindoro

Words by Robby Vaflor Photos by Gadgets Team

About an hour’s drive South from Calapan across the scenic Nautical Highway is the curiously named Villa Cerveza in the municipality of Victoria. Strewn across the distance are the hills and mountains that divide Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, including Halcon—said to be the most difficult mountain to climb in the country. The Bucayao Silonay River lines the mountain range’s perimeter.

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There was a great urge for everyone present to take pictures of the bright blue river, the verdant mountains and the omnipresent rice paddies of Mindoro. These sights were, after all, hardly seen by non-locals (which is a shame, really).

We parked near the bank of the Bucayao Silonay River in a tourist rest area where we were greeted by officials from the local government and the regional office of the Department of Tourism. There, we were briefed of our trek going up to Mabalbay Falls.

A Google inquiry on Mabalbay Falls will forward people to all sorts of unrelated results. That’s because very few people have been to see them: no foreign tourists yet, only some locals including the guides and porters.

Luckily, I had the Huawei Mate 9 to take quick snaps with vivid colors or selfies with the team, and the Canon M10 to take detailed stills of the scenery.

The indigenous people that live in this region have been apprehensive with letting people into the area fearing the disturbance and destruction of nature and their way of life. Eventually, however, they decided to let people in once the tourism officials convinced them that that was not their intention.

The potential for tourism in Victoria had only recently been realized, and Mabalbay Falls were one of the first sights to be developed—and by “developed” we don’t mean concrete walkways and a gift shop at the end of the trail—just a few cleared paths, and some rope and bits of wood to cling to.

Visitors will get wet in the first five minutes of the trek, so it’s best to wear proper clothes and footwear. Adventure-seekers are also advised to bring plenty of water, and their own snacks. Terrain is varied from sand, to mud, to slippery rocks, and people will have to cross the stream often. Heat won’t be much of a problem as most of the trail is under the shade of the jungle canopy, braided with thick vines.

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For the trek, I wore a pair of Merrell’s Agility shoes and also brought along one of their Luton hydration packs.

In terms of fauna, a few colorful birds can be seen, but the best time to see them is during January and February when migratory birds flock to Mindoro.

Mammals are scarce, save for the occasional dog or cat. What the trail had plenty of, was the limatik, which is what the locals call small leeches. They usually hide under fallen leaves or in crevices to wait for unsuspecting passersby. These don’t pose any harm, however, and is best to let them have their fill of blood; they will then detach themselves happy and fat.

We reached the waterfalls after about an hour, and the view is amazing. The Mabalbay Falls aren’t as blue as the ones in Infinity Farm, but they are just as clear and just as wonderfully cold. Around this time, the water near the base of the falls will be hip-level, but during the rainy season (which is most of the year for Mindoro) the water could be at twice or thrice that height.

Going back to the camp is just a matter of walking back the same way you went to going in. And once

is the y thing This tin . ch or a lee

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limatik,

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we got back to the camp, we took a break in one of the huts where we were served some lovely local dishes for lunch like grilled native pork, lake-caught tilapia, and the Mindoro version of laing (a taro corm and leaf dish with coconut milk).

After lunch, we geared up for the white water rafting across the Bucayao Silonay River. The rapids are calm enough for you to still enjoy your surroundings and strong enough to get your heart going with some adrenaline. The water runs cold and pristine through the stones and boulders, in the distance, the green mountain range serves as the perfect backdrop for the bright blue fore and the gray stone middle.

We passed through the confluence where the Bucayao Silonay River is fed by a tributary. We took a break on one of the banks to cool off in the river.

The cold water felt wonderful on our backs beaten by the incredible heat of the sun. We got back onto our boats and proceeded down the river to meet our vehicles.

ke ject to ta rfect sub s the pe 0. a d e rv OS M1 nery se The sce h the Canon E wit photos

The white water rafting is the perfect activity to use the Nikon KeyMission 170 action camera.

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Words by Ren Alcantara | Photos by Theresa Eloriaga

In order to uncover more of the paradise that is Mindoro, the Gadgets team split up into groups. Having done my share of ankle-breaking, breath-taking hikes over the years, this Roadtrip finally saw me take a much more relaxed route. After the gorgeous waters of Infinity, our team headed over to Naujan lake, for a peaceful ride to appreciate nature. Naujan lake, the fifth largest in the country, is home to a number of native wildlife, and a haven for local waterfowl. They had me at boat trip, and I must say, I wasn’t disappointed.

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Bangklase The trip to the takeoff point was just under 90 minutes from our resort in Calapan, through your usual provincial highways. The roads all along the trip were paved, and not incredibly busy when we were making our way over. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by our DOT contact, Lloyd Cataring, who then ushered us onto the vessel we’d be taking on the trip.

Because the boat made a special itinerary for us, and would be docking at an area on the opposite bank, our trusty Mitsubishi Montero would have to take a land trip to the other end of the lake. The vessel we were to take to on our little expedition was a large, purpose-built, floating platform that had more than enough space for tables, chairs, and audio-video equipment. It was originally created as a way for students to take on trips to appreciate the area’s natural resources, but now serves those students, as well as tourists who want to see the sights.

As soon as the trip started, we were treated to a quick overview of the wildlife we might see on the lake. Waterbirds such as herons, native ducks, and the odd Kingfisher. If you’re fond of our feathered friends, this might just be the excursion for you.

The boat has a few pairs of binoculars so you can see the wildlife up-close, and a lot of local knowledge should you want to learn more about the many creatures that call the lake home. If you haven’t seen a huge flock of ducks take flight all at once, this is a definite treat.

Midway through the cruise, we had a quick stop for a little snack and a spot of fishing. The organizers were more than happy to provide makeshift, but effective fishing rods, and some bait, though if you want to have a better chance at catching fish, you might want to hit the lake early.

This is so, as by mid-morning, the marine life likes to hang out deeper in the water to avoid the harsh sun. We didn’t have any luck with the fishing, though one of the tourism officers did snag what appeared to be an unusually large minnow (or an unusually small Tilapia). We did toss the little guy back in though. We’ll be back for him at a later date.

From fishing, we got to meet a few more flocks of Philippine ducks, on our way to the next activity, which was kayaking. The DOT handles kayaking activities on the lake, and tend to make something of a dramatic entrance, meeting the boat halfway, and loading two of our intrepid team on their own kayak. The calm water, scenery, and general tranquility of the area really help make a peaceful paddle along the lakeshore a pleasant experience. You can get a little closer to

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iBangklase staff and various members of the local tourism departments made sure we had smooth sailing.

FISHING the flocks on the smaller kayak than you could on a large, motorized boat, and it’s actually a lot of fun, with a gentle learning curve. Both members of the Gadgets team that tried it, did so for the first time, and aside from a hilarious little mishap alighting from the kayak, were none the worse for the wear. The rest of the trip was a leisurely cruise to the cove where the vessel docks, and where our car was waiting.

Kayak

Calm waters, professional support, and great weather all lend themselves to kayaking at Naujan Lake.

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From the lake, it was a quick drive to our next stop, the Simbahang Bato, also in Naujan. The Bancuro Stone Church, in Barangay Bancuro, Naujan, is actually a small chapel inside the ruins of a larger church that once stood there.

Built by the Agustinians in the early part of the 17th century, the church was built with large stones of coral brought inland, and bound together with lime mortar. This church wasn’t the first built in the area, though earlier structures closer to the shore were prone to destruction by Moro raids. This same fate befell the stone church and surrounding fort, leaving only the walls within where the current chapel stands. The locals have started to renovate the area, and it is now a proud reminder of Bancuro’s rich history, and serves as a local tourist destination.

From there, we backtracked a little bit to pay a visit to the Benilda ng Bancuro Resort, just a stone’s throw away from the church. This resort gets its name from matriarch of the family, and started as their own little getaway spot. It was developed slowly, and the family’s hospitality extended first to their friends, and then to the public. As it stands now, it’s a large, sprawling property, able to accommodate 250 guests at a time, across rooms of varied sizes.

The large, airy property has a large pool right up front, and open grounds that will take quite a while to explore.

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Benilda

Simbahang bato

G E A R S Merrell’s Luton Hydration Pack has enough water and storage for the most rigorous journey.

With four ports and an extension for the back seat, the Belkin Road Rockstar has enough for everyone.

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Aside from the large spaces, comfortable rooms, and a restaurant, one of the best things about the resort is that they’ve put a lot of effort into decorating and landscaping.

On top of the more traditional decor at the main dining area, there are spots that have a distinctly Spanish feel, with lots of adobe and wood. But a short walk across the property takes you to a beautiful, serene, and perfectly manicured Japanese garden.

Benilda does accept walk-ins, though they also do a lot of team-building events, office outings, conferences, and weddings, so it would be a good idea to call ahead to make sure you don’t have to contend with a crowd.

Should you find yourself in the area, this is one of the best places to relax, and rest, after a whole day of tours, hikes, and walking. The rest of the team practically had to drag me out of the place. Whether it’s just for a day trip, or a longer stay, visiting Benilda is not a trip you will regret.

From there, it was a quick stop to our home for the night, the Bahay Tuklasan Conference Center. Located at Barangay Santiago, Naujan, Bahay Tuklasan was put up as a purposebuilt training and professional development complex for both the local population, and visitors to the region. Equipped with conference halls, Wi-Fi connectivity, and both private, and dorm-style lodging for large groups such as ourselves. There’s nothing quite like a hot shower, and a comfortable bed after a whole day of adventuring, and the roomy Bahay Tuklasan Conference Center was just what we needed to recharge for the long voyage home. It was the best rest any of us got in a very long time.

Wooden Beads Wrap’s fashionable in-ear headphones look great and sound even better.

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Naujan Plaza

Bahay tuklasan

The fantastic midrange Lenovo K6 Note made sure we didn’t lose our way.

The All out Blaze Sandal from Merrell has it all: comfort, grip, and style.

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Blaze 100 Euro 6 Now Offered by Petron Petron Corporation now offers the cleanest and most advanced gasoline in the Philippine market, Blaze 100 Euro 6.

Petron’s Blaze 100 Euro 6 was rigorously tested and certified by leading global laboratories and engine rating experts. It in fact surpasses Euro 6 standards, the most stringent fuel technology and emission benchmark in the world today.

Its pure formulation and very high octane allows improved fuel efficiency, powerful engine performance and acceleration, cleaner engines on just one full tank, improved combustion with its unique fuel and additive formulation, significantly reduced harmful emissions, and reduced maintenance costs (e.g. longer catalyst life for emission system).

Tests showed Blaze 100 Euro 6 contains less than 3 ppm (parts per million) sulfur, compared to the Euro 6 standard of 10 ppm maximum. Euro 4 fuels, which is the mandated standard in the country, contains up to 50 ppm.

To qualify, the fuel should have significantly reduced particle numbers, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons in vehicle emissions.

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Particle number (PN) is the additional criterion that separates Euro 5 and Euro 6 fuel standards. Blaze 100 Euro 6 passed the PN tests with flying colors as it was three times cleaner than the limit.

Samples of Blaze 100 Euro 6 were taken from Petron’s Bataan refinery and randomly from its stations by SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company.

The samples were then sent to SGS laboratories in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Philippines. All samples tested met specifications for Euro 6-technology vehicles.

Petron also sent samples of this innovative product to ISP The Testing Institute—a leading engine and vehicle testing laboratory for fuels and lubricants development. ISP conducted a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) test with Blaze 100 Euro 6 and found

it did not cause carbon deposits in GDI engines.

GDI is a more advanced engine technology that addresses fuel economy and emissions. It is being used in newer European, American, and Asian car models.

Millbrook Proving Ground, which provides validation and engineering services in the automotive, transport, and defense industries, also tested Blaze 100 Euro 6. It conducted an Intake Valve Deposit (IVD) test and found Blaze 100 Euro 6 cleaned over 70 percent of engine deposits in 60 hours. Millbrook UK said Blaze 100 Euro 6 passed the “Euro 6b” emission standard. IVD tests apply to Port Fuel Injection engines which are widely used the Philippines.

Blaze 100 Euro 6 is available in nearly 300 Petron service stations nationwide.

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MOBILITY

A Roadtrip isn’t much of anything without a vehicle to get you where you’re going. To help us navigate the treacherous roads in supreme comfort, we enlisted the help of three of the best options available to the local consumer—whether you’re looking to hit the road, or go where there aren’t any. It was a long trip, with a lot of miles, but our rides saw us there and back again without a single issue. Take a look at what might be your next roadtrip companions.

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Mitsubishi Montero Sport

GT 2.4 4x4 AT Words by Ren Alcantara | Photos by Gadgets Team Shot on Location at La Hacienda, Brgy. Bancuro, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

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A roadtrip would have neither road, nor trip without a vehicle to get you where you’re going. Out team was lucky enough to get a tough, but extremely comfortable set of wheels in the 2017 Montero Sport GT. This bad 2.4L, 4x4 beast was more than capable of getting us across to Mindoro, and all over the region, even when there weren’t paved roads to speak of.

With our pilot, Sir Denise Santos, at the wheel, three of us in the team, and all the cameras, gadgets, supplies, and other odds and ends, there was a lot of luggage to take along. Fortunately, the Montero, with the jump seats folded, had more than enough space for a whole production box, three large bags, boxes of water, and enough supplies to completely fill a small sedan. All the space in the back meant we didn’t have to use up any space in the passenger cabin, ensuring enough legroom for everyone in the car.

The Montero Sport GT was bristling with creature comforts. The huge head unit has a full-color display that gives you a lot of information on the vehicle’s status, all the way down to tire pressure and temperature, true to its 4x4 nature. When not being used to monitor the vehicle, it also serves as the Montero’s entertainment hub. The generous screen makes everything from pairing a Bluetooth device for music and calls, to navigation, and even playing videos, easy. As far as in-car entertainment systems go, it’s fairly simple to navigate and use, and the resolution is

high enough to actually enjoy whatever video you might want to play.

The entertainment system is coupled with six speakers in the cabin, which means startlingly impressive surround sound, when watching movies on the move, and plenty of volume and clarity, should you choose to pass the time listening to music instead.

The Montero also made short work of the oppressive tropical weather. Thanks to dual-zone air-conditioning, the two of us seated in the back didn’t break a sweat, even when the harsh midday sun was beating down on us, while driving through the endless rice fields of Mindoro.

For such a comfortable ride, the Montero also has a lot of muscle under the hood. Provincial highways are awash with slower-moving vehicles, and despite being loaded to the brim with gear, at no point were we wanting for power. It seems nobody told this SUV that it’s got a diesel engine—it pulls fast and hard, and more than once, we were woken by a visceral grunt from the engine bay, and a sharp shove back into the seat. If you prefer watching your scenery blur by, this is not a bad way to do it. There’s also a 12V lighter socket in the rear luggage area, so your passengers don’t all have to fight for power.

Leather upholstery, power seats, windows, and mirrors, and a sunroof all round out the Montero Sport GT very nicely. If you’re going to go on an epic roadtrip (and maybe cross the sea to do so) you’re going to have a hard time beating this ride.

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SS ANG YONG

TIVOLI XLV1.6 AWD AT Words by Robby Vaflor Photos by Gadgets Team With European stylishness and Asian practicality, the Ssangyong Tivoli XLV is the perfect SUV to take friends and family on roadtrips with.

Outside, the Tivoli has a sporty look with an angled black roof over an imposing red body with smartly placed lines. The grille and headlights form an X shape which makes the car look even cooler. The XLV also sports a nice set of 18-inch wheels to get that extra wow factor.

The folks at Ssangyong really didn’t skimp on anything when they built this machine, not even on space and storage. Inside, apart from the massive glove compartment and the center console organizer, the XLV has plenty of cup holders and document compartments for all of the passengers.

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Even with the seats down, the boot allows for large volumes of cargo, and with just a fold of the detachable boot liner, the XLV is able to hold more than 700 liters of luggage. That’s a few suitcases, a cooler, a grill, two beach balls (inflated): no more playing Tetris with the family baggage.

For the driver and passengers, the Ssangyong turns the tedious car ride to a highly enjoyable one with spacious seats with plenty of legroom for both front and back passengers. Even with the front seats nearly slid all the way back, our team was able to still stretch our legs and sit in a comfortable position throughout the journey.

The air-conditioning, although lacking the center panel, is quite strong and is able to circulate the whole vehicle, leaving all of us still fresh after a

half-day drive. For entertainment and navigation, the XLV has a touch-screen entertainment system with built in GPS and an added camera-assisted reversing for extra convenience.

The driving experience was also excellent for the Tivoli XLV. The 1.6-liter diesel engine pulls in a torque of about 300 Nm, and tops its power at 113 hp. The all-wheel drive has a maximum speed of about 170 km/h. And even at speeds of above 100, steering was still surprisingly responsive and comfortable to maneuver across the expressway.

The XLV had also no problem keeping up with the big boys of our fleet in Mindoro, being able to transition from smooth asphalt to rough dirt with grace, straight and wide roads, to sharp and narrow bends.

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“Tough both on the inside and on the outside, this pickup will take you wherever your destination is without a hitch.�

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2017 Isuzu D-Max: No Road is too Tough for this Steed Isuzu D-Max 3.0 VGS LS 4X4 MT

Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos | Photos by Benedict Asal

Pickup trucks are the ultimate manly man’s vehicle. Its characteristic macho design, powerful engine, high-ground clearance, and tires as tough as steel make it a force to be reckoned in the streets. There’s no doubt that this behemoth can take on any road. But, just in case you want supplementary proof, we took the new Isuzu D-Max with us on our roadtrip to Oriental Mindoro and here’s how it fared.

For our three-day road trip, we packed lots of snacks and brought along nifty gadgets with us to get us by. Along with our personal bags, the extra luggage was nothing the D-Max’s spacious 1485x1530x465 mm cargo bed couldn’t handle. Its rear bed can also, without trouble, accommodate extra passengers along with other small and large things.

This vehicle’s huge built is also reflected inside its cabin. Seats are covered in leather and offers great comfort with ample legroom for both passengers and the driver.

The summer heat is no issue for the 2017 D-Max. This iteration of the much-loved pickup comes with automatic climate control, which means

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temperature inside is well-managed no matter the weather condition, providing maximum comfort for the passengers any time of the day. Taking care of entertainment and other controls is a 7-inch LCD multimedia head unit with DVD/WMA/3 and Bluetooth/aux support to make traversing the long road filled with fun.

Apart from its facelifted design and creature comforts, the new D-Max built with Isuzu’s signature powerful and durable parts makes it a vehicle you can trust. Running this lean mean machine is a massive 3.0 L VGS Turbo Engine with an output of 163 hp and 380 Nm of torque.

Its capability was tested on Mindoro’s rocky and bumpy roads.

Thanks to the expertise of our captain, Sir LJ Garcia, and the D-Max’s powerful drive and 18inch alloy wheels, the bumpy roads offered no challenge to this steed. Surprisingly, the tough road condition didn’t even bother the vehicle’s fuel gauge and we only had to gas up on the way back to Manila. This once again proves the fuelefficiency of the D-Max—the most fuel-efficient diesel vehicle in 2016’s DOE fuel economy run clocking in a whopping 38.46 km/L fuel mileage.

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There are a few essentials every road trip should have. You’ll need snacks, good friends, good music, a reliable car, and of course, fuel for the trip. Petron knows that you’ll only get as far as your fuel tank will let you, so they’ve placed themselves at the most convenient locations to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible. Petron helps you make sure you get to your destination safely and comfortably. Located in convenient spots

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throughout major road and highways all over the country, every Petron station is a great place to stop and top-up before pushing on with your journey. With plenty of pumps to service the increasing traffic on today’s roads, it’s not going to be a long wait until one of the friendly gas attendants sees to your fuel needs.

Should your vehicle require more than just a bit of gas or diesel, select Petron branches also have

service centers to make sure your car is in excellent running condition before getting back on the road.

Running short on snacks? They’ve got you covered. Many Petron stations have everything you might need (or forgot to take along) on your adventure. Quality fuels, quality service, and convenient locations all make Petron the only stop you’ll need.

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Change Your Engine Oil Regularly

Petron helps you prepare for your summer road trips Summer is just around the corner, and fuel leader Petron Corporation can help you get your car ready for those summer road trips. While people invest a lot of time and energy planning their itinerary and arranging hotel bookings, they often forget that reaching their destination and coming home safely is even more important. A visit to your nearest Petron Car Care Center or Petron service station can help make your holiday travels more fun and worry-free.

Petron recommends an oil change if you are planning to go on a long-distance road trip. The engine is the heart of your vehicle, and the right engine oil ensures its efficient operation by reducing engine stress and www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

maintaining cleanliness. Petron’s range of worldclass engine oils are the best match for its superior fuels with their Tri-Action Advantage.

For gasoline engines, Petron Ultron is highly recommended to complement Petron Blaze 100, Petron XCS, and Petron Xtra Advance gasolines. For diesel engines, the best match for Petron Diesel Max and Petron Turbo Diesel fuels are Petron Rev-X diesel engine oils and because motorcycle engines operate at higher speeds and higher power output, Petron has specially formulated its Petron Sprint 4T motorcycle oils for greater thermal and oxidation stability.

So, whether you are driving a sedan, an SUV, a family van, or taking your motorcycle on your summer road trip, a visit to your favorite Petron service station should be an essential part of your pre-trip preparation. And while you’re there, you can ask your friendly Petron service crew for a free BLOWBAG safety check which covers the Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water, Batteries, Air and Gas check.

Make sure your holiday travels are fun-filled, safe, and hassle-free. Make a visit to your nearest Petron service station a part of your summer preparations! april 2017 61

Suzuki Breaks Guinness World Record at Raider R150 Summit 2017

Suzuki Philippines, together with various clubs and Suzuki enthusiasts set the new Guinness world record for the largest road safety lesson ever held last February 26 at the 2017 Raider Summit at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The official tally for the number of participants for the safety riding lesson numbered at 4,178 and was adjudicated by Guinness World Records representative Swapnil Dangarikar. Also bearing witness to the event were LTO director for Law Enforcement Service Francis Rey Almora, Motorsiklo Xclusibo anchor Edwin Go and InsideRACING editor-in-chief Al Camba.

The lesson is in line with Suzuki's dedication to promote road safety and responsible riding in the Philippines, continuously providing lectures and assistance to riders across the Philippines.

"We have been creating history for the Philippines with our monumental wins at the Suzuki Asian Challenge. This time we would like to highlight our commitment to safety riding which is the core of our business. Setting the Philippines in world history books is one achievement that is an honor for Suzuki to host and a Guinness title for the largest road safety lesson is a testament to this," said Suzuki Philippines president Hiroshi Suzuki.

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The Raider Summit recorded 6,200 visitors with over 200 Suzuki clubs represented, showcasing their support for Raider motorcycles and the Suzuki brand.

Apart from the safety lesson, riders and enthusiasts participated in various activities, including custom bike, Astig rider, biker babe, best rider couple and show me the moves contests. Several booth games, a raffle, and free motorcycle servicing and washing were also offered by Suzuki to its patrons.

Guests were treated to performances by Kim Domingo and the event's co-host Roxee B. Suzuki's trade partners also set up booths within the convention area, where riders can purchase products from Gatorade, IRC, Manila Tactical, MotoActive, MotoWorld, NGK, NHK, PacSafe, Pepsi, Racing Boy, RK Racing Chain and Sprocket, Shield, Spyder and XSpeed apart from Suzuki Genuine Parts that were on offer.

The Suzuki Raider continues to be the "Underbone King" with 2016 sales reaching 30,785 units, topping the underbone 150 cc motorcycle category from the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA).

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Carmudi Philippines Holds First Financial Seminar

With the aim to promote better financial awareness in the country, online car classifieds platform Carmudi conducted a financial literacy seminar in the Queen City of the South, Cebu.

Held last March 7 at the Sky Hall of SM Seaside, the event was attended by 1,500 students. It targets to help and empower graduating students on how to secure their finances in the near future.

Carmudi Philippines’ CSR Road Show-Cebu leg was made in partnership with the University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center and SMX Sky Hall.

The main speaker for the day-long program was wealth and life coach Chinkee Tan. The financial literacy seminar for students is part of Carmudi Philippines way of helping every Filipino in making the most of their hard-earned money. The CSR Road Show, meanwhile, is a series of events that will be held in key areas around the country and tackle various issues that concern the public.

During the event, Tan discussed the importance of having a healthy financial mindset and how students can utilize their hard-earned money through savings and increasing its cashflow.

According to Tan, good investments and the improvement of ones financial standing starts when they make the right decisions with their finances.

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Meanwhile, Abhi Mohan, managing director of Carmudi Philippines, expressed optimism that the 1,500 students that attended the event learned to be more financially-literate.

Mohan said that they have shared their knowledge to future leaders and developers of the country so that they could maximize the potential of their hard-earned money.

Further, Mohan said that the financial literacy program for students is just the start of their grand idea in making every Filipino financiallystable. He cited that in the Philippines, owning a motor vehicle is a sign of financial stability. We are in the Philippines for the long haul and when they are stable enough financially, they could tap us when they are ready to purchase their preferred vehicle that is within their budget, explained Mohan.

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The Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) recognized the outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs in the automotive industry at the first-ever ‘Driven To Serve Awards’ held last 23 February 2017 at the Ceremonial Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Resorts World Manila.

The winners are as follows: Road Safety

• Platinum: Ford Philippines – Driving Skills For Life • Gold: Volkswagen Philippines – Child Safety Initiative 2015-2016 • Gold: Honda Cars Philippines Inc. – Teensmart & 1-M Blue Eco-Safe Driving Campaign

Education and Training

• Platinum: Toyota Motor Philippines – Toyota Motor School of Technology • Gold: Isuzu Philippines Corporation – TESDAIsuzu Auto Mechanic Training Center • Silver: PGA Cars Inc. – Porsche Training & Recruitment Center Asia

Environment

• Gold: Toyota Motor Philippines – Peñablanca Sustainable Reforestation Project • Silver: Isuzu Philippines Corporation – Annual CSR Projects on Environment 2002 to 2013 • Silver: Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. – Batad Restoration Project 2012 & 2015

Community Development

• Platinum: Toyota Motor Philippines – GK Village in Sta. Rosa, Laguna • Silver: Nissan Philippines Inc. – Shelter Rebuild Drive with Habitat for Humanity • Silver: Ford Philippines – One Better World Project

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Also given citations for their CSR efforts were Asian Carmakers Corporation (BMW Philippines), Auto Hub Group, Bermaz Auto Philippines (Mazda), Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia), Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., and The Covenant Car Company (Chevrolet).

Winners were determined by a distinguished board of judges which included: Millie Dizon, chairperson of the International Public Relations Association based in the UK, and SVP of the marketing communications group of SM Retail; Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation; Edgardo Gapuz Lacson, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines; Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., honorary chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Cristina Padolina, president and chief academic officer of Centro Escolar University; Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, president of Aeropagus Communications.

“The first Driven To Serve Awards recognized the most outstanding from the already outstanding good deeds done through the past decade by the

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car makers and distributors. Unknown to many, the car industry participants have been very active in giving back to the community,” notes SPMJ president and Manila Bulletin executive editor Pinky Concha-Colmenares.

SPMJ founding chairman Ray Butch Gamboa adds, “We share the common goal of uplifting the lives of our fellow Filipinos, hence this latest project which we call Driven To Serve aims to recognize the best CSR programs of automotive companies.”

The 1st SPMJ Driven To Serve Awards received invaluable support from venue host Resorts World Manila, cooperating sponsor Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), and Petron Corporation.

The Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) is composed of established motoring journalists, editors, producers, publishers of respected publications and motoring shows on print, new media, television and radio.

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Yamaha Holds Mio – Ride Your Story Grand Fans Day

Yamaha recently held the Ride your Story grand fans day with Mio Motorcycles and ambassadors James Reid and Nadine Lustre as stars of the event.

The Ride your Story campaign that was launched in 2016 invaded several parts of the country in an attempt to encourage individuals to pursue their passion through the help of the trusty Mio line up of motorcycles. The grand fans day is a celebration 74

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of the many stories shared with Yamaha and a way to thank those who supported the successful campaign.

On display during the event held at The Market!

Market! Activity Center were the Mio sporty, Mio i 125, Mio Soul i 125 and Mio 125 MXi. The event was attended by hundreds of motorheads and fans eager to witness Yamaha’s display of excellence.

Hosts VJ Chino and VJ Ai were in charge of fun and laughter throughout the event where attendees participated in Mio Mini Games and enjoyed performances by spoken poetry artist Mai Mai Cantillano and singer Tj Monterde. The highlight of the night was the performance of Yamaha Mio ambassadors James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

Follow Yamaha Motor Philippines on Facebook @ ph.yamaha or visit www.yamaha-motor.com. ph/ for updates and event schedules.

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Bridgestone and I Can Serve Foundation Advocated Breast Cancer Awareness The world’s premier tire manufacturer, Bridgestone, in 2016 embarked on a different kind of journey. Bridgestone partnered with the I Can Serve Foundation in the Philippines to address the need for a wider awareness on breast cancer.

According to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in the country, accounting for twenty-eight percent of total cancer cases among women. This puts the Philippines at the heart of the battle against breast cancer in Asia.

The disease has become so common that it is estimated that one of every 13 Filipino women is expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

But far more than what these troubling numbers reveal, breast cancer gives rise to the incalculable cost of human lives broken.

The fight against breast cancer begins with awareness and this is where Bridgestone comes in. In October of last year, Bridgestone released its limited edition pink tire valve caps to mark the launch of the “Together We Save Lives’ campaign.

The tire manufacturer recently produced and

retailed limited edition valve caps for only PHP 100 a set. The proceeds, with a total sum of PHP 478,240, were turned over to the I Can Serve Foundation Inc. to support its information advocacy on breast cancer.

This year, Bridgestone, hand in hand with I Can Serve, looks forward to a deeper and more meaningful involvement in this advocacy as it strives to accompany our women in their journey to a breast cancer-free future.

Scania Demos Fleet Management System Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania demonstrated its Fleet Management System last March 9 at its showroom in Balintawak, Quezon City.

The Fleet Management System is an add-on service that allows clients to monitor their vehicles and drivers in real time via Scania's desktop and smart device applications. This gives companies and organizations an in-depth look at driver performance and important vehicle data such as fuel consumption, geographical location, and repair or check-up schedules.

Apart from being able to access the information anywhere, anytime, Scania's fleet-monitoring service will also give weekly e-mail summaries that show daily fuel consumption, emission levels and driving behaviors. Drivers can then be evaluated on different parameters such as coasting, braking, speeding, or idling. Balancing these actions greatly affect the fleet's resource efficiency on things like fuel and vehicle parts.

The package also provides remote diagnostics and scheduling of truck maintenance plans to keep track of which vehicle is due for a tuneup. Parts for replacement can be prepared beforehand to reduce downtime.

The system is Scania's way of improving customer profitability by being able to monitor how efficient fleet drivers time and cost-wise, as well

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as taking a preventive approach in vehicular maintenance, according to Scania country manager for Southeast Asian export markets Mariano Colombo.

The Fleet Management System is already built into every Scania track and is only a matter of activation with a minimal fee per truck. "The good news is all new Scania trucks that are being sold in the country come pre-installed with the Scania Communicator telematics unit. This device regularly collects, saves, sends and receives information for analysis and presentation on

the Scania Fleet Management portal or through the Scania Fleet Management app that can be downloaded for free. Operators just need to activate the service in order for them to be able to connect to their fleet's data," said Leilani Lim-Tan, vice president of BJ Mercantile, Inc., the distributor of Scania products in the Philippines.

Scania also offers a driver training program that teaches truckers how to drive safer and more efficiently which the company believes will have a positive impact on profitability while at the same time reducing emissions.

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Honda Debuts the All-New Click150i Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) launched the all-new Click150i scooter at the second annual Honda Scooter Fest held last February 25 at the Solaire Resort and Casino.

The company's flagship Gen-S scooter has the highest displacement among its line-up at 150 cc via its liquid-cooled SOHC engine. The all-new Click150i carries Honda's signature Smart Technology features that promise safety and fuel efficiency for the rider.

The engine is built with Enhanced Smart Power (eSP) that produces lower emission levels, and the proprietary ACG starter that delivers the same smooth engine performance as with other Honda motorcycles. In terms of slowing down, the Click150i's Idling Stop System (ISS) promises better fuel efficiency equating to better mileage while the Combined Braking System provides improved tension on both the front and rear brakes.

On the outside, the Click150i boasts of a sophisticated design, featuring dual keen eyes for the headlight, a stylish taillight, tubeless tires, and a digital meter panel. The scooter also has ample storage via its 18-liter U-box compartment that can fit a full-face helmet.

Riders can also find their scooters easier and faster with the Answer Back System that lets the Click150i respond in any of the three tones and blink with the lights in just a press of a button on the key.

"We at Honda are embracing the evolution that moves us forward to the future. The Gen-S riders are always at the helm of all things new. We share their interest and thirst for ingenuity that shapes our world today and tomorrow," said HPI president

Daiki Mihara. Mihara adds that he is confident that the inclusion of the all-new Honda Click150i to the Gen-S line-up will strengthen the company's market leadership in the automatic transmission and sports motorcycle categories.

The Click150i is available in Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, Matte Jasper Brown Metallic and Matte Ion Blue Metallic colors with a suggested retail price of PHP 89,900.

Honda at Guanzon Festival 2017 The Guanzon Festival was recently held at Robinsons Place, Pangasinan, gathering motor heads and motorcycle manufacturers to take part in the festivities.

With more than 70 years of successful business in the Philippines, Guanzon group of companies celebrates its victories every year through the Guanzon Festival.

Held on January 20 to 22, 2017, the festivity was attended by officers of top Japanese motorcycle makers Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. The three-day celebration kicked off with a motorcade of motorcycle riders.

One of the highlights of the Guanzon Festival was the public launch of the Honda Gen-S and BeAT Fi. Daiki Mihara, president of HPI, delivered a congratulatory message on behalf of Honda, recognizing its strong and deep-rooted partnership with Guanzon dealer.

The all-new BeAT Fi is available in six color variants. It also comes with an attractive headlight design with Automatic Headlight On (AHO), sharp tail light design, sporty semi-digital metered panel and new eco-indicator, among other new features.

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courtesy of Honda’s motorcycle display, test ride, and servicing activities. To bring more joy to attendees, Honda also raffled off a new 3rd generation BeAT Fi motorcycle.

and last day of the event. The Honda service team, through the talks, informed people of the competitive advantage of Honda Gen-S models equipped with this latest technology.

Honda also shared about its many innovative technologies through the Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-Fi) seminar helf held on the first

Moreover, Honda also flew in actor-singer Sam Concepcion to perform and judge the Dance BeAT Kids 2017 contest. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

VISUAL SPACE

Globe Art Gallery features Mayie Delgado’s

“Poetic Images” Art is an intrinsic part of the human experience. Through it we see more of ourselves and the world, in so doing, becoming even more human.

While it’s primarily a telco, Globe knows the importance of art, and hopes to bring it closer to the people by featuring the works of Maye Delgado at the Globe offices.

The Globe Art Gallery currently features Mayie Delgado’s “Poetic Images”. The finest abstract photographer in the Philippines and probably one of the best practitioners of the art in the world, Delgado is able to make the most mundane objects seem sublime and profound. Though known mostly for his abstractions, Delgado’s “Poetic Images” captures landscape images in New Zealand and Iceland. The Globe Art Gallery is located at the telecommunication provider’s headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. Globe Telecom’s support for contemporary art and the people in the art community in general speaks of its advocacy for creativity and innovation.

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GAMING

Words by Ren Alcantara Developer: Guerilla Games | Platform: Playstation 4 | Pubisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sandbox games have been a thing for a few years now, and it’s pretty great. The freedom to do all sorts of things in a fantasy/sci-fi/realist fiction world opens so many doors, and so many opportunities to show the title off.

Horizon Zero Dawn is one such title. Gorgeous, expansive, and involving, this title is one we’ve been waiting for for a while. We got our eager little hands on it, and here’s what we think.

The game is set in a post-post-apocalypse, far, far into our future. Human society has risen to great technological heights, and due to some yet unknown event, fallen back into primitive times. It’s not all rabbit meat and wild boar sinigang though.

Also for reasons not revealed at the start of the game, wild robotic beasts roam the land, serving both as a source of resources, and constant peril.

The title follows Aloy, an outcast of her tribe. She learns to survive with her guardian Rost, and because of story reasons, comes into possession of an artifact from the old age. On a quest to find out more about her past, the world, and the reason she exists, it takes you up mountains, through forests, rivers and streams, and across the paths of dangerous humans, wild machines, and other environmental perils. It’s a heck of a ride.

Graphics are, in a word, superb. The sprawling landscapes, weather effects and day-night cycles are terrifyingly realistic, even without the additional power of the PS4 Pro. It’s so close to the real thing, you’re going to think you’re in the middle of a film rather than a game. Motion is smooth, and, if you’ve any experience with any current thirdperson title, you shouldn’t have any problem with the control scheme. There are a lot of things going on though, so you’ll want to spend a little while getting used to switching weapons, using items, 78

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and crafting, the critical portions of which can be done right from the game screen, sans pausing, extra menus, or complicated interfaces.

Overall, two thumbs up on the controls and interface. Climbing might not be as smooth as, say Uncharted, but it’s not the chore some people make it out to be. Combat with a bow, is about as easy as one might expect with a controller, which is to say, totally manageable, but tedious. Or maybe my thumbs are just slow. We may never know, Aloy is helped along on her quest by a levelling system, RPG style. Each action nets you XP towards a new level, and skill points. These skill points can be spent on individual tiered skills that allow you to slow time when aiming with a bow, or increased damage on knocked-down enemies, or maybe stealth kills, better healing, or scavenging. There’s a lot in there, and each skill is helpful towards the completion of quests.

Speaking of quests, roaming the world gives you a lot of those. From the main story quest that pushes you forward, to simple side quests that boost XP and let you score items, there’s a lot to do.

Thankfully, the quests are tied in well with the map, so you won’t have a problem finding out where to go and what to do.

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In-game, you will pick up a Focus–a device that looks like a Bluetooth headset, but way more useful. With the focus, you can keep track of creatures and their patrol paths, items, and other game-critical information. It’s very natural, smoothly incorporated into the story, and a key story point to boot.

There are titles out there that have great individual elements, but fall flat when put together. I’m pleased to say that just isn’t the case here.

Collecting items, scraps, and resources, crafting them into useful items, trading the rest, and harvesting XP, all come together organically. The level of immersion, thanks to the engaging story and great graphics are way up there, and the same level of fun, I would say, as The Last of Us, another one of my favorite titles. The skill tree might seem to some a sneaky way to get you to grind, allowing you to choose skills based on your particular play style make it even more fun.

The game even includes a sort of morality system, that changes the feel of the game subtly, based on dialogue choices you make. Be a hothead, calculating, or a goody-two-shoes type (perhaps based on how you are in real life?) and feel even more connected to our red-headed heroine even more. This is a great thing, as you’ll be spending a lot of time with each other; there’s a reported 40 hours of play time to completion for this game.

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Overall, it’s got all the right things: A great story, a likeable character, actually useful crafting, and great graphics. Combat, which is a huge part of the experience, is more skewed towards being smart, than jumping into the thick of it, though that’s not out of the question either. It caters to a lot of players and interests, and we honestly can’t wait to play even more of it. This is a title you can’t afford to miss. april 2017 79

Words by Jose Alvarez Developer: Ubisoft Paris | Publisher: Ubisoft | Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

The Ghost Recon series has been a popular franchise since the turn of the millennium, mixing military action, political intrigue, and alternative history, much like the novels of Tom Clancy, whose name is attached to the franchise. Different installments in the franchise include settings such as the Cold War and other alternative history settings where extremists have taken control of certain areas around the world. Jack Ryan, a fictional CIA agent in many of these stories, has to stop them from carrying out their plans. Several of Clancy’s other works have also become video games, such as Rainbow Six, The Division, and the Splinter Cell series.

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Ghost Recon: Wildlands takes place in Bolivia, and is also the first game in the series with an openworld environment. Unlike previous installments in the series, which were more futuristic in nature, Ghost Recon: Wildlands takes place in 2019 Bolivia, where a powerful drug cartel called the Santa Blanca has risen to take control of the country and turned it into one of the world’s largest producer of cocaine.

allow stealthy players to achieve their objectives under the shroud of darkness, whereas doing missions during the day will allow you to see the enemies better. If you’re not doing a main mission, you can explore the world and do side missions and take down outposts controlled by the Santa Blanca. One can level up in the game, and loot equipment from enemies for their own personal use.

Some of the equipment in the game is par for the course for tactical shooters and open world games, but an interesting feature of the game is the ability to fly drones and tag enemies and reveal objectives. Players can approach a mission in several different ways: they can parachute from a helicopter, walk to it, or drive to it. This all depends on your play style—whether you like to get things done quietly or walk in with guns blazing.

You can build friendly or hostile relationships with NPCs, but the decisions you make will affect the world around you, and can even affect how missions are done and objectives are completed.

There are 21 areas on the map, each controlled by a buchon (Spanish slang for someone who lives the drug lord lifestyle). There are four divisions of the Santa Blanca cartel: Influence, Security, Production and Smuggling. By clearing missions, you can target a buchon and kill or capture the target, allowing players to target the underboss of a division and ultimately the division head. This

The game also has a day and night cycle and weather. For instance, doing missions at night will

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will weaken the cartel.

If you want to play with your friends, co-operative multiplayer can be played to explore the game world and complete missions. There will also be a DLC and a competitive multiplayer mode in the near future in a free update to the game. It is speculated that this will be done in 4v4 mode.

One possible scenario is that players can choose either to play as the Ghosts or the Santa Blanca cartel, although this has not yet been confirmed

by Ubisoft.

Ghost Recon: Wildlands is one of the more entertaining Ghost Recon games out there, and allows the player to soak themselves in the intrigue of a Tom Clancy plot. Those who enjoy shooters or Tom Clancy novels will enjoy Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

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music corner

Words by Robby Vaflor

At the risk of sounding awfully pretentious, I’m just going to go ahead and say it: creating a mixtape—or a playlist, as most would call it these days—is a fine art.

My preference for the nominative “mixtape” is a subtle way of denoting effort over the former.

Back in the day, the mixtape required careful planning and a considerable amount of time.

It involved a careful curating of songs; playing the corresponding albums; pressing, holding and releasing the “Record” button for the blank cassette; and repeating the process until all of the tape has gone to the take-up spool.

These days, storage space isn’t much of an issue especially if you’re using streaming services; but should that eliminate the manual and highly rewarding (post procedural frustration) effort of selecting songs and reviewing the compilation in its entirety? Nope, nopety, nope, nope.

Making a “best of” or single-genre compilation is simple enough—manageable within the confines of the single artist’s body of work or of a shared musical style. The real skill comes when creating playlists following a theme: for work, a dinner party, the commute, and so on.

Planning the Mixtape

Every element of your mixtape should have a point. Each song should be in line with whatever story, message or emotion you want to convey.

Understanding the purpose of your playlist is the first step to figuring out what songs are good to put in.

In the case of a road trip, ask yourself a few questions to get started: where are you going?

What do you expect to do on the way there and when you get there? What kind of atmosphere do you want to create?

It is at this point that you should also be writing down a few good-fit songs in mind; nothing 82

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gratuitous, every song has to have a point. You wouldn’t be putting summery surf songs into a “December Baguio and Sagada Adventure” playlist would you?

Curating and Organizing the Mixtape

Having a massive music library and finding the perfect songs for your playlist is challenging.

However, by following the guidelines you have provided yourself, this tedious task should be less chaotic.

“To me, making a tape is like writing a letter—there's a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again.”– Nick Hornby, High Fidelity There are no rules in choosing your music. You can cross genres, eras and cultural movements as much as you like as long as there is a logical transition between songs.

Imagine having played the Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 version of País Tropical and then going straight to Dead Kennedys’ Holiday in Cambodia. How did you even link those disparate genres? You might as well play your whole music library on shuffle. Remember, you are creating a linear narrative with your mixtape. Think more along the lines of playing Feist’s I Feel It All after The Libertines’ Don’t Look Back into the Sun. Let your good taste be the judge.

A good mixtape is a collection of songs that one can listen through from start to finish and feel good about having done so. Borrowing

terminology from Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, it should start with a corker: something to call the listener’s attention and keep it there. Again, to put emphasis, the ordering and choice of songs has to be just right for the listener to not have the urge to press “Skip.”

The corker will pretty much dictate how the rest of the playlist will sound, or what image it will convey. If track one on your mixtape is I Know It’s Over by The Smiths, me as a listener would expect the drear and melancholy, post-punky, indie poppy feel would continue on, maybe building towards The Cure or Cocteau Twins.

Having said that, a mixtape’s pace and mood can still change smoothly through a transition track or tracks.

A transition track is the logical link between two relatively dissimilar tracks. Think of it as the middle partition of a Venn diagram. It can perhaps share some melodious or thematic similarities with the previous track and the same tempo or percussive style as the upcoming track.

The transition track can also take the form of a sudden break from continuity. The playlist could have gone through a mellow period ending in a fade to silence, and then it suddenly it breaks out into a warm twang of the guitar or loud bangs on the snare.

As with the corker, so should the wine at the bottom of the bottle still taste as good as the first sip. In closing out your mixtape, you should decide whether you want to come full circle or end in a different tone altogether: it really is all about how you progressed your narrative. Do you want to end in a slow fade or in an abrupt drop?

It’s all a matter of personal taste. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Reviewing the Mixtape

Creating your mixtape in the digital age doesn’t have to be as hit and miss as it was before. Back then, getting the order or song choice wrong required having to record over parts of the cassette or starting all over again. Nevertheless, it is still important to review your mixtape before playing it for friends or giving it to a special someone.

From the birth of the medium decades ago, the mixtape has evolved into an art form of its own. Authors of mixtapes are themselves artists who create their own stories and convey their own emotions through the arrangement and repurposing of songs from various artists.

The visual appeal of the mixtape has died with the cassette and in the ashes rose digital music player playlists; although it does not necessarily mean that the song choices should feel cold and algorithmically produced: they should remain heartfelt and personal.

Skin

1. Toots and the Maytals - Pressure D 2. Al Barry rop and the Cim erons- Morni 3. The Parag ng Sun ons- The Tid e is High 4. Hopeton Le wis 5. Roy Shirley - Take It Easy - Hold Them

Classics

Dad Rock

1. Bruce Springsteen- I’m on Fire 2. Little River Band- Rem iniscing 3. Doobie Brothers- What a Fool Believes 4. Hall & Oates- Rich Girl 5. Huey Lewis & The New s- Do You Believe in Love

nning Group-Keep on Ru 1. Spencer Davis Think We’re -I lls de & the Shon 2. Tommy James Alone Now Delivered I’m r- Signed, Sealed, 3. Stevie Wonde Yours ting Me ur Love Keeps Lif Yo on ils 4. Jackie W Higher ve and Get Your Lo e 5. Redbone- Com

In a Cabin, Und

er

Casual Stroll 1. Kings of Convenience- Misread 2. Beirut- Gibraltar 3. Maps & Atlases- Pigeon 4. Vampire Weekend- Ottoman 5. Local Natives- Ceilings

the Stars 1. Bombay Bicycle Club- Flaws 2. William Fitzsim mons x Priscilla Ah n- I Don’t Feel It Anym ore 3. Iron & Wine- Fl ightless Bird, Am erican Mouth 4. Bon Iver- Beac h Baby 5. Lucy Rose- Shive r

Surf!

Sweet & Lows Pure at Heart- Heart in Being 1. The Pains of ak re tb ar Your He Between Days 2. The Cure- In k As 3. The Smithsith the ian- The Boy W st ba Se d 4. Belle an Arab Strap or Love Letter 5. Stars- Elevat

1. Oberhofer- Landline 2. French Films- 99 3. Day Wave- Drag 4. Happy Hands Club- Astrology 5. The Drums- Forever and Ever Amen

Jump in t

h

e Pool 1. The Macc abees- Latc hmere 2. KlaxonsGolden Sk ans 3. Friendly Fires- Jum p 4. The Str okes- Mach in the Pool u Picchu 5. Band of Horses- Ca sual Party

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WELLNESS

Polarity Physiotherapy

Center Looking for ways to pamper your tired body and relieve sore muscles? A quick trip to the spa for a healing massage could do your body wonders, but it can also leave you feeling more sore.

No matter the activity you are in to, striving for optimal health must always come first. The best weapon of the world’s greatest athletes are their well-maintained bodies.

Achieving this physical state is no easy task. It requires discipline, diligence, and having the right people to keep your body in tip top shape. Do you know there’s also a kind of therapy to take you there?

Manual physiotherapy is a specialized form of physical therapy able to take your body and health to new heights by mobilizing your joints and soft tissues for an improved performance. Polarity Physiotherapy Center is no ordinary spa. This

premiere physical rehabilitation, functional training, and wellness facility offers advanced manual physiotherapy and myofascial release for athletes to everyday warriors in search for relief from pain, recovery from injury, and improvement of physical condition. It is also the perfect place for those taking their first steps to a more healthy way of living.

Polarity is proud of its physiotherapy team which consists of well-trained, skilled,and PRC-licensed physical therapists. They specialize in facets of physical rehabilitation through exercise, manual therapy, muscle and fascia manipulation, muscle release techniques, functional exercise and training, and specific conditioning.

This hub offers varied wellness services under one roof.

1. Myofascial Release (MFR) An effective hands-on therapy which can directly change and improve health of the fascia. The purpose of MFR is to break down scar tissue, relax the muscle and myofascia, and restore good posture.

MFR techniques focus on relaxing the deep tissue of the body providing lasting and effective relief to the patient. It uses slow and sometimes deep pressure to restore the proper health of the fascia.

2. Physiotherapy

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person’ approach to health and well being, which includes the patient’s general lifestyle. At the core is the patient’s involvement in this journey to wellness.

Polarity Prehabilitation and Physiotherapy Center is the first and only center that caters to the prehabilitation and physiotherapy needs of many Filipinos.

If you’re after specialized training and wellness programs based on your health goals and physical fitness level, this hub has you covered.

The center is located at 47 Examiner St. Quezon City. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/PolarityPhysiotherapyCenter. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

FEATURE

DrShimmian Aesthetic Center

Gore-Tex Technology Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos Photos by Dr. Shimmian Aesthetic Center

Over the years, the world has changed dramatically. Smartphones and social media have become everyday staples, whereas, a few years back, they were non-existent.

In this social-media driven generation, trends come up almost every day but are easily outshined the next. There are a few things, though, that doesn’t wane but instead gets better with time and one of these is beauty.

An industry society can’t shake is beauty. It’s all the rage before and it is now bigger than ever.

People turn to various ways to make themselves look more appealing. This extensive engagement in beauty shows in the escalation of photo-editing apps and make-up, hair, and skin care products available in the market. But more than just vanity kicking in, it’s in looking good that we feel good.

And, when we feel good about ourselves, it positively reflects in how we perform at work or school and interact with people.

One of the easiest ways to improve your physical appearance is through the use of make-up, but if you’re looking to make a more valuable beauty investment, cosmetic surgery is the way to go. Now you ask, “Where do I begin?” If you’re already primed for this journey, the next step is finding which clinic you can get a cosmetic procedure from. Among the things to consider are reputation, quality of work, and safety. All of these can be found in DrShimmian Aesthetics Center.

We spoke to the medical director and rhinoplasty specialist of DrShimmian, Dr. Levi John Lansangan, and we’ve learned a thing or two about the ins and outs of aesthetic medicine. Dr. Lansangan shared that when a patient comes in the clinic, he or she has already decided on which feature to enhance. However, there are also cases wherein the patient is totally clueless. Case in point, Dr. Lansangan suggests to start with the nose as it constitutes 80 percent of the facial beauty.

DrShimmian, with its 15 years in the business of making people the best they can be, specializes in Gore-Tex rhinoplasty.

over time, DrShimmian is proud to pioneer GoreTex rhinoplasty in the Philippines.

According to Dr. Lansangan, Gore-Tex implants, which is commonly used to correct vascular and valvular defects, are also found to be safe to use in nose and other facial augmentation procedures. Gore-tex is malleable and porous.

After it is implanted into the nose, tissues fill up its pores and grow around it, organically integrating itself into the patient’s nasal structure. It becomes a part of you rather than being a foreign body, basically eliminating risks of rejection.

Being flexible, Gore-Tex rhinoplasty results to a natural-looking, enhanced nose.

How long does the procedure take?

Gore-tex rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure that only takes around two hours to get done.

From the day of the surgery, it will only take a week to recover. On the 7th day, swelling and bruising are expected to be at a minimal and the patient can already go out. Improvements can also be seen at this point, but the enhancement will visually become fully apparent six months post operation.

During consultation, a preoperative picture of the nose is taken. As the nose is evaluated, the doctor

will point out parts that needs correcting and explain why it needs to be improved. The patient will then be asked what type of food and medicine he or she is allergic to and also if the patient is currently taking medications.

This precaution is taken as some drugs are contraindicated for surgery. The doctor will also do psychological counselling to prepare the patient for surgery.

Let’s say, you want to keep a low profile about getting a nose job. At DrShimmian, you can just log on to www.shimmianmanila.com, click online reservation, pick a date for the surgery, and the clinic will adjust for you—no need to come to the clinic for a consultation in person prior to the surgery.

Do I need follow up procedures after this?

The beauty in Gore-tex rhinoplasty is once you get it done and you’re satisfied with the result, it’s a done deal. You won’t have to visit for follow up procedures or maintenance checkups—unless you want to get another feature done.

How much will it cost me to get a Gore-tex rhinoplasty?

The base rate for a gore-tex rhinoplasty surgery at DrShimmian is at PHP 100,000. This package includes the doctor’s, OR, and anaesthesia fees. The fee goes up depending on the case, the most expensive being revision and reconstructive procedures.

Beauty and safety must always go hand in hand.

DrShimmian Aesthetic Center guarantees both.

What is Gore-Tex rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty or in layman’s term a nose job, is a surgical procedure done to correct, reconstruct, restore functions, and aesthetically enhance the nose. What most patients, specifically in Asia, request is a high nose bridge. This is done by using nasal implants. As opposed to using solid silicone implants, which has been proven problematic as it causes several complications www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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TRAVEL

a r u k a S u Tob : 7 1 0 2 i r u Mats e Easy d a M g n i w e i V a Sakur

If there’s one thing we’re sure is present in every scenic traveler’s must see list, it would have to be the blooming of cherry trees in Japan.

This sight to behold occurs in spring and is undoubtedly beautiful, more so when the petals begin to fall like snow to litter Japan’s roads.

LO V E

Knowing the right time and place to see sakura in full bloom is quite tricky, so planning ahead does wonders. To help Filipinos planning trips to Japan this spring, Tobu Railways has launched “Tobu Sakura Matsuri 2017” which aims to share the charm of cherry blossoms along the railway.

Tobu Railway is a major railway covering the Kanto area, with stops spread out mainly in Tokyo. The railway line connects many charming sight-seeing spots which are brimming with locals and tourists throughout the year. This includes the world’s tallest tower Tokyo Skytree, the world heritage location Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which recently finished repair work lasting about four years on its newly revitalized Yomeimon Gate, and Kawagoe, an area where classic warehouses built in kura style still remain to this day.

As part of this project, Tobu Railway has announced the creation of a special website to introduce recommended cherry blossom viewing spots, the best times for seeing them bloom, and facilities offering cherryblossom sweets, perfect for souvenirs or for quick break during a trip.

The site is also set to feature 360-degree videos of three of the leading cherry blossom spots in the Kanto area, Sumida Park, Satte Gongendo’s bank of cherry trees, and the sakura trees lining Kawagoe Shingashi River. Perfect for those who have yet to save for a trip to Japan, visitors of the site can see the blossoms after they have fully bloomed, allowing them a realistic cherryblossom viewing experience as if they’re physically in these famous spots.

Visit http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/cp/ sakura to experience Japan’s famous sakura and for more information. The site will be available to visit until April 30, 2017.

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ON THE

BULLETPOINTS

EDGE Words by Ren Alcantara

Along with my flashlight, my knife is one of the most important parts of my EDC lineup. From opening packages, slicing and preparing food, and turning big things into littler things, not a day goes by without me having to take it out for some task or another. As with any tool though, it’s not going to be useful if it’s not in good shape. As such, let’s go over some of the more important points to keep your blades in great working condition.

Clean them off after use.

Unless you have a titanium or ceramic blade, you’re running a steel blade. Whether it’s one of the cheaper steel recipes, or something exotic (and possibly Scandinavian), no steel is immune from corrosion. Moisture, particularly if left on for a while, can stain a blade, or worse, pit the surface. At the very least, wipe off your blade after using it. If you can, give it a wash, and more importantly, dry it well after you do. Don’t put it away damp, and if it’s a folder, make sure the inside is dry as well.

Frames and scales can be prone to the same kind of damage that your blade can suffer, and rust can bind up pivots, screws, and other parts you’d much rather keep unstuck.

Don’t just cut on any surface you find.

Good steel is a compromise between hardness and toughness. Regardless of the composition though, the fine edge of a well-kept blade is no match for your average dinner plate. There’s a reason sharpeners have ceramic stones, and that’s because they tend to make short work of steel–that stuff is pretty hard. Even a gentle stroke edgewise on a plate is enough to roll the edge over and mess it up to the point where you’ll have to sharpen it.

The same goes for other metals. Your knife might have some great steel on it, but there’s just so little of that steel on the working part of the blade, that it’s actually quite fragile. Do your knife, your sharpening kit, and yourself a favor, and stick to a cutting board, a piece of wood, or something

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reasonably soft to do your cutting on. Oh, and don’t use cardboard. That tends to have clay particles in it, and those are no good for your edge either.

Sharpen your edge.

This might seem obvious, but part of keeping your knife useful is keeping it sharp. It’s of course obvious that you sharpen your blade, but don’t use just any sharpening implement you find. You know what I’m talking about–those things with the crossed ceramic sticks in a little holder. Call me a purist, but probably the only time I would use those is if there was absolutely nothing else available and I had to cut something with absolute urgency, and I didn’t care much about the knife I would be putting through it. You can bet I’ll take a proper stone to that knife when I have the time to anyway.

Personally, I use the Lansky kit, but there are many great ones available. You could also try to go freehand, with a quality stone, but it’s a lot harder to learn to do well, and takes quite a bit of practice, so be warned. There are many techniques available, but the most important thing is to know what you’re doing, which will only happen with practice.

Remember, a sharp knife is safer than a dull one. If you want more details, we’ll do a sharpening guide soon, so stay tuned!

Take it apart every once in a while.

Folding knives eat up a lot of dirt. Lint, dirt, sand, random bits of whatever was in your pocket: all

these things can get caught in the frame, and stay there. These can then cause rusting, crud up the moving parts, or bind up screws. Frames that don’t have a skeletonized or flow-through design are particularly prone to this, but every knife can benefit from a quick tear-down, cleaning, and rebuilding every so often. Now, this isn’t always the easiest task, particularly if your knife has a complicated locking system, or is of the automatic variety. Still, it’s not yours until you mess with it, and taking it apart to the last screw is great for that purpose as well.

Store them properly!

Let’s face it: very few of those reading this article will have just one knife, and while I espouse always having a blade on you, carrying your whole collection is just absurd. This means the rest of them will have to go into storage. When I put my knives away for a long period, I like to give them a light coat of oil, and keep them in a fabric wrap, or the band it came in, if it did. Foam is an option as well, though be aware that open-cell foam will suck up any oil you put on your blade.

Keep it away from leather, as that attracts and traps moisture. These bundles then get labeled, and placed in a drawer for later retrieval.

Knives are great tools, and wonderful things to collect. I do hope this guide allows you to keep yours in tip-top shape, and ready for anything life might throw at you!

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n e v a H d o o F w e N A For y bees Bus FOOD

doza

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by Jon hotos s and P

Word

A long road trip with our friends and family over the break is always something to look forward to. However, planning one takes a lot of time and executing it requires a long weekend at the very least. Rather than wait for conditions to be perfect, why not consider going on a food trip instead? With a little time, a bit of cash, and an empty stomach, we can experience gastronomic adventures without leaving Manila.

Food parks seem to be popping up all over the Metro, and one of the newest of them just happens to be in the heart of Quezon City—Food Hive. Taking its name the the many busy bees who are the many chefs and patrons of the venue. It even has a hip restaurant tucked inside!

1 4 1. Po-Bo - stands for “potato bomb”.

Celebrity Chef: Rosebud Benitez On the menu: Potato bomb and sisig fries.

I loved their innovative version of potato balls because of its enormous size. Stuffed with ground beef, corn, caramelized onions, and a gooey cheese sauce, it was the perfect to-go meal for hungry kids, or a superb way to start a night of feasting! Their sisig fries were also excellent, and a brilliant mix of two of everyone’s favorite foods. It keeps the rich flavor of the sisig, and balances out with the starchy goodness of the fries.

2. Blaze Flaming Sizzlers - serves sizzling meals perfect with a plate of rice.

Celebrity Chef: Edward Bugia On the menu: Regular Sisig and Seafood Gambas Large serving sizes, and a reasonable price will leave you (and your wallet) satisfied.

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2 5 3. Cool Juans - reinvents Filipino dessert in a new and exciting way.

Celebrity Chef: Wado Siman On the menu: Juan Last Breath (Iced Gems) and Why Nut? (Banana Peanut Ice Cream) The combination of sweet peanut butter and more neutral bananas is hard to put down—it’s like tricking you that you are eating an indulgent yet healthy dessert. The Everyone’s favorite childhood snack, Iced Gems, gets an interesting new twist with the addition of liquid nitrogen, making it a tongue-tingling treat that you have to experience for yourself.

4. Pappare Ristoranti - ever saw pasta served inside a huge cone?

Celebrity Chef: Jarina Tee On the menu: Crabonara and The Hive Special Pizza

3 6 The Crabonara was the winner of the night for us!

Rich, without being overdone, and very filling, I actually took some home for later consumption.

5. Bubble Wraps - uniquely served savory and dessert items wrap in an egg waffle.

On the menu: Sausage Bubble Wraps and Dessert Bubble Wraps A different take on the general waffledog concept, the whole combination of nori, mayo, and hotdog was an unforgettable flavor explosion!

6. La Carnita Modern Mexican Cantina - creator of PH’s first grilled nachos On the menu: Grilled Nachos Ala Bomba Witnessing the thick grilled cheese being poured on top of the nacho chips was life-changing! You can hardly go wrong with melted cheese and nachos, but this is something else. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

7. Mozafrio Frappes and Milktea - over-the-top drinks that will let you experience sugar rush!

On the menu: Juanita (Java Chip Blended Drink) and Carita de Macaria (Matcha & Coffee Blended) I’m a fan of desserts and drinks no matter how sweet it is. This is something that can be considered as both. Great for kids, and those who just haven’t quite outgrown their sweet tooth, it’s great for someone looking for a quick sugar rush.

8. Juicifi - perfect refrehments during this hot season.

On the menu: Brazilian Lemonade and Blueberry Fresh Milk The ultra-tangy flavor of the lemonade will surely wake you up! Plus, what we got was one of the secret items in their menu. As a bonus, they even have a secret resto tucked away inside! Let’s take a look!

And did I mention they also have a separate resto tucked inside? Let’s check it out!

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ori t i k a Y u Hamar hi and Sus The name “Hamaru” translates to “go crazy over” —perfectly describing the two millennials, Tadeo Chua and Therese Larroza, who retired early to pursue their dream of having their own cool and hip resto in Quezon City. The ambiance of place resembles to an underground bar where you can chill out. With the help of the renowned chef, Nino Laus, they were able to attain just that.

On the menu: US Beef Intestine, New-style sashimi, Hamaru Soft Shell Crab Roll, Oyster Motoyaki, Butabara (pork belly), Tofu Pocket, Japanese Highball and Hamaru Rising Sun. I’m never a fan of offal, but, the US Beef intestine changed my mind. The addition of truffle oil gives the dish the depth of flavor that makes the dish so appetizing. The slightly cooked new-style sashimi is a compromise for people who don’t like raw dishes, but appreciate ocean-fresh fish. My favorite dish is the tofu pocket because there so many elements is inside that tofu skin that go so well together. It was like a complete meal in every bite.

Writer’s tip: This upscale spot will be your next hangout destination!

Location: 82 Visayas Ave, Quezon City

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BITS & BYTES i-CiTY Summit 2017

Press Conference by DICT on 14 Mar 2017

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently organized the first i-CiTY (intelligent city) Summit in the Philippines.

As a first step towards sustainable development, speakers shared globally successful use cases, project experiences, challenges, and practices that would help in creating an ICT blueprint for the country’s digital transformation.

The two-day summit, held on March 13 and 14, 2017, gathered local and international industry leaders from government and private institutions to share and discuss the significant role of technology in shaping a safer and better connected Philippines.

With the knowledge gained from the summit, DICT and DILG hopes to encourage more interagency collaborations for readily accessible information and faster response rate. These will result to an increased digital economy, better employment opportunities, improved living conditions, and a more globally competitive Philippines.

The i-CiTY brings together four key elements of a city’s infrastructure and the services which it offers: Digital City Management, Digital Public Services, Digital Industry, and Safe City.

These four key elements are underpinned by Cloud infrastructure, communication networks, and sensors which are the eyes and ears of an i-CiTY.

Undersecretary Eliseo Rio giving an official welcome speech at i-City Summit 2017

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Secretary Rodolfo Salalima DICT presented a Roadmap to build a safer and Better Connected Philippines

During the summit’s opening day, global trends, public safety, e-government were discussed along with the presentation of the i-CiTY financial and operational models. Knowledge sharing on the safe city implementation of Bonifacio Global City, Philippines and Bandung, Indonesia, among others were also part of the event.

The key output of the summit was the official launch of Philippines’ Safe City White Paper—a commitment by the government and its partners from the public and private sectors to push forward a safer and better connected country.

Day two focused on the presentations of the DICT in connection to the National Broadband Plan.

Through talks and panel discussions, participants were able to better understand how technological innovations can help improve transportation system and public services to drive direct investments.

Key change drivers in this digital transformation will be the provision of faster and more stable internet connection for uninterrupted communication, cloud architecture that has the ability to support new products, processes, applications, and services anytime and anywhere, and facilities for behavior analysis such as realtime surveillance and pre-event warning, among others.

The event was made possible through DICT and DILG’s partnership with Huawei Technologies Phils. Inc., SAP, Hexagon, IHS, Pacific Disaster Center, PWC, Indonesia FTTH Association, Roland Berger, Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Delaware Consulting.

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iflix Locks Down USD 90 Million to Accelerate Global Expansion iflix has closed a new round of funding in excess of USD 90 million to support its further international expansion.

The financing includes new investors—Liberty Global plc, major distributor of TV entertainment, sports and other programming, Zain, a leading mobile and data services operator in the Middle East and Africa with whom iflix recently established a joint venture ‘iflix Arabia’ in the MENA region, and a privately held investment management firm that invests in consumer businesses across Africa. Additional capital also came from existing shareholders Sky PLC, Catcha Group and Los Angeles-based Evolution Media, an investment company that partners with entertainment, lifestyle, media, sports, and technology businesses.

In this new milestone, iflix co-founder and Group CEO, Mark Britt expressed: “We are incredibly excited with the demand we are seeing for iflix in the Middle East and Africa, as well as other new markets in Asia and worldwide. The new funds will enable us to seize this immense opportunity and continue empower local consumers and provide them with the best content and services available, and the freedom to enjoy that offering whenever and wherever they want, wherever they are in the world.”

“There are currently more than 2.5 billion people with smartphones in emerging markets who have a passion for cultural influences from around the globe and want access to the best entertainment content available easily and reliably. It is our aim to make iflix available to each and every one of

them. Having exceptional partners, Liberty Global, Zain, Sky PLC, Evolution Media and Catcha Group who share our vision, will be fundamental to our success as we expand our footprint in Asia and roll out the service in the Middle East and Africa” Britt added. iflix has seen exceptional growth since its launch in May 2015, with daily active accounts growing

by more than 27 times, and continued momentum in user engagement with over 5 billion minutes streamed since launch.

The service recently launched in Pakistan and Vietnam, and additionally announced its Joint Venture, iflix Arabia, with Zain, to make its world class service available in the MENA region.

Grab-Petron Value Card Rolled Out Petron Corporation recently inked a partnership with ride-sharing platform Grab, to offer exclusive benefits to Grab drivers and employees through its Grab-branded Petron Value Card.

Forming part of the benefits that Grab drivers enjoy when they sign up with Grab, the PVC cards will be given free to all Grab vehicles, except Grab Taxi. With their Petron Value Card, Grab drivers earn peso-points every time they fill up with Petron fuels—Petron Blaze 100, XCS, Xtra Advance, Turbo Diesel, and Diesel Max. Peso points earned can be redeemed for Petron products at over 2,000 Petron stations nationwide.

These can also be converted to cellphone load, air miles, groceries, movies, and other options.

Other ways to earn more points are through the Frequent Visit promo where the PVC cardholder gets additional points on every 5th visit to a Petron station, and the Birthday Promo that

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awards bonus points when the Grab driver gases up within five days of his birthday.

Petron takes care of its loyal customers, and Grab drivers can enjoy the following benefits —subject to terms and conditions—through their Petron Value Card: free 24/7 towing and roadside assistance, free personal accident insurance coverage of PHP 10,000 for accidental death and PHP 1,000 medical reimbursement, and privileges at partner establishments.

The Petron Value Card mobile app, available for iOS and Android smartphones, provides the transaction history and points summary, as well as access to the various promos, rewards and benefits.

quality, thus offering savings not just through fuel efficiency, but by reducing maintenance costs through better engine protection.

Beyond the perks and privileges they will enjoy as PVC cardholders, Grab drivers have the assurance that Petron fuels and engine oils are of world-class

Grab will handle distribution of the co-branded Grab-Petron Value Card, which can be claimed at the following locations: Libis, Araneta-Cubao, Fisher Mall, Manila, Imus, and Metro East.

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Getting your Business Ahead in the Digital Journey At this moment, we are witnessing an explosion of connectivity, data and innovation. As this hyper connectivity is changing the game for most businesses, customers in turn, are radically changing the rules as they demand a simpler, more seamless and personalized experience at every touch point. your complete business. Gone are the days of requesting staffing plans or asking for financial projections to evaluate new supplier choices. This information will be accessible across the enterprise, which will have a significant impact on how companies are run.

Rising expectations You could call it life imitating art, where customers are setting sky-high expectations for real-world encounters, demanding a personalised, consistent, interconnected experience across every touch point.

Enterprises of all sizes across the Philippines receive vast amounts of data—such as of sales, expense, investments, competitor analysis, market trends, among others—collected over a certain period of time. Without an integrated framework to give a unified view, businesses will not be able to make sense of these gathered data which have the potential to provide intelligence needed to support efficient executive decision making in the digital economy.

As society advances in the digital economy, consumers demand access to products and services via multiple channels, putting pressure on companies to provide an integrated experience.

It is no longer sufficient to simply deliver a slick experience on a mobile device in isolation. You can’t expect your customers to be happy with one great experience that doesn’t extend beyond the confines of their mobile screens.

In the Philippines, 44.2 million of the population are active internet users, with 90 percent these users having active social media accounts, based on a report by Asia Digital Marketing Association and the Internet World statistics. A 2016 Digital Experience Report conducted by SAP found that 54 percent of Filipino consumers are satisfied with their digital interactions with a brand or an enterprise. This exhibits a positive outcome, but as consumers’ awareness of digital services increase, their expectations continue to grow and evolve in parallel. The challenge lies in keeping up with (or better yet, being ahead of) their rising expectations to slant the satisfaction upwards.

But it’s not just about exceeding customer expectations. Inside the enterprise, employees are leading the charge. They want to collaborate with their co-workers in the same way as they do with friends. For decades, employees were able to enjoy the same, if not better, technology at work than they do at home. No longer is this the case, with consumer-grade technology often outpacing enterprise technology in terms of connectivity, integration and ease-of-use. Failure to deliver this at work leads to dissatisfied employees, lower morale, all of which affects work productivity and the bottom-line.

Single source of truth In the modern enterprise, your employees, suppliers, partners, customers, or assets have respective roles to play at every touch point in your company like the brain, eyes and ears do.

These connection points map directly to key functional areas in the organization. Every line of business has been serviced by different enterprise solutions that interact with core systems; but more often than not, they run in silos themselves and reflect machine-like characteristics that are prevalent in the knowledge economy.

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Ryan Poggi is the Managing Director for SAP in the Philippines.

Whilst inefficient, it’s not uncommon, that many companies use different siloed solutions to manage customers, workforce, spend and supply chain assets.

But in a world where everything is connected, these four areas are prime for disruption. Companies today need to run their business in a ‘live’ environment, to be able to react to changes both internally and externally almost immediately, with enough agility to adapt to, or even predict, what the market requires.

Running ‘live’ breaks down these silos, bringing market-wide visibility within our grasp.

This opens up an intriguing question: What does the enterprise architecture – which seamlessly connects these systems to deliver success in the digital economy – look like? Connecting your employee and customer solution systems through a traditional back end would limit the delivery of the ground-breaking scenarios that are taking place in the digital world.

What’s necessary is a platform for digital business that not only has the scale to run your core processes, but is also hyper-connected to link any part of your business processes together. In turn, a fluid, nimble, real-time digital business emerges – a true ‘Live Business’ that is ready to succeed in the digital economy.

The four areas of disruption will be subject to everchanging influences that will consistently stress your core business. By building a digital framework, you can develop, manage, and execute your own digital transformation strategy. Then, you can link the quartet to a digital business foundation, or a digital core, to better understand, embrace, and deliver on the promise of digital transformation.

Yesterday’s boards operate on piecemeal information to make critical decisions on the future of the business, while the pressure of digital transformation weighs heavily on the individual members. A recent report by consulting company McKinsey & Company addressed this issue by talking about “increasing their digital quotient” to better understand the underlying technology changes afoot. This is all well and good, but we need to provide the tools and mechanisms needed to take the boardroom out of the knowledge economy and into the digital economy. Today’s technology exists to deliver this real-time view directly to the boardroom.

SAP Digital Boardroom is one specific tool that allows business leaders to have a comprehensive view of the analytics and data of their company, both internally and externally. Their business’ position in a specific market setting is monitored to compare their progress against their competitors.

It allows management to have a better view of the organization’s financial performance, suppliers’ system, customers and other relevant data for more effective decision-making.

For those willing to think big, embrace change, move quickly, and organize differently, there are countless opportunities to reap the rewards of the digital economy in industries ranging from healthcare to retail and consumer goods. By embracing the choice to be a Live Business, organizations will be able to respond dynamically—to learn, adapt, and even predict in an uncertain, ambiguous, and constantly evolving environment.

Transforming into a connected company will give you unprecedented access to information across www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Theo & Philo Sweetens Business Operation with Netsuite Cloud ERP

Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit, one of the industry’s leading providers of cloud financials / ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oracle, today announced that Theo & Philo, a bean-to-bar maker of single-origin Philippine artisanal chocolate, replaced QuickBooks and numerous Excel spreadsheets with NetSuite to gain scalability and flexibility to power its growth.

Since going live on NetSuite in November 2015, Theo & Philo has been using NetSuite for accounting, inventory management, order management, invoicing and purchasing—all within one cloud ERP system. With NetSuite, Theo & Philo is able to better plan and manage sourcing, production and distribution and increase efficiency while saving both time and money compared to the error-prone manual work required by their previous software and paperbased processes.

Founded in 2010, Theo & Philo (www. theoandphilo.com) grew steadily offering more than a dozen varieties of premium, locally-sourced chocolate products. As production volume soared 700 percent to about 14,000 bars a month, the organization faced challenges keeping pace with its previous system and inventory management was handled manually and tracked on paper.

“NetSuite is an integral part of our day-to-day operations and a scalable platform for our

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continued growth,” Theo and Philo Founder Philo Chua said. “We’re a lot more efficient and, as we grow, the automated process flows and checks and balances that we need are already in place within NetSuite.”

Through its continued global growth and success, Theo & Philo, a social enterprise and grantee of the NetSuite Citizenship software donation program, has been able to help improve social welfare in the Philippines in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, a nonprofit organization committed to ending poverty for 5 million Filipino families by 2024.

distribution with visibility that helps spotlight issues and areas for improvement.

Flexible customizations. Leveraging the NetSuite SuiteCloud Platform, Theo & Philo can adapt NetSuite to unique business needs, for instance, a customization by Tech for Good, a PGE Solutions sister company, enables the company to seamlessly manage consignment inventory and associated sales orders.

The features and benefits that Theo & Philo has been able to achieve with NetSuite include: International growth. Theo & Philo has expanded sales to foreign distributors in recent months, using NetSuite’s multi-currency capabilities for transactions in the Euro for Germany and the U.S. dollar for Japan.

Real-time access. Compared to the limitations of its previous QuickBooks desktop application, Theo & Philo now enjoys anywhere, anytime cloudbased capable access to NetSuite with no need for on-premise software and servers.

Streamlined inventory and distribution.

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Microsoft Helps Companies Comply with Data Privacy Act

Microsoft Philippines announced last March 17 in Makati that it is assisting local companies on their on-going compliance with the Data Privacy Act. The Data Privacy Act (DPA) or Republic Act No. 10173 requires all businesses and organizations to comply with the enacted rules and regulations by September 9, 2017 or face sanctions and penalties.

The DPA aims to protect private information recorded on any IT and communication system through both the government and the private sector. The purposely established National Privacy Commission or NPC has been tasked to educate people on the DPA and enforce it once the deadline expires.

The NPC, in accordance with at least any organization that employs at least 250 people or

handles more than a thousand customers in their databases to appoint a data protection officer (DPO), conduct a privacy impact assessment and from there create a privacy management program. These organizations must also implement privacy and data protection measures and exercise breach reporting procedures.

Violators can be fined up to PHP 5 million for non-compliance with the DPA. Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to security, privacy, and transparency are consistent with the goals of the DPA. With this, Microsoft has been working with businesses and other organizations on complying with the law.

The company has put up a Microsoft Trust Center website that provides the public with a backgrounder on the DPA, its main requirements,

and how to comply. Organizations may also take a free risk assessment created with the NPC. Apart from this, Microsoft believes that its products and services will be able to help businesses meet the requirements put forth by the NPC and the DPA. Through its cloud services and on-premise solutions such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Office 365 and Windows 10 features, Microsoft seeks to create a more secure environment, to ease management and monitoring of personal information, and to give tools and resources necessary to continuously comply with the DPA’s requirements on reporting and assessment.

Palo Alto Enhances Next-Generation Security Platform

Next-generation security company Palo Alto Networks (PAN) announced advancements to its security platform last March 14, 2017.

The enhancements extend the customer’s ability to enable applications such as SaaS options, content and users safely regardless of location; prevent cyberattacks; simplify security operation management; and fully embrace the capabilities of the cloud securely.

The traditional detect-and-response approach to security, cloud-only security, and silo-ed point products, according to the company, offer limited functionality and threat contextualization.

Palo Alto’s enhancements build upon the existing capabilities of the natively engineered platform, 94

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integrating more than 70 new cloud and SaaS features in the next-generation security platform.

The PAN-OS 8.0 expands its security for both public and private clouds including optimized workflow automation and integration with native cloud services. This ensures the same level of security between a customer organization’s physical environment and to AWS, Azure, or other cloud services should the need arise.

The updated version of Palo Alto’s security platform also includes new SaaS application security capabilities including enhanced visibility and interactive dashboards, reporting, security action automation including instant quarantine and data-sharing limitation.

The features increase security and allow real-

time monitoring and compliance enforcement capabilities on cloud-based assets. In addition, Palo Alto extends application support such as for Slack and Secure Data Space, language support for DLP and machine learning including German and Japanese, and new data centers established in Europe and Asia, expanding global usage and protection options and at the same time addressing regional data privacy needs.

The company has made improvements on its physical product line as well with the addition of three new VM-Series virtual firewall models: the VM-50, VM-500, and VM-700, delivering industryleading performance options ranging from 200 mbps up to 16 gbps of firewall throughput meant to scale up or down based on the customer’s needs and purposes. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

RELIC

Gasoline Words by Jose Alvarez

Gasoline, or petrol, has powered vehicles all throughout history. While gasoline has had a profound effect on our society, it has also helped us move more quickly between two points. Today however, hybrids are becoming more and more popular, as well as the introduction of ethanol into gasoline to make it more environmentally friendly.

But how did gasoline become the fuel of choice for vehicles?

Automotive combustion engines called Otto engines (named after German engineer Nikolaus Otto) were developed in the late 19th century in Germany, and were the first internal combustion engines that ran on petroleum gas.

Otto tried to improve on the design of the Lenoir engine, which only produced a mere 2 horsepower output. The Otto engine managed to improve this efficiency to 3 horsepower and was exhibited at the 1867 World Fair; this was discontinued in 1882.

Two future German automobile executives, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, worked under Otto. They would form a company the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (Daimler Motors Corporation) that would later produce the Mercedes-Benz, whose cars are synonymous with luxury today.

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While extracting oil in the United States goes as far back as 1859, it was used to produce kerosene for lighting lamps. By 1892, gasoline was being used to power automobiles. Henry Ford’s Model T was the first commercially successful automobile, selling over 15 million automobiles between 1908 and 1927. To power these automobiles, service stations selling gasoline and other automobile-related services popped up around the United States and around the world. The octane rating on gasoline (measured as a fuel’s ability to resist engine knock at high compression ratios) also increased, allowing vehicles to travel longer distances.

Early forms of gasoline contained lead. This was especially dangerous to humans and the environment, and calls to remove lead from gasoline started in the 1970s. In 1973, leaded gasoline started becoming phased out in the

United States, and by 1996, the U.S. Clean Air Act banned the use of leaded gasoline in the United States. The majority of countries use unleaded gasoline today, although some countries still use leaded gasoline. These countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Algeria, Iraq and Yemen.

At the turn of the millennium, ethanol started to be introduced into gasoline as a way of reducing reliance on gasoline and counteracting the effects of gasoline on the environment. Ethanol is used in alcoholic beverages and can be made from crops.

While we have relied on gasoline for a very long time, there might be one day that we might not need it at all due to the limited amount of fossil fuels left on the Earth.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph