2017 v18n4 - THE WISH LIST ISSUE

EDITOR’S NOTE The season we’ve both been dreading, and eagerly awaiting is upon us. Sales are everywhere, traffic is extra terrible, and people are all out looking to fulfill shopping lists. If you’re like us, and prefer to know what you’re going to be hunting for, you’re in luck! We’ve got all the resources you need, from the Parades for everything fresh, hot and new, and our usual Labs, so you can see what it is you should have your sights on when you venture out. Once you’re done with that, head over to the regular sections, where we tackle everything from everyday preparedness, to getting out there to see the world. There’s quite a bit of ground to cover, so you’d better get started! Best of luck with your Christmas shopping, and see you again in a few weeks!

Ren Alcantara Managing Editor

Maribelle M. Alba

Managing Editor

#GIRLBOSS

Être fort pour être utile

@bellealba

@hisnameisren

THERESA ELORIAGA

EDITOR-AT-LARGE I don’t travel light, I lug too many gadgets, I can walk for miles exploring a new city or shopping and I never say no to the local fare.

ART DIRECTOR Garmonbozia.

@theresaeloriaga

JAEL MENDOZA

PRESY ALBA

@presy1121

MIA CARISSE BARRIENTOS

President & CEO

Sales Manager Account executive

Accounting manager Accounting Staff

PR & MARKETING STAFF

A bibliophile fascinated with tech.

Also a walking fangirl dictionary.

Legal Counsel

@jaellaura_m

@miaissocoollike

ROBBY VAFLOR

The incarnation of the award-winning, hit single ‘ Torn ‘ by Natalie Imbruglia.

Unable to start program:’C:\brain\ emotions.exe’ The system cannot find the file specified.

@sailorapollo11

@afterhourscritic

JOSE ALVAREZ

CONTRIBUTOR

Jose loves football, video games, computers, and history, but not necessarily in any order. @josealvarez

Jay Alba

GERRY GAVIOLA

STAFF WRITER

Cineaste. Audiophile. Gadget addict. facebook.com/gerry.gaviola.3

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Anne Patricia Cardeño

CONTRIBUTOR Jay Alba is a fresh college graduate based in California. Had she not pursued writing, she would’ve been a perfectly functional nurse.

An introvert aesthete who loves cats, seeks God, and is learning to love herself.

@naiveroommate

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NOVEMBER 2017

Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

Paula Candoy

But He knows the way I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold -Job 23:10

STAFF WRITER

Marisa Consuelo Carol Agabin

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano Clifford Dela Paz

Junior Editor

GRAPHIC Artist

Maribelle Alba

HR & ADMIN MANAGER Administration Staff

GRAPHIC Artist

RONEL BAUTISTA

2

Ren Alcantara

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

INTERN

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2017 | Volume 18 No. 4

07

Parade

18

Gadgets Lab

25

44

50

60

Two of the country’s hottest young stars meet one of the hottest phones.

Indulge us with a rundown of our dream gadgets.

Factory-fresh devices for your perusal.

Our Wish List Issue and the Vivo V7+

69

Bulletpoints

Putting together an EDC Kit.

The elves have been hard at work to review the latest gadgetry.

Things We Want to See Under the Tree

70

Pokefi

Pocket Wi-Fi reviewed.

The Wish List

Our gift guide in time for your holiday shopping spree.

Mobility

Get your monthly fix of everything automotive. Vroom, vroom.

71

Destination: Museums

Great collections of artefacts and art pieces.

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74

Gaming

Opus: Rocket of Whispers and Cuphead

82

Everything Apple

The basics of ARkit apps.

86

Productivity Apps for Students

78

QCinema 2017 One of the country’s most awaited film festivals returns with an awesome line up.

84

PortaSing

Karaoke anywhere, anytime: the Filipino dream.

88

Bits & Bytes

The latest and hottest news in tech for the past month.

80

Top 360 Cameras to Buy This Christmas Shooting in virtual reality without hurting your bank account.

85

The Spark Project

All it takes for a great idea to become reality is a tiny spark.

95

Super 8

We remember a once popular film format.

Minimize effort and maximize output with these apps.

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November 2017

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PARADE

Otterbox Symmetry Series

iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus Case Otterbox is back with their stylish phone cases designed for discerning millennial tastes. The Symmetry series for the iPhone 7, iPhone Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus is available in trendy colors, graphics, and patterns. This series, however, isn’t all just glamour; its dual-layer defense prevents damage from drops and bumps, as well as scrapes and scratches. It’s easy to install with its carefully customized form factor. It also has a screen bumper that serves as a layer of protection for the display when dropped face down. Day in and out, rest assured your device is protected fashionably.

PHP 2,250 (iPhone 8) PHP 2,600 (iPhone 8 Clear Series) PHP 2,950 (iPhone 8 Plus) PHP 3,200 (iPhone 8 Plus Clear Series)

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NOVEMBER 2017

7

Otterbox Commuter Series

iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus Case Worrying about your device’s protection against dust, drops, and scratches?

Commute confidently with the Otterbox Commuter series for that on-the-go protection your device needs! This set for the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus is available in different color combinations along with the classic black you can’t go wrong with. This case offers a pocket-ready design with dual-layer tough protection to withstand falls and bumps. Interested?

Here’s more: it has port covers to keep dust and dirt from accumulating in cable ports and jacks. Your device will thank you.

PHP 2,250 (iPhone 8) PHP 2,950 (iPhone 8 Plus)

Otterbox Defender Series

iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X Case The big daddy of the Otterbox series, the Defender ships as a multi-layer sandwich of polycarbonate and synthetic rubber slipcover. This series offers your iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X a rugged defense against drops and falls. Its port covers shield your device from dirt, dust, and lint. This avoids clogging up of jacks and ports that can mess up with your device. The Defender also has a belt holster for the iPhone X which can be attached to bags, belts, and straps locking it in place. Rugged protection giving you confidence that your device is well-secured, isn’t that great?

PHP 2,950 (iPhone 8 and X) PHP 3,700 (iPhone 8 Plus)

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Sennheiser Momentum Free In- Ear Wireless Headphones

Be truly free to move with Sennheiser’s Momentum Free Bluetooth headphones. These in-ears give you freedom to move along to the music without wires getting in the way.

It packs style, and all the elements that amplify the musiclistening experience. It offers clean wireless Hi-Fi sound thanks to an integrated microphone, and a six-hour battery life. When heading out, you can stash it in the included leather case, taking your mobile lifestyle to newer heights. Rounding out the package are support for Bluetooth and NFC connections for music that transcends limits.

PHP 12,590

Fujifilm X-E3

Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera This new rangefinder style, ultra-compact, mirrorless camera is the perfect gear for mid-pros and photography enthusiasts. Utilizing the X-Processor Pro for accurate color reproduction in both stills and 4K movies, the X-E3 boasts outstanding image quality and enhanced handling made for seamless uploading of photos directly to mobile devices. With minimalism in mind, the X-E3’s operability is simplified for a more efficient user experience; shooting modes can be selected in an instant according to the scene, meanwhile ergonomic control dials make settings more personified. Users can also switch it to Advanced SR Auto Mode and select the optimum auto focus and exposure settings from 58 presets. It is equipped with a 0.62x1 / 100-percent field of view and 2.36M-dot organic EL electronic viewfinder, projecting subjects clearly even in bright outdoors scenes. Toggle at a touch, the rear LCD monitor adopts an electrostatic touch panel display, supporting intuitive operation with your fingertips such as flick, double tap, tap, drag, and pinching in and out. It also has Bluetooth support, X-Trans CMOS III, and X-Processor Pro.

PHP 50,900 (body only) PHP 64,990 (23mm kit) PHP 72,990 (18-55mm kit)

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NOVEMBER 2017

9

Epson L-Series

Integrated Ink Tank Printer Epson’s new A4 duplex integrated ink tank printers, the new L-series printers, offer one of the lowest printing costs in the market. The new L-series has been re-designed with the ink tank integrated into the printer, offering the smallest footprint possible. Beyond its sleek design and compact size, it features easy-to-use spill-free ink bottles offering convenience when refilling the ink bottles. The ink bottles are designed to prevent re-filling errors with each ink bottle nozzle uniquely customized to fit its matching color tank. The series promises ultra-high page yields, with each complete set of 4 ink bottles increasing its yield to 7,500 black and white pages and 6,000 color pages to help businesses lower their operating costs.

Its pigment-based black ink also provides laser-like quality, making documents water and smudge-resistant when printing in mono. Along with these, the printers also boast an auto-duplex print function, PrecisionCore printheads, support for borderless printing of up to A4 size, and various connectivity options such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct. The new integrated ink tank printers consist of the L4150 and L4160 models, and the L6160, L6170 and L6190 models.

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Google Home Max

Smart Home Speaker Google’s new smart home speaker promises not just smart connectivity but also excellent audio quality. The Home Max features two 4.5-inch woofers coupled with custom tweeters for a clean, balanced sound, allowing users to listen to millions of songs via their favorite streaming services. To make things smarter, the Home Max is Smart Sound-enabled, which uses sensors and machine learning to optimize sound diffusion based on where the speaker is placed, what objects are in its surroundings, and what kind of music the user is listening to. Smart Sound will continuously update itself, improving audio quality throughout the Home Max’s lifespan. Google also improves upon the device’s Assistant capabilities with far-field voice control, detecting commands even from across the room. The Home Max can connect to devices via auxiliary, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and can wirelessly pair with another Home Max speaker for a broader, wall-to-wall stereo image.

Pixel Buds

Smart Headset As part of Google’s exciting product launch, the company introduced its latest smart headset, the Pixel Buds. The Google Assistant-enabled wireless headset allows users to control music, get schedule reminders, review messages, and get directions. But the feature the company is most excited about is its real time translation of 40 languages so users can communicate better with more people. The Pixel Buds have an energy capacity of up to five hours on a single charge, but the charging case gives the headset 24 hours of use without plugging into an external outlet.

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NOVEMBER 2017

11

Moto g5s Plus Smartphone

There are a few things you can’t leave home without and one of those is your smartphone. If you’re in need of a capable daily driver, look no more. The special edition of the 5.5-inch moto g5s is feature-packed and beautiful without even trying. On the outside, it’s dressed in a metal shell that looks refined, yet feels sturdy in the hand. Meanwhile, inside it reveals a combination of generous 32 GB expandable internal storage and processing power care of a 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor to see you through every task. But the real icing on the cake here is its dual rear camera setup. It ships with two 13 MP rear cameras with depth editor, f/2.0 aperture, and color balancing allowing you to capture moments twofold the quality of smartphones with single imaging sensors.

PHP 14,999

Moto g5s

Smartphone The g5s is as capable and gorgeous as its bigger sibling, with its 3 GB RAM-Snapdragon 430 hardware and an all-metal unibody design. Its single 16 MP rear camera with ultra-fast focusing also packs a mean punch, giving you speedy focusing and a professional mode to tinker around with for better-looking photos. It’s built with a 5.2-inch FHD display with a 1080p resolution and is protected

by Corning Gorilla glass 3. To see you through a busy day, you can count on the g5s’ 3000 mAh battery with TurboPower fast-charging technology to help you breeze through tasks without worrying about battery levels.

PHP 10,999

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NOVEMBER 2017

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Nokia 3310 3G Feature Phone

The new Nokia 3310 3G variant now ships with new colors and a new user interface. Taking what’s good from the Nokia 3310 of old, the 3G-enabled modern classic now features a whopping 24-day standby time, a 2.4-inch colored display, a 2 MP rear camera with flash, and is equipped with Bluetooth 2.1. Beyond talk and text, the current model now has added 3G data connectivity, dual SIM slots, and features a retro user interface. This new addition offers improved performance and an enhanced and customizable phone. With this, users can change the icon colors and position to have your favorite functions exactly where you want them to be. The Nokia 3310 3G is available in four colors: warm red, yellow, charcoal, and azure; all with a matte finish and new silver keypads.

PHP 2,790

HP Sprocket 2-in-1 Instant camera

HP is making millennial dreams come true by sticking its Sprocket ZINK printer onto a simple instant camera. The HP Sprocket 2-in-1 takes photos (313 x 400 dpi) with a straightforward screen-less camera, the perfect size for its sticky-backed, 2 x 3-inch photo papers. If the scene calls for more artistry, the Sprocket 2-in-1 also allows mobile connection to the built-in printer via Bluetooth and using the Sprocket app. It can also hold more photos with a microSD card slot (256 GB maximum).

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NOVEMBER 2017

13

Predator Triton 700 Gaming Laptop

As hinted by its aqua blue accents, the Acer Predator Triton 700 now features advanced thermal technologies that ensure everything stays cool during hardcore gaming sessions. With the aid of two AeroBlade 3D fans, six heat pipes, and four heat sinks, the chassis is able to stay cool while the 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU and Intel’s 7th Generation Intel Core i7 7700HQ processor do their job of taking care of graphics domination. At just 18.0 mm thin, Acer’s new contender comes as a slim yet powerful gaming beast.

PHP 229,999

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Pioneer DEH S5050BT Car Audio Receiver

The DEH S5050BT leads Pioneer’s 2018 car audio receiver family. Directed towards budget-conscious owners, the receiver boasts competitive pricing and uncompromised sound. Its ARC Bluetooth Hub introduces seamless smartphone connectivity and easy content sharing, while the Dynamic Bass Enhancer function provides stronger and deeper bass in a press of a button. When needed, the DEH S5050BT is also able to convert into a portable carpool karaoke machine in minutes!

Pioneer DJS-1000 Sampler

The DJS-1000 is Pioneer’s new standalone sampler with a highly intuitive interface that works well in live performances. The sampler features 16 multi-colored step input keys and 16 multi-colored performance pads and several inputs and outputs for on-the-fly sampling to give live sets more life. Now DJs and electronic musicians can create unique sounds and phrases then quickly sequence or loop them. The DJS-1000 allows syncing and mixing with tracks playing on other equipment using the Beat Sync function. It also has a touch pitch slider, a physical tempo slider, Live Sampling and nudge features for even more quick customization during sets. The bright and vivid seven-inch touch screen provides clear information to assist DJs in their performances, even in dark environments.

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NOVEMBER 2017

15

JBL Pulse 3

Bluetooth Speaker Music is the heart of every party, and JBL is ready to give life to your next one with the Pulse 3 Bluetooth speaker. With water resistance and booming 360-degree sound, the Pulse 3 is ready for any party, anywhere.

Multi-point connection, and the ability to wirelessly stream to as many JBL Connect+ speakers as you can get your hands on (they’ve done 1000 speakers chained together), this is a party in a handy little package. If that isn’t enough, you can even customize the colors that come on the exterior LED-covered housing of the device, to really get the crowd hyped.

PHP 10,995

JBL E65BTNC

Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones Two things make any listening experience, particularly one outside, less than ideal. These are wires, and noise. The JBL E65BTNC is just the solution to your wired, noisy woes. Featuring Bluetooth connectivity to free your music from entanglements, and superior noise cancelling technology, these headphones give you up to 24 hours of music, or 15 hours, with active noisecanceling enabled, on a single 2-hour charge. High-quality construction, superb comfort, and JBL’s renowned sound all come together in a single pair of over-ears that deliver the best music experience you can get your hands on, at the right price.

PHP 8,999

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NOVEMBER 2017

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12TB BarraCuda Pro Desktop Drive Hard Drive

There isn’t a lot you can do with limited storage, and in most cases it paralyzes businesses. Acknowledging the need for industryleading storage capacities, Seagate has created the 12TB BarraCuda Pro Desktop Drive. Built for reliability and performance, the BarraCuda Pro is able support heavy workflows and demanding data management needs, effortlessly. Never letting you fall behind, its high speed capability translate to faster read and write speeds.

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus Smartphone

True to its name, the XA1 Plus sports a super-sized 5.5-inch full high-definition display which enables its users to enjoy movies and TV series even when on the go. Powered by a MediaTek Helio P20 chipset 2.3 GHz octa-core processor, and 4 GB RAM, the Xperia XA1 Plus gives users optimum multimedia performance you would want to find in a device. Moreover, its stunning 23-megapixel rear camera equipped with LED flash truly appeals both to mobile photography enthusiasts and millennials. You can also snap a decent self-portrait or group selfies through its front-facing 8-megapixel camera.

Another addition that makes this mobile phone worthy of your attention is the unique placement of its fingerprint scanner on the power button. Packed with 3430 mAh and youthful colors, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is definitely a smartphone to watch out for.

PHP 16,990

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NOVEMBER 2017

17

GADGETS LAB

Vivo V7+ Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

Vivo’s latest offering, the V7+ proves to the world that an all-screen display doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag. But beyond the screen, I got the chance to take a closer look at what it has to offer in an already saturated smartphone market.

DESIGN The V7+ is not a completely bezel-less phone, but it’s damn close. The border around the phone is hardly visible, and it doesn’t take away from the initial awe one would get upon seeing the phone for the first time.

The phone’s silhouette is uniform and in keeping with how phones look today—a thin slate of plastic and glass—clean and minimalist, pretty. The buttons are well-placed as well as the fingerprint sensor at the back. The semiglossy plastic unibody may be a cost solution, but in this case it works. It provides much needed texture without being an oil-catcher.

All in all, it is a nice looking phone with a sturdy build that would not look out of place in today’s world.

HARDWARE As I mentioned, the screen is the eye-grabber on the phone. It was a bit of a let down to find out that it isn’t in full HD considering that the aspect ratio is even wider on the phone. While it is barely noticeable while running apps, videos would look a bit pale and soft. What the lower resolution does, however, is dramatically increase its battery life.

For the price point, the V7+ offers respectable hardware, with an octa-core Snapdragon 450 mated to 4 GB of RAM and an Adreno 506 GPU which allows the phone to handle a fair amount of gaming and multitasking.

One of the main selling points of this phone is its 24-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture which allows it to take super clear selfies and enables its facial recognition feature.

The rear camera is a 16-megapixel shooter with similar aperture.

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As with other Vivo phones, the V7+ gets a Hi-Fi digital audio converter which allows lossless playback on the phone. Other features include 64 GB of built-in storage expandable up to 256 GB, dual SIM card slots, LTE support, and a massive 3225 mAh battery. Still no fast charging though, and it still uses a microUSB 2.0 connection.

USER EXPERIENCE Using the V7+ is a delight. For me that means doing what a phone should without any kinks.

The Funtouch OS has a straightforward interface which is perfect for lazy people like myself.

Performance is fluid, even when playing the more graphics-heavy games.

As expected, the front-facing camera takes great photos. The rear camera does as well, albeit a little less so in low light situations. Battery life is so amazing on this device that I’m the one who taps out through continuous use while it sits there, still good to go for a couple more hours.

Fingerprint unlocking is quick and accurate as well as is the Face ID feature. And it’s good to know that the phone is thrice as secured.

VALUE There’s very little fault to be found in a phone with this much to offer for considerably less than its competitors. With an SRP of PHP 17,990, the V7+ is very irresistible.

Specifications: Processor: 1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core GPU: Adreno 506 OS: Funtouch OS 3.2 based on Android 7.1 Nougat Memory: 4 GB RAM; 64 GB ROM, expandable up to 256 GB via microSD Display: 5.99 inches, 720p resolution (720 x 1440, 18:9 aspect ratio) IPS Camera: 16 MP rear camera (1.0 µm pixel size and f/2.0 aperture); 24 MP front camera (f/2.0 aperture) Network: Dual SIM, LTE-ready Connections: 3.5 mm jack, microUSB 2.0 Security: Pattern or passcode unlocking, rearmounted fingerprint scanner, facial recognition Battery: 3225 mAh What’s Hot: - Huge screen - Great battery life - Awesome selfie camera What’s Not: - 720p resolution - No fast charging

Bottomline Come for the screen, stay for everything else.

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Philips BDM3201FD Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

The BDM3201FD follows a long line of computer monitor products from Philips that offers great value for money, and I tested it out to see if it really does what it says on the tin.

DESIGN

USER EXPERIENCE

By nature, I lean towards minimalism and I appreciate that the BDM3201FD is a no-frills panel mounted onto an all-metal base. It doesn’t indicate inferior quality, mind you, this thing feels sturdy all throughout. The panel is surrounded by a thin border, the silhouette of which breaks only at the bottom with an angled protrusion with the Philips logo on it and a power indicator LED.

I’m quite an easy man to please, and as long as something works well and there are no technical hang-ups, that device is a winner. And this monitor is no exception. Setting up was straightforward, and from the box the image was already solid, no tweaking required.

Ports are well-organized and placed on either end of the back, with screw holes in the center for a wall mount. The standard mount is an all-metal base that screws quite deeply at the back. It’s clean, wellbuilt and more importantly, it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb on whatever desk it’s placed.

HARDWARE The 31.5-inch display is an IPS-ADS LCD with W-LED backlighting. It has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz and an aspect ratio of 16:9. Image is greatly improved using Philips Smart imaging and SmartContrast, giving a contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1 and 16.7 million colors. The monitor can connect to VGA, DVI-D, and HDMI. It has built-in 5W speakers in the back and a connection for headphones.

Granted that a full LED monitor is generally accepted as a better option, it has to be considered that at this price point the image quality and wide viewing angle that the BDM3201FD offers is more or less within the same level as monitors more expensive.

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Should the temperature, brightness, contrast and other settings be a concern, the BDM3201FD has presets that could be tweaked more finely using an easy to pick up interface that could be accessed via the D-pad at the back of the monitor which doubles as the on and off switch.

Specifications: Display: 31.5-inch IPS-ADS LCD Backlight: W-LED system Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz Brightness: 300 nit Contrast ratio: 1,200:1 to 20,000,000:1 (SmartContrast) Colors: 16.7 million (sRGB) Connections: VGA, DVI-D, HDMI, PC audio-in, headphone out Speakers: Two, at 5W What’s Hot: - Great display - Good built-in speakers What’s Not: -None, to be honest

Contrast is stark and colors are vivid and the LED backlight can produce enough illumination even in brightly lit rooms with the shades pulled back.

Audio quality on the built-in speakers is surprisingly good. The sound is directed to the front of the screen and there is no overly assertive bass sound that tries so hard to be surround sound but only really just scatters the sound around. Since bass is not exaggerated and speech is audible the speakers are perfect for watching movies or for taking audio and video calls.

VALUE This is the part where Philips does not fail to disappoint. At just PHP 14,500, the massive 31.5-inch BDM3201FD is the epitome of value with great image and sound quality for a post-reasonable device.

Bottomline The BDM3201FD is an awesome monitor to use at home or office, and that price tag just makes the deal even sweeter.

NOVEMBER 2017

19

Moto G5s Plus Reviewed by Gerry Gaviola

More and more, mid-range phones are starting to sport features similar to their high-end counterparts. Able to look and feel like high-end phones, it’s hard to resist the temptation of purchasing a decent specced phone that doesn’t leave your pockets entirely empty. Here, we take a look at how the Moto G5S stacks up in the arena of mid-ranged phones.

DESIGN

The speakers would pass off as average. Many brands now offer phones that play sound both The G5s Plus is a mid-ranged phone that sports a high- at the phone’s main speakers, as well as at the earpiece. This isn’t one of them. Although it lacks end phone form factor. Unlike its previous iteration, dual source audio output, the speakers still come off Moto has opted for a more elegant unibody metal construction—a wise design choice that enhances the as loud, and it’s quality, average. phone’s premium feel. The metal backing envelopes The Moto G5s Plus follows the dual camera 2017 around the phone, so all your hands will come in gadget trend. It sports dual 12 MP back shooters contact with is the metal and glass front. Apart with a f/2.0 aperture. Supported by dual-LED flash, from ditching the plastic, the phone also features a lightweight and slim design. Coming in at only 8 mm pictures are able to look good even as the sun sets. thin at 168 g, the phone is comfortable to grasp, even The bokeh effect has a long way to go before it matches those of the flagships. But then again, the with one hand usage.

G5s Plus is a mid-ranged phone. Judging it based on At the back of the phone is the Moto logo, situated at its category, it could be said that the phone produces average bokeh photos that don’t quite mimic a slightly sunken portion of the metal. The formerly DSLR bokeh quality, but have the likings of photos protruding round camera bump is thinner than the post-processed to have a blurry background. Still, previous model, yet is still there; however, metal the photos produced by the phone is clear, despite makes up for all the awkwardness. Also at the back sub-par bokeh effect. Photos taken without the are antenna lines and a mic hole for active noise depth effect are surprisingly very clear, and feature cancellation. The metal material continues onto true-to-life colors. If you’re out and about and wish to the device’s sides where the power and volume capture scenery, the G5s Plus will not let you down. buttons sit at the right side of the phone. Due to the Overall, the camera doesn’t disappoint. If you prefer button placements, it’ll mean that your thumb will color accuracy over overly saturated photos, get the be responsible for adjusting the volume, waking the G5s Plus. If you value color, it’s a good choice. The G5s screen, and unlocking the phone via the fingerprint Plus’ front shooter, on the other hand, is an 8 MP, f/2.0 sensor. Since the power button is situated at the aperture, LED assisted camera, that produce clear center of the right side, and the fingerprint sensor enough selfies. at the center of the chin, on an average one-handed grasp, all but the volume buttons are easily accessible.

Powering the G5s Plus is the 2016 Snapdragon Located at bottom side of the G5s Plus is another 625 chipset. Embedded in it is the octa-core microphone, a micro USB port, and speaker grilles.

2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, and the Adreno 506 GPU. Snapdragon processors have proven itself worthy in At front we have the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 laminate that doubles as protection. Beneath the top laminate, the mobile phone arena, so in spite of a mid-range 2017 phone running a 2016 chipset, it still does the over at the top bezel, is the 8 MP f./2.0 front facing job. Yes, opening graphic-heavy games will have long camera, LED flash, the ambient light sensor, and the waiting times, but once it’s up and running, lags are tacky moto text logo. On top of the logo, is the ear rarely seen. To aid in multitasking, the phone also speaker. At the chin, is the fingerprint sensor. features 4 GB of RAM. The G5s Plus comes in two colors, lunar gray and fine gold. Our review unit was the latter, although as soon The phone’s big screen demands a sufficient amount of juice, yet with 3000 mAh of battery, expect that it’ll as the light hits it, it shows more of a pink shade. In last you a whole day before you need to charge. The all honesty, the G5s Plus nearly pulls off a full fledged premium design, it’s just that tiny details puts it off. The storage starts at 32 GB, yet can be easily expanded to camera bump and the large logo are partly to blame. 256 GB via a microSD slot.

Nonetheless, its overall aesthetics feel premium.

HARDWARE Let’s begin with the screen. The G5s Plus sports a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels. For reference, cellphone manufacturers which aggressively penetrate the Philippine market with affordable and selfie-centric phones offer flagships with large screens albeit disappointingly low ppi count and low 720p resolutions. A big screen coupled with a low screen resolution is a big dealbreaker. Fortunately, despite the G5s Plus’ cheaper pricetag, it doesn’t leave you off with a bad and disappointing bad screen. The screen features a crystal clear Full HD display with colors both vibrant and accurate, a big plus.

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USER EXPERIENCE

On average tasks, the Moto G5s Plus will quickly respond, without any noticeable lag—a good sign of its reliability. Backed by its decent specs, consuming media, playing games, listening to music, and what not, will result to a smooth experience. Loading graphic heavy games, on the other hand, will require you to sacrifice a few seconds before it loads. Lags aren’t apparent, not unless you jack up the graphic settings.

Nonetheless, the phone was able to run Asphalt 3, Gangstar 4, and Need for Speed No Limits smoothly.

Amazingly, the camera has no focus lag. It produces crystal clear, color accurate photos, and will very well pass as a decent and reliable shooter.

Apart from requiring seconds of wait time and some minor and tacky Moto design choices, the phone actually comes close to providing a true flagship experience. The G5s Plus also runs on stock Android so it takes you away from unappealing skins and bloatware. Overall, the G5s Plus offers a pleasant user experience.

VALUE At only PHP 14,999 the G5s Plus is definitely a steal. If you’re pragmatic and wish to carry a reliable phone, choosing the G5s Plus would be a good choice.

Specifications: OS: Android OS, v7.1 (Nougat) Processor: 2.0 GHz Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor Storage: 24 GB, expandable via microSD card slot RAM: 3 GB Screen: 5.5 -inch Full HD IPS display, 401ppi Sim: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Camera: Dual 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash Comms: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot Dimensions: 153.5 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.04 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) Weight:168 g (5.93 oz) Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery Connectivity: GSM/HSPA/LTE What’s Hot: - The big screen - The impressive camera - Front and back LED flash - Quick fingerprint unlocking - Premium design What’s Not: - The huge camera bump - Below average bokeh effect

Bottomline It’s a choice you won’t regret. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Otterbox Symmetry Reviewed by Gerry Gaviola

Ever wonder how many wallets have you empty due to having broken gadgets fixed? Probably more times than you’d initially think. The saying that it’s better to be safe than story never gets old, especially when realizing that there’s a gadget that breaks every minute. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you’ve probably heard of the brand Otterbox—one of the best and toughest cellphone cases out there. We finally got to get our hands on one.

Here’s how it went: DESIGN

HARDWARE

The reason behind Otterbox’s prominence among cellphone case brands is because of the durability and safety it offers. If you’ve got a phone on you now, feel free to YouTube search videos on Otterbox tests. There, you’ll see a ton of videos of people throwing their phone from heights you couldn’t imagine. And just like magic, the phones thrown would often be fully functional, and without as much of a hint of a scratch on it. The Otterbox cases do take the beating, however, with a scratch or tear when taken on to extreme limits.

But if it were just a few floors and just among the first trials, then it would remain intact, like it was when you first took it out of the packaging.

The Otterbox Symmetry Case features a dual material design that’s all molded into one piece.

The outside material consists of rigid plastic while rubber material makes up the sides and the inside for grip and protection. Additional linings on the rubber material give out extra grip, so rest assured your phone stays safe and snug. Even before sliding the case in, squeezing it with a significant amount of pressure didn’t significantly bend it—a good sign of its toughness.

Numerous testing hours were spent by the case manufacturer to achieve designs that embrace devices with superb safety, 24+ tests and 238+hours to be exact. If you’re after having peace of mind when travelling with your gadgets, then an Otterbox Case might help.

The Otterbox product handed to us was the Symmetry Series Case for the iPhone 7 and 8. The case came in a subtle color of what Otterbox calls ‘Muted Waters.’ Albeit being advertised as having a sleek and stylish design, it did have a significant amount of thickness. No, it wasn’t as thick as the more durable and famous Defender series cases, yet that implies that it isn’t as though as it either. Still, it’s considerably a good compromise between safety and design; if it means keeping your phone protected 24/7, then the thickness would seem insignificant.

Buttons are still clickable and the necessary cut–outs are there, although it does limit accessibility. The ring/silent toggle right above the volume rockers are near impossible to access unless you have tiny fingers, or a really long nail.

Disappointingly, the cut out for the ring/silent toggle lacked precision as there’s an apparent uneven cut on the rubber.

At the back is Otterbox’ textured logo, a subtle yet effective signifier that one carries a branded and durable case. Does the case feel premium?

Aesthetically, within the range of cheap and classy, it’ll probably rank in the upper middle.

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Clearly, the Symmetry series isn’t as rugged as the Otterbox’s more famous Defender series. It still, however, offers a decent amount of protection.

Merged together, the plastic and rubber offer a one-piece construction that stylishly protects the phone from drops and scratches. The outer layer protects the phone from accidental drops and bumps while the raised rubber interior, which extends over the front edge of the phone, helps prevent unwanted scuffs on the glass.

USER EXPERIENCE As advertized, I was able to able to easily install the case on my phone with the case’s customized shaped. Day to day usage proved that it was indeed pocket-ready as it slid in and out of my pocket with ease.

Days after usage, the case’s thickness became negligible. Personally, I wouldn’t go for thick and bulky cases, but if it means keeping my phone protected, especially during outdoor activities, I’d gladly slip the it on.

Specifications: Dimensions: 5.7 x 3 x 0.5 inches Weight:1.8 ounces Material: Synthetic rubber, Polycarbonate What’s Hot: -Unibody Design - Dual Material protection - Slightly thinner than other Otterbox variants What’s Not: - Imprecise rubber cuts - Material that easily catches dirt

VALUE The phone is priced at PHP 2,250, a rather expensive price for a case. Then again, it’s really safety you’re purchasing here. If you’re willing to spend for added protection, especially during outdoor adventures, or consider yourself as extremely unlucky or clumsy, then the case would be a good buy.

Bottomline It pays to stay protected.

NOVEMBER 2017

21

Asus ROG G20 Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

Though there is less time to do so these days, gaming is still a thing that is extremely close to my heart. Every chance I get, I fire up my old, potato laptop to get a few games of Overwatch in, or boot it up to play some of the old favorites. One of the perks of being a tech journalist, though, is having the opportunity to be able to try out some of the best gaming hardware the market has to offer. Such is the case now, as we take a look at the Asus ROG G20 gaming PC. DESIGN Most gaming desktops are going to be some small variation of a rectangle, with a few extra lights here and there, and maybe a case with a clear side, so you can see all the sweet hardware it has going on inside. The G20 isn’t quite as pedestrian an affair. With a design that I can only describe as part monolith, part alien spacecraft, this is a desktop that looks every part the mean machine that it is. Black on red, with internal lighting for effect, it leaves little doubt as to what it is designed for.

Little details, like grooves cut into the front of the recessed area of the chassis serve both to highlight an already visually striking design, and conceal the appearance of vents to keep temperatures under control. This is a seriously good-looking rig. For a good long time after setting the thing up, I was just staring at the G20 in quiet admiration. Don’t let the peculiarly small footprint fool you, though. It hides some massive power in there, as the huge twin AC power bricks belie.

HARDWARE What makes gaming rigs special is the video card, and the G20 is no exception. Proven GeForce GTX 1070 graphics with 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, this is a card that’s meant to render games at some of the highest settings available. You have, on top of this, an Intel Skylake processor, specifically the i7 6700, running at a clock speed of 3.4 GHz, giving you the makings of a great gaming experience. It only comes with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM though, but throwing in a little bit extra isn’t too hard, so that’s not an issue for me here. You also get a 512 GB SSD for all the loading speed, without too much of a capacity compromise, and a 1 TB HDD for space.

Being part of the ROG line, it comes with a lot of the developments one would expect from ROG gaming laptops. Top-tier cooling, for superb performance and parts longevity are there, RGB lighting is present, and Asus’ SonicMaster gaming audio all give you that signature Asus ROG experience in desktop form.

Three USB ports up front, along with another two 3.0 ports, and an additional two 3.1 ports in the back, HDMI connections, a VGA output, wired LAN, and side-, rear-, and center speaker outs make sure you don’t find yourself wanting more connectivity options. The G20 also has mic and earphone ports up front, along with an internal ODD, Wi-FI, and Bluetooth connectivity baked in.

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There aren’t any USB-C ports on the rig just yet though.

As an additional bonus, the package comes with a decent backlit membrane gaming keyboard, and mouse, so all you really need is a screen to get playing right from the box.

USER EXPERIENCE We’re going to say it right up front. The G20 is an amazing compact gaming desktop. For light games like Overwatch, there’s way more hardware here than the game needs. With settings maxed out at Epic settings, I was still getting framerates faster than my screen could display. I can’t stress enough how much smooth, lag-, and stutter-free visuals can help improve your gameplay, particularly for a character like Tracer in Overwatch. Now, I do realize that I’m far from the best Tracer main out there, but my time with the G20 gave me some of the best matches I’ve had in recent memory.

A graphics-intensive title like Rise of the Tomb Raider, which is no mean feat even for beefy rigs, wasn’t a problem for the G20. Running the in-game benchmark saw the FPS go as high as 153 FPS for the less intense Mountain Peak area, and drop to 18 FPS for a very brief blip in the Geothermal valley.

The overall score though, at the highest graphics settings available, was a very impressive 81.62 FPS. That should be plenty for any of the AAA titles out now, as well as a few more for the foreseeable future. Should you find yourself needing more graphics punch, don’t sweat it. This is a desktop.

Gameplay with Tomb Raider is as expected: smooth, fluid, and wonderfully cinematic. One of the things I appreciated about the rig, is that even at some of the more graphics-intensive portions of the game, when you can see the frame rate counter drop a little lower than average, the G20 manages to stay cool. The whole time during the review, the CPU was at ear-level, to my right, and at no point do I recall being bothered by fan noise. As an additional bonus, the hot air vents upwards, through the top of the CPU. It’s a simple, but ingenious solution that keeps the hot air from cooking my hand, and keeps ventilation great, even with the G20 jammed against a wall, as I had it during testing.

heart. Still, given its raw power, killer, consolelike looks, and Asus ROG tricks, it’s a price that I do feel is justified, if not for everyone. Still, I can confidently say that your purchase won’t disappoint.

Bottomline If you need a monster of a pre-built PC, this is the most gorgeous way to do it.

Specifications: Processor: Intel Skylake, i7 6700, 3.4 GHz RAM: 8 GB DDR4 Graphics: GTX 1070, 8 GB Storage: 512 SSD+1TB HDD Connectivity: Wi-Fi ac, LAN, HDMI, D-sub, USB 3.0 x 4, USB 3.1 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, microphone jack, earphone jack, side-rear-center-sub out, line in, line out, Bluetooth 4.0, Case size: 9.5 L ODD: Yes What’s Hot: - Gorgeous - Superb power - Small footprint What’s Not: - Price

VALUE Value is where the G20 takes a bit of a hit, as you will pay a premium for the design and hardware that the ROG line gives you for the device—being pretty and powerful doesn’t come cheap. At PHP 99,000, this isn’t a desktop for the faint of

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Nokia 8 Reviewed by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Nokia was the undisputed king of mobile phones in the late 90s and early 00s. It was, however overthrown by an onslaught of smartphones running Android and iOS. Wiser, and adapting to the changing tides, Nokia is back in the game care of HMD. It dares to shoot for its place at the top with the Nokia 8. But how good is this flagship? Read on.

DESIGN The Nokia 8 takes design cues from the defunct Lumia series, which may be remembered for its generally box-like design. This flagship, meanwhile, has more rounded edges for easier handling.

Design-wise, the look of the phone as a whole is very uniform and simple, no odd feature sticking out. I’d like to highlight how it looks up front.

Majority of the front is occupied by its 5.3-inch screen melded with black bezels and protected

by Corning Gorilla glass. When the device is on sleep mode, the time, date, battery percentage, and notifications are displayed at the top, smack in the middle. This gives an illusion of an all-screen façade. Waking the device shows off the Nokia 8 display’s 16M colors, which delivers sharp images and enhanced color and image quality.

The Nokia 8 flaunts a precisely-crafted unibody design, with little to no visible gaps in the displayto-body connection.

A non-clicky fingerprint scanner is located at bottom, flanked by capacitive navigation buttons.

Meanwhile, physical buttons for controls and ports find their place on the sides of the device. At the back are the dual rear cameras along with a Nokia insignia.

HARDWARE A quick look at the specs of the Nokia 8 will give you the impression that they went all -out for this flagship. Powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset working in tandem with 4 GB of RAM (there’s also a 6 GB variant), processes are guaranteed to run smoothly.

In use, the Nokia 8 showed off its muscle by breezing through graphics-intensive Opus: Rocket of Whispers even with a couple of apps running in the background. The loaner unit I got had a 64 GB internal storage, signalling me to binge-download apps and videos, all of which didn’t even make a dent on its generous storage capacity.

The device is fitted with a dual rear camera system.

This means you have not just one, but two 13 MP

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image sensors to document precious moments.

This dual image-fusion rear camera has both color and monochrome sensors and ZEISS optics to accurately capture any mood. The shooters are controlled through a simple camera app that is user-friendly. I just noticed the lack of adjustment options which I think is a waste given its dual camera setup. It succeeded, though, in rendering fine-detailed images captured in low- to well-lit areas. What convinced me that it’s a photography prodigy is when I used it to capture the beatiful pink sky just last week. I’d even go as far as saying that “perfectly captured” is an understatement.

Meanwhile, a 13 MP phase detection auto-focus camera with ZEISS optics takes space at the front. Nokia puts emphasis on its Dual-Sight mode, which is a first for mobile phones. This feature activates both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, through split screen, for recording videos and photos with friends. No one gets left out. Video recordings, on the other hand, appear as they were filmed thanks to 4K video resolution capability along with Nokia OZO spatial 360-degree audio.

Specifications: Dimensions: 142 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm Weight: 160 g Display: 5.3-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 835 GPU: Adreno 540 RAM: 4 GB or 6 GB Internal Storage: 64 GB or 128 GB, expandable via microSD slot SIM: single or dual nano Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+, LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi Audio: Nokia OZO speakers, 3.5 mm jack Cameras: Dual 13 MP rear with f/2.0, Carl Zeiss optics, OIS, dual LED flash; 13 MP fixed-focus front Video Recording: Up to 4K Operating System: Android 7.1.1 Nougat Battery: 3090 mAh, non-removable

What’s Hot: - Dual 13 MP rear cameras deliver great picture quality - Stunning display

USER EXPERIENCE The Nokia 8 doesn’t resemble old Nokias for even one bit but I was oddly reminded why everyone had it as their daily drivers in the past.

With Android 7.1.1 Nougat (set to receive an Oreo upgrade) running this phone, the experience was seamless. There was hardly any Nokia-native applications that ship with it. The device had a Nokia Mobile Care app, however, through which you can channel your concerns, chat with support, and get to know your device even more.

What’s Not: - Battery drains pretty fast when on data

VALUE The Nokia 8 is a rightful flagship to carry the torch for the brand. It’s a phone that bears the very essence of Nokia: sturdy and reliable.

The other features come as a plus and make it all the more appealing to any generation of smartphone users. If not for its hefty price tag of PHP 29,990, I would have given this phone a full five for value.

Bottomline *Lists in things to buy for Christmas*

NOVEMBER 2017

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Cherry Mobile Flare S6 Selfie Reviewed by Robby Vaflor

Cherry Mobile is a pioneer in this country when it comes to branding its phones as selfie-friendly. Now, the company has come out with a Selfie version of its Flare S6 line and it promises not only better photos, but also better specs for an absurdly affordable price.

DESIGN The Flare S6 Selfie looks and feels like a phone that is at least twice its price. The body is made of metal, albeit not unibody. Even the volume and lock buttons are made of metal. It has visible screws at the bottom sandwiched between cleanly machined speaker holes. It has, however, some design flaws as its seams are awkwardly covered up by antenna bands on either end of the phone and the camera lens protrudes from the back, covered by a chrome bezel.

Having said that, the S6 Selfie does look nice with the metal body beveling towards the screen’s bezel quite neatly. And yes, I am still a fan of bevels as they give a better handheld feel to a device. But slopes and edges aside, girthwise Cherry’s smartphone has managed to keep the profile of a sexy mid-range phone.

HARDWARE The biggest surprise here is how well Cherry Mobile has managed hardware economy, putting in as much power into the device as it can with the price point.

The S6 Selfie sports an octa-core MT6750T processor clocking in at 1.5 GHz, a Mali T860 MP2 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage expandable up to 128 GB and a 5.2-inch screen with full HD resolution.

And as it namesake suggests, the S6 Selfie gets a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with a Samsung ISOCELL sensor which lets in more light into the photo. And did I mention that the main camera has the same configuration?

The company also managed to throw in a frontmounted fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C connection. However, the phone doesn’t fully

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capitalize on the Type-C as it does not have fast charging. Plus, it only has a 2,600 mAh battery.

But with all the other things that it is offering, I’m not too bummed about it. With all the money you’re saving, you can buy a whole bag full of power banks.

USER EXPERIENCE The Flare S6 Selfie isn’t perfect, but overall it’s a good phone to have. Performance is fast (as long as you don’t leave too many processes running in the background) and it can even do some light gaming.

The Selfie S6 is one of the first phones to run on the company’s very own Cherry OS which is based on Android Nougat. As can be expected with an initial release, there are a few glitches, but they’re mostly ignorable.

Both cameras take pretty good photos even in low light, and the updated algorithms and postprocessing have greatly improved compared to what I can remember from Cherry’s past releases.

Audio quality can be a bit all over the place, both in recording and speaker playback.

Specifications: Processor: 1.5 GHz MediaTek MT6750T octa-core GPU: Mali T860 MP2 OS: Cherry OS based on Android 7.0 Nougat Memory: 3 GB RAM; 16 GB ROM, expandable up to 128 GB via microSD Display: 5.2 inches, full HD 1080p resolution IPS Camera: 16 MP front and rear cameras (1.0 µm pixel size and f/2.0 aperture) with Samsung ISOCELL sensors and LED flash Network: Dual SIM, 700 MHz LTE-ready Connections: 3.5 mm jack, USB Type-C Security: Bundled 360 Security software, Pattern or Passcode unlocking, front-mounted fingerprint scanner Battery: 2600 mAh What’s Hot: - Good specs for an incredibly low price - 16 MP cameras front and back - USB Type-C What’s Not: - No fast charging - Less than optimal battery life

As mentioned before, battery life isn’t great.

Continuous use without a power bank or outlet at the ready is near impossible. It also requires some resource management on the user’s part to prolong its battery life like disabling Internet connections, Bluetooth, and location services when not in use as well as adjusting brightness.

VALUE So how much does the Flare S6 Selfie cost?

PHP 7,999. Yes. Cherry Mobile sticks to its valuefor-money philosophy with a sub-10k phone that could outgun its entry-level rivals and even some mid-range phones.

Bottomline As always, Cherry Mobile has come out with a phone that punches way above its weight in terms of performance.

And it barely makes a dent in your bank account.

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There’s a chill in the air, malls are extra camped, and Jose Mari Chan is once again stalking the airwaves. This can only mean one thing. The holidays are upon us. If your money is burning a hole in your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. In this year’s wishlist, we’ve got a little of everything, from mobiles, to laptops, and even twowheeled beauties that you might want to get for yourself, or someone special in your life. Have a seat, shut out the busy outside world, and prepare your wallet. The Gadgets Magazine Wishlist has come to town!

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NOVEMBER 2017

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Acer Spin 5 •Intel Core i7-8550U processor Quad-core 1.80 GHz •NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 4 GB dedicated memory •8 GB, DDR4 SDRAM •15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS •1 TB HDD •Windows 10 Home

PHP 99,800 Yellow Hornet, Black Raven, Matte Green, Race Blu

Acer Swift 3 •Available in Steel Grey and Stellar Blue •15.6-inch display with IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology •Bluetooth 4.0 •Bluetooth 2.1+EDR •Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC, 802.11ac/ a/b/g/n wireless LAN with •Acer Nplify, featuring 2x2 MIMO technology •Windows 10

PHP 39,999 Intel Core i3-7100U processor, 4 GB of onboard DDR4 system memory, 1 TB 2.5-inch 5400 RPM HDD

PHP 59,999 Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8 GB of onboard DDR4 system memory, 128GB SSD + 1 TB 2.5-inch 5400 RPM HDD

PHP 79,999 Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 16 GB of onboard DDR4 system memory, 256GB SSD + 1 TB 2.5-inch 5400 RPM HDD

Predator Triton 700 PHP 134,999 •Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor (4 cores, 8 threads, 6 MB cache, 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz, DDR4 2400 MHz or DDR3L 1600 MHz, 45 W) with Intel Smart Cache support •16 GB of DDR4 system memory, upgradable to 32 GB using two soDIMM modules •15.6-inch display with IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, Full HD 1920 x 1080, high-brightness (300 nits) •Killer Wireless-AC 1535, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless LAN •Supports Bluetooth 4.1 •Windows 10 Home OS •Dual stereo speakers

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM

PHP 229,999 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 with MAX-Q design and with 8 GB of dedicated GDDR5X VRAM

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REV’IT SAND 3

DAINESE SUPER SPEED

•SEEFLEX Level 2 CE protection •600D polyester ripstop outer shell, with Lorica, and 500D PWR|Shell •Detachable thermal liner •Detachable 3L Hydratex layer •Variable height adjustment straps •Long and double short connection zipper •Prepared for Challenger cooling vest insert •Prepared for Leatt and MOVEO neck brace •Prepared for HV vest connector •Hand warmer pockets •Inner pockets •Membrane storage pocket •Stash pockets

•Composite protectors certified to EN 1621.1/97 Standard •Aluminium inserts on the shoulders •Duratex and Boomerang fabric •Inserts in elasticated fabric •Neck, wrist, and waist adjustment •Jacket-trousers fastening system •Removable windproof insert •Sanitized lining •Pocket for G1 and G2 back protector and thorax chest protector •Reflective inserts •2 outside pockets •Internal pocket

PHP 24,500

PHP 19,800

SHOEI J-CRUISE+ •Asian fit helmet •Lightweight, Advanced Integrated Matrix shell •Adjustable top and rear exhaust vents •Multi-Piece Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) liner allows for smooth passage of air, improving cooling performance •Easily removable shield secured by the shield stopper to prevent unexpected opening at speed •3D Max-Dry removable and washable interior liner •Sun Shield Visor System •Wide, three dimensionally curved shield offers increased peripheral vision and optical clarity Scratch-resistant coating •99-percent protection from harmful UV A & B rays •One-piece injection-molded for consistent fit •Pinlock-ready face shield •ECE Certified

PHP 24,500 28

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BOKER PLUS TECH TOOL

•Knife •Screwdriver tip •Corkscrew •Foldable lanyard hole •Scissors •Punch/awl •Wood saw •Pocket clip •Pliers •G10 or carbon fiber handles •6.6 inches total length •178 grams

PHP 1,800 to PHP 2,950

Prices may vary in each model of Tech Tool Carbon

LOWA

CANNAE PRO GEAR

•Microfiber & synthetic upper •Slip lasted - injected PU midsole construction •Gore-Tex lining •Speed lacing system •Double Injection DynaPU midsole with shock absorbing zones and surround channels •Monowrap stability frame •Soft stabilizer •1.71 lb

•500D Cordura Nylon •9” x 6” side zipper pocket pouch (Can hold 4 M4 Magazines) •Quick-access protective laptop/tablet compartment •Back zipper compartment for 2-Liter hydration bladder, concealed carry capable •45 Mil-Spec Molle attachment points •Exterior earphone port •Soft-padded protective eye wear compartment •30 liters (main body) - 37 liters (helmet carry at maximum capacity) •22.5” (H) x 16.5” (W) x 7” (D) inches •4.2 lbs

AEROX GTX LO

PHP 9,950

Graphite Red, Black Lime, and Navy Orange

PHALLANX DUTY PACK

PHP 8,500

Black & Coyote colors 30

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CB150R •Liquid cooled, 4 Stroke, DOHC - 4 Valves •149.16 cc •Kick and electric starting •Full transistorized ignition system •Six-Speed Constant Mesh transmission •Hydraulic disc front and rear brake system •1,293 mm wheelbase •136 kg dry weight •797 mm seat height •12 L fuel capacity •PGM-Fi fuel system •12.4 Kw / 9,000 rpm •13.8 Nm / 7,000 rpm

PHP 116,800

Click125i •4-Stroke, SOHC 2 Valve, liquid cooled, eSP •124.8 cc •Kick and electric starting •Automatic, V-Matic transmission •Hydraulic front disc brake •Mechanical leading trailing rear brakes •Combi Brake System (CBS) •1,280 mm wheelbase •106 kg dry weight, 110 kg curb weight •765 mm seat height •5.5 L fuel tank

PHP 80,900

Wave110R •4 Stroke, OHC, air-cooled •109.17cc Displacement •Electric and Kick starter •DC-CDI ignition system •4 Speed, Constant Mesh transmission •Front hydraulic disc brake •Mechanical leading trailing rear brakes •1,224 mm wheelbase •769 mm seat height •3.7 L fuel tank •6.13 kW @ 7,500 rpm •8.49 Nm @ 5,500 rpm

PHP 56,900 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

NOVEMBER August 2017

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DM-40

COMPACT ACTIVE MONITOR SPEAKER •2-way bass reflex, active monitor speakers •Class A/B amp: 2x 21W/4 ohms •70-30000 Hz Frequency Range •Loaded Bass Reflex System •3D Stereo sound •Well-balanced response via time alignment •Also available in white

S-DJ60X

6-INCH ACTIVE REFERENCE SPEAKERS

•BiAMP, 2 Way Bass Reflex •45 - 20000 Hz frequency range •10 kilo ohms •Packaged with external control for clarity and control •High-force magnet and Bi-Amp Circuit •Chimney shaped heat sink

Pioneer DDJ-RZ

Pioneer DDJ-RB

PORTABLE 2-CHANNEL CONTROLLER FOR REKORDBOX DJ

•Bundled Rekordbox DJ •Performance pads with sequence call

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FLAGSHIP 4-CHANNEL CONTROLLER FOR REKORDBOX DJ •Bundled Rekordbox dj and Rekordbox dvs license key •Performance pads with pad fx •OSC Sampler •Dual USB ports •Robust Faders •Needle Search

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Moto G5S •5.2-inch FHD, 1080p display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 •3000 mAh battery with TurboPower fast charging technology •Water-repellent nano-coating •16 MP rear camera with phase detect AF, f/2.0 aperture, LED flash, and professional mode •5 MP wide-angle front camera with LED flash •Dual SIM •32 GB onboard storage, expandable via micro SD •3 GB RAM •1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor •Android 7.1 Nougat •Bluetooth 4.2/ Wi-Fi/ NFC/ 4G LTE

PHP 10,999

Moto Z2 Play •5.5-inch display, with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, 401 ppi •2.2 GHz, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor •4 GB RAM •64 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card •Android 7.1.1 Nougat •12 MP rear, 5 MP front cameras •Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/GPS/ Bluetooth 4.20/NFC •Dual-SIM, nano •3000 mAh battery capacity

PHP 24,999

Moto G5S Plus •5.5-inch FHD, 1080p display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 •3000 mAh battery with TurboPower fast charging technology •Water-repellent nano-coating •Dual 13 MP rear cameras, supports 4K video recording •8 MP wide-angle lens front camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash •Dual SIM •32 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD •4 GB RAM •2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor •650 MHz Adreno 506 GPU •4G LTE/ NFC/ Bluetooth 4.2/ Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ micro USB •Finger print scanner •Android 7.1 Nougat •Ships with the Moto app for enabling Moto Actions and Moto Display

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EC-X41

PROJECTOR •3LCD Technology, RGB liquid crystal shutter projector •3,600 lumens - 2,235 lumens (economy) color light output •3,600 lumens - 2,235 lumens (economy) white light output •XGA, 1024 x 768 resolution 4:3 aspect ratio •15,000:1 aspect ratio •UHE, 210 W, 6,000-hour lamp life, 10,000-hour lamp life in economy mode •30-inch to 300-inch image size, 1.8-M (wide)-2.17-M (tele) Projection Distance, 60-inch screen •USB display function, wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n (optional), Cinch audio-in, composite-in, HDMI-in, VGA-in, •USB 2.0 Type B, USB 2.0 Type A •282 Watts, 203 Watts (economy), 0.2 Watts (standby) •AC 100 V - 240 V, 50 Hz - 60 Hz •302 x 237 x 82 mm (width x depth x height) •2.5 kg •2-watt loudspeaker

L4160

External Ink Tank MFP •Print, scan, copy MFP •Piezoelectric print head •Epson external Ink Tank System •Automatic two-sided up to A4 •Print Speed: approx. 69-sec per photo (Border) / 92 sec per photo (Borderless) •Up to 33 ppm / 15 ppm in Draft mode •100-sheet input capacity, A4 plain paper (80 g/m2) | 20 sheets, premium glossy photo paper •215.9 x 1200 mm (8.5 x 47.24 inches) maximum paper size •Legal, 8.5 x 13 inches, Letter, A4, 195 x 270 mm, B5, A5, A6, 100 x 148 mm, B6, 5 x 7 inches, 4 x 6 inches, Envelopes #10, DL, C6-compatible •Epson iPrint, Epson Email Print, Remote Print Driver, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria Print Service-compatible •USB 2.0, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Wi-Fi direct connectivity •1.4-inch color LCD panel

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L6170

External Ink Tank MFP

•Print, scan, copy with ADF •PrecisionCore Printhead •Epson external ink tank system •Automatic 2-sided printing up to AA4 •Approx. 69 seconds per photo (Border) / 92 seconds per photo (Borderless): •Up to 33 ppm / 20 ppm, draft mode •1 paper cassette tray •150-sheet paper capacity, A4 plain paper (80 g/m2) •Legal, 8.5 x 13 inches, Letter, A4, 195 x 270 mm, B5, A5, A6, 100 x 148 mm, B6, 5 x 7 inches, 4 x 6 inches, Envelopes #10, DL, C6 compatible •215.9 x 1200 mm (8.5 x 47.24 inches) maximum paper size •USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Wi-Fi direct connectivity •2.4-inch colour LCD

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GSX SERIES

REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR RIDE •147.3 cc, water-cooled, DOHC, fourstroke, four-valve, single cylinder, fuel injection (Euro 3-compliant) engine •18.9 hp at 10,500 rpm •14 Nm at 9,000 rpm •Six-speed •Telescopic (front); mono-shock link-type (rear) •Petal disc (front and rear) •Keyless Ignition System with Answer Back Function (GSX-R150 only) •1 Action Key Shutter (GSX-S150 only)

GSX -R150

RAIDER R150 CARB

FOR PROFESSIONAL MODIFICATION

•147.3 cc, water-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, four-valve, single cylinder, carburetor engine (Euro 3-compliant) •15.4 hp at 9,500 rpm •12.4 Nm at 9,500 rpm •Six-speed •Telescopic (front); mono-shock link-type (rear) •Petal disc(front and rear)

GSX-S150

PHP 156,000

PHP 112,800

Blue, Black/Red colors

Blue, Black, and Silver colors

SKYDRIVE 125 FI FUEL INJECTION

PHP 96,900

Black/Red Wheels, Black/Gold Wheels, Black/Yellow, Blue colors

PHP 97,900

Matte Black Premium

RAIDER R150 FI NEW FUEL INJECTION

•147.3 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, four-valve, single cylinder, carburetor engine (Euro 3-compliant) •18.23 hp at 10,000 rpm •13.8 Nm at 8,500 rpm •Six-speed •Oil-Damped telescopic coil spring (front); mono-shock swingarm (rear) •Petal disc (front and rear)

•124.1 cc, air-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke, four valve, single cylinder, fuel injection (Euro 3 compliant) engine •9.25 hp at 7,500 rpm •19.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm •CVT transmission •Oil-damped telescopic coil spring suspension (front); oil-damped swingarm (rear) •Disc (front); Drum (rear)

PHP 78,900

Black, Red, Pink, and Violet

PHP 109,900

Black, Black/Red, and MotoGP Blue

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Oppo F5 •6-inch FHD+, 18:9 ratio IPS display (1920 x 1080 resolution) •Android 7.0 Nougat •4 GB RAM, octa-core processor •64 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card •20 MP rear camera, dual 12 MP front-facing cameras with AI Beauty Recognition technology •LTE/Bluetooth 4.2/GPS with A-GPS/ Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n •Dual SIM •MicroUSB •4,000 mAh, non-removable battery

PHP 15,990

Oppo A57 •ColorOS 3.0, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow •Qualcomm MSM8940 octa-core processor •3 GB RAM •32 GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD card •2,900 mAh battery capacity •13 MP rear, 16 MP front cameras •5.2-inch HD display

PHP 11,990

Oppo F3 Plus •6.0-inch IPS LCD touchscreen (1920 x 1080 resolution), with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 •Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor •Adreno 510 GPU •4 GB RAM •64 GB internal storage, expandable via micro SD •16 MP f/1.7 rear camera, 16 MP f/2.0 + 8 MP wide-angle front-facing cameras •Front-mounted static fingerprint sensor •Oppo VOOC fast-charging technology •Dual SIM support •4,000 mAh battery •microUSB 2.0

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Canon EOS 200D •24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor •DIGIC 7 image processor •100-12800 ISO (expandable to 25600) •Approx. 5 fps burst mode •Full HD 60p maximum video quality •Nine-point AF (center point: cross-type, vertical line sensitive when supporting f/2.8) •Wi-Fi / NFC/ Bluetooth support •3.0-inch vari-angle touch panel (approx. 1.04 million dots) •Approx. 122.4 (W) x 92.6 (H) x 69.8 mm (D) •Approx. 406 g (body only)

PHP 39,998

Canon EOS 6D Mark II •26.2 MP CMOS imaging sensor feat. dual pixel CMOS AF •45-point AF system (all cross-type) •DIGIC 7 processor •Intelligent viewfinder featuring 98-percent view •Vari-angle touchscreen LCD (1.04 million dots) •6.5 fps •Full HD 1080p 60p movies, 5 axis electronic image stabilization •Wi-Fi/NFC/Bluetooth/GPS support •Continuous shooting after 10 sec. self-timer (2 to 10 shots) •Intervelometer with 4K timelapse movie mode featuring 3840px UHD resolution •Dust- & water-resistant

PHP 119, 998

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Canon Pixma Ink Efficient E31790 •435 x 316 x 145 mm (approx.)

•Document ISO Print Speed: Approx. 7.7 ipm (B&W) / 4.0 ipm (color) •Photo Print Speed: approx. 65-sec •High-yield ink cartridges •1.5-inch segment LCD display •Borderless photo printing for 4R, 5R, and 5×5 sizes •Supports wireless and mobile printing

PHP 4,695 NOVEMBER August 2017

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Asus Zenfone 4 Pro •156.9 x 75.6 x 7.6 mm •175 g •5.5-inch, Full HD AMOLED display •12 MP f1.7, Sony IMX 362 sensor, 16 MP Sony IMX351 sensor with 2x optical zoom and 50 mm focal length zoom camera •8 MP Sony IMX319 front sensor with f1.9 aperture •6 GB RAM •128 GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD card •Octa-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset •Adreno 540 GPU •WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/Bluetooth 5.0/NFC •0.3 sec live fingerprint sensor •3600 mAh battery with BoostMaster fast charging technology •Available in midnight black and moonlight white

PHP 39,995

Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro •154.02 x 74.83 x 6.85 mm •147 g •5.5-inch, Full HD AMOLED display (1920 x 1080) •F/1.8 SONY IMX 362 •16 MP PDAF rear Sony image sensor, 26 mm focal length, Asus SuperPixel Engine •24 MP dual front-facing camera, 120-degree wideangle aperture •4K UHD video for main selfie and rear cameras •Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 2.0 GHz octa-core 14nm processor •Adreno 506 GPU •4 GB RAM •64 GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD card •Available in rogue red, sunlight gold, and deep sea black

PHP 18,995

ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Lite •155.66 x 75.9 x 7.85 mm •144 g •5.5-inch IPS display •Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor •Adreno 308 GPU •2 GB RAM •16 GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD card •3000 mAh battery •13 MP rear camera with phase detection AF •13 MP front camera with ASUS SelfieMaster, softlight LED flash •Fingerprint sensor •Available in deepsea black, mint green, rose pink, sunlight gold

PHP 7,995 (Available soon) 40

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Sniper 150

The Street Monarch

•Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve •149.7 cc •11.3 kW at 8,500 rpm •13.8 Nm at 7,000 rpm •TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) •Performance fuel injection •Constant mesh 5-speed

PHP 99,800

Yellow Hornet, Black Raven, Matte Green, Race Blu

YZF-R6

Refined. Redesigned. Remarkable.

•Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, Inline 4-cylinder, 16 Titanium Valves •599 cc •87.1 kW at 14,500rpm •61.7 Nm at 10,500rpm •TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) •TCS, ABS, D-Mode •Constant mesh 6-speed

PHP 749,000

Race Blu and Tech Black

Mio Aerox 155

Lead with Speed

•Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve, Blue Core •155 cc •11.1 kW at 8,000 rpm •13.8 Nm at 6250 rpm •Electric Start •Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) •V-belt automatic transmission

PHP 99,800 Black Raven, Race Blu, Vibrant Orange

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PHOTO FEATURE

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The holidays are just around the corner and by now everyone is looking for the perfect gift, both to give and to ask for. For November, we take a look at some of tech’s best offerings all worthy to be put on anyone’s wish list.

One such device is the latest flagship phone from Vivo, the revolutionary V7+, with its eye-catching silhouette and its exceptional features—truly a welcome sight on Christmas day.

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Sugar, Spice, and everything Nice:

JULIE ANN SAN JOSE We are fortunate to be graced by one of the hottest young stars in the country today: Julie Anne San Jose. But even at such a young age, she has already accomplished so much. As a musician, her self-titled debut went platinum 10 times and its carrier single, I’ll Be There, holds the honor of having the highest certification for a digital single in the history of OPM. She continues to make music, enjoying great success with the release of Chasing the Light last year. On-screen, she is known to be a very capable and versatile actress, able to take on roles that span different genres. She is also a very popular social media celebrity with almost a million followers on Instagram and more than 19 million views on her YouTube channel.

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See more, do more with a 5.99-inch all-screen display.

With an 84.4 percent screen-to-body ratio and an 18:9 All Screen Display, the Vivo V7+’s screen is a sight to behold.

Thrice the protection with Face ID access.

Enjoy security that goes beyond pattern unlocking. The V7+ has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and groundbreaking facial recognition unlocking in just a tenth of a second.

Take better photos with an industry-leading, 24 MP front-facing camera.

• 1.8 GHz Qualcomm Never has a selfie looked this great. With Snapdragon 450 Octa-core processor a powerful 24 MP front-facing camera • 4 GB of RAM complemented by Vivo’s advanced photography Moonlight White,you Pure • 64 GB of built-in storage, expandable up to 256 GB algorithm and software enhancements, canBlack • High-fidelity audio with an AKM AK4376A experience clearer, more vivid selfies even at advanced DAC night.

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At just a few months over 20 years old, Barbie Forteza is another young heavyweight that we are lucky to have on our magazine. She has been acting in both TV and film since 2009, in mainstream and independent projects. Her performances have garnered her high praise as well as awards and nominations both here and abroad. Her work for Mariquina gave her a Best Supporting Actress Award on two separate occasions: one at the Cinemalaya awards and another at the 38th Gawad Urian Awards. The film Laut on the other hand gave her a Best Actress win at the 36th Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal as well as an Ani ng Dangal Award. Most recently, her work in Tuos garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 40th Gawad Urian Awards.

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COVER STORY

Words by Gadgets Team

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Here at Gadgets, we’re all good little boys and girls. The past 11 months have been trying, but we’ve always remembered to be nice to our siblings, call our parents, obey traffic rules, and make our beds. So in this month’s CoverStory, we hope you will allow us to be a little indulgent, and share with you (and Santa, if he is reading), our own personal Christmas wish lists. We have rather varied likes in our little team, so do give each a look. You might find something for you, or for someone you hold dear!

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Words by Ren Alcantara

More than any other time of year, this is the one where we make wishes to the universe, and hope someone out there can hear us. Being exposed to some of the most desirable devices the industry has to offer makes the process a little more complicated for us in tech. Just the same, Here’s what I’m hoping old Mr. Claus will pick up on and deliver in time for Christmas this year.

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Olight Marauder X7R Flashlight I know I don’t exactly have a legitimate use for a flashlight that can throw 12,000 lumens out to a few hundred meters, but I would be lying if I didn’t want one of these anyway. Aside from being conveniently rechargeable, and being of exceptionally solid build quality, you get 30 days of run time on the lowest setting. The battery indicator/locator light on the power button is a great little design bonus as well. It’s also shock-, and water-resistant, for all the times I drop it out in the wilderness.

Glock 26 Sub-compact 9x19 semi-auto pistol

Yes, I know this is something of a shock to those who know me. There comes a point though that one wants to try something a little smaller, lighter, and more modern than the 1911. If I’m going to split from John Moses Browning’s design, I might as well pick something that has come to be known as the paragon of reliability in the current firearms world, in a size that’s appropriate for my own stature. To that end, I suppose a glock 19 would do just as well. With the ability to take the same magazines any other 9 x19 Glock can, along with an impossibly small footprint, without too much of a compromise in shootability, and more than enough parts to keep it running long after I’m gone, the Glock 26 might just be the perfect carry pistol for me.

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While I’m actually already in the market for a laptop, something that lets me have a work device in its light, small form, with the ability to do some serious gaming on the side is an idea I could totally go for. The Razer Blade Stealth is a quintessential ultrabook, with the newest ones having the 8th generation Intel chips, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage. On its own, it’s an impressive little machine, but to make my gaming dreams come true, it’ll have to pair up with the Razer Core V2 external GPU dock, and maybe a 1070 in there for good measure. Sure, the total cost might be hovering above the PHP 100,000 mark for all that hardware, but hey, wishing for it is free!

Razer Core GPU Dock

Razer Blade Stealth Ultrabook I’m convinced that electric is the future of mobility, and if I’m going to give up my bike for something that runs on angry wall pixies, I’m determined to still get something with two wheels. The Energica Ego might just be that machine. With the ability to go from 0-100 in three seconds, a top speed of 240 kph, 145 hp, and 200 Nm of torque, it’s a bike that’s more than ready to keep up with currentgeneration 600 cc sportbikes. With reliable names such as brembo for brakes, and Bosch in charge of the ABS, it’s a bike that’s both green and mean.

While the 150 km range might not be for touring, it’s going to be a heck of a ride between charges.

This knife has a special place in my heart. I had one, years ago. It was given to me by my mom, who might not understand why I wanted it, but got it for me just the same. There was something about the americanized 7-inch tantō that just… spoke to me. That knife, in AUS-8 steel, was stolen from my car in Cebu, and there are moments, even today, that I wish I had gotten it back. No matter. There’s a newer version available, with significantly better steel to boot! The Cold Steel Recon Tanto can now be had in tough, sharp VG-1, and while it’s a pain to sharpen, man, can it take, and hold an edge!

With the same size, profile, sheath, and grip as the old one, it should be familiar in the hand, and every bit as pretty.

Energica Ego Electric Motorcycle

Cold Steel Recon Tanto VG-1 Fixed-blade knife

As you can probably tell, it’s a strange combination of hobbies that I enjoy. I hope my short list of Christmas wants gives some of you, readers, ideas for like-minded friends and family! Happy holidays, and good hunting!

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Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

I’m a simple girl: I am charmed by makeup, indulge in skin care products, enjoy cheesy rom-com movies, jam along to pop music (yes, even bubblegum pop), look up and mirror the latest trends in fashion every so often, and even go as far as view random celebrities’ Instagram feeds until the wee hours of the morning. I am multi-layered, however. One layer, in particular, is shaped by my more than four years in tech journalism. This reveals a person in to gadgets and gizmos more than she should be.

In this CoverStory, I share the things I want to get my hands on, if the heavens permit my budget a miracle, this coming Christmas season. If there’s anything I learned from growing up to Disney, it’s “the dream that I wish will come true”, and maybe faintly “someday my prince will come.” Never mind the latter, actually.

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This may seem like a weird choice, but I like cleaning. And having a capable cleaning tool will have every nook and cranny at home spotless in no time. The Dyson V6 Fluffy is one powerful vacuum and is not ‘fluffy’ at all, save for its cleaning head which is a combination of velvety purple and red. It effortlessly slurps dirt, dust, and whatever needs to be out of the way, on any kind of surface. What’s more, the V6 Fluffy is batterypowered and lightweight which basically allows you to work your way around the house or to your car without cords latching to stuff here and there.

The V6 Fluffy retails well over PHP 30,000, steep, but not a bad deal considering its ergonomic design, motor as powerful as a racing car engine, and varied accessory tools for precise cleaning.

There is a newer version of this vacuum, but you can’t convince me otherwise not to want this cleaning tool.

Dyson v6 fluffy vacuum cleaner

Naysayers will come at Apple for anything, but you can’t discount the fact that this company from Cupertino makes some of the best mobile devices for consumers today. I, too, believe this. Though, the only Apple products I’ve owned are the iPad and iPod Touch, I was convinced that iOS offers one of, if not the best, user experiences mobile device-wise. When the iPhone X was unveiled, I tried to show nonchalance when people asked what I think of it, but on the inside, I wanted to have one myself. From an Android user’s point-ofview, the iPhone X isn’t all that amazing. In fact, you can get an Android device with even better specs for less the X’s price. But then again, the iPhone X is a solid, future-proof smartphone with its virtually all-screen front that screams “look at me!” Not really a fan of the adaptive face ID, but you have to admit, it’s an impressive feat for a 5.8inch, water and dust-resistant slab of metal and glass. Also, the silly person in me wants to play with its Animoji feature, don’t judge.

Iphone x Smartphone

As a millennial with a limited budget, buying an aesthetically-pleasing yet powerful productivity machine is rather a farfetched illusion, no exaggeration. I do have a fairly new laptop at home which is average at best. So, here I am, writing about the laptop I really want to have atop my desk. The Asus Zenbook UX430UA appeals to me in every category. On the outside, it is gorgeously thin, while inside hides a processing monster waiting to be summoned. While, I’m not really a power user—as my laptop won’t permit it—I’d jump on any chance to get this machine to flex. It has a 14-inch FHD LED anti-glare display that extends to the sides almost banishing the device’s borders. This is married to Intel HD graphics 420 for graphics you can’t say no to. This Zenbook is run by an Intel Core i5 processor and has 8 GB of DDR 4 memory and a generous 512 GB of SSD storage, allowing smooth running of tasks. It’s priced around PHP 50K, well worth the upgrade, TBH. With a nice laptop, it’s only natural to want to lug it everywhere you go—that is to get some work done, duh! It’s quite the investment, which brings us to another matter: keeping it secure.

This is where the need for a laptop bag comes in. I’m not really one to dress in girly attires every time, so having a backpack is more ideal to me.

The Moshi Helios is everything you’d want a bag to be: stylish, laptop-friendly, and made with the sturdiest materials. It features a fully padded compartment which can accommodate up to 15inch laptops. It is slim and has a water-repellent coating perfect for the unpredictable weather of Manila. Plus, its design allows it to blend with casual to semi-formal work attires. I’d take one over other backpacks any day.

Moshi Helios BACKPACK www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Asus zenbook UX430UA Notebook

I don’t consider myself a gamer, but I do enjoy playing games. I picked this up from watching my brother play video games as a kid, and sometimes he would allow me to be player number 2. But if you have a brother, you know it rarely works out.

My curiosity never died down, though and I would play any chance I was given, I sucked nonetheless.

I vicariously lived watching plays on YouTube, which introduced me to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Honestly, I would have already played this if my laptop had the ability to run it—I never tried, however. This last-man-standing shooter has many hooked and I would gladly submit to the system. It’s similar to CS but more challenging—no offense to CS fans. With weapon scavenging and player area restriction, it will take sheer will for players to survive and get a “chicken dinner.”

In all honesty, though, I could have written a oneway ticket to Korea and admission to every K-Pop concert but that would just be it. Hope you had fun reading bits of my mind spilled over on paper.

Santa, if you’re reading this, I’ve been a very good girl this year.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) PC GAME

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Words by Robby Vaflor

2017 has been a great year for devices in general, and that adds to the challenge of writing up this list. And while my wish list isn’t too much a la Eartha Kitt, I’ve been a little more optimistic with my choices; although I wouldn’t be opposed to Santa giving me a ’54 convertible (light blue).

A guy could dream.

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Okay, so I’m not someone who particularly wants flagship or high end stuff. I try to get a perfect balance between function and value; everything else is extra. But when Google launched the new Pixel, the world witnessed the concrete beginning to a new era of smartphone.

Google set its main device offering even more apart from the rest by integrating machine learning and AI to its phone in addition to IoT and mixed reality. This means that the phone will progressively perform better over its lifespan. No longer do phones just fight over which has the best name brand lens or the fastest processor.

Couple that with great hardware (Snapdragon 835, 4 GB of RAM, Active Edge squeeze sensor, aluminum unibody) and the highest rated camera ever, then you have yourself a winner. To make matters worse for the competition, Google just slapped on a mere USD 649 to its baseline model.

Savage.

Canon EOS M10 MIrrorless camera When I gave the M10 a whirl for our Road Trip Issue, it was the fastest I fell in love with a camera since the Leica M Monochrom, albeit my love for Canon’s portable mirrorless is a more practical, more attainable one.

At the heart of the camera is an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor coupled with a DIGIC 6 processor which lets in a lot more light in than a standard sensor and has a native aspect ratio of 3:2. The EOS M10 also uses a Hybrid CMOS AF II system which guarantees faster and smoother focusing.

Simply put, a camera body that weighs a hair over 300 grams can take stunning, brightly-lit and wellcontrasted photos that could rival cameras that weigh and cost more. It’s a perfect camera to take everywhere to document the life I love making music with my friends (to quote Willie Nelson).

With Creative Assist on-the-fly adjustment and a very intuitive Auto mode, even a person who has never touched a camera can take great photos with the M10.

When Apple killed off most of the iPod family, the rest of the industry didn’t really follow suit. Companies that produce digital audio players (DAPs) became more focused on selling something that simply plays music—every phone can now do that with their eyes screens closed—

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Google Pixel 2 Smartphone but rather something that can reproduce music in the best way possible.

To anyone who has ever read about Hi-Fi audio, Fiio would be a familiar name, known to many as a Chinese manufacturer of reliable audio products with an emphasis on value. Its flagship, the X7 Mark II is no exception. The company crammed an ESS ES9028 Pro chip and three (count ‘em, three) crystal oscillators in the Android-based device for amazing audio reproduction. It also has a connection for an amp module for an even better listening experience. To add to how much power Fiio has managed to put into the X7 Mk. II, the DAP has 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB of on-board storage with two microSD slots, each supporting a maximum of 256 GB. And the cherry on top? It has a USD 650 price tag—a far cry from the world of Astell & Kerns and HiFiMANs. For a serious DAP like the Fiio X7 Mk. II, it is unacceptable to use anything less than a great pair of headphones, and Sennheiser’s Momentum 2.0 will always be in the list of candidates.

The Momentum 2.0 looks as well as it sounds, available in sleek black and classic ivory colors with leather trim and stainless steel sliders. The updated Momentum improves on the comfort and sound of its predecessor with 18-ohm Neodymium transducers and large diaphragms, able to produce great sound for just about any genre.

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 HEadphones

Fiio X7 Mk. II Digital audio player

I’ve been performing music for over half a decade and writing songs for double that. And for that amount of time I have always been a fan of classic-looking guitars with great tone. Which is why it was a great surprise to find out a few years back that Ibanez was bringing back its short-lived solid body electric guitar from the 90s—the same guitar that Jeff Buckley as well as Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth used.

The Talman TM302 features an alder body with a classic, C-shaped, 22-fret, maple neck and maple fretboard for comfortable playing akin to 50s and 60s Fender solid bodies. It has locking machine heads which you would only usually be able to get with guitars twice the Talman’s price. The guitar is simply set up with two custom vintage single pickups, one for the neck and one for the bridge, producing great, versatile sound that would work with a wide range of genres.

Ibanez Talman Electric guitar

Vox AC30 Guitar amplifier The Vox AC30 is an example of a product done right the first go around. The iconic manufacturer of musical equipment born in the UK developed this amplifier in 1959 due to the competition coming up with more powerful amplifiers. Its signature tone is produced through a pair of 12-inch Celestion Alnico Blue speakers, working well with different types of music from the faint and light to the thick and heavy.

The AC30 was soon associated with the British Invasion as it became the amplifier of choice for future hall-of-famers, including no less than The Beatles, The Kinks and The Yardbirds. Since the 60s it popularity did not wane and reverence for its sound was strengthened, used later on by Queen, Radiohead, Tom Petty, The Smiths, Weezer, and Nirvana to name just a very few.

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Words by Gerry Gaviola

There’s really only two things I want my gadgets to do: help me reduce clutter, and make life easier to bear. The “Ber” months have kicked in, and it’s that time of the year again to be wishful of owning tech’s latest offerings. Here’s a look at some of my personal tech picks that include a mix of luxurious gadgets that aid productivity, and a selection that complements a pragmatic and frugal lifestyle.

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Google Daydream VR Headset

iPhone X SMARTPHONE This one you’d have to be particularly hopeful and wishful for since it doesn’t come with a cheap price tag. I’ve always loved Apple for its minimalist yet powerful approach at tech. Gearing away from bloatware and other distracting elements, its mobile operating system, iOS, provides a simple and accessible way to quickly and efficiently get things done. Despite sacrificing customization for minimalism, it’s approach enables even youngsters and oldies to quickly execute tasks. This year’s 10th anniversary edition is no exception to Apple’s tech philosophy. Still sporting the basics of iOS, the iPhone X now offers a familiar experience that’s enhanced with powerful hardware. An all-screen bezel-less design and a processor that can handle complex computations, such as AR, are just two of the reasons I’d love to get my hands on one.

Strange seeing an Android phone right after an Apple one? The two might actually go together, depending on your need. Personally, I love having a tablet lying around for taking quick notes and enjoying media at a much larger screen, yet more often than not, find it a hassle to carry one around during quick trips. The all-new Huawei Mate10 offers a tablet like experience at a portable form factor. Sporting a beautiful and crystal clear 6-inch display and a design with hardly any bezels, the Mate 10 let’s you do plenty, in style. From taking notes to binge-watching movies and playing graphic-heavy games, the Huawei Mate 10 offers a refreshing mobile experience all from a premium form factor that flaunts symmetry and impressive ergonomics. This iteration of the Mate still sports prestigious dual Leica lenses, but this time with a feature of AI-powered bokeh and real-time face recognition.

Huawei Mate10 Pro SMARTPHONE www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

There’s plenty you can do in VR than you can only wish you could experience in reality. Oftentimes, we’re only really given two choices: to experience VR with a bulky helmet-like headset that’s connected to an octopus of wires, or through inserting our phone into a portable VR headset.

The former is just plain impractical, and the latter doesn’t offer a superb VR experience due to cellphone screen ppi that just isn’t there yet.

Google’s new offering is giving users a third choice, a standalone VR headset that isn’t as bulky as the usual bunch. Apart from offering portability, the Google Daydream headset also features WorldSense, a technology that’s spatially aware of movement.

Sony HT-ST5000 Sound bar

On a tired and stressful day, blasting the tunes of Beatles as soon as I get home makes life a whole lot better. Having a soundbar definitely helps, as it readily connects to your TV or smartphone with ease. The Sony HT-ST5000 is one of the best sounding sound bars in the market that offer an incomparable and immersive sound experience. Engineered to satisfy even the peaks of audiophile demands, the HT-ST5000 delivers a true immersive 360-degree sound experience right from your home. Amazingly, the soundbar features a 7.1.2 setup (7 traditional surround speakers, 1 subwoofer, 2 upward-firing speakers).

Complemented with Samsung’s S-Force and PRO Front surround technology, the soundbar is able to tickle audiophile ears with genuine threedimensional natural sounding tones. Mimicking the likes of listening to sound at the cinema, it lets you enjoy every tone from the comfort of your home. For audiophiles, this also means being able to fully enjoy those FLAC files.

On some days, wouldn’t it be nice if you could power your device without having to pay a single buck? Owning a solar panel while residing in a tropical country like ours could prove to be useful, especially when you’re extremely frugal.

Yes, the ROI would probably take a few months

or years, but if knowing that you’ve saved a few bucks calms you, especially during a time where every peso counts, then the Choetech 24W charger would be a good buy. Whether you’d be using it for novelty, or simply want to charge up your devices for free, Choetech’s 24W Portable Solar Charger will have your back. The foldable solar panel is capable of producing 24 watts of power and delivers speeds of up to 2.4A per port under direct sunlight. Highly efficient, it features a conversion rate of up to 23 to 24 percent rather than the average 10 to 15.

If you’re investing in an entry level solar panel like the Choetech Solar Charger, then it would be best to pair it with a reliable power bank you know will last. Mi’s 20,000 mAh power bank is one you can count on for packing extra juice. The dual-port power bank uses high-density Panasonic/ LG battery cells for storing energy, while its plastic design offers portability. More than just your average power bank, it features a 93 percent conversion rate and many other capabilities that include high temperature resistance, input overvoltage protection, short-circuit protection, and many more.

Xiaomi 20,000 mAh Powerbank Power bank

Choetech 24W Solar Charger Solar Charger

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MOBILITY

Hyundai Veloster Turbo Words and Photos by Maribelle Alba

Targeted at the younger millennial crowd, the Hyundai Veloster Turbo is one of the more distinctive vehicles in the Philippine market today. It’s good-looking on the outside, but how does it feel on the road?

DESIGN The Hyundai Veloster Turbo is described as a kammback coupe with an asymmetrical door configuration. The kammback is a design where the smooth car body ends abruptly in a tail that is cut off, thus reducing drag and improving aerodynamics. The Veloster has one large door on the driver’s side and two smaller doors on the passenger side. A panoramic sunroof brings in a more open feel.

From the front, Hyundai’s distinctive hexagonal radiator grille topped by HID projection headlamps and character lines on the hood exude a bold presence. From the side, its silhouette is characterized by a sloping roof for a sporty stance, enhanced by special low-profile

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tires mounted on 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts. A spoiler, dual exhaust pipes, and a Turbo emblem at the rear put the exclamation mark on this car’s market positioning.

Inside are leather seats and trim, with a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support. There is seating for only two people in the rear, as the center portion of the rear bench seat is taken up by a small tray for knickknacks and dual cupholders.

HARDWARE The Hyundai Veloster Turbo’s engine is a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) powerplant that develops maximum output of up to 204 ps at 6000 rpm and torque of

275 Nm. This is mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission controlled via a gated shift stick combined with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Also conveniently located on the steering wheel are audio, Bluetooth, and cruise control buttons. The suspension system consists of front MacPherson struts and rear coupled torsion beam axles, while disc brakes are installed on front and rear.

The instrument panel is inspired by the dual-cylinder look of a motorbike’s twin exhaust and, on top of the usual speed/rpm and other indicators, provides the following additional information: fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, distance to empty, and elapsed time. A 7-inch touchscreen display in the center of the

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dashboard provides convenient access to multimedia functions, including a back-up camera for parking convenience.

Safety features include dual front, side, and curtain airbags, plus anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, hill-start assist, burglar alarm, immobilizer, and child door locks.

USER EXPERIENCE When I first saw the Hyundai Veloster Turbo sitting in my parking slot, I was struck by its distinctive and youthful styling. This was a car that deserved to be seen in the posh sections of the city, so I was happy that I needed to drive to a meeting at the premium business district.

Without having to scrounge around in my purse for the smart key, all I had to do was switch on the ignition by pushing the start button located in the center console just above the gear stick. Then, some fiddling with the power buttons to adjust the leather-clad driver’s seat, the side windows, and the rear view mirror, and I was good to go.

With the fully-automatic climate control system, I only had to set it to my desired temperature once, and I was assured of a cool, comfortable ride each time. Finding controls for heated front seats was an unexpected treat—great for easing tired back muscles when caught in traffic.

A premium speaker system which includes a central speaker, external amplifier, and subwoofer, in addition to six speakers, delivered great sound quality. The problem was that the multimedia controls on both the touchscreen and steering wheel were buggy, so selecting a program or radio station was a hit or miss thing.

Finally, the driving experience. At speed, the Veloster Turbo is a nice drive, but since most of my driving was done in stop-and-go traffic, I had to deal with jerky acceleration which I attribute to the double-clutch transmission gear-seeking between second and first gear. The suspension is also a bit stiff, so you do feel the uneven road surfaces of our city streets.

VALUE The Hyundai Veloster Turbo does not come cheap, with a sticker price of PHP 1,608,000. Except for lucky millennials with wealthy parents, the outlay would be well beyond the bank accounts of its supposed target market. Moreover, at that price point, there are other worthy competitors out there with comparable specifications and better pedigrees.

What about long-term cost of ownership? As a first-generation model, it’s hard to predict how the Veloster Turbo will age and what issues may arise with normal wear and tear, but it helps that Hyundai has a five-year unlimited mileage warranty covering electronics or electrical components, powertrain, dual clutch transmission, as well as body and paint.

What about resale value? Again, hard to tell as it’s targeted at a very niche market. Depending on the reputation it gains among local enthusiasts, a first owner must be prepared to take a bit of a hit in the secondary market when it’s time to upgrade.

What’s Hot: - Distinctive design - Heated front seats!

What’s Not: - Audio controls are buggy - Some jerkiness in the lower gears

Bottomline: If you dare to be different, this is the car for you.

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Wheeltek Opens Suzuki 3S Shop and Big Bikes Center in Pampanga

Wheeltek unveiled its new Suzuki 3S Shop and Big Bikes Center in San Fernando, Pampanga last October 7.

The shop is Wheeltek’s third Suzuki Big Bikes Center joining those located in Makati City and Cabanatuan City.

The jam-packed event saw the opening of both the Suzuki 3S Shop which boasts the brand’s complete lineup of small displacement bikes as well as the Suzuki Big Bikes Center which offers Suzuki’s well-loved higher displacement motorcycles.

Present during the opening ceremonies were Wheeltek Motor Sales Corporation president and CEO Reynaldo Odulio Sr., vice president for Finance Raymond Odulio, vice president for Sales and Marketing Roscoe Odulio, Big Bikes general manager Bobby Orbe, marketing manager Mark Chuidian, and regional sales manager for North Luzon Philip Garcia.

The 3S Shop and Big Bikes Center are housed in a two-storey building with a total area of 475 square meters. The superstore at the heart of Pampanga will become a one-stop shop for anything Suzuki motorcycle-related including sales, spare parts, and after-sales service.

The morning program was designated for the 3S Shop opening, the second in the province, and was kicked off by a motorcade with more than a hundred riders participating. The motorcade was then followed by the formal opening ceremonies and unveiling of Suzuki’s latest small bikes led by the Skydrive Fi, the much-awaited Raider R150 Fi, the Raider R150 Carb with new decals, the GSX R150, and the GSX-S150.

The festivities went onwards with a Buganda performance and Suzuki president Hiroshi Suzuki’s signature dance number to the tune of Suzuki’s Para sa Lahat ng Trip Mo campaign jingle.

The Suzuki Big Bikes Center officially opened in the evening, following the opening of the 3S Shop, which was attended by more than 200 big bike riders from across Luzon.

The San Fernando shop is currently the biggest Suzuki Big Bikes Center in the Philippines with an area of 288 square meters. The event saw the launch of the Suzuki GSX-S1000F street bike which shares the engine and main components of the legendary GSX-R1000, and the V-Strom 650XT ABS.

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Suzuki president Hiroshi Suzuki, general manager for Motorcycle Sales and Marketing Jun Bulot, and Regional sales manager for North Luzon Erick Fernandez also joined the Wheeltek executives at the momentous event.

San Fernando City mayor Edwin Santiago was in attendance at the opening of the Suzuki Big Bikes Center. Other special guests include Wheeltek-Suzuki riders Ompong “Danger Boy” Legaspi Gabriel, winner of the ASEAN Motocross Relation in Thailand, Micol Puno, who bagged second and third places for the Canonball Endurance Ride 2017 and the BOSS Ironman Challenge 2017 respectively, and James John Oberez who finished fifth at the same BOSS challenge.

The celebration was hosted by the lovely Roxanne Barcelo who also did a song and dance number to the delight of the audience.

The Wheeltek-Suzuki 3S Shop and Big Bikes Center in San Fernando is located at McArthur Highway, Brgy. San Agustin, Ramar Village and is part of both companies’ expansion project to bring Suzuki motorcycles closer to the Filipinos. Wheeltek and Suzuki also announced the opening of another 3S Shop and Big Bikes Center in Calasiao, Pangasinan within the year.

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s t ia n s e A s of t e s r a p eg th E n L o r in e ou t e S P lipp 4 Phi mula nship For mpio Cha

As the official fuel and engine oil of the 2017 Formula 4 South East Asia (F4SEA) Championship, Petron presented the Philippine leg of the regional championship last October 21 to 22 at Clark International Speedway (CIS) in Pampanga. An FIA-accredited motorsport venue, CIS is considered a challenging and highly-technical circuit for the F4 racers as it runs in a counter-clockwise direction. The 4.2-km circuit has 18 turns.

According to F4 SEA chairman and CEO Peter Thompson, “Formula 4 racing is the first step to develop enthusiasts for a professional motorsport career in the FIA pyramid, culminating in F1. Open to anyone 15 years old and above, F4 helps young drivers transition from karting to single-seat racing, and helps them learn the racecraft they need to move up in the world of Formula racing.”

F4 SEA focuses on driver experience and development by ensuring a level playing field in an FIA single organization championship based on a one-make, one-data, one-cost concept.

All drivers have access to race and engine data, learning from race engineers and coaches, so winning is based on race craft and not performance aids.

With Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6 as the official fuel, F4 SEA operations manager Mohd Sharli noted, “On average, the Petron-supported cars perform more efficiently as opposed to other generic fuels. In the high-octane world of racing, every millisecond counts and that improvement helps each race driver refine their track record.”

Meanwhile, F4 SEA technical director Sean Thompson observed, “From our initial examinations, we can see that the fully-synthetic Petron Blaze Racing Engine Oil had markedly reduced levels of carbonizations after many laps of testing. The oil was unaffected by the extreme temperatures experienced under racing conditions. There was no excessive wear and tear

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on vital components. Critically, there was no loss in oil pressure.”

These observations further confirm the superior qualities of Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, acknowledged as the best fuel in the Philippines.

Certified by international testing institutions for surpassing the most stringent global standards, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6 is a 100-octane pure gasoline formulation. It delivers powerful engine performance and acceleration as well as improved combustion, improved fuel efficiency, significantly reduced harmful emissions, and cleaner engines.

Petron Blaze Racing Engine Oil contains the Thermal Stress Stabilizing System (TS3) that helps reduce engine stress even at the high temperatures demanded by competition racing.

Petron Blaze Racing is a fully-synthetic highperformance oil that has been proven to deliver ultimate engine stress protection and excellent performance on thermal stability and engine cleanliness.

The first leg of the 2017 F4 SEA Championship kicked off in Sepang, Malaysia last September 29 to October 1. After the second leg at the Clark International Speedway in the Philippines on October 20 to 22, the third leg will be held at Sentul, Indonesia on November 24 to 26. The Buriram United International Circuit in Thailand will host the penultimate leg from January 12 to 14, 2018. The final leg returns to Sepang, Malaysia, on February 9 to 11, 2018.

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Yamaha Holds RevPinas in Caloocan

Yamaha Philippines recently held RevPinas, its nationwide festival tour that merges the passion for riding with different cultural celebrations.

This time around, the “pambansang piyesta” coincided with the Arangkada day of Caloocan City. In the event were a crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts and other guests graced by presence of senior marketing section manager Ryan Jude Camus, officers from Motortrade, and city mayor Oca Malapitan, who opened the booth activities. Along with several games, activities, and performances by Bamboo and TJ Monterede, the finals of Motogymkhana were also held.

Displayed in the festival were select Yamaha products that included the MIO automatic line-up which comprised of the Mio I 125, Mio Soul I 125, and their S versions which sport a Stop and Start System; the TFX150, the new Sight; and the much anticipated Blu is Fast lineup composed of the Mio Aerox, Sniper 150, and the all new YZF-R15, YZF-R3, YZF-R1. Among the stars of the show that gathered a series of queries and interest was the YZF-R6, the latest addition to the R-Series, and without a doubt, among the most popular racing machines that feature next generation design and technology.

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stunt show that featured the Yamaha TFX150, FZi, and SZ. Aimed at gathering motorcycle enthusiasts, Yamaha RevPinas hopes to provide an avenue for customers to celebrate their passion for riding.

Yamaha is set to hold other RevPinas “piyesta na bayan” events in Dumaguete, Palawan, and Naga.

Motogymkhana Results: TFX EXPERT 1ST – JOSE, CHRISTIAN 2ND – STA ANA, LUISITO 3RD – DOBLADA, PAUL MARK

IBARRA, MARC DAVID REYES, CHRISTIAN 1ST PLACE: X-TEAM ANGELES, ALJON DE ROXAS, FRANCIS CABANTOG, JAYSON VELENCIA, JC JAMES 2ND PLACE: BABY SHARK PINEDA, RALPH DELA PENA, NORVIN PEBIAS, MYKEE LUMODAO, PJ

SZ BEGINNER 1ST – BAUTISTA, RONALDO 2ND – HERNANDEZ, MELCHOR 3RD – MACHADO, VICRAY FZ BEGINNER 1ST -AZURIN, MAVERICK 2ND – DELACRUZ, ARLAN 3RD – PECAYO, MICHAEL BRYAN

Stunt Show Competition Results: CHAMPION: TAYTAY RIDERS JOSE, CHRISTIAN STA ANA, LUISITO

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Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) Commences 2017 TestFest Season Months of CAGI’s preparation finally culminate with its launch of the much anticipated Car of the Year-Philippines (COTY-P) and Truck of the YearPhilippines (TOTY-P) vehicle TestFest that kicked off last September 23 at Ayala Land Premier’s Arca South in Taguig City.

In collaboration with KPMG RG. Manabat & Co. and Carmudi Philippines, CAGI members were able to successfully evaluate all ten of the present vehicles that sported the brands Chevrolet, Kia, Mazda, Mini, Subaru and Volkswagen. Member evaluations were guided by KPMG RG. Manabat & Co’s methodology that encouraged an unbiased and critical procedure of grading and recording results.

Each vehicle in the TestFest underwent qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Qualitative tests included evaluations on the car’s feel and overall aesthetic, while the quantitative evaluations included objective measurements of the car’s acceleration, handling, and brake performance.

The results garnered interesting results. While the Chevrolet Spark and the Trax were out to prove themselves, the all-new Kia Rio GL and the Picanto GT Line flaunted its capability with ease. The Japanese contemporaries present, the Mazda 2 and the MX-5 RF, boasted of its SkyActiv technology, while Subaru’s Impreza 2.0i-S fortified its position as among the top-performing favorites. Germany's Volkswagen Jetta and Golf GTS featured the essence of German engineering, while the Mini defended its legacy.

“Since time immemorial, the rating of the vehicles given by the members of CAGI who are considered experts in the industry are designed to provide the consumers the much-needed more informed choices,” CAGI president Ronald delos Reyes stated.

Reyes likewise shared on an estimate of 30-40 cars that’s to be tested for this TestFest season.

He says that many of the vehicles will be from the crossover market, and that if motoring trends are consistent, we should expect to see more commercial utility vehicles included in future TestFest sessions.

The next rounds for the COTY-P and TOTY-P testing were held last September 30 and October 28, while the testing dates for the inaugural

Motorcycle of the Year Philippines were held last October 14 and 21.

CAGI has members from the following media entities: Business Mirror, Cebu Daily News, Daily Tribune, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, The Manila Times, Bulgar, Mindanao Daily News, AQ Magazine, Autocar Philippines, C! Magazine, Carmudi Magazine Philippines, Motorcycle Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine, Speed Magazine, Top Gear Philippines, Wheels & Gears Magazine, 2nerMagazine.com, Ignition.ph, InterAksyon.com, Kotse.com, ManilaSpeak.com, MotionCars.com, Ride and Drive Phils., Speed by MP Turbo, SprocketPh.com, TessDrive.com, DZMM, Inside Motoring on DZRJ 810 AM, Mellow 94.7, Motoring sa DZME, The Motoring Page on Mellow 94.7 FM, ABS-CBN, and Auto Review.

CARS Program and eco-PUV Prototypes Featured at 1st PhilAPEX Presented by the Philippine Parts Maker Association (PPMA), in cooperation with DTI-BOI, DOTr, MMPC, TMPC, and the Automotive Body Manufacturer's Association of the Philippines, Inc. (ABMAP), the first ever Philippine Auto Parts Expo (PhilAPEX) saw success with the feature of over 30 auto parts manufacturing companies’ local-made car products Echoing the theme “Gawang Pilipino, para sa Pilipino”, the expo was able to successfully showcase Filipino talent; present the CARS Program implementation; and provide an avenue for networking amongst automobile parts builders and vehicle manufacturers.

Led by the Philippines Philippine Parts Maker Association (PPMA), the expo featured Mitsubishi Motors Philippines and (MMPC) Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation’s (TMPC) project updates under the CARS Program. Alongside project updates were discussions on the recentlyannounced PUV Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

official public launch of the Philippine National Standards 2126:2017 for new PUVs consequently released by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards.

Special government booths for DTI-BOI, DOTr and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) were also available in the event to answer questions PUV operators had regarding the new PUV franchise regulations, the new design and

features of the new PUVs, financing, and many others.

Present in the event were DTI secretary Ramon Lopez, LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III, PPMA president Ferdinand Raquelsantos, MMPC president Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, and TMPC president Satoru Suzuki. The event ran through October 12-13, 2017 at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

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New Safety Features Come to the Suzuki Celerio and Alto Leading compact car distributor Suzuki Philippines recently upgraded the safety features of the Suzuki Celerio and Alto. The upgrade complements the two’s smooth and comfortable driving features with safety and convenience for a peace of mind.

SPH general manager for Automobile Mr. Shuzo Hoshikura said, “We are delighted to share the upgrades for the Celerio and Alto compact cars. These upgrades are a testament to Suzuki’s commitment to continuously improve its product portfolio and ensure that new and existing customers get the best of the Suzuki Way of Life. We are very happy to be providing more features focused on safety and never shortchanging our beloved patrons of their money’s value.”

Compact yet feature-packed Celerio

Through the Celerio, the country’s most fuelefficient car in the gasoline category, Suzuki is able to fortify its legacy in safety and comfort.

The Celerio's new reverse parking sensor enables easier reverse maneuverability, while its Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) feature effectively utilizes high-tensile materials to extend the vehicle's safety features.

The Celerio now also features a record breaking 29.14km/L fuel economy rating, based on a fuel economy run organized by the DOE and Petron Corporation. Along with excellent fuel economy are several other features for comfort and safety—a 7-inch Multimedia Touchscreen Audio System for entertainment, dual airbags in the driver and passenger seats, and an anti-lock brake system.

The upgraded Celerio is available locally in Pearl Snow White, Metallic Star Silver, Metallic Mineral Gray, Pearl Super Black, Pearl Ablaze Red, and Prime Cerulean Blue.

The upgraded Alto

Like the Celerio, the Alto 800 STD also received significant safety upgrades that include an antilock brake system, dual airbags for all seats, and Suzuki’s TECT that improves vehicle safety and more.

The upgraded Alto 800 STD is available in color options Superior White, Silky Silver Metallic,

Brilliant Yellow, Granite Grey, Blazing Red, Prime Mojito Green and Cerulean Blue.

The Celerio 1.0 GL-MT variant can be had in low down-payments as low as PHP 58,000 and the Suzuki Alto 800 STD, for PHP 28,000 until October 31, 2017.

For more information about Suzuki Philippines and their automobiles, visit http://suzuki. com.ph/auto/, like them on www.facebook. com/SuzukiAutoPH and https://twitter.com/ SuzukiAutoPH and follow on Instagram at @suzukiautoph.

Yamaha Debuts Training Center in West Bajac Bajac Yamaha Motor Philippines Inc. (YMPH), in cooperation with Trust and Social Ventures MultiPurpose Cooperative (SVMPC) and PlayAsia.com, recently debuted their Motorcycle and Small Engine Servicing Training Center last September 21, 2017 in Barangay West Bajac Bajac. With the aim to cultivate better learning, the training center will be open not just to the residents of the barangay, but also to students all around Olongapo City.

Yamaha’s training center will merge education and early career assistance. For an optimized learning environment, the motor company has provided the training center with all the necessary equipment and training units for its students. To provide early career assistance, students who will complete courses in the training center will

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receive national certificates alongside assistance in being hired as trainees in Yamaha Service Centers.

Coinciding with the grand opening was a motorcade led by the Yamaha Club Mio Nation and Revvy Bear, that circled Olongapo City.

Consequently, a Yamaha Safe Riding Science Program was held in the Barangay hall.

Yamaha firmly believes in the talent and value of every Filipino. With the desire to enrich more lives, the motor company incorporates service alongside its passion for motorcycles.

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BULLET POINTS

Putting together your

E DC KIT EDC Words by Ren Alcantara

The thing about life is that you never really know what it’ll throw at you. Maybe the sole of your shoe comes off.

Maybe you suddenly need to make an important note. Maybe you need to find a small something that rolled underneath a table. There’s a lot that could happen. While it’s impossible to predict what might happen, you can be prepared. That’s the whole point of having an EDC kit on your person. I’m lucky enough to live in a mostly controlled environment, with little variance from day-to-day, so my personal EDC isn’t that complicated. I assume most of you readers are the same, so here are a few things I’ve learned over the years I’ve been carrying. We’ll skip the regular stuff like your wallet, cellphone, and a powerbank, as I doubt you need me to tell you to carry those things.

Firstly, there’s the container. The biggest mistake you can make in preparing your EDC is going overboard with the container. It’s very easy to go too large, and then start leaving it at home because it’s too bulky. Picking the container first will also make you bring the bare essentials, which is really all we’re after in this exercise. If you carry a bag, you can probably get away with something slightly larger, but the core principle remains: keep it to the bare essentials.

I carry a small tin, slightly larger than altoids container. Inside the tin, I will usually have a few items, one of the most important items being a flattened roll of duct tape. You can achieve this by unwrapping a segment of tape from a roll, and sticking it on itself, so it lays flat. Try to get it even, so none of the edges stick out, and you’ll have a uniform, very flat, extremely useful segment of duct tape, ready to stick something together, stop a tear, plug a hole, or even work as an emergency wound closure if you really really need it.

tiny tubes of super glue. If something comes off something, and it’s not supposed to, you can fall back on this. Chances are good it will spill once you open it up, so it’s something I don’t usually keep in the tin again once opened.

You’ll also find a single AA battery in there. My daily light can run off a single AA battery, and if for whatever reason, the battery in my light goes flat, I’ll have a spare in there. It’s a Panasonic Eneloop, so even if I leave it in there for a few years, it’ll still have a decent charge in it.

Lastly, I have a small hotel sewing kit, the kind that comes in a little pack with a cardboard spool for the thread. More than once, I’ve had to make a spot repair to a coat, pair of pants, or a lost button on a shirt, and this lets me to that.

While not part of the little tin, there will be a few other things I will almost certainly have on me that are part of the whole system: a knife, a

light, a small notepad, and a pen. These need no additional explanation, as we’ve been over them at length in the past. They’re all useful, take up precious little pocket space, and far outweigh the additional weight. More often than not, I’ll have to pull these four items out to get something done, and rather than scramble for my phone for a note or a light, I can just go to the same pockets I always carry them in, and they’ll be there, ready.

Some things I have rotated in and out of the EDC kit have been zip ties, a small multi-tool, flash drives, and zip-top bags.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of things you should carry, but I do believe it’s a decent place to start. It covers quite a few low-level daily emergencies you might encounter, or at least keeps the problem at bay until you can make your way to a more effective solution. Remember though, keep it small, and keep everything useful, and you will be okay.

I’ll also have a few pills, namely a painkiller, an antacid, and a dose of loperamide. Headaches can be made manageable with some mefanamic.

I tend to get acidic often, hence the antacid, and while I can function reasonably with a fever, or even a migraine, it’s hard to focus on anything at all if you have a bum stomach. Switch the medicines around to suit your own needs, and you can rest easy knowing you’ll have something to tide you over until you can get to a drugstore.

Adhesive bandages. They’re flat, light, and papercuts happen often. It makes sense to have one or two of these on your person.

Super glue. If you check the grocery, you will probably be able to find a small pack of four

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TRAVEL TECH

POKEFI POCKET

WIFI

Words by Presy Alba

International travel can be especially challenging when you don’t have internet access. These days, staying connected is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. You need it to get a ride through Uber, to check-in to your next flight, or even to checkout of your hotel.

Without it you’ll have to bring along an actual printed map to find your way around. This could be very hard when you’ve grown used to getting turn-by-turn directions on your phone.

No internet access means you’ll be disconnected from your friends and family who are all following your journey on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or waiting for private calls and messages on Viber.

In my travels abroad this past two years, I’ve tried several ways to stay connected.

The easiest way was to simply turn on roaming cellular data for the daily flat rate offered by Smart or Globe. But in my experience staying connected this way could be a bit iffy. Globe charges a flat daily rate of around PHP 599 for 24 hours while Smart charges PHP 550 from when you turn on data roaming until midnight of the same day. My problem with both services is that I do not always get an internet connection—that is dependent on the availability of the service by their partner on location.

The next solution I tried is to get a local SIM. I got a TIM SIM in Rome with a package that allowed me to stay connected even while I crossed the border to France for a few days. It worked pretty well and the rates were quite reasonable, even a bit cheaper than the flat rate from Globe or Smart, but the downside was that when I ran out of load, I had to go to one of their outlets to reload. The other downside was that I had to bring another phone for this purpose.

In Madrid, I rented a pocket Wi-Fi bundled with the car rental— this was a good way to stay connected and the charge in Spain was about EUR 8 per day, quite reasonable as my friends and I were able to share the cost since the mobile Wi-Fi could connect to up to 10 devices. Another time, our AirBnB rental in Rome had a pocket Wi-Fi included, so we just brought that along.

But in April this year, on a Philippine Airlines flight to New York, I saw Pokefi featured in the in-flight magazine. I was intrigued because it had a virtual SIM, which meant there would be no need to replace the SIM when moving from one location to another. Another thing that also 70

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caught my attention was that you could top-up the load online and pay by credit card. The best thing about it is that you could buy 5 GB of data for only USD 15, consumable within two years, or unlimited data for USD 15 consumable in five days—which meant it only costs USD 3/day at most—and this is a flat rate for all 60+ countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East that the service was available.

I did not find a lot of reviews about Pokefi online, but I took the risk and bought one on my flight back to the Philippines. It was cheaper to buy the unit in-flight than online from the Pokefi website because it was tax free.

It was a breeze to setup: all I needed to do was to open the back, remove the battery protector, connect the battery, and turn it on. I waited for about a minute or so before the Wi-Fi indicator turned green, telling me that I had acquired a connection–since the package came with data pre-loaded.

Next, I opened settings on my phone and connected to Pokefi using the SSID and password indicated in the box (and also in the inside back cover of the unit). To personalize my Pokefi, I connected to the unit by going to http://a.pokefi on a browser from my phone, and changed the SSID and password. It also allowed me to purchase additional data packages.

This device was truly one of my best buys this year. Since April, I’ve reloaded four times, spending only USD 60 for data load which I used abroad for more than 20 days—and I still have 5 GB remaining data to date. I used it without any problems in the USA, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. So far, Bangladesh is the only country I went to this year where the Pokefi service was not available.

I should also mention that the device has a long battery life—up to 12 hours, depending on the signal strength and the number of devices it is connected to—this is way better than other mobile Wi-Fi’s available in the market.

If you travel or have plans to travel abroad, you have to add Pokefi to your wish list for Christmas. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

TRAVEL

DESTINATION MUSEUMS Words and Photos by Presy Alba

Museums like the Louvre and Orsay in Paris; the MoMa and the Metropolitan in New York; the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam; the Prado in Madrid; and of course the Vatican museums in Rome are a destination by themselves.

My travels are mostly business related and I sometimes do not have enough free time to fully explore a place on my first visit, but I always make a point to visit museums, especially when they have a world-class collection. I’ve learned to plan ahead and read up on the collections on exhibit and find out if I need to purchase skip-the-line tickets on the museum’s website. I’ve learned from experience that because some of these museums are very popular with both tourists and locals, it sometimes takes hours of waiting in line just to get in.

THE LOUVREPARIS, FRANCE Official Website: www.louvre.fr Adult Ticket Price: EUR 15 Opening Hours: 9AM-6PM everyday, except Tuesdays Late closing at 9:45PM on Wednesdays and Fridays Free Entrance to all nationalities under 26 years old (ID with proof of age is required) every Friday from 6PM onwards. Free Entrance to all nationalities every first Sunday of the month.

There are several entrances to the Louvre. The most obvious one is through the glass pyramids but there is usually a long line there. There is a less popular entrance through the Carousel du Louvre. This is especially good to use if you have not purchased an advance ticket for you can avail one at the museum store inside the shopping mall connected to the museum with an entrance at 99 Rue de Rivoli, or you can take the Metro and get down on the Louvre-Rivoli stop.

Vatican Museums-Rome, Italy Official Website: www.museivatican.va Adult Ticket Price: EUR 16 (Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel) + EUR 4 online booking fee Opening Hours: 9AM-6PM Monday to Saturday

and book your ticket early. This way you can go directly to the museum entrance, present your booking confirmation to the guard, and start your tour.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is quoted to have said that “the only really effective apologia for Christianity comes down to two arguments, namely, the saints the Church has produced and the art which has grown in her womb.”

You need at least four hours to see the permanent collections–if you want to take everything in more slowly, you will need more time. If you don’t want to spend money renting a museum audio guide, I recommend that you install Rick Steves’ app on your phone (from the App or Play Store).

Download the Vatican museum tour, and let him guide you through the vast halls including an entertaining explanation of the Sistine Chapel paintings.

The collections of the Vatican museums are some of the best examples that make this statement true for it features the works of many famous renaissance artists like Michaelangelo, Bernini, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci, to name but a few. The Vatican museum is also home to many artifacts from older civilizations including ancient Rome and Egypt.

Tickets to the Vatican Museum vary from website to website. I highly recommend that you purchase your ticket from the museum’s official website

I also suggest that you do the Vatican museums tour first before going to St. Peter’s Basilica, as there is an exit to the Basilica from the museum, so you don’t have to line up or go through security check one more time–and Rick Steves has an audio tour for the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square, as well.

But don’t go to the Louvre just to see the Mona Lisa. There are actually a few Da Vinci paintings just outside the hall where the Mona Lisa is displayed.

You will need at least three hours minimum to walk through the more popular collections. At least five if you want to explore the collections in another wing. If you seriously want to spend more time at the Louvre, go on a Wednesday or Friday when they stay open until 10PM.

If you follow the crowd, you will ultimately end up in a room where the Mona Lisa is displayed. I have to say that she may be the most famous painting in the whole planet, but she is not really that impressive up close. It is quite hard to examine the painting more closely as there is a rail that bars people from going too close and the painting itself is behind a plexiglass wall. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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ORSAY MUSEUM-PARIS, FRANCE Official website: www.musee-orsay.fr Adult Ticket Price: EUR 12 Opening Hours: 9:30AM to 6PM daily except Monday Closes at 9:45PM on Thursdays If you like modern art, and would like to see the works of famous impressionist painters like Claude Monet, you should visit the Orsay museum. It is a lot smaller than the Louvre so you can go around at a slower pace.

Their permanent collection is mostly art work from the 19th and 20th centuries including paintings, and sculptures by famous artists. Many of the works of the great impressionist painters are on exhibit here.

Apart from Orsay’s great collection, it also features great views of Paris from its top floor balcony which is accessible to the public.

RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM Official website: www.rijksmuseum.nl Adult Ticket Price: EUR 17.50 Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the home of Rembrandt’s famous Nightwatch painting.

It features the works of many Dutch artists including Vincent Van Gogh and some great painters who are not as well-known outside of the art world. Many of the artists’ names may not sound familiar but their work speak of the rich culture that nurtured their talent.

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PRADO MUSEUM MADRID, SPAIN Official website: www.museodelprado.es Adult Ticket Price: EUR 15 Opening Hours: 10AM to 8PM (closes at 7PM on Sundays and Holidays) Admission is free from 6-8PM daily and from 5-7PM on Sundays I have no photos from the Prado Museum collection because they strictly prohibit picture taking inside the museum. But I have to say that the Museo del Prado art work collection is one of the most impressive I’ve seen so far. Some of the masterpieces of famous artists like Caravaggio, Velasquez, El Greco, and Albrecht Durer are in the Prado Museum.

The Metro politan MUSEUM OF ART 5th Avenue, NEW YORK CITY, USA Official website: www.metmuseum.org Adult Ticket: USD 25 Opening Hours: 10AM to 5:30PM The Metropolitan Museum of Art or the MET is the premier art museum in New York. It houses an impressive collection of art works all over the world. Their marketing claims that they have 5,000 years’ worth of art in their collection.

The museum complex is quite big and I don’t think one day is enough to truly explore it.

Although it is less famous than the Louvre, it is an awesome place to visit.

You need to purchase tickets in advance though for the lines are very, very long. On my first visit to Madrid, I had to give up waiting in line and ended going on a hop-on hop-off tour instead, because I stood in line for more than 30 minutes and it barely budged.

On my second visit, I bought online tickets and skipped the long lines, which on some days wound around to the sides of the museum buildings.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTS (MoMA) Midtown Manhattan, NEW YORK CITY, USA Official website: www.moma.org Adult Ticket Price: USD 25 Opening Hours: 10:30AM to 5:30PM daily (closes at 9PM on Fridays and Saturdays) You must go to the MoMA if you find yourself in New York. It is not as big as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History, but boy is their collection amazing.

The works of Andy Warhol are familiar to us–like the iconic Campbell Soup Cans painting or the Gold Marilyn Monroe painting–you will see both originals there. Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night is there as well.

You will need two hours minimum to see most of their collection. And there is really no need to purchase the ticket ahead of time, as they are very efficient in dealing with queues. What I really liked about my MoMA visit was the interactive guide that is available free via the Appstore or Play Store.

The entrance ticket is quite steep at USD 25, but it is truly worth it. However, if you’re short on cash visit MoMA on a Friday–entrance is free after 4PM courtesy of Uniqlo.

It is one of those museums where you have to walk fast on your first visit just so you can see more for the time you have. Then take another tour at a slower pace on your second visit just to savor and appreciate the works on display.

If you buy your tickets at the museum ticket counter, you pay any amount, however they encourage you to be as generous as you can be. The suggested “donation” for an adult is USD 25, but they will give you a ticket even if you give less than that amount.

The Met is worth a visit every time you find yourself in New York because they continuously add new exhibits. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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GAMING

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VISUAL HOME SPACE

QCINEMA

INTERNATIONAL

FILM FESTIVAL Words by Gerry Gaviola

Every year, in October, we have Oktoberfest, Halloween, a long weekend, and for cinephiles, the QCinema International Film Festival. Year after year, the festival has brought in a rich selection of intriguing films, 2017 isn’t an exception. From the world’s first fully painted animation film down to classic restorations and new local and foreign films, this year’s QCinema Filmfest offered a memorable variety thourgh its roster of films. Here, we take a look at the titles that graced the filmfest.

The Opening and Closing Film Loving Vincent Directed by: Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman The QCinema film festival opened with the world’s first fully oil painted feature film, Loving Vincent. The animated film aptly follows the the life of the 19th Century, post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. The biopic dramatizes the life of Van Gogh through a storyline that includes a series of fictional interviews, letters, and conversations beautiful animated and painted in oil. Hours of labor and technical prowess were what made the film beautifully possible.

Composed of animated paintings, the unusual yet stunning film does justice as a homage to Van Gogh.

Batch ‘81 Directed by Mike De Leon A restored version of Batch ‘81 gracefully closed the curtains of filmfest. Seen like never before, the Asian Film Archive (AFA)-restored version of the film brought clear visuals to a seminal classic.

Batch ‘81 follows the story of a harsh fraternity initiation process of neophyte hopefuls. The film merges comedy and drama to achieve a critical evaluation of the dangers of fascism. Despite the 78

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film’s 35 years, it definitely hasn’t lost its luster, especially with enhanced visuals.

Circle Competition

This time around, there were 8 entries that made it to final roster of the Circle Competition. Here they are:

Medusae Directed by Pam Miras With a twist that’s bound to excite, Medusae follows the story of a mother who mysteriously loses her son after working on a documentary project that investigated on strange disappearances of firstborns in a remote island.

With thematic explorations that deal with the subject of cults and doppelgangers, the film intrigued audiences with an eerie plot and treatment. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Dormitoryo (Mga Walang Katapusang Kwarto)

The Chanters

Neomanila

The Write Moment

Dapol Tan Payawar Na Tayug 1931

Kulay Lila Ang Gabi Na Binudburan Pa Ng Mga Bituin

Directed by Emerson Reyes Dormitoryo follows the colorful story of playful and lustful youth members who come from different backgrounds—there’s a social entrepreneur, a student in his 7th year in college, a call center agent, and more. All living under the roof of a lonesome and strict widow, each embarks in their own unique experiences before rent is due.

Directed by Khavn The Write Moment follows the story of an entrapped broken-hearted writer who, after having a failed attempt to get back with his ex using a script, finds himself stuck in a magical fantasy. To escape the the constant repetition of scenes, he is forced to follow everything in the script, verbatim.

Directed by James Robin M. Mayo Yet another comedy-drama film, The Chanters explores the struggle against cultural decay. The plot follows the story of 12-year old Sarah Mae who’s torn between preparing a dance for the visit of her TV star idol in her school, and helping her dementia-suffering grandfather complete the last of the remaining 12 epics. Sarah’s grandfather is the last chanter of the Panay Bukidnon Tribe.

Directed by Christopher Gozum In preparation for an upcoming film, a filmmaker visits the town of Tayug for historical and cultural research on Pero Calosa and the 1931 Tayug Uprising. Upon visiting the sites and meeting the townspeople, her imagination triggers her to visualize filmic scenes based on the memories of the residents.

Asian Next Wave

The QCinema filmfest also included the Asian Next Wave Category which showcased film selections of rising filmmakers across asia. The six films under this category include Bing Xu’s Dragonfly Eyes, Kiki Siguino’s Snow Woman, Kirsten tan’s Pop Aye, Mouly Surya’s Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, Leh Binh Giang’s Kfc, and Don-Eun’s In Between Seasons.

Balangiga: Howling Wilderness

Directed by Khavn Balangiga: Howling Wilderness is set in the year 1901 at Balangiga. Eight-year-old Kulas, along with his grandfather, struggle to survive American occupations as a ‘kill and burn’ operation is ordered in their area. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Screen International The filmfest also brought in internationally acclaimed films into Philippine cinemas. From France, there was BPM (Beats Per Minute) by Robin

Directed by Mikhail Red Perhaps fitting for today’s times, Neomanila explores the themes of violence perpetrated by notorious death squads. The film follows the story of an orphan named Toto, as a newly recruited member of a death squad. Forming a close relationship with his maternal figure, Irma, the two’s bonds are put into the test when they’re forced to choose between their loyalties.

Here, two lovers sign up for a couple’s retreat program where they are given the freedom to remedy their marriage in any way possible.

Campillo; From UK/Ireland, The Killing of a Scared Deer by Yorgos Lanthimos; From Russia, Loveless by Andrey Zvyaginsev; and from Sweden, The Square

by Ruben Ostlund.

Further expanding the selection, the filmfest also included several other categories that showcased shorts, digitally remastered films, a line-up of controversial films under the ‘Before Midnight Category’ and other special screenings.

If you missed watching the films during the QCinema flimfest, don’t fret. Some cinemas may still show some selections in a cinema near you!

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SNAP SHOTS

Words by Jay Alba

Whether you’re a professional filmmaker or simply looking to take your vacation photos to the next level, you need not worry for we’ve picked out the best gadgets to suit your needs. After all, if you’re going to dabble in one of the newest technological innovations of the decade, you should get the most bang for your buck.

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Ricoh Theta V (PHP 22,078) Dimensions: 45.2 x 130.6 x 22.9 mm Weight: 121 g Video Resolution: 3940 x 1920 (30 fps) Battery Life: 1h 20min Memory: 19 GB internal storage Weatherproofing: Waterproof up to 30 m (case sold separately)

LG 360 Cam (PHP 7,199) Dimensions: 39.9 x 97.0 x 24.9 mm Weight: 75.1 g Video Resolution: 2,560 x 1,280 (30 fps) Battery Life: 1h 30min Memory: 4 GB internal storage Weatherproofing: Not Waterproof

Samsung Gear 360 2017 (PHP 15,388) Dimensions: 100.6 x 46.3 x 45.1 mm Weight: 130 g Video Resolution: 4096 x 2048 (24 fps) Battery Life: 1h Memory: Micro SD card up to 256 GB Weatherproofing: Rain Resistant

Looking for an affordable, but reliable 360-camera? The LG 360 makes it quick and easy to record and share your special moments on YouTube and Google Street view. While there are certainly better cameras on the market, the LG still delivers decent video quality for its price, and its compact size is perfect for traveling.

In their latest model, Samsung essentially fixes the glitches seen in the original Gear 360. With a sleeker, more grippable body and 4K resolution, the Samsung 360 remains one of the most userfriendly cameras on the market. Improvements have also been made to Samsung’s 360 app (particularly the Android version) in regards to software compatibility, which is one of the main problems with the original model. In addition, the Gear 2017 boosts its new live-stream feature, allowing users to broadcast videos in real-time to Facebook and YouTube.

360fly 4K (PHP 25,732) Dimensions: 61 mm sphere Weight: 172 g Resolution: 2880 x 2880 (30 fps) Battery Life: 1h 30min Memory: Micro SD card up to 64 GB Waterproofing: Waterproof up to 50 m

Vuze (PHP 41,120) Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 30 mm Weight: 408.2 g Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (30 fps) Battery Life: 2h Memory: Micro SDc ard up to 64 GB Waterproofing: Splash Resistant Extra feature: 3D capture

Garmin VIRB 360 (PHP 41,120) Dimensions: 39.0 x 59.3 x 69.8 mm Weight: 160 g Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (30 fps) Battery Life: 1hr 5min Memory: Micro SD card up to 128 GB Waterproofing: Waterproof up to 10 m Extra feature: In-camera stitching

If you’re looking for the highest video quality, the Vuze is a major contender, with resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels—a thousand more than the Samsung Gear 360. In addition, it’s one of the few cameras out there that offers 3D video capture. However, all footage is embossed with a Vuze watermark, which is a major drawback. The image resolution is fairly similar to several cheaper cameras on the market so, all in all, you can save money by opting for a Samsung 360 or the Theta V.

Although it’s one of the most expensive cameras on our list, the Garmin VIRB’s features can’t be beat. Made for outdoor filming, the VIRB offers advanced control settings such as voice control, three stabilization modes, and VR compatibility.

The Garmin is pricey, but is also one of the most high-end of the consumer-friendly 360 cameras on the market.

Although it doesn’t capture true 360-degree visuals, the 360fly makes up for it with userfriendly efficiency. The smartphone app offers a wider variety of controls for video capture than other cameras and operates almost perfectly—no crashes or glitches in connectivity. For novice users, this is a good device to start with: it’s lightweight, and the mobile app is far superior to its competitors, and despite the comparably lower resolution, still captures high quality images.

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The Ricoh Theta V makes 360-shooting an idiotproof process—just turn it on and press record.

The newest model showcases new features such as live-streaming, 360 spatial audio recording, and Remote Playback capabilities. Video quality has also increased, with faster shutter speeds (1/25000 to 1/30 seconds), higher ISO range, less delay in between still shots. Ricoh also offers a separate waterproof case for USD 199.95.

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EVERYTHING

APPLE

Words by Gerry Gaviola

Apple’s AR world is hands down both amazing and pragmatic. If in the past AR apps were used merely as means to enjoy a fleeting novelty, things were far different from what they are now. With the dawn of ARkit, Apple has enabled app developers to easily create AR apps that go beyond fun and games. Here, we take a look at what defines Apple ARkit, and the wonders created through it.

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How can something manifest visually without actually being there? Through AR. Yes, a ton of AR/VR apps have existed in almost all platforms, but it’s the first time we’re seeing more of it on mobile devices. And since people are always glued to their phones, it makes sense to integrate AR to mobiles we always carry around, for wide accessibility.

The wonders of AR apps are infinite, and have the likings of future technology. Beyond games, they’re actually skyrocketing people to a pragmatic future. Imagine sitting in front of an empty plate in a restaurant and finding yourself curious about how your dish will look like beyond its 2D render. You pick up your phone, open an app, and see right in front of you, the actual dish viewed in all its 360-degree glory. Or imagine you’re in a tour and wish to know more about a location or an art piece. Merely pointing your phone on a certain subject will give you additional information about it. For homes, imagine seeing how actual furniture might look like by marrying them to scale. Think of accurately measuring objects, or even a room, and creating a true-to-life 3D render without any effort.

What exactly is AR? Augmented reality or AR has been a around for a long time, but it wasn’t only recently that it commercially matured. We’ve seen plenty of VR implementations across different gaming consoles. If virtual reality (VR) headsets transpose you to whole different reality, AR technology complements your vision by blending reality with virtual objects.

Previously, glasses and other accessories were required to access the world of augmented reality. Now, cellphone manufacturers like Apple are making it available in their mobile phones through merging high-end specs, software and AR platforms. Built directly into iOS11, Apple’s AR technology features a plethora of new apps and games. Simply downloading these apps and using your cellphone camera will allow you to peek into the world of augmented reality and will even make it possible for you to interact with virtual objects.

Tidbits of AR apps IKEA Place IKEA has become a popular furniture brand due to its competitive pricing and elegant pieces.

If you’ve ever wondered how a certain piece of furniture might look like in your home, then the IKEA Place app is something you’d definitely want download right this instance. The app allows you to seamlessly drop coffee tables, chairs, beds, couches, and everything else that IKEA sells right into the virtual world. Pointing your camera will reveal the object, and no matter how you move the camera, the furniture will stay exactly where you dropped it and at the same accurate scale as the one that can be readily purchased. Lazada and other resellers now sell IKEA furniture, so if you’re up for some interior decorating all from the comfort of your home, then this is the app for you.

Magicplan Many find it a hassle to measure things in the house, especially when planning a reconstruction.

Right when users open the the Magicplan application, they’re presented with various tools like a grid and a virtual pin that enables them to readily measure dimensions without any hassle.

An additional feature allows users to instantly create a floor plan with just a few taps.

Night Sky Stars are a spectacle to look at. If before we had apps that we could point in the sky to reveal star maps and constellations, the updated version of Night Sky kicks it up a notch and now features a whole new stargazing experience. The app gives highlight to the stars with the aid of AR. Like other AR apps, Night Sky utilizes the phone’s camera: simply pointing your phone in the sky will reveal a map of stars based on location and movement.

The infinite uses of Apple AR Apple’s ARkit has enabled developers to take full advantage of Apple devices’ computing power and smart sensors.

AR technology is being used for fun and games, but beyond that, it is also being used for productivity, education, shopping, and health apps. With AR technology now merged into iPhones and iPads, virtual worlds can be viewed wherever you point your phone.

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HOME

Kick Entertainment Up a Notch With PortaSing

Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

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In these times, it’s impossible to leave home without your smartphone in tow. It’s a tiny device that performs the functions of several devices of yesterday, in one. In such a petite frame is a telephone, a personal computer, a television, and a music player; it’s indisputably the definitive entertainment device of the 21st century. Rarely is there a device that will get you to put your phone down. One entertainment-centric device, however, vies to claim this recognition.

Homebodies and travel warriors seeking good entertainment at home or on the road can find it in the multimedia player PortaSing. Housed in its compact frame is a videoke machine, a movie and music player, and a Wi-Fi router. It’s evident that this device’s purpose is simply to entertain.

Travel-friendly

Now, you may be wondering how exactly you can travel with this device. Tronix, the maker of PortaSing, has made this device fit for the rigors of the road with its carry-around bag. The main component and its accessories are neatly secured with Velcro straps and pockets, so that even the tiniest element remains in place. When in the bag, it doesn’t feel like you’re carrying an entertainment hub, as the components are lightweight.

Easy setup

Inside the bag are the PortaSing unit, AC adapter, two wireless microphones, a 3.5 mm male-male audio cable, car adapter, microUSB cable, A/V cable, 32 GB USB flash drive, and four (4) AA batteries. The main unit has basic buttons and knobs for control built-in and ports aplenty for peripherals.

interface, accessible via the URL http://PortaSing. com. When outdoors and there are no power sockets in sight, the device can be powered by a powerbank.

All-in-one entertainment hub

What makes the PortaSing a reliable entertainment hub? Through the PortaSing portal, you gain access to over 7,000 songs to sing along with, and which can be updated with the latest music. This is perfect for going on long trips or spending quality time with either your friends or relatives at home during holidays. With two wireless microphones, compatibility with various mobile devices, and support for simultaneous connections, you can belt out to your favorite songs while someone else queues their chosen song right in their own device. The PortaSing can also play movies and music when one’s vocal cords needs to relax.

Retailing at just PHP 14,900, this device is the perfect companion for the upcoming holiday season. To get your own PortaSing, email marketing@innovatronix.com. The device is also available via Lazada.

Setting up the machine is simple. The package comes with a manual which has all the information you need to get the device up and running. It has illustrations for home, outdoor, and in-vehicle use, as well as detail the function of each of the accessory included in the box.

This manual tells which cables and accessories go to the various ports of the main unit. There is also no need for screws and whatnot as connecting the accessories is just like playing with lego.

Once the device is setup, you can connect your iOS or Android device via Wi-Fi or LED TV which will serve as display to activate whatever entertainment function you want to use. Controls are within the PortSing www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

FEATURE

Ideas are best when they’re acted upon. And in most cases, all it takes for them to spark is a little help from the community.

The concept of altruism isn’t new to Filipinos, as is crowdfunding. We’ve seen numerous Bayanihan acts here and there alongside other manifestations embedded in our culture. Founded

by Patch Dulay, The Spark Project modernizes this selfless and communal concept—it helps Filipinos fund their dreams into reality.

Many may recognize The Spark Project as a local spin-off of Kickstarter, except that it goes beyond mere crowdfunding. Beyond providing an avenue for accessible crowdfunding of local projects of almost any category—be it in the area of arts and culture, entrepreneurship, social advocacies, and the like—The Spark Project differentiates itself by providing continuous engagement before, during, and after each project they aid.

The Spark Project markets itself as community that enables creative entrepreneurs and changemakers to pursue their passions and projects. From their humble beginning in 2013 to succeeding as one of the the finalists of BPI Foundation’s BPI Sinag business challenge for social enterprises, the community has come a long way since. In the span of their presence, they’ve funded 50+ projects, raised over PHP 5.5 Million, and have had over 2500 backers.

At the core of The Spark Project is its belief in the talent of Filipinos in all aspects. “We want to promote Filipino creativity and innovation and discover the next Filipino world class brand,

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because we believe that Filipinos can do it.

Filipinos have the capacity to create great things,” Dulay shares.

The Spark Project has enabled a plethora of dreams and has even validated Filipino talent and creativity. A coalition of songwriters, musicians, and songwriters from Visayas once used the site to ensure that VisPOP lives on.

Raising more than PHP 200,000, they now aid those who wish to produce VisPop music.

Many may not know, but Gouache Bags actually started with the Spark Project. Alongside an idea and a prototype of a waxed camera bag, Gouache was able to raise PHP 184,900. They now have a store in Ayala the 30th, and are now a full-fledged business and a social enterprise that helps displaced bag makers earn additional income. Similarly, a community in Palawan utilized The Spark Project to crowdfund their socio-eco tourism project. With their raised amount of PHP 368,000 they were able to purchase their boat and other equipment to kickstart Kawil Tours, a tourism project that provides expeditions in Culion-Coron.

Crowdfunding however, Dulay shares, isn’t magic. It’s a public way to raise funds, and it entails a lot of preparation, persistence, and accountability. To begin crowdfunding through the Spark Project simply visit their site, click on create, fill out the form and wait until your application receives approval.

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APPS

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APP Your

Productivity Words by Trish Cardeño

College life is exhausting. Add the workload, internship, extracurricular activities, and all the other responsibilities outside university and it’s just hard to keep up. If you are an anxious student and find yourself often overthinking, feeling pressured, and at your wit’s end, then worry no more thanks to technology. Almost every little thing has been made easier with just a click. To get you started, here’s a list of mobile applications that will surely boost your productivity throughout your college journey.

Todoist Stay organized with Todoist! Highly recommended by top media outlets, this app helps you organize your to-do lists and other plans. It grants you useful features such as putting subtasks and sub-projects which you can choose to share with people, allowing collaboration.

You can include date of deadlines with its intuitive and functional recurring dates feature. Mind all over the place? This app has color-coded priority levels helping you put emphasis on what needs to be done first. Todoist will also notify you of important changes in your e-mail, help you track your productivity to keep you motivated, and automatically sync your data real-time, across all your devices and platforms.

By availing the premium version, this app can tell you further reminders, allow you to add as many details as you want, such as attachments using the task comments and play around with its labels and customizable filters. Organizing doesn’t have to be boring.

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Grammarly Whether it be essays, reports, dissertations, theses or social media posts, Grammarly can lend you a hand. This app will help you communicate your messages and ideas more effectively and proficiently. “How?”, you next ask. Grammarly is an online grammar and spelling checker which helps users find and correct writing mistakes. Its algorithms flag possible errors in the document then suggest context-specific corrections for grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. The app also explains the reason behind every correction, so you can make an informed decision on how and whether or not to correct these errors. Imagine professional proofreading at the tip of your hands.

The free service doesn’t end there. This app also suggests a free browser extension for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox that corrects critical errors in grammar and spelling straight to wherever you are writing online whether it’s Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Tumblr.

Meanwhile, the Grammarly Handbook is an online handy grammar guide explaining English grammar, punctuation marks, techniques, and styles. They also have a Facebook community and Twitter account which provide fans a dose of daily grammar tips. If you’re a grammar enthusiast, the Grammarly community is definitely the squad you’re looking for.

Google Keep Often bombarded with lessons, ideas, and concepts, but can’t keep pace with all the data?

Here’s where Google Keep becomes the best recommendation for note-taking.

Google Keep is the very definition of simplicity.

It is easy to use with its recognizable command icons. You can organize your notes and tasks through different colored labels much like folders and create titles for each. Keep also allows you to attach photos, audio recordings, colorful drawings, and tick boxes making note-taking organized without sacrificing creativity.

Additionally, there is an option for you to ask Keep to remind you of your to-do stuff, checklists, and notes by indicating the time and place of every reminder. And when you make a mistake, this app has your back with its undo and redo feature.

Google Keep is just like your DIY planner, but way better.

Office Lens Accessible via Google Play and iOS store, Office Lens helps you capture, trim, and enlarge texts in whiteboards, blackboards, and in printed or handwritten documents. This app grants you features to convert images to PDF, Word and PowerPoint files which you can save in your preferred storage device later.

It almost magically digitizes your notes and documents allowing you to share them instantly with classmates and co-workers. And when in Business Card Mode, this app can extract contact information and save it in your phonebook hasslefree. You might not need that feature yet, but talk about long-term app usability even after gaining a diploma. To simplify, Office Lens is an instant scanner inside your pocket.

If you want to get your creativity flowing and level up your productivity, these apps deserve space in your phone.

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BITS & BYTES

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Facebook and Mano Amiga PH Hold Think Before You Share Digital Youth Summit

7-Eleven Launches Limited Edition Justice League Spinners

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Vivo V7+ Reaches 5,000 Pre-orders in Just a Week

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