2011 v11n6 - SNAPSHOTS

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February2011

editorsnote

editorsnote

a few words from our editor

A

s DSLR cameras have become more affordable, more and more people are starting photography as a hobby and even as a business. But photography is an expensive hobby. With all lenses, filters, lighting, software and tripods, you can find yourself in a sinking hole rather quickly.

And perhaps to the dismay of purists, digital photography is here to stay. The digital versus film photography argument has been debated since the 20th century when digital cameras were invented.

We see ads for photography workshops, walking photography tours, cameras on sale just about everywhere—people just can’t enough of photography these days. We recognize this growing trend. So here at Gadgets Magazine, we’re starting a new section, Snapshots, to tackle everything and anything under the digital photography sun.

Another new section is the Executive Profile where we highlight an IT executive every issue. Mandy Pascual, country general manager for the imaging and printing group at HP, is our decision-maker of the month.

The Download section has been reworked and renamed “Apps” to emphasize the ever-growing importance of device applications in our daily lives—we’re featuring more apps for possibly all kinds of operating systems available.

These changes came from suggestions sent by our loyal readers. We want you to know that we hear you and we’re doing everything to keep you happy because we owe our continued success to you.

Happy reading!

Armin A. Amio EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On The Cover

February2011

Photographed by Nick St. James Professional Artistry by Mio Robo (Makeup) & Bernadette Tia (Hair), MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Team Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold, Michelle Callanta & Chad Villarmino Styling by Danee Torres Shot on location at Blue Onion Bar & Restaurant Clothes Beige embellished bandage dress from Topshop; Stack metallic bangles from Promod

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GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Incorporated. Address all correspondence to 9-B Evening News Street, West Triangle, Quezon City.

Our telephone numbers are 332-4004, 376-7356 and 514-8321.

Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Our email addresses are: editors@gadgetsmagazine.com.ph gadgetsmagazine@gmail.com All unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations and photos submitted must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Gadgets is fully accurate; however, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. Gadgets Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Incorporated.

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PUBLISHER Maribelle Alba

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Armin Amio

MANAGING EDITOR John Nieves

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Michelle Callanta

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Presy Alba

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Danee Torres CONTRIBUTORS Benjamin Arnold, Francis Tan, JC Ansis

JC Pulido III, Paolo Toledo, Steven Vea

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Chad Villarmino

ART DIRECTOR Benjamin Arnold

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Maribelle Alba SALES & ADVERTISING MANAGER SENIOR ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE DIGITAL/ONLINE EDITOR ADVERTISING AGENTS

CIRCULATION OFFICER

CIRCULATION ASSISTANT

ACCOUNTING MANAGER HR OFFICER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Marisa Consuelo MJ Gonzales-Esteban Carol Agabin Francis Tan Bess Zamora, Val Villamar Lorie Bernardo Salvador Da, Jr. Tess Pascua Amy Christine Giray

LEGAL COUNSEL Alba Law Office

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February2011

editorsnote

contents

Volume 11 Number 6 • February 2011

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photofeature

PICTURE PERFECT

Active girl Cesca Litton is more than just a pretty face, she also has a slew of gadgets!

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February2011

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coverstory

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CAMERA BASICS 101 There are so many cameras out that you’re sure to be befuddled. Let us sort the hot from the not. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Forget walking around the mall with a landline unit and opt for the more stylish PLDT Telpad.

The lowdown on getting the most out of your digital camera.

A refreshingly unconventional lifestyle store makes its home in Eastwood.

The newest happening place in town. Blue Onion gets a makeover and a new menu.

At our favorite event of the year (no it’s not Christmas), the CES 2011, miracles are made known and game-changers forever alter history.

Panasonic presents intelligent cameras for easygoing shutterbugs.

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February2011

contents

content Volume 11 Number 6 • February 2011

Tech 08 parade

Fresh from the lab—gizmos on Parade. Read on to see what you can look forward to this year.

21 gadgetslab 2011 is definitely a big year for technology. We test the most exciting gadgets—from smartphones to laptops.

30 snapshots The clear (autofocus) picture

40 gaming Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam gives gamers wnew weapons, new war vehicles and new maps for ultimate damage.

Mobility 34

The big cat’s Jaguar XF was taken for a spin.

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The Hyundai introduces the amplified and intensified allnew Accent.

37

Customer is king for Petron as it rolls out change oil value packages.

38

Unconventional Fiesta Hatchback.

41 apps Infinity Blade cuts through boredom as Wunderlist cuts through unproductivity.

Also on the list are a handy image manipulator, a calorie counter and a battery saver. Download these helpful apps now.

Lifestyle

Bits&Bytes 80 profiles

HP big wig Armando Pascual tells Gadgets how he’s shaking things up.

66 lifestyleparade

Out with the old and in with the new. Peep the most spanking new products in lifestyle today.

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72 lifestylefeature At the present end of the lifestyle camera evolution are glasses that can take and view photos as the user sees fit. Pretty sci-fi if you ask us.

Music February2011

76 listen

6

DJs take it to the next level by trading in their disks for visuals and becoming VDJs— video DJs.

74 beautylab

84

L’Oréal INOA takes Michelle and Benjamin on a color ride.

78 cdreview ‘90s boy band Take That make a comeback with Progress.

Richard Poon gives classics a new spin in I’ll Be Seeing You. The Boys are out every night with their self-titled album.

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events Toshiba wows the crowd with its latest collection of TVs made for power outages, glasses-less 3D viewing and more!

The Skechers Street Dance Battle 6 couldn’t be more intense as schools dance to bring home the prize.

Isuzu technicians exhibit world-class talent

87 newsbits&bytes New Year’s Resolution: never be the last to know. Turn the page to catch up on the latest news in tech and lifestyle.

91 buyersguide We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of devices and their prices just for you.

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February2011

contents

techparade

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

BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G SMARTPHONE

There’s a certain charm to full QWERTY smartphones. Physical keys to some are as important a feature as being able to send SMS messages or e-mail messages. You can’t go wrong with a BlackBerry if you’re jonesing for a QWERTY smartphone. The BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G is RIM’s latest entry to the crowded smartphone arena, and has enough distinctive features to stand out from its competitors. It’s equipped with RIM’s own messaging app, the BlackBerry Messenger, which allows you to share and chat with other BB owners. Like its competitors, the Curve 9300 3G has access to its own application marketplace via the BlackBerry App World, where you can find apps to enhance the functions of your device.

Price not available

BlackBerry Torch 9800

February2011

SMARTPHONE

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Don’t buy into the myth that BlackBerrys are just for guys in suits. Case in point: the BlackBerry Torch 9800. Packed with multimedia features that you expect in a top tier smartphone, the Torch makes it easy for you to connect, share and collaborate with the people important to you. Equipped with the latest version of BlackBerry’s OS, the Torch is a dead simple device to operate and use. The large, 3.2-inch capacitive screen is responsive to the touch and the many media options give users plenty of things to distract them when on the go.

Php 29,800

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February2011

techparade

techparad

Acer Aspire One 522 NETBOOK

With so many netbooks available in the market, it’s becoming harder and harder to separate the wheat from the chaff. The Acer Aspire One 522 tries to one up the competition by including AMD’s Fusion APUs (advanced processing unit). The Fusion APU basically combines both the CPU (processor) and the GPU (videocard) into a single die, improving performance and eliminating bottlenecks that could potentially slow down the computer. The Aspire One 522 is decked out with the AMD C-series processor (1GHz, 1MB, L2 Cache, DDR3 106MHz with AMD Radeon HD 6250 graphics) that works extremely well, and does short work of HD content like you wouldn’t believe.

Php 17,900

Hitachi Lifestudio EXTERNAL HARD DISK DRIVE

Backing up files and data should be done with an almost religious fervor, but to be honest, most of us can’t be arsed to set up a proper backup scheme if our lives depended on it. Fret no more, Hitachi has gone out of its way to give us lazy bums a way to back up our files without having to lift a finger (well, almost). The Lifestudio line of the Japanese firm includes powerful software that allows it to backup files automatically. The new line also includes a small USB thumb drive that gives users the freedom to transfer and synchronize files easily.

Price not available

Alcatel OneTouch Net MOBILE PHONE

February2011

Stay connected to family, friends, and colleagues with the Alcatel OneTouch Net mobile phone with services powered by Yahoo!. With just a click of a button, everyone can keep in touch and be in the know, anywhere and anytime. With its ergonomic QWERTY keyboard and the special optical trackpad, the Alcatel OneTouch Net phone is designed for easy navigation, communication, and access to the popular Yahoo! services like Yahoo! Mail, Messenger, Homepage, News, Social Pulse and Flickr.

The Alcatel OneTouch Net phone is a powerful mobile device that also packs 80MB of memory, (expandable to 8GB via a microSD card), an MP3 player, FM radio and stereo Bluetooth 2.0 technology.

Php 5,999 10

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February2011

techparade

techparad

HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AIO K510a WIRELESS PRINTER

Who doesn’t hate clutter? HP takes all the headaches away with cluttered wires and connections with the HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AIO K510a, a wireless-enabled printer that works smarter so you can get better results.

Able to connect to your office’s wireless network easily, the HP Photosmart Ink Advantage e-AIO K510a gives you results instead of networking headaches. Equipped with HP’s e-print technology that allows you to send documents over the internet directly to the printer you can now send the report your co-workers requested without you ever setting foot in the office.

Fast print speeds of up to 29ppm for black and white documents (draft) and 23ppm for color (draft) means more time working and less time waiting.

February2011

Php 7,990

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OFFICE ALL-IN-ONE

Streamline your office with the HP Officejet Advantage AIO K710g. Spend more time printing and less time waiting with its blazing 22ppm print speed for colored documents (draft) and 28ppm for black and white (draft). A Builtin scanner allows you to copy and scan documents easily up to 1200 x 1200 DPI. Combined with HP’s excellent genuine inks that give you more bang for your buck, you can be sure that your documents are going to be clear, crisp and free from issues.

February2011

HP Officejet Advantage AIO K710g

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Php 8,990

techparade

techparad

Huawei IDEOS U8150

Kingston Lucky Bunny

Craving for the latest flavor of Android but don’t want to empty what remains in your bank account? Well, then you might like the Huawei IDEOS U8150, currently the most cost-effective Android-powered smartphone around. So what do you get for that ridiculously low price? Well, you get a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen, Android version 2.2 (Froyo), and powered by a Qualcomm MSM 7225 528MHz processor. How’s that for value for money?

It’s the year of the Metal Rabbit…and what better way to celebrate this peaceful and lucky year than getting for yourself the Kingston LimitedEdition Lucky Bunny flash drive. Available in 4GB storage capacity, this white, exquisite rabbit shaped design cartoon USB drive—which is sold only is the Asia-Pacific region—is expected to be another collection craze in 2011

SMARTPHONE

FLASH DRIVE

Php 8,888

With SecureTraveler and a joyful congratulation video preloaded, the Kingston Lucky Bunny Drive not only brings consumers peace and good luck from the outside, but also gives them a secure and peaceful mind from the inside. This new drive allows corporate and home users to set up public and password-protected privacy zones as well as to set Windows shortcuts to launch the programs conveniently.

Price not available

Dell Vostro V130 LAPTOP

Perhaps one of the thinnest and lightest ultraportable 13-inch laptops available in the market, the Dell Vostro V130 is designed with the needs and wants of on-the-go entrepreneurs in mind. Combining head-turning style with best-of-breed durability and security, the Vostro V130 is constructed from sturdy aluminum and reinforced with zinc hinges and a magnesium alloy palm rest, it is also road-ready and able to survive everyday bumps and thumps. To increase productivity, the laptop can run Windows 7 effortlessly while performing everyday tasks quickly, thanks to the new Intel Core ULV processor, full-sized keyboard and 13.3-inch high-definition WLED display.

February2011

Price not available

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Powermat

WIRELESS CHARGER February2011

If there’s one thing smartphone users can’t get enough of, it’s power. All that functionality and features tend to suck even the hardiest batteries dry.

Charging them via cable used to be the only way to revive these devices— until now. The Powermat wireless charger gives your iPhone 3G or 3GS the ability to recharge its drained battery wirelessly. No messy cables, no wires.

Just slip on the stylish Powermat case onto it, place it on top of the mat, and watch the battery fill.

Price not available

INNO3d GeForce GTX 570 VIDEOCARD

Experience graphics like no other with the INNO3d GeForce GTX570. Boasting an amazing 480 CUDA cores, 320-bit interface and 1.28GB of onboard GDDR-5 RAM, the INNO3d GeForce GTX570 makes your games look more realistic and lifelike, putting you in the center of the action. It also delivers excellent video performance, delivering realistic, jutter-free images from HD content, and is able to decode even full HD video the way it was meant to be.

Price not available

ECS Black Extreme P67H2-A MOTHERBOARD

Elevate your gaming experience to the next level with the ECS Black Extreme P67H2-A. Powered by the latest generation Intel processors, the ECS Black Extreme P67H2-A delivers extreme performance when you need it most.

Featuring ECS Hydra Core technology that allows you to use three videocards at the same time, regardless of the make and manufacturer, the Black Extreme P67H2-A is the most versatile performance board you can ask for.

With full support for Intel’s second-generation Core K unlocked processors, the ECS Black Extreme P67H2-A motherboard can release the power of CPU and memory via the ECS M.I.B. X.

Price not available

STREAMER/EXTERNAL HARD DISK DRIVE

So you’ve downloaded all your favorite shows from the Net. Now what?

Well, you could hit “play” on your PC screen and settle for the small screen experience on your monitor, or you could get a Western Digital TV Live Hub and enjoy movies the way they’re supposed to—on the big screen. It’s like a digital streamer crossed with an extremely beefy hard drive with 1TB worth of space, giving you more than enough room to store movies, music and photos. It supports a wide array of video formats, and is fully capable of handling high-definition movies via HDMI 1.4.

Php 9,900

techparade

Western Digital TV Live Hub

techparad

Divoom iTour SPEAKERS

Thinking of sharing your music or are you just looking for portable speakers that won’t break the bank? Then you might want to take a peek at Divoom’s iTour line of speakers. Designed to be hip, quirky, fun and most of all, portable, these speakers give you a variety of form factors and speaker sizes—from the compact iTour-20 to the desktop speaker-ish size of the iTour Ozzo.

iTour-Pop

Price not available iTour-20

iTour-Ozzo

iTour-70

Spinner 360°

Team Manila Sprocket Rocket and Spinner 360°

LOMOGRAPHY CAMERA

February2011

Sprocket Rocket

Capture a memory in a whole new light with Team Manila’s Lomo cameras. Two latest models that go beyond taking the conventional picture are the Sprocket Rocket and the Spinner 360. Sprocket Rocket is a 35mm compact camera that boasts of super-wide angle lens for panoramas, dual winding knobs for easy multiple exposures and, of course, sprockets. The Spinner 360° requires a little more arm power.

The user has to take it in one hand, pull the cord with the other and release it, and in a split second, the camera spins 360° around its own axis and records everything that’s around you on a frame more than 4 times longer than a regular landscape picture.

Spinner 360°: Sprocket Rocket:

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Php 7,950 Php 5,250

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February2011

ASUS Eee Pad Slider

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TABLET

While the utility and ease of use of a tablet has been proven by stellar products in the past, there are people who still prefer physical keys as an input method. ASUS has combined the best of both worlds with the Eee Pad Slider, a tablet that has a sliding full QWERTY keyboard. This 10.1-inch, IPS touch-screen wielding beauty is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 processor, the world’s most advanced mobile processor with a dual-core CPU and GeForce GPU for never-before-seen experiences on a mobile device. It’s slated to be powered by Android 3.0, (codenamed Honeycomb) that leverages the features and functionality of tablets into a better user experience.

Price not available

ASUS U36 NOTEBOOK

Most ultra portable notebooks usually eschew performance for portability.

While these machines are fine on their own right, they typically falter when it comes to mildly taxing computing tasks. The Asus U36 doesn’t suffer from the same issues as other notebooks in its class. You actually have a choice between an Intel Core i3 and i5 to stuff inside the U36’s anorexic 19mm thin body. That, combined with their Super Hybrid Engine technology and an Nvidia graphics card with Optimus technology gives the U36 a battery life of up to 10 hours.

Price not available

WIRELESS ROUTER

Leave it to Taiwanese manufacturer Asus to spice up a product that’s normally a bore to look at. The RT-N56U is definitely better to look at than contemporary router designs. It supports Wireless N out of the box, and is 5X faster in throughput than a conventional Wireless N router. The RT-56NU is also uniquely designed to significantly increase signal coverage and data throughputs without increasing power usage, and automatically adapts the transmission pattern according to the environment. Did we mention that it’s pretty too?

Price not available

techparade

ASUS RT-N56U

techparad

Cisco Flip Video CAMCORDERS

Flip UltraHD

They’re finally here. Cisco’s Flip Video has reached Philippine shores. Out in the market are three models—Flip MinoHD (1 hour and 2 hours) and Flip UltraHD (2 hours), all feature user-friendly simplicity, enhanced HD video quality, hardware-based image stabilization and more ways to share videos using the pre-loaded FlipShare software.

Students would love the Flip MinoHD (1 hour) with 4GB of memory for making HD videos that can be shared easily on social networking sites.

Php 10,995

Moms, dads and kids can bring the sleek black Flip MinoHD (2 hours) with 8Gb of storage during family gatherings with its handy size, HD video quality and two-hour recording time.

Php 9,995

Frequent travelers can simply flip out the 8GB Flip UltraHD (2 hours) USB arm to easily connect, upload and auto-charge.

Php 12,995

Flip MinoHD

Western Digital Caviar Green SATA HARD DRIVES

Here is possibly the world’s largest-capacity SATA hard drive. As the latest addition to its WD Caviar Green family of SATA hard drives, the new hard drives deliver up to a massive 3 terabytes of capacity on a single drive utilizing 750 GB-per-platter areal density. These hard drives are designed for use as secondary external storage and next-generation PC storage in 64 bitbased systems. These run on Microsoft Vista or Windows 7 platforms.

Genius GHP-04DJ February2011

HIFI HEADPHONES

The Genius GHP-04DJ is made for those whose ears are used to outstanding audio accuracy and excellent sound performance. Featuring fine-tuned 40mm Neodymium unit drivers, the GHP-04DJ will surely please any music lover. Its cable is 99.99% OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) and has a gold-plated 3.5mm/6.3mm adaptor. Long hours of listening will be comfortable with this headphone's leather ear cushions. Its earpads are ergonomic and swivels up to 90 degrees so it fits any face contour.

Php 1,690 18

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(2.5TB) Php 9,795 (3.0TB) Php 12,595

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Transcend Jetflash 700 USB 3.0 FLASH DRIVE

February2011

Speed up download and upload times with Transcend’s JetFlash 700 USB flash drive. This thumb drive has a sturdy, smooth exterior and offers lightning-fast data transfer rates, making it a perfect entry-level USB 3.0 peripheral for users who demand stylish aesthetics with leading technology.

Transcend's JetFlash 700 USB flash drive takes advantage of this nextgeneration USB 3.0 and delivers blazing fast data transfer rates of up to 70MB/s—nearly twice the read speeds, and provides much quicker and easier access to rich digital content. Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB variants.

Price not available

LG LZ9700 FULL LED 3D TV

LG Electronics unveils the 72-inch LZ9700, the world’s largest Full LEDbacklight LCD 3D TV that is expected to give viewers life-sized action with a beautifully crisp picture in both 2D and 3D. Fitted with LG’s innovative FULL LED technology, the LZ9700 is illuminated by a full panel of LEDs directly behind the screen, producing pictures as colorful as paintings in an art gallery. Further enhancing the experience, the LZ9700 offers extraordinarily comfortable 3D viewing. Combining the world’s largest full LED screen, the LZ9700’s 3D takes on added depth and draws viewers even further into its immersive viewing experience. In addition, TruMotion 400Hz delivers a super-fast processing rate for exceptionally smooth 3D images.

Price not available

Samsung Punch ch@t322

MOBILE PHONE

Other features include a 1.3-megapixel camera, quick links to your favorite social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Php 5,199

techparade

Samsung gives us a one-two punch with the new Samsung Punch ch@ t322. It’s a dual-active SIM phone that allows you to enjoy the benefits and promos of two different SIMs in one phone. Choosing which of the two SIMs to use is also made easier. With a flick of a button, the phone switches between your SIMs automatically. It also comes in a sleek QWERTY style for easier typing of messages. For a better navigation experience, it also has an optical track pad that lets you smoothly move along the phone screen as you would in your notebooks and netbooks.

techparad

Sony Cyber-shot H55 DIGITAL CAMERA

Capture truly impressive vistas with the new Sony Cyber-shot H55. Its built-in sweep panorama mode allows you to take panoramic photos easily. It’s even able to take panoramic shots vertically, so it’s the perfect camera to take with you when sight-seeing. A 25mm wide angle lens allows you to take superb group shots even in confined spaces. Sony’s Bionz image processing engine drastically lowers noise level and achieves high accuracy in autofocusing, exposure auto-correction and auto white balancing; creating a more natural and vibrant image in different shooting environments. Combine that with a 14.1-megapixel CCD and the result is truly fantastic photos that are a joy to behold.

Php 16,999

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc SMARTPHONE

Super-slim and state-of-the-art.

That’s the Sony technology Xperia arc as it combines stunning design with Sony technology on Android platform version 2.3. Created from premium materials and with a stunning arc body, this smartphone is sleek, strong designed to fit perfectly on the user’s hand. The best of Sony technology is inside Xperia arc. The Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image which enhances the overall entertainment experience. Furthermore, Sony’s award-winning Exmor R mobile sensor with the f/2.4 lens enables the capture of high-quality, bright pictures and HD videos even in low light. All pictures and videos can be shared in HD on your living room TV via the built in HDMI-connector.

Sony VAIO E NOTEBOOK

Show off your stylish side with the Sony VAIO E. This 14-inch notebook is perfect for both work and play. Powered by an Intel Core i3-370M processor running at 2.4GHz, it’s able to handle all of the things you ask from it, from normal web browsing to demanding applications. Its ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics card makes short work of demanding video applications, plus its stylish design and multiple color choices make it the natural choice for fashionistas.

Php 54,999

Price not available

Sony Cyber-shot T99 February2011

DIGITAL CAMERA

Combining sensible, stylish chic with cutting-edge touchscreen technology, the Sony Cyber-shot T99 gives you the best of both worlds. The sweep panorama mode allows you to take pictures of large, sweeping vistas by merely sweeping the camera across and following the prompts on screen.

The 3-inch touchscreen display makes it easy to change settings, review photos and take pictures, ensuring that every shot you take is a keeper.

Php 19,999 20

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gadgetslab

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

HTC DESIRE Z SMARTPHONE

Smartphone of your dreams

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NOTEBOOK Style meets function

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SONY CYBER-SHOT H55 DIGITAL CAMERA

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HP G42T

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NOTEBOOK Practical computing

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Panoramic wonder

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February2011

SAMSUNG QX410

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gadgetsla

BLACKBERRY TORCH 9800 SMARTPHONE

By Danee Torres

SPECIFICATIONS FORM FACTOR: Slide candy bar DIMENSIONS (HXWXD): 111 x 62 x 14.6 mm WEIGHT: 161.1 g MEMORY: 512MB expandable to 32GB (microSD) DISPLAY: 3.2” HVGA+ 480x360 pixel color display CONNECTIVITY: 802.11 b/g/n PRICE: Php 29,800 WHAT’S HOT • Customization • Message Alert light indicator • Design • Trackpad and touchscreen WHAT’S NOT • Camera BOTTOMLINE The Torch 9800 is for someone who wants the ease of the touchscreen with the reliability of the physical keyboard and trackpad.

BUYMETER

9.4

/10

We’re back in the lab again with the latest BlackBerry device from Research In Motion (RIM)—the Torch 9800.

February2011

If you don’t know it yet, RIM has previously ventured into touchscreen territory with the BlackBerry Storm line where critics highlighted the difficulty in composing messages on a device which relies solely on touch input, bringing the otherwise impressive device down a notch.

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This time, RIM has merged the best of both: a touchscreen display and a physical keyboard hidden underneath it, possibly in an effort to please BlackBerry loyalists.

In the new model, RIM has also improved the aesthetics by equipping the back part that houses the battery and SIM card slot with a ribbed rubber cover. This improves grip while protecting the device from scratches. This rubber texture extends until the middle part of the device, where the shiny, chrome finish begins and outlines the touchscreen display and the physical keyboard.

On the right side are the camera and volume buttons and the headset jack while the chrome top is home to two keys: mute and lock—a treat for people www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

who need quick access to security. Finally, on the lower left side is the mini-USB port, used for both syncing and charging.

other options for connectivity like instant messaging, social networking, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

There are four keys on the face of the phone; the Begin and End Call, and Back and Menu buttons plus a trackpad placed in the middle for people who prefer to navigate through the smartphone with more precision. Don’t get me wrong, the touchscreen is very responsive in itself but sometimes I found myself accidentally “liking” posts on Facebook because my fingers took up a bigger area than I would’ve wanted them to, and “un-liking” it seemed impolite, so when looking through pages that have small links such as “Like,” “Comment,” or “Share,” I just chose to use the trackpad.

The 5-megapixel camera sounds impressive than it actually is, as photos turned out more yellow than desired with the flash on, yet dark and grainy without it. It was a challenge taking photos with minimal movement to avoid blurry images. However, audio is impressive in video recordings although the images could use some cleaning up.

Customization is one of the first things I liked in the Torch 9800. I found that not only can you change the wallpaper or move the icons around, but it also has a variety of fonts to choose from that can be applied to everything (including Facebook and Twitter entries) apart from the home screen and icon names.

The Torch 9800’s UI is easy to understand after you’ve familiarized yourself with the icons. Email setup is easy as selecting setup on the main menu, highlighting email accounts and waiting to connect to email settings. BlackBerry provides a step-by-step guide to pairing your email account with the Torch 9800 as well as

I have to commend BlackBerry and its customization options. Despite its limitations, it’s still better than none at all which is more than I can say for Apple’s latest release where you can’t even venture beyond presets until you jailbreak

the device.

One of the things why BlackBerrys are so popular especially with the younger generation is the instant messaging feature, specifically the BlackBerry Messenger. An IM app for BlackBerry owners, it’s got a chat-style layout and unlimited characters. Just like regular chat, you can also send files such as photos, videos and documents to contacts. It’s a simple and fast way to communicate with other BlackBerry owners by adding their device PIN and sending an invitation.

Thank to Globe, surfing on the Torch 9800 was a breeze as the websites loaded fairly quick, having difficulty only in remote places where there was no reception.

Calls that were made using the Torch 9800 were also clear, and no calls were dropped.

The Torch 9800 proved to be a big player in the smartphone arena even with a processor that doesn’t quite match up to the iOs4 or Android 2.3. It makes up for it with great functionality and customization.

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February2011

gadgetslab

gadgetsla

HP G42T LAPTOP

By JC Ansis

SPECIFICATIONS OS: Windows 7 starter PROCESSOR: Intel core i3-350m MEMORY: 4gb of DDR3 DISPLAY: 14-inch led display GRAPHICS: Intel HD WHAT’S HOT • Classy design/aesthetic • Complete PC functionality • Reliable performance WHAT’S NOT • A tad heavy BOTTOMLINE The HP G42T is a notebook that not only looks good but does good as well.

BUYMETER

8.7

/10

February2011

Are you looking for something that’s packed with everything you need and nothing you don't? If the answer is “yes,” I advise you to keep reading. Hewlett Packard (HP) has been pushing laptops in the recent months, and one of their amazing releases is the HP G42T. This new low-cost yet powerful laptop promises both productivity and entertainment for mid-level consumers.

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The HP G42T is powered by a Core i5 processor and comes equipped with the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium OS. It has ample memory with 2GB RAM (supports up to 8GB) and a 500GB hard-disk capacity. For display, the HP G42T has a 14-inch high-definition LED screen boasting a 16:9 display aspect ratio and a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

It measures 1.24 inches thin and weighs 2.2 kg, heavy enough if you intend to bang someone on the head with it. The notebook’s HP imprint-finish, fingerprintwww.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

less design features a textured non-gloss body that looks/feels nice and doesn’t pick up scratches like glossy plastic does.

The unit I tested was cloaked in prismpatterned biscotti, but the HP G42T is also available in shell white or silver color.

The laptop comes with the standard 6-cell Li-ion battery and has plenty of bloatware to keep you busy right out of the box. It’s outfitted with Altec Lansing speakers and a DVD burner for your entertainment needs. Visible on the sides are the usual ports: stereo headphoneout, microphone-in, three USB 2.0

ports and a LAN port. It also has a VGA connector and an HDMI port.

The HP G42T allows you to stay connected to the Internet with its unsurprising Wi-Fi capability, for those times you feel the itch to tweet or update your Facebook account when hanging out in malls. The built-in web camera and digital microphone are perfect for Skype conversations. I didn’t have a hard time getting acquainted with it, using the laptop was nothing but easy breezy. Writing this review on a full-sized, ergonomic keyboard with flush touchpad

was a comfortable typing experience.

With the G42T, HP has again provided the public with another “nothing fancy, just reliable” product with features designed to make your computing seamless. Style and impressive performance are its strong points. And it’s quite affordable, too, no need to shatter the bank while indulging yourself. The HP G42T looks elegantly subtle and functions fast enough for people who just want to browse the web, check emails and keep in touch.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

SMARTPHONE

By Francis Tan

SPECIFICATIONS FORM FACTOR: Slider (Z-hinge) SCREEN: 3.7” 480x800 pixels S-LCD PROCESSOR: Qualcomm MSM 7230 800 MHz processor CAMERA: 5mega-pixel (with 720p video recording) STORAGE: 1.5gb internal (expandable up to 32gb) CONNECTIVITY: GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi OS: Android 2.2 Froyo PRICE: Php 32,000

February2011

HTC DESIRE Z

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WHAT’S HOT • Full QWERTY keyboard • Superb media playback • Solid finish WHAT’S NOT • No front facing camera • Slightly wobbly screen • Heavy BOTTOMLINE The HTC Desire Z is definitely a top-tier among smartphones of today in terms of specs and build quality. If you fancy a physical QWERTY keyboard on an Android smartphone, there’s no need to elsewhere—you got your winner right here.

BUYMETER

9.5

/10

As much as different smartphones of today vary in terms of specs and features, there is one common denominator that will always be present—the touchscreen. While it may have been greatly improved over the years, there are still those who simply can’t do without a physical QWERTY keyboard—and when it comes to that, quite frankly there’s not much of a choice.

It’s a good thing HTC’s contender in that category has beefed up specs and is packed with tons of features. The HTC Desire Z is made with a good mix of brushed aluminum and a high-grade plastic which gives it a distinctly solid feel. Much to my surprise, it’s not as thick as I expected it to be.

The most distinct feature of the HTC Desire Z is the QWERTY keyboard and I just have to say that it works wonderfully.

The keys pop out and are well spaced which makes it easy to use. There’s no compromise when it comes to the traditional mode of input with its 3.7-inch

The HTC Desire Z is just as feature-packed on the inside as it is on the outside.

It comes with an 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, slightly less than its brethren the HTC Desire and the HTC Desire HD. There is however, no noticeable sacrifice in terms of overall performance. It has enough RAM at 512 to carry out multitasking with very little delay. Everything else is pretty much standard for a high-end smartphone— there’s GPS, Wi-Fi with hotspot capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity.

Media playback is one of the Desire Z’s most remarkable qualities. The

beautiful screen, complemented with powerful specs, delivers a smooth video playback—even on HD. The bundled media player is robust and could play a various range of media files. If you have a file that it can’t play, there’s probably an app for that. It’s also noteworthy that the speakers of the HTC Desire Z can actually pack a punch. It is loud and it sounds wonderful. It has an expandable microSD memory of up to 32GB for all your files; sadly it is not hot-swappable.

Much to my amusement, the HTC Desire Z actually has a decent camera. On paper, it indicates a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus that is also capable of 720p video recording. It even has a dedicated shutter key to make taking photos a snap. There are various image adjustment settings available on the get go such as exposure, contrast, sharpness and saturation. The touchto-focus function is accurate and fairly

simple to use—you just literally touch the part of the picture where you want a sharper focus. To add to that, there are also built-in photo effects that is quite enjoyable to use. There’s a handy share button that lets you easily share these images over Facebook and Twitter The HTC Desire Z comes preinstalled with Android Froyo 2.2. Previous users of HTC phones will find the custom UI familiar, called the HTC Sense. It’s a beautifullooking home screen that supports widgets and other fancy customizations.

As with all Android phones, it has a lot of apps available which can be accessed though the Android Market.

The HTC Desire Z also gives you access to HTCsense.com where you could use handy features like remote wipe, remote lock, find your phone and even data sync. The best part is that there are no subscription fees attached; all of these features come in free with your device.

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Some might even be fooled into thinking that it doesn’t have a keyboard underneath. This is all thanks to the brilliantly designed Z-hinge which pivots the front screen into place to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The hinge feels solid and sturdy.

S-LCD touchscreen. It’s no SuperAMOLED or Retina display but it looks equally crisp and bright. To add to that, it is sensitive enough to respond quickly to every gesture I make. There’s also an optical trackpad in the front of the device which makes browsing a tad bit easier.

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SAMSUNG QX410 NOTEBOOK

By Steven Vea

SPECIFICATIONS WEIGHT: 2.3 kg (with battery) DISPLAY: 14” LED HD (1366x768) PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 Processor MEMORY: 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500 GB HDD GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M + 1GBDDR3 (external graphic) COMMUNICATION: Wired Ethernet LAN, Wireless LAN (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0 High Speed WHAT’S HOT • Excellent performance • Excellent design • Intuitive “close the lid” function WHAT’S NOT • Clicker could be improved BOTTOMLINE The QX is an excellent product both in design and performance, with an equally fabulous price tag. If you want to treat yourself this year, get yourself a Samsung QX.

BUYMETER

9.0

/10

There are a lot of great laptops out there, but very few are able to retain the ultimate triumvirate of price, performance and style. The good news is that the Samsung QX410, is one of these elusive few.

February2011

The notebook’s excellently designed exterior is one of its strongest selling points, even though it might initially appear to have been “borrowed” from a popular rival company. With a polished authentic aluminum finish, elegantly lined with black trim, not only does this laptop project the confident image of a professional, but it emits the subtle radiance of an artist at work. Whatever profession you might practice, rest assured that with the Samsung QX410, people will definitely take a look at the sleek machine resting in front of you.

Upon opening the lid, the 14-inch LED display and the black island style keyboard are revealed. The color contrast is not only visually stimulating but is fabulous to work with. The keys are spaced apart and sized perfectly, and all of the essential functions are mapped out intuitively. As usual, below the keyboard is the laptop’s trackpad, which boasts a generous surface area which most users will adore. While the sensitivity and texture of the trackpad itself is

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excellent, the unified clicker could be slightly improved for it may require quite a bit of pressure to activate. However, this is a minor (if not the only) qualm in Samsung’s design and should not in any way cloud your opinion of this fabulous laptop.

The QX410’s workspace, from a visual point of view, is nice and neat, which makes working with it such a pleasurable experience. On the upper left hand side (above the keyboard) are physical buttons which provide a quick shortcut to adjust the volume levels and to turn the Wi-Fi on/off. On the upper right hand side is the power button illuminated by a blue LED light.

On the right hand side o is one USB port, an optical DVD drive (kudos to Samsung for adding this) and a 4-in-1 card reader.

On the left side, you will find the LAN and VGA ports, connection for the power adapter and finally, the headphone and mic jacks. But that’s not all. If you look closely (or if you read the quick

start manual), you might miss the extra two USB ports and HDMI port expertly concealed from view with a plastic flap, which is a great addition to the already astoundingly tidy design of the QX410.

If you aren’t impressed yet, a brief run through of what the QX410 is packing will definitely change your mind. Armed with an Intel i5 processor M560@2.67GHz (with Turbo Boost technology), 4GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit), this neat freak of a laptop is certainly quite a performer and will have no problems multi-tasking.

When it comes to multimedia and gaming, the QX is certainly out to impress, as it hosts an Nvidia GeForce GT420M graphics card and a screen resolution of 1366x768. Not only can it handle recent game titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, but the Nvidia Optimus technology allows you to play/work/ watch unplugged longer than other laptops in its class.

One of the main attractions of the QX410 is its ability to extend its battery life by allocating power where it is necessary, which means that you can have almost 8 hours of battery life with normal use.

Moreover, if you have mobile devices that require charging via USB, the notebook doesn’t need to be turned on to perform the task, which a lot of consumers could find appealing.

Another great feature is its capability to simply “close the lid” and take it with you without causing any damage to either your data or the hardware. This is extremely useful and intuitive for the professional who would love to save that precious minute needed to power on/off the laptop.

All in all, there are is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t pick up the Samsung QX410. It has all the bases covered: performance, style, and a price tag that is so generous that it feels like you have just put one over Samsung.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

DIGITAL CAMERA

By Michelle Callanta

February2011

SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-H55

SPECIFICATIONS MEGAPIXEL COUNT: 14-megapixels ZOOM & OPTICS: 10x optical zoom PHYSICAL DIMENSION: 103 x 58 x 29 WEIGHT: 170g (without battery) ESTIMATED BATTERY LIFE: Approx.

300 shots MEMORY USED/INTERNAL CAPACITY: SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo, Pro Duo and Pro HG Duo PRICE: 16,999

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WHAT’S HOT • Intelligent Auto Adjustment • Sweep panorama mode • Battery Life WHAT’S NOT • Shutter and dial mode are too close to one another • Heavy BOTTOMLINE If you want a sturdy, powerful camera that’s easy to use, the Sony Cyber-shot H55 makes a great option.

BUYMETER

8.0

/10

As cameras become more and more advanced, their usual capabilities become higher and higher. One camera is the Sony Cyber-shot H55, which is a whopping 14-megapixels with 10x Optical Zoom and Optical SteadyShot image stabilization so you get less shake while shooting HD videos and if you want to take those faraway landscapes. There’s also a large 3-inch LCD display built into one very compact body. It measures 103 x 58 x 29, weighs about 200g with battery and card, and comes in either black or silver. Other features include Sweep Panorama, 720p HD movie recording, Face Detection/Smile Shutter and Intelligent Auto mode for fuss-free shooting in any situation.

The design itself looks like it’s made for heavy-duty shooting as it isn’t exactly the slimmest nor the lightest camera in the market. But with the features it comes with, a little meat isn’t all that bad.

The H55’s top panel is decorated with the on/off button, shutter release wrapped around with the zoom collar

Once I was familiar with the H55’s nooks and crannies (and my hand familiar with the weight), shooting with it was as easy as Sunday morning. I mean, everything you need to know is already indicated for you in any one of the illustrated functions and buttons. You just need to fiddle with it a bit to figure out the sub-menus.

I did, however, have a bit of trouble with the mode dial as my finger would sometimes accidentally switch the mode while I was taking a picture or it would turn by itself while it was in my bag.

Now the other functions may already be familiar to anyone who’s seen or owns a digital camera but Sony’s Intelligent Auto Adjustment was one feature I’d only encountered with this model. Basically, as it is aptly named, it adjusts the kind of setting the picture you’re taking may need. If there’s a lot of light, then it will act as if you had put it in auto mode. But

if take a picture in low light using this mode, it will take two pictures for you with just one click—one with the flash and one without. It’ll also indicate on the screen once dual shot is complete.

But one feature that I particularly like on the H55 is the Sweep Panorama mode. Though there’s nothing new about capturing panoramic images, the H55 does away with the complications of stitching and basically just acts like shooting a short video clip as you pan the camera. It comes in two available sizes, standard, 4912 x 1080 pixels and wide, 7152 x 1080 pixels. Not only is it easy to use, the results are really great. You don’t even have to be all that careful and slow. Just make sure you don’t have any moving subjects to avoid blur.

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Handling the camera may feel a bit different at first especially if you’re used to those super-slim cameras that only take about a couple of fingers of strength. However, the H55 does shine in its simplistic form with easy-to-read and maneuver buttons and functions.

It has a curved right hand front for your forefingers and an indented thumb groove along the back of the camera for better grip. It also comes with a camera strap for added security.

and a 7-position mode dial—movie, sweep panorama, manual, program auto, intelligent auto, easy and scene modes.

Beside the LCD screen on the lower right hand side is a playback button, conventional four-way control pad which activates the screen display, flash, timer, and smile detection, menu and delete buttons. The rechargeable battery and card compartments are located on the bottom of the camera and share one door. The black review unit I had already came with a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo but it can also use SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo and Pro HG Duo. The USB port is located just beside aforementioned door while the cable that connects to this port has a standard USB plug, composite video and stereo audio connectors so you can connect to a computer or a standard definition TV.

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SONY VAIO E VPCEA35FG/W LAPTOP

By Francis Tan

SPECIFICATIONS PROCESSOR: Intel Core i3-370M Processor 2.40 GHz OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SCREENSIZE: 14 inch wide (WXGA: 1366x768) VAIO Display, LED backlight GRAPHICS: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 Graphics WHAT’S HOT • Eye catching designs • Above average specs WHAT’S NOT • Heavy • Poor battery life BOTTOMLINE The Sony VAIO E is not a laptop for everyone but if you’re willing to pay the premium for a stylish, eye-catching workhorse laptop, this one won’t disappoint.

BUYMETER

8.5

/10

February2011

Sony VAIO laptops are generally known for high-performance, multipurpose laptops that come with hefty price tags. If you’re willing to pay the premium because you really dig that sexy logo and the quality behind the brand, but are on a relatively tight budget, then you might want to explore their E series which is very consumer-centric with its perfect combo of stylish design and powerful specs.

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Sony VAIO E laptops come in various modern chic designs. There is a wide array of wild, vivid colors to choose from—purple, pink, blue, and green.

For the conservative who want the traditional classy laptop look, there’s also black and white. All the standard ports are present: 3 USB 2.0 ports, card reader slots for SD and Sony memory card, VGA and HDMI for display output, a wireless switch and an eSATA port. There’s also a DVD drive on the right side. The only problem I see with this is the positioning of the USB ports. Unconventional-sized USBs might obstruct the neighboring ports and render them useless.

The Sony VAIO E looks rather chunky and is not exactly one the lightest laptops out there at 2.35kgs. This means it might not be an ideal laptop to carry around all day.

The weight of the device, however, is www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

justified by the laptop’s build quality.

Once you pop it open you’ll be greeted by a huge 14-inch LCD with a 1600x900p resolution and a finely designed keyboard layout which has a very nice touch to it thanks to the matte finish.

The trackpad has a rough texture and it supports multi-touch gesture. There are three direct buttons on the upper right for quick access—Assist, Web and VAIO, which I think are unnecessary. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel webcam right above the screen.

The display, although huge, looks rather washed out. It’s not by any means ugly but the colors aren’t really as vivid as I hoped. It is, however, very crisp and sharp which makes reading small text easy. In fairness, media playback is rather good—very minor slowdowns even when

playing HD videos and DVDs. The built-in speakers just above the keyboard aren’t that impressive either. It’s loud, but it sounds tinny. This is rather disappointing considering the VAIO E is supposed to be a powerhouse multimedia player.

On the inside, it runs on Intel Core i3370M processor with a clock speed of 2.40GHz, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 Graphics and 320GB SATA at 5400 RPM. With specs like these, it won’t have any problem running any of the most recent applications and games.

You will be able to multi-task application regulars such as web browsers, Messenger, Office and Photoshop with ease. When it comes to gaming, it may not perform as optimal as your desktop counterpart but rest assured that it could handle games on medium to high settings with above average frame rates.

For the average user, the Sony VAIO E would suffice as a desktop replacement.

One of the biggest gripes I have with the Sony VAIO E is its battery life which barely lasts for 2 hours. It doesn’t exactly come as a surprise given the screen size and the specs, especially on highperformance mode. Switching it to power saver mode could only do so much so it would still be best if you have the AC adapter wherever you go.

The Sony VAIO E is not exceptionally great for its price point but if you’re looking for a solid performance laptop that is both stylish and durable; this may be a pretty tough contender.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

EXTERNAL HDD/MEDIA STREAMER

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS INTERFACE: USB 2.0 (input), HDMI (output), Composite A/V (output), Component video (output), Optical audio (output) VIDEO FORMATS: AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB/ISO, MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), TS/TP/M2TS (MPEG 1/2/4, AVC), FLV (D1 resolution only), RM or RMVB 8/9/10 PICTURES: JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PNG AUDIO: MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AAC, FLAC, MKA, OGG, APE, Dolby Digital (inside video file only)

February2011

WESTERN DIGITAL ELEMENTS PLAY

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WHAT’S HOT • Easy to setup • Recognizes multiple file formats including MKV WHAT’S NOT • More features would have been nice • Ability to filter files that show up a must BOTTOMLINE The WD Elements Play is a great integrated solution for home theater buffs.

BUYMETER

8.0

/10

Western Digital has been creating external HDDs as long as they’ve been making internal ones. The WD Elements Play is a typical example of their external storage devices—sleek, powerful and easy to use. Aside as serving as a storage bin for all your media files, it also functions as a media player when connected to your HD TV giving you access to your content and allowing it to be streamed to your TV.

Setup is relatively easy, and the relatively small size of the Elements Play makes it easy to integrate into existing home theater setups. The Elements Play is

able to recognize and play most of the available file formats out there, including the ever important MKV format for full HD goodness.

Aside from the normal practice of plugging in the drive to your PC and transferring your files over via drag and drop, the Elements Play can also transfer files via the USB port located on the side.

You can plug-in your thumbdrives and even digital cameras and transfer the content to the drive immediately, without the need for a computer. You can also

view video files directly from USB thumb drives if you don’t feel like storing them on the Elements Play.

The GUI is easy and simple enough to use and is pretty self explanatory. The icons are all logically labeled, and navigation is relatively easy. One thing that annoyed me though is that the Elements play shows all the files currently in the folder, including files that aren’t in the format you’re looking for. It would also benefit from manual controls somewhere on the device—as handy as the remote is, you’re

stuck in a creek without a paddle if it ever goes missing or breaks.

The Elements Play was able to handle full HD movies and video right off the bat, and as mentioned, navigating is a breeze.

It’s also able to display subtitles if the movie has it, though you would have to select it yourself as it’s not on by default.

All in all the WD Elements Play is a great media streamer/external hard drive combo for those who are looking for an integrated solution.

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As far as appliances go, the Elements Play doesn’t look like much. It’s basically a gloss black rectangular box that’s as plain as can be. There’s a USB slot on the right side, and connections on the back.

The unit comes with a remote, and a few cables. The back has connections for HDMI, a USB port to connect it to a PC, composite and A/V.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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February2011

mobility

mobility

Jaguar XF:

the hottest machines that take you places

The Cat’s New Heart Text and Photos by JC Pulido III

The Jaguar XF was the first vehicle in the Jaguar line that brought the company to the 21st century. Every car before it had that air of British sensibility. That sensibility is not at all bad, but the design—both inside and out—looked dated. The design of the XF was light years ahead of its predecessor and the amount of technology is as advanced as any science fiction movie. The exterior still shows that British sensibility that Jaguar is known for, except that the XF design shows the modern Britain, a Britain that has kept up with the times. Inside is full of technology. Gone is the gear stick, replaced by a knob that rises up at the press of the Start button. Upon entering the driver’s seat and close the door, the Start button literally glimmers with a red glow to the beat of a person’s heart.

February2011

This isn’t the first time I had my hands on the big cat. A while back, I was at a photo shoot that included the 3-liter V6 Jaguar XF. At that time, we only had one day with the car and even limited space to push the big cat to the limit. Needless to say, I was left pretty much hanging wondering what the full potential of the XF really is.

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Fast forward to late November when a number of the motoring media, including myself, were invited to Jaguar’s first-ever Track Day at the Clark International Speedway.

Again, we were introduced to the Jaguar XF and I finally get to see and experience the sporting potential of the XF that had left me hanging since our last encounter. We were to spend a day on the track, essentially playing with the Cat with a series of exercises and let it loose on the track itself. Jaguar also hinted of a www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

“surprise” at the end of the program but refused to say anything more.

engine characteristics of the new engine on the track cars.

But before all that, we were oriented by none other than George Ramirez on the exercises as well as the racing line of the track. We were separated into two groups where the exercises were mentored by Menchie Ramirez while both George Ramirez and Stephane Ramirez (son of the late Kookie Ramirez) looked over the track. More hints of the “surprise” was mentioned in passing with the biggest being that although the XF that was being used on the exercises had the 3-liter V6 engine but the track cars (2 of them) had the “New” engine but failed to mention what that engine was. The exercises were used to demonstrate the features and characteristics of the XF such as the braking and the agility of the vehicle. It would also be our benchmark against the

Speculations abound from the motoring media in the event from a new increased capacity V6 engine to even a diesel engine. However, no one from Jaguar would either confirm or deny these speculations.

All they would say is that everything would be revealed at the end of the program.

More clues were eventually revealed, not by that staff but by the car itself. First off, while the tails pipes on the exercise XF were nothing different, the tail pipes of the track cars were being ducted downward. No one could really explain why it was the way it was.

On the other hand, being on the driver’s seat of the track cars that really gave up the secret. The track cars had a lower rev range than

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

By the end of the program, the secret was out and everything was revealed. It was unveiled that the track were the Jaguar XF Diesel S variants. The cars are using Jaguar’s new AJ-V6D Gen III S 3-liter diesel engines. Whereas the 3-liter V6 had 235 HP and 216 lb-ft of torque, the new 3-liter diesel engine produces 35 more horses at 270 HP and more than twice the torque at a whopping 443 lb-ft. This means that you get more power off the line while still costing much less money on fuel.

Also with that extra power, you get a higher top speed than the V6

petrol variant at 250kph (limited).

In terms of the environment, Jaguar says that the AJ-V6D Gen III S 3-liter diesel engines emit just 179g/km of carbon dioxide. This conforms to EU5 emission regulations using conventional exhaust aftertreatment.

February2011

exercise XF. That only meant one thing. The track cars were using diesel powered engines. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that engine noise that gave up the secret. Even after hearing the track cars going around the track, you really needed to listen for that distinct diesel engine sound at higher revs inside the hood. The Diesel XFs were that quiet.

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By the end of the day, fully satisfied by what we have experienced with both variants of the XF, we were treated to one last run with the diesel XFs. A timed slalom challenge was set up to see who could reign in the XF in the fastest time. Although this humble writer did not make the podium, I have finally seen the potential of the Big Cat that has left me wondering since the last time we saw each other. It is as agile and powerful on the road as its mammalian namesake and with the new diesel engine makes the XF an even more intimidating cat.

mobility

mobilit

Hyundai Accent: The New Game Changer What is high definition (HD) in its automotive equivalent? For Hyundai’s design experts and R&D specialists, it’s no easy task to incorporate HD technology in one of its drivelines, considering that it only applies to digital and broadcasting mediums like televisions and audiovideo track lists. But ever the gamechanger it is, Hyundai has turned one of its existing makes into one seamless and high-quality innovation made for the fast tracks, amplifying its features into thrill-inducing details and intensifying its power into soul-stirring performance to create one definition of amplitude, vigor, and intensity flawlessly rendered into one engineering entity – the All-New Hyundai Accent!

Curious how Hyundai managed to craft the All-New Hyundai Accent in High Definition? Then check out these seven playlists as to why it’s becoming one of Hyundai’s hottest automobiles on track!

February2011

PLAYLIST NO. 1: Hot Coupe Profile Similar to its other best-of-breed brethrens, the newest Accent has managed to score a cornucopia of great coupe enhancements, heightening its profile with better dimensions, symmetry, and aerodynamics reminiscent of the iconic Genesis Coupe and the 2011 Sonata sedan. But this isn’t about Hyundai’s 300-hp-breaking muscle car or its globally successful mid-size sedan; it’s all about the reawakening of a new speed incarnate now crafted in this entry-level make, dictated by a coupelike body style precisely hard-topped in its forward-looking, four-door, compact sedan frame.

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PLAYLIST NO. 2: Interior Gameplay What’s inside revives just that same modern artistry achieved on the exterior design. Perhaps the most obvious improvement added in the Accent is its X-design fascia, with the user-friendly instruments, such as cabin temperature controls and the music console at the center. Of www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

course, the driving gauges remain tucked at the driver’s point-of-view, only illuminated by Supervision enhancements (Automatic) for better readability in the dark.

PLAYLIST NO. 3: Gamma Power-ups Beneath the hood of the All-New Accent is one remarkable fuel-efficient powerhouse—the Gamma CVVT petrol engine—designed with a total displacement of 1.4 liters for the Manual variant and 1.6 liters for the Automatic model. Based on Hyundai Motor Company’s road analyses, this engine can definitely pack a punch on the road, with the Manual variant delivering a maximum power of 108ps at 6,300rpm and a staggering torque of 13.9kg-m at 5,000rpm, and its Automatic counterpart, the Accent Blue, yielding a powerful 124ps at 6,300rpm and a peak torque of 15.9kg-m at 4,200rpm.

PLAYLIST NO. 4: Hexagonal Grille Armor Now, protecting the radiator and the engine, the grille of the Accent comes into play with Hyundai’s signature hexagonal frame complete with well-coated fences to keep large debris and objects from entering in while allowing air to pass through smoothly. And while it also encases

the shiny Hyundai emblem right in front of the car, it also serves as a symbolic gesture of the global company’s mantra to go far beyond the extremes with its forward-looking design philosophies and innovations for the future. More than the practical, more than the fundamental, this insignia, which now reveals itself in the refreshed i10 compact car and the Tucson SUV surely dictates the game-changer within the Accent, a promise to set the industry straight to a brighter tomorrow with avantgarde engineering and a passion for progress.

PLAYLIST NO. 5: Deluxe Safety Assuring a better motoring future, the Accent guarantees no less than peace of mind and dependability with its comprehensive safety features, starting from the Anti-Lock Braking System or ABS, which helps steer and navigate the car safely, especially during incidences of heavy stopping or maneuvering along road bends.

Coupled with an Electronic Brake-Force Distribution or EBD, this drive allows for maximized stopping power sans skidding while claiming control over the vehicle.

PLAYLIST NO. 6: Eco-Friendly Feats Equipped with a Multi-Point Fuel

Injection or MPI system, the Gamma engine, albeit ferocious, burns gasoline at an efficient rate as the former permits fuel to be injected equally on all the Accent’s four cylinders, aiding in a more accurate and stable combustion and very low levels of carbon exhausts. This quality runs true to Hyundai’s “Blue DriveTM” advocacy, a corporate initiative which introduces a new breed of eco-friendly technologies and products to the global market.

PLAYLIST NO. 7: Fluidic Style From the exterior build up to the interior and engine designs, nothing beats the Accent’s capacity to speed up its own game with Hyundai’s newest Fluidic SculptureTM, a design philosophy inspired by the movement and grace of flowing water. Aspiring car buyers will surely be mesmerized by the smooth, undulating character lines and sloping fenders distinguished on its body frame, like a siren enticing with is exquisite and exotic engineering beauty that would leave car admirers running for their nearest Hyundai showrooms.

The Accent 1.4-liter MT is priced at Php 588,000 and the 1.6-liter AT Blue variant sells for Php 808,000.

In a bid to be more responsive to customer needs, Petron Corp., the country’s leading oil company, recently introduced its Complete Change Oil Value Packages.

Initially available only in selected Metro Manila stations, the value packages offer standard and discounted pricing for a complete change oil service inclusive of engine oil, oil filter and labor charges.

Petron Ultron Race is the ultimate performance, synthetic engine oil with 5W-40 viscosity grade for supreme protection of high-performance engines. Petron Ultron Rallye is a multi-grade semi-synthetic engine oil that contributes to reduced fuel consumption and extended oil drain intervals. Petron Ultron Touring is a universal multi-grade gasoline engine oil that gives superior anti-wear protection while keeping the engine

clean from sludge, rust and deposits while Petron Ultron Extra is a multigrade engine oil for gasoline engines used in moderate operating conditions such as passenger cars.

The Petron Ultron Complete Change Oil Value Packages are priced at Php 2,499 for Race; Php 1,499 for Rallye; Php 1,049 for Touring; and Php 849 for Extra.

Diesel engine value packages include 6 liters of Petron Rev-X, with the following options: All-Terrain, Trekker, Hauler and HD. Petron Rev-X All-Terrain is a synthetic, ultra-high, multi-

Petron Rev-X hauler is a high-performance single-grade engine oil designed to meet the requirements of turbocharged and supercharged automotive diesel engines, especially in passenger cars and buses. Petron Rev-X HD is a single-grade, heavy-duty motor oil recommended for diesel and gasoline engines of passenger vehicles with short drain intervals and used under mild operating conditions.

Pricing for the Petron Rev-X Complete Change Oil Value Packages ranges

from Php 2,999 for Rev-X All-Terrain; Php 1,499 for Rev-X Trekker; Php 1,399 for Rev-X Hauler; and Php 1,199 for Rev-X HD. Rolled out in December at 40 Petron stations in Metro Manila, the Complete Change Oil Value Packages will soon be implemented nationwide.

mobility

For gasoline engines, the value packages include 4 liters of Petron Ultron, which come in four variants: Race, Rallye, Touring and Extra.

grade, heavy-duty engine oil meeting the highest levels of American and European heavy-duty diesel specifications.

Petron Rev-X Trekker is a premium multigrade, heavy-duty engine oil suitable for meeting the stringent requirements of the latest diesel automotive engines.

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Petron Offers Complete Change Oil Value Packages

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mobilit

Ford Fiesta: Unconventional Dynamo

By Armin A. Amio

February2011

Being conventional is a bummer.

Just because somebody says this is the latest or in vogue, doesn’t mean everybody has to follow it.

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February2011

T

he same is true for cars.

Metro Manila streets are boring compared with other cities such as Bangkok, Paris, Stuttgart or Orlando.

Everybody is driving the same old teardropshaped car that has been in vogue since the late 1980s. But every once in a while, a car breaks out of the conventional. One of them is the all-new Ford Fiesta.

Now this car has been getting the big buzz ever since Ford Group Philippines made a soft launch early last year. Stocks came only in the latter part of 2010—and it’s really because Ford has been having a hard time producing Fiestas as possibly every market has been cramming for additional stocks.

I spent five wonderful days in the Fiesta during the Christmas break and never did I get bored during the test period. The Ford Fiesta is a good car. Period. Most car developers will tell you that you can get the true measure of a car in just 15 minutes of driving it. You can go on and on with the Fiesta.

I know the Fiesta has been getting rave reviews, especially in Europe— but, as they always say: the proof is in the pudding.

But the pièce de résistance is the Bluetooth/voice control with USB

The six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission is not your runof-the-mill hydraulic with a torque converter. This one has a sophisticated dual-clutch manualautomatic that delivers fast and clean shifts, while also saving fuel. It comes connected to several sensors that allow shifts to adjust to driver inputs and the driving situation. In fact, when the Fiesta is being driven through tricky terrain, the gearbox pauses now and then to decide how to shift. The shifts are also very smooth.

Early during the test drive I thought the Fiesta’s very European rear twist beam axle and front strut suspension layout could get a bit of softening. But mountain-side switchbacks, highway zooming and stop-and-go city traffic I took this car through made me rethink my earlier stance. The Fiesta stood out for its quiet ride, predictable handling and impressive electronic steering.

Under the hood, the Fiesta 5-door Sport GPS comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with twin independent variable camshaft timing. Power is rated at 121 horsepower at 6,000 rpm while maximum torque is at 151 hp at 4,050 revs.

The design is pretty slick, not to mention aerodynamic. In-cabin noise is down to the bare minimum.

The seats are pretty good although after a few hours of driving, I felt it still needs a bit of better lumbar and thigh support. I also didn’t like the plastic-ky look of the dashboard.

The Fiesta developers were spot on with just about anything and everything about the car. At its current price, it’s indeed truly unconventional.

mobility

The five-door Fiesta Hatchback is roomy enough to carry four adults.

Unlike most small hatchbacks and commercial vehicles, this one has a pretty large trunk space. For its price of Php 816,000, it has all the bells and whistles anyone needs in a car—multifunction display, steering wheel with audio controls, good audio system, theater-dimming lights, courtesy and floor well lights, driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD and ESP plus HLA (anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and electronic stability program plus Hill Hold and Hill Launch Assist), engine immobilizer, keyless entry system, rear parking sensors, among a few.

connectivity function of the Fiesta.

Connecting my Blackberry Bold via Bluetooth to the Ford audio system allowed me to call my mom and brother as well as change radio stations and CD tracks via voice control. You can even add phone numbers to the in built directory.

gaming

where playing around is considered a good thing

Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam Developer: DICE Publisher: EA

By John Nieves

DICE gives players the opportunity to hunt Charlie in the hotly anticipated expansion pack of last year’s massive multiplayer bonanza, Battlefield Bad Company 2. In the new expansion, you’ll take the role of American GIs and North Vietnamese regulars as the two factions duke it out in the rice fields and jungles of Vietnam.

February2011

The expansion gives players new weapons, new vehicles and new maps to create massive carnage in Vietnam. The new content is automatically unlocked for players so there’s no need to grind points to unlock them. The new weapons are more or less historically accurate for the period, and are accurately represented, both in terms of graphics and sound.

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The expansion retains the iconic Frostbite engine of the original game, meaning almost everything in the maps (save for a few walls that were made indestructible for balance issues) can, and does blow up. Speaking of maps, there’s currently five maps on tap—Hill 137, Vantage Point, Phu Bai Valley, Cao San Temple and Operation Hastings.

Some of the maps have a lot of choke points that will stall unskilled attackers during the Rush game mode like Vantage Point and Hill 137 while some, like the Phu Bai Valley and Operation Hastings are vehicle heavy maps that use the iconic Huey helicopter, M48 Patton and T55 tanks. The Huey’s handling characteristics has been tweaked

by DICE so that it’s infinitely more maneuverable than the Blackhawk in the original game, and has side mounted rocket launchers and www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

M60 ports for players to man and rain death from above. It’s also extremely vulnerable and seemingly made from paper and good intentions, as it gets damaged easily by small arms fire, as there’s no dedicated AA mount to counteract it.

There are 15 new weapons available to players, from the iconic M16A1 that grunts humped in the boonies to the clattering AK47. Each class gets three new weapons, with some of the older, serving weapons in the original game like the Garand, Thompson submachine gun and the Remington 870 making an appearance. One of the weapons that is going to be feared by players is definitely the M2 Flamethrower.

This little beast belches out a liquid, fiery death and a painful roasting to anyone unlucky enough to get hit with it. It’s a beast in close in maps like Hill 137 and Cao San Temple.

So, how does one get into the Charlie hunting, flamethrower spewing fun? Players just need to purchase an unlock code from the EA store which is a measly $15 (Php 661), unlock the Vietnam expansion from within the main Battlefield Bad Company 2 game, and voila! You’re ready to cause mayhem in Vietnam.

apps

we got an app for that

Compiled by John Nieves and Francis Tan

In this month's Apps, we're taking you on a journey of vengeance with the iOS game Infinity Blade and get you organized with Wunderlist. On the Android side, we're going to help you stick to your diet plan with FatSecret Calorie Counter and make your phone last longer with JuiceDefender. Plus, we're giving you a way to edit your photos sans Photoshop with GIMP for Windows.

GIMP

For Windows, Mac and Linux For most people, clicking on the shutter button is the end of the picturetaking process. For some, it’s just the start. A lot of individuals spend an inordinate amount of time editing, tweaking and processing their photos before it sees the light of day. Sadly, there isn’t a lot of free image manipulation software out there. For those who want to edit photos without dropping a huge wad of cash on Adobe Photoshop, they can go for GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). This app allows users to enhance and retouch their photos. It’s open source and completely free, and is available for multiple systems including Windows, Mac and Linux. (www.gimp.org)

INFINITY BLADE

For iOS4

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February2011

If you’re one of those hardcore gamers looking for a REAL iOS game, then you can’t do without a copy of Infinity Blade on your homescreen. It’s actually one of the most-hyped games late in 2010 because it runs on the Unreal 3 engine—meaning, expect not less than superb graphics. The story revolves around a knight who wants to seek vengeance on the God King for killing his father. To do that, you must slay a smorgasboard of evil knights and beasts, collect gold, potions and hundreds of different weapons and equipment. The gameplay, although some might find it linear, is actually pretty engaging and the visuals are simply breathtaking. Couple that with a sweet audio track to make the game a completely immersing experience. For the most part, the replay value of Infinity blade is for those who are obsessed in leveling up their character, collecting every item, and earning all achievements there is.

It may sound like a grind but it’s completely fun—especially if you’re looking for a tough challenge. The controls are actually very intuitive and it’s pretty fluid to say the least. All I can say is that EPIC games deserve a hats off for this revolutionary game and I assure you even at $5.99, it’s worth every cent.

Now the only problem left is keeping your iPhone’s battery up to last this long, compelling game.

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app

WUNDERLIST

For iOS4

If there’s one thing the iOS 4 lacks, it’s a decent to-do list. If you’re looking for a quality, free to-do list app then look no further, Wunderlist is here. We’ll just go ahead and say right off the bat that Wunderlist simply blows every other to-do list there is out of the competition; even paid ones. When you launch it, you have to sign up for a Wunderlist account which barely takes a minute. This feature lets you sync your Wunderlist to other mobile phones, even to your Mac or PC. It has a simple, clean interface that is easy to navigate. Skins are interchangeable if you’re not a fan of the default brushed wood background. You can create multiple lists for your tasks to keep them organized and you also have the option to add notes and due dates to your task. There are several views available—by lists, by priority, or by due date. It even supports push notifications for tasks that are past their deadline. It’s not by any means completely groundbreaking but it does what it’s supposed to in a beautiful fashion.

FATSECRET CALORIE COUNTER For Android

Odds are, you’re trying to lose all those pounds you gained during the holiday binges that you did. Well, there’s an easy way to track all the calories you’re currently taking in and make adjustments to your diet accordingly.

The FatSecret Calorie Counter is able to give you nutritional info on food you usually find at home or in restaurants and allows you to keep a Food Diary so you know how much calories you’ve taken in over a period of time. There’s even a barcode scanner that you can use to pull nutritional info on food products so you know exactly what you’re buying from the supermarket.

Available in Android Marketplace

JUICEDEFENDER For Android

February2011

It’s no secret that Android-powered smartphones use up a lot of juice. With all the features, apps and games (Angry Birds alone have drained its fair share of devices) that are available on the platform, it’s getting to a point that you need divine intervention for your phone to last the day. Well, JuiceDefender wants to change all of that, or at the very least, get your smartphone alive through the day. It’s basically a tool that turns off your Wi-Fi and cellular data at set intervals so you can stretch your battery life longer.

Available in Android Marketplace

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February2011

A Tablet For A Landline Handset

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Phone giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) continues to reinvent its landline service. “We are reshaping the future of the landline and we are starting to bring it to the market now,” said PLDT president and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.

The PLDT official is referring to its newest offering, the TelPad, which bundles a landline service with a touchscreen tablet and high-speed myDSL service all under one service plan.

The PLDT TelPad includes a special handset that also serves as a charging dock for an application‐ rich, 7-inch screen tablet computer.

Subscribers can use the handset or the portable tablet computer to make and receive phone calls and access over a hundred thousand online applications. This is on top of the unlimited broadband access of the bundled service. “We are proud that the PLDT TelPad was conceptualized and developed here in the Philippines using world-class technology,” added Nazareno.

Storage won’t be a problem as the unit’s 2GB internal capacity can be augmented by an SD card and USB slot for extended storage. The TelPad also carries a 2-megapixel front camera for still shots and videoconference calls.

The PLDT TelPad service starts at Plan 1849 with 1-megabit per second (Mbps) broadband connection and landline service. The PLDT TelPad unit comes bundled with the plan.

Existing PLDT myDSL customers only need to add as low as Php 500 a month to upgrade to the TelPad plans. The other PLDT TelPad plans are Plan 2099 at 1.5 Mbps for Php 2,099 per month, Plan 3095 at 2.5 Mbps, and Plan 4100 at 3.5 Mbps.

All these are inclusive of the landline phone and myDSL broadband

service.

“We’ve packed the PLDT TelPad with features that will dramatically change how we use landlines,” said senior vice president Eric R. Alberto, adding that the Philippine market, with its growing number of ‘netizens’ is ready for an innovative service such as the PLDT Telpad.

Patrick Tang, vice president for retail voice, said PLDT Telpad highlights the enhanced value of landlines to households and businesses. “The PLDT TelPad tablet has built-in widgets and many applications that can access PLDT run content‐ rich portals such as PLDT@Home, askPLDT and very soon, even PLDT Watchpad, which is PLDT’s online multimedia entertainment portal.”

Subscribers who enjoy a multimedia lifestyle can also take advantage of the TelPad’s built-in HDMI port which can be plugged into any flat screen TV allowing subscribers to watch movies, play games and very soon, even sing along with the videoke

application on the TV’s larger screen, making the multimedia experience richer. The TelPad tablet can also be used to listen to music, read e-mail and display photo slideshows.

Its web-based interface and multimedia functions also opens the door for new communities and services that provide information and entertainment through its wide range of home and business based applications.

Recently, PLDT also completed the Php 2.8 billion upgrade of the PLDT Domestic Fiber Optic Network, the country’s most extensive and resilient fiber optic network with a total of 10,050 kilometers connecting 68 nodes and equipped with a total network bandwidth capacity of 1.56 Terabytes.

“This will support the high‐ bandwidth requirements of innovations such as the PLDT TelPad,” Alberto said.

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The PLDT TelPad tablet is powered by a 1Ghz Cortex A8 processor that enables the device to deliver snappy performance. It runs on Android’s latest operating system version 2.2, which offers multitasking capabilities. Users of the TelPad

can download a wide range of applications from the Android Market, Google’s online store which offers over 125,000 applications like business apps, e-books and magazines and digital games like the highly popular Angry Birds.

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By John Nieves Photos by Frances Marie Pante

February2011

Capturing the perfect shot isn’t just about pressing the shutter button. It all boils down to technique, preference, and most importantly, the camera that you use. Just like cellphones and other personal gadgets, everyone has his/her own preference when it comes to the type of camera they’d ideally want to use, whether you’re a first time shooter or a long time veteran. We’re here to explain the different classes of cameras and what you need to look for to help you better find the one for you.

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February2011

Point-and-shoot Probably the most popular camera in this particular list, the point-and-shoot is a staple of many electronic manufacturers the world over. There are literally hundreds of small variations of this type, ranging from the tough, waterproof model of Canon, the D10, to the twin LCD oddity of Samsung, the ST550.

It’s the easiest camera to use, mainly because you just need to point the viewfinder and press the shutter button.

Before pulling the trigger on a purchase, however, you do need to look for a few basic things in a point-and-shoot. Number 1 is obviously picture quality. Most buyers tend to look at the megapixel count of cameras to gauge the quality of the pictures. It’s a good rule of thumb, but it’s not an accurate indication of picture quality—especially since most cameras these days are pushing 10 to 14 megapixels even in low end models. In my personal experience, a camera’s processing engine is more important than the amount of pixels it can push. Insist on test shooting cameras before you buy to see what you’re really getting into.

The prosumer camera is a cross between a point-and-shoot and a full-blown DSLR. Most of the time prosumer-type cameras have extensive manual controls that give users a large amount of control when it comes to exposure, aperture and other settings while still retaining a non-removable lens.

The tradeoff is obvious as you’d theoretically get a camera that’s able to achieve a majority of the shots DSLRs are capable of, without sacrificing the portability of a point and shoot.

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Prosumer

cover stor Micro Four Third Micro Four Third cameras are relatively new to the world of photography. They’re basically DSLRs with drastically smaller footprints, with some models approaching point and shoot sizes without the lens attached. This is achieved by eliminating the cumbersome mirror box which reduces the overall size of the camera. The tradeoff is that while you get DSLR-like performance, you don’t get to enjoy a traditional viewfinder (with some models eliminating it entirely and relying on a live-view type system instead) and the ability to switch to full size DSLR lenses without serious drawbacks (lens adapters take away autofocus).

February2011

DSLR DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex) are the tools of both serious amateurs and professionals. These cameras give the best performance out of all the different camera types, have a large amount of accessories available to them, and give the user total control of how they take their pictures. They’re also big, bulky and relatively more expensive than other cameras. Buying and using a DSLR is not a small thing—the cameras take years of practice and patience to truly master, and become money sinks if you’re not careful.

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For people that would like a degree of control when it comes to the pictures that they shoot yet don’t want to lug around a full-sized camera, then you might want to take a look at Micro Four Third models. While the lenses aren’t as plentiful as DSLRs, most of the offerings in the market have the basics covered (pancake, zoom, general wide-angle). They can also take lenses of other cameras via lens adapters, although you do lose a few things by doing so, chief among of which is the autofocus.

February2011

So after all of that, which kind of camera should you buy? It all depends on what you want to use it for. If you just like to take pictures without fussing about with settings, then a point-and-shoot is a good buy. For folks who like to take low-light pictures like in clubs, then you want to get a high-sensitivity point and shoot. Consider the main use of your camera before purchase, read reviews and try it out in stores before ponying up the dough.

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MakeThe Most Out Of Your Digital Camera

By Michelle Callanta

February2011

Disclaimer: I am not a professional photographer. I am simply your average girl who wants to capture semi-glamorous pictures to display on her social networking sites and living room wall.

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My very first camera was an Olympus Trip 100R which I bought for only Php 200. That was in 2003 and I was a party-hearty college student who wanted to capture the range of my incredibly active social life, from the clubs to the beach to my very first concert (which ironically was the Christian band, Plumb). Using it was nothing short of what you’d consider a chore—it was so “manually-dependent ” that I had to rewind the film after every shot and literally wait for the charge indicator to turn green just so I can take the next picture. It would take so long, in fact, that whenever I was about to take a picture of friends, I’d tell them to converse first so they wouldn’t become impatient, hold their best poses and make sure I got the shot as I peeped into the tiny lens and hoped my one eye could accurately fit 10 people in just one click. My sister (and party partner) and I would usually buy the 36 shots of film instead of the 24 for maximum usage as well as a stock of AA batteries. Once we had the photos developed, we would then scan our pictures so we could upload them into our newly-created Friendster accounts.

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February2011

Digital cameras, at that time, had just hit the shelves and only the few rich folk with money to burn had them.

Now after almost a decade, digital cameras are a dime a dozen, come in all shapes, specs, and sizes and anyone with even a miniscule of tech-savvy knows that it is a gadget necessity next to your mobile phone.

In spite of its continuing popularity and purchase attainability, not everyone seems to know what they are getting into when they purchase a digital camera.

So for those who want to make the most out of their digital cameras, here are a few tips that should help you better appreciate just how far

we’ve come when it comes to the wonderful world of photography.

Fiddle with the features You may be the back-to-the-basics type who equates a really good camera to a really high megapixel count. And though it is true, a higher megapixel count does contribute to a clearer, better-looking picture, this feature should not be the ONLY thing you should care about.

A lot of cameras now includefun features where you can detect smiles or use fish-eye effects ala lomography or change the white balance to fit just the right environment setting. You can even use a stylus to doodle right onto the picture. My personal camera has a setting that makes my photos

look smooth and blemish-free. It’s like a built-in Photoshop right into your camera. Edit, trim, change the color—the possibilities are endless.

Don’t limit yourself to just keeping it on AUTO (if you are simply manualaverse) or to only knowing how to turn the flash on or off.

Become your own photographer and subject One feature I believe that is sorely under-appreciated is the timer. I know this because as the involuntary resident photographer to my friends and family (not surprisingly, they too enjoy my camera’s blemish-free setting), I usually have to make do with photos an arms length away—my arm.

Other times, people get lazy taking

my pictures for me so when I’m all alone or with a loved one, I like experimenting with the timer, from the 10-second to the 25-second to the 10-second then 2-second picture in rapid succession and just have fun propping the camera up and running to the spot where I want my photo taken.

Use your imagination Arnold Newman once said, “A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart.” People have this preconceived notion that the better or more expensive the camera, the better the quality of the picture. Or that only certain

“

feature

Now after almost a decade, digital cameras are a dime a dozen, come in all shapes, specs, and sizes, and anyone with even a miniscule of techsavvy knows that it is a gadget necessity next to your mobile phone.

featur Arnold Newman once said, “A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart.”

My personal camera has a setting that makes my photos look smooth and blemish-free. It’s like a built-in Photoshop right into your camera.

cameras can do certain things. This is not entirely true. What we have to understand is, a camera is just a tool, if anything, a crutch for the limitations of our own human eye and mind. Now what some of my photographer friends like to do is experiment with things outside of the camera’s capabilities. One way is to cover the lens with different colored cellophane paper. Another is to hold the lens up into the light immediately after you take a picture and wave it around so that it creates neon streaks across the image. Or putting a candle up against your subject and take photos without the flash for that romantic, yellow, blemish-free effect. The important thing here is you don’t limit yourself, your subject or even your vision to the specs of your camera.

Less is more

February2011

Arguably, the best thing a digital camera has to offer is the fact that you can view your photos immediately after you’ve taken them and delete the ones you don’t want to keep. But strangely enough, because of this, the matter of quality over quantity has been skewed. So you get bigger memory cards and store more and more pictures which, in the end, just end up becoming a pile of cyber-junk—unnoticed and forgotten that get lost deeper and deeper into your cyber-albums or hard drives. Sometimes, even the blurry as well as incriminating pictures get on there in the midst of thousands of other photos, which have proved to cause quite a bit of trouble what with tagging and reposting. With film, you had to get your pictures developed before you could ever see them again— expensive but nonetheless, fulfilling and even a little bit exciting.

And there was something to hold, something to show, something to decorate your wall with (and I mean your bedroom wall, not Facebook wall)! Taking the time out to quickly sift thru your photos and delete the ones that don’t make the cut into your memorabilia bank will make the memories more meaningful. And easier to print.

In the end, isn’t that what we want? A picture to last us more than a lifetime or two?

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February2011

Complex Lifestyle Store BRINGS ALTERNATIVE STREETWEAR TO MANILA

Streetwear is everywhere nowadays, with all the hipsters and skateboarders over the metro sporting it, and it’s no surprise why there’s an up in streetwear stores in the city. The latest to open is right inside Eastwood in Quezon City is Complex Lifestyle Store.

As the aspiring new mecca for street culture, Complex carries a lot of trendy footwear brands, along with accessories and apparel that complete the expression. It aims to redefine streetwear and to answer demands of the growing modern lifestyle.

The store itself is uniquely designed, as Complex teamed up with Everywhere We Shoot to translate irony, humor and glamour mix it with photography, fashion and graphic design and turn it into the store’s character. They took inspiration from the most popular places in business, arts and culture—New York, Milan and Tokyo, which shaped the world’s trends and tastes, and materialized the concept into its new home in Manila.

Complex is also set to be a sought after stop for offbeat Energie and Pony sneakers and swanky timepieces and accessories from Marc Ecko, Ray-Ban, Nooka and G-Shock. The store also stocks interesting pieces that can add more flair to the urban lifestyle, like recycled vinyl-bookends, and sun jar lamps that charge in the sun and light up at night. These are but tiny touches that complete the personality and mood of the store and set it apart from the others.

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Among the labels that Complex carries are Creative Recreation, Ecko Unltd., Zoo York and Dean and Trent. These cover the range from trendy to classic designs that are a reflection of the lifestyles of today’s urban citizens. This goes to show that Complex is an alternative lifestyle store, as they do not carry the usual, find-anywhere brands of streetwear. Street fashion’s highest expectations are realized in a store like Complex, serving top brands in apparel and footwear and everything else in between.

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By Michelle Callanta

Located at the heart of Eastwood in Quezon City, Blue Onion is both a restaurant and a lounge that suits both the needs of diners as well as partygoers. Be it for lunch, dinner, a special occasion or even a venue to unwind from the busy work week, Blue Onion is flexible to cater to any type of function.

February2011

Inspired by Red Onion, a US-based bar the owners Grech Go, Andrew Ng, Terrence Tang and Brian Chua once visited, Blue Onion’s conception began in 2001. From the time of its opening, Blue Onion enjoyed overwhelming success and continues to provide the best spirits and only the most delectable food. But like any business, it also needed to change with the times. And with a more sophisticated Eastwood City on the rise, added restaurants, stores and condominiums, Blue Onion decided to revamp itself and give its look an entirely new makeover.

With the help of architect Wendy Lodrigo who is also one of Blue Onion’s owners, the restaurant was able to translate its desire to reinvent itself. With black, gray and glass trimmings, the once bar-type Blue Onion was transformed into a high-class lounge, the architectural highlight being the white onionshaped entrance reminiscent of a futuristic portal.

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However, not only is the ambiance perfect for painting the night red, it is also a delicious place to dine. The menu, created by Chef Niño Laus of Ninyo Fusion Cuisine as well as Robot, is sure to give most Filipino diners a truly mouth-watering experience, at a surprisingly affordable cost. Lorense Aguinaldo, executive chef, shares, “Here at Blue Onion we serve Filipino fusion, mostly Filipino and Japanese Cuisine. We use local and Japanese

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Blue Onion ingredients and choose Filipino Classics like Bagnet, Sisig, Chicken Inasal to name a few to pay homage to Filipino Cuisine then add our own twist to it. This is to differentiate it from the home cooked versions but not defer from the taste that we Filipinos love.”

Blue Onion is open for lunch between 11am to 2pm and for dinner at 5pm until 8pm. Diners can also stay for drinks from 10 in the evening. “We don’t want to be known as a club like what Blue Onion was before,” Aisha Reyes, marketing manager, explains. “We want to be seen as a lounge though we do have DJs. We hold all kinds of events from birthdays, corporate events, as well as production events.”

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February2011

Gadget Mecca :

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CES 2011 If there’s one event that any hardcore gadgeteer would want to go, it’s the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held every January. Major electronic brands from all over the world set up shop for a week in Las Vegas to showcase all of their latest products. Since there’s literally a ton of releases that came from CES this year, we’re going to list a couple of new products that caught our eye that’s hopefully coming to a shop near you.

Sony outs 3D Bloggie and camcorder Last year we saw 3D TVs, and it seems that Sony’s keeping its mission to deliver 3D content everywhere. During the company’s keynote, Sony president and CEO Howard Stringer revealed two new 3D-enabled products—the Bloggie 3D MHSFS3 and the HDR-TD10. Both the Bloggie 3D and the HDR-TR10 will be able to capture video in 3D, and will be able to display these glasses-free, thanks to its newly developed LCD. Aside from all the 3D madness, Sony has also out-ed a camcorder that has a built-in projector that’s able to project image 60-inches wide diagonally from 18 feet away, providing a rich playback experience without the need for a TV. The HDRPJ50V, HDR-PJ30V and HDR-PJ10 will be available sometime this March and April.

Asus wants to be your tablet

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Taiwanese manufacturer Asus is getting into the tablet game with three delicious tablets—the Eee Pad Transformer, Eee Pad Slider and the Eee Slate EP121. The Eee Pad Transformer and Eee Pad Slider are equipped with a 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen and are powered with Nvidia Tegra 2 chips, with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) on board. Both have full QWERTY keyboards—the Transformer is able to dock and detach from its keyboard while the Slider, well, slides its keyboard out of sight when not needed. The Eee Slate, on the other hand, is touted as the most powerful tablet today, with an Intel i5 processor running on Windows 7 Home Premium.

featur LG’s making dual-core smartphones It was no surprise that this year’s CES would involve some kind of dualcore smartphone announcement, and LG takes that honor along with the moniker “world’s first.” The Korean firm has just unveiled its Optimus 2X, a smartphone that others will want to be when they grow up. Partly because of the long list of features, 4-inch capacitive touchscreen, but mostly because of the beefy 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H dual-core processor on board.

February2011

Samsung wants smarter TVs While everyone’s 3D-ing every TV in sight, Samsung is looking beyond and wants to make every TV they sell to have minds of their own.

During his CES keynote, B.K. Yoon, President of Samsung stated that “I am confident that the Samsung smart TV will become the leader in

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integrating services and content.”

According to him, they’re planning on developing a cloud based platform, and in his words, “are dedicated to making our devices the best gateway to storing, sharing, and playing content from the cloud.”

The way they’re going about it is through a combination of apps and hardware.

During the keynote, Samsung demoed the Xfinity TV app for the Galaxy Tab that turns it into a remote, video player and guide. The app gives users the capability to look for content on the tablet, then streaming it either on the TV or on the tablet itself. Eventually it’ll be able to stream live TV into it as the months roll by.

Samsung also announced a bevy of partnerships with content providers in the US, but one partnership that’s sure to affect customers from the other side of the world (i.e., us) is their strategic partnership with

Adobe. Samsung’s Smart TVs will be able to use Adobe’s Flash technology and that means greater access to hundreds of sites that use Flash.

Windows running on cellphone chips The computers looked half-finished with exposed components and ran what looked like plain vanilla Windows 7. Under the hood, though, these computers had components that signal a seismic shift for Microsoft and the PC industry.

Instead of running on processors from Intel Corp. or Advanced Micro Devices Inc., the mainstays of Windows PCs for three decades, these computers were running on cellphone-style chips based on designs from ARM Holdings Plc. That could mean laptops and tablets with longer battery lives, and give Windows a better chance of gaining a foothold in the emerging world of tablet computers.

Apple Inc.’s hit iPad tablet runs on an ARM-based chip, which is part of the reason it can last 10 hours on one charge. Microsoft didn’t say when an ARM-based version of Windows might be available, but indicated that it’s at least a year away.

Intel and AMD strike back Intel and AMD, whose processors are the “brains” of PCs, unveiled new chips with significant design changes, in part to help them hold off threats from tablets and smart phones. The idea is to make traditional, low-cost computers using their chips more competitive with the mobile devices.

The new designs promise to make computers better at doing graphicsintensive tasks and playing video.

Intel and AMD are doing this by putting graphics capabilities, historically handled by a separate chip, on the same silicon as the

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computer’s main, general-purpose processor. That means data that moves more quickly.

An added benefit is longer battery life, an important quality if these chips are to be competitive with those used in tablets. With the functions on the same chip, the power the parts need to talk to each other is reduced.

Free TV on the go

A big obstacle for the technology is that cellphone carriers aren’t interested in selling phones with mobile DTV receivers.

High-speed color printing It’s not often that a new printing technology comes along. After all, both inkjet and laser printing have been with us for decades. Now, a startup called Memjet promises a significant twist on inkjet printing.

The technology allows a desktop printer to spit out one page per second in color, at low cost. Instead of having a print head that moves back and forth across the page, it has a head that’s stationary and spans the whole page.

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TV broadcasters are adding signals to their towers that are designed to be picked up by portable gadgets such as small TVs, laptops and cell phones.

It’s unclear how interested the public will be in this technology.

An earlier attempt at broadcasting subscription-based TV signals to gadgets failed for lack of interest.

But gadget makers including Audiovox and LG are forging ahead, providing consumers with an array of “Mobile DTV”gadgets this year.

They range from portable TV sets to plug-in antennas for the iPad.

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Picture Perfect

Gadgets Magazine places PBA courtside beauty Cesca Litton in front of the cameras as she ushers in the latest gadgets of 2011.

Photographed by Nick St. James | Professional Artistry by Mio Robo (Makeup) & Bernadette Tia (Hair), MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Team | Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold, Michelle Callanta & Chad Villarmino | Styling by Danee Torres | Clothes by Topshop & Promod | Shoes by Janylin | Accessories by Promod | Shot on location at Blue Onion Bar & Restaurant

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Take breathtaking panoramic pictures with the Cyber-shot T99. The easy-to-use panoramic shooting mode allows you to take exhilarating panoramic photos of vistas easily. It’s also a decent shooter in its own right, able to capture videos in glorious high-definition.

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Sony Cyber-shot T99

February2011

Cesca is wearing a Promod taupe loop scarf (worn as a top), Topshop leopard print skirt and Janylin drawstring camel booties with a beaded corsage bracelet, silver metallic bangles, stack pearl necklaces and black chandelier bracelet all from Promod

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Floral hook-andeye dress from Topshop, floral fabric necklace (worn as cuff), fabric rosette necklace and printed bangles from Promod with tie-up, printed d’Orsay platforns from Janylin

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HTC Mozart

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Bring music to life with the HTC Mozart. Aside from being an awesome smartphone powered by the newly released Windows Phone 7 OS, the HTC Mozart is also a great media platform where you can watch movies and listen to music thanks to its impressively loud speakers.

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February2011

Catch the latest wave of innovation – the Samsung Wave 525. With the latest version of Samsung’s mobile OS Bada, the Wave 525 gives users choice, functionality and connectivity in a small and slim package.

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Samsung Wave 525 Black chiffon bandage dress from Topshop and black pumps from Janylin. Accessories from the collection of Veronica Callanta.

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LG Optimus 2X

February2011

Blisteringly fast and powerful, the LG Optimus 2X breaks the barriers of what you’d expect from a smartphone, as it’s equipped with a dual-core Tegra 2 processor. It has all of the features you’d expect from a smartphone of its class, and is able to do more.

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Sleeveless striped vest from Topshop, rose patterned shorts and black and white tassle bracelet from Promod with laser-cut, peep-toe ankle boots from Janylin.

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More than just one of the boys.

February2011

CescaLitton

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To be one of the very few women who can hold their own when it comes to talking courtside alongside some of the biggest men in local sports, how do you maintain a calm and collected attitude? Was there ever a time you were intimidated by someone you had to interview?

There were a lot of intimidating moments—from Dennis Rodman when he was here in 2006 up to asking Michael Douglas a question during the press conference for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps in Cannes. When it comes to sports, especially basketball, you've got women like Patricia Hizon who paved the way for us girls. I think it also helps that when it comes to covering PBA games, we all just love what we do.

I still get surprised reactions from people when they find out I love sports—and that I've been into sports since I was a kid and that I love the outdoors.

You were featured as one of the GADGETEERS in our December 2006 issue. In it, you described that some of the gadgets in your bag were (if you still remember) an iPod Video 30GB, Sony Cyber-shot T7, Palm Pilot Tungsten T5, and a Motorola Dolce & Gabbana phone. What are the gadgets in your bag now?

Oh wow, that was a long time ago. Now I've got a Blackberry Bold 9780, iPod touch 64 GB, Canon G11, Lumix TS2, iPad 64GB, 13-inch Macbook pro and a PS3. Wait, are we talking about just the things in my bag? I don't keep a PS3 in my bag.

I'm digressing.

What is your favorite gadget and why?

As this is our "Snapshots" issue, what do you think makes a great picture?

Just capturing a moment. Something you want to remember forever, whether it be a place, an expression, an emotion. I take billions of photos. My friends know I bring a camera with me everywhere.

Samsung Wave 723 Make waves with the Samsung Wave 723.

Equipped with the Korean giant’s own OS, Bada, the Wave 723 gives users all the features and functionality they’ll ever need in a smartphone in a pretty and sleek package.

Beige embellished bandage dress from Topshop with stack metallic bangles from Promod.

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My Blackberry Bold 9780—also known as my Crackberry. I have a lot of friends who are also using Blackberrys, all over the world, so it just makes communicating with everyone so much easier. I bug my friends with iPhones to get Whatsapp so I can chat with them too, and I have the unlimited Blackberry plan so I'm on it all the time. I load it with photos and music and I've downloaded apps from the Blackberry App World like the Bible, dictionary and social networking apps.

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Seven good questions about Golla, Its design and the new collection 2011 - and seven good answers.

Where does Golla come from?

The Golla story started in the early 90’s in a small Finnish town when two ambitious brothers began designing and crafting furniture out of metal in their father’s old shed. Soon they moved towards smaller functional design items in rubber and plastic, which were sold around the world, even in the MoMa gift shop in the mid 90’s.

A new era begun by the turn of the century, when one of the brothers saw a market for fashionable accessories for electronic devices, as the mobile revolution emerged by the end of the 20th century. Golla joined this revolution, and started bringing fashion and colour into the world of electronics. The Golla bags with their fresh style and funky prints were something new and unique on the market. Throughout the years the collections have been introduced to new markets all around the globe.

Today, the success story continues as Golla has attracted more than 20 million users of generation mobile worldwide. You have the mindset and the lifestyle-you are generation mobile!

What is Golla’s design philosophy?

Golla roots in Finnish passion for design and innovation.

Freshness and simplicity is Golla’s DNA. Each product represents fashion, happiness and functionality. Golla is an innovator, a trendsetter, always one step ahead.

Golla’s design is a team effort, a dynamic creative process.

The design team develops both product and corporate design. In the early stages of the design process Golla’s designers start with their hearts and minds wide open.

Everybody brings ideas to the table, some are developed further, many sketches are drawn, samples revised---and in the end a small idea might become one of the bags in the new collection.

Who are Golla’s designers?

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The design team is located in Golla’s headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. So far, all the designers have been Finnish but that is not a company rule. Golla’s design team has an even share of women and men. Golla’s designers come from different areas such as graphics, fashion and industrial design.

Golla’s designers work as a team, sitting at two large tables. The daily work includes a lot of interaction, discussing and laughing together. One designer might get a crazy idea and soon the whole group is brainstorming. Receiving a box of new samples is like Christmas Eve for the designers: It is exciting to see the results of the design for the first time as a real product.

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What are the sources of inspiration for Golla’s designs?

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Golla’s designers keep their eyes open, observe and absorb everything around them: colours, people, music, fashion. Golla’s designs are a result of filtering impressions of the life and world surrounding us. Every bag and print has its own story.

Nature, for instant, has a strong influence on Golla’s designs.

Flowers and other organic structures can be found in many prints. Golla’s bags are sold in over 100 countries and designed to be universally appealing. Flowers have similar effects on people everywhere in the world. Flowers are beautiful, natural, and create a good feeling.

How does Golla find the right balance between fashionable design and functionality?

For Golla there is no trade-off between fashionable design and functionality. Golla’s designers are specialized in developing smart functional solutions that look great as well.

For Golla the feeling of a product and its first impression are most important. The reason to choose and to be fascinated by Golla bags is their design: Materials, colours and prints are essential to create the right feeling of Golla bags. All Golla bags are functional.

The bags are designed and customized to perfectly fit the gadget it is meant for. Golla bags are carrying solutions to facilitate everyday life and protect your electronic devices. Golla’s design pays a lot of attention to details, which make the bags easy to use and gives them the special something.

What makes Golla’s products unique?

The design makes Golla’s products unique. Their combination of colours, prints, and little details. But there are more factors that contribute to Golla’s success. Golla’s products are fresh. They give you a good feeling. They make you smile. They make your day better. Golla makes bags that inspire people, bags that are an experience.

What is new in the 2011 collection?

Join us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/GollaPhil website: www.golla.fi Exclusively distributed by: BrandEdge Marketing For inquiries: (02) 2417908 Email: info@brandedge.com.ph

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Golla takes colours to the next level. The 2011 collection focuses on five worlds of colour, all representing a different state of mind and emotions. You can dive in to relaxing turquoise, passionate red, playful pink, vital green or cool gray. Golla’s 2011 collection encourages people to express themselves with colours.

Furthermore new product categories for cameras, smart phones, and tablet PCs enlarge Golla’s selection.

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simplify your lifestyle decisions

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP

80ml EDT – Php 5,150 50ml EDT – Php 4,000 30ml EDT – Php 2,950 Carolina Herrera presents 212 VIP—a new fragrance that combines style with attitude.

Encased in a dazzling gold bottle, the scent is definitely an object of desire. With its attractive feminine lines, it is beautifully conceived right down to its magnetic lid.

Gucci Guilty

75ml EDT – Php 5,900 50ml EDT – Php 4,500

February2011

Made for the woman who shatters expectations, this fragrance imbues a feeling of power—even the thrill of the forbidden. A sheer, floral-oriental fragrance, it opens with a bright burst of citrus and a dangerous hint of black pepper.

This gives way to full-throttle femininity as its heart pulses with fruity and floral notes. The fragrance dries down to a rich, ambery base with notes of patchouli.

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Pureology Serious Colour Care

DEET-free citronella bug spray - Php 79.75

Hair-strengthening avocado & gugo bark wax - Php 89.75

Is one of your resolutions ‘reduce carbon footprint’?

Human Heart Nature makes cosmetics that are 100% Philippine made with 100% no harmful chemicals for every member of the family! Their moisturizing massage oil gives a luxurious organic massage that improves blood circulation and moms can nourish their hair with the Intensive Gugo Bark & Avocado hair mask while Dad’s morning is spiced up with a eucalyptus shaving oil that gives him soft, smooth skin without the nicks. Kids are sure to love the Citronella Bug Spray that’s tough on mosquitoes and other pests but gentle on their skin.

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Human Heart Nature

If you want to enhance that gorgeous, vibrant color but you’re too afraid to wash it, look no further because Pureology has the answer.

Created in 2001 by Jim Markham, it is formulated with superior ingredients to maximize color retention while offering an indulgent experience.

Pureology’s antifade complex protects color with its full spectrum UVA/ UVB sunscreen. The shampoos use a mild cleansing system derived from coconut, corn and sugar to deliver a rich lather while keeping color intact.

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Adidas Originals Blue Php 3,900-Php 6,400

Rekord

Adidas Training Women

February2011

Php 2,905 – Training studio tank Php 3,295 – Black three-quarter training tights Php 4,295 - Razorback training tank & tights

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Get fit before summer and achieve your slim-down goals early with adidas Training. With the newest apparel collection, attain fitness with freedom of motion and comfort. Tops and tights alike are equipped with Formotion and ClimaCool technology that allows you to freely move, dry and cool, while training. How’s that for getting ready to look good.

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Winneta

Fashionable and contemporary are two words that describe the first adidas Originals denim line.

Men will love the classic relaxed fit called CONDUCTOR as well as the REKORD, a modern slim carrot fit. On the women’s side, there is the skinny fit CUPIE and a boyfriend cut called WINNETA. All cuts are specially designed to be perfectly wearable with a pair of sneakers.

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Wondering where to get new gear for the New Year?

This oughta narrow the search down. Debenham’s latest collection for men is just fresh out the oven and into their three branches spread out ovr the metro. Pick out some smart wear from Thomas Nash, casual shirts from Rocha.

John Rocha and some reliable basics from St. George by Duffer. Shopping never looked better.

Thomas Nash Black V-neck stripe jumper

St. George by Duffer Black military shacket

February2011

DEBENHAMS

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Jeff Banks London Grey smart jacket

Red Herring black hurrican ‘Chelsea’ boots

Thomas Nash light green long-sleeved shirt

Thomas Nash tan ‘Bolan’ side-stitch shoes

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St. George by Duffer brown full buckle leather belt

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TOMS

Men’s gray wool flack men’s cordones - Php 3,795 Start the year right by getting a pair of TOMS shoes and TOMS will in turn give a pair to a child in a developing country.

Recently, TOMS has given away its 1-millionth pair to a child in Argentina. Set the tone for the rest of the year by choosing to buy TOMS Shoes and make a difference in someone else’s life and keep the momentum of giving. The latest men’s collection, appropriate for the spring/summer season, ensures comfort and style with a touch of good.

Men’s red stone washed twill - Php 2,690

PROMOD

February2011

Button-down coat - Php 3,995 to 4,995 Cable knit snood - Php 1,295 to 1,695 Wool shorts - Php 1,695 to 2,495 Boots - Php 6,995

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Travelers see every trip as a chance not only to see the world, but do so in style. Promod’s latest collection brings a luggage-full of chic bubble jackets, standout scarves, coats, turtlenecks and dazzling boots that help the stylish conquer new horizons. Structured gray pieces look extra interesting with cute walking shorts and a magenta coat, but be sure to accentuate legs with high-heeled boots and you’re sure to hear praise in every language. Complement the classy floral top with a gray cardigan, gray beret and a maroon knit scarf to turn heads anywhere in the world.

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MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Blush

Men’s sand suede bootas - Php 4,395

Php 1,780 MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Complexion products were designed in collaboration with professionals of the cinema industry. Now you can be beautiful in HD too. The HD Blush, in an innovative pump bottle, has a unique second skin texture which can be endlessly blended and easy to apply. Its formula is the result of the combination of three powders with an ultra fine granulometry, creating an extremely natural result. Like all MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Complexion products, the HD Blush is paraben-free and has been dermatologically tested.

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February2011

Nothing But Water Anemone Collection

Turk reversible slide tube top and Tiffany bottom

A few more weeks until summer arrives and soon the question on everyone’s mind will be, “what will I wear?” Anemone is a mixture of vibrant colors, distinctive prints, thoughtfully placed accents and classic silhouettes. The Summer collection is heavily influenced by the sun of Morocco and the rivers of Africa, and it seeks to bring a little bit of paradise with every dip.

Morocco reversible tube top and Tiffany bottom

10th Street Manila

Morocco bandeau top and reversible draped hipster

Located in Katipunan, 10th Street Manila is a premium sneaker and clothing boutique in Quezon City. Founded in 2009, 10th Street Manila aims to become a staple in the street culture world of the Philippines. This year, it has begun carrying local hat maker WipCaps and G-Shock watches (a must for every sneakerhead).

They’ve also come out with a line of T-shirts to cater to shoe lovers who take pride in their individuality.

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Cameras For The Hip Crowd

By Danee Torres

It wasn’t long ago when the only people who owned cameras were professional photographers and your dad, but things have changed since then and nowadays even a 10-year-old can operate a point-and-shoot and upload photos on his or her page on a social networking site.

February2011

Strangely enough, Nikon and Canon were particularly mum at the CES 2011. Until then, we’ll have to be content with some of the recent trends in digital cameras: thin, stylish bodies, automatic sharing options and 3D.

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Technology has made a massive impact on cameras, and most makers have attempted to be up to par with the latest in research and development. Polaroid, for instance, who was once known for the “instant photograph,” was branched out into creating a line called Polaroid Grey, a collection of photography products that include a mobile printer, a digital camera, and camera glasses. Not camera lenses, but glasses.

Co-designed by Lady Gaga, Polaroid’s Creative Director, the GL20 camera glasses merges fashion with photography, where users are able to capture and upload photos with the built-in camera and then display www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

the images on the glasses’ LCD screens. We see here how Polaroid has evolved from being the “instant photograph” brand to the fashiontechnology-photography brand.

Although some may argue that Polaroid has a long way to go in terms of upping their specs and product range, it cannot be denied that in the race for appreciation from the lifestyle crowd, Polaroid has not gone down without a fight with its appointment of cultural icon and singing sensation Lady Gaga as its Creative Director in early 2010 and the launching of new products at the CES 2011 in Las Vegas.

the CES, solidifying their place with affordable super-zooms, waterproof compacts and a mirrorless camera.

Their flagship ultra-compact camera, the XZ-1, aims to bridge the gap between compact digicams and DSLRs. It boasts of an iZuiko 6-24mm (28-112mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.5 4x zoom lens and a 10MP 1/1.63” CCD sensor. Olympus claims that the XZ-1 is developed for low-light performance, thanks to the wide lens aperture and a high-sensitivity sensor. Its ISO can be set as high as 3200, although some DSLRs’ ISO setting can exceed that number, for a point-and-shoot, it’s impressive.

Not to be outdone, Olympus also unveiled six new digital cameras at

I can’t imagine the XZ-1 will be too popular with the hipster crowd

though, because they often choose a designated DSLR more than a pointand-shoot even if it is used more as an accessory than for professional photography.

Strangely enough, Nikon and Canon were particularly mum at the CES 2011. Until then, we’ll have to be content with some of the recent trends in digital cameras: thin, stylish bodies, automatic sharing options and 3D.

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beautylab

beautylab

beauty secrets revealed

L’Oréal INOA:

The Future of Hair Color

By Michelle Callanta & Benjamin Arnold

Dyeing your hair can be a bit perplexing. On one hand, you can get the hair color you’ve been pining for, but on the other, you can damage your precious crowning glory.

The main culprit, ammonia, literally tears open the hair molecule for the dye to enter—which not only dries your hair out but also burns the scalp and gives off an unpleasant, medicine-like smell.

February2011

L’Oréal hopes to change the way we see hair color with INOA, or Innovation No Ammonia, to give customers better results as well as a better experience. Robbie Lizares, senior product manager of Pureology (which handles L’Oreal in the Philippines) explains, “INOA is a revolutionary color system that removes ammonia and is oilbased as opposed to water-based, which allows the active ingredients of the colorant to escape as hair is made of water. The product uses Oil Delivery System technology. What happens is you have water inside the hair during the process and oil outside the hair, so active ingredients like the colorants are forcibly pushed into the hair to maximize the hair color system.”

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MICHELLE SAID:

As my hair was already color-treated (and previously given highlights), the process took about 2 hours as application began an inch from

the scalp to the middle, then the bottom, and finally the roots so that the hair color (I chose an almost light brown shade, numbered 6.23 in the INOA hair color chart) would dye evenly. *Tip: always begin application one inch from the scalp as the roots tend to lighten faster due to heat escaping from the head.

Now one may find it a tedious process (especially if you have long, thick hair like mine) but at least I didn’t have to endure the God-awful smell the usual ammonia dyes emit.

INOA, in fact, smells organic and doesn’t overpower the entire room.

Finally, my hair was rinsed and washed with a special INOA posttreatment shampoo that washes the chemicals off. After a thorough blow-dry, my hair was surprisingly softer and shinier, as if hair product had already been applied. There was a natural sheen and luster only an oil-based system can provide.

February2011

For someone who’s been coloring her hair since she was 13, I’m very aware of the adverse effects permanent dye can have on hair.

After one session, a much-needed hot oil usually follows to recondition the damage it’s caused. Not only that, one wash and rinse isn’t enough to get rid of the ammonia smell. With INOA, everything objectionable about hair coloring is taken out of the equation and all you get is beautiful, odor-less, softer hair… that’s a delightfully different hue. At the L’Oréal Academy, it is evident that they take hair care very seriously, studying the texture and history of my hair first before anything else. Not only is the hair color important but the technique on how it is applied also contributes to achieving the best results.

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With INOA, damage from hair color is a thing of the past.

BENJAMIN SAID:

Five years ago, I had my hair colored for the very first time. It was platinum blonde, inspired by Gerard Way of “My Chemical Romance” during their Black Parade years.

Thinking back, it was pretty ironic, the amount of chemicals they had to use to achieve the hair color I desired. They applied bleach four times to my stubborn, unrelenting hair, just to achieve the right shade!

Recently, I ventured into coloring my hair once again, using the new L'Oréal Professionnel INOA to achieve medium brown in a matter of just one hour. L'Oréal advertises the product has no ammonia— therefore no sting and the irritating redness attached to dyeing hair.

From the INOA hair color chart (I chose Number 6.1) they measured out the exact amount of each component using a specially designed measuring tool. Once measured, they whipped the mixture and proceeded to color my hair a half inch away from my roots, leaving it to sit for 15 minutes. They then colored my roots, and left it on for another 35 minutes.

They rinsed my hair using the INOApost shampoo which effectively removed the oil-based color treatment while making my hair softer & shinier. My medium brown hair did complement my skin tone, while creating softness to my facial features.

Can’t wait for my next hair-dyeing schedule.

Special Thanks to Yam PalisocBarcena, Education & Artistic Manager of L’Oréal Professionel

beautylab

I still recall the heavy stench of chemicals, the itchy sting on my scalp, and the irritating redness of my skin, as it came in contact with the bleach. This was on top of almost five hours of watching and waiting, making me lightheaded and nauseous. At the time, my inch-and-a-half hair length cost me Php 5,000, only to be shaved off in a month.

Donna Ico, product expert at L'Oréal Academy, explained to me how it isn’t just a matter of choosing the color you want, but rather, it’s about studying hair and determining the color that’s best to compliment your skin tone, determining hair texture, and after-coloring hair conditioning.

listen

hit the right beats with the latest sound tech

I Cue: Mixing Visuals

Sometimes listening to music is much more enjoyable when accompanied by visual stimulation. Perhaps I, just like many others, have gotten used to sound-tripping on sites like the viral anomaly we call YouTube. Fortunately, today’s emerging DJ’s have accepted this reality, and have adapted their art to cope with the crowd.

DJs are now, and have been for quite some time, breaking ground with their craft by integrating videos into their live sets and mixes.

February2011

By Steven Vea

Don’t be discouraged.

All great art comes with a price.

So how do they do it? Well, there are secrets that should be kept to the trade, but the basic premise of a video DJ’s methods is very similar, if not exactly the same, as the traditional DJ’s. Both artists basically weave together two different songs that would transition smoothly into one another, while masterfully matching the tempos so that when the songs are played simultaneously, they seamlessly appear to be a single tune until certain elements are faded in or out. The resulting product is then two songs that have been successfully “mixed” together.

With video DJ’ing, the music is also woven together, except these new breed of hybrid artists manipulate music videos or MTVs instead of just using music.

Therefore, by ensuring that the music from the videos stays in tune and on time, the corresponding visuals will essentially be in sync as well, providing a wealth of artistic and aesthetic allure. Moreover, with the use of hardware in conjunction with the software (i.e. turntables with time-coded vinyl), VDJs can “scratch” video clips as well, which results in edgy and interesting visual manipulations.

For those who are interested in entering into mixing videos/VDJ’ing, be forewarned: this artform, just like other modes of creative expression today, is not cheap. The first thing you will need before you get started is cash—and this is an inescapable fact. The minimum requirements would be a powerful laptop, DJ software, a soundcard, hardware controllers to control your software, and some form of external display (whether a projector screen or an external VGA monitor).

Yes, that can run you up quite a bill.

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But don’t be discouraged. All great art comes with a price.

The most important thing that you will need as far as mixing videos goes is a computer with sufficient RAM (at least 2GB for the extremely bare essentials) and an excellent video card that can support dual-screen output. The recommended video cards are similar to what gamers and graphic designers look for, which is either an ATI or Nvidia card, as these maximize the graphic capabilities and performance of your laptop. The more powerful your video card is, the smoother the transitions between mixing your videos will be, and the strength of both your graphics engine and computer will also determine the amount of effects you can add to the mix.

The most essential part of your setup would be the software, which you should choose carefully to match your workflow, so download demos and try before you buy. While most of the DJ’ing programs available are usually dedicated to regular DJ’s since VDJ’ing is still an emerging craft, there are still quite a number of options out in the market. The majority of people find favor with Virtual DJ, Rane’s Serato (when equipped with the Video-SL plugin), Native Instruments’ Traktor and M-Audio’s Torq.

You can probably survive with the tools previously mentioned for quite some time, but you will eventually need to purchase yourself some hardware. If you already have turntables or CDJs, then purchasing a product such as Virtual DJ or Torq will provide you with time-coded vinyl records/CD’s which allow you to manipulate your digital files physically. This option is great for those who still want to retain the classic and old school method of DJ’ing. Another option (considered to be more of a digital route) would be to purchase a

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One thing is for certain: this hybrid of visual and auditory art has a bright future, because it has the ability to capture and charm more than one of our senses, as most art should.

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Akai APC40

Numark NS7

hardware controller such as the Numark NS7 or the Akai APC40, which are machines that connect to your laptop via USB and allow you to control your DJ software without the use of turntables or CDJs. Some hardware DJ controllers are usually paired specifically for certain software, but more often than not, they are interchangeable, flexible and fully programmable to integrate into your customized setup.

Don’t be discouraged by the high costs of being a VDJ. One of the main reasons why this craft is slowly picking up is because the cost of projectors, powerful compact laptops and other equipment are slowly becoming more affordable.

In fact, an increasing number of venues today will already have projectors/ external displays on hand, allowing you to easily set up your gear.

So why hasn’t this art completely captivated us when we have already been captured by YouTube? For one, being a VDJ is a performance craft that calls attention to the artist and the showcasing of his/her creativity. Perhaps a crowd attempting to escape reality through a night of bass thumping and body bumping won’t readily appreciate the possible distraction of a video playing in the background, as it can diminish the encapsulating euphoria of escaping into the music. On the other hand, perhaps the DJ’s audience is completely immersed into the music he/she is playing that they do not have the time or the sense to appreciate the level of artistry that is occurring right before their eyes.

One thing is for certain: this hybrid of visual and auditory art has a bright future, because it has the ability to capture and charm more than one of our senses, as most art should.

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that fit your lifestyle—and budget

February2011

Intelligent cameras

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No matter who you are, whether the head of the family, an office employee, an OFW or a student, there is that perfect, easy-to-use and affordable camera that’s intelligent and efficient enough to fit your lifestyle and your budget—all courtesy of Panasonic Lumix cameras. zoom capability, with the FH22 having 8x optical zoom compared to the FP3’s 4x optical zoom and the FH22 has a 28mm wide-angle lens.

With 3-inch touch-screen LCD panels, the FH22 and FP3 both have 14.1-megapixel resolution and are able to capture high-definition videos. Slight difference is in optical

The FP1 has a 4x optical zoom while the FH1 has a 5x optical zoom, and with capabilities of shooting highdefinition videos, perfect for easy viewing on a PC.

Simple yet stylish, the FP1 and FH1 both aim to captivate camera users who’d want a no-frill, easy-touse cameras that they can bring practically anywhere. Both having “iA” features just like the FH22 and FP3 and identical 12.1-megapixel resolution, the FP1 has a slim body profile with a newly developed foldable lens unit that makes it so thin and slim you can easily slip it in your pocket while the FH1 lets you enjoy easy and casual shooting with its wide-angle 28mm lens, perfect for shooting photos or self-portraits in compact spaces or in place where you cannot step back.

The Panasonic Lumix F3 and F2 digital cameras are perfect for blurless casual shooting regardless of the time of day, wherever you may be. The 12.1-megapixel resolution, 28-mm wide-angle lens Lumix F3 prevents picture blurring via the built-in digital image stabilizer that minimizes hand shake and the Intelligent ISO Control feature that either raises or lowers ISO sensitivity to match the movement of the subject and prevent motion blur for

clearer, crisper photos when viewing at its 2.7-inch LCD screen.

The Lumix F2 is best for those who are starting to take a liking to digital photography. Don’t be fooled by its rather limited features because it still packs a mean punch, with its 10.1-megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom capability. Most of all, the Lumix F2 is priced just right for the budget-conscious yet aspiring chronicler of memories for friends and family.

feature

Panasonic, one of the world’s leading home appliance and digital device manufacturers, unleashes its newest “F” series of Lumix digital cameras for the year. Foremost among the new Lumix cameras are the FH22 and the FP3. In order to capture magnificently, preserve and enjoy precious family memories, the FH22 and FP3 boasts of Panasonic’s proprietary “intelligent Auto” or “iA” feature, with Anti-Shake (Mega O.I.S. or optical image stabilizer) to prevent blurring, motion and face detection for exceptional focus, intelligent scene selector that automatically chooses among various “scene” modes to suit a specific situation, and a digital redeye correction function to minimize red-eye effect when using built-in flash.

profiles

meet the people that make your tech-lifestyle a reality

Armando Pascual: Heading the Print revolution

By John Nieves | Photos by Benjamin Arnold

H

February2011

ewlett-Packard (HP) is poised to revolutionize the print landscape. With a bevy of technologies and innovations, including its newly developed e-print technology, HP is the company that everyone from multinational corporations to SMBs turns to for their printing needs. Heading HP’s thrust in the domestic market is Armando Pascual, or “Mandy” to his friends and colleagues. As the country general manager of the Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) of HP Philippines, he certainly has one of the most demanding jobs in the country today. He is responsible for IPG sales, marketing, consumer support and category management activities in the country. Having joined HP in May last year, he already made his mark in developing effective business strategies for IPG especially in strengthening the supplies business as well as the Inkjet, LaserJet and large-format printing businesses.

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“My thrusts are to ensure that HP maintains its leadership position in the Philippine imaging and printing industry and to leverage on new market opportunities to grow our business year on year.”

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hat’s not an easy proposition, especially since HP is beset on all sides with competitors that are waiting to swoop in and take a bite out of its market share.

“My thrusts are to ensure that HP maintains its leadership position in the Philippine imaging and printing industry and to leverage on new market opportunities to grow our business year on year. HP is known for its product innovation and industry leading solutions. Together with my team, we make these world-class technologies available for local end-users to enjoy and take advantage of,” he said.

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Technology is the cornerstone of his strategy for the Philippine market, and he aims to use this to deliver innovative and cost-effective HP solutions to customers. “As a testament to our leadership in product innovation and technology, we see to it that we deliver innovative solutions to clients. We’ve started with the low-cost ink value proposition of our Ink Advantage product line where inks now cost only Php 390 per cartridge and give the user more than twice the yield. Another is the eco-friendly and power-saving features of our Laserjet printers with the Auto OnAuto Off function that allows less power to print a single page. Already announced worldwide and soon in the Philippines is ePrint, which gives users the capability to print documents by merely sending an email directly to the printer. It’s the latest printing innovation that allows you to print anytime, anywhere,” the HP executive pointed out.

He describes his management style as very hands-on and he makes it a point to be engaged with his team. Mandy regularly meets with his staff and joins them in meetings with customers and partners as often as possible. “I emphasize on performance and discipline. I see to it that everyone in the team is aligned with our overall objectives and each one is aware of their own role to play. I also ensure that my people are recognized and have opportunities of developing to their full potential within the organization. I see to it that I have a deep bench and identify future leaders of my business.”

profiles

To manage the demanding stress of his job, Mandy plays golf during his free time and takes to the road whenever there’s an opportunity to do so. He spends a lot of time with his family and unwinds by working out and running.

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Toshiba Takes On TV February2011

By Danee Torres

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In a move to tackle concerns of the Southeast Asian region, Toshiba made Singapore its headquarters in early 2010, and since then has channelled their resources to develop products for Asian customers. Shigenori Tokumitsu, vice president for visual products, said, “Our business is global, but we recognize that different regions have different characteristics and requirements. Toshiba’s visual products enjoy a long-standing reputation for quality in the ASEAN region, and we are more than confident that we can further contribute to our customers in this important market with leading-edge www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

products that feature functions and capabilities they want.”

At a recent conference in Singapore, Toshiba introduced the 55ZL800, a new flagship LED TV for home entertainment that offers outstanding image quality.

Inspired by CELL Regza, the ultimate entertainment machine made for the Japanese market, the 55ZL800 integrates Toshiba’s high-end CEVO engine, a high-performance, multiprocessor platform that delivers pristine image quality, realistic 3D graphics and excellent sound. It also houses a high luminance mega-LED Panel which introduces 512-cluster

If there’s one gadget that people will have a lot of trouble giving up, it’s their television sets. TV contributes to life in a big way—we use it to disseminate information, entertain ourselves, and sometimes, put us to sleep. This explains why there’s a whole lot of excitement in Asia since Toshiba unveiled its new products for the region.

This new lineup of LCD TVs is especially designed to combine innovation and technology with functionality and artistry while addressing the needs of ASEAN nations. local dimming, an advanced technology in screen illumination that adjusts the backlighting according to the displayed content.

In addition, the processing power of the CEVO engine combines with the backlight scanning to achieve a 200 Hz frame sequence to give viewers sharper moving pictures—a definite plus for movie nights with friends and family. The ZL800 is also a good companion for 3D movie nights, as Toshiba’s high-performance 2D to 3D real-time conversion technology captures and analyses image composition and movement in 2D content and converts it to 3D giving viewers natural, high definition

images in 3D resolution.

Like all developing countries, the Philippines is not immune to power outages and we’ve experienced the inconvenience of having the power go out while watching our favorite primetime soap opera. Well now, you can watch with peace of mind that you’ll be able to catch that cliffhanger before a possible brownout—if you have a Toshiba Power TV. The Power TV line has three types, the Power Charger LED TVs which integrate backup batteries that can run for approximately two hours when fully charged, the Power Saver TVs that help you cut down on

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February2011

electric bills by saving on power, and the Power Booster TVs that improves the video and audio output and auto signals. In addition to their individual strengths, Power TVs all feature Toshiba’s proprietary Power Meta Brain, an image processing engine that integrates advanced technology to ensure high-res imaging and true-to-life colors.

Sound output is also amazing thanks to a high-power, 20-watt speaker set. It looks like Toshiba has looked at it from all sides, but Ronald So, department manager for marketing and merchandising at the Asian headquarters division, said “Power TV is an expandable family, we will consider to launch more ‘family members’ when we identify the potential market segments in the future.” It’s hard to see what else they missed with all the innovations they’ve already placed into their latest TVs, but additional perks to the already impressive Power TVs are something we will definitely be looking out for.

The biggest surprise of the night came when Toshiba presented the first glasses-less 3D TV. In what they call “impressive reality,” Toshiba has eliminated the need to wear 3D glasses when viewing 3D content.

Even though they are still looking through how and when to introduce it to the ASEAN market, but the good news is, it exists and it’s only a matter of time until it can be available.

Being beautiful doesn’t have to entail waste, because the WL700 series is also designed to help reduce power consumption.

AutoView monitors room brightness and adjusts the backlight and picture accordingly while Auto Signal Booster improves the sensitivity of weak RF signals, making the image clearer even when reception is weak. These and other features ensure brilliant picture quality regardless of ambient light levels or the characteristics of the picture content and although they’re only 29mm thick, they’re integrated with a sub-woofer that provides full bass with 10 watt output. The integrated Audyssey EQ provides clear, accurate and natural sound right out of the box. Together, these technologies ensure an audio experience as rich as the video and perfectly matches the elegance of the WL700.

Shigenori Tokumitsu, vice president of visual products, noted that “Toshiba has a major international presence, and numbers among the leaders in the global TV and PC markets. Our strengths lie in leading edge technologies. Superb picture quality technology that are the fruits of years of TV development and software technology derived from PCs. To this, we can add worldclass semiconductor technology.

Combining these technologies allows us to introduce innovative products that lead the age.”

events

Toshiba saved the best for last by unveiling the first 3D LED TV series, the Regza WL700 later in the evening. This sleek, ultra-slim TV was designed in collaboration with Jacob Jensen Design, famously known for designing audio equipment under Bang & Olufsen and is one of Europe’s leading design studios in high-end electronics.

The WL700 stands out as it is simple and striking at the same time with its minimalist design in glass and metal with a bezel-free screen.

Coming in at 55- and 46-inch full HD versions, the TVs feature highcontrast Edge LED backlight panels, upscaling technology for 2D and for 3D images; 3D Resolution+ and Meta-Brain Premium chips. It also holds HDMI ports and two USB ports.

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La Salle Greenhills' Airforce emit true street attitude in every move

Movie action without the wires. Two CADS members perform double kick-flips on the chest and back off

CADS crew member gets ready to jump over his inverted buddy in this breathtaking display.

Skechers Streetdance Battle 6

February2011

In front of 10,000 spectators, high school and college groups competed against each other to make their mark in dance history by winning the most prestigious street dance competition in the country—the Sketchers Streetdance Battle.

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The defending champions Claret Hataw put their game faces on

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February2011

Streetstyler Jackie dos Santos's threads are as hot as her moves

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Bringing the school's colors to the street. UP Street strut their stuff in maroon leather

Fellow freestylers cheer on as the School of the Holy Spirit performs

Thousands of screaming fans, supporters, family and friends crowded The Big Dome to catch a glimpse and take part in the country’s biggest, toughest, and hottest dance competition and were treated by hosts Sam YG, Iya Villania, and Boom Gonzales to a nail-biting and nerve-racking revelation as they announced the third and second runners-up of both the college and high school categories before declaring the champs.

For the past five years, the UP Diliman Street Dance Club has dominated the competition, with the exception of Skechers Streetdance Battle 4 when they did not participate. UP Street almost seemed like an unstoppable force. But after coming in third and second the past years, Ateneo’s Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS) finally emerged on top, edging the erstwhile undefeated UP Street to take home the championship in the college category.

In the college category, UP Manila’s Indayog Dance Varsity and UP Diliman’s Street Dance Club were called on stage to receive the third and second places, respectively.

Strike a pose while on the groove. Is that an oblation pose we see, Indayog?

The event’s judges, renowned international choreographer Lenny “Lenny Len” Dela Peña, choreographer and member of Whiplash, Wilson Ong, choreographer and member of the Philippine All-Stars, Lema Diaz, pioneer member of the Manoeuvers, co-founder of Dance Planet Studio and choreographer, Jon Supan, and resident choreographer of ASAP XV and artistic director of G-Force, Georcelle Dapat-Sy, had a tough time deciding the victors of the hardfought battle.

The Skechers Streetdance Battle Year 6 was sponsored by Skechers Shape ups, Skechers Resistance Runner and Skechers Time, co-presented by ETC, with media partners Manila Bulletin, Meg Magazine, Clavel, Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1 and JAM 88.3.

All-girl crew Terpsichore display beauty and strength as they wowed the crowd

events

Defending champions, Claret Hataw, came in second in the high school category while the all-girl crew St. Paul Terpsichore made third place.

Every year, amidst the highoctane street dancing, Skechers also highlights the unique fashion style of the street dancer. In a much needed break after the nonstop dancing, the audience was treated to some eye candy as 12 fashionistas went head-to-head in a fashion showdown for the Skechers & Meg Streetstyle Awards. The winners, Julio Santos from UP Manila and Jackie Santos from UE took home Php 10,000 worth of Skechers gift sertificates and the chance to be featured in Skechers-initiated media efforts.

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Filipino Isuzu Technicians Among The World’s Best

The Philippine contingent was the fifth best in a field of 18 teams from different countries.

A team of technicians from Isuzu Alabang has proven once again that there is so much more to the Filipino world-class talent than just boxing and singing. The Philippine delegation finished an impressive fifth in a field of 18 teams at the 5th Isuzu World Technical Competition held on October 27 in Japan.

The Philippine team was made up of Arnold Victorio and Joffry Buniel, both two-year technicians at Isuzu Alabang.

They were coached by Constancio Bias Jr., an assistant section manager in the service department of Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC). The team bested representatives from Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Only technicians from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia fared better than the Philippine team.

February2011

Victorio and Buniel earned the right to represent the country after topping the last Isuzu Service Skills Olympics organized by IPC. The contest was a two-day event that featured written examination and practical application focusing on vehicle diagnostics and component inspection.

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The Isuzu World Technical Competition is a contest designed for Isuzu’s most accomplished service technicians, testing both their techniques and knowledge. It aims to heighten the level of the Japanese carmaker’s service in every country it is present in.

The contest is divided into two parts, the academic and the technical. This year, the technical part involved checking and repairing affected www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

components of an N-Series truck, as well as engine repair and measurement. The academic part, meanwhile, highlighted such aspects as structure, function, actuation and handling.

Technician Joffry Buniel works on a technical problem under the watchful eyes of an Isuzu judge.

In the academic competition, the technicians were given 60 minutes to complete the written exam, which included 25 problems. In the technical competition, the technicians were given a problem each for vehicle maintenance, engine repair and engine measurement. They were given five minutes to strategize and 40 minutes to finish the challenges.

The Philippine team was accompanied to Japan by Rufino Luis Manotok, president of Isuzu Automotive Dealership, Inc. (IADI) which owns and operates Isuzu Alabang dealership; Ryoji Yamazaki, president of IPC; Yuki Kato, executive vice president of IPC; and Toshiyuki Watanabe, parts and service manager of IPC. “This achievement by our technicians is just the latest proof that Filipinos are indeed among the very best in the world,” said Yamazaki. “Isuzu Philippines Corp. is extremely proud of this feat, and I am confident that this will further spur the men and women of Isuzu in the Philippines to do their best and give their all in the service of our valued customers.”

The Philippine team included technicians Arnold Victorio, Joffry Buniel and coach Constancio Bias Jr. (middle).

“This success is a significant accomplishment not just by Isuzu Alabang but by the entire dealership network of IPC,” Manotok pointed out.

“We hope this will serve as inspiration to our fellow Isuzu dealers to always strive for excellence and to always put to good use the world-class talents that they have been blessed with.”

newsbits&bytes the biggest news served fresh in

bite-sized quantities

ArtPetron partners with Philippine Ballet Theatre In support of Filipino artists, Petron Corp., the country’s leading oil company, was one of the supporters of the Philippine Ballet Theater’s 24th Season. Winners of the recent ArtPetron 10 student art competition were displayed during the performances of Carmina Burana and Other Ballets at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on November 19-21, 2010, and the Nutcracker Ballet at the Meralco Theatre on December 15, 2010.

Petron’s involvement in the communities and its dynamic partnerships with local folk in uplifting their quality of life. ArtPetron 10 encouraged the student artists to render creative renditions and transform its partnerships with Filipino communities into exceptional paintings and photographs. The six grand prize winners in the ArtPetron 10 painting category were exhibited for appreciation of the PBT audiences.

Themed “Alay sa Natatanging Pamayanan,” ArtPetron 10 featured

The ArtPetron National Student Art Competition is a painting and photography

contest open to all college students. It is Petron’s advocacy with the Filipino youth, and is also an expression of the oil company’s long-standing support for the preservation, appreciation and rediscovery of Philippine arts, culture, values and traditions. Over the past 10 years, ArtPetron has taken on a life of its own, and has become a much-loved and muchawaited art contest for the youth. It is Petron’s youth brand with a mass base of loyal followers, and gives deeper meaning to Petron’s advocacy of pride in being Filipino.

Petron signs partnership agreement with Adventure Team Philippines, Inc

Working hand in hand

Committing to support and promote Petron Sprint 4T motorcycle oils in its activities, Petron Corporation and Adventure Team Philippines, Inc. (ATPI) renewed its partnership by signing a three-year memorandum of agreement last November 26, 2010.

The first activity scheduled for February 5, 2011 is the 2nd Petron Sprint 4T Endurance & Economy Run, open to motorcycles of all classes. An endurance and fuel economy run aimed at testing consistent engine performance and fuel efficiency in a long distance

Present at the signing were Petron Lubes general manager Conrado S. Rivera (second row, 3rd from left); Petron vice-president for marketing Mary Ann M. Neri (second row, 5th from left); ATPI president Francis Rivera (second row, 7th from right); ATPI managing director Rey Clavecillas (second row, 4th from right); with Petron marketing and lubes staff as well as ATPI members.

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February2011

Sun Cellular and the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association (AJMA) join hands as they recently forged a partnership, with Sun now supporting the youth org by providing them with Message Cast, a powerful tool that will keep the members of the organization informed and updated on the most important happenings and projects.

Additionally, the organization can now surf the internet with ease and efficiency—all thanks to Sun Cellular’s Sun Broadband that provides consistent, fast, and reliable service with its full-IP Next Generation network. Present at the event are (from L-R) Jacqueline Kawsek, VP for Human Resources; John Patrick Sy, VP for Corporate Relations; Ethel Villanoy, Sun Cellular AVP for Brand Activations and Kevin Franz Pua, VP for Events.

marathon run, the race will cover 750-kilometers of scenic routes and winding mountain roads through northern Luzon and finishing in Baguio City. Interested parties may check out the competition guidelines on ATPI’s FaceBook account under Endurance Economy Run, or e-mail saferun2011@yahoo.com.

Three hundred participants will be accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis.

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Globe mobile ads platform hits record $4-million in placements Globe Telecom and its partner, Out There Media, hit a record in the global mobile advertising industry; booking close to $4-million in advertising commitments less than two weeks after the service was launched in the Philippines, on the back of commitments from Unilever, HSBC and McDonald’s to run their own m-ads campaigns.

“This is a phenomenal start for Out There Media as we kick off our partnership with Globe, with close to US$4 million being earmarked for mobile advertising by premium brands.

Asia is already leading in many aspects of mobile advertising and now the Philippines is taking center stage with these companies putting their trust in the mobile medium,” said Kerstin Trikalitis, CEO of Out There Media.

Globe Telecom and Out There Media recently launched the first comprehensive mobile advertising (m-ads) offering to the Filipino market. The mobile advertising service, titled “My Rewards, My Globe Plus,” is a nextgeneration PermissionBased Mobile Advertising service for opt-in customers.

Globe subscribers will be able to choose to receive mobile ads they wish to receive from their preferred categories, be it fashion or food, from brands, products or services they would want to try. They will also

give permission (opt-in) to receive advertising on their mobile phones that is tailored to their preferences, interests and needs. In exchange for opting to receive mobile ads, subscribers can earn points redeemable against discounts and free gifts from the loyalty program for all of its subscribers.

“Mobile advertising is going to change the way consumers look at brands,” said Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe, “Globally, mobile advertising revenues are growing phenomenally and in the Philippines, Globe is leading the way, pioneering the service to Filipino mobile users. We look forward to not only providing our advertising partners with a great way of reaching consumers but also more value to our subscribers.”

Bosch supports Car of the Year - Philippines

February2011

Robert Bosch Inc., the Philippine subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH Germany, Bosch joins the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) in staging the Car of the Year-Philippines 2010-2011 as a recognition program for the best cars available in the local market. CAGI is a non-stock, non-profit organization spearheaded by the country’s motoring journalists from television, print, online and broadcast media.

“Bosch is proud to once again support the Car of the Year awards,” said Joseph Hong, managing director of Robert Bosch Inc. and the first Filipino to assume the automotive technology company’s highest local post. “We likewise commend the leadership

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of CAGI and the group’s sterling initiative to help Filipino motorists choose the most suitable and reliable vehicles for their needs.”

Among other awards in the upcoming culmination event, both the company and CAGI will confer a Best in Innovation award, which recognizes advancements in vehicle safety and overall “green” efficiency.

Previously, Bosch and CAGI gave special recognitions to Audi TDi, which garnered the Best Technical Innovation Award, and the Mitsubishi Outlander, which received the Best In-Car Entertainment System Award.

“We are optimistic that this recognition program will pave the way for the

entry of more automotive innovations; more so as Philippine legislation aims to improve the local automotive industry, road safety, driver safety and emission standards,” noted Hong, citing developments in the country’s Motor Vehicle Development Program as well as the Clean Air Law, which mandates Euro II emission standards among local vehicles.

Founded and managed by its core group of motoring journalists, CAGI showcases the Philippine automotive industry’s leading car models via consumer-oriented testing and the annual Car of the Year-Philippines. The program includes technical and qualitative tests that aim to further expand consumer awareness and make the awards relevant to the motoring public.

Hassle-free shopping courtesy of Shopinas Shopping is supposed to be fun. But it could oftentimes mean zigzagging your way through terrible traffic and battling against the huge crowd. Shopinas puts all your shopping nightmares to rest. You can shop or sell anytime, anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. A flagship service of Air 21 Global Inc., it gives you a complete end-to-end solution—from the time you register to the moment your package is delivered right at your doorstep.

Being the Philippines’ first e-commerce website that combines beautifully designed online stores, customers and sellers are guaranteed of a secure payment system and courier delivery by Air21 and FedEx in a user-friendly interface.

Leveraging on security and convenience, both seller and customer do not need to go to the bank or do meet-ups since payments can be made via credit card, Bancnet ATM card or Paypal and your purchases are delivered right to your doorstep.

Worry-free selling and shopping begin as soon as you sit down and go to www.shopinas.com.

“Everything is backed by one of the country’s trusted courier service, Air 21 and Sure Seal Trustmark,” Sheila Lina, president and CEO of Air21 Global, explains.

“Sure Seal is the first Business Verification Service for online business in the country.” For shoppers, everything is as simple as when one registers for an online social network.

Once done, customers could already start choosing from Shopinas verified stores in the home page.

Once confirmation of your purchase is given, sit back and wait for the product to be delivered right at your doorstep.

A mix of stores selling an interesting merchandise— from health drinks, fashion apparel, handmade bags, scents to sports equipment and gadgets—have all signed up with Shopinas.

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www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph winning vehicles—the Ford Focus 1.8L race car made its debut.

If there’s one place that is just as scorching hot as the ultimate folks who breathe what being Wild at Heart, Fit in Body is all about, it will be the race track.

That is why in 2010, Coke Zero, the beacon that inspires the greatest possibilities and a true master of the unexpected stepped on the pedal and set the road on fire as it partnered with Tuason Racing School (TRS) through all its actionpacked ventures. The world-renowned beverage that made possible the combination of Great Taste with Zero Sugar didn’t only refresh daring drivers with its deliciously uncompromising cola taste without all the unwanted calories but it boosted them to the winning finish month after month.

April was the month for the 2010 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), an exciting showcase of over 100 contemporary and classic cars held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City including the prized diesel version of the Ford Focus race car. With the Ford Focus diesel, in the Tuason Racing School brings trophies and recognition in the racing world to the Philippines.

The month of May was a winning month for Coke Zero’s Mike Tuason who won first place at the 2010 Lateral Drift Championships and the hardworking TRS racing team who dominated the GT125 Championship at Clark International Speedway. Ford Group Philippines and TRS also launched another speed machine as the newest addition to its fleet of

July was also another big month for the Coke Zero-TRS tandem as it joined hands with Ford Philippines when it launched its 2010 Ford Focus at the WhiteSpace Events Hall in Makati. It also gamely tagged along with car clubs, car manufacturer and car enthusiasts at the “The Last Lap,” held at the Subic International Raceway.

This parade lap given to car manufactures, car clubs, motor bikes club and the

A party to celebrate its unmatched success in drifting held at the Amber Ultra Lounge kicked off in August for Coke Zero and TRS. In this affair, TRS displayed two of its pride vehicles, the 2010 Ford Focus race car and the Mazda BT-50 which won first place in the 2010 Drift Lateral Championship. It was also an educational month as basic circuit classes were held for wildly fit TV heartthrobs JC Tiuseco and Gino dela Peña who both attended the activity together with the other students. SpeedLab also invited TRS to the Drag Racing battle explosion held at the Clark International Speedway, a one-day event where participants tested their vehicle being timed in a quarter mile drag strip.

the SM Mall of Asia, Ford Alabang and Taguig where aspiring drivers from around the metro gathered and battled it out in the hopes of becoming the next racing superstar for Tuason Racing School.

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Coke Zero blazes with the wildly fit

The winning streak continued in June as the TRS-Castrol Drift Team, banking on the reliability of the Mazda BT-50 and the new Mazda RX-7, delivered impressive podium finishes in the Drift Competition in Eastwood City Libis. Mike Tuason also steered the new Mazda RX-7 to victory in the main race to banner the team’s haul of the three titles. Through all the superb wins, it was faith that boosted the racer. “There had been problems along the way but the impressive clicking’s and the excellence of its reliability, flexibility and competitiveness of the Mazda RX7, got us through,” Mike said.

PTCC drivers served as the last time for drivers to experience the rush of the thrilling raceway.

”It feels amazing to be one with an institution that is dynamic and very passionate with what it does. I think that’s what unites TRS and Coke Zero.

We both dare everyone to get out there and be vigorously wild while staying in top form. We both believe that it takes guts to fulfill something great and that it’s important to have a fit and sexy body which is only possible is one leads a healthy, active lifestyle,”, said Jenny Cinco, Coke Zero Group Brand Manager.

In September, the TRS Ford Focus Racing Team once again grabbed podium finish in the last Philippines Grand Touring Race held at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

It was just as exciting all around Manila as the C! Top Driver Video Game Challenge 8 was held at

Ford Philippines names 2010 Henry Ford award winners

One Hyundai.

One Journey.

Introducing another first in the industry, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) launches a one-of-a-kind campaign with the very first-ever, distributor-based, car loyalty program in the Philippines—the One Hyundai Club.

Every time a member makes use of the One Hyundai card to avail

of genuine Hyundai parts or services at authorized dealerships, loyalty points are accumulated and credited to the account that may be used to redeem premium merchandise from the One Hyundai Lifestyle Rewards Basket. One Hyundai Club also partnered with Assistance Alliance International to provide its members with reliable and quickly deployable

support teams, should there be any need for roadside, medical or travel assistance.

One Hyundai entitles its members to AAI’s 24/7 roadside aids, some of which include emergency towing, ambulance support, locksmith assistance and referral to authorized Hyundai dealers and service centers.

A One Hyundai Club member

is also privileged to have a Hyundai-Security Bank Mastercard. In partnership with Security Bank, one of the leading financial institutions in the country, the HyundaiSecurity Bank Mastercard makes processing of your transactions with authorized Hyundai dealerships easier and more rewarding.

newsbits&bytes

Ford Group Philippines (FGP) celebrated its 10th Henry Ford Awards (HFA) by honoring 13 members of the Philippines media corps for their outstanding work and contributions to automotive journalism. This year’s Henry Ford Awards, themed Chronicling the History of Change, celebrates a decade of automotive journalism in the Philippines and the critical role that automotive journalists play in both chronicling and driving the industry’s evolution.

newsbits&byte

NEO Care: Service and Quality iACADEMY appointed first IBM Center of Excellence in ASEAN region The Information and Communications Technology Academy (iACADEMY) was recently appointed by IBM as its first IBM Center of Excellence (CoE) in the Philippines and in the ASEAN region. As a Center of Excellence, iACADEMY will be used as a venue to expose existing and prospective IBM clients on current state of technology solutions.

Furthermore, iACADEMY will be the source of technical skills and talent to feed the IBM Ecosystem composed of IBM, IBM Business Partners and IBM Clients.

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“Being the first in the Philippines and in the ASEAN region simply confirms that we Filipinos are world-class,” said Vanessa L. Tanco-Cualoping, chief operating officer of iACADEMY. “This brings our students to another level of excellence. Not only do we prepare them with their technical skills, but they will now be exposed to a real-life business technology setup,” added TancoCualoping.

Aside from being the fist IBM CoE, iACADEMY is also the first Lotus Academic Institute Partner in the country and in the ASEAN region as well.

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As the No. 1 Mobile PC brand manufactured in the Philippines, Neo is introducing its upgraded Neo Care service. The upgraded Neo Care service aims to deliver world-class technical product support to all Neo users in the country.

Gerson Sullano, Neo Care customer service manager, “the upgraded Neo Care

Service is a collaboration of improved inventory management, upgraded service stations, better equipped professionals & quality control procedures.”

Neo has always been proud of its people and by carefully and continuously enhancing the Neo Care service team with relevant product and skills training,

productive team building activities, improved communication channels and solid top management support, the customers can be assured that they will be given exceptional aftersales service by pleasant customer interface officers through a dedicated hotline for instant connection and attention. Customers can even expect to be given up-

to-date advice on the status of their serviced laptops via SMS Caster. Furthermore, there is “Track My Service,” an online tracking system that allows customers to track the progress of repairs.

Neo Care Service even has online Driver Support wherein users can download their software requirements, anytime.

Honda Group supports Haribon project

SkyCable reaffirms leadership as digital content provider

SkyCable is leveraging its lead in digital to provide cable subscribers the best in digital home entertainment, the unique feature which allows flexibility and customization of contents to suit individual preference for greater viewing pleasure.

The Lopez-owned cable company’s aggressive move to be at the forefront of providing consumers with choices of TV content was ushered in by the introduction of SkyCable Select, an innovative service that powers the DigiBox, a digital set-top box that gives subscribers more flexibility and choice to tailor-fit their own cable TV line up.

This has resulted in a fully customized subscription package that conforms to the family’s viewing preferences and budget.

This move to offer full digital service will culminate with the launch of another first-of-its-kind service in the country—the personal video recorder (PVR) system.

Also known as a digital video recorder. The PVR is a device that records TV onto a hard drive in digital format. Unlike video and DVD recorders, there is no need for tapes or disks.

PVRs give you the ability to pause live TV, instantly replay scenes just watched while continuing to record. It is similar to TiVO, the world’s first digital video recorder which has a very large following in the US. The SkyCable PVR service is currently on trial and will be commercially available within the first quarter.

CAPTION: Volunteers from Honda Foundation, Honda customers and select media planted 5,000 tree seedlings of native species in Cavinti, Laguna in support to Haribon Foundation’s Road to 2020 project. Tree planting was led by Honda Cars Phils. Inc. president and general manager Hiroshi Shimizu (standing 6th from left).

Over 250 volunteers from the Honda Foundation Inc. (HFI), Honda customers and select members of the motoring media trooped to Cavinti, Laguna to plant 5,000 tree seedlings of native species and support Haribon Foundation’s rehabilitation of Caliraya Watershed. HFI composed of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), Honda Philippines Inc., Honda Parts and Manufacturing Corp. and Honda Trading Philippines recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Haribon Foundation to show Honda’s participation in Road to 2020 project. Road to 2020 is an environmental conservation movement that aims to restore one million hectares of Philippine rainforests using native tree species by 2020.

Such movement shall help recover and conserve biodiversity, optimize supply of forest benefits and ecosystem services, reduce risk of natural hazards and enhance options for sustainable livelihood. The Honda Foundation pledged to rehabilitate 20 hectares.

Honda is committed in preserving the environment by manufacturing high quality and environmental-friendly products. Honda recognizes the importance of harmonious co-existence with the community and the environment, particularly in the areas where it operates. “We recognize and take responsibility for the environmental impact generated by our corporate activities and use of our products, and we are committed in minimizing these impacts,” said Hiroshi Shimizu, president and general manager of HCPI.

links

your gadgets directory

ASUSWORLD

Genius

HTC

Showroom & ASUS Notebook Service Center Cyberzone, 4/F SM Megamall, Bldg. B Tel. No. 638 2955

MSI-ECS Topy II Building 3 Economia Street, Libis, Quezon City Tel. No. 688 3999

BlackBerry

Hewlett Packard

SiSPH Technologies, Inc. Suite 3003, 30/F Atlanta Center, 31 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila Tel. No. 728 3388

Microwarehouse #4 United St., Kapitolyo Pasig City Tel. No. 637 0474 to 85

37/F Robinsons Summit Center 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel. No. 888 5900

Dell

Tech

Electroworld Office Systems 8/F Cityland 10, Tower 1 6815 H. V. Dela Costa Street Salcedo Village Makati City Tel. No. 892 0407

ECS

Hitachi Glee Electronics, Inc. Unit 203 2/F Taipan Place Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Avenue Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. No. 633 4533

Sony Ericsson Philippines 7/F Octagon Building San Miguel Avenue Ortigas Center Pasig Tel. No. 789 1860

Sony Philippines Inc.

Inno3D Axis Global Technologies, Inc 20 North Rd., Cor. 3rd Ave., Cubao, Quezon City Tel. No. 724 3340

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp.

7/F Hanjinphil Bldg., 1128 University Parkway North Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. No. 1-800-SAMSUNG

11/F Marajo Tower #312 26th Street West cor 4th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1624 Philippines Tel. 860 3333

Western Digital www.wdthepowerofchoice.com

PC Express Gilmore Unit 23, Computer Graphics Bldg.

Gilmore Ave, New Manila Quezon City Tel. 727 0987

10th Street Manila

Debenhams

Unit 4B 4/F Oracle bldg., Katipunan Ave. Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No. 480 4309

3/F Shangri-La Plaza Mall EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong City Tel. No. 632 9802

212 VIP Carolina Herrera

Gucci Guilty

Pepper Laforteza Office No. 899 9331 Email pepper@prestige. com.ph

adidas

Crocs B7 Bonifacio High Street 11th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. No. 856 1358

Human Heart Nature Gandang Kalikasan Inc 463 Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City Tel. No. 931 5787

L’Oréal Philippines, Inc 23/F Robinsons Equitable Tower ADB Avenue cor.

Poveda Street Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. No. (632) 632 0280 Fax: (632) 632 0279

MAKE UP FOR EVER B7 Bonifacio High Street 11th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. No. 856 5243

Nothing But H20, TOMS R2/L Power Plant Mall Rockwell Drive corner Estrella Street Rockwell Center, Makati City Tel. No. 896 8773

FGP Bldg. #1 American Road Greenfield Automotive Park SEZ Santa Rosa, Laguna Tel. No. (049) 5415000

Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.

10/F to 12/F, KPMG Center, 6787 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel. No. 813-6788 to 89

Jaguar

Enzo Building 399 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Makati City Tel. No. 897 8888

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2/F Trinoma Mall North Ave corner EDSA Quezon City Tel. No. 901 3620

G/F Landmark Department Store Ayala Center, Makati City Tel. No. 810 9990

L’Oréal INOA, Pureology

Mobility

Lifestyle

Ford Group Philippines

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