2011 v11n11 - COOL WORLD

TM

Must-have

THE PHILIPPINES’ FIRST TECH LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SOFTWARES STARTUPS SITES & APPS

ASUS PADFONE MAKE THE SWITCH TO 2-IN-1

TOP 12 iPad apps Your TV just got

SMARTER

HTC SENSATION A MULTI-MEDIA SUPERPHONE

HP DESIGNJET L65500

PRINT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND

JESSY MENDIOLA

gets animated & artsy

Computex 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

COOL

The man behind

Fliptop

COCA-COLA turns 125

WORLD

+REVIEWED

A.C. Ryan PlayOn!HD | Acer Iconia Smart | Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Converse Polycanvas Backpack | HTC Desire S | Samsung NX11 Samsung SH100 | Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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February2011

editorsnote

editor’snote

a few words from our editor

T

here is really no single definition for “cool.” Something cool could be an attitude, behavior, demeanor, appearance and style that is well liked or appreciated.

Over the years, cool has taken on various meanings; it could denote being awesome, popular, nice, wicked (not evil), great or good, not warm but not cold, okay with each other or even used when a conversation goes silent. In the realm of gadgets, “cool” could mean something that is very good, stylish, or otherwise positive.

In this issue, we attempt to present the various forms of cool technology—smart Internet TVs, digital photo frames, business laptops, games, software, applications, sites, shoes, etc. We’ve even gone to cool assignments, including Computex in Taipei and Coca-Cola’s 125th year anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia.

Our photo shoot for the month was held in possibly one of the coolest places in the metropolis with one cool cover girl, Jessy Mendiola.

Welcome to our “cool” world.

Armin A. Amio EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jessy Mendiola is wearing a Forever21 Black and White Skirt Length Dress & Miadore Amina Sarit Necklace

Photographed by PAUL TICZON Make-up & Hair by JO TICZON (MAKEUP) & DONN DONATO (HAIR) FOR BENEFITS STYLE SALON Art Direction by BENJAMIN ARNOLD & MICHELLE CALLANTA-TOLEDO Styling by M.R. GAVIN Shot on Location at SECRET FRESH, RONAC ART CENTER Special Thanks to BIGBOY CHENG OF SECRET FRESH

June2011

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

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All unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations and photos submitted must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned. All rights reserved.

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

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PUBLISHER Maribelle Alba

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Armin A. Amio

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michelle Callanta-Toledo

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Presy Alba

WRITERS M.R. Gavin

Steven Vea

Benjamin Arnold

JC Ansis

Paolo Toledo Roni Callanta

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Benjamin Arnold

GRAPHIC ARTIST Patrick Jude Ilagan

INTERNS Tim Cheng Kyoung won Lee Tanya McCorkle

Jonathan Pardo Carla Roque

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 John Nieves Bess Zamora Val Villamar Lorie Bernardo Salvador Da, Jr. Tess Pascua Amy Christine Giray

LEGAL COUNSEL Alba Law Office

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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February2011

editorsnote

contents

Volume 11 Number 11 • July 2011

58 photofeature COOL WORLD

Young and fresh: Jessy Mendiola

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48 50 51

42

52

coverstory July2011

LOCAL STARTUPS, SITES & APPS

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What happens when local developers harness their Filipino ingenuity and creativity to create something completely original? Find out what’s brewing on our very own shores. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Rico Mossesgeld: Marking His Place in Techno Space Meet one of Globe Tattoo’s newest ambassadors.

Top 5 Best Business Laptops Our top 5 picks for the mobile professional.

Filipinos as Cyber Social Butterfiles Find out how much time Filipinos spend on the web.

Coca-Cola Company Illuminates Headquarters Building Discover how the legendary company celebrated their 125th anniversary.

Secret Fresh Revealed Find out what’s in store for our local toy collectors.

Gadgets @ Computex It is one of the biggest tech trade shows, and we were a part of it. Find out what products were unveiled at this legendary event in Taipei.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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February2011

contents

content Volume 11 Number 11 • July 2011

Lifestyle

64 lifestyleparade

What’s life without style? Read on to find out what’s trending hot.

68 yin&yang

Tech

08 techparade

Check out the newest gadgets to hit the market.

24 gadgetslab

Why try before you buy, when we can tell you how these gadgets scored on our tests?

33 snapshots

Panasonic celebrates 10 years of Lumix.

Mobility 36 38 38

Kia Picanto spices up city streets First time buying a car? Check out the Kia Picanto.

Reduce your carbon footprint Minimize your eco-impact with the Suzuki Celerio.

Harnessing the power of the sun Two electric cars are launched by Chery.

Achieve harmony and balance with these feng shui tips.

69 Lifestylefeature

Shoe Buyer’s Guide Owning the right pair of kicks is undeniably Filipino. Let us help you out by showing you the newest shoes in the market.

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Green Jeans Marithé + François Girbaud helps both the environment and your sense of style.

74 beautylab

Join Ben and Michelle as they get pampered at Posh Nails.

34 tablets

What’s an iPad without its apps? We give you the top 12 to whet your appetites.

39 apps

Looking for new apps? You’ll find a few to choose from here.

40 gaming

Dirt 3 • The racing game that’s more than just about rallying; World Racers • The Facebook game developed on our very own shores.

41 websites

Website redefines being “quirky.”

Music 76 listen

Filming FlipTop: Meet the man behind the lens.

78 featuredartist

Maroon 5 takes Manila by storm.

79 cdreview July2011

Cecilia Bartoli resurrects the charm of the Renaissance in her live performance in Italy; Troubadours revitalize the magic of songwriting and singing; David Garret reinterprets classic hits with his violin in Rock Symphonies.

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www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Bits&Bytes 80 events

LG holds grand launch for Cinema 3D and Smart TV.

81

VIPinoy Overseas workers at Ayala Malls.

82 Sony invades PFW Holiday 2011.

83 Block party, Converse-Style 84 newsbits&bytes

Check out what’s hot off the tech presses.

89 buyersguide

It’s not easy looking for a new gadget. Luckily, we’re here to help you out.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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February2011

contents

techparade

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

Acer beTouch E210 & E310 SMARTPHONE

E210

Why separate business from pleasure when you can have both? In Acer’s beTouch E210 and E310, this is exactly what they had in mind. Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) and a Qualcomm 7227 processor, not only can you have access to your social networks and instant messaging in the palm of your hand, but you can do this all with suave and style.

The E210 utilizes a physical QWERTY keyboard and an optical mouse for quick navigation.

It features a wealth of entrainment options as well, such as a 3.2-megapixel camera, RollTech NemoPlayer, Spinlets, YouTube, Facebook and Twidroid.

The E310 packs the same media arsenal but ups the ante with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, up to 6.5 hours of talk time and comes installed with Social Jogger (an app that lets you easily access your social networks). Users have a choice of up to five suave colors to choose from.

E310

Acer Liquid Metal S120 SMARTPHONE

With a sleek aluminum design, the anticipated Acer Liquid Metal lives up to its name, boasting a 3.6-inch LCDA WVGA with 16 million colors, guaranteeing a blissful smartphone experience. This mobile also features a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, image stabilization, LED flash, face tracking and smile detection. Powered by Android 2.2 FroYo and a Qualcomm 7230 800MHz processor, the Acer S120 features a wealth of multimedia options including nemoPlayer and Aupeo for multimedia, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Acer Iconia Smart S300 July2011

SMARTPHONE

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If excellent screen quality is your top priority on a smartphone, then the Iconia Smart S300 might be for you. Providing a “panoramic experience in the palm of your hand,” the 4.8-inch hXGA (1024x480) capacitive multitouch LED display will guarantee that web browsing and watching movies on this smartphone will be a brilliant experience.

Powered by Android Gingerbread 2.3, the Iconia Smart S300 also comes equipped with Social Jogger 2.0 to cater to your social network needs. And if you add to this set of features two cameras (8-megapixel and 2-megapixel) with the ability to shoot video at 720p @ 30fps, this new mobile from Acer becomes irresistible.

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June2011

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AC Ryan Playon!HD Essential MEDIA PLAYER

The Essential from AC Ryan allows you to store and enjoy all your movies, music and photos centrally right in the comfort of your entertainment room. This 1TB data glutton weighs only 610 grams but can still provide all your entertainment needs. Enjoy full HD video on your TV as it cam play HDMI up to 1080p (full HD). You can even enjoy a slideshow of all your photos. Its Playon! User interface allows easy navigation through all files—auto-indexed thanks to its Smart Content Management system. The Essential supports most file formats available.

Php 5,300

Altec Lansing Muzx Mesh (MZX106W) HEADPHONES

Bring your music to life without breaking the bank. The MZX106W fits perfectly in your ears and your lifestyle delivering high-quality sound performance designed for everyday wear. Compatible with any iPod, iPhone or MP3 music player, these snug-fit headphones are designed for extreme comfort and superior passive-noise isolation that ensure high sound performance.

Acer U5200

Acer U5200 & Acer C110 Projectors

ULTRA SHORT-THROW & ULTRA-PORTABLE PROJECTOR If you’re looking for a projector with outstanding and consistent image quality, Acer’s U5200 and C1100 projectors should make it to your shortlist. These products are powered by DLP technology, with resolutions of up to 1080p and compatibility with virtually any computer. Users will rest assured that no matter the content or the environment, Acer’s new projectors will always deliver crisp picture quality.

Acer C110

ASRock 890FX Deluxe5 MOTHERBOARD

July2011

Gamers will rejoice once they hear what the ASRock 890FX Deluxe5 has in store for them. This astounding motherboard features support for AM3+ 8-Core CPU along with a V8+2 Power Phase, which guarantees a consistently smooth and powerful performance.

But one of the Deluxe5’s greatest features is its XFast USB technology, which boasts transfer speeds that are 335.23% faster than other motherboards—surely enough to captivate even the average consumer. With unmatched overclocking abilities, it is also equipped with advanced cooling capabilities, based on the AMD two-piece retention module, dissipating heat from all those hard-core gaming hours. With 100% Japanmade Premium Gold Caps capacitors for a longer shelf life, the ASRock 890fx Deluxe5 is one monster of a motherboard.

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June2011

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AOC Razor X, Razor LED & 51-series LED MONITORS

AOC’s 53-x (Razor X), 51-series and 43-series (Razor LED) monitors are extremely slim—measuring a mere 9.6mm, 10.6mm and 12.9mm in thickness, respectively. All products have sophisticated aesthetic exteriors, emitting a futuristic yet wonderfully minimalist design. The Razor X and Razor LED feature an innovative hybrid smart base that features illuminated soft touch controls and can transform into a VESA standard wall mount. The 51-series, on the other hand, offers a unique detachable stand that allows the monitor to be placed directly on a tabletop like a picture frame. Featuring HDMI ports and a VGA port, these monitors guarantee its customers complete connectivity no matter what their technological environment might be like. Not only do AOC’s latest products boast an excellent viewing experience, they’re also “green,” at par with today’s eco-friendly demands.

Razor X Razor LED

51-series

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TABLET

There are tablet enthusiasts and netbook devotees—and never the twain shall meet you say? Asus proves us wrong with its highly innovative Eee Pad Transformer which is really a tablet but with an optional keyboard docking station that also expands battery life up to a rated 16 hours. It comes preloaded on the Transformer is Polaris Office 3.0, a professional Mobile Office Solution which enables users to edit various types of office documents including documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls) and presentation (.ppt) files, making the Transformer very attractive for professional use. It also features the Waveshare Interface that hosts a variety of unique applications. Powered with the newest Android operating system, Honeycomb, and Nvidia’s Tegra 2 dual-core processor, the Transformer is practically a mini-cinema entertainment multimedia powerhouse on-the go. You just got to see it to believe it.

Php 22,995 (tablet) Php 29,995 (with keyboard/docking station)

Asus GTX 560 DirectCU II TOP GRAPHICS CARD

The Asus GTX 560 DirectCU II Top is based on the powerful Nvidia GTX 560 released earlier this year. It’s pre-overclocked at 925MHz—115MHz more than reference for enhanced performance while sporting a hefty 1GB of GDDR5 memory. DirectCU II dual fan design and copper heat pipes make direct contact with the GPU core, so the GTX 560 DirectCU II TOP is 20% more efficient at transferring heat to the two large fans cooling it.

This graphics card also uses Super Alloy Power technology which is constructed using a specially formulated alloy that increases power efficiency. It delivers a 15% performance boost, while also reducing operating temperatures up to 35°C for an overall increase in lifespan by 2.5 times. With these advantages, the GTX 560 DirectCU II TOP is designed to be pushed to its maximum, allowing users to enjoy a fantastic gaming experience.

Asus Padfone

July2011

SMARTPHONE/TABLET

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Innovation is at the heart of Asus design and the new Padfone reveals exciting new possibilities for mobile computing and communication. This convergent device combines a smartphone and a tablet computer into one symbiotic gadget that allows consumers to choose the screen size that best fits their activities while seamlessly sharing data and 3G internet access.

The Asus PadFone docks a smartphone onto the back of a slate so that they can be used together as a single device. It is inserted like a cassette tape, hidden by a panel that fits flush with the back of the tablet. The screen size of the tablet is 10.1 inches, while the smartphone has 4.3 inches. The tablet dock also has a built-in battery that will extend the life of the one in the phone.

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Rico Mossesgeld:

By Benjamin Arnold

June2011 July2011

Marking His Place In Techno Space

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Rico Mossesgeld, the newest ambassador for the Globe-powered Tattoo brand, is more than just a blogger. A graduate from Ateneo de Naga with skills in both computer animation and marketing, this self-professed Ordinary Joe shares his unique opinions and insights with more than a thousand followers every day over the internet with the help of his trusty and speedy Globe Tattoo@Home service. With everything he has experienced, he has truly made his distinctive mark in the technology community both as a writer and as a community manager.

HIS ATTRACTION TO A CAREER IN BLOGGING When I graduated back in 2006, I was actually planning to have a career in computer animation—that was the course I completed at Ateneo de Naga.

I realized a few months later that it wasn’t the career for me, because honestly creating computer animation can be quite cumbersome. At the same time, my friend—who was a local blogging pioneer—kept telling me to start my own blog because I could express myself and my ideas, while earning a little money at the same time. When I finally decided to change careers, I looked for a freelance job where I could start blogging about technology—primarily because it’s what my friend was doing, and because I was interested in gadgets.

Since I used to do computer animation I had to be aware of what kind of computer hardware I had to use, so I always took an interest in the devices.

HIS EXPERIENCE IN TRAVELING I traveled to Taipei for Computex, a yearly computer electronics expo which I’ve attended for the last two years. I’ve also been to Thailand and Singapore, to attend a Nokia and an LG event. My favorite part about traveling is seeing new places. I also like comparing what I experience here in the Philippines with what I experience abroad. In addition, because I travel to where most of the gadgets I feature come from, I get a chance to see them before other people, up close and personal, which is very exciting.

than mine—but I think it is pretty significant. And I think the reason why I was able to reach that level was because I was one of the first people to do it here in the Philippines.

So I guess the greatest lesson I have learned is the importance of being first. It’s a good lesson for anyone working in technology; being first matters.

online, so a quick and reliable service is really crucial. And for someone like me, for whom research is very important—as I have to find out about things quickly, with my Tattoo@Home, I can easily roam the internet to find important news and information.

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HIS INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF TECHNOLOGY My first job was actually in a traditional marketing company, a distributor of Palm, HP and Apple products, which gave me exposure to a mix of marketing and gadgets. For my second job, I joined the local arm of an online marketing company that maintains a website in the US for the American market. So aside from technology, I guess I could write about digital marketing in general, because I also have some experience there.

HIS JE NE SAIS QUOI WHEN IT COMES TO TECH BLOGGING When I started Technograph, I noticed that a lot of websites, even the ones here, were following the trends in the US It made me wonder why they didn’t focus on the Philippines, or provide information that Filipinos would find relevant. I mean it’s really nice to read about a new phone on Engadget or Gizmodo, but ultimately, Filipinos want to know when it will come out here and how much it will cost; they want to know practical details, too. And if you noticed, I’ve used the first person plural in the site; I wanted to make it more relatable to anyone who reads it.

HIS GREATEST LESSON LEARNED I guess it really pays to be first. I’m pretty proud that my site attracts 1,500+ visitors a day—not that I am saying that that is big, because a lot of other sites have a lot more traffic

HIS IMPROVED LIFESTYLE AS A GLOBE AMBASSADOR Obviously I was surprised when Globe asked me to be a Tattoo ambassador, because if you compare me to Alodia Gosiengfiao or Rio Dela Cruz, I am not much of a celebrity. But as you already know, I blog mainly from home, and my Tattoo@Home connection is a great boon because the connection speed is a lot faster and a lot more reliable than what I previously used.

In my work, there have been times when I need to load multiple videos at the same time, like when I use YouTube and I have to press the pause button so that I could cue it as part of my research, but with this new connection, I don’t have to do this anymore. As soon as I click the video to load, it starts playing right away with virtually no buffering. It also helps make my site management easier, because everything that I work with is

Tattoo's broadband modem for fast and easy internet access at home

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Rico’s top gadgets to use with his home WiFi hookup

HIS FAVORITE GADGETS My top gadgets at the moment are the ones I use now, like the Samsung Galaxy SII. It is literally the best phone I have ever used to date. I mean, something better may come along in the future, but right now, it’s the best phone I have ever used so far. I also got the Canon IXUS Powershot SX30 IS. The main feature of this camera is that it has 35x Optical Zoom. And of course, I have an iPad2, Koss Porta Pro and a Sony VAIO laptop. These are currently my favorite gadgets, but since I always try to stay up to date with new things, I am sure I’ll have more favorites soon.

techparad

Asus P8Z68 Series & ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z MOTHERBOARD

Consumers searching for a motherboard that can take full advantage of Sandy Bridge technology should take a peek at what Asus has to offer. The new P8Z68 series and ROG Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboards include the application of LucidLogix Virtu switchable graphics in tandem with Intel Quick Sync Video Technology, which guarantees quicker video transcoding and automatic graphics switching. With support for both Nvidia and AMD GPU2s, the new Z68-based motherboards come equipped with Intel Smart Response Technology, which employs a solid state cache that effectively accelerates hard drive performance while cutting down on power consumption at the same time.

With the digital power of DIGI+VRM and Asus’ exclusive UEFI BIOS, these new line of motherboards definitely takes the lead in delivering powerful and seamless graphics into your home.

ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z

HTC Sensation SMARTPHONE

Want to be entertained like never before? Immerse yourself in richer movie watching and music listening experience with virtual surround sound with this multimedia superphone. Capture life in vivid detail on the full HD camcorder with stereo sound recording. Easily trim your videos down to the best frames and share them on your favorite social network. Share movies and photos to your big screen TV wirelessly via DLNA. Connect to a WiFi printer to easily print your photos, documents and web pages.

The HTC Sensation is made from solid aluminum with a 4.3-inch screen and is powered by a Qualcomm dual core processor that runs at 1.2 GHz. Features also include an 8-megapixel camera, stereo FM radio with RDS and hold 1GB of storage. Did we say you can still call, SMS and surf with this smartphone?

Php 31,990 P8Z68 Series

Asus O!Play HD2 HD MEDIA PLAYER

If you’re looking for a stylish and powerful media player, then the Asus O!Play HD2 should be on the top of your list. It features a multitude of connectivity options: CF, SD/ MMC, MS/Pro Duo Memory cards, and three USB2.0 ports, one of which doubles as an eSATA connector. But that’s not all. It also has the coveted USB3.0 port for ultrafast file transfers and a 3.5in HDD with NAS support. If that isn’t enticing enough, iPhone users can use their device to control this media player as well, which makes the Asus O!Play HD2 quite an impressive feature-packed media player.

Microsoft Express Mouse BLUETRACK MOUSE July2011

Designed just right, Express Mouse is Microsoft’s most recent addition to its line of BlueTrack-capable mice. It features an attractive colored rubber wire, scroll wheel and its glossy white egg-shaped design with a unique off-centered USB cable to reduce resistance when the mouse is used on the right-hand side. You can navigate your computer with its BlueTrack technology that outperforms laser and optical mice— allowing you to navigate through more surfaces than ever before. Because this mouse is wired, it eliminates the worry of battery life for a trouble-free performance.

Php 790 14

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June2011

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Asus K Series NOTEBOOKS

The newly redesigned Asus K Series notebooks are such joys to behold. Masked with hip new colors—brown, red, pink, green, gold and blue (although the top-of-the line K43SVVX120 comes only in brown)—these new notebooks will surely be “look magnets” in any internet café. Feature-packed too, the K Series line have the second-gen mobile Intel Core i3 and i5 processors under the hood, discrete Nvidia GeForce GT500 graphics card, IceCool technology, 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM, 500GB HD, 14-inch LED display plus all the bells and whistles—super multi-ODD, card reader, WiFi B/G/N, Bluetooth, webcam and HDMI port.

K43SJ • Php 29,995 K43SV-VX120 • Php 32,995

iOmega StorCenter NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE

If there’s one thing that today’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) understand, it’s doing more with less—especially when it comes to technology. That’s why Iomega StorCenter network-attached storage (NAS) devices are ideal for SMB data protection and storage. StorCenter NAS devices are easy to install and configure; they don’t require specialized IT knowledge, and can be attached anywhere on the network to store and protect your files. StorCenter products have built-in remote access capabilities that enable you to upload and download files from any web-enabled computer—no special connection required. Because the StorCenter NAS operates independently of the computers on your network, your files remain safe and accessible even if a computer or server crashes. So when you’re on the road, you can stay productive regardless of what’s happening back at the office. For added protection, you can easily configure your StorCenter with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) protection, which safeguards your data in the event of a disk failure.

LG Optimus Black SMARTPHONE

If slim and trim is what you’re looking for in an Android smartphone, then the LG Optimus Black is a device that deserves to be in your hands. Featuring a NOVA display which is slated to provide dazzling illumination even under the most trying circumstances, LG guarantees truer graphical representation of white colors, leading to a smartphone that is clear and easy on the eyes. A low rate of battery consumption is also promised. Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Optimus Black boasts additional smart features that include Gesture UI, WiFi Direct, as well as dual front and rear cameras (5 megapixels and 2 megapixels, respectively).

Php 19,990

LG LV5500 SMART TV

July2011

The LG LV5500 Smart TV is not just about brilliant and innovative technology. It encapsulates simple and effective control over your home entertainment experience.

The LG LV5500 Smart TV features a home dashboard that allows you full entertainment access from a single screen. With its “Point, Click, Control, Simply Smarter” capabilities, LG’s Smart TV lets users access the best of the internet directly on the big screen in a way that is easier and quicker. The smart share feature that allows immediate wireless access to content on your PC or smartphone so that connecting to your digital devices will never be a problem.

The LG LV5500 Smart TV also features long tail LG apps that give customers a more enjoyable TV experience. The LG LV5500 Smart TV indeed offers simple control for all users.

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Panasonic SC-HC25 HIFI STEREO SYSTEM

July2011

Engineered elegance and superb performance—these are what SC-HC25 can promise to both music aficionados and sound observers blessed with sharp ears. This mini hi-fi is a surprising package that adopted bamboo cone material to power up 10-watt output speakers and produce surround sound in a more extensive range. It also has a multiformat playback function support to play CD and CD-R/RW audio discs and MP3 playlists. The Panasonic SC-HC25 has a stylishly designed motorized power sliding door intended for the protection of CDs against the usual scratches and abrasion while sound clarity becomes even more spectacular with the integrated universal dock for iPod and iPhone further lends to this device’s dynamism.

Php 5,999

Philips SHE 3575 series IN-EAR HEADPHONES

Especially designed for your mobile phones, this signature ultra-light pair of in-ear headphones has a call button and an integrated microphone that picks up your voice clearly. If you’re looking for an immersive music experience using your phone’s audio track playlist, this double act has an angled acoustic pipe that directionally channels precise sound, and an in-ear seal to deny external noise. Its rubberized 1.2-meter long cable makes it ready for the outdoors and enhances its durability. And as if that’s not enough, they’re throwing in an option of 3 cap sizes and a range of colors, an adjustable earpiece and soft comply foam tips for noise isolation.

SHL 9300

Philips SHQ 3017 Sports Actionfit EARHOOK HEADSET

Especially for the fitness buff looking to pump up the workout, but also ideal for those whose life adventures necessarily has to have its own soundtrack and score, these powerful headphones from Philips with superbly isolated, thumping bass stereo sound are lightweight and can be hooked over the ears for ultimate ease-of-use and comfort.

It comes with a waterproof remote control and microphone for your iPhone. And with a cable clip and customizable cable length, it is ideal for use with a sports armband.

Sweat-proof and washable with anti-microbial ear caps, these prized aural duo are intended for the long haul and meant to go the distance with you.

Philips SHM7000 & SHL 9300 HEADBAND EARPHONES

Devised to feel and sound as great as it looks, these lightweight headphones have highdensity memory foam “floating” cushions that let the earshell adjust to the shape of the ear for supreme comfort and fit, whereas the 40mm speaker drivers guarantee the full stereo experience. Swiveling earshells allow for flat compact storage. These headbands may come as either a classic headphone (SHL9300) or a notebook headset (SHM7000) that features a combined plug design for both plug and cable management, a mute and volume control for both calls and music, and a highly sensitive in-line mic for clear voice pickup of audio and video chats.

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SHM7000

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Sony Cyber-shot DSCT110 TOUCHSCREEN CAMERA

Meet the newest addition to the popular Cyber-shot line, the DSCT110. It is a 16.1-megapixel camera which features a Carl Zeiss 25mm wide-angle lens, 3-inch touch panel widescreen LCD, and the ability to record full 1080 HD movies. If these specs still don’t spark interest, this camera also has a 4x optical zoom with a focal length equivalent to 25-100mm f/3.5-6.3. Sony offers its customers five vivid colors to choose from (silver, black, red, pink, and violet), which makes the DSCT110 a great-looking camera at an incredibly affordable price.

Samsung Galaxy S II (GT-I9100) SMARTPHONE

Experience more with less from Samsung’s most powerful smartphone, the Galaxy S II. Delivering unmatched performance with a dual-core application processor and best-inclass viewing experience by Super AMOLED Plus display in sleek and lightweight design, the S II sets a new standard of quality viewing on mobile, powerful performance, and slim and modern design.

The Samsung Galaxy S II uses Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the latest version of the world’s fastest-growing mobile operating system. Incorporating a dual-core application processor and advanced wireless network (HSPA+ 21) connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy S II has the speed and power to provide an unrivalled mobile performance. It comes equipped with an 8-megapixel, high-profile camera and camcorder with 1080p full HD recording and playback capabilities. With Samsung’s patented AllShare technology, customers can capture, create and then share their experiences hassle-free.

Php 29,900

Transcend JetFlash 200 USB FLASH DRIVE

The JetFlash 200 incorporates enterprise-level data security through an unbreakable 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption. As for the other security series flash drives, it features an extra built-in fingerprint reader plus the JetFlash SecureDrive password protection software for maximum protection. This security series is engineered to eliminate the threat of unauthorized security breaches. Instead of using a password, the JetFlash 220 fingerprint USB flash drive requires the user’s fingerprint to access files. Its unique fingerprint sensor turns one’s fingerprint into the only key allowed to access any files stored on the flash drive. Available in 4GB, 8GB model and 16GB models.

Sharp Gigamatic WASHING MACHINES

Sharp introduces the Gigamatic line of fully automatic machines designed to make doing the laundry easier, more convenient and more economical than ever before. Beyond its curvy looks, the Gigamatic’s cylindrical shape makes it easier to load and unload laundry from practically any angle; it also disperses and softens impacts to the tub making the machine resistant to dents; and it minimizes wear from vibrations during the spin cycle, which helps prolong product life.

July2011

Inside the washing machine are several notable enhancements, starting with Sharp’s unique eco-drum, a stainless steel holeless tub that saves water, money and more importantly, time. It also has Sharp’s proprietary Ag+ Ion technology, which coats laundry with antibacterial and odor-reducing Ag+ Ions during the final rinse cycle so clothes come out always smelling fresh and clean. Other Gigamatic features include a specially designed 3D wave pulsator to effectively remove dirt from clothing, efficient spin air-drying, an aquamagic filter that removes water impurities, voice navigation for hassle-free use and even a child lock.

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9.5 kg. ES-95MP-A • Php 22,298 8.5kg. ES-85GP-G • Php 18,798 7.5 kg. ES-75EP-P • Php 15,598 7 kg. ES-70EP-A • Php 13,998 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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June2011

Play it.

Charge it.

Share it.

19

AD

Octiv Duo

inMotion® Compact

Discovering new music is part of the fun—and the [Octiv™ Duo/202] gives you new possibilities.

Dock, charge and play two players at once, while shuffling all their tunes with the free Music Mix app.

Sound clarity never heard before from a speaker of this size, the inMotion Compact is the ultimate in portable, affordable sound for iPhone and iPod.

Dual Docking/Charging Speaker System for iPhone® & iPod®

Portable speaker system for iPhone™ and iPod®

Octiv Mini

Speaker System for iPhone® and iPod®

This small footprint speaker delivers great sound while charging your iPhone and iPod. Download the free Alarm Rock app for added functionality.

T612

High End Digital Speaker for iPhone™ and iPod®

moondance™ HOME

moondance™ GLOW

Octiv Stage

Stereo /Alarm Clock for iPod® with wireless snooze remote

Speaker and Charging Dock for iPad®

Lightweight and compact, the new inMotion Classic for iPhone and iPod delivers amazing clarity at serious volumes, letting you share your sound the world over.

The Moondance Home speaker system entertains or helps you relax, all at the touch of a button. It also charges your iPod and doubles as an alarm clock.

The Moondance Glow speaker system lets you set the mood with a soothing, diffused lighting effect.

Why hide your iPad in a dull black folder? Let it take a starring role with the Octiv Stage.

Portable Stereo for iPhone™ and iPod® with rechargeable battery

Music/Alarm Clock for iPod®

(iPhone and iPod not included)

Altec Lansing's early technological developments in acoustical and electronic components have earned a place of prominence in sound reproduction few companies can match. The predominance of Altec's name over the years in sports stadiums, arenas, theatres, airports, auditoriums, churches, amusement parks and more recently on desktops within homes and at the workplace attest to this fact.

Altec Lansing speaker systems have formed the backbone of the sound systems in such world renowned places as The United Nations Building, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Disneyland and Disneyworld, New York's Lincoln Philharmonic Center and the Schubert Theatre, MGM's Grand Hotel, The Singapore National Stadium, and The Sydney Opera House, to name a few.

Today Altec Lansing speakers appear in myriad environments, addressing the wide array of needs for quality audio among diverse professional business people, musicians, families, students, music connoisseurs and gaming aficionados within their respective milieus.

For product inquiries: Manila: (02) 727-3009/727-2957 email: bci_sales@banbros.ph Cebu: (032) 422-7760 to 65 email: sales.banbroscebu@gmail.com

Available at select reseller outlets: SM Appliance Center, SM Hypermarket, Automatic Center, Digital Walker, Ambassador Appliances, Power Mac Center

techparade

iPhone’s worthy companion, the Altec Lansing T612 pairs 60 Watts RMS (120 Watts Peak) of sound with intuitive features.

Never miss a tune – or a call.

inMotion Classic

techparad

Vivitar ViviCam T324N DIGITAL CAMERA

Itching to post photos seamlessly?

Vivitar ViviCam T324N makes it easy for you to do so. Boasting 12-megapixels, this eye-candy can upload your photos instantly with the help of the Vivitar Experience Software CD where you can drag photos and videos from one social network to the other. The T324N offers optical 3x zoom, 2.4-inch preview screen, 4x digital zoom and anti-shake features. Also, it has a built-in flash that works best under low light or can be used to tone out backgrounds during the day. It can support up to 8G SD Memory Card (not included) and functions with 3 AAA batteries (word of advice: use rechargeable alkaline batteries for this baby). It records video in just one “mode click” at VGA standards of 640x480 and QVGA standards by 320x240. This user-friendly digital camera is available in 8 different colors: black, blue, gray, turquoise, pink, fuchsia, red and orange.

Vivitar ViviCam T324

July2011

DIGITAL CAMERA

Great quality photos aren’t that hard to produce nowadays. Outstanding prints are a promise through Vivitar’s ViviCam T324 digital camera. With built-in memory of 32MB and an external memory that can cater up to 8GB, creating memories out of this sweetheart is such a breeze.

A resolution of 12-megapixels with 3x zoom lens and optical 8x digital zoom that weighs 1.52lbs, it is the perfect companion for any moment worth capturing. It also has an anti-shake feature which helps prevent further blurry shots whether at night or in welllit places. It has a number of colors to choose from: black, blue, gray, turquoise, pink, fuchsia, red, and orange. Similar to the T324N, T324 records videos with just one click on the mode button, at VGA standards of 640x480 and QVGA standards by 320x240. The only difference is this point-and-shoot has a face-detection feature that corrects the exposure and focus of the camera to produce the best possible image.

Php 4,795 20

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21

June2011

AD

techparade

techparad

HP DESIGNJET L65500 LARGE-FORMAT PRINTER

HP is pioneering the path towards eco-friendly prints by showcasing its odorless Latex Inks. Not only is the L65500 beneficial for the environment, but it increases productivity as well, since ventilation and manual maintenance is no longer a concern. It features a six-ink printing system that can hit speeds of up to 70m/hr, with rich results that can last up to 10 years for indoor prints. With support of numerous media up to 264cm in size, businesses will reach new levels of output when utilizing HP Wide Scan technology.

This revolutionary printer is not only impressive because of its productivity, but its minimal impact on the environment is reason enough for businesses to have it in their arsenal.

HP SCITEX FB Series FLATBED INDUSTRIAL PRINTERS

These Scitex flatbed printers offer unlimited possibilities because they are capable of printing on practically any media—whether it’s rigid, flexible or even irregularly shaped.

The results will always have HP’s trademark of robust colors with their UV curable ink, with resolutions up to 1270x800 dpi. Businesses and their customers will definitely benefit from these flatbed industrial printers that remain unmatched by its competitors.

HP SCITEX LX800 LARGE-FORMAT PRINTER

The environmentally-conscious business will do well by utilizing the HP Scitex LX800, a 126-inch printer that delivers high-quality odorless prints at a stunning production speed. Capable of producing 1200 dpi resolution with a 6-color ink system, the LX800 is able to work with a wide range of media from vinyl and wallpaper to polyester fabrics and unlined flags. This large-format printer’s best trait is that it utilizes water-based HP Latex inks which is completely odorless and poses no harm to the environment. Not only does the LX800 have a quick production speed, but the latex inks dry just as quick as well, thereby maximizing profit potential for businesses while reducing wastes and other costs.

Vox Tonelab EX EFFECTS PEDAL

July2011

Vox presents its loyal following with Tonelab EX, a powerful and realistic Valvetronix modeling multi-effect pedal. Combining valve-powered amp and effects models into a single unit with over 100 preset programs, users have a plethora of true-tube sounds to choose from, whether it’s live on-stage or recording in the studio. The Tonelab EX is guaranteed to cater to any music style, as it features realistic models of 33 amps, 11 cabinets, 11 stand-alone distortion-type pedals, 4 delays, 3 reverbs and 14 modulation effects. Vox has also conveniently added an ASIO-compatible USB audio interface, ensuring connectivity with computers, which makes it a truly desirable effects pedal for any guitarist.

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Php 13,888

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www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

23

July2011

techparade

gadgetslab

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

SAMSUNG NX11 MIRRORLESS INTERCHANGABLE LENS CAMERA A shutterbug’s wet dream.

PAGE

27

July2011

HTC DESIRE S SMARTPHONE If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

PAGE

26

ASUS EEE PAD TRANSFORMER TF101

PAGE

32

TABLET The first real contender in the tablet market.

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SONY HDR-PJ10 HANDYCAM VIDEO CAMERA Project your memories.

PAGE

25

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VIDEO CAMERA

By Paolo Toledo

SPECIFICATIONS TYPE: Digital Video Camera Recorder (1920 x 1080; Full HD 60p) with Projector DIMENSIONS: 58.5mm x 64.5mm x128mm WEIGHT: 12.9 oz (w/battery) STABILIZATION: Optical SteadyShot Image stabilization w/Active mode ZOOM: 30x (optical)/350x (digital)/42x (extended) IMAGING SENSOR: 4.5mm Backilluminated “Exmor R” CMOS BATTERY LIFE: Approx. 1.5 hours DISPLAY: 3.0” Touch-Screen Clear Photo LCD PLUS (230K) FLASH: Built-in Flash HD OUTPUT : HDMI Out (mini)/ Component Video Out (Component A/V cable) PROJECTOR RESOLUTION: 640 x 360 (10” - 60” screen) INTERNAL MEMORY: 16GB Flash Memory EXTERNAL MEMORY: Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark 2); Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo; SD/ SDHC/ SDXC Memory Card (Class 4 or Higher)

July2011

SONY HDR-PJ10 HANDYCAM

25

WHAT’S HOT: • Built-in high-contrast projector • Captures 1920 x 1080 Full HD 60p video • 16GB internal memory (up to 6 hours video) • Built-in USB cable • Sleek and efficient design

Ever had those moments when you found yourself coming up with a cool gadget idea that combines two or more things?

Enter the ultra-cool Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam. It’s a compact HD camcorder with its own built-in projector. It is ergonomically sound, making it a comfortable fit in your hand in terms of its design and weight, with all buttons and straps well-placed for an overall sleek exterior. Our once wild dreams are now real enough to touch.

The projected image itself is surprisingly stunning, crisp and sharp. The projector can flash up to as much as a 60-inch diagonal screen, so all you have to do is find a surface to project on and—coupled with advanced Clear Phase stereo speakers—you have an instant mobile theater on hand to amaze any audience.

My slight gripe with the PJ-10’s imaging capabilities is that still photos are only captured in 3-megapixels. It would have been a delight to also get high-quality photos at the same time to make this device the perfect all-around recording (and playback) gadget but of course, something always has to give.

But one thing I really appreciated was the embedded 16GB flash memory. This addressed my worry about HD video storage since it really will take up huge amounts of space. But with this internal memory size, you can actually record up to 6-hours of HD video footage without even using the memory card

slot. The device also has a nice add-on in the form of a built-in USB cable that connects directly to your PC, and is nicely inserted into the hand strap to avoid getting in the way.

In terms of display, the 3.0-inch touchscreeen Clear Photo LCD also delivers the same sharp and clear images onscreen, although I did find response time with a bit of a lag when selecting options, and sometimes the interface of the features menu was rather tedious to go through. This was especially a bother when navigating while on projector mode since you had to toggle the zoom button a number of times just to get to one option, choose another video, or even to clear the display.

The HDR-PJ10 also offers a wide range of shooting modes that stem from the Intelligent Auto mode, as it analyzes your shot and selects settings from 10 different scenes: Landscape, Backlight, Twilight, Spotlight, Low Light, Macro, Portrait, Baby, Walk and Tripod—making you end up with as many as 90 possible setting combinations. Added to this are the slow-motion capture features of Smooth Slow Record, and the Golf Shot that captures a few seconds of motion

BOTTOMLINE: The Sony HDR-PJ10 with built-in projector is an incredible all-in-one high-performance recording and projection system that delivers stunning HD videos and images, packed with features, and very easy to handle. It’s at top of its class in terms of feature and design at this price point.

BUY METER

9.0

/10

as a sequence of up to 22 still images (stop-motion style).

In conclusion, the Sony HDR-PJ10 is just one exciting and high-performance gadget because not only does it shoot brilliant HD video, but it also has a highcontrast projector built into the device itself.

gadgetslab

Having your own projector fitted into your recording device is as useful and as fun to use as it sounds. The HDRPJ10 allows you not only to record all your memories in 1920x1080/60p Full HD video, but it also lets you playback all your movies and images on any surface via a high-contrast projector, neatly snuggled to the LCD flip-panel.

I had fun recording videos with friends and family, and playing them back on various surfaces (i.e. walls, ceilings, backs of other people) for all to enjoy in an instant.

Boasting resolutions at 1920x1080 and full HD 60p, picture quality is brilliant as any HD camcorder out there. Its wide angle G lens delivers quality optical performance, color reproduction, and amazingly detailed images—all with an enhanced framing area that eliminates cropping out images on the fringe. Also equipped with 29.8mm focal length, you get a broad enough view for wide-angle shooting, and combined with Sony’s trademark Optical SteadyShot, you can still get clean video shots, especially during active outdoor situations.

WHAT’S NOT: • Only captures 3-megapixel photos • Menu gets tedious to work (in projector mode) • No viewfinder

gadgetsla

HTC DESIRE S SMARTPHONE

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS: WEIGHT: 135g TYPE: Touch sensitive screen with pinch to zoom SIZE: 3.7 inches DISPLAY: 480x800 wvga DIMENSIONS: 60 x 119 x 11.9mm PROCESSOR: HSPA/wcdma 900/2100 MHz CAMERA: 5MP color camera BATTERY LIFE: 390 mins SOFTWARE: Android 2.1 Eclair with HTC sense WHAT’S HOT: • Aluminum unibody • Nice heft WHAT’S NOT: • Screen readability suffers under direct sunlight BOTTOMLINE: While it’s not the same leap forward as the HTC Desire was, the HTC Desire S is still a great smartphone that has plenty of features.

BUY METER

8.5

/10

July2011

The original HTC Desire was a media darling as it had all the right things going for it: solid hardware, good looks and easy-to-use UI. So it wasn’t really a stretch that HTC wouldn’t stray too far from the original formula. The result is a solid device that performs extremely well, but plays a bit too safe for our liking.

26

If you’re upgrading from the original HTC Desire, the Desire S won’t pose much of a change externally. While at a cursory glance it resembles the original, the Desire S nixes the optical trackpad and hard keys, and now sports capacitive keys and an aluminum unibody construction. It’s also sporting the latest version of Android – the 2.3 AKA Gingerbread, and a speedy 1GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 chipset.

The overall size (115 x 59.8 x 11.6mm) is just right. It weighs in at 130 grams, which gives it a bit of heft. The screen is a 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive deal and

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has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels.

There’s not much in the way of hard keys on this one—all you get is a volume rocker and an off/on switch that doubles as the lock button. There isn’t even a shortcut key for the camera.

Speaking of cameras, the HTC Desire S has two—a 5-megapixel deal at the back and an LED flash.

Sense UI gives you additional homescreens—up to seven from a stock Android’s five. You can quickly view all of your screens via the home button if you’re in the main screen, allowing you to quickly jump into a screen of your choice without swiping through all of them.

Another nice feature that’s exclusive to HTC phones is the ability to be able to track, lock and if needed, erase your phone from your PC. You just need to register your device to HTCSense.com. ph. From there, you can make your phone ring full volume (even if your phone is set to silent), track where it is, lock your device or completely erase it if it’s ever lost.

We gauged the performance of the HTC Desire S by using two benchmarking software – Quadrant Standard and Neocore. Quadrant Standard tests the CPU, memory and graphics capabilities of the device, and comes up with an appropriate numerical score to

gauge overall performance. Neocore meanwhile, runs a graphics test on the device. The higher the FPS (frames per second) the better that device is at running graphics. Quadrant Standard gave a nice 1251 score for the Desire S. The Desire S managed a nice 57.6 FPS. Battery life was a marked improvement over the previous devices, as the Desire S managed to last a day and a half without needing a trip to the charger. Overall call quality was good.

Screen readability is a bit of a problem though, especially in direct sunlight.

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MIRRORLESS INTERCHANGABLE LENS CAMERA

By Steven Vea

SPECIFICATIONS: DIMENSIONS: 123x87x39.8mm WEIGHT: 353g (body only) SENSOR: 14.6 effective megapixels 23.4x15.6mm CMOS sensor DISPLAY: 3-inch AMOLED Display 1040k resolution VIEWFINDER: Viewfinder EVF LENS: Samsung NX mount lens,1855mm OIS iFunction SHUTTER SPEED: 1/4000sec.- 30sec.

(1/3EV step manual mode), Bulb (Limit time: 8 min) FLASH: TTL Auto Pop-up flash, optional external Samsung flash via HotShoe STABILISATION: Sensor shift+electronic VIDEO: HD video at 720p at 30fps STORAGE: SD, SDHC or SDXC media card BATTERY: 400 photos per charge CONNECTIONS: USB 2.0, AV out, mini HDMI, stereo mini jack

July2011

SAMSUNG NX11

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WHAT’S HOT: • 14.6-megapixel sensor • Excellent AMOLED screen • Panorama mode WHAT’S NOT: • Lack of faster lenses • Viewfinder could be improved BOTTOMLINE: The Samsung NX11 is serious imagecapturing device and should find its way into the palm of any shutterbug, whether they are hobbyists or professionals.

BUY METER

Compact camera systems (CSC) should swiftly climb up the ranks of any shutterbug’s must-haves. While CSCs might not have the portability of point-and-shoots or the power of DSLRs, cameras such as the Samsung NX11 offer a compromised best of both worlds.

Out of the box, Samsung’s newest entry in the NX series is quite stunning. Now modeled more closely to resemble DSLRs, its exterior has been capped off with a sleek black finish along with a new textured handgrip. All the standard controls are present as well, such as the familiar PASM mode dial and menu buttons, so users should expect the learning curve to be at a minimum.

The option to adjust the camera’s settings (i.e. ISO, shutter speed, etc.) via the trademark lens allows users to maintain their shooting position so they can quickly capture a moment.

The NX11’s 3-inch AMOLED LCD screen is simply brilliant, and is perhaps its strongest characteristic. Users will most likely prefer shooting in live mode via the display as opposed to using the electronic 640x480 pixel viewfinder, since the latter can tend to be inaccurate when representing certain hues and can lead to slight miscalculations when used in full manual.

Perhaps, the only drawback of Samsung’s NX series is that a fast lens is not yet readily available, with the quickest being the 30mm f/2.

However, taking into consideration that this line of Samsung cameras is still quite new, this reviewer wouldn’t be surprised if a classic 50mm f/1.8, or better yet, an f/1.4, will come out soon.

Nevertheless, the 18-55mm kit lens is quite remarkable, producing sharp, high-quality images.

The viewfinder proves to be invaluable especially when used in conjunction with the iFunction lens, which is unique to Samsung. Having previous experience with these lenses, this reviewer found it more intuitive the second time around.

The improved auto focus with the NX11’s standard lens is quick and satisfyingly precise, regardless of whether it’s used in shooting stills or 720p HD video. Manual focusing is

/10

intuitive as well, although this reviewer would have preferred a non-infinity focusing ring.

The addition of Panorama mode makes the NX11 even more desirable. It’s fairly accurate and works excellently within the camera itself, negating the need to stitch the photo via image software.

With the added ability to shoot panoramic shots vertically, the NX11 is insatiable.

Overall, the NX11 isn’t a radical change over its predecessor, the NX10. Instead, Samsung opts for subtle improvements that users will nevertheless appreciate.

The NX11 is not just a worthy contender in the game of mirrorless cameras—it might possibly be the one to buy.

gadgetslab

Featuring a 14.6-megapixel APS-C sensor, Samsung has definitely given its competition something to think about. With captivating image quality that can easily rival any DSLR, the NX11 provides a fantastic option for consumers looking for something both lightweight and competent. Although CSCs and/or other mirrorless cameras are generally thought of as a “gateway” for those migrating from point-andshoots, the NX11 is a serious imagecapturing device in itself and should

not be considered solely as a transition.

It is a solid buy for any photography enthusiast, whether for a first purchase or an addition to an ever-growing collection.

9.0

gadgetsla

A.C. RYAN PLAYON!HD MEDIA PLAYER

By Steven Vea

SPECIFICATIONS: PLAYBACK SUPPORT: AVI/MKV/TS/ TP/TRP/M2TS/MPG/MP4/MOV/ M4V/VOB/ISO/IFO/DAT/WMV/ASF/ RM/RMVB/FLV with resolutions up to 720p, 1080i and 1080p VIDEO CODECS: MPEG-1/MPEG-2/ MPEG-4 SP/ASP/AVCHD (H.264)/ XviD/DivX/WMV9 (VC-1)/RealVideo 8/9/10 (up to 720P) VIDEO SUBTITLE: SRT/SMI/SSA/IDXSUB/SUB AUDIO: MP3/MP2/WMA/AAC/ FLAC/WAV/OGG Vorbis/PCM/LPCM/ MS-ADPCM/LC-AAC/HE-AAC/COOK/ RA-Lossless IMAGE: HD JPEG/BMP/GIF/TIF/PNG PRICE: Php 8,300 WHAT’S HOT: • Support for virtually every video and audio format • Intuitive menu interface WHAT’S NOT: • Slow transfer rate via LAN BOTTOMLINE: The A.C. Ryan Playon!HD is a great standalone multimedia player that supports a range of formats, and is an essential gadget for any multimedia enthusiast.

BUY METER

8.0

/10

Standalone media players should curiously be more popular, considering the advancements in highdefinition technology these days. While there are a multitude of products in the market, no single manufacturer has yet to truly stand out. However, this might all change with A.C. Ryan’s Playon!HD.

July2011

Out of the box, this media player is surprisingly lightweight, considering that it is packed with a load of capabilities. Constructed out of hard plastic, its exterior design is wonderfully simple—with an all-black casing and a front interface containing only the logo, power button and discrete remote receiver. Its minimalist design would definitely appeal to anybody who might be frightened at the complexities that most devices present today. However, there is a possible downside; the lack of any physical controls on the actual box means that it can only be operated with the included remote control.

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started. The addition of the HDMI cable will definitely please a lot of consumers, not only for its inclusion, but for its attractive design as well.

Setting up the Playon!HD to your television is as easy as 123: connect the corresponding cables from the box to the TV; power up the unit, and locate the media you want to enjoy. Getting started is as wonderfully simple as its design, which makes it a prize in this entangled world of technology.

Taking a peek at the rear of the Playon!HD reveals all of its multiple connection options: composite, component and HDMI ports for video; a pair of stereo analog outputs; optical co-axial digital outputs and the Ethernet LAN port.

While the inclusion of an internal 3.5-inch hard disk certainly sets the Playon!HD apart from other standalone media players in its class, I believe that it is a feature that is not entirely essential. It is far more intuitive to download movies using a computer, transfer them to an external hard drive, and subsequently connect it to the Playon!HD.

A.C. Ryan has also generously included all the necessary cables for users to get

I also think that if the LAN and the internal hard disk have been left out

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altogether, it would also result in a smaller and much more cost-effective media player, despite the Playon!HD’s already pocket-friendly price. While the more technologically adept user will appreciate these alternate connection options, the average consumer might really only need the USB ports.

Nevertheless, having multiple choices on how to transfer/acquire media does make the Playon!HD considerably more appealing in comparison with other media players.

Navigating through A.C. Ryan’s menu is a breeze, especially when using the “Browser” mode. Although there are various ways for users to locate the media files (i.e. by file type), this method proves to be the quickest and easiest. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly and while there is a slight learning curve, this is normal in any form of technology. Figuring out the menu will take minimal effort at best, and users will find themselves soaring through it in no time.

Finally, what makes A.C. Ryan’s Playon!HD shine is the multitude of video and audio formats it is able to play. It supports virtually every file format from MKV to RMVB, and even obscure formats that users probably won’t ever consider watching on a large screen display (i.e. FLV). Resolutions reach up to 720p, 1080i and 1080p, which should satisfy and HD fanatic’s appetite. It supports a wide range of audio types as well, particularly Dolby and DTS audio (pass-through or downmixed to stereo). Truth be told, the Playon!HD is the hardware equivalent of VLC media player—it plays just about everything.

If users aren’t drawn in to take a peek at the Playon!HD by the vast support of file formats alone, it’s budget-friendly price will definitely raise its appeal. It is perfect for those that are constantly downloading and watching movies, and want an intuitive bridge for their media to play on their televisions.

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SMARTPHONE

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS: WEIGHT: 185g DISPLAY: 4.8 inch screen (touch) DIMENSIONS: 141.7 x 64.5 x 13.6 mm PROCESSOR: Hsdpa 900/1900/2100 CAMERA: 8MP SOFTWARE: Android OS v2.3 (Gingerbread)

July2011

ACER ICONIA SMART

29

WHAT’S HOT: • Large, 4.8-inch capacitive touchscreen • Large screen makes it a natural for watching movies • Good performance, okay battery life WHAT’S NOT: • Large screen makes it a challenge for people with dainty hands to use • Sound could be better BOTTOMLINE: The Acer Iconia Smart is certainly different, and if you don’t have issues with a large screen, it could be your next Android smartphone.

BUY METER

8.2

/10

To make an impact in a market that’s dominated by high-profile brands and devices, any new smartphone needs to be a little bit different.

The Acer Iconia Smart is certainly that. Sporting a massive 4.8-inch, 480×1024 resolution capacitive screen, the Iconia Smart cuts an imposing profile.

There’s an 8-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a smaller secondary camera on the front. The whole thing weighs in at 185 grams—a bit heavier than your average smartphone. Some may see this is a negative, but I actually didn’t mind the added weight as it gave the unit a bit more heft.

The Iconia Smart uses Google’s

Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with UI enhancements courtesy of Acer. The unlock screen slightly differs in that you’re presented with 3 initial home screens that you can scroll through without unlocking the phone—which is great for checking SMS messages and missed calls, what track is playing and so on. You get seven home screens that you can customize depending on your needs. The first and seventh screens have Acer’s own quick-access solution that acts like a mini-rolodex of sorts for your media (music, photos and video) for the first screen, and websites in the second.

The Iconia Smart is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255-1 Snapdragon Scorpion processor. While I was slightly disappointed that something this large wasn’t powered by a dual-core procie,

the performance of the unit made up for it. The device was pretty quick and was capable of decent graphics.

To scientifically gauge performance, we ran a couple of benchmarking tools on the Iconia Smart – Neocore, a graphic benchmarking tool, AnTutu, a system benchmark that stresses the entire phone from graphics to memory, and Quadrant Standard, which gives another benchmark perspective into the performance of the phone.

Because of the unique size of the Iconia Smart, the Neocore benchmark only ran in the maximum 480×854 resolution, and not the 480×1024 the screen was capable of. Nevertheless, the Iconia Smart came in at a zippy 57.6 FPS. For AnTuTu, the results were 1992, which were decent. Quadrant Standard on the other hand, gave the Iconia Smart 1480

points, which was a bit higher than what the benchmark gave the Nexus One on Android 2.2.

For something that has a huge screen, battery life wasn’t as bad as I’d initially thought. The Iconia Smart needed a sip at the end of every workday (with moderate to heavy use), but considering the screen size I think that’s pretty good. Call quality was good.

The huge screen is such a nice place to view movies, unfortunately the disappointing sound makes headphones a necessity if you want to hear what the actors are saying. This is a major letdown since the device sports Dolby Mobile sound enhancement.

gadgetslab

Just when smartphones have begun shedding hard keys and moving into touch-sensitive controls, the Iconia Smart does the opposite. Housed directly below the gigantic 4.8-inch screen lies the home, search, back and option keys. The volume rocker and camera shortcut keys are all on the right side of the unit. The left side holds the USB slot that pulls double duty as a USB charging port and the HDMI out port.

gadgetsla

SAMSUNG SH100 DIGITAL CAMERA

By M.R. Gavin

SPECIFICATIONS: DIMENSIONS (WxHxD): 3.66 x 2.12 x 0.74 inches WEIGHT: 110.2g RESOLUTION: 14 megapixels LCD TYPE: 3” LCD Touch Screen OPTICAL ZOOM: 5x Optical Zoom STORAGE: MicroSD, MicroSDHC WHAT’S HOT: • WiFi enabled • Easy sharing of photos and videos • Social network-friendly • Range of effects on offer • Programmed photo editor WHAT’S NOT: • Unresponsive touchscreen BOTTOMLINE: If you like uploading photos on your social networking site, you can never go wrong with the Samsung SH100.

BUY METER

8.7

/10

Samsung continues to live up to its promise of innovation and uniqueness. Its Samsung SH100 sets new standards in the digital camera industry as it is the first one to be WiFi-enabled. Through this advancement, users can easily share photos directly on their favorite social networking sites, just as soon as they’re taken.

July2011

The SH100 can be connected to your smartphone with the use of WiFi to enable geo-tagging, control the camera remotely or preview the scene. This way, you can pose with the group while looking at the shot on your phone in real time. When you’re ready to shoot, you can also activate the shutter from the phone.

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I tried connecting through the wireless Internet, took shots of kids swimming and uploaded these on Facebook. It failed the first time but when I tried it again it went through. Checking the photo later on my notebook, I found

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

photo quality was simply amazing.

I am always afraid of losing my files, so uploading photos right away is one thing but automatically backing up your shots is another. The SH100’s built-in WiFi can back-up photos to your PC just by pressing several buttons. I tried uploading photos on my Facebook, it took about 20-30 seconds to upload and is in a separate folder with all the photos from the SH100. Photos are not instantly shrunk for fast uploading; it stays on the same quality. Zooming in on the photos 10 times wouldn’t hurt quality.

There are tons of effects, settings and programs to choose from. There is even a smart auto, program auto, smart movie, scene, vignetting, beauty shot, movie, magic frame, movie filter, night, palette effect, close up, simple shot and object highlight features. There is also a voice recorder, photo editor, magazine layout, slide show and 3D album. Whichever way you want to use your camera, the Samsung SH100 can do it for you.

WiFi enabled devices can eat up your battery life, but I found that you can put it in energy-saving mode or adjust

the brightness, which will help save on battery juice.

The exterior of this camera is just like any other Samsung Cameras. It has a metal finish and is big and thin enough to fit into a pocket. The 3.0-inch LCD full-touchscreen is just enough to navigate through all the photos and features of the camera. There’s also a stylus included in the bundle if ever your hands are too big for the buttons.

To avoid pushing the wrong buttons, you can also adjust the sensitivity with the touch calibration.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

POLYCANVAS BACKPACK

By Benjamin Arnold

July2011

CONVERSE #928551

WHAT’S HOT: • Classic color combination • Well-fitted back padding • Durable material • Lots of space

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WHAT’S NOT: • Bulky BOTTOMLINE: The Converse polycanvas backpack is an ideal choice for people that want a classic styled backpack that can fit everything they need.

BUY METER

8.0

/10

I have always known Converse for its shoes. So when I found out I was to review a backpack by Converse, I was a bit surprised. At first glance, the backpack looks big and bulky. But once I had it in my hands, it was lighter than what I expected—for a bag its size. laptop. The main compartment actually has a specially designed flap with Velcro straps to secure a laptop with superb support. There is also within the main compartment a little pocket perfect for holding little things, such as pens, pencils, erasers or even a mobile phone or MP3 player which can work in conjunction with the headphone slot that feeds out of the top flap of the bag.

The bag features three main zippered compartments which provide enough space for me to place anything in it, from my notebook to gym clothes; from copies of Gadgets Magazine and even a

In addition to the large amount of space within the three main compartments, there are added mesh pockets perfect for placing a water bottle or umbrella.

Also included with the bag is an extra-

small pouch bag that can be detached and reattached depending on one’s need.

With all the room and pockets fitted into this bag, it can work well for short everyday trips and even on short vacations or road trips. Not to mention, the well designed adjustable shoulder straps fit perfectly on my shoulder providing comfort and stability.

In terms of durability, the bag has been fixed with heavy-duty dual zipping zippers that provide sufficient hold and strength. The zipper pull tab is designed

in such a way that you could lock your bag tight and safe from thieves. The inside of the bag is lined with a durable tarp-like fabric that is held together by short even stitches.

Though I personally prefer smaller bags, this Converse polycanvas backpack is a wonderful bag for people that love to travel and want to be fully prepared whether it be going to the gym, vacationing or just traveling to and from work.

gadgetslab

The color combination of the bag is quite simple—a classic black and red mix of polycanvas fabric with the Converse signature star sewn on to the face of the bag in white. The back side of the bag features a black padded mesh that fits perfectly on my back providing minimal pressure while helping the weight of the bag to be distributed appropriately.

gadgetsla

ASUS EEE PAD TRANSFORMER TF101 TABLET

By John Nieves

SPECIFICATIONS: OS: Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4ghz DIMENSIONS: 271 x 171 x 12.98 mm WEIGHT: 680g MEMORY: 1GB DISPLAY: 10.1 inches (1280x800mm) PROCESSOR: 1Ghz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 WHAT’S HOT: • Has a proper tablet OS • Has an option to take a keyboard that acts as a secondary battery • Powerful Tegra 2 processor allows graphically demanding games to be played WHAT’S NOT: • Needs more apps developed specifically for tablets • No obvious orientation lock BOTTOMLINE: There are not enough superlatives in the world to express my feelings with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101. It’s the first, real contender to the iPad and it’s probably the Android tablet you’ve been waiting for.

BUY METER

9.0

/10

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is the first Android tablet in the market that can realistically go up against Apple’s well-entrenched iPad. It has the right price, the right amount of features, is easy to use and has enough innovative features of its own to entice customers away from the clutches of the fruity one.

July2011

The Transformer is a 10.1-inch Android Honeycomb tablet that’s powered by Nvidia’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor.

Like the Motorola Xoom, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 has few hardware buttons, and aside from the power/lock button and the volume rocker, the sides of the Transformer are devoid of buttons. The right side houses the HDMI port, headphone jack and microSD card slot, while the bottom holds the power/data port.

The TF101 is powered by Google’s Honeycomb tablet OS, which is definitely different than Android on your smartphones. The screen-to-screen transition is smooth and you get that nice borderline effect when you swipe from one screen to the next. Navigation is done via the back, home and multitask buttons on the lower right side, while battery status, time, wireless

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connectivity and other information (such as mail notification) are on the lower right.

You can access the main screen via the grid icon on the upper right marked apps, and you can quickly customize the number of apps on your different home screens (you get five) by pressing the plus button on the side of the app button. Another nice feature of Honeycomb is its ability to multitask like crazy. You can press the multitask button and you can easily go to the previous programs you had open before.

The Transformer’s large screen size makes it a natural choice for reading books and comics, and its overall weight doesn’t make it hard for you to lift it up to your face while laying down.

The onscreen keyboard is easy to use and worked well enough in practice.

Unlike most tablets, the Transformer can take a keyboard accessory which also pulls dual duty as an additional battery, extending the quoted 9.5 hour battery life to 16 hours. With the keyboard attached, the TF101 resembles a netbook—complete with a touchpad for navigation. The dock also has an SD card reader and a USB port.

The keyboard dock allowed me type long articles fairly easily as the keys have enough travel and is extremely comfortable to use.

Probably the only complaint I have with the Transformer TF101 is the scarcity of apps on the Android Market. Sure, there are apps in there that were ported from the Android marketplace, but I would have preferred a bit more apps created solely for Tablets. While there was a dedicated e-reader for the device, there

wasn’t a native comic book app. There’s also no orientation lock, or none that I could see right away, and the constant auto-rotation of the device while lying down when I was browsing the internet got a bit annoying.

These are really small complaints, and in the end the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is a solid tablet and the first real contender to Apple’s iPad. Its ability to take a keyboard and act more or less like a traditional netbook puts it in a class of its own. The Transformer will be available this month, and will retail for Php 22,990 (32GB) for the keyboardless version, and Php 29,990 (32GB) with the keyboard.

snapshots

digital photography in a snap

Celebrating the

LUMIX

This year, Panasonic, a global leader in home appliances and digital devices, celebrates an important milestone as it marks the 10th year since the company released the first LUMIX digital camera to the global digital camera market.

For the past decade, Panasonic, represented in the country by Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corp. (PMPC), committed itself to introducing to the market and to digital camera enthusiasts topquality products that are in support of its vision of “Creating a New Photo Culture in the Digital Era.” The past decade saw Panasonic changing the digital camera landscape when it introduced the LUMIX digital camera, which received substantial success and further pushed the company to propel the brand even further.

Given these efforts, among the

Leading its 21st century digital camera revolution is the Panasonic DMC-GF2 from the LUMIX G Micro System based on the Micro Fourthirds standard.

This new camera with the new interchangeable lens system, another innovation from Panasonic, the DMC-GF2 boasts of a compact form factor yet still employs ease of use without sacrificing the high image quality output that Panasonic LUMIX cameras are known for.

Touted as one of the world’s smallest and lightest compact cameras of its kind, the DMC-GF2 is essentially a smaller and even more compact version of its predecessor, the highly successful DMC-GF1. This newer version has a built-in flash that adopts a new pop-up mechanism to prevent a “vignetting” effect, a 12.1-megapixel high-speed live MOS sensor and high-performance camera engine.

Its high-quality digital capabilities are not limited to just still photos but also extend to capturing videos in full AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) format for better clarity and lengthened video recording time. This new incarnation of the DMC-GF1 is extremely easy to use and understand by any camera user regardless of user level by virtue of its touch control and new Graphic User Interface (GUI).

Focusing on a subject is easy by simply touching it on the large, 460,000-dot LCD screen while the innovative “Touch Q-menu” can be

customized by the user by choosing which application he uses more often.

Of course, the “iA” or “Intelligent Auto” mode is still present allowing for a more intuitive and comfortable user environment. Durability is also a plus factor since the chassis is made of aluminum for a more stable and rigid structure, while the grip is designed to ensure a good hold despite the DMC-GF2’s slimness and compactness.

Despite these technological advancements credited to Panasonic’s clearly innovative directions for its digital camera business, Panasonic will continue to develop groundbreaking innovations for the digital imaging market and Panasonic assures loyal LUMIX users that it will not stop innovating and exploring other creative ideas to make digital camera use an even more enthralling experience for them—in 10 years or perhaps even beyond. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

July2011

Panasonic expanded its camera business by pursuing efforts in three main areas such as collaborating with top camera, lens and photo equipment manufacturer Leica AG, using original and innovative ideas to incorporate in its new cameras and most recently, employing digital networking technologies in order to provide new ways of enjoyment for camera users.

camera innovations that Panasonic LUMIX introduced to the market were the likes of optical image stabilization for compact digital cameras in 2003, the wide-angle lenses with an EA lens for superthin compact cameras in 2006, the well-loved “iA” or “Intelligent Auto” mode in 2007, Lumix G mirror lens structure interchangeable lens system camera (2008) and other digital camera advancements that clearly caught the attention of both novice and professional camera users around the world.

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tablets

a portable personal computer

Cool iPad Apps

By Presy Alba

I’ve been using the iPad for almost a year now and although it does not totally replace my trusty Macbook Pro for the heavy-duty stuff, it allows me to do most of the basic things a laptop can do while I am on the road—minus the 2.5kg weight.

The best thing I like about using iPad for work and play is that there’s virtually no difference—everything that I do on my iPad is fun and exciting.

I’ve loaded my iPad with what I think is a good balance of entertainment apps as well as tools that help me accomplish my tasks efficiently and still have room for the leisure stuff.

July2011

I’d like to share the 12 iPad Apps that I find most useful because they are designed to help me work better—and enjoy my free time, even when I’m not connected to any wireless network.

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1. EVERNOTE (free)

2. GOOD READER ($4.99)

3. miCal ($2.99)

4. PDF EXPERT ($9.99)

The iPad version allows you to take notes and record meetings on the fly, so you always have an audio file of what was discussed every time to back up all the notes you jot down.

The great thing about this is that if you save the note on your synched folder, you’ll automatically have a copy on your desktop or laptop (whether Mac or PC) when you synch you Evernote account.

If you need to bring along copies of your files—PDF, maps, pictures, etc. from different sources—you must have GoodReader on your iPad. It’s so versatile that if you have this app, you can virtually read any file from any source, and even insert your annotations and comments before sending it by email to your team.

The only downside is that it cannot find the files already on the iPad by using another app. So if you intend to do some annotations on any file, you have to load it to GoodReader as well.

Claimed as THE missing calendar for the iPad, miCal is especially useful in organizing the work schedule—allowing you to glance at your calendar either by day, week or month. It easily syncs with the calendar app so you won’t miss any appointment made in another device. What’s more, you can quickly invite attendees to an event via email and you get a summary of the events scheduled for the day on the convenient dashboard.

You probably think that having both GoodReader and PDF Expert in one iPad would be overkill, but each app has its own specialization. In the case of PDF Expert, it not only allows you to read, comment, annotate, highlight and draw with your fingers, and allow you to save all of the changes you made in a format compatible with Preview and Adobe Acrobat, it is the only app that will let you fill up PDF forms. Plus you can open files from just about anywhere, including a USB drive using the iPad camera attachment.

With Evernote also installed on your desktop and/or laptop, you will never leave your task list behind.

Both the Mac and PC versions allow the user to insert check boxes which, once synched to the iPad, allows you to check each task that’s been completed. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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July2011

5. WIKIPANION (FREE) When you need background information about any topic, nothing beats Wikipedia, but it could sometimes become frustrating when you don’t have WiFi access. Copying the information from the wikipedia webpage and pasting it on a document in another app can also be very tedious. With the Wikipanion app, you get dedicated access to the Wikipedia database and you can bookmark individual sections of the content for offline viewing. Your browsing history is also grouped according to visit dates.

6. DICTIONARY FOR IPAD (FREE) If you use your iPad for some writing, having a hassle free offline dictionary is a must. With Dictionary! you get over 200,000 short concise yet clear definitions and a good selection of synonyms in a no-frills user interface.

9. AVPLAYER HD ($2.99)

10. SUDOKU2HD ($2.99)

As a backup or alternative player, I also recommend AVPlayer HD. It also has the same features as CineXPlayer and can play an even a wider number of video formats, but the real reason that I got this is even without Itunes, you can add video files to your iPad by dragging them to the AV Media Explorer from a USB memory stick using the iPad camera connector kit.

Whenever I find myself waiting, I while the time away by playing Sudoku. Sudoku 2 HD is, I think, the best iPad version of this challenging game. I like the increasingly more challenging games each time and I like that it keeps track of my winning streak.

7. WORD CLOUD (FREE)

8. CINEXPLAYER ($2.99)

There are times when ideas just pop up on your mind and you need to jot it down somewhere for a more indepth exploration later. WordCloud is perfect for this kind of mindmapping activity and a fun way to keep track of new ideas.

On my leisure time, I love to watch American TV shows that I download using Vuze bittorrent which are mostly in Xvid or avi format. Since I don’t have the patience to wait for Vuze to convert into a format that I can watch on the the Videos app native to the iPad, I got CineXPlayer so that I could just add the videos as CineXPlayer files on iTunes and have enough entertainment material to last me a week while on the road or enough for a weekend video marathon. What I like most about this app is that if I bring a connecting cable, I could watch the shows on a bigger TV screen.

11. PLANTS VS ZOMBIES($6.99)

12. NIGHTSTAND (FREE) If you suddenly find yourself without a bedside alarm clock, fret no more if you have this app. I like Nightstand because in addition to the normal clock with multiple alarms, I also receive updates about the weather and temperature— provided there is Wifi connection.

You can also customize the alarm to play music from your iTunes library.

tablets

I confess that the anticipation of playing Plants vs Zombies on the iPad was one of the reasons why I could not wait to get my IPad last year. Even if the iPad version is more expensive than the Mac OS X version of the game, the high-definition graphics and multitouch interface are well worth the price. Plus, the iPad version has new mini games and features not available in the PC or Mac versions.

mobility

the hottest machines that get you places

July2011

Kia Picanto Spices Up City Streets

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July2011

It produces a low CO2 emission level, aligning itself well with the environmentally conscious.

Columbian Autocar Corp. (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, gave young drivers’ dreams the “green light” on May 24 at the Kia Global City in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

The all-new Kia Picanto was designed especially for the first-time car buyer.

Every detail of this car, every specification has been designed with one end in mind that these first-timers take one look at this car and say to them, “This Is My Best Pic.” The new Picanto hit the road with all wheels spinning.

It embodies the spirit of a new generation of driven, young achievers.

This new subcompact is poised to give the best value to intelligent, streetsavvy young people set to buy their first, brand-new cars. The value that makes the new Kia Picanto is built into its new design DNA, its class-leading fuel economy and its low CO2 emission levels.

The dynamic new look embodies the exciting drive provided by the 1.0 liter, in-line, 3-cylinder Kappa MPI engine. The tiny powerhouse produces 69ps at 6,200rpm and 9.6kg-m of torque at 3,500rpm. It produces a low CO2 emission level, aligning itself well with the environmentally conscious.

Savings in gas money are enabled by its fuel economy, making it an excellent investment for this practical, financially literate young market.

mobility

The new Kia Picanto breaks out a fresh “look.” Its diminutive charms are enhanced by trendy, European-inspired style elements. A more aggressive, sporty, front bumper design provides a “racier” façade. Fog lamps for long drives in cool, misty places are standard. A rear windshield wiper clears the back view, helping you reverse into cramped spaces carefully. There’s enough room for desired company with seating for five. Double folding, fold flat rear seats, and slide and recline front buckets give you options for making space.

mobilit

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Whether it’s the Alto, Celerio, SX4 (Aero and Crossover), Jimny, Grand Vitara, APV or Carry Pick-Up, Suzuki vehicles have displacements ranging from 800 cc to 2,400 cc. This means they require less fuel to complement the air mixture entering their respective engines which, in turn, result in a smaller carbon footprint.

In fact, the Alto subcompact car can go up to 34 kilometers on a single liter of pump petrol, as observed in the 2008 Department of Energy fuel economy run while the Suzuki Celerio posted 34.34 kilometer per liter. All these prove that Suzuki automobiles can burn less gas while going far.

And if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling, Suzuki has solutions for hauling three or more people to their intended destinations. The Alto, Celerio and Jimny can handle four people, while the SX4 Aero, SX4 Crossover and Grand Vitara can sit five passengers. The APV Type II and

APV GA can handle seven to eight people in relative comfort, great for carpooling, school transport, or weekend getaways.

Here are more tips from Suzuki Philippines on reducing your greenhouse gas emissions:

cool enough, try not to turn off the system to reduce engine load and fuel consumption.

• Avoid drag race-style acceleration or jack-rabbit starts. Staying in a low gear for a long period of time no doubt makes you stay in the engine’s powerband longer this burns more fuel and adds more to your vehicle’s carbon footprint.

Smooth acceleration also puts less strain on your car’s transmission.

• Remove unnecessary load and pack light. Fewer baggage means better fuel consumption.

• Have your car’s air-conditioning unit cleaned or undergo periodic maintenance work at least once a year. A car air-conditioner with clogged inlets, damaged parts or leaking hoses causes more strain on the engine and forces the engine to burn more fuel. If the climate is

Suzuki’s expertise when it comes to small displacement gasoline engines and the various brands under Suzuki make them great tools in the fight to reduce your carbon footprint.

• Plan your trips. If possible, avoid side trips and travel when there is no rush hour traffic.

• Follow the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) rating for your tires. Proper tire inflation contributes to your car’s fuel efficiency.

Harnessing The Power Of The Sun Chery Motors Philippines recently showcased two electric vehicles at the Manila International Auto Show 2011.

CMPI newly appointed president and chief executive officer, Si-Chung Chang, said: “We have negotiated with Chery China to have these two concept cars displayed here because we want a feel of the alternative-fuel market in the Philippines.”

Codenamed the S18EV and the S11EV, the battery-operated version of the Chery M1 and the cuddly Chery QQ3, were first featured in the previous Beijing Auto Show. The cars made a round of the different global automotive events, landing last at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) before coming over to the Philippines.

July2011

The cars, solely designed by the Chery’s subsidiary, the Chery New Energy Company features lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries with enough range to drive to 150 km under normal driving conditions. The cars have a 336-volt system from the floor or trunk mounted batteries that allow the 54 hp motor to take it up to speeds of 120 kph.

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Plugged into a 220V outlet, it can charge in 4 to 6 hours or hooked up to a “fast-charger” it can fill to 85 per cent of its capacity in 30 minutes.

Chery’s electric vehicle line up ready for actual production but testing and development continues.

“In the Philippines we may begin to test-market the cars,” Dr. Chang explained “but the timing will all depend on how the consumer accepts it, and more importantly how the Philippine government will support such zeroemissions vehicles in relation to the country’s Clean Air Act. These electric vehicles may also be seen as a superb solution to the high cost of fuel.” www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

apps

we got an app for that

Compiled by Jonathan V. Pardo

PRO HDR CAMERA For Android and iOS

If you love cameras then the Pro HDR Camera app is definitely for you. With the world’s first HDR app from Android, you can automatically make stunning full-resolution HDR images with just a tap on your Android phone. The good thing with this app, it was tested to work with Motorola, HTC, most of the Samsung phones, and the iPhone. This app will also give you full-resolution images of up to 8-megapixels.

POYNT

For iOS, Android and Blackberry OS While Google Maps offer similar functionality, Poynt differentiates itself with more in-depth features, like the ability to watch your favorite movie trailers and read reviews before booking movie tickets, or even get the local weather forecast. You can also search for nearby restaurants, hotels, and other businesses, and call them directly from within the app, or get directions on how to get to their doorstep. This application will help you with possibly all your daily needs. All you have to do is “poynt it out.”

RINGTONE MAKER For Android

For Android

Add color and design to your messages with Doodle Text. This is a quick way to send a doodle photo message. With an easy-to-use interface, you can choose a number of effects like drawing or painting and customize one to your liking.

Doodle on any photo and send unlimited picture texts via MMS over WiFi or through phone network or email—all for free.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

July2011

Ringtone Maker lets you personalize the way your phone sounds. Millions of the most popular MP3 ringtones and sounds are available for free.

Make it your own ringtone to calls, messages, contacts and even alarm. You can also create your own ringtones from MP3 sound files. This cool, awesome application will even let you choose music by singers or genre.

DOODLE TEXT

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gaming

where playing around is a good thing

Facebook game by Pinoys for the world

By John Nieves Developer: Codemasters Southam Publisher: Codemasters

I love watching rally races. There’s just something about watching those cars slipping and sliding through uneven roads that gets me excited. Perhaps this is the reason why I love British game developer Codemasters so much, because they’re the people who’ve made games for rally fans for as long as I could remember. That’s also the reason why Dirt 3 was an automatic purchase for me—although the improved graphics, new racing modes and new cars might have also been a factor.

Dirt 3 isn’t just about rallying. Sure, a large part of the game gives you an opportunity to compete in rally events, but it’s just one of the many disciplines that the game throws at you. There’s also Trail Blazer (which is similar to hill climb), Rallycross and Land Rush, among others. New to the series is Gymkhana, which requires the driver to perform several tricks like performing donuts around static objects in a close track. There’s a variety of locales and weather conditions to choose from, and each stage handles differently depending on the weather. A relatively easy drive through Finland’s many rally stages is drastically different when rain starts to pour.

What I generally like about the game, and the series in general, is that there’s a perfect balance of realism and arcade-y driving. There’s a couple of assists to help you get started, and once you’re more confident you can start turning them off to get the full effect of the game. To be honest I wasn’t getting my hopes up when it came to the controls, as I played on some demo machines in Computex in Taiwan with a USB controller and I found that the controls were a tad sensitive. Good thing I was wrong, as the controls were pretty good. I started playing on Intermediate with the assists off and damage on full, and I managed to pull off great lap times, which was a surprising as I was playing with a keyboard.

July2011

The cars are a large part of the experience, and I’m happy to say that Dirt 3 has them in abundance. A lot of vehicles from different eras and disciplines are available—from Baja rally monsters to contemporary rally cars to iconic ’80s Group B rally vehicles. Each car is lovingly modeled and is available in different liveries.

Speaking of visuals, the game is pure eye-candy. It runs completely on DirectX 11—meaning that there are a lot of visual effects like hardware-instanced tessellated crowd, water tessellation, and enhanced post-processing effects.

Nowhere is this more evident as when your car is about to run a stage in the rain—you can see water droplets on and around the vehicle itself, adding to another layer of realism.

Dirt 3 is tons of fun, and I recommend the game for anyone who loves racing games.

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Inkstone Inc. introduces a new Facebook game developed in the Philippines by Filipinos. World Racers is the first game from the Makati-based game studio and promises to introduce a new gaming genre.

The game introduces the concept of social broadcasting to Facebook gaming. Social broadcasting is entertainment that combines user-generated content with social networking in the form of a game. In the case of World Racers, players generate videos from their game play which they can share with other Facebook users.These Facebook users become fans of the players and can affect the outcome of the race as they support their favorite teams with in-game cash and even penalize opposing teams with time penalties.

As part of the launch of World Racers, Inkstone Inc. will be hosting the World Racers Philippine Tournament exclusive to the residents of the Philippines. The tagline of the tournament is “Win Prizes, Get Famous” referring to the cash and gift items awaiting the top teams as well as the social aspect of fans supporting their favorite teams.

Prizes for the top teams include gifts from World Racers launch partners Neo Computer and Bo’s Coffee.

websites

QUIRKY.com

By Presy Alba

enter the internet

A Super Cool Gadgets Site

While browsing websites and store displays, I’m always on the lookout for unique products that can make my life easier or work more fun. My office desk could attest to this fact. I literally have tubs full of multicolor pens, highlighters and markers, at least three kinds of staple wire removers, staplers and clip binders, Post-It notes and tags galore in varying shapes, sizes and color, and a wide range of cutters, punchers, stompers, rubber stamps and labelers.

To lessen the clutter on top and under my desk, all my wires and cords are grouped and wrapped in snake cable organizers and kept neat with 3M hooks and holders. A variety of desk caddies and holders keep everything within reach.

Of all the sites I constantly visit, www.quirkly.com may be the

When you click on the Shop link, you get to see some of the best unique gadgets available in the market today—a lot of which will I think be picked up by large-scale manufacturers at some point—but

you have a chance to order these products while they are still fresh out of the factory. The products featured here are a bit pricey for my taste, which is understandable because these are still in the R&D stage. But it will surely whet your appetite.

But what makes this website special and different from the rest is that it allows ordinary people to submit product concepts and ideas—no matter how wild or weird—and have it vetted by a jury of consumers that examine if your product idea has any merit or has any marketable potential.

Even if you don’t have any product idea, you can still take an active role in this site by becoming an influencer and voting for the product and design ideas that you think are useful and marketable. Influencers also get credits that translate to cash if your projects contribute to the completion of the development process and if this gets sold to the public. If you think you have a great product idea or if you think you would like to have a hand in which new products gets developed on Quirky, you should visit www. quirky.com/learn and read up on how the process works.

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July2011

However, finding tastefully designed useful gizmos and gadgets—whether online or in retail stores—can be hit-or-miss thing. This is the reason why I constantly visit a variety of cool gadgets sites that keep me up to date on what’s new, unique and useful.

coolest if you’re looking for new product designs and unique design ideas. Founded by 24-year-old Ben Kaufman, this website claims to make “invention accessible”—and it really does, in a social format which allows members to cast votes on the best ideas. The site is divided into six major sections: Shop, Invent, Influence, Learn, Community and Blog.

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coverstor Local Startups, Sites & Apps •

LOCAL STARTUPS, SITES & APPS LOVING YOUR OWN

July2011

By JC Ansis

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In this fast-paced world, technology has become a vital part of our everyday lives. From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, we find ourselves hooked on to websites and apps that keep us informed of the latest news, make our work easy or give some fun in our lives. Lucky for us, we have a handful of homegrown developers and startups that can provide what we junkies need. The number of Filipino developers is slowly increasing and a bunch of apps and useful websites have sprouted in the recent months. Let’s take a look at some of the coolest local websites, apps and startups we have now.

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July2011

Local Startups, Sites & Apps •

coverstory

coverstor Local Startups, Sites & Apps •

StreetSmart

http://streetsmart.numlock.com.ph/ If you always find yourself stuck in traffic, I suggest you take a peek at StreetSmart. It is a user-contributed traffic reporting app that allows users to contribute reports using their mobile phones and share traffic updates in Metro Manila on a real-time basis. People can view these reports on a map on the web or on their mobile devices, or from their Twitter stream (@StreetSmartApp). This free app also includes useful telephone numbers that drivers & commuters may find useful. As of press time, the StreetSmart app can be downloaded from the Android Market and the iTunes Store, and will soon have versions for BlackBerry and Nokia platforms.

World Racers

http://apps.facebook.com/worldracers It’s undeniable that Filipinos love spending time on Facebook playing Farmville, Mafia Wars and other games. That’s why Filipino group Inkstone developed a new Facebook game for racing buffs called World Racers. This free game allows players to team up with friends and enter virtual races around the world. Creators of World Racers call this concept of social networking and gaming, “social broadcasting.” What this means is that World Racers players can actually share with other Facebook users the videos generated from their game play. These Facebook users can become fans of the players and can affect the outcome of the race by supporting their favorite teams with in-game cash and even hinder other teams’ chances by penalizing them. The top teams get a cash prize.

FrugalPanda

http://frugalpanda.ph/ Nowadays, every link you click takes you to another one of those group buying sites. It’s become a trend and since Filipinos love to shop, more and more people subscribe to these sites. And once subscribed, you’ll receive tons of emails everyday of promos and deals, even the ones you have no interest in. Well, now there’s a way to filter those unwanted junk deals and lessen the trouble of keeping track with the promos you actually like. It’s called FrugalPanda and it’s not another group buying site, but an aggregator. The site allows you to conveniently sort through the deals from various sites, according to category: Health & Beauty, Fun Activities, Travel and Food. You can also subscribe via RSS and all the deals will show up in whatever RSS reader you use. The group buying sites they pull together are Buyanihan, CashCashPinoy, Twangoo, MetroDeal, Ensogo, Beeconomic, CleverBuy, Dealgrocer, Dealspot, Localroam, Alooph, eBay and Kuponan. You won’t have to receive tons of emails from all those mentioned, nor do you have to visit them one by one. With FrugalPanda, grabbing your next coupon deals just got easier and awesomer!

July2011

Nowshowing.ph

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http://www.nowshowing.ph/ Nowshowing is a website that provides the movie showtimes in the country. Clean and simple, it’s like ClickTheCity—but without the clutter.

You can search for movie schedules depending on what movie you want to watch and where you want to watch it; giving you just what you need. You can even post the movie you’re watching and what time you’ll be watching it through several social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, Foursquare and Tumblr, among others. Nowshowing.ph could be the new go-to-website for movie schedules. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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OfficiallyPhilippines

July2011

http://officiallyphilippines.com/ First of all, OfficiallyPhilippines.com is not another travel blog site. The website is actually made by a group of travel enthusiasts who compile first-hand experiences by fellow travelers of the various locales around the country. They offer transportation tips (fare rates, where to ride, etc), suggest great restaurants where you can eat at and interesting places you can visit on your trip. The site also has an interactive map of the Philippines, chopped into regions accompanied with snippets of information about the cities in that region.

PicLyf

http://piclyf.com Created by a group of kick-ass homegrown developers, PicLyf is not your typical photo-sharing site. A bunch of similar sites have been budding out, but PicLyf is different because… well it’s fun! PicLyf is a life photo sharing community that incorporates tools to permit users to share their uploaded photos to other followers and to social networking sites like Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. Aside from photo uploads, people can also doodle and draw pictures that can be shared to other PicLyf users.

And similar to Foursquare, you can earn badges whenever you make achievements on the site. It does sound cool, doesn’t it? A mobile app version of PicLyf is now available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Haybol.ph

SpellDial

Whether accessed on desktop computers or mobile phones, these awesome local apps and websites will surely scratch the itchy hands of the average tech-savvy Filipino. No longer will we have to look to foreign grounds for anything fun, educational and informative. It’s inevitable that the local tech community of developers will continue to create and whip out new and exciting solutions for fellow Filipino users and it’s up to us to support them.

coverstory

http://www.spelldial.com/ I’m betting a number of us don’t memorize half of the numbers in the phonebooks of our phones. When we call people, we usually dial them by typing their names in. And that’s the reason why I think SpellDial is a pretty cool web app, because it does exactly that. The SpellDial web app has created a world that dials names instead of numbers, believing in the concept that people and business are known by their names therefore should be contacted by their names. People can register and link their phone numbers so it can be easy for their friends and other people to call them by simply just typing in the name they registered.

Local Startups, Sites & Apps •

http://www.haybol.ph/ Looking to buy your own house? Want to rent a condo but don’t know where? Haybol.ph is a real estate search site that helps you find homes for sale or for rent, and provides real estate information at the local level to help you make better decisions in the process. Google Maps is integrated in the site so it’ll give people a pretty precise idea of where the locations of the properties are. This map service, which has been incubated by Filipino-owned software development firm Orange & Bronze (O&B), provides information about the properties, brief descriptions of the seller and their contact details. To make the ads more appealing to people, photos and a 360-degree virtual tour of the location are also added.

Top 5 Business Laptops|featur

TOP5 Business Laptops

By Steven Vea

July2011

Before we begin, it seems necessary to determine what exactly you need in a business laptop.

While corporate and media persons alike will at some point require different needs, there are nevertheless several factors that are universal for both.

Mobility

Performance

Perhaps one of the first considerations is the portability and ruggedness of the laptop, especially for frequent fliers and road warriors. Typically, a maximum screen size of 15-inches and a weight of less than six pounds is the defining threshold of a mobile notebook. Aside from the size and build, prolonged usage while unplugged is also essential. Keep in mind however, that a battery with extended life can equate to a heftier notebook.

The most essential tasks (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) are possible with minimum specifications, which is why several professionals gravitate towards the mobility and simplicity of netbooks. Once again however, those involved with intense media would require more power than the average notebook or netbook will provide. Generally, most businesses can sufficiently survive on at least 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.

Connectivity

Security

Connectivity is king - whether you’re industry involves media or accounting.

A Wi-Fi enabled laptop is a top priority and luckily, this is a standard installation in every notebook. 3G is another vital option to have on your business laptop, especially if you often find yourself in places that do not have Wi-Fi hotspots.

Anybody involved in business knows that data management and security are great concerns in a competitive market. When looking for a laptop, you should consider spending more for add-ons that can safeguard your data, which can range from biometric fingerprint scanners to enhanced security/ management software. While these are not entirely essential, sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Other important connectivity options to consider are several USB ports (the more the better), Ethernet LAN (for connecting to either internet or servers), VGA/HDMI (for using external displays for presentations), and Bluetooth (for syncing with other devices).

Lastly, multi-card readers and optical drives can also come in handy, especially if you’re in a media related industry, but also consider that a CD/ DVD/Blu-ray burner will significantly impact the weight of your laptop.

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The following is a modest list of top business laptops (in no particular order) based on the product and the company’s reputation, positive reviews as well as popularity among consumers.

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Toshiba Protégé R835 July2011

This laptop is quite a complete package considering its price and size, with a starting weight at 1.3kg and a 13.3-inch widescreen display. Toshiba’s newest business notebook is also portable and an impressive performer, featuring 2nd generation Intel Core processors, 4GB RAM and a 640GB hard drive.

Although it doesn’t have Bluetooth, the R835 is equipped with a 3 USB ports; one of which is 3.0 and another that doubles as a combo eSata port with Sleep and Charge capabilities, which will prove useful down the road for the mobile professional.

HP Probook 5310M Although initially released quite some time ago, the ultraportable HP ProBook 5310m still retains a great following among small businesses, for it offers high-quality and simplicity at an affordable price. Weighing in at approximately 3.8 pounds, it features a 13.3-inch display coupled with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB or RAM and a 320GB hard drive. It can last a little bit over five and a half hours unplugged with consecutive Wi-Fi use, which is impressive considering that wireless internet consumes a lot of power. With a great balance of efficiency, durability and portability, the HP 5310m is certainly a great option for the budget-conscious professional.

AsusPro P53SJ

Sony Vaio S Series As stated earlier, battery life is important in a business laptop, and the S series definitely fits the criteria, with an impressive 7.5 hours of unplugged operation. Its 13.3-inch LED backlit display is perfect for users who love to burn the midnight oil, and their productivity will be further enhanced by 2nd Generation Intel Core processors coupled with a maximum of 8GB RAM. Those who choose Sony’s S series also get the option of equipping it with a 256GB Solid State Drive, a perfect solution for keeping data safe during travel.

Apple Macbook Pro 15-Inch (Thunderbolt) It‘s almost impossible to make a “best of” list of without including Apple.

While many and perhaps any of their products are worthy business companions, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (Thunderbolt) stands out. It is the first MacBook Pro to feature a Quad-core Core i7 processor, has 4GB RAM and 750GB HDD storage. It is also equipped with two graphics cards – AMD Radeon HD 6750M and an Intel HD Graphics 3000. Weighing in at approximately 5.5 lbs, this MacBook is considerably lightweight for a powerhouse. Not only is it a great mobile product, but it can easily serve as a desktop replacement. While Apple’s products are known for being rather expensive, never forget that in the world of computing, with greater power comes a greater price tag.

Top 5 Business Laptops|feature

One of the greatest characteristics of this laptop is the special attention devoted to its durability. The P53SJ is able to withstand 20% more pressure and can be dropped at more than double the height that other notebooks are capable of. It is equipped with a 15.6-inch HD display, an anti-shock hard drive reaching up to 750GB, 8GB RAM, and a Intel i5 2410m processor. If its durability and performance hasn’t impressed you just yet, this ASUSPRO notebook is surprisingly light at only 2.6kg, despite having an optical drive and a wealth of connectivity options. In short, the ASUSPRO P5S3J is the perfect companion for the frequent flier, guaranteeing mobility and productivity.

Filipinos As Cyber Social Butterflies|featur

Filipinos as Cyber Social Butterflies

July2011

In a study called Digital Life 2011, Filipino online users are said to be spending an average of nine hours a week connected to the Web, with the majority engaged in email (29% of online users check email daily), social networking (28%) and multimedia (20%). Meanwhile, young Filipinos belonging to the 16-24 age group are the most active in social networking.

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The number of mobile web users visiting social networking sites grew from 30% to 46% globally, and from 26% to 50% in emerging markets, leapfrogging many of the developed markets. In the Philippines, Facebook ranked third as the top mobile content/service provider (2010). “This study covers more than twice as many markets as any other research,” said TNS chief development officer Matthew Froggatt.

of social network and brand friends. They have an average of 171 friends, higher than the global average of 120. Brand friends (engaging with brands and their activities on social media) are also slightly higher at the average of 5, compared with the global average of 4. Just like their global counterparts, the survey noted the Filipinos’ eagerness for information and special offers are key drivers for engaging with brand fan pages.

In rapid growth markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and China, TNS said online users on an average time per week spend 5.2 hours compared to only four hours on email. Online consumers in mature markets remain more reliant on email, spending 5.1 hours checking their inboxes compared to just 3.8 hours on social networking. Malaysians (9 hours per week), Russians (8.1 hours per week) and the Turks (7.7 hours per week) are the heaviest users of social networking.

Gary de Ocampo, TNS Philippines managing director, said 83% of Filipinos online were found to be “aspirers.” This means 27 million Filipinos seeking to create a personal space online.

Malaysian online consumers emerged as the friendliest with an an average of 233 friends in their social network, closely followed by Brazilians with 231. The least social are the Japanese with just 29 friends and Tanzanians have, on average, 38 in their circle of friends. Filipino digital consumers have shown a relatively large number www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

TNS said the internet has a pervasive role in the 21st century but the impact will differ depending where the people live. In developed countries, the internet has already become a commoditized item that consumers take for granted.

However, in underdeveloped markets like the Philippines, users are embracing these new channels in much more active ways. The study said the internet has motivated the people in developing countries to become more active online and engaging in new forms of communications.

Globally, people who have online access have digital sources as their number one media channel. 61% of online users use the internet daily against 54% for TV, 36% for radio and 32% for newspapers.

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“

million Filipinos seeking to create a personal space online”

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July2011

By Armin A. Amio

ATLANTA—To celebrate 125 years of sharing happiness since the first Coca-Cola was enjoyed on May 8, 1886, The Coca-Cola Company illuminated its headquarters building here in Atlanta in what is possibly the world’s largest single building illumination effort.

The entire Coca-Cola North Avenue tower measuring 26 floors high and 402 feet wide—was canvassed in scrim, a finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theater. This served as a projection canvass that covers an area 339 feet high and 157 feet wide per side of the building.

The projection surface area from all four sides of the building totals more than 210,000 square feet, making it the world’s largest single building illumination.

The display used 45 projectors that are 20,000 lumens each, for a total of nearly 1 million lumens of light simultaneously projected onto the building. The overall projection resolution is more than 7,000 pixels wide (7040 x 3800). The visual design and projections for the event were created and executed by Obscura Digital.

The show features the iconic Coca-Cola contour bottle projected in 3D across the 26 stories of the building. This display includes imagery from a library of 125 years of Coca-Cola advertising as well as photos posted by Coca-Cola Facebook fans from around the world.

To celebrate 125 years of sharing happiness since the first Coca-Cola was enjoyed on May 8, 1886, The Coca-Cola Company is thanking everyone who has made refreshing the world since then possible with innovative, cultural events and exclusive collaborations throughout the year and around the globe.

“We would not have reached this milestone without those who love our brands, because everyone who has enjoyed a Coca-Cola in the past 125 years has played a part in helping us refresh the world,” said Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company.

“Throughout this year, we want to celebrate by thanking the people around the globe who have made the brand what it is today.

Coca-Cola has pulled out all the stops to mark this quasquicentennial milestone reflecting the first Coca-Cola served by John S. Pemberton on May 8,

1886 at a corner pharmacy in Atlanta, including a concert top-billed by US artists and singers for employees and their families and was streamed live online at Coca-Cola.com/125 website and social media Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

There were also events held in most of the countries where Coca-Cola is being sold. In the US, television commercials for Coca-Cola were modified to change the tag line, “Open happiness,” to “125 years of sharing happiness.”

There was a campaign that will run throughout the summer that carries the theme “125 years of summer fun” and will extend for another 125 days. Commemorative bottles were also launched.

But beyond the celebrations, Coca-Cola also announced its 2020 Vision that will serve as the company’s blueprint for the next 125 years.

Kent said this plan offers a unified vision of the business, especially to develop the system capabilities of their bottlers and align these with The Coca-Cola Company’s strategies.

A video of the first lighting can be viewed at http://CokeURL.com/trac.

Coca-Cola Company Illuminates|feature

Coca-Cola Company Illuminates Headquarters Building

Secret Fresh|featur

Secret Fresh Revealed

Secret Fresh was born from a passion for collecting. What was once a childhood pastime had become a hub for mining new talent in the cross pollinating fields of graffiti, comics, film, animation, music, architecture, fine art and design. This commitment has grown to facilitate and showcase further this thriving field through its gallery.

Located in Ronac Art Center in San Juan, the primary hub for contemporary street fashion, design and lifestyle, and a landmark of innovative architecture, Secret Fresh, is a pioneer in engaging local and foreign artists, both emerging and established ones, for collaborations on limited edition art toys and prints, coming up with truly contemporary pieces that are an alchemical mix of art and design, craft and commodity, timelessness and currency.

July2011

This engagement extends to having monthly exhibits of artists not limited to the traditional media, but to those who are daring to venture into exploring new forms that spark fresh dialogue and perspectives on the contemporary urban experience. This endeavor would hopefully herald a new era of appreciating art beyond its conventional boundaries.

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Secret Fresh is also geared toward the works of those who are emerging from the street art scene and from established artists who are open to expanding their medium and artistic expression to the current modes of presentation, technique and materials, consequently broaching boundaries between the strictures of design and fine art, hence expanding the demographic of appreciation for both or from such resulting mix.

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Gadgets@COMPUTEX |featur

Gadgets@

COMPUTEX

By John Nieves

July2011

COMPUTEX is one of the biggest trade shows this side of the world, and is usually the place where most manufacturers (or those that matter at least) unveil their new products and concepts. It was fortunate for us that we managed to grab an opportunity to cover the trade show in Taipei and boy, was it crazy! This year’s show was filled to the brim with tablet news as well as a few major surprises and unveilings that all took us by surprise.

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July2011

Asus Even before COMPUTEX started, computer manufacturer Asus already had a few surprises up its sleeve in its pre exhibit presscon. No other than Asus chairman and head honcho Jonny Shih introduced a massive range of new products that was set to change both the netbook and tablet game in a way no one expected.

The $199-netbook biggest goals of netbook manufacturers is to deliver the product at a low enough price point that almost anyone could afford it. The magic number seems to have been pegged at about $100, but so far no one has even come close to it, till Asus released the X101 Eee PC. It’s a full-fledged netbook, able to go online, play videos and create documents and all that—priced at a jaw-droppingly low price of $199. The device itself will run MeeGo, an open source OS, and will be powered by an Intel Atom N435 processor and will have a 10-inch screen and with 802.11b/g/n WiFi capability.

Glasses-free, 3D notebook Another surprise during COMPUTEX was the G53SX, probably the first glassesfree 3D notebook. Aside from bringing 3D without the goofy glasses, the G53SX tracks the user’s eyes and adjusts the screen accordingly. The device automatically turns on the 3D effect when you’re in the optimal viewing angle and turns it off when it decides you’re not in range. The G53SX isn’t a shabby gaming notebook either, judging from its specs: Intel Core i7-2630QM running at 2.0GHz, up to 16GB DDR3 memory, a 15.6-inch display, Nvidia GTX560M graphics and up to 750GB of HDD space.

ROG Matrix GTX580 It would be remiss to not include Asus’ ROG lineup in any COMPUTEX story as the Taiwanese manufacturer started out as a PC component builder after all. For the gamer who really wants the best, Asus’ Republic of Gamers lineup did not disappoint, especially when it came to video cards. The ROG Matrix GTX580 is utterly massive, both in size and promised performance.

With enthusiast oriented features like TweakIt that provides users with flexible overclocking control on the fly, LED load indicators and 19-phase Super Alloy Power technology, the ROG Matrix GTX580 is the weapon of choice of discerning gamers.

Gadgets@COMPUTEX|feature

The PadFone COMPUTEX was awash with so many tablets this year that they might as well called it Tabletdex. Terrible puns aside, Asus knew it had to make something different to stand out among the crowd, and as a result has unveiled the PadFone—a tablet that has a dock for the smartphone that comes with it.

Only a few details were announced, like the size of the screen (10.1-inch for the tablet, 4.3-inches for the smartphone) and the OS used (it will be certainly be an Android). Everything is still up in the air, including when it’s going to be eventually released.

Gadgets@COMPUTEX |featur Intel

July2011

COMPUTEX was also the venue for Intel to show off their own wares, in the form of Atom-powered tablets running both Android and MeeGo, addressing major concerns that the foremost chip manufacturer was lagging behind the curve, behind Qualcomm and Nvidia And while Intel plans to push hard into the tablet space, they’re not abandoning netbooks. According to Intel’s Shmuel (Mooly) Eden “we are not abandoning the category; we are doing two things in parallel. First of all, we’re putting a huge amount of effort to catch up and be relevant in the tablet space. It’s a fact that Apple is running the space using an ARM solution, we believe that now that we are putting more effort on the ARM architecture we will have a solution which will be compelling. In parallel we are trying to continue the work on the netbook.

The netbook is changing. It’s very interesting. Asus recently launched a netbook that’s priced at $199, and that’s totally different question. We never really tested the market’s elasticity. I believed when we started the netbook was aimed only at emerging markets, but then the netbook also went to the mature markets and I believe with the new price point there will be another opportunity to see where we are.”

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PowerColor July2011

PowerColor, another major innovator in the video card space, was present in COMPUTEX. We managed to see not one, but two dual-GPU video cards based on the 6870 and 6970. Both cards will feature dual cooling solutions that utilize an active fan for active cooling and a combination of heat pipes and heat sinks for passive cooling. Another nice feature is that while both cards use a dual-GPU setup, power consumption won’t be much of a problem as they’re projecting that power draw will be less than a GTX580.

ECS

Also spotted on the showroom floor was ECS’ monochromatic e-readers powered by Android 2.1. These tablets are designed to be dedicated e-readers and feature an 8-inch, 1024 x 768 resolution screen, Marvell PXA 166e processor, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and about a month’s worth of battery endurance with wireless off.

Gadgets@COMPUTEX|feature

Another big motherboard manufacturer that made itself felt during the show was ECS. Though there were a lot of their boards on display during the show, the star of their product lineup was undoubtedly their Black series of motherboards, available for both AMD and Intel fans in the form of the A990FXM-A and P67H2-A. The boards feature ECS’ QoolTech IV technology which has Thermochromic tech built-in that changes the color of one of the heatsinks to tell you if you’re pushing your board too far, temperature wise.

photofeatur

COOL

WORLD

Gadgets Magazine gives you an animated take on your favorite toys and shows you just how cool your world can be with our help. Pretty young thing, Jessy Mendiola gets [secret] fresh with the latest and freshest gadgets to hit the scene.

July2011

Photographed by Paul Ticzon | Make-up by Jo Ticzon for Benefits Style Salon | Hair by Donn Donato for Benefits Style Salon Art direction by Benjamin Arnold & Michelle Callanta-Toledo | Styling by M.R. Gavin Shot on location at Secret Fresh, Ronac Art Center | Special thanks to Bigboy Cheng of Secret Fresh

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Sony VAIO C Series

July2011

VAIO C Series is a notebook PC that brightens up your life with premium design in vivid colours based on a new light-emitting material. It offers ample performance for everyday use with 500 GB HDD and high-resolution 14-inch screen.

Php 69,999

photofeature

Woven tube top (Php 1,175); Denim Shorts (Php 915); Dressy Heels (Php 1,825); Coral Necklace (Php 555); Gold Bracelets (Php 365) all from Forever 21

photofeatur July2011

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Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10 Share your memories virtually anywhere using the HDR-PJ10 Handycam camcorder’s built-in, highcontrast projector. This mobile theater can project up to a 60-inch image on any flat surface, and with powerful stereo speakers, you’ll hear all the action.

Php 59,999

Lime underwear (Php 365); Navy Knit Top (Php 555); Navy Teal Shorts (Php 865); Multi Gold necklaces (Php 365); Green Ring (Php 435) all from Forever 21

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Samsung ST700

photofeature

Red Corset (Php 815); Cream Orange Short Skirt (Php 915); Teal Bracelets (Php 435); Teal bangle (Php 245); Green Ring (Php 435) all from Forever 21; Gold dot Carmie Mary Jane Pumps (Php 2,995); Black Jacket (model’s own)

July2011

An effortless way to get perfect pictures, Samsung’s 2View ST700 has a generous 1.8-inch frontside display so you’re part of every image. Preview selfportraits, then click, with you in every frame—in a snap. Flip the camera around to enjoy photos on the wide 3.0-inch display. New features change the view on hard-to-capture experiences.

photofeatur July2011

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HTC Sensation

Made from solid aluminum, the HTC Sensation lets you immerse yourself in a richer movie watching and music listening experience with virtual surround sound while you capture life in vivid detail on the full HD camcorder with stereo sound recording.

Php 31,990

Navy Pink Short Skirt (Php 755); Orchid Top (Php 125); Wide Camel Belt Php555; Dark Brown Wedges (Php 1,765); Multi Colored Bracelets (Php 555/Php 305) all from Forever 21; Miadore Vreni Carla Necklace (Php 3,995)

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T110

July2011

The DSC-T110 Cyber-shot digital camera takes the guesswork out snapping great photos with features like iAuto and Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. This 16.1-megapixel camera also features a 3.0-inch widescreen LCD that makes it easy to compose and review shots, navigate menus and optimize focus.

Php 17,999

&COMING

UP

JESSY MENDIOLA

By Tanya McCorkle

Multi-talented, young and stunning are three words that describe the up-andcoming actress that is making her presence more and more noticeable in the Philippine showbiz scene. At the astonishing age of just 18, Jessy Mendiola has accomplished a tremendous amount in the five years that she has been in the industry, and is definitely one of the new faces to look out for in the near future.

Since her discovery at one of the ABS-CBNsponsored acting camps in 2007, she has come a long way from just the eager young girl with thespian potential into the beautiful dark-haired actress seen and admired on our favorite soap operas today.

Dusty Pink Corset (Php 815); Indigo Pants (Php 545); Pink Cream Necklace (Php 435); Gold Bracelets (Php 365); Solid Gold Ring (Php 305); Green Ring (Php 435) all from Forever 21; Gold Dot Carmie Mary Jane Pumps (Php 2,995)

Best known for her role as the defiant title character of the highly rated soap opera, Sabel, whose tragic death in the concluding episode of the show broke the audience’s hearts, Jessy Mendiola’s list of on-screen appearances continues to lengthen. Following her discovery, she was introduced to the public as part of the Star Magic Batch 15, along with others such as Megan Young, Alfonso Martinez and Carlo Gueverra. Together, the batch-mates were cast as part of the teen show Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2, and

One of her many notable achievements was her six-day role as a guest judge on Showtime, where she is counted amongst the ranks of previous guests on the show, such as the renowned actress, KC Concepcion, and the singer, Christian Bautista. Being chosen to appear on a show that has already hosted so many of the showbiz elite says a lot about what we can expect of Jessy Mendiola in the future. Whatever projects she decides to undertake, there is no doubt that we will be seeing more of her in our television screens as she continues to establish herself in the industry.

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To many, Jessy is seen as the image of natural beauty. Whether she is wearing makeup or not, there is no doubt that she is gorgeous. Even if she hadn’t been blessed with her exquisite mix of Filipina features and Lebanese-British blood, nothing can cloud over her obvious stage talent and her ability to create a connection with her adoring public, on-screen and off. Prior to her integration into stardom, she was simply an Our Lady of Mercy school girl with big dreams, but as evident today, she is a prime example of someone who works hard to funnel her ambitions and aspirations into her actions.

Jessy’s character, Jessy Lorenzo, a once-rebellious teenager that had changed her ways, went public.

The audience’s first experiences of Jessy’s acting prowess triggered an appetite for more, and since then she has appeared in several of the public’s television favorites. She has appeared in Volta, a series based on a movie by the same name; Your Song Presents: Boytown, where she showcased her singing and dancing abilities alongside the Gigger Boys; and fairly recently, the highly acclaimed ASAP Rocks in which she, together with Sam Concepcion, Empress Schuck and Enchong Dee have become known as “ASAP’s Dance Quad.” And, after a positive reaction to her guest appearance as the love interest of Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo’s Coco Martin, she remained in the following seventy episodes of the show.

lifestyleparade

simplify your lifestyle decisions

Hero Inspiration & Marimekko Shoes Chuck Taylor Style Shoes • Converse When it comes to sporting a classic style while expressing an individual uniqueness, Converse’s Chuck Taylor Shoes are always top of mind. With the new release of the Marimekko Shoes and Hero Inspirations, there is sure to be a shoe for everyone. The Marimekko collection pays tribute to the bold and adventurous streak of women everywhere while the Hero Inspirations—wherein Converse teamed up with DC Comics—was designed to bring out the kid in anyone, both young and old.

Prices range from Php 3,190 to Php 3,430

Messenger Bags Polycanvas Bags • Converse

With school in session, it is never too late to be school savvy with a great bag. With the Converse Polycanvas messenger bags, you get great style and function that stays close to your body in a classic, casual fashion.

You can fit books, notebook, papers and even a laptop into these sturdy bags without worry of crumpling your term papers or losing your things so that you can worry less about your stuff and more on A-cing that test.

Prices range from Php 1,069.75 – Php 1,349.75

iPad2 Leather Snap On

July2011

Snap On Cover • Opt

Keep that precious iPad2 safe from scratches with the beautiful Opt iPad 2 Leather Snap On’s. This brilliantly engineered leather cover was designed to work perfectly with the iPad2 Smart cover, providing lightweight yet stylish protection for its backside. The variety of cleverly designed colors meld beautifully with any Smart Cover you may have, keeping your iPad2 stylish and chic while keeping the body scratch free.

Php 2,195

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Laser-treated jeans • Marithé + François Girbaud Use Light, Save Water. That is the new statement Marithé + François Girbaud wants people to internalize. By taking the harmful chemicals out of the process, Girbaud have been able to revolutionize the denim industry with the WATTWASH jeans, which uses a laser to create a variety of patterns, textures and worn-out looks. Using a mere five liters of water compared with the 150 liters that acid treated jeans use, Girbaud’s WATTWASH jeans save up to 97.5% of one of the world’s most essential resources.

July2011

WATTWASH Jeans

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Prices range from Php 3,900 to Php 5,500

Altmont 2.0 Collection Travel Gear • Victorinox

If you’re a person who is always on the go, then the Altmont 2.0 Travel Gear Collection from Victorinox is definitely for you. With dedicated laptop compartments and padded 10-inch portable device pockets, you will have plenty of storage to fit all your traveling needs. As Victorinox is known for its versatility, each bag is made with triple-blended nylon to withstand scuffs and scratches.The entire collection was crafted to cushion the bag comfortably against the body, making anyone who uses it prepared for any adventure that may come their way.

Prices range from Php 1,000 – Php 8,000

Footwear • Sanuk

Get hit by this comforting wave of footwear from Sanuk. The Sanuk Shunami Collection provides absolutely amazing foot comfort with simple classic looks. Each shoe features a lightly padded tongue and a “Shock-N-Ahh” insole that gives these shoes their amazing comfort minus the loss of flexibility. With three lines to choose from—namely the Shunami, Shunami Primo and Shunami Womens—everyone’s feet are sure to be happy when they are hit by Sanuks Shunami.

Prices range from Php 3,490 – Php 3,990

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Shunami Collection

lifestyleparad

Eye/Brow Liner Pencil

Color Icon Collection • Wet n’ Wild Cosmetics For those beautiful sexy eyes, be sure to complete your eye make up with the Wet n’ Wild Color Icon eye/brow liner pencil. You can intensify your eyes with rich and creamy pastel colors that glide smoothly over your lids and brows without tugging or irritating. With shades like lilac, olive, green and amethyst, you can create incredibly versatile looks that will complement whatever mood you are in.

Php 199

Trio Eye Shadow

Color Icon Collection • Wet n’ Wild Cosmetics

July2011

For eye-catching eyes, one needs eye-catching eye makeup. Wet n’ Wild provides this with its Color Icon Trio Eye Shadow set, three different shades of eye makeup that were created with a new satiny-smooth formula of a jet-milled base and silicone technology for lasting wear and stay-true color. The Color Icon Trio takes the guess work out of the equation by integrating their “How to…” palettes that help you highlight, define, and accentuate your eyes with ease. The Color Icon Trio Eye Shadow comes in I Dream of Greenie, I’m Feeling Retro, I Got Good Jeans, I’m Getting Sunburned, Silent Treatment and Spoiled Brat.

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Crock-Pot Slow Cooker July2011

Cookware • Crock-Pot

As they say, there are some things that get better with time. That is the case with meals cooked with the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker. Slow cook your favorite meals with this electric stoneware cooking pot to produce foods with exceptional flavor and nutrition at a low budget. Low-watt heat surrounds the food to bring it gently to the peak of perfection, and the best part is you can leave the food in the pot and it practically cooks itself making the Crock-Pot a fool proof cooker.

Php 5,360

Puddle Jumpers Child Life Jackets • Stearns

One of the most exciting moments in life is learning how to swim. Make it easier and safer for your child with Puddle Jumpers Child Life Jackets.

With buckles in the back (approved by the US Coast Guard), taking them off and putting it on is easier and has been making those first few moments in the water fun and safe.

Php 970

Majoromantica Fragrance Fake Sleeping Collection • Majolica Majorca

For that enchanting forest scent, Majolica Majorca offers its Majoromantica fragrance which, a scent that evokes the spirit of blooming flowers and blossoming fruits. The fruity top notes of Juneberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Pomegranate, Apple, Fig, Mangosteen, Bergamot, Lemon and Mandarin mixed with the floral middle notes of Rose, Sweet Pea, Jasmine, Muguet, Gardenia, Chamomile and Clary Sage rounded out with sweet Vanilla, Maple, Brown Sugar, Sandalwood, Amber, Musk and Oakmoss produces the romantic magic of the Majoromantica Fragrance from the Fake Sleeping Collection of Majolica Majorca.

Aurora Tear Liner

Fake Sleeping Collection • Majolica Majorca For eyes that sparkle like pearls, Majolica Majorca presents Aurora Tear Liner. With the user-friendly brush that functions both as an eye liner and as a lash decorator, this clear gel-based eyeliner was designed to resemble the glistening of pearls, brightening the eyes. For that extra sparkle, the gel can be applied on lashes to bring out the sleeping beauty within. Aurora Tear Liner comes in Clear Aurora Blue Sparkles and Clear Love Pink Sparkles.

Php 595

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Php 995

yin&yang

know your gadget’s fortune

It’s All About Directions

By Princesse Fernandez

Contrary to popular belief, feng shui is not about signs or year of birth, but the study of the environment/ surroundings and the art of placement. Signs are one’s personal luck and if there are things bound your way, we cannot change them for they are determined according to date of birth. But don’t fret, we’ll make luck come your way and reduce bad luck with proper feng shui.

Every year flying stars change their order which then determines which directions are lucky and unlucky. The resulting feng shui chart shows all the directions and the stars situated on each. Every direction also has its cure and luck items, to enhance good luck or ease any bad luck.

There are cures for all directions; this makes it easier to ease badluck. For the east direction, be sure to place a brass gong and safety medallion, it will relieve the effect of the disaster, three killer and tai suey stars. While on the northwest where the wealth star is located, it can be enhanced by placing a pair of jade money catchers and a water fountain. The center is the most important of all so make sure to place a hippo guard, this will help you to push away the effect of the robbery star. To enhance luck in the southwest area, place a promotion fish luck item, it will improve the result of the promotion and academic star.

On the south resides the Sickness and the Backstabbing Star. This means, people should be extra careful on who they trust and about their health. We can alleviate the effect of these stars by placing 6 antique protection coins.

When placing a luck item, make sure that the area is clean, well-lit and clutter free in order to reach its full potential.

Princesse Fernandez Feng shui expert Princesse LimFernandez of Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony at the Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel trained under the watchful eyes of two masters—the late Master Paul Lau Tak Lun who established Yin and Yang with her and international feng shui master Joseph Chau Kam Shing of Hong Kong who is now the resident feng shui consultant of the Mandarin Oriental group.

Princesse graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering and now has successful businesses in various industries that are aided and supported by her knowledge of feng shui.

July2011

Princesse and Master Chau have been vital in the popularity of Mandarin Oriental’s annual Chinese New Year celebration. Their clients include both corporate and private individuals from all around the world.

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lifestylefeature

“Imeldific” guide to

featuring only the best in lifestyle

an

buying

By M.R. Gavin

shoes

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

July2011

Women can never have enough of them while men consider them a worthwhile necessity. But thanks to former First Lady Imelda Marcos and her 2,700 pairs, the Pinoys’ love for shoes is now well-known. These days, however, shoes are not just something to protect one’s feet. Technology has certainly changed the physiology of shoes. Now you can jump higher, run faster, lose weight and bounce better with the right pair. Here is the lowdown on the top-of-the-line shoes available in the market.

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NIKE KD III ADIDAS SUPER BEAST

REEBOK ZIG SLASH 1

LEBRON8 V2

NIKE KOBE 6 NIKE SHAWN MARION NAVY

CONVERSE SICKS

NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE

ADIDAS CRAZY LIGHT

FILA DLS SLAM PERFORMANCE

Basketball Shoes

Skateboarding Shoes

Thanks to new technology, Pinoys will keep on enjoying the basketball game— despite our average heights. Score these babies and have a good game.

The streets are fun places for skateboarders; every ring and bump is a chance for an exhibition or a trick.

Skateboarding is not just a sport but a lifestyle, so here’s the scoop on the hottest skate shoes on the market.

5CM CHUKKA BOOTS

VANS GEOFF ROWLEY X SEX PISTOLS

DC LANDAU S B

July2011

DC COSMO SE

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VANS AUBREE SLIM

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VANS HALFCAB YELLOW

DC BRISTOL CANVAAS

VANS CHUKKA LOW

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SANUK SCURVY GREEN GRASS WOMENS SHOES

TOMS KHAKI BIMINI

July2011

Running Shoes

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PUMA TEKKIES

Running marathons are being held almost every weekend. The biggest problem of runners is feet pain, so here are some shoes to ensure a sprain-free dash.

PUMA LIMNOS

KEDS CHAMPION LA ADISTAR RIDE 3

PUMA LAZY SLIP ONS

PUMA FAAS 250

VANS SOPHIE BLACK BROWN 2

TOMS PINK LEOPARD WOMENS VEGAN CLASSICS 541

Casual Shoes

NIKE AIR MAX 2011

For walking the dog, strolling in the mall or going to the clubhouse to have coffee, there’s a pair for any occasion.

ADIDAS SUPERNOVA SEQUENCE 4

PUMA FAAS 250 WOMENS NIKE AIR MAX

RUSTY LOPEZ RW470004

RUSTY LOPEZ RW470002

PRADA LACE-UP SHOES

REEBOK ZIGFLY

Dress Shoes A must-have for office wear or special occasions that require dressing up. Here’s the lowdown on the newest and hottest dress shoes in the market.

PRADA BLACK SATIN BOW DETAIL PEEP TOE PUMPS

D&G LACED SHOES

MARC BY MARC JACOBS GRAPHIC PLATFORM SANDAL

D&G TOE SLIP ONS

lifestylefeature

ADIDAS X Y3 TORSION

lifestylefeatur

‘Green’ Jeans

By Benjamin Arnold

Innovation is the key to staying ahead in the fashion industry. 40 years ago, Marithé + François Girbaud reinvented its line of jeans by introducing a wide evolution of washes and styles—including the well-known stonewashed jeans—which etched the design house’s name in the world of fashion. Now, after 15 years of research, Girbaud is innovating again with the futuristic eco-friendly wash dubbed the WATTWASH. Conventionally treated jeans use what is called an acid treatment to apply that stylized wornout look.

This process involves damaging chemicals such as bleach or other harmful chemicals as well as around 150 liters of water—one of the most essential resources for life. The WATTWASH jean—which is Girbaud’s step to a brighter eco-conscious future—harnesses the power of light to stylize its jean, more specifically with a laser.

With the laser treatment, a wider variety of patterns, textures and designs can be made that could not be done with the usual acid wash.

In addition to innovated designs, the actual process of making the jeans uses only 5 liters of water instead of the usual 150 liters. This is Girbaud’s statement to saving the environment because it uses 97.5% less water than the chemical wash.

July2011

But beyond the idea of saving the environment, Girbaud didn’t cut back on quality. The denim fabric

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is one of the best one will ever encounter, using the typical heavyduty fabric we are all accustomed to but with the added comfort. The denim fabric is unbelievably soft to the touch and the revolutionary cut, such as those of the straight-cut X EDGE denim jeans, making the jeans fit smoothly on the legs without hindering movement. They feature a sacrum cut that eases the way the jeans are worn and the way they designed the waist area, making it sure that they will stay on your waist and not drift down—ensuring the most flattering silhouette every time you wear them. Mix that with the different styles and color; you will have versatile denims that can be worn anytime—whether it be casual or formal.

So use light and save water because there is still time to invent a new tomorrow. Marithé + François Girbaud is a hero—both to the environment and to your fashion sense—by helping you look good for that bright future.

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July2011

lifestylefeature

beautylab

Keep Those Nails Posh

beauty secrets revealed

By Benjamin Arnold and Michelle Callanta-Toledo

Many may think that nails require the least amount of maintenance and care. But just like hair (which is also made up of dead cells), they need a certain level of attention so that they look healthy and blend in with an overall “clean” aesthetic.

July2011

Posh Nails, as the name suggests, is one place that takes nail care to a whole new level. Offering services that go beyond the usual mani-pedi, Posh Nails assures clients a more relaxing and satisfying experience—next to clean nails.

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Michelle says:

Despite the cotton-candy ambience at Posh Nails, I found it quite comfortable. I received the Piña Colada Treatment (Php 600 for hands, Php 675 for feet.) The Treatment uses a special pineapplescented scrub rubbed onto the arms, hands, calves, and feet; a lovely treat before any manicure/pedicure (Php 150 manicure, Php 215

pedicure) in which I chose “Teenage Dream” from the Katy Perry OPI collection. Of course, what was a Piña Colada Treatment without the Piña Colada? I happily sipped mine while treatment commenced and fought hard not to fall asleep… beside my colleague.

July2011

There was a phase in my teenage years when I went to the local salon almost every week to have my nails done. Of course, I didn’t think much about hygiene then, only that I wanted a different polish every week as I was pretty much a terrible personal manicurist. Although the service was cheap, I almost always got more than what I paid for— bloody, swollen fingers that were absolutely painful. After my mom underwent surgery for a botched removal of an in-grown toe nail, I realized that having your nails done by just anyone wasn’t the smartest way to go to achieve those prettylooking digits.

I was also treated to a foot paraffin wax treatment (Php 450) to help soften the skin. The paraffin wax is hot (like melted candle wax covering your entire foot) so you may feel a bit of discomfort, but only for a short period of time.

For all of the “extra” services that came with my manicure/pedicure, I was simply pleased with the nail technician’s handywork. Her hands were not heavy so I didn’t have to worry that she’d cut too deep into a cuticle or that I’d get some sort of infection afterwards. Posh Nails sterilizes all of the instruments after servicing a customer and offers medicine, if needed, as well as postservice checkups.

Benjamin says: When it comes to nail care, all I know is to cut them when they are long and try not to smash them with a door or hammer. I have no knowledge when it comes to nail cuticles or nail files. So I pretty much walked into Posh Nails uninformed.

My initial reaction to the interior (which was heavily decked out with bright pink, purple and white furniture and pillows) was that this place was designed for women. Although the place was obviously styled to attract a female demographic, they offer services especially designed for men. One such service is the Men’s Sports Treatment Plus.

At first, I felt awkward—not knowing if I should take off my shoes; put my feet in the bucket of water or rest my hands and feet on the cushions. I would always look over to Michelle’s side and ask her what comes next or if I am doing something right—and

When they began the exfoliating scrub and the deep dermal treatment, I started to get into the spa experience and found my muscles relaxing and unlocking out the “fight-or-flight reaction.” I finally sunk into the comfortable cushions and just let the citrus-smelling treatment do its job.

Once the technicians washed off the stuff from my arms, hands, legs and feet, they finished off my nails with a really cool clear nail polish that made my nails all nice and shiny giving it that clean fresh look.

I couldn’t stop looking at it and kept showing it to Michelle.

Now my mindset with regard to nail care has totally changed and I realized there is more to taking care of my nails than just trimming them.

For Php 1,100 (Php 440 for hands and Php 660 for feet), a monthly hand and foot pampering doesn’t seem so bad—especially with amazing results from Posh Nails.

Special thanks to Catherine Ilacad, Posh Nails owner, and Enrico Argamanzo, finance manager.

beautylab

Now this treatment is a mixture of a good nail trimming with exfoliating foot massage to help a guy relax.

Along with this is a deep dermal treatment designed as an anti-aging agent that diminishes fine lines, with the end result of clean freshlooking hands and feet.

she would tell me to just relax.

I have to admit it was a bit hard to relax when one nail technician was scraping off the upper layer of my finger nails while another was massaging my feet.

listen

hit the right beats with the latest sound tech

Through The Lens

By Steven Vea

A conversation with the man behind FlipTop’s videos

RBTO vs. NothingElse @ First FlipTop photo by Angela Lopez

If you haven’t heard of FlipTop, then you must be living under a rock.

For the sake of those that aren’t familiar with it just yet, FlipTop is a rap battle league that pits two emcees against each other in a war of the wits.

There are no microphones. No instrumentals. Just two emcees showcasing their lyrical prowess, spitting quips to tear down the other’s character and confidence, as the audience watches closely around them.

Founded and hosted by Aric “Anygma” Yuson, this emcee competition has gone viral globally, and one reason for its fame (apart from the talent that is showcased) is due to the videos of the battles that have been posted on YouTube. So, although most of us associate FlipTop with the now iconic Anygma, there’s another vital and often overlooked member of the infamous rap battle league – the inconspicuous man behind the lens.

July2011

Kevin “DJ Umph” Vea is no stranger to hiphop and its underground scene - he is one of its silent pioneers and devoted fans. Having been involved in some of the first hiphop events (i.e. Blow Up the Spot), he has observed the culture struggle, develop and take hold. Perhaps it is nothing short of kismet that we witness the local hiphop scene unravel and flourish through his seasoned eyes.

Having been friends with Anygma and AMPON for years, Kevin’s contribution to FlipTop (and consequently hiphop as a whole) had a humble beginning.

The first stage of their joint venture began at a birthday party for Philip “Skarm” Pacheco (a member of the underground hiphop group Talksic Ways and a FlipTop emcee), where the primary details of what would become the emcee battle league of the Philippines began to take fruit.

“Anygma approached me,” Kevin reminisces, “about footage which I can’t

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recall at the moment. Then he asked me if I was down to document some emcee battles for them. I said, ‘cool.’ I had just bought my first camera so I was eager to test it out. I only had a 50mm f1.8 at the time and thought that it would do for street corner battles. Then I find out that it was going to be a pretty big event. I knew the 50mm wouldn’t work so I had to go and get a wider lens.”

The FlipTop battles are filmed through Kev’s Canon EOS 7D, which instantly fascinated him once he saw how well it worked in low light situations. This was an essential factor for him, knowing that documenting the local music scene would involve venues with little to no light.

Apart from its performance, he prefers its (relatively) compact size. “I also like the fact that it was small. People thought that I was just taking pictures.

I mean, you could walk around, rolling video and no one would look into the camera like they would if you were walking around with a big camera on your shoulder. The picture style settings are a cool feature to mess around with too.”

Indeed, the non-invasiveness of filming with the 7D contributes greatly to the emcees (as well as the crowd), in being able to focus and immerse themselves completely in the moment. In fact, most of you who have attended a FlipTop battle in the flesh might not have noticed, or even consequently forgotten that Kevin was standing in the center of the stage.

Of course, no camera is complete without its lenses - the quintessential piece that is the most prized and determines what is visualized. FlipTop battles are captured through a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, which provides that trademark

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distortion (the fisheye feel) that has given the videos its raw, in-your-face edge.

July2011

When asked about his preferred optics, Kev replies: “I usually have a 2470mm f2.8 on the cam for flexibility. I can have a wide shot and punch in for a mid shot or close up. I have a 30mm f1.4 that I mostly use at night. It’s a light lens and is manageable when I’m drunk (laughs) and want to shoot a band or rap cypher under a street light. I have a 11-16 f2.8 that I use for FlipTop and when I need a wide shot in a tight spot.”

Contrary to what the public might think, there is no camera or lighting crew for FlipTop. From pre-production all the way to uploading it online, Kev is the sole man behind it all.

He begins by scouting the location that Anygma has chosen, and Kev creatively finds a way to get the best shots with the available resources. Even without a lighting crew, the footage comes out crisp, and contributes largely to its raw feel. There are no microphones, so audio is recorded directly on the 7D, with surprisingly clear results.

After the emcee battles are done, Kev transfers the footage onto a MacBook Pro (Intel Core i7 2.66 GHz, 4GB RAM 1067 MHz DDR3) and edits using Final Cut Pro 7. And just like sound engineers have their secret tools, so do video editors, just like any other craft. When asked about any specific plug-ins, settings and/or techniques, Kevin naughtily smiles and says: “I just mess around with the color and edit the sound a bit.”

A lot of people are surprised to find only one man behind the camera at the events. To this, he said: “I just have to document what’s going on and then Caliph8 & Kevin record digging photo by Julian Quiambao

upload it. It’s really about the emcees so I don’t have to get fancy with it. I’ve thought about using two cameras and intercutting the video but a lot of the viewers might think that you’re cheating or editing something out when you cut. So yeah, as much as possible, it’s going to be one-take. Plus, the feel we want to get is that the viewer is standing there in the front row watching the battle go down, live.”

Kevin performing @ Mindfields photo by Julian Quiambao

Without a doubt, their visions were realized, as watching the FlipTop battles online is a truly immersive experience, unparalleled by any other. Granted, while the availability of cameras and lenses are readily available to the public, no man-made tool can imprint vision and pure unabated artistry into a person. When asked about his thoughts on the significance of film school for aspiring filmmakers, Kevin muses: “I guess it depends on the individual, just like with any other skill or trade. The important thing is that you have access to the tools, whether it be in film school or at your friend’s house and that you get a chance to fiddle with the gear and software. If you really want to learn it, you will. Do what you like. If you like what you’re doing, learning how to do it is easy.”

Now that FlipTop has gained its loyal (and growing) following and its welldeserved success, anybody would wonder what the future holds for the internationally infamous rap battle league. “FlipTop is actually more than just the battles. It’s about the whole hiphop scene including DJ’s, producers, graffiti [artists], break dancers, spoken word artists. We’re trying to bring the whole scene to light. We’re trying to showcase the local talents, not just in Metro Manila, but all over the country. We’re expanding to Northern Luzon and Mindanao and the Visayas. I’ve been in the scene as a fan, an observer and an artist for a while now. And all the dreams that my peers and I have been talking about for years is gonna happen. Watch out! It’s not a fad.”

Kevin in action photo by Angela Garcia

kevin_vea@yahoo.com www.youtube.com/user/fliptopbattles www.facebook.com/fliptop.battleleague

listen

Kevin Vea studied film at the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) in Cebu and graduated with best thesis and the technical award. He currently works as a freelance director, cinematographer and editor and is a recording artist signed under Locked Down Entertainment.

featuredartis

MAROON 5

By Carla Roque

Back in 2002, a friend had me listen to this underground, independent LA rock band—and right then and there, it was love at first “earful” for me. One track in particular spoke about a girl who had trouble with herself and was in desperate need to be loved. Matched with a melancholic blend of drums, percussions, guitars, smooth bass and a soothing, imploring voice, Maroon 5’s She Will Be Loved, would end up as one of those songs after many women’s hearts—mine included.

Five years later, Maroon 5 came up with a new album entitled “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.” Their first single, Makes Me Wonder depicts distrust toward a woman he was madly in love with. This album is a bit more up tempo and was what made them a truly pop-rock band that was ready to experiment. If I Never See Your Face Again, a duet with Rihanna, even made it to the top of the charts and showcased the group’s versatility as artists.

July2011

Their third studio album entitled “Hands All Over” was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange (AC/DC, Foreigners, The Cars). The album—a killer hybrid of rock, pop, funk and R&B—showcases the band’s considerable strengths: buoyant, unforgettable melodies; sleek, stylish grooves; charged lyrics about turbulent relationships; and crisp, dynamic performances. Band member Jesse Carmichael comments on the album, saying: “Mutt really helped us play to the best of our ability. And it drove us to be bigger and better than ever. Everything he does is huge.”

On May 23, they performed live in Manila for the second time. Held at the SMX Convention Center, the concert was breathtakingly amazing and the crowd consisted of many avid fans. Lead vocalist Adam Levine had every lady fan faint over his impressive stage presence and performance. Everyone was left in awe when they did a rendition of Alicia Keys’s If I Ain’t Got You. Outstanding keyboard, drums, and guitar accompaniment had everyone belt out each and every word of the song. It was one of the best summer-ender parties in Manila with food and drinks served inside the concert. The band’s performance lasted for almost two hours, making sure they got to play every fan’s personal favorite.

Love at first earful is definitely possible and is sure meant to last a lifetime— with Maroon 5.

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cdreview

get our take on the latest tracks to hit the market

By Roni Callanta

Cecilia Bartoli Live in Italy MCA Music Inc.

The world’s most celebrated mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, has immortalized the musical geniuses such as Vivaldi, Mozart and Rossini through her interpretations of their compositions with her vocal prowess and lively on-stage persona. Her homage to 19th century diva Maria Malibran, aptly named Maria, was released in 2007 and reached the No. 1 slot in the classical billboard charts and even gold in a number of European countries.

Troubadours The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter MCA Music Inc.

In this live performance at the Teatro Olympico in Vincenza, Italy, Cecilia exudes respect and tenderness with how she treats the composers.

She disarmingly and fluidly transports the listener to the era of the Italian Renaissance. Cecilia never ceases to captivate her audience with her performance while keeping the integrity and spirit of the songs—and just like any fan of music, whether it be mainstream pop to classical—one gains a deep respect for both the performance and the song..

From start to finish, Cecilia Bartoli charms her audience in this live performance, leaving the listener buttered-up and inspired.

David Garrett Rock Symphoniest MCA Music Inc.

One of the experiences one takes away from watching a live performance is the massive amounts of energy the performer shares with the audience.

In “Rock Symphonies,” record-breaking German/ American classical violinist and recording artist David Garrett grabs the audiences by the neck with this live performance. David interprets some the all-time classic rock hits such as Aerosmith’s Walk This Way (featuring Orianthe on guitar), Smells Like Teen Spirit from Nirvana, Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, the Creedance Clearwater Revival classic Rocking All Over The World, Guns N Roses’ November Rain, Metallica’s Master Of Puppets, Queen’s Bicycle Race and more.

Garrett crosses genres from hip-hop, to jazz to heavy metal while tastefully keeping his audience on their feet. One of the many appeals of his performance is that he leaves the crowd hungry for more with his electric and deeply magnetic persona and it also doesn’t hurt that he’s quite the looker.

The staple of the movement was social relevance.

Artist Joni Mitchell, who according to fellow musician Kris Kristofferson, was revered as “Shakespeare reincarnated.” Being Canadian, she took an outsider’s look on what was happening in America and put her own sensibilities in her writing.

Carole King had written “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,” which was said to be a successful effort to become the empowering voice of every woman while still keeping the soulful, romantic and raw sensibility of the woman then.

The Troubadour was the perfect venue for all sorts of artists to come together and to share their own affinities and musical sensibilities. The documentary possessed such an intimate quality exposing how these artists considered themselves as tightly knit family where there was a genuine joy and respect in playing with each other. Elton John’s very first performance at The Troubadour was a refreshing explosion which changed the music scene completely.

July2011

He proves that there are no lines, no boundaries when it comes to music and that is what music is basically all about, sparking an emotion to listeners.

Back in the 1970s—when rock and roll was losing its energy and needed time to take its breath—the singer-songwriter movement became a powerful force. It was also when Doug Weston established a West Hollywood club called The Troubadour. The new movement appealed to the masses because of the almost palpable authenticity of people sharing the personal experience, the human condition.

The Troubadour reunion in 2010 was a nostalgic yet refreshing platform in getting people to feel again, to remind them of their own humanity. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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events

LG Holds Grand Launch For Cinema 3D TV & Smart TV

Images, colors, and sandy dreams came to life at the EDSA Shangri-La Ballroom as LG introduced to the Philippines its nextgeneration TVs, the Cinema 3D TV and Smart TV. A grand exhibit was set up at the Isla Ballroom. LG’s multicolored 3D glasses and impressive TVs were displayed for the media and later on, the dealers, to experience.

Many were impressed by the innovative technology of the Cinema 3D TV— making use of Film Patterned Retarder technology, dramatically reducing feelings of dizziness and discomfort when watching 3D TVs. The attendees of the event also got to experience the simple but brilliant technology of the Smart TV. Through the Smart TV, connectivity, apps, and high-grade content are now made available to the Filipino user.

July2011

As a symbol of the Cinema 3D TV and Smart TV’s promise to bring awesome TV experiences to the Filipino home, the Korean Sand and Animation Artist, Ha-Jun Kim, was brought to the Philippines to perform a sand art spectacle for the Philippine media.

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July2011

VIPinoy

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Overseas Workers At Ayala Malls Our modern-day heroes now get the “special treatment” at a special lounge designed just for them at most Ayala Malls—and enjoy all the special perks and privileges for them and their families.

After a successful start at Glorietta 5, Ayala Malls is expanding the VIPinoy project with the newly opened lounges at TriNoma, Market! Market! and Marquee Mall. Currently on the drawing board are similar lounges to be located in Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu and Abreeza in Davao City.

The VIPinoy Lounge in TriNoma is located at the Lobby Level facing Mindanao Avenue.

The VIPinoy lounge offers video conferencing services, charging stations, internet stations, currency exchange and remittance service, information on investment and business opportunities, property consultation, financial management, and travel and tour inquiries. VIPinoy card holders also get reserved seats in Ayala Mall shows, concerts and events as well as exclusive invitations to sale events, workshops, seminars and promotional activities.

Members are also given unlimited access to customer lounges at Ayala Malls and priority status when purchasing tickets at the Ayala Cinemas.

VIPinoy members are also automatically given special discounts and freebies in participating stores across Ayala Malls.

Overseas Filipino Workers 21 years old and above presently employed overseas or residing overseas can avail the VIPinoy card. Immediate family members can apply in behalf of the overseas family member. They can apply at any Ayala Malls concierge, VIPinoy lounge concierge, Ayala Malls customer service booths or through www.ayalamallsvipinoy.com.ph.

Ribbon cutting at the VIPinoy Lounge in TriNoma - Ayala Land senior division manager Bing Jose, Ayala Land vice-president Rowena Tomeldan, singer Christian Bautista, Q.C. Councilor Atty. Godie Liban and actor/ businessman Marvin Agustin.

events

Families of overseas Filipinos receiving their VIPinoy cards from singer Christian Bautista and actor/ businessman Marvin Agustin.

Q.C. Councilor Atty. Godie Liban accepting the first TriNoma VIPinoy card from Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land Vice-President and Head of Operations and Support Services, Commercial Business Group, and Bing Jose, Ayala Land Senior Division Manager, Head of Customer Service.

event

Sony invades PFW Holiday 2011

The discerning eyes of the fashionable set are once again turned towards technology, and their visions are cast toward Sony VAIO as it presented Design Fusion / Visions & Trends at the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011.

Presented at the show were the collections of Bo Parcon, Don Protasio, Rusell Villafuerte, Veejay Floresca, Xernan Orticio, Aries Lagat, Enrico Carado, Happy Andrada, Jaki Penalosa, Jan Garcia, Kenneth Chua, Regine Dulay, and Oz Go.

July2011

The designers’ respective collections served as the perfect backdrop for showcasing the Art of VAIO, the inspiration behind a lot of the designs. With VAIO, fashion and technology do mix. Much like any design story, the Art of VAIO is both an ongoing creative process

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and a final masterpiece created especially to cater individual tastes and personality.

The Art of VAIO was once again captured and manifested in the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011, where two of Sony’s latest offerings—the youthfully invigorating VAIO C and the elegant VAIO S—became the inspirations for the designers as they released new fashion aspirations for the local scene.

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July2011

Block Party, Converse-Style

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Free online calendar lists local & global events For journalists, and for many others as well, keeping track of upcoming newsworthy events can be a tedious chore—one whose difficulty is compounded when those events span international borders. Aiming to make the task easier, Dutch Zapaday offers a global public calendar that collects and aggregates event listings from around the world.

Converse brought an entire community together for an entire day of street games, basketball-skateboard-and-dance exhibitions, musical performances and the chance to win fun prizes at the Converse Block Party held on May 28 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Skateboarding was also featured in the event. Skaters had the chance to do their own thing during the Open Skate session. Skateboarding competitions promised exciting prizes. Old and new skateboarding

tricks wowed the audience while a Skate Clinic welcomed all who wishd to improve their skills on the board.

onstage with Beatbox Philippines.

Visual artists created some cool graffiti and chalk art.

Also featured were music and dancing from some of today’s top performers. The Philippine All-Stars and Krumpinoy got everyone moving to the beat of their amazing street-dance moves.

Converse is a much-loved, longestablished leader in casual streetwear. The brand is already an iconic part of our lives. The block party is not just a perfect showcase for Converse as the preferred urban outdoors apparel—it is also an opportunity to show the not-soobvious but ever-present reality: a community is most united when its members gather outdoors.

Callalily and Gloc 9 with Pointblanc rocked the house while Beatbox Philippines showed off their skills onstage. A beatbox contest let winning participants perform

Zapaday was named the most promising startup at this year’s Tech Media Europe conference.

Once it has built an international user community, it plans to launch additional premium services.

Website: www.zapaday.com Source: Springwise

events

The aim of the Converse Block Party is to bring together the community through activities that Filipinos enjoy, especially playing hoops.

That’s why the block party includes basketball exhibition games and shooting competitions, as well as other basketball-related contests that give away exciting prizes.

There are already online news calendars from providers such as Reuters and AFP, but generally they’re expensive and closed to most of the world. So argues Zapaday, whose public calendar is open and free, allowing anyone to list and learn about upcoming events. Currently in private alpha testing, the site uses bots that scan more than 4,000 news sites and calendars for upcoming world and local events, and subsequently lists those that are approved by its editors. Users can also make their own submissions in wiki-like fashion. Either way, the result is a single place for international users to learn about the festivals, product launches, conferences, awards, holidays, sports events and elections coming up in the future.

newsbits&bytes the biggest news served fresh in

AboitizPower, AEV Score Big

Hyundai & EastWest Bank Tie Up For Hyundai Mastercard Credit Card Hyundai and EastWest Bank set a new standard in furthering customers’ rewarding moments with the Hyundai MasterCard, the premium lifestyle motoring credit card for One Hyundai Club members.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) and AboitizPower Corp. prominently ranked in seven categories in the 11th annual Best Companies in Asia poll conducted by FinanceAsia.

In the poll, respondents are asked to score on company attributes such as corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and also seeks consensus on companies and corporate personalities deemed best in their field.

July2011

For the Philippines, AboitizPower president and CEO Erramon Aboitiz was named Best CEO and Iker Aboitiz as Best CFO. In the best managed company category, AboitizPower ranked second and AEV was at fifth, improving their sixth and 11th rankings, respectively, in 2010.

For best corporate governance, AboitizPower stayed steady at sixth, same as last year, while AEV improved to seventh from eighth place in 2010. In the category of best investor relations, AboitizPower ranked third from last year’s seventh place, which is being occupied by AEV this year. For Best CSR, AboitizPower improved its ranking to third place from last year’s 7th spot while AEV slipped slightly to seventh from the sixth spot in 2010. In the most committed to a strong dividend policy category, both AboitizPower and AEV landed in fourth place.

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For his part, Iker Aboitiz said, “These awards belong to the entire Aboitiz team. They have nothing to do with individual talent but rather the teamwork that allows the Aboitiz Group to achieve its goals and those of its stakeholders.

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Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. and East West Banking Corp. go in high gear as they the premium lifestyle motoring credit card in the market—the Hyundai MasterCard. Borne out of the companies’ shared passion for driving total customer satisfaction and service excellence, the Hyundai MasterCard elevates the prestige of motoring, as it furthers the

elite rewards of being a member of One Hyundai Club, the firstever distributor-based car loyalty program in the country.

Setting a new standard in customer satisfaction and empowerment, the Hyundai MasterCard affords One Hyundai Club members an exclusive and rewarding drive towards the best motoring lifestyle possible.

And because it’s a MasterCard, a world of privileges awaits One Hyundai Club members, giving them an edge in spending flexibility and providing them rewarding moments at par with the affluent lifestyle they lead.

GE Introduces Atmosphere-Friendly Refrigerators

General Electric (GE) recently announced the latest ecofriendly changes in its appliances specifically in its refrigerators.

The company has changed its refrigerator manufacturing to use a gas called cyclopentane that dramatically reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emission. GE will spend $16 million to convert part if its facility in Decatur to use the said environment-friendly gas instead of HFC 134a, a refrigerant which traps heat in the atmosphere.

With this big switch, GE will eliminate the same amount of greenhouse gases that 78,000 cars emit in one year. This

means a 99-percent reduction using EPA data for the globalwarming potential of different gases.

This move by GE Appliances is in line with the company’s commitment to decrease the company’s environmental footprint, Paul Surowiec, the general manager for refrigeration at GE Appliances and Lighting stated. GE made use of a “clean sheet” approach to making refrigeration products to take into consideration the performance, not to mention the environmental attributes from production to disposal, he added.

bite-sized quantities

HTC Names New Additions to Leadership Team HTC Corp. recently announced an increased commitment to Asia-Pacific supported by the executive promotion of Jack Tong and the appointment of Lennard Hoornik to newly created regional management positions.

The organizational expansion allows HTC to build a strategic foundation for future growth across the region. “2011 has already been a year of remarkable growth and expansion for HTC,” said CEO Peter Chou.

As president of HTC North Asia, Jack Tong will be based in Taiwan and will be responsible for the growth and development of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and China. As president of HTC South Asia Pacific, Lennard Hoornik will be based in Singapore and responsible for Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippine, Australia and New Zealand.

WD Opens its First Digital Life Store In The Philippines WD, the world’s leader in external storage solutions, opened its first WD Digital Life Store in the Philippines on May 25. Located at the 4th floor of Cyberzone, The Annex, SM North EDSA, WD Digital Life Store will offer consumers a fully interactive shopping experience and will feature the company’s full range of branded products.

Operating Hours of the store will be from 10 AM to 9 PM from Sunday – Thursday and 10 AM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Consumers can expect an exciting array of activities while they visit the WD Digital Life Store such as demonstration of WD TV Live Hub media center, a Full-HD 1080p media player with a 1 terabyte built-in network hard drive that gives users the freedom to play all their personal media on any screen in the home; demonstration of WD Photos photo viewer app, which enables remote access to content stored on their WD network drive from their portable device, anywhere in the world; as well as an exhibition of the WD SmartWare software, a visual backup software with password protection and hardware encryption to ensure user’s data is protected.

Newly launched products will also be showcased in the WD

Digital Life Store, among them the new My Book Live home network drive, which gives consumers the fastest storage of and access to their content among consumer-grade network drives and provides a seamless set-up for centralizing a home’s digital media.

“Digital storage solutions are both integral and critical in protecting data and in ensuring that it is easily accessible within an interactive network,” said Craig Davis, director for sales and marketing-branded product group at WD AsiaPacific. “The WD Digital Life Store will provide consumers an avenue that will conveniently allow them to experience WD’s comprehensive range of storage and entertainment solutions.”

Consumers can touch, feel and experience the effective, efficient and scalable storage solutions and home entertainment products that will aid in improving their productivity and enjoyment to optimize the full potential of digital content with Western Digital.

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Petron Lakbay Alalay Supports Global Initiative For Road Safety

The campaign was rolled out in the Philippines under the auspices of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership and international agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Asian Development Bank.

One of the key elements during the launch was the presentation of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan, formulated by the DOTC in partnership with other

government agencies and private sector representatives.

The global road safety advocacy includes a Road Safety Pledge that states: “ I support the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

As a road user, I pledge: Not to use my cell phone while driving; Not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; To always use a seatbelt while driving; To maintain my car in good, roadworthy condition; Not to be goaded into road rage by aggressive drivers and motorcyclists; Not to throw garbage out of my car; To always observe and follow road laws, rules and regulations.”

Petron Lakbay Alalay, which was recently expanded from a Holy Week motorist emergency assistance activity

into a full-blown summer road safety program, inherently supports the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. In particular, the free safety checks offered at participating Petron stations helps ensure that vehicles are well-maintained for worryfree travel. Petron also has a Mobile Lakbay Alalay project that sends road safety tips as well as car care and service reminders to registered mobile phone users.

Through its network of more than 1,700 service stations— the largest in the industry— Petron is in an excellent position to further promote the road safety advocacy in response to the worldwide call to action to prevent road accidents and save lives.

Dishes Meant for Sharing at Italianni’s Marquee Mall Italianni’s bids all food lovers in Pampanga “Benvenuto!” by opening its doors at Level 1 of the Marquee Mall in Angeles City. They can now savor generous portions of dishes that are meant for sharing.

Located near the Angeles exit of NLEX and a few kilometers near Clark, Pampanga residents,

A new executive has joined Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) Takashi Tomita, previously the general manager for market research and development of Mitsubishi Corp.’s Isuzu Business Division in Japan, is replacing long-time IPC officer Yuki Kato as executive vice president.

After handling several management posts in Japan, Australia and Vietnam, Tomita

This 140-seater restaurant offers hearty Italian-American cuisine showcasing Italy’s diversely rich flavors infused with the goodness of American bounty and adapted to the modern

palate. Food is served to you by the friendly and efficient wait staff. The dining atmosphere, as in all Italianni’s branches, is warm and welcoming with that signature old world charm that has endeared the restaurant chain to its guests and keep them coming back for more.

that they get with every Petron change oil package from June 1 to July 15. The promo is available at Petron stations in Metro Manila as well as in Visayas and Mindanao.

Petron Corp. recently announced its mid-year sales promos for various product lines, to give consumers more values for their patronage.

In time for school opening, every Php 1,000 single or accumulated purchase of Petron Diesel Max or Petron Xtra Unleaded entitles the customer to pick a prize. At stake are ballpens, pencils, key chains, notebooks, and ID laces. This promo is offered at participating stations in the Bicol region as well as in VisMin, from June 20 to July 20.

From 6-9 am, Petron helps keep jeepney drivers awake with free SanMig coffee for every P150 purchase of Petron DieselMax. Offered at participating Petron stations in Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon, this free coffee offer runs from June 20 to July 20, 2011.

Coffee lovers will surely appreciate the Php 100 gift certificate from Bo’s Coffee

Targeted at tricycles and public utility vehicles, this promo offers a free “trapal” or free tire cover. A purchase of 1-liter of Petron Sprint 4T or Petron Sprint 2T plus Php 200 worth of Petron XCS instantly entitles the buyer to a free “trapal.” A purchase of 6 liters of Petron Rev-X plus Php 500 worth of Petron Diesel Max gives the customer a free tire cover.

Promo runs from June 1 to July 30 in Metro Manila and from June 15 to July 15 in the rest of Luzon.

Running up to August 31, all SM Advantage card holders who buy an 11-kg Petron Gasul will earn 5 bonus points on their card.

This promo is offered at select Gasul outlets in Metro Manila.

In support the of recently launched global initiative of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, Petron has also expanded its Petron Lakbay Alalay free safety checkups into a year-round program at participating Petron stations nationwide.

To take advantage of all these value-added offers from Petron, simply visit the participating dealers that are easily identified through promo banners and streamers prominently displayed on site.

Wirelessly Rewiring Audio Entertainment Worldwide digital entertainment leader, Creative Technology Ltd.—in partnership with local distributor IONTECH—recently launched its Pure Wireless lineup. From wireless headsets to wireless speakers, Creative indeed has the solution for every audio need.

Takashi Tomita

served as deputy general manager of the Isuzu Business Division’s market research and development office in 2009, and then as full-fledged general manager of the same office the following year, before being assigned to his new post as IPC’s EVP this year. He will be in charge of sales, finance and administration.

Yuki Kato Outgoing IPC EVP Yuki Kato, meanwhile, has been tasked to handle the strategy planning office of the Isuzu Business Division at Mitsubishi Corp. back in Japan.

Creative Technology managers Gregory Yeo Hung Hwee and Paul Seow flew in from Singapore to introduce the latest products they have on the market and demonstrated how to wirelessly connect the ZiiSound Series speakers via Bluetooth.

“With pure wireless modularity, everything changes when it comes to the home speaker system, both for the end-user and also for the retailer. With the ZiiSound Dx series of Bluetooth wireless speakers, consumers can enjoy the flexibility and versatility of starting with one speaker and expanding to a multi-channel home audio system,” said Ting Lai Chu, vice president for advanced mMultimedia group at Creative Technology.

Other products launched during the event were the WP-450, WP-350 and WP-250 wireless headphones and the D80 entry-level Bluetooth speakers.

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Isuzu Philippines Introduces New EVP

foreign and local tourists traveling up north can now stop over for a delicious lunch, snacks or dinner at Italianni’s.

Petron Rolls Out Mid-Year Sales Promos

July2011

Petron Lakbay Alalay, the county’s longest-running and most extensive motorist assistance program, has aligned its activities to strongly support the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, launched on May 11.

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Bosch Philippines Grows In fiscal year 2010, the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of innovative technologies and services in the areas of automotive and industrial technology generated sales of 47.3 billion euros. This is 24-percent more than in the previous year and represents the highest level of annual sales in the 125 years of the company’s history. The global upswing of sales revenue is expected to continue for 2011 according to the good start in the first quarter with sales up by roughly 15 percent.

Bosch in the Philippines grew by 23 percent, generating sales of 16 million in 2010. The company also experienced a strong first quarter this year with brisk sales generated by its automotive aftermarket and power tools business divisions, which grew by 19% and 49%, respectively.

In addition to drives and controls (hydraulics), packaging technology and security systems in the country, Bosch recently added thermotechnology (heating system) and automotive original equipment (OE) to its local portfolio.

“The company’s strong growth in the Philippines market during the past year validates the Bosch Group’s long term strategy for the country,” said Joseph Hong, managing director of Robert Bosch Inc. Philippines.

“Diversification through innovative products as well as business lines and our expanded local presence contributed to the very positive development last year.”

In 2010, Bosch Philippines increased sales of its automotive business by 27 percent, retaining its leadership as the largest automotive aftermarket parts supplier in the country.

During the upcoming year, the company aims to further strengthen its market position within the local automotive market which already ranks among the Philippines top five GDP contributors. IN 2009 alone a record number of 168,000 vehicles were sold in the Philippines, an increase of 30 percent year on year.

With a broadened product portfolio Bosch will be able to better serve a greater number of motorists, including those with diesel and commercial vehicles which account for a third of the local market. In addition, the company will also expand the number of its Bosch Service stations, a network of independent workshops across the country. Within the next

years Bosch plans to establish a Bosch Service workshop in every key city nationwide.

With an estimated 6.5 million registered motor vehicles in the Philippines, local workshops also increased demand for electronic vehicle diagnostics.

Bosch diagnostic equipment is already used in many repair shops throughout the country and Bosch will continue to serve local market needs by launching some 200 new diagnostics products over the medium term, beginning with the Bosch KT-310 diagnostic scanner for Philippine-specific vehicles.

The power tools division also showed strong sales performance in the last fiscal year. The positive result was fostered through growth in the manufacturing and construction market, hardware stores and the local mining industry, which alone holds 19 large-scale mining projects at the moment.

Being one of the largest system suppliers for the Philippine mines, Bosch power tools will continue to introduce especially designed products for the local market.

In order to further strengthen its local position, power tools will keep its focus on market intelligence and diversification.

In the previous year the product line was expanded with several products including a rotary

hammer for construction and the largest local range of cordless lithium-ion tools. Likewise, an expanded line of Skil-branded tools now offers affordable grinders and drills which benefit several micro industries.

Apart from the global growth of its technology business, Bosch sees great potential in expanding its services in the local Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

The newly established Bosch Communication Center, a subsidiary of the Security Systems division serves both internal and external clients and is proficient in all major Asian languages. The communication center already achieved an above-target performance during its first year of operation.

Bosch Philippines plans to further strengthen its position in the BPO market by expanding its sales organization, increasing voice service coverage for English speaking markets such as IT, travel and tourism and offering back office solutions for finance and accounting.

Bosch currently operates 21 established Communication Centers worldwide.

“The strength of the Philippine market also allows us to sustain our social projects in the fields of education, health and humanitarian support,” explains Hong. One example for

Key Stakeholders Commit Support For SME Summit

July2011

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo has announced that preparations for the SME Development Week celebrations this year are well underway, with commitments of support from key stakeholders. In particular, the SME Summit, scheduled on July 7 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, is expected to serve as a springboard for the SME Development Agenda of the Aquino administration.

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The morning plenary session, which will showcase SME Success Stories, will focus on how private and public sector partnership can nurture awardwinning, world-class businesses from ordinary citizens. The first plenary session will highlight an Enabling Business Environment as one of the key components for SME success. Lined up as

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resource persons are Jose Sales de Villa, proprietor of Giga Enterprises, an award-winning producer of organic wellness products; Emilio Tingson, a licensing officer from Ormoc City; and Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr., chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The next sharing session on Access to Finance will start off with a presentation by Rommel T. Juan, president and chief executive officer of Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc., a local fastfood chain serving Pinoy dishes wrapped in banana leaves.

After him will follow Dr. Ramon Quesada, chairman of the Small Business Corp., a government agency that provides liquidity support and financing facilities for SMEs. The third speaker will be Agnes Angeles, a senior

vice-president of Planters Development Bank, a privately owned bank offering products and services specially geared for SME promotion.

The third sharing session, on Access to Markets, will start off with Venus C. Genson, managing partner of Venus Crafts, an exporter of fine Philippine furniture. Rosario Virginia C. Gaetos, executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, will also discuss the programs and services for promoting Filipino exports, while Josephine T. Locsin, president of the Association of Negros Producers will present their experiences in expanding their market presence.

The final session on productivity and efficiency, will have the

following speakers: Ret. Col. Virgilio C. Jose of Vjandep Bakeshop, based in Camiguin Island, will share how their shanty-like factory was able to expand into a modern production facility with assistance from the Department of Science & Technology. His talk will be complemented by presentations from Dr. Teresita C. Fortuna, NCR regional director of the Department of Science & Technology and Joel C. Amante, president of the Philippine Total Quality Management Foundation as resource persons.

The SME Summit is expected to bring together entrepreneurs, MSMED Council members, local government units, trade and industry associations, business development services providers, and other SME advocates.

the company’s activities in this area is the “Bosch Class of 2010” project which was launched in 2006. Since then close to 100 high school graduates have been supported by the company.

This year, Bosch Philippines will sponsor college scholarships for the students.

The Bosch Group will celebrate a landmark year in 2011 with both its 125th anniversary as well as the 150th birthday of the company’s founder. In 1886, Robert Bosch opened his “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering” in Stuttgart, Germany. By 1913, Bosch products were being sold on every continent – with 88 percent of sales being generated outside Germany. Today, the Bosch name is well-known across the globe.

eBay Philippines Launches eBay Motors eBay Philippines recently launched eBay Motors, an online used vehicle trading platform that helps corporate, automobile manufacturers, financial institutions and leasing companies sell their vehicles to registered buyers across the country.

“We are excited to launch eBay Motors, a high-velocity transaction platform for corporate to liquidate their used vehicle inventory in the most efficient and transparent manner. We have successfully pioneered the B2B Motors concept in India and have brought this domain expertise to set up the Philippines Motors Business,” said eBay Philippines country manager Muralikrishnan B. eBay Philippines had a good initial response on their concept auction with the participation of 3 major banks and over 75 used car dealers. It is a platform to get easy access to large vehicle inventory at one place and be able to trade efficiently and easily.

Motors are the biggest category on eBay with a gross merchandise value of $14.4 billion leading to the expansion of eBay Motors. The good reaction from India and the Philippines resulted in the opening of more B2B platforms on other country franchises.

Corporates and interested dealers can log on to b2bmotors.ebay.ph to register and participate in this vehicle marketplace.

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Generika Aircon Stores Ensure Drug Potency Studies show that exposure to heat and humidity can affect the potency and stability of many prescription and overthe-counter medicines. In fact, although most drugs are recommended to be stored at “room temperature” the ideal temperature range for safe drug storage is actually from 15° to 30° degrees Celsius.

The country’s tropical weather is less than ideal for proper medicine storage. Especially during the hot summer months, daytime weather often reaches over 300 degrees. This can result

in a degradation of medications, making them less efficacious with the possibility of producing some adverse effects, without our knowing it.

Because medicines are sensitive to temperature and humidity, all Generika Drugstore outlets are air-conditioned to preserve the efficacy and potency of its products, while at the same time serving its customers in a more comfortable setting.

Similarly, the Generika central warehouse and storage facility is temperature-controlled to ensure that the stocks are

stored safely and effectively in accordance with required standards. According to the US Pharmacopeia (USP), controlled room temperature is defined as “a temperature maintained thermostatically that encompasses the usual and customary working environment of 20° to 25° degrees C that allows for brief deviations between 15° to 30° degrees C that are experienced in pharmacies, hospitals and warehouses.”

A UK study pointed out that many drugs such as cephalexin,

Here are some tips to ensure your medication retains its efficacy: •Always check storage information for your medicines.

It may be wise to refrigerate certain medications.

•Avoid stocking up on large amounts of medicine. Have a small supply for emergencies and buy fresh medicines as needed.

•Never leave your medicines inside the car for long periods; do not store medicines in the trunk of your car.

•When traveling, keep your medicines in your hand-carried bag instead of checking them in with your luggage. Be sure, though, to use their original containers with pharmacy labels to avoid problems with international checkpoints.

•Do not leave the cotton plug inside the medicine bottle.

Doing so can draw moisture into the container.

•Check the expiration date each time you take a drug. Throw out and replace any medications that are out of date.

•Never use medication that has changed color, consistency or odor, regardless of expiration

date. Throw away capsules or tablets that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or are cracked or chipped.

•Do not store your medicines inside the bathroom. Bathroom cabinets tend to be warm and humid, an environment that speeds up the drug breakdown process. Bathrooms are among the worst places to store medicines.

July2011

ampicillin and erythromycin, are temperature-sensitive and have reduced efficacy when exposed to high temperatures.

Even aspirin has been shown to degrade when exposed to heat.

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Generika Drugstore prides itself in being driven by a strong sense of social purpose. As noted by Generika president Teodoro Ferrer: “At Generika, we put the quality of the medicines we sell above all other considerations. Generic drugs should never be equated to lower quality. By providing affordable, quality medicines, we have a unique opportunity to contribute to the health of the communities we serve.”

Generika Drugstore was the national winner in the drugstore chain category of the Drugstore Association of the Philippines Quality Award in 2008. In 2009, the Bureau of Food & Drugs Quality Seal Award was granted to five Generika Drugstore branches, while the GenerikaSoledad branch was named overall winner for the drugstore chain category.

Provincial MSMED Councils Honor SME Rising Stars According to DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, “the SME Star Program is a competency program that supports the growth and sustainability of SMEs through the business development stages. In cooperation with other SME stakeholders, we offer a package of services and interventions in such key areas as marketing, production, financial management, and management and technical skills development, in order to nurture the enterprise’s growth to the next stage.”

and one medium enterprise is conferred the SME Star Elite Award; a total of 48 deserving SMEs will receive the recognition annually.

Nueva Ecija recently announced the province’s first-ever nominees to the SME Star Elite Awards, as follows: Kababaihang Masigla ng Nueva Ecija, Nueva Cabanatuan Meat Products, and Philnor Aqua, Inc. for the micro, small and medium enterprise categories, respectively. At the awarding ceremonies, Dr. Reynato C. Arimbuyutan, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Nueva Ecija chapter noted that, “The awards might be the key needed to open the interest of businessmen to improve the competitiveness of the province.”

The SME Star Program is seen as an important component in MSME development and promotion, as it recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs that have shown remarkable achievements in growing their businesses to become globally competitive enterprises.

As part of the SME Week celebration in July, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino is expected to launch the search for the national SME Star Presidential Awardees from among the top SMEs in the country, particularly those that have successfully expanded operations in the domestic market or become globally competitive. One SME Star Presidential Award winner will be announced in 2012.

newsbits&bytes

In the runup to SME Week, which will be celebrated on the second week of the month, the provincial MSMED Councils have started announcing the winners of the SME Rising Star Award in their respective provinces. With government statistics indicating that 99.6% of registered businesses belong to the micro, small and medium enterprise segments, the government’s SME Star Program was formulated as an important framework for SME development and promotion.

The SME Star Program identifies three stages of business development, with a corresponding recognition or award for each level.

Stage 1 is the startup or capability-building phase, and is recognized through the SME Rising Star Award given at the provincial level. Each province awards three SME Rising Stars — one winner each for the micro, small, and medium enterprise categories. A total of 249 startup businesses are recognized as SME Rising Stars annually. Stage 2, identified as the market penetration or export awareness stage, is the next step in successful enterprise development. At this stage, outstanding businesses are recognized at the regional level with the SME Star Elite Award.

Per region, one micro, one small

newsbits&byte

Globe Announces MEF 14 Status

Globe Telecom, the first Philippine carrier to be certified by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF 9), adds MEF 14 to its growing list of certifications.

MEF is the defining body for Carrier Ethernet, which aims to accelerate its adoption globally. Globe was also the first Philippine carrier to join MEF and its over 150 members that includes the world’s top service providers and major equipment vendors, back in 2009.

With enterprises operating in multiple locations around the world they require interconnection among service providers as they expect the same service function and performance in all their branches. Carrier ethernet is the leading technology for missioncritical, real-time services

Miss World Philippines country director, chairman and CEO of CQ Global Quest Inc. Cory Quirino and Midas Hotel general manager Angel L. Kanapi, Jr. formally seal the Midas Hotel’s appointment as the “Official Pageant Residence” of Miss World Philippines 2011. Midas Hotel is the newest boutique hotel on Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

Managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts, Midas Hotel prides itself in excellence, a virtue exemplified

by Miss World. For inquiries on Midas Hotel, please call 902-0100 or 09175977869 or visit www. midashotelandcasino.com.

including VoIP, disaster recovery, conferencing and enterprise applications.

Suzuki Philippines (SPH) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) toast to the continued success of the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup, following the MOA signing of SPH and PFF’s partnership for the tournament.

Globe supports its Carrier Ethernet services with enough bandwidth and capacity to provide for the needs of BPOs, multinational companies and large enterprises with foreign affiliates. “Globe has been known as a pioneer in the telco industry and true to form we are proud to have initiated MEF certification in Carrier Ethernet offerings in the Philippines. We have embraced MEF standards to deliver reliable, high quality and technically consistent Ethernet services to our customer base,” said Jesus C. Romero, head of enterprise segments at Globe Business.

Standing (L-R): Red Avelino, PFF Vision Asia Coordinator; Ramon Manuel, PFF General Secretary; Shuzo Hoshikura, SPH GM Auto Sales & Marketing Division ; Benedict Arreola, SPH Asst. GM Motorcycle Sales & Marketing Division Seated (L-R): Mariano Araneta, PFF President; Satoshi Uchida, SPH President; Norminio Mojica, Suzuki GM for Admin & Finance particularly in adults over age 20. The prevalence of being overweight in this demographic is 21.4 percent while obesity is at a high 5.2 percent.

July2011

There has been a renewed and enthusiastic focus on healthy living over the past few years, perhaps as a consequence to these alarming statistics.

However, some might need an extra push to reach their weight loss goals. Xenical (generic name: Orlistat), the leader in weight loss pills, provides an effective weight management solution that helps its users achieve real and long-lasting results. Marketed by Roche Philippines, Inc., Xenical has the highest-quality formulation and is purer compared with other orlistats on the market.

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Xenical Launches Club with Zumba Flair Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths everywhere, triggering at least 2.8 million adult deaths each year and compounding

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already serious ailments like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. Originally thought to be a problem only in developed countries, this epidemic has

found its way to the Philippines as well. The National Nutrition and Health Survey of 2008 showed increasing trends across all age groups in the Philippines,

People who take Xenical regularly in addition to maintaining a healthy diet and moderate exercise regime will see results in as quickly as two weeks, and consistent consumption of this effective weight loss aid will not only lower weight but keep it from being regained. As more and more Filipinos continue to win the war against obesity with Xenical, the brand recently launched Club New You, a

support group that provides the latest holistic weight loss methods through relevant content on www.newyou.com. ph. Dedicated health consultants will monitor your progress and motivate you to keep up the good work, while members of your family feel the benefits of the New You as well. Members of Club New You will enjoy perks such as discounts and special promotions at various gyms, restaurants, and retail establishments around the country!

Held recently at the Greenbelt Residences in Makati, the launch of Club New You saw members of the media and Xenical users alike party the pounds away in an innovative and fun workout.

Hosted by F.A.S.H TV personality Bianca Valerio, the launch enabled everyone to experience Zumba, the Latin aerobics craze that has been steadily spreading across the globe since the 1990s. Demonstrated by certified instructors, participants were able to enjoy the perks of losing weight and discover their own Latin rhythm.

Aside from trimming the fat, Xenical offers a new lease on life. Find the New You today!

buyers’guide

advertisers’ row

SAMSUNG

NEO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Models denoted with N do NOT have OS

REDFOX

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

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

Tablet

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

Desktop

Notebook

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

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

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

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July2011

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

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

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buyers’guid

HTC

ASUS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CANON

July2011

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

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

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NIKON

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

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

COOLPIX L23 10.1 megapixels 2.7-inch TFT LCD 22 MB, expandable via SD card NIKKOR 4.0-20.00mm lens, 5x Optical Zoom 96.7 X 59.9 X 29.3 mm Php 4,699

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

COOLPIX L120 14.1 megapixels 3-inch TFT LCD 120 MB, expandable via SD card NIKKOR 4.5-94.5mm lens, 21X Optical Zoom 109.9 X 76.5 X 78.4 mm Php 15,999

“It’s not easy looking for a new gadget.

Luckily, we’re here to help you out.”

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AGFA

HP

July2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELECTA 14 14.1 Megapixels 2.7-inch Auto Brightness LCD 13.7 MB internal memory, expandable via SD card 15x Optical Wide Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization 103 x 74 x 68mm Php 8,995

buyers’guide

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

links

your gadgets directory

Technology

Mobility

Acer

HTC

http://www.acer.com.ph

SiSPH Technologies, Inc. Suite 3003, 30th flr.

Atlanta Center, 31 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan CIty Tel. 728 3388

Classic Motors, Incorporated Bonifacio High Street 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City Taguig Tel. 856 3471

LG Electronics Philippines Inc.

79 EDSA Mandaluyong City Tel. 531 4380

AC Ryan #7 Sheridan Street Corner Pioneer Street Mandaluyong City Tel. 470 0696

Altec Lansing BANBROS Commercial Inc., 3/F BB Corporate Center 32 Pilar cor. Araullo St, Addition Hills, San Juan CIty

AOC, Neo Glee Electronics, Inc. Unit 203 2/F Taipan Place Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Avenue Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 633 4533

Audiophile (VOX) 3/F Festival Mall Corporate Avenue Corner Civic Drive Muntinlupa City.

Tel. 807 8796

Asus Technology Philippines, Inc. Hanston Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 634 0309 http://ph.asus.com

Genius, iOmega MSI-ECS Topy II Building 3 Economia Street, Libis, Quezon City Tel. 688 3999

Hewlett Packard 37/F Robinsons Summit Center 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel. 888 5900

Chery Cars

KIA Motors

No. 15 F. Legaspi St., Maybunga, Pasig City Tel. 641 4181

Suzuki Philippines Inc. Danny Floro Street Bagong Ilog, Pasig City Tel. 671 9724

Panasonic Philippines Ortigas Avenue Extension, Taytay, Rizal City Tel. 636 3101

Philips 49/F Pbcom Tower Ayala Avenue Corner V.A. Rufino Streets Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. 815 6840

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

Sharp (Phils.) Corporation Km. 23 West Service Road South Luzon Expressway Alabang, Muntinlupa City Tel. 842 1371

Vivitar Unit 801 West Tektite Tower Philippine Stock Exhange Center Exchange Road Ortigas Center Pasig City Tel. 636 6000

Lifestyle Crock-Pot, Stearns

Posh Nails

FOCUS GLOBAL INC. Pioneer cor. Reliance Streets, Mandaluyong City Tel. 634 8587 Fax No. 634 8738 www.focusglobalinc.com

CTTM Square Bldg., Tomas Morato Corner Timog Quezon City, Philippines Tel. 926 5077 email: tomasmorato@poshnails. com.ph

Converse

Opt

Filcon Mfg. Corp.

Unit E, 2801 C East Tower, PSE Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center Pasig CIty

Powermac Center 2nd Level, Greenbelt 3 Ayala Center Makati City

Majolica Majorca

PRIMER Group of Companies Primer Star Center 2282 Leon Guinto St. Malate, Manila City Tel. 303 1234; 567 0611 www.primergrp.com

June2011

SM Makati A. Arnaiz Avenue Corner South Drive Ayala Center Makati City Tel. 867 4298

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Marithé + François Girbaud G/F Officenter, Greenhills Shopping Center Ortigas Avenue San Juan City Tel. 744 5800

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Sanuk, Victorinox

Wet n’ Wild Cosmetics G/F, SM Megamall-A Department Store Julia Vargas Avenue Corner EDSA Mandaluyong City.

Tel. 633 5012

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February2011

links

June2011

links

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