2012 v12n11 - THE MUSIC ISSUE

NOT ALL GOOD MUSIC COMES WITH A LABEL

Samsung Series 5 Laptop: The Ultrabook, done right.

Wi-tribe USB Modem:

DSL speeds, gone mobile.

Jay Park & Gwen Zamora

GET THE LATEST, HOTTEST TECH NEWS FROM

COMPUTEX 2012

Making beautiful music together REVIEWED: Wi-tribe 4G USB modem ASUS Transformer TF300 Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Fanny Wang 3001 Headphones LG Optimus 3D Max P720 Nokia Lumia 610 Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook Sony NEX-7 Interchangeable Lens Camera Starmobile Neptune B302

FEEL DA RIDDIM WITH EARPHONES FROM

THE HOUSE OF MARLEY

THE

MUSIC ISSUE

AUDIO TAKES CENTER STAGE

NOT ALL GOOD MUSIC COMES WITH A LABEL

Samsung Series 5 Laptop: The Ultrabook, done right.

Wi-tribe USB Modem:

DSL speeds, gone mobile.

Jay Park & Gwen Zamora

GET THE LATEST, HOTTEST TECH NEWS FROM

COMPUTEX 2012

Making beautiful music together REVIEWED: Wi-tribe 4G USB modem ASUS Transformer TF300 Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Fanny Wang 3001 Headphones LG Optimus 3D Max P720 Nokia Lumia 610 Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook Sony NEX-7 Interchangeable Lens Camera Starmobile Neptune B302

FEEL DA RIDDIM WITH EARPHONES FROM

THE HOUSE OF MARLEY

THE

MUSIC ISSUE

AUDIO TAKES CENTER STAGE

editor’snote Music knows no bounderies.

We live in such a jam-packed and noisy world that we sometimes need to create our own space in the middle of a crowd. With earphones plugged in and our favorite music on, we can create this virtual space anytime, anywhere.

Music spans the whole spectrum of our emotions—we play music to celebrate and to mourn. We listen to music to relax , to be inspired, or to revive our spirits.

The mood and ambiance we want to create can only be achieved when we have access to the best sound quality. With so many product offerings available in the market today, it pays to be gadget-savvy so we can choose the best match for our particular taste and needs. In this issue, we showcase a wide array of headsets, music phones, apps and devices that are guaranteed to enhance your listening pleasure.

It is not enough to just listen. Some people feel the need to create. In this issue, our resident musician, Jon Uriarte, better known as the hip hop artist “Protege” to his fans, shares the tools for producing original music—both hardware and software—and how to distribute and promote as an indie artist online.

President & CEO Chief Operating Officer

executive assistant

Maribelle Alba Mika Fernandez-David Amy Christine Giray

Sales Manager

Marisa Consuelo

Accounts executive Carol Agabin

PR & Events staff Jeffrey Suazo

Adelaine Mendoza Accounting manager Tess Pascua Accounting Staff Lorie Bernardo

Administration Staff Ramil Almojano

Salvador Da, Jr. Legal Counsel

Alba Law Office

We hope that this issue will take you on a musical adventure that will allow you to explore your own potential and help you communicate what Victor Hugo said so well: “Music expresses that which cannot be said, and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

Maribelle M. Alba

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

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief The quintessential gadgets girl who loves all things Mac, red and blingy.

Mika fernandez-david

Asst. Publisher Loves family, food, photography, travel, gadgets, office equipment, notebooks & pens, the beach, cooking, foreign supermarkets, coffee, crazy friends and food trips in the guise of photoshoots. Not necessarily in that order.

Editor-At-Large Websites, anything and everything Apple, Power Tools and unusual gadgets excite her.

She also loves to travel, go on food trips, and try out all the new things.

WE ARE ALSO ON

www.facebook.com/GadgetsMagazine www.twitter.com/GadgetsMagazine www.youtube.com/GadgetsMagazineTV

REN ALCANTARA

KARLO N. B. SAMSON

Jon Uriarte

JOSE Alvarez

Benjamin Arnold

Racine anne castro

Patrick Jude Ilagan

MR Gavin

DESINIRA TEH

CLARIZZE LAUREA

Christopher Kho

Section Editor He writes for the monthly music section of the magazine, among others, and is an artist in his own right as lyricist, beat-smith, and sound engineer.

STAFF WRITER Writer, guitarist, and comic book geek. She sneaks into punk gigs to take pictures with a Canon 450D she named Jarvis. She goes by the obnoxious online pseudonym The Five-Foot Genius.

Graphic Artist Likes art, music, sports, adventure, animals, books, God , food basically almost anything except for cruel people killing the earth and then some. She would love to see an aurora borealis someday.

JULY 2012

Presy Alba

John nieves

Digital editor All-around geek and gamer.

Loves guns, plays airsoft every weekend and games with Battlefield 3 religiously. Has been called a noob approximately 1 million times.

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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.

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

STAFF WRITER Brought to us from sunny California, Jose is a walking game encyclopedia. When he’s not playing games or on Facebook, he’s watching soccer or finding new ways to make people laugh.

Art Director He is a shutterbug living in the vast jungles of Manila. When not working he is busy reading books, solving the mysteries of life and fighting zombies.

Graphic Artist Clarizze is a daydreamer. You’ll often see her reading or in front of a computer. She’s also a movie buff. She takes pictures of rock shows in her free time.

Contributor Karlo is an editorial consultant by day, racket writer by night.

Part-time traveler, full-time geek, he’s been reviewing gadgets professionally for the past seven years. On his downtime, he runs the film photography blog Travelomo.com.

Contributor A struggling comedian in an artist’s body filled with cooking recipes and singing talent that is ready to busta-move on the dance floor on the path of thievery.

Contributor Sports and fashion may be a little impossible to mix, but our resident celeb stylist and sports savvy writer balances both perfectly. She’s the little girl in 5-inch heels on court.

contributor He eats, sleeps and drinks racing, and will drive the tires off of just about anything with four wheels and a motor.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

contents

Volume 12 Number 11 | jULY 2012

56

COVER STORY

Independent & Unsigned

The internet has changed the music industry. We give you some pointers on how to distribute and promote your music online.

Feature

61

A Mix of Delicious & Delightful

Stacy’s is a cozy and cheerful place to have a great time with your family.

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Computex 2012

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The Perfect Pair

Model GWEN ZAMORA & JAY PARK • Photography by ERWIN BARLETTA • Art Direction by BENJAMIN ARNOLD • Styling by M.R. GAVIN • Gwen’s Hair & Make-up by YANG GAGELONIA OF MUD (MAKE-UP DESIGNERY) • Gowns by POPO GO • Suits from BESPOKE BY LEVENSON RODRIGUEZ • Shot on Location at EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL • Special Thanks to ANISSA KIANG OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC REGIONAL OFFICE, GRACE FORONDA & KAREN HERNANDEZ OF MCA MUSIC INC., IAN FRAYCO OF MEGAWORLD LIFESTYLE MALLS, ANNIE DIOSO OF EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL & ROCHELLE TUAZON OF GMA TALENT DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT

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JULY 2012

photo feature

Sit Back, Relax, Enjoy the Show

We give you the scoop on one of the world’s biggest technology events, held last June 2012 in Taiwan.

We give you a dummy’s guide to choosing the right headphones.

International acts Jay Park and Gwen Zamora grace our pages with their charm and talent as we showcase some of the latest gadgets. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

contents Volume 12 Number 11 | JULY 2012

technology

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New finds

Find out about the latest gadgets and lifestyle products out in the market today, some of which you might have never heard of.

GadgetsLab

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Tried & tested, just for you

We go in-depth and unbiased as we give you our expert reviews on the gadgets we’ve tested ourselves.

Snapshots

42 45

Mobility

51 52 53

Lights. Magic.

Concerts.

Learn the secrets of concert photography as told by Magic Liwanag.

54

Test Drive: honda civic

We’ve taken the 2012 Honda Civic 1.8 EXi for a spin and here’s what we think of it.

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Lamborghini Manila now open

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We take you into the jaw dropping showroom of the Italian luxury and super sports car maker.

Peugeot marks its return to the Philippines

Want more from your mobile phone? Here are some great music apps.

Suzuki NEX 115 launched in Davao

Optimal Wellness with NOW FOODS and Watson’s Generic Drugs

This month we feature NOW FOODS supplements and Watson’s Buy Generics & Save advocacy.

We feature two of Honda’s family vehicles.

APPS

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Wellness

Honda’s people movers: Pilot & Odyssey

Here’s what you might not have known about the French automaker while we wait for its arrival.

There’s an app for that

Lifestyle

Green

Premium Sound in the Key of Green Help the earth with House of Marley’s audio products.

Music CORNER

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Gadgets that make tunes

We give you the tools and the truth about hardware vs. software music production.

Suzuki’s sporty, convenient, economical and aff ordable scooter finds its way south.

GAMING

46 Twisted Metal

The iconic vehicular combat game takes you back to the demolition derby.

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Everything Apple

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84

Creating Music on your Apple device

Tap into your inner musician with a couple of apps.

Tablets

50

Bits & Bytes

How to supersize your tablet

91

Events The Samsung Galaxy S III lands in the Philippines; Globe launches the Samsung Galaxy S III; Lucky switchers win Galaxy S3 units at Smart launch; HP Spectre and Phoenix launch.

NewsBits & Bytes

UPDATES ON TECH NEWS

Check out what’s hot off the press.

We show you how you can get past that storage space limitation and expand your tablet’s digital library.

JULY 2012

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the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe MOTHERBOARD The Asus P877-V Deluxe is a top-of-the-line motherboard that comes with incredible performance boosts, customizable fan controls, and remote control functions over Wi-Fi. Its Dual Intelligent Processors 3 with SMART DIGI+ Power Control deliver an exceptional increase in CPU overclocking performance and up to 85% boost in CPU frequency. You can also select the CPU wattage levels and reduce it by up to half in a single click, creating a cooler and quieter PC. The motherboard comes equipped with Wi-Fi Go! for ultimate wireless control over your PC, allowing you to perform tasks such as accessing your PC from a tablet or smartphone, using motion controls, easily transferring files, and DLNA streaming. Its Fan Xpert 2 feature brings you the most customizable fan controls to ensure that your motherboard stays cool. The included LucidLogix Virtu MVP can enhance your discrete graphics card up to 60% beyond its original performance with 3DMark Vantage. Lastly, the motherboard comes equipped with USB 3.0 for the fastest possible transmission of data.

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 GRAPHICS CARD The GeForce GTX 670 is designed to be a more affordable version of the GTX 680, so if you’re looking for a great graphics card but also want to save some money, the GTX 670 merits serious consideration. This version from Asus is a fully custom implementation of NVIDIA’s graphics card with the same name, and has a dual-fan Direct Touch cooler on the card and increased clock speeds to 1058MHz base clock. It has the same 28nm chip architecture as the GeForce GTX 680 and packs 2GB of RAM and NVIDIA’s GPU Boost technology that overclocks the processor to make use of available headroom. It also has the entire feature set of the GTX 680, including 4-way SLI support, and the ability to drive four monitors through a single card.

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Genius Media Pointer 1000 Professional Presenter No one likes a boring presentation, so why not liven it up with a professional presenter? Lose that awkward disconnect from your audience with the handy Genius Media Pointer 1000. With its 10-meter range and anti-interference function, this multifunctional presentation tool allows you to move around the room or auditorium so you can be more engaging to your audience. If you’re worried about boring people with a lengthy presentation, the LCD timer will keep you on cue as it beeps when you only have 30 seconds left or when the time is up. The device features both presentation and media modes, so moving to the next slide or playing videos are easy and troublefree.

Asus Zenbook Prime Ultrabook Remember those ultra-slim Zenbooks from Asus that packed Sandy Bridge processors? They’ve updated those ultrabooks with a new lineup called Zenbook Prime, which come equipped with Ivy Bridge and stunning full HD 1080p IPS matte displays. There are several different models in the lineup—there’s the 11-inch UX21A, the 13-inch UX31A/UX32A, and the 13inch UX32VD. The UX32A and UX32VD make use of hybrid hard drives while the UX31A and UX31A have an SSD. All of the models are equipped with an Intel HD Graphics 4000 card except for the UX32VD, which can come with an optional and better NVIDIA GT 620M GPU. The models can be fitted with either a Core i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge processor. It’s also worth mentioning that the keys are backlit. If you’re looking for an incredibly thin and light notebook that is also a performance beast, you should check out these ultrabooks from Asus.

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PowerColor HD7970 VIDEO CARD The PowerColor HD7970 is a GPU based on the next-generation AMD Tahiti 28nm GCN architecture. Its design makes it capable of ridiculously high frame rates for delivering cutting-edge graphics performance while using less power than traditional platforms. With its 4.3 billion 28nm transistors, its engine clocks in at 925MHz with memory speed at 1375MHz. The card makes use of AMD Eyefinity technology to support a 16,000 x 16,000 maximum display resolution for up to 6 displays. Its AMD APP Acceleration speeds up daily applications by creating a co-processing environment of GPU and CPU. The HD7970 has DirectX 11.1 support.

Lcs — PHP 28,000 pCS+ — PHP 22,000 standard — php 21,000

BlackBerry Curve 9320/9220 SMARTPHONE The BlackBerry Curve 9320 and 9229 come with the next generation BlackBerry operating system that’s packed with powerful new features and innovative pre-installed apps. It still keeps the hardware QWERTY keypad much-loved by BBMers. Your social life is at your fingertips with the dedicated BBM shortcut key that allows you to launch the BBM app to instantly start chatting, participate in a group message, and share pictures and videos. BBM is also built into your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you don’t have to leave the app. The Curve 9320 claims up to 7 hours of talk-time and up to 18 days of standby battery life.

Its WiFi capability lets you connect to the internet to browse the web, send email and download apps— and you can share your WiFi hotspot with up to five devices at once. The phone also comes with a lot of connectivity options, a 3.15-megapixel camera, and an FM radio. The 9320 is 3G while the 9220 is not.

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Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N Monochrome Laser Printer A lot of printers sacrifice good quality prints for speed—but the Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N isn’t one of them. This monochrome laser printer is mainly aimed at workplaces that require large volumes of high-quality documents at lightning speed. So, you need to print that 100-page quarterly report in a hurry? The Phaser4600N has you covered. You get the first page out in 7.8 seconds, and at 52 pages per minute, you’ll have enough time to grab a cup of coffee before the meeting starts. Together with its high-speed output, the Phaser 4600N prints documents in sharp, crisp 1200 x 1200dpi resolution.

Managing the device is easy with built-in network support,allowing you to operate some of its features from your desk. So if you’re in the market for a laser printer that gives you both volume and speed, you’d do well to give the Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N a shot.

PHP 66,000

Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 f/ fw and DocuPrint M205 f/fw Multifunction Printers While small businesses and houses are relatively tiny environments that don’t actually require big-budget printers, there are users looking for advanced features at an affordable price. The DocuPrint CM205 f (networkready) and f/w (wireless) color printers, together with their monochrome counterparts, theDocuPrint M205 f and f/w, are the ideal solutions. These models are compact, A4-size multifunction printers that are network-ready and have wireless capabilities specifically made for home and small business use. In addition to the impressive A4 printout speed of 12 pages per minute for color and 15 for monochrome, these multifunction printers offer superb output quality thanks to Fuji Xerox’s Image Registration Control Technology which promises sharp, accurate prints for pages on end. If these reasons aren’t enough to get you to rush to the nearest Fuji Xerox dealer, these devices also handle your scanning, fax and copy needs. It’s everything a home office jockey could want in a printer, and more.

PHP 16,700 - 23,000 (depending on configuration)

Fuji Xerox WorkCentre 4250 Multifunctional Printer If your current printer isn’t cutting it for your big workgroup, the Fuji Xerox WorkCentre 4250 is here to save the day. It’s an A4-sized monochrome multifunction laser printer with a speed of up to 43 pages per minute and a first-page-out time of 8 seconds. It can print with a maximum resolution of 1200x1200dpi, and copy with a resolution of 600x 600dpi. Aside from printing and copying, the WorkCentre 4250 also has scanning and faxing capabilities, so you can digitize documents and fax or send them via e-mail.

Users can also save time and print files directly from a USB drive. Its interface is easy to operate from an intuitive icon-based full-color touch screen. The WorkCentre 4250 will definitely get your big business through the daily grind with its speed, high quality prints, and multi-functionality.

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Accutone Pisces Band Stereo Headphone Headphones

the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

The Pisces Band Headphones are high-definition stereo headsets used for MP3 players, smartphones and other music-playing devices. It boasts of exceptional sound performance characterized by audio clarity and a powerful, high-quality bass.

The Pisces Band sports an in-line microphone and external digital volume control. It also features comfortable premium quality leatherette ear cushions with a noise-isolation feature. Carrying it around or putting it away is hassle-free—thanks to its folding mechanism that maximizes portability.

This sharp-looking music companion is crafted in sturdy, genuine aluminum, topped off with a highgloss finish that comes in white, orange and black.

PHP 8,450

Accutone Aquarius Earphones In-ear Earphones Tuned to Accutone Class A acoustic settings, the Aquarius in-ear earphones are your ideal music companion, producing balanced, more natural-sounding audio output. In addition to an awesome listening experience, the Aquarius’ specialized microphone, fixed behind an aluminum grill, also provides an avenue for sound transmission. The Aquarius offers a superb user experience, comfort and style. It has an easy-to-use rotary volume control, and comes in a glossy jelly finish with six color options—green, white, purple, pink, blue and orange. The Accutone Aquarius is a great set of earphones that blends an appealing design with first-rate acoustics.

PHP 1,800

Helms iTooth 2 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES The sequel to the Helms iTooth Bluetooth headphones features Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate) that gives it a faster data transfer rate. Like the original version, its foldable headband design and foam ear pads ensure excellent comfort and convenience. With its built-in microphone, you’ll be able to enjoy hands-free conversations from Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.

Music will pause when there’s an incoming call and resume once the call is ended. The controls for play/pause, next/ previous track, answer/end call, volume adjustment, and Bluetooth pairing can be found on the outer sides of the ear cups, so managing those functions is as easy as reaching to your ears and pressing the buttons. The Helms iTooth 2 has a rechargeable 230 mAH Li-polymer battery that offers up to 11 hours of talk time and up to 10 hours of music playback. Its operating distance is approximately 10 meters.

PHP 5,250 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Palit GeForce GT 630 GRAPHICS CARD Every PC deserves great graphics and if you’re looking to boost that on your desktop computer, the GeForce GT 630 is one of the many graphics cards that can do that for you. It will deliver a premium multimedia experience and it’s been designed for DirectX 11 gaming. You can play games, movies, view photos and edit videos, as well as watch Blu-ray content in incredible detail and accurate color. When combined with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology and a compatible screen, the GT 630 also allows you to experience digital content in full stereoscopic 3D.

Sandisk 16GB Mobile Ultra MICRO SD CARD AND SD ADAPTOR The Sandisk 16GB microSD card is rated SD class 10 with a write speed of up to 30 MB per second under the proper conditions. This makes it ideal for when you need to store and transfer media-rich files such as music, videos, and images. Inserting the micro SD card inside the included SD card adapter virtually transforms it into a standard-sized SD card—so it’s like having both a micro SD and an SD card in one, depending on what you need. The Sandisk SD Mobile Ultra is waterproof and temperature proof, so you can be sure that your data is safe even in harsh conditions.

PHP 1,268

Roccat Savu GAMING MOUSE The Roccat Savu is a mid-size hybrid gaming mouse that just might spell the difference between winning and losing in your favorite firstperson shooter and real-time strategy games. Its pro-optic sensor has four DPI settings (400, 800, 1600, and 4000) to match your needs. Aside from the standard left and right click buttons, you’ll also have two additional buttons on the mouse’s left side where your thumb usually is (in a righthanded mouse such as the Savu). Its Easy-Shift[+] technology allows you to assign two functions per button including the scroll wheel, giving you a total of up to 12 mouse functions. Everything on the Savu is built from high-quality components and made especially for gaming, including its soft-touch surface, no-sweat side grips, and ultraprecise wheel steps on the scroll wheel. The Savu has a cool-looking customizable light bar that lets you choose between 16.8 million colors and change the way the light behaves.

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Powermat 2X Home & Office Mat with Powercube WIRELESS CHARGER What if you were able to charge your smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets by simply placing them on top of a mat without having to connect any wires?

That’s exactly what the Powermat does. All you need to do is attach the included Powercube Universal Receiver to your gadget, then place that Powercube on top of the Powermat. The Powercube comes with nearly all the tips you might ever need—mini USB, micro USB, Samsung, LG, Apple, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DS Lite, and Sony PSP. If you don’t want to use the Powercube, you can buy a receiver that comes in the form of a case that’s specifically made for your device. The Powermat 2X has two access points, which means you can charge 2 devices on top of it at the same time.

PHP 3,990

myCharge Portable Powerbank 6000 PORTABLE CHARGER The myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 is a portable rechargeable battery pack that will charge your smartphones and tablets when you plug them into it. It features an Apple connector, mini USB, and micro USB, that all tuck in nicely along its exterior so you don’t have to worry about any dangling wires. It’s equipped with a 6000mAh battery pack that can charge the average smartphone 4 times and an iPad to nearly full capacity. It also has an LED indicator to let you know how much charge is left in the bank. To recharge the Powerbank, just plug it into your computer via USB.

PHP 4,990

Incase Campus Pack BACKPACK

The Nylon Campus Backpack is the ideal carrying solution for all your essentials. It features a plush faux-fur lined notebook compartment that can fit up to a 15” MacBook Pro (or other laptops for that matter), an interior slip pocket for an iPad (or other tablet), and more interior slip pockets for organizing your other things. It’s comfortable to wear due to its padded back panels and shoulder straps with a breathable mesh and integrated airflow channel support. On the exterior, you’ll find a zippered quick-access pocket and a storage pocket. You can be sure that this backpack is suitable for everyday use because of its durable nylon construction and heavy duty zippers with custom-molded pulls.

PHP 2,900

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Epson EB-1900 PROJECTOR

The Epson EB-1900 features the company’s most important projector technology yet—real time automatic keystone correction. The feature means that it’s able to automatically and instantly correct screen distortions and focus the projected image in real-time no matter how you place the device.

This makes for a completely hassle-free set-up experience and a smooth presentation, especially during times when you might want to reposition the projector. The projected image will be a perfect rectangle each time.

The 3.2kg device features high brightness at 4000 lumens, ensuring that projected images are clear and visible even under fluorescent lights or in a room not completely sealed-off from sunlight. It includes a DisplayPort for direct connection to Mac computers, digital services, and a DCDi Cinema video processing chip that enables it to render movies with a remarkable home theater quality.

PHP 79,900

Epson LabelWorks LW-400 LABEL PRINTER The LabelWorks LW-400 is a portable label printer with a backlit display that can be used for typing and printing labels for just about anything in your home or workplace. It also has enterprise use for printing barcodes and such. It connects to a power plug, but it can be battery-powered for portability.

It’s able to print labels up to 18mm wide with up to 4 lines of text, and there are a variety of specialty print modes for flag, tab and wrap style labels for cables and wiring. It’s equipped with 14 font types, 10 styles, 300+ built-in symbols, over 75 frames, barcodes, and more. It has a built-in memory capable of storing up to 50 files, allowing you to save those commonly used labels and take them anywhere. You’ll be able to print double-sided tab tapes, glow-in-the-dark, reflective, metallic, strong adhesive, fluorescent and decorative tapes. Its smaller margin prints also means you’ll also have 60% less label waste.

The LabelWorks LW-400 supports 7 different languages.

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the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

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Maxx Mobile MX151 Arc MOBILE PHONE The MX151 Arc from Maxx Mobile is ideal for those looking for something affordable with basic features. It comes with Bluetooth capability for connecting to a Bluetooth headset, perfect for on-the-go individuals. It has a digital camera for taking pictures and recording video. Depending on your service provider, you’ll be able to access WAP services. It can also serve as your music player due to its included FM radio and MP4 player. It has auto call record in case you want to keep recordings of particular phone calls. Phone storage is expandable up to 4 GB.

PHP 999

Maxx Mobile MT616 Zippy MOBILE PHONE The MT616 Zippy mobile phone is ideal for those looking for something that’s affordable yet packs a lot of features. You can watch movies in KMV format through its 3.2-inch full touch screen as well as listen to music through its MP4 player and built-in FM radio. It comes equipped with all the social networking capabilities you might need such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Launcher, and Skype—the latter making use of the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with a flashlight, which you can also use to take photos and videos.

It comes with 1 GB of memory that’s expandable up to 16 GB so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it can fit all of your files including your phonebook and text messages.

PHP 2,799

D-Link Systems DIR-605L Wireless-N300 CLOUD ROUTER The D-Link DIR-605L Wireless-N300 cloud router gives you a fast network at home. It also allows you to easily control and monitor your home network when you’re away via the free mydlink Lite app that’s downloadable from the Android market. This makes it ideal for parents who want to view what devices are connected to the network and what sites are being visited. It sends intrusion attempt emails so you can block devices in real-time. The cloud router is capable of up to 300mbps for your internet browsing and file sharing needs. Its extended coverage has virtually no dead spots and its Intelligent Antenna technology ensures good signal strength even in the farthest corners of your home. It has 4 Ethernet ports for added flexibility.

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LG Optimus L3 E400 SMARTPHONE Looking for a smartphone? Let’s not forget about the affordable yet stylish LG Optimus L3 that will have many of your multimedia needs covered—whether it’s surfing the Internet, making use of apps, or entertaining yourself with music and videos. At 102.6 x 61.6 x 11.85mm in size, it features a 3.2-inch TFT LCD display with a resolution of 240x320 pixels. It’s equipped with an 800MHz processor, 1 GB of internal memory, HSDPA connectivity, runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and comes with a 1,500 mAh battery to keep you connected all day long. It also has a 3-megapixel camera at the back so you’ll be able to take pictures and capture video. The smartphone can support a micro SD card up to 32 GB.

PHP 5,990

LG Optimus L5 E612 SMARTPHONE Filling in the gap between the Optimus L3 and L7, the LG Optimus L5 smartphone stays up-to-date by running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s equipped with an 800 Mhz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of internal storage, so it’s capable of running most of the apps you might need. The phone is114 x 67 x 9.5mm small and weighs about 125 g to give space for a 4-inch TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen with a 320 x 480 resolution. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera. Lastly, the L5 keeps you connected via a quadband GSM radio and HSDPA, and makes sure you don’t lose another note again with its convenient Quick Memo functionl.

PHP 10,990

LG Optimus L7 P705 SMARTPHONE If you’re looking for a mid-priced smartphone, the LG Optimus L7 P705 with its classic square design should be on your list of possible choices. With its size of 125.5 x 67 x 8.7mm, the phone sports a bright 4.3-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display and weighs about 122-grams. The smartphone comes with a 1GHz processor, 8 GB internal storage and runs on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, giving you access to the large Android app market. It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash as well as a front camera for video calls, and a 1,700 mAh battery so you don’t run out of juice even when you’re out all day.

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LG Optimus 4X HD P880 SMARTPHONE LG has a powerful high-end smartphone called the Optimus 4X HD P880.

It’s equipped with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB RAM, and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It sports the same classic square design as most of LG’s other smartphone offerings but has a massive 4.7-inch true HD IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen that is sure to provide a remarkable viewing experience. Need to take down a thought?

The 4X has you covered with its handy Quick Note function. It also has a large 2150 mAh Li-Ion battery, bigger than those found on other quad-core smartphones.

PHp 29,990

LG Optimus 3D Max P725 SMARTPHONE You might remember the LG Optimus 3D (P920) from last year, which allowed users to watch movies, capture videos and play games—all in 3D without the need for 3D glasses. The LG Optimus 3D Max is an upgraded version that is lighter at 148g and slightly smaller and thinner at 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6mm. The processor and system memory have been bumped up to a dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM, respectively. This time around, the phone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It’s equipped with a 4.3-inch IPS display with Gorilla Glass 2 protection on the front and dual 5-megapixel cameras on the back.

PHp 26,990

LG Dual Sim P698 SMARTPHONE If you want a dual sim smartphone, look no further than the LG Dual Sim P698. It has an 800MHz processor and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, so you’ll have access to the multitude of apps in the Android app market. Not only do you get the hassle-free feeling of having two phones in one, but you also get to organize your life, entertain yourself and stay connected online. The P698 features a curved body design and a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. On the rear is a 3MP camera, and powering the whole device is a large 1500mAh battery for power all day long.

PHp 7,990

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Toshiba Satellite L800 Series Notebook

Students, families, and small business owners looking for a powerful and stylish laptop, say hello to the Toshiba Satellite L800 series. The models in this series can be configured with an Intel 2nd generation Core i5 processor with a speed of up to 3.1GHz. These models can have up to 8GB of RAM and 750 GB of storage space. They come in three display sizes— 13.3, 14, and 15.6 inches.

If you want to do some moderate graphics work on the move, can equip your L800 series device with either 1GB or 2GB of VRAM care of an ATI Radeon video card for mobile video viewing and gaming. The entire line also features higher-end technology such as two USB 3.0 ports and stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound HD audio that amplifies your audio experience for games, music and movies. The Satellite L800 Series is available in three colors—Midnight Black, Luscious Red and Icy White.

Toshiba Satellite M800 Series Notebook

Toshiba Satellite C800 Series Notebook

The Satellite M800 series is the ideal choice for fashion-conscious users who want power, portability and style all rolled into one. You can arm your M800 model with either an Intel Core i5, or the newer 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor with a speed of 2.3 GHz, up to 8GB RAM and 750GB storage space.

The M800 models are equipped with a 14-inch HD Clear SuperView display with LED backlighting and an ATI Radeon HD 7670 graphics card with 2GB dedicated Video RAM for your optimum viewing pleasure. They also sport SRS Premium Sound HD speakers, an HD webcam, a raised-tile keyboard and a spacious, comfortable multi-touch TouchPad. These models are lightweight and extremely portable, weighing only 1.99kg. Not only does it deliver solid performance, the M800 series is also highly stylish as it flaunts a sleek chassis clad in a unique metallic mirror finish that is available in Gold Blaze, Pink Blush and Blue Horizon.

Think Toshiba Satellite laptops are a bit too pricey? Look to the C800 for the answer. Made especially for price-conscious consumers who want basic productivity at home or at the office, this entry-level model offers vital features and practical functionality at an affordable price. Your C800 model can be configured with a 2nd generation Intel Core i3 processor with a speed of 2.4 GHz, and up to 8GB RAM and 640GB storage space. There are two variants of the C800 available—one with a 14-inch diagonal widescreen display, and one with a 15.6-inch widescreen display. It also has 1GB dedicated Video RAM, which makes it great for light gaming. The Satellite C800 is clad in a textured finish available in matt graphite or glossy IMR that comes in two colors: Black Graphite and Red Graphite.

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parade the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

Parfois Multi-Way Bags Women’s Bags Looking for a versatile bag that fits any occasion?

A Parfois Multi-Way bag can save you from all the fuss of having to shop for several different bags.

With interchangeable short and long straps that can be worn across the body or on the shoulder, you get a saddle bag and a shoulder bag for the price of one. The transition is easy, so you can use your Multi-Way bag from a casual mall shopping trip with friends and straight on to a social event.

What’s best about Parfois Multi-Way bags is that you’re in full command—you get to choose the way you want to wear your bag. These all-around bags have an adjustable zipline pocket.

PHP 885 — 2,080

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parade

Outdoor Products Backpacks

the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

Tired of changing backpacks every year? Outdoor Products has a new line of backpacks that does away with the constant change. These backpacks are made with Cordura—a material known for its durability and resistance to harsh conditions.

They use zippers from YKK, a Japanese company known for making some of the best zippers, so your backpack won’t burst open when jampacked. These backpacks are double-stitched for extra durability. The S-shaped straps keep the bag close to the body without straining your back.

Best of all, they have a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. Of course, if you’re picking a backpack to use for a long time, you’d want it to have a timeless design. From solid colors to fashionable prints, these backpacks sport a range of versatile designs that endure the constantly changing trends.These backpacks fuse durability, comfort and style, and are a great option if you’re looking for a long term bag.

kartel bailey fatigue PHP 3,499

Traffic Frank and Kartel Shoes Footwear Frank Cambie Brown PHP 4,499 26

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Traffic offers stylish geeks the perfect footwear for each occasion. If you want something sophisticated that you can wear to formal events, then the Frank line of shoes is definitely worth considering. These elegantly designed shoes are made from fine leather materials and crafted with intricate designs.

The Kartel line, on the other hand, is the perfect pair for casual dates and moments when you just want to go out and chill with your buddies. Shoes in the Kartel line are made from canvass and suede, giving your feet a dose of stylish comfort. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Levi’s 501 Jeans for Men and Levi’s Curve ID Jeans for Women Jeans Looking for a classy, comfortable pair of jeans that match not just your casual tees, but your slick, long-sleeved shirts and crisp blouses as well? The 501 Jeans and the Curve ID Jeans from Levi’s have got you covered. With their classic fit and intricate details, these jeans will never be out of style—no matter where you are and what top you’re wearing. They both come in a wide range of colors, rinses, and finishes to allow you to choose the pair that gives you the most comfort and style.

While the 501 Jeans come in a regular straight-leg cut ideally fit for men, the Curve ID Jeans are tailored to hug and emphasize a woman’s natural curves.

Be sure you have at least one pair of these in your closet.

For men PHP 3,299.50 — 3,999.50 For women PHP 2,599.50 — 3,799.50

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parade the freshest PRODUCTS to hit the market

Starmobile Jupiter B305 MOBILE PHONE The Starmobile Jupiter B305 is a dual-sim phone that’s perfect for on-the-go individuals due to its built-in Bluetooth headset and access to Facebook and Yahoo! Messenger. It’s probably the first phone with a Bluetooth headset that literally attaches and detaches from a compartment on the back of the device. This way, you can easily remove and activate it for hands-free calls. The headset automatically charges using the phone’s battery when it’s attached, which is incredibly convenient. The Jupiter B305 also takes care of your multimedia needs as it comes with a 3-megapixel camera, an FM radio, a music player, a video player, and a sound and video recorder. Lastly, depending on your service provider, you can use its WAP browser for surfing the web and availing of WAP services.

Starmobile Neptune B302 MOBILE PHONE The Neptune B302 is an affordable dual-sim phone aimed at those looking for something simple with basic multimedia functionality. It comes with a built-in camera, a wireless FM radio, a music player, a video player, a sound recorder and a video recorder. This particular model is also the music edition, so it’s equipped with a built-in speaker at the rear. You can access WAP sites and WAP-based applications after subscribing to the corresponding service from your network provider. Other features include Bluetooth capability and a built-in flashlight.

Starmobile Jupiter Q501i MOBILE PHONE If you’re looking for an affordable phone with a QWERTY keypad and a number of other features, the Starmobile Jupiter Q501i is worth checking out.

When it comes to multimedia, you get a 2.8-inch screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a music player, a wireless FM radio, a video player and recorder, and even Mobile TV. In terms of connectivity, it’s equipped with WiFi and Bluetooth, along with built-in access to Facebook, Yahoo! Messenger, Twitter, MSN and Google. It comes with 1GB of storage.

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gadgetslab

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JULY 2012

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

31

Fanny wang

32

Lg optimus l7 p705 (p700)

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nokia lumia 610

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starmobile neptune b302

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sony nex-7

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buffalo airstation infiniti

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samsung series 5

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wi-tribe usb modem

40

asus transformer tf300

lg optimus 3D max 41

over ear headphones with active noise cancellation

smartphone

smartphone

dual sim music phone

mirrorless interchangable lens camera

high power dual band router and access point

ultrabook

usb modem

tablet

mili power prince

EXTERNAL BATTERY PACK

Smartphone

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gadgetslab

Fanny Wang 3001

BUY METER

Over Ear Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling

By Jon Uriarte

/5

Specifications: Frequency Range: 5 - 28,000 Hz Sensitivity: 105 dB (power on) Battery Life: Approximately 48 hours Accessories: Rigid foam carry case, 3.5mm connecting cable (1.5m) with iPod, iPhone, iPad control, conversion plug for aircraft use, 6mm adapter

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

When shopping for headphones, it’s nearly impossible to look at a list of specs and know exactly how the product is going to sound. You have to actually test it to see if you like what you hear and how it feels on your ears—a lot of it is subjective. Reviews can be helpful, but the reviewer’s sound preferences might be different from yours.

Fanny Wang is a company whose headphones haven’t gotten as much attention as such brands as Audio-Technica, Sony, Shure, Sennheiser and Beats. We got the pleasure of testing one of Fanny Wang’s high-end units—the 3001 over ear headphones with active noise cancelling.

4.5 What’s Hot:

• Outstanding construction and design • Fantastic sound quality and bass response • Highly effective active noise cancelling • Extremely comfortable • Collapsible headband • Duo Jack lets you plug in another set of headphones

What’s Not: • Might be slightly bulky and heavy for some people • Lacks some airiness in the highest frequencies • Some mid-high frequencies can be piercing when active noise cancelling is turned on • Microphone and remote is only fully functional for iPod, iPhone and iPad

Bottomline: Despite the fact that Fanny Wang headphones are not as well known as its competitors, it’s incredibly hard not to notice them when they’re in proximity. While our review unit of the 3001 over ear “Wangs” is the black variant, it’s pretty big with the striking signature Fanny Wang texture design all over its soft matte rubber exterior. The ear cups are circular as opposed to oblong-shaped, making them even larger. Aside from its slight bulkiness, I do think design and build are among its best traits. Every little component seems to be made from only top-quality material, probably accounting for its noticeably heavier heft.

The headband is not only wide, sturdy, and extendable— it’s also collapsible, allowing you to fold it up for easier storage and transport. The ear cups swivel securely on the headband and the brand logo

can be seen on various parts of the headphones, including the padded cloth speaker covers inside the earmuffs.

The ear cushions are really soft and covered by a combination of elegant high-quality leather and stretchy fabric, resulting in supreme comfort with excellent ventilation—it didn’t feel hot during long hours of use. In fact, the 3001 is probably the most comfortable set of headphones I’ve ever used.

The package comes with two AAA batteries that need to be loaded into the right ear cup in order to use the active noise cancellation and the bass boost, although the 3001 will work without any batteries. The headphone cord is not only detachable and of high-quality, it also features a Duo Jack to allow another person to plug in another pair of headphones and listen to the same music. Along

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the cord is a small control panel where you’ll find the microphone, volume control, and play/pause button that also serves as the call button.

Unfortunately, those features are only fully functional with iPods, iPhones and iPads.

Along the top side of the right ear cup is a switch for “Off”, “ANC” or “Bass”. The first setting switches off both the active noise cancellation and bass boost. The second setting switches on the active noise cancellation without the bass boost, and the third setting switches on both the active noise cancellation and the bass boost. I liked how the semi-transparent switch lights up blue when in “ANC” mode and green when in “Bass” mode.

Now we move on to probably the most important aspect—sound quality, which turned out to be very good

on the 3001. Actually, each of the three settings (Off, ANC, and Bass) produce a different sound. In the “Off” setting, the response is quite flat, balanced, and natural-sounding. Switching it to “ANC” turns on the active noise cancellation to reduce most ambient noise, which it does very well. The resulting sound has a lot more treble that occasionally sounded piercing at high volumes (with most of the music genres I tested it with) and lacked bass. When I switched it to “Bass”, the low end came alive with a bass that pleasantly thumped hard enough to vibrate the ear cups, but the mid-high frequencies were still a little fatiguing at really high volumes. Still, the overall sound in all 3 settings was very powerful and incredibly detailed with a fantastic sound stage and a silky smooth quality. What it lacks is

The Fanny Wang 3001 is beautifully designed, extremely comfortable, delivers superb sound quality for its price, and has highly effective active noise cancellation as well as some other features. It’s definitely hard to beat.

perhaps some airiness in the highest frequencies. Of course, all of this could be fixed by adjusting the EQ on your music player since the headphones are capable of delivering all frequencies pretty well.

The Fanny Wang 3001 certainly lives up to the expectations for headphones in this price range—with a powerful sound that is nearly as glorious as its appearance and definitely as solid as its construction. Spending your money on these “cans” is something you won’t regret if you don’t mind its bulkiness.

The 3001 also comes with a nifty carrying case that effectively protects it.

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LG Optimus L7 P705 (P700) Smartphone

By John Nieves

LG has set its sights on the mid- and low- end market with its L-series phones. We reviewed the budget friendly L3 a few weeks back and now it’s time to assess the topof-the-line LG Optimus L7 P705 (P700).

BUY METER

3.5

/5

Specifications: Operating System: Android 4.0 CPU: 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon LCD size: 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 800 pixel resolution Physical Dimensions: 125.5 x 67 x 8.7 mm, 122 grams Band: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

What’s Hot: • Bright, clear display • Long battery life • Uses Android 4.0

What’s Not: • Sluggish • Screen is sometimes unresponsive

Bottomline: While the Optimus L7 suffers from the use of a single-core processor, it’s one of the few phones that can last for more than two days on a single charge with moderate use.

When we first laid eyes on the Optimus L7, we couldn’t shake that feeling of déjà vu. The overall de sign of the device is neither striking nor ugly. Think of it as the Will Smith of smartphones--dark and acceptable to all palates.

The L7 measures in at around 125.5 x 67 x 8.7mm and weighs in at 122 grams. It uses a large, 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen that has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. There’s not much by way of manual controls – there’s a volume rocker on the left side and, at the bottom of the screen, a large home button flanked by two capacitive keys for navigation. The back panel features a textured finish to help you grip the phone 32

JULY 2012

better. There’s a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash at the back, as well as a secondary, VGA camera in front.

Internally, the Optimus L7 uses a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor that’s mated with 512MB of RAM. It has Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) as its OS, with LG’s UI enhancements layered on top. There’s 4GB of internal storage, expandable via an integrated microSD slot. A large 1700mAh li-ion battery provides the juice to keep everything running.

We had initial fears that the Optimus L7’s processor wouldn’t be able to keep

up with the demands expected of a device in its class. While it performed well most of the time, there were occasions when the unit became sluggish and a bit unresponsive—usually when we tried to unlock the device to use it. Using a slower, single core processor means that the L7 struggles with some apps and games (especially those with a lot of animations and 3D graphics).

AnTuTu paints a bleak picture performance-wise, as the Optimus L7 only scores about 2787 points, below the Samsung Galaxy S. Quadrant Standard is a little bit better, and gives the Optimus L7 1996 points, lower than the LG Optimus 2X but above the

HTC Desire HD. One upside of the single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor is that battery life is significantly better than comparable dual-core devices. Combine that with the relatively large 1700mAh battery, and the Optimus L7 is capable of delivering battery endurance that other phones only dream of. We managed to log almost two and a half days of useful battery life with moderate use, and we’re sure some of you out there may be able to manage three. In today’s world of perpetually discharged gadgets, battery endurance like this is in short supply.

Another thing that we liked with the Optimus L7 is the incredibly bright screen. We’re not sure if it is imbued with the same extremely bright Nova display of the earlier LG Optimus Black, but we’re sure they have very close nit ratings.

Ultimately, the Optimus L7 is an exercise in compromise.

You’re not getting a dual-core processor and you’ll definitely feel the performance hit once you start using the device, but the trade-off is that you get much better battery endurance, allowing you to use the device longer. The LG Optimus L7 retails for Php 15,990.

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Smartphone

By Ren Alcantara

3.5

/5

Specifications: Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 LCD size: 4.3 inches,480 x 800-pixel resolution Physical Dimensions: 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6 mm, 148 g Band: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

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

Stop for a moment and take stock of the gadgets available to the average consumer.

We have smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, music devices and a slew of tech that just years ago were confined to the pages of science fiction. We live in the future now, and it’s awesome. If you need any more convincing, you needn’t look any further than LG’s Optimus 3D Max. It’s an Android-powered smartphone that takes your photos and video, and gives them literal depth. It does exactly what you think it does. Yes. 3D photos and videos. In your pocket.

gadgetslab

LG Optimus 3D Max P720

BUY METER

What’s Hot: • Sharp, bright screen • 3D visuals • Solid construction

What’s Not: • Unimpressive battery life • 3D visuals aren’t for everyone • Stuck on Androd 2.3 Gingerbread

Bottomline: You want the future now? This is the phone you should be considering.

The Optimus 3D Max is a beautifully plain-looking phone—it’s basically a solid, exceptionally bright 4.3-inch Gorilla Glass 2 screen. I like my devices plain, so I think the design is pretty sexy. On paper, the phone is more impressive than the simple exterior lets on. It has a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.

The hardware translates to a smooth user experience, and apps launch quickly with only the slightest of delays. If you are a real tech-head, you may be disappointed to know that it runs Gingerbread, due to a limitation of ICS in handling 3D hardware. LG has promised that a 4.x update is

forthcoming. LG has a decent skin on top of the regular Gingebread UI, so it has its share of eye candy.

Battery life is a little weak for my liking. I tend to use my devices very heavily, and with constant browsing, alerts both from IMs and SMS, plus calls, I had to charge it at work. I suspected the screen had a lot to do with it, and once I switched to automatic brightness, it improved the battery life just enough to make it to my bedside charging station at the end of the workday. Call quality is perfectly fine, though it could use a little volume boost, as I had to bump call

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volume up all the way when speaking with someone. As for messaging, those with large hands may need to adjust a bit. When entering text, the bottom of the virtual keyboard is rather close to the “Home” key, so more than once while composing a message, I found myself suddenly staring at the main screen. Apart from these little niggles, LG has done a pretty good job with the device, and the phone is quite robust, as can be expected from any other top-tier Android phone.

Until you launch 3D mode.

Hold the phone horizontally, press and hold the camera button and a whole new

dimension appears. It can be a little disorienting at first, but as soon as you find just how far you need to hold the phone, images really pop. It’s really quite impressive. Along with menus and 3D gaming (Nova for Android IN 3D), the phone allows you to take 3D photos and videos thanks to the stereoscopic 5-MP camera at the back of the device.

I thought the idea of 3D photography would be more of a gimmick than anything, but I have to confess, after more than a week, the novelty hasn’t worn off, and I sincerely doubt it ever will.

The only real downside I can think of with the 3D photos is that there is no other place

to view the shots apart from the phone itself. Still, it’s totally worth it for usable, glasses-free 3D. How can one not want that? Videos can be taken in 720p at 30FPS in 3D mode and 1080p in regular mode, if you ever find yourself wanting to take 2D video again.

If you are in the market for a new phone, and want something new and interesting to show off, or you want to really capture a memory, this is exactly the phone you are looking for. I never thought I would ever say this, but I’m totally sold on the idea of 3D now.

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

Nokia Lumia 610

BUY METER

Smartphone

4.0

/5

By Jon Uriarte

When Nokia entered the smartphone market with its Windows phones, it had to contend with market-leading devices such as the Apple iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy series, just to name a few. The Nokia Lumia 610 is the company’s most affordable Windows phone yet—an edge that might appeal to buyers looking for an inexpensive alternative that is nearly as capable as its higher end competition.

Specifications: Operating System: Windows Phone 7.5 Display: 3.7” WVGA (800x480) TFT capacitive touch LCD display with pinch zoom Size: 119 x 62x 12mm Weight: 132 g Processor: 800 Mhz single core / Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 Camera: 5-megepixel autofocus, LED flash Networks: GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900, HSDPA 850/ 900 /1900 /2100

What’s Hot: • Great display and user interface • Fine set of features with an excellent social networking platform • Easy to operate • Good battery life • Stylish and sleek design • Camera button quickly launches camera

What’s Not: • Low RAM can’t run certain apps • Volume during calls is a little soft

Bottomline: Despite its mostly plastic casing, the construction and design of the Lumia 610 is pretty solid with its metallic curved edges—giving the phone a pricier look. Its 119 x 62x 12mm dimensions and 132g weight mean it is light and small enough to easily slip into your pocket. Getting started was a breeze—just slide off the back cover, remove the battery, insert a micro sim into the slot, and turn on the phone. Aside from the 3 buttons right below the display (back, home, and search), there are also four buttons on the right side of the device—two for volume controls, one to unlock/lock the device, and one for the camera. The phone’s 3.7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 was bright but not as vibrant as the AMOLED display of higher-end Lumia models.

So how capable is the internal hardware? Well, The Lumia 34

JULY 2012

610 is equipped with an 800MHz single-core processor and just 256MB RAM. That might seem low compared to most smartphones currently in the market, but its Windows Phone 7.5 operating system has resulted in an interface that is still incredibly fast, with no lag despite the slower components. The phone comes with 8GB of storage space which, unfortunately, is not upgradable due to the absence of a micro SD slot.

The phone is easy to use, with a Live Tile user-interface that is easily customizable.

Adding, rearranging, and removing tiles is a quick 2-second process done by pressing and holding a tile until an option menu pops out and you can drag it around.

You can also change the tile and background colors. The camera button comes in very handy too. To take a picture, simply press the camera button to load the camera.

The same button serves as the shutter button. While the Lumia 610 camera captures images and videos at a mere 5-megapixels, image quality is still pretty decent for an affordable smartphone.

The Lumia 610 claims that its battery can last for up to 670 hours on standby (3G), about 10.5 hours for continuous talk time, and up to 9.5 hours during music play. During my review of the unit, I used it in my daily routine to make regular calls, send text messages, surf the internet, and listen to some music—and its battery lasted a solid 4 days, which is pretty good.

At its price point, the Lumia 610 has an outstanding feature set. Aside from Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word, you also get People Hub to see feeds from your Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, Google, LinkedIn and Outlook accounts all in one

place. Once your accounts are synced, you can take pictures and share them on Facebook and other sites through just a few clicks. I was able to conveniently send and receive emails via Yahoo! Mail.

Apps such as Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, and Foursquare are already included, while additional apps could be downloaded from the app marketplace. Despite access to available apps, the phone’s mere 256 MB of RAM means you will be disappointed at not being able to run many apps like the popular Angry Birds game and Skype. On the bright side, the Lumia 610 comes with Zune, which serves as your music, video, podcast, and radio player.

Now what about call quality and text messaging? The latter is a fantastic experience on the Lumia 610 as it makes use of the message thread format with a “speech bubble” appearance similar to those on

The Nokia Lumia 610 smartphone sports a great look and offers a lot of features for its hardware specs and its price, including a convenient interface and an excellent social networking platform.

iPhones and BlackBerrys. I also appreciated its simplicity. Call quality is satisfactory, though the volume level on the speaker was a bit soft even at the maximum setting and the microphone pickup seemed occasionally muffled.

All in all—and at this price point—it’s hard to beat the Lumia 610 for its feature set, speedy performance and design; even if its 256 MB of RAM limits its capabilities.

While it could run most apps, the selection in the Windows app market is also limited.

Overall, this is one of the more straightforward and easy-touse smartphones that I’ve tested, and I really enjoyed its design and features.

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Dual SIM Music Phone

By Racine Anne Castro

3.5

/5

Specifications: FORM FACTOR: Candybar phone LCD SIZE: 2.2-inch QCIF LCD PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 111 x 48 x 14.5mm WEIGHT: 84.2g BAND: Dual Band (900 and 1800) INTERNAL MEMORY: 25KB, expandable through microSD

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

Starmobilecrosses the threshold of the Philippine mobile phone market with anarray of dual SIM models. While the Jupiter series is primarily made for professionals, the Venus series for the style savvy, and the Mercury series for practical users, the Neptune series is Starmobile’s answer to the needs of the entertainment seekers. With an SRP of Php 1,990, the Neptune B302 offers functionality and style at an affordable price. Despite being a relatively low-cost model, this overall performance of the phone is worth the small cash-out.

gadgetslab

STARMOBILE NEPTUNE B302

What’s Hot: • Built-in loudspeaker has clear audio • Long battery life for a dual SIM phone • Good quality audio recordings

What’s Not: • No external volume control buttons • Poor video quality • SIM and Micro SD card slots are under the battery

Bottomline: The Starmobile is an affordable feature phone for music lovers who also need dual SIM functionality.

Like all dual-SIM models, the B302 allows users to switch networks in a breeze. The Neptune B302 lets users choose between manual or automatic SIM switching. The dual SIM settings give users the option to keep both SIM cards active, or just one.

The battery life of a dual SIM phone is less than about a third of the capacity of regular phones. Luckily, the B302 got me through a day or two without having to re-charge, even if I spent most of the day

texting, calling and listening to music.

Aside from its dual SIM capability, it also has multimedia and entertainment features. Its prime feature is a loudspeaker at the back, from which you can blast your tunes. The speaker may not have that bass-booming sound quality that more advanced and more costly phones have, but I find it far better than those tinny speakers that make everything sound gruff.

I tested it with both punk rock

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and hip-hop, and as it turns out, dirty guitar riffs and heavy bass are loud and suitably audible.

While most models in the same price range offered by bigger phone manufacturers are limited to monochrome displays and maybe an FM radio, this one also has its own music player. Although it doesn’t have a music library, I was able to connect the B302 to my computer with a USB cable and organize my content in folders which

can be accessed through the phone’s file manager. Some users would prefer external volume control buttons either on the front or the side of the phone; unfortunately, the B302 doesn’t have one of these, which I think is pretty weird for a music phone.

of speakers at close range.

Other multimedia functions include Bluetooth connectivity, a camera that takes pictures and videos, and a web browser. Although it may not have Wi-Fi capabilities, it still allows users to access WAP sites.

The Neptune B302 also has media recording capabilities.

Its sound recorder may not perform as well as higher models, but you can opt to record in high quality WAV files that give you a clear recording

It obviously isn’t one of the most technologically advanced models, but it does give users basic and functional multimedia and entertainment features at an extremely affordable price.

JULY 2012

35

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

Sony NEX-7

BUY METER

Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera

4.5

/5

By John Nieves

When Sony created the NEX-5 and its successor, the NEX-5N, the line was targeted at people who wanted the power and flexibility of Digital-SLRs but were intimidated by their size and complexity. That niche soon changed, as both amateur and professional photographers saw the value of having a small, flexible camera that could, in most situations, perform as well as a full sized SLR. Sony took note of the serendipitious demand and has specifically created the NEX-7 to address this more sophisticated market.

Specifications: Sensor: APS-C type (23.5x15.6mm), “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor with RGB primary color filters Zoom and optics: Depends on lens, uses Sony E-mount lenses Physical Dimensions: 119.9 x 66.9 x 42.6mm (without protrusions) Weight: 350g (with battery and SD, without lenses) Estimated battery life: 430 shots Memory used: Memory Stick PRO Duo / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, SD Memory Card, SDHC memory card / SDXC memory card

What’s Hot: • OLED Viewfinder • Fast performance • Flexible, has a lot of manual controls • Lots of manual settings • Large, APS-C CMOS sensor

What’s Not: • Expensive

Bottomline: If you have the cash, the Sony NEX-7 is an excellent mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to get.

The Sony NEX-7 has droolworthy specifications—a large, 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (also found in the larger Sony Alpha A77 DSLR), an electronic view finder (EVF) that uses an 2.4m color OLED unit (the highest for a still camera), and an integrated Alpha flash hotshoe in addition to a builtin flash unit.

Physically, the NEX-7 looks intimidating. Its overall size is a tad bigger and taller than the NEX-5N. Other comparisons to the NEX-5N: The NEX-7 has more manual controls as it has two dials for controlling the aperture and the shutter speed, as well as a four-way rotating 36

JULY 2012

wheel at the back that controls navigation through the menus. Its 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine LCD screen is not touch-capable, but makes up for this shortcoming by being able to tilt, giving users better flexibility in framing their shots. The overall size and aesthetics of the NEX-7 are excellent, and particular credit needs to go to the designers, as the big, oversized grip on the right side of the camera really helps in framing and shooting.

Other features of the camera include the ability to shoot from 100 ISO all the way up to 16000; fast, 10 FPS shooting; full HD shooting with manual control; multiple

shooting modes; six image layering (the camera takes 10 shots in succession and then combines them); and E-Mount lens capability (with the ability to take other lenses via an adaptor).

Handling and shooting the NEX-7 is easy enough, as the two dials on the top of the camera make it easy to change settings without having to go through the scroll wheel (which was what happened with the NEX5N). The dial’s functionality changes depending on what shooting mode you’re on—they control Aperture and EV Compensation when shooting in Aperture Priority, and the Shutter Speed and EV

Compensation when shooting in Shutter Priority. The balance of the camera in our hands felt just right, and the OLED viewfinder was invaluable for framing shots outdoors where sunlight washed out the screen.

The NEX-7 ships with an E-mount 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens that performs pretty well. There are a variety of other E-mount lenses available for the NEX-7, and it can take other lenses via an adaptor. The camera’s performance can be summed up in one word—fast. There’s no shutter lag to speak of and very minimal focus hunt.

Photos that we shot all came back nice and sharp, though

we did notice that the higher resolution sensor of the NEX-7 can only keep noise under control when shooting at ISO 1600, though still bearable at ISO 3200. Avoid shooting anything beyond ISO 6400.

Of course, all of those features come at a price, and in the NEX-7’s case, a steep one.

Sony Philippines lists the NEX-7 for Php 69,999, which is enough money to buy a full-sized DSLR. Then again, you’ll be getting a compact, interchangeable lens camera that’s able to do a whole host of things that a DSLR can, so the price may be palatable to some.

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gadgetslab

Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti 4.0/5 WZR-HP-AG300H

By Carlos Magno

The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Wireless-N High Power Dual Band Router and Access Point is pretty much everything it says it is—and it says quite a bit. The instrument, roughly 16cm x 16cm x 4cm and quite light at about 300g, packs a wallop in terms of wireless connectivity for the home or small office as a stand-alone, or for network bridging.

Specifications:

Wireless LAN Interface Memory: 4GB DDR3 Wireless Security: WPA2-PSK (AES,TKIP), WPA-PSK (AES, TKIP), 128/64-bit WEP Transmission Method: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), OFDM, MIMO

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

High Power Dual Band Router and Access Point

Wired LAN Interface Speed and Flow Control: 10/100/1000 Mbps (Auto Sensing) Number of LAN Ports: 4 x RJ-45 (Auto MDIX) Number of WAN Ports: 1 x RJ-45 (Auto MDIX) USB Interface Standard Compliance: USB 2.0 Connector Type: A type Number of Ports: 1

What’s Hot: • Sleek and compact • Poweful range • Great for HD video streaming and gaming

What’s Not: • Tricky Configuration

Bottomline: Despite the few difficulties in setting up, the AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H can really enhance connectivity for the home and office.

Design-wise, the AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H is pretty sleek. Although routers are typically not as oftdisplayed as other devices, this AirStation’s glossy black finish makes it interesting to look at.

A base attachment allows it to stand vertically or horizontally; it can also be wall-mounted.

Another nifty feature would be its two antennae, much like black rabbit ears. These are adjustable, so you can configure the signal transmission to match the layout of your living space or workplace. While they come across as mildly odd and quirky, they do grow on you and give a “futuristic” touch to the AirStation’s overall look.

The front panel of the AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-

AG300H consists of the AOSS button, six LED indicators for power, 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless LAN, router, unit and movie engine functionality, and the movie engine switch.

On the other side, you’ll find the router switch, the DC connector, a USB 2.0 port, a WAN port, and four LAN ports. These support 10, 100 and 1,000Mbps connections, allowing four computers (including a gaming console for online gaming) as well as an external hard drive for NAS to link directly to the AirStation.

The physical setup of the WZR-HP-AG300H is straightforward—just connect it to your modem and switch on the machine. It’s after the installation CD runs that things

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get confusing. Most people wouldn’t be savvy enough to configure the router through its web interface. You can choose between Professional (DD-WRT) or User-Friendly firmware. Either way, it isn’t as user-friendly as it claims to be. Although most of the processes fire automatically, you might get a little lost and will need to call a friend to help you figure things out.

more laptops feeding from it. You get very fast speeds within the network. This AirStation boasts high quality HD streaming and, at least at 720p, multiple devices can wirelessly view the same video file simultaneously on just a USB thumb drive jacked into it, without any choppiness or lost quality. It definitely enhances a home’s wireless multimedia experience.

Once the WZR-HP-AG300H is set up, all the good things happen. You definitely get a cleaner, boosted signal compared to other routers.

Given that your online surfing and streaming features will still be dependent on your current Internet connection, you will notice less congestion, even when you have five or

The signal the WZR-HPAG300H delivers is extremely strong. One unit can broadcast within a 10,000 square meter area in good weather, giving Internet connectivity to most wireless devices within a 100-meter radius. This could make your household the favorite neighborhood hotspot, an absolute nightmare if you

don’t properly set up your security. Once again, it goes to the tricky configuration, but as soon as it’s done you have little to worry about. Although AOSS use is not particularly widespread locally, it could very well come handy in the near future.

With a 3-year warranty, the Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Wireless-N High Power Dual Band Router and Access Point is a worthy investment, to say the least.

It’s a powerful machine, a little too much for a 2-bedroom condo with just a couple of laptops. However, for a fully functional home or workplace with larger data demands, this AirStation should rank high among your options.

JULY 2012

37

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

Samsung Series 5 Ultra

BUY METER

Ultrabook

4.0

/5

By John Nieves

Ultrabooks promising performance in a thin and light package are easy to find. What’s not easy to find is an ultrabook that has both, and is realistically priced for mere mortals. Thankfully, Samsung’s Series 5 Ultra combines performance and portability in a package that most of us can afford.

Specifications: Screen Size: 13.3-inch 300nit HD LED SuperBright screen, 1366 x 768 resolution Memory: 4GB DDR3 CPU and chipset: Intel Core i5-2467M processor, 1.6GHz Physical Dimensions: 315 x 218 x 14.7mm Warranty: 1 year warranty on parts and labor

What’s Hot: • Large storage for an ultrabook • Plenty of connections • Excellent keyboard and trackpad • Affordable

What’s Not: • Thicker than other ultrabooks • Middling performance

Bottomline: It may not be the prettiest or the fastest, but the Samsung Series 5 Ultra might very well be your next ultrabook.

Externally, the Series 5 Ultra isn’t as attractive as other ultrabook designs currently out in the market. That doesn’t mean it’s not nice to look at – far from it – but it does feel a bit bland. The Series 5 Ultra sports a metallic gray finish all around, with Samsung’s logo tastefully emblazoned on the middle right side of the lid. Unlike other ultrabooks, the material used in the 315 x 218 x 14.7 mm chassis is simple plastic, not aluminium or carbon fiber. It weighs in at around 1.4 kilos.

To be fair, the chassis is solid as a rock, and while it doesn’t use exotic materials, 38

JULY 2012

the notebook still looks impressive in its own right.

Build quality is top notch, and there is little to no flex, a surprise since it’s using an all plastic body. Open the lid and you’ll see a bright, 13.3-inch 300nit HD LED SuperBright screen sporting a resolution of 1366 x 768. The keyboard is unsurprisingly an island-style deal, and has a good amount of separation and travel.

The trackpad isn’t anything special, though one thing we appreciate was the physical separator for the left and right mouse buttons. There’s also a large number of ports available – 3 USB (with one being USB 3.0), Ethernet, HDMI (one full size, one micro

HDMI) and a universal card reader.

Powering the entire thing is an Intel Core i5-2467M processor running at 1.6GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM. Sharp eyed readers may notice that the processor listed is a previous generation Sandybridge processor and not the latest 22nm Ivy Bridge processors that Intel recently launched. The Series 5 Ultra has a small 16GB SSD drive where the OS sits to facilitate faster boot times, as well as a larger 500GB HDD for general storage duties.

Performance-wise, the Series 5 Ultra did okay. It’s not about

to set new speed records because of the processor and HDD storage, but its overall performance is acceptable, especially for users looking for a notebook that can do most day-to-day tasks. Boot time is 20-25 seconds and a near instantaneous 1-2 second wake from sleep. When we ran 3D Mark ’06, we obtained a respectable score of 3230.

Battery life is around 5.5 hours with normal use, which would probably stretch to 6 if you toned down screen brightness.

We do have slight issues with the device, chief of which is its overall thickness. While it’s 14.7mm at its thinnest point,

the Series 5 Ultra is 17.5mm at its thickest, making it a bit thicker than competing brands. The middling performance might also be a bit of an issue to power users.

Despite these apparent drawbacks, there’s one thing you do need to keep in mind--its price. The Samsung Series 5 Ultra might be a bit thicker and a bit slower than its contemporaries, but it is also a lot cheaper. The unit we reviewed retails for only Php 44,900, several thousand bucks cheaper than other ultrabooks currently on offer.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

4.0

USB Modem

/5

By Ren Alcantara

One of the most terrifying things about being alive in this day and age is the possibility that we lose our internet connection. Quick sprints to the odd press event or meeting are fine, but long-haul journeysraise nightmares of being unplugged. Stopgap solutions such as connectivity via a mobile phone can ease the sting, but aren’t really the answer when you have to type and email a thousand-word article on the road before your client gets to the office. Fortunately, we do live in the future, and if you need blazingfast internet on the move, 4G connectivity is here and has you covered. The folks at Wi-tribe were kind enough to send over one of their 4G Internet sticks for us to test out, and so we give you the lowdown on their fast mobile internet service.

What’s Hot:

The device is simple. It’s a USB stick that’s similar to other USB modems you may have seen or used in the past, but it doesn’t have a SIM card slot so there’s less to fiddle around with. Installation is dead easy.

Unpack the stick, plug it into an available USB port on your Windows or Mac machine, and sit back while the device installs. The first time you run the device and open your browser, you will be taken to a login page, where you can enter your account name and the provided PIN, and you can start surfing as soon as a connection is established, which usually only takes about a minute after the device is plugged in.

back to its usual steady state.

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Another key requirement for a USB modem is reliability, so I disabled my laptop’s Wi-Fi connection and spent several days on just the Wi-tribe modem. On other USB internet sticks, I would be hesitant to try a little stunt like this, but I was pretty confident the Wi-tribe dongle would work out. So I plugged in, and went about my business for the better part of a week, and was pleased to find that I didn’t notice I was connected to the Internet just through Wi-tribe. Actually, let me correct myself. I did notice, seeing as the rain seemed to have caused a problem with our wired office connection, and at some points, I was the

only one in our department who was online.

The final thing I wanted to test out was connectivity on the move. For a few days, I took my laptop with the stick connected out of the office and into the car when I was picked up to head home. It’s usually a 30-minute ride, and I figured I could do a few things online while I sat in the car.

The connection started out stable, but I lost it once we hit a tunnel and didn’t quite get it back consistently enough.

It may be that there aren’t enough sites from which I could get a signal, but once I was sitting still outside my house, the connection was

• Dead simple setup • Internet speeds as advertised • Solid, consistent connection

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

The Wi-tribe stick comes pre-loaded with 15 days of internet at a maximum speed of 2mbps, which usually means a theoretical top speed.

In my experience though, it doesn’t reflect an actual rate, so the first thing I did upon installation of the stick was a speed test. I eagerly watched the results come in, and was very pleasantly surprised to find that the download speed was a solid 1.7mbps here at the West Triangle area in Quezon City. It’s great to see the advertised rate actually translate to real speeds on the device, so great job there, Wi-tribe.

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Wi-Tribe USB modem

BUY METER

What’s Not: • Has connection problems when on the move

Bottomline: As an off-site solution, backup or main connection, the Wi-tribe USB modem and service is pretty hard to beat.

On the whole, I am really pleased with the service and the device that Wi-tribe has to offer. They give you the advertised rate, options to increase the speed based on the amount you would like to pay, and a rock-solid connection. It falls a little short when connecting on the move, but this may be an effect of the disconnection I suffered while inside the tunnel, and went away as soon as I was stationary once more. If you need an internet connection while you’re on the move, the Wi-tribe service is a pretty good way to get it.

JULY 2012

39

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

Asus Transformer Pad TF300

BUY METER

5.0

Tablet

/5

By Ren Alcantara

I am out a lot. If I’m not on the road, trying to get somewhere, I am usually at some place where desks, power outlets and comfy chairs are scarce. This tends to be a problem since I am a writer and, as such, my natural place is sitting before a blank document, trying to fill it with words. This task generally requires a computer plus all the necessary hardware and furniture. To try and reconcile the two, I got myself a tablet and an external keyboard. It worked, and I was pretty pleased with the combo for a good long while. Last week, however, I was handed the TF300. My love affair with my old tablet is now on the rocks.

Specifications: Operating System: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) CPU: Tegra 3, Quad-Core.

1.2GHz RAM: 1GB LCD size: 10.1” IPS Physical Dimensions: Tablet only: 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm Tablet and dock: 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm Primary Camera: 8 MP Secondary Camera: 1.2 MP

What’s Hot: • Powerful Tegra 3 processor • Slick Android ICS OS • It’s a tablet AND a netbook

What’s Not: • Tiny-ish keyboard (on optional Dock) • No GSM connectivity • Speaker location is set for Landscape mode

Bottomline: It really is two devices in one, and puts play and work together perfectly.

This Android tab is a beast.

It’s got an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. This spec sheet makes for an extremely smooth, slick tablet experience. The screen is a very large 10.1-incher which is great for web browsing and watching videos wherever you might find yourself.

The screen, which has a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, is sufficiently bright for either task, though I did notice that I kept the brightness bumped up to full most of the time.

The transformer manages ICS with no stuttering, hanging or complaints of any sort. The software is so well-optimised, and the hardware more than fast enough that the whole 40

JULY 2012

experience is seamless and all you have to worry about is what you want to do.

For a week, I completely ditched my laptop for browsing and media tasks, opting instead to use the tab, and it turned out to be a pretty pleasant experience.

Videos looked great, and were easier to watch on just a slate.

The speakers are located on the left side of the device, when held in portrait mode.

However, if you’re picky about sound, headphones might be the answer for you.

Wi-Fi was no problem, and it managed solid connections, even weak signal areas. While it would have been nice to have GSM connectivity,

the lack is by no means a deal-breaker. The 8MP main camera takes decent photos; I still can’t imagine using such a large tab for photos on a regular basis, though.

With very heavy browsing and maximum brightness, plus videos on the side, the tablet lasted about 6 hours and change. I do believe if I dropped the brightness and abused it less, the tablet would have lasted the 10 hours it is rated for.

the optional keyboard/dock.

Take the Transformer, line it up with the dock, snap it in and TF300 changes from a simple tablet, to a full-on productivity monster. Apart from giving you a whole keyboard and trackpad, the dock also gives an extra 5 hours, thanks to a secondary battery. It should also be noted that the device and dock can each be charged either separately, or as a single unit.

and behaves almost exactly like a netbook. It trumps the netbook because of the portability you get without the dock, as well as having a fast, purpose-built OS in Android. I did have a few issues, though. The keyboard size guarantees errant keystrokes, particularly hitting the “up” key instead of “shift,” and the trackpad also got in the way on occasion, causing me to click the “Home” icon.

The Transformer is king when it comes to horsepower, but a tablet is a tablet, and mainly used for media consumption and playing around. The Transformer is great at tablet tasks, but it really shines with

The keyboard is netbooksized, but after a few minutes of acclimatization, you’ll be typing like a boss. The dock also adds a USB port and an SD card reader. The tab, in docked mode, looks

Overall, The Transformer TF300 is a great device, and shows exactly what tablets should do. Now all I need to do is find a buyer for my old tablet.

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gadgetslab

MILI POWER PRINCE

BUY METER

PORTABLE CHARGER

3.5

/5

By Belle Alba

Specifications: Battery Cell: Lithium Polymer Power Capacity: 5000mAh Input: 9V | 2A (max) Output: 9-12V | 1.5A (max) 5V | 2.1A (max) Charge Time: approx. 3 hours

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

In the never-ending quest to pack more processing power and functionalities into our smartphones and tablets, the sacrificial lamb has often been battery life. The demand for almost 24/7 mobile connectivity has resulted in power-guzzling devices that often cannot last a full day on a single charge. With our ever-increasing reliance on our smart devices for virtually all our communication and entertainment needs, we need the assurance of a back-up power source to protect us from becoming “low-batt” victims.

What’s Hot: • Powerful, 5000mAh lithium polymer battery • Charging tips for virtually all mobile devices • Small, lightweight

What’s Not: • Black plastic finish may be prone to scratches • Rather pricey at Php 4,800

Bottomline: For highly mobile techies who carry around a variety of devices, this universal battery pack makes sure you never run out of juice.

The Mili Power Prince is billed as a universal battery pack for portable devices. It comes with 9 charging tips for compatibility with Nokia, Sony Ericssion, Samsung G-series, mini-USB, microUSB, digital cameras, and even the Apple iPad/iPhone and Samsung Galaxy Tab. Mili guarantees to supply free tips for your mobile devices for life, promising to send registered users the needed tips within five working days.

The box also contains an AC power adapter, a 5V USB power cable, a 9-12V power cable for digital cameras, and a small travel pouch.

The Power Prince itself is a small glossy black case about the size and shape of

an external drive. The power button is located on the lower left edge, beside an LED battery life indicator. On the bottom are the input jack (9V, 2A), an output jack (9-12V, 1.5A), and a USB output port (5V, 2.1A/1A).

The heart of this portable power pack is a 5000mAh lithium polymer battery that claims to have sufficient power for up to 42 hours of talk time, 33 hours of internet use, 113 hours of audio and 37.5 hours of video. While the packaging claims that it is pre-charged and ready to use straight out of the box, the user’s manual recommends an initial full charging time of 8 hours, after which subsequent full charges are

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expected to take only 3-4 hours. The LED indicator blinks while charging and stops when it’s fully charged.

Using the Power Prince to charge most devices is a simple plug and play affair, using the USB cable and appropriate adaptor tip for your mobile device. You switch on the power button to deliver the juice where it’s needed. To charge the Apple iPad which requires a higher power supply, you need to press the power button for 3 seconds to increase output to the required 2.1A. The Power Prince reverts to the default 1A setting in 20 seconds after the iPad is disconnected.

To test the Power Prince’s

performance, I used it to charge my iPhone 4S, which had a remaining charge of about 60%. According to the Battery App, time to full-charge would be approximately 3:23 hours.

Instead of using the docking station to charge my iPhone 4S, I plugged it into the Power Prince which gave me a 100% charge overnight. Its LED battery indicator showed that it still had remaining power, possibly enough to charge another mobile phone or a digital camera.

On the New iPad, I started out with a battery level of about 30%, with a time-tocharge of about 5:56 hours. I left it plugged into the Power Prince overnight, to achieve

a full charge. In the morning, though, I found that my iPad’s battery level was only at 40%, while the Power Prince was dead. On a battery level of 5%, I was able to get an additional 3 hours of video viewing on my iPad before the fully-charged Power Prince gave in.

I believe the Power Prince would be the perfect companion for individuals with multiple devices who need a reliable power source at all times. Personally, this is one device I would like to have in my bag during a long flight, or at a business conference where I need to stay connected but don’t have access to electrical outlets.

JULY 2012

41

snapshots

digital photography in a snap

g ŠMagic Liwana Justin Bieber D300, 135.0mm, DETAILS: NIKON , ISO 500 f/3.5, 1/400 sec

. t h g i L . c i g ma . s t r e c n o c

in Arnold

By Benjam

pture light ings: the ability to ca th o tw ed ne u yo y, , ncert photograph stry as Magic Liwanag du in e th in n ow When it comes to co kn ly t wellRafael Liwanag, wide es of the world’s mos ag im g in nn and a little luck. Juan stu e r, uc these factors to prod artists like Justin Biebe e m na g bi of s ce fa knows how to utilize es the the a portfolio that featur e a little insight into in az ag M ts known singers. With ge ad G Gaga, Magic offered Katy Perry and Lady ncert photography. starstruck world of co

42

JUly 2012

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snapshots digital photography in a snap

. f l e s r u o y t i m i “Don’t l d try n a t n e m i r e p x E s n o i t i s o p t n e r e diff s.” e v i t c e p s r e p d an

©Magic Liwanag Incubus DETAILS: NIKON D300, 160.0mm, f/3.2, 1/160 sec, ISO 640

Magic started by taking on events photography. It wasn’t until the Craig David Live in Manila tour in 2009 that Magic got his first break at shooting a concert. “I was shooting for PLDT, as I have done a few of their events, so they asked me if I could shoot the concert. Of course, I said yes. From there it opened up doors to other [opportunities] that led me to where I am now.”

For Magic, a big part of getting into concert photography is based on hard work and a little luck. “Meeting the right people is just a small part of the equation. I learned that 60 to 70% of my work involved personal PR. You have to know how to sell yourself and how to talk to people.

Have a good balance of being professional and casual.”

On the technical side of concert photography, the hardware is simple, “A good camera, and a batch of lenses. If you are starting out, I suggest an entry-level camera.

What I use now is the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D700. I love the D700 because one, it is full framed; and two, its noise reduction technology doesn’t soften the image. For the lenses I use two: one is the zoom, and the other is the wide because you never know when you want to take the whole stage. I suggest www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

buying something with a constant aperture—either an f4.0 or an f2.8.

I actually don’t mind using an f4.0 in a concert. When I shoot concerts in f4.0, people would tell me, “Isn’t that going to be dark? Why not shoot in f2.8?” If people are moving, you want every detail in focus as the aperture controls the depth of field.”

©Magic Liwanag Nine Inch Nails DETAILS: NIKON D300, 185.0mm, f/5.0, 1/250 sec, ISO 640

One piece of gear not found on a concert photographer’s list of necessities is an external flash. “It is totally prohibited in concerts. . . because if you flash the artist, you might be the reason why he or she performs badly.”

Since external flashes are prohibited, Magic has to live up to his last name by finding the light for every shot he takes. “During a concert, I find it helps to scout out the area in advance to get an idea of the lighting set up. I also do a background check on the artist to see what kind of lighting they use. This helps me predetermine where they will stand, when they will walk, and what they will do at a certain point during the concert along with the lighting conditions provided by the stage. This helps me decide on the range of settings I will need to use—making adjusting easier and smoother to take that quality shot.”

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43

snapshots digital photography in a snap

“The thing with photography is that if you think it’s worth shooting, then don’t hold back.”

To settle the usual debate of quality over quantity, Magic’s answer was simple. “It really is a good balance of both. I am a burst shooter and I shoot in bracketing—meaning I get one shot that is a neutral exposure, one that is a little darker and one that is brighter. So I have quite a lot of photos. You only get one chance to take a shot of anything.

It is not like you can tell the artist to jump up in the air again because you missed it. I basically shoot 8GB worth of RAW photos per concert.

So that is like 700 to 800 photos.

But when I shoot for broadsheets, I can’t just send all those 800 photos to them. So I would choose the best 5. And if I send them out to multiple broadsheets, I have to choose different ones for each broadsheet, which means I have to have at least 15 good shots of the entire concert.”

©Magic Liwanag Katy Perry DETAILS: NIKON D700, 185.0mm, f/4.0, 1/500 sec, ISO 800

For those that like counting their shutter actuations, when you step into concert photography, that becomes the last thing on your mind. “In the end, that is what our camera is for,” says Magic, “To shoot. The thing with photography is that if you think it’s worth shooting, then don’t hold back.”

With regards to composition, variety is the key to getting your work to stand out. “I suggest taking a few shots that are up close, half body, full body and the whole set or stage.

Put personally, I would rather be in the crowd than in the media pit.

Why? When you are in the media pit, all your photos will be from a worms eye view—because you will be shooting the artist from below. I would rather shoot from the crowd so that you can see it the way the crowd sees it. One of the main reasons why I shoot concerts is for the people that couldn’t be there. I try to bring the people that see my photos to the concert, so that they can experience it the way the crowd did—with the hands waving and all the lights glaring. I also like taking overhead shots of the arena or the 44

JUly 2012

©Magic Liwanag Timbaland & Justin Timberlak e DETAILS: NIKON D300, 100.0 mm, f/4.0, 1/200 sec, ISO 800

coliseum so that you can see the set. Don’t limit yourself. Experiment and try different positions and perspectives.”

When asked if there is money in this line of photography, Magic admitted that there really isn’t much. “For me, music is a passion. And these foreign artists, wherever you bring them, they will be known. If they bring Justin Bieber to India, they will know him. Bring Lady Gaga to Europe, they will know her. So basically, concert photography builds my portfolio. If

I submit my portfolio to any client anywhere in the world—whether it is a production company or a music label—they will know who I have shot or who I have worked with.

They know the people, they can identify with them, and they are most likely to keep me at the top of their mind. For me, this genre of photography is more like a hobby.

Mostly, concert photography is a way to build your portfolio and to increase your exposure. You would make more money from advertising photography or weddings. But

concert photography will open up great opportunities. Just take a shot.

That is my philosophy for life as well. Take a shot, because if you don’t, then you never know, you might have missed your chance.”

To see more of Magic Liwanag’s works, check out his Facebook account at www.facebook.com/ magicliwanag or follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/ magicliwanag

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apps

there’s an app for that

Music Apps To Keep You Groovin’

Words by Presy Alba

Tunein Radio

Listen to radio from anywhere around the world.

Create and customize your preset stations, select from recommended or local stations, or browse stations by category. You’ll be amazed at the wide selection at your fingertips. It also works as a radio alarm clock.

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, Samsung Bada Price: Free

SoundHound If you ever find yourself listening to music you don’t know the title of, or get stuck with a last song syndrome but you cannot remember who the artist is, Soundhound is a handy app that will solve your problem. All it requires is for it to “listen” to a few bars of the song. Point your device’s mic toaa the music source—whether it’s speakers or just you humming the melody— SoundHound will search the web and give you the song title and details in a blink (depending on your internet connection speed).

Shazam

iAlbums

Another great tune recognition app where all you need to do is hold your device’s mic near the speakers so it can “hear” the tune. It will report back the song’s title and other details that it finds on the web.

If you want to know the stories behind the songs in your music library, then iAlbums is a must-have app. It automatically searches the web for album covers and provides links to YouTube videos, making your music experience so much richer.

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Price: Free

Garageband for iPad and iPhone With this one app, you and your friends can jam to your hearts’ content from your iPhones and iPads. In just one app, you get an audio recorder, drums, and an assortment of keyboards, strings, guitars and amps. With a combination of iPhones/iPads you can even be a one-man band and record your creation on another iPhone/iPad or your Mac.

Version: iPhone/iPad. Price: Free

Pianist Music studio If you want to create music on your Windows phone, this app from www.windowsphone. com may be all you need to create music and ringtones using different instruments including a guitar, piano and drums.

Version: Windows Phone Price: $0.99 (also has a free trial version)

Version: iPhone/iPad Price: $4.99

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android Price: Free www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

July 2012

45

gaming

where playing around is a good thing

) 2 1 0 2 ( L A T E M D E TWIST ny o S / y a l P p e e l Eat S PS3 ne Castro

An Words by Racine

46

July 2012

e iconic th , l ta e M r Twisted at game fo b m o c r la ve vehicu s been ali a h , n o ti PlaySta nd 17 years a ents ly r a e n r fo m ight install e d a h s a h ou chise (if y n a fr e th in l: isted Meta d w T e d lu c in te l and Twis w ra B ll a m S line). Early n O k c la B Metal: ep Play le S t a E r, a ew this ye sed the n a le re y n o e and S e franchis th f o t n e m install d ply entitle for PS3, sim l. eta Twisted M

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gaming where playing around is a good thing

The game is basically a demolition derby where the ultimate goal is to be the last one standing. The ringmaster of this demented game is Calypso, who holds the power to grant the winner’s wish.Compared to previous versions, the graphics have improved greatly. The animation is incredibly smooth, and the cinematic cutscenes that combine CG and live action are well-crafted and satisfyingly gruesome. The audio keeps you immersed in the game—the hard-hitting tunes mesh well with all the smashing onscreen.

Four drivers make a comeback—Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, Dollface and The Preacher. It was a total let-down when I found out that although players are free to choose from 17 familiar vehicles, you can only pick your driver from the four characters. But what the game lacks in variety of characters, it makes up for in the storylines. The backstories are tight, well-versed and extra psychotic. I particularly liked Dollface’s new story, which I think is the most twisted tale in the bunch. As much as I applaud the tightness of the storylines, I’d have to complain about being required to play them all—in order.

The game has single-player, multiplayer, and online modes. There’s also a training mode for newcomers. Both Deathmatch and Story Mode are available in single-player and multiplayer modes. In Deathmatch, you have

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up to four players shown in a four-way split-screen. The Story Mode can be played alone or using the two-player cooperative mode. The online mode features Deathmatch and an all-new mode called Nuke, where you join a team and attempt to destroy the enemy’s giant metal statue.

To destroy it, each player must capture the leader of the opposing team, drag him to a missile launcher and launch that missile at the statue.

Though all matches involve total annihilation, some of them have variations. One match, for instance, requires you to stay within a certain area or you lose health. This can be extremely frustrating at times, especially with the bots ganging up on you and being excessively powerful. Twisted Metal is known to be a challenging game, but I think this version is harder than the previous ones.

Although this installment is extra challenging and doesn’t allow you to play other characters, it ranks above the rest in terms of graphics and storylines. Its limitations should be no big deal if you’re just into all that multiplayer vehicular mayhem. Twisted Metal is definitely an exciting game to play on a game night with your friends—with or without the fancy graphics and stories. It’s all about fun—even if its concept of fun is murderous driving.

July 2012

47

everythingapple

Creating Music On Your Apple Device

GADGETS THAT DON’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Words By Presy Alba

From the time man discovered music, we have never stopped creating it.

Music is an integral part of our lives today.

From the ringtones of our mobile phones to the songs we listen to during our daily commute, our music selection always has personal meaning.

Our parents, our peers or a music teacher may have influenced our musical preference. It was probably one of them who encouraged us to learn to play at least one instrument or taught us to sing.

We all like to listen to music but many of us have a secret fantasy of creating our own. We don’t often get the opportunity to even try because of the cost and preparation involved in renting studio airtime.

Y A DJ 48

JULY 2012

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When using GarageBand for iOS on an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad, you can create music using the software instruments on board the device or you can connect a real instrument like a midi keyboard or an electric guitar using special cables connected to the USB connector of the Camera Kit for iPhone/iPad. The software instruments are pretty intuitive to use and if you are already familiar with the real musical instrument, you wont have any problems adjusting to the miniature version and playing the

Mixing your own music selection is not an easy undertaking. Whether it is for a party or your personal listening pleasure, whether you are an experienced disc jockey or just starting, having the right equipment is always the key.

DJay is a complete disc jockey system that will instantly take your iTunes library to the next level.

With DJay, your songs will seamlessly transition to the next. It comes with an Automix feature that enhances your DJ style and allows you to play hours and hours of music from your playlist.

For an investment of $19.95, you can download

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instrument using the multi-touch screen.

If you are a one-man band, you will have to play and record each instrument separately and put them all together either on your iPad or on your Mac. To send a recorded project from your iOS device to your Mac, you can either email it or send it via iTunes: From GarageBand on your iOS device tap the My Song tab on the upper left corner, then tap Edit on the upper right corner, and select the song you want to manage. If you want to send the song to your Mac, select the song and tap the action command on the upper left corner and you will get a dropdown box of sharing options. In edit mode, you can also opt to duplicate or delete your selected song.

DJay for Mac OSX from the App Store. You may also want to enjoy the multi-touch experience of DJay for iPad for $9.99 or have a handy mixer on your iPhone or iPod Touch for $4.99.

All versions of DJay come with a classic turntable interface. You can create scratch effects using the trackpad of your Mac or the multi-touch screen of your iOS devices. You can also play two songs simultaneously and create a new song entirely or smoothly segue to the next song like a pro.

The great thing about this app is that you can record your performance and replay the perfect

GADGETS THAT DON’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

GarageBand gives you, the Apple user, the opportunity to explore your musical talent—either as a solo artist or as part of a band. You can use GarageBand to create full-length songs or make distinctive ringtones for your phone.

everythingapple

Garag eband

Even if you played and recorded parts of your song in different devices, you can send them all to one device for final editing using the sharing commands.

When you are happy with your arrangement you can burn it onto a CD, compressed as MP3 or send it to your iTunes library.

If you want to see how GarageBand on a Macbook Pro can be used to record music performed by people from different parts of the world, watch the season finale of the new Kiefer Sutherland television series, Touch (Season 1, Episode 12).

party music on your next “gig”. What’s even better, if you have DJay on different devices, you can share cue points and other song meta data over iCloud on all your devices.

usic id: “M iverse, a s e c on un Plato soul to the light , f gives a e mind and life h t o t ion wings aginat m i e h to t thing.” y r e v e to r souls

ed ou let us fe p exploring – d in er sto is in m With th songs and nev w e with n . sibilities the pos july 2012

49

tablets

portable personal computerS

How to

Supersize your Tablet

By Presy Alba

“Having the option to supersize gives us an even more compelling reason to get that Tablet we’ve always been pining for. “

+ Movies + Music + Ebooks + Games + Apps

I have a first generation 16GB Wi-Fi iPad that I use mainly as a mobile entertainment center. I play online games, watch TV shows and movies, and read e-books on it. With only 16GB of storage space, I am constantly replacing the videos and e-books via iTunes to make sure I bring along the videos and books that I want to watch and read at the moment. Having storage space limitations can be a big hassle especially when I go on longer trips.

My first solution was to load my videos, music and audiobooks into my 120GB iPod Classic so that I could bring along all the videos and audiobooks that I liked and only used the iPad for my e-book selection.

Then, I discovered the Seagate GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage, a 500GB external storage device that allows me to supersize 50

JULY 2012

my iPad. Now I can bring along virtually my entire iTunes library— music, videos, e-books, audiobooks, apps—and still have enough storage space left over.

Since the mobile wireless storage device also works with other Wi-Fi enabled devices, I am sure this is a solution that will delight not just iPad owners but most Tablet users as it also works with Android devices.

It also works with smartphones and laptops.

Just think—with your whole digital library literally in the 500GB wireless storage device, you can now listen to music and audiobooks, watch complete seasons of your favorite TV shows, and access your files wirelessly without any difficulty.

The media streams so smoothly you will forget that the device is hidden in your bag.

The device can connect simultaneously to three devices so your friends and family can even benefit from your video and music collection once you allow them access to your wireless drive—and you can watch different video files simultaneously. What’s more, its batteries can last up to 5 hours, which is quite awesome.

The Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage comes with a free app that allows direct access to the files from the iPad. It can also be accessed using the iPad’s browser.

At home and in the office, iPad users can also access files on your network storage, workstation or laptop via FileBrowser, a $4.99 app that you can download from the App Store.

The app is very easy to use. Once downloaded into your iPad, you can access your laptop, workstation,

network storage via your Wi-Fi network. You can connect additional devices or machines by following the instructions provided in the app.

I like using FileBrowser at home and in the office because I can open Word documents, Excel files and PowerPoint presentations in the FileBrowser window and use the iPad in tandem with my laptop.

These capabilities justify having the iPad as it enables me to work more efficiently, while providing me with endless hours of entertainment and fun.

Having the option to supersize gives us an even more compelling reason to get that Tablet we’ve always been pining for. Just think how much lighter your luggage will be with less than 1kg total weight for both the tablet and wireless external drive.

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the hottest machines that get you places

Test Drive: Honda Civic

mobility

Words by Belle Alba

Probably the feature I liked best about the 2012 Honda Civic 1.8 EXi is its Bluetooth connectivity. After a bit of trial and error, I was able to get to the set-up settings, which allowed me to add both my iPhone 4S and new iPad to the list of paired devices. This allowed me to stream audio from my iPad playlist, without having to use the aux-in jack. I also tried making some calls on my iPhone, and while audio was clear on both sides of the conversation, I did experience quite a bit of randomly dropped calls.

Okay, having gotten that out of the way, let’s now focus on the more usual car stuff. With regard to looks, the new Civic is unmistakably the middle child of the Honda sedan family, echoing design elements from big brother Accord and younger sibling City. Many reviewers have labeled it bland—a sentiment I share.

The interior is expectedly spacious and roomy, with the two-tone gray and beige color scheme adding to the clean, expansive feel. Not everyone will like this departure from the standard blackgray hues, however, as the light beige seats, door trim and floor carpets will definitely show scuff marks and will prove to be a challenge to keep clean.

Performance wise, the Civic is powered by a 1.8-liter engine that the spec sheet claims to deliver maximum power of 141ps at 6500rpm and maximum torque of 17.7kg-m at 4300rpm.

Mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, engine performance may be modified by pressing the ECON button, to prioritize fuel efficiency over performance. I did not have the car long enough to check out actual fuel consumption savings. Driving on ECON mode seems ideal only in stop-go city traffic where acceleration is not important since you definitely lose the trademark high-revving Civic speed bursts for overtaking or leaving other cars in the dust. The Civic’s lackluster acceleration is further highlighted by the absence

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of the shift paddles, which have been replaced by cruise control—a feature that’s not very useful on Philippine roads, especially in traffic-congested urban areas like Metro Manila. Sadly, there is no tiptronic shifter, and the only way to shift up or down is to manually move the gear stick through the three Drive (D) modes. Perhaps the Civic is now positioned to appeal more to drivers who are conscious about fuel-mizing rather than to those who enjoy the sporty drive that built the outstanding Civic reputation among Filipino drivers. Whoever traded the sporty paddle shifters for cruise control buttons, Honda should send him back to school.

This Civic is a CBU (completely built up) import from Japan, a fact that I found very evident in the more rigid suspension settings as well as road/ tire noise. While the Civic test unit definitely felt heavier and more solid than my three-year old City, I immediately noticed that ride comfort was not that much better (and possibly even harsher).

I could feel every dip and bump on the road, attributing this to the fact that the suspension may be tuned at stiffer settings appropriate for Japan’s nicely-built, smooth highways, but not our cement-paved patchy roads. Tire/road noise was also very noticeable, even when I had the audio playing at rather loud volume levels.

As a tech-geek, I thoroughly enjoyed the rear-view camera that came up on the i-MID (Intelligent Multi-Information Display) when in Reverse. Being able to actually see what’s behind you is a good thing, although being able to estimate actual distances may take some getting used to.

Speaking of visibility, I also particularly liked the quarter pane glass on the front windows, reminiscent of vintage cars. This made for a smaller blind spot from the A-pillar. Honda also moved the side mirrors closer to the driver— possibly another small design change for better all-around visibility.

Back to the techie stuff, you will need to read the User’s Manual to successfully customize the Civic’s I-MID settings, which controls everything from trip computers, audio settings, and so on. Aside from the dashboard controls, steering wheel mounted buttons can also be used to access the I-MID. Be sure to do this at home or while parked, though, as it can be distracting to have to go through the custom options while driving.

Personal disclaimer: I worked for Honda Cars Philippines in the early 90s and handled product planning and market research before I moved on to pursue other interests. I have exclusively owned Honda cars for the past 20 years (until very recently), so I guess I have higher expectations of the brand.

What’s Hot: • • • •

Bluetooth connectivity ECON mode for fuel savings Rear camera augments rear visibility Front quarter glass for better visibility

What’s Not: • • •

Road/tire noise Stiff suspension, harsh ride Beige-colored seats and carpeting are hard to keep clean

The Bottomline: While fans may miss some of the high-revving performance that has earned the Civic its cult following, Honda loyalists will still feel at home in this Japanese import.

Specifications: • • • • • • •

Engine: 1,798cc 4-stroke SOHC i-VTEC Power: 141ps@6500rpm Torque: 17.7kg-m@4300rpm Transmission: 5-speed AT Suspension: Front McPherson strut, rear double wishbone Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear solid discs Wheels: 16-inch alloy

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mobility machines that get you places

Honda People Movers: Pilot & Odyssey Words by Ren Alcantara

One of the things most people strive to have in their lifetime is a family. To cater to the size of the growing families in the country, Honda has finally brought to our shores two of the most popular vehicles in their US model lineup. The Honda Pilot and Odyssey are geared towards those with large families, and while the minivan and an SUV couldn’t be more conceptually different, Honda has done an excellent job in the design and engineering of both vehicles to provide everyone with great options for their next family vehicle.

Mr. Rufino Luis Manotok, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Automotive Holding Corp., Mr. Stephen Frey, Principal Engineer, All-New Odyssey, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Mr. Tatsuya Natsume, President and General Manager, HCPI, Mr. Delfin De Guzman, Administration Division Head, HCPI, Mr. Kerry McClure, Principal Engineer, All-New Pilot, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Mr. Medel Nera, President, House of Investment, Inc.

Developed in the United States, the two big boys of the Honda lineup have finally made it to the Philippines, and are set to provide the ultimate riding experience to even the largest of families.

Both vehicles have the same 3.5-Liter, V6 powerplant which produces more than enough push to get you places, even with a full passenger compartment and cargo in the back. Despite the hefty displacement, this engine offers excellent fuel-efficiency, thanks to Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management, which shuts down cylinders and lets you run on either 3, 4 or all 6 cylinders, depending on driving conditions. This allows even the bulkier Pilot to run a respectable 7+ kilometers per liter in the city. The engine puts out over 250hp and 35 kg-m of torque for all the heavy lifting any family car may have to do.

The Odyssey was designed with the comfort and convenience of all the passengers in mind and offers flexible seating for up to 8 people. If you need more cargo room, seats can be laid flat or removed outright for maximum storage space. Honda also went out of its way to ensure easy communication between passengers thanks to a design that perfectly isolates the cabin from outside noise and lets even the tiniest voices be heard. Honda arrived at these key creature comforts through focus group discussions with actual families, and incorporating their requests and needs into the Odyssey. Despite its size, the Odyssey promises a sedan-like driving experience thanks to the rigid frame, superb suspension and Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist system.

Design-wise, the Odyssey has very modern, dynamic lines that make it stand out from other minivans in its class.

The Pilot, on the other hand, was created to give the active, outgoing and adventurous the perfect ride wherever they may find themselves. Variable Torque Management ensures a solid grip on the terrain in case of loss of traction in the front, and a single button turns the Pilot from a city-slicking urban vehicle, to a solid, medium-duty off-road machine. The Pilot gives unparalleled storage options in the extra-wide cargo bay alone, and even more room can be made available by flattening the third row of seats. If heavier lifting is required, the Pilot comes standard with a trailer hitch for more serious hauling tasks.

Long family drives are made shorter with a little entertainment, and both the Pilot and Odyssey have that covered. Both have a 7.1 speaker system, USB capability, and the ability to rip and store 2GB worth of music from your CDs. Both vehicles also offer industry-leading safety features, including airbags 52

July 2012

along the sides, front SRS airbags, child seat mounds on multiple seats, and active head restraints for the driver and front passenger. These have won the Odyssey the highest safety ratings in impact protection both front and side, as well as rollover protection for passengers.

These vehicles have gone through multiple iterations through the many years they have been on the market, and this has produced the most comfortable, safest, most fuel-efficient Pilot and Odyssey yet. There has been no better time to own either one of these cars, and now the Philippine market will finally get its chance.

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mobility

L ambo rg hi n i M a n ila n ow ope n Words by Mika Fernandez-David

SUPER TROFEO

Gallardo Bicolore

Superleggera

Lamborghini Manila formally opened its doors on May 29, 2012, with no less than Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobil Lamborghini S.p.A., and his team, gracing the event.

“Lamborghini’s new presence in the Philippines represents our commitment to our customers in this important market,” says Winkelmann.“I am very delighted to inaugurate our first showroom in the Philippines. Our clients here love the brand for its unique values of being extreme, uncompromising and unmistakably Italian.”

For his part, Robert Coyuito III, President of PGA Automobile, Inc. commented ,“We are very proud of representing Lamborghini in Manila and we are looking forward to offering our customers an ownership experience that will be as fascinating and complete as possible.”

Lamborghini Manila will offer the full range of models such as the Superleggera, the Noctis Limited Edition, the Super Trofeo, the Gallardo Bicolore and of course, the Aventador. Located right beside the showroom is the service center which will offer warranty and maintenance services, as well as sales of spare parts and accessories for current Lamborghini owners.

To complete the experience, Lamborghini Manila also carries the exclusive Collezione Automobili Lamborghini fashion line.

PGA Automobile Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr. (third from left), Lamborghini Manila President Roberto Coyiuto III (leftmost) and Lamborghini Manila General Sales Manager Enrique Jarlego II (rightmost) with Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann (second from left) and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. General Manager Christian Mastro (fourth from left).

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During the Q&A portion of the media launch, a reporter asked if Lamborghini was doing anything design-wise to make their super cars more appealing to women, to which the very candid CEO answered with a quick No. He did, however, qualify his statement by mentioning that the Lamborghini concept car, the Urus SUV, which was officially unveiled during the last Beijing Motor Show, caters to a whole new demographic.

Located at the ground floor of W Tower on 11th Street at the Bonifacio Global City, customers are welcome to call in and set an appointment to visit the showroom.

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53

machines that get you places

AVENTADOR

mobility machines that get you places

Peugeot marks its return to the Philippines Words by Christopher Kho

Some of you might still remember when French automaker, Peugeot, first entered the Philippines in 2003. Back then, it was run by the now-defunct AutoFrance Philippines owned by the Lee’s—the same people behind Chevrolet, Hyundai, Nissan (UMC), and Volvo. However, unlike its more successful sister companies, Peugeot didn’t perform as well as they had hoped and the business had to close down after just a few years in operation. But this year, we’ve got word that Peugeot is officially making a comeback to take a second another shot in the Philippines.

Before we get into the details, let us first learn the correct way of pronouncing the brand name, so you won’t embarrass yourself at the next motor show. As a French car maker, Peugeot is correctly pronounced as ‘pew-shjo’. The Brits, on the other hand, prefer to call it ‘pur-zhoh’ so don’t be confused.

Under new management, Peugeot is now being run by Eurobrands Distributor Inc.—a conglomerate of the Alvarez Group of Companies, who are also responsible for Kia (Columbian Autocar Corporation) and BMW (Asian Carmakers Corporation). And the person calling the shots is non other than Felix Mabilog Jr., former President and COO of Kia, who came out of retirement just to give the brand another fighting chance.

“The Peugeot of today is not the same from what it was 10 years ago,” remarked Mabilog, who stressed that his group will be providing exceptional after sales service to lift up the brand name, even for Peugeots purchased in 54

July 2012

the past. They’ve also poached former Philippine Star Motoring Editor, Dong Magsajo as their Marketing and PR Manager, so we know that Peugeot’s future is in good hands.

Peugeot Philippines is all set to make its official return in just a few months’ time at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMPS) in August, but they have yet to announce where their headquarters in Metro Manila will be built. So for the meantime, the entire staff of Mr. Mabilog is taking office at one of his dealerships in Kia Metroeast.

While we’re waiting for their arrival, here are some facts you need to know about Peugeot.

• •

• •

Peugeot started as coffee mill and bicycle manufacturer in the 1800’s. Now, they’re the second largest carmaker in Europe (Volkswagen being the first) and fully owns Citroën.

Peugeot has been heavily involved in motorsports since the 80’s.

They competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for three decades with iconic rally cars such as the Group B 205 Turbo 16, 206, and 306—all driven by the greats such as Ari Vatanen, Juha Kankkunen, and Marcus Grönholm.

They enjoyed similar success in rally raid and sportscar racing, winning the Dakar Rally four times in a row from ‘87 to ‘90 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in ‘92, ‘93, and ‘09.

All their models (well, except for a few) carry a three-digit numerical name. The first digit signifies the body size, followed by a ‘0’, then the last digit indicates the model’s generation. It was only up until recently when they decided to add an extra ‘0’ in the middle to accommodate their expanding line-up.

Although they’ve already divulged to us which models they’re bringing in this year, we’ve been asked to keep it a secret until then. But, what we can tell you is that they’ll be launching four new models later this year, and all will be powered by Peugeot’s 1.6L HDi 110 engine. Fuel efficiency figures are estimated as high as 20 km/L and carbon emissions as low as 129g/km.

And despite being a European brand, their target price will be positioned right between the Japanese, Koreans, and Germans. So whether you’re a businessman, family man, adventurist, or sportster, start saving up until Peugeot officially marks its arrival in three months’ time. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

mobility

Words by Jose Alvarez

Japanese compact car and motorcycle distributor Suzuki Philippines (SPH) recently kicked off the Mindanao Leg of the “NEX Public Launch” at Rizal Park, Davao City, with a full three-day event that consisted of free service and check-ups, Motorcycle Learn To Ride Program, a full lineup of motorcycle models, games and raffles, and a free 6Cyclemind concert. Online sensation Ramon Bautista, now one of the endorsers for Suzuki, formally hosted the event.

The NEX 115 has a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, as well as a maximum output of 6.9kW @ 8800rpm, and a maximum torque of 8.7Nm @ 6500rpm. The NEX 115 also has a throttle position sensor (TPS) and a newlydesigned continuously variable transmission (CVT) which helps reduce fuel consumption and enhance the output feeling in the low throttle range without lowering the acceleration performance.

The roller type rocker arm carries the motion of the cam to the valves, reducing frictional losses.

The low seat height (735mm) allows for easy handling and better control of the bike. The seat also has a spacious 4.5-liter underseat compartment despite only being 665mm wide and 1,035mm tall. In addition, the foot board and the newly-designed durable square-section pipe frame ensures a more stable and comfortable riding experience. Keeping with the theme of fuel efficiency, the light, hollow core mag wheels also improve the riding performance, and the smalltype muffler reduces weight and noise, and also complies with Euro II emission standards.

The NEX 115 comes in three different colors: pearl flash green, pearl sakura pink and brilliant white, and is priced at an affordable Php 60,900.

“We are excited to launch the Suzuki NEX 115 to the public, which is the most affordable scooter in its class,” Suzuki president Satoshi Uchida said.

“This event also kicks off the Davao leg of the Suzuki Invasion, which is now on its third year.

The Suzuki Invasion is our way of bringing Suzuki closer to the brand’s following through free service cams, change oils and the like. It is a very good avenue to see the many beautiful possibilities of owning a Suzuki.”

The Davao leg is part of a series of the NEX 115 public launches conducted within the three-day Suzuki Invasion held in various major cities of the country. The Suzuki NEX 115 launch kicked off at Liwasang Aurora at the Quezon City Circle last April 14, followed by another event in Parkmall Cebu on April 21, 2012.

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machines that get you places

Suzuki Philippines holds the NEX Public Launch series nationwide in Mindanao

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in-depth TOPICS on all things tech and lifestyle

Independent &Unsigned

Distributing and Promoting Your Music Online Words By Jon Uriarte | Art by Patrick Jude Ilagan

Without a doubt, technology—particularly the internet—has changed the music industry for better and for worse. While the Internet has caused the music industry to lose millions of dollars due to piracy and bootlegging, it’s leveled the playing-field for independent artists by allowing them to promote and distribute their music more easily. It used to be that being signed to a major record label or “backpacking” your albums and putting them in actual stores was the only way to get the proper promotion and exposure. Nowadays, a growing number of unsigned recording artists have been making a name for themselves in a big way online.

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Just about anyone can get famous (and possibly even rich) through the Internet and some people will do whatever it takes to get attention. That includes purposely making music that appeals to the masses and following the trend of what is “in” or “hot” at the moment even if it sounds like garbage to real music heads. If you’re out to gain fame and fortune—this article isn’t for you.

This is for those who truly believe in their music and want to reach more people. If you just started making tunes recently, it might be better to first work on your craft for a couple of months or even years before introducing yourself to the world.

So you’ve recorded your material and made it sound as good as you possibly can—what now?

We’re here to give some steps and tips for the pure-hearted musicians of this generation to earn value from their efforts. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

First and foremost, you’ll need a way to make and receive payments online. This can come in the form of a PayPal account that is linked to your bank account and a credit or debit card that you can use online. You’ll need this in order to pay for music store services and receive money when people buy your music.

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Sell Your Music Online

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Get an Online Payment Method

It’s not like back in the olden days when people had to go to an actual music store to buy your album. Nearly half of all sales from many major artists now come from online purchases and the number is still growing. For a lot of independent and unsigned artists, online sales account for an even larger portion of revenues, if not all of it.

Bandcamp Bandcamp is a great site that allows you to sign up for free and sell your music directly to your fans, whether as a whole album or per song, and a lot of independent and unsigned artists have made money through it. You can set the price on how much you want to sell your music for and whether you want to allow visitors to preview a song before buying it. You can even activate a “name your price” option that lets people determine how much they want to pay for a particular song or album, allowing them to pay absolutely nothing or input their own price depending on how much they think it’s worth.

Within the site you’ll be able to keep track of your own sales and get discovered by other musicians and listeners that chance upon your Bandcamp page under the recommendations section. The more you sell, the more free promotion you get from the site, since they can feature your music on the front page, on the Bandcamp charts, and elsewhere. Bandcamp is completely free to use and will only take a small percentage of your sales—about 15% of all revenue, which drops to 10% once you reach sales of $5000 in the past 12 months. iTunes and Amazon Although there are a lot of places online where you can sell your music, iTunes and Amazon are still in the #1 and #2 spot, respectively—the former has about a 90% market share while the latter is trying to keep up. Basically, iTunes sells more music than all other digital retailers combined.

Chances are, as an independent or unsigned artist, you won’t meet the requirements to work with Apple directly to get your music on iTunes.

For instance, your release will need a UPC, which is a unique catalogue number; and each song will need an ISRC, which is a number that uniquely identifies each song or recording—and those are just a fraction of the requirements. The ISRC is embedded into the digital file and allows the tracking of sales and royalty payments across the different online stores. To get your music on iTunes, Amazon, and some of the other big online stores, you have to do it through an Appleapproved aggregator or intermediary site.

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coverstory the hottest tech and lifestyle trends Two of the most popular intermediaries are CDBaby and TuneCore. They provide a one-stop shop where you can upload and sell your music, and have it ripple out through all major stores and over a hundred minor ones too. If you put your music on these sites, they will provide the UPCs (Universal Product Code) and ISRCs (International Standard Recording Code) and get it on iTunes and Amazon for you. Keep in mind that the iTunes music store isn’t accessible to people in certain countries including the Philippines; so as an artist, it’s a great way to get your music to a global platform, but if your focus is mostly the Philippine market then you should check out other alternatives.

CDBaby CDBaby will cost you a one-time $59 payment per album that you sell on their site. The listed cost is actually $39, but you’ll need to spend $20 for a UPC barcode. On the other hand, uploading a single will cost $14.95, which includes a $5 UPC barcode.

You retain all the rights to your music and there are no fees if you decide to cancel. Once your music is up, CDBaby will take a 9% commission on what it receives from stores like iTunes and a 25% commission on any sales from its own website.

They also offer physical distribution of CDs, DVDs and vinyl, as well as distribution through a host of other online music stores such as Last.fm, Nokia, Spotify and Zune, among others.

It will take about two business days to get your music on iTunes after it’s on CDBaby, and one to four weeks for other digital distributors. If you 58

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wish to have physical CDs distributed, you’ll have to send them five copies—one of which will be used to digitize the music and copy the sleeve for distribution, while the remaining four go into stock ready to ship.

TuneCore Instead of a one-time payment, the cost of TuneCore is about $9.99 per year for each single or ringtone, and approximately $39.99 per year for an album regardless of how many songs it contains.

Making use of an intermediary site is pretty simple—just sign up and pay the necessary fees, send them your music and artwork, let them do the rest of the work, start seeing your music sold worldwide, and then get paid. You’ll be making use of their online interface to upload your music, while many intermediary sites such as CDBaby also allow you to mail them a real CD.

Even though intermediaries pride themselves in being open to all types of music, they will still block poor quality recordings such as those with hiss, distortion, or You retain all rights to your low volume levels. They also music and TuneCore takes reject submissions that have Even though around 30% of sales, so awful artwork—with some intermediaries you’ll be making around people sending in photos pride themselves in being $0.70 per song and $7.00 taken from a mobile per album. Like CDBaby, phone as their cover open to all types of music, you’ll also be able to sell image. There is a list of they will still block poor on other online stores specifications that need quality recordings such as with no extra charge to be followed when those with hiss, distortion, per store. You get paid submitting artwork (such or low volume levels. via PayPal, EFT (Electronic as size and resolution) and Funds Transfer to U.S. and songs. Even if the music U.S. territory banks only) or will ultimately be sold in MP3 check. If you decide to take format, they usually require an album down early (before six an uncompressed format such as months in this case), then you have to stereo 44.1 kHz, 16-bit .wav files. You’ll pay a $20 fee. also need to provide information about the music, which is what they call metadata (or label TuneCore estimates that it can get your music copy in the old days) and usually consists of the on iTunes within 24 to 72 hours, about 3 to 7 artist name, title, label name, copyright lines, business days for Amazon MP3, about 6 to 8 and some other details. Classical music is a lot weeks for Amazon on Demand and Spotify, and more complicated since it can feature composers, about 1 to 3 weeks for all other stores. soloists and an orchestra, so the artist needs to get in touch with the intermediary site for that. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Facebook & Twitter Many artists use Facebook and Twitter for promotional purposes and to gain and keep track of their following. It’s advisable to have a Facebook page in your artist name that people can search and “Like”, as well as a Twitter account that people can follow. Some artists like to create a separate Facebook account, which is also a good idea since you can send private group messages and add people up yourself, but there’s currently a limit of about 5,000 friends.

immersed in it and treat it like the new-age TV, there’s a big chance that people will stumble upon your music. Even better, you can produce a professional-looking music video for one of your songs and spread the link on a bunch of social networking sites. A lot of unsigned musicians have gotten hundreds of thousands of subscribers and millions of views on their respective YouTube channels.

Nearly everyone who might be willing to pay for your music is on the Internet.

YouTube Upload some of your songs on YouTube. It might be a good idea not to put up everything, since people can view them for free. With the way YouTube works and how a lot of people stay

SoundCloud SoundCloud is a site that lets you upload music and share it to social networking sites. It also lets you find and follow friends in order to share music. It’s one of the easiest ways to upload a piece of music to the Internet to share it with people on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and blog sites.

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the hottest tech and lifestyle trends

Just because your music is available online, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to get a lot of sales. You’ll need to do a lot of online promotion and start letting people know where they can find it. Nearly everyone who might be willing to pay for your music is on the Internet. You don’t need to design an artist website just yet, you just need an avenue where you can keep track of your current and potential supporters and communicate with them.

Since Facebook and Twitter are now the biggest social networking sites, they’ll be your avenue for spreading the word, being in contact with your supporters, updating them, and directing them to your music.

Some very successful independent and unsigned artists have even chosen to leave their record labels and made use of only a Bandcamp and Twitter combination to sell their music.

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Promote Online

coverstory the hottest tech and lifestyle trends

What hasn’t changed?

It’s important to point out that although the Internet has revolutionized the way artists get their music out there, certain things haven’t changed. These include doing shows and having non-digital counterparts of music and promotional material.

Doing shows is one of the most important facets in the life of a music artist—shows allow you to gain new supporters as well as solidify old ones. These are where you make connections, expand your network, let people know where to buy your music, and how to find it online. To find gigs, you need to attend events and talk to organizers, make friends with other musicians, obtain the right hook-ups, get help from people you know, and whatever else might work. If you do a lot of shows and your schedule gets hectic, you should start asking for a talent fee and get a manager that you can trust—one that shares your vision, and has the right means to make your goals happen from a business standpoint. Radio and magazine appearances are also helpful for promotion.

You can’t be a successful music artist overnight, and good music, not success, should be the goal.

A lot of people will still prefer to buy a CD or a vinyl copy of your music. If you can afford it, it’s still better to have physical copies replicated since people might also request for it at one of your gigs. You can even mail these directly to your supporters. CDs are also great as free giveaways to radio DJs, event organizers, and others who might be able to help you out. While you can do most of your promotion online, it’s also good to have tangible counterparts in the form of flyers or other merchandise such as clothing.

One thing that hasn’t changed—you can’t be a successful music artist overnight, and good music, not success, should be the goal. It requires a lot of hard work and patience. You’ll probably encounter a lot of struggles, triumphs, and opportunities that may lead you to compromise your principles as an artist, so stay aware and don’t let that happen.

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features

s u o i c i l e D A Mix of l u f t h g i l & De Words by Racine Anne Castro

In a little place kept away from the busy streets of Quezon City lies a haven for sweet, family fun. At Stacy’s, giving your family laughter and stimulating happy thoughts is top priority. With its vintage American home interior, Stacy’s is the coziest, most cheerful place for you and your family to eat, play, and have a great time.

Stacy’s was brought to life by Aby Natividad-Nachura, a chef of the Del Monte Test Kitchen and Stacy’s culinary director; and Angelique Abesamis-Castro, a prop stylist and Stacy’s creative director. These two partners are not only professionals in the food and advertising industry, but also young moms who understand the need for a place where their family can unwind and bond over good food, leaving with cheerfulness and a burst of happy thoughts.

Family time is much valued at Stacy’s.

It’s a place where moms and dads can relax and play golf while the kids play and doodle at the mini indoor garden. It is also a place where families can celebrate their most special moments. Themed birthday celebrations, baptismal parties and get-togethers are just some of the special moments to which Stacy’s opens its doors.

The Cath Kidston-inspired upholstery, matched with vintage props and posters, exude an old-fashioned American home ambiance. To complement this warm, homey vibe, Stacy’s offers prime hospitality as the gracious staff serves a merry mix of popcorn and sweets in a mug as sugary appetizers. Patrons are also given a wooden tic-tac-toe board to keep them occupied and entertained while they await their meals. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Stacy’s all-day breakfast top picks include Stacy Jones (tender yakiniku cut US beef sirloin tapa smothered with loads of fried garlic, served with “anyway you like ‘em” eggs, fresh tomatoes and roasted garlic rice), Monkey Toasts (fluffy pieces of cinnamon french toast topped with sweet caramelized bananas, whipped peanut butter and dark chocolate chips), Homebaked Chicken Parmesan (baked chicken fillet in Italian herbs and chunky tomato sauce layered with oodles of parmesan and mozzarella cheese, topped on a bed of herbed rice pilaf), Bluebell Farm’s Beef Casserole (slow-cooked tender beef short ribs stewed in red wine, butter, rich tomato sauce, carrots and whole mushrooms, perfectly matched with your choice of steamed parsley rice or smashed potatoes), and Martha’s Pot Roast(slices of beef sirloin slowly simmered in brown butter gravy sauce and laced with sautéed mushrooms and whole peppercorns, served with corn and carrots and a choice of steamed parsley rice or smashed potatoes). In addition to these delightful servings, Milk Shake Factory items are also bestsellers.

Stacy’s is located at Capitol Greenstreet Commercial Center, 1 Capitol Hills Drive in Quezon City. For bookings and other inquiries, please call 9526843.

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2 1 0 2 X E T U P M CO

ves s by John Nie to o h P d n a Words iggest e of the b n case o r fo lf e s its ue to show e n c e v ra b a i, s . e ie is headed aiwan, Taip gives tech compan y T g f o lo y o it n c h l c ere te hich PUTEX the capita pse of wh ference, w orld. COM m n li w o g c e Every year, a y th g rs in e lo and off techno y events ttend this products, t a technolog s . to te a le re b g a nd at we saw ing a h e t w b s f u te o o la y re ir u w the pleas to sho e distinct ’re excited e w d n a , We had th 12 -9 June 20 ran from 5

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Asus Transformer All-in-one

Last year Asus dazzled us with their ambitious plans for their products, which included the Asus PadFone—their form-factor defying phone/tablet hybrid. This year the company managed to one-up their 2011 performance by releasing a myriad of transforming tablets, with one distinct difference: almost all of their new products will run Windows 8, instead of Android.

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ASUS PC

Asus Transformer All-in-one When we saw the Asus Transformer All-in-one, we thought that it was just a regular all-in-one PC with added functionality. We were dead wrong.

The Transformer All-in-one holds the distinction as the world’s first convertible All-in-one PC, as the 18.4-inch touchscreen can be detached from the main body and used as a gigantic tablet.

The Transformer All-in-one uses Windows 8 to boot, but can also transition to the Android OS with the press of a button. All the necessary bits are retained in the device’s base (processor, connections and outputs). When the display is detached, the base and the display communicate via Wi-Fi, which cuts down on the components needed to keep the touchscreen operational.

Asus Transformer Book

Asus Taichi

While a lot of us were enamored with Asus’ first Transformer product, quite a few speculated if Asus would bring the same concept to Windows PCs. Wonder no more with the Asus Transformer Book. When docked with the keyboard accessory, it works much like a normal PC; detach it and it becomes a traditional tablet. The only difference now is that the Transformer Book will be running Microsoft’s Windows 8 OS instead of Android, and the device will be running Intel’s next generation Ivy Bridge chips to deliver a proper PC experience.

Asus Taichi Another exciting product from Asus is the Taichi, a dual-screened hybrid ultrabook that is also a tablet. The Taichi has two HD IPS screens on the lid—one regular display on the front, with a touchscreen enabled display on the back. There are several usage modes for the Taichi: regular notebook mode, where only the regular screen is used and the touchscreen is off to save battery; tablet mode, where the lid is closed and only the touchscreen display is shown; and dual-mode, where both the main screen and touchscreen are on, allowing users to share their content on the touchscreen and even allow two people to use the device at once. The Taichi will use Windows 8 when it eventually launches, and will also use Core i7 Ivy Bridge chips, along with SSD storage, 4GB of RAM and dual-cameras.

ASUS COMPONENTS Of course, Asus also showcased other products that don’t necessarily fall under the tablet/PC category. The company has a large presence in the PC components scene, and saw it fit to announce brand new additions to their enthusiast Republic of Gamers line during COMPUTEX.

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Asus ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set While there have been a lot of products aimed at increasing graphics fidelity and tweaking what gamers see, products that enhance what gamers hear have been scarce. That has changed with announcement of the ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set. The Phoebus card works by combining smart algorithms and two array microphones embedded in the control box to eliminate 50% of environmental noise, thus ensuring clear in-game communication. The sound card’s 118dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) provides exceptional sound quality, while the integral 600-ohm audiophile-class headphone amplifier with three different gain settings drives all the headphones available in the market.

Asus ROG Maximus Extreme V Asus’ Maximus Extreme line of motherboards is the definitive motherboard for the overclocker and hardcore gamer. The latest member of the Maximus Extreme family, the Maximus Extreme V combines the latest manufacturing processes and premium components to give gamers the very best motherboard that technology has to offer.

Asus’ ROG Extreme Engine DIGI+ II technology delivers optimum energy efficiency through the use of digital controllers for precise overclocking control over the CPU, DRAM, and iGPU, while top tier Japanese Nichicon GT-Series 10K black metallic capacitors ensure that the board is built to last.

Asus ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890

Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890 Whenever the ROG brand is attached to a product, you can be sure that that product meets and exceeds the expectations of gamers.

Case in point: the Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890. This behemoth of a desktop has all the features a gamer wants—a liquid cooled, 3.3GHz Intel Core i7-3960X processor with 16GB 2,133MHz DDR3 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 graphics. A simple press of the button overclocks this monster up to 4.2 GHz without having to reboot, while simultaneously deploying multiple cooling fans around the body to further cool the components of the desktop under the heavy load.

Asus ROG Maximus Extreme V

Cooler Master Cooler Master is a brand that made its name by creating aftermarket cases and cooling accessories. The brand has since expanded their operations into making PC peripherals like keyboards and mice, as well as diversifying into mobile cases and tablet accessories.

Cooler Master Elite 120 PC builders who want to create slim, space-saving desktops usually have to make do with smaller, less powerful components to fit smaller towers and cases. Cooler Master has produced a mini case that enables PC builders to use full-sized components such as videocards so as not to compromise the potential of the PC. The result is the Elite 120, a case that’s able to take fullsized components such as the AMD Radeon GPU pictured.

Cooler Master Elite 120

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CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger

The CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger are two of Cooler Master’s latest mechanical keyboards aimed at gaming enthusiasts. Mechanical keyboards are favoured by hardcore gamers because of their tactile feel and faster response times. Both the Quick Fire Pro and Trigger use Cherry MX key switches with a 1000Hz/1ms polling rate. The keys are all laser engraved and backlit, so gamers won’t have problems playing even in the dark.

CM Storm Sentinel Advance II and Recon

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CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger

CM Storm Sentinel Advance II and Recon

These gaming mice are made especially for gamers, and feature absurdly high DPI settings (8200 for the Sentinel Advance II and 4000 for the Recon). The Recon line is an ambidextrous mouse aimed for both left and right handed players, while the Sentinel Advance II is a right handed mouse that features detachable weights at the bottom to customize its handling in games. Both mice have a number of programmable keys aside from the usual left and right mouse buttons.

PowerColor Devil 13 dual-GPU HD7970 Videocard manufacturer PowerColor revealed their dual-GPU monster AMD Radeon card, the Devil 13, during our visit to their booth last month.

This monstrous card combines two AMD Radeon 7970 GPUs into a single PCB, with each GPU supposedly having its own BIOS. The Devil 13 is PowerColor’s first videocard that uses three Vortex fans for cooling, and is extremely large and bulky, requiring a PowerJack to keep it from falling when mounted in a traditional CPU case.

ECS ECS is one of the most recognizable brands when it comes to PC components. Their affordable yet durable motherboards have made them a force to reckon with, and they have recently released two major products that deliver both performance and aesthetics.

ECS Z77H2-AX Black Extreme The Z77H2-AX Black Extreme instantly attracted our attention, chiefly because of the gold-plated parts. The glitter isn’t just for show, though. Gold plated electronic parts do not oxidize and their conductivity remains consistent over time. ECS says that their golden board features triplethickness gold plated connectors that won’t wear out even after extensive component upgrades.

This particular model has numerous features, including ATI CrossFireX, NVIDIA SLI graphics support, eSATA x2 (6Gb) and SATA x6 (6Gb/s x4 + 3Gb/s x2) capabilities.

ECS Z77H2-AX Black Extreme

PowerColor Devil 13 dual-GPU HD7970

ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black

ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black The ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black has received a similar gold plating treatment. This card hails from NVIDIA’s Kepler line of GPUs, and uses ECS’ Non Stop Technology for non-stop operation. The card runs at 1,040MHz, has 2GB of DDR5 memory and uses solid capacitors and Electrostatic Discharge Protection circuits for unsurpassed reliability. The card also comes with a gold plated aluminum cover, two fans and five heat pipes for superior heat dissipation. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Samsung

Samsung Series 7 Slate (2012)

Samsung is a company that needs no introduction.

This Korean behemoth has products in nearly every segment of the market, and made a splash in this year’s COMPUTEX—a surprise since this is the company’s first foray in the trade show.

Samsung managed to make ripples in the event with a showing of two upcoming products.

Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible The Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible is a curious design. Basically, it’s an ultrabook with a 13-inch touchscreen display that can swivel all the way back, allowing the device to pull double duty as a Windows 8 tablet. The concept isn’t particularly new—we’ve seen it before with Lenovo’s Yoga notebook concept—but it’s still nice to see other manufacturers embracing the flexibility of Windows 8 and ultrabooks in general. We’re pretty sure that the Series 5 Ultra Convertible will use Intel’s next generation silicon, Ivy Bridge, though few details as to its final specs have been released.

Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible

Samsung Series 7 Slate (2012) Samsung’s attempt at a Windows tablet hasn’t always been flawless, but the issues have almost always stemmed from the limitations of the software. Windows 8 solved most of the problems, chief of which was the touchunfriendly GUI of Windows 7. Along with the software improvements, Samsung also made the tablet much thinner (12.9mm) and it will now sport either an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor, along with a 64/128GB SSD drive. The 11-inch touchscreen will be the main input method, though users will also be able to use a digitizer pen.

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: r i a P t c e f r e P The to e d i u G s ’ y A Dumm t h g i R e h t g Choosin s e n o h p d Hea evieve Tiu Words by Gen

If there is one thing that characterizes Filipinos, it is their love for music. Whether young or old, rich or poor, it is the element that temporarily takes down the barriers and brings the community together.

Philippine music has evolved, beginning with the birth of OPM (Original Philippine Music) in the late 1970s. This era gave way to the rise of memorable solo artists, composers and songwriters, the likes of Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez and Hajji Alejandro, to name a few. By the time the 1990s came around, the industry had opened its doors to pop culture, giving way to mainstream performances and bands, with the Eraserheads, South Border, Rivermaya and Side A as some of the stellar acts. What was known as “Manila Sound” had come a long way. And with this evolution and the corresponding progression in audio listening technology, so has the Filipino’s appreciation for sound quality.

The technology to reproduce audio recordings used to be limited. Once upon a time, the vinyl turntable was the talk of the town, offering the most original sound in any musical rendition. Soon, the turntable gave way to box-type speakers that gave off power but, in more modern settings, resemble vintage living room fixtures.

Eventually, the gold standard for sound quality turned to car audio, where enthusiasts tirelessly tune and adjust systems in order to achieve the layers and imaging of an actual sound stage.

But as sound recordings are compressed into more compact forms—from vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs, and now, digital audio files—so did the audio equipment to reproduce these files. For the fast-paced, no-nonsense, and mobile lifestyle of the modern individual, nothing is more popular than a reliable set of headphones, whether in-ear or over-ear.

With the variety of brands in the market today, what is the best way to tell that one is choosing the right kind of headphones? Oftentimes, if it is not budget, it is brand that prevails, because—let’s be honest—not everyone is familiar with the right elements to look for. While there is no hard and fast rule, here are a few pointers to watch 68

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for in the hunt for the right partner for that music player.

Know Your Type In other words, know the kind of music that you listen to. Just like how selecting a smartphone with the right features depends on the demands of your daily lifestyle, the right headphones should be tuned to bring out the elements that you are looking for in your music.

Reviewing your playlist for the common characteristic in what you listen to is the first step.

Read The Label Once you have determined which musical elements are important, research on the features that are needed to bring these out. As regular consumers, technical jargon can be confusing. To keep it simple, go back to the basics: read the labels and look for certain keywords. For instance, if your kind of music is geared toward heavy bass and hip hop, your headphones should have “bass-tuning technology” that allows you to tweak bass levels to your liking. However, if you crave the imaging of a sound stage, then the perfect headphones should be that which are tuned for pure sound quality or clarity that bring out the layers in your favorite recording.

ROCK?

HIPHOP?

CLASSICAL?

JAZZ?

RNB? www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

GOOD? COMFY? BASS?

OK? Determining the technology that you require in your headphones would also help you determine the right brand that specializes in such features.

The One One of the biggest factors in choosing headphones is still the brand. When in doubt (and confused), go for the brand that specializes in the criteria that you are looking for. However, you have to remember that just because a brand is highly visible, it doesn’t always mean that it’s the expert in its field. In this case, expertise rules over popularity so take into account the brand’s history and credibility.

than your own experience. So, armed with your research, visit a trusted reseller that specializes in high-quality audio products. Specialty shops and department stores will have demo units that you can try first-hand and associates to answer any inquiries.

When testing headphones, plug it into your personal audio device for compatibility. Does it work properly with your player?

Turn it up to a comfortable level and listen for the layers that you are looking for. Does it have balanced highs, mids, and lows? Is the bass powerful enough?

Can you hear the instrumental details that are important to you? Remember, the key to pure listening pleasure is still impeccable sound quality that fits your liking.

“Oftentimes, if it is not budget, it is brand that prevails.”

Listen Closely With the growing popularity of online shopping, it is tempting to sit back, trust online forums and blogs, and order headphones to be delivered to your doorstep. While reading hands-on reviews have proven to be helpful, nothing is more reliable

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As with any mobile gadget, headphones are an investment, especially when it will be used with top-tier audio devices.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. So choose well, don’t be fooled, and don’t settle.

features

NICE?

The Names To Look For Accutone Accutone specializes in audio balance and sound quality. These elements bring seamless equality to highs, mids, and lows, without compromising the need for bass.

Precision sound quality is achieved with professional tuning technology, which brings out layers and details.

AKG AKG is designed for studio performance, replicating the actual sound quality of an original artist recording. It features 99.9% oxygen-free cables for pure sound transmission, which delivers balanced reproduction of layers and details.

Beats by Dr. Dre The Beats line is known for delivering powerful bass, as suggested by its founding artist, Dr. Dre himself. The brand prides itself in replicating the details of a studio recording, so the user hears what the artists do.

Bose Bose headphones feature a “TriPort acoustic headphone structure,” which is proprietary to the brand.

This feature delivers balanced sound, specifically in the high and low ranges, as well as clear bass quality.

Fanny Wang Fanny Wang is tuned to complement urban hip-hop. Delivering uncompromising bass is the brand’s highlight, but it is chosen for audio clarity, especially in the mid-to-high ranges.

Jays For bass-heavy music, Jays brings out the power in urban and hip-hop recordings, concentrating on the beat, but without overpowering other frequency details.

Sennheiser Sennheiser boasts of its unique “ergonomic acoustic refinement” technology, which can replicate the elements of an actual audio recording. This feature brings out layers and the finer instrumental details that can be lost in sound reproduction.

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photofeature

WHEN MODELS MEET High-tech gadgets

Jay Park, Gwen Zamora: Music transcends boundaries and brings people from different backgrounds closer, and there is no better way to show this than have musician Jay Park and actress Gwen Zamora together in this month’s Photofeature.

Model Gwen Zamora & Jay Park • Photography by Erwin Barletta • Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold • Styling by M.R. Gavin • Gwen's Hair & Makeup by Yang Gagelonia of MUD (Make-up Designery) • Gowns by Popo Go • Suits from Bespoke by Levenson Rodriguez • Shot on Location at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel • Special Thanks to Anissa Kiang of Universal Music Regional Office, Grace Foronda & Karen Hernandez of MCA Music Inc., Ian Frayco of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Annie Dioso of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel & Rochelle Tuazon of GMA Talent Development & Management

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photofeature WHEN MODels MEET High-tech gadgets

Toshiba L800 Mobile com puting is se rious busine does it quite ss, and nobo like Toshiba. dy The L800 se no exceptio rie n. These lapt ops combine s is styling so yo beautiful u lo that quarterly ok great while putting together report, and the latest In processors to tel or AMD handle all th e heavy liftin perfect com bination of g. It’s the beauty and brains.

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JULY 2012

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WHEN MODELS MEET High-tech gadgets

photofeature

The music issue wouldn’t be complete without big stars gracing the pages of Gadgets Magazine. That’s why we have international acts Jay Park and Gwen Zamora to dazzle us with their good looks, amazing talents and extraordinary charm.

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phone has gship mobile . Sleek, sexy fla t es w ne Samsung’s a phone it is , and what erhouse finally arrived is an ICS pow ious III S xy la Ga e ev th pr e t, th ar and sm atures of l the great fe ce upgrade. an m or rf pe that takes al fty MP gives it a he essor, an 8model, and ad core proc qu alz re GH en 4 re 1. sc Packing a lid inches of so is 5 t th t os m an al know you w camera and e phone you th is is th , estate season.

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It’s hard enough to score an interview with a single busy star like Jay Park, who is in the middle of an international promo tour for his album New Breed, or with Gwen Zamora who’s been making waves overseas with her movie The Witness. Despite the challenges, we were able to work our magic and are now lucky enough to have both of these talented personalities together for a special Gadgets exclusive.

We turned the venue upside-down to get our shots; the hotel room we had at Eastwood Richmonde was full of camera crews, showbiz reporters and journalists waiting to snag some face time with Gwen.

After the interviews, I had to clear the area for Jay Park and our shoot.

Even with her hair undone and no make-up on, Gwen is one of the most gorgeous girls in the showbiz industry; it’s no wonder she has a whole calendar of projects lined up. Apart from a busy schedule shooting “Enteng Kabisote” and “Bubble Gang”, she has her International film, “The Witness” to promote.

“I am very excited to have this shoot; I was surprised

that it was offered to me by Artist Center.” said Gwen in an interview with Showbiz exclusive. “I actually know of Jay Park. I saw him when I was in Korea, but I am really excited to personally meet him,” she continued.

Many may know Jay Park from 2pm but now he’s back to launch his solo career with fresher hits and hotter moves. Jay was in the Philippines for a promotional tour of his album entitled “New Breed” with the carrier single “Know your name.”

From the moment he entered the hotel lobby, girls were screaming and asking for an autograph. Jay is the kind of guy who can charm his way into a girl’s heart with just one smile.

“I am very excited to be here in the Philippines, it’s actually my third time,” said Jay during the interview. “I would love to tour around when I have the time; a vacation sounds really nice,” he added.

During the course of our time with her, we asked Gwen if she was a techie. “I would consider myself tech savvy compared to most girls. I love my Blackberry, iPhone, macbook, Bose

portable speakers, Wii and Bluetooth car stereo. I love my blackberry because I’m simply updated with everything. My iPhone keeps me entertained and it’s easy to contact my family abroad with Viber and Skype. My Bose speakers are the bomb; I can bring them around the house wirelessly, and my Bluetooth car stereo is also a very sweet gadget because I can play music and call, hands free.” said Gwen.

Though Jay Park is visible through all his social networking sites he said he is not very much of a gadget freak. “I am not very techie. The only gadgets I have are my iPhone 4 and my Macbook which are both very useful when it comes to my music. I can easily take note of the things I wanna write about, or make music right there and then,” he explained.

With the explosion of Gwen’s international career right around the corner and Jay Park’s first full-length album, you can be sure that we’re going to see a lot more of them in the international showbiz and music scene.

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enjoy the show

photofeature

Sit back, relax

wellness

cHANGING yOUR lIFESTYLE FOR THE BETTER

sted y a tru y b d e r pan factu manu ceutical com a pharm

ved

NOW FOODS for optimal wellness; Watsons also champions Buy Generics & Save advocacy

ppro FDA a

table a repu ler y b d l so tai acy re m r a h p

By Jon Uriarte

We

all know that famous saying—“prevention is better than cure”—and everyone will attest to its practical truth. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that health is among the top concerns of Filipinos, next to work-life balance and job security. However, health management and treatment are expensive in the Philippines, and that’s where the problems arise. Taking into account the aforementioned wise saying, there may be two possible solutions—taking food supplements to maintain proper diet and health, and making use of more affordable yet effective generic drugs.

NOW Foods, a pioneer in the fields of nutritional science, believes that nature is the best partner for achieving optimum health— with products that use natural and organic ingredients minus any artificial sweeteners or flavors. The company’s 263,000-square foot facility is considered one of the most scientifically-advanced in the natural products industry, and is used to capture nature’s formula for optimum well-being and turn it into health supplements. NOW Foods has received numerous awards including the 2011 Herbal Industry Leader Award from the

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American Herbal Product Association and the 2012 Natural Choice Award for Best Full Line of Supplements awarded by Whole Foods Magazine. Among its best selling products are Acai Juice, Calcium & Magnesium, Cholesterol Support, CoQ10, Goji Juice, Joint Support, and Salmon Oil. A lot of people are still uncomfortable to switch to generic drugs due to the bad reputation they’ve garnered in the past— people just think they’re not as effective and are of poor quality. The reality is that while there are mediocre generic drugs in the market, there are also good-quality generic ones that are effective yet affordable.

According to Watsons, Asia’s top pharmacy brand, there are three simple criteria to determine the integrity of generic drugs.

All of the following need to be met: (1) manufactured by a trusted pharmaceutical company; (2) FDA approved; and (3) sold by a reputable pharmacy retailer. Indeed, the same set of criteria can be used for food supplements as well.

branded medications. The new health section will have Watsons Compliance Packs for chronic and acute diseases; Watsons Health Packs for common ailments such as headache, stomach ache, allergy, and others; and a wide range of generic products from reputable manufacturers such as Unilab, Ritemed, and Pharex, to name a few. When comparing the prices of Watson’s effective generic drugs versus that of leading innovator brands, consumers will be able to save anywhere from 28% to a massive 85%, depending on the medicine.

As part of their Buy Generics and Save advocacy, Watsons now has a Buy Generics counter offering the generic counterpart of

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your #tech #lifestyle cravings while in a world that you can’t help but

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green Premium Sound in the Key of Green

Caring for mother earth

By Racine Anne Castro

arphones House of Marley earphones House of Marley earphones House of Marley earphones House of With Bob Marley as one of the biggest icons in music history, the most recognized products are, of course, the House of Marley earphones. Tested on the best reggae tunes, these earphones are built to blast some heavy bass—the heart of the well-loved reggae sound.

The great Jamaican legend Bob Marley once said, “My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.”

More than two decades later, we still listen to his music and we still know his name. But today, the Marley name is no longer solely associated with music.

Now, the name Marley strives to be one of the frontrunners in saving the planet.

House of Marley is a manufacturer of superiorquality items made from recyclable and sustainable materials.

Driven by the desire to create the finest ecofriendly products, the House produces items ranging from audio products to apparel.

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House of Marley offers two in-ear earphone models. The Smile Jamaica model comes with three sizes of ear tips to make sure you experience the Marley sound comfortably. The 52-inch fabric cord is a treat for those who hate tangled wires. Plus, the fabric cord cuts down on static, thereby producing clearer sound quality and boosting audio performance. Despite its quaint size and simplicity, Smile Jamaica manages to produce crisp and clear audio output, enhanced by a powerful vibrating bass. It comes in four colors—Rasta, Curry, Fire and Lily.

People Get Ready is a much bigger and more powerful model, providing optimum sound quality built for a heavy and powerful bass.

Its deep full bass gives

off a richer, more realistic sound. It also has a noise isolation function on top of the standard three ear tip sizes and a 52-inch fabric cord. Colors are Rasta, Roots, Royal and Midnight.

Like all House of Marley products, these earphones are designed to be earth-friendly.

They are both crafted with sapele and beech woods as approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Made from recyclable aluminum, these earphones are durable and long-lasting.

The packaging is made from pulp, plastic, paper and other eco-friendly materials. According to the company website, the purpose of this creatively earth-friendly sort of packaging is to reduce the materials that go into the waste stream.

Buying House of Marley products will allow you to help protect the Earth.

A portion of what you pay for every product goes to the Marley family’s own charity foundation, 1Love.org.

At 1Love, you can support several charities, including those that advocate the well-being of our environment.

“My music will go on forever.

Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.”

-Bob Marley This means you not only reduce waste by using products made from recyclable and sustainable materials, you are also helping other people.

to us to push this vision forward and protect the Earth so it can live forever—just like Marley himself.

Bob Marley once had a vision of peace, love and a better Earth. Now, with the House of Marley taking the lead, it’s up

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3.0

Coming soon

musiccorner

the spot for musicians and non-musicians alike

Gadgets That Make Tunes Music Production Tools: Hardware vs. Software Words By Jon Uriarte | Art by Patrick Jude Ilagan

When you listen to a piece of modern music, you’re usually listening to numerous elements that come together in harmony to form a pleasing sound. For instance, in most of today’s electronic and rock music, you might hear any combination of the following—bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, orchestral and ethnic instruments. When producing beats, that’s pretty much what you’ll be doing—putting together different layers of sound.

These tools that put together different layers of sound (and into a master channel) can be called music workstations. They can be either hardware or software, but one thing they all have in common is that they’re capable of sampling audio and sequencing MIDI. Your music workstation should be able to create and combine two types of layers—audio and MIDI—called “tracks”, similar to the way Adobe Photoshop puts together different layers to form one image. Audio and MIDI are the backbone of music production.

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Audio This is pretty self-explanatory—audio is a sound recording. Your music workstation should allow you to import or record audio into an audio track.

MIDI MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It communicates event messages about musical notation, pitch, velocity, and control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato,

audio panning, cues, and clock signals (to set and synchronize tempo). Basically, imagine sheet music for piano players—it tells the player what notes to play, when to play them, and how to play them—MIDI is essentially like a digital form of that, which your music workstation should be able to understand and execute.

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musiccorner the spot for musicians and non-musicians alike

Music Workstations There is an abundance of tools out there for constructing beats, so we’re only going to name some of the important hardware and softwarebased ones.

Akai MPC The Akai MPC (music production center) is a famous series of electronic music instruments that have arguably been the most important pieces of equipment in the history of hip hop and electronic music production. They’ve even been used on so many of the pop hits you’ve heard on the radio, and you probably didn’t even know it.

The MPC is pretty much a full-fledged music workstation in hardware form—it has a built-in audio sampler and MIDI sequencer. It has the ability to sample sounds that are put into it, which can be then be time-stretched, pitch-shifted, edited, manipulated through a variety of effects and facilities, and then sequenced live (as you play it).

The 16 velocity-sensitive pads are for triggering the different samples that you assign to them. You can layer numerous “tracks” of audio and MIDI. A lot of producers will make entire beats solely on the MPC and then record them into a computer later on. Others will only use it for a portion of their beats,

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such as drums and samples. The MPC doesn’t come with built-in sounds though, so a lot of producers use them side-by-side with a turntable, computer, or instrument, from which they can sample their audio.

Due to its nature, an MPC is ideal for producers who plan to do a lot of “chopping” and “slicing” of samples for replaying and rearrangement.

The very first MPC was the MPC60, which was made in 1988. Since then, there have been numerous versions that followed—namely the MPC3000 (1994), MPC2000 (1997), MPC4000 (2002), MPC1000 (2003), MPC2500 (2005), MPC500 (2006), and MPC5000 (2008). Each version essentially serves the same intended functions, give or take several features—but what truly made the MPC famous is the warm and gritty analog sound that only it can deliver, especially for drums.

Keyboard Workstations You know those old church organs with the different sounds that your parents used to have? Keyboard workstations are very similar except they have a much larger and better collection of built-in sounds, features and effects. Not to be confused with more basic keyboards, these workstations have built-in audio samplers and MIDI sequencers with a wide selection of effects and manipulation tools that allow you to construct an entire beat on them. You can then transfer the different elements or the

whole thing onto a computer. Its keyboard keys and wealth of tools mean that composing your own chords and melodies is really easy on these machines. Still, they have limitations and many producers prefer to use them together with other gear, such as an MPC or a software workstation.

The three most famous and widely used keyboard workstations are the Yamaha Motif series, Korg Triton series, and Roland Fantom series.

FL Studio FL studio is a popular music production program simply because it’s one of the easiest to learn and use. It allows you to import (and even record) audio samples, manipulate them, and sequence them in different notes. You can use 3rd party virtual instrument plug-ins and play them through MIDI. It comes with a multitude of other features that come in handy as you learn more about producing music.

The stock sounds of FL Studio are widely known to be very bad though, so you’ll need your own collection. Currently, FL Studio can only run on the Windows operating system.

Propellerhead Reason Reason is a piece of software that is based on a reallife studio rack that has all the tools and instruments you need for making beats. Just like on a studio rack, you can add synthesizers, samplers, drum

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What will truly make the difference is not what you use but how you use it. machines, effects, and more, which you can then use to arrange a full song. The advantage of Reason is that it comes with a big, usable sound library that’s expandable through refills. The disadvantage, however, is that you can’t use any 3rd party plug-ins within the program.

Apple Logic Pro Apple Logic Pro belongs to the more full-fledged digital audio workstation software group—the same one where you’ll find the likes of Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, and Cakewalk Sonar. The reason being that they’re not only meant for music production but also for recording entire songs and mixing and mastering them. You can create an unlimited amount of linear tracks—whether audio or MIDI—and it comes with a host of instrument and effect plug-ins. It also allows you to use 3rd 82

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party plug-ins. Due to its nature, workstations like Logic are better for productions involving a lot of live instrument recording. Logic is only for Mac.

Useful Tools MIDI Controller If you decide to go the software route, you’ll want to get a MIDI controller to trigger notes and samples in your program. Without it, you’re stuck with clicking in the notes with your mouse—not a pleasant experience. These controllers can come in the form of keyboard keys, drum pads, or both.

Musical Instruments Here’s an obvious one—just plug in your electric bass or put a microphone next to your acoustic guitar or drum set and start playing. In fact, if you’re skilled at playing any particular instrument and have a way of recording it properly, that’s nearly always better than using a synthesized or virtual instrument version.

VSTs Software-based music producers widely use what are called VSTs (Virtual Studio Technology). These are software plug-ins that you can load within most music production programs. They can be any combination of the following—effects, samplers, virtual instruments, synthesizers, and other tools.

Virtual instruments are software versions of actual instruments and many of them sound very realistic, especially those made from key-by-key recordings of the real thing.

Turntable + Vinyl Records Many producers and DJs from all sorts of genres employ a method called “sampling”, where they take sounds and phrases from a vinyl record and manipulate it to create something fresh. There are specific rules and ethics when it comes to sampling, though, so be sure to give credit and get the proper clearance, especially if the samples are recognizable in your final piece.

Construction Kits / Sound Packs You can purchase or download a nearly countless amount of royalty-free sound and loop collections on the internet—some geared more towards certain genres than others. Whether it’s violin loops, drum kits, orchestral sounds, guitar loops, piano chord samples, or whatever else you need—it’s out there.

Sound Modules Sound modules are electronic musical instruments without a human-playable interface. Basically, they’re like keyboard workstations that contain sounds, minus the keyboard and some other features. The built-in sounds are played or triggered using an externally connected device such as a MIDI controller. They’re good for expanding your sound set whether your workstation is hardware or software-based.

Hardware vs. Software Despite the undeniable growth in capability and popularity of software-based production, it’s still looked down upon by many producers who use hardware. The truth is, in the long-standing debate on which one is superior, both hardware www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

musiccorner the spot for musicians and non-musicians alike

and software have their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages of Hardware 1. No Audio Latency – Hardware doesn’t have any delay of sound whatsoever—as soon as you push a key or a pad, you’ll hear it instantly. Although the delay in software can be reduced to a few milliseconds, enough that you’ll barely notice it, there’s still nothing like the precision of hardware.

2. Work Flow – A piece of hardware does only what it was made to do and this simplicity can greatly improve work flow. You get to focus on the music alone and not worry about an entire computer setup. You don’t have to mouse click and sort through folders for sounds. Plus, hardware loads up sounds nearly instantly while software can sometimes take a while.

3.Physical Feel – Many producers will tell you that controlling things through a tangible interface with buttons that you can actually press is so much better than navigating through software. Pads and keyboard keys will give you a better feel for the music, which is why even software producers make use of MIDI controllers.

4. “Analog” Sound – A lot of people claim that hardware simply sounds better and bigger than software due to the sound characteristics of analog circuitry that can never be properly emulated by software. The MPC for instance, is able to add a certain warmth, coloration, and analog grit to tracks, which can’t be accurately replicated by software effects.

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Advantages of Software 1. Portability and Space – Your entire setup can consist of a laptop and a MIDI keyboard. You can have a variety of software and thousands of sounds in your hard drive, which you can take with you wherever you go and it won’t take up too much space in your room.

2. Easy Editing – Editing is a lot easier on software.

With MIDI, you might need to adjust notes, note lengths, velocity, and so on, which can be done with a few mouse clicks on a big computer screen. Audio is also generally much easier to chop, slice, and rearrange in software.

3. Endless Possibilities – When you’re using hardware, you’re always going to be limited by its capabilities, which is why even hardware producers eventually integrated software into their setups.

With the latter, you can have an unlimited number of tracks, effects, 3rd party plug-ins, and so on, as long as your computer can handle it. There are also countless sites that offer hundreds of free effects and virtual instrument plug-ins.

4. No Tracking – Tracking is the process of recording a beat you made on a piece of hardware into a computer so that you can mix and finalize it.

Sometimes you’ll encounter a lot of problems doing that. With software, everything’s already in the computer.

There is no winner between hardware and software and even the best music producers will tell you that a combination of both is the best setup. What will truly make the difference is not what you use but how you use it. With endless possibilities, you just need to choose what works best for you.

Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH The Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH is a 7-string archtop electric guitar that’s ideal for musicians needing top-notch performance with an effective curved design to optimize not only looks, but also playability. Due to its arched top, players can knock down heavy riffs and power chords without hitting the guitar body. It features a flamed maple top and lightweight mahogany construction that gives users freedom to move on stage. The instrument is equipped with jumbo frets and only the finest components desired by guitarists—this includes LZ7 neck and bridge pickups and an Edge-Zero 7 bridge with ZPS3. Lastly, it comes in a stunning “Devil’s Shadow” finish. The Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH sells for Php 116, 500.

A single unit autographed by Francesco Artusato, lead guitarist of deathcore rock band All Shall Perish, is available at Audiophile, Robinsons Place Pioneer, Mandaluyong City. The band member, who conducted the Ibañez Guitar Clinic 2012 in the Philippines last 17 May 2012, is part of Ibanez’s roster of artist endorsers. Ibañez Guitars, Audiophile, and Spryta Recording Studios organized the event.

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events

HP S p ectre and Phoenix launch Words by Ren Alcantara

On the 7th of June, amidst dancing, bright lights and great food, HP unveiled the latest members of their computing lineup: the Envy 14 Spectre notebook and the H9 Phoenix gaming rig. Both further strengthen HPs position in the local computing marked and give consumers unparalleled power and productivity, with superior style.

The Envy 14 is a notebook that gives peerless performance in the mobile computing segment, and does so with exquisite style. The Spectre has a beautiful Gorilla Glass lid, display and wrist rest, which makes it highly resistant to wear and gives it a unique look and rich feel. It gives you a 14-inch screen, an Intel Core i7 processor, a maximum of 4GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory and Beats audio, so you can rock out as much as you want, anywhere you go.

The HP Phoenix is HP’s first outing at a dedicated gaming rig, and it is a monster. The HP9 runs an unlocked, overclock-ready third-generation Intel Core i5-3570K Processor, a maximum of 16GB DDR3-1600 memory, 1TB of hard disk space and a Radeon HD 7770 graphics card with 2GB GDDR5 dedicated memory.

Style details such as in-case LED lighting and an aggressive look ensure the Phoenix won’t be out of place in even the most dedicated gamers’ arsenal.

On top of the launch for the two devices, there was also a demo of the new OS, Windows 8. The operating system, set to be bundled with the future HP computers, offers the revolutionary Metro UI that allows the system to have deep integration with social media, messaging and productivity applications right at the home screen. The demo showed just how easy it is to put a live feed, follow friends and send media without having to waste time opening and closing individual programs.

HPs newest offerings are hitting the market soon, and Windows 8 will be made available in October 2012.

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events

The Samsung Galaxy S III lands in THE PHILIPPINES Words by Jose Alvarez & Racine Castro

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III has finally arrived in the country. Tech savvy individuals flocked the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio last 29 May 2012 as Samsung Electronics Philippines Co. unveiled what is dubbed by many as the world’s best smartphone.

Randy Ortiz

The Galaxy S III, according to Samsung, was specifically designed to suit human needs and capabilities. With its supreme processing power, ultra high-definition display and expandable storage, the Galaxy S III is by far unmatched. It is Samsung’s effort to redefine the meaning of a smartphone, showing that technology can be tailored to fit naturally in the human lifestyle.

“With the GALAXY S III, Samsung wants to set the new standard in smartphones”, says BInggoy Mauricio, Business Unit Director of SEPCO’s Mobile Communications Business.

“Consumers will no longer have to limit themselves because the Samsung GALAXY S III understands you,” he adds.

Headed by its President and CEO, Kyung Chull Park, some of the biggest names in Samsung were present at the launch of the Galaxy S III—namely, Adviser for Handheld Phones Business Mike Cheon, Marketing Director Benjamin Jimenez, Director Handheld Phones Business Mr. Binggoy Mauricio, Product Marketing Group Head for HHP Coco Domingo, PR Manager Ms. Odette Velarde, and Senior Category for Tablets and Smartphones Paulo del Rosario.

Sam Milby

Anna Sobrepena, Lifestyle Asia’s EIC

The guests of the launch were serenaded by the Philharmonic orchestra. Several celebrities and notable personalities were also present at the event to welcome the Galaxy S III. This roster includes Sam MIlby, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Jp and Jinna Tuason, Rhian Ramos, KC Montero, Jiggy Cruz, Anna Sobrepena, Liza Gokongwei, Jing Monis, Daphne Osena Paez, Sari Yap, Michealle Torres, Anton del Rosario, Ally Borromeo, Rissa Mananquil Trillo, Tim Yap, Kelly Misa, Phoemela Barranda, Jed Madela, Marki Stroemm, Kit Thompson, Boom Gonzales, Randy Ortiz, Jc Buedia, Ronald Pineda, Roco Nacino, and Rica Peralejo.

KC Montero at the launch of Samsung Galaxy SIII at the NBC tent 86

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Coco Domingo - Samsung’s Product Marketing Head for HHP www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

events

Lucky switchers win Galaxy S III units at Smart launch Three lucky individuals were thrilled that they switched to Smart as they were the first to receive the Samsung Galaxy S III in the Philippines during its launch last June 1 at the Jump Experience Center in SM Megamall.

The raffle winners were Arianne Baheda, Brenneth Villapando, and Karla Viray.

All three of them have recently switched from their previous network providers to Smart.

Villapando, a 30-year-old accountant from Makati City, was the first person to receive the Galaxy S3 during the launch, along with a free Samsung Galaxy Note.

She claims that she recently switched to Smart because she wanted to be able to browse and to be constantly updated with her social networks using the Internet on her mobile phone.

Baheda and Viray shared similar sentiments. Viray, the Senior Marketing Head of Odyssey Records, claims that switching to Smart is one of her best decisions yet.

Celebrities were among those who lined up at the Jump Experience Center to avail of the Samsung Galaxy S III powered by Smart. Photo shows (L-R) Mia Bayuga, Slick Rick, Agnes Tapia of Smart, Andi Manzano, Sam YG, Maxene Magalona, and Rhian Ramos.

“These are real world stories that you just cannot make up,” said Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando Vea. “If you want your own series of horror stories to end, it is time to ‘live more’ by joining our 50 million-strong network,” he added.

The launch was hosted by Andy9 and Sam YG of Magic 89.9. Actress, singer, model and host Iya Villania excited the crowd with special entertainment numbers. A number of celebrities, including Rhian Ramos and Maxene Magalona, also had the chance to take home the Galaxy S III. Smart has announced that the Galaxy will be offered as one of the options for the free phone that comes with the Unlimited Data Plan 2000. The Smart Unli Data Plans allow users to keep their mobile data connection on at all times and provide them with free texts and call minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S III— dubbed by many as the world’s greatest smartphone—is the perfect gadget for handling large-bandwidth mobile applications. Smart claims that its extensive 4G High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network is the perfect complement for the Galaxy S III’s capabilities, ensuring that subscribers can make use of its full potential.

Smart also announced that it has tons of giveaways in store for the first 100 subscribers who pre-ordered online. These perks include a free Smart Broadband WiFi Plug-It, 20 Smart Broadband Rocket Plug-Its, ten units of the Samsung Galaxy Tab P6200 and ten units of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Photo shows (L-R) Paolo Bediones, Paolo Paraiso, KC Montero, radio DJ Tony Toni, and RNB singer Jay-R.

“S” for Style: Globe launches the Samsung Galaxy S III The Mind Museum at the Bonifacio Global City was the perfect venue to showcase the highly-intelligent and exceptionally-powerful Samsung Galaxy S III. This was an appropriate venue for the launch considering that the Mind Museum is designed for humans to learn from the past, explore the present, and discover the future. Thanks to Globe, hundreds of tech geeks and gadget freaks got first dibs on the most human-like phone yet during a grand launch held on June 1, 2012.

Globe’s Head of Postpaid Martha Sazon and Head of Digital Media Glenn Estrella, together with Samsung representative Coco Domingo led the press briefing and explained why the Samsung Galaxy S III is best paired with a postpaid Globe My Super Plan with its different freebies and bundled services.

Globe has the best offer for the Samsung Galaxy S III in the market: Php1699 a month under Unli Surf Plan 999 with a Php700 monthly cash out complete with unlimited data and a freebie; or Php1999 a month under Unli Surf Plan 1799 with Php200 monthly cash out for an extra Php800 monthly consumable amount for calls and texts along with three freebies.

Emceeing the event was supermodel Sarah Meier, and the night’s opening act was mentalist Erik Mana. Drawing tremendous applause from everybody closely following his every move, he wowed the crowd with his brand of magic and mayhem. The audience was then treated to a rousing and upbeat dance number courtesy of the Philippine All-Stars, one of the country’s prime sources of pride.

Some prominent celebrities were revealed as the Samsung Galaxy S III Brand Ambassadors: TV host David Celdran, fashion and style icon Apples Aberin, fashion blogger Ingrid Chua-Go, celebrity chef Sau Del Rosario and TV personality Rovilson Fernandez.

International music icon Moony was flown by Globe straight from Italy, rendering some of her signature dance hits. One of Manila’s top DJs, Funk Avy, was on the turntables as the crowd danced the night away, complemented by unlimited hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for the entire evening.

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Samsung Convergence event highlights two new laptops Words by John Nieves

Two new laptops were revealed at the Samsung Convergence event: the Series 5 Slim and the Series 9 Ultrabooks. The event took place at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati.

Samsung Business Unit Director Eric Sulit talks about the new and powerful Samsung Notebook at the Samsung IT Convergence event last June 18, 2012

Samsung has always strived to make their products simpler and easier to use, but the Korean company has decided to add a new dimension in how their IT products make life easier for its users. At a grand event at the Manila Peninsula last June 18, the Korean company showed guests, celebrities and members of the press how their products make life easier by changing the way they share and work.

why--their competitive pricing coupled with their strong brand identity has allowed them to grow their notebook business in the Philippines by leaps and bounds, with the company sliding into the no. 2 spot locally. To further strengthen their position in the local market, the company has released two new notebooks that take the brand further in the coming months--the Samsung Series 9 and the Samsung Series 5 Slim.

The Samsung Smart Station, for example, makes it dead simple for users to connect their smartphone or tablet to a display to enjoy a better user experience when playing games or watching movies. All it takes is a simple setting and cable mounted on the monitor itself, and the display from your smartphone goes to the 24-inch screen.

Drawing inspiration from the thin and light category, the new Samsung Series 5 Slim, gives users the best options for a portable notebook, but now with a smaller price to pay. Running on AMD’s Low Voltage A6 CPU, this notebook marries performance with great graphics featuring 7660G Discrete Class Graphics. The Series 5 Slim will come in pop pink and mocha brown.

The convenience doesn’t stop there. Samsung also showed a demo of their Smart printers during the event, where the entire printing and scanning process was done entirely with a smarthphone through a Wi-Fi connection. Now if you’re looking to print a document from the web and don’t have a PC with you, you can still print that document without any issues – a feature that mobile workers will definitely appreciate.

Samsung revealed its best offering to date in the New Samsung Series 9. It is the world’s thinnest 15-inch notebook at 14.9 mm thick and 1.58 kg weight, complementing lifestyles of mobile professionals as they are able to work more, even on the go. Powered by the latest Intel Core i7 Processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB of SSD, it runs Windows 7 Professional blazingly fast. (Booting up only takes 9.1 seconds!) Topped with its 400nit HD+ Superbright Plus Screen, documents, photos, videos, and websites are more brilliant than ever.

Truly, being big has never been this thin.

Samsung’s notebooks have been gaining a lot of traction in the past years, and it’s not hard to see

Samsung IT Business Unit Adviser James Kwon, President KC Park and Business Unit Director Eric Sulit

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Lino and Toni Gregory Palenzuela

Daphne Oseña-Paez

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events

Vicky Belo shows off the new Lightweight yet powerful Samsung Notebook Series 9

Samsung Electronics Philippines executives Benjie Jimenez--Marketing Director and Chiqui Torres-Tan–-Head of Corporate Marketing with Jim Paredes at the Samsung IT Convergence Event.

Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Samsung IT Business Unit Adviser James Kwon

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Kelly Misa

Patrick Filart and Patty Laurel

Cristalle Henares, Atom Henares, Vicky Belo and Eric Sulit

Jessica Tan-Gan and Sandra Rocha

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big news in byte-sized quantities to enter the loss prevention market.

It is a multi-camera system backed by a software solution that allows constant monitoring of movement in and out of outlets and several branches, all from the convenience of your head office.

The fully-integrated closedcircuit television (CCTV) system can be set up to provide multiple camera perspectives from a single monitor, giving you a full view of all your surveillance sites at once. The camera system has axial rotation, so it can be mounted and aimed at specific video targets. Auto recording and video saving allows you to review surveillance video any time you wish.

PLDT’s productIVITY suite features new business solutions For businesses that require POS equipment, PLDT offers product bundles that include cash registers and bar code scanners that can be leased or leased to own for a low monthly fee.

Three new products from PLDT Productivity Solutions, CheckOut, FASTrack and Watcher, are essential to SMEs because of the way they can revolutionize the way business is done. Efficiently, successfully, then lucratively.

CheckOut CheckOut is a web-based point of sale system (POS) that supplies retail owners and managers with accurate sales and inventory information by automating the various retail

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business processes, such as receiving stocks, recording sales transactions, monitoring supply levels, and analyzing sales trends.

Field tracking device FASTrack (Field Asset System for Tracking) is a transport, logistics, and courier and delivery operation business owner's dream come true.

Using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) architecture, CheckOut stores information online and allows user access to files from anywhere via a centralized hosting service (cloud computing) through a desktop, laptop or tablet.

To assure quality customer service, FASTrack locates your field assets while they're on the road. It provides accurate and invariable per-minute location monitoring in real time via the web, accessible via desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

For businesses involved in critical field operations, that means knowing whether deliveries are being delivered, vehicles are going to set destinations, or your personnel are deployed where they should be.

The device is easy to install, doesn't require complex servers, and needs minimal technical knowledge to get started. Once the delivery vehicles are fitted, business owners and managers can tell where their assets are 24/7.

The coverage is nationwide, meaning any business owner in the Philippines can avail of this service.

Video monitoring device Watcher is the latest device

Watcher can also be programmed to record snapshots and video clips if movement is detected, which is instantly sent through email. Previewing these images can be done at any computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Business solutions “Running a business is challenging as it is. We try to anticipate a business owner's needs and come up with the right solutions so that they can focus on their core competency,” said PLDT SME Nation AVP and marketing head Amil Azurin. “By taking away all the peripheral headaches, the business can run smoother.”

All of the products in the suite also come with full technical support and even learning sessions for an establishment's employees. Technical support is available 24/7, so help is never far away. It is easy to set up a business, but difficult to obtain success. However, utilizing technology can help significantly in meeting the challenges all businesses encounter and make the road to success a bit smoother.

For more information on PLDT SME Nation's product offerings or any of their business solutions, you may call 101-888 or visit their website at www.pldtsmenation.com.ph.

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Everyone’s Vision Petron competition raising awareness about environmental issues through artistic expression

Canon and fashion bloggers unite behind IXUS cameras

The competition is open to all talented students enrolled in a regular university or college course, or in tutorial art and photography classes. Participants must be Filipino and between 15-28 years old.

Student artists may compete in three categories: painting, photography, and print-making.

Entries for the painting categories should be no bigger than 4 ft x 4 ft unframed. Colored photography entries should be no bigger than 10 x 15 inches unframed. For the printmaking category, the minimum artwork size on paper is 12 x 16 inches but not more than 16 x 20 inches.

Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc., a global leader in digital imaging, recently enlisted five of the country’s top fashion bloggers to become the official IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance.

These Internet icons are united by an insatiable drive to share their passion and individual styles—with their powerful IXUS cameras, of course!

Pictured from left to right are Lissa Kahayon (lissakahayon. com) with an IXUS 125 HS, Kryz Uy (kryzuy.com) with an IXUS 500 HS, Patricia Prieto (itspatriciaprieto.com) with an IXUS 510 HS, Cheyser Pedregosa (thewalkingrecessionista.com) with an IXUS 240 HS, and David Guison (davidguison.com) with an IXUS 230 HS. With Canon’s new IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance taking the blogosphere by storm, taking and sharing pictures will never be the same again.

Application forms are available at participating Petron service stations and bulk plants nationwide, or from the Secretariat Office (c/o Studio 5 Designs, 28 Paseo de Roxas cor.

Jupiter St., Bel-Air Village, Makati City, tel. no. 02-8909318). The form may also be downloaded from their website: http://www. visionpetron.com or from Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ EveryonesVisionPetron.

big news in byte-sized quantities

The theme for this year’s competition, Nurturing Nature, focuses on the different ways of caring for and protecting the environment. Samples may be seen in Petron’s own efforts to protect our biodiversity through various means of environmental protection.

In the painting category, six grand prize winners will receive Php 50,000 each; for the colored photography category, six grand prize winners will receive Php 30,000 each; and in the printmaking category, three grand prize winners will receive Php 30,000 each. Each grand prize winner will also receive a trophy/plaque designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

newsbits&bytes

Everyone’s Vision Petron is a competition for photographers, painters and designers, as well as a venue for filmmakers, musicians, performance artists, art enthusiasts, and all Filipinos to converge and be one through their shared love for Philippine art and culture.

Deadline for submission for all entries in person is July 31, 2012. If submitting by courier, the entry must be sent to the secretariat address and postmarked on July 24, 2012.

Winners will be notified personally or via phone by the Vision Petron Secretariat. Official press releases will be published after the Awards Night in August 2012.

is third in the Top Corporate US Patent Holders (2011).

Canon Philippines has offices all throughout the country, including the NCR, North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Canon Philippines has also won the Corporate Award and the Gold Bagwis Seal of Excellence for providing distinctive service to customers, and Anvil Awards of Merit for Canon Green Nation and Canon Photo Marathon public relations programs.

To find out more about the Canon IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance and the new IXUS cameras, please visit http://www.canon.com.ph.

You can also receive the latest news and updates from Canon through http://www.canon. com.ph/imagenation, and by following them on Facebook, “Canon Digital Cameras— Philippines”, or on Twitter, “@ Canon_CamerasPH.”

Canon is a US$45.7 billion global company with one of the most extensive product lines of input and output digital imaging devices. It

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newsbits&bytes big news in byte-sized quantities

ANC announces new television programming Filipinos here and abroad can get their daily, comprehensive dose of news and information with the launch of ANC’s new afternoon programs and niche prime time talk shows after the country’s most trusted cable news channel carried live, uninterrupted coverage of the Chief Justice impeachment trial.

are going to be starting up. We are going to bridge the gap between morning news and business nightly.” Warren de Guzman delivers updates from the PSE trading floor, Lexi Schulze reports on social media, and Boyet Sison presents hourly weather updates and forecasts.

Beginning on Monday, 11 June 2012, ANC’s new afternoon programming slate starts with the daily 30-minute newscasts, News Now, will be shown at 2 pm and 3 pm. Ron Cruz, anchor of the news and talk program Mornings@ANC, will start off the newscast at 2 pm.

“Most of the stories develop in the afternoon. The challenge is to break the news first. Expect us to give you the news as soon as they happen,” he said.

To better serve Filipinos worldwide, ANC also caters to Filipinos abroad by delivering the biggest national and regional stories in the country, along with reports from ABS-CBN bureaus around the world in The Bureau, anchored by Karmina Constantino.

ANC business news head Coco Alcuaz takes over News Now at 3 pm to give the rundown on major news developments, business stories, updates on Asian markets, and live interviews from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

He said, “While your business day is hopefully winding down, we

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“The Bureau is about the news that makes the world go round.

But we don’t stop there. We’re going to tell you how it impacts and affects the global Filipino,” said Constantino, who previously anchored a daily newscast and a magazine show for The Filipino Channel in North America and knows just how overseas Filipinos think and what they need.

To keep viewers abreast of the latest social media buzz, ANC also

launched a social media news program, @ANCALERTS, airing weekdays at 4:30 pm. The show started as ANC’s influential Twitter account and now has 450,000 followers. The show presents the hottest social media buzz, usergenerated content, Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo stories, and real time feedback from ANC viewers.

Primetime on ANC and Top Story anchor Tony Velasquez is relaunching Future Perfect as a 30-minute science and technology show with features on the latest inventions, gadgets, and technological advances, and oneon-one interviews with Filipino inventors and science geniuses.

The program airs at 7:30 pm on Wednesdays.

Entertainment reporter Phoemela Baranda, on the other hand, puts the sexy back in the city as the new host of Cityscape, ANC’s guide to the hippest food establishments, fashion trends, weekend getaways, and hottest events in and out of the metro. It airs on Fridays at 9:30 pm.

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newsbits&bytes big news in byte-sized quantities

Elitegroup Computer Systems sets new standards for motherboards via Nonstop Technology Nonstop Technology from Elitegroup Computer Systems delivers a hassle free computing experience by solving PC hardware problems before they can even occur. Far stricter than industry standards, the testing regime combined with the highest quality components and shielding ensures that ECS Nonstop certified motherboards can be relied on to increase your computer's shelf life.

Every ECS Nonstop certified motherboard must survive the Super Marathon 3X Stability test, a military level assault course of tests and checks that stress the motherboard's components to ensure that they are up to ECS Standards. This testing regime is devised and guaranteed by more than 30 professional ECS testers.

The other test is the Sahara Severe Test, which is aptly named because the motherboard must function in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.

This is 125% higher than standard temperature tests and ensures that the motherboard can handle supremely demanding computing tasks under extreme environmental conditions. Those that pass the four tests while delivering a glitch-free and flawless performance are awarded Nonstop Certification and are sent to ECS customers.

ECS Nonstop boards also include 100% solid Apache long-life capacitors to protect users from capacitor leakage and failure problems. These capacitors last six times longer than traditional capacitors, ensuring a long life for your motherboard.

The final and most critical component of ECS Nonstop technology is the Thor Ultra comprehensive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, which consists of dozens of extra components which protect key areas of the board from static build up that can damage or destroy them without warning. Thor Ultra Protection follows the toughest NASA guidelines for preventing ESD damage.

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newsbits&bytes big news in byte-sized quantities

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair showcases young scientists

This year, more than 1,500 young scientists were chosen to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. They were selected from 446 affiliate fairs in approximately 70 countries, regions and territories.

More than 400 finalists received awards and prizes for their groundbreaking work. Awards included 17 “Best of Category” winners who each received a US$5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a US$1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

The students’ projects are then evaluated on-site by more than 1,200 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of six years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines. The overall winning entry is a study on a non-invasive method of detecting pancreatic cancer by Jack Andrada, 15, of Crownsville, MD, USA. He received the Gordon E. Moore Award, named in honor

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of the Intel co-founder, and US$75,000.

The Philippines also had award winners in Julian Paolo Talamera Biyo, Paul Caesar Mason Flores and Hazel Anne Jurado Hernandez from the Philippine Science High School, Western Visayas Campus.

They garnered a fourth place grand award in the environmental sciences category and received US$500.00 for their project entitled “Regenerating Coral Fragments on Bamboo Artificial Reefs.”

“We support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we know that math and science are imperative to future global growth,” said Ricky Banaag, Intel Philippines country manager. “This competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges.”

To learn more about Society for Science & the Public, and its programs and publications, visit http://www. societyforscience.org.

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newsbits&bytes

Epson celebrates 70 year anniversary maintains its commitment to monokozuri, which is translated into English as the art and science of manufacturing.

Epson has made a number of breakthroughs in the tech world while remaining energy efficient, such as the world’s first quartz wrist watch (1969) and the first automatic quartz wrist watch (1988), which significantly reduced the reliance on traditional batteries.

Epson is also known for their printers, one of the first to be made affordable to consumers.

Epson made the world’s first mini-printer, the EP-101 (1968),

still used in many calculators.

Epson has also expanded into projection devices (1994), thus revolutionizing the way businesses make presentations.

What is unique about Epson’s projection device is that only one cable needs to be connected to the PC, resulting in a more affordable product.

big news in byte-sized quantities

On 18 May 2012, Japanese company Seiko Epson Corporation (Epson) celebrated its 70th year in business.

Initially known as Daiwa Kogyo, Epson began in 1942 as a watch components manufacturer in Suwa, Nagano prefecture, Japan with only nine employees.

They partnered with another Japanese company, Daini Seioksha, in 1943, which eventually merged with Daiwa Kogyo to form the Suwa Seikosha Company, Ltd. in 1959, and eventually into its current name in 1982. Even though a lot has happened in 70 years technology-wise, Epson

Epson moved outside of Japan and into Southeast Asia in 1982 and currently has a presence in 10 countries in the region, including the Philippines (1998).

The company currently operates in 97 countries around the world with 75,000 employees.

Hewlett-Packard announces state of the art self-maintaining servers and saving companies US$2.33 million a year in energy costs.

Unplanned server downtime costs clients approximately US$10 million an hour. The Gen8 server automatically analyzes its own health, resolving unplanned downtime issues 66% faster.

With solid-state technology, mirroring and smart algorithms, data is 1,000 times safer, speeding up Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) initialization by 95%.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) recently announced the industry’s most self-sufficient line of servers— the HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8). These servers are a result of a US$300 million, two-year program called Project Voyager, the company’s initiative to redefine data

center economics by increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Companies spend an average of US$8 million a year on manual operations to support servers. The Gen8 server triples administrator productivity by automating

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most manual operations such as server updates, which allows companies to save on overhead costs.

Growing server energy and facilities expenses can cost companies up to US$9.67 million a year. Another Gen8 feature is

the industry-first technology, the HP 3-D Sea of Sensors. The HP 3-D Sea of Sensors automates energy efficiency while reducing inventory process errors. These changes automate inventory management and track power usage per rack and server, optimizing workload placement

“The skyrocketing cost of operations in the data center is unsustainable, and enterprises are looking to HP to help solve this problem,” Mark Potter, HP senior vice president and general manager of Industry Standard Servers and Software, said. “We are delivering innovative intelligence technologies that enable servers to virtually take care of themselves, allowing data center staff to devote more time to business innovation.”

HP is distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS.

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links Technology

Accutone

Astrovision / Astroplus, A.Shop, iStudio, Power Mac Center, Rustan’s Department Store http://www.gadgeteeronline. multiply.com

asus Technology PhilIPPINES INC. Hanston Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 634 0309 http://ph.asus.com

Canon MARKETING (PHILIPPINES), INC. 7/F Commerce & Industry Plaza, Campus cor. Park Ave., McKinley Hills Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Tel. 884 9090

Genius MSI-ECS Tel. 688 3333 / 439 7777

Helms Helms Philippines Cel. (917) 575 4812

House of Marley Jerm Marketing, Inc. Tel. 838 5305 / 838 1631 to 32

LG Electronics Philippines Inc.

your gadget’s directory

Moduvi, inc.

Unit 340 One Corporate Center Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 689 5220

Nokia (Philippines), Inc. 40/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati Tel. 886 1234

Sandisk, POWERCOLOR

LIFESTYLE MOBILITY OUTDOOR PRODUCTS

Limited Limsun International Trading Corp.

70-C 18th Ave. P. Tuazon, Cubao, Quezon City Tel. 921 9493 / 921 9399 info@unitedlimsun.com http://www.unitedlimsun.com

Levi Strauss Philippines inc.

Honda Cars Phils., Inc. 105 South Main Avenue Laguna Technopark Sta. Rosa, Laguna Tel. 857 7200

Lamborghini Philippines PGA Cars Centre 11th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. 535 9692

Iontech 20 North Road cor. 3rd. Ave., Cubao, Quezon City Tel. 724 3340

20/F Tower 2, Enterprise Center, Ayala Ave., Makati City http://www.levi.com.ph

Peugeot PHILIPPINES

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES CORP.

Parfois Vogue Concepts Inc. Kampri Bldg., 2254 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City Tel. 894 1234

Suzuki Philippines Inc.

7/F Hanjinphil Bldg.

1128 University Parkway, North Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. 1 800 SAMSUNG

Starmobile

Distributed by Eurobrands Distributor Inc.

Danny Floro Street Bagong Ilog Pasig City Tel. 671 9724

Traffic Cel. 0918 - TRAFFIC (872 3342) info@trafficfootwear.ph http://www.trafficfootwear.ph

Star Kapitolyo Bldg. 70 San Rafael St. Kapitoloyo, Pasig City

Sony Philippines Inc. 11th Floor Marajo Tower #312 26th Street West cor 4th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. 860 3333

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

MiLi Apple Resellers, Ambassador Appliances, Astrovision / Astroplus, Rustan’s Department Store, SM Appliance Center http://www.gadgeteeronline. multiply.com

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editor’snote MUSIC KNOWS NO BOUNDERIES. We live in such a jam-packed and noisy world that we sometimes need to create our own space in the middle of a crowd. With earphones plugged in and our favorite music on, we can create this virtual space anytime, anywhere.

Music spans the whole spectrum of our emotions—we play music to celebrate and to mourn. We listen to music to relax , to be inspired, or to revive our spirits.

The mood and ambiance we want to create can only be achieved when we have access to the best sound quality. With so many product offerings available in the market today, it pays to be gadget-savvy so we can choose the best match for our particular taste and needs. In this issue, we showcase a wide array of headsets, music phones, apps and devices that are guaranteed to enhance your listening pleasure.

It is not enough to just listen. Some people feel the need to create. In this issue, our resident musician, Jon Uriarte, better known as the hip hop artist “Protege” to his fans, shares the tools for producing original music—both hardware and software—and how to distribute and promote as an indie artist online.

PRESIDENT & CEO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE PR & EVENTS STAFF ACCOUNTING MANAGER ACCOUNTING STAFF

Maribelle Alba Mika Fernandez-David Amy Christine Giray Marisa Consuelo Carol Agabin Jeffrey Suazo Adelaine Mendoza Tess Pascua Lorie Bernardo

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

Ramil Almojano Salvador Da, Jr.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Alba Law Office

We hope that this issue will take you on a musical adventure that will allow you to explore your own potential and help you communicate what Victor Hugo said so well: “Music expresses that which cannot be said, and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

Maribelle M. Alba

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

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The quintessential gadgets girl who loves all things Mac, red and blingy.

Mika fernandez-david

ASST. PUBLISHER Loves family, food, photography, travel, gadgets, office equipment, notebooks & pens, the beach, cooking, foreign supermarkets, coffee, crazy friends and food trips in the guise of photoshoots. Not necessarily in that order.

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Websites, anything and everything Apple, Power Tools and unusual gadgets excite her.

She also loves to travel, go on food trips, and try out all the new things.

WE ARE ALSO ON

www.facebook.com/GadgetsMagazine www.twitter.com/GadgetsMagazine www.youtube.com/GadgetsMagazineTV

REN ALCANTARA

KARLO N. B. SAMSON

Jon Uriarte

JOSE Alvarez

Benjamin Arnold

Racine anne castro

Patrick Jude Ilagan

MR Gavin

DESINIRA TEH

CLARIZZE LAUREA

Christopher Kho

SECTION EDITOR He writes for the monthly music section of the magazine, among others, and is an artist in his own right as lyricist, beat-smith, and sound engineer.

STAFF WRITER Writer, guitarist, and comic book geek. She sneaks into punk gigs to take pictures with a Canon 450D she named Jarvis. She goes by the obnoxious online pseudonym The Five-Foot Genius.

GRAPHIC ARTIST Likes art, music, sports, adventure, animals, books, God , food basically almost anything except for cruel people killing the earth and then some. She would love to see an aurora borealis someday.

JULY 2012

Presy Alba

John nieves

DIGITAL EDITOR All-around geek and gamer.

Loves guns, plays airsoft every weekend and games with Battlefield 3 religiously. Has been called a noob approximately 1 million times.

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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.

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

STAFF WRITER Brought to us from sunny California, Jose is a walking game encyclopedia. When he’s not playing games or on Facebook, he’s watching soccer or finding new ways to make people laugh.

ART DIRECTOR He is a shutterbug living in the vast jungles of Manila. When not working he is busy reading books, solving the mysteries of life and fighting zombies.

GRAPHIC ARTIST Clarizze is a daydreamer. You’ll often see her reading or in front of a computer. She’s also a movie buff. She takes pictures of rock shows in her free time.

CONTRIBUTOR Karlo is an editorial consultant by day, racket writer by night.

Part-time traveler, full-time geek, he’s been reviewing gadgets professionally for the past seven years. On his downtime, he runs the film photography blog Travelomo.com.

CONTRIBUTOR A struggling comedian in an artist’s body filled with cooking recipes and singing talent that is ready to busta-move on the dance floor on the path of thievery.

CONTRIBUTOR Sports and fashion may be a little impossible to mix, but our resident celeb stylist and sports savvy writer balances both perfectly. She’s the little girl in 5-inch heels on court.

CONTRIBUTOR He eats, sleeps and drinks racing, and will drive the tires off of just about anything with four wheels and a motor.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

contents

VOLUME 12 NUMBER 11 | JULY 2012

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COVER STORY

INDEPENDENT & UNSIGNED

The internet has changed the music industry. We give you some pointers on how to distribute and promote your music online.

Feature

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A MIX OF DELICIOUS & DELIGHTFUL

Stacy’s is a cozy and cheerful place to have a great time with your family.

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COMPUTEX 2012

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THE PERFECT PAIR

Model GWEN ZAMORA & JAY PARK • Photography by ERWIN BARLETTA • Art Direction by BENJAMIN ARNOLD • Styling by M.R. GAVIN • Gwen’s Hair & Make-up by YANG GAGELONIA OF MUD (MAKE-UP DESIGNERY) • Gowns by POPO GO • Suits from BESPOKE BY LEVENSON RODRIGUEZ • Shot on Location at EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL • Special Thanks to ANISSA KIANG OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC REGIONAL OFFICE, GRACE FORONDA & KAREN HERNANDEZ OF MCA MUSIC INC., IAN FRAYCO OF MEGAWORLD LIFESTYLE MALLS, ANNIE DIOSO OF EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL & ROCHELLE TUAZON OF GMA TALENT DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT

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photo feature

SIT BACK, RELAX, ENJOY THE SHOW

We give you the scoop on one of the world’s biggest technology events, held last June 2012 in Taiwan.

We give you a dummy’s guide to choosing the right headphones.

International acts Jay Park and Gwen Zamora grace our pages with their charm and talent as we showcase some of the latest gadgets. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

contents VOLUME 12 NUMBER 11 | JULY 2012

technology

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New finds

Find out about the latest gadgets and lifestyle products out in the market today, some of which you might have never heard of.

GadgetsLab

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Tried & tested, just for you

We go in-depth and unbiased as we give you our expert reviews on the gadgets we’ve tested ourselves.

Snapshots

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Mobility

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Lights. Magic.

Concerts.

Learn the secrets of concert photography as told by Magic Liwanag.

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Test Drive: honda civic

We’ve taken the 2012 Honda Civic 1.8 EXi for a spin and here’s what we think of it.

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Lamborghini Manila now open

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We take you into the jaw dropping showroom of the Italian luxury and super sports car maker.

Peugeot marks its return to the Philippines

Want more from your mobile phone? Here are some great music apps.

Suzuki NEX 115 launched in Davao

Optimal Wellness with NOW FOODS and Watson’s Generic Drugs

This month we feature NOW FOODS supplements and Watson’s Buy Generics & Save advocacy.

We feature two of Honda’s family vehicles.

APPS

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Wellness

Honda’s people movers: Pilot & Odyssey

Here’s what you might not have known about the French automaker while we wait for its arrival.

There’s an app for that

Lifestyle

Green

Premium Sound in the Key of Green Help the earth with House of Marley’s audio products.

Music CORNER

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Gadgets that make tunes

We give you the tools and the truth about hardware vs. software music production.

Suzuki’s sporty, convenient, economical and aff ordable scooter finds its way south.

GAMING

46 Twisted Metal

The iconic vehicular combat game takes you back to the demolition derby.

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Everything Apple

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84

Creating Music on your Apple device

Tap into your inner musician with a couple of apps.

Tablets

50

Bits & Bytes

How to supersize your tablet

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Events The Samsung Galaxy S III lands in the Philippines; Globe launches the Samsung Galaxy S III; Lucky switchers win Galaxy S3 units at Smart launch; HP Spectre and Phoenix launch.

NewsBits & Bytes

UPDATES ON TECH NEWS

Check out what’s hot off the press.

We show you how you can get past that storage space limitation and expand your tablet’s digital library.

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THE FRESHEST PRODUCTS TO HIT THE MARKET

Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe MOTHERBOARD The Asus P877-V Deluxe is a top-of-the-line motherboard that comes with incredible performance boosts, customizable fan controls, and remote control functions over Wi-Fi. Its Dual Intelligent Processors 3 with SMART DIGI+ Power Control deliver an exceptional increase in CPU overclocking performance and up to 85% boost in CPU frequency. You can also select the CPU wattage levels and reduce it by up to half in a single click, creating a cooler and quieter PC. The motherboard comes equipped with Wi-Fi Go! for ultimate wireless control over your PC, allowing you to perform tasks such as accessing your PC from a tablet or smartphone, using motion controls, easily transferring files, and DLNA streaming. Its Fan Xpert 2 feature brings you the most customizable fan controls to ensure that your motherboard stays cool. The included LucidLogix Virtu MVP can enhance your discrete graphics card up to 60% beyond its original performance with 3DMark Vantage. Lastly, the motherboard comes equipped with USB 3.0 for the fastest possible transmission of data.

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 GRAPHICS CARD The GeForce GTX 670 is designed to be a more affordable version of the GTX 680, so if you’re looking for a great graphics card but also want to save some money, the GTX 670 merits serious consideration. This version from Asus is a fully custom implementation of NVIDIA’s graphics card with the same name, and has a dual-fan Direct Touch cooler on the card and increased clock speeds to 1058MHz base clock. It has the same 28nm chip architecture as the GeForce GTX 680 and packs 2GB of RAM and NVIDIA’s GPU Boost technology that overclocks the processor to make use of available headroom. It also has the entire feature set of the GTX 680, including 4-way SLI support, and the ability to drive four monitors through a single card.

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Genius Media Pointer 1000 Professional Presenter No one likes a boring presentation, so why not liven it up with a professional presenter? Lose that awkward disconnect from your audience with the handy Genius Media Pointer 1000. With its 10-meter range and anti-interference function, this multifunctional presentation tool allows you to move around the room or auditorium so you can be more engaging to your audience. If you’re worried about boring people with a lengthy presentation, the LCD timer will keep you on cue as it beeps when you only have 30 seconds left or when the time is up. The device features both presentation and media modes, so moving to the next slide or playing videos are easy and troublefree.

Asus Zenbook Prime Ultrabook Remember those ultra-slim Zenbooks from Asus that packed Sandy Bridge processors? They’ve updated those ultrabooks with a new lineup called Zenbook Prime, which come equipped with Ivy Bridge and stunning full HD 1080p IPS matte displays. There are several different models in the lineup—there’s the 11-inch UX21A, the 13-inch UX31A/UX32A, and the 13inch UX32VD. The UX32A and UX32VD make use of hybrid hard drives while the UX31A and UX31A have an SSD. All of the models are equipped with an Intel HD Graphics 4000 card except for the UX32VD, which can come with an optional and better NVIDIA GT 620M GPU. The models can be fitted with either a Core i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge processor. It’s also worth mentioning that the keys are backlit. If you’re looking for an incredibly thin and light notebook that is also a performance beast, you should check out these ultrabooks from Asus.

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PowerColor HD7970 VIDEO CARD The PowerColor HD7970 is a GPU based on the next-generation AMD Tahiti 28nm GCN architecture. Its design makes it capable of ridiculously high frame rates for delivering cutting-edge graphics performance while using less power than traditional platforms. With its 4.3 billion 28nm transistors, its engine clocks in at 925MHz with memory speed at 1375MHz. The card makes use of AMD Eyefinity technology to support a 16,000 x 16,000 maximum display resolution for up to 6 displays. Its AMD APP Acceleration speeds up daily applications by creating a co-processing environment of GPU and CPU. The HD7970 has DirectX 11.1 support.

Lcs — PHP 28,000 pCS+ — PHP 22,000 standard — php 21,000

BlackBerry Curve 9320/9220 SMARTPHONE The BlackBerry Curve 9320 and 9229 come with the next generation BlackBerry operating system that’s packed with powerful new features and innovative pre-installed apps. It still keeps the hardware QWERTY keypad much-loved by BBMers. Your social life is at your fingertips with the dedicated BBM shortcut key that allows you to launch the BBM app to instantly start chatting, participate in a group message, and share pictures and videos. BBM is also built into your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you don’t have to leave the app. The Curve 9320 claims up to 7 hours of talk-time and up to 18 days of standby battery life.

Its WiFi capability lets you connect to the internet to browse the web, send email and download apps— and you can share your WiFi hotspot with up to five devices at once. The phone also comes with a lot of connectivity options, a 3.15-megapixel camera, and an FM radio. The 9320 is 3G while the 9220 is not.

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Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N Monochrome Laser Printer A lot of printers sacrifice good quality prints for speed—but the Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N isn’t one of them. This monochrome laser printer is mainly aimed at workplaces that require large volumes of high-quality documents at lightning speed. So, you need to print that 100-page quarterly report in a hurry? The Phaser4600N has you covered. You get the first page out in 7.8 seconds, and at 52 pages per minute, you’ll have enough time to grab a cup of coffee before the meeting starts. Together with its high-speed output, the Phaser 4600N prints documents in sharp, crisp 1200 x 1200dpi resolution.

Managing the device is easy with built-in network support,allowing you to operate some of its features from your desk. So if you’re in the market for a laser printer that gives you both volume and speed, you’d do well to give the Fuji Xerox Phaser 4600N a shot.

PHP 66,000

Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 f/ fw and DocuPrint M205 f/fw Multifunction Printers While small businesses and houses are relatively tiny environments that don’t actually require big-budget printers, there are users looking for advanced features at an affordable price. The DocuPrint CM205 f (networkready) and f/w (wireless) color printers, together with their monochrome counterparts, theDocuPrint M205 f and f/w, are the ideal solutions. These models are compact, A4-size multifunction printers that are network-ready and have wireless capabilities specifically made for home and small business use. In addition to the impressive A4 printout speed of 12 pages per minute for color and 15 for monochrome, these multifunction printers offer superb output quality thanks to Fuji Xerox’s Image Registration Control Technology which promises sharp, accurate prints for pages on end. If these reasons aren’t enough to get you to rush to the nearest Fuji Xerox dealer, these devices also handle your scanning, fax and copy needs. It’s everything a home office jockey could want in a printer, and more.

PHP 16,700 - 23,000 (depending on configuration)

Fuji Xerox WorkCentre 4250 Multifunctional Printer If your current printer isn’t cutting it for your big workgroup, the Fuji Xerox WorkCentre 4250 is here to save the day. It’s an A4-sized monochrome multifunction laser printer with a speed of up to 43 pages per minute and a first-page-out time of 8 seconds. It can print with a maximum resolution of 1200x1200dpi, and copy with a resolution of 600x 600dpi. Aside from printing and copying, the WorkCentre 4250 also has scanning and faxing capabilities, so you can digitize documents and fax or send them via e-mail.

Users can also save time and print files directly from a USB drive. Its interface is easy to operate from an intuitive icon-based full-color touch screen. The WorkCentre 4250 will definitely get your big business through the daily grind with its speed, high quality prints, and multi-functionality.

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Accutone Pisces Band Stereo Headphone Headphones

THE FRESHEST PRODUCTS TO HIT THE MARKET

The Pisces Band Headphones are high-definition stereo headsets used for MP3 players, smartphones and other music-playing devices. It boasts of exceptional sound performance characterized by audio clarity and a powerful, high-quality bass.

The Pisces Band sports an in-line microphone and external digital volume control. It also features comfortable premium quality leatherette ear cushions with a noise-isolation feature. Carrying it around or putting it away is hassle-free—thanks to its folding mechanism that maximizes portability.

This sharp-looking music companion is crafted in sturdy, genuine aluminum, topped off with a highgloss finish that comes in white, orange and black.

PHP 8,450

Accutone Aquarius Earphones In-ear Earphones Tuned to Accutone Class A acoustic settings, the Aquarius in-ear earphones are your ideal music companion, producing balanced, more natural-sounding audio output. In addition to an awesome listening experience, the Aquarius’ specialized microphone, fixed behind an aluminum grill, also provides an avenue for sound transmission. The Aquarius offers a superb user experience, comfort and style. It has an easy-to-use rotary volume control, and comes in a glossy jelly finish with six color options—green, white, purple, pink, blue and orange. The Accutone Aquarius is a great set of earphones that blends an appealing design with first-rate acoustics.

PHP 1,800

Helms iTooth 2 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES The sequel to the Helms iTooth Bluetooth headphones features Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate) that gives it a faster data transfer rate. Like the original version, its foldable headband design and foam ear pads ensure excellent comfort and convenience. With its built-in microphone, you’ll be able to enjoy hands-free conversations from Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.

Music will pause when there’s an incoming call and resume once the call is ended. The controls for play/pause, next/ previous track, answer/end call, volume adjustment, and Bluetooth pairing can be found on the outer sides of the ear cups, so managing those functions is as easy as reaching to your ears and pressing the buttons. The Helms iTooth 2 has a rechargeable 230 mAH Li-polymer battery that offers up to 11 hours of talk time and up to 10 hours of music playback. Its operating distance is approximately 10 meters.

PHP 5,250 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Palit GeForce GT 630 GRAPHICS CARD Every PC deserves great graphics and if you’re looking to boost that on your desktop computer, the GeForce GT 630 is one of the many graphics cards that can do that for you. It will deliver a premium multimedia experience and it’s been designed for DirectX 11 gaming. You can play games, movies, view photos and edit videos, as well as watch Blu-ray content in incredible detail and accurate color. When combined with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology and a compatible screen, the GT 630 also allows you to experience digital content in full stereoscopic 3D.

Sandisk 16GB Mobile Ultra MICRO SD CARD AND SD ADAPTOR The Sandisk 16GB microSD card is rated SD class 10 with a write speed of up to 30 MB per second under the proper conditions. This makes it ideal for when you need to store and transfer media-rich files such as music, videos, and images. Inserting the micro SD card inside the included SD card adapter virtually transforms it into a standard-sized SD card—so it’s like having both a micro SD and an SD card in one, depending on what you need. The Sandisk SD Mobile Ultra is waterproof and temperature proof, so you can be sure that your data is safe even in harsh conditions.

PHP 1,268

Roccat Savu GAMING MOUSE The Roccat Savu is a mid-size hybrid gaming mouse that just might spell the difference between winning and losing in your favorite firstperson shooter and real-time strategy games. Its pro-optic sensor has four DPI settings (400, 800, 1600, and 4000) to match your needs. Aside from the standard left and right click buttons, you’ll also have two additional buttons on the mouse’s left side where your thumb usually is (in a righthanded mouse such as the Savu). Its Easy-Shift[+] technology allows you to assign two functions per button including the scroll wheel, giving you a total of up to 12 mouse functions. Everything on the Savu is built from high-quality components and made especially for gaming, including its soft-touch surface, no-sweat side grips, and ultraprecise wheel steps on the scroll wheel. The Savu has a cool-looking customizable light bar that lets you choose between 16.8 million colors and change the way the light behaves.

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Powermat 2X Home & Office Mat with Powercube WIRELESS CHARGER What if you were able to charge your smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets by simply placing them on top of a mat without having to connect any wires?

That’s exactly what the Powermat does. All you need to do is attach the included Powercube Universal Receiver to your gadget, then place that Powercube on top of the Powermat. The Powercube comes with nearly all the tips you might ever need—mini USB, micro USB, Samsung, LG, Apple, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DS Lite, and Sony PSP. If you don’t want to use the Powercube, you can buy a receiver that comes in the form of a case that’s specifically made for your device. The Powermat 2X has two access points, which means you can charge 2 devices on top of it at the same time.

PHP 3,990

myCharge Portable Powerbank 6000 PORTABLE CHARGER The myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 is a portable rechargeable battery pack that will charge your smartphones and tablets when you plug them into it. It features an Apple connector, mini USB, and micro USB, that all tuck in nicely along its exterior so you don’t have to worry about any dangling wires. It’s equipped with a 6000mAh battery pack that can charge the average smartphone 4 times and an iPad to nearly full capacity. It also has an LED indicator to let you know how much charge is left in the bank. To recharge the Powerbank, just plug it into your computer via USB.

PHP 4,990

Incase Campus Pack BACKPACK

The Nylon Campus Backpack is the ideal carrying solution for all your essentials. It features a plush faux-fur lined notebook compartment that can fit up to a 15” MacBook Pro (or other laptops for that matter), an interior slip pocket for an iPad (or other tablet), and more interior slip pockets for organizing your other things. It’s comfortable to wear due to its padded back panels and shoulder straps with a breathable mesh and integrated airflow channel support. On the exterior, you’ll find a zippered quick-access pocket and a storage pocket. You can be sure that this backpack is suitable for everyday use because of its durable nylon construction and heavy duty zippers with custom-molded pulls.

PHP 2,900

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Epson EB-1900 PROJECTOR

The Epson EB-1900 features the company’s most important projector technology yet—real time automatic keystone correction. The feature means that it’s able to automatically and instantly correct screen distortions and focus the projected image in real-time no matter how you place the device.

This makes for a completely hassle-free set-up experience and a smooth presentation, especially during times when you might want to reposition the projector. The projected image will be a perfect rectangle each time.

The 3.2kg device features high brightness at 4000 lumens, ensuring that projected images are clear and visible even under fluorescent lights or in a room not completely sealed-off from sunlight. It includes a DisplayPort for direct connection to Mac computers, digital services, and a DCDi Cinema video processing chip that enables it to render movies with a remarkable home theater quality.

PHP 79,900

Epson LabelWorks LW-400 LABEL PRINTER The LabelWorks LW-400 is a portable label printer with a backlit display that can be used for typing and printing labels for just about anything in your home or workplace. It also has enterprise use for printing barcodes and such. It connects to a power plug, but it can be battery-powered for portability.

It’s able to print labels up to 18mm wide with up to 4 lines of text, and there are a variety of specialty print modes for flag, tab and wrap style labels for cables and wiring. It’s equipped with 14 font types, 10 styles, 300+ built-in symbols, over 75 frames, barcodes, and more. It has a built-in memory capable of storing up to 50 files, allowing you to save those commonly used labels and take them anywhere. You’ll be able to print double-sided tab tapes, glow-in-the-dark, reflective, metallic, strong adhesive, fluorescent and decorative tapes. Its smaller margin prints also means you’ll also have 60% less label waste.

The LabelWorks LW-400 supports 7 different languages.

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Maxx Mobile MX151 Arc MOBILE PHONE The MX151 Arc from Maxx Mobile is ideal for those looking for something affordable with basic features. It comes with Bluetooth capability for connecting to a Bluetooth headset, perfect for on-the-go individuals. It has a digital camera for taking pictures and recording video. Depending on your service provider, you’ll be able to access WAP services. It can also serve as your music player due to its included FM radio and MP4 player. It has auto call record in case you want to keep recordings of particular phone calls. Phone storage is expandable up to 4 GB.

PHP 999

Maxx Mobile MT616 Zippy MOBILE PHONE The MT616 Zippy mobile phone is ideal for those looking for something that’s affordable yet packs a lot of features. You can watch movies in KMV format through its 3.2-inch full touch screen as well as listen to music through its MP4 player and built-in FM radio. It comes equipped with all the social networking capabilities you might need such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Launcher, and Skype—the latter making use of the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with a flashlight, which you can also use to take photos and videos.

It comes with 1 GB of memory that’s expandable up to 16 GB so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it can fit all of your files including your phonebook and text messages.

PHP 2,799

D-Link Systems DIR-605L Wireless-N300 CLOUD ROUTER The D-Link DIR-605L Wireless-N300 cloud router gives you a fast network at home. It also allows you to easily control and monitor your home network when you’re away via the free mydlink Lite app that’s downloadable from the Android market. This makes it ideal for parents who want to view what devices are connected to the network and what sites are being visited. It sends intrusion attempt emails so you can block devices in real-time. The cloud router is capable of up to 300mbps for your internet browsing and file sharing needs. Its extended coverage has virtually no dead spots and its Intelligent Antenna technology ensures good signal strength even in the farthest corners of your home. It has 4 Ethernet ports for added flexibility.

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LG Optimus L3 E400 SMARTPHONE Looking for a smartphone? Let’s not forget about the affordable yet stylish LG Optimus L3 that will have many of your multimedia needs covered—whether it’s surfing the Internet, making use of apps, or entertaining yourself with music and videos. At 102.6 x 61.6 x 11.85mm in size, it features a 3.2-inch TFT LCD display with a resolution of 240x320 pixels. It’s equipped with an 800MHz processor, 1 GB of internal memory, HSDPA connectivity, runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and comes with a 1,500 mAh battery to keep you connected all day long. It also has a 3-megapixel camera at the back so you’ll be able to take pictures and capture video. The smartphone can support a micro SD card up to 32 GB.

PHP 5,990

LG Optimus L5 E612 SMARTPHONE Filling in the gap between the Optimus L3 and L7, the LG Optimus L5 smartphone stays up-to-date by running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s equipped with an 800 Mhz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of internal storage, so it’s capable of running most of the apps you might need. The phone is114 x 67 x 9.5mm small and weighs about 125 g to give space for a 4-inch TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen with a 320 x 480 resolution. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera. Lastly, the L5 keeps you connected via a quadband GSM radio and HSDPA, and makes sure you don’t lose another note again with its convenient Quick Memo functionl.

PHP 10,990

LG Optimus L7 P705 SMARTPHONE If you’re looking for a mid-priced smartphone, the LG Optimus L7 P705 with its classic square design should be on your list of possible choices. With its size of 125.5 x 67 x 8.7mm, the phone sports a bright 4.3-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display and weighs about 122-grams. The smartphone comes with a 1GHz processor, 8 GB internal storage and runs on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, giving you access to the large Android app market. It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash as well as a front camera for video calls, and a 1,700 mAh battery so you don’t run out of juice even when you’re out all day.

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LG Optimus 4X HD P880 SMARTPHONE LG has a powerful high-end smartphone called the Optimus 4X HD P880.

It’s equipped with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB RAM, and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It sports the same classic square design as most of LG’s other smartphone offerings but has a massive 4.7-inch true HD IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen that is sure to provide a remarkable viewing experience. Need to take down a thought?

The 4X has you covered with its handy Quick Note function. It also has a large 2150 mAh Li-Ion battery, bigger than those found on other quad-core smartphones.

PHp 29,990

LG Optimus 3D Max P725 SMARTPHONE You might remember the LG Optimus 3D (P920) from last year, which allowed users to watch movies, capture videos and play games—all in 3D without the need for 3D glasses. The LG Optimus 3D Max is an upgraded version that is lighter at 148g and slightly smaller and thinner at 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6mm. The processor and system memory have been bumped up to a dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM, respectively. This time around, the phone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It’s equipped with a 4.3-inch IPS display with Gorilla Glass 2 protection on the front and dual 5-megapixel cameras on the back.

PHp 26,990

LG Dual Sim P698 SMARTPHONE If you want a dual sim smartphone, look no further than the LG Dual Sim P698. It has an 800MHz processor and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, so you’ll have access to the multitude of apps in the Android app market. Not only do you get the hassle-free feeling of having two phones in one, but you also get to organize your life, entertain yourself and stay connected online. The P698 features a curved body design and a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. On the rear is a 3MP camera, and powering the whole device is a large 1500mAh battery for power all day long.

PHp 7,990

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Toshiba Satellite L800 Series Notebook

Students, families, and small business owners looking for a powerful and stylish laptop, say hello to the Toshiba Satellite L800 series. The models in this series can be configured with an Intel 2nd generation Core i5 processor with a speed of up to 3.1GHz. These models can have up to 8GB of RAM and 750 GB of storage space. They come in three display sizes— 13.3, 14, and 15.6 inches.

If you want to do some moderate graphics work on the move, can equip your L800 series device with either 1GB or 2GB of VRAM care of an ATI Radeon video card for mobile video viewing and gaming. The entire line also features higher-end technology such as two USB 3.0 ports and stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound HD audio that amplifies your audio experience for games, music and movies. The Satellite L800 Series is available in three colors—Midnight Black, Luscious Red and Icy White.

Toshiba Satellite M800 Series Notebook

Toshiba Satellite C800 Series Notebook

The Satellite M800 series is the ideal choice for fashion-conscious users who want power, portability and style all rolled into one. You can arm your M800 model with either an Intel Core i5, or the newer 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor with a speed of 2.3 GHz, up to 8GB RAM and 750GB storage space.

The M800 models are equipped with a 14-inch HD Clear SuperView display with LED backlighting and an ATI Radeon HD 7670 graphics card with 2GB dedicated Video RAM for your optimum viewing pleasure. They also sport SRS Premium Sound HD speakers, an HD webcam, a raised-tile keyboard and a spacious, comfortable multi-touch TouchPad. These models are lightweight and extremely portable, weighing only 1.99kg. Not only does it deliver solid performance, the M800 series is also highly stylish as it flaunts a sleek chassis clad in a unique metallic mirror finish that is available in Gold Blaze, Pink Blush and Blue Horizon.

Think Toshiba Satellite laptops are a bit too pricey? Look to the C800 for the answer. Made especially for price-conscious consumers who want basic productivity at home or at the office, this entry-level model offers vital features and practical functionality at an affordable price. Your C800 model can be configured with a 2nd generation Intel Core i3 processor with a speed of 2.4 GHz, and up to 8GB RAM and 640GB storage space. There are two variants of the C800 available—one with a 14-inch diagonal widescreen display, and one with a 15.6-inch widescreen display. It also has 1GB dedicated Video RAM, which makes it great for light gaming. The Satellite C800 is clad in a textured finish available in matt graphite or glossy IMR that comes in two colors: Black Graphite and Red Graphite.

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parade THE FRESHEST PRODUCTS TO HIT THE MARKET

Parfois Multi-Way Bags Women’s Bags Looking for a versatile bag that fits any occasion?

A Parfois Multi-Way bag can save you from all the fuss of having to shop for several different bags.

With interchangeable short and long straps that can be worn across the body or on the shoulder, you get a saddle bag and a shoulder bag for the price of one. The transition is easy, so you can use your Multi-Way bag from a casual mall shopping trip with friends and straight on to a social event.

What’s best about Parfois Multi-Way bags is that you’re in full command—you get to choose the way you want to wear your bag. These all-around bags have an adjustable zipline pocket.

PHP 885 — 2,080

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Outdoor Products Backpacks

THE FRESHEST PRODUCTS TO HIT THE MARKET

Tired of changing backpacks every year? Outdoor Products has a new line of backpacks that does away with the constant change. These backpacks are made with Cordura—a material known for its durability and resistance to harsh conditions.

They use zippers from YKK, a Japanese company known for making some of the best zippers, so your backpack won’t burst open when jampacked. These backpacks are double-stitched for extra durability. The S-shaped straps keep the bag close to the body without straining your back.

Best of all, they have a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. Of course, if you’re picking a backpack to use for a long time, you’d want it to have a timeless design. From solid colors to fashionable prints, these backpacks sport a range of versatile designs that endure the constantly changing trends.These backpacks fuse durability, comfort and style, and are a great option if you’re looking for a long term bag.

kartel bailey fatigue PHP 3,499

Traffic Frank and Kartel Shoes Footwear Frank Cambie Brown PHP 4,499 26

JULY 2012

Traffic offers stylish geeks the perfect footwear for each occasion. If you want something sophisticated that you can wear to formal events, then the Frank line of shoes is definitely worth considering. These elegantly designed shoes are made from fine leather materials and crafted with intricate designs.

The Kartel line, on the other hand, is the perfect pair for casual dates and moments when you just want to go out and chill with your buddies. Shoes in the Kartel line are made from canvass and suede, giving your feet a dose of stylish comfort. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

parade THE FRESHEST PRODUCTS TO HIT THE MARKET

Starmobile Jupiter B305 MOBILE PHONE The Starmobile Jupiter B305 is a dual-sim phone that’s perfect for on-the-go individuals due to its built-in Bluetooth headset and access to Facebook and Yahoo! Messenger. It’s probably the first phone with a Bluetooth headset that literally attaches and detaches from a compartment on the back of the device. This way, you can easily remove and activate it for hands-free calls. The headset automatically charges using the phone’s battery when it’s attached, which is incredibly convenient. The Jupiter B305 also takes care of your multimedia needs as it comes with a 3-megapixel camera, an FM radio, a music player, a video player, and a sound and video recorder. Lastly, depending on your service provider, you can use its WAP browser for surfing the web and availing of WAP services.

Starmobile Neptune B302 MOBILE PHONE The Neptune B302 is an affordable dual-sim phone aimed at those looking for something simple with basic multimedia functionality. It comes with a built-in camera, a wireless FM radio, a music player, a video player, a sound recorder and a video recorder. This particular model is also the music edition, so it’s equipped with a built-in speaker at the rear. You can access WAP sites and WAP-based applications after subscribing to the corresponding service from your network provider. Other features include Bluetooth capability and a built-in flashlight.

Starmobile Jupiter Q501i MOBILE PHONE If you’re looking for an affordable phone with a QWERTY keypad and a number of other features, the Starmobile Jupiter Q501i is worth checking out.

When it comes to multimedia, you get a 2.8-inch screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a music player, a wireless FM radio, a video player and recorder, and even Mobile TV. In terms of connectivity, it’s equipped with WiFi and Bluetooth, along with built-in access to Facebook, Yahoo! Messenger, Twitter, MSN and Google. It comes with 1GB of storage.

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TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

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FANNY WANG

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LG OPTIMUS L7 P705 (P700)

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NOKIA LUMIA 610

35

STARMOBILE NEPTUNE B302

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SONY NEX-7

37

BUFFALO AIRSTATION INFINITI

38

SAMSUNG SERIES 5

39

WI-TRIBE USB MODEM

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ASUS TRANSFORMER TF300

lg optimus 3D max 41

OVER EAR HEADPHONES WITH ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION

SMARTPHONE

SMARTPHONE

DUAL SIM MUSIC PHONE

MIRRORLESS INTERCHANGABLE LENS CAMERA

HIGH POWER DUAL BAND ROUTER AND ACCESS POINT

ULTRABOOK

USB MODEM

TABLET

MILI POWER PRINCE

EXTERNAL BATTERY PACK

SMARTPHONE

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gadgetslab

Fanny Wang 3001

BUY METER

OVER EAR HEADPHONES WITH ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING

By Jon Uriarte

/5

SPECIFICATIONS: FREQUENCY RANGE: 5 - 28,000 HZ SENSITIVITY: 105 DB (POWER ON) BATTERY LIFE: Approximately 48 hours ACCESSORIES: Rigid foam carry case, 3.5mm connecting cable (1.5m) with iPod, iPhone, iPad control, conversion plug for aircraft use, 6mm adapter

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

When shopping for headphones, it’s nearly impossible to look at a list of specs and know exactly how the product is going to sound. You have to actually test it to see if you like what you hear and how it feels on your ears—a lot of it is subjective. Reviews can be helpful, but the reviewer’s sound preferences might be different from yours.

Fanny Wang is a company whose headphones haven’t gotten as much attention as such brands as Audio-Technica, Sony, Shure, Sennheiser and Beats. We got the pleasure of testing one of Fanny Wang’s high-end units—the 3001 over ear headphones with active noise cancelling.

4.5 WHAT’S HOT:

• Outstanding construction and design • Fantastic sound quality and bass response • Highly effective active noise cancelling • Extremely comfortable • Collapsible headband • Duo Jack lets you plug in another set of headphones

WHAT’S NOT: • Might be slightly bulky and heavy for some people • Lacks some airiness in the highest frequencies • Some mid-high frequencies can be piercing when active noise cancelling is turned on • Microphone and remote is only fully functional for iPod, iPhone and iPad

BOTTOMLINE: Despite the fact that Fanny Wang headphones are not as well known as its competitors, it’s incredibly hard not to notice them when they’re in proximity. While our review unit of the 3001 over ear “Wangs” is the black variant, it’s pretty big with the striking signature Fanny Wang texture design all over its soft matte rubber exterior. The ear cups are circular as opposed to oblong-shaped, making them even larger. Aside from its slight bulkiness, I do think design and build are among its best traits. Every little component seems to be made from only top-quality material, probably accounting for its noticeably heavier heft.

The headband is not only wide, sturdy, and extendable— it’s also collapsible, allowing you to fold it up for easier storage and transport. The ear cups swivel securely on the headband and the brand logo

can be seen on various parts of the headphones, including the padded cloth speaker covers inside the earmuffs.

The ear cushions are really soft and covered by a combination of elegant high-quality leather and stretchy fabric, resulting in supreme comfort with excellent ventilation—it didn’t feel hot during long hours of use. In fact, the 3001 is probably the most comfortable set of headphones I’ve ever used.

The package comes with two AAA batteries that need to be loaded into the right ear cup in order to use the active noise cancellation and the bass boost, although the 3001 will work without any batteries. The headphone cord is not only detachable and of high-quality, it also features a Duo Jack to allow another person to plug in another pair of headphones and listen to the same music. Along

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the cord is a small control panel where you’ll find the microphone, volume control, and play/pause button that also serves as the call button.

Unfortunately, those features are only fully functional with iPods, iPhones and iPads.

Along the top side of the right ear cup is a switch for “Off”, “ANC” or “Bass”. The first setting switches off both the active noise cancellation and bass boost. The second setting switches on the active noise cancellation without the bass boost, and the third setting switches on both the active noise cancellation and the bass boost. I liked how the semi-transparent switch lights up blue when in “ANC” mode and green when in “Bass” mode.

Now we move on to probably the most important aspect—sound quality, which turned out to be very good

on the 3001. Actually, each of the three settings (Off, ANC, and Bass) produce a different sound. In the “Off” setting, the response is quite flat, balanced, and natural-sounding. Switching it to “ANC” turns on the active noise cancellation to reduce most ambient noise, which it does very well. The resulting sound has a lot more treble that occasionally sounded piercing at high volumes (with most of the music genres I tested it with) and lacked bass. When I switched it to “Bass”, the low end came alive with a bass that pleasantly thumped hard enough to vibrate the ear cups, but the mid-high frequencies were still a little fatiguing at really high volumes. Still, the overall sound in all 3 settings was very powerful and incredibly detailed with a fantastic sound stage and a silky smooth quality. What it lacks is

The Fanny Wang 3001 is beautifully designed, extremely comfortable, delivers superb sound quality for its price, and has highly effective active noise cancellation as well as some other features. It’s definitely hard to beat.

perhaps some airiness in the highest frequencies. Of course, all of this could be fixed by adjusting the EQ on your music player since the headphones are capable of delivering all frequencies pretty well.

The Fanny Wang 3001 certainly lives up to the expectations for headphones in this price range—with a powerful sound that is nearly as glorious as its appearance and definitely as solid as its construction. Spending your money on these “cans” is something you won’t regret if you don’t mind its bulkiness.

The 3001 also comes with a nifty carrying case that effectively protects it.

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LG Optimus L7 P705 (P700) SMARTPHONE

By John Nieves

LG has set its sights on the mid- and low- end market with its L-series phones. We reviewed the budget friendly L3 a few weeks back and now it’s time to assess the topof-the-line LG Optimus L7 P705 (P700).

BUY METER

3.5

/5

SPECIFICATIONS: OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 CPU: 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon LCD SIZE: 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 800 pixel resolution PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 125.5 X 67 X 8.7 MM, 122 GRAMS BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

WHAT’S HOT: • right, clear display • Long battery life • ses ndroid

WHAT’S NOT: • Sluggish • Screen is sometimes unresponsive

BOTTOMLINE: hile the Optimus L suffers from the use of a single-core processor, it s one of the fe phones that can last for more than t o days on a single charge ith moderate use

When we first laid eyes on the Optimus L7, we couldn’t shake that feeling of déjà vu. The overall de sign of the device is neither striking nor ugly. Think of it as the Will Smith of smartphones--dark and acceptable to all palates.

The L7 measures in at around 125.5 x 67 x 8.7mm and weighs in at 122 grams. It uses a large, 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen that has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. There’s not much by way of manual controls – there’s a volume rocker on the left side and, at the bottom of the screen, a large home button flanked by two capacitive keys for navigation. The back panel features a textured finish to help you grip the phone 32

JULY 2012

better. There’s a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash at the back, as well as a secondary, VGA camera in front.

Internally, the Optimus L7 uses a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor that’s mated with 512MB of RAM. It has Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) as its OS, with LG’s UI enhancements layered on top. There’s 4GB of internal storage, expandable via an integrated microSD slot. A large 1700mAh li-ion battery provides the juice to keep everything running.

We had initial fears that the Optimus L7’s processor wouldn’t be able to keep

up with the demands expected of a device in its class. While it performed well most of the time, there were occasions when the unit became sluggish and a bit unresponsive—usually when we tried to unlock the device to use it. Using a slower, single core processor means that the L7 struggles with some apps and games (especially those with a lot of animations and 3D graphics).

AnTuTu paints a bleak picture performance-wise, as the Optimus L7 only scores about 2787 points, below the Samsung Galaxy S. Quadrant Standard is a little bit better, and gives the Optimus L7 1996 points, lower than the LG Optimus 2X but above the

HTC Desire HD. One upside of the single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor is that battery life is significantly better than comparable dual-core devices. Combine that with the relatively large 1700mAh battery, and the Optimus L7 is capable of delivering battery endurance that other phones only dream of. We managed to log almost two and a half days of useful battery life with moderate use, and we’re sure some of you out there may be able to manage three. In today’s world of perpetually discharged gadgets, battery endurance like this is in short supply.

Another thing that we liked with the Optimus L7 is the incredibly bright screen. We’re not sure if it is imbued with the same extremely bright Nova display of the earlier LG Optimus Black, but we’re sure they have very close nit ratings.

Ultimately, the Optimus L7 is an exercise in compromise.

You’re not getting a dual-core processor and you’ll definitely feel the performance hit once you start using the device, but the trade-off is that you get much better battery endurance, allowing you to use the device longer. The LG Optimus L7 retails for Php 15,990.

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SMARTPHONE

By Ren Alcantara

3.5

/5

SPECIFICATIONS: OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 2.3 Gingerbread CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 LCD SIZE: 4.3 inches,480 x 800-pixel resolution PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6 mm, 148 g BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Stop for a moment and take stock of the gadgets available to the average consumer.

We have smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, music devices and a slew of tech that just years ago were confined to the pages of science fiction. We live in the future now, and it’s awesome. If you need any more convincing, you needn’t look any further than LG’s Optimus 3D Max. It’s an Android-powered smartphone that takes your photos and video, and gives them literal depth. It does exactly what you think it does. Yes. 3D photos and videos. In your pocket.

gadgetslab

LG Optimus 3D Max P720

BUY METER

WHAT’S HOT: • Sharp, bright screen • D visuals • Solid construction

WHAT’S NOT: • nimpressive battery life • D visuals aren t for everyone • Stuck on ndrod Gingerbread

BOTTOMLINE: ou ant the future no his is the phone you should be considering.

The Optimus 3D Max is a beautifully plain-looking phone—it’s basically a solid, exceptionally bright 4.3-inch Gorilla Glass 2 screen. I like my devices plain, so I think the design is pretty sexy. On paper, the phone is more impressive than the simple exterior lets on. It has a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.

The hardware translates to a smooth user experience, and apps launch quickly with only the slightest of delays. If you are a real tech-head, you may be disappointed to know that it runs Gingerbread, due to a limitation of ICS in handling 3D hardware. LG has promised that a 4.x update is

forthcoming. LG has a decent skin on top of the regular Gingebread UI, so it has its share of eye candy.

Battery life is a little weak for my liking. I tend to use my devices very heavily, and with constant browsing, alerts both from IMs and SMS, plus calls, I had to charge it at work. I suspected the screen had a lot to do with it, and once I switched to automatic brightness, it improved the battery life just enough to make it to my bedside charging station at the end of the workday. Call quality is perfectly fine, though it could use a little volume boost, as I had to bump call

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volume up all the way when speaking with someone. As for messaging, those with large hands may need to adjust a bit. When entering text, the bottom of the virtual keyboard is rather close to the “Home” key, so more than once while composing a message, I found myself suddenly staring at the main screen. Apart from these little niggles, LG has done a pretty good job with the device, and the phone is quite robust, as can be expected from any other top-tier Android phone.

Until you launch 3D mode.

Hold the phone horizontally, press and hold the camera button and a whole new

dimension appears. It can be a little disorienting at first, but as soon as you find just how far you need to hold the phone, images really pop. It’s really quite impressive. Along with menus and 3D gaming (Nova for Android IN 3D), the phone allows you to take 3D photos and videos thanks to the stereoscopic 5-MP camera at the back of the device.

I thought the idea of 3D photography would be more of a gimmick than anything, but I have to confess, after more than a week, the novelty hasn’t worn off, and I sincerely doubt it ever will.

The only real downside I can think of with the 3D photos is that there is no other place

to view the shots apart from the phone itself. Still, it’s totally worth it for usable, glasses-free 3D. How can one not want that? Videos can be taken in 720p at 30FPS in 3D mode and 1080p in regular mode, if you ever find yourself wanting to take 2D video again.

If you are in the market for a new phone, and want something new and interesting to show off, or you want to really capture a memory, this is exactly the phone you are looking for. I never thought I would ever say this, but I’m totally sold on the idea of 3D now.

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gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Nokia Lumia 610

BUY METER

SMARTPHONE

4.0

/5

By Jon Uriarte

When Nokia entered the smartphone market with its Windows phones, it had to contend with market-leading devices such as the Apple iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy series, just to name a few. The Nokia Lumia 610 is the company’s most affordable Windows phone yet—an edge that might appeal to buyers looking for an inexpensive alternative that is nearly as capable as its higher end competition.

SPECIFICATIONS: OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows Phone 7.5 DISPLAY: 3.7” WVGA (800x480) TFT capacitive touch LCD display with pinch zoom SIZE: 119 x 62x 12mm WEIGHT: 132 g PROCESSOR: 800 Mhz single core / Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 CAMERA: 5-megepixel autofocus, LED flash NETWORKS: GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900, HSDPA 850/ 900 /1900 /2100

WHAT’S HOT: • reat display and user interface • Fine set of features ith an excellent social networking platform • Easy to operate • ood battery life • Stylish and sleek design • Camera button quickly launches camera

WHAT’S NOT: • Lo M can t run certain apps • olume during calls is a little soft

BOTTOMLINE: Despite its mostly plastic casing, the construction and design of the Lumia 610 is pretty solid with its metallic curved edges—giving the phone a pricier look. Its 119 x 62x 12mm dimensions and 132g weight mean it is light and small enough to easily slip into your pocket. Getting started was a breeze—just slide off the back cover, remove the battery, insert a micro sim into the slot, and turn on the phone. Aside from the 3 buttons right below the display (back, home, and search), there are also four buttons on the right side of the device—two for volume controls, one to unlock/lock the device, and one for the camera. The phone’s 3.7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 was bright but not as vibrant as the AMOLED display of higher-end Lumia models.

So how capable is the internal hardware? Well, The Lumia 34

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610 is equipped with an 800MHz single-core processor and just 256MB RAM. That might seem low compared to most smartphones currently in the market, but its Windows Phone 7.5 operating system has resulted in an interface that is still incredibly fast, with no lag despite the slower components. The phone comes with 8GB of storage space which, unfortunately, is not upgradable due to the absence of a micro SD slot.

The phone is easy to use, with a Live Tile user-interface that is easily customizable.

Adding, rearranging, and removing tiles is a quick 2-second process done by pressing and holding a tile until an option menu pops out and you can drag it around.

You can also change the tile and background colors. The camera button comes in very handy too. To take a picture, simply press the camera button to load the camera.

The same button serves as the shutter button. While the Lumia 610 camera captures images and videos at a mere 5-megapixels, image quality is still pretty decent for an affordable smartphone.

The Lumia 610 claims that its battery can last for up to 670 hours on standby (3G), about 10.5 hours for continuous talk time, and up to 9.5 hours during music play. During my review of the unit, I used it in my daily routine to make regular calls, send text messages, surf the internet, and listen to some music—and its battery lasted a solid 4 days, which is pretty good.

At its price point, the Lumia 610 has an outstanding feature set. Aside from Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word, you also get People Hub to see feeds from your Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, Google, LinkedIn and Outlook accounts all in one

place. Once your accounts are synced, you can take pictures and share them on Facebook and other sites through just a few clicks. I was able to conveniently send and receive emails via Yahoo! Mail.

Apps such as Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, and Foursquare are already included, while additional apps could be downloaded from the app marketplace. Despite access to available apps, the phone’s mere 256 MB of RAM means you will be disappointed at not being able to run many apps like the popular Angry Birds game and Skype. On the bright side, the Lumia 610 comes with Zune, which serves as your music, video, podcast, and radio player.

Now what about call quality and text messaging? The latter is a fantastic experience on the Lumia 610 as it makes use of the message thread format with a “speech bubble” appearance similar to those on

The Nokia Lumia 610 smartphone sports a great look and offers a lot of features for its hardware specs and its price, including a convenient interface and an excellent social networking platform.

iPhones and BlackBerrys. I also appreciated its simplicity. Call quality is satisfactory, though the volume level on the speaker was a bit soft even at the maximum setting and the microphone pickup seemed occasionally muffled.

All in all—and at this price point—it’s hard to beat the Lumia 610 for its feature set, speedy performance and design; even if its 256 MB of RAM limits its capabilities.

While it could run most apps, the selection in the Windows app market is also limited.

Overall, this is one of the more straightforward and easy-touse smartphones that I’ve tested, and I really enjoyed its design and features.

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DUAL SIM MUSIC PHONE

By Racine Anne Castro

3.5

/5

SPECIFICATIONS: FORM FACTOR: Candybar phone LCD SIZE: 2.2-inch QCIF LCD PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 111 X 48 X 14.5MM WEIGHT: 84.2G BAND: Dual Band (900 and 1800) INTERNAL MEMORY: 25KB, expandable through microSD

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Starmobilecrosses the threshold of the Philippine mobile phone market with anarray of dual SIM models. While the Jupiter series is primarily made for professionals, the Venus series for the style savvy, and the Mercury series for practical users, the Neptune series is Starmobile’s answer to the needs of the entertainment seekers. With an SRP of Php 1,990, the Neptune B302 offers functionality and style at an affordable price. Despite being a relatively low-cost model, this overall performance of the phone is worth the small cash-out.

gadgetslab

STARMOBILE NEPTUNE B302

WHAT’S HOT: • uilt-in loudspeaker has clear audio • Long battery life for a dual SIM phone • ood quality audio recordings

WHAT’S NOT: • o external volume control buttons • oor video quality • S M and Micro SD card slots are under the battery

BOTTOMLINE: he Starmobile is an affordable feature phone for music lovers ho also need dual S M functionality

Like all dual-SIM models, the B302 allows users to switch networks in a breeze. The Neptune B302 lets users choose between manual or automatic SIM switching. The dual SIM settings give users the option to keep both SIM cards active, or just one.

The battery life of a dual SIM phone is less than about a third of the capacity of regular phones. Luckily, the B302 got me through a day or two without having to re-charge, even if I spent most of the day

texting, calling and listening to music.

Aside from its dual SIM capability, it also has multimedia and entertainment features. Its prime feature is a loudspeaker at the back, from which you can blast your tunes. The speaker may not have that bass-booming sound quality that more advanced and more costly phones have, but I find it far better than those tinny speakers that make everything sound gruff.

I tested it with both punk rock

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and hip-hop, and as it turns out, dirty guitar riffs and heavy bass are loud and suitably audible.

While most models in the same price range offered by bigger phone manufacturers are limited to monochrome displays and maybe an FM radio, this one also has its own music player. Although it doesn’t have a music library, I was able to connect the B302 to my computer with a USB cable and organize my content in folders which

can be accessed through the phone’s file manager. Some users would prefer external volume control buttons either on the front or the side of the phone; unfortunately, the B302 doesn’t have one of these, which I think is pretty weird for a music phone.

of speakers at close range.

Other multimedia functions include Bluetooth connectivity, a camera that takes pictures and videos, and a web browser. Although it may not have Wi-Fi capabilities, it still allows users to access WAP sites.

The Neptune B302 also has media recording capabilities.

Its sound recorder may not perform as well as higher models, but you can opt to record in high quality WAV files that give you a clear recording

It obviously isn’t one of the most technologically advanced models, but it does give users basic and functional multimedia and entertainment features at an extremely affordable price.

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Sony NEX-7

BUY METER

MIRRORLESS INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA

4.5

/5

By John Nieves

When Sony created the NEX-5 and its successor, the NEX-5N, the line was targeted at people who wanted the power and flexibility of Digital-SLRs but were intimidated by their size and complexity. That niche soon changed, as both amateur and professional photographers saw the value of having a small, flexible camera that could, in most situations, perform as well as a full sized SLR. Sony took note of the serendipitious demand and has specifically created the NEX-7 to address this more sophisticated market.

SPECIFICATIONS: SENSOR: APS-C type (23.5x15.6mm), “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor with RGB primary color filters ZOOM AND OPTICS: Depends on lens, uses Sony E-mount lenses PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 119.9 P x 66.9 x 42.6mm (without protrusions) pr WEIGHT: 350g (with battery WEI and SD, without lenses) ES ESTIMATED BATTERY LIFE: 430 shots MEMORY USED: Memory Stick ME PRO Duo / Memory Stick P P PRO-HG Duo, SD Memory Card, SDHC memory card / SDXC memory card

WHAT’S HOT: WHAT’ • OLED ie nder • Fast performance • Flexible, has a lot of manual controls • Lots of manual settings • Large, S-C CMOS sensor

WHAT’S NOT: WHAT’ • Expensive

BOTTOMLINE: f you have the cash, the Sony NEX-7 is an excellent mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to get.

The Sony NEX-7 has droolworthy specifications—a large, 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (also found in the larger Sony Alpha A77 DSLR), an electronic view finder (EVF) that uses an 2.4m color OLED unit (the highest for a still camera), and an integrated Alpha flash hotshoe in addition to a builtin flash unit.

Physically, the NEX-7 looks intimidating. Its overall size is a tad bigger and taller than the NEX-5N. Other comparisons to the NEX-5N: The NEX-7 has more manual controls as it has two dials for controlling the aperture and the shutter speed, as well as a four-way rotating 36

JULY 2012

wheel at the back that controls navigation through the menus. Its 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine LCD screen is not touch-capable, but makes up for this shortcoming by being able to tilt, giving users better flexibility in framing their shots. The overall size and aesthetics of the NEX-7 are excellent, and particular credit needs to go to the designers, as the big, oversized grip on the right side of the camera really helps in framing and shooting.

Other features of the camera include the ability to shoot from 100 ISO all the way up to 16000; fast, 10 FPS shooting; full HD shooting with manual control; multiple

shooting modes; six image layering (the camera takes 10 shots in succession and then combines them); and E-Mount lens capability (with the ability to take other lenses via an adaptor).

Handling and shooting the NEX-7 is easy enough, as the two dials on the top of the camera make it easy to change settings without having to go through the scroll wheel (which was what happened with the NEX5N). The dial’s functionality changes depending on what shooting mode you’re on—they control Aperture and EV Compensation when shooting in Aperture Priority, and the Shutter Speed and EV

Compensation when shooting in Shutter Priority. The balance of the camera in our hands felt just right, and the OLED viewfinder was invaluable for framing shots outdoors where sunlight washed out the screen.

The NEX-7 ships with an E-mount 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens that performs pretty well. There are a variety of other E-mount lenses available for the NEX-7, and it can take other lenses via an adaptor. The camera’s performance can be summed up in one word—fast. There’s no shutter lag to speak of and very minimal focus hunt.

Photos that we shot all came back nice and sharp, though

we did notice that the higher resolution sensor of the NEX-7 can only keep noise under control when shooting at ISO 1600, though still bearable at ISO 3200. Avoid shooting anything beyond ISO 6400.

Of course, all of those features come at a price, and in the NEX-7’s case, a steep one.

Sony Philippines lists the NEX-7 for Php 69,999, which is enough money to buy a full-sized DSLR. Then again, you’ll be getting a compact, interchangeable lens camera that’s able to do a whole host of things that a DSLR can, so the price may be palatable to some.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

gadgetslab

Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti 4.0/5 WZR-HP-AG300H

By Carlos Magno

The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Wireless-N High Power Dual Band Router and Access Point is pretty much everything it says it is—and it says quite a bit. The instrument, roughly 16cm x 16cm x 4cm and quite light at about 300g, packs a wallop in terms of wireless connectivity for the home or small office as a stand-alone, or for network bridging.

SPECIFICATIONS:

WIRELESS LAN INTERFACE Memory: 4GB DDR3 WIRELESS SECURITY: WPA2-PSK (AES,TKIP), WPA-PSK (AES, TKIP), 128/64-bit WEP TRANSMISSION METHOD: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), OFDM, MIMO

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

HIGH POWER DUAL BAND ROUTER AND ACCESS POINT

WIRED LAN INTERFACE SPEED AND FLOW CONTROL: 10/100/1000 Mbps (Auto Sensing) NUMBER OF LAN PORTS: 4 X RJ-45 (AUTO MDIX) NUMBER OF WAN PORTS: 1 X RJ-45 (AUTO MDIX) USB INTERFACE STANDARD COMPLIANCE: USB 2.0 CONNECTOR TYPE: A TYPE NUMBER OF PORTS: 1

WHAT’S HOT: • Sleek and compact • o eful range • reat for HD video streaming and gaming

WHAT’S NOT: • ricky Con guration

BOTTOMLINE: Despite the fe dif culties in setting up, the irStation niti -H H can really enhance connectivity for the home and of ce

Design-wise, the AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H is pretty sleek. Although routers are typically not as oftdisplayed as other devices, this AirStation’s glossy black finish makes it interesting to look at.

A base attachment allows it to stand vertically or horizontally; it can also be wall-mounted.

Another nifty feature would be its two antennae, much like black rabbit ears. These are adjustable, so you can configure the signal transmission to match the layout of your living space or workplace. While they come across as mildly odd and quirky, they do grow on you and give a “futuristic” touch to the AirStation’s overall look.

The front panel of the AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-

AG300H consists of the AOSS button, six LED indicators for power, 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless LAN, router, unit and movie engine functionality, and the movie engine switch.

On the other side, you’ll find the router switch, the DC connector, a USB 2.0 port, a WAN port, and four LAN ports. These support 10, 100 and 1,000Mbps connections, allowing four computers (including a gaming console for online gaming) as well as an external hard drive for NAS to link directly to the AirStation.

The physical setup of the WZR-HP-AG300H is straightforward—just connect it to your modem and switch on the machine. It’s after the installation CD runs that things

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get confusing. Most people wouldn’t be savvy enough to configure the router through its web interface. You can choose between Professional (DD-WRT) or User-Friendly firmware. Either way, it isn’t as user-friendly as it claims to be. Although most of the processes fire automatically, you might get a little lost and will need to call a friend to help you figure things out.

more laptops feeding from it. You get very fast speeds within the network. This AirStation boasts high quality HD streaming and, at least at 720p, multiple devices can wirelessly view the same video file simultaneously on just a USB thumb drive jacked into it, without any choppiness or lost quality. It definitely enhances a home’s wireless multimedia experience.

Once the WZR-HP-AG300H is set up, all the good things happen. You definitely get a cleaner, boosted signal compared to other routers.

Given that your online surfing and streaming features will still be dependent on your current Internet connection, you will notice less congestion, even when you have five or

The signal the WZR-HPAG300H delivers is extremely strong. One unit can broadcast within a 10,000 square meter area in good weather, giving Internet connectivity to most wireless devices within a 100-meter radius. This could make your household the favorite neighborhood hotspot, an absolute nightmare if you

don’t properly set up your security. Once again, it goes to the tricky configuration, but as soon as it’s done you have little to worry about. Although AOSS use is not particularly widespread locally, it could very well come handy in the near future.

With a 3-year warranty, the Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H Wireless-N High Power Dual Band Router and Access Point is a worthy investment, to say the least.

It’s a powerful machine, a little too much for a 2-bedroom condo with just a couple of laptops. However, for a fully functional home or workplace with larger data demands, this AirStation should rank high among your options.

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gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Samsung Series 5 Ultra

BUY METER

ULTRABOOK

4.0

/5

By John Nieves

Ultrabooks promising performance in a thin and light package are easy to find. What’s not easy to find is an ultrabook that has both, and is realistically priced for mere mortals. Thankfully, Samsung’s Series 5 Ultra combines performance and portability in a package that most of us can afford.

SPECIFICATIONS: SCREEN SIZE: 13.3-inch 300nit HD LED SuperBright screen, 1366 x 768 resolution DDR3 MEMORY: 4GB DD CPU AND CHIPS CHIPSET: Intel Core i5-2467M processor, 1.6GHz PHYSICAL DIM DIMENSIONS: 315 X 218 X 14.7MM WARRANTY: 1 year warranty on parts and labor

WHAT’S H HOT: • Large storage for an ultrabook • lenty of connections • Excellent keyboard and trackpad • ffordable

WHAT’S N NOT: • hicker than other ultrabooks • Middling performance

BOTTOMLINE: t may not be the prettiest or the fastest, but the Samsung Series ltra might very ell be your next ultrabook.

Externally, the Series 5 Ultra isn’t as attractive as other ultrabook designs currently out in the market. That doesn’t mean it’s not nice to look at – far from it – but it does feel a bit bland. The Series 5 Ultra sports a metallic gray finish all around, with Samsung’s logo tastefully emblazoned on the middle right side of the lid. Unlike other ultrabooks, the material used in the 315 x 218 x 14.7 mm chassis is simple plastic, not aluminium or carbon fiber. It weighs in at around 1.4 kilos.

To be fair, the chassis is solid as a rock, and while it doesn’t use exotic materials, 38

JULY 2012

the notebook still looks impressive in its own right.

Build quality is top notch, and there is little to no flex, a surprise since it’s using an all plastic body. Open the lid and you’ll see a bright, 13.3-inch 300nit HD LED SuperBright screen sporting a resolution of 1366 x 768. The keyboard is unsurprisingly an island-style deal, and has a good amount of separation and travel.

The trackpad isn’t anything special, though one thing we appreciate was the physical separator for the left and right mouse buttons. There’s also a large number of ports available – 3 USB (with one being USB 3.0), Ethernet, HDMI (one full size, one micro

HDMI) and a universal card reader.

Powering the entire thing is an Intel Core i5-2467M processor running at 1.6GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM. Sharp eyed readers may notice that the processor listed is a previous generation Sandybridge processor and not the latest 22nm Ivy Bridge processors that Intel recently launched. The Series 5 Ultra has a small 16GB SSD drive where the OS sits to facilitate faster boot times, as well as a larger 500GB HDD for general storage duties.

Performance-wise, the Series 5 Ultra did okay. It’s not about

to set new speed records because of the processor and HDD storage, but its overall performance is acceptable, especially for users looking for a notebook that can do most day-to-day tasks. Boot time is 20-25 seconds and a near instantaneous 1-2 second wake from sleep. When we ran 3D Mark ’06, we obtained a respectable score of 3230.

Battery life is around 5.5 hours with normal use, which would probably stretch to 6 if you toned down screen brightness.

We do have slight issues with the device, chief of which is its overall thickness. While it’s 14.7mm at its thinnest point,

the Series 5 Ultra is 17.5mm at its thickest, making it a bit thicker than competing brands. The middling performance might also be a bit of an issue to power users.

Despite these apparent drawbacks, there’s one thing you do need to keep in mind--its price. The Samsung Series 5 Ultra might be a bit thicker and a bit slower than its contemporaries, but it is also a lot cheaper. The unit we reviewed retails for only Php 44,900, several thousand bucks cheaper than other ultrabooks currently on offer.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

4.0

USB MODEM

/5

By Ren Alcantara

One of the most terrifying things about being alive in this day and age is the possibility that we lose our internet connection. Quick sprints to the odd press event or meeting are fine, but long-haul journeysraise nightmares of being unplugged. Stopgap solutions such as connectivity via a mobile phone can ease the sting, but aren’t really the answer when you have to type and email a thousand-word article on the road before your client gets to the office. Fortunately, we do live in the future, and if you need blazingfast internet on the move, 4G connectivity is here and has you covered. The folks at Wi-tribe were kind enough to send over one of their 4G Internet sticks for us to test out, and so we give you the lowdown on their fast mobile internet service.

WHAT’S HOT:

The device is simple. It’s a USB stick that’s similar to other USB modems you may have seen or used in the past, but it doesn’t have a SIM card slot so there’s less to fiddle around with. Installation is dead easy.

Unpack the stick, plug it into an available USB port on your Windows or Mac machine, and sit back while the device installs. The first time you run the device and open your browser, you will be taken to a login page, where you can enter your account name and the provided PIN, and you can start surfing as soon as a connection is established, which usually only takes about a minute after the device is plugged in.

back to its usual steady state.

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Another key requirement for a USB modem is reliability, so I disabled my laptop’s Wi-Fi connection and spent several days on just the Wi-tribe modem. On other USB internet sticks, I would be hesitant to try a little stunt like this, but I was pretty confident the Wi-tribe dongle would work out. So I plugged in, and went about my business for the better part of a week, and was pleased to find that I didn’t notice I was connected to the Internet just through Wi-tribe. Actually, let me correct myself. I did notice, seeing as the rain seemed to have caused a problem with our wired office connection, and at some points, I was the

only one in our department who was online.

The final thing I wanted to test out was connectivity on the move. For a few days, I took my laptop with the stick connected out of the office and into the car when I was picked up to head home. It’s usually a 30-minute ride, and I figured I could do a few things online while I sat in the car.

The connection started out stable, but I lost it once we hit a tunnel and didn’t quite get it back consistently enough.

It may be that there aren’t enough sites from which I could get a signal, but once I was sitting still outside my house, the connection was

• Dead simple setup • nternet speeds as advertised • Solid, consistent connection

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

The Wi-tribe stick comes pre-loaded with 15 days of internet at a maximum speed of 2mbps, which usually means a theoretical top speed.

In my experience though, it doesn’t reflect an actual rate, so the first thing I did upon installation of the stick was a speed test. I eagerly watched the results come in, and was very pleasantly surprised to find that the download speed was a solid 1.7mbps here at the West Triangle area in Quezon City. It’s great to see the advertised rate actually translate to real speeds on the device, so great job there, Wi-tribe.

gadgetslab

Wi-Tribe USB modem

BUY METER

WHAT’S NOT: • Has connection problems hen on the move

BOTTOMLINE: s an off-site solution, backup or main connection, the i-tribe S modem and service is pretty hard to beat

On the whole, I am really pleased with the service and the device that Wi-tribe has to offer. They give you the advertised rate, options to increase the speed based on the amount you would like to pay, and a rock-solid connection. It falls a little short when connecting on the move, but this may be an effect of the disconnection I suffered while inside the tunnel, and went away as soon as I was stationary once more. If you need an internet connection while you’re on the move, the Wi-tribe service is a pretty good way to get it.

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gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Asus Transformer Pad TF300

BUY METER

5.0

TABLET

/5

By Ren Alcantara

I am out a lot. If I’m not on the road, trying to get somewhere, I am usually at some place where desks, power outlets and comfy chairs are scarce. This tends to be a problem since I am a writer and, as such, my natural place is sitting before a blank document, trying to fill it with words. This task generally requires a computer plus all the necessary hardware and furniture. To try and reconcile the two, I got myself a tablet and an external keyboard. It worked, and I was pretty pleased with the combo for a good long while. Last week, however, I was handed the TF300. My love affair with my old tablet is now on the rocks.

SPECIFICATIONS: OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) CPU: TEGRA 3, QUAD-CORE. 1.2GHZ RAM: 1GB LCD SIZE: 10.1” IPS PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: TABLET ONLY: 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm TABLET AND DOCK: 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm PRIMARY CAMERA: 8 MP SECONDARY CAMERA: 1.2 MP

WHAT’S HOT: • o erful egra processor • Slick ndroid CS OS • t s a tablet D a netbook

WHAT’S NOT: • iny-ish keyboard on optional Dock • o SM connectivity • Speaker location is set for Landscape mode

BOTTOMLINE: t really is t o devices in one, and puts play and ork together perfectly

This Android tab is a beast.

It’s got an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. This spec sheet makes for an extremely smooth, slick tablet experience. The screen is a very large 10.1-incher which is great for web browsing and watching videos wherever you might find yourself.

The screen, which has a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, is sufficiently bright for either task, though I did notice that I kept the brightness bumped up to full most of the time.

The transformer manages ICS with no stuttering, hanging or complaints of any sort. The software is so well-optimised, and the hardware more than fast enough that the whole 40

JULY 2012

experience is seamless and all you have to worry about is what you want to do.

For a week, I completely ditched my laptop for browsing and media tasks, opting instead to use the tab, and it turned out to be a pretty pleasant experience.

Videos looked great, and were easier to watch on just a slate.

The speakers are located on the left side of the device, when held in portrait mode.

However, if you’re picky about sound, headphones might be the answer for you.

Wi-Fi was no problem, and it managed solid connections, even weak signal areas. While it would have been nice to have GSM connectivity,

the lack is by no means a deal-breaker. The 8MP main camera takes decent photos; I still can’t imagine using such a large tab for photos on a regular basis, though.

With very heavy browsing and maximum brightness, plus videos on the side, the tablet lasted about 6 hours and change. I do believe if I dropped the brightness and abused it less, the tablet would have lasted the 10 hours it is rated for.

the optional keyboard/dock.

Take the Transformer, line it up with the dock, snap it in and TF300 changes from a simple tablet, to a full-on productivity monster. Apart from giving you a whole keyboard and trackpad, the dock also gives an extra 5 hours, thanks to a secondary battery. It should also be noted that the device and dock can each be charged either separately, or as a single unit.

and behaves almost exactly like a netbook. It trumps the netbook because of the portability you get without the dock, as well as having a fast, purpose-built OS in Android. I did have a few issues, though. The keyboard size guarantees errant keystrokes, particularly hitting the “up” key instead of “shift,” and the trackpad also got in the way on occasion, causing me to click the “Home” icon.

The Transformer is king when it comes to horsepower, but a tablet is a tablet, and mainly used for media consumption and playing around. The Transformer is great at tablet tasks, but it really shines with

The keyboard is netbooksized, but after a few minutes of acclimatization, you’ll be typing like a boss. The dock also adds a USB port and an SD card reader. The tab, in docked mode, looks

Overall, The Transformer TF300 is a great device, and shows exactly what tablets should do. Now all I need to do is find a buyer for my old tablet.

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gadgetslab

MILI POWER PRINCE

BUY METER

PORTABLE CHARGER

3.5

/5

By Belle Alba

SPECIFICATIONS: BATTERY CELL: Lithium Polymer POWER CAPACITY: 5000mAh INPUT: 9V | 2A (max) OUTPUT: 9-12V | 1.5A (max) 5V | 2.1A (max) CHARGE TIME: approx. 3 hours

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

In the never-ending quest to pack more processing power and functionalities into our smartphones and tablets, the sacrificial lamb has often been battery life. The demand for almost 24/7 mobile connectivity has resulted in power-guzzling devices that often cannot last a full day on a single charge. With our ever-increasing reliance on our smart devices for virtually all our communication and entertainment needs, we need the assurance of a back-up power source to protect us from becoming “low-batt” victims.

WHAT’S HOT: WHAT’ • o erful, m h lithium polymer battery • Charging tips for virtually all mobile devices • Small, light eight

WHAT’S NOT: WHAT’ • lack plastic nish may be prone to scratches • ather pricey at hp ,

BOTTOMLINE: For highly mobile techies ho carry around a variety of devices, this universal battery pack makes sure you never run out of uice

The Mili Power Prince is billed as a universal battery pack for portable devices. It comes with 9 charging tips for compatibility with Nokia, Sony Ericssion, Samsung G-series, mini-USB, microUSB, digital cameras, and even the Apple iPad/iPhone and Samsung Galaxy Tab. Mili guarantees to supply free tips for your mobile devices for life, promising to send registered users the needed tips within five working days.

The box also contains an AC power adapter, a 5V USB power cable, a 9-12V power cable for digital cameras, and a small travel pouch.

The Power Prince itself is a small glossy black case about the size and shape of

an external drive. The power button is located on the lower left edge, beside an LED battery life indicator. On the bottom are the input jack (9V, 2A), an output jack (9-12V, 1.5A), and a USB output port (5V, 2.1A/1A).

The heart of this portable power pack is a 5000mAh lithium polymer battery that claims to have sufficient power for up to 42 hours of talk time, 33 hours of internet use, 113 hours of audio and 37.5 hours of video. While the packaging claims that it is pre-charged and ready to use straight out of the box, the user’s manual recommends an initial full charging time of 8 hours, after which subsequent full charges are

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expected to take only 3-4 hours. The LED indicator blinks while charging and stops when it’s fully charged.

Using the Power Prince to charge most devices is a simple plug and play affair, using the USB cable and appropriate adaptor tip for your mobile device. You switch on the power button to deliver the juice where it’s needed. To charge the Apple iPad which requires a higher power supply, you need to press the power button for 3 seconds to increase output to the required 2.1A. The Power Prince reverts to the default 1A setting in 20 seconds after the iPad is disconnected.

To test the Power Prince’s

performance, I used it to charge my iPhone 4S, which had a remaining charge of about 60%. According to the Battery App, time to full-charge would be approximately 3:23 hours.

Instead of using the docking station to charge my iPhone 4S, I plugged it into the Power Prince which gave me a 100% charge overnight. Its LED battery indicator showed that it still had remaining power, possibly enough to charge another mobile phone or a digital camera.

On the New iPad, I started out with a battery level of about 30%, with a time-tocharge of about 5:56 hours. I left it plugged into the Power Prince overnight, to achieve

a full charge. In the morning, though, I found that my iPad’s battery level was only at 40%, while the Power Prince was dead. On a battery level of 5%, I was able to get an additional 3 hours of video viewing on my iPad before the fully-charged Power Prince gave in.

I believe the Power Prince would be the perfect companion for individuals with multiple devices who need a reliable power source at all times. Personally, this is one device I would like to have in my bag during a long flight, or at a business conference where I need to stay connected but don’t have access to electrical outlets.

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41

snapshots

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP

g ŠMagic Liwana Justin Bieber D300, 135.0mm, DETAILS: NIKON , ISO 500 f/3.5, 1/400 sec

. t h g i L . c i g ma . s t r e c n o c

in Arnold

By Benjam

pture light ings: the ability to ca th o tw ed ne u yo y, , ncert photograph stry as Magic Liwanag du in e th in n ow When it comes to co kn ly t wellRafael Liwanag, wide es of the world’s mos ag im g in nn and a little luck. Juan stu e r, uc these factors to prod artists like Justin Biebe e m na g bi of s ce fa knows how to utilize es the the a portfolio that featur e a little insight into in az ag M ts known singers. With ge ad G Gaga, Magic offered Katy Perry and Lady ncert photography. starstruck world of co

42

JULY 2012

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

snapshots DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP

. f l e s r u o y t i m i “Don’t l d try n a t n e m i r e p x E s n o i t i s o p t n e r e diff s.” e v i t c e p s r e p d an

©Magic Liwanag Incubus DETAILS: NIKON D300, 160.0mm, f/3.2, 1/160 sec, ISO 640

Magic started by taking on events photography. It wasn’t until the Craig David Live in Manila tour in 2009 that Magic got his first break at shooting a concert. “I was shooting for PLDT, as I have done a few of their events, so they asked me if I could shoot the concert. Of course, I said yes. From there it opened up doors to other [opportunities] that led me to where I am now.”

For Magic, a big part of getting into concert photography is based on hard work and a little luck. “Meeting the right people is just a small part of the equation. I learned that 60 to 70% of my work involved personal PR. You have to know how to sell yourself and how to talk to people.

Have a good balance of being professional and casual.”

On the technical side of concert photography, the hardware is simple, “A good camera, and a batch of lenses. If you are starting out, I suggest an entry-level camera.

What I use now is the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D700. I love the D700 because one, it is full framed; and two, its noise reduction technology doesn’t soften the image. For the lenses I use two: one is the zoom, and the other is the wide because you never know when you want to take the whole stage. I suggest www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

buying something with a constant aperture—either an f4.0 or an f2.8.

I actually don’t mind using an f4.0 in a concert. When I shoot concerts in f4.0, people would tell me, “Isn’t that going to be dark? Why not shoot in f2.8?” If people are moving, you want every detail in focus as the aperture controls the depth of field.”

©Magic Liwanag Nine Inch Nails DETAILS: NIKON D300, 185.0mm, f/5.0, 1/250 sec, ISO 640

One piece of gear not found on a concert photographer’s list of necessities is an external flash. “It is totally prohibited in concerts. . . because if you flash the artist, you might be the reason why he or she performs badly.”

Since external flashes are prohibited, Magic has to live up to his last name by finding the light for every shot he takes. “During a concert, I find it helps to scout out the area in advance to get an idea of the lighting set up. I also do a background check on the artist to see what kind of lighting they use. This helps me predetermine where they will stand, when they will walk, and what they will do at a certain point during the concert along with the lighting conditions provided by the stage. This helps me decide on the range of settings I will need to use—making adjusting easier and smoother to take that quality shot.”

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snapshots DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP

“The thing with photography is that if you think it’s worth shooting, then don’t hold back.”

To settle the usual debate of quality over quantity, Magic’s answer was simple. “It really is a good balance of both. I am a burst shooter and I shoot in bracketing—meaning I get one shot that is a neutral exposure, one that is a little darker and one that is brighter. So I have quite a lot of photos. You only get one chance to take a shot of anything.

It is not like you can tell the artist to jump up in the air again because you missed it. I basically shoot 8GB worth of RAW photos per concert.

So that is like 700 to 800 photos.

But when I shoot for broadsheets, I can’t just send all those 800 photos to them. So I would choose the best 5. And if I send them out to multiple broadsheets, I have to choose different ones for each broadsheet, which means I have to have at least 15 good shots of the entire concert.”

©Magic Liwanag Katy Perry DETAILS: NIKON D700, 185.0mm, f/4.0, 1/500 sec, ISO 800

For those that like counting their shutter actuations, when you step into concert photography, that becomes the last thing on your mind. “In the end, that is what our camera is for,” says Magic, “To shoot. The thing with photography is that if you think it’s worth shooting, then don’t hold back.”

With regards to composition, variety is the key to getting your work to stand out. “I suggest taking a few shots that are up close, half body, full body and the whole set or stage.

Put personally, I would rather be in the crowd than in the media pit.

Why? When you are in the media pit, all your photos will be from a worms eye view—because you will be shooting the artist from below. I would rather shoot from the crowd so that you can see it the way the crowd sees it. One of the main reasons why I shoot concerts is for the people that couldn’t be there. I try to bring the people that see my photos to the concert, so that they can experience it the way the crowd did—with the hands waving and all the lights glaring. I also like taking overhead shots of the arena or the 44

JULY 2012

©Magic Liwanag Timbaland & Justin Timberlak e DETAILS: NIKON D300, 100.0 mm, f/4.0, 1/200 sec, ISO 800

coliseum so that you can see the set. Don’t limit yourself. Experiment and try different positions and perspectives.”

When asked if there is money in this line of photography, Magic admitted that there really isn’t much. “For me, music is a passion. And these foreign artists, wherever you bring them, they will be known. If they bring Justin Bieber to India, they will know him. Bring Lady Gaga to Europe, they will know her. So basically, concert photography builds my portfolio. If

I submit my portfolio to any client anywhere in the world—whether it is a production company or a music label—they will know who I have shot or who I have worked with.

They know the people, they can identify with them, and they are most likely to keep me at the top of their mind. For me, this genre of photography is more like a hobby.

Mostly, concert photography is a way to build your portfolio and to increase your exposure. You would make more money from advertising photography or weddings. But

concert photography will open up great opportunities. Just take a shot.

That is my philosophy for life as well. Take a shot, because if you don’t, then you never know, you might have missed your chance.”

To see more of Magic Liwanag’s works, check out his Facebook account at www.facebook.com/ magicliwanag or follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/ magicliwanag

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apps

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Music Apps To Keep You Groovin’

Words by Presy Alba

Tunein Radio

Listen to radio from anywhere around the world.

Create and customize your preset stations, select from recommended or local stations, or browse stations by category. You’ll be amazed at the wide selection at your fingertips. It also works as a radio alarm clock.

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, Samsung Bada Price: Free

SoundHound If you ever find yourself listening to music you don’t know the title of, or get stuck with a last song syndrome but you cannot remember who the artist is, Soundhound is a handy app that will solve your problem. All it requires is for it to “listen” to a few bars of the song. Point your device’s mic toaa the music source—whether it’s speakers or just you humming the melody— SoundHound will search the web and give you the song title and details in a blink (depending on your internet connection speed).

Shazam

iAlbums

Another great tune recognition app where all you need to do is hold your device’s mic near the speakers so it can “hear” the tune. It will report back the song’s title and other details that it finds on the web.

If you want to know the stories behind the songs in your music library, then iAlbums is a must-have app. It automatically searches the web for album covers and provides links to YouTube videos, making your music experience so much richer.

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Price: Free

Garageband for iPad and iPhone With this one app, you and your friends can jam to your hearts’ content from your iPhones and iPads. In just one app, you get an audio recorder, drums, and an assortment of keyboards, strings, guitars and amps. With a combination of iPhones/iPads you can even be a one-man band and record your creation on another iPhone/iPad or your Mac.

Version: iPhone/iPad. Price: Free

Pianist Music studio If you want to create music on your Windows phone, this app from www.windowsphone. com may be all you need to create music and ringtones using different instruments including a guitar, piano and drums.

Version: Windows Phone Price: $0.99 (also has a free trial version)

Version: iPhone/iPad Price: $4.99

Versions: iPhone/iPad, Android Price: Free www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

JULY 2012

45

gaming

WHERE PLAYING AROUND IS A GOOD THING

) 2 1 0 2 ( L A T E M D E TWIST ny o S / y a l P p e e l Eat S PS3 ne Castro

An Words by Racine

46

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e iconic th , l ta e M r Twisted at game fo b m o c r la ve vehicu s been ali a h , n o ti PlaySta nd 17 years a ents ly r a e n r fo m ight install e d a h s a h ou chise (if y n a fr e th in l: isted Meta d w T e d lu c in te l and Twis w ra B ll a m S line). Early n O k c la B Metal: ep Play le S t a E r, a ew this ye sed the n a le re y n o e and S e franchis th f o t n e m install d ply entitle for PS3, sim l. eta Twisted M

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gaming WHERE PLAYING AROUND IS A GOOD THING

The game is basically a demolition derby where the ultimate goal is to be the last one standing. The ringmaster of this demented game is Calypso, who holds the power to grant the winner’s wish.Compared to previous versions, the graphics have improved greatly. The animation is incredibly smooth, and the cinematic cutscenes that combine CG and live action are well-crafted and satisfyingly gruesome. The audio keeps you immersed in the game—the hard-hitting tunes mesh well with all the smashing onscreen.

Four drivers make a comeback—Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, Dollface and The Preacher. It was a total let-down when I found out that although players are free to choose from 17 familiar vehicles, you can only pick your driver from the four characters. But what the game lacks in variety of characters, it makes up for in the storylines. The backstories are tight, well-versed and extra psychotic. I particularly liked Dollface’s new story, which I think is the most twisted tale in the bunch. As much as I applaud the tightness of the storylines, I’d have to complain about being required to play them all—in order.

The game has single-player, multiplayer, and online modes. There’s also a training mode for newcomers. Both Deathmatch and Story Mode are available in single-player and multiplayer modes. In Deathmatch, you have

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up to four players shown in a four-way split-screen. The Story Mode can be played alone or using the two-player cooperative mode. The online mode features Deathmatch and an all-new mode called Nuke, where you join a team and attempt to destroy the enemy’s giant metal statue.

To destroy it, each player must capture the leader of the opposing team, drag him to a missile launcher and launch that missile at the statue.

Though all matches involve total annihilation, some of them have variations. One match, for instance, requires you to stay within a certain area or you lose health. This can be extremely frustrating at times, especially with the bots ganging up on you and being excessively powerful. Twisted Metal is known to be a challenging game, but I think this version is harder than the previous ones.

Although this installment is extra challenging and doesn’t allow you to play other characters, it ranks above the rest in terms of graphics and storylines. Its limitations should be no big deal if you’re just into all that multiplayer vehicular mayhem. Twisted Metal is definitely an exciting game to play on a game night with your friends—with or without the fancy graphics and stories. It’s all about fun—even if its concept of fun is murderous driving.

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47

everythingapple

Creating Music On Your Apple Device

GADGETS THAT DON’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Words By Presy Alba

From the time man discovered music, we have never stopped creating it.

Music is an integral part of our lives today.

From the ringtones of our mobile phones to the songs we listen to during our daily commute, our music selection always has personal meaning.

Our parents, our peers or a music teacher may have influenced our musical preference. It was probably one of them who encouraged us to learn to play at least one instrument or taught us to sing.

We all like to listen to music but many of us have a secret fantasy of creating our own. We don’t often get the opportunity to even try because of the cost and preparation involved in renting studio airtime.

Y A DJ 48

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When using GarageBand for iOS on an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad, you can create music using the software instruments on board the device or you can connect a real instrument like a midi keyboard or an electric guitar using special cables connected to the USB connector of the Camera Kit for iPhone/iPad. The software instruments are pretty intuitive to use and if you are already familiar with the real musical instrument, you wont have any problems adjusting to the miniature version and playing the

Mixing your own music selection is not an easy undertaking. Whether it is for a party or your personal listening pleasure, whether you are an experienced disc jockey or just starting, having the right equipment is always the key.

DJay is a complete disc jockey system that will instantly take your iTunes library to the next level.

With DJay, your songs will seamlessly transition to the next. It comes with an Automix feature that enhances your DJ style and allows you to play hours and hours of music from your playlist.

For an investment of $19.95, you can download

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instrument using the multi-touch screen.

If you are a one-man band, you will have to play and record each instrument separately and put them all together either on your iPad or on your Mac. To send a recorded project from your iOS device to your Mac, you can either email it or send it via iTunes: From GarageBand on your iOS device tap the My Song tab on the upper left corner, then tap Edit on the upper right corner, and select the song you want to manage. If you want to send the song to your Mac, select the song and tap the action command on the upper left corner and you will get a dropdown box of sharing options. In edit mode, you can also opt to duplicate or delete your selected song.

DJay for Mac OSX from the App Store. You may also want to enjoy the multi-touch experience of DJay for iPad for $9.99 or have a handy mixer on your iPhone or iPod Touch for $4.99.

All versions of DJay come with a classic turntable interface. You can create scratch effects using the trackpad of your Mac or the multi-touch screen of your iOS devices. You can also play two songs simultaneously and create a new song entirely or smoothly segue to the next song like a pro.

The great thing about this app is that you can record your performance and replay the perfect

GADGETS THAT DON’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

GarageBand gives you, the Apple user, the opportunity to explore your musical talent—either as a solo artist or as part of a band. You can use GarageBand to create full-length songs or make distinctive ringtones for your phone.

everythingapple

GARA GEBAN D

Even if you played and recorded parts of your song in different devices, you can send them all to one device for final editing using the sharing commands.

When you are happy with your arrangement you can burn it onto a CD, compressed as MP3 or send it to your iTunes library.

If you want to see how GarageBand on a Macbook Pro can be used to record music performed by people from different parts of the world, watch the season finale of the new Kiefer Sutherland television series, Touch (Season 1, Episode 12).

party music on your next “gig”. What’s even better, if you have DJay on different devices, you can share cue points and other song meta data over iCloud on all your devices.

usic id: “M iverse, a s e c on un Plato soul to the light , f gives a e mind and life h t o t ion wings aginat m i e h to t thing.” y r e v e to r souls

ed ou let us fe p exploring – d in er sto is in m With th songs and nev w e with n . sibilities the pos JULY 2012

49

tablets

PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTERS

HOW TO

SUPERSIZE YOUR TABLET T

BY PRESY ALBA BA

“Having the option to supersize gives us an even more compelling reason to get that Tablet we’ve always been pining for. “

+ Movies + Music + Ebooks + Games + Apps

I have a first generation 16GB Wi-Fi iPad that I use mainly as a mobile entertainment center. I play online games, watch TV shows and movies, and read e-books on it. With only 16GB of storage space, I am constantly replacing the videos and e-books via iTunes to make sure I bring along the videos and books that I want to watch and read at the moment. Having storage space limitations can be a big hassle especially when I go on longer trips.

My first solution was to load my videos, music and audiobooks into my 120GB iPod Classic so that I could bring along all the videos and audiobooks that I liked and only used the iPad for my e-book selection.

Then, I discovered the Seagate GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage, a 500GB external storage device that allows me to supersize 50

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my iPad. Now I can bring along virtually my entire iTunes library— music, videos, e-books, audiobooks, apps—and still have enough storage space left over.

Since the mobile wireless storage device also works with other Wi-Fi enabled devices, I am sure this is a solution that will delight not just iPad owners but most Tablet users as it also works with Android devices.

It also works with smartphones and laptops.

Just think—with your whole digital library literally in the 500GB wireless storage device, you can now listen to music and audiobooks, watch complete seasons of your favorite TV shows, and access your files wirelessly without any difficulty.

The media streams so smoothly you will forget that the device is hidden in your bag.

The device can connect simultaneously to three devices so your friends and family can even benefit from your video and music collection once you allow them access to your wireless drive—and you can watch different video files simultaneously. What’s more, its batteries can last up to 5 hours, which is quite awesome.

The Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage comes with a free app that allows direct access to the files from the iPad. It can also be accessed using the iPad’s browser.

At home and in the office, iPad users can also access files on your network storage, workstation or laptop via FileBrowser, a $4.99 app that you can download from the App Store.

The app is very easy to use. Once downloaded into your iPad, you can access your laptop, workstation,

network storage via your Wi-Fi network. You can connect additional devices or machines by following the instructions provided in the app.

I like using FileBrowser at home and in the office because I can open Word documents, Excel files and PowerPoint presentations in the FileBrowser window and use the iPad in tandem with my laptop.

These capabilities justify having the iPad as it enables me to work more efficiently, while providing me with endless hours of entertainment and fun.

Having the option to supersize gives us an even more compelling reason to get that Tablet we’ve always been pining for. Just think how much lighter your luggage will be with less than 1kg total weight for both the tablet and wireless external drive.

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THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

Test Drive: Honda Civic

mobility

Words by Belle Alba

Probably the feature I liked best about the 2012 Honda Civic 1.8 EXi is its Bluetooth connectivity. After a bit of trial and error, I was able to get to the set-up settings, which allowed me to add both my iPhone 4S and new iPad to the list of paired devices. This allowed me to stream audio from my iPad playlist, without having to use the aux-in jack. I also tried making some calls on my iPhone, and while audio was clear on both sides of the conversation, I did experience quite a bit of randomly dropped calls.

Okay, having gotten that out of the way, let’s now focus on the more usual car stuff. With regard to looks, the new Civic is unmistakably the middle child of the Honda sedan family, echoing design elements from big brother Accord and younger sibling City. Many reviewers have labeled it bland—a sentiment I share.

The interior is expectedly spacious and roomy, with the two-tone gray and beige color scheme adding to the clean, expansive feel. Not everyone will like this departure from the standard blackgray hues, however, as the light beige seats, door trim and floor carpets will definitely show scuff marks and will prove to be a challenge to keep clean.

Performance wise, the Civic is powered by a 1.8-liter engine that the spec sheet claims to deliver maximum power of 141ps at 6500rpm and maximum torque of 17.7kg-m at 4300rpm.

Mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, engine performance may be modified by pressing the ECON button, to prioritize fuel efficiency over performance. I did not have the car long enough to check out actual fuel consumption savings. Driving on ECON mode seems ideal only in stop-go city traffic where acceleration is not important since you definitely lose the trademark high-revving Civic speed bursts for overtaking or leaving other cars in the dust. The Civic’s lackluster acceleration is further highlighted by the absence

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of the shift paddles, which have been replaced by cruise control—a feature that’s not very useful on Philippine roads, especially in traffic-congested urban areas like Metro Manila. Sadly, there is no tiptronic shifter, and the only way to shift up or down is to manually move the gear stick through the three Drive (D) modes. Perhaps the Civic is now positioned to appeal more to drivers who are conscious about fuel-mizing rather than to those who enjoy the sporty drive that built the outstanding Civic reputation among Filipino drivers. Whoever traded the sporty paddle shifters for cruise control buttons, Honda should send him back to school.

This Civic is a CBU (completely built up) import from Japan, a fact that I found very evident in the more rigid suspension settings as well as road/ tire noise. While the Civic test unit definitely felt heavier and more solid than my three-year old City, I immediately noticed that ride comfort was not that much better (and possibly even harsher).

I could feel every dip and bump on the road, attributing this to the fact that the suspension may be tuned at stiffer settings appropriate for Japan’s nicely-built, smooth highways, but not our cement-paved patchy roads. Tire/road noise was also very noticeable, even when I had the audio playing at rather loud volume levels.

As a tech-geek, I thoroughly enjoyed the rear-view camera that came up on the i-MID (Intelligent Multi-Information Display) when in Reverse. Being able to actually see what’s behind you is a good thing, although being able to estimate actual distances may take some getting used to.

Speaking of visibility, I also particularly liked the quarter pane glass on the front windows, reminiscent of vintage cars. This made for a smaller blind spot from the A-pillar. Honda also moved the side mirrors closer to the driver— possibly another small design change for better all-around visibility.

Back to the techie stuff, you will need to read the User’s Manual to successfully customize the Civic’s I-MID settings, which controls everything from trip computers, audio settings, and so on. Aside from the dashboard controls, steering wheel mounted buttons can also be used to access the I-MID. Be sure to do this at home or while parked, though, as it can be distracting to have to go through the custom options while driving. ersonal disclaimer orked for Honda Cars hilippines in the early s and handled product planning and market research before I moved on to pursue other interests. I have exclusively owned Honda cars for the past 20 years (until very recently), so I guess I have higher expectations of the brand.

What’s Hot: • • • •

Bluetooth connectivity ECO mode for fuel savings ear camera augments rear visibility Front quarter glass for better visibility

What’s Not: • • •

oad tire noise Stiff suspension, harsh ride eige-colored seats and carpeting are hard to keep clean

The Bottomline: While fans may miss some of the high-revving performance that has earned the Civic its cult following, Honda loyalists will still feel at home in this Japanese import.

Specifications: • • • • • • •

Engine , cc -stroke SOHC i- EC o er ps rpm orque kg-m rpm ransmission -speed Suspension Front Mc herson strut, rear double wishbone rakes Front ventilated discs, rear solid discs heels -inch alloy

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mobility MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

HONDA PEOPLE MOVERS: PILOT & ODYSSEY Words by Ren Alcantara

One of the things most people strive to have in their lifetime is a family. To cater to the size of the growing families in the country, Honda has finally brought to our shores two of the most popular vehicles in their US model lineup. The Honda Pilot and Odyssey are geared towards those with large families, and while the minivan and an SUV couldn’t be more conceptually different, Honda has done an excellent job in the design and engineering of both vehicles to provide everyone with great options for their next family vehicle.

Mr. Rufino Luis Manotok, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Automotive Holding Corp., Mr. Stephen Frey, Principal Engineer, All-New Odyssey, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Mr. Tatsuya Natsume, President and General Manager, HCPI, Mr. Delfin De Guzman, Administration Division Head, HCPI, Mr. Kerry McClure, Principal Engineer, All-New Pilot, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Mr. Medel Nera, President, House of Investment, Inc.

Developed in the United States, the two big boys of the Honda lineup have finally made it to the Philippines, and are set to provide the ultimate riding experience to even the largest of families. oth vehicles have the same -Liter, po erplant hich produces more than enough push to get you places, even with a full passenger compartment and cargo in the back. Despite the hefty displacement, this engine offers excellent fuel-ef ciency, thanks to Honda s ariable Cylinder Management, which shuts down cylinders and lets you run on either 3, 4 or all 6 cylinders, depending on driving conditions. This allows even the bulkier Pilot to run a respectable 7+ kilometers per liter in the city. The engine puts out over 250hp and 35 kg-m of torque for all the heavy lifting any family car may have to do.

The Odyssey was designed with the comfort and convenience of all the passengers in mind and offers flexible seating for up to 8 people. If you need more cargo room, seats can be laid flat or removed outright for maximum storage space. Honda also went out of its way to ensure easy communication between passengers thanks to a design that perfectly isolates the cabin from outside noise and lets even the tiniest voices be heard. Honda arrived at these key creature comforts through focus group discussions with actual families, and incorporating their requests and needs into the Odyssey. Despite its size, the Odyssey promises a sedan-like driving experience thanks to the rigid frame, superb suspension and Honda s ehicle Stability ssist system Design-wise, the Odyssey has very modern, dynamic lines that make it stand out from other minivans in its class.

The Pilot, on the other hand, was created to give the active, outgoing and adventurous the perfect ride herever they may nd themselves ariable Torque Management ensures a solid grip on the terrain in case of loss of traction in the front, and a single button turns the Pilot from a city-slicking urban vehicle, to a solid, medium-duty off-road machine. The Pilot gives unparalleled storage options in the extra-wide cargo bay alone, and even more room can be made available by flattening the third row of seats. If heavier lifting is required, the Pilot comes standard with a trailer hitch for more serious hauling tasks.

Long family drives are made shorter with a little entertainment, and both the Pilot and Odyssey have that covered. Both have a 7.1 speaker system, USB capability, and the ability to rip and store 2GB worth of music from your CDs. Both vehicles also offer industry-leading safety features, including airbags 52

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along the sides, front SRS airbags, child seat mounds on multiple seats, and active head restraints for the driver and front passenger. These have won the Odyssey the highest safety ratings in impact protection both front and side, as well as rollover protection for passengers.

These vehicles have gone through multiple iterations through the many years they have been on the market, and this has produced the most comfortable, safest, most fuel-efficient Pilot and Odyssey yet. There has been no better time to own either one of these cars, and now the Philippine market will finally get its chance.

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mobility

LA MBORG H I NI M A N I L A NOW OPEN Words by Mika Fernandez-David

SUPER TROFEO

GALLARDO BICOLORE

SUPERLEGGERA

Lamborghini Manila formally opened its doors on May 29, 2012, with no less than Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobil Lamborghini S.p.A., and his team, gracing the event.

“Lamborghini’s new presence in the Philippines represents our commitment to our customers in this important market,” says Winkelmann.“I am very delighted to inaugurate our first showroom in the Philippines. Our clients here love the brand for its unique values of being extreme, uncompromising and unmistakably Italian.”

For his part, Robert Coyuito III, President of PGA Automobile, Inc. commented ,“We are very proud of representing Lamborghini in Manila and we are looking forward to offering our customers an ownership experience that will be as fascinating and complete as possible.”

Lamborghini Manila will offer the full range of models such as the Superleggera, the Noctis Limited Edition, the Super Trofeo, the Gallardo Bicolore and of course, the Aventador. Located right beside the showroom is the service center which will offer warranty and maintenance services, as well as sales of spare parts and accessories for current Lamborghini owners.

To complete the experience, Lamborghini Manila also carries the exclusive Collezione Automobili Lamborghini fashion line.

PGA Automobile Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr. (third from left), Lamborghini Manila President Roberto Coyiuto III (leftmost) and Lamborghini Manila General Sales Manager Enrique Jarlego II (rightmost) with Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann (second from left) and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. General Manager Christian Mastro (fourth from left).

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During the Q&A portion of the media launch, a reporter asked if Lamborghini was doing anything design-wise to make their super cars more appealing to women, to which the very candid CEO answered with a quick No. He did, however, qualify his statement by mentioning that the Lamborghini concept car, the rus S , hich as of cially unveiled during the last Beijing Motor Show, caters to a whole new demographic.

Located at the ground floor of W Tower on 11th Street at the Bonifacio Global City, customers are welcome to call in and set an appointment to visit the showroom.

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MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

AVENTADOR

mobility MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

PEUGEOT MARKS ITS RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES Words by Christopher Kho

Some of you might still remember when French automaker, Peugeot, first entered the Philippines in 2003. Back then, it was run by the now-defunct AutoFrance Philippines owned by the Lee’s—the same people behind Chevrolet, Hyundai, Nissan (UMC), and Volvo. However, unlike its more successful sister companies, Peugeot didn’t perform as well as they had hoped and the business had to close down after just a few years in operation. But this year, we’ve got word that Peugeot is officially making a comeback to take a second another shot in the Philippines.

Before we get into the details, let us first learn the correct way of pronouncing the brand name, so you won’t embarrass yourself at the next motor show. As a French car maker, Peugeot is correctly pronounced as ‘pew-shjo’. The Brits, on the other hand, prefer to call it ‘pur-zhoh’ so don’t be confused.

Under new management, Peugeot is now being run by Eurobrands Distributor Inc.—a conglomerate of the Alvarez Group of Companies, who are also responsible for Kia (Columbian Autocar Corporation) and BMW (Asian Carmakers Corporation). And the person calling the shots is non other than Felix Mabilog Jr., former President and COO of Kia, who came out of retirement just to give the brand another fighting chance.

“The Peugeot of today is not the same from what it was 10 years ago,” remarked Mabilog, who stressed that his group will be providing exceptional after sales service to lift up the brand name, even for Peugeots purchased in 54

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the past. They’ve also poached former Philippine Star Motoring Editor, Dong Magsajo as their Marketing and PR Manager, so we know that Peugeot’s future is in good hands.

Peugeot Philippines is all set to make its official return in just a few months’ time at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMPS) in August, but they have yet to announce where their headquarters in Metro Manila will be built. So for the meantime, the entire staff of Mr. Mabilog is taking office at one of his dealerships in Kia Metroeast.

While we’re waiting for their arrival, here are some facts you need to know about Peugeot.

• •

• •

eugeot started as coffee mill and bicycle manufacturer in the 1800’s. Now, they’re the second largest carmaker in Europe olks agen being the rst and fully o ns Citro n eugeot has been heavily involved in motorsports since the s They competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for three decades with iconic rally cars such as the Group B 205 Turbo 16, , and all driven by the greats such as ri atanen, Juha Kankkunen, and Marcus Grönholm. hey en oyed similar success in rally raid and sportscar racing, inning the Dakar ally four times in a ro from to and the Hours of Le Mans in , , and ll their models ell, except for a fe carry a three-digit numerical name. The first digit signifies the body size, followed by a ‘0’, then the last digit indicates the model’s generation. It was only up until recently when they decided to add an extra ‘0’ in the middle to accommodate their expanding line-up.

Although they’ve already divulged to us which models they’re bringing in this year, we’ve been asked to keep it a secret until then. But, what we can tell you is that they’ll be launching four new models later this year, and all will be powered by Peugeot’s 1.6L HDi 110 engine. Fuel efficiency figures are estimated as high as km L and carbon emissions as lo as g km And despite being a European brand, their target price will be positioned right between the Japanese, Koreans, and Germans. So whether you’re a businessman, family man, adventurist, or sportster, start saving up until Peugeot officially marks its arrival in three months’ time. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

mobility

Words by Jose Alvarez

Japanese compact car and motorcycle distributor Suzuki Philippines (SPH) recently kicked off the Mindanao Leg of the “NEX Public Launch” at Rizal Park, Davao City, with a full three-day event that consisted of free service and check-ups, Motorcycle Learn To Ride Program, a full lineup of motorcycle models, games and raffles, and a free 6Cyclemind concert. Online sensation Ramon Bautista, now one of the endorsers for Suzuki, formally hosted the event.

The NEX 115 has a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, as well as a maximum output of k rpm, and a maximum torque of m rpm he E also has a throttle position sensor (TPS) and a newlydesigned continuously variable transmission C which helps reduce fuel consumption and enhance the output feeling in the low throttle range without lowering the acceleration performance.

The roller type rocker arm carries the motion of the cam to the valves, reducing frictional losses.

The low seat height (735mm) allows for easy handling and better control of the bike. The seat also has a spacious 4.5-liter underseat compartment despite only being 665mm wide and 1,035mm tall. In addition, the foot board and the newly-designed durable square-section pipe frame ensures a more stable and comfortable riding experience. Keeping with the theme of fuel efficiency, the light, hollow core mag wheels also improve the riding performance, and the smalltype muffler reduces weight and noise, and also complies with Euro II emission standards. he E comes in three different colors pearl flash green, pearl sakura pink and brilliant white, and is priced at an affordable hp , “We are excited to launch the Suzuki NEX 115 to the public, which is the most affordable scooter in its class,” Suzuki president Satoshi Uchida said.

“This event also kicks off the Davao leg of the Suzuki Invasion, which is now on its third year.

The Suzuki Invasion is our way of bringing Suzuki closer to the brand’s following through free service cams, change oils and the like. It is a very good avenue to see the many beautiful possibilities of owning a Suzuki.”

The Davao leg is part of a series of the NEX 115 public launches conducted within the three-day Suzuki Invasion held in various major cities of the country. The Suzuki NEX 115 launch kicked off at Liwasang Aurora at the Quezon City Circle last April 14, followed by another event in Parkmall Cebu on April 21, 2012.

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MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

Suzuki Philippines holds the NEX Public Launch series nationwide in Mindanao

coverstory

IN-DEPTH TOPICS ON ALL THINGS TECH AND LIFESTYLE

Independent &Unsigned

Distributing and Promoting Your Music Online Words By Jon Uriarte | Art by Patrick Jude Ilagan

Without a doubt, technology—particularly the internet—has changed the music industry for better and for worse. While the Internet has caused the music industry to lose millions of dollars due to piracy and bootlegging, it’s leveled the playing-field for independent artists by allowing them to promote and distribute their music more easily. It used to be that being signed to a major record label or “backpacking” your albums and putting them in actual stores was the only way to get the proper promotion and exposure. Nowadays, a growing number of unsigned recording artists have been making a name for themselves in a big way online.

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Just about anyone can get famous (and possibly even rich) through the Internet and some people will do whatever it takes to get attention. That includes purposely making music that appeals to the masses and following the trend of what is “in” or “hot” at the moment even if it sounds like garbage to real music heads. If you’re out to gain fame and fortune—this article isn’t for you.

This is for those who truly believe in their music and want to reach more people. If you just started making tunes recently, it might be better to first work on your craft for a couple of months or even years before introducing yourself to the world.

So you’ve recorded your material and made it sound as good as you possibly can—what now?

We’re here to give some steps and tips for the pure-hearted musicians of this generation to earn value from their efforts. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

First and foremost, you’ll need a way to make and receive payments online. This can come in the form of a PayPal account that is linked to your bank account and a credit or debit card that you can use online. You’ll need this in order to pay for music store services and receive money when people buy your music.

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Sell Your Music Online

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Get an Online Payment Method

It’s not like back in the olden days when people had to go to an actual music store to buy your album. Nearly half of all sales from many major artists now come from online purchases and the number is still growing. For a lot of independent and unsigned artists, online sales account for an even larger portion of revenues, if not all of it.

Bandcamp Bandcamp is a great site that allows you to sign up for free and sell your music directly to your fans, whether as a whole album or per song, and a lot of independent and unsigned artists have made money through it. You can set the price on how much you want to sell your music for and whether you want to allow visitors to preview a song before buying it. You can even activate a “name your price” option that lets people determine how much they want to pay for a particular song or album, allowing them to pay absolutely nothing or input their own price depending on how much they think it’s worth.

Within the site you’ll be able to keep track of your own sales and get discovered by other musicians and listeners that chance upon your Bandcamp page under the recommendations section. The more you sell, the more free promotion you get from the site, since they can feature your music on the front page, on the Bandcamp charts, and elsewhere. Bandcamp is completely free to use and will only take a small percentage of your sales—about 15% of all revenue, which drops to 10% once you reach sales of $5000 in the past 12 months. iTunes and Amazon Although there are a lot of places online where you can sell your music, iTunes and Amazon are still in the #1 and #2 spot, respectively—the former has about a 90% market share while the latter is trying to keep up. Basically, iTunes sells more music than all other digital retailers combined.

Chances are, as an independent or unsigned artist, you won’t meet the requirements to work with Apple directly to get your music on iTunes.

For instance, your release will need a UPC, which is a unique catalogue number; and each song will need an ISRC, which is a number that uniquely identifies each song or recording—and those are just a fraction of the requirements. The ISRC is embedded into the digital file and allows the tracking of sales and royalty payments across the different online stores. To get your music on iTunes, Amazon, and some of the other big online stores, you have to do it through an Appleapproved aggregator or intermediary site.

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coverstory THE HOTTEST TECH AND LIFESTYLE TRENDS Two of the most popular intermediaries are CDBaby and TuneCore. They provide a one-stop shop where you can upload and sell your music, and have it ripple out through all major stores and over a hundred minor ones too. If you put your music on these sites, they will provide the UPCs (Universal Product Code) and ISRCs (International Standard Recording Code) and get it on iTunes and Amazon for you. Keep in mind that the iTunes music store isn’t accessible to people in certain countries including the Philippines; so as an artist, it’s a great way to get your music to a global platform, but if your focus is mostly the Philippine market then you should check out other alternatives.

CDBaby CDBaby will cost you a one-time $59 payment per album that you sell on their site. The listed cost is actually $39, but you’ll need to spend $20 for a UPC barcode. On the other hand, uploading a single will cost $14.95, which includes a $5 UPC barcode.

You retain all the rights to your music and there are no fees if you decide to cancel. Once your music is up, CDBaby will take a 9% commission on what it receives from stores like iTunes and a 25% commission on any sales from its own website.

They also offer physical distribution of CDs, DVDs and vinyl, as well as distribution through a host of other online music stores such as Last.fm, Nokia, Spotify and Zune, among others.

It will take about two business days to get your music on iTunes after it’s on CDBaby, and one to four weeks for other digital distributors. If you 58

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wish to have physical CDs distributed, you’ll have to send them five copies—one of which will be used to digitize the music and copy the sleeve for distribution, while the remaining four go into stock ready to ship.

TuneCore Instead of a one-time payment, the cost of TuneCore is about $9.99 per year for each single or ringtone, and approximately $39.99 per year for an album regardless of how many songs it contains.

Making use of an intermediary site is pretty simple—just sign up and pay the necessary fees, send them your music and artwork, let them do the rest of the work, start seeing your music sold worldwide, and then get paid. You’ll be making use of their online interface to upload your music, while many intermediary sites such as CDBaby also allow you to mail them a real CD.

Even though intermediaries pride themselves in being open to all types of music, they will still block poor quality recordings such as those with hiss, distortion, or You retain all rights to your low volume levels. They also music and TuneCore takes reject submissions that have Even though around 30% of sales, so awful artwork—with some intermediaries you’ll be making around people sending in photos pride themselves in being $0.70 per song and $7.00 taken from a mobile per album. Like CDBaby, phone as their cover open to all types of music, you’ll also be able to sell image. There is a list of they will still block poor on other online stores specifications that need quality recordings such as with no extra charge to be followed when those with hiss, distortion, per store. You get paid submitting artwork (such or low volume levels. via PayPal, EFT (Electronic as size and resolution) and Funds Transfer to U.S. and songs. Even if the music U.S. territory banks only) or will ultimately be sold in MP3 check. If you decide to take format, they usually require an album down early (before six an uncompressed format such as months in this case), then you have to stereo 44.1 kHz, 16-bit .wav files. You’ll pay a $20 fee. also need to provide information about the music, which is what they call metadata (or label TuneCore estimates that it can get your music copy in the old days) and usually consists of the on iTunes within 24 to 72 hours, about 3 to 7 artist name, title, label name, copyright lines, business days for Amazon MP3, about 6 to 8 and some other details. Classical music is a lot weeks for Amazon on Demand and Spotify, and more complicated since it can feature composers, about 1 to 3 weeks for all other stores. soloists and an orchestra, so the artist needs to get in touch with the intermediary site for that. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Facebook & Twitter Many artists use Facebook and Twitter for promotional purposes and to gain and keep track of their following. It’s advisable to have a Facebook page in your artist name that people can search and “Like”, as well as a Twitter account that people can follow. Some artists like to create a separate Facebook account, which is also a good idea since you can send private group messages and add people up yourself, but there’s currently a limit of about 5,000 friends.

immersed in it and treat it like the new-age TV, there’s a big chance that people will stumble upon your music. Even better, you can produce a professional-looking music video for one of your songs and spread the link on a bunch of social networking sites. A lot of unsigned musicians have gotten hundreds of thousands of subscribers and millions of views on their respective YouTube channels.

Nearly everyone who might be willing to pay for your music is on the Internet.

YouTube Upload some of your songs on YouTube. It might be a good idea not to put up everything, since people can view them for free. With the way YouTube works and how a lot of people stay

SoundCloud SoundCloud is a site that lets you upload music and share it to social networking sites. It also lets you find and follow friends in order to share music. It’s one of the easiest ways to upload a piece of music to the Internet to share it with people on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and blog sites.

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THE HOTTEST TECH AND LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Just because your music is available online, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to get a lot of sales. You’ll need to do a lot of online promotion and start letting people know where they can find it. Nearly everyone who might be willing to pay for your music is on the Internet. You don’t need to design an artist website just yet, you just need an avenue where you can keep track of your current and potential supporters and communicate with them.

Since Facebook and Twitter are now the biggest social networking sites, they’ll be your avenue for spreading the word, being in contact with your supporters, updating them, and directing them to your music.

Some very successful independent and unsigned artists have even chosen to leave their record labels and made use of only a Bandcamp and Twitter combination to sell their music.

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Promote Online

coverstory THE HOTTEST TECH AND LIFESTYLE TRENDS

What hasn’t changed?

It’s important to point out that although the Internet has revolutionized the way artists get their music out there, certain things haven’t changed. These include doing shows and having non-digital counterparts of music and promotional material.

Doing shows is one of the most important facets in the life of a music artist—shows allow you to gain new supporters as well as solidify old ones. These are where you make connections, expand your network, let people know where to buy your music, and how to find it online. To find gigs, you need to attend events and talk to organizers, make friends with other musicians, obtain the right hook-ups, get help from people you know, and whatever else might work. If you do a lot of shows and your schedule gets hectic, you should start asking for a talent fee and get a manager that you can trust—one that shares your vision, and has the right means to make your goals happen from a business standpoint. Radio and magazine appearances are also helpful for promotion.

You can’t be a successful music artist overnight, and good music, not success, should be the goal.

A lot of people will still prefer to buy a CD or a vinyl copy of your music. If you can afford it, it’s still better to have physical copies replicated since people might also request for it at one of your gigs. You can even mail these directly to your supporters. CDs are also great as free giveaways to radio DJs, event organizers, and others who might be able to help you out. While you can do most of your promotion online, it’s also good to have tangible counterparts in the form of flyers or other merchandise such as clothing.

One thing that hasn’t changed—you can’t be a successful music artist overnight, and good music, not success, should be the goal. It requires a lot of hard work and patience. You’ll probably encounter a lot of struggles, triumphs, and opportunities that may lead you to compromise your principles as an artist, so stay aware and don’t let that happen.

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features

2 1 0 2 X E T U P M CO

ves s by John Nie to o h P d n a Words iggest e of the b n case o r fo lf e s its ue to show e n c e v ra b a i, s . e ie is headed aiwan, Taip gives tech compan y T g f o lo y o it n c h l c ere te hich PUTEX the capita pse of wh ference, w orld. COM m n li w o g c e Every year, a y th g rs in e lo and off techno y events ttend this products, t a technolog s . to te a le re b g a nd at we saw ing a h e t w b s f u te o o la y re ir u w the pleas to sho e distinct ’re excited e w d n a , We had th 12 -9 June 20 ran from 5

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Asus Transformer All-in-one

Last year Asus dazzled us with their ambitious plans for their products, which included the Asus PadFone—their form-factor defying phone/tablet hybrid. This year the company managed to one-up their 2011 performance by releasing a myriad of transforming tablets, with one distinct difference: almost all of their new products will run Windows 8, instead of Android.

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ASUS PC

Asus Transformer All-in-one When we saw the Asus Transformer All-in-one, we thought that it was just a regular all-in-one PC with added functionality. We were dead wrong.

The Transformer All-in-one holds the distinction as the world’s first convertible All-in-one PC, as the 18.4-inch touchscreen can be detached from the main body and used as a gigantic tablet.

The Transformer All-in-one uses Windows 8 to boot, but can also transition to the Android OS with the press of a button. All the necessary bits are retained in the device’s base (processor, connections and outputs). When the display is detached, the base and the display communicate via Wi-Fi, which cuts down on the components needed to keep the touchscreen operational.

Asus Transformer Book

Asus Taichi

While a lot of us were enamored with Asus’ first Transformer product, quite a few speculated if Asus would bring the same concept to Windows PCs. Wonder no more with the Asus Transformer Book. When docked with the keyboard accessory, it works much like a normal PC; detach it and it becomes a traditional tablet. The only difference now is that the Transformer Book will be running Microsoft’s Windows 8 OS instead of Android, and the device will be running Intel’s next generation Ivy Bridge chips to deliver a proper PC experience.

Asus Taichi Another exciting product from Asus is the Taichi, a dual-screened hybrid ultrabook that is also a tablet. The Taichi has two HD IPS screens on the lid—one regular display on the front, with a touchscreen enabled display on the back. There are several usage modes for the Taichi: regular notebook mode, where only the regular screen is used and the touchscreen is off to save battery; tablet mode, where the lid is closed and only the touchscreen display is shown; and dual-mode, where both the main screen and touchscreen are on, allowing users to share their content on the touchscreen and even allow two people to use the device at once. The Taichi will use Windows 8 when it eventually launches, and will also use Core i7 Ivy Bridge chips, along with SSD storage, 4GB of RAM and dual-cameras.

ASUS COMPONENTS Of course, Asus also showcased other products that don’t necessarily fall under the tablet/PC category. The company has a large presence in the PC components scene, and saw it fit to announce brand new additions to their enthusiast Republic of Gamers line during COMPUTEX.

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Asus ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set While there have been a lot of products aimed at increasing graphics fidelity and tweaking what gamers see, products that enhance what gamers hear have been scarce. That has changed with announcement of the ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set. The Phoebus card works by combining smart algorithms and two array microphones embedded in the control box to eliminate 50% of environmental noise, thus ensuring clear in-game communication. The sound card’s 118dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) provides exceptional sound quality, while the integral 600-ohm audiophile-class headphone amplifier with three different gain settings drives all the headphones available in the market.

Asus ROG Maximus Extreme V Asus’ Maximus Extreme line of motherboards is the definitive motherboard for the overclocker and hardcore gamer. The latest member of the Maximus Extreme family, the Maximus Extreme V combines the latest manufacturing processes and premium components to give gamers the very best motherboard that technology has to offer.

Asus’ ROG Extreme Engine DIGI+ II technology delivers optimum energy efficiency through the use of digital controllers for precise overclocking control over the CPU, DRAM, and iGPU, while top tier Japanese Nichicon GT-Series 10K black metallic capacitors ensure that the board is built to last.

Asus ROG Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890

Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890 Whenever the ROG brand is attached to a product, you can be sure that that product meets and exceeds the expectations of gamers.

Case in point: the Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890. This behemoth of a desktop has all the features a gamer wants—a liquid cooled, 3.3GHz Intel Core i7-3960X processor with 16GB 2,133MHz DDR3 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 graphics. A simple press of the button overclocks this monster up to 4.2 GHz without having to reboot, while simultaneously deploying multiple cooling fans around the body to further cool the components of the desktop under the heavy load.

Asus ROG Maximus Extreme V

Cooler Master Cooler Master is a brand that made its name by creating aftermarket cases and cooling accessories. The brand has since expanded their operations into making PC peripherals like keyboards and mice, as well as diversifying into mobile cases and tablet accessories.

Cooler Master Elite 120 PC builders who want to create slim, space-saving desktops usually have to make do with smaller, less powerful components to fit smaller towers and cases. Cooler Master has produced a mini case that enables PC builders to use full-sized components such as videocards so as not to compromise the potential of the PC. The result is the Elite 120, a case that’s able to take fullsized components such as the AMD Radeon GPU pictured.

Cooler Master Elite 120

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CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger

The CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger are two of Cooler Master’s latest mechanical keyboards aimed at gaming enthusiasts. Mechanical keyboards are favoured by hardcore gamers because of their tactile feel and faster response times. Both the Quick Fire Pro and Trigger use Cherry MX key switches with a 1000Hz/1ms polling rate. The keys are all laser engraved and backlit, so gamers won’t have problems playing even in the dark.

CM Storm Sentinel Advance II and Recon

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CM Storm Quick Fire Pro and Trigger

CM Storm Sentinel Advance II and Recon

These gaming mice are made especially for gamers, and feature absurdly high DPI settings (8200 for the Sentinel Advance II and 4000 for the Recon). The Recon line is an ambidextrous mouse aimed for both left and right handed players, while the Sentinel Advance II is a right handed mouse that features detachable weights at the bottom to customize its handling in games. Both mice have a number of programmable keys aside from the usual left and right mouse buttons.

PowerColor Devil 13 dual-GPU HD7970 Videocard manufacturer PowerColor revealed their dual-GPU monster AMD Radeon card, the Devil 13, during our visit to their booth last month.

This monstrous card combines two AMD Radeon 7970 GPUs into a single PCB, with each GPU supposedly having its own BIOS. The Devil 13 is PowerColor’s first videocard that uses three Vortex fans for cooling, and is extremely large and bulky, requiring a PowerJack to keep it from falling when mounted in a traditional CPU case.

ECS ECS is one of the most recognizable brands when it comes to PC components. Their affordable yet durable motherboards have made them a force to reckon with, and they have recently released two major products that deliver both performance and aesthetics.

ECS Z77H2-AX Black Extreme The Z77H2-AX Black Extreme instantly attracted our attention, chiefly because of the gold-plated parts. The glitter isn’t just for show, though. Gold plated electronic parts do not oxidize and their conductivity remains consistent over time. ECS says that their golden board features triplethickness gold plated connectors that won’t wear out even after extensive component upgrades.

This particular model has numerous features, including ATI CrossFireX, NVIDIA SLI graphics support, eSATA x2 (6Gb) and SATA x6 (6Gb/s x4 + 3Gb/s x2) capabilities.

ECS Z77H2-AX Black Extreme

PowerColor Devil 13 dual-GPU HD7970

ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black

ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black The ECS GeForce GTX 680 Black has received a similar gold plating treatment. This card hails from NVIDIA’s Kepler line of GPUs, and uses ECS’ Non Stop Technology for non-stop operation. The card runs at 1,040MHz, has 2GB of DDR5 memory and uses solid capacitors and Electrostatic Discharge Protection circuits for unsurpassed reliability. The card also comes with a gold plated aluminum cover, two fans and five heat pipes for superior heat dissipation. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Samsung

Samsung Series 7 Slate (2012)

Samsung is a company that needs no introduction.

This Korean behemoth has products in nearly every segment of the market, and made a splash in this year’s COMPUTEX—a surprise since this is the company’s first foray in the trade show.

Samsung managed to make ripples in the event with a showing of two upcoming products.

Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible The Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible is a curious design. Basically, it’s an ultrabook with a 13-inch touchscreen display that can swivel all the way back, allowing the device to pull double duty as a Windows 8 tablet. The concept isn’t particularly new—we’ve seen it before with Lenovo’s Yoga notebook concept—but it’s still nice to see other manufacturers embracing the flexibility of Windows 8 and ultrabooks in general. We’re pretty sure that the Series 5 Ultra Convertible will use Intel’s next generation silicon, Ivy Bridge, though few details as to its final specs have been released.

Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible

Samsung Series 7 Slate (2012) Samsung’s attempt at a Windows tablet hasn’t always been flawless, but the issues have almost always stemmed from the limitations of the software. Windows 8 solved most of the problems, chief of which was the touchunfriendly GUI of Windows 7. Along with the software improvements, Samsung also made the tablet much thinner (12.9mm) and it will now sport either an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor, along with a 64/128GB SSD drive. The 11-inch touchscreen will be the main input method, though users will also be able to use a digitizer pen.

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: r i a P t c e f r e P The to e d i u G s ’ y A Dumm t h g i R e h t g Choosin s e n o h p d Hea evieve Tiu Words by Gen

If there is one thing that characterizes Filipinos, it is their love for music. Whether young or old, rich or poor, it is the element that temporarily takes down the barriers and brings the community together.

Philippine music has evolved, beginning with the birth of OPM (Original Philippine Music) in the late 1970s. This era gave way to the rise of memorable solo artists, composers and songwriters, the likes of Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez and Hajji Alejandro, to name a few. By the time the 1990s came around, the industry had opened its doors to pop culture, giving way to mainstream performances and bands, with the Eraserheads, South Border, Rivermaya and Side A as some of the stellar acts. What was known as “Manila Sound” had come a long way. And with this evolution and the corresponding progression in audio listening technology, so has the Filipino’s appreciation for sound quality.

The technology to reproduce audio recordings used to be limited. Once upon a time, the vinyl turntable was the talk of the town, offering the most original sound in any musical rendition. Soon, the turntable gave way to box-type speakers that gave off power but, in more modern settings, resemble vintage living room fixtures.

Eventually, the gold standard for sound quality turned to car audio, where enthusiasts tirelessly tune and adjust systems in order to achieve the layers and imaging of an actual sound stage.

But as sound recordings are compressed into more compact forms—from vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs, and now, digital audio files—so did the audio equipment to reproduce these files. For the fast-paced, no-nonsense, and mobile lifestyle of the modern individual, nothing is more popular than a reliable set of headphones, whether in-ear or over-ear.

With the variety of brands in the market today, what is the best way to tell that one is choosing the right kind of headphones? Oftentimes, if it is not budget, it is brand that prevails, because—let’s be honest—not everyone is familiar with the right elements to look for. While there is no hard and fast rule, here are a few pointers to watch 68

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for in the hunt for the right partner for that music player.

Know Your Type In other words, know the kind of music that you listen to. Just like how selecting a smartphone with the right features depends on the demands of your daily lifestyle, the right headphones should be tuned to bring out the elements that you are looking for in your music.

Reviewing your playlist for the common characteristic in what you listen to is the first step.

Read The Label Once you have determined which musical elements are important, research on the features that are needed to bring these out. As regular consumers, technical jargon can be confusing. To keep it simple, go back to the basics: read the labels and look for certain keywords. For instance, if your kind of music is geared toward heavy bass and hip hop, your headphones should have “bass-tuning technology” that allows you to tweak bass levels to your liking. However, if you crave the imaging of a sound stage, then the perfect headphones should be that which are tuned for pure sound quality or clarity that bring out the layers in your favorite recording.

ROCK?

HIPHOP?

CLASSICAL?

JAZZ?

RNB? www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

GOOD? COMFY? BASS?

OK? Determining the technology that you require in your headphones would also help you determine the right brand that specializes in such features.

The One One of the biggest factors in choosing headphones is still the brand. When in doubt (and confused), go for the brand that specializes in the criteria that you are looking for. However, you have to remember that just because a brand is highly visible, it doesn’t always mean that it’s the expert in its field. In this case, expertise rules over popularity so take into account the brand’s history and credibility.

than your own experience. So, armed with your research, visit a trusted reseller that specializes in high-quality audio products. Specialty shops and department stores will have demo units that you can try first-hand and associates to answer any inquiries.

When testing headphones, plug it into your personal audio device for compatibility. Does it work properly with your player?

Turn it up to a comfortable level and listen for the layers that you are looking for. Does it have balanced highs, mids, and lows? Is the bass powerful enough?

Can you hear the instrumental details that are important to you? Remember, the key to pure listening pleasure is still impeccable sound quality that fits your liking.

“Oftentimes, if it is not budget, it is brand that prevails.”

Listen Closely With the growing popularity of online shopping, it is tempting to sit back, trust online forums and blogs, and order headphones to be delivered to your doorstep. While reading hands-on reviews have proven to be helpful, nothing is more reliable

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As with any mobile gadget, headphones are an investment, especially when it will be used with top-tier audio devices.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. So choose well, don’t be fooled, and don’t settle.

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NICE?

The Names To Look For Accutone Accutone specializes in audio balance and sound quality. These elements bring seamless equality to highs, mids, and lows, without compromising the need for bass.

Precision sound quality is achieved with professional tuning technology, which brings out layers and details.

AKG AKG is designed for studio performance, replicating the actual sound quality of an original artist recording. It features 99.9% oxygen-free cables for pure sound transmission, which delivers balanced reproduction of layers and details.

Beats by Dr. Dre The Beats line is known for delivering powerful bass, as suggested by its founding artist, Dr. Dre himself. The brand prides itself in replicating the details of a studio recording, so the user hears what the artists do.

Bose Bose headphones feature a “TriPort acoustic headphone structure,” which is proprietary to the brand.

This feature delivers balanced sound, specifically in the high and low ranges, as well as clear bass quality.

Fanny Wang Fanny Wang is tuned to complement urban hip-hop. Delivering uncompromising bass is the brand’s highlight, but it is chosen for audio clarity, especially in the mid-to-high ranges.

Jays For bass-heavy music, Jays brings out the power in urban and hip-hop recordings, concentrating on the beat, but without overpowering other frequency details.

Sennheiser Sennheiser boasts of its unique “ergonomic acoustic refinement” technology, which can replicate the elements of an actual audio recording. This feature brings out layers and the finer instrumental details that can be lost in sound reproduction.

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THE MUSIC ISSUE WOULDN’T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT BIG STARS GRACING THE PAGES OF GADGETS MAGAZINE. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE INTERNATIONAL ACTS JAY PARK AND GWEN ZAMORA TO DAZZLE US WITH THEIR GOOD LOOKS, AMAZING TALENTS AND EXTRAORDINARY CHARM.

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It’s hard enough to score an interview with a single busy star like Jay Park, who is in the middle of an international promo tour for his album New Breed, or with Gwen Zamora who’s been making waves overseas with her movie The Witness. Despite the challenges, we were able to work our magic and are now lucky enough to have both of these talented personalities together for a special Gadgets exclusive.

We turned the venue upside-down to get our shots; the hotel room we had at Eastwood Richmonde was full of camera crews, showbiz reporters and journalists waiting to snag some face time with Gwen.

After the interviews, I had to clear the area for Jay Park and our shoot.

Even with her hair undone and no make-up on, Gwen is one of the most gorgeous girls in the showbiz industry; it’s no wonder she has a whole calendar of projects lined up. Apart from a busy schedule shooting “Enteng Kabisote” and “Bubble Gang”, she has her International film, “The Witness” to promote.

“I am very excited to have this shoot; I was surprised

that it was offered to me by Artist Center.” said Gwen in an interview with Showbiz exclusive. “I actually know of Jay Park. I saw him when I was in Korea, but I am really excited to personally meet him,” she continued.

Many may know Jay Park from 2pm but now he’s back to launch his solo career with fresher hits and hotter moves. Jay was in the Philippines for a promotional tour of his album entitled “New Breed” with the carrier single “Know your name.”

From the moment he entered the hotel lobby, girls were screaming and asking for an autograph. Jay is the kind of guy who can charm his way into a girl’s heart with just one smile.

“I am very excited to be here in the Philippines, it’s actually my third time,” said Jay during the interview. “I would love to tour around when I have the time; a vacation sounds really nice,” he added.

During the course of our time with her, we asked Gwen if she was a techie. “I would consider myself tech savvy compared to most girls. I love my Blackberry, iPhone, macbook, Bose

portable speakers, Wii and Bluetooth car stereo. I love my blackberry because I’m simply updated with everything. My iPhone keeps me entertained and it’s easy to contact my family abroad with Viber and Skype. My Bose speakers are the bomb; I can bring them around the house wirelessly, and my Bluetooth car stereo is also a very sweet gadget because I can play music and call, hands free.” said Gwen.

Though Jay Park is visible through all his social networking sites he said he is not very much of a gadget freak. “I am not very techie. The only gadgets I have are my iPhone 4 and my Macbook which are both very useful when it comes to my music. I can easily take note of the things I wanna write about, or make music right there and then,” he explained.

With the explosion of Gwen’s international career right around the corner and Jay Park’s first full-length album, you can be sure that we’re going to see a lot more of them in the international showbiz and music scene.

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enjoy the show

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SIT BACK, RELAX

wellness

CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE FOR THE BETTER

sted y a tru y b d e r pan factu manu ceutical com a pharm

ved

NOW FOODS for optimal wellness; Watsons also champions Buy Generics & Save advocacy

ppro FDA a

table a repu ler y b d l so tai acy re m r a h p

By Jon Uriarte

We

all know that famous saying—“prevention is better than cure”—and everyone will attest to its practical truth. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that health is among the top concerns of Filipinos, next to work-life balance and job security. However, health management and treatment are expensive in the Philippines, and that’s where the problems arise. Taking into account the aforementioned wise saying, there may be two possible solutions—taking food supplements to maintain proper diet and health, and making use of more affordable yet effective generic drugs.

NOW Foods, a pioneer in the fields of nutritional science, believes that nature is the best partner for achieving optimum health— with products that use natural and organic ingredients minus any artificial sweeteners or flavors. The company’s 263,000-square foot facility is considered one of the most scientifically-advanced in the natural products industry, and is used to capture nature’s formula for optimum well-being and turn it into health supplements. NOW Foods has received numerous awards including the 2011 Herbal Industry Leader Award from the

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American Herbal Product Association and the 2012 Natural Choice Award for Best Full Line of Supplements awarded by Whole Foods Magazine. Among its best selling products are Acai Juice, Calcium & Magnesium, Cholesterol Support, CoQ10, Goji Juice, Joint Support, and Salmon Oil. A lot of people are still uncomfortable to switch to generic drugs due to the bad reputation they’ve garnered in the past— people just think they’re not as effective and are of poor quality. The reality is that while there are mediocre generic drugs in the market, there are also good-quality generic ones that are effective yet affordable.

According to Watsons, Asia’s top pharmacy brand, there are three simple criteria to determine the integrity of generic drugs.

All of the following need to be met: (1) manufactured by a trusted pharmaceutical company; (2) FDA approved; and (3) sold by a reputable pharmacy retailer. Indeed, the same set of criteria can be used for food supplements as well.

branded medications. The new health section will have Watsons Compliance Packs for chronic and acute diseases; Watsons Health Packs for common ailments such as headache, stomach ache, allergy, and others; and a wide range of generic products from reputable manufacturers such as Unilab, Ritemed, and Pharex, to name a few. When comparing the prices of Watson’s effective generic drugs versus that of leading innovator brands, consumers will be able to save anywhere from 28% to a massive 85%, depending on the medicine.

As part of their Buy Generics and Save advocacy, Watsons now has a Buy Generics counter offering the generic counterpart of

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green PREMIUM SOUND IN THE KEY OF GREEN

CARING FOR MOTHER EARTH

By Racine Anne Castro

ARP ARPHONES HOUSE OF MARLEY EARP EARPHONES HOUSE OF MARLEY EARPHONES HOUSE OF MARLEY EARPHONES HOUSE OF With Bob Marley as one of the biggest icons in music history, the most recognized products are, of course, the House of Marley earphones. Tested on the best reggae tunes, these earphones are built to blast some heavy bass—the heart of the well-loved reggae sound.

The great Jamaican legend Bob Marley once said, “My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.”

More than two decades later, we still listen to his music and we still know his name. But today, the Marley name is no longer solely associated with music.

Now, the name Marley strives to be one of the frontrunners in saving the planet.

House of Marley is a manufacturer of superiorquality items made from recyclable and sustainable materials.

Driven by the desire to create the finest ecofriendly products, the House produces items ranging from audio products to apparel.

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House of Marley offers two in-ear earphone models. The Smile Jamaica model comes with three sizes of ear tips to make sure you experience the Marley sound comfortably. The 52-inch fabric cord is a treat for those who hate tangled wires. Plus, the fabric cord cuts down on static, thereby producing clearer sound quality and boosting audio performance. Despite its quaint size and simplicity, Smile Jamaica manages to produce crisp and clear audio output, enhanced by a powerful vibrating bass. It comes in four colors—Rasta, Curry, Fire and Lily.

People Get Ready is a much bigger and more powerful model, providing optimum sound quality built for a heavy and powerful bass.

Its deep full bass gives

off a richer, more realistic sound. It also has a noise isolation function on top of the standard three ear tip sizes and a 52-inch fabric cord. Colors are Rasta, Roots, Royal and Midnight.

Like all House of Marley products, these earphones are designed to be earth-friendly.

They are both crafted with sapele and beech woods as approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Made from recyclable aluminum, these earphones are durable and long-lasting.

The packaging is made from pulp, plastic, paper and other eco-friendly materials. According to the company website, the purpose of this creatively earth-friendly sort of packaging is to reduce the materials that go into the waste stream.

Buying House of Marley products will allow you to help protect the Earth.

A portion of what you pay for every product goes to the Marley family’s own charity foundation, 1Love.org.

At 1Love, you can support several charities, including those that advocate the well-being of our environment.

“My music will go on forever.

Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.”

-Bob Marley This means you not only reduce waste by using products made from recyclable and sustainable materials, you are also helping other people.

to us to push this vision forward and protect the Earth so it can live forever—just like Marley himself.

Bob Marley once had a vision of peace, love and a better Earth. Now, with the House of Marley taking the lead, it’s up

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musiccorner

THE SPOT FOR MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS ALIKE

Gadgets That Make Tunes Music Production Tools: Hardware vs. Software Words By Jon Uriarte | Art by Patrick Jude Ilagan

When you listen to a piece of modern music, you’re usually listening to numerous elements that come together in harmony to form a pleasing sound. For instance, in most of today’s electronic and rock music, you might hear any combination of the following—bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, orchestral and ethnic instruments. When producing beats, that’s pretty much what you’ll be doing—putting together different layers of sound.

These tools that put together different layers of sound (and into a master channel) can be called music workstations. They can be either hardware or software, but one thing they all have in common is that they’re capable of sampling audio and sequencing MIDI. Your music workstation should be able to create and combine two types of layers—audio and MIDI—called “tracks”, similar to the way Adobe Photoshop puts together different layers to form one image. Audio and MIDI are the backbone of music production.

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Audio This is pretty self-explanatory—audio is a sound recording. Your music workstation should allow you to import or record audio into an audio track.

MIDI MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It communicates event messages about musical notation, pitch, velocity, and control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato,

audio panning, cues, and clock signals (to set and synchronize tempo). Basically, imagine sheet music for piano players—it tells the player what notes to play, when to play them, and how to play them—MIDI is essentially like a digital form of that, which your music workstation should be able to understand and execute.

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musiccorner THE SPOT FOR MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS ALIKE

Music Workstations There is an abundance of tools out there for constructing beats, so we’re only going to name some of the important hardware and softwarebased ones.

Akai MPC The Akai MPC (music production center) is a famous series of electronic music instruments that have arguably been the most important pieces of equipment in the history of hip hop and electronic music production. They’ve even been used on so many of the pop hits you’ve heard on the radio, and you probably didn’t even know it.

The MPC is pretty much a full-fledged music workstation in hardware form—it has a built-in audio sampler and MIDI sequencer. It has the ability to sample sounds that are put into it, which can be then be time-stretched, pitch-shifted, edited, manipulated through a variety of effects and facilities, and then sequenced live (as you play it).

The 16 velocity-sensitive pads are for triggering the different samples that you assign to them. You can layer numerous “tracks” of audio and MIDI. A lot of producers will make entire beats solely on the MPC and then record them into a computer later on. Others will only use it for a portion of their beats,

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such as drums and samples. The MPC doesn’t come with built-in sounds though, so a lot of producers use them side-by-side with a turntable, computer, or instrument, from which they can sample their audio.

Due to its nature, an MPC is ideal for producers who plan to do a lot of “chopping” and “slicing” of samples for replaying and rearrangement.

The very first MPC was the MPC60, which was made in 1988. Since then, there have been numerous versions that followed—namely the MPC3000 (1994), MPC2000 (1997), MPC4000 (2002), MPC1000 (2003), MPC2500 (2005), MPC500 (2006), and MPC5000 (2008). Each version essentially serves the same intended functions, give or take several features—but what truly made the MPC famous is the warm and gritty analog sound that only it can deliver, especially for drums.

Keyboard Workstations You know those old church organs with the different sounds that your parents used to have? Keyboard workstations are very similar except they have a much larger and better collection of built-in sounds, features and effects. Not to be confused with more basic keyboards, these workstations have built-in audio samplers and MIDI sequencers with a wide selection of effects and manipulation tools that allow you to construct an entire beat on them. You can then transfer the different elements or the

whole thing onto a computer. Its keyboard keys and wealth of tools mean that composing your own chords and melodies is really easy on these machines. Still, they have limitations and many producers prefer to use them together with other gear, such as an MPC or a software workstation.

The three most famous and widely used keyboard workstations are the Yamaha Motif series, Korg Triton series, and Roland Fantom series.

FL Studio FL studio is a popular music production program simply because it’s one of the easiest to learn and use. It allows you to import (and even record) audio samples, manipulate them, and sequence them in different notes. You can use 3rd party virtual instrument plug-ins and play them through MIDI. It comes with a multitude of other features that come in handy as you learn more about producing music.

The stock sounds of FL Studio are widely known to be very bad though, so you’ll need your own collection. Currently, FL Studio can only run on the Windows operating system.

Propellerhead Reason Reason is a piece of software that is based on a reallife studio rack that has all the tools and instruments you need for making beats. Just like on a studio rack, you can add synthesizers, samplers, drum

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What will truly make the difference is not what you use but how you use it. machines, effects, and more, which you can then use to arrange a full song. The advantage of Reason is that it comes with a big, usable sound library that’s expandable through refills. The disadvantage, however, is that you can’t use any 3rd party plug-ins within the program.

Apple Logic Pro Apple Logic Pro belongs to the more full-fledged digital audio workstation software group—the same one where you’ll find the likes of Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, and Cakewalk Sonar. The reason being that they’re not only meant for music production but also for recording entire songs and mixing and mastering them. You can create an unlimited amount of linear tracks—whether audio or MIDI—and it comes with a host of instrument and effect plug-ins. It also allows you to use 3rd 82

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party plug-ins. Due to its nature, workstations like Logic are better for productions involving a lot of live instrument recording. Logic is only for Mac.

Useful Tools MIDI Controller If you decide to go the software route, you’ll want to get a MIDI controller to trigger notes and samples in your program. Without it, you’re stuck with clicking in the notes with your mouse—not a pleasant experience. These controllers can come in the form of keyboard keys, drum pads, or both.

Musical Instruments Here’s an obvious one—just plug in your electric bass or put a microphone next to your acoustic guitar or drum set and start playing. In fact, if you’re skilled at playing any particular instrument and have a way of recording it properly, that’s nearly always better than using a synthesized or virtual instrument version.

VSTs Software-based music producers widely use what are called VSTs (Virtual Studio Technology). These are software plug-ins that you can load within most music production programs. They can be any combination of the following—effects, samplers, virtual instruments, synthesizers, and other tools.

Virtual instruments are software versions of actual instruments and many of them sound very realistic, especially those made from key-by-key recordings of the real thing.

Turntable + Vinyl Records Many producers and DJs from all sorts of genres employ a method called “sampling”, where they take sounds and phrases from a vinyl record and manipulate it to create something fresh. There are specific rules and ethics when it comes to sampling, though, so be sure to give credit and get the proper clearance, especially if the samples are recognizable in your final piece.

Construction Kits / Sound Packs You can purchase or download a nearly countless amount of royalty-free sound and loop collections on the internet—some geared more towards certain genres than others. Whether it’s violin loops, drum kits, orchestral sounds, guitar loops, piano chord samples, or whatever else you need—it’s out there.

Sound Modules Sound modules are electronic musical instruments without a human-playable interface. Basically, they’re like keyboard workstations that contain sounds, minus the keyboard and some other features. The built-in sounds are played or triggered using an externally connected device such as a MIDI controller. They’re good for expanding your sound set whether your workstation is hardware or software-based.

Hardware vs. Software Despite the undeniable growth in capability and popularity of software-based production, it’s still looked down upon by many producers who use hardware. The truth is, in the long-standing debate on which one is superior, both hardware www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

musiccorner corner THE SPOT FOR MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS ALIKE

and software have their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages of Hardware 1. No Audio Latency – Hardware doesn’t have any delay of sound whatsoever—as soon as you push a key or a pad, you’ll hear it instantly. Although the delay in software can be reduced to a few milliseconds, enough that you’ll barely notice it, there’s still nothing like the precision of hardware.

2. Work Flow – A piece of hardware does only what it was made to do and this simplicity can greatly improve work flow. You get to focus on the music alone and not worry about an entire computer setup. You don’t have to mouse click and sort through folders for sounds. Plus, hardware loads up sounds nearly instantly while software can sometimes take a while.

3.Physical Feel – Many producers will tell you that controlling things through a tangible interface with buttons that you can actually press is so much better than navigating through software. Pads and keyboard keys will give you a better feel for the music, which is why even software producers make use of MIDI controllers.

4. “Analog” Sound – A lot of people claim that hardware simply sounds better and bigger than software due to the sound characteristics of analog circuitry that can never be properly emulated by software. The MPC for instance, is able to add a certain warmth, coloration, and analog grit to tracks, which can’t be accurately replicated by software effects.

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Advantages of Software 1. Portability and Space – Your entire setup can consist of a laptop and a MIDI keyboard. You can have a variety of software and thousands of sounds in your hard drive, which you can take with you wherever you go and it won’t take up too much space in your room.

2. Easy Editing – Editing is a lot easier on software.

With MIDI, you might need to adjust notes, note lengths, velocity, and so on, which can be done with a few mouse clicks on a big computer screen. Audio is also generally much easier to chop, slice, and rearrange in software.

3. Endless Possibilities – When you’re using hardware, you’re always going to be limited by its capabilities, which is why even hardware producers eventually integrated software into their setups.

With the latter, you can have an unlimited number of tracks, effects, 3rd party plug-ins, and so on, as long as your computer can handle it. There are also countless sites that offer hundreds of free effects and virtual instrument plug-ins.

4. No Tracking – Tracking is the process of recording a beat you made on a piece of hardware into a computer so that you can mix and finalize it.

Sometimes you’ll encounter a lot of problems doing that. With software, everything’s already in the computer.

There is no winner between hardware and software and even the best music producers will tell you that a combination of both is the best setup. What will truly make the difference is not what you use but how you use it. With endless possibilities, you just need to choose what works best for you.

Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH The Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH is a 7-string archtop electric guitar that’s ideal for musicians needing top-notch performance with an effective curved design to optimize not only looks, but also playability. Due to its arched top, players can knock down heavy riffs and power chords without hitting the guitar body. It features a flamed maple top and lightweight mahogany construction that gives users freedom to move on stage. The instrument is equipped with jumbo frets and only the finest components desired by guitarists—this includes LZ7 neck and bridge pickups and an Edge-Zero 7 bridge with ZPS3. Lastly, it comes in a stunning “Devil’s Shadow” finish. The Ibañez RGA 427Z-DSH sells for Php 116, 500.

A single unit autographed by Francesco Artusato, lead guitarist of deathcore rock band All Shall Perish, is available at Audiophile, Robinsons Place Pioneer, Mandaluyong City. The band member, who conducted the Ibañez Guitar Clinic 2012 in the Philippines last 17 May 2012, is part of Ibanez’s roster of artist endorsers. Ibañez Guitars, Audiophile, and Spryta Recording Studios organized the event.

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events

HP SPECTRE AND P HOENIX LAUNCH Words by Ren Alcantara

On the 7th of June, amidst dancing, bright lights and great food, HP unveiled the latest members of their computing lineup: the Envy 14 Spectre notebook and the H9 Phoenix gaming rig. Both further strengthen HPs position in the local computing marked and give consumers unparalleled power and productivity, with superior style.

The Envy 14 is a notebook that gives peerless performance in the mobile computing segment, and does so with exquisite style. The Spectre has a beautiful Gorilla Glass lid, display and wrist rest, which makes it highly resistant to wear and gives it a unique look and rich feel. It gives you a 14-inch screen, an Intel Core i7 processor, a maximum of 4GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory and Beats audio, so you can rock out as much as you want, anywhere you go.

The HP Phoenix is HP’s first outing at a dedicated gaming rig, and it is a monster. The HP9 runs an unlocked, overclock-ready third-generation Intel Core i5-3570K Processor, a maximum of 16GB DDR3-1600 memory, 1TB of hard disk space and a Radeon HD 7770 graphics card with 2GB GDDR5 dedicated memory.

Style details such as in-case LED lighting and an aggressive look ensure the Phoenix won’t be out of place in even the most dedicated gamers’ arsenal.

On top of the launch for the two devices, there was also a demo of the new OS, Windows 8. The operating system, set to be bundled with the future HP computers, offers the revolutionary Metro UI that allows the system to have deep integration with social media, messaging and productivity applications right at the home screen. The demo showed just how easy it is to put a live feed, follow friends and send media without having to waste time opening and closing individual programs.

HPs newest offerings are hitting the market soon, and Windows 8 will be made available in October 2012.

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events

THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S III LANDS IN THE PHILIPPINES Words by Jose Alvarez & Racine Castro

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III has finally arrived in the country. Tech savvy individuals flocked the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio last 29 May 2012 as Samsung Electronics Philippines Co. unveiled what is dubbed by many as the world’s best smartphone.

RANDY ORTIZ

The Galaxy S III, according to Samsung, was specifically designed to suit human needs and capabilities. With its supreme processing power, ultra high-definition display and expandable storage, the Galaxy S III is by far unmatched. It is Samsung’s effort to redefine the meaning of a smartphone, showing that technology can be tailored to fit naturally in the human lifestyle.

“With the GALAXY S III, Samsung wants to set the new standard in smartphones”, says BInggoy Mauricio, Business Unit Director of SEPCO’s Mobile Communications Business.

“Consumers will no longer have to limit themselves because the Samsung GALAXY S III understands you,” he adds.

Headed by its President and CEO, Kyung Chull Park, some of the biggest names in Samsung were present at the launch of the Galaxy S III—namely, Adviser for Handheld Phones Business Mike Cheon, Marketing Director Benjamin Jimenez, Director Handheld Phones Business Mr. Binggoy Mauricio, Product Marketing Group Head for HHP Coco Domingo, PR Manager Ms. Odette Velarde, and Senior Category for Tablets and Smartphones Paulo del Rosario.

SAM MILBY

ANNA SOBREPENA, LIFESTYLE ASIA’S EIC

The guests of the launch were serenaded by the Philharmonic orchestra. Several celebrities and notable personalities were also present at the event to welcome the Galaxy S III. This roster includes Sam MIlby, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Jp and Jinna Tuason, Rhian Ramos, KC Montero, Jiggy Cruz, Anna Sobrepena, Liza Gokongwei, Jing Monis, Daphne Osena Paez, Sari Yap, Michealle Torres, Anton del Rosario, Ally Borromeo, Rissa Mananquil Trillo, Tim Yap, Kelly Misa, Phoemela Barranda, Jed Madela, Marki Stroemm, Kit Thompson, Boom Gonzales, Randy Ortiz, Jc Buedia, Ronald Pineda, Roco Nacino, and Rica Peralejo.

KC MONTERO AT THE LAUNCH OF SAMSUNG GALAXY SIII AT THE NBC TENT 86

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COCO DOMINGO - SAMSUNG’S PRODUCT MARKETING HEAD FOR HHP www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

events

LUCKY SWITCHERS WIN GALAXY S III UNITS AT SMART LAUNCH Three lucky individuals were thrilled that they switched to Smart as they were the first to receive the Samsung Galaxy S III in the Philippines during its launch last June 1 at the Jump Experience Center in SM Megamall.

The raffle winners were Arianne Baheda, Brenneth Villapando, and Karla Viray.

All three of them have recently switched from their previous network providers to Smart.

Villapando, a 30-year-old accountant from Makati City, was the first person to receive the Galaxy S3 during the launch, along with a free Samsung Galaxy Note.

She claims that she recently switched to Smart because she wanted to be able to browse and to be constantly updated with her social networks using the Internet on her mobile phone.

Baheda and Viray shared similar sentiments. Viray, the Senior Marketing Head of Odyssey Records, claims that switching to Smart is one of her best decisions yet.

CELEBRITIES WERE AMONG THOSE WHO LINED UP AT THE JUMP EXPERIENCE CENTER TO AVAIL OF THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S III POWERED BY SMART. PHOTO SHOWS (L-R) MIA BAYUGA, SLICK RICK, AGNES TAPIA OF SMART, ANDI MANZANO, SAM YG, MAXENE MAGALONA, AND RHIAN RAMOS.

“These are real world stories that you just cannot make up,” said Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando Vea. “If you want your own series of horror stories to end, it is time to ‘live more’ by joining our 50 million-strong network,” he added.

The launch was hosted by Andy9 and Sam YG of Magic 89.9. Actress, singer, model and host Iya Villania excited the crowd with special entertainment numbers. A number of celebrities, including Rhian Ramos and Maxene Magalona, also had the chance to take home the Galaxy S III. Smart has announced that the Galaxy will be offered as one of the options for the free phone that comes with the Unlimited Data Plan 2000. The Smart Unli Data Plans allow users to keep their mobile data connection on at all times and provide them with free texts and call minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S III— dubbed by many as the world’s greatest smartphone—is the perfect gadget for handling large-bandwidth mobile applications. Smart claims that its extensive 4G High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network is the perfect complement for the Galaxy S III’s capabilities, ensuring that subscribers can make use of its full potential.

Smart also announced that it has tons of giveaways in store for the first 100 subscribers who pre-ordered online. These perks include a free Smart Broadband WiFi Plug-It, 20 Smart Broadband Rocket Plug-Its, ten units of the Samsung Galaxy Tab P6200 and ten units of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

PHOTO SHOWS (L-R) PAOLO BEDIONES, PAOLO PARAISO, KC MONTERO, RADIO DJ TONY TONI, AND RNB SINGER JAY-R.

“S” FOR STYLE: GLOBE LAUNCHES THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S III The Mind Museum at the Bonifacio Global City was the perfect venue to showcase the highly-intelligent and exceptionally-powerful Samsung Galaxy S III. This was an appropriate venue for the launch considering that the Mind Museum is designed for humans to learn from the past, explore the present, and discover the future. Thanks to Globe, hundreds of tech geeks and gadget freaks got first dibs on the most human-like phone yet during a grand launch held on June 1, 2012.

Globe’s Head of Postpaid Martha Sazon and Head of Digital Media Glenn Estrella, together with Samsung representative Coco Domingo led the press briefing and explained why the Samsung Galaxy S III is best paired with a postpaid Globe My Super Plan with its different freebies and bundled services.

Globe has the best offer for the Samsung Galaxy S III in the market: Php1699 a month under Unli Surf Plan 999 with a Php700 monthly cash out complete with unlimited data and a freebie; or Php1999 a month under Unli Surf Plan 1799 with Php200 monthly cash out for an extra Php800 monthly consumable amount for calls and texts along with three freebies.

Emceeing the event was supermodel Sarah Meier, and the night’s opening act was mentalist Erik Mana. Drawing tremendous applause from everybody closely following his every move, he wowed the crowd with his brand of magic and mayhem. The audience was then treated to a rousing and upbeat dance number courtesy of the Philippine All-Stars, one of the country’s prime sources of pride.

Some prominent celebrities were revealed as the Samsung Galaxy S III Brand Ambassadors: TV host David Celdran, fashion and style icon Apples Aberin, fashion blogger Ingrid Chua-Go, celebrity chef Sau Del Rosario and TV personality Rovilson Fernandez.

International music icon Moony was flown by Globe straight from Italy, rendering some of her signature dance hits. One of Manila’s top DJs, Funk Avy, was on the turntables as the crowd danced the night away, complemented by unlimited hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for the entire evening.

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SAMSUNG CONVERGENCE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS TWO NEW LAPTOPS Words by John Nieves

Two new laptops were revealed at the Samsung Convergence event: the Series 5 Slim and the Series 9 Ultrabooks. The event took place at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati.

Samsung Business Unit Director Eric Sulit talks about the new and powerful Samsung Notebook at the Samsung IT Convergence event last June 18, 2012

Samsung has always strived to make their products simpler and easier to use, but the Korean company has decided to add a new dimension in how their IT products make life easier for its users. At a grand event at the Manila Peninsula last June 18, the Korean company showed guests, celebrities and members of the press how their products make life easier by changing the way they share and work.

why--their competitive pricing coupled with their strong brand identity has allowed them to grow their notebook business in the Philippines by leaps and bounds, with the company sliding into the no. 2 spot locally. To further strengthen their position in the local market, the company has released two new notebooks that take the brand further in the coming months--the Samsung Series 9 and the Samsung Series 5 Slim.

The Samsung Smart Station, for example, makes it dead simple for users to connect their smartphone or tablet to a display to enjoy a better user experience when playing games or watching movies. All it takes is a simple setting and cable mounted on the monitor itself, and the display from your smartphone goes to the 24-inch screen.

Drawing inspiration from the thin and light category, the new Samsung Series 5 Slim, gives users the best options for a portable notebook, but now with a smaller price to pay. Running on AMD’s Low Voltage A6 CPU, this notebook marries performance with great graphics featuring 7660G Discrete Class Graphics. The Series 5 Slim will come in pop pink and mocha brown.

The convenience doesn’t stop there. Samsung also showed a demo of their Smart printers during the event, where the entire printing and scanning process was done entirely with a smarthphone through a Wi-Fi connection. Now if you’re looking to print a document from the web and don’t have a PC with you, you can still print that document without any issues – a feature that mobile workers will definitely appreciate.

Samsung revealed its best offering to date in the New Samsung Series 9. It is the world’s thinnest 15-inch notebook at 14.9 mm thick and 1.58 kg weight, complementing lifestyles of mobile professionals as they are able to work more, even on the go. Powered by the latest Intel Core i7 Processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB of SSD, it runs Windows 7 Professional blazingly fast. (Booting up only takes 9.1 seconds!) Topped with its 400nit HD+ Superbright Plus Screen, documents, photos, videos, and websites are more brilliant than ever.

Truly, being big has never been this thin.

Samsung’s notebooks have been gaining a lot of traction in the past years, and it’s not hard to see

Samsung IT Business Unit Adviser James Kwon, President KC Park and Business Unit Director Eric Sulit

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Lino and Toni Gregory Palenzuela

Daphne Oseña-Paez

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events

Vicky Belo shows off the new Lightweight yet powerful Samsung Notebook Series 9

Samsung Electronics Philippines executives Benjie Jimenez--Marketing Director and Chiqui Torres-Tan–-Head of Corporate Marketing with Jim Paredes at the Samsung IT Convergence Event.

Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Samsung IT Business Unit Adviser James Kwon

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Kelly Misa

Patrick Filart and Patty Laurel

Cristalle Henares, Atom Henares, Vicky Belo and Eric Sulit

Jessica Tan-Gan and Sandra Rocha

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BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES to enter the loss prevention market.

It is a multi-camera system backed by a software solution that allows constant monitoring of movement in and out of outlets and several branches, all from the convenience of your head office.

The fully-integrated closedcircuit television (CCTV) system can be set up to provide multiple camera perspectives from a single monitor, giving you a full view of all your surveillance sites at once. The camera system has axial rotation, so it can be mounted and aimed at specific video targets. Auto recording and video saving allows you to review surveillance video any time you wish.

PLDT’s productIVITY suite features new business solutions For businesses that require POS equipment, PLDT offers product bundles that include cash registers and bar code scanners that can be leased or leased to own for a low monthly fee.

Three new products from PLDT Productivity Solutions, CheckOut, FASTrack and Watcher, are essential to SMEs because of the way they can revolutionize the way business is done. Efficiently, successfully, then lucratively.

CHECKOUT CheckOut is a web-based point of sale system (POS) that supplies retail owners and managers with accurate sales and inventory information by automating the various retail

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business processes, such as receiving stocks, recording sales transactions, monitoring supply levels, and analyzing sales trends.

FIELD TRACKING DEVICE FASTrack (Field Asset System for Tracking) is a transport, logistics, and courier and delivery operation business owner's dream come true.

Using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) architecture, CheckOut stores information online and allows user access to files from anywhere via a centralized hosting service (cloud computing) through a desktop, laptop or tablet.

To assure quality customer service, FASTrack locates your field assets while they're on the road. It provides accurate and invariable per-minute location monitoring in real time via the web, accessible via desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

For businesses involved in critical field operations, that means knowing whether deliveries are being delivered, vehicles are going to set destinations, or your personnel are deployed where they should be.

The device is easy to install, doesn't require complex servers, and needs minimal technical knowledge to get started. Once the delivery vehicles are fitted, business owners and managers can tell where their assets are 24/7.

The coverage is nationwide, meaning any business owner in the Philippines can avail of this service.

VIDEO MONITORING DEVICE Watcher is the latest device

Watcher can also be programmed to record snapshots and video clips if movement is detected, which is instantly sent through email. Previewing these images can be done at any computer, tablet or mobile phone.

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS “Running a business is challenging as it is. We try to anticipate a business owner's needs and come up with the right solutions so that they can focus on their core competency,” said PLDT SME Nation AVP and marketing head Amil Azurin. “By taking away all the peripheral headaches, the business can run smoother.”

All of the products in the suite also come with full technical support and even learning sessions for an establishment's employees. Technical support is available 24/7, so help is never far away. It is easy to set up a business, but difficult to obtain success. However, utilizing technology can help significantly in meeting the challenges all businesses encounter and make the road to success a bit smoother.

For more information on PLDT SME Nation's product offerings or any of their business solutions, you may call 101-888 or visit their website at www.pldtsmenation.com.ph.

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Everyone’s Vision Petron competition raising awareness about environmental issues through artistic expression

Canon and fashion bloggers unite behind IXUS cameras

The competition is open to all talented students enrolled in a regular university or college course, or in tutorial art and photography classes. Participants must be Filipino and between 15-28 years old.

Student artists may compete in three categories: painting, photography, and print-making.

Entries for the painting categories should be no bigger than 4 ft x 4 ft unframed. Colored photography entries should be no bigger than 10 x 15 inches unframed. For the printmaking category, the minimum artwork size on paper is 12 x 16 inches but not more than 16 x 20 inches.

Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc., a global leader in digital imaging, recently enlisted five of the country’s top fashion bloggers to become the official IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance.

These Internet icons are united by an insatiable drive to share their passion and individual styles—with their powerful IXUS cameras, of course!

Pictured from left to right are Lissa Kahayon (lissakahayon. com) with an IXUS 125 HS, Kryz Uy (kryzuy.com) with an IXUS 500 HS, Patricia Prieto (itspatriciaprieto.com) with an IXUS 510 HS, Cheyser Pedregosa (thewalkingrecessionista.com) with an IXUS 240 HS, and David Guison (davidguison.com) with an IXUS 230 HS. With Canon’s new IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance taking the blogosphere by storm, taking and sharing pictures will never be the same again.

Application forms are available at participating Petron service stations and bulk plants nationwide, or from the Secretariat Office (c/o Studio 5 Designs, 28 Paseo de Roxas cor.

Jupiter St., Bel-Air Village, Makati City, tel. no. 02-8909318). The form may also be downloaded from their website: http://www. visionpetron.com or from Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ EveryonesVisionPetron.

BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES

The theme for this year’s competition, Nurturing Nature, focuses on the different ways of caring for and protecting the environment. Samples may be seen in Petron’s own efforts to protect our biodiversity through various means of environmental protection.

In the painting category, six grand prize winners will receive Php 50,000 each; for the colored photography category, six grand prize winners will receive Php 30,000 each; and in the printmaking category, three grand prize winners will receive Php 30,000 each. Each grand prize winner will also receive a trophy/plaque designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

newsbits&bytes

Everyone’s Vision Petron is a competition for photographers, painters and designers, as well as a venue for filmmakers, musicians, performance artists, art enthusiasts, and all Filipinos to converge and be one through their shared love for Philippine art and culture.

Deadline for submission for all entries in person is July 31, 2012. If submitting by courier, the entry must be sent to the secretariat address and postmarked on July 24, 2012.

Winners will be notified personally or via phone by the Vision Petron Secretariat. Official press releases will be published after the Awards Night in August 2012.

is third in the Top Corporate US Patent Holders (2011).

Canon Philippines has offices all throughout the country, including the NCR, North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Canon Philippines has also won the Corporate Award and the Gold Bagwis Seal of Excellence for providing distinctive service to customers, and Anvil Awards of Merit for Canon Green Nation and Canon Photo Marathon public relations programs.

To find out more about the Canon IXUS Ambassadors of Style and Substance and the new IXUS cameras, please visit http://www.canon.com.ph.

You can also receive the latest news and updates from Canon through http://www.canon. com.ph/imagenation, and by following them on Facebook, “Canon Digital Cameras— Philippines”, or on Twitter, “@ Canon_CamerasPH.”

Canon is a US$45.7 billion global company with one of the most extensive product lines of input and output digital imaging devices. It

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newsbits&bytes BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES

ANC announces new television programming Filipinos here and abroad can get their daily, comprehensive dose of news and information with the launch of ANC’s new afternoon programs and niche prime time talk shows after the country’s most trusted cable news channel carried live, uninterrupted coverage of the Chief Justice impeachment trial.

are going to be starting up. We are going to bridge the gap between morning news and business nightly.” Warren de Guzman delivers updates from the PSE trading floor, Lexi Schulze reports on social media, and Boyet Sison presents hourly weather updates and forecasts.

Beginning on Monday, 11 June 2012, ANC’s new afternoon programming slate starts with the daily 30-minute newscasts, News Now, will be shown at 2 pm and 3 pm. Ron Cruz, anchor of the news and talk program Mornings@ANC, will start off the newscast at 2 pm.

“Most of the stories develop in the afternoon. The challenge is to break the news first. Expect us to give you the news as soon as they happen,” he said.

To better serve Filipinos worldwide, ANC also caters to Filipinos abroad by delivering the biggest national and regional stories in the country, along with reports from ABS-CBN bureaus around the world in The Bureau, anchored by Karmina Constantino.

ANC business news head Coco Alcuaz takes over News Now at 3 pm to give the rundown on major news developments, business stories, updates on Asian markets, and live interviews from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

He said, “While your business day is hopefully winding down, we

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“The Bureau is about the news that makes the world go round.

But we don’t stop there. We’re going to tell you how it impacts and affects the global Filipino,” said Constantino, who previously anchored a daily newscast and a magazine show for The Filipino Channel in North America and knows just how overseas Filipinos think and what they need.

To keep viewers abreast of the latest social media buzz, ANC also

launched a social media news program, @ANCALERTS, airing weekdays at 4:30 pm. The show started as ANC’s influential Twitter account and now has 450,000 followers. The show presents the hottest social media buzz, usergenerated content, Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo stories, and real time feedback from ANC viewers.

Primetime on ANC and Top Story anchor Tony Velasquez is relaunching Future Perfect as a 30-minute science and technology show with features on the latest inventions, gadgets, and technological advances, and oneon-one interviews with Filipino inventors and science geniuses.

The program airs at 7:30 pm on Wednesdays.

Entertainment reporter Phoemela Baranda, on the other hand, puts the sexy back in the city as the new host of Cityscape, ANC’s guide to the hippest food establishments, fashion trends, weekend getaways, and hottest events in and out of the metro. It airs on Fridays at 9:30 pm.

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newsbits&bytes BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES

Elitegroup Computer Systems sets new standards for motherboards via Nonstop Technology Nonstop Technology from Elitegroup Computer Systems delivers a hassle free computing experience by solving PC hardware problems before they can even occur. Far stricter than industry standards, the testing regime combined with the highest quality components and shielding ensures that ECS Nonstop certified motherboards can be relied on to increase your computer's shelf life.

Every ECS Nonstop certified motherboard must survive the Super Marathon 3X Stability test, a military level assault course of tests and checks that stress the motherboard's components to ensure that they are up to ECS Standards. This testing regime is devised and guaranteed by more than 30 professional ECS testers.

The other test is the Sahara Severe Test, which is aptly named because the motherboard must function in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.

This is 125% higher than standard temperature tests and ensures that the motherboard can handle supremely demanding computing tasks under extreme environmental conditions. Those that pass the four tests while delivering a glitch-free and flawless performance are awarded Nonstop Certification and are sent to ECS customers.

ECS Nonstop boards also include 100% solid Apache long-life capacitors to protect users from capacitor leakage and failure problems. These capacitors last six times longer than traditional capacitors, ensuring a long life for your motherboard.

The final and most critical component of ECS Nonstop technology is the Thor Ultra comprehensive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, which consists of dozens of extra components which protect key areas of the board from static build up that can damage or destroy them without warning. Thor Ultra Protection follows the toughest NASA guidelines for preventing ESD damage.

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newsbits&bytes BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair showcases young scientists

This year, more than 1,500 young scientists were chosen to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. They were selected from 446 affiliate fairs in approximately 70 countries, regions and territories.

More than 400 finalists received awards and prizes for their groundbreaking work. Awards included 17 “Best of Category” winners who each received a US$5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a US$1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

The students’ projects are then evaluated on-site by more than 1,200 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of six years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines. The overall winning entry is a study on a non-invasive method of detecting pancreatic cancer by Jack Andrada, 15, of Crownsville, MD, USA. He received the Gordon E. Moore Award, named in honor

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of the Intel co-founder, and US$75,000.

The Philippines also had award winners in Julian Paolo Talamera Biyo, Paul Caesar Mason Flores and Hazel Anne Jurado Hernandez from the Philippine Science High School, Western Visayas Campus.

They garnered a fourth place grand award in the environmental sciences category and received US$500.00 for their project entitled “Regenerating Coral Fragments on Bamboo Artificial Reefs.”

“We support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we know that math and science are imperative to future global growth,” said Ricky Banaag, Intel Philippines country manager. “This competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges.”

To learn more about Society for Science & the Public, and its programs and publications, visit http://www. societyforscience.org.

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newsbits&bytes

Epson celebrates 70 year anniversary maintains its commitment to monokozuri, which is translated into English as the art and science of manufacturing.

Epson has made a number of breakthroughs in the tech world while remaining energy efficient, such as the world’s first quartz wrist watch (1969) and the first automatic quartz wrist watch (1988), which significantly reduced the reliance on traditional batteries.

Epson is also known for their printers, one of the first to be made affordable to consumers.

Epson made the world’s first mini-printer, the EP-101 (1968),

still used in many calculators.

Epson has also expanded into projection devices (1994), thus revolutionizing the way businesses make presentations.

What is unique about Epson’s projection device is that only one cable needs to be connected to the PC, resulting in a more affordable product.

BIG NEWS IN BYTE-SIZED QUANTITIES

On 18 May 2012, Japanese company Seiko Epson Corporation (Epson) celebrated its 70th year in business.

Initially known as Daiwa Kogyo, Epson began in 1942 as a watch components manufacturer in Suwa, Nagano prefecture, Japan with only nine employees.

They partnered with another Japanese company, Daini Seioksha, in 1943, which eventually merged with Daiwa Kogyo to form the Suwa Seikosha Company, Ltd. in 1959, and eventually into its current name in 1982. Even though a lot has happened in 70 years technology-wise, Epson

Epson moved outside of Japan and into Southeast Asia in 1982 and currently has a presence in 10 countries in the region, including the Philippines (1998).

The company currently operates in 97 countries around the world with 75,000 employees.

Hewlett-Packard announces state of the art self-maintaining servers and saving companies US$2.33 million a year in energy costs.

Unplanned server downtime costs clients approximately US$10 million an hour. The Gen8 server automatically analyzes its own health, resolving unplanned downtime issues 66% faster.

With solid-state technology, mirroring and smart algorithms, data is 1,000 times safer, speeding up Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) initialization by 95%.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) recently announced the industry’s most self-sufficient line of servers— the HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8). These servers are a result of a US$300 million, two-year program called Project Voyager, the company’s initiative to redefine data

center economics by increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Companies spend an average of US$8 million a year on manual operations to support servers. The Gen8 server triples administrator productivity by automating

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most manual operations such as server updates, which allows companies to save on overhead costs.

Growing server energy and facilities expenses can cost companies up to US$9.67 million a year. Another Gen8 feature is

the industry-first technology, the HP 3-D Sea of Sensors. The HP 3-D Sea of Sensors automates energy efficiency while reducing inventory process errors. These changes automate inventory management and track power usage per rack and server, optimizing workload placement

“The skyrocketing cost of operations in the data center is unsustainable, and enterprises are looking to HP to help solve this problem,” Mark Potter, HP senior vice president and general manager of Industry Standard Servers and Software, said. “We are delivering innovative intelligence technologies that enable servers to virtually take care of themselves, allowing data center staff to devote more time to business innovation.”

HP is distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS.

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links Technology

ACCUTONE

Astrovision / Astroplus, A.Shop, iStudio, Power Mac Center, Rustan’s Department Store http://www.gadgeteeronline. multiply.com

ASUS TECHNOLOGY PHILIPPINES INC. Hanston Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 634 0309 http://ph.asus.com

CANON MARKETING (PHILIPPINES), INC. 7/F Commerce & Industry Plaza, Campus cor. Park Ave., McKinley Hills Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Tel. 884 9090

GENIUS MSI-ECS Tel. 688 3333 / 439 7777

HELMS Helms Philippines Cel. (917) 575 4812

HOUSE OF MARLEY Jerm Marketing, Inc. Tel. 838 5305 / 838 1631 to 32

LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES INC.

YOUR GADGET’S DIRECTORY

MODUVI, INC. Unit 340 One Corporate Center Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 689 5220

NOKIA (PHILIPPINES), INC. 40/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati Tel. 886 1234

SANDISK, POWERCOLOR

LIFESTYLE MOBILITY OUTDOOR PRODUCTS

Limited Limsun International Trading Corp.

70-C 18th Ave. P. Tuazon, Cubao, Quezon City Tel. 921 9493 / 921 9399 info@unitedlimsun.com http://www.unitedlimsun.com

LEVI STRAUSS PHILIPPINES INC.

HONDA CARS PHILS., INC. 105 South Main Avenue Laguna Technopark Sta. Rosa, Laguna Tel. 857 7200

LAMBORGHINI PHILIPPINES PGA Cars Centre 11th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. 535 9692

Iontech 20 North Road cor. 3rd. Ave., Cubao, Quezon City Tel. 724 3340

20/F Tower 2, Enterprise Center, Ayala Ave., Makati City http://www.levi.com.ph

PEUGEOT PHILIPPINES

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES CORP.

PARFOIS Vogue Concepts Inc. Kampri Bldg., 2254 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City Tel. 894 1234

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES INC.

7/F Hanjinphil Bldg.

1128 University Parkway, North Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. 1 800 SAMSUNG

STARMOBILE

Distributed by Eurobrands Distributor Inc.

Danny Floro Street Bagong Ilog Pasig City Tel. 671 9724

TRAFFIC Cel. 0918 - TRAFFIC (872 3342) info@trafficfootwear.ph http://www.trafficfootwear.ph

Star Kapitolyo Bldg. 70 San Rafael St. Kapitoloyo, Pasig City

SONY PHILIPPINES INC. 11th Floor Marajo Tower #312 26th Street West cor 4th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. 860 3333

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

MILI Apple Resellers, Ambassador Appliances, Astrovision / Astroplus, Rustan’s Department Store, SM Appliance Center http://www.gadgeteeronline. multiply.com

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