2020 v21n3 THE WISH LIST ISSUE

ISUZU TAGUM (0918) 909-5159

PRESIDENT & CEO

Maribelle Alba

SALES AND ADVERTISING MANAGER ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Marisa Consuelo

ACCOUNTING MANAGER ACCOUNTING STAFF

Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

HR & ADMIN MANAGER ADMINISTRATION STAFF

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano

LEGAL COUNSEL

DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

Carol Agabin

Jerico Lutrania Alba Law Office

GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Inc. Address all correspondence to GREAT MINDS MEDIA INC. 14/F Net Cube Centre 3rd Avenue cor 30th Street E-Square Crescent Park, West Bonifacio Global City 1634 Taguig City, Philippines Our telephone number is: (02) 8479 5475 Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

There’s a definite chill in the air, and christmas decor is up everywhere you look. Before we focus on the season of giving, let’s take a quick pause and focus on ourselves for a minute. In this issue of Gadgets, we’ve got the yearly Wishlist, where we take a look at what some of the gifts we’d like to give ourselves. It hasn’t been an easy year, but we’ve made it this far, and we all deserve a little something for it! So leaf through our pages, and enjoy the latest the market has to offer. Take care of yourselves out there, and see you again in a few weeks!

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

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

Ren Alcantara Editor-at-Large

Maribelle M. Alba

Presy Alba

Arnel Doria

Jay Alba

Jose Alvarez

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @bellealba

EDITOR-AT-LARGE @presy1121

MOBILITY CONSULTANT

DIGITAL INITIATIVES LEAD

CONTRIBUTOR @josealvarez

Ren Alcantara

Gabriel Pe

Jerico Lutrania

Carmela Birao

Zeil Romero

Chini Yu Soriano

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

STAFF WRITER @pe_gab

DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER @_easyo

VIDEOGRAPHER @carmelabirao

GRAPHIC ARTIST

GRAPHIC ARTIST @chinisoriano

@hisnameisren

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@zeil_heyo

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NOVEMBER 2020 | Volume 21 No. 3

26. Cover Story

the season for (self) giving

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Parade The holidays are coming!

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Gadgets Lab

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Cover Story

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Wishlist

NOVEMBER 2020

Putting tech through their paces.

You deserve a reward.

Make your own wishes come true.

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Photofeature

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Mobility Feature

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Mobility News

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Gaming Hades

Check out these devices!

The latest from all the big brands.

The wheels never stop turning.

Rewarding masochism.

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M Lhuillier Offers Faster and Safer Way to Claim DA-RRP Cash Aid

M

Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc., in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), has set up a faster and safer way for qualified rice farmers to claim their cash fund from the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

By virtue of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11469, otherwise known as “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act”, funds have been allocated to the DA for the National Rice Program amounting to Eight Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos (PHP 8,500,000,000) to support the implementation of Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) of DA Ahon-Lahat Pagkain Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra COVID-19 Program wherein industry-wide provision of major farm inputs such as high quality rice seeds and Urea fertilizers will be intensified.

This will cover provinces located in the following areas: Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and supports around 800,000 rice farmers.

Eligible beneficiaries of the DA-RRP program can now claim their cash assistance through any M Lhuillier branch nationwide with their unique reference number or transaction code from DA, a valid government-issued I.D, and the expected amount from October 22 until December 15, 2020.

M Lhuillier remains steadfast in being the “Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino” in the midst of a global health crisis as it continues to provide its products and services to its loyal customers.

With more than 2,500 branches nationwide, one can avail of its reliable financial services such as Kwarta Padala, Domestic and International Money Remittance, Quick Cash Loan, and Bills Payment with utmost comfort and convenience.

For updates on the latest promos and exclusive offers, one may follow M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. on Facebook. One may also visit mlhuillier.com for more information. For inquiries, one may contact Customer Care through its toll-free number 1-800-1-0572-3252 or email customercare@mlhuillier.com.

64 Gaming

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Gaming Genshin Impact

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Music Corner

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Bulletpoints

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Enterprise

NOVEMBER 2020

Taking a look at “Breath of the Waifu”

Quarantunes

Multitool options.

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Cybersecurity

82

Bits and Bytes

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Relic

Staying safe in cyberspace

More news from the hottest sources.

*Cue modem sounds*

It’s business time!

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PARADE

Lenovo Legion Duel Smartphone

Lenovo has officially entered the mobile esports arena with the brand’s first gaming smartphone, the Lenovo Legion Duel. The Legion Duel features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC with up to 16GB of RAM and 512 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage giving it the necessary performance for gaming. The Lenovo Legion Duel has a 6.65-inch display with 2340 x 1080 resolution and 144Hz screen refresh rate with a 240Hz touch sampling rate. What makes the Lenovo Legion Duel special is its dual technology architecture, having two 2,500 mAh batteries and two USB Type-C charging ports to keep the logic board away from the heat. The phone selfie camera is also special, with the 20-megapixel lens popping out from the side of the phone.

PHP 39,995 (12GB +256 GB) PHP 49,995 (16 GB + 512 GB)

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Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i Laptop

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is the brand’s new flagship in the Yoga series. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-series processor with the new Intel Xe graphic architecture. It has a 14-inch display and comes with a portable form factor coming in at 13.9mm thin and 1.26kg light. It has an authentic black leather cover bonded to an aerospace-grade alumni chassis for added for more durability.

Motorola razr 5G Smartphone

The razr is back and it’s better than ever. Like the original razr from the 2000s, it has a 2.7-inch quick view display which shows your notifications. Flipping the phone will show the razr 5G’s 6.2-inch Flex View display designed to fold in concert with the device’s hinge. At the back is the phone’s 48-megapixel camera which can be used is different ways thanks to the folding design. The Motorola razr is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765.

PHP 72,990

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NOVEMBER 2020

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realme 7i

Smartphone If you’re looking for a stellar phone without the stellar price tag, realme has something for you. The realme 7i is powered by a Snapdragon 662 SoC for fast performance, a 5000 mAh battery for all-day use, as well as a 90Hz display for buttery-smooth gaming for supported titles. With 18W quick-charge, you can top off in no time, and its 64 MP quad camera lets you capture the perfect moments no matter the conditions you’re in. Dual-SIM plus microSD connectivity mean you don’t have to trade a line for storage, and a 16 MP front cam lets you chat and take selfies to your heart’s content.

PHP 11,990

realme 7 Pro Smartphone

The king of great value, realme has done it again. With a Snapdragon 720G, 6.4-inch FHD display, and 64 MP quad-camera setup, the realme 7 Pro takes their smartphone design to a new level. Dual stereo Dolby Atmos speakers, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and 65Q SuperDart charge for its 4500 mAh battery all come together to deliver an experience that punches well above its price tier. And with ÜV Rheinland Smartphone Reliability Verification, you can rest assured that this is a phone that’s made to last.

PHP 17,990

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Samsung Odyssey Monitor

The Samsung Odyssey monitor series is every gamers dream monitor. The Samsung Odyssey G7 and G9 offer a deep and immersive 1000R curvature with the G9 being the world first curved 49-inch Dual Quad High-Definition (QHD) gaming monitor.

The huge curve allows users to see more while gaming, making for more accurate decisions in the heat of battle. The Samsung Odyssey Monitor series has a 240 Hz screen refresh rate with a 1ms response time.

PHP 33,699 (27-inch Odyssey G7) PHP 37,299 (32-inch Odyssey G7) PHP 74,799 (Odyssey G9)

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NOVEMBER 2020

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Huawei Y7a Smartphone

Made with the youth in mind, the Huawei Y7a gives everything this generation wants in a mobile phone and more. A 48 MP quad-camera setup in the rear delivers picture-perfect images, even in low light, while a massive 6.67-inch display shows off all your content in glorious FHD+ quality. Its side-mounted power button/fingerprint scanner keeps things secure, and fast 22.5 W SuperCharge technology lets you charge the 5000 mAh battery in a flash.

PHP 8,999

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Huawei MateBook 14 Laptop

Your most steadfast companion whether for work or play is the laptop. Huawei and AMD know that, and have delivered the MateBook 14. Featuring the Ryzen 5 4600 processor for superb performance with amazing power management, this is a device that stays with you through even the toughest of requirements.

With a gorgeous 14-inch, 2160 x 1440 display and 3:2 aspect ratio for better reading through documents and web pages, it’s the perfect companion for school, the home office, with even a little bit of gaming on the side. Its 56 Wh battery ensures all-day endurance, and a handy pop-up web cam keeps bezels thin, and security tight.

PHP 54,999

Huawei Classic Backpack Bag

Form meets function with the Huawei Classic Backpack. Designed in Paris in a combination of 290T Nylon and leather, it’s a laptop that will provide years of service to you, and protection for your devices.

A dedicated compartment capable of securing up to a 15.6 laptop makes sure your computer stays safe, while 11.5 L of space and 9 separate compartments mean you have more than enough space for all your daily carry essentials. If you need to get some work done, a side zipper lets you access your laptop without having to open the top flap.

PHP 5,999

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NOVEMBER 2020

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JBL Boombox 2 Bluetooth speaker

The JBL Boombox 2 is JBL’s homage to portable cassette music players, but with a futuristic take both in external appearance and audio performance. This is backed by the fact that the Boombox 2 is the loudest Boombox JBL has made to date. The JBL Boombox has 24-hour music playback, and a built-in power bank, to charge your other devices. It is IPX7-rated and can be submerged in water up to three feet deep.

PHP 23,999

JBL Club One

Bluetooth Headphone The JBL Club One is the brand’s new Bluetooth headphones inspired by touring musicians. The Club Ones has High Res certified graphene drives, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC), and SilentNow listening capabilities which makes for a better audio experience. The JBL Club One is only the first line of headphones to use Harman’s Personi-Fi technology which allows users to customize and calibrate the headphones to their music preferences.

PHP19,599

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JBL Xtreme 3

Bluetooth Speaker The JBL Xtreme-series has gotten an upgrade. The JBL Xtreme 3 has four improved drivers plus two JBL Bass Radiators. These Bluetooth speakers have a 15-hour battery life and come with a built-in power bank that charges via USB-C. The JBL Xtreme 3 can also be connected to speakers compatible with the JBL PartyBoost app for an amplified music experience.

PHP 16,999

JBL Tune 125TWS

True Wireless Earbuds The JBL Tune 120TWS are among the new True Wireless Earbuds launched from the brand. According to JBL, the Tune 125TWS is the first JBL product to feature the new Fast Pair feature which allows the earbuds to connect to a music source right after they’re taken out of the case. These earbuds provide 8-hours of playback and an additional 24-hours with the charging case. The Tune 125TWS also has a range of features for ease of use such as hands-free calls, a built-in mic, and controls on each bud.

PHP 5,999

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NOVEMBER 2020

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Xiaomi Mi10T Pro Smartphone

The Xiaomi Mi10T Pro marks a new age for mobile photography, as Xiaomi fitted with a powerful 108-megapixel rear shooter.

Aside from the main camera, the Mi10T is equipped with a 13-megapixel secondary ultra-wide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The Xiaomi Mi10T is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with Adreno 650 graphics.

The 6.67-inch FHD+ screen is also the fastest on a Xiaomi phone with a 144Hz refresh rate and supports AdaptiveSync up to 144Hz.

PHP 24,990 (8GB + 256GB)

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Medic Hair

Hair Loss Solution Specifically formulated for men, Medic Hair is a dihyrotestosterone (DHT) blocker using natural ingredients to promote male hair growth. Converted from testosterone with the help of the 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) enzyme, DHT can bind to hair follicles in the scalp preventing them from receiving essential nutrients to support healthy hair growth. Created by Nutriplus Laboratories Corporation and FDA-appoved, Medic Hair’s all-natural saw palmetto extract helps in blocking the activity of the 5-AR enzyme, thus controlling DHT production and reducing its impact on the hair follicles. Medic Hair also contains ginseng extract to stimulate hair follicle regrowth by nourishing the scalp from within. Ginseng also offers additional benefits like reduction of stress levels, improvement of scalp health, antibacterial properties to fight off dandruff, and preventing the occurrence of grey hair. With regular use, expect to see visible results in two to four months.

PHP 1,790 a 90ml bottle

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NOVEMBER 2020

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Philips TAT1215

True Wireless Earbuds The Philips TAT1215 is Philips’ brand true wireless earbuds that offer users up to 18 hours of battery life. The Philips TAT1215 has a snug and lightweight design that lets you rock in total comfort. It also has soft interchangeable ear-tips that will give users a perfect fit. The earbuds last for 6 hours of music playback but go on for another twelve if you include juice from the case. These buds are also IPX4 water resistance which makes it the perfect workout buddy.

PHP 3,499

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iPhone 12 Pro Max Smartphone

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the flagship model of the new iPhone 12 series. It features a 6.7-inch Super Retina display XDR covered by the brand’s own Ceramic Shield coating which they claim is tougher than any smartphone glass. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is running on Apple’s new A14 Bionic chip, the first 5nm chip in the industry. At the back is the triple camera setup and the LiDAR sensor. At the front is still the selfie camera as well as all the sensors for Apple’s own Face Unlock.

From PHP 68,990

iPhone 12 Mini Smartphone

The iPhone 12 Mini is the smallest among the new iPhones. It features 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display coated with the same Ceramic Shield found on the other iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 12 Mini also features the A14 Bionic chip, Apple’s newest and fastest processor. Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Mini only has a dual camera setup at the back.

From PHP 43,990

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NOVEMBER 2020

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SOG PowerAccess Multi-tool

Those in need of a rugged multi-tool can end their search now. The SOG PowerAccess is the perfect companion for when you’re out in the field, taking care of business. With more than just the basic knife, pliers, and openers, its 18 tools are capable of handling many of the tasks you’d need a much larger kit to tackle. The cherry on top is SOG’s proprietary compound leverage system that uses a clever gearing system to provide greater clamping force on the pliers, as well as a ¼-inch driver holder for commonly available driver heads.

Built like a tank, this is a tool you’re going to want to have clipped to your work jeans.

PHP 1,750

SOG Q4 Multi-tool

A refined multitool for people who want functionality without the bulk, or “workshop” exterior, the SOG Q4 is a great companion for the urban EDC-carrying individual who wants a sleek and discreet way to carry a multi-tool. With 10+12 tools including the individual ¼-inch driver bits and a ratcheting screwdriver, this is the perfect companion for lighter work around the house, office, or car. Its clever folding design lets it fold straight, for a slim pocket carry, and sturdy metal handles so it looks great while lasting basically forever.

PHP 4,500

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KTM Duke 200 Motorcycle

With standout looks and best-in-class features, the new-generation KTM Duke 200 stands head and shoulders above the competition. The new Duke is now lighter, while maintaining the punchy 200cc engine that has given this machine the reputation it enjoys. This generation of Duke 200 retains everything that made the previous model special, including the halogen lamp, LED light, alloy swing arm, light torque and WP suspension. It’s now also equipped with ABS for a smoother, safer ride, though if you want to have a little extra fun, that can be disabled on the rear tire in SuperMoto mode.

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NOVEMBER 2020

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GADGETS LAB

Lenovo Legion 7i Reviewed by Gabriel Pe

When I was assigned the Lenovo Legion Y740 last year, it was undeniably one of the best for 2019. A year later, Lenovo has released the Legion 7i, the successor of the Y740. And it is everything that you hope it would be.

DESIGN The Lenovo Legion 7i takes some of the design cues from its predecessor, the Lenovo Legion Y740. It has a nice metallic finish like the previous model and now features RGB lighting throughout its body.

Opening the laptop you’ll be greeted by its revamped keyboard, and 15.6-inch FHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh rate. The keyboard is a welcome change, now featuring a dedicated numpad, instead of the macro keys.

Ports-wise, the Lenovo Legion has a myriad of ports including Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, an ethernet port which I greatly appreciated.

HARDWARE The Lenovo Legion 7i is powered by an Intel Core i7-10750H which is a 6-core 12-thread processor, paired with a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q. This combo makes the Lenovo Legion 7i a beast, chewing through triple-A games on ultra-high settings.

Aside from the processor and graphics combo, our unit had 1TB of NVMe SSD storage, 16GB (2x 8GB) of DDR-4 RAM, which can be user-expanded if you want to in the future.

One of the welcome changes from the Lenovo Legion 7i is the keyboard layout. The Legion 7i removes the macro keys from the Legion Y740 which moved almost the whole keyboard to the right. The dedicated numpad is also a welcome experience for someone like me who needs to punch numbers from time to time. The Legion 7i’s keyboard uses the same TrueStrike keyboard from last year which is great to type on.

USER EXPERIENCE If I can sum up my experience with Legion 7i in a word, it’s heaven.

Gaming and standard media consumption is just taken to a new level with the Legion 7i. Made for

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hardcore gamers, the Legion 7i does tear through some of the heavy load games that I tested on it.

Games such as Assassins Creed Odyssey ran a solid 57 fps at ultra-high, while Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint ran at 60 fps with the highest settings.

Thanks to the RTX 2070 Super, the laptop was also able to run games with ray tracing. I tried out Control with the settings maxed out and ray tracing on, and it ran at around 44 to 60 fps.

Where the Legion 7i shines is for esports titles where they can fully use the 240Hz refresh rate. Dota 2 ran about 104 to 120 fps. Valorant reached about 224 fps during skirmishes, while Fall Guys reached 235 fps.

All these games were at highest setting.

I also tried streaming with the Legion 7i, which had pretty decent results, about to 60p videos without really breaking a sweat.

One of the only negatives I found was the laptop’s cooling. After a long gaming session, the laptop does get hot if you don’t set its cooling to Performance. The heat isn’t that minor either. I found that it was a bit uncomfortable to type on it after I played some heavy titles such as Control and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.

The redeeming factor in Lenovo’s thermal plan was the fan noise, or rather the lack of it. In quiet mode you could barely hear the fans, in performance mode the fans are a bit audible but with music playing on the Dolby Atmos speakers, you could barely hear it.

competitor, you’d be surprised that it is on the cheaper side. Overall, I’d definitely say that this laptop is a great buy especially this coming holiday season.

SPECIFICATIONS: • Display: 15.6” FHD (1920x1080) WVA 500nits Anti-glare, 240Hz, 100% sRGB, HDR400, Dolby Vision • Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H (6C / 12T, 2.6 / 5.0GHz, 12MB) • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q 8GB GDDR6 • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD • RAM: 16GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933 • Connectivity: Wi-Fi: 11ax, 2x2, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet • Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C (Thunderbolt, DP, USB 3.1, HDMI) / 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 / 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 / 1 x HDMI 2,0 / 1 x RJ45 Ethernet / 1 x USB 3.1 Type C / 1 x Headphone Jack • Weight: 2.25kg • Dimension: 360mm x 259mm x 19.9mm What’s Hot: • Portable • Great Keyboard • Lots of Ports

• RGB for days • 240Hz refresh rate

What’s Not: • Does get a bit hot

Battery-wise, the Legion 7i is a battery chugger, from my experience the laptop did run for about 2 to 3 hours in light use on battery, but barely 2 hours when you want to game on it, which is the same as most gaming laptops in the market. The included charger does fill her up fast, needing just an hour for a full 100 percent.

VALUE The Lenovo Legion 7i retails for PHP 134,995, which is a bit on the expensive side. But comparing its specs and price to that of its

BOTTOMLINE The Lenovo Legion 7i is one hell of a laptop

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Vivo TWS Neo Reviewed by Gabriel Pe

Along with the Vivo X50 series launch, Vivo also introduced its first True Wireless Earbuds, the Vivo TWS Neo.

DESIGN Vivo’s first True Wireless earbuds have a pretty standard look, but as they say, don’t fix what ain’t broke. The earbuds is a half-in ear design that reminisces Apple’s first generation of Earpods.

There’s not much on the earbuds themselves except the touch-slide controls on both of them.

If there’s one word I could use to describe the case, it is tic-tac like in terms of shape. It may be bigger compared to some TWS cases, but thanks to the slim form-factor you can easily place this in your pocket. You can find the pairing button on the front of the case, while the USB Type-C connector is located at the bottom.

HARDWARE The Vivo TWS Neo has a 14.6mm driver on each bud which provides pretty good audio. The touch controls on each bud control the volume, play and pause, and accept or reject calls. The call quality is also pretty good thanks to the AI noise cancellation and dual-microphone in each bud.

Vivo has also equipped their first TWS earbuds with some great features such as Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, AptX Adaptive, ear detection, and Dual Channel Transmission 2.0 which lowers latency to 88ms. If you’re also using a Vivo smartphone, you can access Vivo’s DeepX Stereo Sound Effects, Vivo’s own sound system which enhances audio depending on you’re preferred setting.

Battery life for the Vivo TWS Neo was also pretty decent, I found that they last me a whole week of mixed heavy and light use. The Vivo TWS Neo was light coming in at a mere 4.7g for each bud and 45.7g for the case.

USER EXPERIENCE I have to come clean here, I am not a huge fan of semi-in-ear earphones. They have their own quirks that I just can’t appreciate, but I won’t take that against the Vivo TWS Neo. The Vivo TWS Neo came just in time when I was just about to return to school to take up law. As part of the new normal, classes have been conducted online via online conferencing apps like Zoom.

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This demanded a need for audio solutions that offer not only great sound but also great microphones. Luckily the Vivo TWS Neo readily took on the challenge, providing clear audio both for me and my professors and blockmates.

be a bit pricey earbuds but it can back it up with some of its features.

Another great thing about the Vivo TWS Neo is its weight and battery life. The light weight of the buds made it the perfect companion for online conferencing. The Vivo TWS Neo’s battery lasted me about two to three days of heavy on and off use. The earbuds were also extremely fast when it comes to charging needing only about an hour and a half for a charge of battery.

The Vivo TWS Neo was also incredibly light, coming in at just 4.7g per bud so it was not that straining when used for a long time—more on this later.

• Wearing Style: Half In-Ear True Wireless • Speaker size: 14.2mm • Battery life: 4.5 hours for each bud, up to 22.5 hours with the charging case • Weight: 4.7g (buds), 45.7g (Case) • Noise Cancellation: AI Noise Cancellation • Microphone: 2 beam foaming microphones • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 • Connections: USB Type-C, Instant Connection, Dual Channel Transmission 2.0, AI Dynamic Low Latency • Controls: Slide touch controls, AI Assistant, Answer or Reject Call.

• Features: Built-in wear detection, • IP Rating: IP54

Connection with the Vivo TWS Neo was also great, The Bluetooth 5.2 made so that I was still connected to my phone on the second floor even though I had gone to refill my bottle of water. Touch controls on the buds also made it convenient for me to adjust the volume or switch through my playlist during study sessions.

But as much as it was good, I have to say; the semi-in-ear design is just isn’t for me. I have small ears, with even smaller earholes—the major enemy for semi-in-ear earphones. The Vivo TWS Neo was comfortable at first, but after using it for a few hours it would become a bit uncomfortable for me.

Another problem I had with the Vivo TWS Neo was the lackluster bass and the low volume.

I’m the type of person who wants to listen to music and other media as loud as possible.

While the Vivo TWS Neo was decently loud, it failed to reach my expectation of loudness. As part of that, other aspects of the device such as the lows, mids, and highs didn’t quite reach my preferred listening levels. If you have a Vivo phone you can access the Vivo DeepX stereo effects which give you three different stereo sound effects.

VALUE Coming it at PHP 4999 the Vivo TWS Neo has some tough competition in the market. It may

SPECIFICATIONS:

What’s Hot: • DeepX sound system • Instantly connects with vivo phones • Great battery life • Light earbuds What’s Not: • The fit is not for everyone • A bit pricey • Volume is not the loudest • Bass is lacking even in Bass mode

BOTTOMLINE The Vivo TWS Neo is a decent pair of earbuds with its myriad of extra features.

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Huawei MateBook 14 Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

A change of scenery can do a lot to kick one’s creative brain into gear. For that to happen, you need a good laptop.

DESIGN The MateBook 14 is clad in a matte gray metal shell with a very understated Huawei logo on the lid. The edges are smooth, and I never thought I’d say this about a laptop, but it’s actually really pleasant to hold. Cracking the device open reveals a gorgeous screen protected by glass and surrounded by wonderfully thin bezels on the top and sides, and the slightest chin at the bottom. There’s a power button on the top right corner, just above the black, backlit keyboard, and an absolutely massive trackpad just below the spacebar. There aren’t even any speaker grilles visible to wreck the lines.

HARDWARE The simple, elegant design language is something we see a lot of in laptops of late, and while Huawei does it exceptionally well, that’s not what maks the MateBook 14 stand out. Under the gorgeous metal and glass is a Ryzen 5 4600 processor—the same one that has been responsible for Ryzen’s meteoric rise to the top. The 3.0 GHz processor is paired with 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. That’s a lot of power in a package that’s as impossibly thin and light as this. There’s even NFC for connecting your phone and casting the screen on the laptop live.

The display is a gorgeous 14-inch 2160 x 1440 deal with a 3:2 aspect ratio (more on that later).

With 300 nits of brightness, low blue light, and a 178-degree viewing angle, it’s easy on the eyes, with bright, accurate colors for crisp images. It also has Radeon integrated graphics, so if you intend to do some gaming on the side, it’s actually going to be happy to oblige. The camera is cleverly hidden among the function keys as a pop-up button—one press and it pops into position with a satisfying little click. There are of course also built-in mics (four of them actually) that help with the whole virtual meeting/class situation we’re all in.

USER EXPERIENCE Right off the bat, I’m going to say I’m in love with the 3:2 aspect ratio. As a writer, this just makes long walls of text, and websites that much more correctlooking and for some reason, more pleasant to work on. One wouldn’t imagine the effect of such a seemingly minute detail to be drastic, but there’s something about the wasted space on the usual 16:9 that doesn’t happen on 3:2, and it just makes writing and reading better. I’m a believer now.

Being a journalist, I pay particular attention to the keyboard. I do understand compromises have to be made to get a device like this to be as thin and 24

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gorgeous as it looks—compromises like key travel.

That being said, while the keys on the MateBook are shallow indeed, they offer a decent tactile bump at the end of travel, so you don’t hammer on the keys too hard. It’s not my favorite feeling, but I had no problem writing about 5000-6000 words in one sitting on it, so I can’t really complain. Honestly, that large trackpad takes away any ill feelings I had about the keyboard.

The camera is a cool implementation put in place to give the screen the super small bezels it has. In practice though, since it’s so low, I found myself having to raise the laptop on a stand to get a better view of my face. It’s not a big deal to be honest, and the quality was reported to be quite fine, it’s just that it shoots from a low POV. There are also only two USB ports, though you have an HDMI port, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

Performance-wise, let’s be honest here. I would be absolutely surprised if a laptop with specs like this had any trouble dealing with all the usual daily things an average user does. It did not disappoint.

Meetings and presentations were completed smoothly. Because of the volume of work that has inexplicably appeared during this work from home era, there are times I’ve had all of 25 tabs open across three browser windows, along with a zoom meeting and a video in the background (yes, I do have an attention deficit disorder), and the MateBook 14 didn’t even break a sweat. This multitasking performance is a combination of what Ryzen is able to do, as well as the generous 16GB of RAM in there. Again, this isn’t a big gaming laptop, it’s a small, thin, light, very portable one.

From that meeting, I switched over to Audacity to start editing a podcast, with the same number of windows open and no trouble at all.

VALUE At PHP 54,999 this laptop is a great deal. Superb everyday performance, great design, and even some light gaming! Whether you’re a desk jockey or student, it’s a great pick—doubly so when we can start going outside, and its thin, light design can really shine.

SPECIFICATIONS: • Dimensions: 307.5 x 223.8 x 15.9 mm • Weight: 1.49 kg • Display: 14 inches, 2160 x 1440, 185 PPI, 3:2 aspect Ratio • Processor: • RAM: 16 GB GDDR4 2666MHz • Storage: 512 GB SSD • Graphics: Integrated Radeon • Battery: 56 Wh • Speakers: 2x2W • Microphone: 4 • Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 1 x 2, USB-C x 1, 3.5 mm headset and microphone 2-in-1 jack x 1, HDMI x 1

What’s Hot: • Great performance, specially for the price • Useful 3:2 aspect ratio • Gorgeous design

What’s Not: • Shallow keys • Webcam placement

Not even Overwatch, at perfectly acceptable medium settings could cause it problems. It was humming right along at upwards of 60 FPS, though the system temp did hit a concerning 90 degrees, with the fans going at full tilt. Overall though, very impressive considering gaming wasn’t at all what this little notebook was meant to do. Outside of gaming, I was able to squeeze out more than eight hours of battery life from the MateBook— extremely impressive given the size, and reasonably close to the claimed 10 hours. It also gets to 60 percent charge in an hour plugged in.

Huawei was also nice enough to send a nice bag that they claimed was the perfect match for the laptop, and I have to agree. The Huawei Classic Backpack, with its elegant nylon and leather construction goes excellently with the minimalist aesthetic of the MateBook 14.

BOTTOMLINE For working/studying from home, and maybe a little bit of play in between, this little laptop is pretty hard to beat. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

The laptop is an indispensable tool in this era. Whether you’re working at home, and want to move around, or are already out and about, the ability to be able to open it up and just get to work. Lenovo sent us the Slim 7, with AMD’s new Ryzen 7 processor. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

DESIGN The Slim 7 has a small footprint, which I really appreciated. Because of the size of most of the laptops I use, it has ironically been a long time since I’ve used a computer on my lap. The Slim 7 though was right at home, and the light weight makes for a comfortable experience. It’s got a metal shell done in a deep gray, which gives it that serious, understated look that makes it fit in at any venue. Open it up, and it’s just a bit busier.

The 14-inch display is surrounded by reasonably thin bezels with the webcam peeking through a little hole at the top. The keyboard is backlit and quite brightly so, with speaker grilles on either side. There’s a short, wide trackpad just below the spacebar which is noticeably smoother than the rest of the frame, making it easily distinguishable, and nothing else. The power button is located on the right edge, just beside the microSD card reader and two USB ports. The opposite edge has a full-sized HDMI port, and two USB-C ports, with one serving as the charging input. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack for your audio needs.

HARDWARE The Slim 7 runs a Ruzen 7 4000 series processor-the same one that put AMD in the lead of the processor game, and a superb balance of performance and price. This is mated with a generous 16GB of RAM, and integrated Radeon graphics, which packs quite a punch. Our review unit had a full-HD panel which delivers 300 nits of brightness, and is paired with dolby-tuned speakers for quite an immersive entertainment experience. It also has a battery that’s rated for up to 14 hours of use, so you don’t have to experience charger anxiety.

USER EXPERIENCE The pandemic has pretty much forced me to stay at the desk at home, since that’s where the desktop is currently situated. This isn’t always ideal, as sometimes, a change of scenery is necessary to fill page after page with words. I do have a laptop, but it’s far to heavy to just pick up and take elsewhere, and it doesn’t really have the best battery life. Fortunately, the Lenovo Slim 7 was sent to us for review, and I have to say, I’ve loved every minute of it.

Since I’ve been with my gaming laptop for some time now, I have forgotten just how thin, light, and functional laptops have gotten. The Lenovo, with its AMD Ryzen 7 400 series is testament to www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

that. While it’s almost half the weight of my personal gaming lappie, I found it wasn’t lacking in 99 percent of the tasks I asked of it.

The very first thing I loved was how wonderfully portable it is. At a hair over 3 pounds, it really is quite pleasant to use it on one’s lap. It also helps that the thermals are not bad. It get a little warm under heavier, non-gaming loads, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Gaming of course changes that, but if that’s your goal, maybe head over to a desk.

The screen is also vibrant and sharp, letting me get quite precise in stitching audio files together for our podcast. Audio quality was likewise understandably great, and while I’d still use headphones for a final master, the built-in speakers did a great job with clarity—much much better than I would have expected from laptop speakers, and good enough to forget about headphones when watching videos.

As for performance, I am an extremely multitaskingheavy person. I never close tabs, programs or windows, and just alt-tab into each one as my extremely scrambled brain sees necessary. The Ryzen 7 processor on the Slim 7 didn’t seem to care in the least. From multiple browser winds, each with multiple tabs and streams, to my DAW, downloads, and OBS, it didn’t seem to mind my particular usage habits. Again, for just how thin and light it is, it really brings the goods.

Rendering audio files (I haven’t really learned video, but I’m working on it!) was impressively fast, a testament to the compute power that the processor brings to the table. Having used it more than a few times for this purpose, I’d not hesitate to take this out with me as mysole device for recording and producing podcasts, from the recording, all the way to uploading. Impressive. For general desk jockey work it won’t even notice the load. Another thing worthy of note is that the keyboard is quite pleasant, even compared to larger laptops. There’s good travel, a nice, tactile feel, lots of room between keys.

All in all, a great keyboard for long typing sessions.

When I am finally done with work I still like to kick back with a little gaming. Overwatch remains our poison, and despite its integrated graphics and its general form factor, the Slim 7 was more than up to the task. With the correct peripherals plugged in (a claw controller, gaming mouse, and wireless headset), I was quite comfortable with playing on this 14-incher. It holds a steady 60 FPS at medium settings, and while it does get quite hot, the fans are able to manage, and it doesn’t seem to threaten to shut down, even after over an hour of playing.

Battery life is equally impressive, going well past a full workday without having to plug in. Charged up, and without too much of a load, say, regular office work, I actually wouldn’t be too afraid to leave the charger at home.

VALUE The Slim 7 delivers great bang for the buck. At a starting price of PHP 49,995, you get the Ryzen 7 4000-series processor, 16GB of RAM, great battery life, and even some gaming thrown in. All that plus great entertainment potential makes this a prime candidate for anyone looking for great value with great performance.

SPECIFICATIONS: • • • • • • • •

Dimensions: 12.62” x 8.18” x 0.58” Weight: 3.08 lbs Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4800 RAM: 16GB Storage: 500GB SSD Display: 14.0 inches, FHD IPS 1920x1080 Graphics: AMD Radeon Integrated Battery: 65 WH

What’s Hot: • Superb performance • Great battery life • Impressive price What’s Not: • Nothing to see here

BOTTOMLINE In the market for a new laptop to keep you company as you work or study from home? This is a great option.

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SYNOLOGY DS220j Reviewed by Maribelle Alba

Our work processes at GADGETS involve a lot of file sharing.

First, there’s the document file of the article. Then there are the accompanying photos and other supporting graphic elements that our creatives need, to put together the key visuals. There are also footages that our video team edits to produce our semi-weekly digital newscasts. To manage all these, our team has relied on NAS devices as well as cloud storage for a smooth and efficient workflow. We check out the new Synology DS220j to see how well it performs.

DESIGN The DS220j is a very compact unit, and the white plastic casing is a refreshing change from the usual drab black of most NAS devices. Instead of the usual slide-in drive bays, the two halves of the casing cleverly pull apart to reveal the two drive slots inside. In front is a column of LED indicator lights to show Status, LAN, Disk1, and Disk 2. At the bottom is the On/Off switch.

Much of the back is occupied by the circular fan vent, below which are the 1GbE LAN port, two USB 3.0 ports, the power supply jack, and the reset pinhole.

HARDWARE The DS220j is powered by a 64-bit 1.4GHz quadcore Realtek RTD1296 processor complemented

by DDR4 512MB memory. As mentioned earlier, it has two drive bays that can accommodate 3.5” SATA hard drives or 2.5” drives with optional Type-C disk holders. Each drive can have a maximum 16TB capacity, so depending on your requirements (and budget), you can have up to a total of 32TB on your personal cloud storage.

USER EXPERIENCE

matter of following the steps to complete the setup tasks.

The DS220j is also ideal for entry-level users who need to backup, store, access, and share thousands of photos, videos, music, and other data safely and securely across multiple locations and devices. If you’ve signed up to a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive, the DS220j offers the same convenience, except that you don’t need to pay a monthly subscription fee, and you don’t need to worry about losing your files in case there’s a network glitch or some other catastrophe.

With the DS220j, Synology has also built in a host of useful functionalities to make file management faster and more intuitive. The powerful Disk Station Manager (DSM) NAS operating system has apps to help you configure the drives, create shared folders, and have a multimedia server. In particular, the Synology Moments package is a photo management utility that lets you upload, sort, organize, access, share, and backup your photos and videos quickly and conveniently.

VALUE

Perhaps the one thing that most impressed me about the DS220j is how fast it is able to accomplish file transfers. Backing up a folder containing 15GB worth of files took only 15 minutes, definitely faster than my current NAS.

To set up the Synology DS220j, you actually need to get the hard drives on top of the disk station casing. Searching on Lazada, prices of the DS220j start at around PHP 12,000 and, depending on the brand and capacity of the drives you choose, the entire kit can range from PHP 20,000 to over PHP 30,000.

As the device does not come with hard drives pre-installed and I didn’t have any fresh drives on hand, I simply swapped out a couple of drives from my current NAS and popped them in. It was pretty much plug and play, with the DS220j showing up quickly on my network.

For many, this could be a steep initial outlay, but if you need a reliable back-up storage device for your files, the one-time expense will be worth it as you won’t need to pay the monthly/yearly subscription fees of cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, DropBox, iCloud, etc.

For those starting with a totally fresh unit, you can download the Synology Assistant on your PC or the DS Finder app on your smartphone to quickly locate your device. It’s then a simple

It’s hard to put a price on the peace of mind that comes from being able to manage all of your data in one central location, have access to your files anytime and from anywhere, share data and

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photos across multiple devices, and avoid losing precious files with multiple backup solutions.

These functionalities truly make the Synology DS220j a worthy investment.

SPECIFICATIONS: • CPU: Realtek RTD1296 64-bit 4-core 1.4GHz • Memory: 512MB DDR4 • Drive bays: 2 x 3.5” SATA; type-C disk holder optional for 2.5” SATA • External ports: RJ-45 1GbE LAN; 2 USB 3.0 • Dimensions (HxWxD): 165 x 100 x 225.5mm • Weight: 0.88kg • System fan: 92x92mm; modes - full-speed, cool, quiet, low-power • Power supply: 60W 100V~240V AC

What’s Hot: • Compact • Superfast

What’s Not: • Does not come with drives built-in • Requires basic technical know-how

BOTTOMLINE Perfect for digital pack rats who can’t bear to hit the delete button.

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COVER STORY

the season for (self) giving

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e’ve all made it this far, and that’s plenty of reason to be happy! Now, as the year starts to wrap up, and the sales start to pour in, it’s time to consider giving yourself a little treat!

We;ve put together some things you might want to consider if you’re looking for a little gift for yourself this year. Go ahead, you’re totally worth it!

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DIY GIFTS Words by Ren Alcantara

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k, just to clear things up this early, if you’re looking for gift ideas that involve lots of cardboard, recycling, and quaint, shabby-chic, this isn’t the article for you, sorry. This article is about treats you can give yourself if you’re into making stuff. There are of course essentials that every DIY-er should have in their arsenal, but we’re here to give that little extra that you might appreciate, just to make your do-it-yourself adventures a little easier, and a lot more fun.

TS-80P Soldering iron If you’re at all into DIY electronics, you’re going to want a soldering iron. Sure you can head over to the nearest hardware store and get something cheap, and that will work, but it’s not going to make your job particularly easy. If you want something that lasts, is super convenient, and much friendlier to use, pick yourself up the TS-80P soldering iron. This little pen-sized powerhouse packs a potent punch.

Running off of a USB source with QC 3.0 compatibility, you can get going with a wall charger, or even a powerbank, on the default firmware. You can even flash custom firmware for more options powering it. Yes, it can take custom firmware. It also has variable temperature settings, a rest mode, auto sleep, and removable tips that can be replaced

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easily and safely even when hot, thanks to a barrelmounted ejector.

Don’t let the 30W output fool you. From a dead start, it hits 370 degrees C in under 15 seconds. It comes with a great USB-C connector that’s heat-resistant and super light, a grounding strap so you can safely use a wall charger (though I much prefer using a power bank on my older, but essentially same TS-80), and a compatible wall plug, so you can get right on it. It’s small, usable in the field, and offers more than enough power to handle small to medium soldering jobs (I’ve done XT60 connectors with mine—no trouble at all). Really, it’s everything you’d want in a home gamer setup, and you can take it with you wherever!

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Silicone soldering mat

Jeweler’s loupe or handheld magnifier

Auto-ranging multimeter

While not quite the game-changer the TS-80/ TS-80P is, a silicone mat is a small QOL upgrade that, if you haven’t gotten yet, you’ll wonder why not. These mats roll up for storage, are wonderfully heat-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about your desk getting messed up, and some models even have little pockets for screws, components, and other odds and ends. It’s also great at keeping your project from slip-sliding away while you work, and as a bonus, can be had in colors that contrast any little pieces that you might otherwise not see easily.

When squinting at small components, it’s time to call in a little magnification. An illuminated magnifier make short work of looking at tiny components to make sense of what’s going on. These can be helpful when you’re trying to identify SMDs, tracing connections on boards, or checking to see if something let the magic smoke out. There’s no shame in using it, and it makes the whole process just that much easier for you.

Yes, you can get away with a really cheap digital meter that makes you set the correct range when you’re measuring, but that’s an extra step that slows the process down, and if you’re troubleshooting, it complicates matters further. Treat yourself and score an auto-ranging meter from a decent brand, and you’re going to thank yourself in the long run. It can be as fancy as your needs and budget allow, but as with any tool related to diagnosing problems, getting something that lets you find the issue rather than just adding to the unknowns is well worth its weight in gold.

Remember not to go overboard with magnification.

The lowest you can get away with is going to be much less of a struggle to use while still offering great results.

Xiaomi Wowstick For small jobs, this is a great little tool to have. Whether you’re opening up a laptop for repair, or digging into an audio system to salvage parts, you’re going to be faced with a lot of screws. When you’re processing a lot of things at once, or if you’re constantly going back in to do some tweaks, using a precision screwdriver can cause your hands to cramp up. This little electric precision screwdriver comes with many of the more

common, useful heads, so you don’t have to worry about what it is you’re trying to crack into. It also has plenty of torque to bust stubborn screws free and can be used as a manual driver if you really want to give it what for. It comes with a nice case, as well as with storage for all the bits that they throw in there, as well as a base, so your handy electric screwdriver has a permanent home on your desk.

Power supply module For a longer time than I care to admit, I was using a usb wall charger, a stripped USB cable, and a buck/ boost converter for my desktop tinkering. Yes, it was a savage existence, and while it was cheap, it had its own set of problems. While I appreciate those days and how they taught me to make do with what I had, a cheap power supply module online plus a regular laptop wall charger was a huge step up. Essentially a digital buck-boost converter with adjustable current and a display, it’s simple but does the job exceedingly

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well. Apart from very granular control over voltage and current settings, everything was much simpler—I even got around to making a case for it as a side-project. The case has since fallen apart, but that first power supply still works, and to this day, I use it to power my DIY LED worklight. These modules are cheap, plenty good enough for the simple stuff, and work more or less as advertised. Thy let you do a lot of things much more precisely, and can even be used as a semi-permanent, if expensive power supply for other projects.

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productivity wishlist Words by Gabriel Pe

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t’s that time of the year — the tree is out, stockings and decorations are hung. All that’s left is the wishlist to be filled.

During the last couple of months, working has been warped in a new dimension, no thanks to the pandemic. For a lot of Filipinos, working has slowly blended with their at-home life. This new setup has sparked a need for new productivity tools to help us navigate our new lives.

With that, here are some of the productivity gadgets in my personal wishlist.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Samsung, in my opinion, has slowly leveled out the playing field in the tablet wars. The Galaxy Tab S7 is definitely the brand’s best tablet yet. It has a 120 Hz 11-inch IPS-LCD screen with 1600 x 2560 resolution and HDR10+ capabilities. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor with an Adreno 650 graphics.

What makes the Galaxy Tab S7 the perfect productivity tablet is Samsung’s new Dex implementation, with the tablet able to run Dex without the need for a separate screen or a hub.

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Dex transforms your Samsung device to a recognizable Windows-like UI. Budget alternative: Apple iPad 8th Gen. The 8th Gen Apple iPad is a great budget tablet option thanks to its new A12 Bionic chip and a larger 10.2-inch screen. The new processor allows you to edit HD videos straight on your tablet. The Apple Pencil capabilities also make it the perfect companion for artists, while the Apple Keyboard and the new iPadOS makes it a great laptop replacement for light users.

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Apple Watch 6 Smartwatches have slowly evolved throughout the years to the point that it’s now practical to own one thanks to the myriad of new sensors and features fitted in them. Apple’s Apple Watch has slowly developed over time to become one of the leading smartwatches in the market. The sixth-generation Apple Watch is now equipped with a Blood Oxygen (SpO2) sensor with the same formula that made it successful in the first place.

Why would you want a smartwatch for productivity?

For me, it helps keep my phone down with notifications showing up on my wrist, I don’t have to place my phone directly beside me. The Windows phone app allows me to stay on my laptop and

reply to messages I see on the watch. Add a great wireless headset and you can even answer calls while listening to great tunes all without the unnecessary distraction of your phone. Plus, smartwatches also offer exercise routine, which I unfortunately always forego.

Budget Alternative: Huawei Watch Fit Huawei’s Watch Fit is a great budget alternative for smartwatches. The PHP 5,000 watch offers a large screen with some of the great features you can find on the flagship watches such as the Blood Oxygen s (SPO2) sensor. The Huawei Watch Fit was really meant for the active person (which is not me), but it still has the necessary notification functions that will keep your phone down for sure.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming The Bose QuietComfort 35 II has long been a top recommendation for a great wireless headset with active noise canceling feature. The newly released Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming has the same great audio performance now with some features dedicated to gaming fans. Included in the box is a detachable mic that’s Discord and TeamSpeak certified. Also in the box is an optional USB controller for PC which allows users to adjust the volume easily.

Honestly, I’ve been dying to get my hands on a really great pair of Headphones with a great active noise cancellation feature. As someone who prefers

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra I am a huge advocate of working on the go, but I am also an advocate for working light. Being a tech writer, I need a lot of gear when attending events: a great camera, a laptop for writing, and a recorder for interviews. This is where the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes in. It has a great camera (goodbye bulky DSLR), a powerful enough processor to help write the article, and a ton of other features courtesy of the S Pen, plus it’s 5G ready, for fast internet access in areas where it is available.

I was torn between the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy Fold 2. The Fold 2 does offer bigger screen real estate when in tablet mode, but the reputation

Budget Alternative: TaoTronics SoundSurge 85 ANC After scouring the internet for a decent pair of cans with ANC, many recommended the TaoTronics SoundSurge 85 ANC. These cans have ANC, 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-Type C charging, and a 40H rated playback time. While my heart is already set with the Bose, I am genuinely curious to try out the SoundSurge 85 ANC since these cans only cost about PHP 3,500 which is way cheaper than the Bose.

of Samsung’s Note series ultimately tilted scales in its favor.

Budget Alternative: Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC From the ultimate smartphone to the budget alternative. The last couple of years have shown us that smartphones can be feature-packed without breaking the bank. The Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC is the perfect example of a feature-rich smartphone with great value. The 120 Hz refresh rate screen, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, and the 64-megapixel camera all while staying under the PHP 15K price point. Additionally, it has NFC which can be used for Google Pay which is really great in promoting digital payments in the country.

HP Spectre x360 If you’ve been reading some of our past issues you would know that I am crazy for this laptop. The HP Spectre x360 remains one of my top laptops for 2020, and if you’ve tried it you’ll definitely agree. It’s extremely portable weighing less than 1Kg, powerful thanks to the 10th Gen Intel Core i7-processor, and best of all it’s a convertible. HP even included its own Wacom certified stylus in the package. The portability and versatility of this laptop make it a great companion for anyone.

The HP Spectre also looks extremely incredible and feels premium. I can go on and on about how good

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multifunctioning gadgets, these cans definitely check all the boxes for me: gaming, Bluetooth, and above all else great sound.

this laptop was, but it’s definitely a see for yourself type of laptop.

Budget Alternative: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 If you don’t mind a bit heftier laptop with the same versatility and power as the HP Spectre x360 another great option is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 series. It has either up to a Ryzen 7 4000 processor or an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and blazing fast SSD storage. Lenovo also included a stylus within the package which is great for artists. All this at a reasonable price.

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Gaming wishlist Words by Ren Alcantara

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ith all the new-found time we’ve had of late, there has never been a better opportunity to catch up on some of our gaming pursuits. As the year comes to a close, we all deserve a little something as a reward for making it this far. We’ve got a few ideas for you here, depending on what you need and how much you want to treat yourself!

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A gaming chair It’s a scientific fact (not really) that gamers spend a third of their lives gaming. As the average person spends that much of their existence sleeping on their mattress and should therefore invest in a good one, life is too short for a gamer to be having their butt parked for hours in a bad seat.

Fortunately, there are more options than ever for chairs, and you can spend as little as PHP 10,000 on one that will be worlds better than the molded plastic chair you’re sitting on now.

You’re going to want to look for a model with lower back support, so you can at least make an attempt at keeping your posture in check even after long gaming sessions. If you are the intense kind of gamer and need the extra air flow to keep from sweating out all the Red Bull and Mountain

Dew, mesh is a great option, though in our experience, it’s really hard to beat the comfort of full, fabric-covered padding. We’re not fans of pleather for these kinds of seats, as that tends to stick, making for a rather uncomfortable dismount when the time for a bio break inevitably comes.

If you’re looking to keep cost down, you can even opt for models without wheels, which actually work just fine, though can be a little hard on your floor. Don’t skimp on hydraulic lifters though. You really want a bit of adjustability to get the perfect height to keep shoulder strain, upper back, and neck pain at bay. Trust us when we say you won’t regret this decision.

Wireless peripherals “Hardcore” gaming, by its mimicking actual combat, is a pretty intense experience. As such, the “high speed, low drag” philosophy also applies in the gear you use. The technology to make even the most latency-sensitive peripherals wirelessly perform as well as their wired counterparts has existed for years now, so there’s much less of a compelling reason to stick to wires.

To start with, consider a wireless gaming mouse.

All the big brands have gaming-grade wireless solutions for their mice which, in-game, perform with the same instant response time even FPS users need. I’ve used various ones myself over the years, and the convenience of not having a wire snaking, snagging, and dangling all over the place just can’t be expressed in words. Even the lightest tangle-resistant braided cable snags sometimes, and it can be a real pain when it happens. Switch to a wireless mouse with a high-speed connection (not Bluetooth yet, sorry), and we swear, you’ll never look back.

Next is a wireless headset. Wires for a headset can be anything from moderately inconvenient to absolutely infuriating, and nothing can compare with the bliss of being able to head to the fridge

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for a drink while still staying on comms and hearing the action. It’s a simple joy, but it makes you feel like you’re living in the future (which you totally are). Again, you have your pick of brands, styles, and extra features, everyone is sure to find something that fits the bill. As an additional bonus, wireless headsets will also help you with your day job, making the endless online meetings just a little less painful.

Again, you’re going to want a wireless headset that has its own USB dongle, as Windows doesn’t usually play nice with stereo Bluetooth output at the same time as mono input, and the dedicated wireless connection will ensure you get the split-second relay times you need for gaming purposes. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but try it, and thank us later.

You could also get a wireless keyboard, though the reasons for that are a little less compelling, as it tends not to move very much, and, well, that’s about it. I do have a mechanical Bluetooth keyboard, though when I use it for gaming, I plug it in. Still, it’s worth considering if you want to be as wire-free as possible.

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A Gaming Keypad This is a bit of a niche pick, but hear me out.

Because we’re spending so much time gaming, there are some upgrades that are greata, but you may not have considered in the past. Take the gaming keypad. It’s sole purpose is to be the left-hand control for your gaming sessions, so for right-handed users, that’s usually movement and interaction keys. It might seem silly to get something like this when a regular keyboard will do the job as well, but there’s more to it. You can get an ergonomic model that better fits your hand to prevent strain, have customizable controls that can be made to fit any title or genre of game

you’re playing, and all that for a reasonably small footprint.

If you do more than just gaming, for example, if you use drawing software, a DAW, or video editing software, it’s a great tool that can be configured with all manner of shortcuts to help make tasks a bit faster. I use a DAW a lot to edit our podcast, and the ability to place common commands right at my fingertips. You can find a lot of these from big brands such as Razer (I love my Orbweaver, and have swapped out the switches to better suit my needs), as well as smaller brands for less money.

Magnetic cables This is a cheap QOL upgrade that really has a huge impact on how you do things is a magnetic cable set. If, like me, you have several devices that have different styles of USB plugs, but connect to the same PC, you also likely have two or three cables hanging around your table. If, like me, you are a little obsessive about loose cables (see previous entry regarding wireless peripherals), then this is a thing you absolutely need.

With magnetic charging cables, you can keep the different heads plugged into the different devices,

and just keep one cable to share among them.

For example, at any given time, I have a wireless mechanical keyboard (USB-C), smart watch charging base and wireless headset (both micro USB), and an iPad Pro (lightning) as my second display. Rather than having one of each cable, I just snap the magnetic lead into whatever device needs it. Since all of them have internal batteries, I just swap things around and charge while other devices run on their internal batteries. Just make sure you get cables that transmit data as well as power, so you don’t lose any functionality.

Bluetooth USB dongle for the Switch We love our Nintendo switch, and have recently done a lot of gaming on it (we’re looking at you, Hades). There is, however, the small matter of controller drift on the joycons. We’ve tried everything short of replacing them, which we’re not really willing to do because we’re not made of money. A workaround is, fortunately, quite simple.

A purpose-built USB Bluetooth dongle for the switch costs under PHP 700 online. This now allows us to use our PS4 controller for the Switch, ridding us of the drift issue, and giving us a better, more ergonomic way to play Hades games on the Switch.

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There are of course the caveats that the only thing we’re sure will work is a PS4 controller, and the Switch will have to be docked for it to work, but those make for a small price to pay for the convenience of being able to enjoy this awesome little console with better controllers than it came with.

We hope this little list has given you a few ideas as to what you might want to get yourself just as the sales start to hit this year. We all deserve a little treat, so why not make it something useful?

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WISHLIST

2020

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t’s nearing the end of 2020, and if that’s not reason to rejoice, we don’t know what is. And since you’ve made it this far, you deserve little reward! Here’s a little list of some of the things you might want to consider giving yourself, because hey, it’s been tough, but your still being here means that you’re tougher!

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Smart Speed Car Charger fast-charging car charger with Type-C port

• • • • •

MiLi PhonePure portable UV sterilizer pouch

Size: 60x26mm Material: PC+ABS Connector Type: USB-A*Type-C Input Data: 12-24V Output Data: USB-A: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.25A; Type-C: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.25A • Color(s): White, Black

PHP 550

• • • • • •

Size: 10x18.5x2.5cm Material: Oxford cloth Sterilization Time: 5 minutes Input: 5v/0.3A UV-lamp: 265-280nm Function: sterilization, storage

PHP 850

Power King II

Charger Station III

PHP 1,900

Type-C and USB-A charging hub

• • • •

Dimensions: 104x81x29.5mm Material: PC+ABS Port type: Type-C*2, USB*4 Input: AC 100-240V/1.7A (max)~50/60Hz • Output: Type-C Output1: DC 5V/3A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A Type-C Output 2: DC 5V/2.4A (max) USB Output3-6: DC 5V/2.4A (max) • Power: 60W total output across 6 ports • Color(s): Dark Grey + Light Grey

multi-purpose high-capacity power bank

Carmate II

PHP 1,900

car mount with wireless charging

• • • • • • • • •

Size: 155x73x21.5mm Material: PC+ABS Battery: 17400mAh 66.6 Wh Type-C Input: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A USB-A Output: 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A Type-C Output: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A Wireless Charge Output Power: 10W Max Output Power: 30W Color(s): White, Black

• Exterior size: 120x70x20 mm • Material: ABS + silicone • Input: Micro USB2.0, DC 5V/2A, DC9V/1.67A • Output: USB2.0 5V/1A • Power of wireless charging: 10W (max) • Conversion rate of wireless charging: 75% • LED indication: Green light for wireless charging, red light for standby • Effective range of wireless charging: 4mm (max)

PHP 3,750

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Honda Supra GTR150

SRP PHP 102,900

• Engine Type: 4-Stroke, 4 Valves, Double Overhead Cam (DOHC), Liquid-Cooled w/ Auto Fan • Displacement: 150 cc • Brake Type (Front & Rear): Hydraulic Disc • Tire Size (Front): 90/80 - 17MC 46P Tire Size (Rear): 120/70 - 17MC 58P • Seat Height: 786 mm

• • • • • • • •

Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.5 L Fuel System: PGM-FI Maximum Power: 11.5 kW @ 9,000 rpm Maximum Torque: 13.6 N.m @ 6,500 rpm Bank Angle Sensor: Equipped Headlight: LED Meter Panel: Full Digital Fuel Consumption (ECE R40): 42 Km/L

*Available color variants: Black, Red

Honda AirBlade150

SRP PHP 109,000

• Engine Type: 4-Stroke, Single Overhead Cam (SOHC), Liquid-Cooled • Displacement: 150 cc • Starting System: Electric (ACG Starter) • Brake Type (Front): Hydraulic Disc with ABS Brake Type (Rear): Mechanical Leading Trailing • Tire Size (Front): 90/80 - 14 M/C Tire Size (Rear): 100/80 -14 M/C • Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 1,870x686 x1,112 (mm)

• Seat Height: 773 mm • Fuel System: PGM-Fi • Smart Key, Anti-Theft Alarm and Answer Back System: Equipped • Idling Stop System: Equipped • U-Box Capacity: 22.7 L • Fuel Consumption (WMTC Test Method): 47 Km/L

*Available color variants: Candy Rosy Red, Matte Galaxy Black Metallic, Candy Caribbean Blue Sea

Honda ADV150 • Engine Type: 4-stroke, Single Overhead Cam (SOHC), Liquid-cooled • Displacement: 150 cc • Starting System: Electric (ACG Starter) • Brake Type (Front): Hydraulic Disc Brake with ABS Brake Type (Rear): Hydraulic Disc Brake • Tire Size (Front): 110/80- 14MC Tire Size (Rear): 130/70- 13MC • Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 1,950 x 763 x 1,153 (mm) • Seat Height: 795 mm • Fuel Tank Capacity: 8.0 L • Fuel System: PGM-Fi

SRP PHP 149,000 • Console Box with Power Outlet: Equipped • Smart Key, Anti-Theft Alarm and Answer Back System: Equipped • Lighting System ( Headlight, Tail Light, Signal Light, Position Light): Full LED • Idling Stop System: Equipped • Adjustable WindScreen: Equipped • Emergency Stop Signal: Equipped • U-Box Capacity: 28L • Hazard Light: Equipped • Rear Suspension: Twin Shock - Sub Tank • Fuel Consumption (ECE R40): 46.6 Km/L

*Available color variants: Matte Meteorite Brown Metallic, Winning Red

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Lenovo ThinkBook 14

• • • •

14-in FHD Display Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor 16GB DDR4 RAM 512GB PCIe SSD

• Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics • Up to 57W Battery • Windows 10 Pro 64

• • • • •

15.6-inch FHD display Intel Core i7-10750h 8 GB DDR4 RAM 512 GB SSD Nvidia GeForce GTX1650Ti, 4GB

• • • •

45 WH Battery Backlit Keyboard Windows 10 Bundled with IdeaPad gaming backpack and M100 gaming mouse

PHP 51,990

PHP 59,995

Yoga Slim 7i Carbon

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8

• 13.3-inch WQXGA, 300-N, 100% sRGB display • Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor • 16 GB DDR4 RAM • 1 TB PCIE SSD • Iris Plus G7 graphics

• Carbon Fiber construction • Windows 10 Home • Bundled with Microsoft Office H&S lifetime • 966g / 2.13lbs • Military-grade durability

PHP 64,995

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IdeaPad Gaming 3i

NOVEMBER 2020

• • • •

14-in FHD Display Intel Core i7-10610U processor 16GB LPDDR3 RAM 1TB PCIe SSD

• Integrated Intel UHD Graphics • Up to 51W Battery • Windows 10 Pro 64

PHP 129,990

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Yamaha MIO i125

PHP 71,900

• Engine Type: Air-cooled, 4-stroke. SOHC, 2-valve • Displacement: 125cm³ • Starting System: Electric starter & Kickstarter • Ignition System: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) • Brake Type (Front): Hydraulic Single Disc Brake; Brake Type (Rear): Mechanical Leading Trailing Drum Brake

• Tire Size (Front): 70/90-14 M/C 34P Tube Type Tire Size (Rear): 80/90-14 M/C 40P Tube Type • Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 1,870mm x 685mm x 1,035mm • Seat Height: 750 mm • Ground Clearance: 135 mm • Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.2 L • Fuel System: Fuel injection

*Available in Magenta, Yellow and Vibrant Orange

Yamaha NMAX ABS • Engine Type: Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve • Displacement: 155 cm³ • Starting System: Electric Starter • Ignition System: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) • Brake Type (Front): Hydraulic single disc brake; Brake Type (Rear): Hydraulic single disc brake • Tire Size (Front): 110/70-13M/C 48P Tubeless; Tire Size (Rear): 130/70-13M/C 63P Tubeless

PHP 134,500 • Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 1935mm x 740mm x 1160mm • Seat Height: 765 mm • Minimum Ground Clearance: 125 mm • Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.1 L • Fuel System: Fuel Injection • Maximum Power: 11.3kW(15.4PS)/8000r/min • Maximum Torque: 13.9N•m(1.4kgf m)/6500r/min

*Available in Midnight Black, Tech Camo and Matte Red

Yamaha XSR155 • Engine Type: Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4 valves, VVA • Displacement: 155 cc • Starting System: Electric starter • Ignition System: TCI (transistor controlled ignition) • Brake Type (Front): Hydraulic single disc brake; Brake Type (Rear): Hydraulic single disc brake

PHP 162,000 • Tire Size (Front): 110/70-17M/C 54S (Tubeless); Tire Size (Rear): 140/70-17M/C 66S (Tubeless) • Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 2007mm X 804mm X 1080mm • Seat Height: 808 mm • Ground Clearance: 170 mm • Fuel Tank Capacity: 10 L • Fuel System: Fuel Injection

*Available in Garage Metal and Tech Black

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NOVEMBER 2020

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PHOTO FEATURE

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Enjoy a better tobacco experience with the MOK Mini. With its heat-not-burn technology, you get the satisfaction of a cigarette, with no ash, no smoke, and none of the residual smell—just the full flavor you want.

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5G connectivity, monster specs, and superb cameras: these are things the Mi 10T pro bring to the table. Whether it’s fast internet speeds, picture-perfect photography, or intense gaming, the Mi 10T pro has you covered.

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From its Snapdragon 720G, to its quad-camera setup, this is a phone that is made to make the flagship tier nervous. If you are looking for a premium phone experience without the price tag, this is your bet.

The next generation of gaming is here. With both a Digital and Blu-Ray-enabled editions available, players get the full breathtaking, high-fidelity visuals, and exhilarating gameplay, and a host of accessories to make the experience even better.

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MOBILITY

Toyota Ph updates the Fortuner, introduces new top-of-the-line LTD variant

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ontinuing its streak of digital vehicle launches, leading mobility company Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has started the last quarter of 2020 with a highly-anticipated update on one of the most popular models in its lineup, the Toyota Fortuner.

The New Fortuner range is headlined by the new LTD variant in 4×4 and 4×2 which comes in an exclusive design, followed by Q and V variants in automatic transmission, and the G variant available in AT and MT. Starting at PHP 1.63M for the G MT variant, TMP assures Filipinos of great value for money with Toyota’s signature quality, durability, and reliability embedded in the DNA of the country’s best-selling and well-loved Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

During the online launch of the New Fortuner, TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto recalled how the Fortuner changed the local automotive landscape at a time when entry level sedans and Asian utility vehicles were the affordable crowd favorite.

“The Fortuner captured the hearts of many Filipinos as proven by strong sales. It has an SUV body perfect for the Philippines’ flood-prone streets, an array of variants including a fuel-efficient diesel engine, a macho look that satisfies desires, and most of all, an affordable price – making it an achievable dream!” said Okamoto.

“The new Fortuner is SMARTER, STRONGER and SAFER than ever! With its refreshed line-up led by the top-ofthe-line premium LTD grade, the country’s best-selling SUV just got better!” he added.

Since the Fortuner’s entry in the local market in 2005, TMP has already sold over 220,000 units of this highly-recognized SUV. In 2017, the Fortuner was crowned best-selling vehicle in the country. Just this August, the model dominated the mid-sized SUV category with over 30% market share.

With the 2020 update, the Fortuner gets more confident, prestigious, safe, further proving itself a formidable and reliable SUV, perfect for any city or off-road drive.

Drive in style, drive to lead The New Fortuner LTD’s look is made more striking and more elegant coming in the 2-tone color black roof color lineup, a bolder and sportier front and rear bumper design, and machine-cut 18” alloy wheels.

Split-type LED headlamps and LED front foglamps, sequential turn signal lamps, and the redesigned LED rear combination lamps give the LTD variant a more dynamic design while maintaining visibility on the road.

The Q and V variants also get LED foglamps and redesigned LED rear combination lamps, as well as

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bi-beam LED headlamps with LED line guide – daytime running lights. G variants also now come with bi-beam LED headlamps with LED DRL. Confidence, ease, and control Ingress is smooth and easy with smart entry and push start system for LTD, Q, and V grades. The LTD variant features an elegant interior in leather with maroon accents, as well as galaxy black trim and interior illumination which adds to the sophisticated interior look of the vehicle. The Q variant also gets the classy black leather interior complemented by a dark wood trim.

The driver gets more control over the ride with various modes: Eco and Sport for LTD and Q variants, Eco and Power for V and G variants, and easy access to switches on the steering wheel and through the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto-compatible audio system across all variants. LTD, Q, and V variants feature 8” display audio.

Comfort and entertainment is guaranteed the whole journey for the driver and passengers as LTD and Q variants have 8-way power adjust front seats, and front seat ventilation system for the LTD variant.

Never lose power with the wireless charger and rear USB chargers available on LTD, Q, and V grades, and experience premium sound quality over the LTD variants’ 9-speaker JBL sound system. Feel at ease throughout the ride with front and rear automatic control for V grades and up.

Made stronger and more efficient The New Fortuner LTD and Q variants are powered by the 1GD-FTV engine which gives 201 HP (204 Ps) max output and 500 Nm max torque, while the V and G variants have the 2GD-FTV engine which gives 147 HP (150Ps) max output and 400 Nm max torque.

The 2GD engine is improved for the New Fortuner V and G variants and enjoys 5% improvement in fuel efficiency versus the previous generation Fortuner.

Toyota Safety Sense now available in the New Fortuner With safety as Toyota’s utmost priority, the New Fortuner is the latest addition to the expanding Toyota Safety Sense (TSS)-equipped models in TMP’s official lineup. Made better and safer than ever, TSS settings previously featured in select Toyota models such as the pre-collision system, lane departure alert,

and adaptive cruise control are now available for the Fortuner LTD and Q. All variants come with SRS airbags (7 for the LTD variants), 3-pt. ELR seatbelts, anti-lock brake system with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, vehicle stability control with traction control, and hill-start assist control. The 4×4 LTD variant also has downhill assist control.

All variants also come with a total of 6 clearance and back sonars, in addition to the panoramic view monitor that comes with the LTD, Q, and V variants or reverse camera for the G variants.

Pricing The New Fortuner is available in all of TMP’s 70 dealerships across the country starting October 19, 2020. The New Fortuner is also available for safelydistanced viewing in the virtual showroom. Get the full dealership experience online and check out the product highlights, view the interior and exterior in 3D, calculate payments, and submit inquiries direct to any preferred dealer via https://toyota.com.ph/ fortuner.

Variant

SRP

Colors Available White Pearl Crystal Shine Attitude Black Mica Silver Metallic Attitude Black Mica

2.8L 4×4 LTD AT WP 2-Tone

2,414,000

2.8L 4×4 LTD AT 2-Tone

2,404,000

2.8L 4×2 LTD AT WP 2-Tone

2,254,000

White Pearl Crystal Shine Attitude Black Mica

2.8L 4×2 LTD AT 2-Tone

2,244,000

Silver Metallic Attitude Black Mica

2.8L 4×2 Q AT Pearl

2,013,000

White Pearl Crystal Shine Sparkling Black Pearl Crystal Shine

2.8L 4×2 Q AT

1,998,000

Attitude Black Mica Gray Metallic Silver Metallic

2.4L 4×2 V AT Pearl

1,842,000

White Pearl Crystal Shine Sparkling Black Pearl Crystal Shine

2.4L 4×2 V AT

1,827,000

2.4L 4×2 G AT

1,723,000

2.4L 4×2 G MT

1,633,000

Attitude Black Mica Gray Metallic Silver Metallic Attitude Black Mica Gray Metallic Silver Metallic Super White II

For more information on the New Fortuner, visit TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph and follow the official social media pages at ToyotaMotorPhilippines (Facebook and Instagram), @ToyotaMotorPH (Twitter), and Toyota PH (Viber and Telegram).

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here are some places that make you feel so alive and energized, you’re so exhilarated by that feeling of freedom. Then there are those where you want to be seen in and make an impact. And there are places that are simply unforgettable, you just want to keep coming back for more. What if we told you Hyundai has rolled all those places into one? Look no further because it’s right here. Meet the all-new Hyundai VENUE.

Hyundai introduces all-new Venue subcompact SUV

Welcome Hyundai’s next-generation subcompact SUV As the newest subcompact SUV from Hyundai, the VENUE shows off the vibe of today’s urban landscape that pulsates with youthful fun, energy, and excitement. Exuding a bold and robust design platform, young motorists would appreciate it’s fun and functional qualities that amp up its versatility to keep pace with the dynamic lifestyle of today’s urban go-getter.

Upfront, the VENUE is immediately a welcoming presence with its unique front image that flaunts Hyundai’s bold cascading grille with 3-dimensional pattern formed from an intricate mesh of black and chrome* steel, projecting a premium, captivating style. This hint of elegance is likewise applied even to the little details, like the black cladding around the fender, voluminous wheel arches, boldly sculpted side character lines, 17-inch* alloy wheels with sporty and asymmetrical spoke design and the front-wheel air curtain inlet that’s neatly integrated to the bumper that screams sophistication but also helps the Venue’s aerodynamic characteristics and fuel efficiency. It has bi-function halogen headlights with static blending and LED DRL and position lamps which provide visibility day and night.

If you think the VENUE is only eye-catching at the front, wait ‘till you see how Hyundai’s style philosophy is translated at the rear. Right away, you’re greeted by its name emblazoned in white with chrome outline set against a wide rear door flanked by curiously designed illumination elements of its LED taillights. And by curious, we mean the Venue’s unique Z-shaped tail lamps with lenticular optical lens that give them an even more vibrant personality. Other features that further illuminate the VENUE’S rear design, such as the back-up lamps incorporated at both ends of the rear bumper complement the front style brilliantly.

Surround yourself in comfort and technology Inside the VENUE, you’ll feel right at home, thanks to its openness-focused horizontal layout that blends in fun and technology in one comfy space. A T-shaped dashboard design echoes Hyundai’s bold and sporty approach in organizing the VENUE’S interior space.

Feel the rush of excitement right at the cockpit, where advanced technologies enhance driver confidence and offer greater convenience. Get going with the VENUE’S advanced infotainment system featuring an 8-inch display audio touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to help you stay connected, as it affords you intuitive operation of smartphone functions. This touchscreen also doubles as the display for the rearview camera that helps guide you to maneuver your car with ease when parking. Be dynamic in the way you drive with the Venue’s Drive mode and 2WD multi-traction control that adapts to your preferred driving style, with three available settings of sporty, normal, or eco-friendly, which can be intuitively selected through a single jog dial. Keep

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tabs on your car’s efficiency, or various vehicle settings through the 3.5-inch Supervision Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and easily manage cabin temperature with a three-dial automatic air-conditioning system.

Space utility is likewise admirable in the VENUE. While its compact exterior conveys an easy-to-maneuver driving experience, the Venue’s interior offers a practical yet versatile space that the everyday urban commuter would appreciate. The Venue provides you 355 liters of cargo space, and if you need more, rear seats have 60/40 split-folding capability to give you more room for your essentials and other travel gear.

Thinking of bringing tall or irregularly shaped items?

No sweat, because the VENUE has a dual-level luggage board that can be positioned at the top or bottom to further maximize luggage loading convenience. A retractable covering shelf at the rear can also be stored at the rear seatback to give you even more space in loading bulky items. Plus, enjoy lots of storage spaces to keep your travels organized, like the front passenger seat open tray for your smart devices, console tray for other small items, cup holders and bottle holders for refreshments, and map pockets for handy paper stuff.

Indeed, the VENUE makes sure that there’s plenty of fun to go around with an abundance of amenities that take care of comfort and convenience.

Geared for serious performance Fun aside, the Hyundai VENUE is also one to be taken seriously when taking it for a spin around town. Once you get behind the wheel, you’ll know the Venue is as commanding as it looks. Step on the throttle and get a reassuring response from its Gamma 1.6-liter Multi-point Injection (MPI) gasoline engine that can churn out a maximum power of 123ps at 6,300rpm and maximum torque of 15.4kg-m at 4,850rpm.

Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission system, the VENUE makes its sporty handling pronounced in everyday driving, while still contributing significant fuel efficiency to help you cover more miles and save up along the way. Stable and comfortable driving can also be expected, thanks to its monocoque or unibody structure, and a reliable suspension system comprised of a MacPherson strut-type suspension at the front and coupled torsion beam axle at the rear. Together, these help achieve for the Venue an optimal balance

between solid and flexible ride comfort characteristics for a confident drive. What even contributes to even greater comfort in riding the Venue is the body itself.

Like all Hyundai SUVs, the VENUE is also built with Hyundai’s Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS).

46% percent of this is applied to the vehicle, and in addition, ring-shaped high stiffness structures and reinforcements to core vehicle body members have also been applied to enhance overall body rigidity for better, and likewise, improved structural integrity to help protect the vehicle’s occupants and efficiently dissipate energy away from them in the unlikely event of a collision.

In addition to reinforcing the stiffness of the main body, as part of the vehicle’s supplemental restraint system, the VENUE is equipped with a total of 6* airbags: 2 at the front, plus side and curtain airbags to help cushion the impact to occupants in case of an accident. Hyundai made this 6-airbag system even more advanced by efficiently sensing the degree of impact and collision severity, thereby comprehensively deploying airbags. There’s also the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) to help you keep the car steady and maneuver it safely even on challenging road situations like navigating slippery roads or avoiding road obstacles. Front and rear disc brakes help you to apply strong stopping power during emergency situations. And if you have a toddler in tow, you’ll feel reassured, knowing that the Venue comes equipped with ISOFIX child seat anchors to keep the child seat in place, so your little one is secure all throughout the ride.

Fun, sporty, reassuring, and practical, the all-new Hyundai Venue provides you authentic SUV styling and stance that can make any place in the big city yours to make an impact in. With bold and robust design, superior space utility, and loads of tech, you’re geared for even better journeys ahead.

The all-new Hyundai VENUE is available in two variants: the 1.6-liter GLS 6-speed automatic and 1.6-liter GL 6-speed automatic. Enjoying driving it around town in any of these available shades: denim blue, fiery red, cosmic grey, polar white, and phantom black. This nextgeneration SUV can be yours, starting at PHP 915,000 for the 1.6 GL 6AT and PHP 985,000 for the 1.6 GLS 6AT.

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Suzuki launches the Burgman Street, Skydrive Crossover, and Gixxer 250 series

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o continue to address the needs of the Filipino commuter in this time of crisis, Suzuki has just launched two scooters that offer greater comfort, power, and convenience in the local market. Economical, good-looking, and practical, the two backbone models deliver just what Pinoy riders want.

Suzuki Burgman Street A premium and well-designed Maxi Scooter that has the perfect blend of sophistication, comfort, and practicality the Burgman Street runs is equipped with advanced technology giving you a safe and comfortable ride in a premium body.

The Burgman Street is powered by an all-aluminum 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 125cc fuel-injected Suzuki Eco Performance engine making it powerful and fuel-efficient delivering 53.50km/L fuel efficiency.

It boasts a Combined Brake System providing superior running performance and control. It sports a full-digital instrument panel providing real-time information and adding convenience to your daily ride, a Fuel Gauge showing accurate fuel status so you can plan your trips accordingly, an Oil Change Indicator reminding the rider to change the engine oil at the preset periods, and a Dual Trip Meter which easily keeps track of the distance between trips and measures the fuel-efficiency. It also comes with a 2L Lidded Front Glove Box with Optional USB Charger for convenience wherever you go.

The Burgman Street has an Integrated Engine Start and Kill Switch allowing for a single push on the starter switch to fire up the engine and switch it off easily, and One Push Central Locking for safety.

The Burgman Street, like its higher displacement brothers, is designed signifying luxury. It has an LED Headlight, Position Lamp, and Tail Lamp that enhance rider visibility at night. Its Body-Mounted Windscreen is inspired from European Maxi scooters which helps reduce wind drag, improving aerodynamics. It features an upward muffler design that enhances its sporty and premium look. The chrome accent body parts make the Burgman Street more elegant.

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The Burgman Street has a 21-L Underseat Compartment that is spacious enough for personal belongings. It has an Elevated Seat that provides comfort for long rides and a wide Floorboard for a more flexible foot position. It also has Dual Utility Hooks for added convenience.

The Burgman Street comes in two elegant colors – the Metallic Matte Fibroin Gray and Glass Sparkle Black and is priced at PHP 76,900 available in stores this November.

Suzuki Skydrive Crossover The Suzuki Skydrive Crossover is equipped with a 113cc engine carrying the brand’s signature Suzuki Eco Performance Fuel Injection technology to deliver maximum power at optimum fuel-efficiency.

The decals give off a more aggressive, sporty, and adventurous impression. It has a Full-Digital Instrument Panel for easy visibility of information and a trip-meter, digital clock, speedometer, and battery voltage indicator for convenience. To complete the overall sporty look, the Suzuki Skydrive Crossover has colored brake calipers and suspension.

The Skydrive Crossover offers a versatile ride that is safe and comfortable to take you on different roads with features that are firsts in the Philippine scooter category. It has semi-block tires that deliver great performance on both paved and unpaved roads. It also boasts of a sport touring handlebar for an easy and relaxed riding position. To make it more userfriendly and comfortable for riders, the Suzuki Skydrive Crossover has a large floorboard, low seat height (740mm) with high ground clearance (150mm), and a front disc brake for better stopping power.

The Skydrive Crossover is available in four colors: Daytona Yellow, Pearl Ash Blue, Strong Red, and Solid

Black and is priced at PHP 69,900 available in stores this November.

Suzuki Gixxer 250 Series One for Street, One for Sport—the Gixxer 250 Series is equipped with a newly developed engine in an elegant and aggressive body offering a safe and comfortable ride. These new rides are powered by a newly developed 250cc, SOHC, Oil-Cooled, 4-valve, fuel-injected engine equipped with Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) technology. It has an Oil Cooling System with Electric Fan for improved cooling performance resulting to higher durability.

Wrapping around the powerful engine is a bold, tough, edgy, and sharp body shape conveying agility, precision, and vitality that gives the Gixxer 250 Series a refined and aggressive look with a Sporty LED Headlight and Tail Light. It also has an Inverted Instrument Panel for a more elegant look and better visibility. It features a Dual Exhaust Muffler and a Split Seat suiting its sporty character ensuring easy access on the ground and for better grip.

With great power and styling, the Gixxer 250 Series also offers a safe a comfortable ride with a High Rigidity Frame and Swing Arm to make it more stable and durable. It has a 7-Step Adjustable Rear Suspension for a more comfortable ride. It sports a Large Diameter Front Disc Brake (φ300mm) for high braking force and Dual-Channel ABS System that prevents the wheels from locking up.

The Gixxer 250 is available in Metallic Matte Black and is priced at PHP 165,000 while the Gixxer SF250 comes in Special Edition Triton Blue and Silver with an SRP of PHP 175,000 and will be available in stores this December.

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TH E NE W Y AMA HA WR155R OF F ERS O F F-R OA D E XC IT EM ENT, PERF ORM A NCE, A ND AC C E L E R A T ION

Y

amaha Motor Philippines Inc. has made a path for everyone who wants to experience Off-Road action while being able to enjoy city thrills. Its latest addition to the WR Series, the WR155R’s dual-purpose design functions seamlessly for both dirt and asphalt roads, turning every ride into adrenaline-filled excitement.

The term WR indicates a wide-ratio gearbox that is designed for enduro and trail rides This series is built for heavy-duty excitement and total control on any surface; the dual-sport excellence of the series is the pinnacle of Yamaha’s signature offroad design that enhances performance in a variety of conditions.

Achieving all-road adrenaline, the WR155R has it all The engine is a lightweight 6-speed 155cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected engine with VVA optimizing

performance at both low and high speeds for power and control in every road condition.

The dual-purpose tires with aluminum rims enable you to ride on any terrain. A compact LCD instrument panel displays a tachometer, speedometer, odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge, clock, fuel mileage, gear position indicator, and VVA indicator. The 8.1L fuel tank was designed to be slim which strikes a fine balance with the chassis design and has a large capacity for long rides. Ride comfortably with the WR stylish flat seat that has a large degree of riding position that eases the movement of the rider. For optimum performance, the front suspension features a 41mm upright front fork with coil springs and dampers. The linked type mono-cross rear suspension produces a softer spring rate and excellent damping performance; its gas-charged absorber delivers consistency during long periods of riding.

Ride to excellence and dominate all the way This model captivates your desire on and off the road with additional features. Feel excellent balance, rigidity, stable handling, with a high

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degree of freedom when riding the WR155R that is equipped with a semi double-cradle frame.

The Wave style disc brake gives elite stopping power on both ends of the motorcycle. The surface design of the edges allows the brake pads more grip on the discs which results in excellent braking control in various riding conditions. It is also equipped with a hazard lamp allowing you to signal other riders during distinct situations.

The WR155R will elevate your abilities as you begin serious off-road riding and, it’s a street-legal motorcycle that you can use in city roads. You don’t have to choose as you can ride on and off the road bringing you a fun-thrilled adventure.

The maneuverability of the machine has no limits, allowing you to experience all-road adrenaline in every ride.

It has two color variations, Yamaha Blue and Yamaha Black, with an SRP of PHP 169,000 and is available at the Yamaha Flagship Shop the YZone, and Yamaha Rev Zones nationwide.

Visit www.yamaha-motor.com.ph for more details.

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Honda launches all-new 5th-gen City with advanced features, adds sportier RS variant

H

onda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines, officially launched the 5th generation All-New Honda City last October 22 via a virtual event streamed on HCPI’s official Facebook and YouTube pages.

Through the launch of the All-New City, with its stylish exterior design, outstanding interior space, and advanced technology, the brand asserts its 2030 vision of leading the advancement of mobility and enabling people around the world to improve their daily lives.

Moreover, the launch reaffirms HCPI’s commitment to providing mobility to Filipinos especially on its 30th year in the Philippines as it continues to expand its presence in the market.

Ambitious sedan grand concept Introduced in the Philippine market in 1996, the Honda City was first launched as an exclusive model for the Asian region and has become HCPI’s best-selling model over the years.

With over 131,000 units sold since its arrival in 1996, the City consistently reflected its core values of smart style, outstanding interior space, and strong commanding presence, through its sportier exterior and comfortable and spacious interior that surpasses other subcompact sedans in the market.

Now on its 5th generation, the All-New City was developed under the grand concept of Ambitious Sedan.

Exterior The All-New City’s exterior boasts a cutting-edge sleek design. With its thick long nose, lowered full height, and widened full width, the 5th generation All-New City is now longer by 111mm, wider by 54mm, and lowered by 10mm, compared to the 4th generation City.

It sports a new chrome front grille that is paired with a new front bumper. The front fascia is even more stylish now with its new LED daytime running lights across all variants that expresses its integrated solid wing face, and presents halogen projector headlights for other variants. At the back, rear LED tail lamps are also now standard across all variants.

On the side, sharp horizontal character lines inspired by the Katana Blade In Motion is visible for a more commanding road presence.

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For a more convenient driving experience, the All-New City maintains its power adjustable door mirrors across all variants, and power folding door mirrors with integrated side turn signals for the 1.5 RS CVT and 1.5 V CVT variants.

Interior The interior styling of the All-New City emphasizes high-quality textures and functional approach to achieve sophistication and comfort for both driver and passengers. Inside, it features a spacious cabin with soft pads and polished textures, plus accents to further enhance its high-class sedan feel.

Adding to the comfort and advanced features, the All-New City gets an upgrade with its new One Push Start System across all variants, specifically smart entry keyless entry system for 1.5 RS CVT and 1.5 V CVT, and Keyless Entry for 1.5 S CVT and 1.5 S MT variants.

Furthermore, the All-New City is now equipped with an 8-inch advanced touchscreen display audio with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto & WebLink, that is now available in 1.5 RS CVT, 1.5 V CVT and 1.5 S CVT variants.

Elevating comfort further, it is also inclusive of a new air conditioning design with rotary knobs, digital display & illumination.

The center console offers an ergonomic design that allows passengers to have their essentials within reach.

On the other hand, the 1.5 V CVT emphasizes a posh and sophisticated interior with ivory accents and a high quality full black interior for the 1.5 S CVT variant.

Rear passengers also get to enjoy additional comfort through the expanded leg room and knee clearance.

On top of that, the 1.5 RS and 1.5 V CVT variants now include new rear ventilation to further enhance the comfort provided for rear passengers.

All-new City RS The 5th generation All-New City also inherits and embodies Honda’s sporty DNA through its new RS variant. For the first time in the Philippine market, the All-New Honda City is available in a 1.5 RS CVT variant that gives it a sportier and more premium look. The RS variant comes with a complete set of sporty upgrades including a high gloss black front grille with RS logo emblem, sporty front bumper and grille, full LED Headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRL), LED fog lights, sporty black power folding door mirror with integrated side turn signals, gloss black trunk spoiler with RS logo, and a newly designed sporty 16-inch alloy wheels.

The cabin is fully equipped to reflect a complete look of sportiness with a combination of newly designed leather and suede seat material with black and red stitching interior trims, new sport pedals, 8 (4 + 4 tweeters) speakers, and a multi-information display with red illumination that are exclusively available for the 1.5 RS CVT variant.

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It is also now equipped with a new remote engine start, which is a first-time feature for the City, while paddle shifters are also offered for an engaging driving experience.

provide a quiet, vibration-less cabin with a highquality feeling.

Ignite Red Metallic (New color; 1.5 RS CVT, 1.5 V CVT, and 1.5 S CVT)

Safety

For added protection, a side curtain airbag is available to enhance the safety of the passengers. All of these added features give the All-New City RS an even more enhanced sporty image.

As Honda continues to strengthen its “safety for everyone” global campaign, the All-New City continuously prioritizes safety through Honda’s G-force Control (G-CON) Collision Safety Body that enhances impact absorption for the added protection of passengers in the event a collision occurs.

Platinum White Pearl (New color; 1.5 RS CVT and 1.5 V CVT only) – additional PHP 20,000 Modern Steel Metallic

Engine and transmission The All-New City is powered by a new 1.5-liter 4 cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine to provide an ideal balance of performance and fuel efficiency. Coupled with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), this powertrain is able to produce up to a maximum power output of 121ps at 6,600rpm and a maximum of 145Nm of torque at 4,300rpm.

For those who prefer driving a manual transmission, a wide-range 6-speed manual transmission option is available for the 1.5 S MT variant.

Similar to recent Honda City models, Honda’s Eco Assist System, which consists of the ECON mode and eco-coaching ambient light is still available to help encourage drivers to drive efficiently.

In addition, all passengers can enjoy their conversations inside the car with the All-New City’s lessened noise and vibration.

Moreover, this is the first City to adopt spray polyurethane foam insulation at the bottom ends of the pillars, and the amount of sound absorber adopted for the engine under cover is 3.5 times more compared to the previous model. The thickness of the body is increased and stiffeners to suppress vibration are placed in each position to

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To add to this, customers may expect top-notch collision safety performance on the All-New City through its advanced safety features that are now available across all variants. This includes vehicle stability assist (VSA) with agile handling assist (AHA), emergency stop signal (ESS), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), hill start assist (HSA), and power door locks with speed sensing auto lock.

Moreover, the 1.5 RS CVT and 1.5 V CVT variants are equipped with a multi-view rear camera with dynamic guidelines.

Aside from the standard front driver and passenger airbags, the All-New City further leveled up its safety feature as side Airbags are applied across all variants.

With these superior safety features, the All-New City boasts a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating as it gives customers better safety and peace of mind on the road.

Availability and colors The All-New City is now available at all 34 Honda dealerships nationwide and comes in 6 colors:

Taffeta White (1.5 S CVT and 1.5 S MT only) Lunar Silver Metallic (1.5 V CVT and 1.5 S CVT only) Crystal Black Pearl Honda will be offering the All-New City at the following special introductory suggested retail prices from October 22, 2020 until December 31, 2020:

Variant

Special Introductory Suggested Retail Price

All-New City 1.5 RS CVT

PHP 1,048,000

All-New City 1.5 V CVT

PHP 968,000

All-New City 1.5 S CVT

PHP 878,000

All-New City 1.5 S MT

PHP 838,000

Furthermore, from October 22 to December 31, 2020, all current Honda owners who will refer an All-New City buyer will receive PHP 5,000 worth of e-gift certificates for every successful referral.

Interested referrers may visit www.hondaphil. com/promos/referral-program for more information. Terms and conditions apply.

To know more about the All-New City, visit the nearest Honda Cars dealership, or access Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.’s virtual showroom through HCPI’s official website at www.hondaphil.com

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Honda refreshes the CR-V H

onda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines, officially launched the new Honda CR-V through a virtual media event streamed via HCPI’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Derived from the grand concept of Heroic Beauty CUV, the new CR-V has been updated with sophisticated and modern styling features.

Combined with a powerful and efficient turbo diesel engine and 7-seater capacity, the introduction of the new CR-V reaffirms Honda’s commitment of providing innovative products in response to the evolving needs of Filipino customers coinciding with the company’s 30th anniversary here in the Philippines.

Exterior The new CR-V has a redesigned exterior that gives it a modern and stylish appearance. Up front, the new CR-V features a newly redesigned front bumper, new chrome grille wing, and chrome bumper accents, which conveys a sophisticated yet commanding appearance. LED Headlights alongside LED Fog lights now also come standard across all variants, while the top SX Diesel 9AT AWD is now equipped with front sequential turn signal.

At the side, the new CR-V sports newly designed 18” alloy wheels for the SX Diesel 9AT AWD, S Diesel 9AT, and 2.0S CVT variants that features a solid and modern tone highlighting a premium look. The New CR-V also now comes standard with new roof rails across all variants.

At the rear, the new CR-V also gets updated with dark-tinted rear taillights, and a redesigned rear bumper, perfectly complementing the overall exterior look of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the S Diesel 9AT variant is now equipped with a Power Tailgate providing improved convenience in accessing the rear cargo area. The SX Diesel 9AT AWD on the other hand now features a new Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate, which through the use of sensors under the rear bumper, enables the rear tail gate to open through a kicking motion when both hands are occupied. Other features such as the Panoramic Sunroof and Auto Rain Sensing Wipers are also exclusively available to the SX Diesel 9AT AWD variant.

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Interior Designed to comfortably accommodate up to 7 passengers, the new CR-V continues to boast impressive space, comfort and convenience features, and new improvements particularly on the seats and center console. Upfront, the new CR-V SX Diesel 9AT AWD is fitted with an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with 4-way power lumbar support that allows for a customizable seat configuration, helping provide even more comfort for the driver. Also, a 4-way power-adjustable seat is likewise available for the front passenger.

USB ports are now located on the center console for easy connectivity access. The SX Diesel 9AT AWD now also comes equipped with a wireless mobile charger for added convenience.To keep passengers comfortable and entertained, the new CR-V SX Diesel 9AT AWD, S Diesel 9AT, and 2.0 S CVT variants are equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen display audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In addition, the SX Diesel 9AT AWD and S Diesel 9AT variants pack a navigation feature and additional controls for its automatic air conditioning system.

Moreover, the third row seat of the 7-seater diesel variants comes with 50:50 Split Reclining seats and additional air-conditioning vents with independent controls.

In addition, the new CR-V’s unparalleled cargo capacity can handle a variety of cargo requirements, depending on the customer’s needs. The 7-seater diesel variants’ flexible seat configuration can accommodate 472 liters of cargo space with the third row seats tumbled and 967 liters of cargo space with both the second and third row tumbled. The 2.0S CVT variant, on the other hand, can comfortably accommodate 5 passengers with 522 liters of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Engine and Transmission Under the hood, the new CR-V is available with two engine options, the 1.6-liter DOHC i-DTEC Turbo Diesel engine mated to a 9 Speed Automatic Transmission, which produces 120PS at 4,000rpm, and a maximum torque of 300Nm at 2,000rpm; and Honda’s familiar 2.0-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which produces a maximum output of 154PS at 6,500rpm and peak torque of 189Nm at 4,300rpm, powers the lone 5-seater gasoline variant. The two engine options give the new CR-V its responsive performance and fuel efficiency. On top of the CR-V’s potent powertrains, Honda’s Eco Assist System, which consists of the ECON mode and Eco-Coaching Ambient Light, encourages fuel-efficient driving.

Safety and Honda SENSING For the new CR-V, the SX Diesel 9AT AWD and now the S Diesel 9AT variants come equipped with Honda’s SENSING suite of driver assistive functions.

Through a monocular camera and wave millimeter radar, both devices work simultaneously to monitor and assess various road conditions in front of the vehicle, alerting the driver of potential hazards that may occur. Honda’s suite of driver assistive features

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provides an array of advanced safety features such as Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), and the Auto High Beam.

With Honda SENSING, Honda aims to provide collision-free and safe mobility for everyone sharing the road.

Together with Honda SENSING, the new CR-V comes standard with an array of safety features across all variants such as Front Driver and Passenger Airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Emergency Stop Signal, and Multi-View Reverse Camera w/ Guidelines. The SX Diesel 9AT AWD, S Diesel 9AT, and 2.0S CVT variants comes standard with additional safety features including LaneWatch, side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The new CR-V maintains a 5-Star ASEAN NCAP (17- Protocol) safety rating as it gives customers better safety and peace of mind on the road.

Colors and Availability The new CR-V is now available at all 34 dealerships nationwide in 4 colors with the following suggested retail prices: • Cosmic Blue Metallic (New Color – SX Diesel 9AT AWD and S Diesel 9AT only) • Ignite Red Metallic (New Color – All variants) • Platinum White Pearl (All variants) for additional PHP 20,000 • Modern Steel Metallic (All variants) Suggested Retail Prices: • SX Diesel 9AT AWD Honda SENSING (7-Seater) – Php 2,158,000 • S Diesel 9AT Honda SENSING (7-Seater) – Php 1,888,000 • V Diesel 9AT (7-Seater)- Php 1,713,000 • 2.0 S CVT (5-Seater) – Php 1,678,000 To know more about the new CR-V, visit the nearest Honda Cars dealership, or access Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.’s virtual showroom through HCPI’s official website at www.hondaphil.com

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Isuzu PH ‘Kasama Mo’ campaign conducts 2nd round of donations to partner institutions Isuzu Philippines Corporation donated on October 1, sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to its partner institutions Caritas Manila, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Red Cross. This activity represents IPC’s second round of donations under its Kasama Mo campaign launched last June 1, with aims to provide aid to partner institutions.

The Kasama Mo campaign has been IPC’s continuing response to the global pandemic.

Faithful to IPC’s value of being “Your Responsible Partner”, the Kasama Mo campaign actively promotes the importance of sharing and caring and gives an opportunity for Isuzu customers and stakeholders to support frontliners with every Isuzu vehicle produced and bought. The PPE sets are utilized by the partners’ brave and devoted frontliners who continue to risk their lives for their fellow citizens.

For the October 1 activity, a total of 296 sets were donated to Philippine Red Cross, Caritas Manila (294 sets), and the Philippine Coast Guard (147 sets).

Representatives of IPC held simple turnover rites at the partner institutions’ satellite offices in Manila (for Caritas Manila and the Philippine Coast Guard), and Santa Rosa City in Laguna (for Philippine Red Cross).

IPC president Hajime Koso has vowed IPC’s continuing support for the country’s medical frontliners. “We assure our partner organizations that this will not be the end of our assistance to them, as we vow to continue to support them in fighting this pandemic,” he stressed.

To know more about IPC’s Kasama Mo campaign, and how to support frontliners with every purchase of an Isuzu vehicle, log on to www.isuzuphil. com, or get in touch with any authorized Isuzu dealership.

Caltex and 7-Eleven announce holiday rewards promo Gassing up at Caltex stations is more exciting this holiday season with the new rewards promo launched by Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), in partnership with 7-Eleven Philippines. Starting October 15, motorists fueling up at Caltex stations with 7-Eleven stores nationwide will earn e-stamps convertible to CLiQQ wallet credits.

Every one (1) liter fuel purchase of Caltex Diesel with Techron D, Caltex Silver with Techron, and Caltex Platinum with Techron will earn two (2) CLiQQ Rewards e-stamps credited to their 7-Eleven/CLIQQ rewards card. Customers need to present their rewards card to the Caltex attendant upon fuel purchase to receive an SMS from 7-Eleven indicating the number of e-stamps earned.

To redeem the collected e-stamps, cardholders simply need to convert them into wallet credits through the CLIQQ App. One e-stamp is equivalent to one CLiQQ wallet credit. CLiQQ Wallet credits are equivalent to PHP 1.00 and may be used to purchase any physical merchandise at any 7-Eleven store.

Customers are entitled to a maximum of two fuel purchases per card per day with a maximum of 60 liters of fuel purchase per transaction.

Caltex also allows a maximum of 500 liters of fuel purchase a month per card. Transactions made via cash, credit card, and Caltex StarCash cards are qualified for the promo.

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Caltex and we’re thrilled to have 7-Eleven as a partner who also shares the same mindset,” CPI country chairman and general manager, Louie Zhang said. “It is our aim to help our customers during these tough times and hopefully make this holiday season a little merrier for them.”

Chevron Philippines and Philippine Seven Corporation (PSC), local franchisor of 7-Eleven convenience store chain, have been in partnership since 2009 with 100 7-Eleven convenience stores located in Caltex retail sites nationwide.

7-Eleven aims to give value-added offerings to its customers via this new promotional initiative with Caltex.

The rewards promo will run until December 31, 2020. CLiQQ cardholders may redeem their rewards from October 15, 2020, to April 14, 2021. CLiQQ Rewards cards are also available for purchase at all 7-Eleven stores nationwide for just PHP 10.00.

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NLEX steps up bid to 100 percent RFID, revamps toll plazas NLEX Corporation is undertaking several physical and system improvements in its toll plazas to ensure that 100 percent RFID transactions will be smoothly implemented in NLEX-SCTEX starting November 2.

These improvements include the installation of 303 new canopy signages and 66 units of plaza lighting. Of the 303 signages, 100 were completed first week of October and the remaining ones by December. In addition, pavement markings at the toll plazas will be repainted.

The lane markings and signs would help direct traffic, while the lights would increase visibility at night.

“As we fully transition to 100 percent cashless transactions, motorists can expect more improvements and we will continue to ensure safety while delivering unmatched public service,” said NLEX Corporation president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, noting that “We have ramped up our installation efforts and refinements in our systems and other innovations are being employed to provide efficient expressway travel experience to our customers.”

The all-RFID toll collection system will be implemented in all expressways in the country by November 2, 2020, in line with the Department Order 2020-012 issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

This DOTr mandate is seen to provide motorists safer and more convenient expressway travel—minimizing physical contact hence prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and enabling faster traffic flow at the toll plazas.

To further provide an updated look on NLEX-SCTEX toll plazas, the toll canopies will be also repainted and the lane status indicators that show the open and closed status of toll lanes are being replaced with circular green and red cross (X) signals.

“More than the aesthetics, these enhancements are necessary to keep our facilities in good condition and guide motorists as they head on to the expressways,” Bautista added.

Meanwhile, the realignment of RFID sensors is underway in 32 NLEX-SCTEX toll lanes as part of the second phase of the project that aims to enhance read range and enable faster detection. This system improvement covers the entry and exit lanes in Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Tambobong, Balagtas, San Fernando, Tarlac, and Tipo. Last July, the tollway company completed the realignment of sensors in 100 toll lanes.

NLEX is likewise converting this October the Tambobong, Pulilan, Mexico, Karuhatan Interchange, Sta. Rita, San Miguel (Hacienda Luisita), Concepcion, Clark South A&B, and Tipo toll plazas into exclusive RFID lanes. It previously converted the Dau, Porac, Mabiga, Lawang Bato Northbound Entry, Philippine Arena toll plazas, and expansion lanes in Balintawak and Bocaue toll plazas.

Apart from the said improvements, Easytrip RFID installation sites have also been augmented to better accommodate the rising number of motorists availing the RFID. Around 31 sites have been opened to make it easier and more convenient for motorists to get their free RFID stickers.

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NLEX Balintawak • Balintawak Northbound Lane N10 (24/7) • Balintawak Customer Service Center Parking Area (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Balintawak Weighing Station (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Shell Balintawak (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Mindanao Ave • Mindanao Northbound Lane N02 (Mon. to Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

• Mindanao Customer Service Parking Area (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Valenzuela • Easytrip Tent before Karuhatan Toll Plaza (Mon. to Sat., 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• NLEX Drive and Dine (Mon. to Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Marilao • Marilao Toll Plaza Southbound Entry Parking Area (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Petron Marilao (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Bocaue • Bocaue Southbound Lane X01 (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Petron Bocaue (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Bocaue Weighing Station (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Philippine Arena Northbound Exit Lane N04 (Mon. to Sun., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Philippine Arena Southbound Entry (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Balagtas • Balagtas Toll Plaza Entry (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Shell Burol (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Easytrip Tent after Balagtas Toll Plaza Exit (Mon. to Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

Guiguinto • Tabang Customer Service Center Parking Area (Mon. to Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Sta. Rita Parking Area before Northbound Entry (Mon. to Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

Pulilan • Pulilan Parking Area after Northbound Exit (Mon. to Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

San Fernando • San Fernando Customer Service Center (Mon. to Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Mexico • Easytrip Tent after Mexico Toll Plaza Exit (Mon. to Sun., 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

• Petron Lakeshore (Mon. to Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Angeles • Easytrip Tent before Angeles Toll Plaza Entry (Mon. to Sat., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Easytrip Tent before Angeles Toll Plaza Exit (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Mabalacat • Easytrip Tent after Dau Northbound Exit (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• Easytrip Tent before Mabiga Northbound Exit (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Porac • Easytrip Tent before Porac Toll Plaza Exit (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

La Paz • Easytrip Tent before Tarlac Toll Plaza Entry (Mon. to Sat., 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Tipo • Easytrip Tent after Tipo Toll Plaza (Mon. to Sun., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

To apply for an Easytrip RFID, motorists may visit the installation sites along NLEX-SCTEX, fill out the subscription form then pay the initial load of P500 for Class 1 vehicles, and P1,000 for Class 2 and 3 vehicles.

Motorists are also encouraged to fill out the subscription form online thru www.easytrip.ph.

Once installed, NLEX and SCTEX RFID users would be able to traverse other Metro Pacific Tollways-owned expressways like the CAVITEX and CALAX. Reloading the RFID is also easy as this can be done onsite and online. Motorists may choose to reload via the Easytrip mobile application which is available for both Android and iOS phones and thru online reloading partners such as PayMaya, Eon, GCash, Bancnet, Mastercard, Visa, UCPB, BPI, Metrobank, BDO, Coins.ph, and Smart Money.

They may also drive to the nearest reloading sites, select gas stations, and bills payment centers in malls.

Transactions and remaining balance may be viewed on the Easytrip website or mobile app.

For more information, check out the NLEX Corporation and Easytrip Facebook pages or call the Easytrip hotline (02)8555-7575.

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Gain maximum engine protection with Castrol MAGNATEC Whether it’s for work, travel or the family, personal cars play a crucial role for many Filipinos as it enables the mobility they need to best provide for themselves and their loved ones.

The heavy reliance on personal cars, however, makes them more vulnerable to engine damage due to the increased stress from traffic and the wear and tear from regular use. Castrol MAGNATEC with breakthrough DUALOCK Technology is engineered for the task, providing car owners with non-stop engine protection for a variety of vehicles and fuel types—both while running and at rest.

During engine stop or rest, the oil cools down and drains to the sump. When the engine starts up, where nearly 75% of engine wear occurs, it takes approximately 20-minutes for it to reach optimal engine temperature. At the same time, critical engine components are lacking oil and are most vulnerable to damage. Combine this with the common issue of traffic, it causes drivers to experience more stop-start driving, and you have an engine that faces up to 66% in added stress on critical components from extended periods of idling.

With the overwhelming challenges that drivers and their car engines face, Castrol MAGNATEC with industry-leading DUALOCK Technology equips today’s Filipino with complete engine protection throughout the driving process, from running until the time it stops – drastically reducing damage from both warm-up and stop-start wear by up to 50%. It is available in three variations, Castrol MAGNATEC STOP-START, Castrol MAGNATEC, and Castrol MAGNATEC Diesel.

“Castrol MAGNATEC is designed to protect the everyday Filipino driver, ensuring that their engines are at peak performance at all times. This is especially relevant with today’s uncertainty brought by the pandemic, as complete protection and reliability gives them the much-needed confidence to conquer the challenges that lay ahead,” said Maria Tañada, Castrol Philippines country sales director.

Castrol MAGNATEC STOP-START is engineered for both Gasoline and Diesel engines, and uses synthetic technology (fully synthetic) with a 5W-30 viscosity. It comes in 1-liter and 4-liter packs and is most effective for vehicles such as Toyota Vios, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla Altis, Toyota Camry, Toyota Wigo, Toyota Alphard, Toyota Rush, Toyota Avanza, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Hiace, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Innova, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota RAV4, Honda Accord, Honda Brio, Honda BR-V, Honda City, Honda Civic, Honda HR-V, Honda Jazz, Honda Mobilio, Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Ford Escape, Ford Everest, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, Ford Ranger, Ford Ranger Raptor, Ford EcoSport, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Mustang, Subaru Forester,

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Subaru Outback, Subaru XV, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Levorg, Subaru WRX, Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mazda MX-5, Mazda BT-50, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-5, and Mazda CX-9.

Castrol MAGNATEC is designed for Gasoline engines, and applies synthetic technology (Semisynthetic) with a 10W-40 viscosity. It is available in a 1-liter and 4-liter packs and is most suitable for vehicles including Toyota Vios, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla Altis, Toyota Camry, Toyota Wigo, Toyota Rush, Toyota Avanza, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota RAV 4, Honda Accord, Honda Brio, Honda BR-V, Honda City, Honda Civic, Honda HR-V, Honda Jazz, Honda Mobilio, Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Subaru XV, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Levorg, Subaru WRX, Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-9.

Castrol MAGNATEC Diesel is recommended for Diesel engines and uses synthetic technology

(Semi-synthetic) with a 15W-40 viscosity. It comes in 1-liter and 5-liter packs and is suitable for vehicles including Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Hiace, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Innova, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Mazda BT-50.

Castrol MAGNATEC with DUALOCK Technology is engineered with an industry-first pioneering formulation, resulting from ten years of research and development to create a lubricant suited for today’s urban driving environment and to protect engines against the wear caused by stop-start driving. Castrol MAGNATEC’s DUALOCK Technology combines the new STOP-START wear molecules with Castrol MAGNATEC’s original intelligent molecules to improve wear protection.

They lock together to form a powerful forcefield of protection on vital engine components, resulting in a 50%* reduction in wear and tear from engine warm-up and stop-start driving, even for vehicles running on the latest stop-start technology.

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Volvo outperforms all other car brands for tech innovation in 2020 JD Power study Volvo Cars have been ranked highest overall in a major technology study.

The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study provides an overview of how vehicle owners perceive advanced technology features.

With the highest Innovation Index score of all competitors, 617 out of 1,000, Volvo offers a high level of advanced technologies across its entire product lineup.

Key findings showed that, among other technologies, Volvo drivers appreciate Oncoming Lane Mitigation (known as Automatic Emergency Steering in the study) Cross Traffic Alert with auto brake (Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Automatic Braking), and Pilot Assist (Active Driving Assistance), which aligns with the Swedish luxury brand’s priority on safety.

Other technologies offered, but not included in the study, include 360-view cameras and sensors and Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) features like Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Run-Off Road Mitigation.

“At Volvo we believe in applying technology with purpose, not just for the sake of it,” said Anders Gustafsson, senior vice president Americas, and

president and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “We have always been about safety. The innovation in our new cars adds to that and the J.D. Power Tech Experience Index clearly shows how much our customers appreciate it.”

“The race never ends to develop ‘must-have’ vehicle technologies,” said Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction & human-machine interface research at J.D. Power.

“New technology continues to be a primary factor in the vehicle purchase decision. However, it’s critical for automakers to offer features that owners find intuitive and reliable. The user experience plays a major role in whether an owner will use the technology on a regular basis or abandon it and feel like they wasted their money.”

The study, fielded February through May this year, is based on responses from 82,527 owners of new 2020 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. It complements the annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) and the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and is also used to help the industry address any problematic areas before the technologies are made widely available across automotive portfolios, thus improving the future owner experience.

For more information about the technology in Volvo cars, visit www.volvocars.ph.

Over 90 percent of PNP Mahindra vehicles in healthy condition Over 90 percent of the vehicles Mahindra sold to the Philippine National Police five years ago are still in healthy condition according to a report submitted by the Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC).

This was made possible by the continuous aftersales program delivered by CAC Mahindra to the PNP units while the vehicles were in active service.

Aside from the regular preventive maintenance service (PMS) accorded to the Mahindra units of the PNP, Mahindra Philippines conducted a service campaign for the Enforcer Patrol Jeeps and the Scorpio Light Transport Vehicles (LTV) from October 22, 2018, to February 29, 2020.

Of the 2,045 units released to the PNP, 1,645 units were serviced by Mahindra free of charge. This free service campaign cost Mahindra Philippines PHP 10,641,942.43 worth of parts and labor.

In addition to the free service campaign, Mahindra also extended to the PNP a goodwill warranty for 474 units that were already out of warranty.

A goodwill warranty is the extension of warranty service for a unit that has passed its rated warranty period. For the Mahindra vehicles, 1,656 patrol jeeps and 398 Scorpio LTV’s had expired warranties

by July 31, 2019. Still, Mahindra accorded warranty www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

services to 474 units that needed major repairs.

These services amounted to PHP 12,614,415.21.

To achieve this service level and keep almost all of the Mahindra vehicles sold to the PNP in top condition, Mahindra maintained an inventory worth PHP 30-million in spare parts stock to readily replace worn out parts of the PNP units.

Mahindra also created a special and dedicated service group of five service engineers to look after the areas where Mahindra units were deployed. To support these engineers, four parts depots were established in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to ensure parts availability. An additional four mobile service vehicles were built to conduct regular site visits so Mahindra can immediately address any concerns of the patrol jeeps in the field.

Mahindra says they did this to make sure that our police force have healthy and functioning transport when they need it, especially for the enforcement of peace and order in remote towns and barangays.

“We even conducted regular training exercises with the handlers and managers of these Mahindra units covering the subjects of proper operation, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting of the units so the drivers and users of the patrol jeeps and LTV’s are familiar with their Mahindra service

vehicles,” said Antonio Mallari, Jr, Mahindra’s after-sales director. “Even Mahindra India regularly send their international service managers to help in the conduct of field training in operational areas and monitor the performance of the units and report it to their headquarters,” Mallari adds.

Of the 1,656 Enforcer Patrol units delivered to the PNP, only 41 are non-operational, while the Scorpio LTV only has 2 non-operational units.

The major cause of vehicle breakdown of the PNP units according to Mahindra is failure to follow preventive maintenance schedules and units that were brought to unauthorized service centers. Other factors include road accidents and encounters with criminal elements or armed rebels.

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Hyundai Starex ambulances deployed to serve far-flung government hospitals Eighteen Hyundai STAREX Cargo ambulance units complete with medical equipment were turned over to the Department of Health (DOH) Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) by Hyundai Biñan under Hyundai Laguna, Inc. These units make for the first batch of the 47 destined for the said Region, and count among the close to 150 customized Hyundai STAREX ambulances that passed the muster of the DOH and its adjunct agencies for mobilization in different parts of the country to ensure that essential services for noncommunicable diseases are efficiently delivered amid the nationwide battle against COVID-19.

According to director Dr. Mario Baquilod, oic Regional Director of the DOH Center for Health Development MIMAROPA, land ambulances are critical to providing health services in hard-toreach areas of the Region which is largely made up of long stretches of land. “Malaking bagay (ang mga ambulance na ito) sa pag-transport ng ating mga pasyente who require high level of care at our district hospitals or provincial hospitals.

Habang tina-transport, continuous ang pagbigay ng medical services sa kanila.”

More units are scheduled for turnover to the DOH regional offices in Davao, NCR, and Cagayan Valley towards the end of the year.

The undisputed space, comfort, power, stability, and durability of the Hyundai Starex has made it not only the vehicle of choice of Filipino families, but also as a versatile people and cargo mover.

“We are happy to see our vehicles repurposed to serve the Filipino’s multiple needs, particularly in the area of health services in far-flung government hospitals,” said HARI president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “It is quite fitting that the most beloved family van of Filipinos has evolved to save more lives and serve more families on a daily basis.”

At the height of the pandemic, the Biyahe ng Bayani COVID response program of H.A.R.I.

Foundation, Inc. (HFI) deployed Grand Starex and H350 units to offer free shuttle rides to thousands of health workers in Metro Manila, Southern and Northern Luzon. Under the Hyundai Ligtas Biyahe program, HARI mobilized its first COVID-ready Modern Jeepneys to support the Department of Transportation’s ongoing Libreng Sakay program for health workers.

Agudo further noted that HARI and its nationwide dealership fortress continue to closely monitor the country’s health situation in order to discover more innovative ways to assist the public, flatten the curve, and bring the economy back on its feet.

AVID sustains Q3 drive with 212 percent sales growth The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. (AVID) continues its robust revival with a 212 percent increase in sales, from 4,955 units sold in the second quarter of the year to 15,471 units sold in in the third quarter.

Rapid digital transformation, best value promotions, and stringent health and safety protocols in automotive facilities nationwide are major factors in the recovery of consumer confidence.

“We had to restore consumer confidence quickly and decisively so the auto industry could get back on track and bounce back strong. We aim to sustain this momentum till the last quarter of the year as we continue to reinvent ourselves, innovate, and capture our customer’s imagination.

This will put us in a great position as we start afresh in 2021,” AVID president Ma. Fe PerezAgudo said.

The Passenger Cars (PC) segment grew by 260 percent in quarter-on-quarter sales with 5,622 units sold in Q3 versus the 1,561 units sold in Q2. Demand for sedans remain as consumers are looking for safe and affordable personal mobility.

Hyundai, the top contributor of passenger cars, reported a total of 6,244 units since the beginning 60

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of 2020 followed by Suzuki with 4,069 units and Ford with 825 units sold.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment, AVID recorded a 192 percent growth in quarteron-quarter sales with 9,763 units sold versus the 3,349 units the previous quarter. Ford leads this segment with 8,539 units sold while Suzuki holds second place with 6,422 units followed by Hyundai with 5,879 units sold since the start of the year.

In the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, AVID recorded 91 percent growth in the 3rdquarter with 86 units sold. The gradual reopening of

the economy and resumption of key government projects is seen to spur more demand for commercial vehicles.

YTD-September sales, however, dropped by 45.6 percent, from 64,274 units sold in 2019 to 34,977 units in the same period this year.

“There will never be a return to business as usual,” Ms. Agudo concluded. “We are redefining the industry’s new normal–call it a better normal. Even if the customer journey has radically changed, one thing remains constant for us: the commitment to give our customers the premium value, care, and attention that they deserve, in and beyond pandemic times.” www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Toyota dealers pilot new LTO digital system Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is taking the lead among car companies in the Philippines to try and see how the new online automobile registration system of the Land Transportation Office can ease the transaction of buying a car.

Sherwin Chua Lim, TMP first vice president for marketing, said at least three major dealerships of Toyota have been asked to try out the connection of the new Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) of LTO when registering a car purchase. The pilot run begins this October.

“The LTMS is part of LTO’s modernization program which aims to ensure the ease of doing business and quick delivery of its services through systemization. The LTMS will streamline all operations and aims to have seamless and paperless transaction accessible anytime, anywhere,” said Chua Lim in his memorandum to select Toyota dealers.

Under the new system, car buyers can expect real time registration of vehicles they purchase from any of the the pilot Toyota dealers. This means that the car buyers can now get their motor vehicle registration approved from within the dealership via a direct network connection to the LTO LTMS. In the current system, a car buyer will have to wait a few weeks for his new car registration to be released by LTO since the application is done manually, meaning the application is physically brought to an LTO office where it is processed.

This has caused clients of car companies many inconveniences, including being apprehended for driving a motor vehicle without the required registration or plate numbers.

Under the LTMS, car dealers will have an online account and connection to the LTO server where they can digitally process all automobile registration application and receive and instant reply, much like the way it is done in the United States.

Dermalog, the IT company that created the system for LTO and is implementing it for the government agency, said this is the most convenient way to process car registration, especially in today’s condition where minimal physical contact is encouraged.

The German company has already competed the upgrade of the Driver’s License system at LTO where biometric identification and security has revealed plenty of double/multiple issued driver’s license or fake names and personalities.

na masyadong biyahe, gastos sa papel at mga tauhan na nagdadala ng papeles mula showroom papuntang LTO office. Mas maiksi na din ang waiting time sa documents, yan ang objective ng LTO sa paggamit ng LTMS,” Galvante adds.

LTO director Asst. Secretary Edgar Galvante said “the objective is to have a seamless transaction between car dealers and the LTO where there is no need for physical documents to be transported from the different car dealerships to LTO offices.”

The LTMS is an online system that allows clients of LTO to access services on the internet like driver’s license application and renewal, verification of violations and fines, and even payment of fines and fees. The system now also allows motor vehicle inspection center connections and medical test connection for free. The dealership to LTO process is the latest in the LTMS service system.

“Simple online transactions is the goal, lowering the cost of transactions in terms of manpower, transportation and document processing. Wala

Toyota is the country’s number one car company in terms of sales and the best testing ground for the new digital system of LTO.

SMC completes Skyway 3 ahead of schedule San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang announced that over the October 10 weekend, construction of the entire 17.93-km stretch of the much-awaited Skyway 3 project, finally linking Southern and Northern Luzon seamlessly, has been completed.

This was done ahead of the original October 31 schedule the company earlier announced, following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m happy to announce that the whole structure of Skyway 3 is now complete. With this, Skyway 2 in Buendia is now officially extended all the way to the North Luzon Expressway. After many challenges this project faced in previous years, the dream of connecting north and south and providing an alternative to EDSA is now a reality,” Ang said.

With Skyway 3, travel from SLEX to NLEX will now only take 20 minutes, from around three hours previously.

Magallanes to Balintawak will only take about 15 minutes, Balintawak to NAIA also only 15 minutes, and Valenzuela to Makati in just 10 minutes.

Ang however said that the expressway cannot be opened to the public just yet, as finishing works, such

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as the proper curing of asphalt, have been delayed by continuous and heavy rains.

“We’re very excited to open Skyway 3 to the public.

We just have to wait for the weather to improve so we can make sure that the asphalt will cure properly. That and a few more finishing touches are all that’s needed, and then we can open, soon,” he added.

Since COVID-19 restrictions were eased starting mid-May to June earlier this year, Ang said the company had been doubling its efforts to deliver its major infrastructure projects with the least delays possible.

In mid-July, it delivered the last section of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to Rosario, La Union, officially opening the entire stretch of the TPLEX to motorists.

Apart from the Skyway 3, the company is also looking to deliver the northbound section of the Skyway Extension–which provides additional lanes and connects the South Luzon Expressway to Skyway near Susanna Heights and the MuntinlupaCavite Expressway—by December this year.

And has vowed to push through with all its major infrastructure projects despite the economic slowdown due to the pandemic, in order to generate jobs and help the economy recover.

Its PHP 740-billion Manila International Airport project in Bulacan, said to be the largest single-item investment in Philippine history, is also set to break ground by the end of the year. Seen as a gamechanger for the Philippine economy, it will generate over a million direct and indirect jobs and, once complete, create up to as much as 30 million tourism jobs nationwide.

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The Mitsubishi Strada is the official vehicle of DepEd Mitsubishi Motors Carworld Pampanga recently delivered 166 units of Strada 4×4 GLS MT to the Department of Education in San Fernando Pampanga. The turned over units are on top of the initial 88 trucks that were released last December 2019, bringing the total purchased vehicles to 254 units. The Mitsubishi Strada trucks will be assigned as the official service vehicles of the field engineers of DepEd for their regular field inspections.

“No school division office will be left behind, as we continue to gear up our actions, hold on the wheels of our goals, focus on our vision, and have a safe ride with our mission,” said DepEd undersecretary Alain Del Pascua, during the turnover ceremony.

The Mitsubishi Strada units will also serve as rescue trucks of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council in times of emergencies or calamities.

“We are honored to have been selected as the official vehicle of the Department of Education. We guarantee the government agency that the Strada is a very reliable pick-up truck that is built to be durable and engineered to deliver outstanding performance. Mitsubishi Carworld Pampanga is also committed to provide excellent

service for the regular maintenance of the vehicles,” notes Laus Group of Companies president Paul Laus.

To know more about the Mitsubishi Strada or other Mitsubishi products, you may log on to www.mmpc.ph or contact your preferred Mitsubishi Motors dealership.

The Cebu-Cordova bridge construction in progress, expressway to be completed in 2021 Builders of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) have turned another corner in the construction of the PHP 30-billion toll bridge, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as the project’s progress stands at 61 percent.

Set to be a new landmark in the country, CCLEX will connect mainland Cebu from Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island.

The overall engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) progress of the project stands at 61% while construction progress alone is at 48%.

Marking this significant development is the installation of its stay cables that will hold the bridge deck and the installation of the cross on top of the CCLEX pylons, one of the iconic features of the project.

“CCLEX is set to be nearing substantial completion in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, we commit to continue working hard towards completing the project next year for the benefit of the Cebuanos. It is something we look forward to, given the current conditions,” said Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) president and general manager Allan Alfon.

There will be 14 stay cables in each side of the main bridge’s two towers or a total of 56 that varies in length between 60 meters to 210 meters, all anchored on the pylon and the deck.

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On the other hand, the cross, which will be luminous on four sides at night once finished, is 40 meters in height. The lighted cross symbolizes Cebu’s significant role as the cradle of Catholic devotion.

Aside from these installations, other works are also being simultaneously done on the other components and segments of the CCLEX project.

These include concreting of the bridge deck and Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on ramp; construction of columns at CSCR off-ramp, Cebu viaduct, and Cordova viaduct; and piling works for the small bridges at the causeway that will serve as access of the fishermen to their fishing ground.

Once completed, the expressway will have two lanes in each direction that will provide a safe, quick, and scenic passage to an estimated 50,000 vehicles daily, easing the traffic in the existing Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

It is also seen to spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.

CCLEC, a subsidiary company of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), is undertaking the CCLEX project under a joint venture agreement with the local government units of Cebu City and Cordova.

Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV) is the “Build and Design” contractor for the CCLEX project. CLJV is a consortium of Spanish company Acciona Construccion S.A. and Filipino companies First Balfour, and D. M. Consunji Inc. CCLEC also engaged the services of COWI A/S of Denmark with the Philippines’ DCCD Engineering Corporation, as its sub-consultant, to be the project’s technical advisor/owner’s engineer. Norconsult, a Norwegian consultancy firm, was also tapped as the project’s independent consultant.

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Mazda PH announces preventive service campaign to replace fuel pump motor Mazda Philippines, in cooperation with its 19 dealerships nationwide, announces a Preventive Service Campaign involving the replacement of fuel pump motors for various models in its lineup.

The campaign covers a total of 1,838 Mazda units, which include the following models, sold in the Philippines: Model

Chassis Code

Number of Units Covered

Mazda2

DJ / DL

735

Mazda3

BN

347

Mazda6

GJ

6

MX-5

ND

12

CX-5

KF

699

CX-9

TC

39

The list of vehicles covered by the Preventive Service Campaign includes models produced between 2017 to 2019. No 2020 year model vehicles are included.

Notifications to the owners of the vehicles under this campaign have already begun as of October 20, to schedule them for their service appointments. The Preventive Service Campaign

procedure involves the replacement of the fuel pump motor, which is a component of the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM). The FDM is not replaced.

The fuel pump motor replacement is expected to take approximately 2.5 hours and is free of any cost to the customers.

All Mazda dealerships nationwide have been notified of the Preventive Service Campaign on October 13, 2020, together with the full Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list of the vehicles included in the campaign.

Implementation began immediately after the filing was done at the Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday, October 20. The necessary replacement parts have been brought in, and already distributed to all Mazda dealerships.

Communications from the dealerships to the customers is ongoing, with the vehicles within the campaign guaranteed to be served immediately upon their scheduled arrival.

Mazda customers are also encouraged to contact their respective service dealerships to know if their Mazda is included in the campaign by providing the VIN or Chassis Number as indicated in the OR/CR of the vehicle. The Mazda Philippines website will also be updated with

the file containing the list of VINs covered by the Preventive Service Campaign.

“Preventive Service Campaigns are undertaken when necessary to ensure the optimum operation of every Mazda vehicle sold in the country,” says Ramil De Vera, general manager of customer service operation of Mazda Philippines. “We must always be transparent with our customers whenever their vehicles require such special attention. Their safety is our top priority, and that is why we are always quick to implement technical and performance requirements of Mazda Japan.”

North-bound SMC Skyway Extension will be completed by December 2020 After announcing the soft opening of its muchawaited Skyway 3 project in December, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang has said the structure of the northbound section of its Skyway Extension project is now 70 percent done and on-schedule for completion by end of the year.

The PHP 10-B project, which is fully funded by SMC, will extend the Skyway from Susana Heights on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to Sucat and back, and provide direct access to the elevated section of the Skyway.

It will connect the SLEX and the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) to the Skyway at Susanna Heights, bypassing Alabang to make travel from south to north via the Skyway System seamless and much shorter.

“We are on track to deliver the northbound section of the Skyway Extension project by December, and with this, motorists from the south can easily access Makati, Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, and the North Luzon Expressway,” Ang said.

“Under normal Metro Manila conditions, you will be lucky if you can get from SLEX to the North Luzon Expressway in under three hours. You would have to pass through traffic gridlocks in Alabang, Magallanes, practically the whole of EDSA, or various areas through Manila. With the Skyway Extension and the completed Skyway 3, you can get there in 30 minutes without stopping,” he added.

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The project, which started in late 2019, is also aimed at eliminating traffic buildup along SLEX heading to Alabang and the Alabang viaduct.

Previously, from five lanes on the SLEX, the expressway would narrow to just three lanes at the Alabang viaduct, causing huge traffic jams not just on the expressway, but also on public roads feeding into it in Muntinlupa and Las Pinas.

The Skyway Extension will expand capacity by adding three lanes northbound and two lanes southbound.

With motorists coming from Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas able to bypass Alabang, the easing of traffic in Muntinlupa and along the Alabang-Zapote Road, is also seen.

Originally set for full completion by end of this year, the project, like all other major infrastructure projects, has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Work had to stop when the lockdown was implemented. We resumed work in mid-June and because of health protocols, we had to limit the number of workers at the site. Apart from limitations on the workforce, we have also had to contend with delays in the shipment of materials, due to restrictions and limitations brought on by the pandemic,” said Ang. “But despite these challenges, our engineers and our contractors have come through. They work double- time, so we can deliver the northbound

section as scheduled, by December. The southbound section will follow July next year,” he added.

Currently being done are the installation of steel girders which will support the expressway and the laying of pre-cast slabs, which will make up the road itself.

“After this, we only need to cement the gaps between slabs, and then apply asphalt. While the weather is also a factor, especially when doing finishing work, we don’t see any problems meeting our December deadline for the northbound section,” Ang said.

Apart from working on the Skyway Extension, Ang said that SMC’s infrastructure group is also almost done with the improving and reconfiguration of Skyway 1 and 2, which has allowed for the opening of an additional lane from Alabang to Magallanes, to further ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

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The KTM 200 Duke: Ready For The New Generation KTM Philippines offers the new generation 200 Duke as the perfect introduction for Filipinos aspiring to own their first KTM. Perfect for riders who want to upgrade to their first KTM motorcycle, the new generation 200 Duke offers a standout look and best-in-class features that will make it the Filipinos’ motorcycle of choice.

Dubbed as The Light Heavyweight, the 200 Duke now comes out in an incredibly lighter yet hefty package with its fresh frame, enhanced ultra-compact single cylinder engine and Euro 4 emission.

Aside from the improvements, the new KTM 200 Duke retains its defining standard features such as the halogen lamp, LED light, alloy swing arm, light torque, and WP suspension.

It’s also now equipped with an undetectable ABS system that helps you brake smoothly and keeps your ride safe. And with the SuperMoto mode on, you also have the option to turn off the ABS in the rear tire. User experience also boasts of precise steering coupled with comfortable ergonomics.

With the competitive introductory price of PHP 159,000, it comes in orange and white colors. The new generation KTM 200 Duke is now available at selected KTM Authorized Dealers nationwide.

IPC turns over 84 fire trucks to continue its support of the BFP Modernization Program.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) turned over a total of 84 fire trucks and emergency rescue vehicles to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City last October 15.

The ceremony was attended by officials and representatives of IPC, BFP officials headed

by Director Jose Embang Jr, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, from JROG Marketing, and guest of honor Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

This is the second turnover that IPC conducted with BFP, the first held last February 11 where IPC delivered 74 firefighting and rescue vehicles.

These represent bulk of fire trucks and rescue vehicles which the BFP requires for its project.

The turnover comprised of 76 FVR 1,000-gallon fire trucks, 3 FVR rescue vehicles, and 5 CYZ52 2,500-gallon fire trucks with aerial ladders.

The ever dependable and reliable vehicles form an integral part of the BFP’s modernization plans, which include providing durability, safety and comfort to hundreds of local government units that either have no vehicles or still use old trucks in their fire stations.

IPC President Hajime Koso remarked during the turnover ceremonies, “IPC continues in its mission to contribute to society and be the Filipino people’s responsible partner by providing the most durable, reliable trucks. With the Bureau of Fire Protection modernizing its equipment and

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vehicles, IPC and the Isuzu brand can help the BFP attain its objectives to protect and serve the country in the best way possible against fire and other calamities.”

IPC gave its assurance that the BFP will have full support wherever the trucks may be deployed

in the country. Its 43 locations nationwide offer excellent after sales support and guaranteed parts availability.

To know more about IPC’s world-class trucks, CVs and LCVs, log on to www. isuzuphil.com.

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MMPC launches All-New Website

Visitors to the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation website are set for a faster, more enhanced online experience when they log on to MMPC’s new online home, www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ph

As the nature of customer interaction gradually shifts towards more convenient and efficient online channels during the global pandemic, MMPC introduces significant design improvements, interactivity features, and new customer tools that better inform site visitors and make the purchase of their new Mitsubishi vehicle easier and hassle-free.

The new website revamp improves the speed and quality of every user interaction and showcases new user-friendly elements and site functionalities designed to make it more intuitive and convenient to use.

The new MMPC website, which was launched last October 29, is now live with the following improvements: All-New Design and Feel

Optimized Display The all-new online portal of MMPC comes with an optimized User Interface for mobile, desktop, and tablet devices. The optimization across various viewing platforms will deliver improved page loading performance and scalability for site visitors whichever device they use. This ensures each page is viewed correctly and all buttons and features are available for viewers of the site.

Website visitors will also be able to view sharper, cleaner and clearer images, along with high-quality videos with the site’s new graphical enhancements.

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Improved Buying Experience

New Car Customer Tools In order to give customers a more complete experience similar to visiting any of its 55 dealerships nationwide, MMPC is also introducing a new Car Configurator tool in its website. This allows customers to view and select their preferred vehicle from the extensive Mitsubishi model lineup as well as select particular variants, colors and specifications that are available in its dealership network.

Dynamic Vehicle Viewer A quick-loading and easy to use Dynamic 360° Exterior and Interior Viewer now helps visitors actually see and appreciate their chosen vehicle in detail before any purchase. Visitors may also save and share their preferences for future reference to help them decide between specific vehicle variants.

Test Drive Booking, Quotation Request & Service Booking To make every Mitsubishi Philippines website experience comprehensive and engaging, visitors can now book test drives and service appointments, and even request quotations, from their preferred dealership at the comfort of their own homes. The convenience the new website affords makes sure that every visit will be rewarding and complete. The test drive booking and quotation request portal utilizes the SirQo lead management software by Auto Deal Philippines, enabling online inquiries to be distributed to agents at Mitsubishi dealerships

in real-time, minimizing response time and maximizing efficiency.

Enhanced Accessibility

Quick and Easy Dealer Locator An easy to use dealership locator with an interactive map is also now available for website visitors who wish to find a Mitsubishi dealership that is nearest their location. With this tool, site visitors as well as Mitsubishi owners will be able to know a selected dealership’s location, contact information and service hours.

Coming Soon MMPC will also integrate Chat Bot functionality with its website by December 2020. This new feature will allow visitors and customers to instantly receive answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the brand, its products and services. By enhancing the capabilities of its Facebook Messenger account to allow Mitsubishi customers to interact with the brand and its representatives, MMPC hopes to create a more well-rounded Mitsubishi ownership experience that addresses its customers’ needs faster and more efficiently.

“MMPC encourages the public to visit the new MMPC website and experience its improved and enhanced user interface that embraces the “New Normal,” shares Mr. Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, MMPC President & CEO. “We value the time of every visitor to our website. Through these improvements, we hope to give our customers a welcoming online user experience and offer them convenience and ease with every visit.”

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65

GAMING

Words by Ren Alcantara

Developer and Publisher: Supergiant Games Platform: Windows, Switch, Mac

There are few things as masochistically enticing as the roguelike game. Whether it’s because of the challenge, the items, the morbid fascination with super-difficult 90s games, or something else altogether, there have been more roguelikes recently than I care to recall. Of those, one has gained great popularity of late. Hades, a title from Supergiant games, has taken over many gamers’ time.

We gave into the peer pressure and jumped straight into the underworld to see what the fuss was all about. Here’s what we thought.

Supergiant games is no stranger to game design. Transistor, an action tactical game, was a great little idea, and well-loved by people who picked up the title. While Hades has a similar feel, there’s no doubt that it’s in a league of its own.

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The story starts in the underworld realm of Tartarus, where the lord of the underworld, Hades, is at ends with his son Zagreus. Zag wants to leave the realm for the surface for reasons we’re leaving out so as not to spoil the story. Therein lies the first stroke of genius behind the title. Hades has a top-notch story, with NPCs that have stories that unfold through each playthrough, and a main arc that is as much part of the reason you keep playing as it is the background for all the action.

Being a rogue-like, you’re going to die a *lot* in this game, but unlike other similar games, each death and respawn moves the story forward.

Each time you come back, characters will reveal more of the intricate world that Supergiant has

There are also gems that can be spent for cosmetic upgrades to the home where Zagreus respawns, or to add certain beneficial items and spots to the rooms you go through as you make your escape. These gems and the upgrades they bring are permanent, and help you along quite a bit.

A third resource, darkness, takes the form of a purple gem. These can be spent to upgrade Zagreus’ skills, and change the game somewhat, letting the player get bonus cash, damage, or damage resistance, additional starting health, extra lives, and the like. They are likewise permanent, and stay on, along with the skills.

There are also other permanent currency-style items like keys, to unlock weapons, diamonds that unlock more build options, and nectar that changes NPC interactions and move the story forward. NPC relationships are also important, as they give keepsakes that further empower Zagreus, granting extremely useful special abilities when equipped.

There are coins that can be spent on shops that appear both regularly at the end of each leg, and randomly like vending machines over the course of your travels, but these coins are temporary, and will be lost with each death, along with effects from any items bought with them.

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written. It’s such an integral part of the experience that is drove us to just one more excruciating, early-morning playthrough just to see what happens next. The game has many strengths, but this is one of the greatest, and most powerful.

Gameplay-wise, if you’ve played dungeon crawl rogue-likes before, you’ll feel right at home.

Zagreus battles his way upwards from Hades one chamber at a time, facing hordes of different enemies across the realm’s three different regions.

To help him along, weapons can be unlocked, with each one perfect for a particular playstyle, so players can approach the game as they please.

While each weapon behaves differently, Zagreus has the same abilities regardless of the weapon.

There’s a basic attack, a special attack, and a dash

The last temporary collectibles are boons from Zagreus’ relatives, the Gods of Olympus. Each God has a certain theme to their skills, like Athena and defense, Poseidon and knockback, Ares and damage--you get the idea. These powerful boons change the game a lot, and really let Zag put the hurt on. Boons are given as a choice among a set of three, usually as a reward for clearing a room of enemies. The player has some power to dictate which god they meet, as entrances to rooms will have the sigil of the god, or icon of the upcoming room reward visible. It’s a clever way to give the player back some power in choosing how they take the dungeon crawl on, while still making things random and exciting. The music is likewise amazing, and takes the feel of Greek antiquity, but gives it a strong modern flair.

The game has three regions, each with distinct and gorgeous art and feel. Front the cold, dark Tartarus, to the hot lava of Asphodel, and the fields of Elysium, there is at least a break from the usual dungeon crawl monotony. Each region has its unique foes, and at the end, its own unique bosses, each with attack patterns and damage dealing mechanics that need to be understood to deal with properly. Some foes take well to dashing in and bursting them down, while others shrug it off, instead falling to repeated harassment from range. Despite the differences though, they

attack. The effects of each vary depending on the weapon, from an extremely closerange set of fists, to a long-range bow, and a few quirky weapons in between. Finding the weapon and playstyle that works for you, along with mastering how the weapon works and how to deal with the many varied enemies is a huge part of the fun behind the game, and will take a few runs to get comfortable.

Zagreus also has a ranged cast that throws a gem at an enemy, dealing damage, and staying embedded until that enemy is slain.

This cast has other effects as well, which change based on a few in-game things.

Through the many runs, resources are available.

can be taken down, as long as you have the patience.

The game also has a healthy sense of humor, not the least of which is from the main character itself. Zagreus is quick to make a snide comment, funny observation, and even goes so far as to change the name of one of the regional bosses. There are humorous interactions with many NPCs, and even some light moments with Cerberus, the threeheaded canine guardian of the underworld.

Even the Olympian gods join in, cheering and supporting Zagreus on his quest. Really, the amount of varied dialogue and interactions is just staggering once you’ve experienced it.

The game isn’t an easy one by any means, and the fact that the story progresses with each death is testament to the intention behind that fact. It’s punishing, but keeps you going in a way that no other rogue-like has managed, thanks to the story playing a very strong role in keeping the player hooked, despite its relative mechanical simplicity.

Should you buy it? If you’re wanting a good story and can stand the masochistic levels of pain needed to see it through, absolutely. But don’t blame us if you stay up until sunrise for just one more run.

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Words by Jose Alvarez Developer: miHoYo | Publisher: miHoYo Platforms: PC, PS4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch (future)

When it comes to viral games, there have been tons of them in 2020. The COVID-19 lockdowns have kept us indoors, and that means lots of time to throw at video games. Know a lot of people and still want some degree of social interaction? Try playing Among Us. Want to hunt ghosts? There’s Phasmophobia. Lots of games have gone viral in 2020, and the most interesting one comes out of China: Genshin Impact.

I have never heard of miHoYo before this game came out. miHoYo is a game developer and publisher based out of Shanghai, China founded by avid anime fans at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Many of their previous games are anime-style games, and they even have offices in Japan. Genshin Impact follows this formula with amazing artwork that stands out among games of its genre (play the PC version for the best results). The best part about this game is that it’s free-to-play (albeit with lots of microtransactions and loot boxes).

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The story is set in the world of Teyvat and you have access to 22 playable characters each with their own elements. You start with Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa, but can unlock other characters using Primogems for Intertwined Fates or Acquaint Fates to perform Wishes, or Gacha pulls. You journey across the regions of Liyue and Mondstadt doing quests and solving puzzles to gather resources (although other areas will open later on). Completing these quests and puzzles increases your Adventure Rank, which unlocks dungeons, daily quests, and even more quests. Thankfully, you don’t always have to do this alone. You can get three of your friends to help you in co-op mode. Some quests will require you to use the elements: anemo (wind), geo (earth), electro (lightning), dendro (nature), hydro (water), pyro (fire), and cryo (frost).

One of my favorite aspects of the game is how the elements interact with each other. For example, you can pair a water attack with a lightning attack for devastating effects since water inflicts the Wet status. You can even use the environment to play to your advantage.

Some puzzles can only be solved by using certain elements, such as fire to light a torch, or earth to keep a door open. Your mastery of the elements will let you get through the tougher challenges. Make sure you collect all the characters you can, because some characters are virtually required to fight You can customize your play style any way you want as long as you pay attention to the elemental chart and the types of weapons you

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have. There are five weapons: bows, catalysts, claymores, polearms, and swords. Each weapon with a 3-star rarity or higher will have a secondary stat that scales with the player’s level, so collecting rarer items will only be to your advantage. If you like getting up close and personal, you should use swords and claymores. Want to keep your distance but still be close enough to the action? Polearms are the way to go. Want to master the elements? Try using catalysts. Used to hitting things from afar? Use bows.

The cooking system is another aspect of the game that you should use to your advantage. You can find materials by killing enemies in the game, gathering fruits and vegetables, or purchasing them from stores.

Some of these dishes restore health and others boost statistics. You can also mine ore to increase weapon strength or even create your own weapons.

The learning curve for this game is pretty high, so be prepared to spend lots of time on this game if you want to truly master it. You’ll find over time that the loot boxes don’t even matter and are just fun rewards if you play a lot. It takes a middle ground between being a mindless grindfest and a pay-to-win game that is rarely seen in video games since developers started using monetization tactics such as loot boxes to generate additional revenue. This is what makes Genshin Impact a popular game right now, and a great play for anyone into action RPG games.

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MUSIC CORNER

Words by Gabriel Pe

Nothing could have prepared us for 2020. What started out as just another year ended up being quite possibly the scariest one the current generation has had. But with all the gloom and doom out in the world, people thankfully kept to themselves not only to practice social distancing but to keep also to keep themselves sane and occupied. For some, it is business as usual with international acts like Childish Gambino, Taylor Swift, and TWICE among others having new releases to help their fans and in turn their collaborators as well.

Just as we are starting to take on new things, there are artists out there who have found mainstream appreciation during this time with a couple of new names in the craft. While it is great for people to look back and find older stuff suddenly more interesting, new music is always welcome, especially here in Music Corner. So in this list, I have got a couple of artists who let their creative impulses out and made their first collections during this strange time.

Michael Pacquiao Starting off the list with the surprise hit so far this year so far, Michael Pacquiao surprised the general public by creating a Youtube channel and started uploading music online. His latest project, a self-produced album, along with a couple of singles helped began his foundation as an emerging talent in the industry.

Know Him Better Through: Dreams (2020) His aptly titled debut album is perfectly summed up in one word. Talking about both kinds, the

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tracks in the album are created to have a dream-like atmosphere. The other kind, on the other hand, is explored lyrically. From the encouraging words of Alan Watts in Go To Sleep to the nightmare of social injustice in Movement, the album has its moments of raw edge but does not fail to stay on point.

Whether it is intentional or not, the thematic and musical symmetry is a welcome trait.

Michael Pacquiao’s sound, rough as it may be right now, is an element of his own making him one to watch.

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Ena Mori

Zild Benitez IV of Spades frontman Zild Benitez released a single, Sinungaling, a couple of weeks before announcing their hiatus. The quarantine period definitely led artists to discover their own styles better and it was no different for Zild. His self-isolation, playing a major role in his solo outing, resulted in a either a more refined yet chaotic sound, perhaps as a reaction to the feelings involved in the making of the album.

Japanese-Filipino artist Ena Mori has been making rounds in the industry long before finding her sound like Michael Pacquiao and Zild Benitez, who she worked with for her latest single FALL INLOVE!. Switching from classic to pop, her journey included learning the piano and joining competitions at an early age, a stint on the band Dayaw, which in itself is worth a listen, before finally going solo to further her own style — and what a sound it is! With her 80s and 90s pop inspired music, her style, same as pop as a genre itself has a wide range. Perfect for parties, but can also be introspective.

ALLMO$T In 2018, Olongapo-based rappers Russel dela Fuente and Crakky Timog met singers Jomuel Casem and Clien Alcazar in a social media group for underground Filipino artists in 2018.

They then decided to collaborate for a track, the sleeper hit Dalaga. After going viral, the four artists decided to form a hip-hop crew. In just two years, the group’s songs have been streamed millions of times. With the group’s offerings leaning more of a midpoint between R&B and hip-hop even having funk and some rock influences, it shows the group does not just do simple tracks and that they are just getting started.

Know Her Better Through: Ena Mori (2020) Know Him Better Through: Homework Machine (2020) Zild Benitez ran loose with his soundboard with his first solo album. With his trusty synthesizer in hand, he veers away from the mainly pop funk sound of IV of Spades but does not completely abandon it. Instead of 60s to 70s influences, Homework Machine evokes the synth filled 80s and the rise of techno music in the 90s especially in Dila and Mapangpanggap. Of course it goes without saying that the emotion is not lost in all the music talk. With alalahanin displaying an emotional yet somehow all-too-familiar conversation between the speaker and their parents. All in all, it’s a good outing for Zild Benitez as a solo artist, and if the music here is any indication, his on-going musical growth will be a welcome offering to fans everywhere.

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Ena Mori’s self titled album is a collection of her single releases along with two new songs.

A great outing especially considering her shift from her work with Dayaw, to pop. With a mixture of genre staples carefully sprinkled throughout the tracks, it will not be surprising to find yourself bopping alone or with a group of friends, while socially distancing of course, to the music. With the slew of songs being released in this age, it is still uncommon to find yourself swinging your arms in the air with the music but realizing that the lyrics are akin to your inner thoughts. One such track is Safe Zone, telling about feelings of regret when you reject a person. Made with enough pop to energize, it makes for a perfect party anthem but also has the right amount of lyrical and thematic prowess to get you emotionally invested. And that feeling of being understood, that is a great feeling indeed.

Know Him Better Through: This Is Us (2020) Starting off the album with a good amount of R&B dosage with Gap, followed by the banger Lagi Kang Kasama, the group does not let up on their songs about relationships, commanding a variety of tones both lyrically and musically. With Space and Mananatili in the middle of the album providing a surprising amount of rock staples, it shows the group is not just a one trick pony. That they are experimenting and not afraid to. Additionally, by giving all members their time in the sun is also refreshing as not one particular tone takes the lead, making it more apparent that the album is a collaborative effort.

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71

BULLET POINTS

Multitool

options Words by Ren Alcantara

I have had my EDC gear for literally years now. Apart from the usual wallet, watch, keys, and phone, I also have a pocket knife, med kit, and a light, like many of you reading this article. A key piece missing from my kit has always been a multi-tool. It’s not so much that I haven’t seen the need for it—I just honestly haven’t found the right one. It’s not for lack of trying either. I’ve tried a few, from both popular and cheap brands, but there was always something lacking. It missed a tool, it was too large, too heavy, too unwieldy. All of these reasons ultimately kept me from keeping a proper multitool on my person as part of my EDC, and at times, I have regretted this decision.

SOG, maker of many great knives like the Seal Pup, has a line of multi-tools that I had been wanting to try out. Our friends from Forged sent two over for a comparison, to see which one we might recommend taking around on a daily basis. Going head-to-head are the PowerAccess, a more traditionally styled tool, and the Baton Q4, a sleeker take on the multitool concept.

Both some from a company with a solid reputation, and like the knives, are built to take a beating.

I started with a week of carrying the PowerAccess. The PowerAccess is done in the traditional multitool shape, being centered around making as comfortable a pair of pliers as possible, and keeping the additional tools folded in the handle.

The PowerAccess appears to be made primarily of stamped steel, but nothing on it feels flimsy. Everything down to the SOG-branded clip is rigid, and there’s no way you’re going to get the frame to flex in any significant manner with bare hands. It has more than a fair number of tools for something its size,among them a saw/file, flat and Philips head drivers, can and bottle opener, a leather reamer, and a small prying tool.

There’s also a serviceable knife, and a holder for removable screw driver heads, though it doesn’t come with its own. The

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frame itself is also ruled for quick and dirty measurements, and there’s a very clever angle guide built into the folding mechanism as well.

The main tool, however, remains the pliers, which are significantly pointy at the end and feature robust wire cutters. What makes this pair of pliers special though is the use of teeth and pivots to mechanically increase gripping force. The teeth are thick as the frame material, mesh perfectly, and actually work well in practice. It’s a clever design that I appreciate a lot.

I carried the PowerAccess for the first week right in my pocket, with the included clip, which held it securely even with slicker synthetic-fabric pants. One thing I immediately liked about it was that it had smooth edges. It’s finished well, and sits comfortably, without any bits that poked, prodded, or scratched my leg as I moved around. In fact, it was more comfortable than some EDC knives I’ve carried in the past.

The tools included are quite useful if you’re into fieldwork. The pliers do actually grip very well, and makes up for the thin, precise beak with greater clamping force. I was using it to cut and crimp some terminals onto some 16-gauge wire (it was the

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only tool I had at the time, please don’t judge me), and despite being a small, folding tool, it did at least as good a job as a standard pair of heavy pliers. I was impressed.

The knife was also surprisingly useful. While heavier cutting tasks are better suited for a dedicated folder, the long, slim blade available in the PowerAccess handle was great for lighter cutting tasks that are more awkward for all but the smallest EDC folders. It’s also much less intimidating to whip out than my regular knife.

The rest of the tools were likewise useful, though I do feel they’re geared towards “heavier” tasks. All the tools lock, and can be put away one-handed, though deploying them is a two-handed affair, and on the difficult side, even if you have the nails for it. The beefy Philips screw driver, the little pry too—If I had this in my pocket out in the field, I can totally see myself turning to these first, before digging around the toolbox for something else. Overall, I feel it’s a great tool to have for fieldwork.

While still a multitool centered around giving you a solid pair of pliers, the form factor of the Q4 is radically different. It’s baton-shaped, and the length of an unsharpened pencil since the grips line up when the Q4 is folded, instead of side-byside as on most other popular multitools, the PowerAccess included. Where the PowerAccess is heavy and looks the part it’s supposed to play, the Q4 is slim, elegant, and discreet.

Apart from the nicely sprung pliers, the Q4 has a file, bottle opener, can opener, and a small knife. It also has a ratcheting driver head socket, and a small clip to hold one half-inch screwdriver head. Unlike the PowerAccess, this comes with a whole set that can be carried in the pleather case.

It comes with a pleather carrying case, but also has a pocket clip which was my preferred carry method. It rides high when clipped, which is fine, and makes it a little more compatible with shallower pocket when clipped. I carried the Q4 for a week following the PowerAccess. The first thing I have to say about it is that it’s so fun to just hold in a way that machined things are pleasant in the hand. The grips appear to be solid milled halves with the different components sandwiched between them. The

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two-tone construction with a diagonal split down the middle makes it a visually striking piece. It weighs 172 grams, about the same as the PowerAccess (for comparison, my very average mobile phone tips the scales at about 200 grams).

The tools included make Q4 more suited to lighter work. That’s not to say that the tool itself isn’t solid—it’s machined afterall, but the options available are more aligned with the kind of use one would see in more indoor, less fieldwork sort of scenarios such as repairing appliances, opening up computer cases, spot home repairs and the like. The case even comes with a magnetized holder for extra driver bits, including some reasonably small torx and hex heads.

Over the course of my week with it, I did a bunch of tasks around the house, on some furniture, and the car. The entire time, it was pleasantly unobtrusive, all the tools lock firmly, and it was much easier to deploy the individual ones. While it does present a significantly smaller kit than other multitools, it’s more than made up for by its more pocket-friendly footprint, and gives you enough hardware to work with.

Of the two then, which would I recommend? It’s quite straightforward. If you’re the kind to be out in the field, and want a compact kit that delivers a lot, then the PowerAccess is your multitool. Those phenomenal pliers, the versatility, and even just the look of it makes it perfect for heavy work, a range day, or even some SHTF scenarios.

The Q4 on the other hand, with its slender form factor, more focused toolset, additional driver heads, and general convenience, make it a great daily companion if you’re indoors, or urban scenarios. I generally keep the flat head/phillips head combo in the Q4, and that has served fine 90 percent of the time. With those extra heads, it’s a great set of pliers and a whole set of screwdrivers in a small package. What it gives up in ability is made up for in convenience, down to how well it carries in your pocket.

It comes down to your most likely use case. In any given situation, any tool is better than no tool at all, but to be perfectly honest, neither the PowerAccess, nor the Q4 will let you down.

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73

ENTERPRISE

A Cisco study sees 2024 GDP growing by USD 28-B with digitalization of Filipino SMBs The digitalization of the country’s Small Medium Businesses (SMBs) could add somewhere between USD 26 to USD 28 billion (about PHP 1.17 to PHP 1.36 trillion) to the Philippines GDP by 2024 to help in recovery post-COVID-19, according to the 2020 Asia Pacific SMB Digital Maturity Study.

The study, commissioned by Cisco and conducted

by International Data Corporation (IDC), maps out the digital maturity of businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the study, Digital Maturity has four stages, (1) Digital Indifference, (2) Digital Observer, (3) Digital Challenger, and (4) Digital Native. The study finds that the more digitally mature a company is, the more benefits in revenue and productivity it enjoys.

Now on its second year, the study found that 73 percent of the country’s SMBs are still in the Digital Indifference stage, but are moving closer to the Digital Observer stage. According to the study, customer experience and service delivery are the main priorities as well as the main drivers for business digitalization. 26 percent of SMB respondents aim to improve customer experience, 22 percent aim to improve service delivery, and 19 percent aim to improve marketing and sales as the reason for digitalization.

These are positive and significant development since SMBs account for 99.6 percent of all businesses in the country, 62 percent of the country’s total employment, and contribute 36 percent of the total GDP. As such the resiliency, agility, and digital transformation capabilities of SMBs will play an important role in the country’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

“The SMB sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the country’s SMBs have shown great resilience, and have leveraged technology to continue to operate and serve their customers during the period.

As the Philippines continues to overcome the current situation, and consumer and business activity start to pick up, digital transformation of SMBs will play a pivotal role in their recovery and contribute to the country’s overall economic growth. At Cisco, we are committed to work with SMBs to help them emerge stronger with the right digital solutions and strategy,” said Karrie Ilagan, managing director for Cisco Philippines.

Additionally, the study found that AI or Analytics (18 percent) is the top technology investment priority of SMBs in the country, followed by Cloud Technologies (15 percent), and purchasing or upgrading IT infrastructure software (11percent).

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However, SMBs also face challenges in adopting digital strategies. According to the respondents, lack of budget or commitment from management (15 percent) is the biggest challenge they face, followed by the shortage of skills (14 percent).

Many also point at cultural resistance to change (12 percent) as a challenge, as the digitalization of products and services require a substantial shift from long-standing practices.

“SMBs are the backbone of ASEAN economies, accounting for over 85 percent of total business establishments and making up the main contributions to private sector employment in the region. While they are currently facing the biggest challenges to their operations, they also have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate their digital transformation. Technology can not only help solve some of their key challenges and revitalize their operations but also help them sustain their growth in the long term,” said Raz Mohamad, director small business and commercial for ASEAN at Cisco.

“However, for SMBs to fully leverage technology, all stakeholders need to play a role. The government is already taking the lead and has introduced a range of measures to help Philippine SMBs on their digital journey. At Cisco, we are proud to be playing our part. On the technology front, we have launched a series of curated products and solutions specifically

for the SMB sector under the Cisco Designed portfolio and introduced 0 percent financing for SMB customers in the country. From a talent perspective, the Cisco Networking Academy has trained over 428,000 students in the Philippines in various ICT skills for over two decades,” he added.

Besides the Philippines, the study found that nearly 70 percent of SMBs in Asia Pacific are accelerating the digitalization of their businesses because of COVID-19. Among the respondents, 86 percent say they believe digitalization will help develop future resilience against crises like COVID-19.

Within Asia Pacific, SMBs in Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand continue to lead the Digital Observer group with no changes in their ranking compared to 2019. However, mainland China, Taiwan, and Thailand surpassed Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia respectively. Other notable progress comes from Indonesia and Vietnam.

The 2020 Asia Pacific SMB Digital Maturity Study gathered and analyzed data from over 1,400 SMBs across 14 countries in APAC to assess the challenges and opportunities the companies face in their digital transformation. These countries are Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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Filipinos developed solutions at home in the 2020 NASA Space Apps Challenge virtual hackathon Last October 2-4, 2020, Filipino developers, engineers, technologists, designers, scientists, coders, storytellers, makers, builders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao came together to address real-world problems on Earth and space by engaging with the United States space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) free and open data, together with partner agencies like Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) of France, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA) in a virtual hackathon. Some of the projects developed include road hazard detection, data visualization tools, and machine learning for satellite image monitoring, and a lot more.

This year’s edition of NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic situation worldwide.

The theme of this year Take Action is a critical reminder that anyone can make a difference, even from the comfort and safety of home. In this unprecedented time, the Space Apps community exists as a reminder that there the tools and talents to tackle challenges facing the planet, as well as the ability to unite across boundaries and borders of all kinds.

Vice President Leni Robredo lauded this event as “our ability to gather ourselves, organize, and come together have opened the doors to technology and progress. We have done great things, cure diseases, find ways to connect with each another across the oceans, and even walked on the Moon… all thanks to mutual cooperation.”

The first Director-General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr. stressed the importance of space science in helping the society. “Space infrastructure, space data, and space-enabled services therefore help inform policies and decision-support systems that can lead us to better plan and decongest our cities, improve our transportation systems, monitor the state of infrastructure, enable better connectivity, enhance our agricultural and fisheries production, and protect our natural environment,” he said.

Since the start of Space Apps in the Philippines on 2016, the country witnessed how the community grew from a group of volunteers to forging partnerships with collaborators and stakeholders.

For many years, Filipinos collaborate and work with one another in developing projects to solve problems using space technologies. NASA and partner agencies recognized the hard work done by Filipinos, and thus being recognized and awarded globally as winners and finalists consecutively in the past three years. Software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas is optimistic that in these momentous and trying times, the country would still choose to prioritize and give value to science, technology, engineering, and

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mathematics (STEM), especially in emerging fields like space science where innovators can contribute and solve the most pressing problems prevailing in the society and environment today.

“How could someone imagine that Earthobservation data coming from space could give us valuable and unique insights about the socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus pandemic in various countries, and to pinpoint possible mosquito habitats which causes another epidemic called dengue? Why can’t we support our own modernday heroes specializing in new and emerging technologies to address issues and help others in our country? NASA and partner agencies from other countries have already recognize the ingenuity of Filipinos for the past three years. Now is the proper time for our own country to recognize their achievements too,” Michael Lance said. Together with technology and developer community leader Tzar C. Umang from Pangasinan and U.S. cultural affairs officer Matt T. Keener, Michael Lance looks forward in having more Filipino winners and finalists being recognized, and to a more meaningful and impactful Space Apps challenge in the future years to come.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) undersecretary for competitiveness and innovation Dr. Rafaelita “Fita” M. Aldaba, Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP) president Colin Christie, former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) undersecretary and University of the Philippines System Information Technology Foundation president Monchito B. Ibrahim, assistant professor and assistant chairman for administration, Department of Geodetic Engineering at the University of the Philippines and Sustained Support for Local Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) GRASPED project staff Dr. Czar Jakiri S. Sarmiento, part-time lecturer and technopreneurship/program manager at the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Nitro Erwin A. Lizarondo, senior consultant for data analytics for social impact at CirroLytix, Data Ethics PH, and COVID-19 challenge winner for the best use of data Nick Tobia, and Africa University chair educational technologies and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Space4Women

mentor Ms. Basuti Gerty Bolo from Zimbabwe served as local judges in Manila.

Community partners include STAMINA4Space, PhilSA, the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), DTI-Design Center of the Philippines, AAP, Data Ethics PH, CirroLytix, PWA Pilipinas, TMDC IT Solutions, Pampanga Developers Group, Koodi, Web and Mobile Developers PH, UXPH, DevCon, Alaga Health, Philippine Information Technology Organization (Phil IT Org), TIP Nitro, De La Salle University, Google Developers Group (GDG) Cloud Manila, 98 labs, United Pangasinan ICT Council, Code UX, DesignMNL Studio, Talino Labs, Impact Hub Manila, Elinnov Technologies, Drupal Pilipinas, Pantheon, Wadwhani Foundation, Youth for Women in Technology (WiTech), Kallisto, Wavefarers, Stock Knowledge, MVN Photostudio, and the U.S. embassy.

“The Global Organizing Team is inspired by the journey the Philippines has with the Space Apps program. In particular, we appreciate the development of STEM in the Philippines and elsewhere, because one goal of Space Apps is to foster interest and learning in these fields worldwide,” said Matt Scott, the global community director and storyteller.

The recent COVID-19 challenge winners and finalists discussed how their space-based solutions address the coronavirus pandemic during the Data Brew 4: Space and Ground Data for the Betterment of the Human Condition on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 by the Remote Sensing and Data Science (DATOS) Help Desk of the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute with PhilSA and STAMINA4Space.

In the Philippines, Space Apps is part of the World Space Week and celebrates the Design Week Philippines with DTI-Design Center of the Philippines.

Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program.

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Microsoft launches Imagine Cup 2021, opens registrations to Filipino students

Microsoft’s premier student competition, Imagine Cup engages new technologists around the world to promote platform adaption, expand market access, and source top talent. By participating, young science and tech entrepreneurs create new and innovative projects that highlight their passion and ingenuity, and will have the opportunity to network with professionals, gain new skills, win funding to further implement their ideas and receive mentoring from topnotch technology leaders. Through several rounds of online and in-person competition, they compete for the championship, the cash prize, and the mentorship.

Past Imagine Cup winners have spurred economic opportunities and employment, with many great innovators seeing their career change after the competition. Some of the previous winners have gone on to work for Microsoft, delivering their innovation back to the market. Other student competitors have built careers in startups, industry, healthcare and more, utilizing skills they learned throughout the competition experience and advice they received from mentors along the way.

To announce this year’s Imagine Cup, Microsoft Philippines held a virtual launch event recently, opening the competition up to Filipino participants.

Microsoft Philippines country manager, Andres Ortola, addressed the students, past Imagine Cup winners, public sector audience, and enterprise representatives in attendance.

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Ortola strongly encouraged Filipino students to submit their entries, citing that in the middle of a global pandemic, “Imagine Cup is an opportunity; a platform to connect and make a difference, through innovation. An example of that innovation is RapidPass, a project that saw Microsoft partnering with Developer Connect (DevCon) Philippines and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to create an application to help frontliners delivering help when it was needed.”

The much-awaited Microsoft Imagine Cup 2021, which is now open to students for submission of entries, will offer a grand cash prize of up to USD 75,000. The winner not only brings the cash prize, but will also get a mentorship session with Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella.

The Imagine Cup is about innovations changing the way we live; about solutions and applications that save lives. The competition has become a platform for student teams to develop effective answers for improving the lifestyle of people around the globe, through the technology ideas they have created.

The past 19 years have seen more than two million students join this spirited competition, from as many as 200 countries participating, with most of these student applications showing valuable and impactful projects, using Microsoft technologies.

Pablo Veramendi, global director for Imagine Cup, called on tech-savvy students around the world, saying, “we want to see what you can do!

We want to see what you want to change in your world, in your community. It’s all up to you. We are providing you a platform as we take your ideas and bring it to a global stage.”

Veramendi is also the global program manager of Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, a program which provides clear steps to help students learn and lead so they can make a difference and empower those around them. They learn new skills, solve real-world problems, and build communities across the globe through this program. Applications are open all year, and the next quarterly deadline for application is on November 30. Members of this program are also encouraged to apply to Imagine Cup, as they may have unique technology solutions and projects they have previously worked o With the mission of empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, Microsoft, through Imagine Cup, hopes that the next technology solutions tackling global issues will emerge.

Registration is now officially open for all interested participants. To register or learn more about Imagine Cup 2021, visit www.imaginecup. com.

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Microsoft expands “Highway to a 100 Unicorns” initiative to support APAC startups Microsoft for Startups has launched the Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative in Asia Pacific to strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem. This follows the initiative’s success in India, where only 56 startups were selected to the Emerge X program from six states, which have over 15,000+ startups. The Emerge X winners have greatly benefited with global market access support, a 3-day founder bootcamp with world-class mentors, access to funding, ongoing mentorship, and guidance on Azure, artificial intelligence, machine learning and more.

Innovation is critical to unlocking inclusive economic growth in Asia Pacific; highincome economies in the region invest three times more in research and development as compared to their peers. To spur innovative entrepreneurship, Microsoft will work closely with governments and industry partners to discover and nurture technology startups with a high potential to become truly global enterprises in the future.

Andres Ortola, country general manager, Microsoft Philippines said, “Startups play a vital

role in our economy as innovators, disruptors and first-movers. Through Highway to a 100 Unicorns, we will enable startups in the Philippines and the APAC region so they can have a real impact in their markets and drive digital innovation in the region. We look forward to walking with more founders along their growth journey and supporting them to scale and achieve more.”

Emerge X Competition Innovators and entrepreneurs from a total of 16 countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam—are invited to be a part of the Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative.

To be considered, startups will first have to submit an application for Emerge X competitions in their countries. Criteria for startups to apply for Emerge X are as follows: 1. Business-to-Business companies with a product-market fit, revenue-generating with at least 3-4 clients.

2. Business-to-Customer companies with a large customer base (upward of 100K customers) and are revenue-generating.

3. Funding is a plus.

All Emerge X startups will be awarded free GitHub and Azure credits and focused business and technology workshops. Three finalists per country will be announced in November. They will additionally benefit from a year-long mentorship with technical and business deep dives, a Founder Bootcamp over 3 days, access to enterprise clients globally through Microsoft’s unique co-sell program as well as opportunities to interact with Microsoft experts and industry stalwarts.

PLDT Enterprise powers Philippines AirAsia with Emergency Disaster Hotline and connectivity services To respond to the limitations of the lockdown but still ensure that they provide good service to their customers, Philippines AirAsia Inc. tapped PLDT Enterprise in reconfiguring its customer support strategy.

Philippines AirAsia Inc. fortified its partnership with PLDT Enterprise, with the latter providing managed Emergency Disaster Hotline services through its ICT arm ePLDT powered by CuroTeknika. The service aims to support a full online customer service delivery plan for Philippines AirAsia Inc., with digital platforms becoming the main conduit for customers to reach the airline company for questions or complaints.

“Our partnership with PLDT enterprise is aimed at providing our AirAsia guests with enhanced digital solutions in our customer support channels.

This is very timely and relevant, given the various quarantine announcements that we need to immediately share with our guests, so that they can better prepare for their flight and gain quick feedback from us when needed,” shared Ricky Isla, president and CEO of AirAsia Philippines.

With the COVID-19 and quarantine measures in place, Philippines AirAsia Inc. has had to re-think its customer service strategies to ensure that they deliver support as needed and when needed. ePLDT proceeded to provision the deployment of its

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Emergency Disaster Hotline services, a converged Voice and Data solution that provides a featurerich, multi-channel Contact Center experience. It also provides businesses with a dedicated, highcapacity and fully redundant solution specific to the company’s requirements.

The Emergency Disaster Hotline services is powered by CuroTeknika, which delivers a suite of IT Support Services to help Philippines AirAsia Inc. effectively handle the diverse aspects of their customer service strategy.

“We help businesses deliver consistent and distinctive customer interaction, supporting in the administration of customer interaction platforms including social media,” said Jett Tinio, chief operating officer of CuroTeknika. “The services we’re providing Philippines AirAsia, Inc. ensure that their customer service team is equipped with the necessary technologies to enable them respond to customers’ inquiries in a timely manner.”

Philippines AirAsia Inc. and PLDT Enterprise have a longstanding partnership, with the former having previously availed of the group’s various fixed-line and wireless connectivity services. To connect their sites and have optimum network communication, they availed of multiple IPVPN lines. Through the IPVPN lines, their headquarters in NAIA Terminal 3 is distributing PLDT iGate

internet to their various regional offices in the Philippines.

PLDT Enterprise is also strong on the wireless space being the primary mobile communications provider to Philippines AirAsia Inc. employees.

“Our enterprise customers have always come to us to support evolving business strategies and digital initiatives to respond to the changing demands of their operations,” shared Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT president & CEO and SVP & head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

“We are grateful for the continuous trust that Philippines AirAsia, Inc. has given to PLDT Enterprise group and they can always expect us to deliver the innovative services and solutions they need – both in normal and extraordinary times—to ensure that they in turn provide the highest quality service to their customers,” Hernandez concluded.

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New research reveals how PH brand preferences have shifted during the pandemic

Qualtrics, the leader in customer experience and creator of the experience management category, has detailed new research revealing how consumers’ preferences, behaviors, and expectations of the brands they engage with have shifted during the first 6 months of the pandemic in the Philippines Building on research from May 2020, the study revealed that even though restrictions have changed, the actions brands are taking continue to have a significant impact on consumers. Again, more than 95 percent agreed that during a crisis brand actions impact trust—with a majority 88 percent of people agreeing the impact was major.

Similar to the earlier study, the drivers of brand trust are consistent. Not taking advantage of a crisis to maximize profits remains the most important (41 percent), followed by maintaining reasonable pricing (40 percent), and taking care of customers (34 percent) and employees (23 percent).

Where we start to see a shift is in communication preferences, and the messages people in the Philippines want to receive.

Updates into how brands are responding to the pandemic are joined by messages on safety and hygiene protocols as the top brand communications people want to receive right now. Information into products and services is down one place to the third most desired message, (50 percent), followed by sales and promotion emails (45 percent), and information on reward programs.

When it comes to the medium, while Facebook remains the most popular channel, people in the Philippines are increasingly choosing online media, email, and TV advertising for the preferred engagement platforms.

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“Being able to identify, understand, and respond to rapidly changing expectations is businesscritical during the pandemic, and long after it. The fact that preferences toward the message and the medium have changed and yet the importance of actions remains hugely important reveals brands cannot afford to stand still in how they engage consumers. As we move forward through the pandemic preferences and attitudes will continue

to shift. This is why it is hugely important businesses use technology like Qualtrics to have an “alwayson pulse” of consumer sentiment and behavior tracking. Insights delivered by Qualtrics help identify the lead indicators businesses need to design and deliver the brand communications and experiences people want, and which ultimately cultivate the trust needed to succeed,” said Lisa Khatri, research and brand experience lead for Qualtrics in APJ.

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CYBER SECURITY

How to deal with cyber attacks that may harm your business

Adapting to changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals, sectors, and even businesses have resorted to maximizing the internet. However, cyberattacks have become an immediate challenge to organizations as they shift to digital processes.

In fact, the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network (SPN) detected nearly 9 million Covid19-related threats from January to June 2020, with 91 percent due to infected e-mails.

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Eastern Communications, one of the premier telecommunications companies in the country, advises all sizes of enterprises to be on guard when it comes to their cybersecurity, especially now that digital platforms are being largely utilized.

Learning the possible cyberattacks According to Edsel Paglinawan, Eastern Communications product and innovations head, some of the common cyberattacks that businesses may come across are Trojan, phishing, malware, ransomware, while the most sophisticated is DDoS or distributed denial of service attack.

Trojan is a type of malware, often disguised as legitimate software, that can potentially delete

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crucial information and is capable of breaking security infrastructures.

Another common cyberattack is phishing, an email-borne threat that usually tricks the recipient into downloading malware through a hyperlink which can potentially harm the company and personal data.

Malware, on the other hand, can take over a system or corrupt data. This can cause damage to a device or software and affect your business operations to a certain extent.

Enterprises should also beware of ransomware, an advanced threat that encrypts data and files on target systems, with hackers demanding that you pay a ransom to regain access.

A more sophisticated cyber threat is DDoS or distributed denial of service attack. This happens when internet traffic is sent in an effort to flood a network’s infrastructure and/or exhaust a server’s resources. The result is that website visitors’ requests cannot be fulfilled by the overwhelmed network or web server.

Securing the business before attacks occur “Although the first four attacks mentioned are common and usually affect organizations on a small to medium scale, it’s imperative

for enterprises to invest on cybersecurity solutions that have long-term benefits,” advised Paglinawan.

Paglinawan also added that securing a network before any attack happens is worth the expenditure. It saves companies from unnecessary IT costs, so they could focus on other aspects of the business.

Enterprises may explore Eastern’s Endpoint Security, a centralized approach to protecting all endpoints—servers, desktops, laptops, smartphones, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices—connected to the corporate IT network from cyber threats.

For a more sophisticated attack like DDoS, operations can be protected through Eastern Cyber Defense, a DDoS Protection Service that is either a website protection or a network infrastructure protection, or a combination thereof.

“Cybercriminals are getting more clever at this trying time, and businesses have to be one step ahead by knowing what their potential cyber enemies are, what these threats are capable of, and learning how to beat them from harming your assets,” Paglinawan added. To learn more about securing your business from cyber threats, visit eastern.com.ph.

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Social networks often exploited by cyber-fraudsters

There are several web services that employees of small and medium businesses most frequently access while working, according to Kaspersky. These include YouTube, Facebook, Google services, and WhatsApp, with some of these applications being the most exploited by malefactors as a springboard for phishing.

However, this list differs from the services that employers tend to limit for use on corporate devices. While organizations can have different priorities and permissions for what web services can be used by their employees, it is still important to make sure they stay protected from any cyber-risks.

It is important for organizations to understand relevant threats and how they can infiltrate corporate endpoints—for example, through phishing in cloud services. Once a web service becomes popular, it may turn into a more attractive target amongst scammers. For example, the TikTok app has gained enormous popularity over the past few years. It appeared to be flooded with fake accounts and scammers who are gradually improving their skills as the service rises in popularity. Protection from such scams and phishing attempts is crucial to ensure both personal user accounts and corporate data and devices remain safe.

According to anonymized statistics of events captured in a Kaspersky product, voluntarily provided by its customers, the top five web services employees access more often from their corporate devices include a video sharing platform, a social network, a mail service, and a messenger: YouTube, Facebook, Google Drive, Gmail and WhatsApp—all leading services in their respective segments.

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Unfortunately, these same web services are also exploited for phishing and other malicious actions. Kaspersky analysis revealed the top five applications where phishing attempts were found most often: Facebook (4.5M phishing attempts), WhatsApp (3.7M), Amazon (3.3M), Apple (3.1M) and Netflix (2.7M). Google’s offerings bundled together, including YouTube, Gmail and Google Drive, took sixth position with 1.5M phishing attempts. With the two lists sharing many of the services, these results only confirm the trend that popular applications have become valuable platforms for fraudsters’ malicious actions.

The product statistics also showed what web applications are most likely to be limited on organizations’ corporate devices. The top five most blocked applications only include social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn. These decisions can be made for a variety of reasons, such as complying with data regulations, or in line with specific organization requirements for social media use. And while it includes Facebook, which is actively exploited by scammers, it doesn’t include messengers, file sharing or mail services— probably because they are often used for working purposes as well as for personal needs.

“We can’t imagine our daily lives, and work, without different web services, including social media, messenger apps and file sharing platforms.

They allow us to communicate and share thoughts, ideas, images and inspiration—and this has become even more of a reality when the entire world has spent many months online this year. However, it is important for any organization to understand where threats may come from and what technology and awareness measures are

needed to prevent them. Businesses also need to provide their employees with comfortable use of services they require, so it is crucial to get the balance right. We at Kaspersky appreciate this and provide organizations with relevant protection tools and expertise,” says Tatyana Sidorina, security expert at Kaspersky.

Kaspersky suggests that businesses should follow these steps to ensure their employees use web services safely and securely: Show employees how to recognize fake or insecure websites and phishing messages.

Encourage them to never enter their credentials before checking a website’s credibility, or open and download files from unknown senders.

Conduct basic security awareness training for your employees. This can be done online and should cover essential practices including those that protect against phishing, such as account and password management, email security, endpoint security, and web browsing.

Kaspersky Automated Security Awareness Platform provides such training in an easy and effective way.

Adopt a proven endpoint security product with web, network and mail threat protection.

It is also important to enhance IT managers’ expertise on relevant cyberthreats and how to prevent them. Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud now provides Cybersecurity for IT Online training that allows them to learn new skills on how to classify malware and how to recognize malicious and suspicious behavior in software.

It is available as a beta version on the product management console.

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4 security tips to protect yourself from email phishing scams Sophos, a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, warns against the emergence of new email phishing scams.

As email continues to dominate business communications both internally and externally, it remains to be the most common entry point for cyberattacks – sneaking malware and exploits into the network, and credentials and sensitive data out.

The latest data from SophosLabs shows that in September 2020, 97 percent of the malicious spam caught by its spam traps were phishing emails, hunting for credentials or other information. The remaining 3 percent was a mixed bag of messages carrying links to malicious websites or with booby-trapped attachments, variously hoping to install backdoors, remote access trojans (RATs), information stealer, or exploits or to download other malicious files.

Phishing remains a frighteningly effective tactic for attackers, as operators behind them continue to refine their skills and enhance the sophistication of their campaigns.

Sophos noted two recent examples on the rise: Business email compromise (BEC) No longer confined to poorly spelled or formatted messages pretending to come from the CEO and demanding the immediate and confidential transfer of significant funds, the latest iterations are subtler and smarter. The attackers are doing their groundwork before launching the attack.

They get to know the business and the target executives, adopting their language style and tone, and sometimes even actual email accounts.

The absence of malicious links or attachments in such emails make them difficult to detect with traditional security tools.

Phishing emails without links These phishing emails bring cloned websites as HTML attachments. The attachment would simply open up the enclosed web page in the comparative safety of victims’ browser’s sandbox and ask them to unwittingly fill-up forms that will send off their data to websites controlled by criminals. Email passwords are among the most valuable credentials for crooks to acquire, simply because many people use their email account for password resets on a multitude of other accounts.

Security tips • The good news is that there’s no need to learn a whole new set of precautions against these new phishing scams. To protect yourself, Sophos recommends to: Avoid HTM or HTML attachments altogether unless they’re from

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• Avoid logging in on web pages that you arrived at from an email. If it’s a service you already know how to use – whether it’s your email, your banking site, your blog pages or a social media account – learn how to reach the login page directly. If you always find your own way to your account login pages, you’ll never be tempted by fakes.

• Change passwords at once if you think you just got phished. The sooner you change your current password after putting it into a site you subsequently suspect, the less time the crooks have to try it out. Similarly, if you get as far as a “pay page” where you enter payment card data and then realize it’s a scam, call your bank’s fraud reporting number at once. (Look on the back of your actual card so you get the right phone number.)

• Turn on two-factor authentication if you can.

Two-factor authentication means that you need a one-time login code, usually texted to your phone or generated by a special app, that changes every time. 2FA doesn’t guarantee to keep the crooks out, but it makes your password alone much less useful to them if they do manage to phish it.

• Use a web filter. A good anti-virus solution won’t just scan incoming content to stop bad stuff such as malware getting in, but will also check outbound web requests to stop good stuff such as passwords getting out. Even in “clickless” attacks, the password exfiltration relies on an outgoing web connection that a web filter could block.

someone you know and you are expecting them.

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BITS & BYTES

GoDaddy and AXN reveals premiere date and mentors for Project Go reality series

GoDaddy and AXN have announced the world premiere date of their new reality series Project Go, a contest to find the country’s new upcoming entrepreneurs. The show will air its first episode on November 19 at 8:25 pm on AXN. The show gives Filipino dreamers the opportunity to hone ingenuity and bring creative ideas to life, with the best business idea winning PHP 1 million in funding at the end of the show.

During the media launch, GoDaddy and AXN also announced the host and mentors who will guide contestants during their journey. Leading the panel of mentors is also the show’s host, Maggie Wilson the entrepreneur behind Acasa Manila, also on the panel of mentors are the Tung Brothers (Mikko, Macky. and Mark Tung) the new generation behind Ligo, Bea Cupin from Rappler, and Tina Shieh GoDaddy’s Marketing Director for Asia.

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“Project GO is all about giving people a fresh start, a chance to learn, and to enable Filipinos to connect with their entrepreneurial spirit.

While the pandemic has altered the way we live and work, we want to help Filipinos tap into their creativity, feed their ambition, and offer guidance to bring them a step closer to their dreams,” said Shieh.

pandemic, cast members who can’t make it to the live set was connected via live stream to interact with those present throughout the course of filming.

“GoDaddy admires the perseverance of Filipinos and is committed to helping them grow and thrive online. The truly successful entrepreneurs go all out to overcome challenges and make their ideas a reality,” she added.

“With the times constantly changing, there is a call to be proactive and innovative in designing shows that can offer rich content and quality entertainment. With technology on the rise and consumers digesting content differently today, we saw this as an opportunity to collaborate with GoDaddy to bring such a program to the AXN viewers,” said Derek Wong, Vice President and Head for Production and Creative Services, KC Global Media Asia.

The new show will adapt a semi-digital format aimed at enhancing the viewer experience.

The show’s host and resident mentors directly participated with the contestants. Due to the

Project Go premiers its pilot episode on November 19, 8:25 PM on AXN. A Weekly simulcast will also be available on AXN Asia and GoDaddy Asia’s Youtube Channels.

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Teleperformance PH wins at 2020 Festival of Media APAC Awards and Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards Teleperformance Philippines’ digital recruitment innovation Smart 1Question Interview Bot won a Gold Award at the recently concluded Festival of Media APAC Awards 2020 and a Bronze Stevie at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

Receiving a Gold Award in the Best Use of Digital Media: Social Media Category and a Bronze Stevie Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources, Teleperformance Philippines’ 1Question Interview Bot leveraged smart technology to make the job application process much easier for Filipino jobseekers.

Job hunting on-ground has proven to be a challenging endeavor, especially in the midst of a pandemic. To help job seekers start their career in the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry safely, Teleperformance took the recruitment process online. Using gamification and AI, the 1Question Interview Bot used one simple question on English proficiency, a basic requirement for a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) position, to help pre-screen potential applicants.

To promote the platform, Teleperformance transformed the grammar question into

a fun social challenge on Facebook. All applicants had to do was click the Facebook post with the question to send a message to Teleperformance’s Facebook messenger, verify their mobile numbers and then answer the 1Question challenge. A correct answer would lead to a slot for a live interview, eliminating the lines and the long waits during pre-screening to make job hunting easier and job hiring faster.

For Teleperformance, this meant verified leads, pre-screened applicants in seconds and an instant applicant database. In just two months of beta testing, TP’s 1Question Interview Bot cut down the recruitment process from several weeks to several hours and helped them exceed their target applicant leads by over 700%.

At a time when unemployment is at a recordhigh, Teleperformance Philippines’ innovative recruitment platform has proven to be a winwin proposition.

“Even in the midst of this crisis, the ITBPM industry continues to be one of the country’s most resilient sectors and we offer many exciting job opportunities for Filipino jobseekers. With our people-first culture, our goal was to reach out to as many applicants

as we can with a process that was as simple, quick and as stress-free as possible,” shared Jeffrey Johnson, senior vice president for human capital resource management of Teleperformance Philippines.

“At the same time, this also helps us serve our clients as we are able to provide them with the talent they need to support their business, especially during this time of disruption where excellent customer service is more essential than ever,” he added.

To learn more about Teleperformance Philippines, you may visit their website at www. teleperformance.ph/en-us or their Facebook page.

Epson achieves global sales of 50M high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers

Epson first launched high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers (now known as EcoTank in many markets) in October 2010, in Indonesia. The brand then steadily expanded the territory over which these printers are sold, expanding to 170 countries and regions by 2019. As a result, cumulative global sales of Epson’s high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers recently topped 50 million units.

Moreover, by cutting down on plastic commonly used as the main component of ink cartridges, the brand estimates that CO2 emissions were approximately 166,000 tonnes lower than they

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would have been if all these units had been cartridge printers.

By first establishing a presence in emerging nations and then making inroads into developed economies, Epson has seen its high-capacity ink tank models account for a growing percentage of the total inkjet market each year. As a result, Epson, which boasts strong brand recognition and an extensive product lineup, has continued to maintain the top share in the global high-capacity ink tank printer market for ten consecutive years.

Rapid changes in society touched off changes in the office and education printing environments during the 2020 fiscal year. In all segments, Epson will continue to offer cost-effective printing costs than competitors and unrivaled environmental performance to provide customers with the quality printing standards they deserve.

Epson’s EcoTank printers are available at Epson’s authorized dealer stores nationwide, and online via Lazada at www.lazada.com.ph/shop/ epson/.

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Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology sells 90M units globally; releases new studies on airborne COVID-19 Sharp Philippines Corporation (SPC), with its goal of bringing convenience, protection, and lifestyle evolution to every Filipino household, recently launched its Stay Home, Stay Sharp campaign. It features products designed for the new normal setting — and one of its key features is Sharp’s exclusive Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) Technology. In this time of global health crisis, this is SHARP’s way of keeping our homes free from viruses and bacteria.

Plasmacluster Ion Technology Sharp’s revolutionary Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) Technology will help Filipino households achieve a safe sanctuary. It has been proven to be effective against suspended airborne viruses and microbes that contaminate our air, leaving it cleaner and healthier. This exclusive technology is a unique air purifying solution to eliminate disease-causing bacteria and viruses from poor air quality and it has been proven safe to humans regardless of the amount of ion concentration released in the air.

The Plasmacluster Ions, which are the same type of positive and negative ions present in nature, come in contact with the airborne threats in the air, undergoing chemical reactions on their surfaces to form OH radicals. These OH radicals decompose the proteins on the surface membrane of the airborne threats by taking the hydrogen. Without protein, the airborne threats are disabled and, in effect, deactivated. The hydrogen then combines with OH radicals, and together they transform into water which is released into the air.

Tested by over 30 institutions and organizations Since 2000, Sharp has been developing and improving Plasmacluster Ion Technology in collaboration with over 30 independent thirdparty research institutions and organizations across the globe. Numerous independent research organizations have proven its clinical efficacy in suppressing the activity of harmful substances including influenza viruses, drug-resistant bacteria, and mite allergens, as well as in reducing bronchial inflammation levels in children with asthma. Above all, product safety, one of the biggest concerns of consumers before buying a product, has also been confirmed through research and studies.

The effectiveness of Plasmacluster Ion Technology in reducing airborne Novel Coronavirus disease (SARS-CoV-2) In recent joint research conducted with professor Jiro Yasuda of the National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases/ Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan, professor Asuka Nanbo, a board member of the Japanese Society for Virology of the same institution, and professor Hironori Yoshiyama of the Department of Microbiology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, and in cooperation with Nagasaki University, an internationally respected authority on infectious disease research, Sharp’s

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Plasmacluster Ion Technology was able to reduce floating novel coronavirus particles in the air, a world first. Viruses present on the surface are much easier to eliminate with simple disinfectants unlike airborne viruses.

In the said study, Plasmacluster Ion Technology, which emits positive hydrogen ions and negative oxygen ions through a plasma discharge, demonstrated that the virus infectious titer was reduced by more than 90 percent.

A solution containing the novel coronavirus was released into a three-liter apparatus equipped with a Plasmacluster Ion device. The device discharged 10 million ions per cubic centimeter. Results showed that the infectious titer in the retrieved solution was reduced by 91.3 percent in just 30 seconds compared with one that not exposed to Plasmacluster Ion. Masahiro Okitsu, senior executive managing officer, Smart Appliance and Business Solution, assured that the brand will continue to provide effective solutions in lowering the risk of infection, saying: “Based on the result of this experiment, we will consider and provide effective uses of the Plasmacluster Ion Technology to mitigate the risk of coronavirus infection.”

90 million sales globally Currently, Sharp equips their appliances with Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) Technology to make them suitable for home use in this new normal. These are the appliances for cleaner and safer air: Refrigerators, Air Conditioner, Air Purifier (with mosquito catcher, with humidifier, with dehumidifier), Ion Generator, and Mite Catcher. In fact, the brand is now working to incorporate this technology to their Electric Fan products for the local market and it will be launched soon.

As of April 2020, Sharp announced that it has reached the 90 million sales mark of products equipped with the Plasmacluster Ion Technology through its collaborations with different global businesses and industries such as hotels, hospitals, health clinics, restaurants, trains, vehicles, offices, banks, schools, training center, and supermarkets to name a few.

Sharp will continue to expand the application of Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) Technology on its current industrial field of expertise and will seek new ways to apply it to other fields especially on medical devices.

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Converge ICT is first to offer WiFi 6 to amplify your home WiFi experience Converge ICT, the country’s premier pure endto-end fiber internet service provider, has once again proven that they look after the interest of their subscribers through constant innovation.

The fiber internet company’s subscribers will be the first to experience the advantages of the latest wireless technology, WIFI 6. They have partnered with Linksys for delivery of the said wireless signal, specifically via the Linksys Velop MX5300 AX Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System.

Converge ICT has always been laser-focused on upgrading the Filipino internet experience and has been committed to enable the nation to enjoy services that are at par with developed countries.

And by offering the said Linksys mesh system, customers can further enjoy their pure fiber connection at home.

WiFi 6 is a long-awaited innovation in wireless technology. With expanded capabilities in the said frequency, consumers can enjoy an improved online experience throughout their homes.

The Linksys Velop MX5300 AX Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System is a tri-band AX WiFi router. The new product promises improved connectivity throughout the house.

The Velop MX5300 WiFi 6 Mesh system comes with the next-generation orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) technology which decreases latency in high-density environments to deliver high speed WiFi to multiple devices simultaneously.

With the said mesh system, consumers can take advantage of: Faster speeds

More capacity

Delivering 4x faster than the current WiFI frequency, WiFi 6 routers give you true gigabit speeds for a faster connection to handle all the latest streaming, gaming, and mobile technology, even the kind that hasn’t come along yet.

Wider reach

Designed to manage the demand of more than 50 devices all sharing the same bandwidth. The router’s MU-MIMO technology allows downloads and uploads simultaneously, making it the ideal system for instantaneous 4K/8K streaming, online gaming, social media, and uninterrupted use of heavy apps.

With 50% more coverage, your router can focus more on the devices in your network, even in hard to reach places, giving you a coverage that extends to all your outdoor smart lights, camera, etc. The ability to cover 280sqm per node enables this feature. Moreover, the Velop MX5300 WiFi 6 Mesh system comes with BSS technology which eliminates interference from nearby networks so that users can be assured of the strong and clear signal for their devices even in large homes or through multiple floors.

“We, at Converge ICT, have always been looking for ways to improve the online experience of our customers. That is one of the reasons why we partnered with Linksys for the enhanced service delivery brought about by Linksys Velop MX5300 AX Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System. This device, along with the reliability of our pure end-to-end fiber network, can enable families to further enjoy excellent simultaneous online activities anywhere in their homes,” explains Converge ICT founder and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy. “This will be

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especially useful for households with children having synchronous online classes while the parents are working at home, as well.”

Uy added that the new product brings added ease to leisure time at home as well. “There has been an increase in highbandwidth usage with the new normal ushering everything online. Having this in place ensures that such activities are enjoyed impeccably at home. Let us take care of your online experience. Focus on what you need to do.”

Existing subscribers on Converge Fiber Xtreme Plans 300 and 500Mbps can be among the first to enjoy Linksys Velop MX5300 AX Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System at discounted rates and perks plus savings of as much as PHP 9,700.

Pre-order is open until October 31, 2020. For more information, visit the Converge website.

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Sanofi supports ICC AOKPass to help Filipinos safely resume regular activities Global healthcare organization Sanofi seeks to complement government efforts in COVID-19 management by supporting ICC AOKPass, a health monitoring app, in the Philippines. The app will allow Filipino businesses to safely and quickly resume commercial activity while the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The public wants access to a well-developed, trustworthy vaccine, and Sanofi chose to engage in this partnership because this tool answers these concerns,” said Sanofi Philippines country manager Dr. Jean-Antoine Zinsou.

“The potential of this application is huge for checking the vaccine compliance of all Filipinos even beyond this pandemic,” he added.

To aid in the return to regular travel, business, and school, ICC AOKpass has launched a pilot by creating a digitally verified and tamperproof influenza vaccination record for a group of frontline healthcare providers in a well-

reputed hospital in Manila. Once fully deployed, users can download the ICC AOKpass app to their mobile device and use it to securely store an authenticated digital copy of their COVID-19 compliance status certificate, as provided by their consulting medical professional.

Dr. Chester Drum, co-founder of ICC AOKpass explained: “Our blockchain technology protects the privacy of the user. Most importantly, it cannot be counterfeited. We want to provide the highest-level technology to everyone working in the Philippines.” ICC AOKpass is designed to be strictly controlled by individuals but easily accessible when verification of COVID-19 compliance status is needed.

The AOKpass is a collaboration between Singapore-based tech startup Perlin, the International Chamber of Commerce, SGS, and International SOS, the world’s largest medical and security services firm. At all times, users maintain full control over their medical

information, which is stored securely and privately only on their device.

“We want to ensure the environment in the country will be ready for the COVID vaccine once it arrives,” shared Andrew Candelet, the general manager of International SOS Philippines. “We hope to facilitate a safe way for businesses to return to work, an efficient way for students and teachers to return to school, and a convenient way to return to regular travel across borders for all Filipinos,” he concluded.

PLDT Home partners with Shopee for convenient, secure, and rewarding e-payment experience The country’s leading telco and digital services provider, PLDT Home, has partnered with leading e-commerce platform Shopee to make bills payment more convenient for postpaid customers through its integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay. In line with PLDT Home’s initiative to make digital solutions more accessible and to provide better customer service, the partnership with Shopee allows the telco provider to offer a convenient, secure, and rewarding way for subscribers to pay their monthly postpaid bill within the Shopee app.

As PLDT Home expands its digital solutions to provide safe and worry-free bills payment channels, ShopeePay enables postpaid customers to skip going out or lining up at service and payment centers just to settle their monthly service bills. To pay their bills using ShopeePay, postpaid customers just need to go to “Load, Bills & eServices,” tap “Postpaid Mobile,” and select “PLDT Home” as the Biller. Then, enter the account information, choose ShopeePay as the payment option, and click “Pay Now” on the checkout page.

Martin Yu, associate director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is pleased to partner with PLDT Home to offer their subscribers a more convenient and secure way to pay for their bills online. With most Filipinos practicing social distancing, there is an accelerated demand for contactless and digital payment options. As more consumers are turning to our platform to stay connected and fulfill their daily needs, we are committed to providing them easy access to 86

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digital payment services such as ShopeePay for seamless payment.”

Get cashback for every bill payment PLDT Home subscribers can earn Shopee coins cashback every time they pay their bills via ShopeePay until November 19, 2020. They can earn up to 300 Shopee coins cashback for using ShopeePay to settle PLDT Home bills worth PHP 800 each. These coins cashback can also be used to purchase items from Shopee.

New Shopee users can get 300 Shopee coins cashback when they pay their PLDT Home bills via ShopeePay every Monday, Thursday, and

on November 11 by using the voucher code PLDTBILL300; and 250 Shopee coins cashback every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the voucher code PLDTBILL250. On the same days, existing Shopee users can enjoy 200 and 150 Shopee coins cashback respectively when they pay their bills with PLDTBILL200 and PLDTBILL150 voucher codes.

Shopee coins cashback can be redeemed by using Shopee voucher codes upon checkout via ShopeePay. Visit www.pldthome.com to learn more about settling bills and earning cashback via ShopeePay. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Cobot leaders discuss the role of robotics in post-pandemic manufacturing

Universal Robots, the global leader in collaborative robots (cobots), has successfully completed the first “Meet the Cobot Leaders” session in AsiaPacific, a ‘live’ online interactive congress on cobots and their encompassing role in the future of manufacturing throughout Asia-Pacific. The event ran on October 6, 2020.

Leading cobot luminaries, Jürgen von Hollen, president of Universal Robots; James McKew, regional director of APAC, Universal Robots; and Dr Che Fai YEONG, director of DF Automation and Robotics and associate professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, expounded industry insights and answered important questions from industry practitioners and attendees online, with visionary and practical insights on post-pandemic manufacturing, and how manufacturers in AsiaPacific can be future-ready.

The serious disruption to supply chains, sudden material shortages, and steep swings in demand left manufacturers grappling with changes. Labor-intensive manufacturing has been hit painfully by the regional governments’ COVID-19 measures of extended lockdowns and social distancing. But such measures present an opportunity for labour-centric manufacturers to rethink their operations, on ways to keep production going while adhering to regulatory measures, without sacrificing cost efficiency, and to future-proof operations for more resilience. The event converged the luminaries and attendees with a lively exchange of ideas and recommendations.

COVID-19 and challenges

“In Asia-Pacific, business owners and operators have to juggle costs, value creation, and profit.

In some locales where real estate is costly, such as Singapore and other metropolitan cities, cobots can be a tremendous help in maximising floor space with human operators and cobots working in tandem to achieve the highest levels of production while adhering to physical distancing guidelines,” said James McKew, regional director of APAC, Universal Robots.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 exacerbated existing challenges and exposed new vulnerabilities for manufacturers around the world.

Surmounting challenges with innovation Cobots have been the perfect nimble tool for many innovative applications throughout the

Dr Yeong, a name associated with robotics and inventions in Malaysia, and a winner of more than 100 awards nationally and internationally, moderated the session.

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world, and especially in an emerging ASEAN markets where the adoption rates of cobots and other industrial robots have been steadily outpacing the established Western markets.

This is especially since Universal Robots’ cobots do not require professional engineers or software developers to utilise the cobots, anyone with an ability to operating a simple graphical tablet will be able to command and control such cobots after some basic training.

For example, cobots have found their way into medical applications because of the COVID-19 crisis, with applications such as swab testing, sterilisation, and mobilised disinfection, including the disinfection of aircraft seat arm rests to alleviate the possibility of repetitive strain injuries or even infections in humans.

“In today’s transient and volatile world, it is no longer possible to readily or easily forecast forward trends. It is therefore critical for any company to be flexible and agile. Businesses and leaders have to leverage on the best available technologies, such as cobots, to empower innovative applications for businesses to adjust dynamically to situations and crises, and to adapt existing infrastructures to address organisational and customers’ needs,” said von Hollen.

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New digital solution helps users get ahead of COVID-19 risk in PH

Nauts and Vectors Company Inc., NAVCO, the official distributor of Garmin smart wearables in the Philippines, announces a partnership with WellteQ, a Singapore-headquartered digital wellbeing platform that enables access to the latest innovative healthcare.

Integrated solution supports employees working from home Garmin Philippines’ mission is to help Filipinos enhance their overall health and wellbeing in an attempt to build resistance against the current virus outbreak. The data a Garmin device collects and the mapping features it provides are invaluable in monitoring general health and wellbeing as well as being able to track changes in mental and physical wellbeing that might not be easily perceptible to a non-medical professional.

With Garmin’s new integrated FirstBeat technology, it’s been discovered that an increase of eight beats per minute (BPM) in resting heart rate equates to an increase of one-degree centigrade in temperature. This data is monitored through the WellteQ digital ecosystem for a cost-effective, accessible, and efficient COVID-19 defense that could help minimize the spread of the virus.

By integrating Garmin’s smart wearables and fitness trackers capabilities and features into

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WellteQ’s digital wellness platform, WellteQ extends the use case of digital wellbeing into continuity of care. Its suite of digital health assessment and wellbeing tools now extend past objective health risk assessment and preventative coaching into measurable action in a user’s health and wellbeing profile.

Combined technologies support overall resistance to illness While a user works towards their health and fitness goals, measurable evidence of their progress is tracked in the WellteQ platform for consistency, aiding sustained behavioral change. Starting with smaller goals and with the aid of intelli-nudges, a personalized in-app notification to help keep the user on track, momentum is built-up until the user feels more confident to tackle larger health objectives.

Strong general wellness has been proven as the greatest resistance against developing noncommunicable diseases, improving mental health issues, and reducing the risk of contracting viruses.

With the precision accuracy of Garmin’s health data, metrics such a sleep cycles, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and stress levels, measured through heart rate variability (HRV), small changes in physiological responses are tracked and benchmarked against the user’s own history, as well as WellteQ’s global population database.

How businesses can use this new solution For employers, this collaboration offers an endto-end solution for their workforce that spans prevention programs and wellness resistance improvement, to disease management and home-based health monitoring. The combined solution provides employees with the right tools to stay active, strengthen their immune system, and maintain their fitness level during periods of lockdown in the ongoing health crisis: • More accurate employee profiling allowing employees to get ahead of the risk before the situation becomes more serious and costly.

• Safe and secure digital environment for employees ensures user anonymity as only aggregated information is reported back to the employer.

• A dedicated solution that improves the lives of the workforce irrespective of location.

Understanding the increased time spent at home during various stages of lockdown, the enterprise solution is extended to both employees and their spouses in the Philippines region to create a supportive environment that can be enjoyed in the family home.

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GIGA Pro comes with up to 114GB for Smart’s biggest prepaid data offer yet

Mobile services provider Smart Communications Inc. is making it simpler and easier for subscribers to keep up with their growing digital needs with GIGA Pro, Smart’s biggest prepaid data offer with up to 114GB to cover various online activities.

Available to all prepaid subscribers, GIGA Pro 999 offers a total of 114GB valid for 30 days for only PHP 999. This is inclusive of 3GB per day of any GIGA offer for 30 days plus 24GB open access data, which subscribers can use for work or school as well as their daily dose of entertainment through online videos, music, and games.

GIGA Pro also comes in other denominations to give subscribers the flexibility to choose the offer that suits their passions and lifestyle needs.

GIGA 199 comes with a total of 27GB data valid for 7 days, which is inclusive of 3GB per day of any GIGA offer for 7 days plus 6GB open access data. On the other hand, GIGA Pro 599 offers a total of 57GB valid for 15 days, which is also inclusive of 3GB per day of any GIGA offer for 15 days plus 12GB open access data.

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Achieve more with GIGA Pro Smart Prepaid subscribers can register to GIGA Pro via the new GigaLife App, which is downloadable on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Simply open the app and select the GIGA Pro offer of your choice to get going.

Customers can also register to GIGA Pro by dialing *123#, choosing GIGA Pro, and selecting their preferred denomination.

GIGA Pro is ideal for subscribers who want to accomplish and do more of what they love online. For example, subscribers can achieve more in their career with GIGA Work Pro’s suite of productivity apps, including MS Teams, Office 365, and G Suite, among others.

On the other hand, students can gear up for more online learning with GIGA Study Pro, which provides access to handy distance learning tools, including Google Classroom, Meet, Google Search, Office 365, and more.

Immerse in HD entertainment GIGA Pro’s big data inclusions also enable prepaid subscribers to stream videos in HD

resolution for a more immersive experience while binge-watching the latest series, films, and documentaries. For this, subscribers can register to GIGA Video Pro, which provides data for YouTube, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, iWant, and Cignal Play.

Avid mobile gamers can also level up their gameplay with GIGA Games Pro, which offers access to Mobile Legends, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Arena of Valor, and Facebook Gaming, while those who love creating and sharing content may register to GIGA Stories Pro to connect more on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Primed for Smart 5G connection Prepaid subscribers with 5G-certified devices and Smart 5G coverage can also rely on GIGA Pro to make the most of its superfast speeds, which makes it possible to upload and download heavy files in seconds.

Powered by Smart 5G, GIGA Pro users can enjoy streaming Ultra HD videos without interruption, play mobile games without lag, and use more high-bandwidth applications without delay— for a leveled-up digital experience.

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Acer remains top consumer and gaming PC in PH

Acer remains the top laptop brand for consumer and gaming mobile computer in the Philippines amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a recent market research by a thirdparty firm.

As most businesses stopped or slowed down their operations due to strict quarantine measures imposed in April and May, the Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics firm continues to hold its top spot despite the growing demand for notebook laptops in the Philippine market as students and workers expected a digital shift in their activities in Q3 of 2020.

Acer’s dominance in notebooks was unshaken with 32%-unit share brand performance in August. It also recorded the highest sales units in more than a year. Similarly, Acer led value share with 31% of the market and reached the highest brand value seen in 13 months. Based on market research data, Acer holds the number 1 position in the notebook laptops market for 14 consecutive years.

In the gaming segment, Acer strengthened its grip of the Gaming notebooks market with a 42%-unit share in August, setting another new record in more than a year. Predator Helios 300 was the bestselling Gaming notebook for Acer. It is consistent in topping the gaming PC market.

Acer’s dominant position in the education market through the Acer Academy program In the absence of the Covid-19 vaccine, face-to-face encounters have been restricted by the Philippine government especially for the Education segment.

Demands for mobile computing devices have highly increased due to the distant learning scheme in the country.

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Acer Academy is a program designed to provide the educational environment the digital framework that will enable a way of interaction within the academic situation. It has a dedicated team to work closely with schools and academic units to develop real and innovative IT solutions that accelerate the learning process and set new benchmarks in educational standards. The program is open to all Philippine private and public schools, colleges, and universities.

Aside from Acer Academy, Acer’s educationdriven programs during the crisis include product discounts thru Acer Academy Faculty Student Purchase Program and Learn from Home Campaign, product bundle in partnership with Smart for a Department of Education (DepEd) compliant online learning setup, and Acer and Intel Scholar program wherein they offer free laptops to scholars.

Acer’s initiative on corporate Acer continued operations to serve essential and frontline industries such as in healthcare, banks, telecommunications, and business process outsourcing (BPOs) even during the lockdown. The increase in the demand from the enterprise market for laptops as work-from-home (WFH) productivity tool during lockdown pushed for more sales of Acer products from the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises market.

enhanced e-commerce website selling its laptops, desktops, projectors, monitors, and accessories.

The laptop brand’s social media has also been consistently active with various social media activities especially for Predator helping them establish a solid connection with the gaming community. Predator recently concluded Predacast, a series of online workshops conducted by brand ambassadors such as Alodia & Ashley Gosiengfiao, CongTV & Team Payaman, Akosi Dogie, TNC Predator Dota 2 Pro Team, ArkAngel Predator PUBG Pro Team, Nexplay Predator, VladFX, Kuya Nic & Lupon WxC, Kang Dupet, Een Mercado, Kuku Palad, Marlon Marcelo, and its newest ambassadress, Ivana Alawi, among other esports key personalities.

Acer also provided relevant promotions during the pandemic including the partnership with Home Credit for up to 18 months installment at 0% interest, and the free foldable work desk bundled with select Acer laptops to aid workers whose income were affected by the pandemic.

Consumer segment

Acer has a broad presence nationwide, making its products available and accessible in brick and mortar stores and online. Other initiatives during the pandemic include e-commerce development and low-touch after-sales service programs such as warranty extension, 24/7 phone/chat support, and door-to-door pick-up and delivery service.

The surge in gaming as part of stay-at-home entertainment helped in pushing for sales of Acer’s wide range of products. Acer relaunched an

Visit Acer’s Official Social Media Pages for more details: Facebook – @AcerPH, Instagram - @acerph, Twitter – @acerphils, www.acer.com.

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Mineski PH and Riot Games announce partnership for Valorant esports Riot Games Southeast Asia has formally appointed Mineski Philippines as the esports and gaming agency to roll out official esports for its first-person shooter game VALORANT in the Philippines.

Mineski Philippines has also been appointed as an organizer of local VALORANT collegiate tournaments. ”Players have asked and we’re excited to answer.

In Southeast Asia, the appetite for VALORANT esports has been tremendous and we are pleased to partner with the region’s leading esports organizations, one of them being Mineski Philippines, to introduce new heights of competitive play to the region,” said Chris Tran, head of esports at Riot Games Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Mineski Philippines will be making use of this license to run official VALORANT esports tournaments through the Philippine Pro Gaming League (PPGL), which it jointly operates with Globe Telecom.

These tournaments will serve as the stepping stone for Filipino teams to qualify for regional VALORANT tournaments and represent the country. Mineski Philippines will also be enabling other tournament organizers to be involved in the nation-wide

VALORANT roadmap through the sub-licensing of other VALORANT tournaments.

In addition to these 2021 plans, a nationwide VALORANT tournament is already underway in the Philippines via VALORANT First Strike: Philippines.

The eight teams that will battle it out in this PHP 500,000 tournament will advance from the Mineski VxV community cup, which has its registration ongoing via bit.ly/MineskiVxVReg. Registrations close on October 28, 2020.

At the collegiate level, Mineski’s Youth Esports Program will also be running official VALORANT tournaments for aspiring pro-gamer students next school year. Presently, a national student VALORANT tournament is being held in the form of the YEP’s National Interschool Cyber League, with a prize pool of over PHP 150,000 and weekly broadcasts on the Youth Esports Program Facebook page.

Mineski Philippines general manager Mark Navarro and YEP program director Marlon “Lon” Marcelo, have expressed thanks and excitement with the partnership with Riot Games.

“We’re very excited to bring in one of Riot’s biggest titles to the PPGL and we are anticipating a huge turnout from the players and fans next year. This is in

line with our commitment to producing world-class teams while growing gaming communities through the Philippine Pro Gaming League,” said Navarro.

“For us at the Youth Esports Program, this is a big opportunity to develop a new generation’s esports scene. We expect our collegiate esports athletes to give their best and earn pride for their schools,” shared Marcelo.

VALORANT, a character-based tactical FPS released

by Riot Games earlier this year, has already become one of the world’s fastest-growing esports, attracting massive online viewership and the commitment of numerous established professional players from a wide range of competitive backgrounds. It is poised to become one of the Philippines’ largest and most competitive esports titles.

UnionBank’s Team Barbie claims victory at ULeague Mobile Legends Charity Clash Championship The ULeague Mobile Legends Charity Clash Tournament reached an epic finale with two eSports teams from Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) battling it out for the ULeague Championship title. At the end of the matches Team Barbie bested Tech Warriors and teams from City Savings Bank, DragonPay, Salarium and UBX to claim the title and a cash prize of PHP 30,000.

Donations totaling to PHP 135,000 from participating companies throughout the entire ULeague season will be turned over to the tournament beneficiaries Caritas Manila and Kalipay Negrese Foundation in support of their COVID-19 relief programs.

“The ULeague Mobile Legends Charity Clash Tournament was born out of UnionBank’s internal tournament for employee engagement called UGames,” said Arvie de Vera, UnionBank senior vice president and Fintech group head.

“UGames started before the pandemic, and following the lockdown quickly shifted to being fully digital. It turned out to be the perfect venue to engage employees while working from home.

Matches were held after hours and streamed online. It started getting a lot of attention and interest, not just from UnionBank but our partners well. So we created ULeague to open www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

it up to our subsidiaries and partners including corporates, fintechs and SMEs. The reception was overwhelming, and eSports became a great venue for engagement and camaraderie with colleagues, partners, sister companies and customers alike.”

ULeague was made possible through the collaboration of UnionBank and its partners Distributed Ledger Technology Association of the Philippines (DLTAP), Fintech Philippines Association (FPH), Tech Up Pilipinas Inc., and UnionBank’s online donation and payment collection platform UShare.

Thirty-two eSports teams from several companies, including UnionBank, its subsidiaries CitySavings Bank, UBX and PETNET Inc., as well as UnionBank’s fintech partners including Coins.ph, XLOG, PDAX, Data Analytics Ventures, Inc.​(DAVI), DragonPay, Salarium, Banana Fintech, and EOI Digital competed in a virtual tournament composed of four qualifying rounds featuring the popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang during the quarantine period.

Find out which game will be featured in the next ULeague tournament by following the official ULeague Facebook page.

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RELIC

Words by Jose Alvarez

Think about the many ways you can access the Internet today. Today, you can do it through WiFi or through a stable home Ethernet connection; you can also use smartphones and tablets. But there was once upon a time that you had to rely on that ancient landline to get on the World Wide Web. Someone wanted to use the phone?

You had to get off the Internet. At the center of the dial-up era was America Online (AOL), which had call centers in the Philippines and emerged as one of the easiest ways to join the Internet throughout the 90s and early 2000s.

AOL was founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation (CVC) and pioneered one of the first online gaming services called GameLine for the Atari 2600. You paid USD 15 for setup, USD 49.95 for the modem, and USD 1 per game.

The same year, Steve Case was brought on as a marketing consultant, and he would eventually go on to become the CEO of AOL. By 1985, the company became known as Quantum Computer Services. They launched online services for the Commodore 64 and 128 platforms in 1985, and had a brief partnership with Apple from 1988 to 1989 through the AppleLink. The PC Link was also created for IBM-compatible PCs with the Tandy Corporation. After the departure from Apple in 1989, Quantum became known as America Online.

AOL was responsible for founding graphical chat environments, namely Habitat and Club Caribe, as well as the first online interactive fiction series QuantumLink Serial, and Quantum Space, the first fully automated play-by-mail game. These products were all launched between 1986 and 1989. By 1991, AOL for DOS became available, and then AOL for Windows followed a year later.

This coincided with the first graphical MMORPG, Neverwinter Nights. This set the earliest stages for online gaming and eventually more commercial use of the Internet.

Each subscription lasted an average of 25 months and generated USD 350 in revenue, and by 1993, Usenet was added to AOL. At this time, chief

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marketing officer Jan Brandt incorporated a “carpet bombing” marketing campaign in which free AOL trial discs were sent through nonconventional distribution partners. It is estimated at one point, half of all CDs produced worldwide had an AOL logo. Thanks to Brandt, AOL surpassed other ISPs such as Prodigy and CompuServe (which ironically allowed AOL advertising) to be the way to connect to the Internet.

AOL launched services in education, kids-only content, parents online content, online courses, teachers-only content, the first online exhibit in the Library of Congress, parental control of the Internet, and more between 1988 to 1991. By 1995, AOL purchased WebCrawler and sold it to Excite. AOL even created its own search engine called NetFind (later called AOL Search). Usage of AOL switched from an hourly fee to a monthly fee in 1996, where the rate became USD 19.95 a month. At one point, AOL was bundled with Windows, and it saw rapid growth throughout the late 1990s. About half of American households with access to the Internet had AOL by 1997, and AOL made a string of acquisitions such as eWorld, Netscape, and Mapquest between 1997 and 2000.

AOL Instant Messenger was also founded in 1997 and lasted for over 20 years itself before being discontinued in 2017.

The major event in AOL history was its merger with TimeWarner in 2001. The deal was announced a year earlier and the combined value of the two companies was estimated at US$360 billion (~USD

531.7 billion in 2020). It was also the largest merger in history at that point. However, AOL’s value would sharply decline despite the merger. By 2005, Google had purchased 5 percent of AOL for USD 1 billion. In 2006, AOL removed “America Online” from their name and just became AOL. However, AOL’s re-branding came at a time where access to broadband Internet was surging, transitioning AOL into a web service. By 2007 AOL only had 10.1 million subscribers and was barely outperforming Comcast and AT&T Yahoo!, and by 2009 the company became independent again under the leadership of Tim Armstrong. AOL transitioned from Internet search provider to a web portal. In 2011, the last major acquisition was the media publication HuffPost for USD 315 million; in 2013 it reported its first quarterly revenue growth since 2005. However, Armstrong scaled AOL back significantly until its purchase by Verizon in May 2015.

Steve Case, who was the face of AOL for many years, still remains active in the tech industry today.

At the time of the sale of AOL to Verizon, Case was still worth around USD 1.37 billion. AOL still continues to be a web portal today, although with a significantly reduced presence than its position as one of the biggest ISPs in America in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As of 2019, AOL’s parent Verizon Media owns HuffPost, TechCrunch, and Engadget just to name a few. Despite its shortcomings, such as environmental issues through the mass distribution of AOL CDs, as well as controversy on not canceling subscriptions of customers, AOL was a massive force in establishing Internet access for all.

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