C2
M ONDAY : J UNE 08 : 2015
LIFE glweekend @ gmail.com
AVIATION’S CUP OF TEA
UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 10
From C1
“We have different activities. One is to provide support to airlines like PAL, Cebu Pacific and others through sales of spare parts. We also do aircraft sales consulting as well as provide aircraft management and chartering services,” the multilingual Tea (he speaks French, English, Chinese and Khmer) says, adding that part of what PhilJets does is to import the aircraft for the customer, find the pilot and technicians to take care of maintenance and schedules. “You just need to call us when you want to fly, and when you are not using your aircraft, we can charter it out for you,” he explains. Aside from customized aircraft management services to aircraft owners and operators, PhilJets (through its PhilJets Aero Charter Corp.) also provides charter services for corporate and VIP clients, medical emergency services, aerial surveys especially for companies that want to check on the progress of construction, say, of their resort development project. They also cater to the needs of high-end tourists and provide services for special events or occasions that need the services of a chopper for transport. “We try to advocate two things: tourism and aviation,” Thierry avers. Apparently, some people are still under the impression that the Philippines is an unsafe destination owing to the previous Category 2 rating (which has since been lifted) from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the ban imposed by the European Union against local airlines. “We want to show them the Philippines is actually a great country in terms of tourism and is very safe because we have high standard capabilities. It’s all about putting the proper image across and reaching out to people outside the country,” he says, disclosing that PhilJets works with government agencies such as the Department of Tourism. A member of the Philippines-France Business Council at the Makati Business Club and a foreign trade advisor for France, Thierry also helped in the efforts to lift the safety ban on Philippine carriers flying into the European Union. He was also involved
BY ED BIADO
in organizing the recent “visit” of the Airbus A350XWB in the country with demo flights arranged for Philippine Airlines. “A lot of people don’t know that some A350 parts (like the galley, flight controls) are made in the Philippines. So in 2018 when the aircraft will be in full production, almost $330 million of activity related to the plane will be done in the Philippines and we want people to know that so they can also be proud of this airplane,” he says. The young hotshot makes his work sound easy but the challenges can be daunting. What gives him the edge though is his vast network of contacts developed during his years working with the Airbus Group (Eurocopter). “We need more volume so we are looking at other areas in the Philippines like Davao and Palawan. Logistics wise it is not that easy but we want our presence to be nationwide, not just in Manila.” Aside from his network, what makes PhilJets a notch above the rest is the fact that the company puts a premium on its people. “We invest in our people because if they grow, the company also grows and so we continuously train pilots, technicians and our sales team so they can provide highest standards of service and understand clients. We have to be very rigorous because if we fail one time, clients will never fly with us again.” In the pipeline are plans to put up a maintenance training center for engineers because, as Thierry says, safety is paramount. “Integrity is also non-negotiable, so is passion because we have to like our work in order to do it well. We have invested in the Philippines and we are looking at the long term. We are in for the long haul,” the young businessman concludes.
STREAMING IN THE PHILIPPINES: IFLIX BY CARL CUEVAS
Ever wanted to start watching a TV series, but don’t have the time or effort of going through the show’s numerous seasons? Starting this month, Southeast Asia’s premier Internet TV service provider, iFlix, is offering Filipino subscribers unlimited access to its library of over 10,000 hours of top quality Western, Asian, and local TV shows and movies. “iFlix will radically change the local entertainment landscape,” says iFlix Country Manager for the Philippines Sherwin dela Cruz. “We’re incredibly excited to share thousands of hours of premium content at an extremely affordable price for all Filipinos to enjoy.” Accessible via a web browser or though the iFlix mobile app, subscribers can enjoy shows ranging from iconic critically-acclaimed TV series such as Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Sherlock, and Modern Family, to fan-favorite shows including Big Bang Theory, Arrow, Supernatural, and Doctor Who. iFlix will also feature exclusive content starting with the Emmy-nominated TV series Black Sails. Fans of Asian TV shows will be pleased to know that top Korean dramas are available in its library, and soon Filipino TV shows and movies will be added in its line-up.
Moreover, the iFlix movie selection will surely excite all film lovers as it offers selections ranging from the classics like The Godfather trilogy, iconic horror movies Child’s Play and The Omen, to recent titles like The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, and Star Trek: Into the Darkness. Signing up with the media streaming service comes with no strings attached, no hidden costs nor contracts, but it does include a lot of freebies. On top of having unlimited access to its TV and movie collection, users can connect up to five gadgets to their account, and share access to iFlix and simultaneously watch different content on two different devices at the same time for each subscription. Through this service, you can take your TV shows and movies wherever you go as long as you have a steady internet connection. iFlix is a product of the partnership between Catcha Group and Evolution Media Capital led by its CEO Mark Britt. In the Philippines, iFlix is made possible through a partnership with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. Ready to press play for iFlix? Visit www.iFlix.com and sign up for their free 14-day full trial. After which, users can extend their access for a monthly fee of P129 or P1,300 for an annual subscription.
The new Windows 10 operating system for desktop and mobile will start rolling out on July 29 to all devices running Windows 7 SP1 and 8.1 Update, and Windows Phone 8.1. But it’s not going to happen to everyone all at the same time. It might take weeks, if not months, for the deployment to be complete. Upgrading is free for one full year. If you still don’t have it by then, you’re going to have to purchase the OS. However, there is a way to get the upgrade as soon as possible, and that is to reserve your copy. If your current system installs updates automatically, you should be able to see a small Windows icon at the right end of the taskbar. That’s the “Get Windows 10” app, which – upon activation – will notify you when your upgrade is available. You can then schedule the installation at your most convenient time. Microsoft says that the process, including downloading 3GB of data, takes about an hour for most but should take a shorter time for newer devices. If you can’t find the “Get Windows 10” app, it’s probably because your computer is not up to date. While Microsoft doesn’t specify the update that needs to be installed, online chatter says that it’s the one that’s labeled “KB3035583” published in May under Recommended. It’s a tiny 500KB update that takes mere moments to complete. Aside from currently running the compatible OS versions, systems will qualify for the upgrade if they meet the following minimum requirements: • 1 GHz processor • 1 GB (for 32-bit) or 2 GB (for 64-bit) RAM • 16GB (for 32-bit) or 20 GB (for 64-bit) hard disk space • DirectX 9 graphics card or later with WDDM 1.0 driver • 1024x600 display “The upgradeability of a device has factors beyond the system specification. This includes driver and firmware support, application compatibility, and feature support, regardless of whether or not the device meets the minimum system specification for Windows 10,” Microsoft adds. Once you do upgrade, certain features will be removed, such as Windows Media Center, DVD playback (which you can substitute with third-party programs like VLC), desktop gadgets, games (Solitaire, Minesweeper and Hearts) that will be replaced with new versions, and the OneDrive app (to be replaced with the inbox version). For the full list of new features and specs, go to www. microsoft.com/ windows.