2019 v19n7 - DIGITAL LIFESTYLE by Gadgets Magazine

Maribelle M. Alba

Ren Alcantara

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Managing Editor

#GIRLBOSS

Être fort pour être utile

@bellealba

@hisnameisren

PRESY ALBA

MIA CARISSE BARRIENTOS

EDITOR-AT-LARGE I don’t travel light, I lug too many gadgets, I can walk for miles exploring and I never say no to the local fare.

If you ask me a Kpop-related question, I’ll respond with an essay

@presy1121

@miaissocoollike

THERESA ELORIAGA

Jewel Sta. Ana

ASSOCIATE Editor

ART DIRECTOR Thank you, everyone! <3 I am eternally grateful. @theresaeloriaga

STAFF WRITER

Nope, I don’t have a pawnshop @monsterjewfloat

JAEL MENDOZA

GRAPHIC Artist

She holds a sketchpad on one hand, and a music sheet on the other hand

Julius dalay

staffwriter

Political Analyst. Urban Planner

@jaellaura_m

RONEL BAUTISTA

GRAPHIC Artist

The incarnation of the award-winning, hit single ‘ Torn ‘ by Natalie Imbruglia.

ARNEL DORIA

Consultant, Mobility Section

Marketing guru. Automotive industry veteran. Road safety advocate.

@sailorapollo11

GERRY GAVIOLA

CONTRIBUTOR

Cineaste. Audiophile. Gadget addict. @gerry.g626

JEFF Daniel Ringon

CONTRIBUTOR

JOSE ALVAREZ

CONTRIBUTOR

Jose loves football, video games, computers, and history, but not necessarily in any order. @josealvarez

Maribelle Alba

Sales AND ADVERTISING MANAGER Account executive

Marisa Consuelo

Accounting manager Accounting Staff

Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

Carol Agabin

HR & ADMIN MANAGER Administration Staff

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano Clifford Dela Paz

PR & MARKETING STAFF DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

Paula Candoy Jerico Lutrania

Legal Counsel

Alba Law Office

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MARLET SALAZAR

Self-proclaimed marketer. Pop culture fan. Sleeper, er, sleeping agent.

CONTRIBUTOR Marlet is a book-lover, and can forego lunch to buy a book.

@hefedanyel

@marletds

MARCH 2019

President & CEO

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CONTENTS

MARCH 2019

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MARCH 2019

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PARADE

Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20 Hybrid-Square Format Camera

Fujifilm expands its roster of Instax cameras with the arrival of the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20. The digital instant camera prints square photos and retains the built-in flash as well as the selfie mirror of the Instax Mini 9, but is now equipped with a bigger 1/5-inch CMOS sensor with up to 4x digital zoom for capturing thrilling adventures and exciting moments, and the ability to save photos onto an SD card. It also introduces numerous unique features that unleash creativity such as Frame Grab for shooting moving subjects flawlessly, TimeShift collage that prints four photos taken at different time offsets in a single frame, and sequence filter to add a dreamy effect to ordinary images. Available in elegant colors of black and beige, it maintains instaxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DNA as a stylish, easy-to-use camera with its 2.7-inch monitor and control buttons.

PHP 12,999

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MARCH 2019

Fujifilm X-T30

Mirrorless Camera Fujifilm has just added a new member to its X-series, the brand’s renowned mirrorless camera lineup. Loaded with superb features, the X-T30 is a compact and powerful companion for photographers. It boasts the faster 4th generation, 26.1-megapixel X Trans CMOS sensor and X processor 4 that delivers outstanding images and videos. Its new auto-focus system supports improved face tracking, eye detection, and Face Select for following multiple fast-moving subjects even in low-light conditions. It now has a thinner and more intuitive 1.3 mm touchscreen panel compared to its predecessor, 244 points of phase detection, Focus Lever for shifting focus points easily, and an improved body design that ensures comfortable shooting even with large lenses. Perfect for vlogging, it boasts high-speed recording at 4K/30p with eye tracking, high-resolution audio, and supports F-log recording for 4:2:2 10-bit format through its HDMI port.

Fujifilm GFX 50R Mirrorless Camera

Featuring a large 51.4-megapixel G Format CMOS sensor, the Fujifilm GFX 50R is a sleek, mirrorless camera that is extremely portable and highly capable. It has a magnesium alloy body that’s both dust and waterresistant, and can even withstand low operating temperatures. At its core is the X-Processor Pro engine that delivers superior image quality, optimizing the camera’s performance in producing high-resolution photos with an extremely wide dynamic range, and ISO up to 102400. Among its remarkable features are the 3.69m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder that allows photographers to keep their eye on the subject, larger G mount that supports a wide variety of lenses, low-noise focal-plane shutter can snap photos at 1/4000, 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD with tilting design that supports working from high and low angles, and FHD recording of 1080p videos at 30 fps.

MARCH 2019

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Realme Earbuds In-Ear Headphones

Experience thunderous bass with Realmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-ever wired earphones. Sporting an enameled copper wire core and Kevlar fiber, the Realme earbuds stand up well to wear and tear. It is smartly designed with 11 mm audio drivers that deliver stellar bass, built-in magnets for easy storage, friendly ear tips that fit snugly even after long hours of use, and a tactile, three-button remote for easy control of music and calls. Perfect for casual listening, the stylish earphones feature a sporty, minimalist design that fits any lifestyle.

PHP 399

Realme Tech Backpack Laptop Bag

Another addition to the newest lineup of Realme products is a waterrepellent backpack made from sturdy polyester. It has 18 L of storage that can also fit 15-inch laptops, air mesh padding for protection of gadgets, a luggage belt for keeping your belongings secure, an anti-theft reflective buckle, as well as 15 internal and hidden back pockets that let you maximize space. With its versatile design that embodies the vibrance and fast lifestyle of youth, this backpack can be used from school, work, and travel.

PHP 1,499

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MARCH 2019

Panasonic NA-FS13X7 Washing Machine

Enabling users to live more, Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest washing machine brings a handful of convenient features to simplify one of the most timeconsuming chores. Among these are the StainMaster+ that intensively removes tough stains and eliminates bacteria, Active Foam System that easily lifts dirt from clothes, and Econavi that optimizes the allocation of water and electricity to save time, money, and energy. It can handle up to 13.5 kilograms of laundry, including comforters and bed sheets through its wider top-load opening. Bringing superior wash performance with just one touch via its rear control panel, the new washing machine gives consumers the power to redefine the way they wash their garments.

Panasonic XU18-24-30 Split-Type Airconditioner

Improving the quality of indoor living, the XU models in Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premium Aero series provides complete air solutions. Powered by Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced purification system, Nanoe-X and Nanoe-G technology, it prevents the spread of allergens and pollutants in the air for a healthier, cleaner environment, and removes unpleasant odor. Notable features for the XU models include 2 independent flaps and dual motors for direct cooling, slim and sleek design, Econavi that saves electricity costs by adjusting temperature according to room conditions, and wireless connectivity through its dedicated Comfort Cloud App that enables users to monitor information and control the unit via a Wi-Fi connection.

MARCH 2019

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Panasonic NR-F603GT Refrigerator

The newest, multi-door refrigerator from Panasonic encourages consumers to live fresh. Delivering the latest Japanese technologies in one package, the tough NR-F603GT checks off convenience, freshness, and cleanliness all in one appliance. It has 589 liters of space in multiple compartments, with double moisture control filters designed for keeping fruits and vegetables fresh longer, has a modern glass design with an electrostatic control panel for easy access of settings, automatic ice maker, and Nanoe-X technology for deodorizing foul odor inside the refrigerator. To preserve nutrients and flavor of frozen goods up to 7 days, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Prime Fresh freezing that lightly freezes meats and fish at up to -3 Celsius. As an inverter model, it cools faster and maximizes energy savings through its seven Intelligent Eco Sensors.

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MARCH 2019

MSI GE75 8SF Gaming Laptop

A top-spec portable gaming laptop with great hardware best describes the GE75 8SF. The 8GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 graphics, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H processor, and a Steel-series backlit gaming keyboard ensures full gaming performance from the device. With a massive 17-inch Full HD bezel-less screen, you get a vibrant and immersive experience in a reasonably-sized form factor. Sound comes through the built-in Dynaudio speaker system which produces amazingly accurate and loud audio. All of this is wrapped in aggressive three-dimensional red anodized finish for that mean gaming look.

PHP 149,995

MSI GT75 Titan 8SG Gaming Laptop

With a menacing look thanks to a sleek aluminum finish, the humongous GT75 Titan 8SG is a gaming laptop on steroids. At 4.5 kilograms and 428 x 314 x 58 mm, it is a heavyweight device which is justified by its specs, which includes an NVIDIA GeForce RT 2080 8GB GDDR6 graphics, sharp 17.3-inch UHD 4K 100 percent Adobe RGB IPS Panel, Steel Series Rapid Mechanical Per-Key RGB Keyboard, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 16GB DDR4-2666MHz RAM, 512GB Super raid 4 NVMe SSD, and loud speakers with subwoofers. Together with such amazing specs, it sports a plethora of ports to ensure most peripherals are supported. Sure enough such specifications cuts into the portability of the GT75 Titan 8SG, but given how this device is touted as more of a desktop replacement gaming laptop, the entire package is understandable as it promises to bring only the best that the market can offer today.

PHP 269,995

MARCH 2019

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Redmi Go

Smartphone Xiaomi debuts its first-ever Android Go phone packed with great, cost-effective hardware. With Android Oreo 8.1, the latest entry-level phone optimizes mobile apps to reduce storage and data use for a faster performance. It is powered by a Snapdragon 425 processor matched with 8 GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card, and has a reliable 3000 mAh battery that lasts all day. Also, it doesn’t cut corners in the entertainment and photography departments with its 5.0-inch HD display, as well as 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel cameras. Engineered for seamless communication, it features dual SIM-card slots that allow 4G and 3G connectivity.

PHP 3,990

MSI GL63 8SE Laptop

The sleek, powerful gaming rig gets a processor and GPU upgrade. Now powered by Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, this laptop delivers the ultimate gaming experience through real-time ray tracing, powerful AI, and programmable shading. Its 15.6-inch FHD display has a dynamic color range and wide viewing angles, thanks to NTSC wideviewing. Ensuring its maximum performance even in extreme gaming, it is partnered with an Intel i7 8th generation processor equipped with Cooler Boost 5 for revolutionary cooling, large DDR4-2666 memory, and dedicated Shift mode that optimizes processor performance. For more realistic gameplay, the MSI GL63 8SE features upgraded speakers that support Nahimic VR audio and Audio Boost for detailed and crystal clear sound.

PHP 99,995

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MARCH 2019

Vivo APEX 2019 Smartphone

This 5G-capable APEX 2019 sets the bar for smartphone design with its Curved-Surface Waterdrop glass, FullView screen that’s virtually devoid of bezels, Full-Display Fingerprint Scanning technology that boosts unlocking accuracy, as well as a no-ports, no-buttons, no-holes body for a stunning look. Making seamless performance possible are a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset along with a large memory of 12 GB + 256 GB. It also comes with Vivo’s AI assistant Jovi AI as well as 5G mobile network capability for blazing-fast streaming, browsing, and more.

Pioneer HDJ-X10C

Professional Over-Ear Headphones The HDJ-X10C is the premium version of the highly-regarded HDJ-X10C. It brings to the table new enhancements for outstanding audio quality, lasting durability, and flexible functionality. To deliver amazing sound quality, the HDJ-X10C DJ headphones were built with a combination of new materials and 50 mm HD drivers. Parts of its housing is made with carbon fibre to give it excellent vibration attenuation, reducing vibration and noise. Metal plating on the front of each earcup enables higher resolution sound reproduction with a wider frequency range and improved localisation. Its grille is now a metal mesh to produce more accurate sound. The HDJ-X10C’s straight cable was also coated in aramid for extra durability. The headphones has also passed the US Military Standard MIL-STD-810G Shock test. While it is tough, the HDJ-X10C comes with a breathable headband made of punched leather, providing comfort even on long periods of use.

MARCH 2019

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Predator Thronos Gaming Station

Built like the throne it is, the majestic Predator Thronos is everything a gamer desires. It towers over all other gaming setups, and is equipped with a motorized cockpit that houses three 27-inch curved monitors for breathtaking graphics, Predator Orion CPUs, a mechanized keyboard tray, RGB lighting thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of its futuristic aesthetic, as well as a leg rest and adjustable pedals, and can be reclined up to 140 degrees with a single click on its control pad. To complete the package, it also supports all Predator gaming peripherals. Offering an immersive gaming experience like no other, the reimagined gaming station has a bass-driven vibrating mechanism inside its cushioned seat that brings intense action into reality.

PHP 699,999

Synology DiskStation DS1019+ Network Attached Storage

Finding a storage solution that packs outstanding performance, design, and a user-friendly interface is now easy with this 5-bay network attached storage from Synology. Engineered for the tech-savvy, and small office use, the DiskStation DS1019+ offers scalable storage up to 140 TB, dual-channel memory and two built-in M.2 SSD slots that allow the creation of an SSD cache without occupying any drive trays. Delivering smooth and faster performance with data encryption at over 225 MB/s, it is ideal for file sharing, data backup, and recovery. Among its other features are up to 8 GB of dual-channel memory, real-time 4K video transcoding for ultra HD video streaming and sharing, a quad-core processor that runs at 2.3 GHz, Btrfs file system for comprehensive management of data, Synology Moments for organizing your precious memories, and DiskStation Manager for enhancing productivity.

PHP 41,999

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MARCH 2019

Moto G7

Smartphone Capture, create and share content with Motorolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s G-series. Equipped with 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel dual cameras, the Moto G7 brings videos and images to life with its built-in blur effect, Spot Color, Auto Smile Capture, and Google Lens. Thanks to its super responsive Snapdragon 632 processor, it can deal with even the most intensive tasks 50 percent faster than its previous model. Among its highlights include TurboPower charging for more juice in less time, an immersive 6.2-inch Max Vision Full HD+ display, curved Gorilla Glass 3 for durability, and an 8-megapixel HDR front camera. It also runs on Android 9.0 out of the box, gets 64 GB internal storage, and 4 GB of RAM.

Moto G7 Power Smartphone

Another model under the G-series lives up to its name. Providing non-stop fun, the Moto G7 Power has a massive 5000 mAh battery that delivers up to 60 hours of battery life. Sporting TurboPower charging, you can get hours of use from a few minutes of charging. It offers a wider viewing and gaming experience with the 6.2-inch Max Vision HD+ display, faster performance through the Snapdragon 632 processor, and a splash-resistant body. As an entry-level phone, it boasts 12-megapixel front and 8-megapixel front cameras, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and runs on Android 9 Pie out of the box. Designed to do more, it is also equipped with active noisecancellation, a 3.5 mm jack, expandable memory up to 512 GB via a microSD slot, and NFC connectivity.

MARCH 2019

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Razer Blade Stealth 13 (Quartz Pink Edition) Gaming Laptop

Fronting an anodized aluminum body, Razer’s most compact gaming laptop is packed with numerous features aimed at optimized performance. Coming in a dainty shade of quartz pink, the Razer Blade Stealth is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU and Intel Core i7 processor. It combines mobility, style, and power perfect for work and play through its 13.3-inch FHD matte display with super slim side bezels that’s a visual feat for gaming laptops. It also has a new Razer Chroma keyboard, four stereo speakers for immersive audio, upgradable SSD storage, 13 hours of battery life, and array of connectivity ports including Thunderbolt 3.

Moto G7 Play Smartphone

It may be the smallest among Motorola’s latest G-series, but the Moto G7 Play is a performance powerhouse that leaves lag behind. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 632 processor, it now performs 60 percent faster than the previous generation. It brings entertainment right to the palm of your hand through its 5.7-inch Max Vision HD+ display, partnered with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage for multimedia files. You won’t be missing capturing important moments, thanks to its responsive 13-megapixel back camera with PDAF that delivers vibrant, sharp images. The entry-level phone also gets an 8-megapixel front camera, Android 9.0 upgrade, and a 3000 mAh battery.

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MARCH 2019

Biostar M500 1TB Solid-State Drive

Designed for gaming, the M500 series SSD has a diamond-patterned heatsink design that gives it an edgy look. It has a wide array of intelligent features like efficient cooling, a Smart Display for monitoring temperature and data activity, support for previous versions of NVMe SSDs, and end-to-end data protection. As an NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) 1.2 compliant, it is two times faster than traditional SSDS with high-performance speeds up to 1700 MB/s sequential write and random read and write IOPS of up 200K/180K.

Biostar A320MH Motherboard

Supporting first-generation AMD Ryzen products, the Biostar A320MH is equipped with an AMD A320 chipset for a stable platform for home use. It is moisture-resistant, has a lowresistance design, superb ventilation, and armor-plated capacitors for durability. To experience seamless data transfer and immersive graphics, this motherboard supports the newest standard PCI-E 3.0, USB 3.1 connectivity, external HDMI output with up to 4K display resolution, and DirectX 12 technology that fully optimizes the performance of graphic cards.

MARCH 2019

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Biostar A68N-5600 Motherboard

Taiwanese brand Biostar recently launched a new generation of computer hardware products in the country. Among these is the new A68N-5600 motherboard that is equipped with an AMD A10-4655 quad-core processor paired with the powerful Radeon HD 7620G graphics card, as well as the A68H chipset that supports USB 3.0 and SATA devices. Sporting a compact, mini-ITX form factor, it boasts two DIMM DDR3-1333 slots that can hold up to 32 GB of RAM and an additional PCI-E x16 2.0 GPU slot. Built to connect with the latest peripherals, it sports USB 3.0 connectivity with data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps. It has a moisture-proof, low-resistance printed circuit board that ensures durability and excellent protection against overheating and short circuits.

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MARCH 2019

Xiaomi Mi 9 Smartphone

Combining futuristic design and cutting-edge technology, Xiaomi has just launched its latest flagship phone at the 2019 Mobile World Congress. A first of its kind, the Xiaomi Mi 9 boasts triple AI cameras with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 as its main sensor. It is backed up by 16-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel telephoto lenses capturing photos with brighter details even in low-light conditions. Inspired by the works of Architect Antoni Gaudi, the latest addition to the Mi-series features an all-curved, holographic back design. On the front, it sports a large 6.39-inch Samsung AMOLED Dot Drop display that brings immersive and entertainment experience within your reach. Among its other highlights include fast in-screen fingerprint sensor, 20W fast wireless charging, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, Snapdragon 855 processor, and Android 9.0 with its customized MIUI 10.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G Smartphone

The first 5G-ready smartphone of Xiaomi is now official. Unveiled at the 2019 Mobile World Congress, it is a performance beast that is ready for the next generation of mobile networks. At the core of the Mi MIX 3 5G is Qualcommâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Snapdragon 855 processor for smooth gaming, matched with a Snapdragon X50 5G modem that supports sub-6GHz signals for four times faster downloads than 4G networks. To optimize device performance during extended usage, it adopts the hybrid Roger HeatSORB cooling system. It also offers worldclass photography at your fingertips through its 12-megapixel AI rear dual cameras and 24-megapixel and 2-megapixel dual front cameras powered by Sony IMX576 sensor.

MARCH 2019

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Mi LED Smart Bulb Smart Light Bulb

Control the lighting in your humble abode even when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away with these energy-saving LED light bulbs from Xiaomi. With 16 million colors, the long-lasting and efficient Mi LED Smart Bulb is a must buy for every home. Through the dedicated Mi Home app, users can switch the lights on, as well as adjust color temperature and brightness remotely. True to its name, the intelligent light bulb also supports voice control through Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and will soon support Apple Kit by the second quarter of 2019.

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MARCH 2019

Nokia 1 Plus Smartphone As a brand-new member of the Android Go phones of Nokia, the Nokia 1 Plus brings solid imaging in a high-quality Nokia design with a big screen, at an accessible price point. Bringing a progressive and cutting-edge design to the value segment, it it achieves a gorgeous textured nano-pattern at the back that cups it all the way to its 5.45-inch IPS display. Its 8-megapixel rear camera features LED flash capture for crisp photos, and optimized autofocus, with features such as color-adaptive noise reduction for all ‘round better shots, while the 5-megapixel front camera has numerous beautifying features. And since it is one of the first Android Go edition phones to run on the latest Android 9 Pie, it gives pure security and optimizes storage space so you can do more.

Nokia 3.2

Smartphone Nokia combines the biggest HD+ display and its signature two-day battery life in one device. Powered by the latest Android 9 Pie experience, the Nokia 3.2 features an impressive 6.26-inch HD+ display so you’ll never struggle and strain to see more of your favourite movies, TV shows and streams. Taking a holistic view of battery life, it combines a larger battery than many premium smartphones with efficient hardware and software ingenuity. Getting through tasks with ease is made possible by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 429 mobile platform, and is backed up with the Google Assistant button. Apart from being a virtual assistant, the new feature gives users a visual overview of their day and has a walkie-talkie mode for efficient monitoring of daily tasks.

Nokia 3.1 Plus Smartphone

Dubbed as the most affordable Nokia phone with dual cameras, the Nokia 3.1 Plus delivers professional-styled bokeh shots through its 13-megapixel PDAF and 5-megapixel rear cameras. Balancing high-performance and efficiency, it comes with an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor that boosts the phone during intensive usage. It has a solid built, featuring curved 2.5D glass to match the elegant DNA that most Nokia phones have. Running Android Oreo, it offers great storage, long battery life, and intuitive user experience, as well as up-to-date security patches.

PHP 9,990

MARCH 2019

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Nokia 4.2

Smartphone Designed to offer the latest innovations at an affordable price, the Nokia 4.2 has everything you need. It has a classy, curved 2.5D glass design, and a 5.71-inch HD+ edge-to-edge display perfect for streaming multimedia content in just one tap. At just 8.4 mm, the smartphone is slim enough for single hand use. On top of the screen is an 8-megapixel selfie-notch that takes decent portraits even in low-light conditions. Powered by Android One, this mid-ranger runs on vanilla Android Pie and gets a regular security update. Among its other features include the Google Assistant button that promotes productivity and engagement with your smartphone, and revolutionary multi-camera imaging through its dual rear cameras with depth sensors.

Nokia 9 PureView Smartphone

Dubbed as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first smartphone with penta-cameras powered by ZEISS optics, the latest flagship phone of Nokia is equipped with 12-megapixel two-color sensors and three monochromatic sensors. Each sensors work together to capture outstanding images with exceptional dynamic range, incredible depth-of-field, sharpness and clear details. It brings flagship experiences in one sophisticated device by integrating Snapdragon 845 and a dedicated imaging processor, a massive 5.99-inch P-OLED display that supports 2K resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection from front to back, 128 GB of internal memory, 6 GB of RAM for running the most demanding games and apps, Qi wireless charging, and seamless under display fingerprint sensor. To top it off, the Nokia 9 PureView runs on the latest version of Android 9.0.

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MARCH 2019

GADGETS LAB

Specifications: Platform: NC96160 (custom HIKVISION chip) Memory: DDR3, SPI Flash, supports up to 128 GB microSD Lens: 150° Ultra-wide angle Sensor: HDR Support, G-Sensor Battery Life: up to 2 hours in 1080p 60fps mode Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/Bluetooth 4.0/micro USB 2.0/micro HDMI Photo Mode: 2MP, 4MP, 8MP Video Recording: 1080p, 720p What’s Hot: -Pro mode -Dash cam mode -Accessories What’s Not: -Photos and videos could use more brightness

MARCH 2019

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Specifications: Dimensions: 35.4 x 22 x 1.79 cm Weight: 1.67 Kg Screen: 15.6-inch FHD Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Memory: 16 GB DDR4 Storage: 512 GB SSD Ports: USB 3 x2, USB-C x1, HDMI, 3.5mm, card reader Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050, 2 GB VRAM

What’s Hot: -Gorgeous -Can handle games -Super portable

What’s Not: -Pricey

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MARCH 2019

Specifications: Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H 2.30 GHz Processor (up to 4.00 GHz) Operating System: Windows 10 Home Graphics: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GDDR5 Display: 15.6-inch FHD, anti-glare Memory: 4GB DDR4 2400 Storage: 1 TB SATA HDD Audio: 2 x 2 W speakers with Dolby Audio Keyboard: Standard QWERTY, no backlight WiFi/Bluetooth: 1 x 1 AC WiFi + Bluetooth 4.1 Ports: USB Type-C 3.1, 2 x USB 3.0 (one charging), HDMI, 4-in-1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC), Audio jack What’s Hot: -Sophisticated look -Superb audio -Large, anti-glare display What’s Not: -Sluggish performance in games with HD graphics -No optical disc drive -USB-C port only works for transferring data

MARCH 2019

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COVER STORY

TECH SPL A NE www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2019

BLOCKCHAIN 28

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MARCH 2019

CLOUD 30

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MARCH 2019

NFC

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MARCH 2019

PHOTO FEATURE

MARCH 2019

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MARCH 2019

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MOBILITY

MARCH 2019

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot: -Head-turning macho machine -Comfortable ride

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not: -Feels a little sluggish on slopes -Long-term performance is not yet proven.

Bottomline: The BAIC BJ20 surprisingly exceeded expectations.

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MARCH 2019

2019 Suzuki Ertiga Conquers Tagaytay's Winding Roads in Media Drive

MARCH 2019

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MARCH 2019

Suzuki Revisits Bantay Bata Children's Village to Improve Life of Beneficiaries

Following its recent CSR activities, Suzuki Philippines further extends its helping hands by providing appliances and motorcycles to Bantay Bata Children’s Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan. Among their donated appliances include three standing and two split type air conditioners, five wall fans, five stand fans, one LCD projector with projector screen, one DVD player, five baby cribs, and two laptops. To provide means of transportation to the community, the motorcycle brand also gave two brand new AX4 and two Skydrive Sport units. Suzuki volunteers from various riding groups, such as Raider R150 Reborn Philippines, Raider R150 Fi Club Philippines, and Suzuki GSX Club Philippines, traveled all the way to Bulacan on their Suzuki motorcycles and helped the whole team in bringing toys and books for the children. The event marks the first-ever charity program of the brand with its riders, adopting the theme “Ride More, Protect More, Love More with Team Suzuki.” Spearheaded by Suzuki Club relations specialist Sherwin Florendo, they prepared a simple program to entertain the kids. Kapamilya stars Benedict Cua, Gab Lagman, Ana De Leon, and Anjo Damiles were also present in the said event.

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya managing director Ms. Susan Afan, Bantay Bata 163 deputy director Ms. Jacel Paguio, Freda Dador Agustin senior resource mobilization officer of Bantay Bata 163 received Suzuki’s donation from president Hiroshi Suzuki and managing director Mr. Norminio Mojica.

Suzuki Philippines president Hiroshi Suzuki and managing director Norminio Mojica turned over the gifts to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s managing director Susan Afan and Bantay Bata deputy director Jacel Paguio. Made possible by Suzuki Foundation Inc. under the Suzuki Helps Aids and Rebuilds (SHARE) program, the motorcycle brand continues to bring more activities like this to Bantay Bata and thus bringing hope and a more conducive environment for the children to live in. 50

MARCH 2019

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Shell Eco-Marathon Now On its 10th Year

2018 SEMA Philippine delegates posing with their futuristic cars and Shell representatives

The globally-celebrated energy efficiency challenge, Shell Eco Marathon Asia (SEMA), returns to Malaysia for its tenth year. The annual competition hosted by Shell is part of the company’s global Make the Future Live program. It will take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, where it was first held in 2010. The SEMA challenges bright young minds to design and build ultra-energy-efficient cars, and then take them out on the track in competition. From April 29 to May 2,over 100 teams from all over Asia and the Middle East are set to test their selfbuilt energy-efficient cars in the Shell Eco-marathon Mileage Challenge, to see who can go the farthest using the least amount of energy.

Student teams will also have the opportunity to qualify for the Shell Eco-marathon Drivers’ World Championship, which challenges the best UrbanConcept teams to combine the proven energy efficiency of their car with the speed and skill of their driver, in a race to see who can cross the finish line first on the least amount of fuel. Qualified teams will go to London for a chance to compete with teams from Europe and the Americas. The Philippines will again participate in this year's SEMA installment, with a contingent of 16 futuristic cars from 14 universities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The country will be represented by student teams from Adamson University, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Dasmarinas, De La Salle University-Manila, Mapua University,

Institute of Technology, National University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila, University of Mindanao, University Of Perpetual Help System-Dalta, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines – Diliman. ”Every year, we see an increasing standard of performance, as well as team spirit and passion, among the student participants at Shell Eco-marathon Asia. The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is the perfect venue to witness new innovations in vehicle design come to life. We look forward to another exciting year at Shell Eco-marathon Asia,” said Shanna Simmons, Shell Ecomarathon Global Technical director.

IPC Awards Outstanding Isuzu Dealers of 2018 At the 14th Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA), Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) recognized the most outstanding Isuzu dealers of 2018. The 2018 edition of the DOYA was extra meaningful for IPC as various challenges in 2018 resulted in the dip in sales for the automotive industry. IPC, meanwhile, still emerged as the country's leading truck brand, extending its winning streak to 19 years. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the main awards. Hailed as the 2018 Dealer of the Year Champion was Isuzu Iloilo, with Isuzu Cabanatuan and Isuzu Cagayan de Oro 1st and 2nd runner up, respectively. The Most Improved Dealership of the Year award was handed to Isuzu Bulacan, while Isuzu Pasig was named the The Sales Team of the Year. The Sales Executive of the Year in the LCV Category was Gabriel Joshua Corro Jr. of Isuzu Iloilo, while www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

2018 Dealer of the Year Champion Isuzu Iloilo

the Sales Executive of the Year in the CV Category was Caren Pearl Gaspar of Isuzu Pasig.

Sto. Tomas Batangas as Best in Customer Service Operations.

2018 DOYA Awards were also given to Isuzu Pasig for being Best in Sales Operations, Isuzu Bulacan for being Best in Parts Operation, Isuzu Alabang as Best in Service Operations, and Isuzu

DOYA is the IPCs annual event through which they honor and celebrate the outstanding performance of Isuzu dealers, which ecompasses sales and aftersales operations. MARCH 2019

Yamaha Racing Conference Shines Light on Filipino Racing Talent; Showcases new YZF-R3

Yamaha’s unrelenting commitment to the racing community was celebrated at the recently concluded Yamaha Racing Conference. Along with honoring its racing teams, the motorcycle brand showcased its supersport motorcycle, the new YZF-R3 to a crowd of racers, riders, and motoring media.

celebration. The duo Masato “The Chairman” Fernando and McKinley Kyle “Wonder Boy” Paz of UMA Racing Yamaha Philippines Team also shared the stage with the racing superstar. The Filipino racers are set to represent the country in the Asia Road Racing Championship.

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of the 2019 YZF-R3 which was designed with a bodywork like the famous YZR-M1. It is sleek, more aerodynamic, and has a sturdy yet lightweight structure that’s perfect for high performance racing.

Yamaha is also preparing for the Underbone King Sniper 150 National Championships where 12 select riders will compete for a spot at the national team in their next tournament.

Along with the launch of the new YZF-R3, Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales flew in to join the

The racing conference wouldn’t be complete without the launch of the 10th Yamaha Grand

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Prix Season – UB150 category. The longestrunning one make race in the country has been proven to develop the skills of riders and prepare them for the next level of competition. The new batch of racers are a mixture of seasoned contenders along with new challengers eager to make their mark. The riders will be divided into regional teams of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Yamaha also announced its continued partnership with 4S1M racing team and Phoenix Yamaha Koso-Faito Racing Team. The 2019 Yamaha Racing Season is shaping up to be one to watch. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

18th Henry Ford Awards Winners Announced

18th Henry Fords Awards winners

Ford Philippines once again puts the spotlight on the country’s premier automotive journalists with the 18th iteration of the Henry Ford Awards (HFA). The HFA continues to celebrate the contributions of automotive journalists in shaping the Philippine automotive landscape with their incisive and in-depth reportage of automotive news and trends in print, online, and broadcast media platforms. The 16 winners were selected from a total of 239 entries composed of automotive stories, columns and opinion pieces, photographs, and videos covering general and Ford-specific motoring news, launches, and trends. Winners in the regular categories are “High Tech Features of Cars Today, And Why They’re Worth Every Peso” by Ramoncito Henares for Philippine Daily Inquirer as Best Automotive Print Feature, “The TNVS Saga – The Ball is in LTFRB’s Court” by Manuel Francis de los Reyes for Philippine Star as Best Automotive Column, “Sell the Car? Here’s the Cost of Maintenance Over 21 Years" by Paulo Rafael Subido for Top Gear Philippines as Best Automotive Online Feature, “Crazy Rich Asians” by Manuel Francis de los Reyes for 2.0 Magazine as Best Automotive Print Lifestyle Feature, “We Ask the Experts www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

– Brand New vs. Second Hand” by Eric Tipan for AutoIndustriya as Best Automotive Online Lifestyle Feature, “Speed of Light” by Joserl Cruz Rabe for AutoIndustriya as Best Published Photograph, “What Are The Legal Implications of Leaving A Toddler Inside A Car” by Maria Cecilia Carpena for Top Gear Philippines as Best Automotive Road Safety Feature, “Almost Half of Future Car Buyers in the PH are Open to Electric Vehicles: Are You One of Them?” by Paul John Caña for Entrepreneur Philippines as Best Automotive Green Feature, “6 Reasons Why Subaru Eyesight Is Your Best Bud in Heavy Traffic” by Jacob Fidel Oliva for AutoDeal as Best Smart Technology Feature, “Land Rover and Jaguar: Above and Beyond” by Emmanuel Davein Madrid for Auto Review – PTV 4 as Best Automotive Video Feature, and “Anti-Poor or ProCommuter? PUV Modernization Explained” by Iñigo Sarmiento Roces for AutoIndustriya as Best Automotive Industry Feature. Winners in the special categories are “Ford Ranger: Karabella” by Shazadi Reyra de los Reyes for Auto Review – PTV 4 as Best Ford Automotive Video Feature, “Crowd Pleaser” by Kelvin Christian Go for AutoIndustriya as Best Ford Published Photograph, “Four Why’s Ideal Mothers Are The Role Models for Road Safety” by Ronald Rey de los Reyes for BusinessMirror as Best Ford ‘Go Further’ Feature, “A Surprise Fit for a Queen” by Mikey Yan for Top Gear Philippines as Best

Ford Automotive Feature, and The Manila Times as Best Automotive Section for Broadsheet. The winners were carefully selected by the HFA Board of Judges represented by practitioners from the academe and in various professional disciplines related to automotive, communications, media, and creatives. The first phase of judges consisted of Dr. Maria Margarita Alvina-Acosta, chairperson, Department of Communication, Miriam College; Dr. Elena Pernia, vice president for Public Affairs, University of the Philippines System; Felipe Salvosa II, Journalism program head, University of Santo Tomas; and Dr. Cheryll Ruth Soriano, chair, Department of Communication, De La Salle University – Manila. The second phase of judges was comprised of Cilette Liboro-Co, chief operating officer, ABS-CBN News Channel; Bertrand Lessard, managing director, Ford Philippines; Mark Brian Nicdao, country External Relations for Downstream and Internal Communication manager, Shell Philippines; and Joe Zaldarriaga, chairman, International Association of Business Communicators Philippines. The special categories were judged by Paco Guerrero, photographer; Michael Sicam, executive creative director, Ogilvy Philippines; and Paul Soriano, filmmaker. MARCH 2019

Motorists Can Now Grab New Havoline, Delo Engine Oils at New Caltex Service Station Along EDSA Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), gives motorists more reason to take that long-awaited road trip and enjoy each drive with its new line of advanced engine oils. The new heavy-duty engine oil (HDMO) Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 and the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 combine advanced technologies to provide optimized fuel economy. The Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 is a super-premium quality “low SAPS” synthetic diesel engine oil that utilizes ISOSYN Advanced Technology to protect SUVs, SRVs, pickups, 4X4 vehicles, as well as those with latest low emission diesel engines. Beyond engine protection, the Delo helps the engine to produce high torque and power even at low speeds. The Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 is a multigrade gasoline engine oil engineered with unique detergent formula Deposit Shield Technology that prevents deposit buildup. The formulation also promises wear protection along with oil and fuel consumption reduction. The engine oil is meant for gasoline-run passenger cars and light commercial vehicles requiring low viscosity. Both engine oil additions have passed performance standards required in HDMOs. The Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 meets the API-C series required standards while the

(2nd from R – L) Chevron Philippines Inc. District Sales Manager Kit D’aran, Country Chairman Louie Zhang is with TripleF Ventures Corp. President Dylan Ferrer to open the newest Caltex station to date located

Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 qualifies for the API performance standards of ILSC GF-5 & SNRC (resource conserving) New Caltex Service Station in EDSA Motorists can get the newly formulated engine oils at the recently opened Caltex Station along EDSA. Caltex-EDSA corner Scout Borromeo is CPI’s latest addition to its growing network of service stations in the country. In celebration of the service station’s opening, motorists were treated to discounts on fuel and engine oils as well as other treats through Happy

Plus loyalty cards. The station will also soon be home to several retail stores and restaurants. The Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 and Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 are sold in the nearest Caltex stations, auto supply shops, leading hardware stores and online. A free limited edition of Delo Sports tool set come with every purchase of 6+1L Delo Sports Advanced 5W-40 promo pack (PHP 4,980). Meanwhile, customers can save PHP150 when they buy the 6+1L Delo Sports Synthetic Blend 10W-30 with Techron D Concentrate bottle promo pack (PHP 2,980). The new Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 retails for PHP 1,070 (4L bottle), and PHP 270 (1L).

Nissan Philippines Celebrates Strong 2018 Nissan Philippines, together with the motoring media, has started the new year with a thanksgiving party to celebrate its positive performance in 2018. Despite the challenges brought about by the 1st tranche of the new tax law implemented in the country last year, Nissan PH recorded a double-digit growth with a 40-percent increase translating to 34,952 units sold or 8.7-percent of the total market share. With the tax exemption on pick-up trucks, the Navara drove the company's growth which is approximately 46.2-percent of Nissan sales in the country. Together with the Navara, models that performed well are the Urvan, Almera, and Terra which contributed 19.5-percent, 17.5-percent, and 11.9-percent in sales, respectively. Some of Nissan's highlights for 2018 include its entry into the midsize SUV segment via the Nissan Terra, as well as the introduction of the special edition Terra S and Navara Warrior X, the electric vehicle LEAF, and the 370Z Nismo at the 54

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7th Philippine International Motor Show. It also participated in government-stakeholders initiative events such as the 6th Philippine EV Summit in a bid to promote electric vehicles and a more sustainable motoring industry.

"To change the game, we have to stick to our fundamentals. With what we have achieved last year, we can now look forward to dreaming bigger for 2019," said Ramesh Narasimhan, Nissan Philippines president and managing director. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

HPDC Selects New Riders

Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), the leading motorcycle manufacturer in the country, officially began its 2019 Motorsports season with the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) tryouts at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga. This served as the official selection process for nine talented young riders who will participate in the official races and undergo training in the Honda Racing Clinic. HPDC is a Motor Sports program of HPI, which aims to develop young riders in motorcycle racing using a specific one make race machine, namely the CBR150R - a 150cc, MotoGP DNA motorcycle. The HPDC is also a step up program for young riders to qualify for international race www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

programs of Honda and immerse in different environments to become better equipped for competitions.

Riders of the ages twelve to seventeen participated in the Honda Racing Clinic, which was taught by Joey Rivero himself.

The program was officially opened by HPI’s adviser for Motorsports, Ryosuke Arai. Then Gilbert Sison, group head for Motorsports, welcomed the esteemed judges tasked to select the riders, namely racing coach Joey Rivero and Troy Alberto, international racer and HPI’s representative in Thai Talent Cup and Asia Talent Cup last 2018. They also oriented the participants on the try-out process and session at the 4.2 km Race Track. Also present at the events was Eduardo Lumague, president– Unified Sports and Racing Association (USRA).

At the track, four sessions were held in total as well as a Final Shoot out at the end. Riders showcased their skills and were evaluated by Rivero, Alberto, and Sison. Finally, nine riders and one reserve were able to qualify for HPDC, namely Carl James "Chino" P. Hung, Kurt Tristan "Ostong" Villanueva, Michael Nicol D. Lee, Christopher John "Kokoy" Mangibin, Sean Andrej Ondillo, Marco Gil D. Ventenilla, Joshua Gabriel S. De Leon, Travhys Ivan Joe Paralejas, and Alfred Jakob Sablaya. MARCH 2019

GAMING

Words by Jose Alvarez Developer: Square ENIX Business Division 3 Publisher: Square ENIX Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Have you ever waited for something for a very long time? As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. Don’t tell that to the people waiting for Half-Life 3, though. With 90s and early 2000s nostalgia ripping through the world of entertainment, it only meant that Kingdom Hearts would make a comeback in Kingdom Hearts III. The original Kingdom Hearts came out in 2002, and Kingdom Hearts II came out in 2006. Multiple Kingdom Hearts games came out between the release of the first installment and Kingdom Hearts III (not counting the second game)—ten of them, to be exact. The game was announced in 2013 after much fanfare and speculation, but players had to wait another six years to see The World. The game incorporates elements of Square ENIX games (such as Moogles from Final Fantasy), Disney, and Pixar. Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey, and Riku must find the seven Guardians of Light and the “Key to Return Hearts” while thwarting Xehanort’s evil plans to bring about another Keyblade War. What’s new in Kingdom Hearts III? Despite having Disney characters in the series, this is actually the first time the series has used CG movie sources, and Disney provided its own digital assets to Square ENIX. “We were planning on making such a high-end game, we talked to Disney about sharing resources with us. Up until now, the way Kingdom Hearts have been made is that we would watch the movies and copy the costumes as we saw them. But this time around, because we wanted to be really accurate and wanted to have everything down to the last detail completely the same we decided to ask Disney to share their resources with us,” said character art director Toru Yamazaki.

MARCH 2019

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The game has been nearly 13 years in the making, and the scale of the world shows. Players can visit worlds such as the Kingdom of Corona (Tangled), Arendelle (Frozen), and San Fransokyo (Big Hero 6). Toy Box (Toy Story) and Monstropolis (Monsters, Inc.) are also new to the series. There were two new original worlds created for Kingdom Hearts III-the “Final World” and Scala ad Caelum—which featured former Keyblade wielders. While there are many returning characters who will aid Sora during his adventure, such as King Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy, Riku, Kairi, and more, several new characters include Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Sulley, Mike Wazowski, Rapunzel, Baymax, and Marshmallow. Star Wars and Marvel characters were in demand, but due to legal issues (despite the Walt Disney Company owning the rights to Star Wars and the company owning Marvel Entertainment), the likelihood of them being in the game is unlikely. Players can choose their growth path in the beginning of the game: Wisdom, Vitality, or Balance, and the second set of options include Guardian, Warrior, and Mystic. The Command Menu and Shortcuts return from previous installments, while Drive Forms are now tied to Keyblades and named to Formchanges. A new feature in the game is Attractions, where players can execute skills based on theme park attractions. There is also a Gummiphone which allows players to photograph their environments, and take selfies. Players can now collect Lucky Emblems which unlocks the secret ending. Overall, Kingdom Hearts III was worth the wait. However, due to Disney’s growing influence and Square ENIX being one of the most influential game developers and publishers in the entire world, the demand for new Kingdom Hearts content might be limitless.

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MARCH 2019

Words by Ren Alcantara Developer and Publisher: Capcom | Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4

Nostalgia is a dangerous thing. It brings people to see things through rose-colored lenses. If you’re the cynical kind, the Resident Evil 2 remake that was teased through demos, videos, and assorted media reeks of a cash grab, preying on the hapless wallets of the grown-up kids who now have money to burn. Like 80s-themed movies, song revivals, and band reunions, it seems to be trying to rely on that same nostalgia that lets us overlook flaws that have always been there. I am not ashamed to admit that I fell for it. Despite being the same game that made us sleep with the lights on in the late 90s, the 2019 remake is much more than just better graphics. A lot of things have been changed, and for the better. It was a dangerous path they trod, but ultimately, it feels like it paid off. The game opens with a visually impressive cutscene of a trucker digging into a conspicuously meaty cheeseburger while listening to what sounds like a recount of a zombie attack on the radio. Things happen, and we get to see the inevitable first zombie. We’re then thrown into the boots of our protagonist—Leon in my case—as he makes his way to Raccoon City, and his new job as a cop. This sneaky tutorial goes through all the necessary actions. Walking, investigating, using items, and aiming. It’s well thought-through, and a decent place to start. More things happen, and you find yourself in that same insane mazelike, puzzle-ridden police station that left you trembling in polygonal fear two decades ago. This early in the game, you feel a few things. Raccoon City is actually quite a gorgeous place, or at least the police station is. The dynamic lighting really sets the mood, and everything just looks so terrifyingly realistic. This carries over to the zombies, in all their grunting, gurgling, disgusting undeath. They shamble more convincingly than ever before, and are more unimpressed by your weapons than is comfortable. Seriously, they’re tough. Part of the animation is getting limbs and flesh blown off from gunfire, which is at once terrible and awesome. The next thing you’ll notice is how much smoother controls are. Gone is the charm of the fixed camera that hides all sorts of evil behind desks, chairs, and other pieces of furniture. The over-the-shoulder camera is generally great in that it’s so much easier to move around, and instead of not being able to see past a desk, you simply can’t see anything behind you. It’s terrifying, and you’re at first constantly looking over your shoulder to see if that corpse you passed got up and is thinking about having a snack of your spleen.

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The game is paced well. It lets you get settled into controls before things get particularly hairy. You’re free to roam through the station, though key sections are hidden behind literal locked doors. Some of the puzzles are there from before, with some differences. Sorry, you won’t be able to use that IGN walkthrough you downloaded off that Geocities site when you were playing this on the Playstation. More than enough has changed to keep fetch quests from being absolutely annoying, and the game constantly throws new zombies at you thanks to open windows that need to be boarded up.

mostly for that same pesky nostalgia that got you down this rabbit hole in the first place. It’s great. If you played the well-loved original, this is a no-brainer. If, on the other hand you haven’t, pick this up, as it’s a great survival-horror romp in a great universe. Even just watching a playthrough is great, and extremely enjoyable. Two undead thumbs up.

When a zombie finally gets you, and they will, you have the option to spend an appropriate item to keep from taking damage. Flashbangs, grenades, and the combat knife are all useful in this regard—a welcome new game element that I appreciated a lot. Items are all still there. Herbs, weapons, and keys are the same familiar ones you’ll remember, at least with Leon’s run. Claire’s weapons are a little different, but in a good way. The inventory is as wonderfully frustrating as ever, and constantly leaves you wondering if you really need more ammo on your person, or if a R+G herb would be more prudent, only to realize the correct answer was actually that key card you got from that room with all the zombies two floors down, so now you have to backtrack. Boss fights are as tricky as ever, particularly since the game gives you just enough ammo to get by. The game does a good job at scaring you into firing wildly though, as corpses tend to just get up to bother you, or round corners at the most inopportune times. At its core, the game still delivers that satisfaction of finally solving a particularly vexing puzzle, or getting that item you needed to unlock a great upgrade for your weapon. The initial playthrough is great, and unlocks more content. Capcom has also just released additional DLCs in the same city, where you play as different characters. Overall, this seems like something that someone would come back to every so often,

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MARCH 2019

Words by Ren Alcantara Developer: Bioware | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4

By the time you get to read this, we will have a better idea of Anthem’s fate. A lot can be said about how the developer and publisher approached this title, how it was launched, and the inevitable growing pains. A lot more can be said about how it stacks up against the titles that came before it. Today, I come to review Anthem, not to bury it, and game ratings aside, it’s actually an enjoyable game. If you’re interested in this title at all, then there’s no need for me to go into what the game is about. There are a lot of game mechanics to go over, and just not enough space to go over everything from the basics. There have been a lot of complaints about the game, and not all of them are unfounded. Let’s get the hard part over with and talk about those things first.

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Yes, this game is a repetitive grind. You’re going to be running through the same world, killing the same enemies, and hunting for better versions of the same loot.

Yes, for some reason, some enemy attacks are broken. You sometimes get hit seemingly out of nowhere, even when you dodge, and even when attacks are very clearly telegraphed.

Yes, there are a lot of issues at the moment: long loading times, broken game instances that have no way to complete objectives, and some cosmetic glitches.

Yes, some of the game mechanics aren’t great, like dealing with your javelin when you’re on fire, and a weird multiplayer-single player story mode that just makes both aspects weird.

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These are all real complaints, and I have experienced them in my 20+ hours of play as of this writing. The game is repetitive, but it’s a looter-shooter, so this isn’t really any surprise. That hunt for better gear is the heart of games like this, and it’s what keeps me coming back for hours at a time. Loading times are almost painfully long, yes, but an SSD makes it tolerable, and once the game gets running, it’s quite smooth unless you head to another area altogether. It would be great to get some optimization there, since so much of the game is behind loading screens, and if Anthem is as important as I think it is, there will be changes. The same applies to the broken enemy attacks, as well as the burning status on javelins. What Anthem does well is moving around the environment. The freedom of movement is fantastic, and really gives you a wonderful feeling of flight. Once combat does happen, this movement is even better. Getting used to the controls, from flying low to make the most of water spray to cool your thrusters, to a quick dodge-drop-hover combo to avoid an attack, get into position and launch a few fireballs, is fantastic. If you ever wanted to be an awesome cross between Iron Man and Dr. Strange, pick the Storm Javelin and bask in the power. Combat with the other javelin types is just as brutal, intense, and wonderfully visceral. You’re not going to do a lot of thinking, you’re going to dive in, grit your teeth, and enjoy the ride. Guns, flamethrowers, melee, and attacks are so rewarding when they connect, all this with

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the backdrop of one of the most gorgeous landscapes I have had the pleasure of seeing. Loot is a great reward for the effort. While some complain that enemies take too long to dispatch, it makes the looting all the more satisfying. Maybe I’m just particularly masochistic, but that frustration when I don’t get the item I want just makes me want to head out and hunt some more, and you’ll be doing that a lot in this game. There are a lot of item slots to fill, and plenty of item tiers to get them from. The single player campaign, which I am at the verge of completing, is reasonably involving, and gives enough freedom, since you can pick from a bunch of side quests and roam freely as your whims dictate. The story is robust enough, though you can sometimes drown in a flood of make-believe words. The fantasy is laid on thick, but it is also somehow not quite deep enough, so it doesn’t exactly stick. Motion capture is impressive and you can almost shake off feelings of being squarely in the uncanny valley. Overall, the criticism is not entirely unfair, but the game isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. If you’re a fan of grindy looters, this is solidly one of those. I do wish some of the issues get sorted out eventually, and more content added. I also hope that they don’t get disheartened by the reception and abandon it entirely. I do think that for a few people like myself, it’s actually quite a decent title. Should you be wondering if it’s the one for you, find a friend with a copy and give it a try. It would be a shame to miss it either way.

MARCH 2019

VISUAL SPACE

SCI-FI HEROINE LIKE NO OTHER Meet Alita, the Battle Angel 62

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APPS

Meet thE s r e p o l e v IGA De

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MARCH 2019

MUSIC CORNER

Words by Daniel Ringon

When putting the words “digital” and “music” together, people almost instinctively think about the electronic music movement, specifically french-house duo Daft Punk, Skrillex, Avicii, Zedd, and a whole host of artists. More recently though, musicians from all over the world have been producing electronic music in various styles, from the breezy and light, all the way to heart-wrenching.

Passion Pit

This indietronica group has always been one to make music that revolves around more mature themes. From heavy topics such as financial troubles, alcohol-induced paranoia, and struggling with addiction, their music is more grounded in the gritty realities of life. Their jovial, upbeat sound will, however, get you bopping your head, tapping your feet, and dancing the pain away. Recommended Tracks/s: Lifted Up (1985) [Kindred, 2015] - This track was written by lead vocalist, Michael Angelakos in gratitude to his wife for coming into his life at a time when he was most lost. Take a Walk [Gossamer, 2012] - A song talking about a businessman undergoing financial troubles, each verse was written with a different family member in mind. Put to music with an upbeat melody, Rolling Stone named the track the third best song of 2012.

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Gym and Swim

Thailand-based band Gym and Swim is something people might consider a hybrid of indie pop and lo-fi, but is actually under the subgenre of fabulous tropical music. Theirs is the type of music that goes great on a beautiful sunny day, or in the wee hours of the morning. Recommended Track/s: Yuuwahuu [Sea Sick, 2016]: An endlessly bright track embodying the band’s musical playfulness. The track talks about eventually fleeing from unpleasant memories and living free.

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The Postal Service

A side project by Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, The Postal Service mixes the soulful vocals and all-tooreal lyrics Death Cab for Cutie is famous for the indietronica and downtempo tunes of Tamborello, creating imagery one can only describe as 8-bit heartbreak. Recommended Track/s: Nothing Better [Give Up, 2003]: This tearjerker of a track features a duet between Ben Gibbard and Jen Wood (formerly of Tattle Tale) singing about a metaphorical dissection of a relationship gone sour. Clark Gable [Give Up, 2003]: Another song that will surely kick you in the heart, Clark Gable is about a relationship given a second chance, only to realize that things are never going to be ok, and what has already failed, will fail again. Prepare your tissues.

Bleachers

An American indie pop band with influences from late 80s and early 90s music, listening to the band’s music is like watching a John Hughes film. Utilizing a harmony of synthesizers and keyboards, Bleachers has a vibe that harkens back to your youth, with a number of songs about teenage romance. Recommended Track/s: Rollercoaster [Strange Desire, 2014]: One of the band’s more popular songs, the track talks about the 80s staple of teenage, summer love. Wake Me: [Strange Desire, 2014]: Another sweet song from the band’s first album, the track features the very relatable thoughts of someone who is lovestruck, and then shocked to find that their feelings are reciprocated.

Glass Animals

Imagine an amalgam of lo-fi and indie pop and you get this British band that has already received a nomination for a Mercury Prize. The band’s music is the type you would hear at house parties or at home when you’re trying to chase your blues away. Recommended Track/s: Season 2 Episode 3: This track is a lazy song. No, it’s not the writers who are lazy, but the song itself is a song for lazy people. The track talks about a person who has their priorities sorted out: sitting down watching TV, getting high, and eating mayonnaise. Coupled with a relaxing, low-tempo accompaniment, Season 2 Episode 3 makes for a great song perfect for when you’re feeling the Monday blues.

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MARCH 2019

TRAVEL

The Philippines consists of more than 7,000 islands that are home to some of the warmest people you’ll meet on the planet. These charming qualities are reasons why travellers frequent our humble land. Despite the rehabilitation of one of the country’s biggest tourist attractions, Boracay island, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has reported that there was a significant increase in tourist arrivals in 2018. With Philippine tourism more vibrant than ever, a great selection of accomodations ready to cater different types of travellers is essential. OYO Rooms or OYO, South Asia’s largest, and the world’s fastest-growing chain of hotels, homes and spaces, hops aboard this accelerating tourism train with its expansion of operations in the Philippines. OYO was launched in India in 2013. It is a techdriven, full-scale hospitality chain that empowers small and independent hotels. It has presence in 500 cities across big markets like the United Kingdom, China, UAE, as well as in developing countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, and now the Philippines. Their expansion in the country is set to strengthen their foothold in the SEA region as discussed by OYO Hotels and Homes chief operating officer (COO) Abhinav Sinha.

Google Play Store and Apple App store, and online through Booking.com and other partner platforms. Room rates begin at PHP 750. “At OYO, our mission is to create a perfect space in every place by empowering hotel owners to become better hospitality players while ensuring an end-to-end controlled experience for our guests. With our technology and operational expertise, we are enabling hotel owners with technology and across South Asia demand reach, that will help them drastically improve the customer experience while maintaining efficiencies, high occupancy, and yields. We’ve been responsible for enabling over 100,000 job opportunities in South Asia, and look forward to creating 1000+ direct and indirect jobs in Philippines by 2020,” Sinha shares.

Currently, the company has over 21 franchised and leased hotels across Metro Manila, Tagaytay, and Cebu. It aims to be in more than 10 key cities in the country by 2020. To set this goal in motion, OYO will be investing more than USD 50 million in its efforts to transform the hospitality industry. The company hopes that through this, they’ll be able to generate job opportunities for Filipinos. What OYO does is it partners with independent hoteliers to provide customers superior yet affordable spaces so they can fully enjoy their travels. OYO transforms hotels from the inside out. The company renovates rooms and the facade to raise their quality to OYO’s standard. Apart from the physical aspects, OYO also helps in boosting operation efficiency through staff training and provision of technology solutions for housekeeping, booking, among others for a seamless experience for both guests and asset owners. OYO aims to be the go-to hotel for both local and international travellers in the country. Users can book rooms via the OYO app available through

MARCH 2019

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FOOD

Great Food With a Side of Social Media Cafe Nenzo wins thanks to great food, and an online presence The success of restaurants these days is no longer solely reliant on the good food they bring to the table but also their presence online. For Café Nenzo’s head chef and co-owner Chino Abacan, it’s their online connections that have helped them gain customers all these years.

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MARCH 2019

FEATURE as its newest brand ambassador. Her brainchild, Casa Consunji, features local and imported rustic home decor and furniture made from sustainable materials like rattan and raw cotton. Its first physical branch located at Acacia Estates, is a concept store and cafe in one that opened in October last year.

GoDaddy Empowers Filipino SMEs to Establish Their Brands Online Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

In a technologically driven world, a business’ online presence is essential in reaching the right market and boosting sales. But for local SMEs who have limited resources, this can be expensive and complicated. This pushed GoDaddy, a web hosting company, to create a user-friendly tool crafted for entrepreneurs that aims to share the benefits of having a fully-secured, dedicated website. TV host and entrepreneur Maggie Wilson Consunji shared with us her experience with GoDaddy’s Website Builder, which turned her visions into reality. With over 18 million customers worldwide, the company has provided services to 77 million domains through its 11 headquarters across the globe. The Philippines, according to GoDaddy director Pamela Portin, is an important market for them most especially in shifting the global economy for burgeoning of independent ventures. Conducted last 2017, the Gig Economy Survey found out that 77 percent of Filipinos have a side business on top of their full-time job, and 72 percent of those aim to be full-time entrepreneurs within the next five years through the aid of technology. By developing affordable

and integrated website tools like the Website Builder and providing guidance and insights through its 24/7 customer support, GoDaddy aims to encourage more small businesses to switch into digital marketing which costs less money and requires less manpower. Apart from giving domain names to business entities and organizations, they also offer SEO optimization and website security hosting, all of which are essential for online branding. As part of its nationwide campaign, GoDaddy picked TV personality Maggie Wilson-Consunji

From L-R: GoDaddy’s senior marketing manager Tina Shieh, Casa Consunji’s owner and GoDaddy’s brand ambassador Maggie Wilson-Consunji, and GoDaddy’s director Pam Portin

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Maggie told us that through the versatile tool, she was able to operate her business with ease. Her team noticed that there was a huge potential market online, and most of their customers inquire through their social media pages. To let their customers browse and purchase their products online as well as to keep track of the orders, they finally decided to launch their official website, CasaConsunji.com, made possible with GoDaddy’s Website Builder. It has helped unleash her creativity and has gained them customers across and outside the country. “It’s dummy-proof. It’s like website building for dummies which is great! Being online and having a website just feels so professional. It is more professional because it’s easier to track everything, and it prevents fraud giving the customers easier online shopping experience as opposed to just selling on social media apps. It was definitely something that we wanted to put together quickly so that we don’t lose the online market,” she says. Together with her staff, she updates product photos, description, and prices regularly into the template. GoDaddy’s senior marketing manager Tina Shieh have been observing the Asia market and the team found out that the Philippines is the most vibrant among the countries in the region. “Filipinos have so many ideas, they are eager to start something new so that’s why we decided to launch our first campaign in Asia here.” Another huge factor that pushed the company is the growing number of SMEs in different industries. The Website Builder isn’t just limited to e-commerce, it may also be used in building blogs, as well as online portfolios and galleries, which is ideal for freelance creatives. Shieh also mentioned that they already integrated SSL certification to the tool, securing websites from any external malware attacks by online hackers. Getting your own website can be achieved in seven simple steps. First, you need to visit GoDaddy’s website, do a domain search, and select your chosen domain name. Once selected, it redirects to the Website Builder page where you can customize your website and put other essential menus for customer support such as chatbots and the like. You may then enter your business name along with your industry once you’re done. A preview button of the website is provided once you complete the process. Once you are finished in finalizing the website’s design and content, you can then publish it online. Domain name comes in different prices, but the first month is offered for free.

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Words by Marlet D. Salazar

The common misconception is that machine learning (ML) is synonymous with artificial intelligence (AI). But machine learning is actually a subcategory of AI. Now classified as an emerging technology, talks about ML have been going on for years. Tech giant Google discussed it many times in their regional conferences within the Asia-Pacific region as early as 2015. It uses ML through sorting out and categorizing images. With the onset of the Internet of Things (IoT), different technologies are coming up, and the use of ML has evolved. According to analytics company SAS, ML is explained simply as a method of data analysis. The system is exposed to big data for so many times, until it is able to recognize a pattern and eventually identify an image or keyword or anything that it is trained to learn. The idea of ML is based on the use of technology to minimize human intervention, or simplify human tasks. This is where most of the fears in AI taking over human jobs come from, but that’s for another discussion. For Google, it uses ML “to automate data-driven systems on a massive scale.” It is basically reading algorithms. If a user keeps searching for similar keywords, the machine is exposed to it and in the next searches, the system will be able to provide suggestions based on the data fed into it. With the gargantuan task of pooling massive data generated from IoT in the coming years, ML

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will play a key role in organizing, learning, and providing data to humans. SAS said technology companies rekindled its interest in ML precisely because of the reason as previously mentioned. It is needed to analyze data and employ computational processing the shortest possible time. What are the basic use cases of machine learning? According to SAS, ML can be used to power credit scoring and applying the technology to IoT. For example, in a smart home, the data gathered from the homeowners’ activity are stored in the cloud. It will be able to record the pattern of a person’s day-to-day life. SAS, however, found that machine learning is often used in financial services, government, healthcare, and retail. The healthcare sector benefits immensely on ML especially with the proliferation of wearable devices that can measure user activity or inactivity. Some apps are trained to give suggestions based on the data it collected from the user’s life. In a nutshell, machine learning is pattern-reading and data analysis to give consumers or end users better suggestions whether in terms of keywords or in terms of a users’ daily life.

MARCH 2019

What’s Next? What’s

Accenture Technology Vision 2019: The Dawning of the Post-Digital Age Everything is already digital. We’ve reached a saturation point. Technology has become so deeply embedded in our everyday life that the term ‘digital world’ would no longer make sense to anyone who grew up in this era, but as the saying goes, nothing is static. Technology and its role in our lives will continue to evolve. So the question is, where do we go from here?

We are entering the next phase of the digital revolution. While digital integration has granted companies exceptional reach and capabilities, it is no longer a differentiating advantage. Customer expectation is on the rise, and businesses need a new competitive edge. Accenture, a driver of innovation and provider of solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations in more than 120 countries, has revealed the results of its annual Accenture Technology Vision report. Dubbed “The Post-Digital Era is Upon Us - Are Your Ready for What’s Next?,” the report predicted key technology trends that will prove pivotal in the success of businesses over the next three years. The report, which surveyed tech luminaries and experienced individuals in various sectors of the community, helped in identifying key issues and priority for technology adoption and investment in the dawning of the post-digital age. To get ahead of the post-digital curve, Accenture shares that enterprises must take the customer experience to a whole new level. The challenge for today’s organizations is to master new technologies that will allow them to deliver personalized realities and experiences for customers, employees, and business partners. Technology Vision 2019 identifies five emerging technology trends that will shape the landscape. DARQ Power: Understanding the DNA of DARQ DARQ is the combination of distributed ledgers (blockchain), artificial intelligence, extended reality, and quantum computing. These

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technologies offer new capabilities and enable businesses to reimagine entire industries. DARQ technologies will be the next source of differentiation and disruptive technology, eventually allowing businesses to build intelligent and highly customized, in-themoment experiences that will help shape the lives of their customers, business partners, and employees. Get to Know Me: Unlock unique consumers and unique opportunities Technology-driven interactions are creating a tech identity for every consumer. This will be key to understanding the next generation of consumers and for delivering rich, individualized, experience-based relationships. Human+ Worker: Change your workplace or hinder your workforce The fusion of human skills and knowledge and technology brings forth various new capabilities as well as enable the fulfilment of new kinds of work with laser-sharp efficiency-a “human+” workforce. Companies must now transform their technologies strategy to match its digitally-mature workforce and support the working realities of the post-digital era. Secure Us to Secure Me: Enterprises are not victims, they’re vectors Ecosystem-driven business depends on interconnectedness. But those connections also increase companies’ exposures to risks. Businesses must recognize that security should also be a significant part of its collaborative

efforts with their ecosystem partners. This will enable them to deliver truly best-in-class products, services, and experiences. MyMarkets: Meet consumers at the speed of now Technology is creating a world of intensely customized and on-demand experiences. To find and capture such opportunities, companies must reinvent their organizations. In the post-digital age, the competitive edge lies in taking individualization and customization to a new level: products, services and even people’s surroundings are customized and businesses cater to the individual in every aspect of their lives and jobs, shaping their realities. In the report, post-digital companies will surpass competition by combining these forces to change the way the market itself works—on-demand and in the moment. “A post-digital world doesn’t mean that digital is over,” said Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s chief technology & innovation officer. “On the contrary—we’re posing a new question: As all organizations develop their digital competency, what will set YOU apart? In this era, simply doing digital isn’t enough. Our Technology Vision highlights the ways in which organizations must use powerful new technologies to innovate in their business models and personalize experiences for their customers. At the same time, leaders must recognize that human values, such as trust and responsibility, are not just buzzwords but critical enablers of their success.”

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ENTERPRISE

FedEx Tracking Innovation SenseAware Comes to PH FedEx Express (FedEx) is expanding its awardwinning SenseAware service in Asia Pacific. This move will help strengthen FedEx healthcare solutions and support the rising logistics demands of the growing healthcare sector in the region, which is expected to grow at 11-percent in 2018. SenseAware is a first-of-its-kind tracking technology powered by FedEx. It is especially valuable to customers in the healthcare sector where shipments are often environment- and time-sensitive. Being a multi-sensor device that is deeply integrated with a powerful web-based application, SenseAware makes it possible for customers to stay connected to their high-value shipments. The SenseAware service can monitor current location, precise temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure readings, light

exposure and shock events, and provide near realtime updates to customers. “At FedEx, we make sure we deliver innovative solutions to industries with specialized needs,“ said John Peterson, managing director, FedEx Express Philippines. “SenseAware connects our customers to their most sensitive shipments.” The service is currently available in 26 markets worldwide. In Asia Pacific, it is present in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. The service is also available on a growing list of air and ground transportation carriers, giving more transportation options to customers in order to better fit their specific needs, while still delivering the peace of mind and quality assurance provided by SenseAware.

With SenseAware, a customer can monitor their shipment’s integrity from anywhere in the world.

SenseAware, a FedEx Express innovation, provides customers with complete visibility of their shipment.

SCG Shares Business and Industry Forecast for 2019 SCG, known as one of the leading conglomerates in the ASEAN region for the development of cement-building, packaging, and chemicals, expands its business further this 2019. Based on the 2018 performance sales report shared by the company, SGC’s net sale revenue in the Philippines amounted to a total of PHP 18.5 million with 29 percent from SCG Packaging. 34 percent of which belongs to the SCG cement and building materials with a net worth of PHP 7.5 million. The majority of its sales came from Mariwasa Tiles at 51.6 percent, while the remaining 48.4 percent are from the SCG brand. In line with its newly launched campaign “Passion for Better,” SCG collaborates with the pioneer for Filipino ceramic tiles and subsidiary, Mariwasa Manufacturing Inc. Extending its services by providing bathroom solutions to the Filipinos, the partnership leads to the announcement of Luxurio porcelain tiles, as well as the distribution of Thai partner brand Cotto sanitary products in the country. Fiona, Mariwasa’s lineup of sanitary products, is also set to be launched at the 2019 Worldbex. Giving the best quality building material offerings to the Filipinos, the company is set to launch some of its complete range of high-quality building materials including the SCG Portland cement type 1, SCG smartboard, and SCG smartwood made from fiber cement.

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The company also marks a fresh start with the announcement of its new country director, Anuvat Chalermchai. Prior to his appointment, he has served as the brand director for 8 years at SCG Cement-Building Materials in Thailand handling Cotto ceramic tiles, product technology, solutions, and channel brands for SCG. His first involvement with the company started in 2001 when he became the vice president of SCG Trading USA. During his leadership, Cotto tiles were initially launched in the US market by establishing sales

office and warehouse, and eventually became one of The Home Depot USA’s core vendors. With his 30 years of experience in the industry, Chalermchai aims to steer SCG’s businesses in the Philippine market to attain continuous growth. Apart from the development of innovative products and services that enhance the standard of living, SCG also has shifted to digital with its beta-test online store, sgcshop.com.ph, that houses both SCG and Mariwasa products.

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York YZ Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller Showcased in the Philippines Stellar Equipment Machinery Inc., provider of efficient and sustainable cooling solutions and the sole distributor of York chillers in the country, has introduced another breakthrough innovation, the York YZ Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal. Dubbed as the first chiller optimized for ultimate performance with a next generation low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R-1233zd(E), it was recently awarded for its marked safety and low environmental impact and cost in the 2019 AHR Expo Innovation Award. Recognizing the growing need for environmentalfriendly cooling systems for industrial use, the YZ Chiller uses an integral, variable speed drive and advanced magnetic bearing technology that does not require lubrication. This technology requires 80 percent fewer moving parts than traditional oil or refrigerant-lubricated drivelines, enhancing reliability, reducing maintenance, and improving efficiency. Compared to the previous units, the YZ chiller delivers up to 35 percent annual energy savings. Moreover, the YZ chiller uses an optimized, single stage design to provide industry-leading energy efficiency. This enables the chiller to operate with denser temperatures below the evaporator temperatures, eliminating the need for a water-side economizer, simplifying the system, requiring less mechanical room space, and saving money on components, piping, controls and maintenance. To further explain and experience the new features of the industrial chiller, the company has partnered with Johnson Controls and held a tour led by Stellarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senior Sales and Marketing manager, Erwin Abad, to the facility area of Century City Park where the new York chillers are installed. During the tour, the technologies and benefits of the YZ chiller were showcased. Spearheading the York officials are Applied Engineering team leader Larry Kouma, Asia Product and Distribution general manager Eu Boon Hoe, and Chiller Channel Sales regional manager Goh Chwee Guan. The all-new YZ chiller brings together over a centuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of groundbreaking innovation and commitment to sustainability as refined through real-world use and experience at Johnson Controls. An embodiment of a solution delivered by chiller experts who are dedicated in providing technologies that ensure a smarter future for the generations to come, the York YZ chiller is truly the best choice both for companies and the environment. York Chillers are exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Stellar Equipment and Machinery Inc., a subsidiary of the Primer Group of Companies.

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VIPs and media guests experience the unique qualities of the York YMC^2 Chiller during a tour inside Century Park Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chiller facility.

MARCH 2019

Epson Redefines Food-And-Drink Business Making siopao buns for her family and friends is a regular affair for Nelly Co. One day in a typical gathering at home in 1994, as she watches the familiar faces smile, laugh, and chat in between bites, she’s suddenly struck with what seems like a crazy idea: could this become a business? Today, more than two decades later, those same siopaos are enjoyed by thousands of Filipinos every day in the Philippines. That’s because Nelly Co’s home cooking became Nathaniel’s, which over the years has grown into a 14-venue-strong food corporation that also exports products to Japan and the US. According to her daughter Faye Nerissa, who now works as the company’s sales and marketing director, the success came as a complete surprise. “My mom just dreamed of having another source of income, so that she could provide her children a better quality of life,” she says. “She never expected the business to become this big thing.” Despite the company’s rapid development, Faye still describes it as a “family business.” At first, it’s a description that seems at odds with the company’s ever-growing size and popularity. But dig a little deeper and it starts to make sense. From the development and production to sales and marketing, the family does everything itself. “Our customers understand this,” says Faye. “Which is why they know that they get what they pay for – and why they keep coming back for more.” That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it always should be. It’s what sets Nathaniel’s apart By giving the company the tools to oversee its own label production, Epson’s C3510 printer helps it stay true to its DIY, family values. Owning one means Nathaniel’s doesn’t have to meet the minimum order requirements of an external printing company and are free to print labels as and when they need them. Faye says this saves time and money, makes it easier to address any errors, and gives the company greater control over product release times. “We no longer have to delay launches while we wait for another company to deliver our labels. It’s been great for our sales, as we can now release new products as soon as they’re ready,” she says. “And it also helped us to sell more of them, as marketing is crucial to encouraging customers to try new things and the new labels look fantastic.” That’s because the C3510 uses Micro Piezo printhead – a patented system that uses mechanical pressure, rather than heat, to deposit microscopic droplets of ink onto its labels. Created when piezoelectric elements in the printheads contract in response to an applied voltage, the mechanical pressure forces ink out of thousands of fine nozzles on the printhead at a rate of 40,000 times a second. As a result, the

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printer produces sharp, rich, virtually grain-free labels that put industrial size printers to shame. “The printers also produce chemical-free, waterproof labels that are safe for our food products,” says Faye. For SMEs operating in the food industry, the importance of this feature is difficult to overstate, as is the printer’s compact size and low price. In fact, the Epson C3510 printer’s compact size meant that Nathaniel’s could easily integrate the device into its small production area without having to expand its office, meaning the company could retain a hands-on “family” approach, whilst simultaneously improving the standards of its printing.

It brought the printing process back home. And by delivering greater flexibility, quality, and reliability, it opened that home to a new world of possibilities. “Our dream is to get our products into the hands of non-Filipinos in the US and Japan, two countries where we’re already popular among the local Filipino communities,” she says. “And we know that the only way to do that is through sharper marketing, packaging, and labeling. We don’t think it’s going to be easy to reach that market. But based on what we know we can do with the Epson C3510 printer, we feel like we’re in with a fighting chance.”

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Sophos Delivers Smarter Mobile Device Management with Microsoft Intune Integration Sophos, a global leader in network and endpoint security, recently announced the integration of Sophos Mobile Security with Microsoft Intune. The integration enables Microsoft Intune customers running Sophos Mobile Security 9.0 to configure access controls fed by the latest mobile device threat information, enabling employees to work and access data securely from any device or location while maintaining corporate compliance. Running on Microsoft Azure, the Sophos integration will enable IT administrators to configure individual device usage policies within Microsoft Intune to motivate employees in using devices and applications they prefer, while ensuring corporate data compliance. If an individual endpoint is compromised, administrators will have an access to detailed security insights from Sophos Mobile Security. This enables them to effectively decide when to lockdown an individual endpoint and deny access to corporate data. Sophos Mobile Security runs on both Android and iOS devices, and shares threat details with Microsoft to provide that extra bit of context. Conditional Access policies can now take threat detections from Sophos when deciding whether

to allow access on requested resources. Licenses for centralized configuration and integration of Microsoft Intune can be purchased

through registered Sophos partners worldwide. You may visit sophos.com for additional information and sign up for a free 30 day trial.

CIMB Brings Truly Mobile Banking to the Philippines With ever-increasing mobile penetration in the country growing alongside a more digital economy, there has never been a better time to offer banking solutions to match. CIMB, Malaysia’s second-largest financial services provider, and one of the largest ones in the region, recently announced its presence in the Philippines, offering local customers an all-digital, mobile first banking experience. CIMB Philippines brings with it the promise of simpler, more convenient, hassle-free banking through the accompanying Octo mobile app, which allows customers access to all of their banking needs, as well as 8,000 merchant partners including 7-Eleven and DragonPay, both known for their convenient deposit, withdrawal, and payments touchpoints. The CIMB Bank Visa-powered debit card is accepted at any of the 20,000 Bancnet, Visa, and Visa Plus ATMs nationwide, and two million Visa and Visa Plus ATMs worldwide. At the launch, Effendy Shahul Hamid, CEO of Group Ventures and Partnerships, CIMB Group said, “We are extremely pleased to begin serving customers in the Philippines. This completes CIMB’s operating footprint in ASEAN and we look forward to bringing a truly differentiated and digital proposition to the market.”

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Vijay Manoharan, CEO of CIMB Philippines, shared details on how CIMB Philippines aims to provide a new banking experience for Filipinos. “Consumers of today and tomorrow need innovative financial solutions that are relevant to their needs as well as help them get ahead and advance their financial wellbeing, but they don’t necessarily need a physical bank. By offering most of our products via the OCTO app securely, we are offering the next-level any day, any time convenience for our customers by enabling them to effectively ‘carry’ our bank branch in the palm of their hands.” To cater to those who want to really start preparing for what’s ahead and save for the future, CIMB Bank offers the UpSave Account, which allows greater savings with its high interest rate of 2 percent per annum. CIMB Philippines’ retail banking convenience is powered by the Octo app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App store or Google Play. CIMB also announced that it has received

regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines for its investment banking joint-venture in the country, CIMB Bancom Capital Corporation (CIMB Bancom). “We’re also fortunate to be able to announce the formalization of our investment banking joint venture, CIMB Bancom, that will look to deliver value added advisory and cross-border capital market services to Philippine corporates looking to expand and grow across ASEAN, as well as capitalize on CIMB’s strong presence in the region to originate inbound deals to the Philippines,” said Hamid.

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How a United Voice Can Build Digital Trust in Cybersecurity By Anton Shingarev, Vice President of Public Affairs at Kaspersky Lab In its business predictions for 2019, industry analyst Forrester says more companies will implement cybersecurity strategies based on a principle of “zero trust”—continuously questioning the security of all internal and external activity. For cybersecurity as a whole, however, a zero trust approach is not an option. Everything cybersecurity vendors need to do to protect customers—collect and process information on suspicious and malicious files, hunt malware, share threat intelligence, and collaborate—including with law enforcement and governments—is impossible if there is zero trust. How can we ensure they have faith in the industry and their specific provider? This is where digital trust comes in. Digital trust is defined as the blend of cybersecurity, effective data privacy, accountability, and ethical data handling that leads customers to trust an organization. Cybersecurity needs to establish its own digital trust. Unfortunately, this aim is under growing threat from external forces, such as geopolitics and technology nationalism.

A world without trust

Thanks to cybercriminals and advanced threat actors, cyberspace has become a landscape of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Geopolitical tensions are being played out online, with security software and other technology products positioned as potential cyber weapons. As a result, people, organizations and governments are increasingly concerned about what cybersecurity software could be doing to or with their data and devices. Kaspersky Lab has found itself at the receiving end of some of these trends, and they are not a nice place to be, especially when you’ve done nothing wrong.

Globalization vs. nationalism

Technological nationalism is flourishing because the world is engaged in a game without rules: there is no unified, independent global framework for standards in cybersecurity. That is not altogether surprising; cybersecurity is a relatively young industry still finding its feet as a sector and an agreed global playbook has not been essential before. It is now. In an increasingly connected world, cybersecurity has become fundamental to digital trust. It underpins the confidence people have in the security of their national economy, critical infrastructure and everyday life. It is time for the industry to take control of its own destiny. The world needs a set of global standards

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and principles that everyone abides by and which are clear, transparent, and accountable.

What we can learn from other sectors The long established automotive sector got its global regulatory relationships in 1952, with among other things, the setting up of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Through the forum, the world’s main automotive manufacturing markets collaborate on essential motor vehicle regulations that apply to all. At the same time, every country is different and has its own unique needs, approach, and regulations. In the case of the healthcare industry, the World Health Organization (WHO) provides details on the laws and healthcare approaches of different countries around the world. Just imagine if such things existed for cybersecurity: if vendors could operate internationally on a level playing field, within an industry-wide trust framework, but tailor their activity and choices to the needs and regulations of individual countries?

The risk of failure to act The absence of a global framework puts the industry at risk of what is known as “balkanization” where barriers, restrictions or even outright bans are put in place by governments to keep technology vendors it wants to exclude on the other side of the fence. We believe that technology nationalism is damaging and will stifle competition, innovation and collaboration and undermine trust in the global digital economy. The only winners will be the cybercriminals who don’t see and certainly won’t respect any of those borders. The response of governments to industry insecurity needs instead to be based on dialogue with the relevant industry players and real evidence and assessment of the potential risks. We are not the only ones concerned about trust and the future of cybersecurity. Across the industry there are partnerships and calls for a Digital Geneva Convention, including, most recently, the Paris Call. We are enthusiastic supporters of them all. But we also believe it is time to move beyond good intentions and take action to introduce tangible measures that prove trustworthiness, integrity, and resilience.

Our model

For us, the answer is our Global Transparency Initiative. Launched in October 2017, the program involves, among other things, the relocation of

key elements of our data processing and software build infrastructure to Switzerland, independent third party audits of our engineering practices, and the opening of three transparency centers where trusted partners can access external reviews of our source and update code and documentation. We achieved the first major milestones in November 2018 with the start of data processing in Zurich for customers in Europe, and the opening of our first transparency center in the city. Becoming more transparent is not risk-free. Exposing your source code, for example, even in highly controlled circumstance could make it a target for attack. But these are risks we are prepared to take.

Roadmap for resilience

The days of black box cybersecurity are over. Yes, not everyone understands or even wants to know about the hundreds of thousands of lines of code that make up a security product. But they need to see clearly what you do, how you do it, and how protected it is from outside interference. Equally importantly, they need to know what kind of data you don’t collect and what things you will never do. And not just for one vendor, but for all of them, measured by the same high global standards that we create together.

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Exclusive Networks and Forescout Forge Partnership

Exclusive Networks, the value-added services and technologies (VAST) group, today announced an agreement with Forescout Technologies to strengthen channel growth in the Philippines. This partnership enables Exclusive Networks to offer Forescout security solutions, which completes its Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio in core markets, cybersecurity, and cloud. According to IDC, IoT spending is expected to reach USD 745 billion in 2019, up by 15.4 percent over the USD 646 billion spent in 2018. This spend is expected primarily from consumer, manufacturing, transportation, and utilities sectors. Today, IP-connected devices are being implemented into enterprise networks without security protocol, exposing networks to threats, such as unauthorized access to sensitive information or business disruption. The Forescout platform delivers device visibility and control to mitigate risk, reduce the attack surface and automate incident response for campus, data center, cloud and operational technology (OT) environments. The industryleading visibility platform features both passive and active monitoring, cloud-based device intelligence, IoT risk assessment, and device intelligence dashboards. “By partnering with Exclusive Networks, organizations in the Philippines now have access to a security solution that provides comprehensive visibility to help manage the influx of network-connected devices,” said Wahab Yusoff, regional director, Asia, Forescout Technologies, Inc. “We are excited about this partnership and our growth into the Philippines as it expands our presence in the region.” “We are delighted to welcome Forescout onboard and their renowned technology team whose expertise will be invaluable in building the Exclusive Networks business in the local market,” said Renato Garcia, country manager of Exclusive Networks Philippines. Exclusive Networks, a subsidiary of Exclusive Group, is centered on a ‘global-local’ value model that exceeds both the scale of local VAD (ValueAdded Distributor) specialists and the general approach of global broad line distributors. This has brought unprecedented success for more than a decade by targeting two core markets (cybersecurity and cloud transformation) with very high growth profiles.

MARCH 2019

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Trend Micro Warns More Sophisticated Cybersecurity Breaching Tactics in PH for 2019 Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, shared its 2019 predictions report that highlights the trends and tactics cybercriminals are most likely to employ in 2019. The report, Mapping the Future: Dealing with Pervasive and Persistent Threats, highlights the growing threats faced by consumers and organizations that are exacerbated by the increasingly connected world. The report warns that attackers will increase in the effectiveness of proven attack methods, by adding more sophisticated elements to take advantage of the changing technology landscape. “Cybercriminals will continue to follow a winning formula – exploit existing flaws, social engineering and stolen credentials – to drive profits,” said Ian Felipe, country manager for Trend Micro Philippines. “As both corporate attacks surface and unknown cyber threats increase, it’s more important than ever for organizations to put more resources behind cybersecurity education to help protect against these growing attacks.”

E-Celeb Accounts Will Be Abused In Watering Hole Attacks

The role of social engineering in successful attacks against businesses and individuals is predicted to increase throughout the year. It is expected that cybercriminals will compromise famous YouTubers and other influencers’ social media accounts, including Instagram and Twitter, by taking over their accounts via targeted phishing attacks. These will shine a light on account security in mainstream media, but not before millions of users following these accounts have been affected by whatever payload the attackers have in store for them. Filipinos spend an average of 3 hours and 57 minutes a day on social media sites. Among their activities are following celebrities and reading their updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sextortion Cases Will Rise

Sextortion, or the process forcibly demanding money or sexual favors by threatening to publish a victim’s recorded sexual activity, is a growing epidemic in the Philippines, with the country being seen as one of the crime’s biggest breeding ground. Even if there is no guarantee that a blackmailer will come through, the highly personal nature of this kind of attacks will make the victim seriously consider fulfilling the attacker’s demands, whether that means money or sexual favors. As sextortion, in particular, becomes more widespread, this kind of attacks will affect, and perhaps even claim, more lives in 2019.

Fake News Will Continue To Proliferate

The 2018 Pulse Asia Research shares that 9 out of 10 Filipinos who surf the internet to access their social media accounts are aware of fake

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news. Despite this awareness, the side of technology that allows fake news propagators to sway public sentiment and present itself as legitimate news has become even more powerful, which leads to governments expressing interest in regulating social media platforms. House Bill 5021 in particular, or the proposed Social Media Regulation Act of 2017, aims for social media accounts to be subjected to utmost identity verification. Trend Micro believes that this year, the improvements social media has made to fight fake news will not be enough to keep up with the deluge of cyberpropaganda. This proves to be alarming as the same survey showed that half of Filipinos who use the internet for social media have changed their views on government and politics based on what they see online.

More Cloud-Related Software Vulnerabilities Will Be Discovered

Trend Micro also predicts attackers will leverage on proven technological methods against the growing cloud adoption. According to Cloud Readiness Index 2018, the Philippines is among the countries lagging behind in cloud infrastructure and yet to mature in terms of cloud adoption. It is generally perceived that transitioning to the cloud makes users more prone to security breaches and attacks. Vulnerabilities found in cloud infrastructure, such as containers, and weak cloud security measures will allow greater exploitation of accounts for cryptocurrency mining, leading to more damaging breaches due to misconfigured systems.

Highly Targeted Attacks Will Begin Using AI-Powered Techniques Attackers will also implement emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to

better anticipate movements of top-level executives. They can use AI to determine when and where corporate executives are expected to be in the future, such as the hotels their companies typically book them in, the restaurants they pick for meetings, and other preferences that can help narrow down their next likely locations. This will lead to more convincing targeted phishing messages, which can be critical to BEC attacks. Additionally, it is likely that BEC attacks will target more employees who report to C-level executives, resulting in continued global losses. The threat landscape promises a lot of challenges for almost all sectors of the internet-using public in 2019 even as faster internet, for better or worse, looms on the horizon. But the available tools and technologies should empower users and enterprises into positioning themselves more securely in the fight against cybercriminals and other emerging threat actors. A deep understanding of these issues is a step in the right direction.

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