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J UNE2020 VOL UME20 NUMBER10
The lockdown continues, but so does the news! We’re starting to get into the swing of things despite the odd working conditions, and if anything, it feels like we’re getting even more productive here at the magazine. Companies in tech, motoring, finance, and other industries are likewise starting to pick up as well, and while we still all have to be extra careful to stay home as much as possible, there’s a lot more going on than even just a few weeks ago. We all hope you’re doing all right despite the strange times, and we promise to keep delivering the best, freshest, most relevant content, so you can stay current. We’ve also got a twice weekly newscast on YouTube now, along with more and more video content, so be sure to find us on that platform as well. Thanks very much for being with us again this month, and see you in a few weeks! Ren Alcantara Editor-at-Large
MARIBELLE M. ALBA
PRESY ALBA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
#GIRLBOSS
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.
@bellealba
@presy1121
REN ALCANTARA
ARNEL DORIA
Question EVERYTHING. @hisnameisren
Marketing guru. Automotive industry veteran. Road safety advocate.
GABRIEL JOHN PE
JOSE ALVAREZ
Let the scarlet moon guide you.
Jose loves football, video games, computers, and history, but not necessarily in any order.
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
STAFF WRITER
@pe_gab
“Ceeeeeeeeeeeb!”
Stay hydrated.
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@carmelabirao
ZEIL ROMERO
CHINI YU SORIANO
Let it be.
I love dogs.
@zeil_heyo
@chinisoriano
PRESIDENT & CEO
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SALES AND ADVERTISING MANAGER ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
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ACCOUNTING MANAGER ACCOUNTING STAFF
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HR & ADMIN MANAGER ADMINISTRATION STAFF
Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano
LEGAL COUNSEL
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GRAPHIC ARTIST
JUNE 2020
CONTRIBUTOR
JERICO LUTRANIA
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER
2
MOBILITY CONSULTANT
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GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Inc. Address all correspondence to Unit 802, The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., 1104 Quezon City. Our telephone number is: 8288-8588 Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
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JUNE 2020 | Volume 20 No. 10
26. Cover Story
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Parade Stay indoors and let us take care of the parades.
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Gadgets Lab
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Cover Story:
JUNE 2020
Lab Coat optional.
Take a look at the international esports scene.
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Photofeature:
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Wellness
44
Gaming
It’s a gaming fiesta.
Keeping fit in the esports world
Overwatch 2
46
Gaming
50
Visual Space
52
Music Corner
Legends of Runeterra
Video games as art.
Here are some of the best VG soundtracks!
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
5 2 Music Corner
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Everything Apple Got an old iPad Pro? You’ve got everything you need for school!
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Bulletpoints
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Mobility Feature
JUNE 2020
What’s better than one LED? Three, of course.
The Virtual Le Mans
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Mobility Feature
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Mobility
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Cybersecurity
Check out the new Ford F-150
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Bits and Bytes From the newsroom to your living room.
Because the road never ends.
The threats are out there! Be safe!
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
PARADE
Lenovo Legion 7i Laptop
The Lenovo Legion 7i is Lenovo’s newest premium gaming laptop. It breezes through all triple-A games with its top configuration sporting a 10th gen Intel Core i9 H-series overclockable processor and up to an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics. Blast through your competition with the Legion 7i’s 15-inch IPS FHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate and under 1ms response time. Keeping the device cool is Lenovo’s Legion CoolFront 2.0 thermal solution added to the device’s built-in vapor chamber and thermal sensors array. All this power and performance is fitted to a sleek all-metal body with RGB lighting accents and weighing only 2.2kg.
Starts at PHP 119,995
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Desktop
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i was made for the avid gamer who wants a high-performance battle station. It is power by an Intel Core Processor and can be configured to carry an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super GPU. Keeping this rig cool is Lenovo’s Legion ColdFront 2.0 cooling system headlined by the 150W CPU cooler and large intake fans. The Legion Tower 5i looks as good as it performs with a cool blue LED Legion logo on the front and optional RGB internal lighting to let your components shine with the chassis’ transparent side panels.
Starts at PHP 72,995
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5a Laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5a is a productivity device, offering powerful processing power courtesy of its up to AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor and Radeon Vega 7 graphics. It has up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe M.2 SSD for data read and write. The IdeaPad Flex 5a has a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen capable of 250 nits. As a Flex series laptop, the screen can rotate 360-degrees offering four different modes to boost your productivity.
PHP 49,995 (Ryzen 7, 8GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD)
Lenovo Yoga S730 Laptop
The 2020 Lenovo Yoga S730 is thinner now at only 11.9mm. It has an immersive 13.3-inch FHD IPS screen thanks to the slimmer bezels and Dolby Vision. The device features up to a 10th Intel Core i7 processor and its new Intel integrated graphics. It can also have up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD making the device one of Lenovo’s most powerful, yet thin and light devices.
PHP 64,995 (Intel Core i7-10510)
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JUNE 2020
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ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 Ultra-slim Gaming Laptop
What’s better than one massive screen? One and a half massive screens, of course. The ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 gives you up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, an RTX 2080 GPU, and 300Hz/3ms screen for effortless gaming dominance. If content creation is more your thing, you can also choose a gorgeous 4K display, so you don’t miss any of the fine details. The laptop also offers the ScreenPad Plus: a secondary screen that tilts a comfortable 13 degrees up from the keyboard area to give you additional information, controls, and screen space to accomplish your task. With up to 48GB of DDR4-3200 RAM support and 2TB of lightning fast RAID 0 SSD storage, this isn’t a laptop that’s going to let you down.
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Asus ProArt StudioBook One Laptop
ASUS ProArt StudioBook One is the only laptop to feature NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000 graphics with 24GB of VRAM and comes with a 9th generation Intel Core i9 processor. This gives it a level of performance that’s perfect for those working in virtual production, real-time 8K video editing, data analytics, CAD design and simulation, and other data-intensive workloads. The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000 GPU provides more CUDA, RT, and Tensor cores to enable real-time viewing of environmental shading and light effects, with an ultrasmooth and ultrafast rendering of animations, effortless video editing, and efficient data crunching.
PHP 649,995
Asus ExpertBook B9 Laptop
Weighing in at just 870 grams (for the 33WHr variant) with a 14.9mm thin profile, the new ASUS ExpertBook B9 is the world’s lightest business laptop. A frameless four-sided NanoEdge display means the ASUS ExpertBook B9’s 14-inch panel fits into a standard 13-inch laptop chassis with an astounding 94% screen-to-body ratio. Even with its small form factor, expect uninterrupted performance on the ASUS ExpertBook B9 with long-lasting battery life delivering up to an impressive 24 hours of runtime (for the 66WHr variant) to get through the workday and more, with extra comfort features like the ErgoLift hinge for an improved typing experience, built-in Amazon Alexa support, and a Harman Kardon-optimized audio system.
PHP 169,995 (2TB PCIe Gen3x4 SSD,66WHr variant)
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
JUNE 2020
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Xiaomi POCO F2 Pro Smartphone
The flagship killer is back, and its feistier than ever. The POCO F2 has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor mated to the latest Adreno 650 GPU. The monster spec is complemented with up to 8GB of ultra-fast LPDDR51 RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage with UFS 3.1. On the display side, the POCO F2 Pro has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen capable of up to 500 nits. The camera has also been supercharged, with the phone sporting a 64 megapixel Sony IMX686 main shooter, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The phone’s front camera is a 20-megapixel pop-up shooter. The POCO F2 Pro now also has a bigger battery, now having 4700 mAh capable of 30W fast charging so you can have less downtime.
PHP 29,990 (8 GB + 256 GB) PHP 26,990 (6 GB + 128 GB)
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Samsung Galaxy M11 Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy M11 is the newest member of the brand’s functional and affordable M-series The Galaxy M11 has a 6.4-inch HD+ Infinity-O screen. The phone powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor and has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage expandable up to 512 GB. The Samsung Galaxy M11 has a triple camera setup with a 13-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel depth camera. At the front is an 8-megapixel selfie camera.
PHP 7,490
Samsung Galaxy A51 Smartphone
The Samsung GalaxyA51 sports an all-around quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 5-megapixel depth camera. You can take awesome selfies with it too via the 32-megapixel front camera. The Samsung Galaxy A51 is powered by an octa-core Exynos 9611 processor mated to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage expandable up to 512 GB. The Samsung Galaxy A51 is also a great device for watching movies with its 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-Q display and will last you the day with its 4000 mAh battery with 15W fast charging.
PHP 17,990
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
JUNE 2020
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Predator Helios 700 Laptop
The Predator Helios 700 took the world by storm with its unique HyperDrift keyboard and beastly performance. The 2020 refresh of this powerful machine still has the same design but with much more powerful hardware, featuring an overclockable Intel Core i9-10980HK or i7-10875H and up to an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super graphics. It now features a faster 2933Hz DDR4 memory up to 64GB and supports PCIe NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 configuration. The new Predator Helios 700 also sports Acer’s new PowerGem thermal solution which has 3.83 times more vertical heat conductivity than copper for greatly improved cooling performance.
USD 2,399.99
Predator Orion 9000 Desktop
The Predator Orion has always been designed for hardcore and professional gamers. The new Predator Orion 9000 is a gaming monster, packing up to an Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor, dual Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics in SLI mode, up to three 3.5-inch HDDs and two 2.5-inch SDDs with a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C hot-swap dock for SSD/HDDs. The new Orion 9000 now has three 4.7-inch Predator FrostBlade fans that provide up to 16 percent more airflow and 55 percent increased static pressure, while the CPU is cooled by a liquid cooler fan. Another change is that the chassis now has an EMI-compliant edge-to-edge tempered glass side panel that showcases the ARGB lighting on the internals. The chassis also includes a convenient headset cradle, handles, and wheels.
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Predator Triton 300 Laptop
The Acer Predator Triton is the brand’s thin and light gaming laptop. The Triton 300 has been refreshed to now include a 10th gen Intel Core H series processor and up to an Nvidia RTX 2070 Max-Q. The 15.6-inch FHD IPS has a 240Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. The screen has 300nits brightness and supports 100 percent of the sRGB color space, ideal for content creation. The Triton 300 now also sports up to three M.2 SSDs (One PCIe, two combos). For thermals, Acer has added three heat pipes, with a dual-fan cooling system featuring one 4th gen AeroBlade 3D metal fan. Also included is Acer’s CoolBoost technology and strategically placed intake and exhaust vents. All of these are fitted in the device’s thin and light metal chassis that’s just 19.9mm thin and weighs only 2.1kg.
USD 1,299.99
Predator Orion 3000 Desktop
The Predator Orion 3000 models are made for gamers who want a mid-sized tower rig for their favorite games or pick up streaming without seeing an impact on performance. The Orion 3000 features up to a 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super GPU. Additionally, it can have up to 64GB of 2666MHz DDR4 memory, up to 1 TB of PCIe NVMe SSD, and two 3.5-inch SATA3 HDDs. Thermals-wise, the Orion 3000 has two custom-engineered Predator FrostBlade fans. The Orion 3000 also has an optional EMI-compliant glass panel to showcase the powerful internal components.
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
JUNE 2020
15
Oppo A92
Smartphone The Oppo A92 has Oppo’s newest 1080p Neo-display giving users an ultra-high 2400x1080 resolution to its 6.5-inch touchscreen with a 90.5% screen ratio. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor mated with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory giving the A92 fast and consistent performance. The A92 has a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main shooter, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel black and white sensor. At the front is a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The A92 is guaranteed to last you the whole day with its 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging.
PHP 15,990
ZADAK TWIST DDR4 Memory RAM
The TWIST DDR4 memory series is the newest RAM series from PC gaming components maker ZADAK. The TWIST memory series features a low profile design with clock speeds ranging from 2666MHz to 4133MHz at a latency of 19-21-21-42 1.4V and capacity from 8GB to 256GB. Each memory module has a slim anodized aluminum alloy heat sink and comes in a matte black and brushed aluminum finish for an elegant and sleek look. Each memory stick measures a maximum height of 3.5cm small enough to fit in most cases. The TWIST memory series also comes with Intel XMP 2.0 support so clocking can be easily tuned to your system’s BIOS.
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Nokia C2
Smartphone The Nokia C2 with 4G connectivity is the most affordable price point for a Nokia phone yet. It has a 5.7-inch HD+ display, a front-facing camera that has flash and HDR capabilities. The Nokia C2 runs on Android Pie Go edition which runs lighter apps for more memory space. It has more accessibility options thanks to the dedicated Google Assistant button which is the fastest way to access Google Assistant to ask questions, see your schedule, and even control most phone functions. The Nokia C2 will also last you the whole day thanks to the removable 2800mAh battery.
PHP 3,799
T-Force Cardea Zero Z340 SSD M.2 PCIe SSD
The T-Force Cardea Zero Z340 is one of the two new PCIe M.2 SSDs from memory maker T-Force. It uses a patented graphene copper foil cooling module made with professional technology to maintain a thin and lightweight body with less than 1mm of thickness. The SSD is made for both Intel and AMD and supports the latest PCIe Gen 3x4 interface with the NVMe 1.3 standard. It has a continuous read and write speeds of up to 3400/3000MB/s. The graphene structure also provides 9 percent of cooling effect to the SSD. It also has comprehensive intelligent management technologies such as S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology), TRIM command, LDPC ECC error correction mechanism, etc.
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
JUNE 2020
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Nokia 5310 Mobile phone
Nostalgia hits hard with the 2020 version of the Nokia 5310. Not only does it deliver a reliable month-long standby time in single-SIM mode, it also lives up to the legacy left by the first version, in that it has surprisingly powerful dual front speakers, a microSD slot that can take up to a 32GB card, and a built-in FM radio. This feature phone also has a camera, video player, Bluetooth and internet connectivity via your phone carrier. Dust off your mp3 collection and rock on with the new Nokia 5310.
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Apple iPhone SE Smartphone
The iPhone SE is finally back and is stronger than ever. Like the original iPhone SE, this new model has a compact form factor featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display. The new iPhone SE packs a punch, featuring the latest A13 Bionic chipset making everything feel smoother and definitely faster. The device’s single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear camera fully utilizes the processor giving pictures a sharp and vivid quality. The camera’s portrait mode has depth control, portrait lighting options, and Smart HDR to give your photos life and near to life colors. The camera also supports 4K video at 60 fps. All the power of the A13 chipset is an affordable phone.
Starting PHP 26,490
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
JUNE 2020
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Vivo V19 Neo Smartphone
Ignite your night with the new Vivo V19 Neo. This mid-range smartphone has a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ display. The displays boast of a 20:9 aspect ratio and 91.38% screen to body ratio. Powering the V19 Neo is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor mated to an Adreno 612 GPU. It also has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone has a quad-camera setup which includes a 48-megapixel main shooter, 8-megapixel super wide-angle lens, 2-megapixel macro lens, and 2-megapixel bokeh lens. At the front is a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Keeping the phone on all day is the 4500mAh battery with the brand’s Dual-Engine fast charging.
PHP 17,999
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www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
GADGETS LAB
Lenovo T530 Tower PC Reviewed by Ren Alcantara
In a world where laptops are as powerful as you need them to be, is there a place for the desktop PC? If you’re a gamer, then you know the answer. Lenovo certainly does. To prove their point, they sent us the Legion T530 Tower for review. Here’s what we think about it. DESIGN The T530 strikes a great balance between understated and edgy. It’s got clean lines all around, with nice textured accents on the front panel, and the Legion branding on the front. Powering the unit up brings lights to life, removing any doubt as to its purpose as a gaming machine. A particular thing I like about Lenovo, especially with the Legion devices, is that they do the business without looking like they were designed by teenage gamers. This tower is a great example of how to properly put a gaming rig together: simple, understated, without looking plain. It even has USB ports on the top, by the power button, along with a conveniently located carry handle that actually adds to the overall look.
HARDWARE Being a gaming PC, the T530 packs a beefy nvidia RTX 2060 GPU with a healthy 6GB serving of RAM. Our review unit came with the extremely capable Intel Core i7-9700, 16GB of RAM (8GB DDR4-2666 x 2), and 1TB of SSD Storage. WLAN 11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 come standard, and as a nice touch, there’s even an optical drive hidden behind a neat sliding panel at the front of the case. Should you want to get in there, the case panels are easily removable thanks to thumb-turn screws, with plenty of room on the inside for additional aftermarket drives and accessories, if you want to go down that road in the future.
USER EXPERIENCE I have to admit that I still get excited when I get sent desktops for review. Though I do have a gaming laptop, the upgradability of a desktop can’t be beat, and having grown up with desktops, it just feels right. Setting up the T530 Tower is as simple as any other desktop out there. It takes a three-prong power cable, and even throws in a handy cable organizer right on the case to tame any frizz. After that, plug in a display, some peripherals in either the rear or front USB ports, and you’re off. The power button is on the top edge of the case, and is easy to press, with a raised guard around it to keep you from hitting
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it accidentally. One thing I do love about the case, aside from the simple design, is the inclusion of a carry handle. Whether you want to take it to a LAN party (that’s still a thing, right?) or you just need to move it around, the unobtrusive carry handle makes the job so much safer and easier. As for performance, you can feel the speed of the SSD and 16GB of RAM. It takes no time to boot up and get moving from a cold start, and games load faster than you can get a soda from the fridge, so it’s best to be ready beforehand. Bright, but not blinding red lighting emanates from the front of the case letting you know it’s on, and giving it an appropriate gaming vibe, and the fans are generally quiet enough, and certainly don’t make their way past headphones even when running at full tilt. Thermals seem to be in order though, as it didn’t need to blast the fans on full very often at all—yet another reason to go with a well-designed, pre-built system. The first thing I did was fire up a ray-tracing-enabled game, in my case, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and see how it did. Now, I’m a little late to the ray-tracing party as it’s not time for it in my upgrade cycle yet, but man, I have to admit I’ve been missing out. It makes a great-looking game like this even more realistic, and the T530 pulled it off without a hitch. I know benchmarks only mean so much, but I took a screenshot of the numbers for you to check out. Non-RTX gaming is just as solid on the RTX 2060. I have recently been playing a lot of Overwatch and Call of Duty, and in both games, I was able to get the full 75Hz experience my display could deliver with no problems whatsoever, even at almost the highest graphics settings. Lenovo built this rig well, and it should easily last a few years’ rotation as your primary gaming device with no problem. Should things change, you can always swap out some components, and you’re again all set. One of the most compelling reasons to get the T530 though is that it’s fully backed by a Lenovo warranty, and should some problem arise after that period, you can be sure that they will still be able to see to any problems at the nearest service center. If you aren’t too much into building and maintaining your own hardware, this is a massive plus.
VALUE The T530 isn’t cheap, particularly if you build your own rigs, but it’s justified by the reliability, service and trust that the brand has earned through the years. Also the performance is superb, which is no surprise given the performance and the red-lit case really is quite nice. SPECIFICATIONS: • Processor: Intel Core i7-9700 (8C / 8T, 3.0 / 4.7GHz, 12MB) • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 • Chipset: Intel B360 • Memory: 2x 8GB DIMM DDR4-2666 • Storage: 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe • Optical: 9.0mm DVD±RW • Ethernet: Integrated 100/1000M • WLAN + Bluetooth: 11ac, 2x2 + BT4.1 • Color: Raven Black • System Fan: Rear + Front • Chassis Light: Red • Power Supply: 500 W Energy Star What’s Hot: • Great case • Powerful performance • Small overall footprint What’s Not: • Slightly pricey
BOTTOMLINE This isn’t a CPU I’d mind having to fork my money over for.
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
Realme 6i Reviewed by Ren Alcantara
Being cooped up at home has caused many people to update their things. Some have gone clothes shopping, others buy toys, and the rest of us have taken to refreshing our devices. Realme, a brand that has been very aggressive lately, gives you a reason to ditch your old, slow smartphone, and join team Realme with the 6i. Is it worth the price of admission, or should you wait for the next wave of devices? Let’s take a look.
DESIGN While it’s honestly hard to be impressed with smartphone design these days, realme has been able to keep things fresh. While more or less standard, the 6i has a visually striking back, done with a very interesting ridged design. The back itself is smooth, but it refracts light in a way that makes it look like that popular brand of expensive aluminum luggage. Realme is a brand that has mastered compromise, taking a little off here and there to keep costs reasonable, while still offering a phone that punches above its price class. The 6i is no exception. They opted against the use of a curved screen, but it’s larger, and the rounded corners make the bezels look smaller than they actually are. There’s a small notch at the top for the front-facing camera, and wonderfully little else, for a mostly uncluttered face. Controls are limited to a power button on the right side, with volume keys on the opposite edge of the phone. There’s also a fingerprint scanner on the back, which I still hold to be a great spot to put it, allowing it to unlock faster and more consistently than most phones with in-screen fingerprint scanners.
HARDWARE Hardware-wise, we should first talk about the screen. More of Realme’s mastery of component choice vs price can be seen here. While you don’t get a full-HD screen, it is quite massive, and paired with the rest of the hardware, you really don’t need all that high a resolution anyway, so there’s no reason to make the display more detailed and expensive. To make your gaming experience better, it comes packed with a Mali G52 GPU, as well as 4GB of RAM for our review version, and an absolutely massive 5000 mAh battery for hours of battery life. One of the best things about it is also a 3-slot card tray that will hold 2 sim cards and a microSD card, so you don’t have to compromise storage for connectivity.
USER EXPERIENCE The Helio G80 chipset is no slouch, and coupled with a generous 4GB of RAM, makes daily tasks and navigation feel as smooth as you’d ever need. You wouldn’t be able to tell it isn’t a flagship-level device just based on system responsiveness based
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on navigating menus and launching apps. The fingerprint scanner is also pleasingly fast, waking the phone without a moment’s pause. In games such as CoD Mobile and PUBG Mobile, I didn’t really miss anything for the lower listed resolution, and the Mali-G52 GPU that drives the action had absolutely zero problems feeding me frames. It’s a great pairing of display and GPU that delivers great performance, while keeping the cost wonderfully low. Great job here, Realme. Frames win games, and this phone can deliver. Game Mode is a great help too, giving you the ability to quiet notifications with a quick swipe and a tap, as well as monitor basic system details. If you’ve ever had problems with notifications ruining your meticulously lined up shot, this is a great way around that, with system optimizations to boot. Camera performance is likewise impressive. It does have a quad-camera setup, with a 48MP sensor doing the brunt of the work, as well as a dedicated b&w sensor, though it should be noted that to access the ultra-wide sensor, you can’t just pinch—you’ll have to slide to the ultra-wide function to access it. Camera performance is solid, and good lighting makes it remarkable, particularly for the price. Low-light photography with the 6i is also quite solid, with shots getting a nice little bump to saturation and vividness that realme is always proud to highlight. There’s loss of detail when you zoom in tight, but much more quality than what you’ll need to keep memories and post on social media.
SPECIFICATIONS: • Dimensions: 164.4 x 75.4 x 9.0mm • Weight: 199g • Display: 6.5-inch, 1600x720 HD+, Gorilla Glass 3, 89.9% screen to body ratio • Battery: 4800 mAh • Camera: 48 MP main, 8 MP wide, 2 MP macro • Connectivity: Wi-Fi2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE • Processor: MediaTek Helio G80 CPU:Octacore, Up to 2GHz GPU: Mali-G52 • RAM & Storage: RAM: 3 GB/4 GB LPDDR4x, ROM: 64GB/128GB
What’s Hot: • Massive display • Striking back • Great gaming performance
What’s Not: • Low-ish resolution screen
VALUE Probably the best feature of the Realme 6i though, is the price. At PHP 9,900, this is superb value for money. This is a 4GB/128GB device, running the very capable octa-core 2GHz processor, Mali G52 graphics, and a massive screen. If you aren’t getting the hint that Realme wants you to game on this phone, we’re telling you outright. All of that, again for less than ten grand. It’s a wonderful balance of features and compromise, and one that you shouldn’t pass up if you’re in the market for something in this price segment. Add it to your cart, check out, and you won’t be disappointed.
BOTTOMLINE Realme has done it again, delivering a phone that gives you what you need, with no costly extras.
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Philips 328E9 Monitor Reviewed by Ren Alcantara
A great CPU is nothing without a monitor to match. You can cash out a bunch on your mobo, proc, and GPU, but since you’re going to be staring at a monitor and not hardware in your PC case, you need a good one to enjoy your build. Philips has been around, and making displays for a long time, so they know their stuff. They’ve sent over the 328E9 for review, just in time for some other hardware I’m testing, so let’s see if it does the PC justice. DESIGN First off, the design. This is a beautiful, curved 32inch monitor with wonderfully thin bezels, and a slight chin at the bottom. The face of the device is done in a smooth black, with a sleek brushed metal base. The front is bare, with all the controls and inputs residing at the back panel, within easy access thanks to the monitor’s curved back. Overall the design is tastefully done, and will fit as nicely on an office desk as among your home gaming hardware.
HARDWARE This 32-inch monitor isn’t just a pretty face. It has a gentle curve to it, pulling the edges closer to the user and making the experience a little easier on the eyes. Philips also has the VA display for optimized viewing angles, and a Full HD panel for great visuals. AMD users have the additional benefit of FreeSync compatibility. Should you require it, this monitor also has a DisplayPort on top of the standard HDMI port. There are even 3.5mm input and output jacks on top of the built-in 3W stereo speakers.
USER EXPERIENCE To put this particular E9 line monitor through its paces, I paired it with the Lenovo T530 Tower, with a robust RTX 2060 GPU. I was eager to get to try ray tracing titles, and I figured this was the monitor to try and get the job done. Philips takes some steps to make setting up easier. A thing I always appreciate is the simple two-part construction, with the inclusion of a thumb-turn screw to affix the display to the base. Once that’s installed nice and tight, it’s a simple matter of attaching a power cable and a video source, and get to work. By work, I do actually mean office work. I had articles to write, videos to review, and photos to look over. Through all those things, the display performed superbly. I have no idea how I’ll survive with a smaller monitor, as 32 inches gives a lot of room to work without losing detail, so for constant multitaskers such as myself, it’s a massive boon. Video editing is also great, as
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smaller thumbnails aren’t lost as they tend to be with smaller screens. Color reproduction and detail are likewise superb for all the multimedia uses I threw at it, including inspecting pages for the magazine. Gaming was something I was keen to try on this as well. I’m quite pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed. It’s great at displaying the spectacular lighting ray tracing can deliver in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, making a gorgeous game absolutely jaw-dropping. The curved display is certainly no small matter in this as well, wrapping the corners in nicely. Screen response times aren’t 1ms fast, as it’s not a gaming monitor primarily, but that didn’t affect its gaming performance at all. More important was that the images were smooth, tear-free and evenly bright, so I would have no reservations using this for even competitive FPS titles. Viewing angles are great on the monitor, and even when I was off to one side working on other tasks, YouTube videos were undistorted and dead easy to follow. The 75Hz refresh rate is also a great bump over standard 60Hz, as long as your machine can push it. The speakers leave a lot to be desired though. I didn’t have a wall behind the screen, and with such small drivers, the sound is distant and tinny. With an output jack available on the back of the monitor though, hooking speakers up in a clutterfree manner should be trivial.
SPECIFICATIONS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
LCD panel type: VA LCD Backlight type: W-LED system Panel Size: 31.5 inch / 80 cm Effective viewing area 698.4 (H) x 392.85 (V) - at a 1800R curvature* Aspect ratio: 16:9 Maximum resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 75 Hz* Pixel Density: 70 PPI Response time (typical): 4 ms (Gray to Gray)* Brightness: 250 cd/m² Contrast ratio (typical) 3000:1 SmartContrast: 20,000,000:1 Viewing angle: 178º (H) / 178º (V) Connectivity: VGA (Analog ), DisplayPort x 1, HDMI (digital, HDCP), PC audio-in, Headphone out • Speakers: 3 W x 2 • Dimensions with stand: 713 x 525 x 236 mm • Weight with stand: 6.78 kg What’s Hot: • It’s huge! • Great colors and viewing angles • The price isn’t bad at all
What’s Not: • Small speakers for its size • UI takes getting used to
Menus on the monitor, as well as speaker volume control, are still available via a five-way stick on the back bottom edge of the display. Since there’s just one UI input, it will take some thinking to get used to navigating though the menus, but after using the monitor for about a week, it was easy enough. Up and down goes through menu items, and right selects it. Then it’s a simple matter of picking the level or setting you want.
VALUE At a price of PHP 16,199, this is great value for money. You get a monitor from a good, trusted brand, in 32 beautifully curved inches, and all the features that give it a leg up over cheaper competition. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a looker as well.
BOTTOMLINE Definitely one of the best gaming headsets out there.
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Vivo V19 Neo Reviewed by Gabriel Pe
It has been a while since Vivo released a V-series smartphone. The latest V-series phone, the V17 Pro, was one of the first phones to innovate in the mid-range segment sporting a pop-up dual front camera setup. The V19 Neo is the newest member of the V-series and hopes to live up to expectations set by its predecessor.
DESIGN Vivo has always created some of the best looking phones in the market. The V19 Neo follows the current trend of a gradient color scheme at the back. Vivo gave us the crystal white colors scheme which I believe is the better color scheme between the two color variants. The Vivo V19 Neo has a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution and 20:9 ratio. On the upper right corner of the screen is the single punch-hole front camera while at the rear is the rectangular quad-camera set-up. On top of the phone is a mic hole, on the left side of the phone, are the sim card and memory card slots. On the right is the volume rocker and power button, and on the bottom are the USB Type-C port, another mic hole, the 3.5 mm jack, and the downward-firing speakers.
HARDWARE The Vivo V19 Neo is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with an Adreno 612 GPU. Our unit had 8GB of RAM and 128 of internal memory. Gaming was fun with the V19 Neo, heavy games such as PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile ran at high settings without any frame drops. Most noteworthy in the Vivo V19 Neo are its cameras. The device has a 32-megapixel front camera and a quad-camera set-up at the back. It has a 48-megapixel main shooter, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide secondary camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. As for the other features, the phone has a 4500mAh battery with Vivo’s Dual-Engine Fast Charging capabilities. It also has an in-display fingerprint reader which is pretty fast and reliable.
USER EXPERIENCE If you recognize the specs of the V19 Neo, you might realize that it has the same specs as the brand’s latest flagship, the V17 Pro. Like the V17 Pro, the phone provided great performance during my time with it.
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The Vivo V19 Neo runs on Vivo’s Funtouch OS 10 on top of Android 10. The OS response was fast and smooth without any slowdown what so ever. One of the things that I like about the phone is the display. The Super AMOLED screen is one of the best I’ve seen and makes media consumption a joy on the V19 Neo. In fact, I found myself reaching for the phone to watch streams and Netflix rather than the TV or my laptop. Gaming was fun on the V19 Neo. Like I said before, the phone ran PUBG and CoD: Mobile on the high setting and at 60fps without dropping a frame. Thanks to the 8GB RAM, games still performed great despite the multiple background apps I had running. And if you want to use it, Vivo’s dedicated gaming mode removed any incoming disturbances and shut down background apps. One thing to note is that the phone does get warm when gaming too long but it’s nothing to worry about. The Vivo V19 Neo’s camera is where it excels. The 48-megapixel main shooter provides sharp and vivid images. The AI in the camera is also great, it accurately determines subjects, and provides great edge detection when capturing portraits and bokeh shots. The night-mode is pretty good, producing bright images without the heavy noise in the background. The front camera is also decent.
SPECIFICATIONS: • • • • • • • • • • •
Display: 6.44-inch Super AMOLED Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 AIE GPU: Adreno 612 RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB (expandable via microSD slot) UFS 2.1 OS: Funtouch OS 10 (based on Android 10) Cameras: Rear: 48-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro, 2-megapixel depth; Front 32-megapixel Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C 1.0, OTG, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack Battery: 4500 mAh capable of 18W fast charging. Dimensions: 159.01mm x 74.17mm x 8.54mm Weight: 176g
What’s Hot: • Great display • Good camera
What’s Not: • Pricey
Another thing to commend is the battery life. With standard use, the phone lasted me about one and a half days. And after my intense review, I found that the stand by time of the phone was superb and lasts for more than a week. As much as I loved the battery life, charging the phone is to simply put it, average. It took 15% to 50% in about 30 minutes and fully charge in about two hours which is normal in most cases.
VALUE Coming in at PHP 17,999 the Vivo V19 Neo has a very steep price for the specs and performance. While the Snapdragon 675 is a great midrange processor, it’s a hard sell considering its competition either has a bigger megapixel camera and a telephoto lens, or a flagship-level processor for just a bit more.
BOTTOMLINE The Vivo V19 Neo provides great performance and a great camera but is a bit steep in the budget department.
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Logitech G Pro Headset Reviewed by Gabriel Pe
Logitech is one of the go-to’s in gaming peripherals. Their Logitech G gaming gear have long been the recommendation of professional esports players and streamers alike. Last year the brand released an update to their highly successful Logitech G Pro headset, which they had worked on with some of the biggest professional gamers in the world. Does it live up to expectations? DESIGN Before the nitty-gritty, I personally bought the Logitech G Pro for the sake of having a new headset for gaming during the quarantine. I ordered it online through Logitech’s official store on Lazada. Upon receiving the headset, I was pleasantly surprised and excited seeing that Logitech had made an effort on the headset’s packaging. Even before opening the box, you know you’re getting a premium unit. Opening and holding the headset for the first time, you’ll see that Logitech really made an effort to make the Logitech G Pro headset a premium device despite its price tag. Design-wise the Logitech G Pro headset doesn’t really radiate the usual gamer aesthetic of RGB and over the top sci-fi esque design, instead, it features a monotone design and retro-like aesthetic, with the cherry-on-top being the aluminum plates on each ear muff with the Logitech G logo. Its headband is made of steel while the forks that hold the earpieces are aluminum and is pretty durable. Twisting the headset is no problem and I can foresee it taking a lot of rage-induced drops and throws. The earmuffs are made of memory foam and covered with leatherette making them comfortable even on long gaming sessions.
HARDWARE The Logitech G Pro headset has the brand’s Pro-G 50mm hybrid-mesh drivers developed and created with input from some of the biggest names in different esports titles. These drivers have a frequency response of 20Hz – 20 KHz. Part of the Logitech G Pro headset is the detachable PRO-Grade boom mic. The 6mm microphone has a unidirectional pickup and has a frequency response of 100 Hz – 10 kHz. Thankfully the microphone does come with a wind filter so it can’t easily pick-up your breathing nor rage whispers. Also included in the box is the external USB Type-A sound card, a 2-meter auxiliary cable with the device’s inline volume control and microphone mute switch, a Y splitter for a separate mic and audio port for those who want that setup.
USER EXPERIENCE The main reason why I bought the Logitech G Pro headset was that I wanted to elevate my gaming
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experience. While many rely on power from their PC or console for a smooth gaming experience, great audio is just as important especially on games that use audio queues as a mechanic such as battle royales and some MOBAs. The main thing that caught my attention about the Logitech G Pro headset and its bigger brother, the Logitech G Pro X headset is that many of the well-known game streamers and esports players, use these as their daily drivers. I wanted to try out whether these were simply a gimmick and fortunately, I was proven wrong. Using the headset was great fun since it was extremely comfortable. The headset fitted snugly on my head despite my wearing eyeglasses. Unlike other headsets where clamping pressure on eyeglasses hurt, the Logitech G Pro headset’s memory foam earpads made it so that I barely felt pressure on my head. Additionally, the leatherette cover provided. When using the Logitech G Pro headset you will also need to use its accompanying USB sound card and download its Logitech G Hub program. This enables you to use the advanced equalizer and the included Audio EQ profiles created by esports professionals. You can also save the audio profiles or your own in the USB sound card to use it even on other PCs. Audio-wise, the Logitech G Pro headset has pretty great sounds. I found that the headset has a neutral sound in games, unlike other headsets were they sometimes provide boosted bass and unnatural low and high frequency. I liked that setup, but for people who want some more bass, you can adjust the audio equalizer in the Logitech G Hub or download pre-made profiles online to fit your type. One of the most defining factors of the Logitech G Pro headset is definitely the mic. This might be one of the best sounding mic on a headset currently in the market. It captures my voice very clearly and limits any other unnecessary noises like typing or clicking. However, if you’re looking to start streaming, you may want to look at the Logitech G Pro X headset with its Blue! Microphone software that allows much more customization on the mic.
VALUE Coming in at around PHP 5000 the Logitech G Pro headset is a great gaming headset for individuals looking to elevate their gaming. It’s a great first gaming headset for most people, but if you want to upgrade from a previous gaming headset or start streaming, the Logitech G Pro X headphone might be a better value with its added Blue! Microphone integration. SPECIFICATIONS: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Drivers: Hybrid Mesh PRO-G 50 mm Magnet: Neodymium Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 KHz Impedance: 35 ohm Sensitivity: 91.7 dB SPL @ 1 mW & 1 cm Microphone Pickup: Cardioid (Unidirectional) Microphone Type: Electret Condenser Microphone size: 6mm Frequency Response: 100 Hz – 10 KHz Dimensions: 138mm x 94mm x 195mm Weight: 320g Aux Cable Length: 2m Y Splitter Length: 120mm
What’s Hot: • Great design • Balanced sound • Comfortable • Leatherette ear pad provides great noise cancellation • Great detachable Mic • What’s Not: • Non-rotating ear cuffs • A bit bulky
BOTTOMLINE Definitely one of the best gaming headsets out there.
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COVER STORY
Having all this time at home makes many more things possible for us. Some people have taken to clearing their backlog of shows, others have picked up a new hobby, and others still have chosen to sleep the whole thing away. There are those however, who have taken the time to dust off phones, tablets, consoles and CPUS to catch up on their gaming. Why not? Nobody cares if you don’t leave the house, make contact with the outside world, or even leave your room. It’s hard to imagine anyone not picking up a game or two over the period of these few months, and this CoverStory is for them. If you want to get in on the action, or are curious about what people are playing, this is just the story for you.
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Words by Ren Alcantara It has been a long time since an FPS has taken the attention of the world the way Overwatch has. This is due to a combination of factors, from a cleverly designed game, a strong push from Blizzard, and in no small part, the Overwatch League. The Overwatch League (OWL) is the pro Overwatch league, featuring 20 teams from all over the globe. Teams in the OWL league are handled just like any other esports team, with sponsorships, training schedules, a competitive season, and matches cast over the Internet. Teams have their own rabid fanbases, with the best players getting their own share of internet attention and fame. If you’re new to the game, or are interested in getting a little more info on the league, some of the teams, and the players, grab a drink, because we’re going in. Overwatch was a hotly anticipated title when it was first announced over three years ago. Though it isn’t the first to try the concept, Overwatch gives players the ability to choose heroes with a particular set of skills, successfully combining the MoBA and Shooter genres in a single, brightly colored, high-action title. Where other FPS games usually have characters that are essentially only different cosmetically, Overwatch’s ace was the diversity of its character pool in abilities, looks, story, and function. Coupled with a wide selection of game modes, maps, and seasonal events, the game has been a massive global hit. The League was then announced at Blizzard’s annual Blizzcon in 2016. The Overwatch League features players at the top levels of play. While a simple game on the surface, the title does require a lot of fast, high-level thinking. There are ability cooldowns, and skill economies to manage, positioning to consider, and team strategy. The League doesn’t only aim to highlight the individual players’ skill, as the most successful teams effectively combine individual talent with great team play. Many of these pros were top-tier players in other titles as well, carrying over the gamesense that made them successful in other titles such as CS:GO. Owners of the OWL team include the expected
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eport-dedicated ventures, along with sports-team owners, private investors, investment groups, media companies, and even a Chinese video sharing website. Watching an OWL match is much like spectating any other sporting event. There are certain plays, tactics, and counters to watch out for, and seeing how teams execute their strategies and adapt to their opponents’ tactics is what makes the OWL a great spectacle. The 2020 season spans 26 weeks, with matches played on weekends, including two matches against every in-conference opponent, as well as one match against every out-of-conference team. There is then a doubleelimination bracket consisting of the top 6 seeds, and two teams that make it from a post-season play-in tournament of lower-seeded teams. The finals is a single elimination match between the two teams who top the double elimination brackets.
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Matches are simple. Games are played in a best-offive format, with a random selection of maps for each of the game types. The first team to get three victories wins the match, and teams are given a break after every two matches to strategize, swap players, and reassess their approach. Draws are possible, and don’t count as a win for either team. As with any sports franchise, there are teams that are great to watch, as they tend to put on a superb show. The 2020 season has its share of these teams, and one of the most dominant is the Shanghai Dragons. With impressive individual skill from their players, and a strong 14-2 standing, the Dragons have made their presence known in the Pacific division of the league. Stars such as Lip and Fleta bring the DPS, while LeeJaeGon brings the healing in with his superb Lucio plays. In the Atlantic Division, One of the most dominant teams remains Philadelphia Fusion. With
consistent plays and a massive 13-1 record as of this writing, they are strong favorites in this year’s league. It doesn’t hurt that they have one of the strongest DPS players in OWL right now in the form of team captain Carpe, and multipletime world number 1 FunnyAstro. So dominant is the team that a premiere-level esports arena is getting put up in the team’s name in the Philadelphia Sports Complex, further blurring the line between “regular” sports and esports. The League has live broadcasts of their games on weekends, through either an app or straight on YouTube, complete with commentators and analysts to help make sense of all the action going on on-screen. Just like in conventional sporting events, these people play the games themselves, and also cast for a living, giving them the experience to competently discuss split-second decisions, tactics, and team compositions.
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MOBA Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
Words by Gabriel Pe
Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas or MOBAs are the most popular esports genre. The genre blew in popularity thanks to a custom game on Blizzard’s Real-Time Strategy game Warcraft 3 called Defense of The Ancients or Dota. MOBAs are played with two teams often composed of five players each. The objective of MOBAs is simple: destroy the other team’s central tower. But between you and the enemy’s base are five other players and their heroes who have their own unique abilities. MOBAs will often rely on team play rather than a single player doing well as the opposing team will simply burst the other carry down. Most MOBA plays on a single map, with three lanes of fighting. Separating the lane is usually the “jungle” which is filled with neutral objectives that aid players by giving gold and XP which they can use to level and buy items. Other games, such as League of Legends, neutral creeps add buffs to the champions which are vital to win the game. To establish great teamwork, MOBAs have dedicated roles for players, each fulfilling a specific role for the team. These roles vary per game, what’s common is the two core heroes often the mid lane hero and the bottom lane hero. These two roles would be given the most resources around the map, with the mid lane usually being focused in the early stages of the game and playing around the carry in the later stages. In the country, there are three current MOBA titles you should know about. These are Dota 2, League of Legends, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Here we give the things you need to know if you want to try taking up these games. Dota 2 Dota 2 is the successor to the highly successful Warcraft 3 mod Defense of the Ancients or Dota. Dota 2 developer Valve initially revealed the game to the public in Gamescom 2011, where they held the first The International tournament to commemorate the game. The International 1, as it will be later called, was the first-ever million-dollar tournament in esports history with CIS team Natus Vincere taking home the USD 1 million grand prize. The game would only be officially launched in July 2013, a month before the third The International. In order to create a one for one port of the Dota mod, Valve hired the last Dota mod developer IceFrog, much to the delight of fans all around the 30
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world. The gameplay of Dota 2 largely remains the same with its predecessor. Team roles remained largely unchanged with the mid lane and carry still holding the major role of damage dealer. Dota 2 is played with five players each playing a different role: the position one or the hard carry is the player who will deal the most damage to the enemy. Teams usually pool most of their resources to this player to activate him as early as possible. The position two or the mid laner is the player who plays the mid lane and is usually the early game carry. Teams typically leave this player to fend for himself early to grab as much XP as possible. When the mid laner reaches a certain level (usually six) and gets his last skill, he roams the map finding kills or helps gank to gain tempo for his team. The position three or the off-laner, is the player who plays the off-lane or the lane opposite the enemy’s carry. This position is typically the initiator for the team or the tanky frontliner. The position four or roaming support is a support player that provides gank opportunities around the map. And lastly, the position five or hard support is the main support player whose main role is to provide vision around the map and support his team’s carry. These guys are usually the team captain as they keep track of their team’s resources as well as the other team’s resources and coordinate plays around those.
Most important Tournament/s: Dota 2 Pro Circuit, The International If you want to start following the Dota 2 scene there are two things you need to know about, the Dota 2 Pro Circuit (DPC) and the International. Created just last 2017, the DPC is the official tournament for Dota 2, each season certain tournaments are determined by Valve to become a major or minor. These Major and Minor tournaments have a certain amount of prize money and a certain amount of DPC point to be given away to participating teams. The top eight teams with the highest DPC points earn automatic invites to Dota 2’s most prestigious tournament, The International. The International (TI) is one of esports biggest tournaments. Since its creation in 2011, The International has become a landmark in esports due to the number of viewers and the prize money it offers. The International currently holds the largest prize pool in history with the last International having a whopping USD 34 million prize pool. As one of the largest tournament in esports, The International invites only the best team around the world. 18 of the best teams who either have been invited via the DPC or qualified through the www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
regional qualifiers face each other for the largest prize pool in esports. The tournament is divided into two stages: the group stage, and the main stage. During the group stage, the 18 teams are drawn into two groups, there they face each other in a best-of-two round-robin format. The top four teams from each group will advance to the upper bracket of the main stage, fifth to eighth-placed teams are placed in the lower bracket while the bottom teams are eliminated. Lower bracket teams face a hard time in the main stage will all of their games a do-or-die for tournament lives. The upper bracket on the other hand has a luxury of the safety net of the lower bracket something like a second life in the tournament. The first round of the lower bracket is best-of-ones with the losing team automatically eliminated. The rest of the tournament is best of threes except for the finals which are played in a best-of-five. Team/s to note: OG, TNC Predator It’s a no brainer why OG is one of the teams you need to follow in the Dota 2 scene. They are the most successful team in Dota 2 history becoming the first team to win TI twice and doing it in back to back years as well. While the team may not feature the roster that won it all in 2018 and 2019, the current roster does have some of the biggest names in Dota 2 becoming a super team to watch out in the DPC.
League of Legends League of Legends is one of the most played video games in the world. In 2019, the game reached 8 million concurrent players around the world. League of Legends was created back in 2009 by Riot Games. The game is the brainchild of Riot co-found Marc “Tryndamere” Merill, Brandon “Ryze” Beck, and one the contributing developers of the Warcraft 3 Dota mod, Steve “Guinsoo” Feak. League gameplay is a combination of personal mechanics and well-coordinated team play. Unlike Dota and Dota 2, champions in LoL rely heavily on players landing their skills instead of point and
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Another team to note is our very own TNC Predator. TNC Predator is one of the best teams not only in the SEA region but globally as well. In fact, the team is currently first in the DPC ladder after winning the first major of the season and having a great placement in the second major as well. Historically, TNC introduced themselves to the world stage by eliminating the then OG roster in the International 2016. OG were favorites to win it all that year, winning two of three major of the year.
Anathan “ana” Pham has cemented himself as one of the best carries in Dota 2 after carrying OG to two TI wins. Ana was OG’s trump card in their comeback win in the 2018 TI finals and provided a great backbone to the team during their title defense in 2019. A testament to Ana’s skill is his vast hero pool, in 2019 Ana carried the team with his IO carry a hero usually played as support.
Player/s to know: N0tail, Abed, ana
If you’re a Dota 2 nut chances are you’ve already heard of the grueling finals between OG and PSG.LGD. Prior to going into that year’s The International, OG was in shambles, the team had to go into a rough rebuild in three months before the tournament started and had to field in untested players. OG struggled during the group stage before finding their grove and a surprising finals appearance. PSG.LGD on the other hand were favorites going into the tournament.
A player to note in Dota 2 is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein OG’s captain who led the team to two TI wins. N0tail founded OG back in 2015 and has stuck with the team he built through different iteration. A team player above all, he has played multiple roles in OG from carry to now the captain in a support role. Abed “Abed” Yusop is a local hero in Dota 2. As a country obsessed with Dota, Abed was a standout among the young Filipino prodigies. Abed plays the mid lane role and has played with teams both locally and internationally. Abed is also the first player in the world to reach 10k Match Making Rating (MMR) or the highestranked player in the game. Abed currently plays for storied North American team Evil Geniuses and has produced great results for the team in the current DPC.
click abilities. Another thing that LoL has is more contestable objectives in the map’s jungle. Jungle objective such as Baron and the Drakes give players so much advantage that team fights always tend to happen when trying to secure it. League of Legends roles are a bit different from Dota 2. There the mid lane, carry, and support have the role, but also features a unique Jungle role who roams the jungle part of the map and moves around the three different lanes to enable his teammates by ganking their opponents. The top laner in League also has a different role and depending on the champion his/her is playing may be the initiator, frontliner, or even the third carry of the team.
Match to watch: OG vs PSG.LGD The International 2018 finals
OG had a winning momentum on their side after sending PSG.LGD to the lower bracket finals during the upper bracket finals. PSG.LGD meanwhile demolished EG in lower bracket finals to set up the grudge match most fans expected to see. The International 2018 finals would be the match that cemented OG’s legacy as one of the greatest teams in esports history after overcoming a two-game deficit. It was an amazing back and forth and the stage for some of the best plays in Dota 2 history.
Most important tournament/s: MSI, Worlds There are two important international tournaments for League of Legends, the MidSeason Invitational or MSI and the League of Legends World Championships more commonly known as Worlds. MSI is typically played around May when most of the leagues finish their spring split. Riot invites the 13 winners of the spring split from each of its regional leagues. MSI is divided into three different stages, the Play-in stage wherein minor regions compete to be one of three teams to be invited to the main stage. The main group stage where the top regions plus the winners of the play-in stage fight to determine the
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top four via a double round-robin of best of one game. And finally, the playoffs where the top four teams compete to see who’s the best team and region for the first half of the season. MSI stand-ins have a huge impact on determining the placement each region has for Worlds. Poor performing regions will have lesser slots in the main stage, while the best performing region will have all their teams starting in the group stage. Worlds is the biggest annual tournament not just for League of Legends, but for the rest of the esports scene. The annual tournament has broken viewership records year after year, with last year’s edition peaking at over 3.9 million unique viewers. Worlds invite 24 teams around the world for a chance to become League’s next champion. Unlike MSI, Worlds invites not only the champion for the summer split but also the teams which have consistently performed well in regions and have earned the highest championship point throughout the year. Worlds also hold regional qualifiers for the major regions China, Korea, Europe, North America, and Taiwan and Macau to determine each region’s third-seeded wild card team. Like MSI, Worlds has three stages, the play-in wherein minor regions and some of the major regions’ third seed fight for a slot in the group stage the four teams with the best record will move on to the main stage. For the group stage, 16 teams divided is divided into four different groups, the teams will compete in a double round-robin best of ones games against in their group with the top two teams moving on to the competition. Lastly, the play-off, the eight best teams will be drawn once again to determine the final tournament bracket and determine who fights who. Teams in the playoffs face each other in do-or-die best of five series even until the finals. Teams to note: T1, G2, FPX League of Legends has one of the most storied history in esports. As the world’s most-played esports title, League of Legends has produced some of the best teams in esports. One of the teams you need to know is three-time world champion T1 who won the title in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Another team to note is the first-ever western super team G2 that won the Mid-Season Invitational in 2019 and earned second place in Worlds 2019. G2 eliminated T1 two times in 2019, one during the MSI semi-finals, the other during the world championship’s semi-finals. The team was also the favorite to win World 2019 facing against Chinese team FPX. The last team to note is FunPlus Phoenix or FPX. FPX is the reigning League of Legends world champion. FPX was the Chinese league champion before going into Worlds last year. Prior to winning their region’s summer split, FPX was a relative mid-tier team but changes in their roster and unique playstyle propelled them to the Worlds finals. FPX was the heavy underdog against G2 in the finals, but their own aggressive playstyle caught the Europeans by surprise and
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lead them to a clean 3-0 sweep for the World championship.
1 against Ryu “Ryu” Sang-Wook in the OGN Summer 2013 finals.
Player/s to know: Faker
Match to watch: SKT T1 vs Rox Tigers Worlds 2016 semi-finals.
When it comes to League of Legends you need to know the game’s living legend, Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok. Faker is the mid laner for T1 and was one of the major reasons for the team’s success. Faker joined then SKT T1’s second team in 2013 and quickly earned a reputation as one of Korea’s best mid laner with his mechanic prowess. He would lead T1 to their first world championship in his rookie year. After a rebuild in 2014, Faker and the rest of SKT T1 would win their second Worlds in 2015 and become the only team in League of Legend’s history to win worlds back-to-back after winning once again in 2016 cementing T1’s dynasty in League of Legends. To know how good Faker is you need to watch his 1 v
One of the best series in League of Legends history was definitely the semi-finals between SKT T1 and Rox Tigers during the 2016 World Championship. Rox and SKT finished one and two respectively in their regional tournament before going to Worlds. Everyone expected the two to meet in the finals but due to the tournament format and group seeding the two met a little bit earlier than most expected. Despite playing in the tournament’s semi-finals, the two teams still played a series of their lives to qualify for the finals. This gave League fans one of the best series of all time with both teams giving their all and pushing the series to a game five.
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Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a MOBA specially created for mobile gamers. The game first hit iOS and Android devices back in 2016 and has become one of the most popular games from both app stores. As of writing the game already has 100 million downloads in the Google PlayStore. Mobile Legends has a massive following in the Southeast Asia region and has dedicated leagues in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia/Singapore, and Myanmar. Mobile Legends gameplay is similar to League of Legends with both prioritizing hitting abilities rather than point and click which is difficult to implement in a mobile setting. Roles in ML is a bit similar with the rest of the MOBAs here. The gameplay is also faster in ML since the map size a bit smaller and players earning gold despite not last hitting neutral creeps. One reason why the game is so popular is the pace of gameplay, where you can sneak some game time while on transit or during your coffee breaks. Most important tournament/s: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup There are three tournaments to note for Mobile Legends, the regional Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League (MPL), the regional championship or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC), and the recently established Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship otherwise known as M1. MPL are country-based leagues for Mobile Legends. In the Philippines there are ten team competing in the MPL, eight of these teams were the top eight from the previous while the remaining two are newer teams who have qualified from the open tournament. The regular season lasts for six weeks with teams facing each other in a double round-robin best-of-three matches. The top four teams will earn a spot in the upper bracket in the playoffs while the fifth to eighth teams are seeded in the lower bracket. MSC is Southeast Asia’s regional championship. The MSC served as the biggest international competition for Mobile Legends prior to M1 since the SEA region has the game’s largest player based. 12 teams from the region are invited to participate in the competition, two from the countries with established MPLs: Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Myanmar, and the Philippines while the rest of the countries were only allotted a single slot. There are three stages in the tournament, the group stage to determine placements, the play-in stage where the bottom two teams from their groups fight for a spot in the playoffs, and lastly the playoff bracket with an upper and lower division. And lastly the newly established MLBB World Championship. The MLBB World Championship was only established last year and featured 16 of the best teams from around the world. Just like the MSC Moontoon invited the winners
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and runner ups from the four established MPLs to compete. The tournament had two stages, the group stage where the top two teams from groups moved on to the playoffs. In the playoffs, the top teams from the groups earned an upper bracket spot while the second seeds faced the long road in the lower bracket. Teams to note: Evos Legends Mobile Legends is a fairly new esports title and very regional centric at the moment. But to learn the best way to play, you definitely need to watch out for the M1 champs Evos Legends from Indonesia.
Match to watch: Philippines vs Indonesia 30th SEA Games Finals As one of the selected games for the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ esports tournament, ML has enjoyed a privileged only a select title enjoys such as being named a medal event for an international sporting event. The Philippines’ Sibol ML team were among the favorites going to the tournament simply because it was an all-star team, so when the team met regional rival Indonesia’s all-star team in the finals what transpired maybe one of the most intense ML games you could watch.
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PHOTO FEATURE
AOC 27G2
With Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, adaptive sync, a huge 144Hz refresh rate and blazing-fast 1ms response time on an IPS panel, the 27G2 is the perfect companion to any gaming device. Cut through each clash with flicker- and tear-free performance, low input lag, and optimal viewing angles with a monitor that can keep up with your performance.
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One of the most important things you need to get your game on is a solid monitor, and that’s exactly what the Philips 32E9QJAB is. With a huge 32-inch curved screen that can display full HD images, a 4ms response time, and flicker-free display quality, it’s everything you need and more. It also has the added convenience of internal speakers and 3.5mm input and output jacks so you can keep going without interruptions.
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Philips 32E9QJAB JUNE 2020
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Lenovo Legion T530 Tower
Legion has been taking massive territory in the gaming space, and devices like this make it happen. The T530 Tower combines a beefy Intel i7 processor, powerful Nvidia RTX graphics and a killer design to make sure your gaming is as smooth and vicious as you are.
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Logitech 702 Lightspeed Wireless
Wires are so last decade. Logitech’s Lightspeed technology gives you wired latency without the tangles, and the Hero engine gives excellent endurance for months of hassle-free gaming. Logitech’s software allows you to make the most of the additional buttons with macros, and DPI settings can be changed on the fly with on-board controls.
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Realme 6i
The Realme 6i is the latest from the fast-growing company. It gives users the powerful Helio G80 SoC, with a processor that runs at a zippy 2.0 GHz. Combined with the Mali G52 GPU and a huge 6.5-inch screen, this is a phone that’s practically built to let you get gaming right out of the box.
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FEATURE
Words by Gabriel Pe
I
n has been 7 years since the two major console players Microsoft and Sony released the current generation of gaming console. Like any other tech, the time of these console will come to a close and, by the end of the year, the new generation of gaming consoles will be finally available to the public. Let’s take a look at what this new generation of consoles will bring to the table.
Ray tracing for everyone Ray tracing has been the talk of the gaming community for a couple of years now. The idea of ray-tracing in real-time in games first came into fruition last year with the launch of Nvidia’s RTX graphic cards. Currently, ray tracing is limited to Nvidia’s RTX graphics cards, with the cheapest RTX 2060 going for PHP 20,000 plus in the market (yikes!). But both Sony and Microsoft have promised ray tracing to
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be fully included in the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Both consoles will come with a customized AMD Zen 2 CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads capable of up to 3.8GHz (Xbox Series X) and 3.5GHz (PS5). The GPU of the two consoles is also an AMD based processor using a custom RDNA 2 architecture. The PlayStation 5 has 10.28 Teraflops for its GPU while the Xbox Series X has 12 Teraflops. If you’re wondering how powerful these devices are, the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti has 14.2 teraflops and the RTX
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2080 Super has 11.1 Teraflops. Hold your horses, GPU power is not solely based on Teraflops and power. Suffice it to say that both the Xbox Series X and PS5 are some killer machines. 4K is now standard with 8K support Both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 will support 4K as standard when they’re released later this year. It was only three years ago when 4K reached gaming consoles with the arrival of the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X. The next generation console will one-up the current generation, launching with a standard 4K UHD resolution at launch and, of course, Blu-ray for their physical discs. Additionally both devices will also offer 8K support, but take that with a grain of salt as 8K consumer tech is still in infancy, and there no guarantee that 8K playback in the next-gen consoles will be as smooth as they promise. Goodbye hard drives One of the most significant upgrades the two new consoles will have is the SSD storage built-in. Both devices have opted to replace the hard drive with much faster and durable SSDs. Sony has opted with a custom 825GB internal storage but with an extra NVM.e slot for future expansions. Microsoft, on the other hand, has gone for a 1TB SSD and an extra memory expansion slot but users need to buy Microsoft’s proprietary SSD to use it, bummer. One of the main reasons behind the shift to SSD is for faster read and write speeds. During Sony’s Road to the PS5 conference, PS5 system architect Mark Cerny revealed that an SSD was the top request for many of game developers. Having a faster read and write speeds meant that games could load visuals and data faster, making for a smoother and loading free gameplay. Backward compatibility is the new future There are different types of gamers. Some have an inclination to newer games with better graphics and complex gameplay, while others prefer the nostalgia and simplicity of older classic. With the two new consoles, gamers have no need to worry about either as both support up to the first generation of games with their built-in backward compatibility. Microsoft has already announced that the Xbox Series X will have backward compatibility to games all the way back to the original Xbox. The company has also announced that some games may even be upscaled to a higher resolution natively. Sony, meanwhile, has promised backward compatibility to the PS4, but future backward compatibility may be available through emulation. Graphics and power is not the final piece One thing we learned as more and more details about the two new consoles (particularly the PS5) are revealed is that Sony and Microsoft are not only focusing on faster, powerful, and life-like graphics. Sony has already unveiled a multitude of special features on their controllers that some users may find exciting.
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The new Sony DualSense controller will feature improved haptic feedback, enabling users to feel new sensations when the controller rumbles. US media outlet Wired was given a demo playing a demo version of Grand Tourismo Sport on a PS dev kit. The experience they described, “Driving on the border between the track and the dirt, I could feel both surfaces.” Apart from the improved haptic feedback, the new DualSense controllers will also have adaptive triggers for the L2 and R2 buttons, this means that the button will provide different types of feedback. For example pulling a bow will let you feel the tension on the string.
Finally with regard to audio, Sony has already announced that they’ll be using a new Tempest engine, which they say can provide 3D audio. Using rainfall as an example, Cerny notes that the current console only has a single audio track for rainfall, but with the new Tempest engine, players can discern one raindrop from another and depending on the location of their character. These are just some of the exciting features for the upcoming new generation of consoles. More exciting announcements from Sony and Microsoft can be expected in the coming months with both devices targeting a late 2020 release day.
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WELLNESS
Putting sports in esports Words by Gabriel Pe
I
f you ever thought about esports athletes, one of the most prevalent stereotypes is that they are lazy dudes who spend all of their days staring at a screen and playing video games. However, this is certainly far from the truth as organizations and teams have redefined what an esports athlete means and the needed physical measures to win championships.
Unlike the common misconception of gamers, several esports organizations have started incorporating physical fitness in their players daily routines. In fact, one of CS: GO’s biggest team, Astralis, have credited their recent success in reshaping their daily routine, by hiring a former captain of Denmark’s national handball team to be its sporting director. Kasper Hvidt had no prior experience in esports but he brought with him years of professional sports experience. Hvidt introduced the team to a new mentally which saw themselves as athletes rather than simply good gamers. In an interview with British media outlet Independent last year, Hvidt noted how crucial it was for esports athletes to also view themselves as athletes. “They don’t look at themselves as physical human beings. It’s common sense, in a way. But with them, it was not,” Hvidt said in the interview. To change the team’s mentality, he assembled a performance – like in traditional sports – that consists of a physical trainer, a sports psychologist (one of the most crucial addition), a massage therapist, a medical doctor, and a nutritionist. Hvidt joined Astralis in mid-2017, a year later his changes has made the team one of the mostdominant teams in CS: GO winning three straight major titles
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and the first-ever Intel Extreme Masters Grand Slam. The investment of physical fitness to Astralis became one of esports’ turning points when teams stopped thinking of only mastering their games to look inward as to how to improve the players by providing professional fitness and wellness and treating players just like professional athletes. Also in 2017, esports org Complexity Gaming was invested in by the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The move brought esports and traditional sports closer with Complexity players now being trained in the Dallas Cowboy’s facility in Frisco Texas. Complexity CEO Jason Lake told US media outlet Quartz in 2019 that there were significant improvements to the team since moving to the new facility. According to Jake Middleton, an esports performance coach, a balanced lifestyle will give players improved endurance, increased ability to cope with stress, and improved cognitive function. Middleton wrote an article for Acer Predator in the US, detailing how exercising increases all the necessary cognitive functions of the brain for esports such as speed, attention, and flexibility. Exercise also benefits motor functions such as reaction time and hand-eye coordination. And for the pros, exercising has added benefits in mental health, with players reporting feeling refreshed despite a hectic competition schedule. Exercising also means maintaining an athlete’s body. Esports like any other sports, has its own occupational injuries the most common one involves the wrists and thumbs since athletes use this part the most. Esports players have a dedicated wrist, finger, and neck exercises, aside from their physical gym routine, every day to maintain their body at the highest level. Another shift in the professional esports scene is the addition of sports psychologists. A sports psychologist helps players maintain their mental health just like a regular psychologist and the same time give help players acquire the necessary mental fortitude needed in competition. One of the most common problems in esports is stress, anxiety, burnout since players sometimes play for more than 10 hours a day and travel a lot throughout the year. Both Astralis, and Dota 2 team OG, have sworn that a sport psychologist was a major reason on how they maintain their dominant form throughout their tournament runs. Sports psychologists have helped them maintain their hunger to win games and keep the focus on the team’s goals. The shift in esports is not limited to global organizations. In the Philippines, teams such as SGD-Omega, Bren Esports, and many others have started giving attention to the physical health and mental wellbeing of players. When Bren Esports opened its new facility last October it featured a gym and a dedicated counseling room for players. As for SGD-Omega, the team follows a strict daily schedule which involves daily exercises for the players.
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GAMING
Publishers: Blizzard Entertainment Developer(s): Blizzard Entertainment Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Words by Ren Alcantara
T
he global FPS phenomenon Overwatch has just had its fourth anniversary, and it’s still going strong. If you’re a fan though, there’s little doubt you’ve heard news about Overwatch 2, the follow-up to the original hit. If you’re new to the game, or just haven’t been following the news, here’s a quick run-down of what we know about Blizzard’s upcoming sequel. The first Overwatch took the PvP hero shooter to new, unprecedented heights, and it only makes sense for the follow-up to retain that game mode. There will still be the same great PvP action available to OW2 players, and in fact, players with either version of Overwatch will be able to face off against each other in the same PvP format Overwatch players are enjoying now. Even better, Overwatch players will have access to Overwatch 2 players and maps, keeping the experience fresh and exciting for anyone who answers the call. What then, makes the Overwatch 2 experience different? If you ‘ve played any of the archive events in the past, you’ll of course remember the PvE game modes where you team up with a number of allies and fight through AI-controlled opponents in a story mission. Overwatch 2 gives players more of these cooperative quests that not only change the pace up from regular PvP play, but also fills in a lot of the lore and story elements that helps make Overwatch as a whole such an interesting title.
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The Overwatch franchise has always been big on story. From character dialogue, to their regular videos, and now even full-length novels, They’ve gone to great lengths to enrich the player’s experience by coloring in the details of the world wherein Overwatch lives. The four-player Story Missions let players take control of different sets of heroes to fight to protect the world from Null Sector, uncover the motives behind the AI attacks, and confront other threats in locations all over the globe.
new mode, called Push, will be introduced, forcing combat while teams help move a giant AI robot to its destination. It appears to be similar to a payload map with a tug-of-war sort of feel. Based on the available videos and screenshots, environments will also have the same richness and detail we’ve come to love over the years. The addition of new locations in particular has our interest, and we’re hoping for more news on that leading up to the launch.
There are also Hero Missions that bump up the RPG element of the game by giving characters skills and abilities to level up, increasing their usefulness in battle. Blizzard has taken an interesting route here, giving current abilities a new twist. You can choose to give Reinhardt’s Fire Strike the ability to light enemies on fire, or increase his attack speed, or have Mei’s endothermic blaster do more damage and explode enemies in AoE ice shards. These abilities won’t carry over to the PvP side of the game though, so it’s going to retain the balance we all know and (mostly) love.
There is currently no release date set for Overwatch 2, as it’s still in development, but based on the footage that has been released online, as well as the level of polish the original Overwatch already has, we’re hoping it’s sooner rather than later. News has been released that there will no longer be any new heroes for Overwatch until the sequel comes out, so feel free to speculate on what that means for the release date.
There will also of course be new playable heroes to add to the already impressive roster, and even more maps, giving players more locations to duke it out in existing game modes. In addition, a
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The initial news regarding Overwatch 2 has us more than a bit excited, and we hope even more features, game modes, and experiences will be included in the final release of the game. There’s a lot of lore to show off, and Blizzard has shown that it can tell a good story, though with what we have available at the moment, we do want more from the sequel, as it does have some pretty big shoes to fill.
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Words by Gabriel Pe Developer: Riot Games | Publisher: Riot Games | Platform: PC, Android, iOS
Legends of Runeterra is the first stand-alone game from Riot Games, the game developer that created the world’s most-played esports title, League of Legends. Announced last October during the 10-year anniversary event for League of Legends, Legends of Runeterra would be the company’s free-to-play digital card game based on the characters and lore of their highly successful MOBA.
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League of Legends fans will feel right at home in Legends of Runeterra with most of their beloved champions making an appearance in the card game. The game also makes use of the champions’ iconic mechanics and abilities as card effects in the game. Another thing Legends of Runeterra does really well is expand the in-game lore and characters of Riot’s MOBA’s world. If you’re into League of Legends lore then this game is heaven. Riot did their best to bring the world of Runeterra alive in this game giving a majority of card interactions with one another.
Legends of Runeterra gives the digital card game genre some brand new light. The game uses slightly different mechanics which I personally enjoyed. Current major card games use a turnbased mechanic giving players only a turn at a time to play all their cards. Legends of Runeterra takes this up a notch by having a reactive style mechanic wherein players have a chance to play their own cards after the other plays. This back and forth style of playing resembles gameplay from the MOBA wherein players attack and react on the fly to what their opponent is doing. And just like League of Legends, the main objective of the game
is to destroy your opponent’s Nexus which has 20 life points.
there; here you can just buy the card you want, which eliminates the paywall most card games suffer from. If you feel that the deck you want is still weak, you can test it out against an AI opponent and still earn XP to progress in the reward system.
try to win given a scenario. This mode also serves as the tutorial mode and teaches players about the different card mechanics and how to use them to their advantage.
If you’ve played any other card game, then you’ll definitely adapt quickly in Legends of Runeterra. The game uses a resource called mana to play cards. Each player has a 10 mana limit, but it does have a reserved spell mana mechanic that transforms unused mana from each round into reserved mana maximum of three. This new mechanic adds flexibility to players and provides them with potential outplay chance despite slamming an expensive card.
BE LEGENDARY Deckbuilding is definitely one of the most interesting mechanics in Legends of Runeterra. Each deck is composed of 40 cards. The game has three different cards: Champion cards, follower cards, and spell cards. Follower cards are unit cards, and spell cards are spells that can either buff your units or damage your opponent. Champion cards are cards of champions from League of Legends. These cards are usually the win condition in the decks as they provide either the most damage or a powerful mechanic. Cards are also divided into different regions based on the regions from League. There are limits to deck-building, as the deck can only have six champion cards, and cards from only two regions can exist in one deck. Each card is also limited to three copies. Another thing that I enjoyed with Legends of Runeterra is the game’s economy. Cards can be earned in the game by simply playing. The game uses a rewards system that gives players cards as long as they continue to play and are based on earned experience points. Cards earned depend on what region you choose and can be changed anytime. If you really want a card you don’t have to buy card packs and hope it’s
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Legends of Runeterra currently has three game modes. The Normal/Ranked mode is where you can compete with other players. In Expedition mode, you try to fight opponents using a drafted deck. And in the Challenge mode, you
Overall, Legends of Runeterra is a breath of fresh air to the digital card game genre. The gameplay, economy and deck building each provide a uniqueness that distinguishes the game from its peers. The game is highly addictive and extremely fun, definitely one of the best card games I’ve played in years.
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FEATURE
Words by Gabriel Pe
BLURRING THE LINE OF SPORTS AND ESPORTS
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ast June 19 to 21, the International Basketball Federation held the first ever FIBA Esports Open an esports event using 2K’s NBA2K20’s PRO-AM game mode. The move marks the first time, the 88 years old basketball governing body backing an esports event. The surprise move may be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic stopping most traditional sports, but that may not fully be the case as many traditional sports have slowly integrated esports as part of their system even before the outbreak.
Esports and sports were previously thought to be like oil and water. Traditional sports fans argued that competitive gaming was not the same as traditional sports, this criticism was especially harsh among sports simulation game players such as NBA 2K and Electronic Art’s FIFA series. But in recent years this idea has slowly shifted with many traditional sports governing organizations such as FIBA, FIFA, and the FIA gradually embracing sports simulation games as an opportunity to promote their sports. These organizations as well as other professional sporting organizations have added esports in their roster of events. Some adapting the simulation game of their sports, while others like mix martial arts organizer, ONE Championship, have created a separate organization to promote and handle tournaments of pre-existing esports.
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Traditional sports dipping their hands on a sports simulation league isn’t entirely brand new. In fact, FIFA, the global governing body for football had already established the FIFA eWorld Cup (formerly the FIFA Interactive World Cup) in 2004 and ever since had been the premier tournament for EA’s FIFA franchise. FIA and its different motorsports bodies had already embraced esports starting late 2010s. One of the first was the World Rally Championship who established eSports WRC in 2016. The tournament used Nacon’s (formerly Bigben Interactive) World Rally Championship game. A year later Formula One launched the Formula One Esports Series which used Codemasters’ Formula One game as its platform. Lastly, the FIA itself has partnered with Polyphony Digital, the creator of one of the world’s best racing game Gran Turismo, to create the FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championship, the first racing esports recognized by the organization. Unlike most esports where pros only excelled in their own game, simulation racing has been one to produce future stars of their sports, with some racers from the FIA GT Championship and the Formula One Esports Series earning spots in different racing leagues around the world. One of the latest sports to jump into esports is basketball. It was in 2017 when the NBA announced that it will establish its own esports league which bared fruit in May 2018 when the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League tipped-off.
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COVID-19 MARKING A NEW TURN The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected sports. Many sporting leagues were forced to shut down, and even the largest sporting event in the world, the Olympics was suspended due to the threat of the pandemic. As many grew weary of no sports, major leagues have turned to esports and sports simulation to continue their shows. NASCAR, MLB, NBA, NFL, and even the NHL have created show matches and even mini-leagues using their sports’ simulation games. These leagues featured some of the best players from their respected sports face off against each other. NASCAR debuted the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing series where 40 of the world’s best sim-racing drivers faced off against each other for a USD 300,000 prize pool. The NBA held an NBA 2K tournament featuring the best players in the league. And the MLB Player Association held a mini MLB: The Show tournament fielding in some of the best baseball players from the league. Each of the tournament was broadcasted online and on-air as hundreds of thousands of sports fans tuned in. NASCAR recorded the highest number of viewers with Fox Sports recording 900,000 peak cable viewers in the US alone. The sheer number of viewers on TV has made some organizations consider joining or creating new leagues even after the pandemic.
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VISUAL APPS SPACE
Words by Ren Alcantara
Thanks to the progression of technology, video games have come a long way in their acceptance into mainstream society. As more and more people play, the general population has started to see what gamers have suspected for a long time: video games, as banal and childish as they might seem, can actually be viewed as works of art. Whether it’s because of its visual style or, like a movie, its storytelling, these games wouldn’t be out of place among movies and paintings that have earned recognition as art.
Art can be described in many various ways depending on the understanding and appreciation of the person being asked. One of the more central ideas of it though is that it’s a piece of work that expresses creativity and imagination, whether or not it’s meant solely for the sake of appreciation. In this regard, there are some games that stand head and shoulders above others as an expression of art. This is a list of those outstanding games. To be clear, this isn’t merely a list of games with good graphics, as hyper-realistic graphics alone isn’t a hallmark of art. It takes something greater than that—something we hope you’ll understand after experiencing some of the titles below.
JOURNEY Journey is an older PS4 game that is exactly not about the destination, but the experience of getting there. Thatgamecompany’s excellent 2012 title follows in the footsteps of their other critically acclaimed games Flower, and Flow, and continues their approach of making visually striking titles that are more about the experience than achieving a particular goal. In journey, you’re a nameless, faceless traveler making your way through beautiful, barren landscapes to a destination far, far off into the distance. You’ll occasionally run into other travelers such as yourself, but you can’t interact, save for a few pre-programed melodies you can sing together. The game itself is about quieting yourself, taking in the view and getting introspective— all fine artistic goals in and of themselves.
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THE LAST OF US 2 Where Journey was a work of art in its simple beauty, The Last of Us 2 is a master class in storytelling. Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world fallen to a violent pandemic, it follows the stories of Ellie, a survivor who has been through much more than her years might lead one to believe, having to deal with internal and external conflicts that cause the player to reexamine their own moral judgements. The most remarkable aspect of the game is how it manages to induce in the player the same feeling of hate that drives Ellie forward, sometimes recklessly, through some genuinely harrowing and difficult situations. Playing the game feels like watching a good movie, with great acting and solid, believable characters. This is one that proves games can be narrative works of art.
mIRROR’S EDGE While the parkour-driven Mirror’s Edge doesn’t have the most substantial story, it does have a very striking, clean, sterile world that perfectly echoes the way society had changed in the game. Plenty of time is spent on roofs in this game, and while the architecture might be considered art, it’s how the player moves through the lines made by the environment that makes it particularly artistic in my eyes. Video Game artistry in particular isn’t just how a world looks, though this one does look gorgeous. Something particular to video games is how they let people interact with the world, and Mirror’s Edge takes that specific aspect of games and executes it in a beautiful, even artful manner. Like lines in a painting that draw the viewer in, this game offers new, fresh paths and lines that players can traverse, taking you through the already striking cityscape you’re placed in.
STRANGLEHOLD This underrated classic takes the familiar Hong Kong blood opera and turns it into a video game, with the expected results. While, like other Heroic Bloodshed films, the story isn’t particularly substantial, it elevates the shooter into John Woo levels of cinematic perfection. The action is totally over-the-top, even unbelievable, but you can’t deny the artistry behind it. You literally play Chow Yun Fat as Hong Kong detective Tequila (the same one from the John Woo’s movie Hard Boiled) as he confronts the consequences of his actions from the movie. John Woo is the name in Hong Kong action movies, and to be able to play the main character in one of his films is an amazing experience. This game takes a lot from the director’s cinematic bag of tricks to make a game that is equal parts shooter and John Woo action movie.
There are arguments that video games aren’t art, and that’s definitely the case for some. As culture, technology, and acceptance progress though, that’s bound to change, and even if we’re not all in agreement as to the status of these titles as art, they still certainly blur the boundary. If you have a chance to play some or all of these games, give them a try. The art lover in you will appreciate it.
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MUSIC CORNER
Video Game Soundtracks Words by Ren Alcantara
M
usic is an unseen force in video games, at once setting the mood for a scene, and serving as a marker of what’s happening or what might happen next. Music might not be the first thing that comes to the table when there’s talk of gaming, but it’s a crucial part of any gaming title.
Sometimes, a game’s soundtrack stands out enough to be part of an article devoted to it. This is that day. While you can go on practically forever talking about video game soundtracks, we’re keeping things reasonable by only looking at more recent titles (sorry, Chrono Trigger fans, but know you have great taste in VG music).
Bioshock Infinite Bioshock infinite is a curious creature in and of itself. Set in a floating sky-city, it’s a beautiful dystopian world that has the music to match. From barbershop quartets, to hauntingly beautiful choirs, and steampunk-y, old-timey music, this is a game that has music to match. The city of Columbia is its own character, and the music that surrounds it is its voice, which
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matches amazingly. There’s real beauty there in calm, harmonious tracks, but look too closely, and gritty brutal tones start to emerge. The music was done in a way that really made it meld with the story and writing, and gives the player the appropriate uneasy feeling throughout the experience.
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Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild There are games that are intense and have you with half your butt hanging off your seat. Breath of the Wild is not one of those games. Even at its more vigorous points, this isn’t a title that one would really call intense, and it has a soundtrack to match. From windy plains, to mountain peaks, and calm waters, when I first paid attention to the soundtrack, the first (admittedly weird) thought
that entered my head was: “This is a soundtrack one can retire to.” That’s not to say it’s always slow or boring. Fight BGM picks up a fair bit, and puts you in a sword-swinging mood, but again, it doesn’t cause adrenaline shakes and gnashing of teeth. It’s perfectly suited to the world and gameplay, and wouldn’t actually be too bad to try and fall asleep to.
Katamari Damacy For those of you who didn’t get to try this game, do yourselves a favor and check it out. It doesn’t particularly make sense, but it is such a charmer in an absurd Japanese video game way. If you don’t have the time to right now, here’s a quick description: you’re son of the King of the Cosmos, and you have to basically make a giant ball of stuff to repopulate the sky with stars. The aforementioned balls of stuff are made by running over anything in the
game world. Like we said, it’s absurd, and it has a wonderfully absurd soundtrack to match. It has a laid-back, upbeat jazzy set of tunes that are so much fun to listen to on its own. There’s a simple, quirky musicality to the Katamari soundtrack that’s as japanese as the gameplay, and would serve very well as background music to a nice, steady workday, whether or not it involves rolling everything you see up into a ball.
Patapon Some might consider it cheating to include a rhythm game in an article about video game soundtracks, but bear with me, even though this is a bit of an odd choice. Patapon isn’t a game like Parappa the Rapper or Rockband, and more like, well, nothing else out there really. It’s a rhythm game, yes, but one where the rhythm drives the action, not the other way around. The gameplay is simple yet challenging, but what really stands out
is how much of an earworm the music is. Drums are the main feature here, and after playing it, more than once I found myself either walking or performing tasks to the familiar Patapon cadence. It’s clever, catchy, and supremely simple in its constant 1-2 cadence, which fits the game’s theme perfectly. There isn’t a lot of music in the game really, but how it uses the handful of beats, and how it runs the game gives it a spot on this list.
Final Fantasy XV Square has always taken their video game music seriously, and FFXV is no exception. What makes it stand out is just how varied the soundtrack is. It has the usual brass and drums you’d expect from an FF title, but also throws in some EDM, jazz, and even bossa in there to keep things interesting. Any soundtrack that manages to flawlessly put Skrillex and bossa tunes in the same track list is worth
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listening to. It also paces well with the game, dropping a Florence and the Machine with devastating effectiveness. Even if you haven’t played the game, it’s a great soundtrack to listen to, which further proves just how good it is as its own thing. Despite the wide spread of genres in this soundtrack, nothing feels out of place in the big picture, with each song adding value to the entire package.
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FEATURE
GEAR FOR
STUDYING AT HOME Words by Gabriel Pe
For this story, we are going to address the needs of students who need hardware to study from home. We can attack this from a personal preference perspective, though I do recommend that we talk about our devices before we finalize the stories, so there are no repeats. A flow I suggest we follow is below:
AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CHOICES This explains the considerations we made in making our individual choices, whether it’s price, availability, ease of use, or just straight-up personal preference. Is this your choice because it’s cheap and portable, or because it’s powerful and will be useful for years to come?
SOME POINTS TO TACKLE Pick a device that will handle the bulk of the student’s work. Whether it’s a laptop, convertible, tablet or something else entirely, name it here.
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can mention actual scenarios of schoolwork being done here as well
Explain the particular functionality provided by your choice. Eg: Tablets are small, portable, and some even let you write on the screen.
Talk about some optional peripherals that can be purchased to further increase the usability of your chosen device. Video classes, homework and writing reports can all be made easier with some choice accessories.
Give some useful software that will go well with the device you chose, keeping in mind the different subjects and grade levels the students will be at. There are also a lot of subscription-based services that are built for students, so don’t forget to check some of those out. We
Talk about where to find the best deals for the device. It doesn’t have to be the cheapest option--remember, the parents will be making the final decision, and it’s reasonably safe to assume that warranties and service matter more to them than a penny-pinching student.
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GAB’S CHOICE OPTION 1
MICROSOFT SURFACE GO 2 The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is the second generation of Microsoft Surface Go Tablets. This tablet has a 10.5-inch touchscreen and depending on the configuration can have Intel’s latest M3 mobile processor. It has up to 8GB of RAM and 128 GB eMMC internal storage. The main advantage of the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is that it runs full windows so you can enjoy the productivity of a windows system. To complete the set you’ll definitely need the Surface Pen stylus, and the Microsoft type cover. Pricing is one of the strongest suit of the Surface Go 2, the base model is only 399 USD
OPTION 2
For PHP 39,999 you’ll get the 4GB RAM and 1TB HDD variant but if you want higher RAM
and SSD there are open slots for future upgrades. I suggest getting the additional RAM right away since 4GBs won’t get you anywhere far. The major downside of the Nitro 5 is its battery life and portability. The 48Wh battery has only 5.5 hours of juice (according to Acer), so you’ll need the power brick if you want to get some work done outside of your home.
LENOVO IDEAPAD FLEX 3 CHROMEBOOK
Chromebooks are the perfect companion for young students who simply need a device to access the internet and do some light browsing. The Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook is a 2-in-1 chromebook that’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4020 processor. Chromebook are typically not so powerful running on ChromeOS and mostly reliant on Google apps such as Doc, Spreadsheet, and Slides.
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A major disadvantage of this device is the limited number of sellers in the country. Most are resellers buying from overseas which removes the possibility of warranty in case something goes wrong.
ACER NITRO 5
Acer’s Nitro series is its budget gaming line made for users who need a versatile laptop that can game on the side. The Nitro 5 AN515-52 model has an Intel Core i5-8300H processor which is a quad core/ eight threads processor with a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz. The laptop also has an integrated Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti GPU with 4GB of VRAM.
OPTION 3
how it only consists of the tablet itself. The Surface Pen is another 100 USD and the type cover is 130 USD. The accessory may bulk the price of the device but the comfort, portability, and the familiarity of Windows makes this a great device not just for students but also for young professionals who simply need light computing.
The one best thing about the IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is that it’s a 2-in-1 and can also function as a multimedia device. Chromebooks also offer less distraction to students since they can’t run windows programs and games, so you don’t have to worry about your kid sneaking a few games while class is ongoing. Price is also a massive pro for the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook coming in at only PHP 20,995.
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EVERYTHING APPLE
Old Pros Words by Ren Alcantara
With the shift to learning from home, I’m sure many of you are searching for the best option for tablet for the incoming school year. I have a proposition, and if you’re an early Apple adapter, or someone very invested in the Apple ecosystem, it might cost nothing at all. Ladies and gentlemen, the Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017), or even the older 12.9 inch iPad Pro.
It might seem strange for a tech guy to suggest devices that are a few years old at this point, but bear with me. First, these can be had for rather cheap. Chances are good you even know someone with this older model of iPad Pro and is willing to let it go for a few bucks—you might even have one yourself. This device might have some years on it, but it’s still extremely fast, and more capable than you might give it credit for. Each had blazingly fast hardware back when it first came out, and that still puts it in roughly the same ballpark as more recent, but lower-end iPad options available this year.
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The iPad runs on a solid, tested, updated (at least for the 2017 edition) OS that can run essentially everything in the App Store, and does so without any trouble or complaint. This is more than can be said about some cheaper Android devices. Being a tablet, and a thin, light one at that, this pops handily into a bag and can be carried around with greater ease than a full laptop, while offering close to laptop functionality, with a few extra accessories. It also has great battery life, so you don’t have to carry around a power brick, and if you do need to top it up, you can use a powerbank or mobile phone charger with no problems. As we mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of school-centric software available for the iPad as well. Things from note-taking apps that can convert written text to typed text, apps that allow you to edit and mark up PDF files, video and photo editors, and study apps all abound, so you’ll be totally spoilt for choice. A few minutes of browsing and downloading is all you’ll need to load it up with all the apps you’ll need for a school year.
Being among Apple’s more popular devices, the market is still rife with accessories that make this model of iPad pro a great choice. You’ll want something for protecting it from the bumps of the everyday, so consider some sort of case. There are cases that also come with a keyboard, but I would personally stay away from those, as they are usually wanting in the performance department. A separate bluetooth keyboard with a better key layout and more space will be much more useful—I have a tri-fold model that I have used for years for banging out articles, and I’m still quite pleased with it.
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One of the most powerful tools you can pair with the iPad pro, however, is the first generation Apple Pencil. This lets the user take down notes more naturally, in a way that’s more like a pen and paper, which studies have shown to be better for retaining knowledge. It also unlocks a lot of the device’s potential, so getting the iPad pro without an Apple Pencil is a waste. As we mentioned earlier, it’s possible to get these models of iPad for cheap--easily less than PHP 30,000 if you check online, or with friends. Sites such as Amazon offer refurbished models (with a decreased warranty) for about that much, so check that as an option. Be aware that you will be ordering overseas, which can make warranty
claims a little more difficult, but it’s a great option nonetheless. Some brick-and-mortar shops might still have a model or two brand new, and while it might not be as cheap, you’re still likely to get a great deal, and a warranty. Before you hand the device over, make sure to unbind it from the original user, the steps to which can be found in the settings of the iPad. After that, it’s a simple matter of making a new account for the next user, loading it up with the relevant apps, and watching the learning happen.
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BULLET POINTS
Words by Ren Alcantara
I have carried a LOT of lights over the years, from incandescent double 123A deals, to tiny keychain lights, AA primary cell ones, and even 21700 monsters. Last year though, I pulled the trigger on an FW3A, a communitydeveloped light brought to life by Lumintop. It combines great open-source firmware with unobtrusive looks, and 18650 convenience, as well as a wonderful digital switch. I’ve carried it exclusively for more than half a year now, so it’s about time to come up with an indepth review for anyone who is considering it for EDC. The FW3A is a gorgeous, single 18650 light with three highpower LEDs in the emitter head. It’s barely larger than some of my older 1AA EDC lights, and, while it does have a wider head to accommodate three LEDs, this helps further reduce the appearance of its overall length. The unit I got came in a bluish-grey anodization with a shiny stainless steel clip, and machined steel power button at the tailcap. There’s some shallow, but grippy knurling near the head of the light, as well as on the tailcap that’s the perfect point between pantsripping aggressive, and purely cosmetic. It looks quite plain, and certainly not tactical, which is another plus in my book. The pocket clip isn’t particularly deep-carry, which is fine, though this did lead to one instance when it snagged and fell out of my pocket, so be careful should you decide to EDC this in anything other than denim.
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Let’s dig into the hardware. The emitter has three Cree LEDs (though other variants are available), that can pump out a staggering 2800 lumens in turbo mode. To get that, you’re going to need an unregulated 18650 cell, such as the Samsung 30Q which I personally use. One of the cooler things about the light though, is that it has an electronic clicky tail switch, not a mechanical one. That gives it a very shallow, light, and still tactile feel, and is the main way the user goes through the incredibly featurerich, open-source firmware. That firmware is both the best and worst thing about the light. It does offer a whole host of features, which is pretty awesome—I mean, it has a lightning storm mode, which is exactly what it sounds like—but it’s also quite confusing until you spend a good amount of time with it. There’s a whole instructional flowchart included in the box, so I won’t go into
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all the features in detail, though it does of course give you the basics such as voltage checking, quick access to turbo mode, low-voltage and thermal cutoff, and a “muggle mode” that has basic settings for if you want to hand the light over to a normie. In daily use, this UI is a bit of a handful, so I just set it to a brightness level, and keep it locked to momentary mode, which works great for my use cases, since the button is so shallow and light, it’s no matter at all to hold it down for illumination. The 2800 lumen mode should be pretty accurate, at least based on the measurements taken by those with the measuring tools for it, but it doesn’t last but a few seconds due to thermal throttling. To be honest, it’s more for show or some other niche use, but it’s nice to have anyway. In any case, high mode is extremely bright with quite a decent throw, so you’re not likely to really want much more than that for daily use.
There are some things to be aware of though. Unlike most lights, you’re going to want to remove the head to install a battery, as there’s a small plastic nubbin at the tail end which can get lost easily should you open it up from that end. It’s probably nothing to worry about as the owner of the light, but try to stay watchful should you hand the light over to someone who doesn’t know it very well. Overall, I’m quite pleased with the FW3A. It offers a lot of punch in a reasonably small package, and doesn’t scream “mall ninja” when you take it out of your pocket. There’s a featurerich UI that is a lot of fun to play with, though it does complicate things quite a bit. Fortunately, you can get around that by choosing the correct mode. It’s powered by the very common 18650 cell, and looks great to boot. It should be a great option for EDC, though if you’re looking for a “tactical” light, this might not be your cup of tea.
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MOBILITY
Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual: A compelling eSport experience for Michelin
T
he first-ever Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual saw Rebellion Williams Esport claim first place with its No. 1 car. Pole-sitters No. 4 ByKolles Burst Esport were second past the chequered flag, ahead of another Rebellion Williams Esport foursome in their No. 13 car.
The GTE class was won by Porsche Esports Team which emerged as the category’s dominant squad in qualifying. The top prize was secured by the No. 93 Porsche 911 RSR, thanks to a surefooted performance. Interestingly, British driver Nick Tandy can now claim to have won Le Mans’ GTE class with Porsche and Michelin in both the real world and ‘virtually’. Second in class went to the No. 95 Aston Martin, while R8G Esports Team’s No. 80 Corvette took third. All these cars contested the race on ‘virtual’ Michelin tires. Not only did the realism of the rFactor2 software employed for the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual provide endurance racing fans with a welcome chance to enjoy their favourite discipline once more after the recent halt to real-world motorsport, but it also gave video game fans an opportunity to discover motor racing from a fresh perspective that introduced them to the important role that tires play in motorsport. Close, spectacular, realistic racing Buoyed by a field of 50 cars and 200 topflight racing drivers and sim racers, the show provided by the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual lived up every bit to its promise. Drivers from different forms of racing and top names from the world of endurance racing teamed up with a line-up of sim racing stars to showcase their professionalism not only during their respective pre-race preparations but also in the course of the twice-around-theclock race itself. The result was a gripping fight between the successive leaders who all chose similar race strategies and the gaps at the end were extremely close. As expected, the teams with the strongest reputations took turns in front and took the two ‘virtual’ red- flag interruptions that bunched up
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“The inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual was a resounding success” the field in their stride. Thanks to the quality of the coverage and the work put into the event by its organiser, the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), it was easy to forget at times that this wasn’t actually the real thing. “There is always room for improvement, but I would like to thank everyone at Michelin Motorsport, as well as all the staff at the ACO and the FIA World Endurance Championship who put so much effort into this project. Michelin’s business is advancing continuously on the digital front and we are delighted today to have had this opportunity to reach out to a new audience thanks to the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual,” says Michelin Motorsport director Matthieu Bonardel. An even more detailed understanding of ‘virtual’ tires The drivers were swift to acclaim Michelin’s tires after qualifying and their praise continued during the race as they paid tribute to the realism of the feedback replicated via the steering wheel, and notably the difference between the feeling of the different compound options. As in the real Le Mans 24 Hours, their strategies were based on the use of either hard or medium tires during the early stages of the race, before switching to the softer option for the cooler hours of darkness. On Sunday morning, as the temperature started to climb to exceed 20°C again, they returned to the medium compound, and then the hard tire. In contrast to the real Le Mans 24 Hours, however, where multi-stinting the same set of tires is commonplace, this tactic wasn’t a feature of the virtual race. This was due on the one hand to the fact that the teams didn’t have a maximum allocation of tires for the race, whereas numbers are capped in the real world. On the other, the simulated time allowed for tire changes was relatively short, so there was little to gain from staying on the same rubber for more than one stint. Meanwhile, the wear- rates factored in by the software were higher than in reality. The game effectively reproduced a cost of two seconds per lap (one stint equivalent to approximately 10 laps) due to wear, whereas— in reality—Michelin’s tires deliver consistent lap times from the start to the end of runs of up to four stints at a time. Michelin hopes to be able to work with the rFactor2 platform’s designers so that competing teams have a broader spectrum of possible strategies in the future while demonstrating the consistency of its tires’ performance more fully. A resounding worldwide success and new contacts for Michelin Given that the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual allowed motor racing enthusiasts to enjoy the action in
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the virtual company of video game fans who often have little interest in real motorsport, Michelin saw its involvement in the race as a chance to reach out to a wider audience which was able to discover the importance of the role played by tires not only in real life racing but also, by extrapolation, on their road cars. The quality of the race’s video coverage kept millions of fans captivated across the world, with viewing figures boosted by Michelin’s own social media teams who provided live streaming of the race on Michelin and Michelin Motorsport’s
Facebook pages in 30 countries. Meanwhile, the teaser video posted by the French firm ahead of the race attracted by 1.3 million views on Instagram alone, plus another 450,000 on YouTube and 155,000 on Facebook. Michelin’s involvement in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual asserts its commitment to eSports and, in September, it will be looking to follow up by extending its current unbeaten record in the real race to 23 victories in a row since 1998.
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F
ord Philippines is has launched the internationally-renowned Ford F-150 pickup truck, further expanding its truck portfolio in the country with a tough yet modern full-size truck with a wide range of segment-defining features.
Ford PH reinforces truck leadership, launches F-150
The Ford F-150 sets the global standard in trucks with its standout look and design, powerful performance, class-leading capabilities, and advanced smart and safe technologies. The F-150 is part of Ford’s F-Series, America’s bestselling truck for the 43rd straight year and America’s bestselling vehicle for the 38th straight year. In the Philippines, Ford is offering two variants of the F-150— the F-150 4x4 Platinum SuperCrew AT and F-150 4x2 Lariat SuperCrew AT. “The F-150 is definitely a strong addition to our pickup truck portfolio as we continue to lead the segment with the widest range of trucks, now totaling 15 variants. The F-150 is packed with segment-defining features and capabilities that have made it the truck of choice across America and the world,” said PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines. “We are excited to bring back this legendary Ford truck to Filipino customers who seek next-level power and refinement in their pickup.” Powerful Performance The F-150 powertrain is equipped with Ford’s proven 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology, capable of generating an impressive 380PS of power and 637Nm of torque. This is coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift to deliver tremendous power for heavy-duty use while staying exceptionally fuel efficient. An electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF) 4x4 system comes equipped on the F-150 Platinum variant.
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Tough Look, Premium Feel Exclusively on the F-150 4x4 Platinum AT exterior is a silver mesh satin-aluminum grille and tailgate applique, chrome side mirror caps, door and tailgate handles, tail-gate step with tail-gate lift assist, bright beltline moldings, high-gloss black B-pillar applique and platinum badge on fender sides, twin panel moonroof, as well as power deployable running boards. Its interior on the other hand, features a unique and luxurious leather interior with genuine black ash wood trim accents, aluminum applique in center panel and console, unique instrument cluster gauges, leather-wrapped console lid and shift knob, 10-way power adjustable driver and front passenger seats with ActiveMotion massage function, color-coordinated carpet flooring with premium floor mats, and metallic door sill inserts with PLATINUM branding. Meanwhile, the Philippine-spec F-150 4x2 Lariat AT variant is one step ahead from the standard Lariat variant as it comes with the SPORT appearance package with a body-color grille with black mesh, side mirror caps, door and tailgate handles, magnetic angular step bars, and SPORT box decals. The interior also features a unique Lariat finish on the instrument panel, media bin lid and doors, as well as leather seats. Standard across both F-150 variants are body color bumpers, 20-inch alloy wheels, high strength aluminum alloy body, daytime running lamps, quad-beam headlamps, LED foglamps and taillamps, a 5.5-inch long box, and front tow hooks. Smart and Safe Features The F-150 is also equipped with a host of smart and safe features that enhance the driving experience for both drivers and passengers. The F-150 features Ford Co-Pilot 360—Ford’s safety suite composed of pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), blind spot information system (BLIS), lane keeping system (LKS) and auto-high beam headlamps. For convenience, it is equipped with a remote start system, remote tailgate release, 8-inch LCD touchscreen, SYNC 3 with AppLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility, 2 smart-charging USB ports and 12V Powerpoint, navigation system, 8-inch productivity screen in the instrument cluster, and a 10-speaker with subwoofer sound system powered by Bang & Olufsen. The F-150 is also packed with driver-assist technologies (DAT) which include 360-degree camera with split-view display, active park assist, curve control, hill start assist, SOS post-crash alert system, trailer sway control, rain-sensing wipers, and reverse sensing system. Additionally, the F-150 takes safety further through advanced technologies and features such
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as AdvanceTrac with RSC (roll stability control), dual-stage front airbags, front-seat side airbags and safety canopy system with side- curtain airbags and rollover sensor, individual tire pressure monitoring system, Securilock passive anti-theft system, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and perimeter alarm. The Platinum variant gets a boost with inflatable rear seatbelts. Availability and Pricing The F-150 will be available at Ford dealerships nationwide, with a starting retail price of PHP
2,698,000 for the F-150 4x2 Lariat SuperCrew AT and PHP 2,998,000 for the F-150 4x4 Platinum SuperCrew AT. The F-150 4x4 Platinum comes in four colors including blue jeans, star white, iconic silver and agate black. The star white color variant, which is a special color for the F-150 4x4 Platinum, is available for an additional PHP 15,000. Meanwhile, the 4x2 Lariat variant also comes in four colors including rapid red, oxford white, iconic silver and agate black.
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New Audi A8 L headlines models offered in Audi Factory Warehouse Sale 2.0 promo The new Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI MHEV, equipped with predictive active suspension that lets the flagship luxury sedan offer the supreme ride comfort of a chauffeur-driven limousine or the firm handling of a sports car, is among the models included in the Audi Factory Warehouse Sale 2.0. Ongoing until July 31, 2020, the Audi Factory Warehouse Sale 2.0 offers significant price reductions on all Audi models, made possible through the special support extended by Audi AG. Select models are discounted by more than PHP 1,000,000. Besides the A8 L 3.0 TFSI MHEV, other Audi models available in the promo are the A4 1.4 TFSI and A6 2.0 TFSI sedans; the RS4 Avant TFSI; and the Q2 1.0 TFSI, Q3 1.4 TFSI, Q5 2.0 TDI, Q5 2.0 TFSI and Q8 3.0 TFSI MHEV SUVs. All are 2020 models. Automatically included with all vehicle purchases made through the Audi Factory Warehouse Sale 2.0 promo is the Audi Clean disinfection package, which makes sure the cars are thoroughly sanitized with advanced cleaning materials before these are released to customers. Predictive Active Suspension The A8 L 3.0 TFSI MHEV’s predictive active suspension is fully dynamic, relying on electromechanical actuators to adjust its settings. These can lift or force down each of the vehicle’s wheels individually to actively manage ride height in every situation. Using a camera located at the front of the car, the system identifies uneven surfaces before these are reached, and predictively regulates the active suspension. Included in the predictive active suspension settings are “dynamic” and “comfort plus” which control the car’s air suspension and the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. In “dynamic” the A8 L becomes a sports car as it turns in firmly when cornering fast. In “comfort plus” the profile lets the luxury sedan glide over any surface, with the driver and passengers barely noticing the car is cornering. Predictive active suspension even works when the car is at a standstill. When the A8 L’s door handle is pulled, the body quickly rises to make entry and exit into the car even easier. The predictive active suspension, when combined with Audi’s “pre sense 360°” system, increases the Audi A8 L’s passive safety function; in an impending side impact the active suspension raises the body on either side to absorb the energy.
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Spacious, progressive interior Besides predictive active suspension, another highlight feature of the A8 L is its interior, which resembles a spacious lounge with minimal forms elegantly outlined by ambient lighting. Also available is the Rear Seat Entertainment system comprised of two Audi tablets and the Rear Seat Remote. With these, passengers can enjoy watching movies on sites like Netflix, browse the Internet and access other apps. The Audi Cool Box in the rear seat pampers passengers even more by keeping drinks chilled. Audi’s MMI touch becomes the MMI touch response in the A8 L. At the center of the car’s instrument panel is a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. A second touchscreen display on the console of the center tunnel allows access to climate control and convenience features, including the ability to enter texts through handwriting recognition. Also, MMI Navigation plus serves as a media center that generates graphics in full HD resolution for the Audi virtual cockpit. Efficient mild-hybrid technology The new Audi A8 L is equipped with a mild-hybrid system composed of a belt alternator starter
(BAS) and a lithium-ion battery with 10 Ah electrical capacity. This allows the car to coast at speeds between 55 km/h and 160 km/h with the engine switched off, in the process producing zero emissions for up to 40 seconds. As soon as the driver steps on the throttle pedal again, the BAS prompts a swift, smooth restart. A new 48-volt system that functions as the main vehicle electrical system offers a high recuperation power of up to 12kW plus start-stop operation from 22km/h, reducing fuel consumption. The new Audi A8 L’s engine operate in conjunction with a quick but gently shifting eight-stage tiptronic transmission. Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with self-locking center differential comes as standard. Check out the A8 L 3.0 TFSI MHEV at the Audi Factory Warehouse Sale 2.0, which runs from June 9 to July 31, 2020. For more information, please call 0917 813 9064, 0917 806 2946, or 0917 935 4111.
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Ford PH expands SUV line-up with new Everest Sport Continuing to expand its SUV portfolio, Ford Philippines has launched the new Ford Everest Sport, adding a new variant to the Everest line. The new Everest Sport features an enhanced design and a host of driver-assist technologies that will help widen the appeal of the Ford Everest among customers who appreciate the vehicle’s versatility, safety, and capability. “The new Everest Sport supports the Everest’s position as one of the safest and most capable SUVs in the market today,” shares PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines. “We are confident that the new Ford Everest Sport will set another standard for mid-size SUVs in the market with its design and technology that match various needs and lifestyles.” The new Everest Sport is powered by a 2.0L Turbo Diesel Engine which offers 180PS of power and 420Nm of torque and is matched with Ford’s latest 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift—helping to deliver better acceleration, fuel efficiency, and smoothness across on-road and off-road environments. The latest Everest variant is a standout on the road with unique black body exterior accents such as a new mesh grille design, an embossed EVEREST hood badge at the front, gloss black painted wheels and exterior mirrors on the side, black tailgate applique in the rear and a ‘SPORT’ decal on the liftgate. LED projector headlamps, daytime running lights and 20-inch alloy wheels also come standard in the new Everest Sport. Inside its spacious cabin, the new Everest Sport features a unique blue stitching accent around the steering wheel, dashboard, seats, center, console, and door trims delivering a sporty premium feel. Adding value to the Sport is a standard leather seat with 8-way power driver seat function, smart keyless entry with push button start, and a power liftgate with hands-free function. For entertainment and connectivity, it is equipped with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, Sync 3 with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, two USB ports, and 10 speakers. The new Everest Sport also boasts of segmentleading features for optimal driver comfort, convenience, and safety which include cruise control, electronic power assist steering (EPAS), rear view camera, rear parking sensors, and electronic stability control with anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and roll stability control. Adding to all these are seven airbags including side, curtain, and driver knee airbags.
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It comes in four colors: absolute black, aluminum metallic, arctic white, and deep crystal blue, a new color variant available to the Ford Everest and is exclusive to the new Everest Sport. The new Everest Sport is available at a starting retail price of PHP 1,868,000. Enhanced Everest Titanium line-up Ford also introduced new feature upgrades to its Everest Titanium series to make the driving
experience safer and more convenient. The Everest 2.0L Bi-Turbo Titanium+ 4x4 AT and Everest 2.0L Turbo Titanium 4x2 AT now come with LED projector headlamps, with the addition of high-mount USB feature for the 4x4 variant with no price increase. To know more about the new Ford Everest Sport, visit www.ford.com.ph/suvs/everest/, call your preferred Ford dealer, or visit a Ford dealer nearest you.
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Suzuki celebrates a century of adapting to changing times Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, a testament to its resilience during challenging and difficult times. Chairman Osamu Suzuki and president Toshihiro Suzuki noted in their official statement: “On March 15, 1920, Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. in Hamamatsu, Japan. From building looms, the business expanded to motorcycles, automobiles, outboard engines, ATVs, and other products—always adapting to the trend of the times as well as domestic and global markets.” They also pointed out that “this is an important milestone to reaffirm the founder’s philosophy of ‘focusing on customers’ and strive to deliver products to customers across the globe.” On the part of Suzuki Motor Philippines, president Akira Utsumi pointed out that 2020 has been a particularly challenging, from the Taal Volcano eruption at the start of the year to the CoVID-19
pandemic that has enforced isolation of the populace. “Beyond this, we, at Suzuki, will look at this year as a remarkable achievement that reminds us of Suzuki’s resilience over the years. As we
embark and look forth to another 100 years, Suzuki reaffirms its commitment to deliver value-packed products to our customers across the globe, despite the many challenges ahead,” Utsumi concludes.
LTO opens Online Portal to serve “new normal” The pandemic Covid-19 has caused a lot of systemic changes in our daily lives, chief of which is how we do business and interact with each other. The social distancing rule that needs to be observed during the new normal requires major shifts in customer and client services. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is very aware of this situation and worked with their digital technology partner DERMALOG to develop an online portal system that automates public services such as driver’s license application and renewal, motor vehicle registration, penalties and online payment access. Applying for all kinds of licenses or paying driver’s licenses fees online is now possible after LTO launched its new registration site portal.lto.gov.ph. The program went live last May 18 and can now service the needs of drivers and vehicle owners in the Philippines. The portal provides fast and 24/7 access to the agency’s services via computer, tablet or smartphone. Those abroad can also register at the portal. Especially in this time of COVID-19 and the resulting limitations on freedom of movement, the new system presents a significant benefit that is aligned to the digital intiatives of the government. With online access for other LTO services shaping up, there will be a significant reduction in queues. The spread of the pandemic through crowded places like the LTO will be mitigated when citizens begin to avail of LTO online services. 66
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The online services for driver’s license application and renewal is now available in Laoag, Bayombong, Roxas, Tagbuilaran, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Butuan, Pagadian, Malaybalay, Lipa, Calapan, Naga, Tagum, Davao City, General Santos, and Baguio, Angeles, San Fernando, Binan, Quezon City, and the LTO Central Office. The new online portal of LTO is combined with the LTMS (Land Transport Management System). It includes an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) from DERMALOG with face recognition and fingerprint identification to prevent false or double identities. The law enforcers will have an apprehending biometric device that will automate ticketing of traffic violations and payment of penalties. The student license examination under the LTMS has facial recognition that will ensure that the applicant and the examinee is one and the same person. Furthermore, the new LTMS system allows an easy integration of verification services of other government agencies in the Philippines such as with the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation etc. LTO employees also benefit from the agency’s transformation. Requests can be processed with a few clicks, thanks to the new system. This saves time and high costs, thus making LTO service more efficient. The LTO staff is also learning to embrace the latest technology. As a leading system integrator in the field of government digitization, DERMALOG has developed the portal and Land Transport Management System (LTMS) for LTO. To implement LTO’s extensive
modernization, the joint venture of Dermalog as lead and technology provider, Microgenesis, Verzontal Construction, and Holy Family Printing has also built a complete state of the art data center in the head office with the capacity of more than 5 petabytes and can accommodate 1 million transactions per day. The new portal makes LTO the most progressive agency in the Philippines and one of the most advanced government agencies worldwide when the full automation of all its public services are completed. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
The E200 AMG is now more accessible at PHP 4.89M, available at 0% interest Every E-Class is a masterpiece of innovation and a true embodiment of modern style and refined sportiness. The impressive AMG Line takes the high art of driving to entirely new heights. Fortified, sharpened, and polished to reset the bar of brilliance, just like the E200 AMG Line. Mercedes-Benz Philippines is making the E200 AMG more accessible at PHP 4,890,000 only, and even more attainable at 0% interest. Now, you can drive home a brand new E200 AMG with as much as PHP 250,000 in savings. This treat could be used as a cash discount, a deduction on the down payment, or a payment holiday. Performance AMG stands for progressive engineering and an intensive driving experience. Features borrowed from the world of motorsport and the characteristic AMG design underline this exceptional status. Under the bonnet of E200 AMG is a 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine. It boasts a 9G-TRONIC including direct select lever and direct select steering wheel gearshift paddles that facilitate changing of gears quickly but almost imperceptibly. Along with a seamless power delivery, the versatile transmission also enhances quiet riding comfort and fuel-efficiency. Exterior Dynamic design features characterize the exclusivity of the Mercedes-AMG exterior. The body design of the E200 sports bold and muscular features. It looks aggressive and athletic with its 19-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in titanium grey and with high-sheen finish. It has dynamic front bumpers with chrome trim and air intakes with diamond mesh. Its wide grille integrates the iconic Mercedes-Benz Star as the centerpiece. Adding more character to the AMG line are side skirts painted in vehicle colour with chrome inserts, Window Weatherstrip in polished aluminium and Bezel B-pillars and the bar on the rear side windows in high-gloss black. Interior The interior is luxuriously elegant with upholstery in Artico man-made leather or Dinamica microfiber in black. It features the New Look 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in black Nappa leather with flattened bottom section, with Touch Control buttons and stirring wheel gearshift paddles. The AMG Line bucket seats are enormously bolstered with chunky lateral supports hugging you in place that makes it comfortable even on long journeys. Rear seat space is more than acceptable, reaching the upper limits of the class.
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Technology The E200 AMG brings a fully digital dash. It features a COMAND Online Infotainment System that can be connected to the internet and has a Smartphone Integration consisting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On top of this is a high-resolution 31.2 cm (12.3-inch) widescreen cockpit instrument displays. It is also equipped with wireless charging and connection via Bluetooth. In addition, every road trip is enjoyable with Burmester Surround Sound System with 13 speakers, a 9-channel DSP amplifier and a total output of 590 W. Safety Features Just like every E-Class, safety is all over the DNA of the E200 AMG. High-performance LED headlamps with integral daytime running lamps and tail lights featuring LED technology make the car easily get notices for additional safety and style. Attention Assist can help typical symptoms of drowsiness based on driver’s behaviour and alert the driver on increasing fatigue and inattention.
The Active Parking Assist PARKTRONIC and reversing camera facilitate a clearer view of what is behind the vehicle especially when reversing. The PRE-SAFE feature detects instability during vehicle maneuvers when a collision or rollover seems imminent. It even generates ‘pink noise’ through the audio system to lower possible effects of a potential collision on driver’s and passengers’ hearing. If the E200 AMG is not for you, you can still get your hands on the Benz you’ve been eyeing for years, as there are other units to choose from to fit your lifestyle and preferences. Other units included in the 0% interest program are the A180, C180, E180, V220, and S320. This offer is up for a limited time only so head to Mercedes-Benz showroom near you or visit www.mercedes-benz.ph/ e200-amg-line today to know more. You may also call your Sales Executive for a no-contact, safer and convenient shopping experience.
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KTM big bikes now made in the Philippines For the first time in the Philippine motorcycle industry, big bikes will finally roll out of the KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing, Inc. (KAMMI) factory line. Since the 790 Duke global launch in early 2019, the local motorcycle community has been abuzz with rumors and clamor for big bikes to be locally-made—with the anticipation of making it affordable and accessible to Filipino riders seeking for their next upgrade.
790 Adventure White
790 Adventure Orange
On the occasion of Philippine Independence Day, KTM Philippines proudly announced that starting with the 790 CKD Family line, KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing, Inc. (KAMMI) will assemble 800cc parallel twin platform motorcycles at its stateof-the-art factory in Laguna. This is expected to boost the growth of Europe’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the vibrant domestic motorcycle market as well as in the entire ASEAN region, which accounts for more than 13 million motorcycle sales annually. In 2017, KTM partnered up with Ayala Corporation. Besides acting as the distributor of the KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycle brands in the domestic markets, Ayala also entered into a Joint Venture with KTM for the production of motorcycles ranging from 200cc to 390cc. This range is now being extended by the globally successful 800cc parallel twin platform. This is the largest displacement motorcycle ever produced in the country, based on Austrian R&D and engineering, paired with the high-quality standard of the domestic production. The 800cc parallel-twin KTM 790 DUKE was dubbed ‘THE SCALPEL’ for its fantastic power-to-weight ratio, agility, handling, and performance. It was swiftly followed by the KTM 790 ADVENTURE: a compact, powerful and acclaimed travel bike with excellent capabilities for the street and offroad use which has become the reigning queen in the 800–1000cc travel segment. Import duties heavily restrict the supply of International motorcycles into the ASEAN region in countries such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines which, in 2019, recorded over 1.7 million motorcycle sales alone. KTM’s further investment into the facility in the Philippines and the ASEAN region will ensure that its share in the promising large displacement segment keeps increasing. KAMMI president and COO Dino Santos stated in the KTM Philippines Facebook page: “It’s the ultimate dream for KTM Philippines to build world-class motorcycles. After only three years of KAMMI operation, our factory will produce the 790 CKD Family line (790 Duke, 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R) for the domestic and the ASEAN markets. Like many, our business was not spared by the pandemic crisis, but fortunately our export demands continue to keep us moving forward. 68
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790 Adventure R
790 Duke
Today, the export markets contributes around 80% of the factory output. This gives us pride that the Filipino is building motorcycles for Asia. On the local front, this industry breakthrough makes our motorcycles priced more competitively, and more Filipinos can now be proud owners of KTM in the country. Owning a KTM would also mean supporting our local automotive industry.” “The challenge has always been to prove that the Philippines can be a full manufacturing site that can be the hub for supplying the needs of the ASEAN region. We are proud to be able to achieve this with KAMMI showcasing the Filipino talent in producing world-class motorcycles for supplying the needs of the Asian countries. This is through the successful collaboration of KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing Inc. (KAMMI) and Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI),” shared Art Tan, Group CEO of AC Industrials that houses these two Ayala companies.
“The expertise and progress of the plant in Laguna Technopark means we have not hesitated when it comes to investment and further collaboration,” said CSO Florian Kecht. “It will accelerate the growth of the local KTM business but also enlarge its presence in the ASEAN region. Our local production activities support our strategy to fortify the brand with a greater range of larger cc motorcycles. It’s a proud moment and an exciting time for the company as well as KTM lovers in the region.” KTM AG posted sales of more than 280.000 in 2019—exceeding yearly sales of BMW, Ducati and Triumph combined—representing the ninth consecutive year of growth and a 7% increase over 2018. KTM AG is targeting the 400.000 figure by 2022. #ByFilipino #BuyFilipino #ReadyToRace
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suzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) digitally launched the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4, Isuzu’s ultimate off-roader and the perfect vehicle to herald IPC’s motoring lifestyle campaign—Live Life Differently—that boldly responds to the challenges of the new normal. The digital launch, broadcast over Facebook Live on June 17, was IPC’s first-ever digital launch, marking the world-renowned truck maker’s innovative response in the “new normal”.
Live Life Differently
Within the Live Life Differently mantra, IPC encourages its clients and would-be customers to discover the endless possibilities of driving an Isuzu vehicle. To Live Life Differently would mean to simply go beyond the comfort of our homes, to explore the outdoors, and open ourselves up to more adventures, all the while driving an Isuzu vehicle. With the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4, to Live Life Differently now gives the off-roader the added confidence to take his or her adventures a notch tougher, higher, and farther. IPC president Hajime Koso proudly introduced the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 as “purposely named after the mountains. The Boondock boasts rough and rugged styling, coupled with the exceptional engine performance of Isuzu— perfect for off-road driving.” No other pickup can symbolize the Filipino off-roader’s re-emergence from months of home confinement than the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4, which has been designed to handle practically all types of terrain: sand, gravel, riverbed, mud, and rocks. Built upon the popular 3.0L D-MAX 4x4 LS-A model, the Boondock trademark adds an even tougher, more rugged image with the triedand-tested performance to back it up, making it the ideal pickup for the Filipino motorist looking for that one vehicle to embody the “can-do” attitude of a true off-roader. The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 is powered by the Euro-4 compliant 4JJ1-TCX 4-cylinder in-line Blue Power 3.0-liter diesel engine with VGS turbo charger and intercooler mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with gearshift indicator or a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, able to generate maximum power outputs of 177Ps at 3,600rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1,800 to 2,80rpm. This level of power and efficiency is also expressed in the D-MAX Boondock’s design and accessories. The monotube nitrogen-charged front and rear shock absorber ensures instantaneous response to changing road conditions, offering faster damping reaction. The result is an improved steering control in whatever terrain and driving condition.
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Steel side steps not only offer easy access but valuable protection to the pickup body. Its honeycomb design with the “Boondock” logo is also easy to clean and provides better traction during ingress and egress. The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 is fitted with 265/70 R17 all-terrain tires wrapped around matte black off-road rally type design R17 rims. The Boondock decal on the tailgate is now paired with a new hood and body customized graphics that pays tribute to the country’s highest boondock, Mt. Apo. The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 comes in the following colors: red spinel, cosmic
black, titanium silver, and silky pearl white. The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 is now available in AT and MT variants, with introductory prices of PHP 1,725,000 (MT) and PHP 1,795,000 (AT). As a part of Isuzu’s Monsoon Promo, a PHP 95,000 discount is available until the end of June. For more details, log on to www.isuzuphil.com To book an appointment, check out Isuzu’s new Digital Dealer page on their website and talk to a Sales Representative online via video call. You may also visit any of the authorized Isuzu dealerships nationwide.
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Toyota unveils the 2020 Wigo with more advanced features
oyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially unveiled the 2020 update of the country’s bestselling entry-level hatchback, the Toyota Wigo, in an interactive digital launch streamed online, debuting at a time when the public face limitations in public transportation and increasing safety concerns. The New Wigo addresses mobility needs during these challenging times, providing the best option for budget-conscious first-time car buyers and those looking for extra car for other family members.
“The New Wigo remains an iconic car that offers the same familiar feeling of practicality and reliability, but made more advanced, more convenient, safer, and more fun with its sleek and sporty TRD Styling,” said TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto during his welcome remarks. The 2020 Wigo lineup is headlined by the new TRD S, a sporty and exciting variant perfectly designed for an adventurous driving experience. The rest of the lineup introduces changes and more advanced features while still having the same reliable quality of any Toyota vehicle. Overall, the New Wigo stays true to being a practical and affordable choice that can cater to the market’s transportation needs, all while being fun to drive. Sportier Styling Inside and Out The New Wigo G gets machine cut design alloy wheels and a new look on its rear combination lamps. The G and E variants also share a new front bumper look. On top of the machine cut design alloy wheels and redesigned rear combination lamps, the TRD S variant sports a more adventurous look with the TRD kit installed. The kit includes the front spoiler, side skirt, two-tone rear spoiler, rear skirt, and TRD S badge and decals. The new yellow SE color is only available in the TRD S variant. The spacious interior features redesigned seats and chrome accents, with the LCD air conditioner panel (for TRD S and G variants) for easier access and control. More advanced features The New Wigo now comes with the push start button and steering switch, as well as LCD touch panel type A/C for the TRD S and G variants. The power retract and adjust side mirrors make driver rear visibility easily adjustable, and parking is more convenient and beginner friendly with the new back camera that comes with TRD S and G variants. The TRD S variant’s TRD kit also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Voice command feature, and a class leading digital video recorder, making every trip safer, more convenient, and enjoyable. All variants come with power door lock and a new instrument panel design for easier access to controls. Safety features are never compromised with all variants coming with SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger, back sonar, and anti-lock brake system (ABS). 70
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Pricing
Variant
Price
Color Available
TRD S
PHP 700,000
Yellow SE | White | Gray Metallic
G AT
PHP 658,000
G MT
PHP 623,000
Orange Metallic Black Silver Metallic White Gray Metallic
E MT
PHP 568,000
Silver Metallic | White | Gray Metallic
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Hino Motors PH rolls out all-new FL 10-wheeler truck Hino Motors Philippines (HMP), the exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the country, introduces the newest addition to its 500 series of medium-duty trucks, the all-new Hino FL 10-wheeler. The Facebook livestream launch of the latest Hino truck also marks the company’s first virtual launch in the Philippines. Designed to provide Total Support, the all-new Hino FL 10-wheeler truck sets a new standard for medium-duty trucks with its improved safety and comfort, superior reliability and optimum fuel economy. With all these features, the Hino FL 10-wheeler truck is ready to cater to the various trucking and logistics needs of Filipinos nationwide. “We at Hino will always be a committed and solid business partner that continuously innovates and adapts to the changing needs of our customers. We expand our product portfolio and broaden our trucking solutions to provide our customers with the right Hino truck that meets their business needs. With this new Hino truck, we aim to partner with more businesses and establishments and support more Filipinos in this time of need. We assure our customers of the Hino promise of reducing total running cost and downtime and maximizing lifetime value through the excellent quality of our aftersales services”, said HMP chairman Vicente T. Mills, Jr. HMP President Mitsuharu Tabata further highlighted the Hino FL 10-wheeler truck’s significance to Hino’s decades-long mission. “Every part of the new truck unit is engineered to deliver powerful performance. Like its predecessors, the truck bears the premium Japanese quality Hino is globally known for. This new truck embodies Hino’s mission of making the world a better place by helping people and goods get where they need to go – safely, economically and environmentally responsible,” shared Mitsuharu. Powerful truck performance The new Hino 500 truck, which has a complete truck model name of FL8J, supports a load capacity of up to 18,620kg and a total gross vehicle weight of 26,000kg. It is powered by Hino J08E, a six-cylinder and Euro 4-compliant engine that delivers increased output, greater cooling, improved fuel efficiency and lower carbon emission. The truck uses a nine-speed manual transmission system and has 320L fuel capacity. It can reach up to 108kph maximum speed and 2,600rpm maximum engine speed, with 40.4 percent gradeability at full load capacity. Its suspension features semi-elliptical leaf springs on both the front and the rear side.
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Improved safety and comfort Highlighting Hino’s emphasis on safety, the FL truck is equipped with full-air dual circuit brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS), featuring leading and trailing shoe brake system with auto brake shoe adjuster and air operated spring brake to assist during parking. It is built with Hino’s Easy Start (ES) technology, which assists the driver in safely maneuvering the vehicle during steep inclines by maintaining a breaking force that prevents the truck from rolling backward and making other accidental movements. The ES technology simultaneously allows the driver to reduce fatigue by resting their feet off the brake pedals and automatically releasing the brakes once the clutch is engaged. This feature, which operates in both forward and reverse gears, optimizes the truck’s overall
performance by minimizing maintenance costs through reduced stress placed on the brakes and clutch while boosting driver comfort and safety. The easy-to-adjust seat suspension system is ergonomically designed to secure a smooth and safe ride for the driver and helps prevent back injuries. The truck’s air conditioning system, power windows and doors are all strategically assembled to boost the driver’s comfort, performance and productivity. Availability The all-new Hino FL truck is available at all Hino 3S dealerships nationwide at the starting price of PHP 3.775M for a 32ft. body. Customers may request a quotation online through Hino’s official Facebook page or website.
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How to ride safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic The government recently relaxed community quarantine guidelines to gradually reopen the economy. Thousands of workers are finally allowed to go to their offices, provided they follow strict health and safety protocols Although public transport will be operational, limitations have been imposed to ensure physical distancing among passengers. For instance, in the National Capital Region (NCR), the resumption of public transport systems will be done in two phases, says the Department of Transportation (DoTR). For Phase 1, covering June 1 to 21, augmented trains and buses, taxis, transport network vehicles (TNVs), shuttle services, point-to-point buses, bicycles, and tricycles can operate but with limited passenger capacity. Provincial buses are not allowed to enter Metro Manila. For Phase 2, covering June 22 to 30, public utility buses, modern public utility vehicles (PUVs), and UV Express will be permitted to operate with limited passenger capacity, along with the initial set of transport modes allowed to run during Phase 1. Since all transport modes remain limited, it may take longer for the commuting public to get to their destinations, as the mass transportation systems take safety precautions to keep Filipinos safe from COVID-19. For Honda Philippines Inc., the country’s top motorcycle manufacturer, this situation reinforces the need for motorcycles as a convenient and safe mode of solo transportation, helping riders get to their destinations faster and safer.
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Tires. Check for any cracks, bulges, or signs of wear in the treads (Low tire pressure or any defects could cause a blowout).
with gloves, leather jacket with an elbow and back support, and knee pads are also perfect for riding safety.
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Tension of chain. Check the chain if it’s well lubricated. Chain tension must be following your motorcycle model.
Follow traffic rules and guidelines
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Operation of controls. Check throttle play, and must maintain snapback operations. Check clutch lever for free play.
With the anticipated increase in solo riders on the road, it is essential that road safety be observed at all times.
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Brakes. Check operation and cable conditions. Test both front and rear brakes to ensure these are working properly.
Here are some tips from the road safety experts from the Honda Safety Driving Center on how to stay safe on the road while observing physical distancing:
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Engine. Make a visual check on your engine to see any leakages or loose fittings.
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Side Mirror. Make sure that the side mirror is free from scratches and must be clean and clear.
Check your motorcycles You will most probably need to use your motorcycle more often now, because of limited mass transport. However, the quarantine probably left your motorcycle collecting dust over the past few months, so a thorough motorcycle check is important before hitting the road.
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Alignment of steering. Check smoothness of play and make sure the handlebar is securely bolted.
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Fuel. Make sure the gasoline cap is securely closed and not leaking.
Remember this acronym: G.O.T. T.O. B.E. S.A.F.E.
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Electrical / Lights. Ensure all electrical-based switches and devices, like the horn and lights, are properly functioning.
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General appearance. Make sure your bike looks good and is in a rideable condition.
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Oil. Ensure that the engine oil is between the maximum and minimum levels using the engine dipstick.
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Wear proper protective gear All riders are required to wear a helmet and a mask when riding a motorcycle. Complete safety gear
Aside from traffic rules, riders must also follow and be aware of the additional guidelines set by the authorities. It is also important to bring the necessary documents, such as your license, working certificates, valid IDs, and others, since authorities may require you to show them at checkpoints. New riders need to take note of road rules to avoid any rookie mistakes. For instance, newbies should remember to check both sides and use turn signals before changing lanes, only use the horn to communicate with other riders, and be alert at all times. By providing a safe mode of mobility, Honda Philippines joins the country’s fight against COVID-19 as it promotes safety protocols, such as physical distancing, through its motorcycles. Through the Honda Safety Driving Center, Honda Philippines has been true to its “ONE DREAM” campaign that aims to fulfill people’s dreams while experiencing the joy of mobility. Explore Honda’s wide array of motorcycles and on-going promos by visiting www.hondaph. com and follow its social media pages: Facebook, Honda Philippines, Inc., and Instagram, @hondaph_mc.
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Agoda lists reasons to embark on a two-wheeled adventure
With GCQ restrictions finally allowing biking around Metro Manila as an outdoor recreational activity, why not indulge yourself a bit? Just don’t forget to observe physical distancing and personal protective equipment protocols and you should be good to go. Digital travel platform Agoda shares four reasons you should hop on your bike, as well as great cycling routes you can bookmark for later travel. Get on your bike and get closer to nature According to Agoda’s Usage & Attitude Study 2019, Nature/Countryside is the top motivation for people to travel. Cycling gets you close to that with many cycle routes boasting and connecting scenic sights, nature parks and the countryside. Take in the sights at your own pace, hop on or off where you like, and quite literally stop to smell the roses. Get on your bike for unique experiences Experience your own city or town from a different perspective. Traveling on two wheels allows you to easily navigate less congested routes, discover new food spots or small
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businesses to support, and explore places where public transport might not usually take you. Get on your bike for a rewarding workout With health being a key topic in 2020, who would mind some exercise and have fun while at it? So long as you follow proper protective measures, you’re finally able to go out again to burn calories and keep fit while taking in some scenery. It’s a truly rewarding workout you probably took for granted before. Get on your bike for an eco-friendly means of transport
For families: Plan a weekend trip for the family touring the historic Corregidor Island on bikes. Visit landmarks like the Malinta Tunnel and the ruins of the Middleside Barracks, which used to be home to World War II soldiers. For cycling enthusiasts: Mountain bikers looking for an outdoor adventure can traverse the Cordillera Mountains in Sagada and greet the sun as it rises over the iconic sea of clouds at Kiltepan or Marlboro Hills. Complete the fun by paying a visit to the Hanging Coffins on the limestone cliffs at Echo Valley and taking a dip at Bomod-Ok Falls.
Keen to reduce your carbon footprint? More than 25% of travelers want to make more eco-friendly travel choices in the next decade, according to Agoda’s recent Next Decade Travel Trends research. Cycling is definitely an affordable and eco-friendly way to get around.
For nature lovers: Enjoy a different kind of cycling experience while taking in the magnificent Chocolate Hills—the pride of Bohol—by going on an adrenaline-pumping bike zipline. It’s a first of its kind attraction where you get to pedal your way above the famed chocolate-colored natural domes. Think biking, but in the sky.
With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines has no shortage of fun destinations and routes to explore for those traveling on two wheels. Once it’s safe to travel again, consider these cyclingfriendly holiday ideas:
When you plan for these adventures, book your stay at any of Agoda’s 25,000 beachside, city or rural properties around the Philippines for affordable accommodations and a hassle-free experience.
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MONEY
Mastercard Study sees digital habits on the rise in Southeast Asia COVID-19 has accelerated adoption of ecommerce and contactless payments in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, offering opportunities for businesses to continue operating while allowing consumers to stay safe.
COVID-19 has driven momentum towards the digital economy in Southeast Asia by necessitating rapid adoption of ecommerce, home deliveries, and digital and contactless payments, according to the latest Mastercard Impact Studies. Even as countries in the region start to ease restrictions and prepare for a “new normal”, the report indicates that some of these trends and habits formed in response to the pandemic are expected to remain for the long-term.
the greatest uptick in use among all contactless payments methods in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
The recent results indicate a rise in online shopping in the region, with 40 percent or more of surveyed consumers in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand reporting they relied more on home delivery services in April than in March. Meanwhile, nearly half of the consumers surveyed in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand reported an increase in their online shopping during the same period.
Mastercard adopted a drive into digital commerce many years before COVID-19 to maximize options and convenience for consumers in how and where they shop and pay—by tapping a card or mobile device on a contactless terminal in a shop, using an e-wallet within a smart phone, making a purchase online or seamlessly transferring money and paying bills. For merchants of all sizes, Mastercard has a range of solutions and services in e-commerce, payments, cybersecurity, fraud protection, data analytics and productivity to help businesses thrive in the changing business environment.
Alongside these changes in purchasing habits was a region-wide shift in payment methods, with the majority of consumers in all Southeast Asia markets surveyed reporting a significant decrease in cash usage—64 percent in the Philippines— since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, various contactless payment methods saw their usage increase. Mobile and digital wallets saw
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With regard to consumer sentiment in the region, up to 83 percent of Filipinos remain cautious about COVID-19 infection, and there are broad concerns held across the region about how the pandemic is affecting household finances. The uncertainty has also led to consumers holding off on making big-ticket purchases—80 percent in the Philippines.
Mastercard is fully focused on supporting consumers and businesses in their bid to go cashless. Some of these initiatives include: • Increased contactless limits. In March, Mastercard increased contactless payment limits in 50 countries worldwide to help
consumers, merchants and small businesses access the resources to pay safely, receive payment and maintain operations during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. • Digital disbursements. Mastercard is actively partnering with key players in the private and public sectors to drive digital payments and financial inclusion to those who have been impacted by COVID. • Contactless transport solutions. Mastercard is working with cities across the world, including Singapore and Malaysia, to simplify customer experiences in transportation, by integrating contactless payments in transit and allowing commuters to pay for their fares using a debit or credit card, or a contactlessenabled device. • Ecommerce tools that empower businesses. In supporting businesses looking to strengthen their presence in the digital marketplace, Mastercard continues to develop solutions such as Simplify Commerce, a simple and secure platform that makes it easier for businesses to accept electronic payments, regardless of payment brand. Offering payments and business management features that simplify backend processes, merchants are able to focus on core business functions as they enter the digital space.
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ENTERPRISE
PLDT launches BEYOND FIBER, a new package of business-grade internet and digital solutions
PLDT Enterprise launches its newest offering called BEYOND FIBER to help businesses make the digital shift towards long-term growth (In photo: Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups; Jojo G. Gendrano, PLDT Enterprise First Vice President & Enterprise Core Biz Business Head; Gary F. Ignacio, PLDT Enterprise VP and Fixed Core Biz Business Solutions Head)
Leading telecoms and digital services provider PLDT Inc. has launched its newest package of connectivity and digital solutions to help businesses gear up for operating in the new normal. Called BEYOND FIBER, the new service package offered by PLDT’s Enterprise Group features a set of curated digital tools ranging from productivity and collaboration tools to e-payments and e-commerce solutions. These services are combined with enterprise-grade WiFi running on premium fiber service— enabling small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) to fearlessly make the digital shift towards longterm growth. For only PHP 2,500 a month, SMEs and large enterprises alike can avail of the foundational components of BEYOND FIBER: enterprise-grade connectivity via a premium WiFi device and fiber connection, all supported by a dedicated business hotline. “We at PLDT and Smart are focused on putting the customer at the center of everything we do. Within the Enterprise group, we aim to do this through the launch of solutions such as BEYOND FIBER, which is set to benefit all our customers— regardless of size or industry. We look forward to seeing how this solution will inspire business to
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look beyond the current situation and take their businesses further,” said Smart president & CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer Al Panlilio. “Digitalization has now become critical for businesses that want to survive and thrive under the challenging conditions created by the COVID pandemic. We specifically designed BEYOND FIBER to equip businesses with digital solutions tailor-fit to the growing needs of today’s enterprises,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT president & CEO and SVP head for PLDT and Smart enterprise business groups. BEYOND FIBER raises the bar by offering a more robust business-grade fiber link with speeds of up to 50 Mbps—harnessing PLDT’s extensive fiber optic network with over 322,000 kilometers of fiber cables and growing – to better enable the day-to-day business for an office, a branch or for people working from home.
company processes. This is made possible by PLDT’s partnership with Cisco Meraki – a leader in cloud managed IT with unmatched visibility and control. On top of this, PLDT is offering a selection of solutions that fit current and future digital needs of enterprises. This includes productivity tools available through Microsoft 365’s suite of work solutions, collaboration tools via MS Teams, appointments scheduling via MS Bookings. BEYOND FIBER also offers solutions to protect work devices from cyber-attacks via ePLDT’s Endpoint Advanced Security, to enable cashless and online payments via Paymaya, and to provide secure & private connections through Cisco Meraki Z3.
To manage the expanding use of wi-fi connectivity in the workplace, BEYOND FIBER comes with a secure, enterprise-grade wi-fi router. Stores for example can have dual wi-fi networks: one for work, and one for guests.
“These are the solutions initially lined up under BEYOND FIBER. We will have more in the months to come. This initiative is designed to help businesses to make their digital shift—so that they grow amid the COVID crisis and help power the recovery of the national economy,” Hernandez said.
For businesses using telecommute or workfrom-home arrangements, the WiFi service can enforce certain network policies to support their
For more information on BEYOND FIBER by PLDT Enterprise, log on to https://pldtenterprise. com/solutions/internet/beyond-fiber
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Visa pledges support for 10M small businesses in Asia Pacific to spur recovery through e-commerce
Visa announced a commitment to support 10 million small businesses across Asia Pacific in an effort to get local communities back to business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visa is introducing a range of programs and solutions to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) drive efficiency and sales by accepting and making payments digitally to meet increased demand for cashless payments—both online and in-store. Visa also formed the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI) focused on economic and societal issues, including pandemic challenges SMEs face, and closing racial and gender opportunity gaps. The 10 million pledge is part of a global program that will see Visa supporting 50 million small businesses worldwide. Small businesses will play a vital role in helping communities recover —they account for more than half of global employment and are among the most affected by the pandemic. In Asia Pacific, SMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses and employ 50 per cent of the workforce In addition to the economic impacts, COVID-19 is accelerating the use of digital commerce experiences, from people seeking new ways to pay that do not involve touching a terminal to a boom in eCommerce, as stay-home orders result in shopping online instead of in-store. In Asia Pacific, 41% of consumers made five or more eCommerce transactions in the past three months. Three quarters of consumers in the
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region have said they will keep using digital payments instead of going back to cash, even after the global pandemic has subsided. To help small businesses, Visa is focusing initially on four strategic areas to promote digital commerce and economic growth, with plans to continue to create products and services as the needs of entrepreneurs change over time. These areas include: • Empowering digital-first businesses: Visa has built localised online resource centres – now available in more than 20 countries and territories – providing tools, partner offers and information on how to start, run and grow a digital small business. • Encouraging digital payments: Deploying easy to adopt touchless payment technology – rapidly, and at scale – is critical to enabling faster, more secure commerce. Visa is working to introduce low-cost digital payments acceptance, including solutions that do not require point-of-sale systems and can enable a merchant’s mobile phone to become a payment terminal. Visa is also supporting SMEs to make business-to-business (B2B) payments digitally. By digitalising procurement payments through the use of a Visa Business Card, SMEs can utilise reconciliation tools and benefit from higher efficiency and data insights, in addition to managing their working capital effectively.
• Incentivising neighborhood support: Visa partnerships encourage consumers to shop local and remind them that where you shop matters. The Visa Back to Business Project – an online tool that helps consumers identify businesses that may be open in the wake of the pandemic or a natural disaster – is now live in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., and further expanding globally. Visa has launched its new ‘Where You Shop Matters’ initiative that champions and enables entrepreneurs while encouraging consumers to support small businesses in Asia Pacific markets including the Philippines. • Developing positioning and policy: The new Visa Economic Empowerment Institute comprises Visa experts and partners who will help address underlying problems and provide insights for SMEs growth and closing racial and gender gaps. Key projects in the next six months will address topics including post-crisis recovery and resilience, urban mobility, closing equality opportunity gaps, and insights into the gig economy. This announcement follows a global commitment from the Visa Foundation announced in April, to provide USD 210 million in COVID-19 relief funding to address the longer-term needs of the small and micro business community over the next five years.
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Seven ways to adapt your business for the current normal
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do almost everything. For some business owners, community quarantine meant they had to close up shop for the meantime or adopt new measures in order to continue operations. For example, some have implemented their own guidelines as the government continues to reiterate that social distancing, is the new norm, until such time the virus threat is minimized. As business operations continue or just restart for some, it’s important that business owners adapt to the “current normal.” GoDaddy, a company dedicated to empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world, shares these tips on what businesses can to do to help ensure people’s safety as they deal with your business. 1. Be an advocate of social distancing Share with your employees the right information about social distancing and how to prevent the virus from spreading. You can also help inform customers, too. The Department of Health (DOH) offers a number of printable fact sheets which you can display at your place of business. Informing people how to practice social distancing and what measures they can do once inside your business, is crucial for everyone’s safety. 2. Limit physical contact According to the DOH, the fastest and most common way for viruses to spread is still through
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physical contact. Do not shake hands. Do not hug. If you need to greet someone, stick with a wave for now. 3. Have disinfectants available Once you open shop, it’s important that you have ample alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubbing alcohol (at least 70%) available for employees and customers to use. You also should have soap available in toilets and display signs to remind handwashing. The DOH maintains that this is an effective way to help prevent viruses from spreading. 4. Shift to an agile workplace In an effort to continue to limit the number of people at your office, adopt work from home measures for those who can remotely work and turn physical meetings into virtual ones. To help ensure that employees are equipped to be more agile, ensure that they have the right productivity and video conferencing tools they need to work collaboratively and efficiently. For example, GoDaddy currently offers Microsoft Office 365 which has Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Microsoft Teams currently for P779 a month, which can be installed for up to five devices. 5. Ensure space in physical locations If you have a brick and mortar set-up, it’s imperative that you have enough space for customers to practice social distancing. When
there are queues, you may want to consider using specific markers to help observe the one-meter recommended distance from each other by the DOH. 6. Pivot to digital and online payments As a temporary measure for brick-and-mortar locations, you may want to consider reducing cash handling. Instead, you could use digital payment systems when possible. You could also consider creating an online store to sell your products and services, where all payments can be handled digitally with your customers, with the option to pick-up their purchases at your physical location. GoDaddy’s Online Store product, for example, allows you to set-up a digital store that can accept major credit cards and PayPal. 7. Set caps on customers Social distancing measures can be better practiced if you control the number of customers that can enter your store at any point. You can either limit the number of people that can go inside, or serve them in batches. This way, you help to ensure that there’s enough space for everyone’s safety. GoDaddy currently has resources available to help small business owners with tips and tools they can use to help adjust to the current changes brought by the pandemic. Log on to https:// openwestand.org for more information.
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CYBER SECURITY
With VIBER, your data privacy is protected
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us have adapted to the new normal and withdrawn to the safety of our homes. It’s only natural, then, that our internet use has spiked significantly—around 70%, according to Forbes. But now that we work from home, communicate with our distant loved ones, and commune with friends through our devices, our private information is at risk more than ever. You’ve probably heard of the privacy concerns that plague many of the communications apps that have grown in popularity during the quarantine. These are usually video conference apps or mobile video social networking apps that leave you vulnerable to third parties and data leaks. There are also warnings against using apps designed for contact tracing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Though these apps may be helpful in these times, they do process and store location data in real-time. People have also turned to social media to join groups or communities that align with their hobbies and interests. Online marketplaces have also become more active, with people trying to make ends meet in a time of such economic uncertainty. But what people don’t always realize is that some of these public groups expose their profiles to strangers they don’t necessarily trust. Other messaging apps can scan users’ personal and private chats, and use the data for targeting and advertising. Some apps can also access
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messages and data to give to law enforcement agencies for tracking.
should log out of apps you’ve finished using, so the next user doesn’t see your private profile.
So this leaves us with the question: What app can you really trust with your privacy in the era of social distancing? Rakuten Viber, one of the top messaging apps in the world, gives you several ways to prioritize your security online. This is keeping in line with its commitment to protecting the data of its users. “Unlike other apps, which mine user data to improve their marketing campaigns or to sell to other companies, the private messages sent via Viber are by default encrypted, which means it is virtually impossible for anyone from Viber to view users’ chat. On Viber, you can be sure that every private message you send can only be read on the device you send it to.” says Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua.
Be vigilant when it comes to the apps you install. Only get apps from trusted stores, like the App Store or Play Store, and only get them if they are trusted and secure. Remember, many apps can actually access your data for collection, commercial, and advertising purposes. Go through every single app on your phone, and keep in mind that each one is a potential privacy problem. You may not think of it, but your even your photo editing suite can be a gateway to your contacts, location, and profile. If you encounter an app that you hardly use anymore, delete it—it will be one less security risk on your phone.
You can even go a step further and follow some guidelines to secure the info on your device. For one, you can check your phone’s Privacy Settings. Here you can see which apps you have and if you’ve granted them permission to access data elsewhere on your phone. If you spot an app that has access to something you don’t want it to, just tap on the toggle switch to turn it off. If you’re on a shared device, it’s especially important to turn off autofill to protect sensitive info you may have typed in. Of course, you
Since Viber is by default encrypted, you don’t need to worry about your data getting leaked or sold. “At Rakuten Viber, we’re proud to say that we put customer privacy first. We will never sell your data. In fact, we can’t even see it in the first place.” says Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua. Moving all your personal interactions online may present some security risks, but if you’re careful with the apps you use and take the measures to protect your privacy online, you can dodge all the traps in the data minefield of the internet and connect with those who matter most with some peace of mind.
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IBM: Security in the cloud remains challenged by complexity and shadow IT IBM Security has released new data examining the top challenges and threats impacting cloud security, indicating that the ease and speed at which new cloud tools can be deployed can also make it harder for security teams to control their usage. According to IBM survey data and case-study analysis, basic security oversight issues, including governance, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations, remain the top risk factors organizations should address to help secure increasingly cloud-based operations. With businesses rapidly moving to cloud to accommodate remote workforce demands, understanding the unique security challenges posed by this transition is essential for managing risk. While the cloud enables many critical business and technology capabilities, ad-hoc adoption and management of cloud resources can also create complexity for IT and cybersecurity teams. This distributed landscape can lead to unclear ownership of security in the cloud, policy blind spots, and potential for shadow IT to introduce vulnerabilities and misconfiguration. Top threats in the cloud: Data theft, cryptomining and ransomware In order to get a better picture of how attackers are targeting cloud environments, X-Force IRIS incident response experts conducted an in-depth analysis of cloud-related cases the team responded to over the past year. The analysis found: • Cybercriminals leading the charge: Financially motivated cybercriminals were the most commonly observed threat group category targeting cloud environments in IBM X-Force incident response cases, though nation state actors are also a persistent risk. • Exploiting cloud apps: The most common entry point for attackers was via cloud applications, including tactics such as bruteforcing, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations. Vulnerabilities often remained undetected due to “shadow IT,” when an employee goes outside approved channels and stands up a vulnerable cloud app. Managing vulnerabilities in the cloud can be challenging, since vulnerabilities in cloud products remained outside the scope of traditional CVEs until 2020. • Ransomware in the cloud: Ransomware was deployed 3x more than any other type of malware in cloud environments in IBM incident response cases, followed by cryptominers and botnet malware. • Data theft: Outside of malware deployment, data theft was the most common threat activity IBM observed in breached cloud environments over the last year, ranging from personally identifying information (PII) to client-related emails. • Exponential returns: Threat actors used cloud resources to amplify the effect of attacks like 80
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cryptomining and DDoS. Additionally, threat groups used the cloud to host their malicious infrastructure and operations, adding scale and an additional layer of obfuscation to remain undetected. Maturing CloudSec can lead to faster security response While the cloud revolution is posing new challenges for security teams, organizations who are able to pivot to a more mature and streamlined governance model for cloud security can help their security agility and response capabilities. The survey from IBM Institute for Business Value found that responding organizations who ranked high maturity in both Cloud and Security evolution were able to identify and contain data breaches faster than colleagues who were still in early phases of their cloud adoption journey. As the cloud becomes essential for business operations and an increasingly remote workforce, IBM Security recommends that organizations focus on the following elements to help improve cybersecurity for hybrid, multicloud environments: • Establish collaborative governance and culture: Adopt a unified strategy that combines cloud and security operations – across application developers, IT Operations and Security. Designate clear policies and responsibilities for existing cloud resources
as well as for the acquisition of new cloud resources. • Take a risk-based view: Assess the kinds of workload and data you plan to move to the cloud and define appropriate security policies. Start with a risk-based assessment for visibility across your environment and create a roadmap for phasing cloud adoption. • Apply strong access management: Leverage access management policies and tools for access to cloud resources, including multifactor authentication, to prevent infiltration using stolen credentials. Restrict privileged accounts and set all user groups to least-required privileges to minimize damage from account compromise (zero trust model). • Have the right tools: Ensure tools for security monitoring, visibility and response are effective across all cloud and on-premise resources. Consider shifting to open technologies and standards which allow for greater interoperability between tools. • Automate security processes: Implementing effective security automation in your system can help improve your detection and response capabilities, rather than relying on manual reaction to events. • Use proactive simulations: Rehearse for various attack scenarios; this can help identify where blind spots may exist, and also address any potential forensic issues that may arise during attack investigation. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
Kaspersky reviews password stealers that target major gaming services
Gaming platforms represent an industry with a multi-million user audience. Cybercriminals are fully aware of this, utilizing various types of malware to profit from gamers. To understand the extent of exploitation, Kaspersky reviewed threats targeting major gaming platforms and found at least four malware specimens that are capable of stealing users’ account data from platforms such as Battle.net, Origin and Uplay, in order to resell it afterwards. However, these Trojans are not just looking to affect gameplay but your banking details could also be at risk. Password stealers are a type of Trojan malware, designed to steal account data – from gaming session tokens or login details, to nearly any information saved on a computer. This can include cookie files, login credentials and passwords saved on a browser, along with a lot more. In some instances, stealing gaming details is just one of the malware’s functions, and online banking passwords are also of interest. During this period of remote working and social distancing, it is understandable and logical for many people to turn to their devices for entertainment. Acknowledging that this may also inspire cybercriminals to carry out attacks, Kaspersky analyzed the password stealer landscape to see how vulnerable users could be. Threat analysis presented four malware families – Kpot, BetaBot, Okasidis and Thief Stealer, which all carry an interesting Trojan specimen.
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For instance, Kpot Trojan can steal cookie files, accounts from various messengers, and one of the gaming platform’s session tokens. By obtaining session token data, cybercriminals do not get access to the user’s login and password details, however, they can quickly resell all valuable in-game attributes. Other Trojan specimens, such as Okasidis and Thief Stealer, focus on stealing specific files from game-related folders on the infected computer.
However, if a user is aware of these threats, they can take steps to protect themselves from harm. Unfortunately, this is not the case with password stealers, as it is hard for a user to spot them. This means that gamers need to be proactive in keeping themselves safe and always take extra precautions, as well as using a reliable security solution to prevent their computer from becoming infected,” comments Alexander Eremin, Kaspersky security analyst.
Trojan stealers can also retrieve browser data. For example, BetaBot targets a number of popular gaming platforms in the following way: if a user visits a URL, which contains specific keywords, the malware turns on data gathering on these pages. This allows logins and passwords entered on the page to fall into criminals’ hands.
In order to protect your gaming accounts from malware, including password stealers, Kaspersky recommends taking the following steps: • Set up two-factor authentication, so even if your login and password have been stolen, they will not be enough to access your account • Only download gaming modifications from trusted sources • Use a reliable security solution, such as Kaspersky Security Cloud, which will be able to identify stealers and stop them from stealing your data • Do not turn off your security solution while playing a game. Some security solutions, such as Kaspersky Security Cloud, have a special gaming mode, which reduces the load on the computer during playing time and does not affect the quality of the gaming experience.
What is particularly interesting regarding all the observed Trojans, is that they are virtually unnoticeable to users. In all cases, the Trojans are not visible to the user as they do not demand any extra permissions or send fake alerts - they just quietly steal data. It is important to note that these Trojans do not exploit any platform vulnerabilities, as they purely focus on gathering data from an infected device. “There are numerous gaming-focused threats out there, from fake files and compromised modes resold on the web, through to phishing pages.
Learn more about password stealers and what they do on Kaspersky Daily.
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Cybercrime has risen during COVID-19: here’s how to stop it The ASEAN region has been living with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 for several months now, and different countries are at different stages of crisis. For some, it continues to be a terrifying public health threat causing lockdowns, quarantines, and mandatory social distancing. For others, it’s an inconvenience that seems to have been mostly conquered – except for the knock-on effects to their national economies, which are set to linger for much longer. A lot has been said about how the virus has changed work culture, potentially permanently. People who shifted to working remotely out of necessity may desire to continue to do so, and many companies are allowing it, having seen that daily commutes to the office are not always necessary if employees are responsible with their time. But while working from home—or at a beachside cafe, when those reopen—has its advantages, it also introduces certain risks. One of those is that operating outside the office network opens companies up to a variety of online vulnerabilities that they may not be used to dealing with. Tarun Sawney, senior director of BSA | The Software Alliance, advocates for some of the world’s most innovative software companies, including those involved in cyber security. He offers some insights and tips on how to keep businesses and employees safe from the rising threat of cybersecurity that has seen a spike during the pandemic while many work from home. 1. Require employees to use a VPN or secure communications software Employees who work from home tend to receive more emails and other messages than they used to, and they often communicate with their work teams via unencrypted consumer applications— all using home wi-fi connections that are hopefully secured —but may not be. Naturally, this state of affairs is not lost on those who would seek to make a profit or cause harm using criminal cyber attacks on individuals and businesses. Some of these are organized, professional groups of cyber criminals, while others are simply opportunists attempting to make up for lost income with ill-gotten gains. Regardless, they are ramping up their efforts, from malware to phishing to taking advantage of unsecured networks. Some of these are directly related to the virus: emails purporting to be from authorities offering virus information are loaded with malware attachments, and malicious apps claim to show infection maps but instead lock down
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Tarun Sawney, senior director of BSA | The Software Allowance, and author of the free ebook “COVID-19 and Cyber Threats in Southeast Asia.”
phones. And in just March and April, over 86,000 malicious web domains were created using COVID-19-related keywords to lure those seeking information on the virus. Sawney advised using a VPN and/or secure business-caliber communications software with end-to-end encryption enabled by default for all work-related communications. 2. Ensure your team is using only secure licensed software 2019 saw businesses become the majority of cyber attack victims for the first time, a trend that is likely to increase as many opt to hide their victimhood— and quietly pay off criminals— rather than allow it to impact their reputations. And make no mistake: the damage can be massive. IBM estimates the average cost of a data breach at USD 2.3-million in Southeast Asia.The damage to company reputations— particularly if customer data is compromised—can be far greater, perhaps enough to derail hopes for recovery when it is most needed. “To prevent attacks from happening to them, companies need to adapt quickly and set up sustainable and long-term solutions to build their cyber defenses. And it is the executives, not the IT department, who should be leading the charge,” Sawney explained.
He adds that all work devices, whether owned by the company or the individual, must have legitimate, professional-grade security apps installed, with automatic protection and updates enabled. This includes smartphones, as attackers are increasingly targeting mobile operating systems. Companies should conduct a thorough audit of each company device to ensure they are using only legal, licensed software to address security vulnerabilities. 3. Clearly instruct employees on secure digital practices Sawney said that secure digital practices should be taught and practiced by every employee from handling unsolicited emails to storing of confidential information. Letting employees know about the potential consequences that cybercrime poses can also help them to understand the importance of such practices. If there is one thing that the COVID-19 crisis has proven, it’s that awareness, collective action, and proactive risk prevention are the most effective methods of self-protection. More information about the current reality of cyber threats in Southeast Asia and how businesses can respond to them can be found in BSA’s free ebook COVID-19 and Cyber Threats in Southeast Asia.
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BITS & BYTES
Lenovo unveils 3-Year Premium Care service to mitigate warranty issues during pandemic
To better support its loyal customers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, global technology leader Lenovo is adding another year to its popular 2-year Premium Care warranty solution for select devices in its consumer lineup from July 1 onwards. This means that all new IdeaPad, Yoga, Legion, and IdeaCentre devices are now automatically covered for three years with Premium Care’s international coverage and local on-site service, while those with existing warranties may be upgraded to the same. “At Lenovo, we are committed to putting our customers first, and this entails not only providing game-changing products but also extending them flexible and affordable technical support and solutions. The pandemic has disrupted day-to-day operations and pushed everyone to set up mobile working arrangements which leads to additional wear and tear to devices. Hopefully, with the added year of maintenance in our Premium Care service, our customers can spend their money on more essential goods in these trying times,” said Lenovo Philippines president and general manager Michael Ngan.
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Included among Lenovo’s robust solutions, Premium Care provides direct and easy connection to real Lenovo technicians, real fast resolution to PC troubles, and holistic comprehensive support even outside of the user’s home country. Aside from covering the usual store and manufacturer warranty, it possesses the following customer services: • 24x7 access to Lenovo technicians via phone, chat, e-mail, and WhatsApp • Comprehensive support for hardware, peripherals, and software • On-site Repair on the next business day • ‘Getting started’ and ‘How to’ assistance • Annual PC Health Check With all of these solutions combined, Lenovo customers are assured of a hassle- and worryfree maintenance experience even in the middle of the pandemic. The 3-Year Premium Care service is bundled for free upon purchase of IdeaPad, Yoga, and Legion laptops and the IdeaCentre and Legion Tower gaming desktops with Intel Core i5 or i7 and AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processors.
Meanwhile, users who want to extend their existing warranty for other Lenovo devices need to go directly to their nearest Lenovo or Legion Concept Store or any Lenovo authorized reseller and provide information including the model name of the device, its serial number, and the customer’s name and email address for the registration of the new warranty. The extension from 2-Year Premium Care to 3-Year Premium Care costs PHP 5,300. Users are allowed to extend their Premium Care warranty up until six months before the expiration of their outstanding device warranty. Meanwhile, those with devices currently under Lenovo’s 2-Year Carry-In Warranty can upgrade to the 3-Year Premium Care Warranty solution for PHP 9,100. For more information about Lenovo’s Premium Care warranty solution and tips on how to maintain your devices, contact Lenovo on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ lenovophilippines/ or via WhatsApp at +63 23953354. You can also visit https://www. lenovo.com/ph/en/premium-care.
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HP to empower 10,000 youths in SE Asia with skills of the future by end-2020
HP Inc. announced plans to open 20 Tech Hubs in underserved communities across Southeast Asia by the end of 2020. The program provides technology and entrepreneurship training for students aged 13 and above, and aims to upskill 10,000 youth by year-end— goal that maps to HP’s commitment to enabling better learning outcomes for 100 million people by 2025. Outfitted with 15 to 20 new PCs as well as networking support from HP, the HP Tech Hubs blend classroom and online learning to deliver technical and soft skills essential for youths to thrive. These include Microsoft Office, coding, business communications, having a success mindset, and how to start a small business—taught by instructors or accessible online. Courses in entrepreneurship are adapted from HP LIFE, a free HP Foundation program that offers modules on entrepreneurship, marketing and business development. The students will be awarded certifications for the courses they complete. “Unprecedented connectivity, new technological breakthroughs—and now COVID 19—have re-defined how we live, work, and relate to one another. HP has a responsibility to play a role in preparing our youths for this new reality. To help
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them thrive in the new future of work, we need to build up their confidence, impart them the skills, and give them access to equal opportunities,” said Ng Tian Chong, managing director, Greater Asia, HP Inc. “Through the HP Tech Hubs, we equip youths in underserved communities with technical and practical knowledge and aim to inspire them to widen their horizons, be creative, and take the bold step towards new possibilities.” Six Tech Hubs have already been established in Lombok and Jakarta in Indonesia, as well as Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The remaining hubs are planned in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines by the end of the year. Enabling better learning outcomes for the future HP Tech Hubs are part of the company’s broader education initiatives in Asia-Pacific, which has benefited 1.3 million students and adult learners in 2019. These initiatives include: • HP LIFE: Since its launch in 2016, HP LIFE has enrolled over 214,000 users globally. In AsiaPacific, over 20,600 learners have accessed HP LIFE curriculum in 28 countries.
• World on Wheels: Since 2017, the World on Wheels (WOW) program has rolled out 43 self-contained, internet-enabled, solarpowered mobile learning labs in rural India, providing access to technology and learning to an estimated 3.5 million people in more than 1,400 villages. • Little Makers Challenge: Tailored for parents, teachers, and 5 to 12-year-old children to teach, play and learn creatively together through printed and online material, this initiative in Malaysia received over 18,600 submissions, representing an estimated 90,000 hours of activities covering subjects such as arts, geography, biology, and astronomy. • HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Lab: Founded in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National Research Foundation Singapore, this Lab is driving the development of innovation, technologies and skills to democratize digital manufacturing. In January, it introduced a skills development program aimed at helping Singapore train and upskill talent in digital manufacturing.
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Globe urges customers to use reporting tool for spam/scam cases As cases of mobile fraud and spamming continue to escalate during the pandemic, Globe Telecom is encouraging its customers to use the company’s reporting tool to stop unscrupulous people from taking advantage or deceiving the general public through calls and text messages. By visiting https://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam.html and filling out the online form, Globe customers can easily help put a stop to these illegal practices. Once a report is received, Globe will promptly respond by deactivating numbers proven to be repetitive sources of such dubious messages. “We are concerned about the problems that could arise from these call and text scams. This is why we continuously work to combat this malicious behavior to provide a spam-free experience for all our customers. While we constantly upgrade and improve our blocking and filtering mechanism to keep unwanted messages from entering our network, we also need the cooperation of our customers to make this effort fully effective,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer. Globe reminds its customers that official Globe advisories come only from a 4-digit or
alphanumeric sender code, thus, they should not entertain any message from 11-digit numbers pretending to be from Globe no matter how legitimate they seem to be. Other warning signs of scams and spams are the presence of letters that are deliberately capitalized as well as grammatical and spelling errors. Most recently, there are complaints about alleged Globe representatives offering a SIM upgrade and asking for one-time PIN. Globe, however, will never ask for personal information or ask anyone to surrender their SIM since this may lead to unauthorized access to services such as verification or security protocols for banks accounts, money transfers, and other related transactions that are linked to the customer’s mobile number. The same holds true for other text messages from third parties that request for personal information such as name, age, and address, in exchange for raffle prizes, pre-approved loans, and other similar offers. These scammers often entice their victims to send money in exchange for their prize. Globe also warned against text messages that require the recipient to send a certain amount to 2 + (10-digit mobile number) for either a “discount,”
“refund,” and other fraudulent claims. This is a Share-a-Load process that will transfer Prepaid load to the scammer. Another similar scam involves a request for the recipient to dial *100*1* (10-digit mobile number) and so on. This is an AutoloadMAX retailer process that will transfer load credits to the scammer. Thus, Globe also reminds its customers to always transact with Globe official channels and accounts - https://glbe.co/official-accounts.
A tHRead of Hope: Local software firm helps businesses bounce back amid COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in industries, triggering an urgent demand to adapt to a new way of doing things and business operations need to rethink and reevaluate processes as they adjust in the wake of the pandemic. In a move to help businesses bounce back, local tech company Transnational E-Business Solutions Inc. (TESI) recently launched “A tHRead of Hope,” to all businesses who are reopening their operations amidst the pandemic. “A tHRead of Hope” is a two-month free trial version of tHRead, the company’s HR and payroll platform, which enables businesses to manage their teams easier without any added cost as they navigate through the new normal. Through the trial program, businesses will be given access to the following features: E201 file management, timekeeping, employee self-service, payroll processing, income and deduction monitoring, and online payslips. There is no minimum number of employees required to enjoy these benefits, and after the free trial, customers may choose to upgrade to a paid subscription which allows for a more tailor-fitted solution for the organization. Businesses may choose from an assortment of exclusive add-on www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
features such as eRecruitment and Performance Management depending on their needs. tHRead also includes a collection of tools to help your HR team simplify the hire to retire process. Moreover, tHRead boasts of a mobile version allowing for easy access across various devices regardless of one’s location. Strengthening One Another Understanding the challenges brought by the pandemic, tHRead is committed to help businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who may find themselves working on a streamlined budget and a leaner team, with a need for simplified HR operations while optimizing existing resources to ensure business continuity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected our ways of working but we are all trying our best to adapt to the new normal. Now more than ever, we should support each other and come out stronger after all this is over,” says Renvi Martinez, president and general manager of TESI. With years of experience in software development, TESI, a member of the Transnational Diversified Group, has been offering solutions to various industries ranging from ship management, logistics, travel and tourism, to ICT and investments. Schedule your free demo today at https://thread. com.ph/thread/ and reimagine the new normal with tHRead. JUNE 2020
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Find out best practices of the “Dynamic Learning Program” successfully implemented since 2002 The pandemic has affected all industries all over the world, forcing change in the way things are done to cope with what is now called the “New Normal”. In the Philippines, this fundamental change is most evident and even pressing in the education sector with the approaching opening of the new school year. Schools and educators are now looking to new strategies to deliver quality education to students outside the classroom, especially to those in far-flung areas with even more challenging circumstances. These include online to TV and radio to printed modules. It is in this context that the CVIF-Dynamic Learning Program or DLP—a disaster-resilient, innovative, and low-budget teaching strategy—proves to be very effective. The brainchild of Filipino theoretical physicists and Ramon Magsaysay laureates Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria CarpioBernido, the program is designed to train students to learn independently, effectively, and responsibly, even with minimal supervision from both teachers and parents. It focuses on student activity and aims to produce students whose competence in the Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (STEM) disciplines are comparable to global standards. First implemented in 2002 in the Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF), the Bernidos’ secondary school in Jagna, Bohol, DLP immediately yielded positive results. Students showed improved academic performance in class and on national scholastic aptitude tests and higher success rates in entrance exams in premier universities in the country and abroad. This, with zero homework and face-to-face interaction with a teacher for an equivalent of only 20% of school time. The program has since been rolled out in public and private schools all over the country. Davao Christian High School adopted DLP in 2005, and this helped the school successfully transition to online classes after the pandemic was declared, according to Desi Magnaye, Junior High School Principal. “Our transition to an online platform has been more manageable. We upload the activity sheets needed by the students for the day. These learning activity sheets are to be copied by hand, and once they are done, they submit a photo or PDF of their completed work via the online platform,” he explains. DLP has also been successfully implemented in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), the flagship program of the Department of Education that offers second-chance education to youth and adults who failed to complete basic education. The typical situation In ALS mirrors the challenges now faced by formal education: there are no 86
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classrooms and workbooks, teachers to cater to learners in different levels all at the same time. Face-to-face classes are held only once a week, and because of the learners’ financial circumstances, printed rather than online modules are used, and learners have to accomplish assignments on their own. With DLP, ALS teachers have been able to bypass these challenges.
Prior to the enhanced community quarantine, the students had been given their activity sheets to answer, so they continue learning during the pandemic, he says.
“DLP is the answer to all our problems,” exclaims Renato A. Cayetano Jr., district coordinator of ALS in Bacnotan, La Union.
By focusing more on student activity rather than traditional lecture, DLP has proven to be effective in addressing the challenges teachers and learners face in difficult situations, such as sudden interruption of classes and restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
DLP’s Learning Activity Sheets trained ALS students to read and write, and this enhanced lesson retention, Cayetano says. “The activity sheet is easily understood without teacher supervision, which works well in far flung areas, and without need for varied instructional materials. It can be answered or studied even outside the classroom and at the learner’s convenient time, which is ideal for our working students,” he explains. Most remarkable was the improved academic performance of the students, he adds. In DLP, pre-developed Learning Activity Sheets is a key component. Indicated on a single page are the Activity Title, the Learning Target, and a short Concept Note similar to a digest of the topic to be learned, and several Exercises. The difference from a teacher’s lesson plan is that the activity sheet is designed to be copied, read, understood, and answered by the students independently, without prior lecture. The use of the activity sheets has also lightened the teachers’ workload, according to Windel Alvarez, ALS mobile teacher in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. “Our students learn according to their ability and availability, unlike in the formal school setting,” he says. They are motivated to learn, and answering the activity sheet improves their writing skill.
Under DLP, 70-80% of the time the student learns on his own, with the teacher providing intervention only 20-30% of the time.
The immense challenges currently faced by the education sector necessitates looking into various methodologies to bring education to learners in a variety of contexts. For PLDT and its subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. and the PLDT-Smart Foundation, this means providing flexible learning options from online to on-air to offline through the Dynamic Learning Program, which the companies have been supporting since 2010. “The DLP provides tried and tested simple yet highly-effective solutions that can help teachers, students, and parents hurdle the challenges posed by the pandemic and even smoothly transition to an in-classroom set-up in the future,” says Ramon Isberto, the public affairs group head of Smart. On June 17-19, from 2pm to 4pm, private and public schools and even those in ALS that have adopted DLP will share best practices in a web forum entitled No Learner Left Behind: Education for All in the New Normal. Parents and teachers, especially those in the public schools, are invited to join the DLP web forum which will be streamed live via the Dynamic Learning Program Facebook page. Visit Dynamic Learning Program and Smart Communities on Facebook for details about the web forum or email LearnSmart@smart.com.ph. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
Shopee supports tech talent with Shopee Code League, a regional virtual coding competition Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, has launched Shopee Code League, a first of its kind ‘Code from Home’ challenge made available across the region. This initiative offers tech enthusiasts an opportunity to learn and upgrade their skills as the demand for tech talents continues to rise. A two-month-long program, Shopee Code League is an online coding challenge that includes weekly competitions and digital training workshops open to all students and professionals. Through this initiative, all tech enthusiasts will get equal access to learning opportunities, including the chance to work on real data sets and challenges in the tech industry. Registered participants will also have the opportunity to attend numerous free online training workshops touching on topics including data analytics and data science. Participants will also gain access to talks by industry leaders including Andrei D. Coronel Ph.D., chair of the Department of Information Systems & Computer Science. He will be sharing his views on the importance of technology and nurturing the next generation of tech talent.
Martin Yu, associate director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are excited to help tech enthusiasts learn and upgrade their skills from home through the Shopee Code League. Shopee has successfully organized past coding challenges, and we are taking it a step further by bringing tech communities from across the region together for the first time virtually. Shopee Code League aims to help potential tech talents to make a difference
in the tech community. We will continue to empower the growth of tech talents and develop a tech ecosystem that will drive the Philippine digital economy forward.” Registration is open until June 30. For more information about the Shopee Code League, please visit https://careers.shopee.sg/ codeleague/.
PandaNation feeds the rider heroes In an effort to show their appreciation for their riders, foodpanda launched PandaNation as an initiative to make their constituents feel extra special amidst the ongoing pandemic. Since April, foodpanda has been able to feed a total of 1,235 riders with the help of 41 partner restaurants nationwide. Vendors offered their support to PandaNation in the form of meal packs and beverages. Several sponsors also stepped up to donate personal protective equipment such as face masks, face shields, and rubbing alcohol to the riders they considered as front liners of the new normal. At the end of each PandaNation event, riders went home with a feeling of appreciation, which according to Jao Manahan, the Community & Communications Leader of foodpanda, was PandaNation’s goal all along. He says, “Seeing the smiles and appreciation posts on social media from our riders melts my heart. It was the success indicator of this campaign. It was successful because of the hard work of our team, and the integration of our willing vendors. Without these machines, these smiles wouldn’t have been made possible”.
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In addition to this statement, Ria Salanguit, the Cluster Head of Luzon in foodpanda, also says, “Our hardworking foodpanda riders, rain or shine, have always been key to the overall success of the company. With the new normal in place, I know this will create more opportunities and pave the way to granting more jobs to potential rider
partners. This just makes me even happier because I know we have more reasons for giving back to others.” With the success of this event, foodpanda aims to continue creating programs that will bring more smiles to the faces of their rider heroes.
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Batangas City hailed as One Planet City Challenge 2019-2020 country winner for the PH
The capital city of Batangas province has been named the Philippine winner in the latest edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge, joining the list of national winners from 22 countries worldwide. The city’s comprehensive climate mitigation and adaptation plan, which includes interventions based on city-specific climate vulnerabilities, impressed the urban sustainability experts from across the globe that compose the OPCC jury. Batangas City also reported an ambitious target for carbon neutrality by 2030 and its vision to be the first carbon-neutral city in the Philippines. In a letter from the OPCC Team in Stockholm, the jury acknowledged the city’s aggressive efforts in promoting climate risk assessment. “Batangas City showed particularly strong performance related to its vision. The city scored well across different indicators especially political action and climate risk assessment and evidence of action, especially related to adaptation.”
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The other national finalists in the Philippines were Muntinlupa and Santa Rosa, while Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, La Carlota, Pasig, San Carlos, Tagum, Malolos, Parañaque, and Quezon City, were also included in the country’s roster of qualifiers for OPCC 2019-2020. WWF-Philippines executive director Joel Palma praised the City of Batangas, as well as the other local qualifiers, for representing the Philippines well. “I would like to commend the Batangas City LGU and all the other LGUs who have taken part in the OPCC. I would like to commend their efforts in finding solutions to ensure that development is made sustainable by putting into the equation the environment and people. The challenges we are facing now, particularly the pandemic, proves that there is a direct link between the health of the environment and the health and well being of people,” shared Palma. Nearly 66% of the global population has been represented in the year’s OPCC leg, with 255 cities
participating from over 53 countries across the globe. Originally launched as the Earth Hour City Challenge, OPCC kicked off in 2011 as a biennial global challenge where cities are encouraged to share climate mitigation and develop adaptation plans centered in their critical role of building a sustainable and climate-safe future. Being accountable for 70% of carbon emissions globally and generating 80% of the total GDP, the political and economic power of cities are considered instrumental in the transition to a more stable climate. Winners of this year’s OPCC are also eligible to participate in We Love Cities, a WWF campaign interwoven with the OPCC which aims to liaise better communication between city officials and the citizens they represent on climate change and sustainability issues. For more information and updates, log on to http:// panda.org/opcc.
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Teleperformance revolutionizes the Work-atHome environment with TP Cloud Campus
Teleperformance, a global leader in digitally integrated business services, recently announced a revolutionary new global operating model, the Teleperformance Cloud Campus, an innovative solution for enabling the ‘new normal’ work-athome (WAH) environment. Prior to the pandemic, as part of its future-ofwork development process, Teleperformance was already designing and testing an enhanced model for improving customer experience, client results, and employee well-being and development through socially connected, virtual teams. The Teleperformance Cloud Campus was specifically designed to provide a remote, socially enriched working environment, allowing companies to easily expand their business and deliver superior customer experiences through Teleperformance’s unique, cloud-centric model. Home-based interaction experts can now work from anywhere in the world while remaining connected virtually to their Teleperformance team through one of their Cloud Campus Hubs. These centralized command centers keep remote agents connected and engaged while providing an opportunity for clients to interact with a dispersed workforce. The highly functional design blends proprietary Teleperformance technology, analytics, and process excellence (TAP) with bestof-breed technologies to form a uniquely efficient global solution. The operating capabilities of Teleperformance Cloud Campus includes virtual talent acquisition, training, development, coaching, team building, learning, client interaction, quality control, and data security management, as well as emotional well-being and rich social interaction for
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employees. Gamification is utilized for employee fun, socialization, and education as part of the new Teleperformance ‘campus life’. For Teleperformance, protecting sensitive information is key, which is why their Cloud Campus solution ensures that data remains secure within remote environments. Their Bring-YourOwn-Device (BYOD) Architecture is PCI Certified and other security measures include multi-factor authentication, device lockdown and the usage of virtual sessions to ensure that no data is stored locally. Among the many benefits of Teleperformance Cloud Campus is having access to a broader workforce, with its ability to reach skilled interaction experts around the world, enhanced business resilience, sustainability and diversity, and the flexibility to meet changing demands as companies can easily scale up or down based on business needs. Teleperformance Cloud Campus is available to support all industries, geographies, and applications and is currently deployed globally in a diverse set of industry sectors including e-commerce, utilities, telecom, and healthcare— several of which were implemented before the Covid-19 outbreak. The company now has more than 200,000 employees working from home worldwide, i.e. 80% of all active employees. An increasing number of clients and Teleperformance WAH employees will continue transitioning to this unique delivery model this year. Teleperformance chairman and chief executive officer Daniel Julien said,“To be clear, conventional facilities continue to play an important role in
our operational delivery strategy. As the global industry leader and a top employer worldwide, we constantly re-envision alternative work and delivery models that can benefit our clients, their customers and, of course, our employees. We developed, tested, and began implementing the Teleperformance Cloud Campus with select clients last year. It is a fantastic model for both clients and for the emotional well-being and professional growth of our work-at-home staff. Since COVID-19 hit the world, we have rapidly transitioned 80% of our global workforce to a work-at-home model to align with the ‘new normal’. Teleperformance Cloud Campus orchestrates the delivery of workat-home in a precise and effective manner, to best serve our clients and best care for our more than 200,000 strong remote employees—both now and in the future.” With Work-at-Home solutions in high demand, Teleperformance Cloud Campus is an efficient and effective model for hiring, training, and managing remote teams while ensuring exceptional, consistent customer experiences. “Businesses today are looking for resiliency and a partner that can help them adapt to the rapid changes of today. With many companies looking at work-at-home as part of their strategy, Teleperformance Cloud Campus gives them the agility their business needs while ensuring the safety of employees, which is of utmost importance now and most certainly in the future,” shared Mike Lytle, Chief Operating Officer of Teleperformance Philippines. To learn more about Teleperformance Philippines and the Teleperformance Cloud Campus, visit their website at www.teleperformance.ph/en-us.
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Sun Life launches campaign to empower Filipinos to rise above COVID-19 Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. is enjoining Filipinos to begin their journey to recovery with a campaign dubbed Rise Together to a Bright New World. The campaign was launched as part of Sun Life’s annual commemoration of Financial Independence Month every June. It features initiatives ranging from online financial literacy sessions to digital tools, all of which aim to empower Filipinos to get back on track in their financial goals, as well as their health and wellness aspirations. Rise Together to a Bright New World is rooted on an online survey conducted by Sun Life among its clients from May 11 to 29, 2020 to know how the pandemic has affected them, and so the company could respond to their needs appropriately. “We would like to help Filipinos channel their energies towards actions that would help them prepare for the future. While there is still much uncertainty as our country continues to deal with the pandemic, there are steps that they can take now to make sure they and their loved ones can look forward to brighter days,” Sun Life chief marketing and client officer Mylene Lopa said. “Through this campaign, we want to show Filipinos how they can emerge from this pandemic stronger, healthier, and financially resilient, so they may look forward to a brighter tomorrow.” “We would like to help Filipinos channel their energies towards actions that would help them prepare for the future. While there is still much uncertainty as our country continues to deal with the pandemic, there are steps that they can take now to make sure they and their loved ones can look forward to brighter days,” Sun Life chief marketing and client officer Mylene Lopa said. “Through this campaign, we want to show Filipinos how they can emerge from this pandemic stronger, healthier, and financially resilient, so they may look forward to a brighter tomorrow.” Empowerment through financial literacy A pioneer of financial literacy multimedia campaigns, Sun Life has launched Sun Talks, a series of online financial literacy sessions held in webinar format and as Facebook Live streams. The webinar series featured talks on how Filipinos can pursue their financial goals and what financial instruments such as insurance and investments they can utilize. Health and wellness also took center stage in the webinars, while Sun Life Brand Ambassadors Piolo Pascual, Matteo Guidicelli, Enchong Dee, and
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Inigo Pascual shared about learnings amid the pandemic as they faced issues specific to their respective life stages. Experts from Sun Life were likewise on hand in each session to give practical tips on how viewers can stay on track in their financial journey. These talks, along with other relevant content and tools, are available in a hub called STORES or Sun Talks Online Resource at www.sunlife.com.ph.
advisormatch.sunlife.com to connect with one and receive a free consultation. The company’s website, sunlife.com.ph, houses tools such as the Life Insurance Calculator, Investment Calculator, and e-Quote, which can help users check their progress in their financial journey.
The learning will continue in the Sun Talks Virtual Conference happening on June 27, 2020 starting at 10am. The whole day virtual gathering will tackle money matters and health and wellness, and will also have sessions specifically for business owners and overseas Filipinos.
Sun Life has also expanded its suite of digital insurance products for registered Lazada members. To know more about the products, registered Lazada members simply need to visit www.lazada.com.ph/sunlife. As for those who wish to invest in mutual funds, they may go to www.sunlifefunds.com to open an account and start investing in the Sun Life Prosperity Funds.
Enhancing digital capacity
Onward to a brighter future
To further enable Filipinos to take concrete steps towards recovery while staying safe in their own homes, Sun Life has likewise been boosting its digital capacity.
“Rise Together to a Bright New World” was inspired by the courage of Filipinos to rise above challenges. Sun Life, which is marking its 125th anniversary in the Philippines this year, has been with Filipinos through triumphs and struggles through the years. The company remains confident that they will pull through as they always have, and that better days are in the horizon.
Sun Life recently launched a digitally-enabled sales process that will allow Filipinos to stay financially protected from the safety of their own home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this process, clients can connect virtually to get professional financial advice from Sun Life advisors to learn about the insurance products that fit their needs and avail of these solutions. For those who have no Sun Life advisor yet, they can simply go to
This message is encapsulated in a digital video entitled “Rise Together”, which will soon be released on Sun Life’s Facebook page. Related materials will likewise be posted on @SunLifePH on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
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Grab, Dept of Tourism support agripreneurs through PH Harvest initiative Committed to supporting micro and small businesses in the growing digital economy, Grab—the leading everyday everything app in Southeast Asia—has partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to support the agency’s Philippine Harvest initiative which aims to make fresh and processed local food products more accessible to Filipino households. This partnership follows an earlier agreement between the company and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the on-demand delivery service for DA’s eKadiwa online marketplace initiative. Running on its 11th year, Philippine Harvest is a joint collaboration between the DOT and Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) to promote local, organic, artisanal, and indigenous food. This project is now made available online, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing farmers and SMEs to showcase their products and make these more accessible to consumers. With Grab’s expansive presence and services, the company is poised to strengthen DOT’s advocacy to supporti more local agripreneurs, especially during these challenging times. “Grab is committed to leverage on its technology to support local businesses especially as we
DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Grab PH President Brian Cu
navigate through this new reality. As we lend our support to the farmers and SME partnermerchants under the Philippine Harvest program of the Department of Tourism, we hope that more Filipinos will support locally grown products. Each purchase from the merchants of the program will go a long way in supporting our kababayans, and in promoting our own local culture,” says Grab Philippines president Brian Cu.
they offer. Further promotion will also be done by the company through its various social media assets.
Through the agreement with DOT, Grab lends its platform to increase awareness on Philippine Harvest through a promotional tile in-app. Once clicked, users will be able to browse through all the participating merchants and the different products
“We are optimistic that as we provide support to the local agripreneurs, we will be able to work as one to help their businesses grow while also providing Filipinos a more convenient and accessible way to enjoy local products,” adds Cu.
Aside from awareness, merchants will be able to focus on what they do best as Grab—provide mobility through transport. Through the GrabExpress fleet, the platform will be in charge of bringing Philippine Harvest products to the doorstep of their customers.
TIP and Vents for Philippines secure DOST grant for Ventilator Project The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) recently secured funding from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) for its Automated Emergency Ventilator Prototype. With the grant, TIP is set to produce five units of the prototype design that shall undergo further calibration and testing in government-recognized testing facilities before it get approval for use from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “We of course would like our prototype design to pass all necessary testing and eventually gain FDA approval so that it may truly be used by medical frontliners in the field. Having DOST support greatly increases our chances of progressing all the way to FDA approval,” said Angelo Lahoz, Vice President, TIP. Multi-stakeholder collaboration greatly benefits rapid design projects such as this, especially when varied expertise are required to bring a design to fruition. TIP allied itself with numerous like-minded individuals and groups from the inception of the project. One such collaborator is Vents for PHL, a multi-disciplinary and
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collaborative network composed of private individuals, medical practitioners, and companies who banded together with the primary objective of saving lives. Working together with TIP’s original set of collaborators and Vent for PHL, TIPs project engineers gained access to a broad set of resources enabling the prototype design work to
progress immensely and TIP with its collaborators to apply for the DOST-PCIEERD’s call for emergency ventilator proposals. “With the varied people and organization we have met, and the new friends and allies we have gained, TIP remains inspired and looks forward to further enhancing the prototype design and seeing it through to FDA approval,” Lahoz adds.
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Smart brings together top Mobile Legends players for the MPL-PH Champion Invitational Filipino esports players and fans are in for a treat as the top Mobile Legends: Bang Bang players in the country will be on an epic battle to determine the best of the best at the first-ever Mobile Legends Pro League–Philippine Champion Invitational, powered by Smart. The MPL-PH Champion Invitational, held online on June 20-21 and 27-28, 2020, is a grand exhibition tournament featuring all the champion teams of MPL PH from Season 1 to Season 5. All champions will battle it out not only for the cash prize pool, but also for the glory and the entertainment of local esports fans during these challenging times. Champion teams Aether Main (Season 1), Cignal Ultra (Season 2), ArkAngel (Season 3), and back to back champion, SunSparks (Season 4 and 5) will go on to the big stage in an epic battle to determine who is the best Mobile Legends team in the Philippines, as well as a grand prize of USD 5,800. Fans will be able to follow all the nail-biting ML action on the Smart Facebook page on both weekends. As a staunch supporter of Philippine esports, Smart powered some of its biggest esports events over the past few years.
The MPL-PH Champion Invitational comes on the heels of the mobile services provider new ‘Simple. Smart Ako’ campaign, which reinforces its commitment to bring simple solutions and amazing experiences to Filipinos.
for two years running as verified by Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis. Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, also reported in its April 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines that Smart remained ahead of competition in terms of Games Experience.
Meanwhile, esports players and enthusiasts can enjoy their favorite games all day with Smart’s GIGA Games offer—for as low as PHP 99, subscribers can get 1 GB per day of Games All Day with Mobile Legends and other titles, as well as 2GB of openaccess data for seven days.
Smart Giga Games is part of the ‘Simple. Smart Ako’ campaign, which reinforces the company’s thrust to bring about simple solutions and amazing experiences to empower the digital lifestyle of Filipinos.
Players can also enjoy Mobile Legends using Smart’s LTE network, the Philippines’ fastest mobile network
For more updates and information on Smart’s esports events and initiatives, follow Smart on Facebook
Microsoft shutting down streaming platform, partners with Facebook Gaming After years of competing against Amazon’s streaming giant Twitch, Microsoft is finally pulling the plug on its streaming platform Mixer, citing an inability to achieve the scale they wanted. The news came on June 23, via the platform’s social media accounts. In a blog post, the Mixer team noted, “It became clear that the time needed to grow our own live streaming community to scale was out of measure with the vision and experiences that Microsoft and Xbox want to deliver for gamers now, so we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer and help the community transition to a new platform.” As part of shutting down, the Mixer team announced that they have partnered with Facebook and will be helping their community transition to Facebook’s gaming platform. The move is also part of the “broader effort Xbox and Facebook Gaming are embarking on.” “The Facebook Gaming team and Creators will help expand the vision that Mixer has always held around community and building a platform that is inclusive and supportive of each other. For Mixer’s streamers, this opens up the opportunity to reach the vast audience of one of the world’s fastest growing streaming platforms. Every month, more 92
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than 700 million people play a game, watch a gaming video or interact in a gaming Group on Facebook. For Facebook Gaming’s Creators, this brings the ability to partner closely with the Xbox ecosystem, including future opportunities around Xbox Game Pass, Project xCloud and more,” the blog post read.
Mixer viewers who still have Mixer Ember Balances, channel subscriptions, or Mixer Pro subscriptions will be given Xbox Gift Card credits as thanks for their engagement in the platform. The Mixer website will be up until July 22, 2020; afterward, viewers and visitors to Mixer.com will be redirected to fb.gg.
Mixer’s partner content creators will be granted partner status on Facebook Gaming with the platform honoring and matching all existing Partner agreements as closely as possible and those in Mixer’s open monetization program will be eligible for the Facebook Gaming Level Up Program so they can still grow and monetize their streams.
Mixer took headlines last year when they signed multi-million exclusive streaming rights to two of Twitch’s largest streamers Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek. As of this writing, the two streamers have announced that they are still thinking about their next moves with reports saying the two have declined Facebook’s offers. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
