2021v22n1 - FLAGSHIP TECH by Gadgets Magazine

Contents

28 Tecno Camon 17 Pro 32 LG UltraWide 25UM58-P 36 OPPO Reno6 Z 5G 40 Nokia C20 44 Lenovo Yoga 9i 48 Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi

PARADE 10 Garmin Forerunner 55 12 LG UltraFine Display Ergo 14 LG UltraWide 15 LG UltraGear 16 HP EliteBook 840 G8 18 realme TechLife Air Purifier 19 realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker 20 Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 21 OMRON HEM-7156-A 22 Synology HAS5300 23 XTREME Cool Portable Air Conditioner 24 Steam Deck 26 Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)

COVERSTORY 52 Iconic Phones That Defined The 2000s 56 Level-up: The Game Changers Of Personal Computing 60 How The Home Became Smart 64 Smart Mobility

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SEPTEMBER 2021

VOLUME XXII • Issue I

GADGETS LAB

Contents

SEPTEMBER 2021

VOLUME XXII • Issue I

102

VISUAL SPACE

102 Whatever Your Design Needs, Kaya Sa Canva 104 Yamaha Mio Showcased In 45-Foot Cultural Mural In BGC

68 Urban Toughness: Yamaha Mio Gear 72 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 76 Bajaj Maxima Z 78 MyToyota App 82 Hyundai.Ph New And Improved! 84 Honda Big Bike Test Ride 86 Petron Car Care Center

88 Last Stop 90 5 Tips For Gamers Looking To Go Pro 92 A Step-By-Step Guide: How To Build A Gaming Laptop

MOBILITY

GAMING

EVERYTHING APPLE

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Innovative Ruler: Apple’s Revolution In The Tech World

106

HOME 7 Tips for Getting Your Children Excited About Doing House Chores 6

Contents CYBER SECURITY 108 How Can Geofencing Help Protect Your Kids? 110 Getting Rid Of Company Garbage? Think Before You Toss Them Out!

112

EMPLOYMENT 10 Highest-Paying Remote Jobs in 2021

116

ENTERPRISE

SEPTEMBER 2021

VOLUME XXII • Issue I

108

116 73-Year-Old Street Vendor Builds Dream House with Earnings from Shopee 118 How Website Analytics Can Help Grow Your Business 122 Plan Your Digital Transformation

128

126

WELLNESS

FINTECH

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128 Innovative Medical Imaging Platform Enables Inclusive Healthcare for Emerging Countries 130 A New Way to Celebrate: Spa Quarantine Party

TALA A safe and trusted financial partner for unbanked Filipinos

132

134

Vote Pilipinas Smart supports voter registration campaign

The latest in the world of tech

GOVERNMENT

NEWSBYTES

141

RELIC Compaq Presario

PARADE

Garmin Forerunner 55 PHP 11,395

With the simple press of a button, users can start their run or walk and track their time, distance, speed, pace, and heart rate right on their wrist. The Forerunner 55 also offers detailed running data, daily suggested workouts, and additional built-in sports apps.

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Smartwatch

GARMIN INVITES ALL FILIPINO amateur and experienced runners to take their workout to the next level with the new Forerunner 55, an easy-to-use GPS smartwatch designed for people of all skill levels to track their stats and achieve their fitness goals.

September 2021

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The Forerunner 55 offers runners a variety of tools to take their training to the next level. It has PacePro that guides runners in tailoring their efforts to a selected course or distance. Its finish time estimator lets users select a run distance and view their estimated finish time right on the wrist. For those hoping to improve their running form, it also features cadence alerts to let runners know when they have gone outside their target cadence range. The Forerunner 55 makes switching workout routines easy, thanks to several built-in activity profiles, including track

or virtual running, pool swimming, Pilates, and HIIT. The smartwatch also has Garmin Coach training plans that offer on-screen guidance from expert coaches and free 5K, 10K, or half marathon training plans based on a runner’s goals. Featuring a wide array of health and wellness features from Garmin Firstbeat Analytics, the Forerunner 55 is intended to be worn 24/7. Runners can track their stress and set relaxation reminders to do short breathing exercises.

The Forerunner 55 includes popular connected features to help runners stay in touch. Users can receive text messages and view social media updates, emails, and more, directly on their Forerunner smartwatch.

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The Body Battery energy monitor lets users track energy levels to find the best times for activity and rest, and gain insights into when and how intensity minutes are earned throughout the day. Additionally, women can track their menstrual cycle or pregnancy and log symptoms, and receive exercise and nutrition education through the Garmin Connect app.

Built-in assistance and incident detection let users manually or automatically send a message with their real-time location to emergency contacts. The Forerunner 55 will also automatically upload activities to Garmin Connect and allow users to download custom watch faces, data fields, and apps from the Connect IQ Store. It features up to 2 weeks of battery life on smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours on GPS mode.

PARADE

September 2021

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LG UltraFine Display Ergo Monitor

THE ULTRAFINE DISPLAY ERGO has a flexible ergonomic stand that can be adapted to all the environmental characteristics of each user, including physical attributes. It can improve not only work productivity and efficiency but also user convenience. LG’s technologically and ergonomically advanced stand helps to promote good posture through its high degree of adjustability, enabling each user to create a perfectly customized workstation. LG’s UHD IPS Display features realistic, true color, enhanced contrast, clarity, and detail at wide angles. UHD 4K resolution presents breathtaking clarity and fine detail with four times the resolution of Full HD. In particular, HDR delivers a more dramatic, dynamic visual immersion experience.

September 2021

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PARADE

September 2021

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LG UltraWide Monitor

LG ULTRAWIDE MONITORS let you immerse in everything from content creation to gaming. See a panoramic view made possible by the extra wide 21:9 IPS display for true color accuracy at wide angles. Experience easier multitasking, quickly switch between applications, and enjoy a full, unencumbered view. It offers 33% more screen space than a regular 16:9 aspect ratio. Stop Alttabbing and start viewing side-bySeptember 2021

side. HDR10 brings work and virtual worlds to life, backed by up to 350 nits of brightness. This display tech elevates textures, elements, character movements, and natural light and shadow. The 3-side virtually borderless design with slim bezels will give you a wider view of your screen. For gaming, it has an AMD FreeSync technology that eliminates the tearing difference between the graphics card’s frame rate and monitor’s refresh rate.

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LG UltraGear Monitor

THE LG ULTRAGEAR line of monitors lets you pave the way to victory with crisp visuals, fast response time, and the sharpest clarity. If you’re fed up with dimming and flickering screens, you’ve come to the right monitor. With IPS 1ms Gray to Gray, you’ll dominate and clinch victory without the side effects of extreme speed. These are NVIDIAtested and officially verified G-Sync Compatible monitors, reducing screen tearing and minimizing stutter for a

smoother, faster gaming experience. Objects are rendered more clearly for smoother gameplay and an almost surreal visual fluidity. Being able to see even the most dynamic and fastmoving objects amidst all the action can give gamers a competitive edge. IPS display with 99% of the sRGB provides outstanding color accuracy and wider viewing angle, so it delivers high-fidelity color for reproducing even more vivid scenes on the battlefield. With a connection to an

HDR-capable console (Xbox One S / PS4 Pro) or HDR-supported graphics card, users will enjoy punchier brightness and highlights with deeper shadows and silhouettes.

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PARADE

September 2021

HP EliteBook 840 G8

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PARADE

Laptop

September 2021

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THE HP ELITEBOOK 840 G8 Notebook is a laptop that elevates work efficiency; packed with the latest security features to ensure safe and seamless collaboration with the team, even while working remotely. With the HP EliteBook 840’s innovative features, collaboration among the team is made easier. Connectivity won’t be a problem with the laptop’s optional quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core vPro processors. Set up your “office” anywhere and still stay connected, thanks to Intel WiFi 6 (Gig+) which delivers nearly 3x faster WiFi, and the laptop’s optional support for up to 5G wireless broadband technology.

A bonus factor of the HP EliteBook 840 is its noise cancellation feature. Say goodbye to background noise during Zoom meetings, thanks to HP’s industryleading, noise-filtering, and audio enhancing technology. The HP EliteBook 840 provides comfort that can boost productivity wherever you are. This 14-inch business laptop comes

in a slim and lightweight size that makes it portable and easy to carry anywhere — perfect for remote work. It may be light, but the aluminum construction can withstand the jolts and bumps that may happen to any business laptop user. The HP EliteBook’s keyboard is also one of the best ones in the market, promising excellent key travel and clicky feedback. The keyboard’s backlight makes it easier to work during the night. Plus, it’s spillresistant, so good news for the clumsy multitaskers.

To complete the package, the HP EliteBook 840 G8 features a Full HD IPS display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. With the screen’s anti-glare feature, working on tasks with tight deadlines will be easier on the eyes. The display also offers a great resolution for your entertainment needs. One of the issues about working from home is the vulnerability of networks and devices to cybersecurity threats. To keep files secure and protected, the HP EliteBook 840 sports top-of-theline security features. For instance, it has a remarkable tamper lock intrusion detection system that will send an alert if someone attempts to open it, prompting the system to require an administrator password to restart the system.

September 2021

PARADE

Another promising security feature is the HP EliteBook 840’s ability to block prying eyes from viewing your screen, thanks to its optional HP Sure View Reflect. This feature makes the screen unreadable by producing a copper reflective finish when the screen is viewed from the side.

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The HP EliteBook 840’s high performance allows up to 32% faster office productivity and remarkable responsiveness makes it a reliable partner, especially when working on urgent deadlines. Create, edit, revise, and do more without disruptions and with ease with the help of this laptop.

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PHP5,990 Air Purifier

realme TechLife Air Purifier DESIGNED TO HELP you and your family breathe and live better, the realme TechLife Air Purifier is a musthave for everyone’s home. The realme TechLife Air Purifier boasts a high-level purification capacity of 330m³/h CADR, meaning that it is able to quickly and efficiently provide excellent purification results in a relatively short amount of time. For a standard indoor area September 2021

of 30m³, for example, it only takes 14.4 minutes to complete a single purification process. That makes the realme TechLife Air Purifier both an efficient and time-saving solution for delivering clean indoor air into your home. The realme TechLife Air Purifier is also equipped with an industry-leading HEPA H12 filter that is made up of 60-plus layers of an effective pleated

design that is capable of filtering at least 99.5% of airborne particles. In addition, it features a powerful 3-stage filtration system, delivering up to 99.95% filtration efficiency. With all these features and more, the realme TechLife Air Purifier is well equipped to bring high-level air purification and is the ideal solution to air quality problems in your living space, providing you and your family with a healthy breathing environment. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

PHP 1,590 Bluetooth Speaker

realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker ANOTHER ADDITION to realme’s fast-growing Smart Audio lineup, the realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker allows music-loving fans to experience pure bass like never before. It comes packed with a 5W Dynamic Bass Boost Driver to guarantee a heart-thumping and immersive audio quality.

driver to deliver a bass experience that sounds truly alive. It also boasts 9 hours of playback with its 1,500mAh battery and an IPX5 water resistance rating for an all-around audio experience.

Offered in metal black and electric blue.

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Equipped with realme’s Bass Boost+ audio technology, the speaker fully leverages the power of the large dynamic

In addition, you can pair two realme Cobble Bluetooth Speakers together by controlling the speaker’s multifunction button or realme Link for the supreme audio experience. The device comes in three equalizer presets — Bass, Dynamic, and Bright, which can all be configured from the realme Link app, allowing you to customize the way your music sounds exactly.

PARADE

September 2021

PARADE

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE Tablet

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THE SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 7 SE is the brand’s newest multi-productivity tablet that comes with powerful and user-friendly features to help maximize learning, productivity, and further inspire creativity. Students can attend online classes with ease, read important documents, and review presentations with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s immersive 12.4” display and dynamic Dual Speakers with Dolby Atmos. With the redesigned S Pen, it’s now easier for students to write and draw whenever inspiration hits. It also lets users instantly convert digital handwriting into text on Samsung Notes.

During downtime, students can channel their inner artist with the tablet’s preinstalled creativity apps: PenUp, Clip Studio, Canva, and Noteshelf. This makes drawing, painting, graphic designing, and digital note-taking more accessible, more convenient, and easier than ever on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

PHP 39,990

The tablet comes in eye-catching mystic black, mystic green, mystic silver, mystic pink (online-exclusive). Each purchase comes with a keyboard cover, S Pen, and 4 months free Youtube Premium subscription.

Users can store huge online school files, download numerous apps, and keep hundreds of photos and videos without worrying about space with the tablet’s massive 128GB internal storage that can be expandable up to 1TB. Equipped with the largest battery ever on a Galaxy tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE lets users easily power through the day without interruptions. It sports a long-lasting 10,090mAh battery, allowing 13 hours of video playback for online classes, and even movie marathons or video games. The best part is that the tablet supports 45W Super-Fast Charging, taking only 90 minutes to fully charge the device. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is also seamlessly integrated with Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem. It lets users do more with less through features such as Quick Share for easy file sharing, Handoff for seamless multitasking, as well as Extension and Duplicated modes for adjusting screen display.

September 2021

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OMRON HEM-7156-A Blood Pressure Monitor

PHP 4,380

easy to do even with just one hand — a benefit that is indispensable for selfmonitoring.

One of the most notable features of the OMRON HEM-7156-A is its 360-degree IntelliWrap Cuff technology. A study by Perleberg Research in 2014 revealed that one in three people measures their blood pressure inaccurately when monitoring from home. A big contributor factor to this is incorrect cuff positioning. OMRON’s IntelliWrap Cuff solves this through a preformed fit cuff that gives accurate readings at any angle and reduces measurement errors at home. The cuff is designed to make wearing

The OMRON HEM-7156-A is also equipped with Intellisense, a standard among all OMRON blood pressure monitors. This means that the device automatically personalizes the cuff

inflation to eliminate pain or discomfort for the wearer during measurement. This revolutionary technology pioneered by OMRON further minimizes possible misrepresentation in readings. The device is also programmed to signal when an individual is suspected to have highly elevated blood pressure through its Hypertension Indicator. It features Pulse Rate and Body Movement Capturing and Irregular Heartbeat Detection, the latter helping to detect abnormal heartbeat rhythm for early intervention and treatment of possible cardiovascular diseases. The product package also comes with a universal adapter. September 2021

PARADE

THE OMRON HEM-7156-A is a state-of-the-art Blood Pressure Monitor designed for ease of use.

PARADE gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Hard drive

Synology HAS5300 THE SYNOLOGY HAS5300 series 3.5” SAS hard drives are designed to meet the growing demand for high-capacity, high-performance, and resilient storage systems in enterprise environments. Available in 16TB, 12TB, and 8TB models, the HAS5300 drives are the latest addition to Synology’s range of enterprise hard drives. They are perfect companions to Synology’s high-performance and highly scalable SA and UC series storage solutions. High performance for mission-critical workloads With support for 550 TB/year workloads and rated for 2.5 million hours mean time to failure (MTTF), HAS5300 SAS drives are built to deliver consistent and class-leading performance in the most September 2021

intense environments. Persistent write cache technology further helps ensure data integrity for your mission-critical applications.

reliability and integration with Synology deployments, helping customers create thoroughly validated and dependable storage setups.

Leveraging the SAS protocol, Synology HAS5300 drives allow customers to scale up to 180 drives on the high-performance Synology SA series or to maximize iSCSI system availability with the dual controller setup on the UC3200 activeactive IP SAN. The drives also support fast data transfer for data-intensive configurations.

The HAS5300 series was optimized during development to ensure optimal compatibility and the best possible performance with Synology systems, most notably achieving a significant improvement in RAID rebuild performance.

Engineered to boost performance on Synology systems More than 200,000 hours of compatibility and stress testing of the three models on Synology systems ensure that HAS5300 series drives offer unparalleled

HAS5300 drive firmware updates will be shipped together with the latest updates for Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, reducing IT teams’ maintenance workload and ensuring that your system always runs the newest software. The HAS5300 series comes with Synology’s 5-year limited warranty. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

XTREME Cool Portable Air Conditioner Portable Air Conditioner PHP17,995 - 1.5HP (XACPT15) PHP16,995 - 1.0HP (XACPT10)

THE XTREME COOL PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER is the most convenient and simplest solution for your air cooling needs.

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Perhaps the biggest advantage of the XTREME Cool Portable Aircon is its portability. Compared to window mounted or wall mounted units, you can just roll your portable aircon to any room that you need to keep cool — thanks to its built-in wheels for smoother mobility. This air-conditioning unit does not require installation, saving you installation costs. Just unpack the unit from its packaging, connect to a compatible electrical outlet, find an exit of the exhaust hose out of a window, and turn it on. You also don’t have to worry about figuring out an appropriate location or renovating your home’s interior. It has an Auto-Restart feature, which means they will turn back on and start cooling at the same settings after a power outage.

PARADE

The XTREME Cool Portable aircon comes in an icy white design finish, in line with the emerging style trend for modern Filipino living.

September 2021

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Gaming Console

Steam Deck THE STEAM DECK, a handheld console from PC gaming giant Valve, will let gamers play games from their Steam account, delivering an all-inone portable hand-held PC gaming experience.

Valve partnered with AMD to create the console’s custom APU optimized for a handheld gaming experience. The Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse will deliver quite a performance to run the latest AAA games for a much powerful experience.

The Steam Deck offers three storage options and other exclusive items such as fast storage pacing and carrying cases. It comes in with either 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB internal storage. A microSD card slot is available for additional storage.

The console features a 7-inch touchscreen display that lets gamers type and swipe through their library and chat boxes. The Steam Deck’s trackpads provide a flexible method of gaming experience to let gamers play PC games that were

September 2021

never designed to be played on handheld devices, such as Dota 2, CS:GO, and other competitive and fast-paced FPS games. In addition to this, the console’s gamepad controls are already aplenty for gamers and handheld users, from its comfortable thumbsticks, analog triggers, and four-assigned grip buttons to provide a powerful, dynamic, and out-of-theordinary gaming experience. Steam Deck also has 6-axis gyro aiming to make the experience fuller and for gamers to aim better. Its stereo speakers release a wide

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soundstage for an immersive listening experience, especially with headsets connected.

Steam Deck is up for pre-order and shipping will start in December 2021.

September 2021

PARADE

The Steam Deck has a 40-watt-hour battery that allows gamers to play most games for hours. It also has a single USB-C port that can be used for charging, peripherals, or connecting to bigger screens. Valve notes that any USB-C hub or their own official dock (sold separately) can be used to expand the I/O ports. The console also

allows WiFi and Bluetooth connection for wireless and flexible movement. Moreover, your games on Steam Deck run on a new version of the SteamOS (based on Arch Linux) optimized for handheld gaming. Valve’s compatibility layer Proton will also remove the need for any porting device from the developers, with your library working right off the bat.

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Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)

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Gaming Console

THE NINTENDO SWITCH (OLED MODEL) gives players a new experience starting from the visuals, audio, and depths. Coming in at 4” high, 9.5” long (Joy-Con attached), and 0.55” deep, the OLED model provides a much larger and more scenic visual from the previous consoles. The new model is a little heavier than the previous Switch console, weighing 0.93lbs. The multi-touch capacitive touch screen of the 7.0-inch OLED screen provides a much better viewing and touch experience in games. The OLED model also has bigger storage compared to previous sporting 64GB by default giving its players more space to add games, upload photos, and download apps such as Youtube in the console. Moreover, the Nintendo OLED model also carries a custom NVIDIA Tegra processor that provides greater and more dynamic graphics and enabling hours of engaging and interactive gaming without experiencing delays.

Like the original Nintendo Switch, the OLED model can be displayed to your TV through its TV mode with a 1080p video output. The built-in screen has a 720p video resolution that players can enjoy in Tabletop mode and Handheld modes. The audio output of the OLED model is compatible with 5.1-inch Linear PCM output via the HDMI connector in TV mode. But even without it, users can experience clear, and clean audio from its upgraded speakers. Its headphone/ mic jack is compatible with a 3.5 mm 4-pole

September 2021

stereo (CTIA standard) to give out the best audio quality that the console has without any cloudy mishaps. The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) comes with a dock and USB Type-C connector for charging and doubles as the display adapter to your TV. The internal 4310mAh Lithium-ion battery can be filled with approximately 3 hours of charging time and lasts from 4.5 to 9 hours depending on use. The OLED model provides two card slots one for the microSD card and another for proprietary game cards. It is set for release on October 8, 2021.

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Fitbit Charge 5 Fitness Tracker PHP 11,990

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THIS PAST YEAR, we’ve endured sickness, loss, increased stress, and changes in sleep, diet, and exercise. Being strong in today’s world is more than what we can lift or how fast we can run. It is also what the mind and body can handle. The new Charge 5, Fitbit’s most advanced health and fitness tracker, keeps a pulse on your fitness, stress, heart health, sleep, and overall wellbeing — all in a thinner, sleek design. Charge 5 includes an EDA sensor which measures your body’s response to stress through tiny changes in the sweat glands on your fingers. It tracks your heart rate 24/7, providing notifications when you are above or below your personal ranges. It also provides a holistic view of other key wellness metrics on the Fitbit app, including breathing rate, skin temperature variation, and SpO2. It also has industry-leading tools to help improve sleep quality.

Beyond health and wellness support, Charge 5 delivers the convenience features you need. With the swipe of a finger, view your stats, receive/send notifications from/to your smartphone (quick replies with Android only), and choose from 20 colorful clock faces to customize what information you want to see most. Battery life can extend up to 7 days, depending on use.

You can also switch up your look at any time, choosing from lightweight silicone infinity bands, breathable sport bands, plush nylon hook and loop bands, and hand-crafted premium Horween leather bands. With six months of Fitbit Premium included, you get deeper insights, actionable guidance, a range of more than 500 workouts, as well as mindfulness and nutritional content to empower you to do what’s best for your body every day. September 2021

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Ten percent thinner than its predecessor, Charge 5 has an aerodynamic design and is optimized for performance and engineered for a seamless fit. With a new AMOLED color display, Charge 5 is the first tracker with an always-on display option for added convenience to see your stats or while training. The display

is also two times brighter than its predecessor making it easy to see your stats on sunny days.

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REVIEWED BY Gabriel pe

tECNO camon 17 pro

When I reviewed the Tecno Camon 16 Pro a few months back, I was very pleasantly surprised. It is a bang for your buck phone with great camera capabilities. Now its newer sibling, the Camon 17 Pro looks to carry out what its brother has started.

SMARTPHONE

September 2021

design I have to hand it to Tecno, they really upped the ante on the looks of the Camon 17 Pro. It feels and looks like a premium device. Our review unit came in the Malibu Blue color, which looks more like a darker shade of green than blue, to be honest.

On touch, the back feels smooth like glass, without a textured finish but still offering a nice grip. Although matte, it is still a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but there’s a rubber case for that. A closer look at the back reveals a dot pattern that adds a layer to its looks. In front is the 6.8-inch Dot-in FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and the 48-megapixel selfie camera. Above that is

the earpiece which doubles as a speaker. At the back is the phone’s 64-megapixel quad camera setup. There’s not much on top except a mic hole, on the left is the sim-tray and micro-SD slot while on the right is the side-mounted fingerprint reader which doubles as the power button, and the volume buttons. Lastly, on the bottom is the bottom-firing speaker, the USB-C port, another mic hole, and the headphone jack.

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September 2021

TECNO Camon 17 Pro

hardware

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Powering the Tecno Camon 17 Pro is the MediaTek Helio G95, MediaTek’s most powerful Helio-series processor. Our unit had 8GB of RAM and 128GB of external storage which can be expanded via the dedicated MicroSD slot. It has a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. As part of the Tecno Camon Series of smartphones, the Camon 17 Pro has a pretty good 64-megapixel quadcamera setup. The main shooter of course is the 64-megapixel f/1.8 lens paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel Bokeh/ depth lens, and a 2-megapixel black and white sensor. Tecno has also added special attention to the selfie camera, equipping it with a 48-megapixel shooter.

user experience

in Antutu V9, which does translate to good performance.

After being impressed by the Camon 16, I had high expectations for the Camon 17 Pro. And, after playing with the device for a few weeks, I can honestly say that the Tecno Camon 17 Pro does live up to its expectations.

Playing games on the Camon 17 Pro can be a mixed bag. Esports titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift were able to run at the highest settings (Ultra with 60fps). I was also able to get pretty good results with Asphalt 9 running on a high setting although there were noticeable frame drops.

The underrated highlight of the Camon 17 Pro is undoubtedly the Helio G95 processor. Though not the fastest in the market and without 5G, it is still a pretty capable processor in the mid-range division. It scored a respectable 356921

As for the heaviest game, Genshin Impact, I was able to run it at 30fps but at the lowest settings — not the greatest

experience. Though I have to commend Tecno for its internal cooling as the device didn’t really get that hot. Another game that had a bit of difficulty was Apex Legends Mobile. The game is still in its beta testing stage and probably wasn’t optimized for the Helio G95 or for the Camon 17 Pro. Now for the Camon 17 Pro’s bread and butter, its camera. The camera is pretty good for both outdoor and some indoor scenarios. The Camon 17 Pro’s camera was able to handle complicated subject portraits (like my cat Butterscotch, my default model) even indoors. For outdoor shots, it is not flagship-grade but still among the best for its class. I was also surprised with the good details from the Ultrawide camera, which is usually where some brands skimp on. Another feature I found pretty useful is the phone’s Ultra Steady electronic stabilization for video. It works, but the autofocus of the camera does tend to refocus the scene a lot if you’re walking without a subject.

September 2021

SPECIFICATIONS

The 33W fast charging is also a good addition, giving me full juice in just around two hours of downtime. My only qualms (again) would be HiOS’s bloatware and Ads. You can disable these

in the setting and uninstall apps, just a bit of a hassle to have to do all that.

VALUE Coming in at PHP9,990 for the 8GB + 128GB model, the Camon 17 Pro is definitely another hit for Tecno. It has a great mid-range processor, a pretty good screen, and of course, the great Camonseries camera.

what's hot  33W fast charging  Stereo speakers

what's Not  No 5G  Bloatware and Ads

BOTTOMLINE The Camon 17 Pro is definitely another hit from Tecno.

September 2021

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As for media, the 90Hz refresh rate is pretty good for scrolling through social media. The dual speakers (the earpiece and downward speaker) are great to see/ hear for a device at this price point.

Display: 6.8-inch Dot-in FHD+ (1080 x 2460) display with 90Hz Refresh rate Processor: MediaTek Helio G95 OS: HiOS v7.6 on top of Android 11 RAM: 8GB Storage: 128GB; 256GB expandable via dedicated MicroSD slot Camera: 48-megapixel (front); 64-megapixel main shooter, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 2-megapixel depth (Bokeh), 2-megapixel monochrome (Black and white) Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, FM, OTG, USB Type-C Other features: Film mode, Ultra Stable video, 4K video, side-mounted fingerprint reader, face unlock, dual speakers Battery: 5000mAh with 33W flash charge Dimensions: 168.89 x 76.98 x 8.95mm Weight: 201g

REVIEWED BY maribelle alba

LG UltraWide 25UM58-P gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

monitor

I was in two minds about shifting to the LG UltraWide 25UM58-P as my main desktop display, as I was already quite happy with my existing home office setup, which had my Macbook Pro (15-inch, 2017) hooked up to my iMac (27-inch, 2015) which served as the display. Would the 25-inch LG UltraWide monitor be a worthy replacement?

September 2021

design The LG UltraWide 25UM58-P comes in a black plastic body that’s echoed in the stand base. The monitor itself is about 24-inches wide and 11-inches tall. Weighing only about 4kg, it is easy to handle. To assemble, you only need to mount the stand body onto the stand hinge, tighten two screws, attach the stand base to the stand body, tighten another screw, attach the screw cover, and it’s good to go!

hardware Of course, the centerpiece of the LG UltraWide 25UM58-P is its panoramic 21:9 display with Full HD 2560x1080 resolution. The advantage of its IPS panel is evident in the wide 178/178 viewing angle and good 1000:1 contrast

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At the back are two HDMI ports, a headphone jack, and the DC-in port. On the bottom edge, just underneath the LG logo, is the power button/joystick to turn the monitor on/off and to configure monitor settings.

ratio. Able to deliver a color gamut of sRGB over 99% and 8-bit color depth, the monitor delivers faithful color reproduction, sufficient for most photoediting requirements. Also, while some gamers may balk at the 14ms response time, it does tout 5ms GTG, which should be more than fast enough to enjoy most games, unless you’re a competitive gamer.

September 2021

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LG UltraWide 25UM58-P

user experience Assembling the LG UltraWide 25UM58-P is a quick 10-15 minute job. Then all I needed to do was connect the bundled HDMI cable to my MacBook Pro via a USB hub, push the power button, and voila! It’s all systems go. Absolutely painless — I didn’t even need the installer CD that came in the box. Afterward, it was just a matter of properly positioning the monitor and adjusting the tilt angle for the best viewing position.

two windows tiled side-by-side, I get two full windows in just the right aspect ratio, which seems more natural than what I used to get on the iMac, where windows were long and narrow. I use the monitor mainly for work, and I really appreciate its matte screen, which is more eye-friendly as it reduces irritating reflections and screen glare.

As mentioned earlier, I had concerns about the transition from the larger 27inch iMac. In reality, both the iMac and the LG UltraWide 25UM58-P are almost the same width, with screens both about two feet across. The difference, of course, is the latter loses about 3-inches of screen height. Was this an issue for me? Actually, no. In fact, I found that with

September 2021

Occasionally, I would take a break and watch an episode from a favorite TV series, and the ultrawide screen brings back the widescreen cinema experience. A quick jog on the joystick lets me shift to Cinema picture mode, optimizing the picture quality for video-viewing. I’m not a gamer, so I haven’t had occasion to test the monitor’s gaming

For specific uses, you also have the option of using Reader mode optimized for heavy reading, or Picture mode for viewing/editing photos. Probably my only complaint about this monitor is that the stand is too short and not height adjustable. As I have a standing desk that I like to move up/ down in the course of a day’s work, I found that, by itself, I could not properly position the screen at the right eye level. Luckily I found a small wooden box to use as a riser. Having enjoyed the benefits of using the LLG UltraWide 25UM58-P for some weeks now, I am seriously considering an upgrade to a bigger sibling, perhaps the 29 or the 34-incher?

VALUE

SPECIFICATIONS

The LG UltraWide 25UM58-P retails for PHP12,699 — not the cheapest, but still reasonable. As most of us spend many hours in front of a monitor, this should be one of those essentials we don’t skimp on. Not all monitors are created equal, and with LG’s new line of monitors, you’re getting one of the best and most technologically advanced in the category. It also comes with a 3-year warranty on parts and labor, an affirmation of LG’s confidence in the product quality, and your assurance that this will be a good long-term investment.

BOTTOMLINE Level up your desktop experience with this all-purpose monitor that’s great for work and play!

Display size: 25” flat Panel type: IPS Color depth: 8bits, 16.7M Resolution: 2560 x 1080 Contrast ratio: 1000:1 Response time: 14ms Viewing angle: 178/178 Ports: HDMI x 2, headphone out Power: 100-240V adapter Dimensions: 609x287x55mm (without stand); 609x363x188mm (with stand) Weight: 4.0kg

what's hot  Virtually plug and play  21:9 ultrawide

what's Not  Very basic features  Stand is not height adjustable

September 2021

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performance, but LG obviously has gamers in mind with three preset picture modes for games. FPS 1 is optimized for FPS games; FPS 2 is configured with a higher black stabilizer value for very dark FPS games; and RTS is dedicated to RTS games. There is a further Custom mode for game-related options, distinct from the Custom mode for your everyday use.

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REVIEWED BY Archangel Nudalo

OPPO reno6 Z 5G SMARTPHONE

Taking IG-ready pictures, playing online games, streaming high-quality videos— everything’s smooth with the new OPPO Reno6 Z 5G! Continuing the success of its predecessors, the newly released OPPO Reno6 Z elevates the whole Reno series with the addition of cool new camera features. September 2021

design The review unit we got came in the stellar black colorway in black and blue, distinct from the aurora variant with its sky blue-rainbow color finish. When light hits the phone at different angles, the color changes in a gradient from blueblack to midnight blue giving the phone a luxurious feel. The plastic back, although looking very textured, is actually smooth to touch. The unit features a 64MP rear camera with an 8MP wide-angle camera as well as a 32MP selfie camera. The power button is on the right side while the sim card tray and volume buttons are on the other. The cable port, speaker, and headphone jack are at the bottom part of the phone unit. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

hardware The OPPO Reno6 Z 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor, definitely an improvement. Together with the 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM, these specs deliver faster and smoother CPU and GPU processing, to elevate the overall phone experience.

The battery is a heavy-duty 4310 mAh and supports fast charging. It can last all day, even when playing online mobile games on high-performance settings and/or watching high-quality videos from streaming apps and platforms. At the same time, the 6.4-inch AMOLED display is also very remarkable as it gives the phone a clean and sleek look. The display definitely elevates the whole experience of watching videos, streaming films/TV series, and editing pictures.

September 2021

OPPO Reno6 Z 5G

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user experience Upon picking up the unit out of its box, I was surprised that the phone is so lightweight. Big phones are generally heavier than mid-to-small phones, so it was refreshing that OPPO Reno6 Z didn’t feel heavy at all. On a personal note, it made the phone less intimidating to use. It fits in the hand well and can fit in a pocket just as easily. With regard to overall performance, the Reno6 Z is very fast and smooth in performing various Android tasks like opening and closing applications, updating settings, running web browsers and pages, etc. Watching videos from different streaming platforms is also great, with vivid colors and high-quality visuals. It can also stream in 4K and 60FPS smoothly, and with 5G-capability, streaming with mobile data is a breeze.

pictures in phone camera apps, a photo taken with Reno6 Z can go either way: it can be post-ready or can be further enhanced thru post-processing apps. Image colors are accurate, with the 64MP rear camera producing the most faithful color reproduction. One of the features I like when using Reno6 Z’s camera is it automatically sets the settings for the photo subject, so you won’t have to. It definitely adds to the overall user experience, particularly for mobile photography newbies. There are also additional functions like the Extra HD and Dual-View video, where you

The main feature of OPPO Reno6 Z is its camera. Daytime and nighttime shots came out crisp and vivid. Two of the issues I think many people associate with Android cameras are color grading and post-processing of images taken with the built-in camera app. On the Reno6 Z, color grading and processing are not annoying as it does not oversaturate images and does not over-filter. For someone who does a lot of postprocessing and likes to post-process September 2021

Bokeh Flare Portrait

can record a video simultaneously from the main and selfie cameras. I found the Macro feature disappointing, and I think the normal camera is far more effective in creating macro pictures. What I consider the best camera feature of the OPPO Reno6 Z is its Portrait mode, which mimics professional portrait photos perfectly, particularly with the Bokeh Flare portrait feature that adds more dimension and depth to the portrait photo. Overall, taking pictures with the OPPO Reno6 Z is an amazing experience.

And, since it is marketed as a camera phone, I was quite indifferent to its gaming capabilities. It was, therefor, a delightful surprise when I found that it is able to support gaming, even at the highest settings. The OPPO Reno6 Z is great for casual gaming. MOBA games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift run smoothly, even at the highest graphics and performance

settings. There are slight delays and lags on Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact, but these do not diminish the overall gaming experience. My only complaint is the placement of the phone speaker which, when can be covered by your hand when playing in landscape orientation. The audio output from the single speaker itself is all right, capable of filling a small room so you can still enjoy it on a stand.

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Nighttime

SPECIFICATIONS Platform/Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G SoC CPU: Octa-core 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 GPU: Mali-G57 MC Camera: Front Camera: 32MP Selfie Camera | Rear Camera: 64MP Main Camera + 8MP Wide Angle Camera+ Colors: Aurora, Stellar Black Size: (Aurora) 160.20mm x 73.38mm x 7.97mm* | (Stellar Black) 160.20mm x 73.38mm x 7.92mm* Battery: 4310mAh, 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 Storage: 8GB RAM + 128GB Internal Storage Operating System: ColorOS 11 Display: 6.4” AMOLED Display Weight: About 173g* Finish: OPPO Reno Glow Fingerprint: In-display Fingerprint Package box includes fast charging adaptor, type-C USB cable, 3.5mm jack earphones, sim card tray ejector pin, and clear silicon case

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VALUE

what's hot

With its price at PHP19,999, the OPPO Reno6 Z is a stellar addition to the Reno Series. The unit is perfect for taking great selfies at parties or capturing nice scenery on an afternoon stroll. Not only that, its impressive hardware properties enable it to be not just a camera phone, but also a phone that can support other activities like gaming, streaming, and online meetings.

Amazing camera and camera features Outstanding CPU and GPU performance Heavy-duty and fast-charging battery Lightweight

BOTTOMLINE what's Not  Has only one speaker Can heat up easily during steady gaming

The new OPPO Reno6 Z 5G is not just great for taking pictures but for gaming and watching videos as well!

September 2021

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REVIEWED BY Lorraine villarina

Nokia C20 SMARTPHONE

The new Nokia C20 was released last June 2021, and we are totally here for it! Growing up, my family used Nokia’s toughest product, the Nokia 3310. In comparison, how well does this baby do?

September 2021

design The Nokia C20’s simple yet sleek surface makes the phone look elegant, even mesmerizing at its finest! Like any other smartphone, it has hardly any buttons. With a full-on touchscreen, this phone is useful for reading ebooks, and playing games like League of Legends: Wild Rift. The Nokia C20 has two available colors: dark blue and sand, with our demo unit being the latter. The sand color is not shiny which is nice because it doesn’t attract too much attention. The back cover also has a rough texture which is a plus, because the phone won’t easily slip off my hand.

power button is located at the side below the volume button; its charging port is at the lower portion of the phone near the logo name, and the speaker can be located at the back with a noticeable rip. That one thing that irks me is the location of the headphone/earphone jack at the top, an irritant because the wire tends to slide down in front of the screen, or the user will have to hold it in the back. It is quite annoying when you are enjoying a really good movie, TV series, or even an animated show.

hardware Although the Nokia C20 can be used for basic phone uses such as voice calls and text messages, it can also perform other easy tasks such as setting an alarm (and it is really loud), using the calendar, taking notes, or watching videos on streaming applications. The device uses the Android 11 or the Go Edition which is a really neat OS because it is lighter, making the Nokia C20 quite competitive in terms of launch time, memory usage, and battery consumption. However, the Nokia C20 cannot handle games such as Honkai Impact, League of Legends: Wild Rift, and other MMORPG, MOBA, or RPG games as it tends to overheat with extended play,making these games laggy. Light games such as Cat Spa and Samsara Room can be played with ease with almost no lag time issues. Since everyone is working from home, Google Meet and Zoom calls are allowed as well in the Nokia C20, but could also overheat during lengthy calls.

September 2021

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The Nokia C20 also has 5MP with flash front and back cameras. The

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Nokia C20

September 2021

SPECIFICATIONS user experience

Also on the plus side, you can watch streams on Twitch, watch shows, and movies on Netflix, and Youtube. You can take it anywhere — not just for business. It is perfect for casual calls and texts with family or friends. I usually use my phone for photography, and the Nokia C20’s front and back cameras were a bit disappointing because of their grainy and pale output. Gamers should not expect too much you can’t run demanding games like Genshin Impact.

VALUE Retailing at PHP4,690, the Nokia C20 lives up to its brand promise as an affordable phone that has everything—browser, calls, games. This would be a useful device especially for business calls, for messaging, for playing offline games to pass the time, for watching streams on Twitch, and much of what we expect of smartphones. The Nokia C20 embodies what I like about Nokia products — it’s affordable, easy to use and navigate, plus I can bring it everywhere and can use it anywhere with a WiFi or data connection, to watch Netflix, attend online classes, or listen to music.

what's hot

what's Not

Good for watching streams, movies, and shows Long-lasting battery (up to two days) Light/calming games can be easily played Sleek design

 Camera and video exposure are not that great  Gets laggy overtime on heavy games like Honkai Impact  Lengthy online calls (gmeet and zoom) are not reliable

Network speed: LTE CAT4 OS: Android 11 (Go edition) CPU: SC9863a Octa-core up to 1.6Ghz Memory and storage: RAM: 2GB, ROM: 32GB | MicroSD card slot supports up 256GB Display: 6.5” (6.517”) HD+ V-notch | Aspect ratio 20:9 Camera and flash: Main: 5MP with flash, Front: 5MP with flash, HDR | Beautification Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n | Bluetooth 4.2 | GPS/AGPS | Ambient light sensor | Proximity sensor | Accelerometer (G-sensor) Charging: 5V1A Charging Battery: Removable 3000mAh I/O: Micro USB (USB 2.0) | 3.5mm audio jack Dimensions: 169.9 x 77.9 x 8.8mm | Weight: 191g SIM slot: Dual SIM | Nano SIM + Nano SIM + Micro SD | Single SIM | Nano SIM + Micro SD Other: FM radio (headset required) | 1 microphone | face unlock

BOTTOMLINE I would recommend the Nokia C20, because why wouldn’t we want elegance and simplicity?

September 2021

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Positioned as an affordable smartphone, the Nokia C20 is suitable for general family use as it is accessible, easy to use and navigate. This is a great device for checking notifications for mail, and for social applications like Messenger Lite.

The Nokia C20 has a face unlock security measure, except that with facemasks and face shields, you will still need to type in your PIN.

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REVIEWED BY gabriel pe

lenovo yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop

Convertible laptops were all the rage in the last decade. These devices provided allaround mobility, versatility, and most importantly convenience to users who want the tablet experience with the power of a PC. The Lenovo Yoga series has provided its users the ultimate convertible experience, and the latest Yoga 9i looks to continue its legacy.

September 2021

design As the flagship in the Yoga series, Lenovo has fitted the Yoga 9i with all the works! First, it has an elegant European leather cover and an impressive aerospacegrade aluminum body. Our review unit came in the Shadow Black color with the etched Lenovo Yoga Series on the cover delivering great finishing touch. Opening the laptop you’ll be greeted by the 14-inch IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) touchscreen display. The keys are placed on the aluminum body but the palm rest, including the touchpad, is made with edge-to-edge glass. Also on the glass palm rest is the fingerprint reader.

hardware The Lenovo Yoga 9i was made with power and efficiency in mind. Lenovo opted to go with an Intel core i7-1185G7 in our review unit which offered a surprisingly impressive power performance in benchmarks. The 11th-gen processor scored 1940 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 883 for single core. For PC Mark10 it was rated 4669, a respectable all-around score. Paired with the Intel Core i7-1185G7 is Intel’s Iris Xe graphics, based on the Xe architecture. It’s an integrated graphics so gaming was really not the Yoga 9i’s first option. On 3Dmark Timespy it scored 1557 and 11,447 on 3Dmark Night Raid (night raid was specially made for integrated graphics). But in the spirit of once again pushing laptops to the limited, I tried Valorant on the Yoga 9i and it was able to push out 60 to 70fps on high settings but around the 100s on low settings — not bad, I would say. Memory-wise our test unit came with 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM. For storage, we had 1TB of PCIe SSD. As for the battery, the Yoga 9i comes with a 60Whr battery rated for 17 hours of use. Charge time is quick with the 65W fast charger.

September 2021

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On the left of the Yoga 9i is a USB 3.1 type A port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports that double as the charging port, and the 3.5mm audio port. On the right of the laptop is the power button. At the back is the stylus dock, which I found a rather weird location for a stylus.

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Lenovo Yoga 9i

user experience It has been a while since I was able to get my hands on a 2-in-1 laptop and to be honest I was quite excited to play around with the Yoga 9i.

portability. The location, though, seems pretty weird and obscure, as it is hidden behind the power button such that I was initially disappointed because I thought there was no included stylus.

There’s a lot to be excited about with the Yoga 9i. First, there’s the touchscreen which I think more laptop manufacturers should consider. It’s handy, and Windows has done a good job optimizing the Windows 10 touch interface. Plus, you can actually carry it around like a tablet since it is pretty light at 1.44kg.

I think the best features of the Yoga 9i are its display and audio. The Yoga 9i’s IPS display isn’t an OLED nor a 4K panel, but somehow Lenovo managed to tweak it to display vivid images. As for the audio, the Dolby certified speakers are placed on the 360-degree hinge and rotate when you change the laptop’s position. This design choice allows it to produce loud yet clear audio even in tablet mode.

Then there’s the included stylus, which is good for a bit of scribbling and doodling, although I think not quite at the level of the styli like the S-Pen or Apple Pen. What’s great though is that Lenovo has found a way to insert the pen directly into the laptop for better

If there’s one downside to the Yoga 9i, it would be cooling. I found it getting hot just above the keyboard after some — not too hot, but still a bit uncomfortable to touch. Even in tablet mode, the same area warms up, making it uncomfortable to place on my lap or hold for too long.

September 2021

Lastly, I would have wanted a few more port options. The single USB-A port feels lacking as I prefer using a mouse over the touchpad. The two USB-C ports also might be limited for some users as one is already dedicated to charging while the other would be for presenting or other stuff.

SPECIFICATIONS

what's hot

VALUE Starting at PHP109,995, the Lenovo Yoga 9i demands a hefty purse; but for what it offers I can honestly say it’s worth every penny. With the great display, great audio, and all-around performance, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a great convertible for anyone looking.

BOTTOMLINE The Lenovo Yoga 9i is definitely a choice for users who want a convertible laptop.

 Great display  Great audio  It’s a 2-in-1  Included stylus with dedicated port

what's Not  Does get warm  Limited port selection

September 2021

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Display: 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen display with 100% sRGB, 400nits, Dolby Vision, 89% AAR. Processor: Up to Intel Core i7 -1185G7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe RAM: Up to 16GB of LPDDR4X Storage: SSD PCIe up to 1TB OS: Windows 10 Home Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, Intel 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 Ports: 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2, 2x USB Type-C ThunderBolt 4 (USB 4.0, DisplayPort, Power Deliver), Audio Combo Jack Battery: 60Whr with included 65W charger Features: TrueStrike Keyboard, Ultrasonic Fingerprint reader, Garage Pen, Rotating Soundbar with Dolby Atmos Speaker system, Dolby Vision, Super Resolution 2.0, Lenovo Intelligent Thermal 4.0, Glance by Mirametrix, Weight: 1.44kg Dimensions: 319.5 x 216.7 x 15.316.5mm

REVIEWED BY MARIBELLE ALBA

Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

pocket wifi

When Smart announced the 5G Rocket WiFi, I was excited to find out if it was just hype or lived up to its promise.

design The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi is a 5G-enabled multiband portable router that comes in a black plastic casing. Slightly larger and heavier than other pocket WiFi devices, it has a 2.4-inch color touchscreen display on the upper surface. A USB-C port is located on one side while the LAN port is found on the other side. Smaller but thicker than the typical smartphone, the Smart 5G Rocket WiFi can be easily popped into a backpack or purse when you need to be out and about.

hardware The most distinctive feature of this device is, of course, its 5G connectivity which supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi. You push open the back of the case to access the nano-SIM card slot as well as the 5300mAh removable lithium-ion battery. It comes with a USB Type-C charging cable recommended

September 2021

for use with a 5v 2A USB charger. The RJ45 LAN port is an option for those who prefer a wired connection.

cover open and popped in the Smart Bro 5G-ready SIM that came with the package. The power button is right beside the screen to turn the device on/off.

user experience

After the Smart Bro welcome screen, you see the indicator screen with the following information clock, WWAN signal and type, provider, number of connected devices, battery percentage, and day/date. Sliding the screen brings up additional

Out of the box, the Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi is virtually plug-and-play. As soon as it was charged to full, I pried the back

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menu features, such as Connection Guide to help you set up your wireless network; Power Saving for screen-off and WiFi autooff; SSID lets you rename the network and reset passwords; SMS to check your text messages; Settings to configure the device; and About for detailed device information. The Smart Bro prepaid welcome pack automatically gives you 100MB of data, which you can use to download the GigaLife App on your smartphone or tablet. Through the GigaLife App, you can then avail of a suitable data package, particularly the Unli 5G promotional offers which give you unlimited data within 5G-covered areas nationwide. What’s the big deal about 5G, you ask? Well, my home internet is fairly decent, giving me average speeds of about 100Mbps on a fiber connection. Speed tests on the Smart 5G Rocket WiFi gave me 150Mbps download speed at home. I took the device along during a drive and was able to get 234Mbps download speed in an open-air 5G setting. I found 5G coverage to be unexpectedly extensive, even in areas outside of central business districts. In case you do find yourself somewhere without 5G, this portable router will still allow you to connect through the best available LTE or even 3G signal.

September 2021

Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi

SPECIFICATIONS OS : Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 Display : 2.4-inch TFT color LCD panel, capacitive touchscreen Connectivity : 5G Battery : 5,000mAh Features : SMS viewing, with USB and LAN

what's hot Super fast 5G speeds Can link up to 15 devices Portable

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what's Not Signal strength varies with location It’s expensive

BOTTOMLINE Faster even than your home broadband — and you can take it to the beach or a mountain retreat.

VALUE The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi Prepaid bundle is available from the Smart online store for a one-time cash-out of PHP15,995, inclusive of a 5G SIM card with 100MB and PHP250 Smart Bro voucher. While the initial investment may be a bit steep, it is definitely cheaper than getting a 5G-enabled smartphone, which is the only other option currently available to enjoy 5G speeds. If you’re in a 5G area, the

September 2021

Unli 5G data plan offered by Smart Giga Life allows you to enjoy uber-fast internet without data caps for very affordable rates, starting at just PHP299 for 1 week or PHP599 (currently PHP499 on promo) for 30 days. That’s not bad at all, considering that the connection can be shared simultaneously with 15 devices — more than enough for a whole family’s schooling, work, gaming, and streaming needs. For those who prefer a postpaid subscription, it is also offered under the Smart Signature Data plans. As

a reference, you can subscribe to the Signature Data Plan S for PHP 1,324/ month for 36 months, with a one-time cash-out of PHP 5,300. Data Plan S comes with 20GB per month to cover all online activities. Any unused data can be carried over to the following month with the Data Rollover feature. For people who absolutely need to have fast, reliable internet access not just from home but from virtually anywhere, the Smart 5G Rocket WiFi is an investment that’s going to be worth its price many times over.

Cover story

Iconic phones that

Nokia 3310 and th

Words by Archangel Nudalo

ast year, the Nokia 3310 celebrated its 20th anniversary. Now, we’re just less than a month into the 21st. Even then, it’s a great feat that a single GSM phone from the 2000s is still talked about in digital spaces or conversations today.

When people reminisce about Nokia 3310, they talk about its durability. The phone’s indestructibility was (and is still) so highly regarded that when Finland, Nokia’s home country, released their country-themed emojis, the Nokia 3310 was named as “The Indestructible.” Aside from the usual features highlighted with Nokia 3310 — like the Snake game, and The Composer app which lets you create your own ringtones — Nokia 3310 also supported internet messaging. For a mobile phone in the 2000s, a time when the internet was still developing, internet messaging was a noteworthy feat. The phone’s support of internet messaging was utilized not just by the people in the business sector, but most especially by the youth.

September 2021

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t defined the 2000s

he first-gen iPhone

With internet messaging support, mobile gaming, and a myriad of customizable features (like changing the outside casings to other colors or the ringtones via The Composer app), Nokia tapped a sizable market heretofore ignored by companies: the youth. Everything in the Nokia 3310 screamed youth culture, at least in the 2000s. The phone was deliberately different from its forebears because it not just signified the start of a new millennium, it also became a phone for the youth that was also unintentionally made by the youth. Nokia’s production manager, in an interview, said that she was just in her 20s when she was hired by the company to work on what would become the Nokia 3310. With the phone tapping a new market at the start of the 2000s, it is no surprise that the hold and impact of the Nokia 3310 on popular culture is still strong two decades later. Many phones in the 2000s weren’t able to achieve that kind of recognition. Motorola’s flip phone or Blackberry’s QWERTY keypad was just as groundbreaking and impactful but still, Nokia had a stronger impact than both combined. It’s safe to say that Nokia, with their iconic 3310, defined turn-of-themillennium tech until the first iPhone was released in 2007.

September 2021

Cover story

Changing the mobile phone Since the company’s start in the 1980s, Apple was just making Mac computers that were wholly designed to take less space but still be functional for residential homes and work offices. But in the 2000s, the company branched out into the music industry with iTunes, due to the Napster controversy. In the same year, the company released the iPod — one of the very first portable media players that can sync music purchased from a digital platform (in this case, iTunes). Before the first iPhone, Apple released many tech products which served as crucial building blocks for an ecosystem that allowed you to store and access shared data across all Apple devices.

the very first iPhone special was that they combined web browsing, email and text messaging, and music listening (which is the primary function of the iPod) on a single device. The very first iPhone’s functional combination of tasks and user-friendly design are the reasons why it became the archetype of the smartphones we have today.

Moreover, there were many smartphones released before the first iPhone. The very first smartphone — IBM Simon, released in the early 1990s —or Blackberry phones come to mind. But IBM Simon was quite bulky and Blackberry phones had QWERTY keyboards, not the most user-friendly. Addressing these issues, Apple introduced a new approach to a user-friendly design with its full touchscreen. This design would become the blueprint for all smartphones released after the iPhone.

The Nokia 3310 and the iPhone First Gen are now part of tech history. To some, they’re just old tech products — a product of their time. But to many, particularly for those involved in the tech industry, both of these phones are cultural touchstones. Millennials and older generations would have used these phones at some point in their lives. People born during the Gen Z years continue to reminisce about these phones, whether on memes or just a romanticization of life when the internet and social media were not at the forefront of our lives.

The first iPhone’s release was such a historical moment because it signified the start of the smartphone market. The first iPhone was far from perfect. It didn’t have the App Store. It only had Safari, iTunes, and basic phone applications. It didn’t have any standard mobile games like the Snake game. It didn’t even have GPS. You couldn’t customize the phone; even the background image could not be changed. All these features and functions became available in the later iPhone releases and software updates. But what made

Both of these phones remain relevant because they are the blueprints of most smartphone products we have today. Moreover, the Nokia 3310 and the very first iPhone defined the 2000s. They represent a life we had before our favorite smartphones took over, when most basic tasks like web search and even texting, took a long time. But thanks to these phones, we can look back on the good times and keep moving forward.

September 2021

Tech-history makers

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September 2021

Cover story

Level-up: The ga personal c Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

LONG BEFORE sleek laptops and portable CPUs came, computing machines were very overwhelming to look at. Apart from their complicated hardware, the size and components were too big and heavy to transport, limiting the users. These devices were also not affordable to consumers and were mainly designed for commercial use, particularly for business, military intelligence, research, and communication. Fast forward to 2021, time and technology have simplified and changed the way we use these productivity workhorses.

Hardware evolution

In earlier times, the concept of a small and affordable personal computer was quite unthinkable. For one, computers were targeted at a niche market composed of business entities, government agencies, and a handful of enthusiasts. Computers were very expensive as the production of each hardware back then was very complex, while resources were limited and the technology still in the process of development. Personal computers were not commercially available until 1977, when microcomputers with eight-bit microprocessors such as Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80, Commodore Business Machines Personal Electronic Transactor, and Apple II arrived in the market. The IBM PC, launched in 1981, became the precursor of modernday personal computers. The IBM PC had a monitor capable of showing colored graphics or monochromatic text, a wired and tactile keyboard, and various expansion slots for expandable memory, graphics, and peripherals. In terms of internal hardware, it was powered by a central processing unit (CPU) with upgradable random access memory (RAM). Intel’s dynamic random access memory, which can store up to 1 kilobit of data, eventually became the standard memory across all computers since it could store a significant amount of data at a cheaper price. The same company also introduced the Intel 4004, a four-bit microprocessor and one of the first single-chip microprocessors on which current microprocessors are based.

September 2021

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ame changers of computing Dubbed as the first commercially produced microprocessor, it catapulted Intel to be a major microprocessor manufacturer to this day. There were also home computers, another type of microcomputer more accessible to consumers. Back then, home computers allowed people to program software, play video games, and accomplish productivity tasks. These continue to be the essentials that modern PCs offer to presentday consumers. Apple then created Lisa, the first personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). This desktop computer sparked the development of an operating system with protected memory, document-oriented workflow, and a display format for starting programs and selecting commands. Since users can layout text and graphics on the screen, the device also introduced the concept of desktop publishing. However, it was Microsoft’s MS-DOS that spearheaded the development of operating systems for x86-based personal computers. In 1985, Microsoft released Windows 1 which is a GUI for MS-DOS and the great ancestor of the brand’s line of graphical operating systems such as Windows 10 and Windows 11. NEC introduced the NEC Ultralite in 1989, one of the firsts notebook computers in the world. It offered the same computing power as personal computers in a much more compact form factor. By the 1990s, computers had become more portable and powerful, heralding the birth of the digital age. The Internet was born. Consumers were exposed to desktops and laptops with multimedia capabilities. Storing digital files became more agile and convenient, thanks to floppy disks and rewritable CDs. Colored displays with higher resolution and capable of running simple animations replaced monochrome screens. Digital sound systems were even installed on the devices for an immersive experience. Creative professionals started to explore online journalism, animations, photo editing, and video editing with the rise of DVD-ROMs as storage devices. Ultimately, the use of personal computers connected people for research, efficient communication, and productivity. The rest is history.

September 2021

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Pioneers of change

Some of the game-changers in the history of computers are worth mentioning. Apple catapulted the evolution of all-in-one desktops starting with the iMac G3, considered the first model in the iMac family. This game-changing machine abandoned legacy technologies such as floppy disks and serial ports, and pioneered the use of a universal serial bus (USB). The tech company also introduced the iBook and the PowerBook, Apple’s entry-level and high-end laptop, respectively. The former was the first consumer laptop to offer WiFi connectivity while the latter was originally targeted for the professional market. Both models were the basis of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Gaming peripherals brand Razer reimagined the way we play games today with the Razer Blade, the first true gaming laptop powered by an Intel i7 processor and NVIDIA GT 6555M graphics card. Gamers could download their games and other available software from a virtual library to their local devices as game cache files with Steam. Online live streaming of games was also initiated in the middle of the 2010s with the launch of Twitch. This was a vital milestone in the development of eSports and the thriving community of professional gamers and gaming influencers globally. In terms of software, physical installers became obsolete with cloud computing. Google introduced GSuite, its own lineup of services. Now widely used as Google Workspace, this is a collection of productivity and collaboration tools that allows people to work and even learn remotely. Microsoft has its own version for larger companies with its Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. As for entertainment, YouTube became a platform for content creation. Digital music streaming made cassette tapes, records, and CDs obsolete but it provided record labels, big shot artists, and even independent musicians the platform to reach more audiences. Thanks to Last.fm, more music streaming services, such as Spotify and YouTube Music, were able to adopt the same model. Video conferencing and messaging apps of today were heavily inspired by

September 2021

Yahoo Messenger and Skype, popular in the 2000s. Tumblr became platform for microblogging, while Friendster and MySpace introduced the concept of social media network websites where people can connect and interact online. Online advertising is now ubiquitous due to the integrations made by Google and Facebook to their respective platforms. Lastly, storage solutions evolved from floppy disks and CD ROMs to hard drives and solid-state drives for faster data processing. Now, cloud storage solutions do not even require a physical device. LCD screens are now made from LED and AMOLED monitors with higher display resolutions and refresh rates for smoother gaming and workflow. Peripherals and network connectivity are now wireless.

What’s next?

As tech companies continue to adapt to the changing needs of consumers, it is likely that content creation will be made simpler and easier than ever. We’ve seen Twitter allow its users to create live voice chat rooms in the form of Spaces. Australia’s very own graphic design platform, Canva, makes everyone’s life easier with its free and subscription service. It’s also highly possible that other social media networks will allow users to directly create, edit, and distribute their own videos and allow cross-posting to other platforms like TikTok. Whether we like it or not, live streaming is here to stay and can be applied to online classes, event launches, company training programs, and more. Locally owned streaming service Kumu has been tapping local streamers to host various promotions within the platform, play and participate in live games, and even interact with other users. Offices and classrooms are also becoming more virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more people are accomplishing their tasks remotely. This means that more collaborative tools featuring AI content generation for an immersive experience may be in the works. The future of computing is boundless, beyond even our wildest imaginations.

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September 2021

Cover story

How the home

Words by G

hen we talk about a smart home we think of smart speakers with AI listening to our every command, gadgets that spring into action once we step in or out of our homes, and a single remote – our phones – to control everything in our abode. It’s an exciting idea, but a modern one. You see our idea and concept of a smart home has changed over the years, thanks to the arrival of flagship tech. These techs were so innovative that they resulted in a paradigm shift on what we want and what we can achieve. Here are just three of the most influential tech that changed the way we think of our homes.

The Roomba, automating the house One of the most notable inventions that sparked the smart home revolution is undoubtedly the robot vacuum cleaner. This adorable puck-like robot is a staple in most modern smart homes because of its efficiency and convenience. It was also one of the early adopters of artificial intelligence to masterfully clean the house. Robot vacuum cleaners took shape in the late 1990s with Electrolux and its Trilobite robot vacuum becoming the first robot vacuum as we know it. In 2001, Dyson demonstrated their own version of the robot vacuum, but never really hit the market. In September 2002, the Roomba was introduced by iRobot, a robotics and artificial intelligence company founded by former members of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence lab.

September 2021

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became smart

Gabriel Pe

The Roomba was an iconic tech milestone because it was extremely affordable coming in at around USD200 at the time. It wasn’t a slouch either, it had three buttons to determine the room size, and advanced sensors to avoid obstacles including a cliff detection to prevent it from fall down ledges or stairs. For most Americans, it was an opportunity to bring future tech into their homes. The Roomba would become a must-have home appliance. Because of its success, iRobot now has nine generations of the Roomba and remains a top choice for many consumers.

The WiFi and wireless revolution If there is a technology that literally changed the way we live, it’s WiFi. We use it every single day for work, school, leisure, and even home chores and comfort. A smart home is nothing without WiFi and the internet because it is the most common wireless protocol for smart home products. WiFi or the IEEE 802.11 protocol was officially released to the public in 1997 and initially provided a maximum speed of 1mb/s wireless local area connection. The term WiFi started in 1999 when the WiFi Alliance, a trade association for products that use the IEEE 802.11 protocol wanted a catchier name for the IEEE 802.11b. Contrary to popular belief, WiFi doesn’t actually mean anything; it was just the best among the names proposed.

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WiFi as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) localizes devices that are connected to a single network. All these devices communicate with each other through the 802.11 protocol. WiFi was also created to work seamlessly with Ethernet which is a Local Area Network (LAN) wired Internet protocol. That’s why we commonly interchange WiFi and Ethernet when referring to internet connections.

Echo released back in 2014. It was the first product that featured Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa, who was able to recognize and differentiate your voice and commands. She could recognize commands from any member of the household and depending on that could respond differently, giving her a personal touch to users. As Amazon worked on improving Alexa, Google with voice assistant, and Apple Siri, they slowly integrated devices with the Internet of Things (IoT) into their system. This was the game-changer for the smart home. Prior to Alexa and the Amazon Echo, IoT devices were in their infancy, and brands needed their own apps to command their proprietary devices, as many still do today.

WiFi changed modern smart homes by leveraging the internet as part of your home. Moreover, the rapid and mass adoption of the protocol gave users the convenience of setting up devices. Just connect the smart device to your WiFi Router and it will automatically be part of your home network. WiFi also paved the wave for IoT and AIoT which uses AI to determine the user’s wants and habits to provide them the ultimate comfort in their home.

With the three main AI voice assistants improving, they slowly opened their resources to recognize which app controlled which device. From this starting point, the smart speaker has transitioned to being a smart hub, an all-in-one device that allows smart device owners to control all their devices on a single “hub”.

The Amazon Echo and the rise of AI assistants

Soon enough these were also integrated with their own app/feature in mobile devices. Google Home and Amazon Alexa are at the forefront of integrating smart hubs into your smartphones and then to their own cloud services. So now wherever you are, you can still control your smart devices as long as you have a connection to the internet.

Undoubtedly the most important device to change our perception of a smart home is the smart speaker. This relatively new device has shifted the way we interact with our home and our appliances and devices. It has also evolved from its original purpose of being a speaker that connects to the internet, to a device that manages all internet-connected devices as well as other smart devices in your house.

With these technologies still evolving, there’s no telling how our homes will be transformed in the foreseeable future.

What sparked this smart home revolution would be none other than the first generation of the Amazon

September 2021

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September 2021

Cover story

Smart Mobility Words by Ren Alcantara

September 2021

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THERE HAVE BEEN a lot of developments in automotive and motorcycle tech over quite the number of years I’ve been in this line of work, so for Gadgets Magazine’s anniversary issue, we’ve decided to go through a list of some of the most interesting flagship tech in the motoring space.

Driver-assist tech

While the world sits, waiting for news about cars that will drive us to work safely, there are currently systems in vehicles you can buy right now that help you achieve sort of the same thing, at least for part of your journey. Flagship vehicles can be had right now that offer some great driver-assist technologies to help ease the drudgery of driving from point A to point B. More and more of late, manufacturers have started to include driving aids that take a lot of the tedium out of the drive. The technology tends to use either cameras, sonar, or radar to make sense of what’s happening on the road in front of your vehicle and make adjustments to acceleration, apply braking, or warn the driver of lane drift. They can also help detect a potential collision, warn the driver, and apply enough braking to keep that collision from happening, thanks to computers built into the vehicle’s sensing systems. We’ve gotten to try some of the vehicles that have these advanced driver aids, and whether it’s stopand-go traffic, or cruising along one of the roomier highways, they’re always a pleasant thing to have. These technologies are getting more and more advanced, and we’re glad to see this flagship tech start to trickle down from the top.

Until relatively recently though, the choices for electric or hybrid vehicles in the top tier had been limited to a few models from a few brands, with manufacturers mostly choosing to target the broader consumer base in the middle of the pyramid. In an unusual trend, this electrification has gone upwards, and big names in the luxury space are coming up with more models that offer hybrid or electric options, and some exclusively electric models to boot. It’s a sign of things to come, and with governments targeting greater electrification, as well as incentives being offered to consumers who have electric vehicles, this is one flagship technology that’s worth watching. Even motorcycles are starting to show up to the party. While the benefits of going electric are slightly blunted on two wheels, more and more manufacturers are offering options that plug-in rather than top-up. While the larger manufacturers aren’t quite in the same league as the smaller, electric-only brand, it’s only a matter of time until they break out and offer electric motorcycles as well.

Hybrid/electric

While this didn’t really start at the flagship tier, it’s something we’re very happy to see more in the top-of-the-line vehicles in the market. Electric, and electric hybrid vehicles offer some great plusses over their hydrocarbon-burning counterparts — a topic that has been beaten to death at this point, so we won’t really have to dwell on that for now.

September 2021

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Advanced infotainment systems

temperature, or just see how your tires are doing, these systems and their large, gorgeous color screens do a lot to keep you on top of your drive.

Something that is usually overlooked in favor of performance numbers is the infotainment system. This is a shame, since for longer road trips, stretches in traffic, and generally keeping everyone sane while trapped inside a metal box moving at high speed, a little music is a great thing.

Let’s of course not forget the entertainment functions they offer. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both give everyone in the car control over all the entertainment, information, and utility available on a mobile phone, with an interface that is conducive to being used on a car screen. It’s honestly amazing how smooth the experience is, and it’s something that has already started to trickle down from flagship-level cars as well.

Modern infotainment systems such as the ones we find in flagship cars do so much more than play FM radio though. They serve as the hub for controlling all of the vehicles’ functions, from climate control, to vehicle status, and driving modes. As flagship cars get more and more technologically inclined, the interface between the occupants and the car has advanced as well. Whether you want to change the ride, the

September 2021

Advanced sensors

Motorcycles aren’t ones to get left behind. While cars can get away with more given the space they have, motorcycles have always had more focused tech to match their more focused use cases.

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sensors allow flagship bikes to do are staggering and impressive, and they all come together to give a safer ride that lets the pilot just enjoy the trip. Rider modes, traction control modes, lean angle monitoring--those are still more or less high up in the lineup of big manufacturers, but they used to just be available on the very highest-end of motorcycles; the GP bikes. While we don’t advocate relying on these aids and unleashing your inner street Rossi, it’s nice to know that we’re seeing more and more of this tech on the road. Tech and motoring are two of my favorite topics, and it’s always a pleasure to look over how these two worlds come together. Whether you’re a techie or a grease monkey, we hope you’re as excited as we are to see what else manufacturers have in store for us.

The flagship tech in motorcycles that we’re focusing on makes bikes more like fighter planes than mopeds, and they’re sensors. Lean angles, tire slip, power delivery — the things these

September 2021

MOBILITY

September 2021

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URBAN TOUGHNESS

YAMAHA MIO GEAR

amaha continues to overcome obstacles and elevate riding experience with its latest release, the Mio GEAR. Built to be functional, resilient, and expressive, it has everything you need for the everyday challenge in the metro. It was specifically designed to traverse the rugged concrete city while you experience freedom with a wide range of offered extensibility primed for the urban ride. But that’s not all, the foundation of its concept may revolve around toughness, but it encourages the ability to be confident in any surroundings. It allows the rider to always be ready to play. The design goes beyond aesthetics. The tough exterior is equipped with new scratch protection and less painted parts built to endure multi-purpose use. It is also light and slim for more agile driving and easy parking. The 125cc blue core engine delivers a comfortable and enjoyable ride with great fuel economy and environmental performance. The Smart Motor Generator or SMG greatly compliments the Stop and Start System with quick and quiet engine restarts. The Stop & Start System, when activated, automatically stops the engine during idling to further reduce fuel consumption. Moreover, noise and emission are reduced with this system. The engine quickly restarts with a twist of the throttle grip.

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MOBILITY

Keep up with the hustle and bustle of your city. The LED lights are brighter and more durable than ever. You have access to hazard lights to signal other motorists for emergencies and other distinct situations. The Slip-Resistant Footboard allows you to fit larger than usual items on it without the hassle, and you don’t have to think about any accidental slippages when riding. Sometimes you have a lot of stuff to carry, and with

September 2021

the double item hanger (carabiner & hook), carrying more items becomes easier. And your passengers can ride comfortably even with the large baggage placed on the footboard with the easy access footrests.

vehicle sounds a buzzer and flashes its signal lamps. You also have a power outlet to easily charge your devices on the go. Not just for style,

All the urban advantage you could need is built into the Mio GEAR. It is equipped with an Answer-Back system, which conveniently locates your Mio GEAR. With a single press on the remote key button, the

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the Reflectorized Graphic increases visibility and highlights the signature Mio emblem wherever you go. Don’t forget to check out the wheels, they are designed with the signature Mio style so you can stand out in any city. The tubeless tires provide a comfortable driving experience when maneuvering (front tire size 80/80 – 14”; rear tire size 100/70 – 14”). For safety, the engine does not operate when the side stand is down. It also ensures that the vehicle is ridden with

the side stand folded up. And what makes the Mio GEAR a motorcycle to have is your access to multiple add-on accessories that redefine what extensibility is all about. This allows a degree of personalization and expression that turns the city into your own playground.

The Mio GEAR is available in all Yamaha 3s Shops and Rev Zones nationwide. The standard version, in white and matte blue colors, has an SRP of PHP75,900. The S version is priced at PHP79,900 and comes in matte black and matte gray.

Tough enough for any city and allows you to power through any urban challenge. This is the Mio GEAR — get ready to play!

For more details, you can check out www.yamaha-motor.com. ph/product/mio-gear/mio-gear. html.

September 2021

MOBILITY

MITSUBISHI MIRAGE G4

September 2021

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itsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) officially launches the new Mirage G4. The smart and practical subcompact sedan now showcases a more aggressive and sportier style that will surely capture the attention of the market.

The Mirage is one of MMPC’s top-selling nameplates, a testament to the excellent build quality and overall value it offers. Since its release in 2013, it has sold more than 92,000 units. MMPC started producing the Mirage G4 locally in 2017, achieving a production volume of more than 54,000 cars. G4 Style The exterior of the new Mirage G4 now carries the distinguished Mitsubishi Motors dynamic shield that is complemented by a new sporty headlight and front grille design that promotes confidence and versatility. Along with the exterior upgrades, its stylish taillights, 15-inch alloy wheels, and fog lamps blend well with the overall aggressive style of the new model.

G4 Efficiency The new Mirage G4 retains the features that made it successful from the start. Equipped with a 1.2L MIVEC engine matched with an INVECS-III CVT transmission, the G4 delivers dependable power and exceptional fuel efficiency. It has a spacious interior that can comfortably accommodate 5 adults, plus a roomy trunk that is ready to take on your luggage and cargo.

It comes in 4 colors: • Titanium Gray Metallic • Cool Silver Metallic • Red Metallic (only on GLX CVT and GLS) • White Solid (only on advanced firm order for GLX CVT and GLS CVT)

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MOBILITY

G4 Convenience The Mirage G4 has a compact size that allows the driver to easily maneuver through the busy streets of the metro and park fittingly at tight parking slots. The top of the line GLS variant is loaded with convenient features to make every drive easy and stress-free. These include a keyless operation system, push start button, electric power steering, auto climate control, audio mounted controls, and a 7” Smart Phone Link Display Audio (SDA) touchscreen multi-media system (compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto). G4 Safety The new Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is equipped with a host of safety features that provides the driver and passengers a worry-free drive.

G4 Practicality To further enhance the G4 experience, MMPC will be adding a free Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) Package up to 2 years or 25,000 km (whichever comes first) with free sanitation service to all customers who purchase a Mirage G4 from August 28 to November 30, 2021. The added offer hopes to promote a better customer experience and strengthen brand love. G4 Anything The Mirage G4’s new sporty and confident look, as well as its amazing comfort features, matched with its renowned practical characteristics, makes the G4 a value for money proposition. It is a car that delivers reliable performance suited to fit any lifestyle, life stage, and persona. The Mirage G4 is definitely “G” for anything.

Variants and Prices • Mirage G4 GLS CVT: PHP 899,000 • Mirage G4 GLX CVT: PHP 819,000 • Mirage G4 GLX MT: PHP 769,000 The new Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is now available in all 57 Mitsubishi Motors dealerships nationwide. Visit www. mitsubishi-motors.ph or contact your preferred dealer for more information.

• Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) Body • Dual SRS Airbags • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) • Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) • ISOfix Anchorage • Reverse Camera • Automatic off headlights • Foglamps • ABS, EBD, Reverse Camera, and Foglamps are only available on the GLS CVT variant. September 2021

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“The Mirage G4 has a compact size that allows the driver to easily maneuver through the busy streets of the metro and park fittingly at tight parking slots.”

September 2021

MOBILITY

BAJAJ MAXIMA Z A MULTI-PURPOSE THREE-WHEELER

September 2021

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Trimotors Technology Corporation, the exclusive distributor of Bajaj threewheelers in the Philippines, headed by its executive vice president and COO Raul Jay R. Manglapus III, recently unveiled the new Bajaj Maxima Z billed as “Ang Multipurpose Partner sa Negosyo”. The New Bajaj Maxima Z comes with multi-purpose upgrades to fit your diskarte for both transporting passengers and carrying loads. Here are the latest features of our favorite multi-purpose three-wheeler: • Haven’t heard of Flexi Seats yet? Coming with its 60:40 seating arrangement the new Bajaj Maxima Z can be configured according to your needs. Utilize full seat to get your passengers comfortably seated; 60:40 seating to carry a passenger while delivering goods; 40:60 seating for minimal baggage and spacious rear riding; and folded seats to fully-load the 800-liter of cabin space.

maintenance cost with the Heavy-Duty CV Shaft. • 10-inch Tires & Dual Front Fork Suspension that will get you moving on any road conditions while continuously absorbing shock and harsh motions. • Enjoy every drive with the entertainment that lasts from sunrise to sundown with the New Age Dashboard with Radio and MP3 Player. • And last but not the least, Symmetrical Transparent Hood to provide a pleasant passenger view and accessible windows for the goods.

All these multi-purpose enhancements are made to suit the need for a more adaptable, versatile, and flexible threewheeler that will help you achieve your own diskarte. Available in colors blue, yellow, and white, the New Bajaj Maxima Z is reasonably priced at PHP221,888 to enable your Sakay, Biyahe, Deliver at Kayod requirements. Make you diskarte with possible the New Bajaj Maxima Z, ang bagong maasahan mo sa biyahe. Visit www.bajaj.com.ph or fb.com/BajajPhilippines for more stories and information.

• More powerful 236cc DTS-i Engine that gives extra power to do more trips and carry heavier loads. • Efficiently mobilize while maintaining durability and experiencing lower

September 2021

MOBILITY

MYTOYOTA APP ELEVATING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

September 2021

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Toyota Motor Philippines, the country’s leading automotive company, makes owning and maintaining a vehicle more fun, safe, and convenient for everyone with its latest upgraded mobile app. With just a few taps, users can explore TMP’s vehicle lineup, browse the latest car deals, book car appointments, buy vehicle upgrades and packages, and even get access to services like roadside assistance, all through their mobile devices anytime, anywhere.

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MOBILITY

The myTOYOTA app, now available for download for Android and iOS users, provides customers with a unified platform to enable them to access all information and services they need from car buying to after-sales and maintenance with just a single app. This digital tool lets existing and wouldbe Toyota owners enjoy the full cycle of the Toyota life from product and service inquiries, to car maintenance and upgrades, after-sales deals and assistance, and even vehicle trade-ins. “Now more than ever, the need for accessible products and services is more crucial to better serve our customers’ needs. ” Says TMP first vice president Sherwin Chualim “Part of our commitment to providing ever-better products and services is continuously improving the customer experience – from inquiring about your dream Toyota, acquiring and taking care of your vehicle, and moving on to your next September 2021

Toyota – through any of our 71 Toyota dealerships nationwide or through our amplified digital touchpoints. With the new myTOYOTA app, life with Toyota is made easy, worry-free, and happier in a tap.” Wondering how the newest myTOYOTA App works? Here’s a quick guide: ELEVATING THE TOYOTA EXPERIENCE Looking for your first car? Planning for a vehicle upgrade? Customers can now explore and learn more about Toyota’s newest vehicle lineup on their phones. From sedans to SUVs, users can find the vehicle that suits their needs and even create the best deal for themselves. The app’s Showroom features a carousel that displays all featured vehicles and

their specifications. It provides users with a 360-degree virtual viewing of the vehicle of their choice. Interested buyers can build and personalize their dream car through the vehicle configurator, which allows users to see the available color options, choose compatible accessories and other items for their vehicle. They can access the financing calculator for their build summary and study the financing options. On top of these, the app allows for a fast and easy way to make inquiries directly to Toyota dealers: Users can chat with a dealer and get the dealer’s contact information. Besides accessories, users can see available service packages and applicable promos. They can identify their preferred delivery schedule for items ordered. Whether it’s wheels, car covers, or luggage trays, customers can place their order with just a few taps and track the delivery on their phone for a hasslefree experience. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

The app likewise allows customers to inquire about used vehicles and tradeins. A CONVENIENT WAY TO CARE FOR ONE’S CAR Getting a vehicle serviced and renewing the insurance can be so challenging these days. Toyota adds an extra layer of protection and convenience for its customers by introducing a fast and easy way to schedule these servicing appointments and insurance renewals. Through the myTOYOTA App, Toyota car owners can check for available service schedules, choose their preferred date, and easily keep track of their vehicle’s preventive maintenance schedules. But the features don’t end there. With a quick click, users will not only be able to access their car’s service history and repair status but also

browse, order, and check out service packages -- promos and all -- via the app. They can also cancel or reschedule the service booking. Keeping a wellmaintained car has never been easier! Users can also check the status of their vehicle’s insurance through the link to the e-policy. They can then be redirected to the Online Store’s Insurance Renewal page and get a detailed computation and submit a renewal request. PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL-AROUND INFORMATION Whether it’s about the car’s warranty, digital logbook, or service history and schedule, the myTOYOTA app will help customers stay updated on the status of their vehicle with its easy-to-use interface. Customers can also opt to receive realtime updates on Toyota’s latest promos, news, and announcements via their myTOYOTA app’s inbox. In this digital age, the newest myTOYOTA app lets car owners and customers manage all their vehicle needs and requirements in an interactive platform that they can access anytime, anywhere. Toyota Motor Philippines ensures the health and safety of its customers by implementing safety protocols and promoting social distancing at its sites at the same time creating new and innovative solutions to cater to their needs using other platforms. Customers can now elevate their vehicle experience by downloading the myTOYOTA app for free on AppStore and Google Play. Customers can register to the new portal by visiting Toyota’s official website and signing in to MY TOYOTA. For more information about myTOYOTA, visit www.toyota.com.ph/ mytoyota.

September 2021

MOBILITY

September 2021

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HYUNDAI.PH NEW AND IMPROVED! HYUNDAI.PH GOES LIVE WITH AN EXCITING NEW LOOK AND FEEL “We officially kick off the celebration of our 20 fruitful years in the industry with the unveiling of the new and improved hyundai.ph. It’s one of the many special gifts that we have lined up to thank everyone who has supported the Hyundai brand through the years,” affirmed Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official Philippine distributor of Hyundai vehicles. Now that staying home’s the order of the day, Hyundai.ph has been redesigned to double the ease and the fun of getting your car shopping and maintenance needs right from home. Here are five good reasons for you to check it out. 1. It’s faster. It’s cloud-hosted, which means it cuts down on loading time. Getting all the information you need about Hyundai in the Philippines is much quicker now. 2. It’s safe and reliable. With the new Hyundai.ph in the cloud, it is far tougher for unscrupulous individuals to break into the system. Your personal information is safe and secure with us.

3. It’s more mobile-friendly. 93% of customers visited the older Hyundai.ph on their mobile phones. Now that the site is “mobile-first,” navigation is a lot easier and accessible from practically any point. 4. It’s more user-friendly. The new interface is easier on the eyes and makes for hassle-free search and navigation. 5. It’s fun and dynamic with vibrant content that keeps you engaged and updated on all-things Hyundai. In short, it’s a Hyundai dealership in your pocket, with all that you need to know about Hyundai’s passenger car and commercial vehicle lineup, thoughtfully designed for a seamless experience.

Next in line for further improvement are customer-facing innovations including HOMEPage, the request for quote and auto loan platform for passenger cars; eB2B, the request for quote facility for commercial vehicles; and HUB for Genuine Parts and @YourService for online parts ordering and service appointment booking. “We’ve upgraded our website to make life much easier for the ‘now’ market,” notes Agudo. “Hyundai.ph shall be our main platform to connect with our stakeholders as we drive forward into the next 20 years. I invite everyone to browse through our content to discover how we are creating better journeys with you.”

September 2021

MOBILITY

HONDA BIG BIKE TEST RIDE

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the rider to their smartphone while on the road, making it easier and safer as it allows voice management of weather, navigation, telephone, message, music, and volume.

t’s not a drill! For those wanting to step into the world of big bike riding or planning to switch to Honda Big Bikes, there’s a sweet treat coming your way for the rest of this year. Honda Philippines, Inc., the No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer in the country, announced that it is offering free test rides of their Honda Big Bike Adventure series, exclusively at the world-class Honda Safety Driving Center (HSDC) in Parañaque City. “At Honda, we know that not experiencing to ride a motorbike can sometimes become a deal-breaker, particularly when it comes to big bikes. These motorbikes are like beasts that really get everyone’s attention because of their stance,” said Hervic Villa, Motorcycle Planning Department Manager.

them. It also provides an opportunity to have a one-on-one session with an HSDC instructor. HONDA X-ADV The All-New X-ADV is a standout innovation that perfectly combines urban and off-road experiences. It captures the essence of modern adventure, mainly as it blends the balance and stability of a scooter with the toughness of an off-road motorcycle. This big bike is also equipped with strong tubular-steel chassis with 745cc twin-cylinder engine and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The latest model also features a 5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Full-LCD Digital Meter Panel that paves the way for the Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS). This technology links

“However, for big bike riders, we know that it is more than just its stance that they are looking for. And that is why we want our customers to experience riding our Honda Big Bikes so it will be easier for them to decide which one is right for them,” he added.

HONDA AFRICA TWIN The New Africa Twin, on the other hand, is Honda’s embodiment of a thrilling all-terrain experience as it can ignite its rider’s spirit to the wilderness, may it be through mountains or strips of vast lands, with its 6-Speed Transmission and an all-new 1,084cc 4-stroke parallel-twin engine. Test Ride Registration To avail of the exclusive test ride, customers must register online through the link posted on Honda Philippines’ official Facebook page. They just need to click on the link, fill out the form with the necessary information, and select the exact date they want to do the test ride. Registrants will then receive a confirmation via private message in September 2021; Test Ride activities will start in October 2021. The schedules, for now, will be on weekends only and will start once the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) lifts the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) guideline status in Metro Manila. Confirmed participants must comply with the safety protocols set by the IATF. They need to present a medical certificate or a PCR negative test result for COVID-19. The test ride is also limited to eight participants per the scheduled day to ensure that everyone can practice social distancing and observe proper sanitation. “We are excited to welcome customers to the HSDC for these test rides. We hope that through this initiative, we can help them experience even more the joy of mobility and the exciting thrill of riding our Big Bikes,” Villa added.

Simply put, this free test ride aims to introduce and explain all the details about the Honda Big Bike Adventure series while allowing customers an exclusive first-hand experience riding

September 2021

MOBILITY

PETRON CAR CARE CENTER THE AUTOMOTIVE FLUIDS SPECIALIST September 2021

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ust like humans, our cars need to be “hydrated” or lubricated with essential fluids to keep them in tip-top shape and ensure their roadworthiness. With its deep understanding of Philippine driving conditions, industry leader Petron Corporation has a complete line of automotive fluids for all of your vehicle’s requirements. As the automotive fluids specialist, PETRON CAR CARE CENTER (CCC), the company’s automotive care brand, serves as a one-stop-shop carrying Petron’s full range of technologically advanced and internationally accredited mineral and fully-synthetic automotive lubricants. In addition, it also carries other automotive fluids like engine coolant, engine flush, transmission oil, clutch fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, manual transmission/differential gear oil, greases, and multi-purpose sprays.

needs. Petron CCC can also help source the parts not available in stock at their branches. There are currently 46 Petron CCCs — 20 in-station and 26 standalone — with 1 more shop in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, expected to roll out soon. Eleven are in Metro Manila, 19 in Luzon, and 16 in VisMin. To find a Petron CCC near you, visit https://www.petron.com/ wp-content/uploads/2021/03/List-ofPetron-CCC-and-CCC-Express.pdf As the industry leader and technology innovator, Petron is continuously developing products and services for the benefit of Filipino motorists. Through the Petron CCC, everyone can enjoy affordable, yet casa-quality preventive maintenance services using world-class products that help protect and prolong vehicle life, optimize its performance, and ensure the safety of passengers.

Located inside Petron service stations and also as standalone service shops, the standard Petron Car Care Center offers a complete line of professional automotive care services from light to heavy repairs, as well as tire services such as wheel balancing and alignment. They are equipped with twin post lifters, aligners, a scissor lift, tire changer and wheel balancer, automatic transmission fluid exchanger, waste oil drain, and gear oil and grease dispenser. For busy motorists, the Petron CCC Express is a scaled-down 2-bay shop that focuses on lubrication and quick repairs. Petron CCC branches offer a uniform Change Oil Value Package ranging from Php 999 to Php 4399 for gas and diesel engines using your choice of premium multigrade to fully synthetic oils. They also carry various oil filter brands as well as common wear and tear items of most vehicles. Petron CCC technicians will perform a FREE 23-point check to assess your vehicle condition and repair

September 2021

Gaming

Words by Jose Alvarez

Developer platform

Variable State

PUBLISHER

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch

different perspectives. When I picked up Last Stop, I wondered if I would have the same experiences playing from different perspectives.

laying adventure, action, or RPG video games from different perspectives has always been present as far back as I can remember. Final Fantasy VI was one of the first games that I remember that allowed you to play from multiple perspectives as you advanced through the main story. Another one that crosses my mind is the RTS game Command & Conquer: Red Alert, which allows you to play from the perspective of the Allies or the Soviets. Star Ocean 2 is another game that had the entire gameplay from one of two protagonists’ perspectives, which affected the choices in the story as well as the characters you could recruit. A more recent example of this is Octopath Traveler, which allows you to play from eight

September 2021

Annapurna Interactive

Last Stop takes place in a fictionalized version of London, where you can control one of three characters, all with very different backgrounds. Meena is a working professional who struggles with work-life balance and being an absent parent and is having an affair with a doctor. Donna is a teenager who stumbles onto a man with supernatural powers. John is a single dad working a dead-end job before a fateful twist of events changes his life. Now, you might think, how can these three stories be tied

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together in a video game? Surely an average gamer can relate to one of the groups of protagonists, right? The game is divided into six chapters—two each for each group of protagonists—and culminates in the final chapter where all the stories come together. This game plays much like a Japanese visual novel. You make dialogue choices and move the character through some scenes by pressing buttons on a controller. While the storytelling is great, the gameplay is very limited and narrow (hence the comparison to a Japanese visual novel). Had the gameplay come to the level of the storytelling, presentation, and music, it might make for a somewhat decent game. The only thing that really sticks out is Meena’s ability to analyze others, which could help you make a choice for the better (or

worse). For other characters, for instance, there are some real-life choices that I’m sure we have all had to make. John has to choose between speaking up about his work conditions or keeping his mouth shut, which is something that we have all encountered in the workplace. Donna’s story shows the naivete of youth and is actually fun to play through if you like being a teenager again. One complaint that I have is the inability to skip through dialogue, which heavily impacts its replay value. Last Stop gives you a chance to be someone else for a day with some supernatural twists. It also adds unique British humor into the interactions between the natural and supernatural. If you’re just looking at getting some video game time in without much interaction or the competitive edge that other games require, check out Last Stop.

September 2021

Gaming

TIPS FOR GAMERS LOOKING TO GO PRO

ack in the day, parents often got mad at their children who played a lot of video games. “Wala ka naman mapapala sa kaka-computer mo,” they would say. While it’s true that anything in excess is bad for you, the concept that there’s nothing to be gained in playing video games is a thing of the past. In fact, gaming can actually be a viable career these days!

To be a professional gamer, well, you first have to play a video game. There are two ways to go about this. The first is to choose a new game with a lot of potential (read up on gaming news!), which allows you to grow with it. It’s also easier to establish yourself in freshly released titles, not to mention engage with the community. The downside is that a new game might not last or at least take some time before it gets stable.

If you’re a gamer who wants to be a pro someday, whether in solo or team games, here are some tips that can help you:

The second choice is to pick a well-established esports title, like Dota 2 or CounterStrike: Global Offensive. With big-name sponsors, international-level tournaments, and active fan bases, these games can be your ticket to a skyrocketing career. However, you need to be patient. Again, these esports-ready games already have solid communities so it can be tough for a newcomer to make a name for themselves.

September 2021

Pick a Game

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GET THE RIGHT GEAR

establish your identity

As a professional gamer, you need professional equipment. For mobile games like Mobile Legends, you need a gaming phone with enough processing power and good graphics quality. For console games, you’re going to need a high-definition TV for excellent visuals, along with a headset or headphones. Meanwhile, for PC gaming, you’re going to need a high-speed, high-graphics CPU, a gaming mouse and a mechanical keyboard, a headset, as well as a monitor with a high refresh rate. These are just a few of the things you need to invest in to help build your gaming career.

When it comes to gaming, it’s important to have your own brand and identity. This is especially crucial if you’re playing a solo game, but it’s also a good thing even if you’re a member of the team. One way to establish your gaming identity is to customize your avatar if the game has that feature. This way, other players and fans can recognize you. If you’re still starting out, you can buy gaming pins and make in-game purchases to get new heroes and hero skins. Sometimes, you can also buy certain equipment and other in-game items that can help you make your avatar as distinct as possible.

If you want a benchmark, try to find out what set-ups professional gaming organizers have and then try to match those. Do note that it will cost quite a bit of money to purchase all this equipment, particularly for PC, so be prepared to save up or use some of your savings to set up your rig.

practice, practice, practice BUILD YOUR NETWORK

After setting up your gaming equipment, it’s time to get some practice. You really need to put in the time so you can hone your skills, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Aside from practicing on the game you want to be a pro at, you should also test out similar games in the same genre. This is particularly true for FPS games.

Just like any other job, being a professional gamer requires a lot of networking. You need to get in touch with gaming managers, esports teams, and other gamers. The last one is crucial because you need to practice against other gamers to get better. Being in a community with the pros also helps you learn the ropes of gaming as a profession.

Aside from practicing, you should also research techniques and strategies online. Read gaming forums and participate in groups, where other players can give you advice. If you can, record your own games and watch them later so you can take note of what you need to improve. You should also add professional streamers and players to your to-watch list so you can learn from their gameplay.

Last but certainly not least, to be a professional gamer, you need to love what you’re doing. Despite the stereotype, going “pro” in this industry isn’t simply

Your network also includes your own community. By continuously engaging with your fans (for lack of a better word), you can also establish yourself as a name in the industry. Sponsors might also be more willing to work with you if you have an active base.

about playing games 24/7. There’s also a lot of planning involved, not to mention training and studying tactics. If you’re only looking for fame and a quick way to make

money, you won’t last long. Instead, you have to really love a game, appreciate the process of getting better, and being a part of a big, global community.

September 2021

Gaming

a step-by-step guide: how to build a gaming laptop Words by Liam Mills

ave you been wondering what the difference is between a gaming laptop vs desktop? Wondering how to build a gaming laptop or if you can find a gaming laptop under PHP40,000? Maybe you are considering laptop accessories as you compare a gaming PC vs a laptop. This is your guide to gaming laptops and what they can do for you.

What’s the Purpose of Building a Gaming Laptop? Why bother building a gaming laptop? Is it better to build or buy a PC? How do you build a laptop? These are just some of the questions you ask yourself. You may find that you are better off buying a gaming laptop for under PHP40,000. But just ask “how much does it cost to build a gaming laptop” and “how to build a gaming laptop from scratch.” If you find that you can accomplish something you like under that PHP40,000 price tag, here is how to make that happen.

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Essential Guide on How to Build a Gaming Laptop Creating your own gaming laptop comes down to more than a few things. The monitor, RAM, keyboard, and mouse are just a few components. Here is all that you need to know to begin building your own laptop.

STEP 1: Customize Your Laptop Components You can customize your laptop in any way that you think. You can customize your laptop case. Customize the laptop components and their functions. Learn what a normal GPU temp is, what RAM speed you need, and the difference in hard drive types.

When you learn all of these things, it makes the CPU vs GPU debate a lot simpler to understand. Make sure that whatever components you desire can be added. Part of creating the optimal gaming experience is about more than customizing your laptop parts or creating a relaxing space.

Step 2. Take Essential D&D Accessories There are some essential laptop accessories to have as well. Whether it be a carrying case or the best gaming accessories, you want to come equipped. Consider a customer desk if you are looking for the best desk accessories or looking for gamer desk ideas.

If you have an upgradable gaming laptop, even better. Then you can keep it working optimally for a long time to come with just the right tweaks and changes. All customized to your specifications so that you can get what you want when you want it.

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Step 3. Choose CPU, GPU, RAM, and Storage

Step 6. Connect to a Docking Station

Storage and computing power are important as well. Make sure that you have the right RAM speed, CPU drivers (if you chose CPU in the CPU vs GPU war), and make sure that you have a quick CPU. If you went with a GPU, have a GPU backplate, and that you have a normal GPU temp.

You might be asking yourself about a port replicator vs docking station. Switch to a docking station, even a thinkpad docking station if you want something more compact. A docking station provides stable seating while also charging your laptop as you use it. That will come in handy when you need to play into the wee hours of the night.

This is the most important part of your gaming laptop. The better the storage and processor that you have, the better the laptop will perform. The better it performs, the more enjoyable an experience you will have.

Step 7. Upgrade Your Laptop for Streaming More and more gamers are using their laptop for streaming while they play. That means needing a streaming mic and streaming headset. The best laptop for streaming will be one that is able to keep up with the memory demand of playing and streaming at the same time.

Step 4. Use a Large Monitor That said, you can have the best laptop, but you need a monitor that lets you see all. A large monitor, and a portable monitor at that, is ideal. You can get a curved monitor for gaming to improve your visual experience.

Even the best gamers out there have had their stream dump out on them from time to time. When you are building a gaming laptop, keep streaming capability in mind.

A portable laptop monitor can be perfect for gaming. Just make sure that you have the right monitor cable and monitor adapter. Then you have the flexibility of connecting anywhere at any time, providing the utmost versatility.

Step 8. Assembling the Laptop for Games Step 5. Choose a Keyboard and Mouse for Your Laptop

Finally, there is assembling the laptop, creating your ultimate laptop gaming setup. Do not forsake the assembling because it can be a tricky process if you do not know what you are doing. Take your time and look for detailed instructions before doing anything.

Make sure that you arm yourself with the right gaming mouse and keyboard combo. Despite the touchpad keyboard (also known as a keyboard with touchpad), a small gaming mouse can be a game-changer.

The last thing you want to do is attempt to build the perfect laptop gaming computer only to screw it up so badly that you can’t really use it anymore. Take the necessary cautions when assembling your laptop and it should help you to avoid those disasters that can occur when taking apart a computer.

conclusion

A mouse for your laptop, whether it be a gaming mouse for big hands, or part of a mini keyboard combo, can give you the gaming edge during play. Don’t make the wrong choice here.

There are quite a few components that go into building the right gaming laptop. Much like a PC, it is much more powerful than the most popular gaming consoles on the market. Not only that but there is greater customization in laptop/PC games than in console games.

It is all about finding the right accessories and components to create a gaming laptop that you have been dreaming of. Make sure that you take the time to find the ones that fit your needs best so that you can get the most out of your laptop gaming experience.

September 2021

Photo by Grzegorz Walczak on Unsplash September 2021

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Everything Apple

Words by Loraine Villarina

INNOVATIVE RULER: APPLE’S REVOLUTION IN THE TECH WORLD September is an exciting month in the Apple world, as this is when the tech frontrunner traditionally introduces the next iteration of the iPhone. This year, the new iPhone 13 is expected to drop with major camera upgrades, a new chip, and faster 5G. While waiting for the much-anticipated event, let’s dive into the world of every Apple product ever made. From its mobile devices, laptops, iMacs, and its unique ecosystem, Apple’s focus has always been on offering consumers user-friendly products that just work.

September 2021

Everything Apple

Going back to the beginning

Tracing back the history of Apple, founder Steve Jobs did not achieve overnight success despite his intelligence and knowledge in computers and electronics. He started building and sold his first computer when he was 12. Later, having dropped out of college, he collaborated with friends Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne to create the first Apple computer in the garage at the Jobs’ home in Silicon Valley. The Apple 1 was a typewriter that could be connected to a television. This became the archetype for modern-day computers. The Apple Computer Company was registered

September 2021

as a business partnership in California on April 1, 1976. The name “Apple” was inspired by a visit by Jobs to Robert Friedland’s All-One Farm in Oregon. He thought it “sounded fun, spirited, and not intimidating” and would be easy to find in the phone book. Discouraged by initial failures, Wayne, one of the original Apple triumvirate, left and sold his 10% share back to Jobs and Wozniak. Unlike other machines without a display, the Apple I used a TV screen on which text was displayed at an agonizingly slow 60 characters per minute. Still, despite its flaws and simplicity, the Apple I was a huge success. The company moved on to develop a new, improved version, the Apple

II, introduced in 1977. With a redesigned TV interface, the Apple II displayed simple text, graphics, and color. The installation of a keyboard made the Apple II more reliable, functional, and convenient. It also used a cassette tape as a storage device which, in 1978 was replaced with a 5 1/4-inch floppy disk drive called Disk II. The Apple III computer became even more compact and was targeted at the business and corporate computing market. It

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also featured a tech upgrade — a cooling fan to dissipate the heat while using the device. While developing the various iterations of the Apple computer, Jobs was also working on the Apple Lisa (named from his daughter), which included a “window-and-mouse-driven” graphic user interface. It performed

poorly in the market because it was too expensive. Based on the Apple Lisa, the Macintosh was launched in 1984 through a television commercial. It was bundled with two applications, MacWrite and MacPaint. Saddled by slow processing speed and limited software, sales were disappointing and by 1985, the two Steves (Jobs and Wozniak) left Apple, now with John Sculley at the helm. In the 13 years under Sculley’s leadership, Apple undertook five acquisitions, including software companies like Network Innovations, Styleware, Nashoba Systems, Coral Software, and Orion Network Systems. Moreover, the Apple II and the Macintosh continued to be

available in the market. A few months after introducing the Mac, Apple launched a compact version of the Apple II, called Apple IIc. In 1986, Apple introduced Apple IIGS, a hybrid product with a mouse-driven, Mac-like performing environment. The Macintosh evolved into a product family with the Mac Plus in 1986, the Mac SE and Mac II in 1987, and the Mac Classic and Lac LC in the 1990s. Apple also started working on a portable Mac, although the Macintosh Portable introduced in 1989 was another sales failure. In 1991, the Apple PowerBook achieved commercial success and has since become a landmark in the development of modern laptops.

September 2021

Everything Apple

The Return of Jobs and the beginning of iMac desktops With the acquisition of his company NeXT, Jobs returned as Apple CEO in 1997. Technological developments from NeXT became the foundation of the Mac OS X operating system. In that year, Apple established a partnership with its long-time competitor Microsoft. As the newly reestablished CEO, Jobs’ first move was to develop the iMac. It integrated the CRT display and the CPU inside a streamlined, translucent plastic body. The public introduction of the iMac was a resounding success and helped relaunch Apple through the design

September 2021

and aesthetics of its products. In 1999, the company launched the Power Mac G4 utilizing the Motorola-made PowerPC 7400 that contained a 128-bit instruction unit known as AltiVec. Apple also revealed the iBook, a consumeroriented laptop, the first Macintosh that supported Wireless LAN via its optional AirPort card. Building on the sensational popularity of Apple products, it launched in 2001 the Mac OS X (now called macOS), an operating system based on Jobs’ NeXT’s NeXTSTEP and incorporating parts of the FreeBSD kernel. The OS had the stability, reliability, and security of Unix. In the same year, the first Apple Store was opened as a retail outlet in Tysons, Virginia, USA.

A new millennium: Apple in the 2000s and the rise of the iPod and the iMac

As Apple entered the new millennium, it expanded its horizon to new groundbreaking consumeroriented products. The first portable iPod digital audio player was introduced in October 2001. The iPod started out as a 5-gigabyte player that could store up to 1000 songs. In 2002, Apple launched a new iMac with a G4 processor, an LCD display, and a dramatic new look. The new device was designed with a white hemispherical base and a flat panel all-digital display supported by

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a swiveling chrome neck. The iMac G4 also increased processing speed and offered different screen sizes ranging from 15” to 17” to 20”.

the same year, Apple shifted to dualcore processors for the Power Mac G5 to enhance workstation power and performance.

In 2004, the iMac G5 signaled a dramatic design change. The CPU and the rest of the computing hardware were placed behind the flat-panel screen. The device was also dubbed the “world’s thinnest desktop computer,” measuring only around two inches thick. The year marked a real turning point for Apple, and backed by a solid financial foundation, the company began exploring new parts from new suppliers, giving it the agility to quickly implement design changes.

Apple Stores were opened in Japan, beginning with a store at Tokyo’s Ginza District in late 2003, followed by Osaka and other parts of Japan. Apple Stores also spread to Europe and Canada.

In 2005, Apple released the Mac OS X v10.4 or “Tiger” to the masses. In

At the turn of the millennium, Apple also introduced iTools services, a suite of web-based tools which included an email account, internet greeting cards called iCards, and the short-lived iReview for detailed reviews of websites. The iTunes Music Store was launched in 2003 with 2 million downloads in its first 16 days. Initially set up as a

Macintosh-only application, support for Windows was later added due to its popularity. MobileMe, a cloud storage service was replaced by iCloud in 2011. On top of the cloud storage service, the new iCloud upgrade also offered functionalities such as Find My Mac, iTunes Match, Photo Stream, Documents and Data Backup, and iCloud Backup for iOS devices. In 2005, Jobs announced that Apple would be producing Intelbased Macintosh computers, and the following year saw the launch of the iMac and the MacBook Pro, both based on the Intel Core Duo platform. Apple Computer, Inc. was shortened to Apple Inc. in 2007. This change reflected the addition of the product range which included the iPod and Apple TV in addition to the Macintosh brand. In that year, Apple revolutionized the smartphone industry by unveiling the iPhone which combined Apple’s widescreen iPod, a mobile device with visual voicemail, and an internet connection that can run a fully-functional version of Apple’s web browser, Safari. The first iPhone became publicly available in select countries in June 2007. Since then, Apple has issued updates in 12-month cycles. With the release of the iPhone 3G in 2008, the iPhone 3GS was announced for 2009. The iPhone 4 closed the decade in 2010. By then, two iPod types were available, the iPod nano and the iPod touch. The 2nd generation Apple TV was 4 times smaller than the original, and Apple had gone wireless with its wireless keyboard, wireless trackpad, wireless mouse, and the Time Capsule wireless router and hard drive.

September 2021

Everything Apple

The new decade: The iPad, Apple’s rising dominance, and Jobs’ passing In 2010, the new iPad created another boom in Apple sales, selling 3-million units in 80 days. The 2nd generation iPad, introduced the following year, came with both front and rear-facing cameras along with three new apps — Camera, FaceTime, and Photo Booth. Jobs stepped down as Apple CEO and passed away in 2011. He was replaced by Tim Cook, who continued the restructuring of the Apple operating systems, iOS 7 for the iPhone and iPad, and OS X Yosemite for the iMac and Macbook. The new iPhone 5 had a larger screen display, and the iPhone 5S adapted fingerprint scanning technology with the Touch ID.

with 3D Touch, the iPad Pro, the iPad Mini, and the fourth-generation Apple TV. In 2016, Apple announced the first generation iPhone SE and a smaller version of the iPad Pro. Apple’s innovations and revolutionary ideas of the tech world, alongside the incremental updates they continuously introduced over time, greatly pleased its consumers. The original MacBook was discontinued in 2015. The new MacBook Pro with Retina Display came only with USB-C ports, while updates to the Mac Pro and iMac made

these devices smaller and thinner but more potent than ever before. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus of 2016 came with improved cameras and faster processors well as larger storage options. New 13- and 15inch MacBook Pros added a retina Touch Bar. The following year, the 2017 iPad was equipped with a faster processor. The (Product)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were also released, as were the 10.5and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the Siri speaker HomePod. Apple also

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus had screen display upgrades, and the iPad 3rd generation had Retina Display. The iPad Mini was released alongside the iPad 4th gen in 2012, followed by the iPad Air in 2013 and the iPad Air 2 with Touch ID in 2014. In September 2015, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch, a new product developed after Jobs’ tenure. The device could not properly function without an iPhone in range and connected through WiFi or Bluetooth. Still, it contained basic applications such as Messages, Apple Music, and Call, working as a remote device for the iPhone. It also had fitness tracking that became a standard for smartwatches. Released at the same time were the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus September 2021

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released iOS 11 and new versions of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS with the updated versions of the iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook. In September 2017, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus came with better camera features and improvements in product design, user experience, and performance. Also announced was the iPhone X, which had facial recognition and wireless charging; as well as Apple TV with 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision experience; and Apple Watch Series 3 with support for a cellular connection using the latest watchOS 4.

In 2018, Apple gave its consumers a jump-packed experience with new devices and upgrades. The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR ran on iOS 12 and had improved facial recognition. They also had an HDR display and better cameras. Apple Watch Series 4 now ran on watchOS 5 and had an all-new design, and a larger display, and more healthrelated features, making it better to use. Fast-forward to 2019, with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max bringing

significant changes and adding new features, especially with the rise of mobile photography. The iPhone 11 Pro was also the first iPhone with three cameras in a single device.

The 2020s, Apple’s continued innovation In June 2020, at the first-ever virtual WWDC, Tim Cook declared the shift from Intel processors to Apple silicon in Macs. In September, the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max — the first iPhones supporting a 5G connection — were released. In November, the first Mac with the newest Apple silicon was launched. The Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro now feature Apple’s new M1 chip based on the previous A14 Bionic chip. For 2021, Apple’s M1-powered iPad was launched in April, along with the new M1-powered iMac offered in 7 different colors. The AirTag, a GPStracking device using Apple’s Find My Device network, was recently introduced, while a purple-colored iPhone 12 has been added to the lineup. The never-ending enhancements and innovations on Apple products as well as the operating systems, create continuous excitement and anticipation among Apple loyalists, who can never resist getting the latest device. People just keep falling in love with Apple from the sleek designs to the overall user experience on the ecosystem, Apple continues to delight users with their product quality, reliability, and just being able to get the job done perfectly.

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September 2021

Visual Space

Whatever y needs, Kay W

hether you’re a student, a teacher, a small business owner, a job-seeker, a home buddy, a content creator, or simply someone who wants to express creatively, there’s a template for you in Canva. The Kaya sa Canva campaign highlights its vast selection of free ready-to-use templates that can cater to a wide range of projects and needs.

“At Canva, our mission is to empower the world to design with our easy-to-use design platform,” Yani Hornilla-Donato, country manager, Canva Philippines said. “Good design is about achieving goals through visual communication. With our campaign, Kaya sa Canva, we want to encourage our Filipino users to explore our beautifully curated library, and find thousands of free templates that

Get your dream job with fresh CV templates

Whatever your design needs, Kaya sa Canva. From advocacy, career development, business, education, special events, and more, Canva has thousands of templates that can be edited to fit anyone’s visual communication needs.

Make your business stand out with amazing marketing content

Micro, small, or medium-sized businesses can build their brand by making the most out of all the branding and marketing templates that Canva offers. With millions of beautiful social media templates, photos, videos, and graphics, brands are not only able to create visually appealing online ads, marketing brochures, business cards, but save a lot more time as well.

Your CV or resume should showcase your personality and uniqueness. It’s your key to standing out among the other applicants and impressing your potential employer. Jobseekers and college and university students who want to enhance employment prospects should maximize Canva’s customizable resume templates with creative, sleek, and professional-looking layouts.

September 2021

will empower them to communicate with purpose and get things done.”

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your design ya sa Grow your audience with inspiring and engaging visual content

Collaborate with your team with ease through Canva’s presentations templates

Aspiring influencers and professional designers who make content professionally can design with ease with Canva to enhance their content. Content creators can bring their ideas to life in minutes using Canva’s social media templates, video editing and animation features, and content library. Creators can also design, schedule, and post their social media content right from the Canva platform.

In an increasingly visual era, presentations are the way to go when it comes to communicating your idea. And as remote working quickly becomes the norm, presentations are no longer just delivered in a physical meeting room, teams are finding new ways to collaborate online and get things done. Canva Presentation templates allow teams to co-create, review, and comment on projects in real-time.

Canva makes it easy to design engaging visual content, helping you achieve your personal and professional goals. “Whatever project you have in mind, whether it’s a winning resume, an engaging branding collateral, or a visually appealing content for your channel, Kaya sa Canva,” Donato said. “Our high-quality templates make it easy

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and efficient for anyone to design for any purpose. Individuals and teams can create content with Canva to suit any brand and topic.” To further empower Filipinos to design, Canva will also roll out new templates in the coming weeks that anyone will surely love. To know more about Canva, visit https://www.canva.com/.

September 2021

Visual Space

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Yamaha Mio showcased in 45-foot cultural mural in BGC

he country’s leading automatic motorcycle, the Yamaha Mio, is being immortalized in a new mural at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, an upscale commercial and residential hub that is known for glitzy shopping as well as trendy street art. The 45-foot mural, which can be found on the corner of 9th Avenue and 30th Street, celebrates the country’s riding culture as embodied by the much-loved Yamaha Mio. The mural asks its audience, “What’s your culture?” Created by artist Glenford Lumbao, the mural is designed to resemble a textilelike look based on the traditional craft of “weaving,” symbolic of the diversity of modern Filipino lifestyles and how they intertwine with one another. Thus, a Gamer, a Thrill-Seeker/Speed Junkie, an Artist, a Chef, and even a Trendsetter are all featured in the massive wall art. The Thrill-Seeker/Speed Junkie passes paint to the Artist. The Artist then hands over his latest creation to the Trendsetter riding her Yamaha Mio on the way to her favorite Chef. The Chef, in turn, gives his latest culinary accomplishment to the Gamer. And, finally, the Gamer is seen fixing the Thrill-Seeker’s scooter, thus completing the cycle.

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Through this circular representation, the mural manifests how everyone in the community, regardless of their diverse cultures and lifestyles, can be of service to one another. Also included in each frame is the distinctive Yamaha Mio model dedicated for each lifestyle, to spotlight the integral part that motorcycles play in the everyday lives of Filipinos. For Gamers and Thrill Seekers there’s the Mio Aerox and Mio Sporty with their awesome look and fast-paced ride. For Chefs and other foodies, the Mio Gravis will take you to the best food scenes around the metro. Artists can find inspiration riding on the Mio Soul i125, while the Mio i125 can take Trendsetters to the next big find around the city. “The Yamaha Mio plays a big part in Rolling Out a Better World. The mobility it offers helps the community to Move Forward especially during the new normal,” notes Yamaha Motor Philippines. For more information about the Yamaha Mio as well as other Yamaha rides you can check out Yamaha Philippines’ website, Facebook Page, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also visit the nearest Yamaha Dealership to check out the bestselling Mio series.

September 2021

Home

7 Tips for Getting Children Excited A Doing House Chore Words by Monica Mendoza

hen you’re so busy with work and kids, it is a wonder when you would ever find time to do chores. You can buy a washing machine on sale or get an air fryer to simplify your cooking, but these are just tools that make doing chores a little easier. A

Involve Them as Early as Possible

Children learn about the world from their parents. They imitate what they see their parents doing. So it’s a good idea to let them watch you while you do your chores, even while they’re still babies. You can put them in a crib, or wear them in a sling. In this way, babies can begin to associate chores with positive emotions. When the kids can walk and have better control of their motor skills, you can already ask them to do simple tasks like putting away their toys after play time. Doing so teaches kids about responsibility and that chores are a normal part of life. September 2021

better idea is to start teaching your kids how they can help. Children may only be able to contribute a little but you can start letting go of some responsibilities and train your kids to be independent. Here are some tips to help kids actually feel excited about helping at home.

Get Kid-Sized Tools

Tasks like sweeping the floor or watering plants are age-appropriate chores for young children to do, but regular tools may be too big or too heavy for little kids to handle. Instead, make these chores more kid-friendly by giving them a small broom set and watering pail to use. If they are old enough to help in the kitchen, they may take their role more seriously when they have their own apron and safe cooking tools. Kid-sized tools further drive the idea that children have a role to play in these types of activities, and it can help kids feel that their contributions are recognized and

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appreciated. Additionally, referring to these items as “tools” and not “toys” is useful for reminding children to handle them with care. Identifying what is safe and not safe to play with should always be clear to your kids.

Make It Fun

Doing chores is a job, but you can also have fun while working. Simple things like blowing bubbles while washing the dishes or folding the laundry into animal shapes inject fun into the experience. You can even use songs as a way of telling time, so they know how long a certain task should take. For example, a child tasked with washing apples can sing one Happy Birthday song for each apple. Having fun while doing chores together builds positive associations between the two. It helps kids to develop a healthy mindset towards work and responsibility. They may also look at these moments as a special bonding opportunity with you and look forward to doing these tasks. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Your About es 4

Put a Family Chore Board

If your kids are still getting used to doing chores, they may forget about their tasks when they are busy or too excited about other things. Help them stay on track by working on a family chore board together and displaying it prominently in your home. You list the tasks of each family member and add a mark for each day the task was completed. You can also use this board to add some friendly family competition. The member who never misses any of their tasks for the week can choose what to watch for movie night or pick what pizza flavor to order.

Helping Means “I Love You”

Apart from teaching your kids the importance of doing chores and how to do them, you may want to encourage the development of a helpful attitude. Use helping each other as a love language, and make sure to recognize whenever they make the effort to be helpful or to show initiative. Doing chores contributes to the good of everyone at home, so this can be one of the many ways kids can show their love for their family.

Chores Aren’t Punishment

If you want your children to be excited about doing chores, never use these as a form of punishment. You want kids to have a positive association with household chores, so that they would be more willing to do it. Additionally, it’s important to teach kids that chores are part of daily life and not associated with the way they behave.

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7 Get Kid-Sized Tools Children are very impressionable, and they learn how to react to certain situations based on how their parents do. If they see you looking stressed or annoyed while doing chores, they may think of this as a normal reaction. So if you want kids to approach chores with a positive attitude, you have to model this behavior for them. You may not actually feel excited about doing the laundry or doing some vacuuming, but your children will be paying attention to what you do. In time, you may actually start feeling good about chores for real. Getting your children excited over doing house chores may seem like quite a feat, but it is not an impossible task. It just takes a little patience, a lot of love, and a great role model for the kids to emulate.

September 2021

Cyber Security

Kids are very curious. They want to wander here and there wherever they go. It might be amusement parks, homes, schools, or markets. You want to keep a watch on your children as a parent, but that may not always be possible. At least knowing where they are can give a parent a sigh of relief.

WHAT IS GEOFENCING? Geofencing uses GPS (Global Positioning System) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies, which help create imaginary boundaries in the real world. It relies on the Internet or mobile data to work as phone tracker apps. You can develop your virtual perimeters to restrict your kids to designated areas. You will get an alert whenever your child enters or leaves the designated area. For instance, you have set a bar as your designated area. Whenever your teenager enters that bar, you will be alerted, so you’ll be aware that your kid is in a restricted location.

According to Chan Robles, 267 cases were filed on missing people in the Philippines. Most of them are kids. Sometimes kids go too far, which can make parents very worried. Fortunately, thanks to new technology, you can simply track your children’s movement in this digital world using a variety of techniques. One of these approaches is geofencing.

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WHY DO PARENTS NEED GEOFENCING NOTIFICATIONS? There are various reasons why you should get a Geofeature system. Some of them are as follows:

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• According to the Crimes Against Children report, each year, 1 in 25 youth receives an online solicitation from a solicitor who attempted to contact them offline. So teaching your kid about online privacy and safety is important. • As a working parent, you know where your child is. It will allow you to focus on your work.

HOW DOES GEOFENCING WORK?

To track down your kid’s location using a geofencing system, you need a smartphone that has a GPS location system. Then install an app with geofence features on both devices, the parent device and child device. After the installation is complete, you

HOW DOES GEOFENCING HELP?

Mark safe zones. With geofencing, you will be able to mark safe zones for your child. The places like school or home, from where you don’t want your child to go out without your permission. You can create imaginary

SETTING UP GEOFENCING SOFTWARE ON APPLE DEVICES

Most of the smartphones today have GPS on them; this includes iPhones too. If your kids carry iPhone devices, you can track your kid’s location with the “Find My Friends” app. This app works as a location tracker for you.

• According to the Childhelp organization report, around 3.2 million kids are subject to child abuse every year. • If you suspect your kid is involved in some negative addictions, you can set alerts on those undesirable places.

may establish virtual boundaries that mimic realworld boundaries. You will receive a notification on your phone whenever your child enters the designated area. Remember, your child’s phone also should have a geofence feature enabled. Only then can you get a notification or some alerts that let you know your kids’ location. You need an internet connection to get these alerts.

boundaries on these types of areas, and you will get an instant alert if your child leaves these designated areas. While you are busy at work, you can know if they are in the safe zones or have sneaked out. Mark unsafe zones. If you don’t want your kids at a club, a bar, You should install this app on both your and your kids’ devices for you to track. To start child monitoring: Step 1: On your iPhone, open the Find My Friends app. Step 2: Send an invitation to your kids’ device by entering their contact information.

or a place where you don’t feel they should be, you can mark those places as unsafe or dangerous zones. Whenever they enter these areas, you will get a notification on your phone. As mentioned earlier, your kid’s phone should also have a geofencing feature enabled and should be connected to the Internet. Step 3: Accept the invitation and set the password on your kids’ phone so that they can’t change the settings. Step 4: Launch the settings and enable notifications. Step 5: To start tracking, click on your kids’ profile and select the Notify Me option. Step 6: Choose whether you want to get geofence alerts when they leave or when they enter.

SETTING UP GEOFENCING SOFTWARE ON ANDROID DEVICES

It is not as easy to use the Geofence feature on Android devices. Google Latitude does not support geofences, so to use this feature, you have to use third-party geofencing apps.

BEST PARENTAL CHILD CONTROL APP YOU CAN USE

The MobileSpy App is one of the best parental control apps available in the market. It is designed for you to keep track of your child’s activities or current location so that you’re assured of their safety. The app has a geofence feature with which you can track your kid’s location easily. You can set safe zones and

unsafe zones and get alerts from your office or anywhere you are. The geofence feature and the MobileSpy app come with different features like SMS tracking, text message viewing, call tracking, social media monitoring, email monitoring, and media file viewing. Mobilespy app gives out all these features for an affordable price and is compatible with Android and Apple devices. You can try this app to ensure your kids’ safety.

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Cyber Security

September 2021

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For cybercriminals, data is still king. So, when targeting a company for an attack, cybercriminals would also turn to the crudest approach — that is, diving into corporate trash for any valuable data. According to Kaspersky, the top three carelessly discarded trash that are highly useful for cybercriminals are: work documents, envelopes, and digital storage media as whatever info they might extract from these can be monetized or used against your company.

manufacturer’s European division lost more than USD37 million (PHP1.8 billion in today’s current forex) to cybercriminals as a result of a fake bank transfer instruction that an employee mistook as legitimate.

Another interesting trash for cybercriminals are envelopes from business letters that indicate details of the addressee and the sender. With knowledge of this information, a cybercriminal can contact the recipient with a convincing request for clarification or send a malicious link “It’s said that one can learn a lot about that appears to confirm receipt of a a person or a company from the trash real physical document. they throw away. Cybercriminals know that all too well and finding out Not to be ignored as ordinary office that they rummage through company trash are digital media which can garbage shouldn’t be surprising,” says be a treasure trove of information for Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for anyone with malicious intent. A broken Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. smartphone can cough up lists of contacts and messages and can be Even with digitizing, companies would used to imitate the former user of the still be handling paper. In research device. Flash drives, hard disk drives, by a printer company, the average or solid-state drives hold tons of work office worker prints as many as documents and personal data. 6,000 sheets of paper in a year (25 in a day), and about 3,720 sheets “More than 80% of all cyber-incidents are considered waste (10 per day). are caused by human error. CostAnother research says that nearly wise, a cybersecurity breach would half of printed documents in a typical set back a small to medium-sized office are discarded within 24 hours. business about USD101,000 (roughly PHP5-million) and an enterprise for Tossed-out work documents don’t USD1,090,000 (almost PHP550-M) need to have confidential data in on average, based on last year’s them to reveal what your team is statistics from Kaspersky. So, it’s doing, your business lingo, or even up to us in the business sector, your current business processes. regardless of position in the company, Once these are in the hands of a to be mindful that the security of the cybercriminal, such information would business depends directly on our be handy to impersonate a staff, behavior in handling corporate data,” supplier, or client through telephone adds Yeo. or email to draw out more information. In the past few years, cybercriminals have increasingly resorted to business email compromise (BEC) attacks that target corporate correspondence. A real-life example was when a car

Below are some tips from Kaspersky on how to minimize or eliminate the use of office supplies for data storage and hopefully not be used by an attacker:

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First, destroy all paper documents that are related to the work of the company before tossing them in the garbage. That means all of them, not just those containing personal data. Shred them, envelopes included. Second, digital media (hard drives, flash sticks) do not belong in the trash. You have to render them mechanically unusable and take them to an electronics recycling center. Use pliers to snap disks and flash drives. For hard drives, use an electric drill or hammer. Remember that there is a flash drive inside every phone and a hard drive inside every computer. If you’re throwing any of them out, first make sure their data is unreadable. Finally, before throwing away parcels or food delivery bags, it’s good practice to tear off and destroy any labels with the name and address of the sender and recipient. Besides proper disposal of corporate garbage, another way businesses can beef up their cybersecurity is by utilizing technologies like Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum (KEDRO) which delivers straightforward in-depth defense against complex and advanced threats with no additional overheads. The KEDRO automation features ensure that incidents are dealt with swiftly and its simplified root cause analysis helps reveal the true scope of the threat so you can act accordingly, all with an easy-to-use toolkit. Find out the latest KEDRO promos and discounts at Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum at https://kas.pr/56ne.

gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Employment

remote job is no longer a luxury for the few but a workplace necessity. And with the rapid closure of many companies and businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work is becoming more standard for all career levels.

Applicants with highly sought-after experience and credentials can now easily secure high-paying remote jobs. But, if you’re looking for an easy way to make money at home, play break the bank, and make some real money. With that said, here are some of the 10 highest-paying remote jobs in 2021 that you can apply for and start making great money while working from home.

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Employment

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Enterprise

September 2021

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73-YEAR-OLD STREET VENDOR BUILDS DREAM HOUSE WITH EARNINGS FROM SHOPEE Lolo Pops embraces online selling and transforms his life amidst the pandemic Despite his age, Lolo Pops, a small business owner from Angeles City, still works hard to earn money. At 73 years old, Lolo Pops may be a bit weaker and hard of hearing, but the sprightly man still insists on managing his shop. Together with his son Angelo, Lolo Pops runs a small online store selling pastillas, polvoron, and other local goods. Lolo Pops, who is something of a local celebrity in Angeles City, was a former street vendor and enjoyed a steady stream of customers, thanks to residents who used to be sukis when they were schoolchildren. However, as the pandemic set in last year, business slowed down. Lolo Pops did not give up, citing his wife as his source of strength. With the help of one of his sukis, Lolo Pops and Angelo decided to take their business online to reach more customers.

able to leave their ramshackle house and start building a new one in Bulacan with their earnings, a far-off dream that Lolo Pops never thought would come true. “Hindi namin inakala na makakapagpatayo kami ng bahay sa ganitong panahon. Dati ay pangarap lang namin ito. Nagpapasalamat kami ngayong natutupad na ito dahil sa pag-asenso namin sa Shopee,” he shared.

ganoon kalakas ang benta, pero nagtatabi talaga kami. Awa ng Diyos ay sana makalipat na kami bago matapos ang taon.”

Although it took a while since they also had to cover daily expenses, Lolo Pops made sure to save bit by bit for his dream house every few months. “Kung ano ang sobra, inilalaan namin sa pagpagawa ng bahay. May mga araw o linggo na hindi

Inspired by Lolo Pops’ story of hard work, Shopee partnered with Appliance Hub, Firefly, Gaviscon, Globe, Strepsils, Sustagen, and Unilab to surprise Lolo Pops and his family with a few gifts and essentials for their new home. They got a new laptop, phone, and router to use for the online shop; multivitamins and protective masks to keep the whole family safe and healthy; and a speed fan to keep their new home well-ventilated. To help the family as they try to save enough money to finish building the house, Shopee also donated biscuits, coffee, and other groceries.

Since onboarding on Shopee over a year ago, Lolo Pops was able to sell homemade goodies, including new products such as bagoong and chili garlic, to Filipinos nationwide. Although they initially struggled to adapt to new tools and technologies, Lolo Pops and Angelo found success. They also consider being able to take their business online a blessing since Lolo Pops is now too weak to go out too much, especially during the pandemic.

Now, as the construction nears completion, Lolo Pops remains in awe of how much his humble business has grown on Shopee and feels excited to finally see the fruits of his hard work.

“Malaking bagay ito para sa amin. Dahil sa Shopee, may sumusuporta sa akin, maraming tumutulong sa akin. Ngayong pandemic, marami tayong ika nga ay mga problema. Pero walang imposible kay Lord. Habang nabubuhay ang tao, tuloy ang pag-asa,” Lolo Pops said. Support Lolo Pops’ small online business here: https://shopee.ph/lolopopsph.

For the father-and-son duo, selling on Shopee has been a big help. They were

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September 2021

Enterprise

HOW WEBSITE ANALYTICS CAN HELP GROW YOUR BUSINESS September 2021

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ebsite analytics can seem like they may only be for the techsavvy experts, yet, you need to consider the information you can receive about your website. Things such as when customers log on, what they check out often, and which part of your website they spend more time as well products they purchase often are just some of the things you can find out. Don’t let the term intimidate you. GoDaddy, the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, is here to demystify what website analytics is about and how you can utilize them to help increase traffic for your business website. REACH MORE PEOPLE BY POSTING UPDATES DURING PEAK HOURS

Knowing when your site gets the most visitors and which pages people frequent the most can help you optimize your website for increased traffic 119

Much like with a brick-and-mortar shop, your website has peak hours when most visitors come in; and website analytics can show you exactly when those are. Once you’ve identified your peak hours, you can schedule announcement posts or new products for around those times. Conversely, once you know when you have the least amount of traffic, you can create ways to try to get more people to visit during those times. Scheduling sales or special shipping discounts during your online store’s off-peak hours, for example, can be a good way to incentivize people to head over to your website and make a purchase decision.

September 2021

Enterprise

GoDaddy makes it easy for businesses to provide discounts or special shipping vouchers like these through its GoDaddy E-Store product. Customers just need to input their promo code upon checkout and the discounts are automatically applied — no manual computation needed. CREATE MORE CONTENT THAT PIQUE PEOPLE’S INTEREST Website analytics can also help you identify which pages people view the most, how long they spend on that page on average, and which pages they typically click through next. You can also find out what visitors search the most on your website. With these analytics in mind, you can get a better sense of the type of content that captivates your visitors so you can create more. Perhaps pages with videos make people stop scrolling and pay closer attention, or pages and products with a certain design or layout are more effective at leading people to click on them and make purchases. Maybe people tend to look up more “minimalist” offerings on your website search bar. GoDaddy Websites + Marketingintegrated suite of tools includes built-in analytics to provide

September 2021

you with performance metrics for your website and advice on how to improve them. From there, you can be more strategic about the type of content you post on your website, to help you get the results you want. Whether you’re looking to increase viewer retention, get more people to head to the Shop Now page, or help them find more relevant content, website analytics can provide valuable insights that make maintaining your website and growing your business feel less about luck and guesswork and more about smart entrepreneurial decisions. “Website analytics can tell you more than just how many people visit your site or when. It provides comprehensive information around your website’s traffic that can lead to interesting insights around your customers’ preferences, behaviors, and habits,” said GoDaddy director of marketing for Southeast Asia, Norman Barrientos. “Knowing your customer is marketing 101. And by utilizing website analytics to better understand and get to know your customers, you can intelligently tailor-fit your website to help you achieve your goals and take your business further,” added Barrientos.

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“Website analytics can also help you identify which pages people view the most, how long they spend on that page on average, and which pages they typically click through next.”

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September 2021

Enterprise

Words by Yeo Siang Tiong

PLAN YOUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 5 key lessons from Sun Tzu’s Art of War

eing in the IT industry for the last 28 years, I had the chance to observe the many advancements and upheavals in the field – advancements in technology, changes in standards and protocols, mergers and acquisitions, layoffs, and re-organizations. But I have never seen Southeast Asia (SEA) transforming at a breakneck speed until this pandemic. This transition boils down to one segment — digital. In fact, the region reached more than the forecasted 310 million online consumers for 2025 in 2020, five years in advance. Thanks to the 40 million first-time internet users last year from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As a result, there is now an urgent need for businesses to reconsider their infrastructure, their business model, and their ways of doing transactions. The stakes are higher for firms to wade through this digital wave, with this global crisis in the background.

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So today, I want to share five key areas decision-makers should consider while planning for a digital transformation. Inspired by Sun Tzu’s Art of War, the concepts and examples are based on my views and lengthy experiences in the IT industry. These 5 areas are 五事：道、天、地、将、法。

Alignment Alignment from the board level or CEO to the last men in the frontline like customer support and sales is important. If aligned, the men will fight the toughest war. The “Shared Values” and “Strategy” in the McKinsey 7-S Model are probably the closest elements to this concept. Unfortunately, modern management theory sees shareholders as the ultimate people to please, with employees as mere digits akin to the factory workers of the Industrial Age. Coupled with disproportional use of debt-based leveraged buyouts, owners are no longer owners, and, alas, the voices of employees who staked their well-being on the company are hijacked.

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Fortunately, this is probably true only for larger corporations where the gains are meaty. Nonetheless, for all corporations of various sizes, the spirit of the company is the thread that weaves all together. Without a clear sense of direction and purpose that is well communicated, the individual parts can be difficult to summon and align. Applying this logic to digital transformation, the whole company, from the C-suite to the groundwork staff, should be structured correctly, aligned, fully aware, and onboard. A good example is how companies pivot into digital retail. It is important that the company is well aligned to execute this. The company needs to understand that digital retail is another channel to reach the same customer. So for companies who do not have a consistent strategy for omnichannel, they end up setting up a new department to target this without rallying the other conventional channel to join the race, causing fault lines to divide the company.

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Photo by Leon on Unsplash

Enterprise

Natural elements Natural elements refer to climate and timing. In this era of digital transformation, timing is the more appropriate element. Interestingly, the concept of timing is also reflected in many ancient Chinese classical philosophical studies, like Lao Tzu’s Tao De Jing, that advocated flowing with “Tao.” 人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然. For those who observed the masters in executing the Tai Chi movement, counteracting the enemy’s strokes involves the timing of absorbing their strikes by moving along the force, not against. Not going so far, we are well aware that the current pandemic has been causing major disruptions across all industries and entities in Southeast Asia. Based on “Tao,” businesses — no matter what shape or size — should move along with the on-

September 2021

and-off lockdowns and restrictions. How? There is no other way but to harness the power of technology. With transactions online predicted to hit USD1.2 trillion in SEA by 2025, it is timely to start shifting your physical records and dealings online, from forms to be filled, payment, and other inbetween affairs. If you have not started or considered it yet, you should do so now.

Physical elements You may ask how physical elements are related to a nonphysical environment such as the internet. In ancient times, this will be about the soldiers’ marching distance and the war’s type of terrain. Currently, and in digital transformation, it is about the market that you operate in (terrain).

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Identifying the right market is critical. This is not just a geographical market identification; it is also identifying the approach to the market and targeting the correct audience type that fits into the company strategy. For example, a clothing line manufacturer may choose to directly market to consumers. The manufacturer may choose to go for an un-addressed country to avoid conflicting with the existing ecosystem of business partners, or may choose a new target audience (youngsters), reaching them through social media influencers, and selling purely online.

Managers One cannot execute a plan without management approval. This pandemic has shown that innovation is needed to thrive, and our recent survey revealed that managers play a crucial role to enable it.

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The company needs to understand that digital retail is another channel to reach the same customer. So for companies who do not have a consistent strategy for omnichannel, they end up setting up a new department to target this without rallying the other conventional channel to join the race, causing fault lines to divide the company. to addressing old markets, using old tools, or are simply not convinced. Qualities we need to look for in good managers are Wise, Trustworthy, Benevolent, Courageous, Strict ( 将者，智、信、仁、勇、严也 ).

5 A great majority (96%) of surveyed companies confirmed that their board plays a direct role in business innovation. This means that if innovation has more weight behind it, there will be more drive, and this not only changes the way businesses operate but their deep-rooted culture and corporate DNA. These are welcome findings and a reminder to loop in your C-suite about your digital transformation plan. Aligning this across the structure is also important. Execution needs to be aligned all the way to the last person in the hierarchy. This means that many layers of managers are key to its success, and not just lip service from the top. At times, we see the drive from the top, but the effort is thwarted by managers, especially line managers who are used

Structure and Protocols/ Process Technological advancements freed us of the need to maintain roads for military supplies, to marshal armies in proper subdivisions, and to control military expenditure. However, this was changed to the need to plan our steps, consider our assets, redefine our protocols, and train our employees regularly. For instance, the same survey revealed that 95% of innovations in a company fail before the launch, and the culprit is lack of planning. Reverting back to digital transformation, it is important to have defined protocols, comprehensive security measures and tools at hand, and a clear road map and division of tasks to make it possible. It is important to equip your company before diving into an irreversible transformation. Be sure that you have the updated and secured tools, revisited and adapted your process flows to a digitalfirst approach, and trained all your employees about securing and managing your evolving IT environment.

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What part, then, does cybersecurity play in this transformation? One thing that companies mistakenly think is that cybersecurity stifles innovation. In our recent survey, 54% of our respondents shared this thought. But news about data breaches and ransomware attacks should be considered a clear warning about this thinking. Any such breaches will set the company back in terms of digital transformation as it shakes the transformation at the foundation layer. This is akin to old times when you move the front troops too fast, stretching the supply line and risking the hijacking of your food supplies, and starving the front troops before they reach the destination. So yes, it is essential that your digital transformation plan include a comprehensive look into cybersecurity at the earliest.

YEO SIANG TIONG, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

September 2021

Fintech

Meet Tala, th trusted financ unbanked I

n the 2019 Financial Inclusion Survey, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas announced that 51.2 million Filipinos, or 71% of the total adult population, remain unbanked. In the report, Filipinos shared that they do not have enough money (45%), that they do not need an account (27%), or that they do not have the documentary requirements (26%).

This is not a situation unique to the Philippines. More than 1.6 billion adults around the world are unbanked, excluding them from financial products such as insurance, loans, or mortgages, and protection for their money.

use, protect, and grow their money by making loans easier to apply right from your smartphone. By tapping on the farreaching presence of technology, more Filipinos can apply for loans and build their digital credit history, increasing their loan limits over time.

Tala, the leading personal finance app, is helping unbanked Filipinos

“More than 5.2 billion Filipinos own mobile phones and more than 4.6 billion

are connected to the internet. And yet only 12% of mobile phone owners use their devices to perform financial transactions. We believe that everyone needs access to financial systems and for them to be in control of their money. By making loans simpler and more accessible, we can promote financial agency and autonomy for more Filipinos,” says Angelo Madrid, managing director of Tala PH.

Applying for a loan using the Tala app can be done anytime, with no paperwork or visits to the bank. All they need is an Android smartphone and a valid ID. Candidates will know if their application is approved in minutes. Loans are personalized, with flexible sizes and dynamic credit limits. Moreover, users don’t need to have credit history, collateral, guarantors, or a bank account to apply.

September 2021

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he safer and cial partner of d Filipinos Applicants must simply answer some questions and upload a governmentissued ID for verification. Once their ID is verified, and load application approved, they can cash out and repay their loan in over 40,000 locations across the country. Applicants can receive the amount via remittance centers, bank transfer, or through their Coins.ph wallet within 24 hours. Repayments are just as straightforward. On the app, users have the freedom to select how they wish to pay. They can choose to settle their loan via 7-Eleven, remittance centers, or e-Wallets such as Coins.ph or GCash. Tala offers a minimal, upfront, and one-time fee with no hidden charges. This reinforces the importance of transparency when it comes to healthy financial decisions, customer protection, and empowerment. “It’s so easy to get a loan from Tala. I can always count on it. Tala is really like a companion that supports me and helps me achieve my goals,” says Aimee, a Tala Gold member, the app’s highest borrowing status.

Aimee is just one of Tala’s one million customers in the Philippines. The mom and entrepreneur started her business selling food products like tocino and longganisa. She grew her business after securing a loan, and she was able to finance a second venture focusing on beauty products. Worldwide, Tala’s trusted, accessible, and secure mobile app has disbursed over $2 billion worth of loans to over 6 million customers. Apart from providing accessible loans, Tala also offers other services to help its customers grow in all aspects of their financial lives. The personal finance service app has free financial education through its robust library of tailored educational content. It also hosts inperson and online communities to help Tala users connect and learn from each other. “We want to position ourselves as the unbanked Filipino’s safe and trusted partner in achieving financial autonomy. Through our commitment to fair and ethical lending, we hope to give everyone the opportunity to pursue life’s greater goals and advance their financial health,” ends Madrid.

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To start your Tala journey, visit the Google Playstore now to download the app or click bit. ly/3jMEjEm .

September 2021

Wellness

Innovativ Imaging Platf Inclusive Hea Emerging C L

ifetrack Medical Systems, a growing health-tech startup and one of the 2020 Emerge X Competition winners, joins hands with Microsoft to further accelerate its innovations in medical imaging and enable better healthcare access for people in developing markets. According to the World Health Organization, two-thirds of the world does not have access to basic radiology. In the Philippines, for every 100 million Filipinos, there are only about 1,500 radiologists. Lifetrack is filling this gap by using technology to maximize the scarcity of radiologists and enable health care to millions of people who have limited or no access to it. To date, over 2 million patient studies across 12 different countries have been diagnosed using Lifetrack’s platform. “Our mission is to bring healthcare, particularly medical imaging, to twothirds of the world that has no access to it. We can do this by improving the efficiency of radiologists and using the latest technologies to

September 2021

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ve Medical form Enables althcare for Countries

ensure that healthcare is accessible to all,” said Dr. Eric Schulze, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Lifetrack Medical Systems. “Gaining recognition from Microsoft helps us connect with governments and potential partners, which will empower us to scale up our platform and further break down barriers and democratize medical accessibility.”

startups both in the Philippines and across the world is a key imperative for us at Microsoft. There is so much potential among our digital natives and we believe that with the right support, these natural innovators can potentially catalyze creative disruption in the economy—creating new opportunities as well as new markets”.

The Philippines and Singapore-based health tech company offers hybrid on-premise/cloud-based solution that enables affordable access, rapid transmission, and aggregation of medical imaging for emerging markets. Lifetrack’s LifeSys platform simplifies radiologists’ workflows by connecting and distributing medical images from imaging centers to hospitals and single to multiple sites, including remote areas within a single platform. This lowers treatment costs and makes medical imaging possible anytime, anywhere.

Lifetrack is one of the four winners in Microsoft’s inaugural regional Emerge X competition held at the Philippine Startup week last year. Microsoft will provide Lifetrack access to its Microsoft Azure platform as well as an intensive mentorship and support program to accelerate its growth. The Emerge X Program sits within Microsoft’s Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative, which discovers, and nurtures high potential technology startups & grows the ecosystem in emerging markets across APAC.

“Lifetrack’s innovative solution is a game-changer in the medical field. By making radiology more accessible and cost-efficient, treating illnesses and saving lives of people in developing countries become more within reach,” said Abid Zaidi, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Philippines. “Nurturing and empowering

“Being part of the Highway to 100 Unicorns will open more opportunities for us which in turn will improve affordable access to medical imaging to more people around the world. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Microsoft to drive innovation forward for the benefit of all,” said Dr. Shulze.

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September 2021

Wellness

New Way to Celebrate: Spa Quarantine Party N

ow that we are all shifting to the new normal, many of us have been looking for new ways to celebrate different milestones while staying at home. Some of us had resorted to zoom parties and some had intimate celebrations with only a few people. As the Philippines’ lockdown is slowly easing up and more and more people are getting vaccinated, there have been more inventive ways to celebrate at home. One of the unique celebrations that is now offered by MassageMNL is their Massage Bar. The Massage Bar will bring you a whole spa at home. They will have a whole Instagram worthy spa set-up, signature massages, foot spa, hand spa, hand paraffin, facial, manicure and pedicure. MassageMNL’s massage bar is perfect for bridal showers, gender reveal, birthdays or even just a normal day that you want to enjoy with friends and family. You and a couple of friends can enjoy different specialized massages like lymphatic drainage, myofascial, signature, pre/postnatal or their premium massages.

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You will be at ease as you enjoy a spa day at home with their fully-vaccinated staff and testing prior to massage bar booking. In addition, they also test their staff regularly and closely monitored at their staff house for thorough safety of its clientele and company. MassageMNL is available in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and you can book through www. massagemnl.com, facebook.com/massagemnl, instagram.com/massagemnl or through their hotlines.

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Government

Smart supports voter registration campaign elections – especially because the youth have a big stake in our country’s future,” she added.

LDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. has teamed up with the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) official Voter Registration Information Campaign partner — Vote Pilipinas — to encourage more Filipinos to register for the 2022 elections. Spearheaded by the non-government organization Impact Hub Manila, Vote Pilipinas offers non-profit, non-partisan online and offline information about the upcoming elections.

Under the partnership, Smart will help boost Vote Pilipinas’ online call-to-action through social media executions, and help widen the reach of the nonpartisan, non-profit organization until May 2022. These efforts are aimed at motivating Filipinos, especially the youth, to be counted, be informed, be heard, and be one with all Filipinos in nationbuilding.

“As the country’s leading mobile services provider, Smart is in a unique and significant position to expand the reach of ‘Vote Pilipinas’ using the power of digital technology and our nationwidest and nationfastest network,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and head of consumer wireless business at Smart.

To kick off the campaign, Vote Pilipinas hosted a town hall called #MagpaRehistroKa where key officials from COMELEC explained voter registration and the country’s election system. Vote Pilipinas is also set to launch two more virtual town halls to share relevant information about the 2022 elections. The #MagpaRehistroKa virtual town halls will be available over Zoom, Facebook Live, and Kumu.

With more than 18 million Filipinos belonging to the 1839 year-old range, Gen Zs and millennials make up the biggest bulk of the voting population next year. Together, Smart and Vote Pilipinas will drive an information campaign aimed at igniting the youth’s passion and purpose to live smart and vote smart – starting with registering for next year’s polls.

These efforts are in line with the commitment of Vote Pilipinas and Smart to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly UNSDG 16 which calls for strong institutions.

“We’ve always believed in the power of the youth to positively impact our society. There’s no better way to show this than by participating in the upcoming

September 2021

Learn more about Vote Pilipinas through https://www. votepilipinas.com.

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Newsbytes

MWELL, THE FIRST FULLY-INTEGRATED HEALTH AND WELLNESS APP IN PH Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation (MPHTC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, transforms the digital health care ecosystem with mWell, an all-in-one app meticulously created for the Filipino’s holistic well-being, providing professional consultations, wellness programs, products, and delivery services. Headed by MPIC chairman Manny V. Pangilinan is truly confident and excited with MPIC group’s newest foray in digital health care, “Through a collaboration with trusted health experts, mWell will develop an ecosystem to bring integrated digital health care closer to every Filipino, even beyond the pandemic. mWell will empower every Filipino to be in control of their health with just one app.”

mWell is a high-performance mobile app backed by a powerhouse of top names in the healthcare, wellness, and tech industries. CareSpan’s Clinic in the Cloud™ integrates digital care tools and data for mWell doctors and patients. LotusFlare’s multi-awarded cloud-native, IT digital enablement September 2021

platform ensures a seamless, endto-end customer experience. Ping An’s healthcare technologies enables mWell to address Covid-19 concerns, diagnosis, care, and treatments. Complementing the technology partnerships, mWell teams up with award-winning fitness experts like Active8me, for personalized daily fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs; and theAsianparent, for smart parenting solutions from pregnancy to family health management. Powered by PayMaya for fast, secure, and hassle-free transactions, over three thousand health and wellness product SKU’s are available for mWell app users at the online health shop by Adobomall. MPIC president and CEO Joey Lim also expresses confidence that this fully-integrated healthcare management is a game changer, “Together, we will build an ecosystem that will provide easy access to integrated digital healthcare. We invite doctors and health practitioners to digitize their practice, partner with us, and be part of mWell’s mission. With our combined strength, we can empower our countrymen to be in control of their health.” The mWell launch signals the opening of this new digital health ecosystem. Currently in partnership with CareSpan, Philcare, and Keralty Clinic, a whole gamut of doctors and health practitioners have joined the

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mWell roster comprising of general practitioners and specialty doctors to enable much-needed access to health professionals during this pandemic. Doctors are able to easily manage digital appointments, keep patients’ confidential medical records, and issue e-prescriptions. And with the partnership of Medicard, users can book COVID-19 testing services. Doctors, clinics, and hospitals all over the country are welcome to be part of mWell. Doctors can set up their own mWell virtual clinic for free. There are no set-up or membership fees. Doctors will be given quick and easy training to be able to access the mWell suite of gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

services and can immediately digitize their practice, reaching more patients nationwide. “Through telemedicine, accessible healthcare can be promoted and the anxiety of going outside would be reduced, not only for us doctors but for patients as well,” shares Dr. Lovely Garcia. Clinics and hospitals can set up virtual labs and accept booking via the mWell app. “At the heart of Gabay Kalusugan’s advocacy to bring healthcare to our kababayans,” states Chaye Revilla, chief finance and sustainability officer of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. “mWell is our response to Filipinos’ call for a better, more responsive,

highly convenient healthcare platform. It is a fully integrated ecosystem that will deliver their health and wellness needs,” Revilla added. mWell also provides a more enriching journey as users can access the e-Pharmacy service that will allow them to buy South Star Drug OTC and prescription medicines and have these delivered to their homes, or buy PhilCare health insurance products for dengue, accidents, and emergencies. mWell will launch a nationwide medical mission, an unprecedented first telehealth virtual event in the Philippines highlighting partnerships and collaborations with

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clinics and doctors nationwide. mWell, in partnership with Aktivolabs, will enable its users to monitor, track and improve their Wellness Score through Aktivo’s® proprietary algorithm that weighs a user’s physical activity and sleep daily and provides personalized information on what an ideal healthy physical lifestyle is, to improve health and longevity. For its initial offering, PLDT Home customers may avail of a free consultation with mWell doctors. You can download the mWell app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For more information, visit https:// www.mWell.com.ph. September 2021

Newsbytes

CONVERGE LAUNCHES ALL-IN-ONE HOME ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE WITH VISION As part of Converge ICT Solutions Inc.’s continuous effort to allow Filipinos to experience better, the fastest-growing internet service provider introduces a new add-on service called VISION. In partnership with Pacific Kabelnet Holding Co. Inc. (PKN), an affiliate cable company, this latest offering gives new and existing Converge subscribers access to local and international TV channels and bingewatch shows from exclusive channels like USA Today News, USA Today Sports, Pocketwatch, and Ryan & friends, using fiber technology. For an affordable price of P99/month for 65 channels and P299/month for 82 channels, VISION comes with a set-top-box called Xperience Box, a full Android, all-in-one entertainment device, that allows Converge subscribers to enjoy multi-genre TV programs and shows in the comfort of their homes. September 2021

Enabled via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the VISION Xperience Box does not require connectivity to any cable TV line and also allows easy connection to a mouse, gamepad, keypad, and other devices. This easy-to-set-up service comes with reliable security features and enhanced artificial intelligence that provides quick one-click access to channels, Google apps, online games, and OTT apps like HBO Go, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Spotify. “The VISION Xperience Box takes convenience up a notch through its voiceenabled remote for easy searches via Google Assistant and a digital interface that allows hassle-free connection to home theater systems or power amplifiers. Watching the most popular shows in the Philippines or abroad and accessing content through various apps have never been this effortless,” said Converge COO Jesus C. Romero. “Vision is just the first of many additional services we plan to bring to

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enhance Filipinos’ digital experience as we build our digital highway. With our recent data capacity upgrade of our metro backbone, we have more than enough bandwidth to provide entertainment content on a streaming platform and other applications,” added Converge co-founder and CEO Dennis Anthony H. Uy. New Converge subscribers can apply through www.gofiber.ph with the same 24-month lock-in period as their internet service. Existing FiberX and FiberX Time of Day plan subscribers in NCR only may upgrade through https://www.convergeict. com/vision/. Customers have an option for an outright payment of PHP2,000 for the Xperience Box or installment payments of PHP150 per month for 24 months. Those who would avail of the staggered payment for the box will have to relock-in for 24 months, while those who pay outright will not require a lock-in period. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

LG ELECTRONICS SPONSORS 2021 HVAC DESIGN AWARD ASIA LG Electronics Inc. is sponsoring this year’s HVAC Design Award Asia that will be held in Korea as part of the brand’s continuous commitment to developing new innovations and providing electronic products that help consumers live better. The competition is organized by The Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea (SAEK) that aims to provide a fair, ethical, and competitive platform to highlight, incentivize, and advocate good HVAC designs and bring subsidiary consultants with different experience levels and diverse disciplines across four Asian countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. “We, at LG Electronics, have always believed that to fully offer optimum solutions and new experiences, we stick to the fundamentals — people, sincerity, and sustainable innovation to achieve a better life. We are looking forward to see how latest design and advances in technology can help us break through in solving our most pressing environmental challenges,”

said LG Electronics Philippines managing director Sungjae Kim. HVAC Design Award Asia’s chosen teams will get support from LG Electronics’ technical and nontechnical members throughout the competition while the winning team will have the chance to represent their country for the finals in September. One team will have the chance to win a gold medal along with LG Electronics products or travel vouchers worth USD6,000 in total. Two teams will get a silver medal and a total of USD3,000 worth of prizes, while three teams will win a bronze medal and USD1,500. The official announcement of winners will be held in Korea in October, 2021. Criteria will be based on how the design proposal was built and its

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added value to building by utilizing new products and solutions such as Multi V 5, Multi V S, Dual Vane, Airpurification kit, DOAS (Dedicated Outdoor Air System), Multi V Water, and TMS (Total Management System). Each design submitted will be categorized into 4 buckets — Needs, Approach, Benefits, and Differentiation. The judges are composed of executive group members of renowned mechanical and HVAC-related departments from major universities and PhDs from the National Laboratory of HVAC R&D in Korea. Complete details of the competition and guidelines are available on the HVAC Design Award Asia website (http://hvacdesignaward.com).

September 2021

Newsbytes

NLEX HOLDS ONLINE BASKETBALL CLINIC FOR HOST COMMUNITIES

NLEX Corporation continues to reach out to host communities as it recently conducted an online basketball clinic for 53 young people in areas traversed by NLEX-SCTEX. Dubbed as “NLEX-SCTEX Basketboys,” this program, held every year since 2013, aims to promote wellness and engage the youth in host communities; develop their basketball skills and camaraderie; and, at the same time, encourage them to be advocates of road safety. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, the tollway company and its team in the Philippine Basketball Association — the NLEX Road Warriors — have shifted this annual face-to-face training to a virtual experience to uplift the morale of children aged 13 to 15 years old by providing them an opportunity to learn more about basketball, values, September 2021

and road safety even in an online setting.

Monfort, Nicco Yorobe, and Jude Eslera.

“Apart from enhancing the basketball skills of these young players, the NLEX-SCTEX Basketboys intends to teach the importance of education, discipline, respect, responsibility, and teamwork, as well as convey the core values of the NRW team,” said NLEX Corporation president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, adding that “we also impart our knowledge on road safety practices for their own safety and that of their community.”

“This is part of the NLEX Road Warriors’ continuing commitment to rev up sports amidst the pandemic. We hope that through this online clinic, we were able to nurture and advance the interests of these young talents,” said NRW assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa.

The participants came from 25 barangays in Caloocan, Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Bataan. This five-day virtual workshop was conducted by PBA legend and NRW assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa along with other coaching staff Borgie Hermida, Asi Taulava, Emman

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NRW head coach Yeng Guiao and star players Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas also headlined the workshops to inspire the youth to pursue excellence both in sports and in their studies. In his keynote during the awarding and graduation ceremonies, Guiao shared the importance of being well equipped with knowledge and skills to be successful. “Preparation is the key to success. Kailangan maghanda kayo sa kung anuman gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

ang gusto ninyong marating sa buhay…Importante na mayroon tayong kaalaman, hindi lang puro sa basketball dapat pati na rin sa ating pag-aaral. Maging masipag at matiyaga at higit sa lahat ay sumunod sa ating mga magulang,” Guiao noted. The free virtual clinic is NLEX’s way of safely engaging the youth through basketball while continuing to develop good values and promote safety practices. Addressing the participants, Donna Kristine F. Marcelo, NLEX Corporation vice president for communication and stakeholder management, said, “Sa kabila ng pandemya na ating kinakaharap, nawa ay nakapagbigay kami ng saya at tulong sa inyo. Sana

ang mga itinuro ng coaches ay maging inspirasyon ninyo sa pagtupad ng inyong mga pangarap.” Aside from presenting the participants with certificates, t-shirts, and other NRW merchandise, NLEX also provided special awards to those who stood out during the training. For his part, one of the participants who was awarded the Most Outstanding Player expressed his thanks to NLEX for mounting the NLEX-SCTEX Basketboys. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng nagturo sa amin. Natuto kami hindi lang sa basketball kundi sa buhay. I learned to be responsible, strategic,

and disciplined athlete,” said Jhareb Sherwin Garcia of Brgy. 9, Caloocan City. In 2019, the NLEX-SCTEX Basketboys won a Silver Anvil for promoting wellness and basketball skills enhancement among the youth of NLEX-SCTEX host communities, while also teaching road safety practices for the benefit of their communities and motorists plying the expressways. NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

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September 2021

Newsbytes

FREE SURFALERT SERVICE LETS GLOBE POSTPAID CUSTOMERS CONTROL DATA USAGE Globe postpaid customers can now control their data usage to ensure worry-free surfing and prevent unexpected browsing charges using the new SurfAlert service. This addresses a current customer pain point as mobile data has become a necessity for online transactions and activities. SurfAlert is now activated for all Globe postpaid customers, allowing them to fully manage their data charges. This service is given FREE to postpaid customers. In terms of experience, customers will get a notification once their monthly data plan allowance is used up so they can decide whether to stop browsing or to avail of data add-ons. This puts back in customers’ hands the power to decide on their data experience and how much to spend, especially relevant during this pandemic. SurfAlert feature is a permanent service for postpaid customers, protecting them from unexpected browsing and charges.

September 2021

Globe is optimistic that turning on the SurfAlert feature will help Postpaid customers manage the charges to their monthly plan. While many Filipinos are spending more time online to work, learn, play, be entertained, among other things, they are also mindful of extra charges during these challenging times.

SurfAlert can also detect background activity from phone apps that automatically connect online. If the subscriber’s monthly plan allowance has been used up, SurfAlert temporarily stops the connection and notifies the subscriber to register to a data promo to stay connected online.

“Many customers may be unaware that their plan’s data allowance is used up, so they continue to browse and rack up extra data charges. SurfAlert gives customers more power of choice over their data usage and, accordingly, their digital lifestyle. This is just one of the many innovative services that we are rolling out proactively to help customers succeed in the new normal,” said Darius Delgado, head of consumer mobile.

Data add-ons are now made more affordable with SURF4ALL249 packed with 20GB of data valid for seven days, GoBOOST199 with 5GB of data for 30 days, and GoBOOST99 with 1GB of data for 30 days. Learn more about these promos by downloading the GlobeOne app available for Android devices from Google Play and iOS devices from App Store: https://glbe.co/globe-one.

SurfAlert can detect if sites can be browsed for free. If opening a page incurs data charges, it puts browsing on hold and alerts the user.

To learn more about Globe’s SurfAlert, please visit https:// www.globe.com.ph/help/surfalert. html#gref.

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Relic

Compaq Presario Words by Jose Alvarez

f you owned a computer in the 1990s, there is a chance that you owned a Compaq Presario. These iconic computers existed from 1993 to 2013 and were an affordable solution in the home PC market. These iconic PCs were one of the first competitors to IBM, considered one of the biggest desktop PC producers during the 1990s. The brand lasted three decades and survived the rise of both the commercial Internet in the mid-90s and the social media boom in the late 2000s. We cannot talk about the Compaq Presario without talking about Compaq itself. In 1982, Rod Canion, Jim Harris, and Bill Murto used USD3,000 to found Compaq, a combination of the words “compatibility” and “quality”. The first entry into the market was the Compaq Portable, which was the size of today’s PC tower. Unlike most PCs, it could be taken on the go, which gives you an idea of what the idea of “portable” was back in the 1980s given that the “brick phone” existed at the same time. The Compaq Portable had an Intel 4.77MHz 8088 processor, 128KB of RAM, and an option for two 5.25” floppy drives, or one floppy drive and a 10 MB hard drive. This PC ran MS-DOS, called Compaq DOS 1.13. This PC debuted in 1983 for USD3,600 (USD9,820.34 in 2021). The success of Compaq quickly brought it to the attention of the fledgling PC industry. In 1982, the company recorded USD111 million in revenue, which shot up to USD329 million in 1983 and USD504 million in 1984. September 2021

By 1986, Compaq found itself on the Fortune 500, being the youngest company in history to make the list, and in 1987, the company recorded USD1 billion in revenue. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of shakeups including the departures of the founders. Canion’s, Harris’, and Murto’s departures forced the company to switch things up and re-position itself. Eckhard Pfeiffer, who served as chief operating officer (COO), became the new CEO of Compaq. The Compaq Presario debuted in 1993 for less than USD1,000, which is around the price you’d pay for a decent PC today. In contrast to the business market, the Presario was created for the consumer market. In fact, Compaq was one of the first companies to use AMD and Cyrix chips as opposed to Intel chips, triggering a price war that put long-time competitors Packard Bell and AST Research out of business in a race to the lowest price point. Compaq had gotten so successful with the Presario that it dethroned IBM by 1994. While the Presario remained popular, the company itself began to show cracks as more and more companies entered the consumer PC market. Compaq attempted a partnership with Cisco Systems in 1995 to get more and more people onto the Internet. By 1997, the company had made numerous acquisitions to account for the rise of the Internet, acquiring Tandem Computers for USD3 billion and Microcom as well. NetWorth was acquired in 1998. 1998 also saw the

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acquisition of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) for USD9.6 billion, then the largest merger in PC industry history. This acquisition was made to get Compaq back into the enterprise market. The company even had its own chip-making decision, but Compaq decided not to use it, and the DEC chips themselves were not compatible with Compaq PCs. This was a case of a square peg into a round hole, and not only were the pieces incompatible, so were the company cultures. Pfeiffer was removed as CEO in 1999, and replaced with Michael Capellas, another executive at the company who also served as COO and chief information officer (CIO). Hewlett-Packard (HP) bought Compaq in 2002 for USD42.2 billion. While the Compaq Presario was still made, there were heavy layoffs. Competitors used the uncertain situation at HP, which rebranded the Compaq Presario as a budget brand, to surpass it—Dell subsequently took over as the PC of choice in the mid-2000s. While Compaq was discontinued in 2013, the brand saw new (temporary) life in Argentina in 2015, but ultimately abandoned it in 2019. While I never owned a Compaq Presario myself, I knew many people who did, and it was a staple in many homes throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. If you’re a millennial and accessed the Internet, chances are you did it through a Compaq Presario, who saw a mighty rise and an equally mighty fall. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Volume XXII Issue I

September 2021 MEET THE TEAM EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief MARIBELLE ALBA Editors-at-Large PRESY ALBA REN ALCANTARA Mobility Consultant ARNEL DORIA Junior Editor GABRIEL PE Writers/Contributors ARCHANGEL NUDALO JOSE ALVAREZ JEWEL STA. ANA LORAINE VILLARINA LIAM MILLS KEIRA ZELMAN THOMAS GLARE MONICA MENDOZA YEO SIANG TIONG

You want more? We recommend you check out our other issues

CREATIVES Creative Consultant RAYMUND RAVANERA Creative Lead JERICO LUTRANIA Creative Staff CHINI YU SORIANO CARMELA BIRAO ADVERTISING Sales and Advertising Manager MARISA CONSUELO Account Executive CAROL AGABIN ADMINSTRATION President & CEO MARIBELLE ALBA Accounting Manager MARITESS MAULION HR & Administration Manager AMY CHRISTINE GIRAY Circulation Officer LORIE BERNARDO Administration Staff RAMIL ALMOJANO Legal Counsel ALBA LAW OFFICE

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