2012 v12n7 - GAME ON by Gadgets Magazine

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editor’snote W

hether you are into hardcore MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) on a kickass gaming computer to release stress or like to do a sedate Sudoku or Solitaire on your phone to wile the time, you are a gamer. This month we bring you an array of gadgets and apps, and take you to gaming heaven.

I have to confess though, I gave away my Wii, which was gathering dust on my entertainment console, to a 17-year old nephew who I felt would enjoy it more. I have no patience for Farmville, nor have I ever played Angry Birds. I do have two games folders on my iPad containing paid game apps—one folder is devoted to word games like the New York Times Crosswords and Scrabble, the other to other mind games like Sudoku, Minesweeper and Bejeweled. Okay, so I am not into gaming. But rest assured, Gadgets Magazine is! In addition, be ready to go through a great parade of new tech and lifestyle gadgets, and get the lowdown on what’s hot and what’s not on the mobile phones, tablets, netbooks and laptops that are available in the market today. With this issue, we’re taking Gadgets Magazine to the next level as we continue to do our best to give you a better perspective and understanding of what gadgets will suit you best with your lifestyle choices. Happy gaming reading!

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SALES MANAGER ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE SPECIAL PROJECTS STAFF PR & EVENTS STAFF

Marisa Consuelo Carol Agabin Gerald Coloma

ACCOUNTING MANAGER ACCOUNTING STAFF

Tess Pascua Lorie Bernardo Ma. Louella De Guzman

MR Gavin Jeffrey V. Suazo

ADMINISTRATION STAFF Ramil Almojano Salvador Da, Jr.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Alba Law Office

GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Incorporated. Address all correspondence to 9-B Evening News Street, West Triangle, Quezon City. Our telephone numbers are 332-4004, 376-7356 and 514-8321. Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Our email addresses are: editors@gadgetsmagazine.com.ph; gadgetsmagazine@gmail.com

Maribelle M. Alba

Mika fernandez-david

MR Gavin

John nieves

Michelle Callanta-Toledo

Christopher Kho

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Resident MILF and monthly Beautylab guinea pig. Not to be influenced by pop culture, she remains true to her Multiply account and her Nokia N82, much to the chagrin of her colleagues.

CONTRIBUTOR He eats, sleeps and drinks racing, and will drive the tires off of just about anything with four wheels and a motor.

Presy Alba

Benjamin Arnold

PAOLO Toledo

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The quintessential gadgets girl who loves all things Mac, red and blingy.

ONLINE EDITOR All-around geek and gamer. Loves guns, plays airsoft every weekend and games with Battlefield 3 religiously. Has been called a noob approximately 1 million times.

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Websites, anything and everything Apple, Power Tools and unusual gadgets excite her. She also loves to travel, go on food trips, and try out all the new things.

Patrick Jude Ilagan

ART DIRECTOR He is a shutterbug living in the vast jungles of Manila. When not working he is busy reading books, solving the mysteries of life and fighting zombies.

MARCH 2012

Maribelle Alba Mika Fernandez-David Amy Christine Giray

All unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations and photos submitted must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Gadgets is fully accurate; however, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. Gadgets Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Incorporated.

Maribelle M. Alba

PRESIDENT & CEO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

ASST. PUBLISHER Loves family, food, photography, travel, gadgets, office equipment, notebooks & pens, the beach, cooking, foreign supermarkets, coffee, crazy friends and food trips in the guise of photoshoots. Not necessarily in that order.

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR He oversee’s the entire Art department—which, including himself, consists of only 2 people. Although he writes numerous articles for the magazine each month, he finds it hard to describe himself in 40 words or less

Jon Uriarte

STAFF WRITER Writer and beat-smith with a geek-like passion for music gear, hip hop culture, and lyricism. If he’s not on stage, he wouldn’t mind being locked in a studio for days on end.

STYLIST/CONTRIBUTOR Sports and fashion may be a little impossible to mix, but our resident celeb stylist and sports savvy writer balances both perfectly. She’s the little girl in 5-inch heels on court.

CONTRIBUTOR Husband and father to two beautiful ladies. Other roles include: Switch of The Mighty Miscellaneous, DJ Switchtrik, Advertising Creative, Sarisarisounds.com DJ, and an endorser for Team Manila x Daily Grind and UNSCHLD urbanwear.

STEVEN VEA

CONTRIBUTOR A writer and musician with a passion for the off-beat and overlooked. If he’s not capturing memories or sculpting sound, he’s out digging for vinyl and old books.

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gadgetsteam

DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS MAGAZINE GREAT FOR YOU

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contents

VOLUME 12 NUMBER 07 | MARCH 2012

ON THE COVER: Clothes and accessories from Promod; Photographed by Paolo Sy; Make-up by Jefrey Pahn of Color Blend; Hair by Dexter Rabanillo of Shine Moist; Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold & Patrick Ilagan; Styling by MR Gavin; Shot on Location at TIMEZONE, Trinoma Mall

COVER STORY

GAMING CONSOLES THAT ROCKED OUR WORLD We give you a rundown of the history and evolution of gaming consoles from the very beginning up until the present.

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photo feature

ALL WORK & NO PLAY...

GAMING WARS: PC VS. CONSOLE

PC gaming is on the rise, but will it completely take over console gaming? Take a look at their current state in this battle of the ages.

PIONEERING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Film Screen becomes the first in the Asia-Pacific to use a Scitex FB7600 industry press.

Krista Kleiner comes out to play with us as the beautiful cover girl knows how to have fun.

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contents VOLUME 12 NUMBER 05 | DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012

DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

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contents VOLUME 12 NUMBER 07 | MARCH 2012

technology

Tech Parade

New tech finds

Find out what’s new, as we showcase the latest gadgets in the market.

Mobility

Climbing the road to fame

Suzuki Philippines Launches the new GD110

GadgetsLab

Tried & tested, just for you

We’ve tried and tested them ourselves. Here are our expert reviews.

Snapshots

40 43

My “Shutter” Sense is tingling

There’s an app for that

55 56

Safe-T-Ryders Launches bikers meet-up to promote safety awareness

44 Bounty Hounds 45 Online Arkham city

Fight off baddies as Batman in Arkham City.

Battle it out in for control over futuristic new world settlements.

Asphalt 6: adrenaline

Modern combat 3: fallen nation

Conquer the road with some of the coolest vehicles.

Test your skills as a soldier in this first-person shooter.

TABLETS

47 Huawei Media Pad The game tablet 48

50 6

WEBSITES

The Essence of Being Green

Be inspired to take part in saving the environment by visiting these sites.

MARCH 2012

Standardized manikins beneficial for workers

Music LISTEN

Rock Band & Guitar Hero

The reasons why people fell in and out of love with the giants of the music gaming genre

Featured Artist

We let you in on an ultimate office and multimedia tool. Tablet games are simply addicting and they’re even better when they’re free.

High-tech car for mobile gadgeteers

FOrd Ranger & the avatar

90’s music comes alive

MCA Music and Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 celebrate 90’s music by gathering the country’s top bands. Find out about their latest music and their favorite gadgets.

78 77 80

Amy Winehouse’s legacy lives on with Lioness: Hidden Treasures; Boyz II Men give you that fresh R&B fix with their new album Twenty; Revisit Michael Jackson with Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection

BGC TurF

A football field for the passionate player at The Fort.

Take some time off with timezone Get your gaming fix at Timezone

What’s life without style?

From the latest cosmetics to the most fashionable shoes and accessories, life means nothing without style.

BeautyLab

Defy Gravity

Strengthen your core and achieve better balance with AntiGravity Yoga.

Home

Your friendly fridge Refrigerators that are both spacious and stylish.

Yin & YAng

It’s all about directions

Achieve harmony and balance with these Feng Shui tips.

Bits & Bytes

87 92

CD Reviews

ALBUMS BROKEN DOWN & REVIEWED

LifeStyle Feature

Lifestyle Parade

Safe-T-Ryders promotes safety awareness for bikers.

Gaming apps that are sure to keep you playing.

GAMING

65 72

Managing the roads with the new Suzuki GD110 motorcycle

Nissan navara TechXtreme

Get up-close with Jay Tablante and his approach on concept photography.

APPS

Walk the walk with the 2011 Toyota Fortuner 2.7G

Lifestyle

Events We let you in on our visit to Sharp’s Annual Dealers’ Convention; Epson reveals the winners of the Color Imaging Contest 2012

NewsBits & Bytes

UPDATES ON TECH NEWS

Check out what’s hot off the tech presses

Buyer’s Guide

Looking for something in particular?

Getting a new gadget? Let us help you out.

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VOLUME 12 NUMBER 05 | DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012

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DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

techparade

BE UP-TO-DATE ON THE FRESHEST GADGETS TO HIT THE MARKET

WESTERN DIGITAL CAVIAR BLACK & VELOCIRAPTOR HARD DISK DRIVE

Speed. That’s what gamers want and need. From the fastest processor to the speediest graphics card, a gamer’s rig is tuned to be fast and mean. That’s why gamers want the Western Digital Caviar Black and Velociraptor. These hard drives were created for performance minded gamers and enthusiasts alike, and are lusted after by the same for a good reason.

WESTERN DIGITAL VELOCIRAPTOR Gauging the performance of hard drives is simple: the faster it spins, the faster it retrieves and delivers your data. The WD Velociraptor therefore, is the fastest SATA drive on the planet, achieving 10000 RPMs that translate to faster data retrieval. It’s also one of the most reliable SATA drives around, and is rated for 1.4 million hour MTBF and has a 5-year limited warranty. You want the best for your gaming rig? Well, you got it in the WD Velociraptor.

WESTERN DIGITAL CAVIAR BLACK Take what you know about hard drives and throw them out the window. Those rules don’t apply to the WD Caviar Black. The Caviar Black has dual processor technology, up to 64 MB cache and SATA 3 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s interface that simply put, delivers far more performance than a normal 7200 RPM hard drive can. It’s also tough, reliable and comes in a variety of sizes up to 2TB, so you’ll have more room to place your files in. 8

MARCH 2012

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WD Caviar® Black

Desktop Hard Drives

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It’s more than a drive. It’s your world. Take your adventures further with the hard drives preferred throughout the world. Precision designed and engineered, WD Caviar Black drives deliver unmatched speed and stability to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Wherever your quests take you. The preferred hard drive.

Western Digital, WD, the WD logo and WD Caviar are registered trademarks in the U.S. and other countries; and WD Caviar Black is a trademark of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Picture shown may vary from actual product.

2078-771126-A00

westerndigital.com MARCH 2012 9

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ASUS EEE PAD TRANSFORMER PRIME TABLET

Asus’ groundbreaking transforming tablet idea was a milestone for the company, so it didn’t take long for the company to announce a successor to the Transformer line. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime retains the same tablet/notebook feel of the original Transformer while improving on almost everything else. The Transformer Prime is now thinner, and is now sports a body made with aluminium instead of plastic. The screen has also changed, and now sports a better, clearer, 10.1-inch Super IPS+ LCD, capacitive touchscreen. The Transformer Prime is also the first and only tablet in the local market that has a Tegra 3 1.3 GHz quadcore processor, which makes the Transformer Prime faster than the competition. Just like the original Transformer, the Transformer Prime’s keyboard dock acts as a second battery which gives the Transformer Prime enough juice to run for 18 hours straight.

PHP 32,995

POWERCOLOR PCS† HD7950 GRAPHICS CARD

No compromise gaming. That’s what a majority of PC gamers want. They want to install a game and not worry about tweaking the settings. They want fast, fluid gameplay without stuttering or lag. That’s what Powercolor’s new HD7950 promises to deliver. Built on a 28nm GCN architecture, the Powercolor PCS+ HD7950 has impressive specs - 880MHz core speed, 1250MHz (5.0Gbps) memory speed and 3GB worth of GDDR5 memory. All of these contribute to a blazing fast gaming experience, no matter what game you’re playing.

LG PRADA 3.0 SMARTPHONE

Marrying hi-fashion and high-technology, the latest phone from LG’s collaboration with fashion brand Prada has all the right things going for it. This slick, Android 2.3 powered smartphone is as smart as it is sexy. It’s powered by a 1GHz dualcore Cortex-A9 processor paired with 1GB of RAM and has all the latest features you’d expect from a modern smartphone – GPS, 8 megapixel camera with flash, and a 4.3-inch IPS display that’s capable of about 800 nits of brightness. The best part? All of those features are crammed into an elegant and stylish body that’s only 8.5mm thin.

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MARCH 2012

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PANASONIC LUMIX TS4 DIGITAL CAMERA

The Panasonic Lumix TS4 (FT4) promises to be the best compact partner when you’re out exploring the great outdoors. It has a number of features to ensure its protected—it's waterproof up to 12m, shockproof up to 2m, and freeze proof up to -10 degrees Celsius. Additionally, it also adheres to the IPX8 and IP6X dustproof standard equivalents, ensuring that its airtight body will be protected from invading elements. Apart from building a chassis that's like a fortress, this new Lumix camera has impressive tech specs as well. The TS4 has a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR 28mm lens with a 12.1 megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor, which is secured via a "shaft guide" method, to guarantee its safety even in the most trying environmental conditions. When you're out on your adventure, you can capture it in Full-HD video up to 1920x1080 60i, so that you can show your friends where you've been. You can also get creative with the TS4, since it features three new shooting modes—Time Lapse, Miniature Effect and Panorama shot—giving you multiple options to preserve your memories artistically. With the Panasonic Lumix TS4 in your hands, there is no adventure to big to capture.

PANASONIC LUMIX TS20 (FT20) DIGITAL CAMERA

With a rugged design that’s built to withstand even the most trying conditions, the Panasonic Lumix TS20 (FT20) is waterproof up to 5m, freezeproof up to -10 degrees Celsius and shockproof up to 1.5m. It’s flat and slim body houses a 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD, a 16.1-megapixel sensor and a 25mm ultrawide lens that can shoot video at 720p in MP4 format. It has a 4x optical zoom that can reach up to 8x, thanks to its Intelligent Zoom function, which helps you get the shot even when you’re far away. The TS20 also features Panasonic’s patented Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode, along with other creative effects such as Miniature mode and Panoramic mode, letting you create artistic images without any technical know-how. Once you’re done shooting, you can then use the Lumix Image Uploader to transfer your photos and movies to a computer, or share it instantly on the web. So if you’re the type who loves adventure and wants a reliable and powerful camera to preserve your memories, then the Panasonic Lumix TS20 is for you.

MARCH 2012

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BLACKBERRY CURVE 9380 SMARTPHONE

The finely crafted BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first touch screen smartphone in the BlackBerry Curve family. lt features a highly responsive and brilliant 3.2-inch high resolution display and comes with preinstalled social networking apps, including BBM (BlackBerry@ Messenger), Facebook, Twitter and Social Feeds apps, that offer a fun, easy and smoothly integrated mobile experience. This compact and stylish handset also features a 5MP camera with flash and video recording, allowing users to easily capture and share their favorite moments with family, friends and colleagues.

PHP 16,990

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9790 SMARTPHONE

True to the BlackBerry Bold brand, the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone is powerful, full-featured and built with premium materials and finishes. lt combines a high-resolution and highly responsive touch display with a highly tactile keyboard and a precise optical trackpad, but comes in a narrow design that is easy to carry and exceptionally comfortable to hold. With the BlackBerry 7 OS and powerful l GHz processor, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 delivers fast, smooth performance for browsing the web, running apps, working with documents, and enjoying multimedia. lt includes 8GB of onboard memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.

PHP 22,890

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 WHITE SMARTPHONE

The premium BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone is now available in pure white. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet at only 10.5mm. lt offers the perfect union of a high performance keyboard and touch display integrated within the iconic BlackBerry Bold design. Distinguished by its beautiful design, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is crafted with premium materials including a brushed stainless steel frame that puts the finishing touch on a truly outstanding smartphone.

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BLACKBERRY TORCH 9860 SMARTPHONE

The BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone offers the fast, fluid BlackBerry 7 experience in a stylish all-touch design. With a spectacular 3.7-inch display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone, the new all-touch BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone is optimized for displaying web pages, photos, videos, and powerful gaming experiences. lt also delivers the highly refined, real-time communication and collaboration experience loved by millions of BlackBerry smartphone users around the world.

PHP 24,690

BLACKBERRY TORCH 9810 SMARTPHONE

Building on the popular design of the BlackBerry Torch 9800, the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 is faster and more fluid with high performance hardware features and the new BlackBerry 7 OS delivering an enhanced multimedia experience. Featuring a large 3.2-inch, high resolution touch display and a distinctive BlackBerry keyboard that easily slides out to allow faster typing, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 truly delivers the best of both worlds.

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HP FOLIO 13 ULTRABOOK

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Ultrabooks are the hottest things in tech as of the moment, so it wasn’t surprising to see our old pals HP make an ultrabook of their own. Meet the Folio 13 – HP’s official entry to the world of ultrabooks. The Folio 13 is a stylish no-nonsense ultrabook that’s aimed at actively mobile professionals and business folk. This particular 13-inch notebook is powered by Intel’s latest Core processors, boasts a 128GB SSD for faster performance and has enough juice to run for about 9 hours without a charge. The best part? It’s only 19mm thin and weighs a mere 1.5 kilos.

PHP 55,990

HP PAVILION DM4 BEATS EDITION NOTEBOOK

Those looking to get great performance from their laptop while maintaining a simple yet elegant design should take a look at the HP Pavilion DM4. The Pavilion DM4 comes equipped with a 2.40GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor, 4GB of system memory, and 320 GB of hard disk space, all of which is more than the average person needs for today’s resource-intensive tasks. Packing a lot of punch at only 1.27 inches thick and weighing a mere 4.4 lbs, this laptop’s entire lid is beautifully made of a smooth greyish aluminum and it also sports a chiclet style keyboard with soft coated squared-off keys. In addition to its glossy 14.0-inch 1366 x 768-resolution screen display, the unit delivers about 5.5 hours of battery life and includes an onboard optical drive, 2 USB ports, HDMI, an Ethernet connector, VGA, microphone and headphone jacks, and a fingerprint reader. The Pavilion DM4 also comes with Beats Audio, so you can enjoy multimedia content the way it was meant to be.

PHP 49,990

HP MINI 210 NETBOOK

Those planning to purchase a netbook or a small laptop should take a look at the HP Mini 210. It comes equipped with an Intel Atom N455 processor for energy-efficient performance, which is upgradeable to dual-core Atom N570). The 1” thick and 3.04 lbs weighing unit is very portable and easy to stuff into book bags, making it perfect for students or those doing on-the-go work. The netbook comes equipped with 1GB of system memory, a 250GB hard drive, a built-in webcam, 3 USB 2.0 ports, Windows 7 Starter Edition, an Ethernet monitor out, and 8.75 hours of battery life. It also sports a large touch pad and one of its strong points is its good HD video playback. The HP Mini 210 comes in your color choice of charcoal, ocean drive, luminous rose, or crimson red with matching palm rest and base. The best part? The HP Mini 210 comes with Beats Audio, for the best multimedia experience possible.

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RAZER BLACKWIDOW, IMPERATOR & SCARAB (BATTLEFIELD 3 EDITION) PC ACCESSORIES

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With the release of Battlefield 3, PC accessory maker Razer has decided to re-release some of its iconic peripherals in celebration of the landmark PC title. The devices getting the BF3 treatment are the BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard, Imperator gaming mouse and the Scarab hard mouse mat. Each device has been lovingly swathed in Battlefield 3 livery, and each product has been specifically engineered to meet gamersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exacting specifications. The BlackWidow Ultimate BF3 Edition for example, has a reduced actuation of only 2mm, which gives gamers better tactile feedback which in turn, translates into a slight advantage over your foes. The Imperator BF3 Edition meanwhile has a 4G sensor system with on the fly adjustment so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always be able to adapt to whatever your opponent throws at you. Finally, the Scarab BF3 Edition mat gives your mouse a better, sturdier surface to track on, giving you extremely consistent performance whatever game you play.

SAMSUNG GALAXY ACE PLUS (GT-S7500) SMARTPHONE

The Galaxy Ace Plus is one of Samsung's newest smartphones, a boldly refined device that is worthy of any executive. Featuring a brilliant 3.65inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 320 x 480 resolution, you will surely enjoy using this smartphone, whether it's to keep tabs on your contacts or indulge in your multimedia. This ultraportable device is equipped with a 1Ghz processor and powered by Gingerbread, promising a complete Android experience that will satisfy all your needs. You can load up the Galaxy Ace Plus with up to 3GB of media or apps onto its internal memory, but you can also expand it up to a 32GB via microSD. This mid-level Android phone not only grants you access to thousands of apps in the Market, but it also has a 5-megapixel rear camera, HSDPA and Bluetooth, to name a few of its impressive features. So, start the year off right by owning something new, because adding the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus to your collection of gadgets is definitely a "plus."

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SAMSUNG CHAMP DELUXE DUOS (C3312) DUAL-SIM SMARTPHONE

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While dual SIM phones offer you the convenience of two separate phone numbers, the greatest advantage it provides is the freedom to reap the unique benefits offered by various subscribers. The Samsung Champ Deluxe Duos promises all that, helping you to keep life a little more organized, and unlike its predecessor, you can now access either SIM without needing to reboot your phone. The Champ Deluxe Duos’ intuitive TouchWiz interface is something only first-hand experience can truly illustrate, and you'll be amazed at how seamless typing messages will be using its QWERTY keypad on the 2.8-inch QVGA TFT touchscreen. Additionally, since your homescreen can have up to 7 swipe-able pages, you'll be able to quickly access a vast number of your favourite applications with a simple tap, whether its games from the Android Market or the natively installed Facebook and Twitter apps. With a modern curved design accentuated by a sleek metallic finish, the Champ Deluxe Duos looks luxurious, and its compact size makes it a powerful, affordable smartphone that is sure to be the envy of other people.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS SMARTPHONE

Google has always made it a point to introduce the public to new versions of their Android OS in a flagship device. First it was the HTC Nexus One, then the Samsung Nexus S. For Ice Cream Sandwich aka Android 4.0, its Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus. One glance at its absolutely stunning 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen and you’ll start to figure out that this isn’t a regular Android smartphone. Powered by a 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of memory and 16/32GB of storage, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is able to handle most any app that’s currently in the Android market. Future proofed with features like NFC and its innovative built-in mobile data management system, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is THE Android device that geeks will absolutely go crazy over.

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SAMSUNG GALAXY S ADVANCE (GT I9070) SMARTPHONE

The Samsung Galaxy S Advance is designed to make a visual statement, with its elegantly curved body and vivid 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display. Running on 1GHz dual-core processor and powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, rest assured that this smartphone will set a new standard of performance, promising both a smooth and seamless experience. Armed with an array of features that guarantees quick connectivity, such as a dual Wi-Fi channel, HSPA 14.4mbps, and Bluetooth 3.0, this sleek new smartphone from Samsung will make surfing the web and keeping up with your social networks a breeze. Engage in live video chat with its 1.3MP front-facing camera or take amazing photographs with the 5MP rear camera, thanks to Samsung's quality onboard optics. In short, the Galaxy S Advance is a versatile and powerful smartphone, with a suave design that will look great in anybody's palms.

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MARCH 2012

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SAMSUNG GALAXY Y DUOS (GT-S6102) DUAL-SIM SMARTPHONE

If you're looking for a smartphone that can help you separate your personal and business contacts, then the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is for you. This hybrid dual SIM device lets you easily maintain two phone lines, and in addition to help keeping your life organized, it lets you choose which service provider has a stronger signal as well. With its dual SIM capabilities aside, the Galaxy Y Duos is an impressive smartphone on its own, featuring a 3.14-inch full touch screen adorned with a sophisticated metallic trim that has been ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your palms. Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and running on an 832MHz processor, this smartphone is quite the performer, letting you browse the web, view your multimedia and access your social networks with ease. The best thing about the Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is that it provides an alternative way to avail of the rich features usually found on more expensive devices, giving virtually everybody the chance to own an affordable dual SIM Android smartphone.

PHP 8,990

SONY ALPHA SLT-A65 & SLT-A77 DSLR

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to take action photos, HD movies, and live view shots, you can take advantage of Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Translucent Mirror Technology, which appears in their Alpha-SLT-A65 and SLT-A77 models. The A65 and A77 feature 10 fps and 12 fps, respectively, for faster continuous shooting making the A77 the fastest interchangeable lens camera in the world. This is ideal for taking pictures and videos of fast-moving objects such as a sports event. The A77 is a slight upgrade from the A65, and although both models feature the same true high resolution of 24 megapixels, ISO range, and CMOS sensor, the A77 offers slightly better image quality and color depth. The main differences between the two are in their features and physical design with the A77 being larger and heavier but having a better build, as well as having slightly higher autofocus points and a faster maximum shutter speed. Despite the slight differences between the two, both models are definitely high-end digital cameras suitable for even the most critical professionals and beginners alike.

SLT-A65 - PHP 49,999 SKT-A77 - PHP 59,999 (BODY ONLY) 20

MARCH 2012

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SONY CYBERSHOT WX7 & W570 DIGITAL CAMERAS

Sony is strengthening their point-and-shoot lineup with two new cameras—the Cybershot WX7 and the W570. The Cybershot WX7 is a handy little pocket shooter that doesn’t take up that much space yet still packs all the essential features that you’d expect from a high-quality point-andshoot: 16.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 25mm wide angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens and AVCHD full HD recording. If you’re not down with the decently priced WX7, you can always pick up its little brother—the W570. It packs a 16.1 megapixel sensor meaning it isn’t that far removed from the WX7’s performance when it comes to taking pictures. It still has most of the features you expect from a camera made by Sony: 25mm wide angle lens, 720p recording and Optical Steady Shot image stabilization.

WX7 – PHP 14,999 W570 – PHP 9,999

SONY ALPHA NEX-5N INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA

The Sony Alpha NEX-5N aims to provide the performance of a DSLR in half the size and weight. An update of the Alpha NEX-5, this new model is slightly slimmer and lighter and now has better features than its predecessor. This new release receives an upgrade in every aspect, including a higher true resolution with a 16.1 megapixel Exmor sensor, lower noise at high ISO, better maximum light sensitivity, better color depth, less shutter lag, longer battery life at approximately 450 shots, faster continuous shooting, and slightly more dynamic range. Perhaps the biggest difference with this new release however, is the addition of a touch screen as well as support for 24p for that real film feel. The camera boasts a 3D sweep panorama feature, an anti dust system, a Bionz processor, 10x digital zoom, programmable buttons, and top notch video recording at 1920x1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD.

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MARCH 2012

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TOSHIBA REGZA PB2 SERIES TELEVISION

Belonging to the Power Booster series, the slim and minimalistic style PB2 TVs are HD ready and come with an HDMI terminal and 20W audio speakers. They can double as a monitor for your computer and include the Meta Brain Pro high performance video engine and Auto View feature, which provide excellent image quality and optimize picture contrast and power saving. Its Intelligent Backlight Control produces deeper blacks and finer gradations while its 3D color management system delivers greater color than other TVs. The Auto Signal Booster and 10-bit video processing also provide a solution to weak signal reception. The PB2 series includes a 24” and 32” model.

TOSHIBA REGZA PS20 SERIES TELEVISION

The Toshiba REGZA PS20 series of Power Saver TVs that come with a REGZA LED monitor sport a very eye-catching slim design that makes them the focal point of a room. The Intelligent Backlight Control offers automatic adjustment for improved contrast, while the AutoView feature monitors the brightness of your room and then makes the necessary backlight and picture parameter adjustments for you, further improving the picture quality and contrast. The PS20 series also offer extensive connectivity through its USB slot for audio, video, and JPEG playback, as well as support for other external devices such as hard drives. It also includes a PC port, composite and component video ports, a digital audio output, and an HDMI port for streaming from an HDMIenabled device. This TV offers 3D color management, which allows users to alter the hue, saturation, and color brightness for each of the six basic colors separately. The unit’s graceful design makes it easy to place in a room without taking up too much space. The PS20 series has a 32’’, 40”, and 46” screen size version, each with an included TV stand.

TOSHIBA REGZA HV10 SERIES TELEVISION

The Toshiba REGZA HV10 series comes HD ready for your living room along with its equipped Meta Brain Pro that provides the reproduction of a richer and more natural image quality with smoother gradation. These Power TVs sport an amazingly slim design making them easy to place in your home. The 19HV10 model in the series features an LED screen, while the 24HV10 and 32HV10 feature an LCD screen, and all 3 include 8-bit video processing that boosts TV images to better quality. Users can also enjoy HD quality up to 1080p from other digital sources through its included HDMI terminal. The HV10 series has a 19’’, 24”, and 32” screen size version, each with an included TV stand and an optional wall mount bracket.

TOSHIBA REGZA PB20 SERIES TELEVISION

The PB20 series TVs contain everything that the PB2 series has but with some added features. It includes Auto Clean, which helps provide an even cleaner and smoother picture, as well as USB support that allows users to watch movies directly from their USB flash drives and external hard disk drives. Its 32PB20 model comes HD ready, while its 40PB20 and 46PB20 models have full HD capabilities as high as 1080p. Also included is an optical audio out for digital audio transfer as well as 2 HDMI terminals. 22

MARCH 2012

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ASUS EEE PC X101CH NETBOOK

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Fans of the light-weight and affordable netbooks would definitely enjoy an improvement in their machine’s performance. A successor to the PC X101, the PC X101CH upgrades to a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N2600 dual-core processor and 320GB of hard disk space, packing a lot of punch in its small size and weight. With dimensions of 10.3” x 7” x 1.3” and a weight of 2.7 lbs, the PC X101CH can easily be taken around and put into backpacks, making this new product ideal for students or anyone looking for a personal computer that maximizes portability while maintaining capability. The new version now also comes equipped with a low-resolution webcam, 3 USB 2.0 ports, Windows 7 Starter, an Ethernet monitor out, SD card reader, HDMI, and battery life of up to 4 hours. Everything else is similar to its forerunner including its 10.1 inch LED screen, headphone port, and standard 802.11n Wi-Fi.

PHP 13,995 - MEEGO OS PHP 15,995 - WIN7 STARTER

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOLIT 12 SPEAKER DOCK

Bang & Olufsen has clearly drawn inspiration from its “old school” 1960s radio days with the design of their new release, the Beolit 12. Shaped like a lunchbox or small picnic basket, the Beolit 12 is a portable music system that delivers a powerful and accurate sound performance from its pair of 2-inch tweeters and a 4-inch subwoofer. With its built-in Wi-Fi, this device would ideally be used with an iOS device to make use of Apple’s AirPlay technology that allows users to stream music wirelessly anywhere in their house. If you and your friends have an iPhone and enjoy getting together with some music, this lets everyone pitch in from their playlists by just waiting for a song to finish and then selecting the Beolit 12 from their device. The Beolit 12 also sports a standard 3.5mm stereo minijack and USB port for wired use with other devices. It also includes physical controls on its topside and a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts for 8-hours with wired use and 4-hours for AirPlay use.

PHP 42,000

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOSOUND 8 SPEAKER DOCK

Sound performance and flexibility in an elegant design is what the Bang & Olufsen Beosound 8 offers. The speaker dock comes equipped with custommade conical speakers and four high performance digital amplifiers for superior sound quality. Users of the iPad, iPhone, and iPod can easily enjoy music by docking their device and controlling it using the player itself, the buttons on the dock, or the included remote. The speaker dock can also be used with other audio sources using the aux-in input and the unit even comes with a manual room adaptation switch that allows users to optimize the sound by selecting either wall, corner, or free, depending on where the speaker will be placed. Its flexibility and outstandingly full and clear sound from bass to high frequencies allow it to be used as a main sound system or anywhere else in the house for casual listening.

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MARCH 2012

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COOLER MASTER COSMOS II PC TOWER

Every great gaming rig needs to start with the basics, and you can’t get more basic than your choice of tower. Simply put, the PC tower is where every part of the gaming rig goes, from the hard drive to the graphics card. It only makes sense to buy the best foundation for your rig right? That’s where Cooler Master’s Cosmos II PC tower comes in. Made out of aluminium, steel and plastic, the Cosmos II is an imposing centrepiece of any gaming rig. Highly modular and able to accommodate almost any PC part currently in the market (with fittings for water cooling) the Cosmos II is the PC Tower for people serious about gaming.

ECS BLACK X79 SERIES MOTHERBOARD

So you bought yourself a new Intel Sandy Bridge-E processor. Now what? Well, you can get a boring reference board for it, or you can buy something that’s truly deserving of that fine piece of silicon. ECS’ Black X79 series fits that particular bill, sporting four PCIe Gen 3 x16 slots for 4-way GPUs supporting NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireXTM graphics cards, allowing you to make a gaming station worthy of the gods themselves. The ECS Black X79 also supports quad-channel memory up to 64GB providing off-the-chart task processing speeds, and gives you the ability to overclock the memory frequency 2500MHz.

MARCH 2012

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TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

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Smart’s Rocket Wi-Fi Plus POCKET WIFI

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26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 39

BLACKBERRY TORCH 9810

SMARTPHONE

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 7 PLUS TABLET

LENOVO U300S

ULTRABOOK

TIMBRE GITARA

HEADPHONES

NOKIA 101

DUAL-SIM MOBILE PHONE

RAZER IMPERATOR 4G & SCARAB BF3 EDITION

MOUSE & MOUSEPAD

LG OPTIMUS NET P698

DUAL-SIM SMARTPHONE

TDK 3-SPEAKER BOOMBOX

IPOD-READY BOOMBOX

TDK 2-SPEAKER BOOMBOX & SOUND CUBE PORTABLE SOUND SYSTEMS

PLANTRONICS MARQUE M155

BLUETOOTH HEADSET

SMART’S ROCKET PLUG-IT CHIC BROADBAND USB STICK

SMART’S ROCKET PLUG-IT

BROADBAND USB STICK

SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS SMARTPHONE

MARCH 2012

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BlackBerry Torch 9810

BUY METER

By MR Gavin

RIM (Research in Motion) officially unveiled 5 BlackBerry handsets earlier this month and one of those giants is the BlackBerry Torch 9810 - more commonly known as the Torch 2. It is the predecessor of the Torch 9800 with roughly the same look and feel, with newer and better hardware packed in. also a virtual keyboard on tap that allows you to type even if the physical keys are hidden. Also under the hood is a 5-megapixel camera with HD video recording, face detection and image stabilization. The 5-megapixel camera is not too impressive for a phone; I think they could’ve done better with a higher resolution camera. Though there is a flash along with the camera, the pictures suffer in low light and other harsh conditions. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 runs on a 1.2GHz processor and is powered by BlackBerry OS7, making it significantly faster than the previous device. Internet will be a breeze with the handset’s 14.4Mbps HSPA+ radio capable of 14.4 Mbps to 2Mbps. I must admit, BlackBerrys make people go gaga. Almost everywhere I look I see someone using one, including my friends from college. It’s usually because of BBM or BlackBerry messenger‑—which will make it easier for them to contact me. I was always hesitant to change into it because of the addictive nature of the service - I can see the reason why they call it a Crackberry. Is it true that you go black, you’ll never go back? Let’s find out. While the Torch 2 was in my possession, I received a lot of praise about how beautiful the phone looks. Though there were not not a lot of changes on the design of the Torch 2 from its earlier incarnation, it still maintains the classic look

MARCH 2012

4.0

SMARTPHONE

and design aesthetics of BlackBerry phones.

on the shortcut you want to assign to it.

The phone’s overall dimension is still 111 x 62 x 14.6mm and weights 161g which, by the way, is exactly the same size as the Torch 9800. The back cover has a checkered silver finish, making it easier to distinguish the device as the new Torch. There is a black strip that starts from the front to the column of the camera and flash. Below the display is the call button, menu, trackpad, back and power/end call. There are a few ports and buttons on the side; On the left side is the micro-USB port, top is the lock and mute key while on the right is the volume rocker, 3.5mm jack and the convenience key which you can personalize depending

One of the improvements made to the BlackBerry Torch is the better display on the 3.2-inch 116M-color TFT touchscreen. It now has a display resolution of 640x480 pixels at 246 DPI (dots per inch) which does a good job for your applications and video playbacks. The major turnout here is the liquid graphics technology which helps for a higher response touch interface and smoother graphics.

I have been an Android user for more than a year now, so I found it a bit hard to adjust to the Torch 2 when I used it. Compared to Google’s offering, the apps available on the BlackBerry App world pale in comparison. Luckily, some of the apps available for BlackBerry are to die for. One is Wikitude, an augmented reality browser which helps you find shops, maps and other BlackBerry users nearby. So far, my BlackBerry review unit is doing a pretty good job handling the app.

The keyboard is also the same as the old one, but it is actually a good thing because most of the BlackBerry users I know love the QWERTY keys that are easy to press. There is

Internet connection for BlackBerry handsets is available on all networks for a very reasonable price. I used my personal Globe SIM for my review unit, and for Php 599 for 30 days

SPECIFICATIONS: OS: BlackBerry 7 CPU: 1.2 GHz LCD SIZE: 3.2 inches TFT capacitive touchscreen with liquid graphics DIMENSIONS: 111 x 62 x 14.6mm WEIGHT: 161 g BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100

WHAT’S HOT: • Being connected all the time with BBM • Liquid graphics • Better OS with the BlackBerry 7 • Faster processor than previous model

WHAT’S NOT: • Not-so-awesome battery life • Unimproved design

BOTTOMLINE: If being connected all the time is a main concern, then the BlackBerry Torch 9810 is the perfect companion. It is a better version of the 9800 and will give you better performance along with a swift and smooth navigation all throughout.

unlimited internet and BBM, it’s a good deal. BlackBerry definitely raised the bar when it comes to being connected all the time, whether through the internet, e-mail and social networking or staying in touch through BBM with family and friends. Now I understand why everyone wants to get a BlackBerry—besides being “in-the-circle” and cool, it is practical and reasonable in the age of digital media and technology. The downside? My BlackBerry review unit doesn’t have a whole lot of juice. Most of the time when I’m away from my computer, I use my BlackBerry to check my mail, tweet and update my Facebook—all of which contribute to draining the battery quickly. I found myself charging it every night to be able to use it the next day.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus

BUY METER

4.5

TABLET

SPECIFICATIONS:

Samsung was the first manufacturer to challenge Apple in the tablet ring. And while we’ve all heard the same denials that the original Galaxy Tab was a hybrid device, we all knew that it was a tablet first, smartphone second. With a couple of successful tablet launches under its belt (including the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9), the Korean company has sought to revisit the screen size that started it all with a new design, screen and OS. Does the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus have what it takes to be as successful as its big brother? adds additional functionality like more widgets and the like to the device, and changes up the ho-hum visual style of Honeycomb. TouchWiz also adds a nifty screen capture app that you can access anywhere, which reviewers will definitely appreciate.

OS: Android Honeycomb 3.2 CPU: 1.2 GHz dual-core LCD: 7-inch PLS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 1024 x 600 pixels PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 193.7 x 122.4 x 9.9 mm WEIGHT: 345g BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 INTERNAL MEMORY: 16/32 GB storage, expandable via microSD

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

By John Nieves

WHAT’S HOT: • Faster processor than the original Galaxy Tab • TouchWiz UI bring extra widgets and functionality to the table • Good performance • Excellent battery life

WHAT’S NOT: • Camera is a little mediocre

With all the screen sizes available nowadays, it’s becoming more difficult to find a screen size that’s best for you. To be honest, I’m drawn to 10.1-inch tablets but after a few days of using both a Lenovo K1 and the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, I found that I was stuffing the latter more than the former in my bag before heading out. I found the overall size of the tablet handier, and while it’s not a gadget that’ll fit in the pockets of your jeans, it’s still small enough for you to be able to stuff it down pockets and bags that are capable of taking notebook sized items. Visually, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus looks like a miniaturized Galaxy Tab 10.1. The overall construction is plastic, and is built solidly enough. The back of the tablet is covered

in white plastic, with a silver trim around it. There’s a volume rocker on the right side, along with the power button and an IR transmitter, which I assume is used by the Peel Smart Remote App (more on this later). The left side of the device houses the SIM and microSD slot, while the top of the device holds a 3.5mm jack. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus isn’t what you’d call a device ideal for imaging—it only packs a 3.15 megapixel camera that’s only capable of taking resolutions of up to 2048×1536 pixels. The display also isn’t much of a step up from the previous Tab, but that doesn’t mean it sucks—the 7-inch PLS LCD capacitive touchscreen is bright and responsive, and has a display resolution of 1024 x 600.

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The Galaxy Tab 7 Plus is a step up hardware-wise to the original and packs a dual-core, 1.2 GHz processor paired with 1GB of RAM. Our demo unit had an internal storage capacity of 16GB, though there’s apparently a 32GB model if you find that lacking. The Galaxy Tab 7 Plus is also capable of taking a SIM card for 3G connectivity, though I found that you can also send text messages with it and make phone calls—possibly making it the most unwieldy smartphone ever made by man. Thankfully, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus isn’t a smartphone – it’s a tablet. And what a glorious tablet it is. Like any Samsung Android device, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus comes with their own UI overlay called TouchWiz. The overlay

Like I said earlier, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus comes with a nifty little app called Peel Smart Remote. The app basically makes the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus turn into a huge universal remote. Set-up was quite easy, and there’s a large list of supported devices that you can use it with. You can even shoot off an email to the people who made the app if it doesn’t work with your listed device. Like any tablet that comes through our labs, the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus was put through some synthetic benchmarks to try and figure out where it stands in relation to other similar devices. The AnTuTu benchmark has been our benchmark of choice so far, and the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus managed to post some surprising numbers. It scored a whopping 6040 points, surpassing the Samsung Galaxy S II and coming ridiculously close to the Samsung Galaxy Note’s 6348 score. The actual, real-life performance of the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus mirrors the benchmarks – the device never hanged and was still speedy even after I went through application after application in a vain

BOTTOMLINE: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus is an improvement over the original Tab, and if you don’t mind the size, I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

attempt to crash it. Battery life was pretty impressive too, with the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus managing about 7 1/2 hours on a single charge with 3G on and some moderate use. Possibly the only thing that’ll stop you from getting one is this question: is 7-inches the right size for you? A few months ago I probably wouldn’t have touched a 7-inch tablet with a 10-foot pole, but now I see the benefits of having a compact yet powerful device in my bag, and I’m slowly leaning towards this particular size if ever I get my own (I still like 10-inch tablets though). Ultimately, it’s going to be a personal decision, one that’s best answered by going to a Samsung concept store and trying one yourself. The Galaxy Tab 7 Plus retails for Php 23,990. MARCH 2012

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Lenovo U300s

BUY METER

By John Nieves While certainly not the thinnest or the flashiest ultrabook currently in the market today, the Lenovo U300s’ subdued design and solid specs give it a certain charm that we’re sure a lot of you will appreciate. higher, 256GB SSD version if you desire. Typing on the U300s is a pleasure, which shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the U300s’ pedigree. The keys have the right amount of travel, and though it doesn’t feature the curved keys on other Lenovo devices that make typing such a civilized affair, the U300s’ keys are still extremely nice to type on. Sound quality is decent, though it’s nowhere near the awesome quality that we experienced while using the ASUS UX21. Weirdly enough, the U300s is also equipped with Intel’s Wireless Display technology, which allows you to stream hi-definition video to a similarly equipped TV or adapter sans wires.

Unlike the previously reviewed ASUS UX21, the Lenovo U300s looks more sedate in its appearance. It doesn’t have crazy thin tapering lines like the UX21 did, opting instead for a more refined thickness of 15.24mm, tapering slightly to 14.9mm. The overall design of the U300s makes it look more like a closed book than a large, aluminum knife in the case of the ASUS UX21. And while it’s not as flashy, the U300s seems to be made out of the same material that most ultrabooks are: aluminium. The build construction is very, very good, and I couldn’t really find a single fault with the overall externals of the machine. 28

MARCH 2012

Like the UX21, the battery compartment of the U300s is completely sealed off, so if you ever run into any kind of battery trouble, you’ll have to take it to Lenovo to get it fixed. The overall weight of the U300s just tips the scales at around 2.95 pounds or about 1.3 kilos. Opening the lid, you’ll be treated to a 13.3-inch HD display that’s capable of up to 1366 x 768 resolution. Aside from the island style keys that greet your fingers once you start typing, there isn’t much going on the U300’s chassis, aside from that spun power button near the upper left side of the device, and the unobtrusive power and charge indicators near the front of the device.

The U300s also sports an all glass trackpad that clicks positively when you apply pressure. Like other ultrabooks, there isn’t much in the way of ports and plugs in the U300s. You get a total of 2 USB ports (with one being USB 3.0), full sized HDMI, 3.5mm jack and uh...that’s it. I can’t help but think that Lenovo could have stuck a few more USB ports in there, as well as a SD card reader —there’s certainly enough room in the chassis for it. Under the hood lies an Intel Core i5-2467M processor running at 1.6GHz, paired with 4GB of DDR3 memory. My particular demo unit had a 120GB SSD drive installed in it, though you can get a

4.5

NETBOOK

Performance wise, the U300s is fairly above average, and managed to score 3173 on PCMark 7. From what we’ve seen, the U300s is fairly capable of handling most mundane tasks like browsing the net and creating office documents as well a few, more intense number crunching efforts like light Photoshop and watching HD movies. Like other, SSD equipped ultrabooks, the U300s boots quickly —clocking in at around 18 seconds from off to the Windows screen. Battery life is actually pretty good, and though it won’t last on a non-stop flight from Singapore to New York, it’ll manage to eek out about 5 hours on a single charge with WiFi on. So is the U300s the be-all and end-all of ultrabooks?

SPECIFICATIONS: SCREEN SIZE: 13.3-inch HD, 1366 x 768 resolution MEMORY: 4GB DDR3 CPU & CHIPSET: Intel Core i5 2467M Processor (1.6GHz) PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 324 x 216 x 14.9 mm WARRANTY: 1 year on parts and labor

WHAT’S HOT: • Excellent keyboard • Good trackpad • Fast boot time • Solid construction, well made

WHAT’S NOT: • Expensive • Not for people with small hands

BOTTOMLINE: While the Lenovo U300s surely won’t turn any heads when you take it out of your bag, it’s certainly a pleasurable device to take along with you on long jaunts and trips. Certainly an ultrabook to consider if you’re in a market for one.

Not exactly. Lenovo omitted quite a few things from the whole design that they could’ve been accommodated easily, like the aforementioned SD card slot, and a higher display resolution. Another item that Lenovo omitted from the U300s is one of those things that you think you don’t need until you actually DO need it—an Ethernet port. Is the Lenovo U300s THE ultrabook to get? Like most things in life, it’s a compromise – the U300s is the most boring one of the bunch we’ve managed to see so far, and nowhere as visually stunning as the UX21. Then again, the U300s delivers a fantastic typing experience and solid performance backed with 5 hour battery endurance. Again like we said, it all goes boils down to your priorities and what you want to get out of a notebook. The Lenovo U300s starts at Php 55,995.

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Timbre Gitara

BUY METER

4.0

HEADPHONES By Steven Vea

SPECIFICATIONS: LOUD HAILER: 40mm (diameter) FREQUENCY RANGE: 20 20,000 KHz SENSITIVITY: 110dB IMPEDANCE: 32Ohms SPL (at 1KHz) MAXIMUM POWER INPUT: 100mW PLUG: 3.5mm stereo CABLE LENGTH: ~ 1.5m ACCESSORY: Volume Control

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Defined as “sound-color synaesthesia”, the Timbre (pronounced TAM-BER) headphones are designed by Team Manila—a design company that needs no introduction. The Gitara is a product of this collaboration, creating a unique work of art that depicts “the color of music” while offering the first Philippine branded headphones.

WHAT’S HOT: • Excellent Design • Great Sound • Flat Fabric Cord

WHAT’S NOT: • No Carrying Pouch

BOTTOMLINE: The Timbre Gitara is an excellent pair of consumer headphones that you should definitely wear with pride.

There’s no denying that the Gitara will instantly grab your attention with its aesthetically pleasing design. Available in black with red trim or white with brown accents, the name of Timbre’s headphones explicitly hints that an acoustic guitar serves as the inspiration for its unique look. Featuring various geometric patterns, the familiar “three stars and the sun” symbol, and the phrase “Support Lokal Music,” the Gitara is distinctly and undoubtedly Filipino. A lot of people will like the flat fabric, since it guarantees to never become an impossible tangled mess when you stow it away. The cable length is measured

at approximately 1.5m, and some folks might find it a little long for urban excursions, but since the cord is anti-tangle, you can simply stuff it in your pocket without having to worry about it getting jumbled up. What makes the cord even better is that it’s detachable and has a handy volume control as well. Made of a smooth matte material, the Gitara feels solidly built. They fold up easily, such that packing it up is effortless and quick. We would have liked the inclusion of a carrying pouch/case, but the Gitara feels strong enough to take quite a bit of punishment. The headband has a great

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thickness to it compared to a lot of other headphones, and it even has a patch of soft foam padding on the part that rests on your head. Advertised as being able to accept “all heads”, the Gitara retracts enough to provide you with enough room to squeeze in a hat underneath once you wear them, although expect it to be quite snug. The padded leather ear cups fit great and are comfy, but since they are supra-aural/on-ear headphones, they will strain the top of your ears after awhile, just like any other brand with the same form factor. The Gitara’s have a frequency response of 2020,000 Khz, which is the

average range that people can hear. It has a sensitivity of 110dB and impedance of 32 Ohm/dB SPL, so rest assured that these headphones offer enough amplification to keep your MP3 player or smartphone’s volume at roughly halfway. When plugged into a laptop on the other hand, you’ll probably go no higher than one-fourth high on your master level for a comfortable listening experience. Don’t forget that you can always adjust the volume to taste using the controls found on the flat fabric cord. Now we move on to the most difficult part: sound quality. The Gitara definitely surprised us with how they

sounded—the Philippine based brand has enough juice to hold its own against international competitors. Soundstage was excellent with great detail in spacing, and panned sounds were well-defined, regardless of musical genre. Low ends are warm and full, but the mid low range was a little more prominent than I’d like, which made some songs sound a little “muddy” for my personal taste. High frequencies were clear and punchy, but could use a little more crisp, although this helps keep music heard on the Gitara sound warm, smooth, and almost analog. In the end, with a price tag of Php 2,499, you get more than what you pay for with the Timbre Gitara. Not only are they expertly designed by Team Manila, they sound great and will fill you with a sense of pride knowing that what you’re wearing is something unique, and distinctly Pinoy. MARCH 2012

gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Nokia 101

BUY METER

3.5

DUAL-SIM MOBILE PHONE By Benjamin Arnold

Nowadays, it’s rare to find someone who has just one SIM card. Almost everyone has two or more, whether it is to take advantage of the offers of each cellular network or whether it’s to separate your personal life from your work life. That is why Nokia is producing its own line of dual SIM phones to supply the demand for duality.

SPECIFICATIONS:

maximum standby time of 25 days, a maximum talk time of 6.7 hours, and a maximum music playback time of 26 hours. While using it, the average battery life of the phone before needing to charge it was 5 days—that was with normal texting and calling. Charging time would take around 30 minutes to an hour wherein the phone would inform me via a visual message that the phone is fully charge and to disconnect it to save energy. If at times, I would disconnect the phone before it fully charged, the phone would present a message saying so.

The Nokia 101 dual SIM mobile phone is Nokia’s 5th phone to offer dual SIM capabilities while boasting a highly competitive price that makes the phone affordable for the average Joe. Out of the box, the coral red phone (which is also available in Phantom Black) is light and fits well in the hand. The keypad—which is the standard tactile keypad— was just the right size and was soft to the touch. However, sometimes when I was texting, I couldn’t feel if I had already pressed the key resulting in either duplicating unnecessary letters or missing some altogether. What I really like about the phone is how light it is, weighing only 78 grams. This is amazing as it not only takes the place of two of my phones, but weighs significantly lighter than the ones I own. One of the main selling 30

MARCH 2012

points of this phone, besides it being dual SIM is that it is a very efficient MP3 player and has an FM radio. The player has all the controls you need to keep the music going with the usual stop and play, volume controls and even a shuffle and repeat option all accessible from the directional keys. In order to access the skip controls however, you need to press the numbers 2 or 8 on keypad while it’s playing—while the 4 and 6 keys serve as an additional volume control. The phone can support up to 16GB of memory to hold all of your favorite songs using the standard microSD that is found in most phones nowadays that fits neatly into a slot on the right side of the phone. The sad thing though is that the phone itself doesn’t come with its own memory card meaning you have to provide your own in order to listen to music. But this is what

probably contributes to the affordable price of the phone. In terms of the sound quality, the headphones that come with the phone play nicely, has a button to skip through music and fit well in the ears—which also serve as a hands-free way of making calls—while the phone itself has a loud speaker that is quite powerful for its size. One of the problems with this loud speaker doesn’t have to do with the music but rather with accepting and making calls. Whenever I would make or accept a call, the instant the call connected, the phone would turn on its loud speaker allowing everyone within earshot to hear the conversation I was having. The Nokia 101 uses the standard slim BL-5CB 800 that—when paired with this phone—is said to have a

When it comes to texting and calling, choosing between SIM cards is made easy. There are two options: You can either choose which SIM card you are going to use before sending a message or making a call—or pre-set a default SIM for calling or texting. This makes it easy to manage your money in terms of which SIM card gets certain charges. One problem through that I experienced with the Nokia 101 is that it would often lose the signal for either one or both of my SIM cards for unexplainable reason—even if I was in an area that had strong signal reception. Besides those previously mentioned, the phone features the standard features of a mobile phone: a calendar, notes, calculator, converter, count down timer and an alarm clock that uses an alarm tone that dictates the exact time that the alarm was set for. In addition to these, the phone also has a spread sheet application wherein you

DIMENSIONS: 110 x 45.5 x 14.9 mm WEIGHT (WITH BATTERY): 71 g MEMORY: MicroSD memory card slot, up to 16 GB (sold separately) BATTERY LIFE: Talk time (maximum) 6.7 hours; Standby time (maximum): 25 days; Music playback time (maximum with headset at 50% volume) 26hours OPERATING FREQUENCY: Dualband EGSM 900/1800 CONNECTIVITY: 2 mm charging connector; 3.5 mm AV connector

WHAT’S HOT: • Dual SIM capability • Light weight • MP3 and FM Radio • Built-in torch light • MicroSD card memory expandable up to 16GB • Affordable price • Long battery life

WHAT’S NOT: • No MicroSD card included when you buy the phone • Loud speaker turns on when a phone connects without the user wanting it to

BOTTOMLINE: The Nokia 101 dual SIM mobile phone is an affordable, light-weight phone that can take the place of two phones while offering call, text and a music player in one package.

can monitor your weekly or monthly expenses and a torch light to shine your way through the dark when needed (which is easily accessed by simply pressing the up directional button twice.) However, there is no camera to be found. In the end, if you’re looking for a simple and lightweight dual SIM phone that you would use for basic call-and-text then the Nokia 101 dual SIM mobile phone is an affordable buy at Php 1,490—with an added perk of having an MP3 player built-in for easy listening.

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By John Nieves

4.0

RAZER IMPERATOR 4G BATTLEFIELD 3 EDITION

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

MOUSE & MOUSEPAD

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Razer Imperator 4G & Scarab BF3 Edition

BUY METER

WHAT’S HOT:

The newest game in the Battlefield franchise has become a call to arms for most PC gamers. Many liken it to when Crysis was first released, with gamers scrambling to create monster rigs to be able to play the game in ridiculously high resolutions. Gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer has come out with a line of Battlefield 3 branded devices, which are basically hi-end models swathed in BF3 livery. But since I haven’t reviewed these products yet, I’ll be diving into them just the same. First up, the Razer Imperator 4G and Scarab BF3 edition.

• Comfortable to hold and use • Adjustable thumb buttons • Dual sensor system

WHAT’S NOT: • Gloss black side finish may be an issue for sweaty palms

RAZER SCARAB BATTLEFIELD 3 EDITION WHAT’S HOT: • Mice tracks well on surface • Great visual design

WHAT’S NOT: • A bit expensive for a mouse mat

BOTTOMLINE: The Battlefield 3 editions of Razer’s Imperator 4G and Scarab are the peripherals to pick up for the die-hard BF3 fan.

Razer Imperator 4G The original Imperator came out in 2010, and has generally received a lot of favorable reviews. The Imperator 4G takes the original’s design and outfits it with a 4G sensor system that combines both an optical and laser sensor to deliver 6400dpi performance. This ergonomically-designed mouse has two adjustable thumb buttons on the left side and two additional buttons near the scroll wheel that allows users to adjust the sensitivity setting on the fly. The whole device is swathed in Battlefield 3 livery. Fans of Razer’s glowing snake logo might not appreciate its omission, though the scroll wheel has an LED light on it that you can configure. Like most of Razer’s USB peripherals, the Imperator 4G uses a goldplated USB connector. The overall ergonomics

of the Imperator 4G is very good, and is very comfortable to hold and use, even with long gaming sessions. Unfortunately, I noticed that the Battlefield 3 version of the Imperator 4G still has the original’s gloss black side instead of the rubberized, non-slip grips that’s in the plain Imperator 4G, which translates to a slippery grip especially if you’re someone whose hand sweats a lot. The two programmable keys on the right side of the device can be adjusted forwards and back, depending on your preference by a switch on the bottom of the mouse. The scroll wheel gives you the right amount of tactile feedback without being noisy. At the heart of the Imperator 4G is the dual optical and laser sensor that Razer says help in accurately calibrating the mouse to any surface for exceptional tracking. After using the Imperator in a variety of games from Battlefield 3 to

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Skyrim, I wholeheartedly agree. The Imperator 4G tracked well enough on the different surfaces that I used it with, but I found that it performed the best on the Scarab gaming pad that it was sent with. Like Razer’s previous offerings, the Imperator 4G comes with its own software suite that allows you to fully customize your experience with it, from the sensitivity down to the color of the LED light. Your settings are also coded into the device itself, so your settings remain even if you take the Imperator 4G with you and plug it in into a PC without the software suite. Razer Scarab BF3 Edition The Scarab is absolutely swathed in BF3 livery, with the picture of the iconic soldier dominating the whole mat. What makes the Scarab better than your standard hard gaming

mouse mat is Razer’s Fractal 2.0 Textured Surface which the company says helps tremendously in tracking. I primarily used the Imperator 4G with the Scarab, though I did spend some time with a generic mouse pad for comparison and unsurprisingly, the Imperator 4G tracked better on it. The Scarab also comes in a nice carrying case, if you ever feel the need to take it to a LAN party. Aside from the obvious Battlefield 3 branding, the Imperator and the Scarab also contains exclusive codes to unlock Razer’s virtual snake dogtag for use in BF3. While the dogtag doesn’t really give you an innate advantage over your opponents, it’s still a nice extra nonetheless, and I’m pretty sure not everyone will be walking around with it. I’m a firm believer in skill over equipment here at

Gadgets, but to be honest, I did notice the advantage when I started using the Imperator 4G and the Scarab. I had better control over shots and my character, and the effortless glide of the Imperator 4G over the Scarab meant that I only had to make small movements to turn around and shoot enemies. In fact, I had to dial down the sensitivity of the Scarab 4G because it felt too jumpy with the default settings. Is the set worth it? Short answer is most definitely a yes. The Battlefield 3 editions of the Imperator 4G and the Scarab gives you that edge when it comes to competitive, multiplayer play. While they’re a bit pricey (the Imperator 4G is pegged at $79.99 while the Scarab is at $39.99), the BF3 editions are basically priced the same as the plain versions. If you have the cash and want to declare your love for BF3 out loud, then the BF3 versions of the Imperator 4G and the Scarab are the products to pick up. MARCH 2012

gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

LG Optimus Net P698

BUY METER

3.5

DUAL-SIM SMARTPHONE By MR Gavin

Going the smartphone direction can be a bit tricky for new users but user-friendly smartphones aren’t that hard to find. Take the LG P698 for example; it is the perfect phone for those who want to go Android.

SPECIFICATIONS: BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 DIMENSIONS: 114 x 59 x 12.1 mm DISPLAY: 3.2 inches TFT capacitive touchscreen MEMORY: microSD up to 32GB, 2GB included CAMERA: 3.15 MP OS: Android Gingerbread v2.3.4

WHAT’S HOT: • LG social+ • Fast navigation • User friendly • Simple design

WHAT’S NOT: • Bad battery life • No flash camera

BOTTOMLINE: If you are just starting out and making your way through the android world, you might want to give the LG Optimus Net P698 a try. It is very user friendly, you won’t get lost in using your phone.

Dual-SIM phones are becoming more mainstream now and almost every brand has a dual-SIM phone that can equally compete among others. LG has their own device in the running: the LG OptimusNet P698.

the right amount of ports, nothing that you wouldn’t need. I like how the design is really simple, no logo overkill or unnecessary buttons. It stands 114 x 59 x 12.1 mm, perfect for my small hands.

The P698 is a touchscreen phone, with a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive display. The P698 is supported by 180dpi which delivers crisp and clear graphics. Unlike my other touchscreen review units, the LG P698 doesn’t hang and responds quickly.

This is a very user friendly phone, so you won’t have to worry about navigating through it. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is decent enough for a dual-SIM smartphone. My other phone runs on an Android 2.2 Froyo and I can really see the difference between the two. The P698 works faster and better than the previous Android version. The LG P698 also runs on an 800MHz processor.

On the sides are the ports; right is the charger/USB port, top is to lock button and 3.5mm headset jack and last is the volume rocker on the left. It is a pretty neat phone, just 32

MARCH 2012

The dual-SIM performance of the P698 is something everyone would want, with two SIM cards that work simultaneously. One SIM can be for work and another can be for personal use. You can assign a SIM to handle the internet and another for messaging and calls. This helped me double my productivity and cut down costs. The LG P698 has a 1500mAh battery and runs for approximately 9-12 hours. I had to recharge every night, otherwise I’d find that the device would die quickly. I guess that’s the problem with dual-SIM phones—since the phone has to power two GSM radios simultaneously, battery life suffers considerably. If you factor

in the increased power drain of using the Wi-Fi module, then you’ll quickly see why dual-SIM phones usually have poor battery endurance. The camera isn’t so great as it’s only 3-megapixels without a flash of any sort. Most of the photos I take indoors are gritty and dark. When using the camera outdoors, photos can either very crisp and clear or very bright. The lack of a flash means that taking pictures indoors is out of the question, unless you’re in an especially bright room.

way, you won’t need to open separate applications for your social networking sites. I tried synchronizing my Twitter and Facebook and had the comfort of having all the updates of two social networking sites into one stream which I placed on my home screen. Overall, the LG Optimus Net P698 is a pretty good phone. It may not have that big ticket feature but the dual-SIM capability and LG social+ is enough to make this phone special among all entry-level smartphones.

LG Social+ is a thumbs up for this phone, and lets you synchronize all your social networking accounts into one update stream. This www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

IPOD-READY BOOMBOX By Paolo Toledo

4.5 SPECIFICATIONS: DIMENSIONS: 8.85” x 19.5” x 27.9 “” (DHW) WEIGHT: 31.3 lbs AMPLIFIER TOTAL OUTPUT POWER: 35 Watt SOUND OUTPUT MODE: Stereo SUPPORTED AUDIO STANDARDS: MP3, WMA SPEAKER(S): 2 x Right/left channel speaker Built-in, 1 x Subwoofer Built-in DRIVERS: Right/left channel speaker .1 Full-range 6”, Subwoofer .1 Subwoofer 6” SPEAKER OUTPUT: 10 Watt, 15 Watt TUNER BANDS: AM/FM TUNER FREQUENCY RANGE: AM: 530 - 1710 kHz, FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

If you ever made a real mixtape in your life, then you’d know TDK. It made a name making those blank cassette tapes that everyone recorded over. Fast forward to 2012. Now, the same brand takes nostalgia into the new age by releasing its own take on the modern boombox-slash-iPod speaker. As described in the TDK website, “The 3-Speaker Boombox is the expression of the best of now and then, out loud.”

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TDK 3-Speaker Boombox

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WHAT’S HOT: • High-end minimalist, sleek design • Brilliant and loud audio • Classic boombox feel • FM/AM radio

WHAT’S NOT: So I guess the question would be if they actually succeed in translating the old school into a new class? Or did the past just prove its obscurity even more in the future? This review will lay it out, and let you decide. Let’s start with build and design. One thing is for sure: this high-end player is a piece of beauty and class. There’s no denying that TDK has patterned it after the classic boombox, but with obvious tweaks and touches to make it relevant in today’s market. Sizing up at about 20” x 30” x 9” (HWD), and weighing in at almost a hefty 32 lbs, it resembles the same size of its old predecessor and can easily start a block party. The weight and feel of it does render it less “portable.” Besides, it seems unlikely that you’ll opt to use 12 D-batteries to power it (you can though). Simply put, it’s a stay-at-home highperformance display piece to wow your guests.

As a “display piece,” the TDK Boombox ranks right up there. The entire front face is a piano-black gloss material that beautifully highlights the three 5.5-inch drivers: two full range speakers and one subwoofer. The top panel and the handle have padded leather that gives some handling comfort, and a surface where you can safely place your iPod or MP3 device. That being said, this device does not have a dock but instead receives input from a number of options at the side panel: USB input for iPod (30-pin cable is included) and external memory sources, a ¼-inch instrument input that makes it double as an instrument app (pretty cool), a 3.5mm line input, and a stereo RCA input. Moreover, one of the more welcome “boomboxlike” features is the FM/AM radio. Going back to the front, the two huge aluminum knobs occupy the left and right

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areas in nice symmetry, again reminiscent of the classic boombox. These control tuning, navigation, selection, and volume. Another striking quality is the minimalism, which adds to the overall sophistication. Two subtle display windows are also located left and right, which show song information, frequency and EQ options in a retro-styled color theme. Speaking of being subtle, there are small touch-sensitive buttons that light up when needed, giving this piece a balance of that futuristic “touch”. There was a slight physical concern to this sleek heavyweight though. Not only is the Boombox hefty, but it also makes you think twice about just leaving it on the floor or any unguarded surface. The material, weight and dimensions of the box just make it seem too “fragile” that it could easily be knocked over or scratched up, and it slightly defeats the intent of being an all-

around boombox. Other small misgivings were the absence of remote control, a retractable antenna, and the rather slow jog dial speed. Not having a physical remote to operate the functions from a distance is too much of an “old school” stretch here. While on the contrary, an actual classic touch that would have been nice would have been a “telescope” antenna and not an external antenna with all its dangling wires. Third, the jog dial speed is quite of a drag and begs for multiple twists of the knob before you can get to your desired frequency or function. But when you take sound and performance into the equation, the TDK Boombox pretty much makes up for the few design shortcomings. The Audio of this black beauty is brilliant, and exceptionally loud—with a volume knob that literally goes up to “11.” The dedicated

• Too heavy to be portable • No remote • Slow jog dial speed

BOTTOMLINE: If you are feeling nostalgic and looking for a stay-athome, beautifully designed piece of audio equipment that serves multiple functions from playing MP3 devices, radio, and even instruments. Then the TDK Boombox and its excellent sound are right up your alley.

15-watt subwoofer captures bass very well, and the adjustable EQ gives that hands-on sound customization that was again seen in the original boombox. This can definitely satisfy various occasions and settings as the levels are all crisp, and the overall output is big enough to swallow a backyard barbecue. There was some random distortion at some of the middle volume levels, but it’s negligible and does not take away from the overall dynamic audio that this device can clearly crank out.

MARCH 2012

gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

TDK 2-Speaker Boombox & Sound Cube

BUY METER

4.5

PORTABLE SOUND SYSTEMS

SPECIFICATIONS

By Steven Vea

TDK 2-SPEAKER BOOMBOX

While most of you may remember TDK for being one of the go-to brands for blank cassette tapes, they’ve dabbled in other audio products such as headphones for quite some time. Now, they’ve got something that could completely revolutionize the way portable sound systems look.

DRIVERS: two 6-inch coaxial drivers CONNECTIVITY: USB, 3.5mm audio jack, Auxillary, POWER OUTPUT: 20 Watts RMS POWER SOURCE: AC power/ 10 D batteries

TDK SOUND CUBE DRIVERS: two 5 1/4 inch coaxial drivers CONNECTIVITY: USB, 3.5mm audio jack, Auxillary, POWER OUTPUT: 20 Watts RMS POWER SOURCE: AC power/ 12 D batteries

WHAT’S HOT: • Excellently designed • Great build • Excellent sound

WHAT’S NOT: • No iPod dock • No remote control

BOTTOMLINE: It looks awesome, and sounds even better. We absolutely recommend it.

The TDK 2-Speaker Boombox will definitely make your jaw drop—whether you’re seeing an image of it over the web or a reflection of it in a store window. With a design that’s a throwback to the classic boombox or “ghetto blaster” that dominated pop culture during the 80’s and 90’s, TDK has revived what could possibly be one of the most iconic statements in the history of consumer electronics. Adopting the predominantly rectangular design of its predecessor, the 2-Speaker Boombox incorporates smoother edges, a glossy piano finish and touch controls for a 34

MARCH 2012

more modern look, making it a worthy revival in terms of design. The TDK Cube on the other hand, has a very unique look with its own distinct awestopping power. The box-like design is nicely trimmed with curved edges, and is similar to a portable guitar amp. It has a speaker on each “face” which helps you fill up any room with 360-degrees of sound. The Sound Cube does not have the glossy fingerprint-prone surface of its boombox sibling—instead it has a “rubber” exterior which is great at repelling smudges, making it look smooth and pristine.

While both have handles already fused into their design, the 2-Speaker Boombox is unique because it includes an attachable leather strap, letting you easily sling it over your shoulder like a messenger bag. Even though both audio systems propose to be portable, they are still quite hefty and will definitely make you think twice before lugging them around. Moreover, the exposed speakers on both units cause quite a bit of concern, especially if you plan on taking these systems outdoors. TDK should have created a protective cover

of some sort so that you wouldn’t have to worry about potential damage to the cones or grill. Nevertheless, once you turn the sound systems on (via AC adapter or type D batteries), the brilliant orange LED lights illuminate the text labels which indicate power, volume, and the various sound sources. There is also a main display where you will see the main menu that lets you navigate through songs and change settings. The subtle lights add a nice touch to making both products look sleek and elegant.

The only physical controls on these portable stereos are the rotary dials, which look great and serve well in accentuating the overall design. The dials feel firm and solid, offering slight resistance as you turn it, similar to vintage radios. These knobs are the primary method of selecting settings in the menu while the touch controls are used to change your audio source (i.e. Line In, USB, etc.). Both TDK systems has multiple inputs for various sound sources, and they even have a pair of stereo RCAs just like the classic ghetto blasters had to plug

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Moreover, if you’ve organized your music into folders, navigating to find a particular song can be quite difficult on either system since the complete filenames cannot fit on the screen. If you just want to plug in an external drive and simply let it play however, you should have no problem at all. Switching audio sources is done by touching the LED labels, but you need to take precaution and lower the volume before changing your audio source. When I toggled to the INST-in from the Line-in to test an electric guitar, I was greeted with a deafening jolt, even though the instrument’s volume was set at a minimum level.

While you have the option of adjusting the bass or treble via a simple 2-band graphic EQ, both TDK systems already sound stunning fresh out of the box. There’s a slight (but very subtle) coloration in sound, even with your EQ on a flat setting, which adds a touch of “excitement” to overall sonic quality. What I really like about these TDK products is the addition of the INST input, making them multi-purpose audio systems that can double up as an amplifier. What’s even better is that you can have an mp3 player plugged in via the Line in/3.5mm jack, and then simultaneously play along with a guitar that’s hooked up to the INST input. However, when the two sound sources are used at the same time, the overall volume does drop a little, which is to be expected. In the end, the TDK 2-Speaker Boombox and TDK Sound Cube are excellent portable audio systems. If their sleek design doesn’t grab your attention alone (which is quite impossible), their excellent sound will. I personally prefer the Sound Cube better because it’s compact and sounds slightly better than the 2-Speaker Boombox, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see people gravitate the latter because of its semblance to a classic design.

Speaking of volume, the 2-Speaker Boombox and Sound Cube both have a www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Plantronics Marque M155 BLUETOOTH HEADSET By Jon Uriarte

Although many people will not find an immediate need for it, having a Bluetooth headset at hand may make our lives a little easier. With that said, the better it can accomplish this, whether through its design, features, or overall performance, then the better the headset is.

BUY METER

3.5

SPECIFICATIONS: WEIGHT: 0.2 oz FORM FACTOR: Ear-bud CONNECTIVITY TECHNOLOGY: Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 SOUND OUTPUT MODE: Mono MICROPHONE TYPE: Built-in TRANSMISSION RANGE: 33 ft BATTERY: Rechargeable Lithium polymer; Run Time 5 hours; Standby Time 216 hours

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Hooking up an Apple device or external drive is easy enough—you simply plug it into the USB port and press Play. If you’ve taken the time to tag your song files, the details will instantly appear on the stereo’s display, scrolling horizontally. However, since TDK uses quite a large font face, the song details do not scroll all the way through since the graphic spectrum visualize will appear and replace it instead, which isn’t a bad thing since it looks pretty incredible.

total output of 20 Watts/ RMS, so if you’re main concern is amplification, don’t worry, these systems are incredibly loud. If you’re alone in a small room, you’ll most likely turn up the volume dial to no more than 1/3 of the way. In fact, I can’t conceive of any situation where you’ll turn up the volume to its maximum level, since more than enough amplification is provided.

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in turntables. There is also a USB port, INST in, and a Line-in (3.5mm jack). The 2-Speaker Boombox ports are located on the side, while the Sound Cube has it on the rear underneath one of the speakers. So if we’re talking connectivity, it has almost everything you’d need. Unfortunately, neither system has a built-in iPod dock, which is quite surprising considering the popularity of iOS devices today. To make up for this however, TDK provides you with the necessary USB to 30pin Apple cable, and a convenient space/bay where you can place your portable device.

WHAT’S HOT: • Small and simple design • Comfortable in ears • Ease of use

WHAT’S NOT: • No noise cancellation • Maximum volume not loud enough

BOTTOMLINE: The Plantronics Marque M155 is a nicely designed Bluetooth headset that gets the job done in low-noise places.

The Marque M155 is about the size of a USB flash drive. Out of the box, I thought that the headset felt a little uncomfortable in my ear or that it could easily fall out. Thankfully, the headset comes with 3 sizes of ear tips to pick from as well as 1 loop-style piece that wraps around the ear. I tried them out and found one that was well-fitting and secure. In fact, the headset is light and comfortable enough that I would sometimes forget that it’s there. The Marque M155 sports a simple design with a power switch, a “call” button, and a volume/mute button, a USB port, and an indicator light. Setting it up was quite easy. After holding down the “call” button to put it in pairing mode, I simply activated the Bluetooth on my mobile phone and after connecting to the headset I was good to go. Taking and rejecting calls was a breeze as well. During incoming calls,

a voice will ask you to either say “answer” to pick up or “ignore” to reject. I discovered that the unit doesn’t always respond on the first try and I found myself having to say the command louder two or three times before it worked. Conveniently though, the “call” button can also be used, with one tap to answer and a 1-second press to reject. One tap to the same button would also restore a lost connection and the unit gives voice announcements for remaining talk time, battery level, and pairing status. I found that the conversation quality using the headset is satisfactory but only in quiet places due to its lack of any good noise cancellation, making it difficult to use outdoors. Equipped with A2DP support, users can also listen to music, which automatically pauses for incoming calls and resumes once ended, but I found that using the headset

for this purpose was not very enjoyable due to its below-average sound quality for music playback and it being in only one ear. This is understandable, however, because the headset was not made for that purpose. Two things that I found disappointing though were that firstly, the volume cannot be adjusted on the headset itself during a call; and secondly, the completely maxed-out volume setting didn’t seem loud enough, suggesting that its use in noisier areas is hardly feasible. Although the Marque M155 may not be ideal for having phone conversations while walking around busy city roads, it’s perfect for in-car use, at the work place, and at home during times that you want to keep your hands free for other things or make long conversations more comfortable. Its size and ease of use make this product very useful with video conferencing software such as Skype as well. MARCH 2012

gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

SmarT’s Rocket plug-it Chic

BUY METER

4.5

BROADBAND USB STICK

WHAT’S HOT:

Ever since I started living on my own, I never wanted to apply for any internet connection in my home, much to the chagrin of my guests who call my place “a deadzone.” Maybe it’s because my work already requires me to be online all day and I like to be able to give myself a break from my computer when I get home and on the weekends. But of course, there are times when I’ll need to get work done at home or while I’m out running errands. That’s why a broadband stick is something practical I like to keep handy.

WHAT’S NOT:

• Fast and affordable at Php 2,345

By Michelle Callanta-Toledo

• Signal not as strong in my home in the city

BOTTOMLINE: For something that costs Php 2,345, Smart’s Rocket Plug-it Chic is definitely something every tech-savvy girl should have in her purse.

Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network giving it its 4G capabilities with speeds of up to 12mbps. Now it has to be said to my fellow fashionable females, when it says “up to 12mbps,” that doesn’t necessarily mean you get an automatic 12mbps wherever you use it. It’s like when malls have sales that read “up to 70% off,” that doesn’t mean everything on sale slashes 70% off the price. As with any internet stick, speed still depends on the location’s signal.

Naturally, you’d still want your broadband stick to deliver especially when a rush article or project is due and you need to connect quick, painless, and easy lest you step out of the house (sometimes in just a robe, as I’ve done) to look for Wi-Fi at some coffee shop or restaurant. Sometimes, with the broadband stick that I currently own, I get so disheartened at not being able to connect, I end up not getting the work done as I should and wait it out 36

MARCH 2012

another day. And that’s hardly an efficient workethic to have in my line of work. With Smart’s Rocket Plug-it Chic, I no longer have to feel disheartened, frustrated or even feel the need to fix my hair, grab a robe, and go out in search of WiFi like some crazy person. Smart’s Rocket Plug-it Chic gets the job done. Smart’s Rocket Plug-it Chic is an internet dongle specially

designed for women made evident with its sleek glossy pink acrylic finish and sliding USB plug that’s almost reminiscent of a tube of lipstick (although my male colleague did cleverly point out that it still has the word “Bro” on it despite its feminine features). The Rocket Chic name however tells you what to expect from this plug-in: a fast dongle that’s ultra-feminine. Inside the box, you’ll find the Rocket Plug-it Chic 4G HSPA+ modem, Smart

Bro SIM pack, and a user guide which you won’t be needing since set-up and installation is fast and easy. Once you’ve inserted the SIM card into the stick and installed the files, which happens automatically the moment you plug it into your computer, you’re ready to surf the net and check out all of the wonderful things the world wide web has offer. Smart’s Rocket Plug-it Chic is powered by Smart’s High

At my home in Quezon City, the Rocket Chic was only able to provide (according to speedtest.net) speeds of 1.07mbps. That’s still considerably higher than what I’m used to. Perhaps a lot of it has to do with the fact that I live in a cave and my haven of a room repels cell site signals like it’s allergic. But not to be outdone, I went in search of an area where Smart’s HSPA+ cell sites are available and where you can expect speeds that are much faster. And wouldn’t you know, our office is just beside West Avenue—one place that’s supposed to give me just that. I walked right along the street, and with my laptop in my hand I was able to get up to 4mbps without breaking a sweat.

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BROADBAND USB STICK By Jon Uriarte

4.0

WHAT’S HOT: • Portable internet connection using Smart SIM card • Speeds of around 2mbps with 4G HSPA+ networks • Doubles as a microSD card reader

WHAT’S NOT: 300 pesos I loaded gave me 900 minutes (or 15 hours) of broadband use. The user manual provides the number of days that certain load amounts would be stay valid, with 60 days as the maximum for anything 300 pesos and above. 30 pesos is valid for 3 days, 60 pesos for 6 days, 200 pesos for 30 days, and such.

Smart’s Rocket Plug-it is a mobile broadband stick with an internal modem that connects via USB 2.0 to your computer allowing users to connect to Smart’s 2G, 3G or 4G HSPA+ network. The device is shaped like a USB flash drive except slightly larger and comes with a Smart Bro SIM card, which must be inserted inside the unit itself. I must also add that the unit doubles as a microSD card reader with a microSD card slot next to the SIM card slot inside the unit. Getting started with it was pretty easy, although it wasn’t exactly plug-

and-play, and I found the user manual to be a little confusing at times. To begin, I slid the front cover off of the Rocket Plug-it, inserted the SIM card into the slot, and put back the front cover. After plugging it into the USB slot of my laptop, the drivers and software begin installing on their own. After just a few minutes, installation was done, the Rocket Plug-it user interface popped up, and I was instantly connected to the internet. Whenever I’d re-plug it to the same computer to use it, it would only take less than a minute to set itself up. The user

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interface has an indication of remaining balance and a couple of useful tools such as the ability to make calls and send text messages through the internet. In fact, I was able to load the SIM card using the SMS facility in the user interface. This was convenient because I didn’t have to go through the hassle of transferring the SIM card into my cell phone everytime I wanted to load up. However much your balance is in pesos, times 3 of that is the number of minutes of internet it will give you, thus providing you 3 minutes per peso, which is a really good deal. The initial

The Rocket Plug-it comes with a light indicator to let you know of its status during setup and use. A solid green means it’s connected to a 2G network, a solid blue to a 3G network, and a solid cyan to a 4G HSPA+ network, all of which depends on where you are covered. The product claims to reach speeds of up to 12mb per second when connected to a 4G HSPA+ network, and although I have only been able to reach as high as 2mb per second, this is still faster than the connection I have at home. I was able to test it at West Avenue, Quezon City and at The Fort, Taguig City, both spots delivering similar results. With a 3G connection, I reached speeds up to 700kb per second, which was still fast enough to browse basic websites but I would have to wait about 20 minutes to load a 10 minute YouTube video. The list of spots in the Philippines that offer connection to a 4G HSPA+ network is fast growing though and users can check online to know the specific areas that are covered. On both the 3G and 4G HSPA+ network during optimal times, my connection was lost about once every

• Not all areas are covered by a 4G HSPA+ network • Not as fast as the advertised 12mbps • Connection on 3G is very flimsy and unreliable

BOTTOMLINE: Smart’s Rocket Plug-it is a great flash drive-sized portable internet connection that provides reliable access in areas covered by a 4G HSPA+ network.

2-3 hours, but it would reconnect again in no more than a couple of minutes. During other times however, I found the connection to the 3G network to be very flimsy and unreliable, often disconnecting with speeds constantly fluctuating between 0 to only 200kb per second. Smart’s Rocket Plug-it is perfect for those who want to have internet access in places that don’t offer a WiFi connection such as most public places or inside the car, but it is also valuable if you simply need a fast source of internet. It also works as an emergency internet connection or for those who want to have internet access at home but do not need to stay online for a very long time every day. On the other hand, users can also avail of the “Always On” data plan, which gives them 24-hour continuous internet access for a certain amount of days depending on the amount paid. All in all, Smart’s Rocket Plug-it is a great device if you’re going to be using it on the 4G HSPA+ network and not just on the 3G and 2G networks. MARCH 2012

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

In today’s world where many people are relying more and more on the internet for their everyday activities, being able to access it wherever they might need it is becoming all the more important and convenient. Let’s take a look at one of the broadband sticks available in the Philippines today that provides users with their own personal internet connection wherever they bring their computer.

gadgetslab

SMART’S ROCKET PLUG-IT

BUY METER

gadgetslab TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Smart’s Rocket Wi-Fi Plus POCKET WI-FI By John Nieves

BUY METER

4.0

The advent of smartphones and tablets present a quandary to typical pinoys. While these devices give users a wealth of information and entertainment at their fingertips, they rely on one very important service to work – the internet. Without an active internet connection, these devices regress to glorified feature phones. That’s probably the reason why pocket WiFi routers fly off the shelves. Smart’s new Rocket Wi-Fi Plus is one such device, and runs on their HSPA+ network, and promises speeds up to 20mbps, shareable to 5 devices. Does it deliver?

WHAT’S HOT:

left side of the device if the cellular signal near your favourite haunt is found wanting.

BOTTOMLINE:

Since the device uses cellular data, it requires a SIM for it to work. Thankfully, there’s one included when you purchase one. The SIM slot is accessible through the back —you just need to slide the back cover open, pop in your SIM and battery and you’re good to go. Once you’ve done all of that, you’ll want to customize your SSID. The whole process is similar to setting up a home router, and if you’ve ever customized one of those, you’ll be up and running in no time. Initially the device will give you an SSID along the lines of SMART BRO_xxxx. You’ll need to connect to that and open your browser. From the browser, you’ll need to type in 192.168.1.1, give the default username and password (it’ll be in the documentation) and find the WiFi settings. Once you’ve set-up everything, you’re good to go.

Smart’s Rocket Wi-Fi Plus is a compact little device that’s roughly the size and shape of a small bar of soap. The device is actually a repackaged Huawei E587 that’s capable of HSPA+. 38

MARCH 2012

There’s a small LCD display on the front that shows the signal strength, battery life, number of connected devices and the amount of data (in MB) that has been consumed so far. The power

switch is on the right side of the device, along with the WPS button for easy connectivity. On the bottom lies the USB charging port, and users can attach a compatible antenna on the

One thing that users will need to understand is that while the device and service promises speeds of up to 20 mbps, the speeds you’ll be getting with your device depends on a number of factors, the most important of which is your distance and proximity to an HSPA+ tower. And while Smart has said that they have more than 1500+ HSPA+ towers all around the Philippines,

• Small and handy • Shares an active internet connection with 5 other devices

WHAT’S NOT: • Speed suffers depending on where you are • Device gets a bit warm at times

Smart’s Rocket Wi-Fi Plus is a convenient and handy way to share internet to several other devices without having to buy a separate data plan for each. If you’re the sort of person that likes to be connected all day to the internet, then this device is for you.

there will be times that you won’t even get half of the 20 mbps speeds that’s on the tin. For example, the average speed that I got from the device was around 5 mbps, which is, to be honest, enough for my use (email, a bit of surfing, Twitter and Facebook). The device has a battery life of about 4 ½ hours. Of course, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want more speeds out of the device. There were times that the data was literally crawling, and pages would not load. The device also became pretty warm while in use, which was disconcerting, to say the least. Then again, the convenience of having a portable WiFi router on you at all times is a great boon. Not all of us have the capacity to pay for data plans for multiple devices (nor would we want to). A single, shareable data connection is a great way to spread the net to all of your devices while keeping costs down. The Smart Rocket Wi-Fi plus is currently only available for prepaid customers, and can only be bought throuh sSmart’s online store

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SMARTPHONE By John Nieves

GHz Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB of RAM. It’s also equipped with NFC right off the bat, so it’s pretty much future-proofed for Google Wallet and other cash-less payment system that pops up later on. I’ve seen quite a few Super AMOLED equipped smartphones in the past, but to be honest, I never get tired reviewing them. That’s because Super AMOLED panels are simply beautiful—colors just pop, black levels are truly black and everything is just mind bogglingly gorgeous.

One of the first things you’ll notice with the Galaxy Nexus is its sheer size. With dimensions of 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9mm, its overall size is pretty substantial. The device sports a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen that’s capable of 720 x 1280 resolution, which is quite higher compared to other devices I’ve reviewed in the past. There’s a 5-megapixel camera located at the back, with a lower resolution front facing camera for video calls. Despite the Galaxy Nexus’ size, it’s pretty easy to hold and sits in the palm of my hand nicely. The Galaxy Nexus screen curves slightly inward, which

makes it more comfortable to use when calling. As is with Samsung’s previous offerings, the device is primarily made out of plastic. That doesn’t mean that it feels cheap, actually it’s quite the opposite —the device feels solid, with no flex or creaks anywhere on the body. One major departure from the typical Android devices is the absence of the four Android keys (capacitive or otherwise) on the bottom of the device. These have been removed and replaced by the three main keys that we’ll tackle in more detail in a bit. The Galaxy Nexus is powered by a dual-core 1.2

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Of course, the real star of the show here is Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich. Google’s gotten rid of the default green on black color scheme and replaced it with a light blue on black motif instead. Android 4.0 also uses Google’s brand new Roboto font liberally across the device, which is great, as the typeface feels way better than what the firm used before. Users will notice that there are only three capacitive buttons on the bottom instead of three: back, home and recent apps. The first two are pretty self-explanatory, while the third is a bit of a departure. Basically, recent apps display all the apps you’ve used recently with a little thumbnail of the app. You can switch to the app directly by pressing on the thumbnail, or flick it to the right if you want it closed. For legacy apps, a small menu button will appear on the far right (represented by three stacked dots).

Once you go into the app tray, you’re greeted by a slightly tweaked interface. The app tray no longer scrolls vertically, and doesn’t stop once you reach the end of your apps—it’ll simply switch to the widgets page. Another nice feature of ICS is the integrated data monitoring app—basically, you’ll be able to monitor the amount of data you use, and set upper limits as to how much data your device is allowed to consume. Once those limits are reached, your data connection automatically shuts off. Performance-wise, I was expecting the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to perform at least as well as the Samsung Galaxy S II as they have roughly the same processor in them. Unfortunately, our standard benchmarking tool AnTuTu isn’t optimized for ICS, and as a result it was showing lower than expected scores for the Galaxy Nexus which to be honest, did not match my experience with the device. Our time with the Galaxy Nexus is, simply put, the best I’ve ever experienced on an Android device, period. Battery life is pretty good, and with moderate to heavy use, the Galaxy Nexus managed to go about a day and a half on a single charge. The Galaxy Nexus is able to do this because of its power efficient Super AMOLED display, a trait that it shares with its older brother, the Galaxy S II. Calls were also pretty clear across the board, with the Galaxy Nexus consistently getting

4.5

SPECIFICATIONS: OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 Honeycomb CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 SCREEN SIZE: 4.65-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS: 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm WEIGHT: 135g BAND: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 INTERNAL MEMORY: 16/32 GB

TRIED AND TESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

When Google decides to push out a new revision to their Android operating system, they’ve always made it a point to create a “hero” device that went with it to demonstrate the capabilities of the new version. That’s how it went for Android 2.1 with the Nexus One and Android 2.3 with the Nexus S. With the release of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, comes the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

gadgetslab

SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS

BUY METER

WHAT’S HOT: • Super AMOLED 4.65-inch screen • Fast, responsive, boots up web pages quickly • Excellent battery life

WHAT’S NOT: • Camera is a bit underwhelming • No microSD card slot

BOTTOMLINE: The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is one of the best phones we’ve tested this year. Grab one if you can.

excellent reception. Possibly the only thing that I would have changed with the Galaxy Nexus is the camera. In a world where high-end smartphones have 8-megapixel cameras at a minimum, it was odd to see a 5-megapixel deal on the Galaxy Nexus. Should you get one? Short answer is yes. The sheer beauty of the 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen alone is well worth the price of admission, and when you combine that with the improvements Google has done with ICS, then the Galaxy Nexus becomes one of the best smartphones to become available this year. If you do decide to get one however, you’ll have to go through Smart to get it, as they’re currently the exclusive carrier for the Galaxy Nexus here in the Philippines.

MARCH 2012

snapshots

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP "CAT BY THE WINDOW" ©JAY TABLANTE

MAKE-UP: ARA FERNANDO HAIR: ARA FERNANDO / RIKI LE COTEY ART DIRECTION: JAVEY VILLONES PRODUCTION DESIGN: RAFFY TESORO DIGITAL IMAGING: RYDER AQUINO MODEL / STYLING / COSTUME PRODUCTION: : RIKI LE COTEY

My “Shutter” Sense is Tingling BY BENJAMIN ARNOLD

MARCH 2012

Though his portfolio features a variety of work that dabbles into the field of glamour, fashion, food, travel and advertising photography, commercial photographer, Canon camera brand ambassador and Phottix endorser, JAY TABLANTE has made a name for himself by stepping outside of the typical photographer’s box venturing into a fantasy world of heroes and villains that only a few have triumphed in.

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snapshots

ALEXANDRA TRESE ©JAY TABLANTE

MAKE-UP: KRIS BACANI / BIANCA KING; STYLING: HANNAH KIM; COSTUME PRODUCTION: BADJ GENATO; PRODUCTION DESIGN: RAFFY TESORO; ART DIRECTOR & DIGITAL IMAGING: ANGELO LICO; MODELS: BIANCA KING, TIFFANY ALEJANDRO, PHILIP ARCA, SASSAN SHOHOUK

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP

“The bottomline is that you won’t see me doing Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman or anyone that appears on a kiddie lunch box.” Growing up as an avid comic book collector, Tablante knew he wanted to express his ideas through art. “I was a frustrated artist as a kid—always wanting to draw but couldn’t. I was a really bad artist. But when photography came along in college, I finally found the perfect medium for me to express my ideas.” Using comics and anime as his inspiration, Tablante, along with a well-rounded team of industry experts started on the road to becoming one of the leading concept photography teams in the Philippines recognized both locally and internationally for taking classic comic book and game characters and turning them into photographic works of art. “I wanted to shoot superheroes—and not just a person in a costume but I wanted people to [think— even if it was just for a brief moment—that] this photo was real.” This desire to confuse fantasy for reality partially

took its inspiration from the style of comic book artist Alex Ross. “The style of Alex Ross was to photograph his models prior to painting or sketching. I wanted my photos to look more like a photo illustration crossing the line between an actual photo and an illustration.” Tablante also formed his own personal style by taking inspiration from big name photographers such as Michael Muller—who is known for his iconic movie posters of the recent Marvel Comic Blockbusters such as Spiderman 3, Iron Man 2 and the soon to be released Avengers; and Annie Leibovitz—who is responsible for the fantasyturned-reality take on Walt Disney’s classic movie characters such as the Little Mermaid and Cinderella. Tablante likes to capture the attention of his audience by choosing subjects that fall in between the famous and the infamous. “To make things different, I like to choose characters that

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are not exactly famous. Yes, they have a certain cult following but they are hidden enough that only a good number of ‘geeks’ identify them. The bottomline is that you won’t see me doing Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman or anyone that appears on a kiddie lunch box.” Although Tablante is the photographer behind these fantastic pieces of art, they wouldn’t be possible without creatively brainstorming with his trusted team of experts. “I have worked with my team for as long as 10 years—so we have already established a solid working unit. More or less we’ve memorized [each other’s working style]. I usually convene with my team—Raffy Tesoro who is our production designer and a pool of makeup artists— who I rotate between three to four at any given point; plus stylists and art directors.”

THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR CARDS ©JAYTABLANTE

MAKE-UP: AMANDA PADILLA; HAIR: EDDIE MAR CABILTES; STYLING: HANNAH KIM / RAFFY TESORO; COSTUME PRODUCTION: BADJ GENATO; PROPS PRODUCTION: RIKI LE COTEY; ART DIRECTION: JAVEY VILLONES; DIGITAL IMAGING: GHANI MADUENO; MODEL: NADINE HOWELL

MARCH 2012

snapshots DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN A SNAP

ART WORK DRAWN BY CARLO PAGULAYAN (LEFT) & HARVEY TOLIBAO (RIGHT) WHICH SERVES AS THE STARTING POINT FOR A SHOOT

“I’ll be the first one to say it’s not photography. The difference here is the paradigm in to how I approach these images.”

PSYLOCKE IN GENOSHA ©JAY TABLANTE

MAKE-UP: ARA FERNANDO; STYLING: HANNAH KIM; COSTUME PRODUCTION: BADJ GENATO; ART DIRECTION: JHEM MANALANG; PRODUCTION DESIGN: RAFFY TESORO; DIGITAL IMAGING: GHANI MADUENO WITH ADDITIONAL DIGITAL EDITING AND CG IMAGING: GENALD TUNGOL; MODEL: JINRI PARK

MARCH 2012

Tablante particularly enjoys working with art directors from advertising agencies. “What I noticed among art directors is that almost all of them are essentially ‘geeks’—almost all of them are familiar with comics. When they create a TVC, they make storyboards which are really just comics. So the familiarities between the two mediums are very close. These guys love to do fun stuff that fall outside of their regular advertising work [to express themselves better], so I get them involved. I even have art directors volunteering for shoots, asking if we can do a certain character.” According to Tablante, collaborating with art directors bring about ideas that slowly build into well defined shoots that look at the concept and character from every single angle. “We start throwing ideas, left and right. Then we start talking about the feasibility of producing the shoot. No matter how fantastic your ideas may be, reality will always dictate what can be done physically—especially within a certain budget because we spend on our shoots. If ever there is a difference between what we do and what other cosplay photographers do, it would have to be the budget. We put a lot of investment in our productions.” Tablante has often been told by photography purists that what he does isn’t real photography. His reply to them is “I’ll be the first one to say it’s not photography. The difference here is the paradigm in how I approach these images. I am using photography as a means to get the images in my head out [into the world]. Almost all of my works are photographs in a sense that I am taking a shot of the different elements of the photo and manipulating them together to form the final image. But all of the materials were originally shot through photography.” The whole process of

shooting and manipulating photos to achieve the shot usually undergoes a four week process from conceptualization to shooting to the final editing. But this month long process usually results into just one winning photo. “It’s rare for us to come up with two shots and that was with Elektra. Other than that, all the other shots [result into one final image.] Sure, we will try a second pose—but we usually kill it off because it wasn’t prepared for. In the one month process of creating the shot, two weeks are spent for preproduction. We have the art directors actually draw the pose themselves which gives us the setting and how the shot is going to look. All the preparations revolve around that one drawing which usually only produces one shot—and that one shot is enough to make a difference.” In the end, Tablante’s credo for making great concept shots lie in the story behind the character. “It’s something I noticed among the geeks like myself: we look for details. You have to satisfy their desire to find the hidden messages, for it’s the little things that make the story. These fanatics [want to know how well we know the character.] This is the challenge [that we try to overcome every time we shoot.] Anybody can grab a camera and say ‘I’m a photographer.’ But [what will set you apart from all the other photographers] is when you are able to merge your different passions together in a way that other photographers can’t. In my case, I dig into comics because I’m a geek—and it’s something I am not going to deny. So I might as well freaking embrace it and put it together in a way that others can’t copy because they’re not geeks. [It is one thing to] have the technical skills of a photographer, but it takes passion to learn about a particular character [and express that character in a way that other people can identify with].

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apps

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Compiled by Judith Martin & Marianne Aganon

The River Test Blackberry

Sim City Deluxe Blackberry/ Android

Reflexions Android

This is the Japanese IQ test that they give during job interviews for senior positions. It is believed that only 10% of the people on the planet can solve this test. And we have created a game to help you solve this test.

Made for dedicated and casual players alike, let your inner urban planner run wild with the world’s favorite city building simulation. As Mayor and City Planner, take delight in the immersive visuals, the bigger display, and responsive touch controls – all designed just for the SimCity Deluxe experience on PlayBook.

Become the brightest spark in this relaxed yet beautifully presented neon puzzler. Simply rotate each mirror to reflect your ball of light around each level, avoiding obstacles whilst collecting diamonds to unlock the exit. With its simple controls and beautifully styled HD visuals, Reflexions is the perfect distraction at work, home or anywhere you happen to have a couple of minutes to sit down, relax and unwind your mind.

The River Test game is created to assure you have the perfect environment to solve the task. It contains all the necessary tools you will need and it prevents you from making a mistake.

USD 3.99 USD at Blackberry App world/ Php 232.21 at Android Market

Free at iTunes

Free at Blackberry App World

Amazing Breaker iOs

Doodle Jump Android

Blood & glory Android, iOs

The aim of the game is to blast the ice sculptures with bombs. The trick is to destroy not just the sculpture, but also any small shards of ice left over. The acceptable minimum is 90%, but to score three stars requires a perfectly neat cleanup of every sliver of ice.

Jump, jump, jump to the top with the smash iPhone hit now available for Android. Insanely Addictive! Top with the runaway hit now on Android! Guide the Doodler on a springy journey using springs, jet packs and more. Avoid baddies and blast them with your nose balls!

Blood & Glory is an action game from Glu Games for Android, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. With swords and gladiators galore, you can become the ultimate Roman combatant. Plenty of your blood will be spilled along the way.

Free at iTunes

Php 43.01 at Android Market

Free at iTunes

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2012

gaming

WHERE PLAYING AROUND IS A GOOD THING

Batman: Arkham City Developer: Rocksteady Studios Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive/Eidos Interactive By John Nieves

There was never any doubt that there would be a sequel to the best Batman game ever made. Just like the film reboot of the venerable Dark Knight, Batman: Arkham Asylum gave life back into a property that has long been a butt of jokes of how not to make a game. And just like Christopher Nolan’s sequel, the sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum is bigger, better and is rife with cameos from well-known heroes and villains. There have been a lot of changes at Gotham since the events of Arkham Asylum. Former warden Quincy Sharp has been elected mayor of Gotham City, and has decided that a change in scenery was in order for the inhabitants of Blackgate Prison and the patients in Arkham Asylum in the form of Arkham City, a cordoned-off area located in one of Gotham City’s most decrepit neighborhoods. A mysterious figure known as Dr. Hugo Strange runs Arkham City, and because of Strange’s mysterious rise to power, Batman is compelled to see for himself what’s really going on inside. Fans of the first game will find themselves at home with the core game mechanics of Arkham City. The familiar combat and movement system is still in place, and has been polished by Rocksteady to a deep shine. You still strike enemies with one button and counter with another, with Batman now having the ability to simultaneously counter three enemies at once. You can now also deploy your gadgets via the numbered keys on top of your keyboard to keep your opponents guessing. Along with Batman’s new moves and gadgets are new baddies that need to be taken apart in different ways. A thug with an impromptu shield for example, is impossible to incapacitate using head-on attacks, which necessitates the Dark Knight to employ a drop attack from above to take him out. There’s enough variety in the thugs you encounter that you’ll always be on your toes when it comes to combat. 44

MARCH 2012

Like we said before, there’s a liberal sprinkling of villains and other personalities in the game, though some boss fights were decidedly too easy for our liking. That being said, the story and pacing of the game is top notch, and there’s nothing more satisfying than kicking Penguin’s ass (twice). While some folks would be tempted to call Batman: Arkham City’s environments open world, we’d like to think of it more as a bigger, more open Arkham Asylum. There are only a few buildings you can actually go into, and most of those are more or less just mini-dungeons that you explore with baddies to fight. Just like the previous game, there are tons of other things to do in Batman: Arkham City after you finish the main campaign. You can try the challenge mode, where you can take Batman, Catwoman, Robin and Nightwing off for a spin fighting off waves of enemies and compete with other players on the net for the highest score. You can also try and collect all of Riddler’s infernal trophies scattered all around Arkham City and get through all the challenge modes if you’re in a completionist mood.

Batman: Arkham City isn’t perfect, but despite some of its niggling flaws (underwhelming boss battles) it’s still a pretty awesome game. Buy it if you haven’t already.

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

gaming

By John Nieves

WHERE PLAYING AROUND IS A GOOD THING

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline

Gameloft’s venerable racing series returns, bearing more cars, tracks and game modes than ever before. If there was ever a racing game that deserved to be embedded in your handheld device, you can bet it’s Asphalt 6: Adrenaline.

Like the previous versions of the game, the premise of Asphalt 6: Adrenaline is simple: get to the finish line as fast as you can while collecting power ups and cash. The game has four game modes to choose from: normal race, beat them all (wherein you’re tasked to take down opponents while keeping yourself alive), elimination (last place after a certain time gets eliminated) and collector (first racer to collect a certain amount of power-ups win). There’s also quite a large number of licensed cars to choose from, which are all customizable, allowing you to pimp out your ride as you collect cash and unlock enhancements. The usual exotic vehicles are present, as well as a few surprising additions like the Tesla Roadster Sport and the Can Am Spyder.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline for iOS

The graphics are pretty good, especially considering that this game was made to run on mobile devices, and the textures and car renders are pretty to look at. The game has quite a bit of visual effects for a mobile game, especially when you enter Adrenaline mode, something that any hardcore gamer will appreciate. Another thing that I really appreciated was the inclusion of multiple control schemes. I’m really not the type of guy who likes tilting my smartphone to control my car; thankfully the game includes several control schemes to choose from. Overall, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline is a fun game to pass the time with. The inclusion of great graphics and solid gameplay means you’ll be getting the most out of your gaming buck when you download this game from either the Android Market or the iTunes App Store.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline for Android

By John Nieves

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation While it’s unrealistic to expect an epic FPS experience with Gameloft’s Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, it still gives me that feeling time and time again as I go through the set pieces in its campaign. Awesome combat, great graphics and excellent sound will draw you in to this little shooter, which is well worth the price it’s asking for. The premise of the game is simple: 3 hostile nations have attacked the US and are ravaging it like a frat boy during homecoming. It’s up to you to stop their nefarious plot and save the day. Sure, the game doesn’t have the top-notch writing behind it, but honestly, I really didn’t expect BioWare levels of lore here.

Modern Combat 3 for iOS

What is important is the fact that Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation takes you on a fast and loose ride and doesn’t let go. There are multiple set pieces that you’ll go through which adds to the overall feel of epicness in the game. Like most shooters, there’s a variety of weapons to choose from, and you’ll find yourself in a bunch of different locales from Los Angeles to Pakistan. There’s also a robust multiplayer experience on tap, with 12 players duking it out on 6 different maps with 7 different game modes to keep the experience fresh. Like I said before, the graphics for this particular game is stunning, and to be honest, I didn’t know that my mobile device (an HTC Sensation XE) was even capable of displaying graphics that pretty. The environment is brilliantly done, and there are a lot of things to take in, even though you’re just playing on a 4.3-inch screen.

Modern Combat 3 for Android www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is a great game to have to be honest, and is one of those games you’ll keep playing even after you finish the main campaign. A definite must-buy. MARCH 2012

gaming

Bounty Hounds Online By Jon Uriarte

WHERE PLAYING AROUND IS A GOOD THING

The setting is Clear Sky Planet and you are a mercenary on a mission to fight off aliens and compete with other bounty hunters for control over this new world’s human settlements. You even have an upgradable and customizable evolving “pet” known as a CTU, or Combat Tactical Unit, which is some sort of advanced sentient life form that can transform into a battle machine. That sounds pretty darn fun, and it’s the premise of Level Up! Games’ new massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Bounty Hounds Online, developed by XPEC Entertainment and Banai Namco and published in the Philippines by Playweb Games, is now available on open beta for local gamers to enjoy. During gameplay, you control your character’s movement using the WASD letters on your keyboard and your mouse to direct camera view, similar to most first-person-shooters on the PC. You can select non-player characters (NPCs) to talk to them and get quests, read their dialogue, or buy and sell items, while pressing TAB would cycle through all available things in the area. The missions they provide may involve killing monsters, gathering items, escorting an NPC, scouting an area, or doing something within a time limit. Accomplishing these objectives would lead to rewards in the form of experience points and items, and certain missions will progress the game’s story. Plus, competing with hundreds of other players online makes it all the more exciting. When faced with an enemy, you must make use of your basic attacks, skills, or your CTU. You will have both melee and ranged combat, which switches automatically depending on how far away the opponent is. If you’re looking for a certain place, just check the atlas, which provides 3 kinds of maps: the galactic map that shows all planets in the galaxy, the planet map that shows the planet you are on, and the region map that shows the area you are currently in. Mount/travel devices help you travel faster within a certain map, while teleporters allow you to move from one map to another. The game features a ranking system, mercenary or achievement cards, player-versus-player, and guild system. The Filipino gaming community can now enjoy a quality MMORPG with remarkable 3D graphics that’s set in a futuristic world, and anyone can play just by signing up for an account at www. bountyhounds.ph. There will also be a nationwide café tour and a competition at Level Up! Live. 46

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tablets

A PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER

Huawei MediaPad

By Steven Vea

Huawei is primarily an information and communications technology (ICT) provider, but it has have since branched out to include personal devices. The MediaPad is its second tablet offering, and it’s a worthy competitor in today’s market.

To enjoy your multimedia even further, you can easily connect the MediaPad to a larger high definition display using its built-in mini HDMI port. By doing so, you can maximize the Android experience on a larger screen, which is perfect for sharing images with family and friends or presenting colourful graphs during a business presentation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

The Huawei MediaPad is a 7-inch tablet with a brilliant IPS LCD display that has a resolution of 1280x800. It sports a polished aluminium finish on the rear to accentuate the classy black trim that frames its capacitive touchscreen. Measuring a mere 105mm thin and weighing only 390g, this tablet is ultraportable and the perfect size for ebooks and accessing the Web.

The Huawei MediaPad also features a 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and autofocus on the rear, providing you the ability to capture images, then instantly view and share them to your social networks. It can shoot stills at a maximum of 2592x1944 pixels, and can also shoot video at 720p at 30fps. Moreover, this tablet can also make video calls—it features a 1.3 megapixel on the front that lets you stay visually connected even when you’re on the move.

HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot Bluetooth2.1 with A2DP, EDR microUSB v2.0

Armed with Qualcomm’s dual-core 1.2GHz CPU and powered by Android 3.2 Honeycomb, the MediaPad promises you both reliable and swift performance. Whether you’re using an app that you’ve downloaded from the Marketplace, watching full HD movies, or simply checking your email, the MediaPad will satisfy any of your needs.

Other features include a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS with aGPS support and 3G/HSPA+ at 14.4Mbps. The SIM card is inserted via a discrete and well-crfated flap in the rear, providing you mobile connectivity even when there’s no WiFi hotspot around.

If you already have a large collection of multimedia on your computer or laptop, it’s easy to transfer it to the MediaPad. You may copy up to 8GB to its built-in memory via USB, or you may insert a microSD card of up to 32GB, providing you a vast amount of storage for when you’re on-the-go.

One unique feature of the MediaPad is that it comes pre-installed with Huawei Office, which allows you to create text documents, spreadsheets and presentations when you’re on-the-go. It fully supports Word, Excel, and PDF formats, making it the ultimate utility to tote around with you.

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Dimensions: 190 x 124 x 10.5 mm Weight 390 g Display: 7-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors, 1200x800 pixels Memory: Internal 8GB, microSD up to 32GB

Camera: 5MP AF, 2592x1944 pixels, Video 720p@30fps 1.3 MP, 720p@30fps OS: Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz GPU: Adreno 220 Sensors Accelerometer, compass SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM HTML5, Adobe Flash GPS w/ A-GPS support Supported formats: - MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+/FLAC player - MP4/WMV/H.263/H.264 player - 1080p video playback Battery Life: 6hr talk time, 200hr standby MARCH 2012

tablets A PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER

e h T e m a G t e l b a T By Presy Alba

As a mobile entertainment center, nothing beats a tablet. With a larger screen, the visuals are a lot better and as a game center, it is more comfortable and easier to control. 48

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tablets

If my iPad keeps tabs of what apps category are in use longest and most often, it will surely report that Games is the hands-down winner, followed by the browser and mail as distant second and third most frequently used apps.

A PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER

Like everyone, I have Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds on my iPad. But I have since moved on to other games. As standby games for when I need something sedate FingerArts’ Sudoku2 and Crossword puzzles are great for when I don’t have WiFi access. When I have WiFi access I like playing the free online games like the Story series. At the moment I play Fashion Story, Bakery Story, Restaurant Story, Pet Shop Story, City Story, Zoo Story 2, and Farm Story. I like playing with these online games simultaneously because it keeps me from becoming impatient or bored waiting for the something to happen in just one of the games. By playing different games, while my pets are breeding, I can design my city, collect the income and sign new contracts, then I can move on to managing my restaurant, my fashion store, my bakery, and my farm. Playing with all these free apps together makes me feel like a mogul.

“I like playing with these online games simultaneously because it keeps me from becoming impatient or bored waiting for the something to happen in just one of the games.” The great thing about the story series is that it challenges the player to think out of the box for solutions, and sharing ideas and messages with neighbors who play the same game helps in advancing to the next level. One of my neighbors gave me a tip that I could “close” my restaurant and bakery while the food is cooking or baking by blocking the door with some furniture. This way I do not lose points in popularity or the satisfaction level when I don’t have anything to serve them. Another free app I like a lot is Snoopy’s Street Fair. It is fun to play especially with all the familiar Peanuts characters. This is another simulation game where the player sets up a street fair by adding new features as funds become available. I like the way the characters sort of clue you in on what to add if you just observe their thought bubbles. The more you cater to their wants, the faster your street fair expands and becomes popular. All these apps that I mentioned here may be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store for iPad users or from the Android Market for those with Android tablets. I must warn you though, these games are very addicting once you catch the fever, you might get too obsessed with the games. Your friends will think you’re weird because you watch the clock and constantly open your tablet to make sure your baby zebra won’t get sick waiting for you place it with its parents after it is born, or the clothes you ordered won’t go out of fashion, which they will if you wait too long before putting them on display.

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MARCH 2012

websites

ENTER THE INTERNET

Everything Apple Making Apple Gadgets Work Together through iCloud By Presy Alba

The reason why most Apple fans get a Macbook, iPad, iPod, and iPhone is because it makes sense to own gadgets that use the same platform. This is especially true for the Apple environment where the developers have made sure that all their products are compatible and could â&#x20AC;&#x153;talkâ&#x20AC;? to one another. 50

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websites ENTER THE INTERNET

With Apple, you don’t need a third party app like Google Calendar to sync all your activities across your gadgets – all these and many more could be synced automatically through iCloud. I love having iCloud because it is very easy to set up. All you need to do is make sure that your iPod, iPad or iPhone runs on iOS 5 or higher. Then activate and setup iCloud using your existing Apple ID or by creating one for free. You can then customize your settings by selecting which apps you want to synchronize across your Apple devices. Once you’ve set iCloud in all your gadgets all the apps you selected will have uniform information. To make sure that your data is safe, I highly recommend using iCloud as your remote backup. If you backed-up your iPad and your iPod to itunes before, all you need to do is just select back-up to

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

iCloud and your gadgets just sync through the WiFi network. What I like best about using iCloud is that when you enable automatic downloads, any app, book or music that you purchase through the app store becomes automatically available in the gadgets that it is compatible with. So for example if you have an iPhone and an iPod Touch, any game or app that you buy can be installed on both devices without paying for the 2nd installation. What’s more, you get to pick and choose the music, books and apps on your device without having to take time to create playlists on your computer and waiting for everything to sync via itunes.

If you need to backup a lot of data though, I recommend that you subscribe to an additional 10GB storage space increasing your storage capacity to 15GB. This will cost you around $20/ year but I think it is enough especially as your music, apps and book purchases will not consume any of the space. In my experience, it is actually the photos that use up a lot of the space – so I suggest that you backup your photos to your Mac using iPhoto or if you want them available online, why not upload them to your Facebook Albums so that you can share them to all your friends while having a secure repository.

With iCloud, you also get the free Find my iPhone app that helps you locate your missing iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac using another device.

MARCH 2012

mobility Climbing the Road to Fame

THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

2011 Toyota Fortuner 2.7G 4x2 Gas AT

Words and photos by Christopher Kho

SUVs might be big, heavy, and have a reputation of being road bullies, but ever since Toyota invented the Fortuner, suddenly these cumbersome 4x4’s seemed less impractical and more importantly, became a heck of a lot more affordable for you and me. It was certainly tougher than a soft-core crossover, can carry just as many passengers as a van, and looked absolutely menacing on the road -all for a tag price of just above Php1 million. And six years on, there’s a new Fortuner in town, so we tried to find out if Toyota has messed with this SUV’s secret to success. Changing Times The Fortuner updated its style for 2011 and now looks a lot sharper than before. There are completely re-sculpted projector HID headlamps, a bigger chrome grill, reshaped bumper, and a larger hood budge, while the back end gets a pair of new clear tail lights. A big plus is that Toyota’s made side step boards, headlamp washers, and a rear spoiler as standard equipment for the latest model. On top of those physical upgrades, a lot of Fortuner fanatics must also be wondering if they’ve improved the bumpy ride. With revisions made to the suspension, it does feel a lot smoother over potholes and road imperfections, but I don’t want to raise your expectations. As we found out during our excursion, Toyota still hasn’t managed to eliminate the ripples while driving on less than perfect highways such as the infamous Star Tollway down south. Under the hood, no changes were made to the Fortuner’s engine line-up and it retains the same gate-type four-speed automatic transmission. There’s still the top-of-the-line D4-D 3.0L turbo diesel, it’s non-turbo 2.5L diesel version, and the 2.7L fourcylinder petrol that came with the test unit. It might not be the most favorable choice on a shopper’s list, 52

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mobility THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

but from our experience, it might not be as bad as it sounds. With 160 horsepower and 241 Nm of torque, it has 58 hp more than the non-turbo 2.5L diesel and only 19 Nm less. Not only did it sound much quieter than a diesel, but it also smelled a lot better in the exhaust. Plus, all that power provided more than enough oomph for our excursion out of town. I couldn’t say for sure though if it would perform just as well with a full load of passengers. Still, at the end of the day, we achieved a rather respectable 8.0 km/L on combined city and highway driving.

Walk the Walk Despite its size, the Fortuner feels light and responsive, making it a breeze to drive through busy city streets especially with its commanding high seating position. The bumpers and fenders extend out quite a bit though, so make sure to give it some extra room to move to avoid those nasty fenderbenders. Parking, on the other hand, proved to be a bit of a challenge due to its large turning radius. And at high speeds, the drive is quite solid and gives the driver full confidence throughout the journey. Just don’t try to make sudden lane changes on the highway or you might end up on your roof. Inside, the interior remained pretty much the same as the previous model before it, except for some added pieces to spruce up the mood. They’ve included a redesigned steering with audio controls and a new iPod-ready sound system for those music-savvy motorists. Plus, the new black wood trim is a very welcome change over the old gaudy faux wood. Front and second row passengers will enjoy the big legroom and comfy beige leather seats, but any regular-sized adult might want to think twice before sitting at the cramped third row. The Fortuner also doesn’t have enough space to store seven people’s luggage, so it’s only meant to be used either a seven-seater people mover or as an out-of-town five-seater.

Top Dog The 2011 Fortuner might have a firm right and lag behind its competitors in terms of high-tech features, but the Php 1,330,000 price tag for the 2.7L G automatic we tested is hard to overlook especially when you consider how it improves your perceived social status and the fact that you are paying for Toyota’s tried-and-tested reliability. And when you sit up high towering over other motorists, one can’t help but feel invincible. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2012

mobility THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

Suzuki Philippines launches the new GD110 Japanese compact car and motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki Philippines Inc (SPH) recently introduced their most affordable motorcycle to date— the Suzuki GD110. Anticipated as this year’s best-seller, the Suzuki GD110 was rolled out in a three-part nationwide launch hosted by noted comedian Ramon Bautista.

“We are very optimistic about the launch of the GD110 because we are anticipating it to be one of our sure best sellers. We believe that the GD110 is packed with features that answer the commuting needs of the public—affordability, user-friendliness and durability, which very much complements our campaign, “Bakit Di Ka Pa NakaMotor,” Mr. Eiji Kobayashi, general manager of motorcycle sales and marketing said. “For the Suzuki GD110, we are looking at the first time motorcycle owner market and the shifters— from commuters to riders,” Mr. Kobayashi added. An advanced commuter bike that is designed to usher a new level of riding experience to motorcycle riders, the Suzuki GD110 comes packed with features such as a newly designed compact and lightweight 4-stroke engine for highcombustion efficiency, 4-speed transmission for less gear changes and simpler operation, Suzuki PAIR system for lesser emissions, high visibility meters, indicator lamps and round shaped headlamps with park light indicator lamps for enhanced safety and convenience. Moreover, the GD110 is perfectly built for Philippine roads with its new cradle-type frame that wraps around the engine and a swing arm with integrated reinforcement that makes it stronger and less prone to twisting. The Suzuki GD110 also has the spare parts advantage as most parts can be bought pieceby-piece and not per assembly, making Suzuki’s GD110 one of the most anticipated models to date. “With the introduction of the Suzuki GD110, we are looking at further growing the market by turning commuters to riders,” said Benedict Martin Arreola, Suzuki assistant general manager for motorcycle sales and marketing. The Suzuki GD110 retails at a suggested retail price of Php 47,900 and comes in Pearlescent Black, Metallic Jade Royal Blue, and Metallic Silk Red. 54

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www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

By John Nieves

mobility

Nissan Navara TechXtreme

THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

Pickups aren’t the first thing that comes to your mind when people talk about hi-tech vehicles. Why should it? They’re basically beasts of burden, utilitarian vehicles that you pile stuff on when said stuff doesn’t fit in the trunk or backseat of your car. It came as a surprise then when I learned that Nissan decided to come out with a new version of the Navara, tricked out with an entertainment system that most tech heads would lust for. And being a self-confessed lover of all things tech (I write for a tech mag after all), it was love at first sight. Let’s get this little tidbit out of the way first: aside from the hi-end entertainment system, the Navara TechXtreme is basically the same 2.5L 4-cylinder CRDI six speed manual transmission model that came out last year. There hasn’t been a lot of changes externally or internally, save for new carpeting and a host of minor things.

Speaking of traffic, the Navara TechXtreme is completely capable of steering you around the worst of it, thanks to its GPS navigation system. Aside from being extremely easy to use, the navigation system was also remarkably complete, with literally hundreds of POIs (points of interests) visible on screen even in new-ish roads and highways.

While the Navara TechXtreme doesn’t have anything new to offer mechanically speaking, the integrated entertainment and information system simply just blew me away. The heart of the system is a 6.5-inch touchscreen display that serves as the information hub. Aside from the central screen, there are also 7-inch dual-headrest mounted displays that Nissan says come standard in this particular model, which is a first in its class. Below the main display sits two USB slots and an iPod cable. The left USB slot (with the power button) is the built-in internal Wi-Fi router for the Navara, while the right USB slot is used to connect USB thumb drives, hard-disks and smartphones to stream content to the entertainment system. Incidentally, the Navara TechXtreme is the first vehicle I’ve come across with that has an internal Wi-Fi router built-in, which came in handy during long trips and in traffic.

There’s also a multitude of connectivity options to hook up tablets, smartphones and iPhones. There’s a dedicated iPod cable to hook up your iPhone/ iPad/iPod to the entertainment system which then transfers control of your device to it, allowing your passengers (and you, if you’re parked somewhere) to enjoy the music and videos in your personal library. If you’re not using an iOS device, you’re not out of luck –you can still enjoy your tunes via Bluetooth, which incidentally also transfers your phone calls directly to the entertainment system –which is handy when you’re absolutely need to talk with clients and whatnot while driving. Finally, a USB slot allows you to plug-in external storage devices (which also work with some smartphones) that let you enjoy your music and videos on the go. Incidentally, if you play a movie file from any device, it gets shared on the two smaller displays mounted on the headrests too.

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I’ve briefly touched on the internal WiFi router before, but it bears going into in detail. Basically, the router allows you to get internet connectivity via a broadband stick connected through the left side USB port. All of the current USB broadband sticks are supported no matter what the plan, whether they come from Smart, Globe or Sun. After plugging in the USB broadband stick, you’ll have to configure the router via its web-based interface. From there you’ll be able to set the APN (which is important if you want your stick to work), SSID, wireless security settings and a bunch of other things. Bottomline here is that the built-in internal router has all the bases covered. All of these things would be for naught if the Navara TechXtreme wasn’t pleasurable to drive. Thankfully, the pick-up is just the opposite –driving it down the streets of Makati was a pleasure in itself, and it had enough grunt from its 2.5L CRDI engine to power the vehicle through most driving situations. Add to that the Navara’s unique 6-speed transmission, then you have a pick-up that has plenty of power and is economical to drive. The Nissan Navara TechXtreme is priced at Php 1.438 million for the 6-speed manual transmission model and Php 1.498 million for the 5-speed automatic transmission model. MARCH 2012

mobility THE HOTTEST MACHINES THAT GET YOU PLACES

Safe-T-Ryders launches Bikers Meet-Up to promote safety awareness As part of its safety awareness campaign for motorcycle riders, Safe-T-Ryders Motorcycle Training Center held a Bikers Meet-Up last February 18, 2012, at the Ortigas Home Depot Complex. The event consisted of an open forum, a meet-and-greet portion, and an educational video presentation by the Training Center. A venue for bikers to dialogue on relevant issues related to traffic regulations, safety ordinances, and the like, the inaugural speaker for the open forum was former LTO Chief and now PGRSP (Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership) executive director, Alberto Suansing. The meet-and-greet portion featured TV/radio host and celebrity rider Love-Love Tioseco as the special guest. Finally, a presentation on “Riding Under the Influence of Alcohol” was presented to the participants, to educate them on the damaging effects of riding under the influence of alcohol and the severe consequences resulting in serious injuries and even death. According to Safe-T-Ryders, the Bikers Meet-Up will be a regular part of its monthly program for motorcycle riders. Safe-T-Ryders Motorcycle Training Center believes that a sound knowledge base as well as strong riding skills result in safer road users and enhance the enjoyment of motorcycle riders. The center was established in 2011 by Arnel Doria, a former marketing executive with a leading car brand, who was also instrumental in setting up the country’s first integrated vehicle training center. The training center is manned by Julius Ballesteros, a TESDA-certified instructor who has just returned from a two-year stint as a safety driving instructor of a large Saudi Arabian company. He is assisted by Sulfikar Guiabel, an experienced LTO-accredited riding/driving instructor. For more information, please contact Arnel Doria (Tel No. 208-8035 // CP No. 0932872-3389) or visit www.facebook.com/safetyders for event updates.

Ford Ranger and the Avatar Long before the first physical parts are produced or a prototype vehicle built for the allnew global Ford Ranger, Ford’s new Hollywoodinspired digital worker has already assembled the compact pickup’s virtual build to help ensure ergonomically safe workplaces and quality-built vehicles. Based on Ford’s North American virtual workers, Jack and Jill, the new multinational avatar was created using size and shape population data gathered from Ford assembly plants across the globe. By customizing these data, Ford researchers have created a manikin used in ergonomic assessments that employ motion-capture technology, the same type of technology that mesmerizes filmgoers in movies such as “Mars Needs Moms” or in games such as “Mortal 56

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Kombat.” Motion capture is a technology that digitally captures movement, making nonhuman characters appear more lifelike. Other than the all-new Ranger being built in Thailand and South Africa, the digital manikin’s first global assignments are for new products planned for new assembly plants in China, as well as the new Focus being assembled in Germany and the US. The new effort is expected to help Ford continue impressive quality gains around the world. In North America, Ford has matched or beaten industry leaders in many independent quality measures. Ford also is seeing significant improvements in its European and Asia Pacific and Africa operations. Jack and Jill are examples of the versatility of digital design. As part of Ford’s product development, the ergonomic data they provide are handed off to the virtual build arena, where a programme team—designers, engineers, suppliers and line operators—assembles

a vehicle part by part, virtually. In fact, the virtual build takes place even before Ford and its suppliers install tooling and set up workstations. In the virtual build event, Jack and Jill assemble the vehicle part by part on a wall-sized computer screen as the program team scrutinizes the vehicle’s manufacturing feasibility; i.e., how well the parts go together in the assigned sequence and at the specific plant where the vehicle is to be produced. To determine the new dimensions of the modernized Jack and Jill, Ford North America and Ford of Europe collected data from their operators in six assembly plants around the world—Mexico, Spain, China, Germany, England and the US. The standardized manikins can then be customized to the regional Ford population that is building a specific vehicle. The new standardized manikins are seen to provide benefits for workers, the company and the customers.

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coverstory

GAMING CONSOLES THAT ROCKED OUR WORLD IN-DEPTH TOPICS ON ALL THINGS TECH AND LIFESTYLE

WORDS BY STEVEN VEA | VECTOR ART BY BENJAMIN ARNOLD

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Space Invaders was released on the Atari 2600 in 1980

WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A HARDCORE GAMER, IT'S UNDENIABLE HOW VIDEO GAMES HAVE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LIVES AND SERVES TO REITERATE OUR DESIRE FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND OUR INNATE NEED TO SOCIALIZE. THE FOLLOWING IS A SIMPLE RECAP OF GAMING CONSOLES THAT HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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coverstory IN-DEPTH TOPICS ON ALL THINGS TECH AND LIFESTYLE

It is widely agreed that the first true video game console was the "BROWN BOX" invented by Ralph Baer, a Germanborn engineer who fled to the United States to escape his hostile homeland. His schematics for the first prototype proposed using a vacuum tube circuit unit connected to a standard television, and his working sample was first conceived in 1968. Baer also conceptualized a game called Chase, which consisted of two dots chasing each other on the screen, the first two-player game to be played on a video game console attached to a TV.

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1970 Brown Box with inventer Ralph Baer (1968)

The Brown Box would then develop into the MAGNAVOX ODYSSEY, the first commercially released home video game console in 1972. Being the first product of its kind, it did not break ground as well as expected, although the name still echoes with familiarity. The Odyssey utilized a combination of analog and digital circuitry, had no sound, was powered by D-cell batteries and included accessories (dice, poker chips and score sheets) that made it seem more like a hybrid board game. The console used circuit boards to load games into slots, foreshadowing the eventual invention of the cartridges most of us are familiar with. One of the available games for the Odyssey was a tennis game, which would later serve as the inspiration for Pong, the game that would officially signal the start of the video game industry. Magnavox Odyssey (1972)

The ATARI PONG officially began as an arcade game, released the same year as the Odyssey, after Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari) saw a demonstration of Baer's box. It utilized simple, yet addicting gameplay that consisted of two players controlling two "paddles" and a ball bouncing back and forth. However, it would take Atari three more years to create their own dedicated home console, which would be sold in Sears stores under the name "Sears Tele-Games". Once people could play Pong in their homes, this sparked the consumer market for video game consoles, and what set it apart from the Odyssey as a catalyst was the addition of an on-screen scorecard, and more importantly, it had sound. Atari Pong (1972)

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During this time, gaming consoles were primarily dedicated units containing only a single game, and so a company called Fairchild Semiconductor took the initial steps towards a cartridge-based system. The FAIRCHILD VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (also known as VES and later renamed to the CHANNEL F) was the first to use a microprocessor and ROM-based cartridges, released in 1976. The Channel F's significance in the video game industry however is seen more as the product that would only push Atari to create their own cartridge based console, codenamed "Stella", that would result in the ATARI VCS or ATARI 2600, revealed a year later in 1977. Sears also released their own version, the Sears Video Arcade, which helped increase Atari's initially disappointing sales, although it wasn't until 1980 that the it would truly kick off, when the popular arcade game Space Invaders was ported to the Atari 2600. Atari 2600 (1977)

Despite these advances in the industry, the early 1980's suffered what has been called the dark ages of gaming consoles or the video game "crash.â&#x20AC;? This was due to an abundance of poor quality games along with a saturated number of manufacturers. This time period also lacked the introduction of any new technology, resulting in a standstill in the progression of home consoles. However, this would all change once Nintendo and Sega would enter the market, and would set the stage for their infamous battle in the console wars.

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Fairchild Video Entertainment System (1976)

Pac-Man was ported to the Atari 2600 in 1982 by Atari Inc.

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1960 Family Computer (1983)

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In 1983, Nintendo introduced the FAMILY COMPUTER in Japan, reviving a market that was spiralling downwards, thus signalling the start of the third generation of video game consoles. Affectionately called the Famicom, it produced high-resolution sprites thereby effectively creating more color and detail, along with longer gameplay. Its tremendous success eventually crossed the ocean towards western shores, arriving in the form of the NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (NES) in 1985, although the company's widespread feat can also be attributed to the introduction of the iconic Super Mario Bros, the video game that would help make the NES the top selling video game console of its time.

Atari 7800 (1986)

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It would be three years later in 1991 before the SUPER NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (SNES) would make it to the market as a direct competitor to the Genesis. Also called the Super Famicom, the SNES was technically superior, offering improved graphics and sound. Super Mario World was offered as its flagship game, although Nintendo was also able to secure a deal with Capcom to port the popular arcade version of Street Fighter to their console, which helped increase its sales. Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1991)

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Even though the new ATARI 7800 was making waves of its own, it was the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM (SMS) that would be the NES's main competition. Despite its superior hardware and multiple variants, it failed to overtake Nintendo's headstart and loyal following, that is, until Sega introduced the MEGA DRIVE in 1988, more popularly known as the GENESIS. It was cost-effective and had a larger library of games (which would later on include the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog), but what largely contributed to its success is that Sega was able to release a 16-bit gaming console before Nintendo.

In 1988 Donkey Kong was ported to the Atari 7800

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The official start of the fifth generation of gaming consoles was in 1993, in the form of the PANASONIC 3DO and the ATARI JAGUAR, the first 24-bit and 64-bit consoles, respectively. The 3DO used CDs as its medium and was initially quite promising, but it was expensive and had a flawed marketing strategy. The Jaguar on the other hand just didn't catch on as well as Atari hoped for, and along with the 3DO, would later be eclipsed by new consoles from Sega, Nintendo, and Sony.

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Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)

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Sega Master System (1986)

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Mario returned to gaming consoles with Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1990

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Sonic the Hedgehog was introduced in 1991

The SEGA SATURN was released in 1994, a 32-bit gaming rig that featured dual CPUs, which would be both its initial selling point and also its demise, because third party game developers had problems programming it. The Saturn enjoyed moderate success despite having only six games upon its launch, but because Sega won the 32-bit gaming race, it had its own dedicated following.

Sega Saturn (1994)

Several weeks after the Saturn was introduced, the gaming industry had a newcomer to the sceneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the SONY PLAYSTATION. This 32-bit gaming console outsold Sega's newest platform in the first week alone, considering that it was actually a spin-off project from previous dealings and a failed negotiation with Nintendo in creating the SNES-CD. Nevertheless, the PlayStation was an instant hit, and this was due not only to its tech specs, but also because Sony brilliantly broadened its target audience, and acquired a wide range of support from game developers.

Sony Playstation (1994)

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Not to be outdone, the NINTENDO 64 (N64) was introduced a year later, which would eventually become the last home video game console to use ROM cartridges. During this time, the claimed "superiority" of the CD format was on the rise, but the N64 offered its audience something elseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;game cartridges loaded faster, and didn't require the use of separate memory cards to save users' progress. While their variety in games was not their strongest suit, Nintendo survived the market by reinventing its classic titles for its new console, more specially Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda.

Nintendo 64 (1996)

The late 1990's began to see the continual rise in PC gaming, and so game consoles had to compete. One company foresaw the potential of online gaming, which is why in 1998, the SEGA DREAMCAST was introduced, the first console to be equipped with a modem for online play. Users could use the Dreamcast to browse the web, and download additional content via a dedicated server named SegaNet or Dreamarena. Although Sega pioneered integrated modems into consoles, the Dreamcast was discontinued after only three years and prompted the company to focus their efforts on software development instead.

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Sega Dreamcast (1998)

It was in the year 2000 that Sony timed the launch of the first 128-bit system - the SONY PLAYSTATION 2. It reeled in audiences because it was technically superior, backwards compatible with first generation PlayStation games and could be used as a CD/DVD Player as well. The PS2 was warmly welcomed because it was a complete multi-functional home entertainment system, and featured the addition of highspeed LAN ports for fast networked multiplayer gaming over the web, which made it a worthy competitor to tricked out PC rigs. Sony Playstation 2 (2000)

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XBox (2001)

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A year after the Xbox 360 entered the market, Sony answered back with the PLAYSTATION 3, utilizing the power of Blu-ray Discs but still offering support for its predecessor's formats. While it lacked a diverse library of games at its launch, what set it apart was the ability to use Blu-ray, promising great potential in terms of functionality and graphics quality because of increased storage. Although it was tagged with a hefty price and received negative press (including recent scandals), the PS3 continues to be at the forefront of home entertainment systems.

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That same year, Nintendo released the "toy-like" GAMECUBE, the first console from the company to use discs as its medium. Attempting to stand out in the market, the GameCube utilized miniDVDs instead of the traditional-sized optical media, thereby rendering it unable to playback audio CDs or watch DVD movies like its competitors. Furthermore, even though the GameCube supported Internet connectivity, users had to purchase a separate Broadband or Modem adapter, which resulted in a less than stellar reception during its time. XBox 360 (2005)

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Microsoft then updated its console after only four years, by announcing the XBOX 360 in 2005. It was the most powerful performer at the time of its release, equipped with a 3.2GHz PowerPC Tri-Core Xenon processor, and arrived with a built-in hard drive. What made it a significant step up from its predecessor was its broader multimedia functionality, multiple ports and wider range of online streaming services. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Nintendo Wii (2006)

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The year 2006 also saw the launch of the NINTENTDO WII, which made waves in the industry by introducing a unique controller and a new style of gameplay. The Wii Remote connects to the console via Bluetooth, and utilizes infrared and accelerometers that allows it to create a 3-dimensional space for users to play in. Despite its small library of quality games, Nintendo's offer of backwards compatibility with previous GameCube software and its unique movementbased gameplay, has won the Wii several awards after its release. Rumours have been circulating that the three current giants of the gaming industry (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft) are slated to update their gaming consoles in the next few years. With the rapid advancement of technology and the growing imagination of people, it stands to reason that we should anticipate consoles and games that will blow our minds and rock our worlds.

Cloud with a Chocobo from 1997â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Final Fantasy VII

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With the gaming industry only getting stronger, another newcomer would enter the scene in 2001. Having already enjoyed widespread success in the PC market, Microsoft decided to enter the fray with its XBOX, inspired by the collaboration of creating console ports for the Sega Dreamcast. Just like the PS2, Microsoft incorporated Ethernet connectivity and provided an online service dubbed the Xbox Live, which allowed multiplayer gaming. Using Halo: Combat Evolved as its launch title, Microsoft's first contribution to the game console market was extremely successful and presented itself as a rival to watch out for.

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Sony Playstation 3 (2006)

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: s r a W g n i m Ga e l o s n o C . s v PC e s i R e h t n o g n i m a PC G By Jon Uriarte

The fight between PC and console gaming has been a long standing one. Loyalists of each have been in continuous debate over the years about which one they believe is better, dishing out point after point to back up their rationale. Many years ago, there was a time when PC gaming was really all there was, and although consoles like the first Nintendo still sold a lot of games even during its earliest days, hard-core gamers knew that the PC had far better graphics, more in-depth game play, and simply more games. Ever since consoles began stepping up their hardware with more high-end units such as the PS3 and Xbox 360, however, the gap started to fade and many gamers began to switch sides. Now, PC games are making a comeback, even claiming more sales than console games, and the tables are turning once again. 62

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In terms of game revenues generated by PCs and consoles in the recent years, there are a couple of studies all over the internet providing different figures. While Ignite Game Technologies has concluded that PC games have already retaken the lead in the past two years, NVIDIA is saying that according to the trend, PC games will reach that feat in 2014. It is difficult to trace exactly why the statistics differ, but one thing is for certain: PC gaming is on the rise and more gamers are leaving their consoles and going back to the PC. Ignite Game Technologies stated through their studies that the PC is already the larger revenue driver, recently raking in $11.6 billion versus $8 billion for consoles. The study also indicated that PC gamers spend an average of 8 hours a day playing on the PC; while console gamers spend an average of 4 hours a day on the Xbox 360 or PS3. In addition, the highest selling PC game in 2010, StarCraft II, sold more copies than the highest selling console game, NCAA Football ’11.

The Face-Off Let’s take a look at the differences between PCs and consoles when it comes to gaming and the most often used arguments that each side makes. Firstly, there is the price, or rather the value of the system in relation to its cost. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 cost around USD $300, while a decent gaming PC will cost about USD $1000. The prices of games for the PC are slightly cheaper though and this excludes possible console add-ons such as new controllers, an HDMI cable, headsets, and Xbox live subscriptions. Although PCs may also incur additional costs, you can upgrade your system by only replacing certain parts instead of the entire thing, as compared to consoles where you are locked into that hardware with little customization options. In the end, however, consoles still come out less expensive than PCs overall.

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Secondly, there are the differences in hardware and capability. The Xbox 360 comes with a 3.2 GHz PowerPC Tri-core Xenon processor and 500 MHz ATI Xenos graphics card, while the PS3 comes with a 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine and a 550 MHz NVIDIA/ SCEI RSX ‘Reality Synthesizer’ graphics card. Both consoles have a storage capacity of 250 GB and 512 MB of system memory. PCs on the other hand, can easily do much better than all of this with a faster processor, terabytes more in hard disk space, twenty times more system memory, and a better graphics card. In other words, there is really no comparison between the two in this aspect as PCs are generally much more powerful machines and capable of producing better graphics. Thirdly, there is the user interface and ease of use. A console is surely much easier to setup as you can just go out and buy a game, go home, pop it in and start playing. PCs on the other hand require a lot of upgrading, tweaking, and installing. This makes consoles more appealing to the average gamer that doesn’t know too much about computer technology and just wants to be able to plug and play. The PC used to be able to boast of having multiplayer capability and online play, but today’s consoles can now do the same. Fourthly, there is game availability and variety. Since there are titles that are exclusive to only the Xbox, and those to only the PS3, and those to only the PC, it really all boils down to preference. Consumers would have to see what games they want to play in order to decide what platform is best for them. Although hard-core PC gamers would claim that PC games are more in-depth, this is still a matter of preference as some players enjoy something more simple and fun. Indeed, some games such as first person shooters and real-time strategy ones are much easier to control using a mouse and keyboard, while others such as sports games and fighting

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In truth, it makes more sense to compare the Xbox 360 to the PS3 than it does to compare PCs to consoles, the latter seeming more like apples to oranges.

games are better played with a gamepad controller on a console. One thing though is that the PC has a lot of free downloadable games and demos online and players can even create game modifications, which makes PC gaming more flexible. Also, there is a broader range of games that are available on the PC. It seems that both the PC and the console have their own respective strengths and weaknesses. In truth, it makes more sense to compare the Xbox 360 to the PS3 than it does to compare PCs to consoles, the latter seeming more like apples to oranges. Those looking for more flexibility, superior graphics, a broader range of games, and easily upgradable hardware should look to the PC. From a technological standpoint, consoles are lacking so much compared to PCs, so if you don’t mind paying a little more and having to put together a rig, PCs are a better way to experience gaming. Those looking for something less expensive and more simple and easy-to-use should opt for gaming consoles. In essence, a console is basically a stripped-down and more compact version of a PC made especially for gamers. Its hardware is built specifically to run every compatible game smoothly, and perhaps these traits are truly what make consoles special and fun. So in the end, it really all boils down to preference with what games you want to play and how you want to play them. Now that we’ve established that there’s a market for both, why then have PCs taken the lead in game revenues if they haven’t already? The answer could be because there hasn’t been a new console release since the Xbox 360 and PS3 went on the market more than three years ago. Since then, the PC has already undergone numerous upgrades and fresh new games have been developed for them. The gaming war continues as we wait for the next console release. MARCH 2012

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Pioneering the Digital Revolution A Singapore printing company has become the first in the Asia-Pacific region to install a market-defining Scitex FB7600 industrial press. Film Screen has upgraded with an HP Scitex FB7600 to improve productivity and workflow. Film Screen started out as a two-man silkscreen printing company in 1983 and is now a 40-member strong total print solutions provider, servicing clients such as Clear Channel Singapore, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Media Corp. OOH Media, SK-II, SMRT and YEO’s. “The decision to obtain the HP Scitex FB7600 was fairly easy for when you consider its focus on increased productivity,” said Lee Chee Yong, managing director. “The printer will allow us to pursue new business opportunities in previously untapped segments such as the fast-moving goods and 3D display markets, with the HP FB7600 in our stable, we believe we would be able to increase our revenue by 60% within the next three years.” Delivering high productivity on a range of flexible and rigid media, the HP Scitex FB7600 industrial press, with the new HP FB225 Scitex inks, offers a variety of productivity enhancements, including inline saturation control for backlit applications, hot folders and job queue, to help printing solutions providers expedite their workflow. The device can print up to 95 full boards an hour and has a new point of purchase print mode that produces 55 full boards an hour with indoor quality. The new HP FB22 WScitex inks adhere better on plastics and improve flexibility on corrugated media, allowing customers to reduce the time required for finishing and expand their businesses with new applications. The inks also have reduced odor and the ink system is GreenGuard Children and Schools certified, offering reassurance that the prints produced are suitable for use in indoor environments. 64

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lifestylefeature Turf BGC, Football Field For The Passionate Player Players and fans captivated by football now have a centrally-located venue to pour out their immense love for the sport. Metro’s premiere district, Bonifacio Global City, recently opened a publicly-accessible football field dubbed as Turf BGC.

CEREMONIAL KICK: Turf BGC, a publicly accessible football field in Bonifacio Global City opened. Leading the ceremonial kick were (left to right) president of Phil. Footbal Federation Mariano Araneta, president of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp (FBDC) Antonino Aquino, president of BCDA and FBDC director Arnel Casanova, chairman of BCDA and FBDC’s vice-chair Felicito Payumo, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, FBDC chairman Jose Campos, FBDC director Edgardo Cruz, and international consultant of Limonta Italy Jan Van Paradon.

Turf BGC is part of Bonifacio Global City’s commitment to promote an active lifestyle with a balanced range of live-work-play activities. After being recognized as the preferred venue for cityrunning and other outdoor passions like biking, photography, and the arts, BGC now adds football in the list of pursuits it serves. In his message, chairman of FBDC (holding firm of BGC) Jose Campos said, “Whether as a sport, form of recreation or fitness, or merely a venue for healthy socialization, the global appeal and passion for football has captured BGC long before the country’s pride Azkals rise to international recognition.” Hence, the district’s development plan included a football field. Campos added, “BGC has always strived to be a center where we can discover and nurture our different interests; a center that is a good investment for a productive and pleasurable lifestyle. In play, we simply want our residents and guests, most especially, the youth, to have fun in BGC and offer them safe and quality venues where they can pursue their passions.” www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

FBDC president Tony Aquino got everyone excited when he revealed that Turf BGC is the first among a chain of sports zones that BGC will open. As with all the other facilities in BGC, Turf BGC makes use of top-rate materials and craftsmanship. On the ground is Max-S artificial turf using ternate yarn, the “Rolls Royce” of artificial turf, produced by Limonta Italy, certified as a FIFA Preferred Turf Producer. It’s the first of its kind in the country. The lighting system installed is capable of producing illumination at varying levels: practice games, tournament-level, and at full illumination the field can provide the necessary lux needed for TV coverage. Coach of Azkals, Michael Weiss, expressed his approval of the Turf BGC: “It’s better than the other fields we’re training in. We need more pitches like this. This is good for football.” Interested players/teams may contact Bonifacio Estate Services Corp. at 8162372 for reservation and operation schedule. Visit www.bgc.com.ph for more information. MARCH 2012

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WHEN GORGEOUS GIRLS MEET HIGH-TECH GADGETS

Photographed by Paolo Sy Make-up by Jefrey Pahn of Color Blend Hair by Dexter Rabanillo of Shine Moist Art Direction by Benjamin Arnold & Patrick Ilagan Styling by MR Gavin Clothes by Promod Shoes by SO FAB Shot on Location at TIMEZONE, TriNoma Mall Special Thanks to Nedz Manangan of LAI Philippines & Timezone Trinoma Staff

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WHEN GORGEOUS GIRLS MEET HIGH-TECH GADGETS

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WHEN GORGEOUS GIRLS MEET HIGH-TECH GADGETS

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Interview by Michelle Callanta-Toledo

As this is our “gaming issue” what are some of your favorite games? Do you play online games? Facebook games? As I kid, I was in love with Super Mario on Nintendo. Even though it is super old, I’d have to say that it is still the closest game to my heart. I never really got into playing games online or on Facebook for fear of getting addicted and not getting my other work done. But I’ve always had a lot of fun going to the arcade playing the car racing and shooting games, air hockey, and basketball. The games on Nintendo Wii are also a lot of fun.

What do you think of female gamers? Would you consider yourself one? I think that female gamers rock! It is always cool for me to see females who aren’t afraid to get involved with something that most people would consider a “guy thing.” Unfortunately, I’ve never really had the time to get into gaming enough to call myself a female gamer.

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What’s your favorite game console and game? I would have to say my favorite console now would be Nintendo Wii with all their interactive games, especially the dance ones. They’re always fun to do with a group of friends.

Some people have gone as far as to argue that gaming might just save the world and gamers tend to be more active when it comes to wanting to find solutions to real life problems. What do you think gaming (online or not) can contribute to the world and its players? If gamers implement the positive feelings given to them when playing and their noble intentions of conquering challenges into their real lives, gaming can help individuals to continue to improve themselves and conquer real life challenges. Also, gaming is a fun way to learn how to trust and cooperate with other people to achieve a goal, which is a great life skill.

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Take Some Time Off With Timezone

Timezone, managed by Leisure and Allied Industries (LAI), is the country’s leading Family Entertainment Center (FEC) with over 50 outlets nationwide. It is the best destination for families and friends seeking entertainment through interactive game play, quality branded prizes and wholesome fun. It is the only family entertainment center that has consistently kept pace with the latest innovations, especially with its own “Link Powercard System: One Card, All Stores” that allow customers to play games and use all its credits/load at any Timezone center nationwide (except only in Pavilion Mall), store electronic prize tickets, check their balances at the swipe of a card; its frequent introduction of new and exciting amusement machines like the DDR Supernova X2, Maximum Tune 3 DX+, Tekken Tag 2, DJ Max Technika 3, and a lot more; machines that are exclusive only to Timezone such as Stacker, Super Trivia, Disney machines, etc.; new concepts with its Music Zone Videoke Booths and Disney-themed tie-ups. At Timezone, nobody goes home empty-handed as customers can select and win cool prizes from its wide array of exciting ticket prizes for an exchange value of as low as five 72

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Powertickets. There is simply no other local brand in the country’s FEC industry that elicits as much appeal, recognition and countrywide draw as Superbrands-sealed Timezone.

Timezone outlets are located at Glorietta 4 Main, Greenbelt 3, Greenbelt 5, Alabang Town Center Main and Cinemas, Market! Market! Main and TZ Active, Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma Mall Classic, Arena and Kids, UP-AyalaLand Technohub, Metropoint, Pavilion Mall, Nuvali-Solenad, Marquee Mall Angeles Pampanga, Ayala Center Cebu Main and Cinema, Abreeza Mall Davao, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia Classic & Arena, SM San Lazaro, SM Fairview, SM Marilao Bulacan, SM Rosales Pangasinan, SM Iloilo, Robinsons Ermita, Robinson’s Metro East, Robinson’s Lipa, Gateway Cinemas and Food Court, Greenhills Theatre Mall and Promenade, Eastwood Mall, Walter Mart Makati, Cash n Carry Makati, Alimall, BQ Mall Bohol, NCCC Mall Davao and NCCC Mall Tagum.

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SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFESTYLE DECISIONS

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Eau de Toilette by Jimmy Choo Jimmy Chooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are not just for your feet anymore, but also a fragrance everyone will love to have. From the bewitching amber based notes to a carefully crafted fragrance with a crisp freshness to give its own unique identity. Like the women it represents it stands confidently; it is independent and intriguing. A modern fruity floral with warm, rich, woody depths the fragrance starts with green top notes of ginger that deliver an instant burst of radiance and awaken the senses before slowly giving way to the softer heart notes of tea rose and exotic tiger orchid which enticingly pulse an exquisite bouquet of floral aromas on the skin. Rounding off this alluring accord is a vibrant layer of cedar wood, which gently evolves on the skin to create a soft veil of sensuality.

100ml Php 5,700 60ml Php 4,400 40ml Php 2,700 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Look fab and glam with Benefit Cosmetics Cabana Glama. Park poolside sipping coladas and get ready to share some sunshine. The kit gives you a natural believable glow that says, “I spent the week on a getaway”, It’s your getaway to gorgeousness. The Kit contains hoola bronzing powder with brush, posietint poppy-pink tinted lip and cheek stain, some kind-a gorgeous medium foundation, eyeshadow palette and double-ended sponge applicator.

Php 2,000

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFESTYLE DECISIONS

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Cabana Glama by Benefit

Camera Strap & Laptop Sleeves by Punch Drunk Panda Funkify your favorite gadgets with Punch Drunk Panda. If you want to make your iPad, laptop or camera a cut above the rest then you can get a PDP product to splash a whole lot of fun and color on it. The laptop sleeve and iPad sleeve feature a 6mm padding, protective neoprene interior, interior garter straps to keep your gadget in place, attachable charger bag and straps, and stow-away handles. It can fit laptops from 10-inches to 15-inches and other sizes for iPad are also in stores. Designs are from top local artists JP Cuison, Rob Cham, Tof Zapanta, Kneil Melicano and a whole lot more. There are also some hip camera straps available that have adjustable lengths of 34-inches to 40-inches.

Laptop sleeve set Php 1,295 Camera strap Php 595

Honey-Bee Solution by Tony Moly Repair and rejuvenate your skin with Tony Moly’s Honey-Bee skin care line. Start off with the Honey-Bee Skin Solution Emulsion that heals infected pimples and regenerates blemishes and red spots. The honey-bee BB Cream is perfect for any skin type, whether it’s oily, acne-prone or dry. If you are looking for a fresh type of skin care product, then put some sweet honey venom on and have radiantly clear skin.

BB Cream 50ml Php 1,098 Emulsion 120ml Php 1,248 74

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FLIP-FLOPS by Bling Duck Flip-Flops are something everyone should have and if you are looking for the perfect pair, Bling Duck is here to the rescue. Bling Duck is just starting out here in the Philippines and they are invading Asia, one country at a time. Add some sparkle and color to your outfit with Bling Duck’s Femme Collection. Don’t get left behind, bejewel your feet with the hottest flip flops in the country.

SHOES by TOMS The collection is filled with casual materials including plenty of burlap, basket weaves, perforated canvas and chambray, to fully represent the essence of a carefree lifestyle. New twists on TOMS styles are also incorporated within the lineup such as Rope Sole Cordones, Chambray Biminis and TieBdye Dessert Oxfords. Living simply knows no age and so the collection offers airy and bright styles for the young and old as well. With burlap options and colorful patterns available, even the youngest TOMS fans can indulge in this type of routine.

LADY DRAGON WING

ANGLOMANIA

ANGLOMANIA & WING LADY DRAGON by Melissa Melissa shoes bring you cool couture with Vivienne Westwood’s Lady Dragon and Anglomania. With the Lady Dragon Wing, you will be able to chase the sky with this demure wing feature on the classic peep-toe sling back. This is a style we know you will absolutely fall in love with. So flap your beautiful wings and fly away with Melissa this summer in the VW Lady Dragon Wing available in red, white and silver. If heels aren’t your forte, go low with the Anglomania thong sandal. It is a rework of the classic Melissa sandal which now features a gold button at the toe engraved with the Vivienne Westwood orb logo. Anglomania is available in red, gold and black.

Wing Lady Dragon Php 5,999 Anglomania Php 3,895 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2012

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SPRING/SUMMER 2012 PLAY & FUN COLLECTION by Speedo

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFESTYLE DECISIONS

Combining fashionable, fun and on-trend designs with the quality for which Speedo is known, the Play and Fun range is aimed at leisure swimmers. The collection includes beach sports staples taking inspiration from the brand’s heritage on the beach to deliver a bright, retro-inspired range of bikinis, tankinis, boardies, and watershorts that are cool and multi-functional whether being active or just relaxing on the beach.

SPAMDAL by Sanuk From your mouth to your toes, yes, you can now have your Spam and wear it too, thanks to its exciting new collaboration with Sanuk. Best known for its ultra comfy, ultra light, and ultra fun line of footwear, Sanuk is a worldwide favorite among young and old. Sanuk has recently come out with what it fondly refers to as the Spamdals (Spam Sandals, get it?) It comes with all the classic features of every Sanuk pair such as super soft, high Rebound, molded EVA footbed featuring AEGIS Antimicrobial additive, Happy U outsole, handmade, screened “SPAM” canvas upper with folded edge detail, screened “Sanuk” textile liner, vegan and vegetarian. A very clever collaboration combining two of our favorite guilty pleasures— lounging around in Sanuk sandals and filling our tummies with loads of Spam.

Php 3,990

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TECH LIVING AT ITS BEST

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Your Friendly Fridge

Hosting a Wii/Xbox/ PS3 get-together with your family and friends? Make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the games in check, the home entertainment system all geared up and ready, the sofa pillows all fluffed and comfy, and the food and drinks readily available for the long, exciting day ahead. And what better way to keep your gamer party munchies fresh and cool than with these stylish and spacious refrigerators.

BY MICHELLE CALLANTA-TOLEDO

Sharp SJ-F78SP 2-DOOR REFRIGERATOR

Sharp introduces revolutionary Plasmacluster Ion Technology for optimum freshness. It helps to keep the inside of the refrigerator sanitary by utilizing positive and negative ions to effectively remove harmful airborne substances such as bacteria. It has easy-to-grip cylindrical handles and styled with symmetrically arranged doors, making it easier to open and more stylish than ever. It features Hybrid Cooling System which ensures an even distribution of cool air and keeps food fresh without drying it out and Express Freezing that makes ice in just 30 minutes. Other notable features of this refrigerator include: honeycomb deodorizer, roomy door pockets, LED light, LCD panel, vacation mode, door alarm, child lock etc. Sharp SJ-F78SP comes with a convenient bottom freezer and spacious center pillar-less four door design. Available in Platinum Silver.

PHP 109,998

Panasonic NR-BY601VSPH INVERTER REFRIGERATOR

Panasonic features Intelligent Inverter Technology with Flexible 7-Level of power adjustment for optimal cooling, saves up to 40% less electricity consumption, Quick Freezing, and Super Quiet Operation. It contains flashing LEDs and a Vitaminsafe vegetable compartment. Its sealed airtight structure maintains temperature and high humidity and indirect cooling to prevent drying and damage. Panasonic introduces Ag ions that inactivate 99.9%* of bacteria and mould for a stronger deodorizing effect. It is styled with a Drawer Type Freezer which makes the item clearly visible for easy access and for neat and practical storage.

PHP 64,900 www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2012

beautylab

BEAUTY SECRETS REVEALED

DEFY GRAVITY

By Michelle Callanta-Toledo | Digital Artwork By Benjamin Arnold

Ever since I tried Bikram Yoga, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been interested in wanting to learn more about this beautiful and relaxing form of exercise. Apparently, there are many different forms, all of which can cater to any particular taste or preference. But definitely, for those who want a little more out of their yoga, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one that allows you to go against gravity. 78

MARCH 2012

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beautylab BEAUTY SECRETS REVEALED

Creator of AntiGravity Aerial Yoga and founder of AntiGravity Inc., Christopher Harrison was able to fuse his many talents and infuse them into one great workout. Not only has he been practicing yoga for a little over 15 years, he is also a world-class gymnastics specialist, Broadway dancer and choreographer as well as a pioneer in suspension fitness training. Now, his type of yoga is available in the Philippines.

many aerial poses you can expect to learn if you take a class. Having trained with Christopher Harrison himself, Ms. Rianna was welleducated in the new form and knew well to ease me into the basics. Equipped with an AntiGravity Hammock (made of special aerial silk) securely fastened onto the ceiling, she began with a series of aerial poses for beginners such as the skirted star and the skirted monkey. Other poses I learned included the chandelier, the vampire, the angel, and the womb— just to name a few. It also includes other signature yoga poses such as sun salutations and downward facing dog.

“ONCE YOU GET PAST THE INHIBITIONS... THE DOUBTS AND THE ‘OH MY GOSH, I CAN’T DO IT’ FRAME OF MIND... YOU CAN DEFY ANYTHING. EVEN GRAVITY.”

Rianna Gatus of Beyond Yoga (the first and only place that offers AntiGravity Yoga) gave me a one-on-one lesson as she demonstrated some of the

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Now all of this may seem intimidating especially since you’re suspended in the air with what is still essentially a piece of cloth (despite its amazing strength as an AntiGravity Hammock can hold up to 1000lbs.), but there is something very alluring and beautiful about how the poses look and are executed. (Think singer Pink’s performance at the Grammy’s). It’s almost reminiscent of how you used to play on the monkey bars and you’d flip over bravely, knowing you wouldn’t break your neck (and still look really cool doing it). Perhaps the apprehensions come with age. In my case, though there was the anxiety of falling off (if only a short distance off the floor) I was more afraid of looking completely ungraceful and utterly foolish. But if you’re determined, and if you listen

carefully to your instructor, you’ll find yourself defying the very laws of gravity and strengthening your very core as well. Before I began to do the poses on my own, I was instructed to change into something with long sleeves to avoid any “hammock” burns since you do have to wrap yourself tightly around it. There should always be tension between you and the Hammock; if you don’t secure the Hammock carefully or if you allow it to become loose, you may just fall right off or if you do manage to stay a-float, the poses just won’t work like they should. Off the bat, yoga is supposed to stretch you. But with AntiGravity Yoga, you’re also strengthening your core (aka your abdominal area) for better balance. And if you think hanging

upside down for a few minutes isn’t beneficial, you’d be surprised to learn that doing so actually helps decompress your spine so that you have a better posture, especially after a grueling day hunched over in front of your computer. As for the lightheadedness, that’s just fresh oxygen going to your brain— something I think we young, urban professionals need to give our brains more often. Naturally in the beginning, I was still a bit coy and nervous, mouthing out obscenities to mask my terror. But once you get past the inhibitions, once you get past the doubts and the “Oh my gosh, I can’t do it” frame of mind, I think that’s when you can truly go “beyond yoga.” And if you can do that, you can defy anything. Even gravity.

MARCH 2012

yinyang

KNOW YOUTR GADGET’S FORTUNE

It’s All About Directions

By Princesse Lim-Fernandez

NORTH WEST ROBBERY STAR

NORTH STAR SICKNESS & BACKSTABBING STAR THREE KILLER STAR

NORTH EAST STAR PROSPERITY STAR

WEST WEALTH STAR

CENTER TRAVEL STAR

EAST PROMOTION & ACADEMIC STAR

SOUTH WEST CONFLICT STAR

SOUTH STAR ROMANCE STAR

SOUTH EAST DISASTER STAR TAI SUEY DIRECTION

Contrary to popular belief, you are not doomed forever when the bad stars fly your direction. There are ways to ease the effect of these bad stars and enhance your good luck. Lucky directions depend on the Flying Stars chart of the year. The chart below shows that of the current year, there are 5 lucky stars and 4 unlucky ones. Each direction has a certain cure to enhance luck or ease ill luck. Check the direction of your main door, bedroom, bedroom door, headboard, kitchen and office/ work table. If you are affected by any of the unlucky directions below, you may neutralize this by placing the appropriate cure for that specific direction. Let’s start off the year with some good vibes. On the center direction is the Travel Star—everyone who resides on it will get opportunities to travel and/or to migrate. The Sure Win Horse should be placed in this direction. The horse literally means “you win money immediately,” so it promotes monetary gain in the near future. Since the Travel star is in the center of the Feng Shui chart, the 80

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horse is considered the superstar of the year’s chart. Having this in the center will enhance your winning prospects and attract money from overseas. Everyone experienced losing money, whether spending it or just losing it. This 2012 on the Northwest direction is the Robbery star. This direction should be guarded by the right Feng Shui cures to be able to ease its effects. A Hippo guard is a must and very important for this Year of the Water Dragon because the robbery star may affect everyone’s money luck. The Robbery star causes loss of money, money leakage, or just being cheated out of money. This is in the shape of a hippopotamus, also known as the water horse which is the proper element and depiction in reducing the effects of this unlucky star. Another cure/luck item that can be placed on the northwest direction is the crystal money bag charm. Since the Robbery star’s effect is quite strong this year, everyone should pay extra attention to their money luck. Having this moneybag charm will prevent from losing money, getting cheated and money leaking unexpectedly. Made of auspicious crystal that promotes fruitfulness, it represents a bag of gold or a treasure bag.

Feng Shui expert Princesse Lim-Fernandez of Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony at the Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel was trained under the watchful eyes of two masters—the late Master Paul Lau Tak Lun who established Yin and Yang with her—and Master Joseph Chau Kam Shing of Hong Kong who is now the resident feng shui consultant of the Mandarin Oriental group. She graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in management engineering and now has successful businesses in various industries that are aided and supported by her knowledge of Feng Shui. Princesse and Master Chau have been vital in the popularity of Mandarin Oriental’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations. Their clients include both corporate and private individuals from all around the world. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

listen

HIT THE RIGHT BEATS WITH THE LATEST SOUND TECH

THE MUSIC GAMES OF TODAY

tar Hero?

and Gui What Happened to Rock Band By Jon Uriarte

In the music gaming genre, before there was Rock Band and Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution took the world by storm and popularized rhythm games. The addicting dancing game franchise that required a floor pad controller for players to stomp their feet on in coordination to moving arrows on the screen dwindled over the years, however, and the hugely successful Rock Band and Guitar Hero have also fallen under the same fate. Despite their decline in sales and overall popularity in the last few years and whether you ever got a chance to play them or not, no one can dispute the impact they had on this generation. People of all ages and especially fans of rock easily fell in love with the game as much as they did with the music that was in it.

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MARCH 2012

listen HIT THE RIGHT BEATS WITH THE LATEST SOUND TECH

The truth is, people love playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero because they get to feel in control and have the illusion that they are actually playing “for real” as their favorite artist.

Guitar Hero arrived in 2005, requiring a plastic guitar-shaped controller to play. With five differently colored fret buttons, a strum bar, and a whammy bar, players would match the scrolling notes on the screen by pressing the correctly colored buttons and using the strum bar and whammy bar when needed. If a note is not pressed on time or not pushed at all, then that particular note or section in the song wouldn’t be heard. Rock Band, with similar game play to Guitar Hero, arrived in 2007 with not just a lead guitar part, but also one for bass guitar, drums, and a USB microphone for vocals with each part having its own dedicated controller. Guitar Hero followed suit with its second installment in 2008 also featuring a four-player band including drums and vocals. Featuring playlists of famous rock ‘n roll songs, the two rhythm game titles lured a massive audience causing the franchise to eventually develop numerous sequels, add-ons, and artist-specific releases as well as better and more realistic controllers. So why exactly did these games become so popular with musicians and non-musicians of all ages? Although a large reason why people play it is because they love the music, some may wonder why these same people don’t instead buy a record of their favorite artists and learn to play the real instrument, which would even cost them less than the entire game setup. The plastic guitar controllers have little to do with real guitars in that they don’t have strings or actual frets, no sound hole and no jacks for hooking up to an amplifier. In fact, compared to a real guitar, there 82

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is no genuine creativity involved. While Rock Band 3 Pro may have added notated guitar and bass performances on top of the drums and pitchaccurate keyboard parts, prior releases were far from educational. The truth is, people love playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero because they get to feel in control and have the illusion that they are actually playing “for real” as their favorite artist. Indeed, when the correct button is pressed at the right time, then the note is heard; if not, then it isn’t heard at all, essentially tricking our brain into temporarily living the fantasy. While musicians and nonmusicians alike enjoy it for this reason, musicians also find it to be a lighter alternative and a fun escape from its strenuous real world counterpart. Plus, Rock Band and Guitar Hero allow groups of friends to come together and play, which always makes it that much more fun. In the game, players are scored on how well they perform the music, and there’s also the “tour mode” wherein you’d for instance have to start off at a small gig in a pub and work your way up to a concert in New York depending on how well you do. With Rock Band and Guitar Hero’s less thriving past few years, it sure feels like the buzz is gone. Some people believe that it was doomed from the start and saw it as a novelty that would rise and fall like the other music games that came before it. The steady decline could be attributable to several factors, actually. Firstly, the market became oversaturated with sequels, add-on packages, artist spin-offs and new installments.

Although this might seem like a good thing, many gamers actually became beleaguered with too many titles that pretty much offered the same experience except with new music and content licensing deals. From a similar standpoint, there was also a lack of game play innovation. Sure, Guitar Hero added a narrative context to it and Rock Band developed a keyboard part and eventually allowed players to use a real guitar to play, but in the end, the game still revolved around the same core skills of matching the colored tabs on the controller to those on the screen. Since most people were already content with the original iterations of the game, its market growth was stunted. Additionally, others complained about the controllers easily breaking, and with all the game’s follow-up releases and updates that required separate controllers, cost also became an issue as fans eventually needed to purchase new equipment and accessories for one reason or another. Whether you believe that Rock Band and Guitar Hero’s loss of prominence in pop culture is due to the aforementioned reasons or the fact that people just got tired of it, music games will always remain a profitable niche in the industry. We can’t predict whether better versions of the two titles or similar games will be developed for newer consoles, but the effect that they have already made on the world and gaming history will always be remembered. Although the publisher of Guitar Hero has officially closed down its music gaming department, the developers of Rock Band are still planning big things for the future of its franchise. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

ARTISTS AND THEIR TOYS

featuredartist

90’s Music Comes Alive By MR Gavin

It’s a celebration of 90s music as MCA Music and Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 put together the country’s top bands and artists to perform the hottest hits of the 90’s with the album “90s Music Comes Alive”. It was launched early January at Eastwood Central Plaza and Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill with a concert where fans got a chance to meet and greet their favorite musicians.

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MARCH 2012

featuredartist ARTISTS AND THEIR TOYS

Chicosci, one of the country’s top bands, led the pack of performers with their version of EMF’s Unbelievable. Other artists in this all-star album include top band Urbandub with their rendition of This used to be my playground. Superband Franco gave their take of Fake Plastic Trees while December Avenue did their version of I don’t wanna wait. Miguel Escueta showcased his musical wonder with Linger while Typecast performed Keith Sweat’s Twisted. Tanya Markova sung Creep, King of Pop Nyoy Volante gave guitar magic to Power of Two and acoustic pop sisters Krissy and Ericka sang Change the world. Toto Sorioso gave Stay his own flair, Sabrina charms everyone with No Rain, The Lamars chilled with Someday, It Girl Solenn Heusaff sizzled with Torn and multi-platinum crooner Richard Poon jazzed it up with Mambo No. 5. Gadgets Magazine had an exclusive one-on-one interview with some of the MCA artists to get the latest dish on their music, their favorite gadgets and a little gossip.

Chicosci Chicosci needs no introduction, as one of the biggest rock bands in the Philippines. Everyone knows who they are, especially with their endorsements like Nike, Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 and Globe Tattoo. We sat down with vocalist Miggy Chavez and guitarist Mong Alcaraz for a little chit chat on their career and gadgets. Miggy sports an iPhone 4s and says mobile phones are a vital part of their everyday life as it helps them communicate with the people they work with. The Samsung Galaxy WiFi 5.0 is really important to the band as well; it is where they store their music and their studies for their gigs and music writing. Mong’s favorite is his WiFi router as “it basically helps me synchronize all my gadgets, from my phone, tablet and Mac book. Staying online is very important to get all the info we need and to communicate with our fans. It is also a platform where we can post our band schedules so everyone can catch our gigs.”

Tanya Markova The whimsical music, dresses, face paint and the stage presence are just some of the things that make Tanya Markova so memorable. With their make-up on, Tanya Markova leaves everyone in awe with their music and exceptional talent. If they have a wish for the bands career it would be more songs and albums and a better impact on the OPM scene. “It is one of the reasons why we joined 90’s Music comes alive, to widen our reach and to interpret the songs we grew up with,” expresses Norma Love. The bands favorite gadget is their mobile phone and an iPod that they use every time they travel. “Even if it is a beat-up van, a bus or a jeepney, there’s got to be music. That’s why I keep my iPod in my pocket at all times,” explains Iwa Motors. The band also uses an HP laptop to keep all their music files and a MacBook that they use for recording and making music.

Typecast They we’re often tagged as an emo band, but they are not just about emotions but also inspiration. The band tells me their dreams for the band and where they see themselves if they weren’t in the music industry. The band wishes for more albums and songs, and a little bit of touring wouldn’t hurt too. As for their inspiration for their music, “self experiences and sentiments, life struggles, my friends stories and everything we see inspires us,” answers vocalist Steve Badiola. “Even movies and news inspire us, it’s just a matter of putting it together,” adds guitarist Pakoy Fletchero. The band likes to play around when not singing or jamming, particularly with their Xbox as well as play RPG’s or any new game they can get their hands on.

MARCH 2012

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featuredartist

Nyoy Volante

ARTISTS AND THEIR TOYS

Singer and song writer Nyoy Volante was with the 90’s Music Comes Alive launch and we got dibs on his favorite gadgets and how the internet helped him and his career. His current obsession is his iPad and iPhone which helps him be connected all the time. He can get the latest news through the internet and the latest entertainment apps that he can play during his free time. But his favorite from all his gadgets is his MacBook Pro, “I like my MacBook Pro because it made the digital era accessible to everyone. Everything is very precise; even the smallest detail will be captured or adjusted in making music,” Nyoy explains. “Though there are many gadgets in the market, I think the television is the most revolutionary one. Except for entertainment value, the television constantly evolves. From black and white, to flat screens and even 3D, we are looking into a very high tech future!”

Toto Sorioso If you haven’t changed your religion to Totoismo, then it’s time to finally believe. His name is probably familiar; he won the grand prize in Filscap or Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers songwriting competition a few years ago and now he’s found a home in MCA. Toto shares that most of the gadgets that help him in his craft are mostly audio recording devices while a constant thrive to find the perfect guitar is also on his list. As a singer and songwriter, he finds the computer and internet a fascinating platform to get inspiration to write songs. “It made making music much easier, from inspiration to writing and easy recording to a phone or a tablet,” says Toto. His songs are sung by new and seasoned artists here in the Philippines and through 90’s Music Comes Alive, he reminds us why he won Filscap.

Sabrina Sabrina has been branded “Asia’s acoustic sweetheart” because of her sweet and dreamy renditions of popular pop songs. With her jokes and friendly antics, you will surely be captivated. It’s easy to tell that her favorite gadget is something she can use to update her Twitter in order to communicate with her fans and even haters. “I talk to my fans using my BlackBerry,” Sabrina shares. She also added that Twitter helped her haters become her friends. “I thank God for Twitter because I get to talk to my haters and explain my music and in the end we become friends.”

“90s Music Comes Alive” is now out in CDs at leading record stores under MCA Music, and is presented by Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0. To download the music of “90s Music Comes Alive” to your mobile phones, just text NINETIES to 3456. “90s Music Comes Alive” the grand launch is also presented by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and valued media partners: MYX – the Official Music Channel Partner, Jam 88.3 – the Official Radio Partner, Gadgets Magazine, Business Mirror, ETC, Jack TV, 2nd Avenue and Yahoo Philippines – The Official Online Partner.

The event was more special as Bravado, the #1 full serviced merchandising company exclusively under MCA Music was also showcased at these events. Its product range is composed of apparel, branded ranges, posters/ calendars, event programs, accessories and gifts. Bravado’s artist roster includes some of the biggest names in music and merchandise like Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Kanye West, Guns N Roses, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Robbie Williams, Spice Girls, Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Nickelback, Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Mariah Carey among others and locally, Urbandub. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

MARCH 2012

cdreview

GET OUR TAKE ON THE LATES TRACKS TO HIT THE MARKET

By Paolo Toledo

Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures MCA Music Inc.

Boyz II Men Twenty MCA Music Inc.

Michael Jackson Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection MCA Music Inc.

A tragic ending cut the muddled – yet promising – career of Amy Winehouse. A unique character with a voice like none other, there’s no denying that she was an artist as raw and as scarred as the stories she belted out. But like her broken legacy, her music proves to go beyond her scandalous portrayal.

There’s a reason why Boyz II Men is considered one of the all-time greatest R&B groups. It’s not just because they battled out 2 decades in the industry. Moreover, it’s the moments that their songs have carved in our relationships - a distinct style that has defined the music of our love and heartbreak.

With much to be said about his legendary career, his storied influence, and his timeless hits, sometimes it’s easy to oversee the fact that Michael Jackson put in so much work – for so long – before we was crowned the King Of Pop.

“Lioness: Hidden Treasures” is a posthumous Amy Winehouse album to its core. It’s almost a reminder than a tribute – a note to the world of what it has lost. The album is a compilation of recordings, demos, and duets picked out by her collaborators. It comes off as a label-marketing choice more than anything, and the randomness of the tracks give it quite a scattered feel.

After enjoying multi-platinum success with their first two albums in the 1990s, the group fell into a quick funk, which saw one of its members parting ways. However, the remaining trio still carried on, and despite several cover albums that flew under the radar, they kept to their craft and are now releasing their 10th studio album, “Twenty.”

However, Winehouse’s sheer talent overshadows that fact, and still lends greatly to the point that the album tries to make – here was a beautiful voice burdened by a tormented soul. There is a hint of “safety” in the songs that were placed on the album, as most of them veer away from the subversive charm that endeared us most to the lady.

This is a 2-disc array consisting of 12 new tracks on the first CD, and 9 re-recorded hits on the second. Although there is a gaping hole left by the absence of a fourth, the three extraordinary voices of Nathan, Wanya, and Shawn still elicit the same familiarity on disc-two where they take us into emotional nostalgia with classics like, Mototwnphilly, Water Runs Dry, and 4 Seasons Of Loneliness to name a few.

Instead, these songs reflect more of her days prior to Back In Black (2006), back when she was still crooning to the standards and retro-jazz. But the soul in her voice remains intact, the hints of deep repression are recognizable, and the album is still a well-put window a rare singer born for multiple musical eras.

But real attention has to be given to the new recordings on the first disc where the group bridged the gap of past and present – bringing their trademark harmony and 90s-style R&B over more modern production. It’s quite a relief to hear them avoiding to force-fit themselves into today’s confused urban music trends.

Her dramatic rendition of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? is as haunting a moment as any, while Half Time provides one of the albums shining moments. But none are quite as breathtaking as the first song, Our Day Will Come where she sings of hopefulness, but with that slight touch of despair that almost brings her back to life.

The opener, Believe has that old school harmony riding over a new take on the R&B upbeat feel. One of the best ballads on the album is the breezy Will You Be There, that takes you to the hits of their second album. Another notable pick would be Slowly where the Boyz let out a more sexy and sultry vibe to balance out the entire mix.

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We know he started out in the Jackson 5 during the Motown years. Of course we know of his sudden thrust into solo stardom with Thriller. But how much do we know (or have we heard) from the years in between? This is what the latest MJ compilation, “Hello World: The Complete Motown Solo Collection” tries to bring to light, and back to life. This 3-disc collection is definitely not to be treated as a posthumous album. This is actually a repackaged released of Michael’s four solo recording albums (1971-1975) during his time in Motown - Got To Be There, Ben, Music & Me and Forever Michael. The collection has actually been a longtime project that was planned before his death, and features a short collector’s book with brilliant photos of a young and bright MJ. Hello World also contains a few more extras like re-mastered tracks, rarities and unreleased material. But the real magic of this compilation is the story that can be seen between the music. Throughout all three discs and all the songs from those four solo albums, true Michael fans can really be brought along in the growth of the artist himself – from nuances in his voice, to the constant progression of his artistry. Listeners will definitely be delighted to hear the familiar favorites like I Wanna Be Where You Are, Rockin Robin, and Ben. But moreover, they will be treated to songs they have never even heard of (at least, I’ve never had) or some that might have faded into distant memory.

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events

Boracay Undertakes Coral Reef Restoration

With its coral cover assessed to be in alarmingly poor condition, proponents of the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) have undertaken coral reef restoration efforts as part of its coastal resources management program. Through the initiative of the BBMP-Technical Working Group, reef rehabilitation activities consisting of the establishment of coral nurseries, transplantation of coral nubbins on degraded reefs, and deployment of reef domes, were launched in September 2010. Monitoring reports by the coastal and marine resources team headed by Mike Labatiao have reported encouraging results. Earlier studies revealed that Boracay’s live coral cover had seriously deteriorated to only about 15-20%. In 2009, the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc. (CCEFI) reported that coral conditions on the western side consisted of about 23% live coral, while about 77% were non-living. A Xavier University assessment of the eastern side in 2010 recorded 42% live coral cover, while a 2011 study of the southern side by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) indicated an alarmingly low 9% live coral cover. Through the initiative of the local government of Malay, Aklan, under the leadership of Mayor John P. Yap, and in close collaboration with Boracay Foundation Inc., Petron Foundation, San Miguel Corporation and other stakeholders, the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) focused www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

on coastal resources management as one of its priority areas. In particular, Petron partnered with Boracay Foundation Inc. to champion the reef rehabilitation program. In September 2010, a coral nursery using PVC nets was established near Crocodile Island. Another coral nursery, made of biotech screens, was planted at the Balinghai snorkeling area in May 2011. Coral nubbins from the nurseries were then transplanted and attached to dead coral to encourage regrowth and eventually restore live coral cover. Multi-functional reef domes were deployed about 100-meters from the Boracay shoreline. Aside from serving as nurseries for coral regrowth, they are also fish sanctuaries and help increase fish density. At the same time, they act as wave breakers during the typhoon season. Because of their utility, the BBMP-TWG is building more reef domes to be deployed along Boracay’s main beach area. With its previous experience in the United Nations Development Programme’s Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) framework, Petron coordinated the local government initiatives of Mayor Yap to target seven priority areas under the BBMP. These include coastal resources management, water and waste water management, solid waste management, watershed protection, hazard prevention, local governance, and information, education and communication. With a strong partnership among stakeholders under the leadership of the local government unit, other partner agencies who actively contribute to the BBMP include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local agencies, nongovernment organizations, youth groups, and the business sector. MARCH 2012

events

Sharp Annual dealers’ convention By Steven Vea

Last October 2011, Sharp held its Annual Dealers’ Convention at the Makati Shangri-La, but it was not any ordinary gathering. With the year coming to a close and a new one to look forward to, SHARP officially celebrated a milestone achievement of 100 years in existence worldwide. What made the landmark event even more special is that the company also commemorated a strong 30-year presence in the Philippines. For those who are wondering what makes Sharp’s relationship to our archipelago memorable, a small trip down memory lane is in order. There was once a time when the Philippines was threatened by violent political instability due to the strong arm of a dictator’s regime. This turbulent climate threatened not only the lives and livelihood of individuals, but served as a deterrent for investors which significantly affected our economy. SHARP was one such corporation that established roots in our country, and despite the unstable socio-political environment brought about by martial law, the company decided to withstand the storm. They held steadfast and experienced the glory brought about by the EDSA Revolution in 1986, continuing to provide services and products to Filipino people. Thus, they decided to celebrate their 30 years in the Philippines by naming the commemoration: “Through Thick & Thin”. Visiting dignitaries included Mr. Koji Domoto, Group Deputy General Manager of Sharp ASEAN Group and Managing Director of Sharp Electronics Malaysia (SEM); Mr. Naotaka Ohtsuka, Group Deputy General Manager, Health and Environment Systems Group and Division General Manager of Refrigerator System Division; and Mr. Hiroshi 88

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Kawana, Manager, LCD Digital Systems Division 3 of the Audio-Visual Systems Group. Today, Sharp continues to solidify its relationship with the Philippines, and plans to propel plans to go green, as they explore the benefits of solar power. A Cepalco operated farm in Cagayan is the first solar farm in the country, utilizing Sharp’s poly-crystalline silicon (PSC) solar panels, and in the near future, they hope to make photovoltaic technology more accessible locally to increase productivity ad lessen our environmental impact. Alternatively, Sharp provides eco-friendly solutions to the home, through appliances such as air purifiers and refrigerators equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology, which battle harmful elements in the air. Additionally, they have also unveiled an energy efficient 70-inch Quattron 735 series television, which is one of the largest LCD television in the Philippines. It is equipped with Sharp’s new UV2A technology –the first to have the “proprietary RGB+Y” technology that translates advanced picture quality and color accuracy. To this day, Sharp continues to provide a range of products and services to the Filipino people. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

events

HP Helps Students Move Up To A+ Excellence

HP works with Department of Education-NCR and Efren Peñaflorida in Write&Read -a collaborative story-writing program Bringing together the power of innovation and education, HP ushers in its pioneering A+ campaign that empowers Filipino students to achieve academic excellence in school with the help of HP’s latest innovative imaging and printing technologies. Together with a full roster of yearlong, youth-enriching activities, the campaign will leverage the HP Ink Advantage printers in cultivating children’s potential and improving their learning experience through affordable, reliable and high-quality prints for their school projects and other academic requirements. Inspiring creativity among the youth A major component of the A+ campaign is Write&Read, a collaborative story-writing program that HP is launching with the Department of Education-National Capital Region that aims to inspire creativity in Filipino students. The program spreads the inspiration through CNN Hero of the Year and Lakandula Award recipient Efren Peñaflorida as its campaign ambassador, who championed youth literacy through the Dynamic Teen Company “kariton” classroom to educate children in far-flung areas of the country. “We look forward to this meaningful partnership with HP. Through Write&Read, we will be able to work hand in hand in enriching the learning experience of children and inspire a growing interest in writing and reading, two of the most important and fundamental skills in education,” said Dr. Milagros Quiñones, English Supervisor, DepEd-NCR. “Education is life-changing, and writing and reading is where it all starts,” said Efren Peñaflorida. “It is through colorful prints that students are able to appreciate and embrace education even more as it will embrace them back and enable them to change their lives for the better.” Open to grades 4 to 7 and high school students from March 1 to May 30, 2012, the competition is set to recognize Metro Manila’s top 10 young writers who will join the ranks of young Filipino authors. The competition will also publish a book compilation of the winning short story entries. To further hone the youth’s talent in creative writing, HP will launch a series of creative writing workshops nationwide that will feature interactive lectures and activities for students www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Achieving A+ Excellence with HP Ink Advantage Printers Write&Read will be driven by HP’s robust printing technology and innovations that let students turn creative ideas into reality. Featuring ultra-low cost original HP cartridges, the HP Ink Advantage printers deliver affordable, reliable and quality A+ printing that enables students to showcase their creations in the best way possible and further their passion for writing and reading. “With the HP Ink Advantage printers, students can definitely showcase stunning output for their great ideas and enjoy the opportunity of

achieving top grades,” said Armando Pascual, HP General Manager for the Imaging and Printing Group. “The A+ campaign allows students to enjoy learning and achieve excellence at the same time. It is HP’s way to inspire Filipino students to be more motivated and creative while we make sure that their outputs, in terms of printing, are excellent.” The A+ campaign is a part of HP’s advocacy of enriching the lives of children though technology, innovation and meaningful activities that foster creativity, personal development and better education in the Philippines.

MARCH 2012

events

Winners Of Epson Color Imaging Contest 2011 Showcase “Beautiful Philippines” Epson Color Imaging Contest Top 3 Winners to represent the country in region-wide photo exhibit in Taipei Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) today presented the Top 24 entries plus the Voter’s Choice winner in the recently concluded Epson Color Imaging Contest 2011. In cooperation with SM Malls and SM Cyberzone, the top entries will be showcased in a 7-day exhibit at the 4th floor of the SM Annex Event Area at the SM City North EDSA.

First Place “Light Unseen” by Randall Cipriano 90

MARCH 2012

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events

Epson also announced the Top 3 winners who will represent the country in a regional exhibit in Taipei, Taiwan later this month. Themed “Beautiful Philippines,” the contest encouraged Filipino photography enthusiasts to explore the beauty of our country from various aspects -- human, landscape, nature and architecture. This year’s CIC is also the first time that Epson utilized a new medium for the submission of entries and announcement of winners: Facebook. As prolific users of the popular social platform, many Filipinos were able to easily share their captured moments via digital images, Thus, Facebook viewers from around the world were treated to amazing photos that featured scenic spots, and colorful cultural snapshots of the Philippines. “The Epson CIC became an established international event where photographers from all over the world can showcase their work. Since 2004, Epson Philippines has been one of the more active companies in the CIC, allowing our Filipino photographers to share their unique talent and skill. This is just one of the many ways in which Epson shows its support to the art of photography,” explained Hideto Nakamura, Country Manager of Epson Philippines Corporation. In every country, the photo competition goes through rounds of judging with all top 3 winners to be included in the international exhibit in Taipei. Epson Philippines Corporation carefully handpicked the top three photo entries that they felt best show the beauty of the Philippines. About 4,000 fans in the Epson Color Imaging Contest Facebook page also casted their votes for their favorite entry, with the photo having the most number of votes winning the “Voters’ Choice Award”. This year’s Epson CIC top prize winner in the Philippines is Randall Cipriano who submitted a photo entitled “Light Unseen.” Taken from the Triboa Bay Mangrove Park in Subic Bay, the photographer shot with a 720 nanometer wavelength filter that cuts off a lot of visible light but captures infrared light. The result was an ethereal take of an already remarkable Philippine scenic spot.

Second Place “Fishermen” by Don Clavo De Comer

As the First Prize winner in the national competition, Randall Cipriano won USD1,500 cash prize, an Epson Stylus Photo R1390 and an all-expense-paid holiday to Taipei from 29 February – 3 March 2012 to attend the Epson Color Imaging Contest region-wide photo exhibit. His winning artwork will be displayed with all Top 3 representatives from Indonesia, India and Taiwan. Second and third place winners were Don Clavo De Comer for “Fishermen” and Luisito G. Cleofas for “Majestic Mayon Volcano,” respectively. A special award for Voters’ Choice was given to Mr. Shin J. Fukagawa for his breathtaking picture of the architecture of a church that looks like a castle in Sibonga, Cebu. He garnered the most votes from Facebook followers, and won USD200 cash prize and an Epson PictureMate PM310. “With the theme “Beautiful Philippines”, our local photographers were able to skillfully show the distinct beauty and culture of the country. We are excited to present the winning entries alongside the world’s most beautiful representations of their own countries and culture,” said Ms. Donna V. Ferro, EPC General Manager for Marcom & Customer Support. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Third Place “Majestic Mayon Volcano” by Luisito G. Cleofas MARCH 2012

newsbits&bytes 17th Edition Globe Tattoo@Home of Cards & Payments Asia unveils DSL, 2012 WiMAX and GPON offers

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PayDollar Debit: Making online shopping easier

AsiaPay, a world-class provider of Internet and mobile payment services and technologies in Asia, launches “PayDollar Debit” Payment Service, the most comprehensive debit payment option for the Asia Pacific region.

“As we reach a new milestone of AsiaPay’s strong alliance with leading payment and bank partners in Asia and China, we are pleased to launch PayDollar Debit Payment Service as an alternative payment option to non-credit consumers for businesses in Asia. Consumers can now enjoy greater payment convenience in making online purchases in Asia while merchants can further maximize their online sales by catering to non-credit consumers,” said Joseph Chan, CEO of the AsiaPay Group. PayDollar Debit Payment Service enables merchants to accept and collect online real-time debit payments from consumers in China, Australia, New Zealand, and other Asian countries via bank accounts, debit cards, e-wallets, and prepaid products. AsiaPay’s comprehensive partnerships will allow merchants to serve over one billion customer base all throughout the Asia Pacific region. Currently, it can process payments from China UnionPay, AliPay, 99Bill, PPS, MyClear, BancNet, Globe GCash, Smart Money, POLi, Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, TMB Bank, United Overseas Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, and Krung Thai Bank accountholders. And, payment is real-time and securely authenticated. “The continued increase of online debit-ready consumers along with the comfort levels of consumers in making online purchases has created a new market for online businesses. And, we strive to offer our merchants the most integrated and comprehensive payment services possible by providing credit and debit payments in Asia, together with integrated multilingual account and consolidated transaction reporting, and single settlement even if the merchant has multiple debit payment options in different countries via our PayDollar platform,” adds Joseph Chan.

MARCH 2012

Opens in Singapore 25 – 27 April 2012, Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre The 17th edition, Cards & Payments Asia 2012, Asia’s largest smart technology exhibition is set to wow with a bigger and better event this year. It will showcase highly anticipated new technologies in Near Field Communication (NFC) and contactless payment together with the entire spectrum of smart technology initiatives. Key stakeholders from the telecommunications, government authorities and services, banking, hospitality, retail, healthcare, transport, aviation and logistics sectors will come together to reveal how the latest applications and product innovations can drive service, growth and business opportunities in their respective industries across Asia.

Tattoo, the flagship broadband brand of Globe Telecom, unveils its new line-up of broadband offers for consumers that offer superior and customizable speeds and the best value-for-money packages in the market today. Using the most diverse array of broadband technologies in the country— Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), 4G WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and GPON (Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network) - Tattoo@Home provide stable and flexible connections that give families the best internet experience at home, from parents working or paying bills online, young adults downloading their favorite songs or movies to kids and teens doing research and expressing themselves in multiple ways online. The best part about Tattoo@Home is that the plans are customizable based on the subscribers’ unique needs. For instance, Tattoo@Home Plan 1099, a DSL and landline bundle, runs on speeds of up to 1mbps. Plus, customers get free NDD calls forever (to Globelines and Globe DUO subscribers) and one month of speed boost for free. On the other hand, Tattoo@Home Plan 1299 runs on speeds of up to 2 mbps and subscribers get free NDD calls forever (to Globelines and Globe DUO subscribers), one month of speed boost and a free WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) router. Launching its greatest value for money and high-speed broadband plans for the whole family, Tattoo@Home also introduced Ford Supermodel of the World 2010 Danica Flores Magpantay as its newest brand ambassador.

Singapore may be one of the first nations to see the widespread adoption of NFC as a payment mode. This is made possible via the S$40 million Call-for-Collaboration (CFC) initiative, allowing up to 20,000 retail points and taxis to be NFC-enabled by mid 2012. This initiative by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and 7 companies, namely mobile operators M1, StarHub, SingTel, payment service providers Citibank, DBS and EZ-Link, as well as Gemalto, a digital security company, marks Asia’s first interoperable nationwide deployment of NFC mobile payment systems. Along with the rest of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region which sees more than 9 countries like Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, South Korea and Sri Lanka making advances in NFC technology, experts believe that this tech savvy region could be the first adopters of NFC enabled mobile payment for their next mobility solutions. Richard Ireland, Chief Executive, Terrapinn Asia Pacific said, “This year’s Cards & Payments Asia not only allows attendees to gain valuable insights on how to capitalise on the exponential growth of e-commerce and mobile commerce, but leverage on cutting-edge knowledge of multi-channel strategies for effective customer engagement, making it a must-attend event for all stakeholders seeking an edge over their competitions.” This three-day event expects to draw more than 8,000 attendees, over 200 international leading solution providers from Singapore, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and many more. Seven concurrent conferences and pre- and post-workshops will feature renowned speakers from all over Asia and beyond. Co-located with Cards & Payments Asia 2012 are seven synergistic events: Prepaid Cards Asia, Near Field Communication (NFC) World Asia, Digital ID World Asia, RFID World Asia, Retail World Asia, Online Retail World Asia and Digital Signage World Asia. To participate in Cards & Payments Asia 2012, please visit www. terrapinn.com/conference/cards-asia/.

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“Amped4fun” Awareness Campaign

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YouTube and Emirates, in partnership with La Biennale di Venezia (the Venice Film Festival) and Scott Free, announced Your Film Festival - a global competition to find the world’s best storytellers, connect them with a global audience, and provide one deserving entrant with a career-changing opportunity. Content creators around the world are invited to submit a 15-minute, story-driven video of any format, style and genre, to Youtube.com/yourfilmfestival. After submissions are whittled down to 50 semi-finalists, audiences from around the world will cast their votes, choosing ten finalists. The ten finalists will travel to Italy, where their work will screen at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in August. A grand prize winner will then be named by a special

jury and awarded a $500,000 YouTube original production grant to work with Scott Free, ultimately creating a brand new work for the world to see. Submissions, which open February 2, 2012 and close on March 31, 2012, will be reviewed by Scott Free and narrowed down to 50 semi-finalists from around the world in the summer of 2012. The YouTube community will then vote for ten finalists who will be flown to unveil their films in a special program at the 2012 Venice Film Festival. In Venice, a jury will vote among the ten films to select one Grand Prize Winner. The winner will receive a development deal with Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions. Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, is the sponsor of this year’s

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YouTube Your Film Festival. “The foundation of the Emirates brand is connecting people. As an airline, we link people from one destination to another and we also act as a cultural bridge for people’s thoughts, ideas and dreams,” said Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Emirates. “Through our sponsorship of Your Film Festival we are supporting the journey of emerging filmmakers through YouTube’s innovative entertainment platform.” Your Film Festival is one of several efforts by YouTube to push the boundaries of music, art, and film. For more information, please visit youtube.com/yourfilmfestival and submit your film between February 2 and March 31, 2012.

ABS-CBN Multimedia has recently culminated its “Amped4Fun” awareness campaign where players of Shaiya and WarRock Philippines submitted their own cheeky spin-off of DOT’s popular viral “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Rare weapons and enhancements such as a red FAMAS weapon for WarRock and a +2 enchant for Shaiya were awarded to 11 players whose entries garnered the most ‘likes’ on Amped’s official Facebook page. Among the 109 entries from Shaiya and 183 from WarRock, Mark Achel Bacsafra Gagalac, Jerick Ebanreb, Jezreel Recolito, Clarisa Joyce Velasco, Drakken Joe, Noel Seblos, Geass Gelizon, Allan Abelada, Mark Dave Gregorio, Nikko Treveno, and Jhun Del Rosario emerged as winners last January 25. Shaiya features a rich and expansive back story, clean graphics, immersive gameplay, tons of dungeons, and quests. Players can also choose which race their characters will come from including Human, Elves, Vail, and Nordein. WarRock, on the other hand, gives players a fresh alternative to the various Role Playing games in the country with five different military character classes—Military Engineer, Scout, Combatant, and Heavy Weapons unit. Players can also enjoy technologically advanced vehicles and weapon systems. Watch out for more exciting contests from ABS-CBN Multimedia’s gaming brand, Amped. For more information and updates, check out www.amped.ph, www.shaiya.ph, and www.warrock.ph.

MARCH 2012

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Vision Petron opens exhibit at the National Museum

Formally opening the Vision Petron Lakbay Pinoy exhibit were (L-R): Photographer-judges Edwin Tuyay, Sonny Yabao and Wig Tysman; Ramon Cruz, Petron brand marketing head; Mrs. Grace Imao and Hon. Abdulmari Imao, national artist for sculpture; and Jeremy Barns, executive director of the National Museum.

The Vision Petron national student art competition opened its exhibit at the ground floor of the National Museum’s Museum of the Filipino People last 17 January 2012. To run until April 2012, the three-month exhibit will include the winning artworks of students and related images by the judges of the photography category of the 2011 Vision Petron National Student Art Competition. Themed Lakbay Pinoy: Journeys to Remember, Pathways to Rediscover, the exhibit is divided into three sub-themes that identify life journeys as expressed symbolically by roads, highways and byways. It can be a mountain path representing a journey to success, or a zigzag lane symbolizing seasons of change. It can be a forest trail sparking childhood memories, or a nostalgic route conjuring reminiscences of student life. Kapalaran (Destiny) relates to the hopes, dreams and aspirations of Filipinos. Pathways may be hard—as depicted in Dale Erispe’s Lakbaying Walang Katapusan, or rocky like Mark Benitez’s Lakbay Aral—but with determination and faith, one can reach one’s goals. Other examples are Success Begins Here by Alexis Gapal; Gareta by Gim Sam Salak; and

MARCH 2012

Joyride by Eden Joy Cruz. Kaginhawaan (Lightness of Being) expresses the “emotional experience” encountered in a journey such as fun or lessons learned along the way. The happy faces in The Path of Life by Michael Froilan, and Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko, Kaya Natin by Esmeraldo Montero are part of this subtheme. Other artworks included here are Sa Tamang Destinasyon by Dave Cruz; Yu-Pi, Yumapak sa Pinitak by Amadeo Cristobal; Living on a Prayer by Karl Albais; Juan Ride by Katleen Joy Gonzales; Pamanang Alaala by Meredith Gualberto; Byahero by John Mark Saycon; Promdi by Don Bryan Michael Bunag; Little Help for Mom by Lydel Buenconsejo; and Energy Saver by Reu Dawner Flores. Katotohanan (Truth) features roads as venues for growth and progress. These roads reveal our character and the values we imbibe as we constantly traverse them everyday. Winning works exhibited here are San Juanico Bridge by Erick Salon; Ing Dalan Ning Visitas Iglesia Queng Palengqui Ning Apu by Neil Bryan Urbano; Dugtungan ng Lahi by Arnold Lalongisip; Ride Under the Rain by Kirk Gideon Buenconsejo; Blur by Mark Henrich Go; Shadows of the Past by Reu Dawner Flores; Pasada by

Kiss Thrill John Demetita; Which Way by Mari Rose Angeline Lim; Trip to Happiness by Renz Marrione Bautista; and Lakbay Pinoy! Patungo sa Pag-Unlad by Emil Aldrine Alarcon. Some of the country’s leading photographers who served as Vision Petron judges have contributed two images each of their interpretations of the Lakbay Pinoy theme. The master photographers include Wig Tysman, George Tapan, Romy Vitug, Denise Weldon, Scott “Gutsy” Tuason, Edwin Tuyay, and Sonny Yabao. This interaction between masters and budding artists is a significant dialogue for them and the audience as well. By encouraging students to creatively discover their talents under a master’s guidance, Vision Petron is inspired by the belief that free artistic expression is intrinsic to nation-building. Vision Petron was a most eagerly awaited national student art contest and the Lakbay Pinoy contest theme garnered the biggest number of entries and number of school participation. As an adjunct to this banner year, Petron is sharing these winning works to a wider audience by holding the exhibit at the National Museum until April 2012.

3 latest offers from Globe Tattoo

Armed with unbeaten offers, Tattoo, powered by Globe sets itself apart as it becomes faster with their roll-out of the 4G network –making all services bolder and more powerful than ever. As the #1 most preferred broadband in the country, Tattoo makes sure that each service goes with every fast-paced lifestyle. Expensive connections and limited coverage are history with Tattoo’s pre-paid devices and packages that let every individual spark a trend on-line. Run of the mill offers are long gone. Tattoo resists mediocrity with peerless Prepaid offers. The Tattoo Sonic is Tattoo’s most affordable device at Php 995 powered by 3G. Its speeds reach up to 3.6Mbps and you can even enjoy Facebook free for the first 10 days. The Tattoo Flash device on the other hand at Php 1245 is already run under the 4G umbrella with speeds reaching to 7.2Mbps that comes with 25 days free Facebook usage. Lastly, pre-paid users can now experience The Tattoo Superstick Prepaid powered by 4G up to 7.2Mbps for only Php 3895 also with 25 days free Facebook usage. And even on a prepaid service, you can still be in the loop resisting limitations in connectivity. All of these devices upon purchase come with Free 120 hours of unlimited connection for 5 days. Tattoo’s new post-paid plans define living without limits – resisting uniformity on plan

offers that don’t follow suit with each unique lifestyle. Tattoo’s new Postpaid portfolio starts with their lowest plans at Php299 and Php499 a month. Both come with the 4G-powered USB dongle that reaches 7.2Mbps. The Tattoo device at plan Php 999 on the other hand has speeds of up to 12 Mbps while the Tattoo Superstick at plan Php 1299 keeps you on-line up to 21 Mbps both running on 4G. Pushing the limits in bandwidth are their exceptional add-ons with the Speed and Volume Boost. Speed Boosts go for up to 12 Mbps for additional Php00/month; Up to 21 Mbps for Php150/month and up to 42 mbps for Php250/month. Wider bandwidth also becomes more accessible with the Volume Boost that starts with an additional 5GB for Php200/ month; additional 10GB for Php300/month and a Surf-AllYou want option for only an additional Php 400/month. Securing their position in the world-wide web, 2012 is bound to be more groundbreaking for Tattoo - with technological innovations, new devices, revitalized services, and matchless deals that RESIST the tired and traditional model. With a new and empowered broadband that packs a punch in a super sleek and stylish package, Tattoo reveals the new and progressive face of internet technology. Learn more about Tattoo’s latest products and services by visiting http://tattoo.globe.com.ph

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This year, in partnership with the Philippine Tropical Forest Corporation, 3 mangroves per runner translating to 39,000 seedlings will be planted to build a mangrove forest in Zamboaga de Sibugay. Mangroves serve as a breeding ground of life, protect coastal communities and generate livelihood opportunities for generations to come. As a testament to this commitment, runners painted on a 100foot mangrove wall installed in the Condura Skyway Village. “My vision is to put the Philippines on the map as a sports tourism destination. What better way to spend a vacation than to run a World Class marathon and then go to the place that you ran for like Bohol. Our vision is to grow the race to 30 thousand runners in 5 years time and establish the Condura Skyway Marathon as the Premier Running event in the Asia Pacific Region”, enthuses Mr. Ton Concepcion, Condura President.

Bosch plans acquisition of GmbH The Bosch Group plans to acquire voltwerk electronics GmbH, a Hamburg-based supplier of electronic components and software solutions for the operation of photovoltaic arrays. An agreement to this effect has been signed with German energy firm Conergy AG. In 2010, voltwerk electronics and its roughly 100 associates generated sales of some 68 million euros (Php3.79 billion). Its product portfolio mainly comprises string and central inverters for photovoltaic arrays. “In acquiring voltwerk electronics, Bosch can enter the inverter market, as well as draw on a broad product portfolio

ranging from 3 kW string inverters to 1400 kW central inverters,” said Joseph Hong, managing director of Bosch Philippines. Alexander Gorski, Conergy’s director of operations and sales, commented: “We are very pleased to have found an investor and partner that is so highly regarded and strong as Bosch. It will now develop and drive forward the business of voltwerk electronics.” For Conergy, he continued, the sale of voltwerk electronics was an important move in the context of its strategic reorientation. Inverters are used wherever direct current has to be converted into alternating current. As renewable

MyMusicStore.com.ph ph will also allow users to pay for music that they fancy through prepaid cards (think of cellphone load, but for tracks) and via their cellphone load (though only Smart is supported for now).

Indeed this vision is fast becoming reality. From 2,000 runners in 2008 the race has grown almost 7 fold with runners flying in from difference parts of the Philippines and 18 different countries around the world to join the marathon. The Condura Skyway Marathon is the biggest full marathon and half marathon event in the country today. The race was made even more exciting this year with the introduction of the first Midnight marathon in the country and the 3k and 5k race categories running up the Skyway for the first time. “We would not be able to mount this race without the Skyway and Operations Management Corporation headed by its President Mr. Ramon Borromeo and its Head of Operations Mr. Ed Nepomuceno, our Venue Host, Filinvest and our presenting sponsors, Summit Water and Asics. This is the team that has the vision to put the Philippines on the map!” shares Mr. Concepcion. The Condura Skyway marathon is an annual event that is held every first Sunday of February. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

energy and electromobility become more and more widespread, these inverters are playing an increasingly important role. For example, the direct current generated by a solar cell has to be converted into alternating current before it can be fed into the grid. And in 2 electric vehicles, a conversion process is also needed so that the electric motor can use the direct current from the battery. Furthermore, when recuperating brake energy and feeding it back into the battery, inverters and their sophisticated power electronics are needed once more.

Online music portals aren’t exactly a new idea (iTunes anyone?) but because of region restrictions, there hasn’t been a lot of choice for Pinoys to download music legally. Enter MyMusicStore.com. ph, a newly launched online music portal that makes it easy for anyone to browse, choose

and buy legal digital music from the comforts of their own home. Currently in Beta, MyMusicStore. com.ph differs from services like iTunes by offering Pinoys a convenient way to pay for their music. Aside from the obvious options - payment via Credit Card and PayPal - MyMusicStore.com.

Managed by both MobileCash Inc. and Rising Tide Mobile Entertainment Inc. and supported by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), MyMusicStore.com.ph aims to deliver a convenient service that’ll allow the average Joe to buy and download music legally. And while MyMusicStore.com. ph currently only has about 15-17 thousand artists on tap, their reps say they’ll have considerably more content by the time the service gets out of beta. Users will be able to purchase songs a la carte, as well as whole albums. Right now the service only exists as a web portal, but execs present during the event did mention the possibility of a mobile portal for both Android and iOS, though nothing has been set in stone as of yet. You can visit the site at MyMusicStore.com.ph to check out the site for yourself.

MARCH 2012

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A record 13 thousand runners participated in the Premier running event of the Philippines, the Condura Skyway Marathon held last Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Filinvest, Alabang. Now on its 5th year, this is the only marathon that goes through the elevated Skyway system and advocates the protection of the marine environment.

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The Condura Skyway Marathon 2012: Run for the Mangroves

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SAMSUNG GALAXY FIT S5670 3.31-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 600 MHz processor 110.2 x 61.2 x 12.6 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 12,890

SAMSUNG GALAXY ACE S5830 3.5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 800 MHz ARM 11 processor, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset 112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 16,500

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MARCH 2012

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EEE PAD TRANSFORMER 10.1” LED Backlight WXGA Android Honeycomb Nvidia Tegra2 Nvidia Tegra2 16GEMMC Memory 1.2MP front camera G Sensor Php 29,995

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ML SERIES (ML229H) Wide Screen 21.5” Full HD 1080P Trace Free Technology Net Weight (Esti.): 3.1kg ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio Php 9,490

K42SJ 2nd generation Intel Core i3-2310 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM 500GB, 14" LED Display, NVIDIA GT520 1GB graphics, Super Multi ODD, Card Reader, BT, webcam, HDMI port Php 26,995

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K42N-VX057O 14-inch LED AMD V140, 2.3 GHz 2GB DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM 1-year Warranty parts and labor 320 GB HDD Php 18,995

buyers’guide

ASUS

A SERIES (A43SJ-VX335) 14” LED Display DDR3 1333 MHz Intel B940 2GB DDR3 1333 Mhz SDRAM 500GB HDD NVIDIA GT520 512MBgraphics Super Multi ODD Php 24,995

ESSENTIO CM6830 DOS 2 x DIMM Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066/800 MHz. SATA3 3.5” Supported Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD Php 31,995 w/ monitor

HTC

HTC DESIRE Z 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 800 MHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM 7230 chipset 119 x 60.4 x 14.2 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 30,800

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HTC DESIRE HD 4.3-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen Android 2.2 (Froyo) 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset 123 x 68 x 11.8 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 33,500

HTC HD7 4.3-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen Microsoft Windows Phone 7 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 200 GPU, Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon chipset 122 x 68 x 11.2 mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/2100 Php 36,900

O!PLAY HD2 USB 3.0 Flexible 3.5” HDD storage with NAS support TrueHD with 7.1 channel surround audio DLNA Php 6,990

MARCH 2012

buyers’guide ADVERTISERS’ ROW

MINI 110-3101TU 10.1-inch LCD Intel Atom N475 1GB DDR2 1-year warranty parts and labor 250GB HDD Php 18,990

MINI 210-2005TU/ 2025TU BLACK/RED 10.1 LED flush display Intel Atom N475 2GB DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 22,990

MINI 210-1102TU/1103 RED/BLUE 10.1 LED flush display Intel Atom N475 1GB 667DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 250GB HDD Php 21,490

G42-368TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 380M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 39,990

G42-370TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 460M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 40,990

CQ42-292TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 350M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 320GB HDD Php 38,990

G42-372TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i5 460M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 43,990

G42-366TX 14-inch LED Intel Core i3 380M 2GB 1066DDR3 1-year warranty parts and labor 500GB HDD Php 35,990

PENTAX

K-5 (18-55mm kit) 16.3-megapixel resolution with CMOS sensor Highest sensitivity 80-51200 ISO 1/8000 shutter speed 1080p HD video 3-inch LCD screen 77 segment metering system Php 74,990

PENTAX Q 12.4-megapixel resolution Sensor shift shake reduction 3-inch LCD screen Film filters including infrared 5fps continuous shooting Full HD movie 1080p (1920x1080) Built-in pop-up flash with extra-high extension Php 34,990

RZ18 16-megapixel resolution Wide angle 18x optical zoom 3-inch HVGA display HD movie 720p Dual shake reduction Php 13,990

WG1 14-megapixel resolution Wide angle 5x optical zoom 2.7-inch LCD screen HD movie 70p (1280x720) Water proof (up to 33ft), cold proof, shock proof, crash proof, dust proof Digital microscope mode 5 macro LEDs Php 17,990

DELL

RS1000 14 megapixel 3-inch LCD screen 4x optical zoom HD movie 720p (1280x720) Interchangeable faceplate Php 4,990

MARCH 2012

INSPIRON 2320 ALL-IN-ONE 23 inch with 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution standard Multi-Touch screen Intel Pentium processor G620 Up to 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333Mhz Nvidia Geforce GT 525M Php 54,900

XPS 8300 DESKTOP Intel Core i7 3.4 GHz 1.5 GB - 7200 rpm ATI Mobility RADEON HD 5870 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Professional Php 54,990

XPS15Z 15 inch display 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2640M processor 2.80 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 2GB graphics Php 62,000

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EOS 600D 18 megapixel resolution 3-inch wide LCD with vari-angle SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card EF-S 18-55mm f.3.5-5.6 IS II (Kit lens) 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7 mm Php 49,950

EOS 1D MARK IV 16.1 megapixel resolution 3.0 inches TFT colour liquid-crystal monitor Type I or II CF card, SD memory card, MicroDrive 156 x 156.6 x 79.9mm Php 249,950 (body only)

EOS 1000D 10.50 megapixel resolution 2.5in TFT color liquid-crystal monitor SD card, SDHC card 18-55mm kit lens 126.1 x 97.5 x 61.9mm Php 27,950

EOS 5D MARK II 21.10 megapixel resolution 3-inch TFT color liquid-crystal monitor with Live view shooting Type I or II CF card, UDMA-compatible Canon EF lenses 152 x 113.5 x 75mm Php 129,950 (body only)

EOS 7D 18 megapixel resolution 3.0-inch TFT color liquid-crystal monitor SD, SDHC and SDXC card 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3mm Php 89,950

DIGITAL IXUS 310 HS 12.1 megapixel resolution 3.2-inchPureColor II Touch LCD screen SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 4.4x Optical zoom 100.6 x 55.4 x 25.0 mm Php 19,950

DIGITAL IXUS 220 HS 12.1-megapixel resolution 2.7-inch PureColor II G LCD SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 24mm, 5x zoom, Optical IS 92.2 x 55.9 x 19.5 mm Php 16,950

POWERSHOT A800 10.0 megapixel resolution 2.5 TFT LCD SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card 24mm, 5x zoom, Optical IS 6.6 - 21.6mm, 3.3 optical zoom Php 3,950

POWERSHOT SX130 IS 12.1 megapixel resolution 3.0-inch TFT colour LCD with wide viewing angle SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 113.3 x 73.2 x 45.8mm Php 15,950

POWERSHOT A1200 12.1 megapixel resolution 2.7-inch type TFT colour wide viewing angle type SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 97.5 x 62.5 x 30.7mm Php 4,590

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POWERSHOT A3300 IS 16 megapixel resolution 3.0-inch TFT LCD SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card 5.0 – 25.0 mm, 5x optical zoom 95.1 x 56.7 x 23.9 mm Php 9,950

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EOS 1100D 12.2 megapixel resolution 2.7-inch LCD with Live View shooting SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card EF-S 18-55mm f.3.5-5.6 IS II (Kit lens) 129.9x 99.7x 77.9mm Php 31,950

buyers’guide

CANON

POWERSHOT A2200 14.1 megapixel resolution 2.7-inch TFT colour wide viewing angle type SD, SDHC memory, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, HC MMCplus 93.2 x 57.2 x 23.6mm Php 6,950

VIXIA FS400 2.7-inch widescreen colour 37x optical zoom SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card 53 x 59 x 122mm Php 12,950

MARCH 2012

links

YOUR GADGETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DIRECTORY

Technology ASUS Hanston Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 634 0309 http://ph.asus.com

BANG & OLUFSEN Makati City Living Innovations Corp. 2nd floor Makati Shangri-La Makati City Tel. 830 2230

BLACKBERRY 37 Samat St. Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City Tel. 416 0938

HEWLETT PACKARD 37/F Robinsons Summit Center 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel. 888 5900

HUAWEI Unit 5302-B, 53/f PBCom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St. Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. 819 0500

LENOVO Unit 15-A,15th Floor, Citibank Tower, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1200. Tel. 556 3106

LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES INC. No. 15F. Legaspi St., Maybunga, Pasig City Tel. 641 4181

NOKIA Nokia (Philippines), Inc. 40/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City Tel. 886 1234

100

MARCH 2012

PLANTRONICS BANBROS COMMERCIAL INC. 3/F, BB Corporate Center 32 Pilar Cor. Araullo St. Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City Tel. 727 3009

POWER COLOR, RAZER ION TECH 20 North Rd. Cor. 3rd Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City Tel. 724 3340

SAMSUNG 7/F Hanjinphil Bldg. 1128 University Parkway, North Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. 1 800 SAMSUNG

SONY 11F Marajo Tower 312 26th Street West cor. 4th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1624 Philippines Tel. 860 3333

TEAM MANILA 3F Valdelcon Bldg. 20 Jupiter St., Makati City Tel. 822 4989

TOSHIBA NOTEBOOKS TRICOM DYNAMICS, INC. Metro House 345 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City Tel. 890 6525

TDK 119 East Science Avenue Special Export Processing Zone Laguna Technopark, Binan, Laguna Tel. 584 4380

Lifestyle Home BENEFIT, TONY MOLY

PANASONIC PHILIPPINES

7/F, Net Cube Center 3rd Ave. Cor. 30th St. E-Square Cresent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Ortigas Avenue Extension, Taytay, Rizal Tel. 636 3101

BLING DUCK www.blingduck.com

JIMMY CHOO Prestige Brands Philippines, Inc. 205 ITC Building 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Tel. 899 7783

MELISSA 678 Gen. Malvar St., Malate, Manila Tel. 437 8858

PUNCH DRUNK PANDA www.punchdrunkpanda.com Tel. 861 3577

SPEEDO 1000 East Service Rd. Km 19.8 South Super Highway Cupang, Muntinlupa City Tel. 850 0782

SANUK 2282 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila TEL. 567 0611

TOMS SWIM PHILS.INC. 2nd Floor Autozentrum BMW, Commerce Ave., Alabang, Muntinlupa City Tel. 772 6029

SHARP (PHILS.) CORPORATION Km. 23 West Service Road South Luzon Expressway Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines Tel. 842 1371

beautylaB BEYOND YOGA

3rd floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato cor. Scout Madrinian St., Quezon City Tel No. 0917 523 9663

Mobility NISSAN

2232 Don Chino Roces Ave. Makati City 1200 Tel. 810 0151 www.mynissan.com.ph

TOYOTA Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. 31F GT Tower International 6813 Ayala Avenue Cor. HV dela Costa St. Makati City Tel. 858 8200

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES INC. Danny Floro Street Bagong Ilog Pasig City Tel. 671 9724

WESTERN DIGITAL www.wdthepowerofchoice.com