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    Ford Focus invades China Town

    Mika Fernandez-David
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    Ford Focus invades China Town

    Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

    Ford Group Philippines recently invited a small media group to experience Ivan Man Dy’s The Big Binondo Food Wok as a timely pre-Lunar New Year activity with the all-new Ford Focus. The wok-ing tour (pun intended) in and around Binondo Church featured many hole-in-the-wall gems that are frequented by the community. Fantastic lumpia, oven-fresh hopia, to-die-for artisanal dumplings and fried siopao were just some of the things we munched on.

    Our small group met up at the Ford Global City dealership, and from there we drove in pairs to our meeting point, the Binondo Church. Our very agile steeds made maneuvering through the exceptionally tight traffic that led into China Town an easier and safer task. As China Town was extraordinarily busy with preparations for the coming celebration, the orange indicator lights of the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) located at the side mirrors were practically on the entire time as we tackled Jones Bridge. I particularly enjoyed demonstrating Ford Sync to our first-timer onboard, who was just as amazed as I was, the first time I experienced using it. Its really a pity we didn’t have to park the cars ourselves as I would have loved to demo my ninja-like parallel parking skills – yes, while using the Active Park Assist feature. Hahaha…

    Here are some handy tips that Ford Group Philippines would like to share for safer and smarter driving:

    • Buckle up and do it right: The seat belt remains the most important piece of safety equipment. Ensure that it tightly encircles your hips, not your waist. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
    • Ensure that the tilt and height of all headrests are correctly adjusted.
    • Avoid placing objects over the airbag cover: Do not place any object between an occupant and an airbag or near any other airbag covering. The airbag may not inflate properly and might force an object into that person, causing severe injury or death. The instrument panel grab handle should never be used for storage. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear at all times.
    • Do your homework. Know your car’s condition and its safety features: Check for basic maintenance and items in your car before heading off for a trip. Items to check include tire tread depth, tire pressures, and ensuring oil and water levels are correct.
    • Be responsible and know the speed limits: If you’re traveling across provincial areas, be aware of the speed limits and road laws of the states you will travel through. Always carry your driver’s license with you.
    • Give yourself enough time to complete the journey: Plan for stops along the way. Drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions and leave sufficient space between the vehicles around you.
    • Pack heavier items in lower areas of the vehicle: When filling up the cargo areas of the vehicle, always place the heaviest items close to the vehicle floor or truck bed so that in the event of a quick stop, those items remain in place and do not move forward in the vehicle where they can collide with passengers or other materials.
    • Use a voice-activated, hands-free connectivity system like Ford Sync to control your mobile phone or navigation system: Ensure the system is ready to go before you set off.
    • Don’t drink and drive.
    • Don’t drive when you’re tired: It is recommended that you take regular breaks on a long journey.

    Visit HERE to read more about the all-new Ford Focus. Click HERE to view more pics. Like THIS to know more about Ivan Man Dy’s awesome walking tours.

    15 year-old creates an awesome new cancer diagnostic tool

    Ren Alcantara
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    15 year-old creates an awesome new cancer diagnostic tool

    When I was 15, the biggest problems I had to deal with were acne, grades and maybe the occasional girl. Jack Andraka, a kid from Maryland, has come up with a way to diagnose some forms of cancer through a simple test involving a piece of filter paper treated with a solution of carbon nanotubes modified to detect particular antibodies that are known markers for different kinds of cancer. The test method developed by Andraka is 168 times faster, 26,667 times cheaper and 400 times more sensitive than existing tests. The sensitivity of the test means that it is able to detect cancers before they are any problem to the patient, and as the key to cancer survival is early detection, this might be a godsend to millions upon millions of people around the world.

    Though not the first person to discover this method of cancer detection, the fact that this young man was able to do it, more or less on his own, without much of a lab or anything behind him is amazing. It restores my faith in the human teenager and could mean a promising world for the rest of us old fogeys and everyone else. Read more about this amazing science whiz kid HERE.

    Photo via the BBC

    Google welcomes the Chinese New Year with (water) Snake Doodle on home page

    Gadgets Team
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    Google welcomes the Chinese New Year with (water) Snake Doodle on home page

    If you’ve opened Google lately, you may have noticed that the search company has created a brand new, interactive Google Doodle to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The new Google Doodle allows you to play a festive game of Snake on the home page, albeit slightly modified. It might not please hardcore Snake players as there’s really no way to die while playing – touching the sides of the wall just teleports you to the other side, and running into yourself isn’t much of a problem. The only thing you’d want to avoid is eating fireworks (both in the game and real life) as it temporarily stops you in your tracks. If you’re interested in messing around for a few minutes, head on over to www.google.com.ph and try it out.

    iOS 6.1.1: Jailbroken

    Ren Alcantara
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    iOS 6.1.1: Jailbroken

    Okay, while 6.1 has just recently been jailbroken using the evasiOn tool, the very active iOS hackig community has just announced a jailbreak for the as-of-now-beta 6.1.1. This might not be handy for the general population, but if you are a dev, or just want to be on the bleeding edge of your iOS updates, and want to keep things loose and JB’d, the ever-reliable redsnOw, with a little help from the aforementioned evasiOn tools have you covered. Redmond Pie has been kind enough to post a detailed tutorial for all those who want to give this little JB a shot. We should mention that this method is untethered, though will only work on iOS devices running A4 devices, so only iPhone 4, 3GS, and ipod Touch 4s will get the jailbroken fun. Head over to this link HERE if you want to try your hand at it.

    Photo via Redmond Pie

    Nokia unveils 206 dual-SIM feature phone, yours for only Php 2,850

    Gadgets Team
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    Nokia unveils 206 dual-SIM feature phone, yours for only Php 2,850

    Need an affordable, stylish dual-SIM device? Why not try out Nokia’s newest dual-SIM phone, the 206? The Nokia 206 features an alphanumeric keypad and a 2.4-inch color display. While it’s not going to be wowing any of you guys with its specs anytime soon, the 206 does use a nifty new technology made by Nokia called Slam. Nokia says that Slam allows consumers to share multimedia content such as photos and videos with nearby friends instantaneously. The feature works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones bypassing the need to pair devices and the recipient to have Slam installed. In just takes a few clicks for people to “Slam” their content to other mobile.

    Other features of the 206 include a standby time of 28 days, Easy Swap technology which allows you to swap out SIM cards without needing to turn off the device and a 1.3-megapixel camera. You’ll be able to pick up the 206 for only Php 2,850.

     

    BlackBerry will not be bringing any more smartphones to Japan

    Gadgets Team
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    BlackBerry will not be bringing any more smartphones to Japan

    News out of the wires today is that BlackBerry will no longer be bringing smartphones to Japan. According to a Reuters report, the company will now forgo selling their devices in the land of the rising sun, saying that it cannot justify localizing their latest OS because of extremely limited demand in the country. A report in the Nikkei Business Daily said that the company’s current market share in Japan is only 0.5 percent, which shrank from 5 percent last year. If you’re one of the few BlackBerry faithful in Japan, don’t despair – while the company may be pulling out of the country, they’ve said that they’ll still support existing BlackBerry customers in the country. We’re sure Japanese consumers aren’t going to be too bummed out – they do get all the latest toys before the rest of the world does anyway.

    Source: Reuters

    Wikipad unveils 7-inch gaming tablet in the US

    Gadgets Team
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    Wikipad unveils 7-inch gaming tablet in the US

    Seems like Android gaming fever has taken over a couple of folks in the US. Wikipad apparently wants to compete with NVIDIA’s handheld project shield with an Android gaming device of their own. The 7-inch Wikipad gaming tablet is capable of combining with a dock that’s optimized for gaming. The specs of the Wikipad isn’t half bad – Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 1280×800 IPS display, 16GB of storage that’s expandable via a microSD card – and we’re pretty sure this thing won’t have a problem playing Android games of today. The 7-inch Wikipad will be running Android 4.1 when it comes out, and will be able to connect to Google Play and NVIDIA’s TegraZone. it’s also Playstation Certified, so we’re pretty sure potential owners won’t have a problem looking for games to play on this thing. The device is priced at $249 when it ships in late Q1 (or early Q2), unfortunately it’s going to be sold in the US for now, as there are no plans for distribution outside the country.

    Source: Wikipad

    Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team sets out to conquer multi-sports events in 2013

    Gadgets Team
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    Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team sets out to conquer multi-sports events in 2013

    The Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team, which has adopted the battle cry of “Conquering Endless Possibilities,” is gearing up to dominate multi-sports competitions in 2013 such as biking, running, swimming, and, of course, winning those events. The team is following the tagline of “The Possibilities Are Endless.”

    The Isuzu D-MAX team started out in 2011 with only 12 members, which expanded to 15 in 2012, and is entering 2013 with 22 members. The team will also compete in triathlons in addition to the downhill/gravity mountain biking, cross-country and Xterra events, all events which the D-MAX team has had a foothold in the past two years.

    Some of the members that will help the D-MAX team claim victory are sports enthusiast/celebrity Matteo Guidicelli; cyclist Frederick Farr, a silver medalist with the Philippine National Cycling Team at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand; and his son Jerrick Farr, a consistent podium finisher last year. The Farrs are the only father-and-son duo competing professionally in any local sport. Jerrick was also nominated as the Downhill Riders Organization of the Philippines (DROP) Rookie Of The Year.

    Another valuable addition to the D-MAX team is Jomer Lim, a Cebu-based triathlete who has topped the age 30-35 group in all major triathlete events around the country. Lim was also nominated as the best in the 30-35 group by the SWIM.BIKE.RUN triathlon forum. Last year, the D-MAX team added road biking, Xterra biking/running and open-water swimming as events that they will compete in.

    “The impressive performance of the Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team in the past two years is an indication of its potential,” said Isuzu Philippines Corporation President Ryoji Yamazaki. “The arrival of new members should undoubtedly make the team even more competitive this year, and puts it in a position where the possibilities for achieving triumphs are endless.”

    In 2013, the D-MAX team intends to compete in at least 10 downhill races, 10 cross-country amateur and professional events in the 20K to 100K rough-terrain distances, and major duathlon and triathlon events such as the 1.5K to 2K open-water swim, the 35K to 90K mixed road and cross-country riding, and 5K to 21K road and trail runs.

    Spread the plague and grow your soul-reaping business with Kickstarter game Death Inc.

    Gadgets Team
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    Spread the plague and grow your soul-reaping business with Kickstarter game Death Inc.

    Once again, we’ve stumbled upon another golden nugget in one of our browsing sessions on Kickstarter. This time, we found an interesting game that lets players control the Grim Reaper and unleash the bubonic plague amongst the villagers in 17th century England. This crazy, quirky game is called Death Inc., and in order for it to be born, it needs our help.

    WHAT IT IS

    Death Inc. is a strategy-slash-god-slash-business simulation game that makes an epidemic seem like a good thing. Based on what we’ve seen on the Kickstarter page, the game features a witty strategy-based gameplay and a grotesquely adorable artistic design. It’s a single-player campaign game for PC and Mac, made to be enjoyed by “ages 8 to undead.”

    Its origins—a UK-based indie developer called Ambient Studios—may be small, but the portfolios of the people involved in the production of the game include the likes of LittleBigPlanet, Need For Speed, and the Fable franchise.

    HOW IT WORKS

    In the game, you play Grim T. Livingstone—a freelance Reaper, according to the guys at Ambient— and the object is to harvest as many souls as you can in order to grow your reaping corporation.

    How can this be done? By spreading the bubonic plague, of course. Infect one person, then lead him towards a healthy, innocent bystander and your plagued minion will do the contaminating for you. It’s dead simple.

    Collect a swarm of infected villagers, and you’ll have yourself a strong army of victims. Pretty soon, you’ll have a mob of villagers, plague doctors and soldiers using pitchforks, swords, bows, and even sticks to keep your troop away, but luckily, unlockable special abilities can help you deal with these creatures. These include plague rats, exploding livestock, a norovirus brunch and pigeon pox—all these to help you let loose a wave of infection.

    Then, you’ll be able to harvest the souls of your victims and spend them to upgrade troops and abilities, or to renovate your base of operations and make a personal statement about the business.

    Mike Green and Daniel Leaver from Ambient Studios recently posted a gameplay walkthrough. You can watch it in the video below.

    HOW WE CAN HELP

    Ambient Studios says they’re still in the early stages of game development, which is why they are turning to Kickstarter—and ultimately, to the netizens—for support in order to bring this game to life (more puns, ugh). If you think Death Inc. is an insane, yet uniquely brilliant idea, show the developers some love by backing this project. See what awesome rewards you can get HERE.

    As of press time, the project has earned £36,609 from 1,528 backers. The financial goal is £300,000 and there are 26 days remaining on Kickstarter.

    RECENT UPDATES

    Possibilities of Linux, tablet, Wii U, Ouya versions as well as a multiplayer component are discussed in the FAQ section of the Kickstarter page. A short online comic explaining the origins of Grim T. Livingstone has been made available on the Death Inc. official website. The developers have also announced that Death Inc. is already registered on Steam Greenlight.

     

    *Images in this post are from the Death Inc. media pack, Kickstarter page, and Steam Greenlight

    Hands-on, first Impressions: Nokia Lumia 620

    Gadgets Team
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    Hands-on, first Impressions: Nokia Lumia 620

    We were wondering when Nokia’s latest and greatest smartphone equipped with Windows Phone 8 would start appearing on our shores – especially since it’s been 4 months since Microsoft officially unveiled the mobile OS. Lo and behold, it seems like our wait is almost over – Nokia’s local PR reps has sent us a review unit of the extremely chic Lumia 620 to take around town for a few days. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

    The Lumia 620 is the least expensive of Nokia’s current Windows Phone 8 offerings, and is certainly the runt of the litter, size-wise. Though obviously meant for the entry-level smartphone market, the Lumia 620 doesn’t feel like it. When we first opened the box, we were greeted with a bright, almost neon blue clad smartphone that felt just right to our hands. We were still wondering exactly how this particular device could be an entry level device.

    That bewilderment extended to the hardware used in the Lumia 620. While the Lumia 620’s display size is dwarfed by other devices in the market, it’s 3.8-inch, 480 x 800 resolution ClearBlack panel is a pleasant surprise to anyone expecting a lackluster display. The Lumia 620 runs a dual-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait processor under the hood that’s chugging along at 1GHz with about 512MB of RAM. The processor seems to do a good job – the device performed well during our brief time with it, though it’s still up in the air as to how well the processor and memory combo will serve typical smartphone users. As far camera sensors go, the Lumia 620 uses a 5-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a secondary VGA camera on the front.

    One nice thing about the Lumia 620 is that you can change out the cover of the device if you’re not liking the color that it comes with. From the official press shots when the device was released, there will be a lot of colors available for the Lumia 620, which includes red, green, black, white yellow and orange. The back covers are also capable of NFC. As far as storage is concerned, you’re looking at 8GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSD card.

    Nokia has pegged the price of the Lumia 620 at $250 worldwide, though everybody knows that that’s not going to be final pricing of the device when it finally hits the Philippines. You can expect it to cost quite a bit more, especially after taxes and duties.

    Globe warns subscribers of fake customer service reps on Twitter

    Gadgets Team
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    Globe warns subscribers of fake customer service reps on Twitter

    Heads up, Globe subscribers – you will need to be careful who you talk to on Twitter about your account. Apparently there’s a lot of unscrupulous people in Twitter that is impersonating Globe’s customer service reps. The accounts try to dupe subscribers by using Twitter handles that are similar to the ones that Globe online specialists use and by copying their layouts. Globe has filed complaints with Twitter against the fake accounts, and has had them deactivated.

    Aside from potentially stealing personal information from their customers, Globe says that the fake accounts also try to persuade their subscribers to switch to their rival networks. @PeejGlobe for example, tweets to Globe subscribers “We suggest to shift to the rival network as they have more stocks than us,” or “hi maybe kulang ka sa dokumento we suggest you try sundroid or iphone 5 (name of other network).”  @KenOfGl0be on the other hand tries to obtain personal information from subscribers through messages like “What is your location so we can refer this issue to our technical teams.”

    For their part, Globe’s Peter Bithos, Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business is understandably outraged. “It’s a shameful act that certainly does not have the best interest of the public in mind, and would like to assure our customers that Globe has taken the necessary steps to curb this and protect them from fraudsters.” He adds, “Aside from violating an existing Philippine law, this unethical act also goes against the self-regulatory discipline that allowed social media and social networking sites to flourish.  Die-hard Netizens will not tolerate this.”

    Always remember to double check the Twitter names of the people you are talking to. Better yet, make sure that you forward any Globe concerns you have to the company’s official Twitter account, @enjoyGLOBE, and their two online specialists, @PeejOfGlobe and @KenOfGlobe.

     

    Rapoo unveils new wireless peripherals in PH

    Gadgets Team
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    Rapoo unveils new wireless peripherals in PH

    Peripherals brand and manufacturer Rapoo unveiled three new product lines—the 5G series (3920P, 7800P, and 8900P), the audio series (H8030, H6080, A3020 and A3060), and the 2.4G optical mouse series(6610, 1190 and 3360).

    The 5G series includes optical mice (3920P and 7800P) and a keyboard (8900P) with a 5.8GHz transmission speed. The technology enables an operating distance to as far as 10 meters with a strong anti-jamming capability. A plug-in NANO-receiver enables the connection between the PC and the peripheral device.Each device in the series has approximately 18 months worth of battery life.

    Rapoo’s audio series consists of two headphones—the H6080 and the H8030—and two wireless speakers—the A3060 and the A3020. The H6080 features a foldable structure for maximum portability, while the H8030 features a pull-down microphone for making and taking wireless, handsfree calls on the go.

    The A3060 features a compact cylindrical design, while the A3020 boasts of a small and chic structure similar to that of a shrunken boombox. Both speakers are operated using backlighted touch-enabled buttons can work through a 3.5mm jack or via Bluetooth connection of up to 10 meters.

    The 2.4G optical mouse series wireless transmission technology gives users a 10-meter working range without any interference. Rapoo claims that with its 1000 DPI high-precision engine that features 2.5 times precision than an ordinary optical engine embedded in the products included in this line, users are given more accurate and smoother control over the mice. The 6610 and 3360 models feature a power on/off button that helps save energy, paired with a 9-month estimated battery life.

    Rapoo PC peripherals are distributed by EA Global Supply Chain Solutions Philippines Inc. For more information, you can visit www.rapoo.com.

    Philippine Red Cross and SMART kick off Million Volunteer Run

    Gadgets Team
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    Philippine Red Cross and SMART kick off Million Volunteer Run

    The great scientist Albert Einstein once had a concern that technology might exceed our humanity. Now, technology is helping serve the needs of humanity. Thanks to mobile phones, the Internet, and social media, the effects of recent disasters in the Philippines have been mitigated with speedy responses and the quick mobilization of volunteers and government agencies alike to help those in need. The Philippine Red Cross’s (PRC) partnership with telecom giant SMART and the kick-off of the Million Volunteer Run 2 (MVR2) on February 10, 2013 is a testament to the fusion between technology and humanity.

    Thanks to mobile phones, the Internet, and social media, the effects of recent disasters in the Philippines have been mitigated with speedy responses and the quick mobilization of volunteers and government agencies alike to help those in need. “Technology can help us reach potential new volunteers from various sectors of Philippine society,” said Governor Mabini “EQ” Pablo of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). “Without these technologies, the PRC could not have attempted an activity the size and scale of the MVR2, but with it, our goals have become more ambitious.”

    “We learn how to use new ways of helping during emergencies. Under our new strategies of mobilizing synergistic alliances and harnessing the latest technologies, the PRC envisions that our network of volunteers deployed across the country will become even stronger and will continue to provide critical humanitarian services faster than ever before,” Governor Pablo said. He cites the PRC’s partnership with SMART, saying that it has helped connect with its volunteers, especially younger ones, from all across the Philippines. It has also helped them connect with the online community as well as people from all sectors of Philippine society.

    “Our partnership with SMART has also made possible Web-based solutions that allow multiple SMS capabilities. With this, our head office now has the means to communicate with all volunteers who have cellular phones. So you can imagine how efficient it will be to be able to advise volunteers via announcements, especially during emergencies,” Governor Pablo added.

    You can sign up for the Million Volunteer Run by logging on to http://www.run.redcross.org.ph or http://www.facebook.com/MillionVolunteerRun. You can also volunteer by registering at the Philippine Red Cross National Headquarters or your local Philippine Red Cross chapter. The registration fees are 100 pesos for students, 200 pesos for non-students, and 500 pesos for business executives.

    Samsung Philippines makes the Galaxy Grand official: 5-inch display WVGA TFT LCD, dual-core processor, Android 4.1.2, dual-SIM capability

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Philippines makes the Galaxy Grand official: 5-inch display WVGA TFT LCD, dual-core processor, Android 4.1.2, dual-SIM capability

    Remember that 5-inch smartphone that Samsung outed a couple of weeks ago? Well, Samsung Philippines has confirmed that they will be offerning the dual-SIM version of the Galaxy Grand locally. If you’re not a fan of reading backlinks, the Galaxy Grand is a 5-inch smartphone that has an uncanny resemblance to the company’s higher-end Galaxy Note II, which means it’s safe to assume that the Grand is going to be ultimately marketed as a cheaper alternative its more expensive, S-Pen toting sibling. The Grand uses a smaller 5-inch WVGA TFT LCD and a relatively slower 1.2GHz dual-core processor and dual-SIM capability. Surprisingly enough, the Galaxy Grand will have a lot of the Smart features that its bigger sibiling has, which includes the ability to multi-task via a pop-up window. It’d be interesting to see how these features work on the slower, dual-core processor. Samsung Philippines will be pricing the Galaxy Grand at Php 16,900 which is considerably lower than what the Korean firm is asking for its Galaxy Note II.

     

    Smart: LTE deployment now is quicker compared to 3G

    Gadgets Team
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    Smart: LTE deployment now is quicker compared to 3G

    If you were getting impatient at the pace of Smart’s LTE deployment, you shouldn’t be – the company has gone on record to say that the current deployment of the newest wireless standard is progressing at a much quicker pace than when the company first rolled out their 3G services in 2006.

    “It’s difficult to put an exact number to it, but based on the data that we have, LTE’s deployment has outpaced 3G’s by leaps and bounds,” said Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Head Lloyd Manaloto said.

    “This is mainly because we have learned a lot from the deployment of our 3G network which now allows us to install equipment, introduce new services, and determine which gadgets to offer faster than ever before,” he added. Smart’s LTE network is currently present in over 770 establishments in 10 cities across Metro Manila and in Boracay, Cebu, and Davao.

    This isn’t surprising, as Smart already has the existing backbone for LTE deployment. Still, it’s a nice bit of news to hear from the company and hopefully their deployment will be finished sooner rather than later, as we’re sure a lot of their subscribers would just love to have 30 Mbps download speeds on their devices.

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