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    Get a “paper” computer for only $99

    Gadgets Team
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    Get a “paper” computer for only $99

    Forget the giant gaming rigs with upwards of 16 GB of RAM, the latest NVIDIA graphics card(s), and an Intel Core i7 processor, or those convertible ultrabooks with the twisting screens that can be taken anywhere. Tech firm APC has created a “paper” computer—it comes in a cardboard case, and it can be yours for the low price of USD$99 (~Php 4,100).

    This “paper” computer is a unique concept—according to APC, “There are many things around us in life whose size we’re very familiar with—things that we see on a daily basis. Paper notebooks are such objects. Bookshelves, cabinets, files, and desks are often determined according to some relationship with its size. We think that designing a computer of a size and shape with the closest connection to these things would result in an object that blended in with that space. Documents or books can be piled up on top of the computer, or it can be placed on a bookshelf. It’s a computer that you could sandwich between a variety of objects.”

    The specs of this “paper” computer aren’t exactly eye-popping, or the “shut up and take my money” kind of gadget—you’re looking at a VIA ARM Cortex-A9 800Mhz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of NAND Flash memory, built-in 2D/3D graphic resolution of up to 1080p, all crammed into the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS, which puts it actually closer to a mobile phone than to a computer. It also comes with connectivity options most computers already come with—two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, a microUSB port, an audio port and a microphone port, and a microSD slot. The computer is only 204 x 98 x 28 mm, and its casing also includes high-grade aluminum.

    For those who want to experience the “paper” computer, it’s not out yet, but pre-orders will be available in March of this year.

    Zoom Zoom Zoom Mazda is now distributed by Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc.

    Mika Fernandez-David
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    Zoom Zoom Zoom Mazda is now distributed by Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc.

    Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc., officially begins it business operation as the Philippines’ distributor of Mazda vehicles, parts and accessories as of this month, following a formal signing ceremony  held last September between Mazda Motor Corporation and Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc.

    Dato’ Francis Lee, the Executive director of Berjaya Corporation Berhad, the mother company of Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc., said that the appointment as Philippine distributor shows Mazda’s confidence in Berjaya’s ability to promote and grow the Mazda brand. “Our success in Malaysia as Mazda distributor gave us the confidence and experience to push forward in terms of expanding into ASEAN. Our business within this region is diverse, and this latest Mazda distribution business continues to build the tremendous synergy across the group of companies. We have a team here comprised of professionals with regional and local experience.”

    Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc. is led by its CEO Steven Tan who is not new to the Mazda brand. He has been in the automotive industry for the past fifteen years, and has worked across the Asia-Pacific region and handled key leadership positions in Mazda and Ford. When asked about their company’s long-term plans, he mentioned “improved sales and reasonable inclusion in each segment.”

    Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. launches the all-new Nissan Almera

    Mika Fernandez-David
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    Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. launches the all-new Nissan Almera

    Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) launched the all-new Nissan Almera last night at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, in Makati City.

    The all-new Almera features an all aluminum 1.5 liter HR15DE engine with DOHC and CVTC, that produces 97.645 horses and 143 Nm of torque. It’s a classic four-door, five seat sedan that features a long wheelbase that results in a spacious cabin and 490 liter boot. It is built on an all-new global “V” platform that utilizes a lightweight yet rigid body, and is fitted with McPherson Struts in the front and torsion beam suspension at the back for a better ride. Safety features include ABS, EBD and a brake assist system, a protective zone body structure, SRS airbags, as well as low friction seat belts.

    Derived from the Spanish word “Almendra” which means a large diamond, the Almera was designed specifically to meet the unique demands of the B-segment market, and is Nissan’s global best-selling sedan, with sales reaching more than half a million units to date. First introduced in 1966 as the Nissan Sunny, the current iteration is the 5th-generation design, and is also available in Thailand, US, China, India, Singapore and more recently, Malaysia. The

    Nissan Almera is available in three variants – the 1.5L base manual at PHP 710,000, the 1.5L base automatic at PHP 760,000 and the 1.5L mid automatic at PHP830,000. Colors available are Titanium Grey, Brilliant Silver, Alpine White and Bluish Black. Visit www.nissan.com.ph for more details.

    Lifesize HAL 9000 replica is one geek prop you want to own

    Gadgets Team
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    Lifesize HAL 9000 replica is one geek prop you want to own

    We all loved/feared that terrifying, emotionless computer overseer HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you couldn’t get enough of that unfeeling, psychotic AI in the film, you’ll be happy to know that ThinkGeek has made a full-size, movie accurate replica of the murderous AI that you can buy for $500. Because of its steep price, you can expect that the replica is accurate down to the last detail. And it is – the replica was constructed using the film’s original blueprints even down to the original studio files for the HAL 9000 label.

    Of course not everything could be replicated exactly – the original HAL 9000’s iconic lens for example was originally made with very rare and expensive Nikkor fish-eye lens. The HAL 9000 replica features a custom-ground replica, with a sticker of the writing on the Nikkor lens for those times you just want to stare into HAL 9000’s deep, unfeeling eyes. The HAL 9000 replica also has a LED light inside the eyes, and has a repertoire of 15 iconic phrases of the film. You trigger his (or her, we could never really tell) voice module by talking to it for over 1.2 seconds, or if you’re not in a chatty mood, point an IR remote at it and press a button.

    Like we mentioned, it’s not cheap – expect to pay $500 for this awesome replica. Some say it’s expensive, but can you really put a price on HAL 9000 terrorizing you in your home? We thought not.

    Source: ThinkGeek

    Temple Run 2 arrives on iPhone and iPad, Android version coming next week

    Gadgets Team
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    Temple Run 2 arrives on iPhone and iPad, Android version coming next week

    We know a lot of you have spent countless hours trying to escape the dreaded monkeys in the original Temple Run, and we’re excited to see that its sequel, Temple Run 2 has now arrived.

    The sequel to the treasure hunting, monkey-escaping game promises to add better, harder levels, new gameplay mechanics and more places to explore. The new game has you riding mine carts, going down zip lines and more special powers for your character. Best part is that the game is free! You can download the game here. Android faithful, don’t fret – the Android version of the game will be hitting next week. Check out the gameplay video below to see what you can expect from the new game.

    Facebook now allowing free calls for iPhone users in the US

    Gadgets Team
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    Facebook now allowing free calls for iPhone users in the US

    Facebook has allowed US based iPhone users to call other users using their devices free when using an existing WiFi connection or data plan. The Verge picked up on the story and has confirmed through Facebook that the company has indeed rolled-out the feature, and the best part is that it does not require an app update. For lucky people in the US, the procedure to call is pretty simple and straightforward – all you need to do is initiate a conversation with the person you want to call, tap the “i” button on the upper right corner and click on call. Whoever you’re calling will get a notification that they have an incoming call.

    While other companies like Viber has made this feature available for their service, none of them has the same install base as Facebook. With over 1 billion active users in Facebook, this new initiative may be another step for the company in further monetizing their service. Unfortunately, the company has not said anything about rolling out the service to Android or other platforms or even when this particular feature will roll out to other countries, but you can bet that the company already has these plans in the works.

    Source: The Verge

    BMW Bags #1 Position in Luxury Car Segment for 10 Years Running

    Ren Alcantara
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    BMW Bags #1 Position in Luxury Car Segment for 10 Years Running

    Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, has solidified its hold on the Luxury car segment by taking the top spot for the tenth year running. BMW finished 2012 with a solid 33% market share, which mirrored the global figures that placed the brand’s year -on-year growth at a very strong 11%.

    “We thank the Filipino market for embracing BMW, granting us the honor to be the undisputed leader in the luxury vehicle segment for a decade.   This gives us a reason to celebrate and strive more to give the best that BMW has to offer to the Philippines,” said Maricar Parco, ACC President.

    2012 was a record-breaking year for the brand, and saw record sales in June, with 106 units and 41% market share that month. The first half of 2012 also saw the ground breaking a new BMW dealership at Eton Centris at North Edsa, set to open this year. They have also opened an additional dealership in Cebu and Bacolod, which brings them to seven dealerships here in the Philippines.

    Part of the reason for BMW’s dominance of the market was the two major 2012 launches. At the first half of the year, BMW launched the All-New BMW 3 Series, the bestselling vehicle in the BMW vehicle line-up. In September, BMW launched the All-New BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, the first four door coupe in the history of the BMW brand.

    The 3 Series, BMW’s biggest volume driver, continues to lead the market, owning 38% of the market in that segment in 2012. The 5 Series, on the other hand, posted a 39% year-on-year growth and dominated with a 37% market share for the year.

    “We are very proud of the success of the 3 Series and 5 Series in the past year. The market leadership of these two models affirms the solid reputation of the BMW brand: the 3 Series in terms of sporting prowess, elegance and comfort; and the 5 Series when it comes to fuel efficiency, safety and unparalleled performance,” said Glen Dasig, ACC Executive Director for Sales and Marketing.

    “This is just the beginning; we hope that  our success and leadership  in the past ten years will be  a foundation and a promise of  even better services and products in the coming years,” Parco concludes.

    Isuzu Philippines sales figures improve by 20 percent

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Isuzu Philippines sales figures improve by 20 percent

    Based on the combined figures from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) ranked fourth in the Philippines’ ranking of best-selling vehicle manufacturers, and third in the commercial vehicle category, posting its best annual performance since 2004. In 2012, IPC sold 11,759 vehicles, a whopping 20% increase from the previous year’s figures.

    The Isuzu Crosswind accounted for over half of IPC’s sales, selling 6,244 units in 2012, up from 5,029 in 2011, a 24% growth in sales. This was also the model’s best-ever record since 2004. Last year, demand for the Crosswind peaked in November and December, garnering second place in the country’s AUV segment during those months. The Crosswind was also one of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the country in 2012.

    The N-Series also helped IPC’s sales, and recorded its best sales figures since 1996. IPC sold 1,630 N-Series models in 2012, up 36% from 2011, when they sold 1,196 units. The N-Series has been the country’s top-selling light-duty commercial truck for 14 consecutive years as a result.

    The D-MAX pickup also had stronger sales, selling 2,691 units in 2012, up from 2,500 in 2011. IPC’s flagship model, the Alterra SUV, sold 838 units last year. IPC did well in the medium-duty forward trucks and sold 257 units in 2012, up from 193 in 2011; they also more than doubled their heavy-duty truck and bus sales in 2012, selling 99 units in 2012 compared to only 47 in 2011, and a gigantic leap from only four sold in 2002.

    “The 20% growth of Isuzu Philippines Corporation in 2012 is proof that the company continues to offer value-laden products that are appreciated by Filipinos,” IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki said. “In 2013, Isuzu will be even more aggressive as we increase our brand equity, and improve our dealer facilities and services, as we target to sell 13,000 vehicles.”

    Globe unveils awesome Sinulog festival offers

    Gadgets Team
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    Globe unveils awesome Sinulog festival offers

    If you happen to be in Cebu this weekend for the Sinulog festival (or live in Cebu) you’re in for a treat. Globe is celebrating the Sinulog Festival in the Queen City of the South with four-day exclusive Globe Postpaid, and Tattoo gadget offerings that will only be made available in select Globe stores in Cebu.

    Globe is allowing people to apply for a postpaid plan and get a Samsung Galaxy Note II for only P550 or an iPhone 5 16GB for only P800 a month bundled with Plan 999. Not interested in those phones? Well, Globe will also allow you to get the iPhone 4S 16GB and Samsung Galaxy S3 free at Plan 1799, or a Cloudfone Thrill now free at Plan 499. At Plan 349, you can get a Samsung Galaxy Y Color Plus with free 4 back covers and 4GB memory card. Finally, you can also get the new Nokia Asha 205 for free at Load Tipid Plan 300.

    Globe is also offering Sinulog-exclusive offers for their Tatoo lineup, that includes a discount on the new iPad4 (16GB) that you can grab for only Php 1,775 monthly for 12 months with Tattoo Unlimited Plan 999, as well as a free Tattoo Stick for every purchase of Tattoo Torque up to 100Mbps and free landline and free unlicalls to Globe & TM with any Tattoo@HOME Broadband bundle deals.

    Tattoo Prepaid Sticks are also on the discount block, and can be had for only Php 795 instead of Php 895,Tattoo Flash 4G for only Php 995 with free Facebook access one day a week for 6 months and their Tattoo Superstick for only Php 2,495 instead of Php 3,495.

    These offers are only available in Globe Stores in Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, Elizabeth Mall, and the Colonnade Mall in Cebu from January 17–20. So if you needed another reason to go to the Sinulog festival, this is it.

     

    BlackBerry Z10 detailed in video

    Gadgets Team
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    BlackBerry Z10 detailed in video

    If you were genuinely interested on RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS and the accompanying Z10 touchscreen smartphone that comes with it, you’re in luck. An Austrian site has managed to get their hands on a real, live Z10 touchscreen device from RIM running BlackBerry 10 and has lovingly caressed it and explored BlackBerry 10 in full, glorious HD video. The hands-on video is unfortunately in German, but it does show a lot of the features of both the software and the hardware inside the Z10, which includes the BlackBerry hub. As you can see in the video, the Z10 is extremely responsive, and BlackBerry 10 has enough visual appeal to satisfy even the most loyal Android or iOS fan.

    Source: telekom-presse.at

    Foremay outs 2TB 2.5-inch SSDs

    Gadgets Team
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    Foremay outs 2TB 2.5-inch SSDs

    Solid state drives aren’t known for their large storage capacities – they’re usually used when read/write performance trumps storage needs. Foremay apparently doesn’t prescribe to that school of thought, and has unveiled their 2TB 2.5-inch SSD. Their TC166 (for consumers) and SC199 (enterprise) SSD drives are made with both performance and storage in mind, and has a storage capacity of 2TB. They’ve managed to integrate fast read/write speeds with large storage into a 2.5-inch SATA enclosure that’s able to fit into most notebooks and desktops out there in the market today, making them attractive to users who want both maximum performance and storage. The only problem is that they haven’t revealed how much these SSDs are, and from what we’re seeing on the market, you can expect to drop a pretty penny indeed for them.

    Source: Formay

    Affordable quad-core 4.5-inch Huawei G520 heading to China, priced at just $225

    Gadgets Team
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    Affordable quad-core 4.5-inch Huawei G520 heading to China, priced at just $225

    Thought Huawei was done unveiling smartphones because CES is over? You thought wrong. The Chinese firm has just revealed their latest, low-cost quad-core device, the G520. The Huawei G520 sports a quad-core Mediatek MT6589 chip that runs at 1.2 GHz, and is paired with 512MB of RAM. It has a 5-megapixel camera at the back, and uses a 4.5-inch IPS display of unknown resolution. While it’s specs isn’t going to blow anyone away, it’s RMB 1,399 (around $225 or Php 9142 before taxes) makes it an attractive choice for people looking for a affordable quad-core device. It’ll be hitting Chinese markets soon, and hopefully someone will pick it up for a general release here in the Philippines.

    Source: Unwired View

    Revamped Myspace now open to the public

    Gadgets Team
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    Revamped Myspace now open to the public

    We showed you a preview of the site’s new layout in September last year, just when they began sending out email invites to try it out. Now, the new, refurbished Myspace (notice that the ‘S’ is now written in lower case) is finally open to the public.

    The page can be accessed at a new URL—new.myspace.com—but typing in the old URL will automatically redirect you to the recent version. To the joy or the annoyance of some, there’s a huge Justin Timberlake ad on the home page, asking you to listen to his new single. This comes as no surprise, since Timberlake is known to be one of the site’s investors.

    Users are given the option to sign in with their old MySpace account and Twitter or Facebook accounts. After signing in, users will then be prompted to pick from a selection of interests and occupations—such as Musician, Photographer, Filmmaker, Brand and Fan—possibly to determine your purpose on Myspace. You have the option of skipping this step and proceeding to creating your profile. After this, you will be directed to some sort of dashboard, where you have access to four important tabs—Stream, Library, People and Settings.

    Stream is where you will be able to see updates from your “connections.” The Library tab lets you access songs, albums, videos, mixes and photos that you like. You can add content to your library by hitting the Connect button. The People tab is where you can subscribe to friends and artists, while the Settings tab lets you change your account settings and personal information.

    Design-wise, Myspace apparently went with a more minimalist feel compared to their old layouts. One fascinating update to the design is the interface of the search page, as seen in the screenshots below.

    As we’ve seen in the teaser last September, the new interface is rather unique. Instead of scrolling down a long trail of updates and posts, users now have to side-scroll through a grid-like layout to view the stream or the contents of a profile page.

    Myspace retains its heavy focus on music as the site now sports an integrated playlist creator at the bottom of the screen with which you can listen to and mix your favorite tunes while you explore the site.

    Not too fond of the new look? Users still have the option to return to the classic MySpace by clicking on the gray bar on top of the home page.

    Hit this link and give the new Myspace a go!

    Facebook outs personalized social search engine Graph Search Beta

    Gadgets Team
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    Facebook outs personalized social search engine Graph Search Beta

    Facebook has unveiled today a new feature that they will be introducing to their service soon. Dubbed Graph Search Beta, the new service basically allows you conduct relevant searches to your interests specifically tailored to your profile. For example, if you want to search which one of your friends are into dancing, for example, you type into the Graph Search Bar “which one of my friends like to dance” and you’ll then see a list of all your friends who list dancing as their interest. It’s a quick and efficient way to sift through your connections, and as Facebook says, allows you to forge new connections with people that have the same interest as you.

    For people who are privacy nuts, you needn’t be concerned. Graph Search only collates and presents results that are for public consumption, and will still respect your privacy settings. The first version of Graph Search will be centered around four main areas: people (“friends who live in my city,” “people from my hometown who like hiking,” “friends of friends who have been to Yosemite National Park”), photos (“photos I like,” “photos of my family,” “photos of my friends before 1999,”), places (“restaurants in San Francisco,” “cities visited by my family,” “Indian restaurants liked by my friends from India,”) and interests (“music my friends like,” “movies liked by people who like movies I like,” “languages my friends speak”).

    Graph Search Beta is currently in Beta and will be rolled out very slowly. If you’d like to get in on the action, you can go to Facebook’s Graph Search Beta signup page at https://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch.

    Smart outs Family Circle Plans

    Gadgets Team
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    Smart outs Family Circle Plans

    Smart introduces the Family Circle Plans—an all-new set of postpaid plans that’s shoe-fit for families as it enables them to make unlimited calls to one another.

    “Filipinos are known to have very strong family ties, which is why Smart is proud to announce the new Family Circle Plans,” says Kathy Carag, Smart Postpaid Business Head.

    With Smart Family Circle Plans, you and your family can avail of multiple sequential postpaid lines—three for Plans 800 and 1200, and four for Plans 1800 and 2500—which, significantly, can be used to make unlimited calls within the “circle.”

    Each line gets a separate monthly bill and an individual credit limit. Plan 800, for instance, includes three mobile numbers and fully-consumable allocations of PHP 300 for the primary line and PHP 250 for the secondary lines. Each line also comes with a free handset.

    For full details on the Family Circle plans and the list of available handsets, you can hit this link.

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