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    Sony unveils VAIO Tap 20 to the Philippines, 20-inch tablet for sharing

    Gadgets Team
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    Sony unveils VAIO Tap 20 to the Philippines, 20-inch tablet for sharing

    Along with the VAIO Duos 11, Sony also unveiled the VAIO Tap 20 to the Philippine market today. The VAIO Tap 20 is a 20-inch tablet that’s optimized for sharing, though it can still be used with a keyboard and mouse so you can use it like a typical All-in-one PC. the 20-inch display has a resolution of 1600×900, and uses Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine 2 that they say delivers  natural movie viewing to the mobile device.

    Internally, it’s powered by Intel’s Core i5-3317U processor that’s paired with a 4GB of RAM. There’s about 500GB of storage on tab courtesy of the 5400RPM HDD, and as expected with a device this large, you’re looking at a whole host of ports and connections.

    Aside from Windows 8, you can also look forward to family oriented apps that Sony included in the device, which includes the Fingertapps Organizer. Like any self-respecting tablet, you can pick up the VAIO Tap 20 and take it with you, though don’t expect it to last long – Sony has quoted only about 2 hours of usable battery life on battery. If you do decide to lug it around with you everywhere, you can expect to grow some muscles when you lug it around as it weighs in at around 5 kilograms.

    The VAIO Tap 20 will retail for Php 59,999. We’ve included the Galaxy Note II in the shot above so you guys can gauge the scale of the size of the device in question.

    Sony Philippines officially outs VAIO Duos 11, hybrid tablet notebook with Windows 8

    Gadgets Team
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    Sony Philippines officially outs VAIO Duos 11, hybrid tablet notebook with Windows 8

    It’s official – Sony has announced the VAIO Duos 11, their own hybrid Windows 8 tablet. The VAIO Duos 11 combines both touch and type in one device. The Duos 11 uses a 11-inch OptiContrast touch panel that has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 that’s combined with a chassis that’s capable of sliding out which reveals a full QWERTY keyboard. If you think that particular design looks familiar, you’re right, as Asus was the first one to use it with their Eee Pad Slider. Nevertheless, Sony’s Surf Slider design is different enough to keep the idea fresh, and Sony says that the Duos 11’s mechanical hinge is tough enough to endure thousands of openings.  Sony’s gracious enough to include a stylus that they say is one of the most accurate out in the market today.

    Even with sliding mechanism included, Sony has managed to keep the overall thickness of the device at only 17.85mm and it only weighs in at 1.3 kilos. There’s also a bunch of ports on the device itself which includes 2 USB ports (with one being USB 3.0), Ethernet, VGA Out, HDMI and a card reader. The device also has a NFC capability built-in, as well as a built-in gyroscope and a digital compass. There’s also two cameras in the device – one on the back and another one on the front.

    Inside the hood lies the latest Intel Core i5-3317U processor, that’s paired with 4GB of RAM. You’re looking at a 128GB of SSD storage, and of course, the entire experience is powered by Windows 8. Unfortunately, this is still an x86 machine, so when it comes to battery life you shouldn’t really expect much. Even then, Sony says that you’re looking at 4.5 hours of usable battery life with the Duos 11.

    So, how much will it cost? You can expect it to drop for Php 69,999 when it’s finally available at stores at the end of October.

     

    Maddie and Matt’s Happy Earth app teaches kids environmental awareness

    Gadgets Team
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    Maddie and Matt’s Happy Earth app teaches kids environmental awareness

    Here’s a fun way to teach your kids to love and take care of the environment! Join siblings Maddie and Matt as they push for environmental awareness through this fun children’s app from local software development company AppLabs Digital Studios, Inc. for iOS and Android.

    Maddie and Matt’s Happy Earth shows some of the pressing environmental issues and how kids can help in solving them. This app features a storybook and some mini games.

    The interactive storybook allows you to discover which objects are movable in a particular scene. There are also Easter eggs hidden in the scenes, and once they are found, you’ll learn fun and interesting facts about the object that you discovered.

    The app features three mini games—the Segre Game, Spot the Difference, and Create Your Own Happy Earth. In the Segre Game, Maddie and Matt will teach you how to properly segregate your trash into their proper trash bins—biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and leftovers. In Spot the Difference, your task is to determine the difference between two similar photos on the screen. You can even create your own planet by dragging different objects into the frame in Create Your Own Happy Earth.

    The app integrates social media as it allows you to post how well you did in the mini games on Facebook and Twitter.

    Maddie and Matt’s Happy Earth is now available for free at the App Store and Google Play. To find out more about this awesome app that’s perfect for your kids, head on over to Maddie and Matt’s official website.

    How music controls your life, molds moods, affects decisions

    Gadgets Team
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    How music controls your life, molds moods, affects decisions

    There are many reasons why we listen to music—we listen to it to take a load off, we listen to it so that we can make homework or a work project go faster, we listen to it whenever we’re happy or sad, or out with friends, but whatever we do, music is all around us, and there are many benefits to listening to music regularly.

    Skullcandy, who is releasing the Skullcandy Supreme Sound here in November, lists some of the reasons music is beneficial to your quality of life.

    Music can make you smarter. Recent studies show that it stimulates regions of the brain responsible for memory, motor control, timing, and language, so naturally many people listen to music when they’re working on work for school or even in the workplace, so they can get whatever they’re doing done in a more enjoyable and efficient manner without sacrificing the quality of work.

    Music can even manage your pain. People often listen to music when they are sad or depressed, and it helps. Hospitals often play music to help soothe the pain their patients are going through, especially expectant mothers or those undergoing anesthesia.

    We all know that being in love (or out of it) is a central theme in most songs. Did you know music can also help the physical heart as well? A Harvard study has shown that music helps speed up the recovery from cardiac procedures. Music can also help with our emotional quotient (EQ), which helps determine one’s social skills. Music can fire up emotions, but it can also balance them out.

    Music can also increase productivity in the workplace. Studies show that rock and classical music in particular help people recognize visual images, letters, and numbers faster. On that note, are you tired from work, school or working out? Music can also help relieve that and keep you going for that second wind. This also applies vice versa, when you have insomnia and need to sleep at 3 am—a calming, soothing song may drift you off to sleep faster than you think.

    Loud tunes can release hormones that make you feel good, but be careful—listening to music that’s too loud for a long time might cause ear damage. Finally, music can help improve memory and prevent Alzheimer’s disease, so if you have older relatives, encourage them to listen to music on a regular basis.

    Optima Digital and Autodesk Solutions celebrate 18 years of design

    Ren Alcantara
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    Optima Digital and Autodesk Solutions celebrate 18 years of design

    Optima Digital, an award-winning Philippine post production house and creative services company recently extended its now 18-year partnership with Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, at the Optima Digital offices in Makati.

    Optima Digital has been using Autodesk’s comprehensive portfolio of creative solutions that span the entire production pipeline, from CG design to compositing, color grading and creative finishing.

    Optima Digital also recently added the Autodesk Flame Premium visual effects software; its seventh autodesk software purchase. Autodesk software allows Optima to offer a huge number of post-production services, and has contributed to their position as one  of the leading post-prod houses in South East Asia, as well as allow the company to set the benchmark for local and regional Post-production houses.

    “Optima was the first to bring the Flame software in the region when we bought out very first Autodesk software in 1994, and since then, Optima has been in the forefront of digital graphics creation and design,” said Pete Jimenez, president and COO. “Over the years, Autodesk software and turnkey systems have helped us become the market leader in creative finishing.”

    Autodesk is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Autodesk software is used all over the world to create award-winning visual effects in film and entertainment industries, as well as construction, manufacturing and engineering. Optima digital is a leading TV Advertisement and film post-production company that has won awards both locally and internationally.

    Smart Nano-SIM now in stores, costs Php 40 for prepaid customers, free for postpaid users

    Gadgets Team
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    Smart Nano-SIM now in stores, costs Php 40 for prepaid customers, free for postpaid users

    Obtained an iPhone 5 and want to enjoy it on Smart’s network? Well, you’ll be happy to know that Smart is now offering their Nano-SIMs at their stores all over country, and just like rival Globe, the new SIMs are priced at Php 40 for prepaid customers. For postpaid customers, you simply have to walk into a Smart store and have your SIM exchanged for the new one free of charge. Now that both telcos are officially selling their Nano-SIM cards at their respective stores, it’s just a race now to see who will be offering the iPhone 5 to general public first. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.

    Source: SMART

    HTC One X+ official, more powerful than the original

    Gadgets Team
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    HTC One X+ official, more powerful than the original

    HTC has finally, officially launched the One X+, and while it has been thoroughly and completely leaked before it officially came out, its always nice to finally see the official specifications. The One X+ will be running an improved 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 64GB of storage and almost 50% more battery life than the original device. Most of the other specifications stays the same though – same gorgeous unibody polycarbonate body, same 4.7-inch display, same super fast camera. HTC is also tossing in 25GB of Dropbox storage for eventual owners of the new device.

    Source: HTC

    Philippine government websites hit by multiple DDoS attacks from Global Anonymous

    Gadgets Team
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    Philippine government websites hit by multiple DDoS attacks from Global Anonymous

    Today is October 3, which means the controversial Anti-Cybercrime Law is now in full swing. Of course, netizens who are opposed to the act all over the world aren’t going to take it lying down – global collective hacking group Anonymous has started waging cyber-warfare against targets in the Philippines which mainly consist of government websites. Anon has started using DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks on various government websites in an operation dubbed “#OpPhilippines” and took some of them down. One of their targets was Senator Tito Sotto’s webpage, which, as of press time, is loading slowly. Here are their other targets:

    Anon also posted a video on YouTube that details their issues with the controversial law. Here’s an excerpt of their statement:

    The Philippine Government has just passed a bill that effectively ends the freedom of expression in the Philippines. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is the most notorious act ever witnessed in the cyber-history of the Philippines,and the language of the bill is cunningly designed to make you think it only applies to individuals who are deep in cyber-technology and doesn’t apply to everyone, but some part of the bill basically says it can imprison anyone who commits libel either by written messages, comments, blogs, or posts in sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other comment-spaces of other social media in the Internet.”

    If you’re curious, the hashtag #NoToCyberCrimeLaw is still the top trending topic in the Philippines in Twitter, 24 hours after it first appeared.

    [UPDATE] A pastbin entry has just detailed some of the ways that Anonymous has used to bring their targets down. Seems like they’re using a combination of botnets, HTTP floods and DDoS attacks to bring their targets down.

    Bulletproof iPhone case shot with a .50 cal

    Gadgets Team
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    Bulletproof iPhone case shot with a .50 cal

    For the extra paranoid (or those who like collecting different cases for their iPhones), there is a bulletproof iPhone case available in Japan. The case weighs even more than the “brick” cellphone of the 1970s (4.6 pounds, as compared to the “brick” cellphone’s 2 pounds), and can even withstand .50 cal bullets because the case is one inch thick and made out of steel plate.

    Here is a YouTube video demonstrating the stopping power of the bulletproof iPhone case, developed by Japanese company Marudai:

    For those who would like to avail of this case, be prepared to shell out (pun intended) around US$665 (Php 28,263).

    Arnova releases 4 G3 Android tablets that meet all your needs

    Ren Alcantara
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    0
    Arnova releases 4 G3 Android tablets that meet all your needs

     

     


    Tablets are slowly becoming a way of life for the digital consumer. This is great for Joe Public, as he has more access to more and more devices, and that device that is exactly what you are looking for is more likely to hit the shelves. Arnova is another manufacturer that hopes to provide just the tablet you need, whether you are looking for an entry-level device, or a top-tier tablet for content creation and media consumption.

    For the people looking for a simple, easy-to-use tablet, Arnova has the 7d G3. It’s a 7″ tablet that runs Android 4.0, a 1GHz processor and 1GB of memory. It comes with 4GB of internal storage, and is expandable to 32GB through a microSD slot.

    One step up from the basic model is the Arnova 8 G3. It’s aimed at ebook consumers and sports a 8″ screen with a resolution of 800×600. It has the same processor and RAM as the 7d, but comes with 8GB of internal memory, also expandable to 32GB via a microSD card.

    If you’re the kind who wants a tablet that lets you consume even more media on the go, Arnova has the 9 G3 that has a very generous 9.7″ LCD and resolution at a sharp 1024×768. It also has a 1GHz procesor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory, that you can increase to 32GB thanks to an internal microSD slot.

    Arnova’s flagship is the 10b G3 that has a 10.1″ screen, the same zippy 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, and a screen resolution of 1024×600. it also has a 720p camera so you can make HD videos, even when you’re on the move.

    All 3G models have WiFi connectivity, front-facong cameras and microphones, as well as internal speakers and accelerometers, so you can use the devices in either landscape of portrait mode. the G3 family also runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which ensures compatibility with a great spread of apps on Google Play.

    To know more about the devices, head over to the Arnova Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theelectronicsboutique.ph 

     

    Internetfreedom.ph seeks to pressure Senators to amending the Anti-Cybercrime Act, needs your help to succeed

    Gadgets Team
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    Internetfreedom.ph seeks to pressure Senators to amending the Anti-Cybercrime Act, needs your help to succeed

    The recently enacted Anti-Cybercrime Act has Filipino netizens up in arms, and for good reason: the libel clause included in the law is archaic, irresponsible and infringes on free speech. We feel strongly against this particular law, and we’re not alone. A group of netizens has created internetfreedom.ph, a portal that shows exactly where each senator who voted for the controversial law stands. There are two columns in the site: one for it and the other one for the senators who want it amended, and as of press time, there’s now three senators who want to amend the law: TG Guingona, Chiz Escudero and Pia Cayetano. Clicking on the pictures of the Senators takes you their relevant social media presence (either Facebook or Twitter) so you can message them directly to tell them your displeasure on the new law. This is important guys: the more people we have telling them that the law is terribad, the bigger chances we have in convincing them to amend the law. So, click on that link and share it everywhere – on Twitter and on Facebook. This is how the Filipino netizens fight back.

    Source: internetfreedom.ph

    Runners and cyclists flock Run, Ride & Roll for the Pasig River

    Gadgets Team
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    Runners and cyclists flock Run, Ride & Roll for the Pasig River

    Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig’s “09.30. 2012 Run, Ride & Roll for the Pasig River” pushed through with around 70,000 runners and cyclists despite the heavy rain this past Saturday, 30 September 2012.

    “There were still a lot of people despite the rain. They ran in the rain, they biked in the rain. It shows conviction. If people want it bad enough, we’re going to clean the Pasig River,” says Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation that operates Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP).

    The objective of the advocacy event was to raise PHP 14 million to start the clean-up in the esteros of Quezon City as part of the KBPIP’s seven-year rehabilitation program for the Pasig River.

    The event kicked off with 1,000 participants composed of runners, cyclists, and skateboarders who left the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) at 4 a.m., took a 15-kilometer route to Commonwealth Elementary School, and raced back to the QMC for the finish line. Then, there was the 5-kilometer race at 6 a.m., where the runners took on the route that started at the QMC going to the Tandang Sora Flyover and Luzon Avenue, then back to QMC.

    Among the runners were Senator Pia Cayetano, ABS-CBN chairman and CEO Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III, Gina Lopez, ABS-CBN Cable Channels and Print Media Group Ernie Lopez, and Kapamilya stars Kuya Kim Atienza, Matteo Guidicelli, Kim Chiu, Maja Salvador, and Xian Lim.

    The crowd was entertained by other Kapamilya stars, including Sam Milby, Venus Raj, Robi Domingo, Jovit Baldivino, and Marcelito Pomoy, at the the post-race program. The Quezon City Orchestra also provided musical entertainment to all the participants.

    Samsung Galaxy Note II hands-on, first impressions

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Galaxy Note II hands-on, first impressions

    We’ve been salivating at the chance to fondle the Galaxy Note II ever since it was announced in IFA a few weeks back, and now we’re happy to report that we’ve finally got a unit at our office. This is Samsung’s latest offering in the phablet domain, and to tell you guys the truth we’re really liking it a lot. This 5.5-inch smartphone is definitely one of the finest ‘droids we’ve handled so far this year.

    The externals of the Galaxy Note II is eerily similar to the Galaxy S III – putting the two devices side by side reveals just how much loved the original design of the S III. The Galaxy Note II has the same soft curves of the S III, and has the same button layout as the S III. The most obvious difference of course, is size – the Galaxy S III looks diminutive when placed beside the Galaxy Note II. The Galaxy Note II uses a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that has a display resolution of 720 x 1280, a .2 inch size difference from the 5.3-inch display of the original Note. Despite having a bigger screen, the Galaxy Note II has a slimmer 0.3mm thinner profile.

    Externally, the Galaxy Note II doesn’t have a whole lot of ports – there’s a volume rocker on the left side with the power button on the right. On the bottom lies the ok key, which is flanked by two capacitive keys. On the back lies the 8-megapixel auto-focus camera with backlit sensor. Like the original, the Galaxy Note II houses the extremely useful S Pen on the back near the bottom right of the device.

    The Galaxy Note II is armed with a couple of proprietary technologies by way of the TouchWiz UI placed on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It has the same Smart Stay technology that was on the Galaxy S III which basically watches your eyes to determine if the device needs to dim the display or not, as well as the S Pen functionality that worked well with the original device. Samsung has done a good job in integrating Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with their TouchWiz UI, which is an improvement over the Galaxy S III. A particularly nice feature that we liked is that you now get more detail with them – mail for example, now has sender information and the subject line, not just a generic alert that you have x amount of unanswered email in your inbox.

    Specs-wise, the Galaxy Note II hits all the right spots – Exynos 4412 Quadcore processor running at 1.6 GHz with a Mali-400MP GPU, paired with 2GB of RAM. This means that the Galaxy Note II has enough processing power to get it through the most demanding of Android apps, whether it be games or productivity software.

    The thing that really made the original Note shine was the included stylus that did more than just aid people in writing. That particular feature is back, and Samsung has improved the S Pen in a number of ways. It’s now a bit longer – 11.3cm in length – and thicker – 7mm in thickness – which means users will now have a more solid purchase when writing on the 5.5-inch display. The Galaxy Note II also knows when the S Pen isn’t in its tray, and will notify users of this fact when you start walking away without the pen tucked in its tray. Smart.

    We’re sure we really haven’t covered everything that the Galaxy Note II has to offer, but remember we just got this unit today, so we’ll be doing a more in-depth review of the device soon.

     

    Nansulate Energy Protect insulation coating safeguards building surfaces and windows

    Gadgets Team
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    Nansulate Energy Protect insulation coating safeguards building surfaces and windows

    U.S.-based company Industrial Nanotech has announced their new clear thermal insulation and mold resistance coating, dubbed as the Nansulate Energy Protect. It insulates surfaces while protecting them from mold growth, moisture, and UV light, and is designed to increase thermal resistance of windows, walls, ceilings, and skylights.

    This eco-friendly and easy-to-use liquid coating can be used over surfaces without changing their look and can also be painted over with another layer of paint, as long as it’s water-based. The coating also frosts windows for security and lets through approximately 92% of visible light.

    According to Industrial Nanotech, you can simply apply it on any surface—including as brick, drywall, finished walls, wood, stucco and concrete, among others—with rollers, brushes or spray cans.

    For more information, you can head on over to the Nansulate website.

    PNP drops ominous statement on their FB page, is this the future of the Cybercrim Prevention act? [UPDATE]

    Gadgets Team
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    PNP drops ominous statement on their FB page, is this the future of the Cybercrim Prevention act? [UPDATE]

    There’s a big stink about the recently passed Anti-Cybercrime law, mostly about how it’s infringing on free speech and it’s the equivalent of declaring martial law online. While the law officially takes effect on Oct. 3, some government agencies have taken it upon themselves to remind people about the what the consequences of the new law would be. An unfortunate commenter on the Philippine National Police’s Facebook page found this out the hard way when the admin of the site took issue with one of his comments. Archie Arevalo negatively commented in one of the stories posted on the FB page and the admin of the page dropped a veiled threat referring to the recently enacted law, and we quote: “Archie Arevalo watch your word. Foul word against our police can now be use as evidence now to file a case against you in a court of law.” The post have since been deleted on the PNP FB page, but screenshots of it is now doing the rounds in Facebook.

    Now, if that’s not an ominous threat, we don’t know what is. The PNP’s FB admin also took it upon themselves to take a screenshot of the exchange and post it on their page for all to see, perhaps to serve as an example to others. There’s also a shared photo now making the rounds in FB wherein the PNP’s FB admin boasts that they now have the capability to track an owner of a Facebook account, courtesy of the PNP Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crime Division (ATCCD) of the CIDG and equipment provided by the US Dept. of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. If this is true, this means that the PNP is using equipment, knowledge and expertise provided by the US for anti-terrorist duties to enforce the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act.

    [UPDATE] This PNP FB account claims that the PNP FB page where the original post came from is not connected with them in any way. The original PNP FB account where the screenshots above were taken has mysteriously vanished, though several FB users are saying that until today, that particular account was posting updates about the PNP and other information about the law enforcement agency, which, to us, means that it’s a legit account used by the PNP to share information. You draw your own conclusions. We’ve attached the picture of the screenshot of the original page before it was taken down.

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