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    Hyundai launches nationwide art contest

    Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) launches the Hyundai POP (Pride of the Philippines) Art contest, which aims to bring together aspiring Filipino artists as part of the firm’s advocacy to promote young, home-grown talent and showcase the uniqueness of Filipino Art.

    Joining is simple, as there are only two requirements:

    1.     The digital art work must feature any Hyundai car model, fused with elements drawn from Filipino tribal and popular art.

    2.     Car images may be original photographs or sketches of the participant, downloaded from the Hyundai Digital Art Facebook App, or digitally rendered, vectorized, and/or manipulated.

    The deadline for the submission of entries is October 15, 2012, and the voting period is from October 16 to 27.

    Among the pool of entries, only 12 winners will be picked to receive a cash prize of PHP 50,000 and Hyundai merchandise. Facebook votes will constitute 20% of the judging criteria. Winning works of art will also have the chance to be featured in the 2013 Hyundai calendar, as well as other merchandise.

    For those who want to register and submit entries to the competition, simply visit the Hyundai Digital Art Facebook App at the Hyundai Philippines Facebook page.

     

    Nokia expands entry level smartphone line, unveils Asha 308 and 309

    While Nokia has rocked the world of hi-end smartphones with the announcement of the Lumia 920 and 820, they haven’t forgotten to address the needs of the other end of the market. Meet the Asha 308 and 309, Nokia’s latest budget smartphones. These two devices are the end result of Nokia’s tireless endeavors to enable internet access for the next billion. Both devices sport capacitive screens, and utilize Nokia’s Xpress Browser, which enables up to 90% more efficient mobile browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browsers. Both devices use a 3.0-inch WQVGA display, and are almost identical save for SIM capacities – the 309 is a single SIM variant with WiFi, while the Asha 308 is a dual-SIM device. Nokia expects the devices to drop with a price tag of $99 or less (about Php 4100) though there have been no official word on the actual prices of the devices.

    Boracay Beach Management Program key to “Best Island” award

    Boracay Island was recently named the “World’s Best Island” for 2012 by Travel + Leisure magazine, beating hall-0f-famers such as Bali (Indonesia), Galapagos, the Great Barrier Reef Islands (Australia), Santorini (Italy), and the Hawaiian Islands of Maui, Kuai and the Big Island. Readers were asked to rate the following characteristics for the Islands category: Natural attractions, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people, value, and romance (optional).  Tourism figures have been similarly impressive: for the first half of 2012, foreign tourists to the island have reached 700,000, representing a 41% surge over previous year statistics.

    One of the key factors for the international acclaim that Boracay is now reaping is the two-year old Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP), a multi-sectoral initiative for the protection, sustainability and enhancement of the island’s coastal and marine resources. Malay Mayor John P. Yap, who recognized the importance of pursuing a comprehensive strategy among various stakeholders, launched the BBMP in September 2010. This is embodied in the rallying cry: “Para Sa Boracay Ako! For Boracay I Will…”

    Now set to celebrate its 2nd year anniversary on Saturday, 29 September 2012, the BBMP is also celebrating major milestones in its seven priority areas:

    Local Governance.  With strong leadership and political will, Malay Mayor John P. Yap has pushed for legislation to ensure beach cleanliness. Visitors and residents are reminded to observe municipal ordinances against littering, smoking, extracting sand and pebbles, etc. At the start of 2012, Mayor Yap led various LGU officers in a planning alignment workshop to formulate a program that will further enhance the “Boracay Experience” for tourists and locals alike.

    Coastal Resources. Volunteer groups continue to perform regular beach and underwater cleanup drives. Artificial reef domes are being deployed and monitored in strategic areas to revitalize marine and aquatic life along Boracay’s waters. New coral growth from the coastal nurseries are being transplanted to degraded reef areas, while mangrove swamps continue to be protected.

    Watershed. Under the National Greening Program, Boracay’s CENRO (Community Environment & Natural Resources Office) is committed to planting an additional 120-hectares in the watershed areas to prevent soil erosion and improve water yield for safe and potable water on the island. This is in addition to the 428-hectares of forest plantations that have been established since 2008.

    Water and Waste Water.  Boracay’s water is certified to be safe for drinking straight from the tap, with meticulous testing to ensure that it is 100% compliant with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW). It has also recently upgraded its sewage treatment facilities, where wastewater is treated to be safe for marine life and suitable for recreation activities upon discharge, complying with the Class SB Standard of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

    Solid Waste. Boracay now has three new dump trucks for more effective garbage collection, while the materials recovery facility continues to improve the processing of residual waste. A sanitary landfill is being built as a more long-term solution to solid waste management.

    Hazard Protection.  Young and dynamic volunteers man the Boracay chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross. Trained personnel, new sea patrol craft, and upgraded communications equipment all ensure that the island has sufficient capabilities to respond to emergencies and assist in disaster relief.

    Information, Education & Communication.  Workshops, seminars and training programs have been designed for the local government units to improve quality services among all tourism frontliners and ensure that tourists have a memorable “Boracay Experience.”  Social media is also being used to reach out to a wider audience through the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ForBoracay. Recently the BBMP Communications Group was also formed to publish a regular newsletter that will provide regular updates about BBMP activities.

    With its previous experience in the United Nations Development Programme’s Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) framework, Petron played a key role in facilitating the formation of the BBMP.  Starting out with a handful of members from the local government units, national government agencies, community organizations, youth groups and the private sector, the Boracay Beach Management Council (BBMC) now counts about 30 proponents.

    The BBMP, in a span of only two years, has become a transformative force on the island of Boracay. It is a perfect example of how a dynamic public-private partnership has worked together to create the “World’s Best Island” through environmental excellence and sustainable development.

    The BBMP proponents include:  The Municipality of Malay, Aklan; San Miguel Corporation; Petron Corporation; Petron Foundation Inc.; Provincial Government of Aklan; Department of Environment & Natural Resources; Boracay Foundation Inc.; Akelco Boracay; Aklan Provincial Tourism Council; Barangays Balabag, Caticlan, Kabulihan, Manoc-Manoc & Yapak; Boracay Association of Sucba Diving Schools; Boracay Island Hopping Association; Boracay Island Water Company; Boracay Island Special Fire Protection Unit; Boracay Land Transportation Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Boracay Solid Waste Management Team; Boracay Special Tourist Police Office; Boracay Yuppies; Coast Guard Detachment-Boracay; Department of Tourism-Boracay; Islander Boracay; Kiwanis Club of Boracay; Lifeguard Boracay; Malay Auxiliary Police; Malay Farm-C; Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI)-Boracay; Rotary Club of Boracay; YES FM 91.1; 605th MARPSTA (Maritime Police); and 61st 1B 31D PA Task Force Boracay.

    Zac Efron is Globe’s first iPhone 5 user

    Well, it seems like the race to release the iPhone 5 here in the Philippines has been won by Globe, as the local telco has given their first ever iPhone 5 to none other than global celebrity Zac Efron. This particular move is a bit puzzling, as our friends from Yugatech point out, this is the first time the local telco has gone ahead and done a promotional move without ever launching the device first. This is probably a strategic move by the telco to one-up bitter rival Smart, as the rival telco has yet to release a similar promotional move for the iPhone 5. Zac Efron will be heading to Manila for Penshoppe’s FanCon later this week, where he’ll probably get to use the device to phone home. The appearance of the iPhone 5 in a somewhat official capacity also probably means that the telco already has stocks for the device here on our shores, and an announcement for it is imminent.

    Source: Twitter via Yugatech

    Sony asks us if we can’t wait to touch, are they launching the VAIO Duo 11 locally on October 4?

    We just got an invite from Sony Philippines for an intimate launch of a VAIO product. Which one? Well, we don’t exactly what it is yet, but that updated Windows logo on the invite might just clue us in which one, especially Sony’s choice of words for the said invitation. We’re guessing this is going to be the local launch of the VAIO Duo 11, that Windows 8 notebook/tablet that has a sliding keyboard on the bottom of the device. Of course, until we actually see the unit ourselves, all of that is just speculation but we’d be very surprised if it was something else. We’ll all know by October 4.

     

    We’re giving away tickets to Steve Aoki! Catch the hottest party live on October 4!

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    Gadgets Giveaway is back, and this time we are giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the hottest party in town! We’re giving away 2 pairs of tickets to see electro house master Steve Aoki live in Manila that’s going to happen next week, October 4 at the Republiq Club, Resorts World Manila. It’s extremely simple to join, here’s how:

    Like our Facebook page

    Like, share and comment on the Steve Aoki poster that’s stickied on the top of our Facebook page on why you want to win the tickets

    That’s it pansit! Contest will run till October 1st, and we will be picking the lucky winners using Random.org from the people who followed the two instructions above. So, what are you waiting for? Get to it!

     

    DepEd gets Google-fied

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    In trying to streamline the processes of communication, coordination and bringing the organization together, the Department of Education has decided to switch to Google solutions. Being a department that serves the entire archipelago, Google Apps were the natural choice. An member of the staff can now access their files, calendars and reach other members of the organization no matter where they may find themselves.

    They will also no longer have to use their personal emails for official functions, plus their Gmail accounts will sync with all the other cloud apps the organization has chosen to use, such as Google Calendar, which allows easy coordination of work or class schedules, meetings and events online, Google Drive/Docs – an integrated service that provides a single place to store, access, create, edit, and share documents, files, and folders of all types, Google Sites , which lets users develop and customize rich websites and embed Google Docs, Google Calendars, videos, and other media with no HTML required and Google Groups which will let the department create mailing lists and discussion forums to  easily and efficiently sharing documents, calendars, sites, and media with specific groups.

    As the first nationwide deployment of Google Apps, DepEd’s leap into the cloud is a visionary one. The move sees them joining seven of the eight Ivy League universities and 72 of this year’s top 100 US Universities  (as determined by 2013 U.S. News and World Report’s ranking) that have gone Google too. It’s a great, practical and progressive step forward, and we’re all quite optimistic it’ll work great.

    Sony pledges to support PlayStation 3 through 2015

    Most consoles last an average of five to six years on the market—the PlayStation launched in late 1994, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in late 2000, and the PlayStation 3 (PS3) in November 2006. This cycle isn’t just unique to Sony: Nintendo roughly followed the same pattern with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985, the Super NES in 1991, and the Nintendo 64 in 1996. Many people expected the PlayStation 4 to launch this year or next, but still little to nothing is known about it—until today, when Sony said that the PlayStation 3 would be supported through 2015. This implies that we probably won’t see the PlayStation 4 until at least 2015, or even later.

    “We’re going to continue supporting the PS3 for the next few years. Absolutely. And we’re going to continue supporting it not only that long, but as long as there is a development spigot that’s running hot. And I can tell you right now, the development spigot for PS3 is very hot. A lot of great games coming. Same thing with PS2…it’s kind of stuck around as that old warrior, many years after its launch. But there’s still games launching for it,” Sony VP of hardware marketing John Koller said.

    Sony and one of its main competitors in the console market, Microsoft, had been planning ten-year life cycles for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 for a while now, so it will be interesting to see where console gaming will go this decade, especially with the rise of mobile gaming on smartphones and the success of games such as Angry Birds for the platform.

    Myspace gets a total makeover

    Myspace recently released a teaser of the site’s rebooted version, and a lot of people on the web are surprised at just how much the once-dominant social networking site has changed.

    The site now sports a new minimalist layout that looks absolutely nothing like its past blueprints. It now looks more like a Tumblr Premium Theme than a Myspace revamp. Much unlike its previous versions, posts are now arranged in a grid layout that you can scroll sidewards. Photos and albums are now bigger and more visible on the person’s profile. No word yet on how much you’ll be able to customize the layout and contents of your profile.

    What Myspace did retain, though, is its heavy focus on music. From the video, Myspace artist pages seem pretty interactive as they allow users to view their music videos, listen to their songs, and even see some of their activities on the site. Users will be able to explore new songs and artists on the dashboard. Best of all, as we learned from Engadget, the site has its own integrated playlist creator.

    If you’re excited to try out the site’s new format, you can head over to THIS LINK and key in your email address to get an invite.

    Steve Aoki Live in Manila

    Tattoo, Live Without Limits, is proud to present world-renowned Producer/DJ and owner/founder of Dim Mak Records, Steve Aoki live in Manila.

    The electro house master behind the mix album Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles, is also known for his collaboration with other artists such as Tiesto, The Bloody Beetroots, MSTRKFT, Felix Cartal, and Mustard Pimp. Performing an average of 250 shows a year, he has since gained massive support from colleges, and has headlined over 55 cities across the US and Canada in the spring Deadmeat Tour.Aoki’s latest solo album, “Wonderland,” features guest musicians such as LMFAO, Travis Baker, Kid Cudi, Will.I.Am., Lil John, and many more.

    Watch out as Steve Aoki conquers Manila with his electrifying beats, live on October 4, 2012 at Republiq Club, Resorts World Manila. Embrace and surrender to the music and experience a party innovation like no other.

    This event is presented by Tattoo, Live Without Limits in cooperation with Chivas and Folded & Hung. This event is also brought to you by L’Acoustics, Gadgets Magazine, Manila Bulletin, Garage, Rogue, Circuit, Shot, Gala Magazine, Wheninmanila.com, and Manila Concerts Scene. This is a World Wide Womb and Driven production.

    We’ll be raffling off 2 pairs of tickets to the show via GadgetsGiveaway so watch this page for further announcements.

    Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S III officially rolls out, Poland gets first dibs

    If you’ve been anxiously awaiting the latest Android update for the Samsung Galaxy S III, you don’t have to wait long. Sam Mobile is reporting that the official OTA update for the device to get it up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has dropped in Poland, which means it’s only a matter of time before it gets circulated ’round the world and officially arrives in the land of jeepneys and Adobo. Users will also be getting a few, new things once the update comes around, which includes a reorganized settings menu,  2 homes creen modes, new notifications bar, Google Now and a resizable Pop-up play screen.

    Source: Sam Mobile

    Globe Nano-SIM now hitting stores, costs only Php 40

    Globe has made good on its promise that it’s making Nano-SIMs available to the general public – users can now drop by Globe stores around the metro to pick one of these bad boys up for only Php 40 for prepaid customers, while new and existing postpaid subscribers will be able to nab one free of charge. This is good news for people who might have acquired the iPhone 5 via other means (there’s no local launch date set for the launch of the device for either telcos), as they’ll now be able to use their devices locally – as long as they’re a Globe user, of course. There’s still no word when rival telco Smart will be selling their Nano-SIMs, though we’re pretty sure it’s only a matter of time.

    ASUS announces new F2A85 series of motherboards

    ASUS has announced their F2A85 Series motherboards based on the new AMD A85X chipset and FM2 socket, designed for AMD’s second generation Accelerated Processing Units (APU). The next generation APU offers superb performance to deliver users an upgraded gaming and multimedia experience. Embedded in the APU is an AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series GPU that drives superior performance-per-watt graphics, which is bolstered by support for AMD Eyefinity technology enabling an ultra-immersive visual environment on up to three independent display outputs. Users also have the option to add a discrete graphics card to enable the Dual Graphics feature, which provides users with even better graphics performance along with peace-of-mind future upgradability.

    F2A85 Series motherboards also feature the USB BIOS Flashback tool, which offers users the most convenient way to flash the BIOS. Users need only insert any USB storage device and push the dedicated USB BIOS Flashback button for three seconds, which then automatically flashes the BIOS. For extra convenience, users can use this function without the need to enter the BIOS or operating system, as well as being able to function without key components such as the APU and memory installed, so if you cannot access Windows for whatever reason, you can at least try to find out what’s wrong with the BIOS.

    The Remote GO! function allows one to link up multiple devices, such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, and other PCs through an existing LAN cable and router setup, so you can access your PC even when you’re on another device. You can even transfer files from your PC to any DLNA enabled device connected to Remote GO! as well.

    The ASUS F2A85 series of motherboards will be available on the local market by mid-October, and prices have not yet been announced.

    Kim Dotcom says Megaupload coming back, 90% of code done

    We’ve reported before that Megaupload owner Kim Dotcom has pledged that the ubiquitous media sharing site would return, and it looks like he’s making good on that promise. TorrentFreak reports that 90% of the code for the new, improved file sharing site has been completed and the server hardware is on its way. There are also investors who are interested in the next iteration of Megaupload, even after Kim’s brush with the law. “Quick update on the new Mega: Code 90% done. Servers on the way. Lawyers, partners and investors are ready,” Dotcom teases. “Be patient it’s coming,” he adds. Will the next version of Megaupload be immune to takedowns and US law? We’ll find out when it launches later this year.

    Source: TorrentFreak

     

    PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990 now available in the Philippines

    We had a hands-on with the PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990 at COMPUTEX back in June. It is so massive it takes up three 8-pin PCI Express Power connectors on the back of your computer, requires at least 850W of power, and even requires a supporting pillar so it doesn’t fall off of your rig while you mount it. However, the size and specs both add up, such as three cooling fans, two AMD Tahiti based 7970 GPUs, 6 GB DDR5 RAM, and support for multiple monitors, so for those who use more than one monitor to immerse themselves in the gaming experience, this might be an ideal buy for your gaming arsenal. It is now available in the Philippines for approximately US$999 (Php 41,708), so this big card will also need a big withdrawal from the bank account as well.