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    Disaster preparedness? There’s an app for that.

    Ren Alcantara
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    Disaster preparedness? There’s an app for that.

    Seeing as we are a tropical country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are a lot of things Mother nature can do to mess up our day. Technology, while yet unable to prevent natural disasters, can provide us with ways out when mother nature throws a fit.

    Get the latest weather news from PAGASA

    The recent rains nearly paralyzed the metro. Get the latest forecasts from the national weather bureau with the PAGASA app HERE. The app lets you see storm warnings, satellite images and even a storm tracker so you get a good idea what to expect.

    Get instant access to the emergency services

    The MM Emergency and Services app gives Metro Manila residents instant access to the numbers of important organizations, such as the NDRRMC, MMDA, Red Cross and quite a few others. Get the app HERE.

    Earthquake Alert takes care of the Shakes

     This app updates you about earthquakes above Magnitude 1.0 that occur around the world. It’ll give you an option for map view and other details from the USGS site. Hit this LINK to get your copy.

    ISUZU Philippines introduces the 2013 Crosswind Sportivo X

    Gadgets Team
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    ISUZU Philippines introduces the 2013 Crosswind Sportivo X

    ISUZU Philippines Corporation (IPC) has fitted special features commonly found in SUVs to its bestselling multipurpose vehicle, and so now Filipino families can Drive with Confidence even more aboard the 2013 Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo X.

    Known for its durability, reliability and fuel efficiency, the Crosswind’s advantages have proven to be indispensable not only during fun moments with the family, but also in difficult times like the recent heavy monsoon rains and flooding that occurred in many parts of the Philippines. Also, the Crosswind has showed that it is able to hold its monetary value through the years as it commands good prices at resale time.

    “The Crosswind is a very important model for Isuzu Philippines Corporation as we intend to reach a sales target of 13,000 units this year,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki. “Around half of that total will come from Crosswind models. That is why we want to continually offer Filipino families vehicles that are suited to the times while still giving them the best value for their money. The 2013 Sportivo X is such a vehicle as it keeps the strengths that various Crosswind models have been known for but now carries many premium features.”

    From the top, the model has roof rails that are perfect for securing various outdoor gear. Next is a rear spoiler with a high-mount LED stop lamp and reverse camera, which is a feature found only in premium vehicles. At the vehicle’s sides are side-view mirrors that with power-fold feature and are garnished with chrome and integrated LED turn signal lamps. The lower part of the Sportivo X is adorned with practical side step boards and a pair of all-weather fog lamps in front. Big 15-inch performance alloy wheels wrapped with all-terrain tires round up the model’s list of special external features.

    Meanwhile, the vehicle’s cabin is highlighted by a top-of-the-line multimedia entertainment system with AM/FM tuner, CD, MP3 and video player, and an auxiliary input jack for a portable digital music player and a thumb drive. Complementing this are seats covered in comfortable, beige-color leather, creating a truly upscale and sophisticated ambiance.

    Combined with the features of the 2013 Sportivo X is the proven engine that also powers the Crosswind XT and the Crosswind XL. This is Isuzu’s fuel-efficient and environment-friendly Euro2-compliant, four-cylinder 4JA1-L Direct Diesel Injected, turbocharged 2.5-liter power plant, which makes 85ps and 18.9kg-m. This tested engine can be mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.

    The 2013 Sportivo X comes in Rich Red, Satin Silver and Ebony Black while the Crosswind XT comes in Glacial White, Midnight Blue and Rich Red, and the Crosswind XL is available in Glacial White and Titanium Silver. IPC prices the 2013 Sportivo X A/T at Php 1,205,000; the Sportivo X M/T at Php 1,140,000; XT at Php 883,000; and the XL at Php 794,000. The Sportivo X is available at all IPC dealerships nationwide.

    IdeaSpace launches national competition for startups

    Gadgets Team
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    IdeaSpace launches national competition for startups

    IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc. has just opened its national search for the top ideas for technology entrepreneurship in the country. Starting tomorrow, September 1, 2012, anyone who thinks he has a great, game-changing idea can submit it to IdeaSpace in the hope of being given the opportunity to incubate this idea.

    IdeaSpace Executive Director, Diane Eustaquio

    According to IdeaSpace executive director Diane Eustaquio, this is open to anyone in the country—no age limits, no geographic limits. All you need is a great idea or an early stage startup that can address a particular need in the country. Primarily, the competition encourages participants to address the needs in the following industries: water and power utilities, toll roads and transportation, healthcare, mining, telecommunications, media and food. Participants may also offer solutions for other industries, but it must have a “significant global potential or development impact.”

    Ten (10) grand winners will be selected to undergo a six-month incubation period, where they will be given an initial amount of PHP 500,000. They will also receive up to PHP 2,000,000 worth of funding and support. This includes legal assistance, training and mentoring from the executives in the MVP Group of Companies, free office space, and housing provisions for those who hail from outside of Metro Manila. After six months, each incubatee can get up to PHP 5 million additional capital, depending on the needs of the startup.

    In exchange for the funding and support, IdeaSpace will have a 20% equity stake for each incubated company. The future revenues will go back to the foundation to help support forthcoming startups.

    “This is an opportunity for Filipinos to create a future today,” says Marthyn Cuan, IdeaSpace Vice President and Chief Information Officer of MERALCO.

    IdeaSpace has recently been conducting bootcamps that encourage the startup culture in the country. They have been to several areas in the Philippines, including Tuguegarao and Davao. They have also been partnering with schools such as the Philippine Science High School. IdeaSpace founding member Nick Wilwayco also shares that IdeaSpace will be coming to the University of Santo Tomas in late September.

    IdeaSpace founding member, Nick B. Wilwayco

    “We’re excited to see what kind of game-changing ideas we will get from this competition. We have been going the rounds all over the country through our bootcamps and there are so many promising tech ideas and entrepreneurs around. It’s time to help make these ideas into commercial realities,” says IdeaSpace president Earl Martin Valencia.

    IdeaSpace President Earl Martin Valencia

    Submissions will be closed on January 7 next year. The finalists will be announced on February 28, and they will pitch their ideas to Manuel V. Pangilinan and the CEOs of the MVP conglomerate on March 30 and 31. The 10 winners will be announced on April 2.

    If you want to change the future of the country with your tech-based startup idea, head on over to THIS link for the full mechanics and THIS link for the submission page.

    Turn your iPhone into a dual sim phone

    Gadgets Team
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    Turn your iPhone into a dual sim phone

    Do you have an iPhone, but more than one sim card so you can contact your friends, relatives and co-workers who use different carriers? An iPhone case with dual sim capabilities is on its way, so you no longer need to switch phones and/or sim cards when you want to call someone who uses a different mobile carrier than you do.

    Snap this svelte case onto your smartphone and you’ll be able to use two SIM cards instead of one, and you can switch from one to the other with a single click using the switch on the back of the case. The case accepts both micro and standard SIMs and there’s no fiddly software or jailbreaking needed to get it to work.

    Although the case isn’t available in the Philippines just yet, this will most definitely make it to our shores, given our mobile phone penetration and market demand.

    Coreonline: A new cloud gaming service from Square Enix

    Gadgets Team
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    Coreonline: A new cloud gaming service from Square Enix

    You might not need a console to play games anymore, thanks to Square Enix’s new cloud gaming service, Coreonline. Coreonline seeks to bring the console gaming experience to your web browser, and even put it in high definition.

    There’s a catch, though: you have to watch ads to earn game time. You can purchase individual levels or entire games to bypass this. For example, at the end of your game time, a 1:17 ad is worth 26 minutes of play time, whereas a 7 second ad is worth 5 minutes. That means according to these two figures, each minute of game time could be worth anywhere between 1.4 to 2.96 seconds, although it’s not clear in the press release how many seconds of ad time converts to one minute of game time.

    Currently there are only two titles available, Mini Ninjas and Hitman: Blood Money. In the case of Mini Ninjas, the Coreonline site merely redirects users to the Chrome Web Store, where a streaming version of Mini Ninjas has already been available for some time. Blood Money, on the other hand, will play directly in the Coreonline store, while Lara Croft: Guardian of Light will be released on the service in October.

    Currently, only certain games will work depending on which browser you are using. At present, Mini Ninjas, Blood Money and Lara Croft support Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer 8 on Windows 7. On Mac, Lara Croft and Mini Ninjas will only work in Chrome, while Blood Money does not currently support Mac at all, however this will most likely be fixed as more games become available for the service.

    For more details or to play games, you can go to Coreonline’s website.

    Bosch Automotive Festival shifts to high gear

    Gadgets Team
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    Bosch Automotive Festival shifts to high gear

    Internationally renowned automotive parts supplier Robert Bosch Philippines will stage the next Automotive Festival at the Auto Cluster of West Gate in Alabang on September 1-2, 2012. The two-day fete will celebrate Bosch’s expertise in automotive technology, products and services, and underscore its commitment to provide innovative solutions to local automotive and industrial challenges.

    The Bosch Automotive Festival offers the public a chance to experience first-class automotive services and to learn about Bosch parts and Bosch diagnostic test equipment. Participants will receive a free car check up courtesy of Bosch Car Service, as well as a 40% discount on top-of-the-line Bosch car parts and accessories onsite.

    “As the market leader in the global automotive aftermarket industry, Bosch provides parts, services and diagnostics, including workshop equipment, repair instructions, technical information, training and consulting, to about 15,000 partners worldwide,” said Mike Tengonciang Jr., Marketing Manager, Automotive Aftermarket Division. “Whether coming for a regular maintenance or an accurate and reliable vehicular assessment, customers are sure to expect personal and convenient services from certified Bosch Car Service Workshops, Diesel Centers and Diesel Service Workshops.”

    After its Alabang leg, the Bosch Automotive Festival will shift to Cebu Park Mall, Cebu on September 15-16, and to NCCC Mall Davao on September 29-30.

    Lenovo announces IdeaTab A2107, dual-core processor, 3G, WiFi, 7-inch screen, will be cost $179-$199

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Lenovo announces IdeaTab A2107, dual-core processor, 3G, WiFi, 7-inch screen, will be cost $179-$199

    Look out Nexus 7, there’s a new, low-priced 7-inch slate in town. Meet Lenovo’s IdeaTab A2107, the company’s latest Android tablet. This particular tablet is a ruggedized tablet, meaning it has a roll-cage enclosure that allows it to endure the harsh realities of an active lifestyle without any ill effects. The IdeaTab A2107 is powered by a dual-core MTK Cortex A9 CPU processor and ships with Android 4.0 right out of the tin. The 7-inch display serves up 1024 x 600 resolution, along with 3G and WiFi capabilities, typical for most tablets. What’s not typical is it’s price – Lenovo has said that this particular slate will cost around $179-$199, which makes it only the second Android tablet to even come close to Google’s pricing for their Nexus 7. Granted, this is nowhere near the specs of the Nexus 7, but variety is always good – especially if it only costs $199 maximum.

     

    Sony Xperia Go launched in the Philippines, water resistant Android smartphone for Php 14,490

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Sony Xperia Go launched in the Philippines, water resistant Android smartphone for Php 14,490

    Aside from the Xperia acro S, Sony Philippines also launched their competitively priced Xperia Go today. The Xperia Go has the same water, dust and scratch resistance of the acro S, in a smaller frame. The Xperia Go uses a 3.5-inch reality display with Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine, and uses a slower, 1GHz dual-core processor. Like the Xperia acro S, the Xperia Go has the same wet finger water tracking capability that allows it to read your finger inputs even if  they are wet.

    As a nice bonus (and probably a good case of Sony anticipating usage) Sony has also included Fitness and Sports applications like miCoach and FigureRunning in the device for active peeps. The Xperia Go will be powered by Android 4.0 out of the box (though the devices we saw during the launch was only Android 2.3 Gingerbread). The Xperia Go will be sold in the Philippines for Php 14,490.

     

    Sony Xperia acro S offcially announced in the Philippines, 4.3-inch HD display, dust and water resistant, 12-megapixel camera

    Gadgets Team
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    Sony Xperia acro S offcially announced in the Philippines, 4.3-inch HD display, dust and water resistant, 12-megapixel camera

    Although we’ve told you about Sony’s Xperia V a few hours ago, that particular rugged smartphone won’t be coming in the Philippines soon. So if you’re in the market for a rugged, pretty smartphone, you’ll have to settle for Sony’s Xperia acro S. This particular smartphone isn’t afraid of getting roughing it – Sony says that it’s dust and water resistant, as well as scratch resistant so you won’t have to worry about getting beat up. Unfortunately, its not the fastest of smartphones, as it only packs a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (an old Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon in fact) so you will have to keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up. There’s a 12-megapixel camera on the back, powered by Sony’s ExmorR for improved low-light performance, and the device supposedly is still able to track your fingers even if they are wet.

    As far as water resistance is concerned, the Xperia acro S performs as advertised, and was able to survive a trip to the provided aquarium without any ill effect. Time will tell if this particular device will survive a longer and deeper trip underwater, though we’re sure none of you would want to give the Xperia acro S longer H2O  exposure than necessary. Unfortunately, this particular device will still be using Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Sony was a bit skittish when it came to discussing upgrade paths Sony has clarified that this will get ICS right out of the box. The Xperia acro S will retail for around Php 26,990.

    Globe and RIM announce Globe and BlackBerry Exclusives promo series

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Globe and RIM announce Globe and BlackBerry Exclusives promo series

    Last night, RIM and Globe announced that they have once again joined forces to launch the Globe and BlackBerry Exclusives. Three exciting and exclusive music events and parties are waiting just for you when you avail of the BlackBerry Curve 9220 or the Curve 9230 through a Globe postpaid plan.

    “After the much-talked about Nicki Minaj Concert Tour last July, we are excited to launch the Globe and BlackBerry Music Exclusives, a series of music events designed to provide Globe BlackBerry subscribers that exclusive music experience,” says Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid.

    Here’s what’s in store for Globe BlackBerry postpaid subscribers in these three series of promos:

    New and re-contracting subscribers who avail of a Globe postpaid plan with the Curve 9220 from September 13 will automatically get a free raffle entry for a chance to win 4 VIP passes with 2 buckets of beer and 2 pica-pica dishes for free with the Bar Tour Series. This is a series of shows where you get to see some of the hottest local bands live and up-close. These participating shows are: Pedicab and Imago at Cubao X on September 1, General Luna and Razorback at 19 East on September 7, and Sandwich and Taken by Cars at the B-Side on September 22.

    The Karaoke Series lets new and re-contracting subscribers who avail of the Curve 9320 under a Globe postpaid plan from July 2 to November 15, 2012 get a free raffle entry for a chance to win a 5-hour karaoke night with free food and drinks at Red Box Karaoke. Eight winners will be picked, and each of them can bring 4 of their friends. The Karaoke Series will run on October 19, November 9, November 16, and November 23.

    Dying to see your favorite international music artists perform live?  Those who avail of either the Curve 9220 or the Curve 9230 under a postpaid plan as a new line or re-contracting from July 2 to October 31, 2012 are entitled to 100 (for the Curve 9220) or 200 (for the Curve 9230) raffle points for the Concert Series. Three (3) winners will be chose to see Katy Perry live in Singapore on September 23. Four (4) winners will also be picked to watch pop icon Madonna in Los Angeles on October 11. Lastly, five (5) winners will be chosen to see British band Coldplay at their concert in Sydney, Australia on November 17. The winners will get free roundtrip airfare, accommodations, concert tickets, and an awesome send-off party. You can earn more raffle points and increase your chances of winning by downloading ringback tones, true tones, full track songs from 2346, globebbcurve.com, Dloadstation.com, MP3Tone.ph and Record Store.

    Globe and BlackBerry also teamed up with local music channel MYX to launch the MYX Fly Away promo where new and re-contracting subscribers who avail of a BlackBerry Curve 9320 under a postpaid plan will get one raffle entry for the chance to win an all-expense paid trip for two to see Madonna live in Los Angeles.

    So here’s the big question: Which Globe postpaid plans offer the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and the Curve 9320?

    The Curve 9220 is free when you avail of the Globe My Super Plan 499 with a PHP 99 unlimited BlackBerry Chat subscription. This package gives you PHP 499 monthly consumable load for calls and texts, unlimited access to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), and 2 freebies.

    Meanwhile, the Curve 9320 is available for free upon subscription to the My Super Plan BlackBerry Unli Surf Combo Plan 999, which allows subscribers to enjoy PHP 400 monthly consumable load for calls and texts, unlimited surfing, and 1 freebie.

    You can avail of the Curve 9220 and the Curve 9320 by visiting Globe stores nationwide, calling 730-1010 or logging on to www.globe.com.ph/blackberry/curve or ph.blackberry.com/curve.

    Samsung Galaxy Camera official, Android Jellybean 4.1 on-board, WiFi, 3G and 4G connectivity, 16-megapixel BSI Sensor

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Galaxy Camera official, Android Jellybean 4.1 on-board, WiFi, 3G and 4G connectivity, 16-megapixel BSI Sensor

    Seems like the rumor was spot on, as Samsung has officially unveiled their Galaxy Camera during their IFA event earlier today. The Galaxy Camera is equipped with a 4.8-inch touchscreen Clear HD LCD, along with a 21x optical zoom lens. Sensor-wise, there’s a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI (back-illuminated sensor) CMOS , as well as multiple connectivity features which include 3G, 4G and WiFi connectivity.

    Samsung says that this particular gadget will have access to Samsung’s apps and apps on Google Play, which suggests Samsung may be working with third party app developers to provide additional apps for the device. The Galaxy Camera also has voice recognition built-in, which means you can have it shoot pictures by using your voice alone.

    Now you can take pictures without having to physically touch the camera, a great feature for people who love self portraits. It will come with Android Jellybean 4.1 right out of the box, so you know you’ll recognize the user experience right away. There’s multiple widgets for sharing your pictures and videos quickly, so you can instantly send your pictures to your preferred social network.

     

    Samsung ATIV Tab official, 10.1-inch Windows 8 RT tablet, 1.5GHz dual-core processor

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Samsung ATIV Tab official, 10.1-inch Windows 8 RT tablet, 1.5GHz dual-core processor

    Aside from the Galaxy Note II, Samsung has also made official it’s ATIV line of devices. The ATIV Tab is one such device, and is a 10.1-inch, 1,366 x 768 resolution display Windows 8 RT tablet that’s only 8.9mm thin. It sports a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, and Samsung says that it’ll be offering Office Home and Student 2013 RT when it ships, giving it massive content creation capabilities. There’s an 8,200 mAh battery inside it, so it’ll last for a good while before needing a trip to the charger. There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera for imaging. There’s also ports for HDMI and USB connectivity, so you won’t be wanting as far as ports is concerned. No word on pricing or availability yet sadly, but we’ll update this post as soon as we get word.

    Samsung Galaxy Note II official specs: 5.5-inch, 1280×720 resolution Super AMOLED display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, Android 4.1 Jellybean

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Galaxy Note II official specs: 5.5-inch, 1280×720 resolution Super AMOLED display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, Android 4.1 Jellybean

     

    While we’re still waiting for Samsung’s IFA Unpacked event to start, it seems someone has spilled the beans early with regards to the star of the show, the Galaxy Note II. PocketNow has received the official press release for the Galaxy Note, and has spilled it online for all to see. Seems that the Galaxy Note II will indeed have a bigger 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a native resolution of 1280×720, which is a few pixels shy of the 1280×800 display on the original Note. The Galaxy Note II will also have an 8-megapixel camera on the back. On the inside, the Galaxy Note II will be sporting a yet unnamed 1.6GHz quad-core processor, which we will assume is Samsung’s own Exynos 4 quad. The battery has been beefed up – the Galaxy Note II now has a 3,100mAh battery which is a massive improvement over the original Note’s 2,500mAh battery. The Galaxy Note II will be a bit thinner than the original though not by much: 9.4mm versus the original’s 9.6mm. The Galaxy Note II will run on Android 4.1 Jellybean once it’s released.

     

    On the S Pen side, it seems that the intuitive stylus has received a bit of a redesign and is now thicker and longer. Samsung has made it possible for people to peep into their email, video and image gallery without opening it completely by hovering the S Pen over the items, a feature that they have dubbed as the Air View. The Galaxy Note II apparently also has the same picture-in-picture feature that we liked so much in the Galaxy Note 10.1, which allows users to view a video or browse the web while doing something else entirely in the main window. Like the Galaxy S III before it, it seems like the Galaxy Note II will launch with two color variants. No word on availability in the Philippines yet or eventual price.

    [UPDATE] Seems like the leak is spot on. Samsung will also be offering an LTE version of the Galaxy Note II, so there’s a big chance that this particular device will show up in LTE variants in our area soon. Speaking of availability, it’s going to start shipping sometime in October, so it won’t be long now till you get your hands on it.

    Source: PocketNow

    Water-resistant Sony Xperia V announced, dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor, 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 resolution display

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Water-resistant Sony Xperia V announced, dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor, 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 resolution display

    More Sony Xperia goodness folks. Along with their newest flagship smartphone, the Xperia T, Sony also launched their Xperia V today. So what makes this particular smartphone so special? Well, aside from having a shatter and scratch resistant 4.3-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution display, the Xperia V is apparently splash and water resistant as well. Sony has stated that it has the highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57+) and as a direct result, can withstand being immersed in water 1m deep for 30 minutes without any ill effect. Awesome.

    Powering the entire affair is a next generation Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual core processor, and Android 4.0, with an upgrade to Android 4.1 promised in the pipeline. Sony’s new ClearAudio+ technology also makes an appearance here, so you can count on excellent audio once this unit gets here. There’s also an LTE variant of the Xperia V, which should make it attractive to telcos like Smart who has just recently rolled out their LTE service. No word on pricing or availability yet, though we’ll update this post once we get more information.

     

    Sony 84-inch 4K TV announced, bring on the 4K TV Wars

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Sony 84-inch 4K TV announced, bring on the 4K TV Wars

    Seems like 4K is the new HD TV, as Sony has unveiled their own interpretation of the 4K TV. Meet the XBR-84×900, Sony’s absolutely huge entry into the 4K market. As expected, the XBR-84X900 uses an absolutely huge 84-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) LCD panel to deliver insane amounts of detail to the fore. Of course, there’s a slim selection of 4K sources available as of the moment, so Sony has also helpfully included their proprietary upscaling technology which includes the 4K X-Reality PRO picture engine. This particular TV is also a 3D TV, and surprisingly Sony has moved away from cumbersome, active shutter lenses to lighter, passive ones, like the ones used by its other Korean competitor, LG. The 4K TV incorporates a 10 Unit Live Speaker system which is optimized for this large-sized screen. The speakers deliver virtual 5.1 surround sound, and are detachable if ever users decide to plug in their own system. No price or availability has been set, we’ll let you guys know as soon as we do if there’s any change.

     

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