COMPUTEX might be over, but we’re not done with the products we saw during the show. One product that we saw during the trade show was ECS’ GeForce GTX 680 Black. This particular card hails from NVIDIA’s Kepler line of GPUs, and uses ECS’ Non Stop Technology for non-stop operation. The card runs at 1,040 MHz, has 2GB of DDR5 memory and uses solid capacitors and Electrostatic Discharge Protection circuits for unsurpassed reliability. The card also comes with a gold plated aluminum cover, two fans and five heatpipes for superior heat dissipation.
The Phaser 4600N monochrome laser printers from Fuji Xerox are designed for businesses, government departments, and other large workgroups that need an efficient way of producing high volumes of documents.
The Phaser 4600N printers have an enhanced image quality of 1200 x 1200 and an incredible first page time of only 7.8 seconds. It’s ideal for high-volume printing since it can complete up to 275,000 prints per month. That would mean it’s capable of making up to about 9,166 prints per day.
They have a 650-sheet standard paper capacity that can be expanded up to 3,750 with additional trays. They can print on a variety of mediums, including transparencies, cardstock, envelopes, and labels. Users even have the option to automatically staple up to 50 sheets of paper, which greatly saves time and effort. Security is apparently no problem either due to its advanced hard disk encryption and Secure Print function—the latter holds confidential documents in a queue until the authorized job owner enters a pin number. Lastly, both Phaser 4600N models are environment friendly due to their automatic double-sided printing, N-up printing options, and Energy Star standards.
These printers sell for Php 66,000 and are distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS. For more product information, please contact [email protected].
Alright boys and girls, here it is. Creative has picked winners for the product giveaway! Ready for it? Here it goes:
5th place goes to Marco Polo Demo (11,000) while the 4th place goes to Jerome C. Pascua (29,576). 3rd place goes to Laurence C. Beruin (49,940), while 2nd place goes to Aldrin Balderas (52,789). The winner of the grand prize is Timothy Joseph P. Lacbay (52,986)! Congratulations!
Winners can claim their prizes via two ways: you can show up at the Creative roadshow at the 5th level of the Annex of SM North EDSA in the Cyberzone later on at 5:00 PM, or you can email [email protected] to coordinate pickup. Congratulations to the winners!
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and everyone is frazzled about getting the perfect gift for Dad. If your dad is keen on gadgets and you want to give him something cool and really handy, then MiLi has come up with a worthy option for you.
From June 15 to July 31, every purchase of a MiLi Power Star earns you a Pocketpal 1A USB adapter for free!
The Power Star is a portable battery charger for mobile phones that is compatible with most micro-USB powered devices. It has a capacity of 2,000mAh, and is compact and light. The foldable micro-USB tip does away with the trouble of using wires and adapters, making it extra handy and really easy to carry around. The Power Star can be recharged by plugging it into your computer or by using a USB adapter, like the Pocketpal 1A. The Pocketpal can be used to charge your power bank and a whole lot of other devices.
Don’t worry if you’ve already bought a gift for your dad. You still have a reason to buy this awesome bundle. Just tell your parents that it will come in handy when you’re out of the house–especially now that school has started.
You can avail of your complementary Pocketpal if you purchase your MiLi Power Star at the following participating outlets:
Ambassador Appliances (Shangri-La, Park Square, VMall)
As predicted, this year’s COMPUTEX was all about Windows 8 and the different ways manufacturers could squeeze the upcoming notebook/tablet OS into their products. Samsung’s Series 7 Slate was present during the festivities, and though this isn’t the first time this product has seen the light of day (it came out last year sporting Windows 7), the imminent release of Microsoft’s newest OS has prompted the Korean manufacturer to revisit the design of the tablet.
The Series 7 Slate is now a bit skinnier – and is only 12.9mm thin. The overall weight of the device is now 860 grams, and Samsung says this particular version of the Slate will be equipped with 64/128GB SSD drives and will be powered by Intel Core i3/i5 processors. There’s three inputs to choose from with the Series 7 Slate – the actual 11-inch touchscreen, a digitizer pen and an optional Bluetooth keyboard.
We managed to spend a few minutes with the Seires 7 Slate, and from what we could see the unit was pretty squared away. The device responded quickly to our swipes, and the digitizer pen was responsive enough to draw with. Hopefull Samsung bundles or develops some kind of drawing software when the Series 7 Slate eventually ships, as it would be a shame to waste the potential of the digitizer pen.
After the official unveil of the Taichi last Monday, we finally had an opportunity to get a look at the device ourselves up close and personal-like. The Asus Taichi is certainly one of the most unique products that we’ve ever had the chance of laying our eyes-on, and to some extent it’s both a strength and a weakness, we guess. Unfortunately, Asus reps wouldn’t allow us to get our grubby mitts on the thing, but he did go through a short demo of the notebook’s abilities. It seems that the device has different display modes for the HD IPS dual-screens aside from the obvious notebook to tablet transition. The user can display a slide show, presentation or possibly a movie on the outer touchscreen, and there are indications that the two screens may be able to work independently of each other. The overall size and heft of the device is pretty manageable, and if it wasn’t for the touchscreen on the other side of the matte display, we could have mistaken the thing for an Asus Zenbook.
Right now there’s no solid release date for the Taichi, but we’re sure we’re going to hear more details about it once Microsoft decides to release Windows 8 in the next few months. Until then, you can enjoy the video presentation of the Asus Taichi that we’ve embedded below.
Most people know Cooler Master as a brand that makes, well, PC fans and coolers for PC builders around the world. Not a lot of people know that the company has expanded their product line to include mobile phone accessories and cases as well. We managed to stumble into this concept smartphone stand at their booth in COMPUTEX the other day. The design is simple, yet ingenious, and allows your device to stand on its own accord without encumbering it by integrating a kickstand on the bottom that folds out of the way when not in use. The stand also works in landscape mode, so you can watch video clips or movies without having to hold your smartphone yourself. The stand you see here is for the HTC One X, though the company has said that they’re also working on making stands for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note and other smartphones.
I am a twitcher at heart, and at the launch of the HP Phoenix last night, my inner gamer liked what he saw. While other members of the press were taking their turn on the Phoenix, I took a moment to admire the design. The verdict is that it’s pretty macho. It’s got mean-looking red lighting inside the case, some aggressive lines and it gives off a general feeling of wanting to go from a standing start to 100 in no seconds, flat. I particularly liked the gadget tray on the top of the CPU, with easy access to USB ports, so I can get my devices charging without interrupting my deathmatches. Once the crowd around the HP’s dedicated gaming rig cleared, I was able to take the rig for a quick spin. For their first outing in the gaming PC market, HP looks like they know what they are doing. On the Phoenix I got was MW3; a game I had just finished on the Wii. The graphics were bumped up high, and there wasn’t a single hiccup or stutter. Everything was smooth, flowy and beautiful, even with particle effects and lots of enemies on-screen. Hopefully we get some time to review this, so sit tight for more news!
We were at the press launch for the HP Spectre last night, and we were able to get a little meet-and-greet with HP’s newest notebook. If I had to condense the essence of the Spectre into a single word, I wouldn’t even really have to think about it. This thing is sexy. The Gorilla Glass lid and wrist rest plus super-sleek curves beg for you to run your hands all over the notebook. Short of a really nasty drop, I doubt you could do anything to mess this beauty up. The keys were nice and clicky, but just enough to offer good feedback. Just like every beautiful thing, the best parts were in the details. You’ve got volume control through a dial on the right edge of the device, Beats audio, and a little touch I found particularly appealing is that the HP logo is offset on the lid, so when you walk around with the Spectre, people know excatly what you’ve got, even when with the screen closed. Sit tight for a full review once we get our hands on one.
Last night, at the Alphaland Tents, HP unveiled the latest additions to their mobile and desktop computing lineup: The H9 Phoenix and the Envy14 Spectre.
The HP Phoenix is HP’s dedicated gaming machine. Under the hood, you’ll find a third-generation Intel Core i5-3570K “unlocked” Processor ready-made for user overclocking, a maximum capacity of 16GB DDR3-1600 memory, 1TB of hard disk space and a Radeon HD 7770 graphics card with 2GB GDDR5 dedicated memory. It promises unparalleled performance in a sleek, mean-looking package.
For the savvy consumer, HP presents the Spectre Envy14 notebook. The Spectre has a beautiful Gorilla Glass lid, display and wrist rest, which makes it tough, but but keeps it sleek. It comes with a 14-inch screen, an Intel® Core i7 processor, a maximum of 4GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory and Beats audio technology. With such a heavy focus on design and some serious hardware, the Spectre gives top-tier looks and performance in a single package.
Aside from trying out the CM Storm Sirius S at the Cooler Master booth at COMPUTEX, we also had the opportunity to briefly touch and feel their newest mice – the Sentinel Advance II and Recon. These two new mice are the newest gaming mice that the company has, and both were designed with hardcore gamers in mind.
The Recon is an ambidextrous mouse, and features a multi-color mouse wheel for profile selection, and uses an Avago 3090 optical sensor that can deliver 800 to 4000 DPI. The mouse has 9 programmable buttons (left, right and middle mouse buttons included).
The Sentinel Advance II is a right-handed design, and is an update to the company’s previous offering, the Sentinel. It features 200 – 8200 DPI tracking resolution, On the fly DPI adjustments (increments of 200 DPI), 8 programmable buttons, 9 additional virtual buttons via button combinations, customizable OLED logo and customizable multi color LED light system.
Interestingly, the Sentinel Advance II has removable weights on the bottom of the mouse, which allows users to customize the overall balance of the device to their preference.
We passed by Cooler Master’s conference room here in COMPUTEX today to check out their CM Storm line of PC peripherals. One of the devices that caught our eye was the CM Storm Sirius S 5.1 surround sound gaming headphones. This particular gaming headphone has 4 discrete speaker channel pairs (front, rear, center, and sub) for full surround sound. Additionally, the headphones also allow users to individually set the levels of each speaker channel pair – you can tone down the rear channel if you want while keeping the front ones as loud as possible, for example. The omni-directional microphone on the Sirius S minimizes background noise pickup and ensures clear conversations with teammates. It also features interchangeable ear-cups, micro weave for breathable audio.
Negosyantech is the program name chosen by Intel to help entrepreneurs make their business more productive and efficient through the use of affordable technology solutions. According to statistics, 20% of the market of PCs (personal computers) in the Philippines is small-to-medium business (SMBs). Furthermore, only 25% of these SMBs use PCs in their operations. Intel aims to change this, and they’ve launched a campaign to make these enterprises (as well as micro businesses) more aware and start making use of more relevant technology.
Intel has collaborated with 8layer Technologies, Inc. to design software applications and easy-to-use business solutions that achieve cost-effectiveness. This includes the Kasosyo Apps Suite with a sales, inventory, and cash flow application to keep micro businesses and SMBs more efficient and entrepreneurs updated. 8layer also designed BigBiz technology, which integrates services such as Firewall, Email, File Server, DNS, Proxy Server, and more into a single hardware server.
Intel also partnered with Multiply.com, a site that has gone from becoming a social networking site to an e-commerce platform. Multiply has vast expertise and success in the local e-commerce field with over 127,000 merchants (or micro businesses and SMBs) selling on the site. With the strong online presence of Multiply, it’s only right that Intel collaborates with them to reach these SMBs.
Intel is also working together with PLDT in this campaign—the latter becoming the communications and information provider for Negosyantech. Some of the other companies that Intel has partnered with for this campaign are Acer, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Samsung. These companies will be providing the hardware that Intel can suggest to SMBs.
Basically, Intel is offering 3 things—(1) PCs, which include the best hardware based on Intel processors; (2) software solutions, which are simple applications to suit the needs of SMBs; and (3) communications and information tools for SMBs through PLDT KaAsenso.
Left to Right: Ron Cruz, Warren de Guzman, Karmina Constantino, Lexi Schulze, Coco Alcuaz, and Boyet Sison
For the past five weeks on ANC, we watched live uninterrupted coverage of the Philippines’ Chief Justice Impeachment trial. Now that it’s all done, what now? Well, ANC is launching a series of new afternoon programs and niche primetime talk shows starting on June 11, 2012.
At 2 p.m, news anchor Ron Cruz will be presenting major national, business, and foreign news. At 3 p.m, Coco Alcuaz will take over to give a rundown on major news developments, business stories, updates on Asian markets, and live interviews from the Philippine Stock Exchange while Warren de Guzman delivers updates directly from the PSE trading floor. Warren de Guzman states that he “will only give credible information to help viewers make the right investment choices”. “The Bureau”, anchored by Karmina Constantino, will cater to Filipinos abroad by reporting the biggest national and regional stories in the country—letting viewers know how these affect the global Filipino. ANC’s weather presenter and anchor Boyet Sison will be presenting the hourly weather updates and forecasts, and Lexi Schulze will be providing the latest buzz and trends from the social media realm.
ANC will also launch a first-of-its-kind social media news program called “@ANCalerts” that will air on weekdays at 4:30 p.m with anchors TJ Manotoc and Lexi Shulze. The show actually started as ANC’s Twitter account that now has more than 450,000 followers, and will be presenting the hottest social media buzz, user-generated content, “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo” stories, and real-time feedback from viewers.
As if all of that isn’t enough, ANC will also have “Inside Business” on its Wednesday 7 p.m primetime slot, which is a niche talk show about business and science and technology, anchored by Coco Alcuaz. Tony Velasquez will also be launching a 30-minute science and technology show airing at 7:30 p.m on Wednesdays, where he will feature the latest inventions, gadgets, and technological devices. At 9:30 p.m on Fridays, entertainment reporter Phoemela Baranda will be the new host of “Cityscape”, which is ANC’s guide to the hippest food establishments, fashion trends, and the hottest events and getaways in and out of the metro.
That my friends, is the future of All-in-One PCs. Not gimmicky control schemes or crazy thin designs. The module that we held in Intel’s booth at COMPUTEX earlier today is the future of All-in-One PCs, and possibly consoles and notebooks.
Let us explain. All-in-One PCs, like HP’s TouchSmart PC are excellent devices in their own right, but suffer from one serious flaw – the PC components that make them tick are usually obsolete in about a year or two years, simply because their innards are non-user replaceable. The display, ports, keyboard and touchscreen is still fine after two, three, or even five years of use, but the heart of the PC – the motherboard, processor and graphics are usually junk by the second or first year (depending on when in the refresh cycle you buy it in).
Intel’s Pluggable Module Architecture (PMA) is set to change all of that. Because that little circuit board you see in our hands contain all the necessary parts that make the PC tick – processor, memory and graphics. You plug that into a All-in-One PC and away you go. In three or two years time, when newer, faster processors have been made, you take it out and replace it with a new one, essentially reducing the cost of upgrading your device. Everything else is kept intact, which include the display, storage, hardware accouterments attached to the design.
Intel’s booth at COMPUTEX had a demo device that was running the PMA. The concept device was made with Compal, Celetica and LG and boasted a large 21:9 display. At the base of the display on the back was the space for the Intel processor compute module pictured above. Aside from the PMA, the concept device was also sporting a wireless charging module that an Intel rep said could charge the keyboard as well as the mouse wirelessy, which means in the future you no longer have to swap out batteries of the two devices, lessening the hassle of going completely wireless.
The Intel rep also told us that their PMA concept has already attracted the eye of console makers, and though he didn’t want to reveal who, he said that the chip company is already in talks with a console company to integrate the new technology into future consoles. Traditionally, consoles have short lives because of the limitations of the hardware – the PMA concept could change that, as companies like Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo could have a hardware refresh of their consoles every three or two years, which lessens development cost dramatically, instead of creating and assembling brand new designs from scratch. This also gives developers a semi-stable set of hardware to work with, which allows them to create new gaming experiences without having to adjust to a whole new set of hardware, which should reduce the price of developing new games.
The Intel rep also told us that they are also working hard to integrate the wireless charging module into future notebooks and ultrabooks, and are working to release the tech late this year or early next year. We’ve embedded a video of the tech in action below.
![Asus Taichi first impressions [VIDEO]](https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_0138.jpg "Asus Taichi first impressions [VIDEO]")
