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    DLS and Kicker hold car audio competitions

    Two car audio competitions were held back to back at the People’s Village of Tiendesitas in Pasig City last 30 July 2011, with the 2nd DLS Philippine Open Competition and the 2011 Kicker Sound Off Competition.

    DLS Sound Quality Competition

    The 2nd DLS Philippines Open Competition focused purely on sound quality (SQ), with judging based on how well the installation produced music which sounded like the original, without noise and distortion.  Competitors were required to set up a standard installation package for both the Pro and Classic categories, while the Open category allowed any DLS audio configuration.  Sixteen cars competed in the DLS sound quality competition.

    In the DLS Pro category, the required set-up consisted of any audio head unit with the following standard DLS set-up:  The Scandinavia 1, a 28-mm soft dome tweeter and the Scandinavia 6.2, a 6″ midbass/midrange driver, with Scandinavia Xover 2-way filter boxes, and the TA2 2-channel amplifier.  For the subwoofer, the package included an RW12i using an A6 amplifier.  Winning the grand prize for the DLS Pro category was a Nissan Verita entered by Mickey’s Autosound.

    For the DLS Classic category, the standard equipment set up was a JVC AVX-55 head unit linked to a DLS audio system consisting of a CA-31 3-channel amplifier, R6A 2-way speakers with tweeter, and an RW10i subwoofer.  The grand prize was awarded to a Toyota Yaris owned by Oliver Cristobal, with JC Car Audio as the installer.

    The champion for the DLS Open category, which allowed any entry with a DLS audio set-up, was a Toyota Fortuner owned by Dong Chung with installation by Mickey’s Autosound.  Other special awards were given to the following winners:  Competitor’s Choice – Mickey Pascual; Best in Display – Autoline; People’s Choice – Jeffrey Yap; Most Creative Modifications – Rommel Trillianes; and Most Pristine – Roland Car Audio.

    International EMMA (European Mobile Media Association) head judge Peter Flodqvist flew in from Sweden to supervise the event and serve as sound quality (SQ) judge.  Installation quality was evaluated by Glen Saitowitz, a locally-based Swiss national and EMMA head judge/trainer currently conducting training clinics and workshops for prospective EMMA competition judges.

    Among car audio enthusiasts, DLS is a highly-regarded brand, consistently placing in the Top 3 for the most wins in car audio championships not only in Europe but in the rest of the world.

    Kicker Sound Off Competition

    For car audio buffs who prefer powerful amplifiers, the 2011 Kicker Sound Off Competition attracted a field of 28 entries competing in the Fixed and Open categories.  Judging was based on the average metered scores measured with doors closed and doors open.

    The Fixed category required all entries to use a Rockford Fosgate T1500-1BD amplifier and a Kicker 2010 CVR124 subwoofer.  Winning the cash prize and trophy as champion was Elgin Dee/Quest Audio.

    Any vehicle with an existing Kicker subwoofer installation was eligible for the Open category, classified into 2-woofer, 3-woofer, and 4-woofer classes.  Declared champions at the end of the day were: Dennis Hizon (2-woofer), Jeffrey Palcone (3-woofer), and Egay Mercedes/Jason Diwa (4-woofer).

    Special prizes were also given out to Elgin Dee/Quest Audio, as the record-holder; Team Bataan for Best Team Kicker; Kristian Brazil for Most Creative Modifications and Best in Graphics; and Elmer de Guzman’s 1979 Volkswagen as Best in Classic Car.

    Kicker Performance Audio developed the first full-range speaker box exclusively for automotive use in 1980, and its products are recognized to be at the cutting-edge of audio design technology, performance and integration to ensure ultimate sound quality.  Kicker is renowned for its Livin’ Loud tag, embodying its legendary Kicker bass and incredible music reproduction across a wide volume range.

    In the Philippines, DLS and Kicker products are exclusively distributed by TSL Marketing Corporation, a member of the Winterpine Group of Companies, which has been in the car audio industry for the past three decades.  For more information, please send an email to [email protected].

    Girl makes Wheatley Puppet, wins at life

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    Portal is awesome. Okay, now that we’ve got that little tidbit out of the way, we’ll turn our attention to a fan that loved the game so much, she made a puppet out of one of the most lovable (and possibly the most homicidal) cast members in the game. YouTube user trpchakai created a lifesize puppet of Wheatley, the bumbling, adorable protagonist/(SPOILER) antagonist personality core that talks and moves. And while the video only shows Wheatley performing three of his lines, trpchakai promised that he’s able to do 10, and if you’re inclined to try and make your own Wheatley, she’s documented the entire build process over at her blog.

    BenQ releases EW series VA of LED monitors, love at first sight

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    Monitors aren’t exactly drool-worthy gadgets – we usually reserve intense feelings of lust for the newest smartphones and the like – but Taiwanese manufacturer BenQ has managed to push our I-want-this-so-bad button the right way. The EW series VA (vertical alignment) of LED monitors has that right mix of simple, understated elegance with impressive specs. The EW series includes the EW2430 and the EW2430V. You’re looking at 3,000:1 native contrast ratio and a multitude of connection options ranging from HDMI to DVI-I. Other features include:

    • Smart Focus: Helping viewers to concentrate on the main viewing content when section of theselected window or area is highlighted
    • Super Resolution: Increases the density of low resolution images and simulate to improvepicture clearance, accurately capturing details and enhancing picture quality
    • PIP/PBP: Allows viewers to display two different incoming visual contents simultaneously tomaximize entertainment
    • 3D Deinterlace: Reduces cross-over interference flickers produced while incoming videos are ininterlaced format, to provide consistent smooth high visual presentation
    • 3D Noise Reduction: Automatically removes visible noise from the source to create advancedquality output

    No word on price yet, but we’ll update this post once we get word from its distributor.

    Product highlight: Samsung RC420

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    Sandybridge equipped notebooks are everywhere these days. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not complaining – having a plethora of notebooks to choose from is always a good thing. Samsung’s Core-i5 offering, RC420 is one the latest addition to the Sandybridge party, and offers a good mix of power and mobility.

    The RC420 has a 14-inch, LED display and as mentioned earlier, is powered by an Intel Core i5 2410M (2.1 GHz) processor paired with 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 640GB HDD drive. The lid has a nice aluminum-metallic finish going on, with a gloss black stripe near the bottom. The design isn’t for everyone, but in a world of monotone notebook lids, the change-up is interesting, to say the least. The keyboard has nice island style keys, with good separation and travel. We’re not sure on availability and price, but once we get word, we’ll update this post.

    Asus drops prices for K-series notebooks, now only 27,995

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    If you’re the type of person who’d watch for gadget prices to drop before committing money, listen up. Asus has just dropped the price of their multi-color K-series notebook to just Php 27,995. That means you’ll be able to grab some Sandybridge loving for less than a price of some smartphones. You can check out the full press release of what you can expect from these notebooks from here. The offer is only available through authorized Asus dealer stores nationwide.

    Finally, a dog to “fetch your keys”

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    I may have grown up with many dogs (no pun intended) but for all of their affection and loyalty, none of them have ever been able to fetch anything I actually needed, save for my chewed-up slippers. Now suck.uk has come up with a dog-shaped key-ring that will, as you can already deduce, help you find your keys. Fetch My Keys is not just a stylish key-ring especially for dog-lovers, it’s also a key-finder. For those annoying instances where you can’t seem to remember where you left your keys, just let out a whistle as you would do calling a dog and it will set off a beeping sound and cause the dog’s nose to flash so you can hear and see where your keys have magically run off to.

    This is also probably something I’d need to attach to my wallet, phone (when it’s on silent), or even my daughter. But that’s just me.

    Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and XPAND 3D create Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative

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    This piece of news is surprising: Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and XPAND 3D are joining hands and creating the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative, a new technology standard for consumer 3D active glasses which will encompass Bluetooth enabled RF and IR 3D glasses. Any 3D TV owner today will tell you that 3D glasses made by other manufacturers don’t play well with one another due to proprietary tech. The standardization will also include multiple types of infrared (IR) system protocols between 3D active glasses and 3D displays, ranging from the protocols jointly developed by Panasonic and XPAND 3D, to the proprietary protocols of Samsung and Sony, respectively. Hopefully with the standardization, active 3D glasses of the manufacturers included will play nice with one another. Unfortunately, you’ll be seeing the fruits of their labor next year, with the hope of the new glasses being backwards compatible with 2011 models.

     

    Samsung’s Sixth Man app lets you follow your favorite UAAP team on your Android

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    Bummed out you can’t follow your favorite UAAP team because of work and other grown up obligations? Well, Samsung’s got your back, and has released their Sixth Man app for Android which lets you get real time updates on your favorite team’s performance during a game.

    It delivers blow by blow real-time game updates and statistics for teams and players so you can analyze their performance in every game. To complete the experience, the Samsung Sixth Man Application allows UAAP fans to vote for their favorite players as they vie for individual awards. With the Samsung’s People’s Choice, ultimate UAAP fans can vote for who they think deserves to be in the Samsung People’s Mythical Five or the Samsung People’s MVP. You can grab the app from Samsung.com/ph/6thman or through the Android marketplace.

     

     

    Petron free safety checks now year-round

    Petron, the country’s leading oil company, is further strengthening its road safety advocacy in response to the global call to action of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

    Its Free Safety Check, originally offered as a component of Petron Lakbay Alalay, the country’s longest-running and most extensive motorist assistance program, has been expanded into a year-round program to encourage motorists to make sure their vehicles are roadworthy.

    The extensive Free Safety covers 38 inspection points as follows: TIRES – tire pressure, tire wear, spare tire; ENGINE – air filter element, fan belt, power steering belt, alternator belt, air conditioner belt, upper radiator hose, lower radiator hose; ENGINE FLUIDS – engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, clutch fluid, gear oil, power steering fluid, radiator coolant, window washer; BATTERY – battery fluid, battery terminals; LIGHTS – headlights, signal lights, brake lights, hazard, fog lights, third brake light, light gauges; UNDER CHASSIS – tie rod ends, upper ball joints, lower ball joints, cross joints, shock absorbers, axle boots; and ACCESSORIES – wiper blades, horn, basic tools, jack, early warning device.

    The Free Safety Check is currently offered at 118 participating Petron stations nationwide, with 48 in Metro Manila, 16 in North Luzon, 10 in South Luzon, 29 in the Visayas, and 15 in Mindanao.  Motorists can drive in to any station with the Free Safety Check sign to avail of this service.

    Through its network of service stations nationwide, Petron is in an excellent position to further promote the road safety advocacy in response to the worldwide imperative to prevent accidents and save lives.

    The Roland TR-808 flash drive

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    I’m an avid fan and collector of vintage synths and samplers, so when I heard about a new addition to AlkotaBeats’ line of flash drives that pay tribute to legendary drum machines, I simply had to take a peek.

    The most recent addition pays homage to the legendary Roland TR-808, which is one of the most widely used machines in R&B and hip-hop ever since it’s release in 1980. It is known primarily for its signature deep bass, booming kicks, cracking snares and that oh-so infamous cowbell that fueled the electronic sound of the 80’s.

    While the TR-808 struggled to compete with the renowned Linn-LM1, Roland’s drum machine undeniably left its mark in the sound of things to come, and was a driving force behind the music of artists such as Kraftwerk, Dr. Dre, Marvin Gaye, LL Cool J,  and The Beastie Boys.

    The Roland TR-808 thumb drive is constructed out of PVC,  has a capacity of 8GB, and utilizes Toshiba technology. It supports USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and is available for pre-order at a rather hefty $40 (Php 1,700).

    The other vintage machines that AlkotaBeats pays tribute to includes my personal favorite samplers of all time: the Akai MPC2000XL and the Emu SP1200.

     

    Your iPod/iPhone dock just got more portable

    Nothing sucks more than a low-batt iPhone or iPod. Then there’s the mess of wires and cables you have maneuver your way around for a good charge. Now you can charge both directly onto the wall socket without having to prop your delicate gadgets onto messy desks, dirty countertops and even dirtier floors.

    Bluelounge introduces the MiniDock which, as the name suggests, is a portable dock that allows you to charge your devices upright and straight onto the wall. Its versatility allows you to charge anywhere there’s a socket (which is probably in every room you’re in). And because it’s super portable, you won’t have to think twice about bringing it along wherever you go, whether out-of-town or the nearest coffeeshop.

    The MiniDock is available in three versions to fit either US, UK or EU style adapters and sockets.

     

    Source: Coolhunting

    Globe brings the Facebook smartphone experience to feature phones

    Let’s face it, not everyone is able to afford a smartphone, and most make do with feature phones that don’t have all the extra bells and whistles of smartphones. Well, Globe is bringing the smartphone Facebook experience to feature phone users via The Facebook for Every Phone app especially made for Java-based feature phones. The app gives users a faster, more streamlined experience when browsing their FB accounts. Globe also says that this particular app is optimized for speed and performance on their network, so users can enjoy a better browsing experience. All the important FB features is in the app, including:

    • Faster browsing of News Feed stories and Photos
    • Easy photo uploads from your phone
    • Synchronize local address book contacts with Facebook friends

    Globe also says that the app uses way less data than regular Java apps and mobile sites. As an added bonus to users, Globe is making the app available for free to its users from August 3 to October 31, 2011. Use of the app will also be free throughout the trial period without incurring data charges. To install the application on your Java-enabled mobile phone, text FB and send to2910. Use the myGlobe Connect as the access point (APN setting) for free access, otherwise,standard charges apply.

    Kingston releases SATA Rev 3 compliant HyperX SSD

    Kingston has just released their blazing fast HyperX SSD, their first such offering based on SATA Rev 3 (which among other things, promises peak speeds up to 6 Gbps). Aimed squarely at enthusiasts that demand high performance SSD drives, the HyperX is able to achieve phenomenal sequential read/write throughputs of 555 / 510MB/s. The Kingston HyperX SSD features the latest SandForce controller and is designed for enthusiasts, gamers and performance users. The HyperX will be available in 120GB and 240GB capacities, and will ship as a standalone SSD (includes HyperX branded 2.5″ to 3.5″ desktop mounting plate); or as a bundle with the HyperX Upgrade Kit for easy installation (includes Acronis True Image HD migration software, desktop mounting plate, external drive bay, multi-head screwdriver, SATA data cable). There’s no word on price or availability yet, but if its performance is any indication, expect it to burn a pretty hole in your wallet.

    ECS outs new AMD APU motherboards

    And it begins. The inevitable surge of motherboards based on AMD’s APU boards are slowly picking up steam, and Taiwanese manufacturer ECS isn’t about to be left behind. ECS has just outed three new motherboards for AMD’s A-series APUs – the A55F-A, A55F-M2 and A55F-M3.

    These trio of motherboards will use AMD’s brand spanking new A55 chipset, and adopt solid capacitors around the CPU area to supply stable and safe power to the boards and surrounding components.

    The A55F-M2 and A55F-M3 will be micro-ATX deals, while the A55F-A will be a full size board. No word on price and availability yet, but once we get confirmation we’ll update this post.

    Review: A.C. Ryan PlayOn! HD

    Standalone media players should curiously be more popular, considering the advancements in high-definition technology. While there are a multitude of products in the market, no single manufacturer has yet to truly standout. However, this might all change with A.C. Ryan’s Playon!HD.

    Out of the box, this media player is surprisingly lightweight, considering that it’s  packed with a load of capabilities. Constructed out of hard plastic, its exterior design is wonderfully simple with its all-black casing and a front interface containing only the logo, power button and discrete remote receiver. Its minimalist design would definitely appeal to anybody who might be frightened at the complexities that most devices present today. However, there is a possible downside – the lack of any physical controls on the actual box means that it can only be operated with the included remote control.

    Taking a peek at the rear of the Playon!HD reveals all of its multiple connection options: composite, component and HDMI ports for video; a pair of stereo analogue outputs; optical co-axial digital outputs and the Ethernet LAN port. A.C. Ryan has also generously included all the necessary cables for users to get started. The addition of the HDMI cable will definitely please a lot of consumers, not only for its inclusion, but for its attractive design as well.

    Setting up the Playon!HD to your television is as easy as 123: connect the corresponding cables from the box to the TV; power up the unit, and locate the media you want to enjoy. Getting started is as wonderfully simple as its design, which makes it a prize in this entangled world of technology.

    While the inclusion of an internal 3.5” hard disk sets the Playon!HD apart from other standalone media players in its class, it is a feature that is not entirely essential. Connecting the box directly to a computer and transferring files proved to be rather cumbersome and sluggish, and the same applies in utilizing its 10/100 LAN (network and internet) capabilities as well. It is far more intuitive to download movies using a computer, transfer them to an external hard drive, and subsequently connect it to the Playon!HD.

    If the LAN and the internal hard disk could have been left out altogether, resulting in a smaller and more cost-effective media player, despite the Playon!HD’s already pocket-friendly price. While the more technologically adept user will appreciate these alternate connection options, the average consumer might really only need the USB ports. Nevertheless, having multiple choices on how to transfer/acquire media does make the Playon!HD considerably more appealing in comparison to other media players in its class.

    Navigating through A.C. Ryan’s menu is a breeze, especially when using the “Browser” mode. Although there are various ways for users to locate their media files (i.e. by file type), this method proves to be the quickest and easiest. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly and while there is a slight learning curve, this is normal with any form of technology. Figuring out the menu will take minimal effort at best, and users will find themselves soaring through it in no time.

    Finally, what makes A.C. Ryan’s Playon!HD shine is the multitude of video and audio formats it is able to play. It supports virtually every file format from MKV to RMVB, and even obscure formats that users probably won’t ever consider watching on a large screen display (i.e. FLV). Resolutions reach up to 720p, 1080i and 1080p, which should satisfy and HD fanatic’s appetite. It supports a wide range of audio types as well, particularly Dolby and DTS audio (pass-through or down-mixed to stereo). Truth be told, the Playon!HD is the hardware equivalent of VLC media player– it plays just about everything.

    If users aren’t drawn in to take a peek at the Playon!HD by the vast support of file formats alone, it’s budget-friendly price will definitely raise its appeal. It is perfect for those that are constantly downloading and watching movies, and want an intuitive bridge for their media to play on their televisions.

     

     

    What’s hot:

    –       Support for virtually every video and audio format

    –       Intuitive menu interface

     

    What’s not:

    –       Slow transfer rate via LAN

     

    Buy Meter: 8.0

     

    Conclusion:

    The A.C Ryan Playon!HD is a great standalone multimedia player that supports a range of formats, and is an essential gadget for any multimedia enthusiast.

     

     

    Playback support:
     
    Video:
    AVI / MKV / TS / TP / TRP / M2TS / MPG / MP4 / MOV / M4V / VOB / ISO / IFO / DAT / WMV / ASF / RM / RMVB / FLV with resolutions up to 720p, 1080i and 1080p.
     
     
    Video Codecs:
    MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 SP/ASP/AVCHD (H.264) / XviD / DivX / WMV9 (VC-1) / RealVideo 8/9/10 (up to 720P)
    Video Subtitle: SRT / SMI / SSA / IDX-SUB / SUB
     
     
    Audio:
    MP3 / MP2 / WMA / AAC / FLAC / WAV / OGG Vorbis / PCM / LPCM / MS-ADPCM / LC-AAC / HE-AAC / COOK / RA-Lossless
     
    Image: HD JPEG / BMP / GIF / TIF / PNG
     
     
     
     
      [This review originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]