Google’s I/O Conference that recently took place in San Francisco, CA is a meeting of all things Google related. It’s usually where major announcements are..well, announced, and this year’s I/O is no exception. Google has unveiled the next version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich) among other goodies. Since most of us are a thousand miles away from the event, and too poor/unemployed/cheap to shell out the dough to go there, Google has seen fit to share with the world both of the keynotes that occurred during the two day event via YouTube. You can view both below, or visit them in their respective YouTube channel.
Google’s I/O keynotes now available for viewing in YouTube
PSN system update 3.61 available, PSN network now undergoing restoration
After weeks of not being able to connect to PSN, it seems that the light at the end of tunnel has come for many PS3 owners. Sony has announced the availability of PSN update 3.61, which is a required update that PS3 owners will need to download if they ever want to log-in back to PSN. The system update will require owners to change their account password, unfortunately users will have to wait until the PSN is up in their region before they can download and change their passwords. Fortunately, PSN is now going back on-line as we write this – several states in the East coast of the US are now back, and they’re trying to get everything back online as fast as they can. Of course, not all the features will be back online right away, as Sony is prioritizing online gameplay for PS3 and the PSP, Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity and access to 3rd party services such as Netflix, Hulu, etc. first. The PSN store won’t be back online immediately but will follow once everyone’s back online. There’s a video of Mr. Kazuo Hirai, Sony’s Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCEA embedded below detailing their restoration plan.
Source: Playstation, Playstation Blog
Cisco spices up home networking with Linksys E series routers
Let’s face it: routers are not sexy. Their usual blocky designs and unflattering rabbit-ear antennaes is usually more than enough to ensure that they’re hidden away from sight in most living rooms. Not Cisco’s E series of routers though. These gateways of the internet are drop dead gorgeous, and to be honest they don’t look like routers at all. The E4200, E3000, E2000 and E1000 are aimed at home users that want easy to use, yet powerful routers that help you connect not only to the internet, but to other devices in your house.
The E4200 holds a special place in our hearts because it manages to combine style, function and tech in one extremely sexy package. Seriously, if that doesn’t scream modern home to you, we don’t know what will. The E4200 features simultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), high-performance Wireless-N technology for smoother HD video streaming, wireless gaming and file transfers. It also has four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports for faster file sharing with other USB port and provides connectivity to storage devices for file sharing at home or over the Internet.
Johnson Controls and Stellar sign sole distributorship contract
Makati City, Philippines – A historic partnership was officially forged at the Tower Club in Makati City yesterday, as invited guests and members of the media witnessed the signing of the contracts between Johnson Controls and Stellar Equipment and machinery, Inc. (a subsidiary of Primer Group of Companies). The deal grants Stellar sole distributorship of York brand industrial/commercial and residential HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) equipment in the Philippines.
Although this agreement was only formally consummated yesterday, Johnson Controls and Stellar have been working together for a number of years. In fact, several companies and infrastructures in the Philippines already utilize their pioneering technologies such as Ayala Land, Robinson’s, ABS-CBN, Greenhills Shopping Center and even PhilamLife Tower, where the press conference was held.
Johnson Controls is already an established leader and innovator in this industry, and through this new partnership, the two companies aim to help transform the Philippines into an energy efficient nation. To achieve this, they stress that both individuals and corporations have a social responsibility in managing resources wisely and in striving for sustainable development in order to fulfill the demands of eco prosperity.
SMART rolling out LTE and HSPA+, the 4G wars has officially begun
Craving crazy fast mobile internet? Then SMART might have something for you. In a press release sent to us, SMART is has announced that they’re officially rolling out Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Metro Manila, with other municipalities and areas following shortly. The tech made its debut in the white sands of Boracay last month, and from the reports we’ve heard, the speeds users received was pretty darn impressive. SMART says users will be able to experience speeds up to 50 – 70 megabits per second.
Aside from rolling out LTE, SMART is also beefing up its existing 3G network by upgrading more base stations with High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+), allowing existing 3G networks to achieve speeds of up to 27.8 mbps. Check below for the release.
Wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has announced that its fourth-generation (4G) network will soon make its way out of the white sand beaches of Boracay and into the concrete pavements of major urban centers around the country.
According to Smart Head for IT and Network Systems Rolando G. Peña, Long Term Evolution (LTE) will be made available in Metro Manila by the end of May with Cebu, Davao, and other major Philippine cities and municipalities following shortly.
“We are excited to see how people will take to LTE in a real world setting.” Peña said. “Deploying the technology in areas where Filipinos live and work is a great way to see just how LTE will affect their lives.”
Ready for the future
First introduced in the midst of the hustle and bustle of summer, in the hottest vacation destination in the country that is Boracay, LTE is the next step in wireless data technology. It is by far, the most advanced means of meeting and exceeding the demands of a content-hungry subscriber base as proven by its rollout in Japan (NTT DoCoMo) and in Europe (TeliaSonera).
“Being able to just call and text no longer cuts it in this new age of mobile telephony” Peña said. “Data access and Internet connectivity have become just as essential and it will continue to be so in the foreseeable future.”
With LTE, Smart subscribers will experience blazing fast download speeds of 50 – 70 megabits per second—allowing them to benefit from the wonders of the web faster than ever before. Tasks that once required long wait times such as downloading applications, watching high definition videos or accessing large documents will now take no more than mere seconds with the power of the new network.
The developments however, do not stop there as Smart has already announced that they are ready to increase LTE’s throughput to up to 100mbps as soon as the market demands for it. This, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), makes Smart’s LTE network a genuine 4G infrastructure as it exceeds the minimum required speed (100mbps) for high mobility connections.
Getting more out of 3G with HSPA+
As part of its continuing commitment to 3G, Smart is also enhancing its existing network by simultaneously upgrading more base stations with High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) technology.
“We have been testing HSPA+ technology since 2009 and we feel that it is an opportune time to expand 3G’s capabilities to better complement LTE” Peña said. “We are looking to have HSPA+ connectivity in 30 cities and municipalities around the country by the end of this month.”
Although not as advanced as LTE, HSPA+ improves on the existing 3G network by making it capable of download speeds of up to 27.8mbps.
“Smart is always ready to take on the latest technologies” Peña said. “We were the first in the country with 3G, we are the first in the country with 4G, and we will continue to be the first in many more endeavors in the years to come.”
Extensive fiber optic network
Equally important as the wireless connections however, are the Fiber Optic Cables (FOCs) that connect base stations to the core network. To date, Smart and its parent company, PLDT, boast of a comprehensive loop of over 42,000 kilometers of fiber optic cabling nationwide.
By year-end, the combined network of Smart and PLDT is expected to have an additional 3,000 kilometers of FOCs, giving its HSPA+ and LTE services unparalleled resiliency and stability.
Bring the family closer with My Super Circle Plan from Globe
My sisters and I may already be living independently and away from our parents, but our family maintains its ties and makes plans every week, thanks to our dependable Globe plans (we’ve been Globe subscribers since God knows when). Aside from the free phones and the great rebates (which my father and I actually inquired about earlier today at Globe), we all stay connected, whether to meet up for lunch or family-gather at home, no matter what city or country we’re in.
Mother’s Day is done and Father’s Day is fast approaching. But family days are celebrated every single day with My Super Circle Plan, the first and only unlimited and fully customizable group plan to keep your family ties strong and secure.
My Super Circle Plan keeps you connected not just to your nearest and dearest, with a brand-new bundle of three postpaid lines that you can get for only Php1,499 a month. For that price, you also get your choice of unlimited services: Try SuperUNLI for free-for-all calling and texting to family and friends on Globe and TM, or SuperDUO for all-you-can unlimited calls to Globe landlines and Globe and TM phones, or SuperTxtALL, the mother of all texting offers that will keep you in touch with virtually 84 million mobile users across all networks in the country. Or you can try them all, one at a time, because with My Super Circle Plan, you can change your unlimited services every month. If you want more bang for your buck, Globe gives you more add-ons to choose from on top of your My Super Circle plan, plus your choice of popular handsets like the Nokia X2-01 or the Samsung Corby II, all for free as part of your plan. Also available are favorite gadgets like BlackBerry handhelds, Android-powered devices, and the top pick iPhone 4 which is newly available in a pristine white hue.
If you’re a parent, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you can always reach your kids and know they are safe. Keeping track of monthly household spending will be a snap with a single postpaid bill for all three lines and no more need to constantly share load. As for your kids, knowing Mom and Dad are just a phone call away will surely keep them feeling secure. And with their choice of unlimited services and gadgets, they’ll also be connected to their best pals all summer long.
Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid, explains, “My Super Circle Plan is a first of its kind, the only fully-customizable group plan that’s perfect for families who want to stay in touch around the clock. With its menu of unlimited services and your choice of gadgets, you can get your whole family Globe-connected, and you can pick and choose the things that you like best so that every member of the family can get something they love.”
Your family is special enough to celebrate every single day, and My Super Circle Plan is the best way to do it. Head to a Globe Store now to show them how much that family circle means to you.
My SuperCIRCLE Plan is available at Globe Stores nationwide until July 15, 2011. To know more about My SuperCIRCLE Plan, call the Sales Hotline at (02) 7301010.
The World’s First Wi-Fi Mouse
Bluetooth and RF had quite a good run, but perhaps the future lies in Wi-Fi.
HP has publicly announced the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled mouse. It reportedly has all the ease and benefits found in alternate connectivity options but without any of the unwanted interference from other devices.
To sweeten the deal, HP claims that the internal battery will last up to nine months, which is quite a staggering comparison to the battery power of Bluetooth devices.
The Wi-Fi Mobile Mouse is operated by a four-way tilt scroll wheel and is also equipped with five buttons that are fully customizable for your own personal shortcuts. Users can also supposedly work as far away as 30 feet from the computer when using this mouse.
Source: Gizmodo
Microsoft wants to send you to New York and meet the X-men First Class stunt team
Love all things X-men and want to see the stunt coordinators behind the upcoming summer movie X-men First Class? Well, it’s as easy as opening a new email address. Microsoft is giving a chance for a lucky consumer to go to New York and witness the stunt guys do their thing by simply using Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Web Apps. We’ve included the original press release below, which has links to the official contest page with the complete instructions. You’ll need to hurry though, as you only have until Tuesday, May 31, 2011 to qualify.
Win a trip to the X-MEN First Class Stunt School with Windows Live Hotmail
and Microsoft Office Web Apps
Today, Microsoft Philippines announces the beginning of its consumer campaign, giving Filipinos the chance to travel to New York and witness the breathtaking performances of official X-MEN: First Class stunt coordinators by simply using Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Web Apps.
To join, participants must visit the contest webpage (http://bit.ly/x-men1stclass) and accomplish a few easy steps.
First, participants should register with their name, contact number, country of residence, year of birth, enter their Hotmail/MSN/Live e-mail address, and briefly state who their favorite X-MEN character is and why. Next, they must select one out of three Office Web Apps tasks to accomplish, choosing among “Decode Xavier in Word”, “Magneto’s order in PowerPoint”, or “Beat Beast in Excel”.
The chosen task will be sent to the participant’s Hotmail/MSN/Live e-mail address. All participants must follow the steps as enumerated in the e-mail in order to complete a qualified entry by Tuesday, May 31, 2011, for a chance to win an X-MEN: First Class Movie Hamper or a trip to the X-MEN: First Class Stunt School in New York, USA, from June 17-21, 2011*.
“Through this campaign, we are encouraging Filipinos to explore the endless possibilities of the Web,” said Femee Cruz, Information Worker Product manager, Microsoft Philippines. “With Office Web Apps, we are giving Filipinos the power to be increasingly productive and have control over all documents right at their fingertips.”
In the local market, Microsoft recently announced the availability of Office Web Apps, the Web version of the world’s most popular productivity suite, Microsoft Office, designed to increase users’ productivity by allowing them to work from virtually anywhere.
Office Web Apps are convenient, lightweight versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, which make it easy for users to do more and can be used to access, share and work on Office documents from any place with an Internet connection, and with the familiarity and confidence that they are operating in the Office experience created by Microsoft.
Its seamless integration with Office gives users the ability to quickly and easily switch from working on documents on the PC or in the browser, making it easy to bring ideas to life at home, school or work using any device. Office Web Appsalso makes it so much easier to share and collaborate with colleagues, classmates and friends partnered with Windows Live.
“There have been significant developments in the way Filipinos are using the Web. Microsoft recognizes these changes and we are optimizing user productivity and taking their experiences to a whole new level with the introduction of Office Web Apps,” concluded Cruz.
* The grand prize winner is entitled to one (1) single ticket to the X:MEN FIRST CLASS STUNT SCHOLL in New York, inclusive of return flight tickers and 4D3N accommodation, plus two (2) tickets to the local X:MEN FIRST CLASS movie premiere. Airline and accommodations are subject to Microsoft’s discretion.
Google expands support for paid Android apps in the Phil
More Google news today. A press release sent to us by Google’s local PR counsel has announced that the search giant is now expanding support for paid Android apps in a number of countries, the Philippines among them. With the addition of our country the number of countries that can now purchase Android apps is now up to 131. Apps will still be priced at USD, and can be purchased through Google Checkout, which supports local Mastercard and Visa credit cards.
(Manila, Philippines, May 12, 2011) – Today Google announced that Android Market will increase consumer access and developer support for paid applications in several new countries, including the Philippines. Consumers from 99 new countries will be able to purchase apps from Android Market. This latest expansion of Android Market means more applications — including games, social, and productivity apps — for consumers.
The number of countries where Android users can purchase priced apps will increase to 131 including the addition of the Philippines. Consumers from these newly supported countries will now have access to over 200,000 free and paid apps in Android Market, which they can access directly from their Android-powered device. Apps will be priced in US Dollars, and can be bought through Google Checkout, which supports local Mastercard and Visa credit cards.
Android Market was launched to help developers distribute mobile applications on a level playing field, while enabling users to find and download apps that leverage the unique capabilities of the Android platform. Google is pleased to announce the expansion of Android Market’s offerings in these additional countries to deliver more apps for more people.
Chrome store makes Angry birds possible on your browser
Google has announced the availability of Angry Birds for the PC through their newly minted Chrome Store. The Chrome Web Store is a the place where you can buy for online apps, kinda like the Android marketplace for apps on the web. Users will be able to pay for paid apps through the same secure payment system that the Android marketplace uses. The store is compatible with most platforms out there, including Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS.
As a nice gratis offering for the opening of the Chrome Web Store, Google is offering up the web version of their runaway game/productivity waster Angry Birds. The game was built using the WebGL and has local caching for offline access. You can grab the game in the source link below.
Source: Chrome Store, Angry Birds
OPT iPad 2 Leather Snap-On: The Stylish Companion for Your Smart Cover
Opt leather snap-on lets you fully enjoy your iPad 2 Smart Cover, providing lightweight and stylish protection to the backside of the iPad2. It is custom designed for a perfect fit and is crafted using the finest leather. Opt’s exclusive multi color patterns blend perfectly with the smart cover color choices, delivering a rich feel with durable protection. Its mag-catch feature keeps the flipped over Smart Cover firmly attached to the snap-on, offering greater comfort in use and has a beautiful, ultra thin, light weight design.
Google is shaking up the PC landscape with the Chromebook
It’s a PC, but not. That’s what Google calls the Chromebook, or as it likes to call it, the web. The Chromebook is a PC-like device that’s completely dependent on the web and on the cloud, and turns all established PC norms on its head. It’s basically a collection of all of Google’s online efforts to date – mail, docs, calendar and a host of others. Users will be able to download web apps from the Chrome Web Store to increase productivity or to play games, and best of all, everything is synced on to the cloud. That means even if you leave your Chromebook at home, you’re still be able to access your documents and other files using other computers if you want. Google also promises to keep the Chromebook up to date as it automatically gets updates and relevant patches through the net, similar to what Google does with its Android devices. Since there are no apps to run and everything takes place on the web, Google also says that the Chromebook is resistant to traditional viruses, and starts up almost instantly, with a rated 8 second boot time. All Chromebooks will be fitted with WiFi, and many will be sporting 3G. According to Engadget, Google won’t be pricing these devices the traditional way, like an outright cash purchase – instead users pay a monthly fee ($28 per user for businesses and $20 per user for schools). This makes the Chromebook especially attractive to business customers, as the Chromebook makes PCs in the workplace an operating expense, rather than a capital one. We’ve included the extremely well done (and funny) introduction video of Chromebook below.
Upgrade to Life 2.0 with the Samsung Galaxy Tabs
People from all walks of life, from all different fields, who have a variety of passions share at least one common denominator – the need to connect, no matter where they are, who they are, or what they are doing. Samsung understands this universal commonality and gives you an all-in-one device that brings all of these very unique individuals… together.
Launched last September 2010, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G has redefined the way people live on-the-go. A phone, laptop, and so much more, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G was positioned as ‘all you will ever need on-the-go’. From enjoying over 100,000 FREE Android apps, viewing videos in full HD, to editing Powerpoint presentations and reading e-books, Samsung Galaxy Tab was the perfect device for work and play.
To bring the Tab technology closer to more consumers, another Tab model, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi, was launched earlier this year for a younger, more multi-media savvy user.
Consumer feedback was overwhelming. More than being an all-in-one device, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G and Samsung Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi was able to change the way the consumers lived their everyday lives. It was able to enhance their ordinary, everyday experiences, from the little things to the most complex tasks.
Such was the inspiration for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab campaign, “Life 2.0”. From taking you closer to your passion, or changing the way you nurture relationships, to keeping you on top of things that matter to you, both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G and the Samsung Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi enables consumers to do all these things a notch higher, better, more extraordinary.
The following ambassadors are a testament to how Samsung Galaxy Tab takes life to Life 2.0. Using their own Samsung Galaxy Tab, these leaders, from fashion to business, art to philanthropy, and more, have tapped into the power of Samsung Galaxy Tab technology to access knowledge, improve skill, and connect with peers or reach audiences much better and faster.
JAYMIE PIZARRO : part time runner, full-time mom; Editor and publisher, The Bull Runner Webmagazine
JJ YULO : part time business owner, full-time gourmand; Pro-blogger, Pinoy Eats World
AIDS TECSON: part time dreamer, full-time geek; Founder, Underground Logic
CARLOS CELDRAN: part time performance artist, full-time cultural activist; Founder, Walk This Way
YAEL YUZON: part time musician, full-time adviser; Vocalist, Sponge Cola
LAUREEN UY: part time blogger, full-time entrepreneur; Owner, Style Break
GANG BADOY: part time inquisitor, full-time Filipino; Founder, RockEd Philippines
IVAN ACUNA: part time antique collector, full-time painter; Master Abstract Artist
ROSAN CRUZ: part time rogue traveler, full time detox queen; Publicist
LIZA ILARDE: full-time fashion editor; Style Weekend
DUSTIN ANDAYA: part time athlete, full-time entrepreneur; Owner, Island Rose
TIPPI OCAMPO: part time fashion consultant, full-time designer
JOWEE ALVIAR and MON PUNZALAN: Full time cultural influencers; Owners, Team Manila
Google’s serving up Ice Cream Sandwich, promises to merge phone and tablet OS together
Here’s a shocker: Google has just announced at its I/O conference that the next version of Android, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich will merge phone and tablet versions of the OS. The next version will retain a single look and feel for the UI across all devices and form factors, and will hopefully simplify the rollout of applications for developers. The move is looking to end fragmentation of Android devices and Google has pledged, along with its OEM and carrier partners that Android devices need to be capable of running the latest Android version up to 18 months after a device goes on sale.
Source: Gizmodo
Help save 5-million lives; promise not to use a cellphone while driving
“I PROMISE: not to use the cellphone while driving; not to drink alcohol or take drugs while driving; to always wear a seatbelt; to maintain my car in roadworthy condition; to avoid being drawn into a road rage by aggressive drivers; to not throw garbage out of the car; and to obey road laws, rules and regulations.”
This is the Road Safety Pledge each one can make to help save 5-million lives in ten years.
More than 100 countries are launching the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 starting today, 11 May 2011. Spearheaded by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, the decade-long campaign seeks to improve road safety measures worldwide and reduce travel-related accidents that kill 1.3-million people yearly around the world.
Studies show that road traffic injury is now the top cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide. In the Philippines, data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded 18,810 traffic accidents in 2010.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety was launched in the Philippines through kick-off rites at the Asian Development Bank. This was led by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in collaboration with the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP).