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    Make everything a touchscreen with Omnitouch

    Gadgets Team
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    Make everything a touchscreen with Omnitouch

    There’s a reason why touchscreen devices stay a certain size – creating large, complicated touch displays are prohibitively expensive. Scientists from Carnegie Mellon Human Interaction Institute however, has found a way to make large touchscreens a reality on literally any surface you think of.

    They do this using a device called Omnitouch, a device that they developed in cooperation with Microsoft. Omnitouch uses a small, pico projector and a short range depth camera (similar to a Kinect) to project images to with full multi-touch capability on whatever surface you can think of. Right now the system isn’t as refined as we would like, with the device being a proof of concept gadget as of now, but if they manage to shrink the technology to a point where it wouldn’t be so bulky (the device rests on a user’s shoulder and is pretty noticeable) then they could be on to something big. There’s a video of the device working on YouTube so you’ll better visualize what we’re talking about.

    Source: Tom’s Guide

    SHARP celebrates 30 years in the Philippines

    Gadgets Team
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    SHARP celebrates 30 years in the Philippines

    SHARP’s Annual Dealers’ Convention today was not just any other event – it was also the springboard to celebrate the company’s 30 year presence in the Philippines and 100 years worldwide.

    What makes SHARP’s relationship to our country memorable is their decision to remain despite the turbulent socio-political climate brought about by martial law and the EDSA Revolution in 1986. The local subsidiary was still relatively new during that time, and so it was a courageous decision to stick it out, which is why today’s convention was aptly named: “Through Thick & Thin”.

    Today, SHARP embarks on a mission to go green, and they are exploring providing solar power in the Philippines. Currently, a Cepalco operated farm in Cagayan is the first solar farm in the country, utilizing SHARP’s poly-crystalline silicon (PSC) solar panels. From this initial step, the company hopes to begin a journey to make photovoltaic technology more efficient and accessible locally.

    On a smaller scale, SHARP brings its eco-friendly solutions to the home as well, with appliances such as air purifiers and refrigerators equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology, which battle harmful elements in the air. Moreover, one of their flagship products this year is the power efficient 70-inch Quattron 735 series, which is currently the largest LCD television in the Philippines. It is equipped with Sharp’s new UV2A technology – the first to have the “proprietary RGB+Y” technology that translates advanced picture quality and color accuracy.

    The festivities were held in the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Visiting guests included Mr. Koji Domoto, Group Deputy General Manager of Sharp ASEAN Group and Managing Director of Sharp Electronics Malaysia (SEM); Mr. Naotaka Ohtsuka, Group Deputy General Manager, Health and Environment Systems Group and Division General Manager of Refrigerator System Division; and Mr. Hiroshi Kawana, Manager, LCD Digital Systems Division 3 of the Audio-Visual Systems Group .

     

    Organize your wishlist with Nuji

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Organize your wishlist with Nuji

    What with Christmas just around the corner and with wishlists that just keep getting longer and longer with all the amazing stuff you can easily “Google,” one would think they’d need a more organized way to remember all the stuff you want to buy for later. (Like me, I’ve bookmarked about a dozen sites.)

    Now all your wishlist can be as organized as it should be with Nuji. The invite-only site allows you to: Save the products you want, follow others with similar tastes, and get updates from the stores you like.

    With this, you need not buy on impulse lest you’re afraid you might forget to buy it later on. And with this, you can take the time to learn more about the product and the brand – truly a must-have quality for today’s more practical and smart consumer.

    Transformer Prime unveiled by Asus head honcho Jonney Shih

    Gadgets Team
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    Transformer Prime unveiled by Asus head honcho Jonney Shih
    via Engadget

    Just after a day of being teased in a teaser video, Asus head honcho and overall awesome guy Jonney Shih has revealed the next generation of their transformer line of tablets, the Transformer Prime at AsiaD. Engadget reports that the new device will be running a quad-core chip made by NVIDIA (which is more than likely Kal-El), 10-inch display, mini-HDMI port and a 14.5-hour battery, among other things. The device will still be able to take a keyboard, much like its older Transformer sibling and about 8.3 thick. Jonney has promised November 9 as the official unveiling,  and will probably ship with Honeycomb, though the chances of the device getting some sweet, Ice Cream Sandwich loving is pretty high.

    Source: Engadget

    Sophos: Siri leaves your iPhone 4S vulnerable to other people’s voice commands – even when it’s locked

    Gadgets Team
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    Sophos: Siri leaves your iPhone 4S vulnerable to other people’s voice commands – even when it’s locked

    Siri, Cupertino’s latest and greatest innovation since they decided to stick i in everything they make undoubtedly makes lives easier for folks. It (she?) may also leave your iPhone 4S vulnerable to other people’s voice commands, even when you’ve managed to lock the phone. Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos has discovered that Siri is set to accept voice commands by default even if you’ve already locked the device.

    Graham writes on the company’s Naked Security blog that he managed to write an email and a text message with a locked device solely through Siri. “They could have chosen to implement Siri securely, but instead they decided to default to a mode which is more about impressing your buddies than securing your calendar and email system”, he writes.

    There’s an easy way to fix this though – you just need to go to Settings/General/Passcode Lock on your iPhone 4S, and make sure that the “Siri” option is set to “Off”.

    Source: Sophos

    Meet Lytro’s Light Field Camera, which lets you refocus shots after they’ve been taken

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Meet Lytro’s Light Field Camera, which lets you refocus shots after they’ve been taken

    Lytro, the small startup company that promised the ability to refocus photographs after they’ve already been taken, finally unveils their Consumer Light Field camera, boasting a unique rectangular design.

    Encased in a dual-tone elongated “box”, on either end you will find the LCD touch-screen display and the f/2 lens with a max zoom range of 8x. There are other controls located on the sides, such as power, zoom, shutter buttons and a USB port. Users can avail of two versions with variances in built-in memory: either an 8GB (approx 350 shots) or 16GB (750 shots).

    What makes this camera unique is that it uses light-field photography, which essentially captures light from various directions. This data is then calculated and translated into something our own eyes can perceive, resulting in a 3D “map” of the subject that was photographed. It is this 3D “map” that allows you to later change the focusing in the photo. Lytro states that the images can be manipulated as soon as they are captured, and because light-field photography captures directional info, photos taken with Lytros can be viewed on 3DTVs as well.

    They will be on sale next year, and are available only through the Lytro website.

     

    source: CNET

    L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2011

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2011

    This year, L’OréalProfessionnel brings Colour Trophy, the salon industry’s most prestigious event, to the Philippines. Launched in the United Kingdom more than 50 years ago, Colour Trophy has become a tradition eagerly awaited by hairstylists worldwide. Dubbed as the Oscars of Hairdressing, the L’Oréal Colour Trophy competition celebrates the talent of hairdressers worldwide as they interpret an international colour theme while maintaining hair integrity.

    For L’OréalColour Trophy 2011, Filipino hairdressers nationwide interpreted the theme BeautéOriginelle, L’OréalProfessionnel’s international Fall/Winter 2011 Color Collection. Inspired by the fusion of high fashion and pure nature, BeautéOriginelle interprets the rustic beauty of the untouched wilderness, the undeniable power of tribal forces and the free spirit of the savage mystique.

    Out of the hundreds of entries L’OréalProfessionnel received this year, 25 made it to the finals. Each interprets the theme in one of four categories:

    1.)  The Next Generation category unleashes the talent of stylists aged 23 and below and showcases talent of up-and-coming hairdressers who are the future of the industry

    2.)  The Men’s Best Image category creates wearable, fashion-forward looks that every Filipino man could sport

    3.)  The Ladies’ Best Image category interprets the trend to suit every Filipina

    4.)  The Total Look Category blends colour, cut and style to create a fashion statement using the revolutionary hair colour of the future: INOA.

    This year’s pool of finalists is a diverse group of talented individuals, coming from cities as far north as Vigan, and as far south as Davao, and a myriad of backgrounds, from industry legends to salon starters. There is even a finalist who is mute.

    The finalists showcased their creations in the grand Gala Night last October 18, 2011, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World, where they were judged by international guest artist and World Hairdressing Master, Paul Serville, L’OréalProfessionnel Singapore Education Manager, Dylan Sew, Master Photographer, Pat Dy and Up-and-Coming Fashion Designer Russell Villafuerte.

    An esteemed platform such as L’OréalColour Trophy only demands a notable panel of judges. Aside from Paul Serville from New Zealand, L’OréalColour Trophy also features hair and fashion icons who will share their expertise. L’OréalProfessionnel Singapore created their own interpretation of BeautéOriginelle which was shared to the world, and Dylan Sew was part of the team who recreated this look. Lensman, Pat Dy photographed the finalists and their creations, while Russell Villafuerte interpreted BeautéOriginelle in a fashion collection worn by the models during the Gala Night. Makeup for both the press conference and the gala night was by shu uemura.

    Go track crazy at the 2011 Outdoor Autofest

    Press Release
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    Go track crazy at the 2011 Outdoor Autofest

    By Chris Kho / Kotse.com

    Join Gadgets Magazine, Kotse.com and Speedlab as we bring you the biggest track day bash of the year. The 2011 Outdoor Autofest puts together three events into one car-filled weekend. Satisfy your need for speed on October 29 to 30, 2011 at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) with the RideXhibit, Swapmeet, and Speedlab Grand EB Trackday.

    Scheduled right after the 2011 – 2012 Car of the Year Philippines’ (COTY-P) Technical Testing and Fuel Efficiency Rating Program (FERP), the 2011 Outdoor Autofest showcases some of the hottest products and best services in the automotive industry. So whether you’re a car aficionado, vintage connoisseur, or a track day enthusiast, we’ve got them all going in one big event.

    RideXhibit and Swapmeet
    Start your engines on October 30, 2011 for the 2011 Outdoor Autofest’s RideXhibit and Swapmeet. Show off your hottest rides in RideXhibit, the only car show that brings the most beautiful creations on four wheels to the track, be it the loudest in sound systems, wildest in body kits, or the sport the shiniest paint job. But if you’re looking for parts or have some extra that you’d like to sell, roll into the Swapmeet get the best deals for your project.

    Exciting giveaways, raffle items, and prizes await early registrants!

    To join, simply submit the registration form, deposit the corresponding entry fees, and e-mail the deposit slip to [email protected]. For more details, please contact Raul Asuncion at 0922-8565533.

    Download the RideXhibit & Swapmeet registration form >HERE<

    Speedlab Grand Eyeball and Trackday
    It’s time to put the pedal to the metal at Speedlab’s Grand Eyeball and Trackday on October 29 to 30, 2011. Run on the Clark International Speedway’s (CIS) short course, put your car and driving skills against the clock. Saturday will be an open track day session to allow competitors to set up their rides and practice their driving skills, but on Sunday we go racing!

    All vehicles must first go through technical inspection for safety and classification. Each driver will then be allowed on track during free practice for a 15 minutes session in groups of 10. Free practice will be open all day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, so you can drive to your heart’s content.

    During race day, drivers will go head-to-head in timed solo runs, competing in different classes according to time brackets. Each competitor is only given three laps to set his or her best time and the quickest time in each class wins. So, rev up your engines and take racing off the streets at the Speedlab Grand EB and Trackday.

    To join, simply submit the registration form, deposit the corresponding entry fees, and e-mail the deposit slip to [email protected]. Car clubs can avail of a special group rates for up to 15 drivers.

    Download the Speedlab Grand EB & Trackday registration form >HERE<

    Trackday Guidelines
    1. CAR PREPARATION. Make sure your car is safe and well-maintained, as it must be able to pass a technical inspection on tires, suspension, steering and brakes.
    2. SAFETY. All vehicles must at least be fitted with a standard three-point belt or better. Remove all loose objects from the vehicle to prevent injury. All drivers are required to wear a safety helmet. Bring your own if you have one, otherwise, a limited number will be available for rent from the track.

    Trackday Schedule
    Free Practice: October 29, 2011 (Saturday)
    07:00 am – Registration
    08:00 am – Track opens
    05:00 pm – Track Closes

    Race Day: October 30, 2011 (Sunday)
    07:00 am – Two-hour warm up session
    09:00 am – End of warm up session
    09:15 am – Start of official competition Solo Runs
    05:00 pm – Awarding

    Trackday Entry Fees
    Early Bird Registrants (on or before Oct 27, 2011)
    Single entry – P1,500
    Kotse.com Car Clubs (for 10 to 15 entries) P15,000

    On-site Registration
    Single Entry P2,000
    Kotse.com Car Clubs (for 10 to 15 entries) P20,000

    The 2011 Outdoor Autofest is organized by Speedlab and ADBM Resources with support from Kotse.com, Gadgets Magazine, and the Car Awards Group Inc. For the latest updates, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/OutdoorAutofest.

    Original post can be found >here<

    Smart encourages you to go “All-in” with your postpaid plan

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Smart encourages you to go “All-in” with your postpaid plan

    Smart Communications, Inc. recently launched its new All-Net offerings, the latest services under its All-In plans that give postpaid subscribers affordable rates on voice and SMS services to all networks.

    Unlike other postpaid offers that add on extra charges for each service that one avails of, Smart Postpaid All-In plans incorporate all the services a subscriber needs into one convenient package.

    With the introduction of the All-Net services as part of the All-In portfolio, Smart now has the lowest postpaid call and text charges to all networks. Smart Postpaid All-Net Talk lets subscribers cut their postpaid call charges in half with 80 minutes of calls to all networks at a rate of only Php 250 for 30 days – bringing down the voice call rate to only Php 3.12 per minute, while other providers charge as much as Php 7.50 per minute.

    Meanwhile, Smart Postpaid All-Net Text costs only Php 350 for 30 days  for 2,500 text messages to all networks, which is equivalent to only Php 0.14 per SMS instead of the standard rate of Php 1.00 per text charged by other networks.

    Data services under the Smart Postpaid All-In plans also give the widest range of data volume on demand, from 25MB to 2GB. With the IDD bundle saver, you can make international calls at local rates, plus 5 minutes free for only Php 200.

     

     

    First impressions: Nokia N9

    Gadgets Team
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    First impressions: Nokia N9

    The N9 represents a lot of firsts for Nokia. It’s their first “pure touchscreen” device, first MeeGo powered smartphone and sadly, it’s also going to be their last MeeGo powered device before they completely switch over to Windows Phone 7. Which is a shame, really, because the N9 is probably also one of their finest devices to hit the market, but until we spend more time with it, we can’t be completely sure. But from our brief hands-on time with it, everything’s looking mighty peachy.

    Nokia wasn’t kidding when they said this was a pure touchscreen device. There are a total of 3 external controls on the device – the power/lock button and the volume rocker, all located on the left. Everything else is handled via the touchscreen – from killing apps to switching back to the homescreen.

    And what a touchscreen it is. The N9 uses a 3.9-inch, AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that’s simply beautiful to the eyes. Like we said, everything is done via touch – unlocking and getting out of menus is accomplished by swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen.

    From the main menu, you swipe left to see what tasks are running, swipe left again and you’re taken to your calendar (that can sync with other services on the web). Killing running apps is easy enough to do, just do a long press on the screen and you’ll be able to shut down the offending apps easily.

    MeeGo on the whole seems pretty easy to use, and allows you to sync contacts and other personal things from relevant online services, much like how Android devices sync your Google contacts when you use your Google account with them. We did notice some lag when opening apps and other menu choices, but that may stem from the fact that the N9 uses a single core 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU rather than dual core processors that other devices are sporting.

    To access the SIM slot, you’ll need to open the little micro USB hinge on the top of the device, then slide the SIM caddy to the left to free it from the device. What surprised us the most is that the N9 apparently will only be able to accept microSIMs, much like Apple’s iPhone and iPads.

    It’s a minor annoyance, but something you’ll have to look into if you decide to buy the device.

    That’s it for now, we’ll have a full review up for you guys by next week.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Nokia N9/]

    Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official

    Ahh Ice Cream Sandwich. The next (and probably the most delicious sounding) version of Google’s Android operating system has been eagerly anticipated by a lot of tech geeks, probably because of the promise of a new, redesigned UI and the promise of the new version powering both smartphones and tablets. Now that the new iteration of Android is officially here (along with the long awaited Samsung Galaxy Nexus) and adds a whole host of new features and tweaks to Android.

    Images via This is my Next

    One of the biggest things users will probably notice is that Google has revamped how Android looks on your device. No more clutter and ugly icons here – only sleek, futuristic look that would do any tech geek proud. You can now swipe away alerts and other things from the device directly, and even choose a canned text response when you swipe away a caller you don’t want to talk to. Neat.

    ICS also has a slew of new features and functionality that will certainly pique your interest. There’s now an option for your you to sync your Chrome bookmarks with the browser on your phone, so you can start reading a web page on your PC and continue it on your device. There’s also an option for users to download whole webpages for use later. You can also now unlock the phone using facial recognition technology, though it didn’t really work that well in the demo according to the liveblogs that we followed.

    Images via This is my Next

    Google has also spruced up Gmail for ICS, and you’ll now be able to do offline search for your messages. Additional functionality has also been added, which includes gesture support and other features.

    Images via This is my Next

    Probably one of the biggest features that most smartphone owners will appreciate is the ability to track the amount of data you use. Ice Cream Sandwich has a data tracking app built-in which allows you to track how much data you’ve used and predicts(!) further use until the end of your billing cycle. You can now put in a warning if you’re nearing your data cap and the device will automatically stop data use altogether when you go over it. You can also examine the minutiae of your data use and find out which app consumes the most data.

    Google has also added additional functionality for the camera, and it now has a couple of  new shooting modes, including  a panorama mode and our favorite – time lapse. Obviously, the camera has better integration now with Google+ and other social networking sites, with Google promising your photos getting online with three taps.

    Another cool feature of ICS is Android Beam, which takes advantage of the NFC feature in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Basically, you tap your device into another NFC equipped, ICS toting smartphone and you’ll be able to share almost anything – maps, contacts, apps (though the sharee only gets the Android Market entry for the app, not the app itself) and YouTube vids.

    Right now ICS is exclusively on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but like all the other desserts before it, expect it to roll out in a variety of other devices late this year or early next year.

    Source: This is My Next, Engadget

    Samsung Galaxy Nexus now official: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on board

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Samsung Galaxy Nexus now official: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on board

    We knew it was coming, and here it is. Samsung has now officially launched the Galaxy Nexus along with Ice Cream Sandwich at the joint Google and Samsung press conference in Hongkong today. The device naturally carries the newest version of Android named Ice Cream Sandwich, and has a gigantic 4.65-inch, HD Super AMOLED display with about 100,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, has a 5-megapixel camera, 1080p video recording and a host of other features that’ll sure to make you drool. NFC will also be onboard, as well as Bluetooth 3.0 and weirdly enough, a barometer.

    The device gets a lot of additional functionality from Android 4.0 which includes better multitasking, NFC support (more on this later) and better integration of Google+ (obviously). The Galaxy Nexus uses the face unlock tech of Ice Cream Sandwich, which we’re guessing uses facial recognition tech to unlock your phone. Android beam meanwhile, finally takes the NFC tech from mere spec filler to being useful – a tap of two NFC equipped Ice Cream Sandwich devices automatically shares web pages, videos and other content.

    Here’s a complete spec list to whet your appetite:

    GALAXY Nexus Product Specifications
    Network
    HSPA＋ 21Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps 850/900/1900/1700/2100
    EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
    ＊LTE version will be available depending on the region.
    Processor
    1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor
    Display
    4.65″ 1280X720 HD Super AMOLED
    OS
    Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich
    Camera
    Main(Rear) : 5 MP AF with LED Flash with zero shutter lag and fast shot2shot
    Sub (Front) : 1.3MP for Video Call
    Video
    Codec : MPEG4/H.263/H.264
    Playback : 1080p@ 30fps
    Recording : 1080p Full HD Video@ 30fps
    Audio
    Codec : MP3/AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋
    3.5mm Ear Jack
    Google™Mobile Services
    Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Movie Studio
    Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps and turn-by-turn navigation
    Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google＋ app
    Connectivity
    Bluetooth® technology v 3.0
    USB 2.0
    Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/ 5GHz)
    NFC
    Sensor
    Accelerometer, Compass, Gyro, Light, Proximity, Barometer
    Memory
    1GB(RAM) ＋ 16GB/ 32GB Internal memory
    Size
    135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94mm, 135g
    Battery
    Standard battery, Li-on 1,750 mAh

    Source: Engadget

    Canon EOS-1DX officially announced

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Canon EOS-1DX officially announced

    Canon’s been pretty busy lately, but their announcement of the EOS-1DX full-frame 18-megapixel DSLR, will most likely cause the greatest buzz amongst photographers and camera enthusiasts alike. So here it is at a glance, and I must say, it looks pretty amazing.

    This new flagship product is dubbed as the “camera with three brains”, featuring dual Digic 5+ image processors and a dedicated DIGIC 4 for metering and AF. This improvement in processing speed allows the EOS-1DX to perform complex actions such as in-camera chromatic abberration correction, supposedly eliminating the need to fix it in post-prod software. The DIGIC 4 on the other hand, is aimed at improving AF performance, which Canon has placed significant focus on in this latest DSLR.

    The EOS-1DX is equipped with a 3.2-inch LCD at 1.04 million dots, and shoots video at 1920 x 1080/30p or 1280 x720/60p. It also promises to perform well in low light, with a standard ISO range of 100-51,200. Interestingly, it has special additional settings for specific situations that require a more extreme ISO (i.e. ISO 50 for in-studio applications, 204,800 at H2 for law enforcement/surveillance, etc.).

    The EOS-1DX also has a new 100,000 pixel RGB metering sensors for enhanced exposure calculation as well as a new 61-point (41 cross-type) High Density Reticular AF system. It also touts a new Electronic First Curtain mode in live-view, which reduces camera vibration during critical exposures, since there is no mirror slap and no mechanical shutter movement.

    But wait, here’s the amazing tidbit. Remember our post about the Wi-Fi/Ethernet patent? Well, the EOS-1DX includes a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port for quick tethered shooting. If you want Wi-Fi however, you will still have to grab an add-on: the WFT-E6A, which is designed specifically for the EOS-1DX, and supports Bluetooth as well. Additionally, a GP-E1 GPS Receiver is also going to be available, which tracks location data and camera direction.

    The EOS-1DX is officially available in March 2012 at a hefty, but reasonable, $6,800 (approx. Php 294,000) although you can reserve one for yourself by pre-ordering.

     

    Haier has officially acquired Sanyo’s washing machine, refrigerator and electric appliance businesses in Japan and SEA

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Haier has officially acquired Sanyo’s washing machine, refrigerator and electric appliance businesses in Japan and SEA

    Well, it’s now official. Haier, one of the biggest brands in appliances and consumer electronics in China has signed an agreement with Sanyo Electric Co., LTD., to acquire their washing machine and consumer use refrigerator businesses in Japan, and washing machine, consumer use refrigerator and other consumer electric appliance businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Both companies have previously signed a MOU (memorandum of agreement) back in July 28 and have largely hashed out the details of the deal which include the following (we’ve highlighted the bits that directly concern PH customers):

    • Shares of “SANYO Aqua Corporation”, a company that develops, manufactures and sells both consumer and commercial use washing machines, and shares that SANYO Electric holds in “Konan Denki Co., Ltd.”, a company that manufactures washing machines, will be transferred to Haier.
    • Shares that SANYO Electric holds in “Haier SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.”, a company that designs and develops consumer use refrigerators, and shares that SANYO Electric holds in “Haier Electrical Appliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd.”, a company that manufactures consumer use refrigerators, will be transferred to Haier.
    • SANYO HA Asean Corporation (Vietnam), P.T. SANYO Indonesia, P.T. SANYO Sales Indonesia, SANYO Philippines Inc. and SANYO Sales & Service Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) will be transferred to Haier. The above companies engage in the manufacturing and/or sales of consumer use refrigerators, washing machines and other consumer use appliances in Southeast Asia.
    • Both parties agree that Haier will sell refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, air conditioners and other consumer home appliances under the “SANYO” brand for a specified period of time in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
    • The patents, designs and trademarks related to consumer use refrigerators and consumer/commercial use washing machines of the aformentioned businesses will be transferred to Haier. About 340 employees of SANYO Group in Japan working for the related businesses will be transferred to Haier.

    Following the final agreement, both parties intend to gradually complete transfer of the businesses from January to late March 2012.

    Mr. Du Jingguo, Vice President of Haier Group said, “This acquisition is not one that simply brings together the resources from Haier and SANYO, but one that enables us to create a synergy of research and development (R&D) and marketing systems by combining the resources of both companies. This is an opportune time for Haier to augment our R&D capabilities and build up first-class, competitive manufacturing bases across Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as localize our sales and marketing efforts in Southeast Asia. Haier will implement a dual-brand strategy with the “Haier” and “SANYO” brands in Southeast Asian markets, and with the “Haier” and “AQUA” brands in Japan, so as to achieve rapid growth from our innovation-led processes.”

     

    Thai floods disrupt global HDD supply, many factories shut down

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Thai floods disrupt global HDD supply, many factories shut down

    The recent floods in Thailand has taken hundreds of lives and has managed to cost billions of dollars in damage, but it seems that’s not the only toll. Forbes has reported that many tech factories have been affected, including facilities that create HDDs. According to the report, almost every HDD brand has manufacturing facilities in Thailand, a list that includes Western Digital, Seagate Technology and Hitachi Global Storage Technology. Companies who create components to make HDD have also been hit with companies like Hutchinson Technology (HTCH) (suppliers of HDD suspensions for Western Digital) suspending operations.

    This means that manufacturers who create devices that have HDDs as essential components of their devices may face higher HDD prices, or worse, a shortage of HDDs if production is not returned to its normal levels. Forbes say that many observers believe that the impact of Thailand flooding on the hard disk drive supply chain may be worse than the disruption caused by the Japanese earthquakes earlier this year.

    Source: Forbes

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