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    PBSP urges companies to “go beyond the Hour”

    Gadgets Team
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    The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a corporate-led social development foundation, and a supporting partner of Earth Hour Philippines, calls on the private sector to look at energy conservation initiatives for their businesses all year round and urges companies to do more beyond switching off lights for 60 minutes.

    “As part of our Corporate Citizenship advocacy, PBSP encourages companies to look at operational efficiencies to manage their solid waste and minimize energy consumption,” says Lopa.  “By advocating for the reduction of our carbon footprint, natural resources are better utilized and our vulnerability especially our less fortunate countrymen and women to disasters and climate change risks are decreased,” PBSP Executive Director, Rafael C. Lopa explains. “We definitely encourage our member companies and their families to support Earth Hour [tomorrow] by switching off non-essential lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Participating in this annual event, reminds us that there should be a conscious and deliberate effort to find ways and means to reduce our carbon footprint in our homes and in our workplaces.”

    Last year, other PBSP member-companies Ramcar Group of Companies-Motolite, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., SM Investments Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., SGV & Co., Isla Lipana, PLDT, the Aboitiz Group, Union Bank of the Philippines, IBM Philippines, Inc., HSBC Philippines, Unilever, First Philippine Holdings, Corp., Yutivo Corp., and the Bellevue Hotel Manila also supported Earth Hour Philippines by switching off lights at their offices.

    Perhaps through these efforts, Earth Hour will become more than just an hour once a year. It will become a daily habit.

    Petron EnerTripid promotes fuel savings and road safety

    Press Release
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    Petron EnerTripid promotes fuel savings and road safety

    _Enertipid1Petron Corporation is coming out with a series of quick and catchy reminders for the motoring public as part of its Petron EnerTripid campaign, a public information advocacy for fuel efficient driving and road safety.  These fuel conservation tips have become more relevant in the light of high oil prices.

    Petron EnerTripid educates motorists on how to optimize their resources and get the most value from their fuel expenses.  Some Petron EnerTripid tips that can help us save on fuel consumption are:

    1. Beating the red light consumes more gas.  We tend to accelerate as we approach an intersection, particularly when trying to avoid getting caught at a stop light.  More often than not, this effort is futile and just wastes gas.

    2. Don’t go heavy on the pedal. To save gas, step lightly on the pedal.  A heavy foot on the accelerator is not only a gas-guzzler, it can also produce an uncomfortable, jerky ride with short bursts of speed and constant braking.   Save yourself and your passengers from a high-stress ride, keep your foot light on the pedal.

    3. Life is not a race. To save gas, maintain a steady pace.  Even race drivers know that a smooth drive is also a fast drive.  Maintaining a constant speed at the recommended speed limit is often the quickest way to get to your destination.  Enjoy the drive.

    4. The longer you stay in low gear, the more gas you spend.  Shift up to save gas.  Be a mindful driver and take note of your engine rpm.  Shift up at the earliest possible time, not only to save gas but also to keep your engine running at the most efficient gear.

    5. Maintain the recommended tire pressure.  Studies have shown that under-inflated tires result in higher gas consumption.  Make sure to have your tire pressure checked each time you gas up.

    6. Plan ahead and combine several trips into one.  Each time you start your car from a cold start consumes more fuel.  Instead of running several short trips, try to schedule all your errands into one longer trip to save gas.

    7. Giving your car a regular tune-up saves gas.  Follow your vehicle’s recommended service maintenance schedule to keep it in tip-top shape.  A well-tuned vehicle is more fuel-efficient than a run-down one.

    The Petron EnerTripid campaign is a fuel conservation advocacy in cooperation with the Department of Energy, and consists of a series of radio plugs and newspaper ads containing different energy saving tips.

    German expert to conduct Liqui Moly service workshops and car club day

    Press Release
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    German expert to conduct Liqui Moly service workshops and car club day

    Liqui MolyEuropean Advanced Technik Corporation, the exclusive Philippine distributor of German automotive brands Liqui Moly and Varta, has announced that a German technical expert will be conducting a series of Liqui Moly service workshops on March 31 to April 1, 2011, and a car club day on April 2, 2011.

    Flying in from Germany to share his expertise is Steffen Niemietz, a technical application engineer from Liqui Moly’s R&D.  Niemietz, was part of the development team of the Mercedes Benz “Smart” car, and was intimately involved from the prototype phase to road-testing.  He was a member of the “Smart” task force deployed worldwide to address problems on-site.  Starting out as a master craftsman, Niemietz also has extensive experience in all aspects of service workshop operations.  He is currently one of nine full-time trainers with Liqui Moly’s Technical R&D department.

    Liqui Moly holds the patent for the production of molybdenum disulphide, a chemical additive that improves the lubricating ability of engine oil and lengthens the life of the engine.  Liqui Moly now has a range of over 4,000 products including engine and gear oils, additives and vehicle care products, workshop equipment and service parts.  It is the market leader for additives in Germany, and is sold in more than 90 countries worldwide.  All Liqui Moly products are manufactured in a single plant in Germany, for consistent quality control.

    In the Liqui Moly Service Workshops, Niemietz will show how the use of high-quality products can positively impact service operations and ensure customer satisfaction.  In the face of competition, the most successful service workshop is usually the one perceived by clients as offering the best value-for-money, not the cheapest products or services.  The Liqui Moly Service Workshops are open to car dealers, independent workshops, service managers, and other interested automotive workers.  These will be held on March 31 and April 1, 2011, at White Space in Makati City.   Attendance is free of charge; reserve your slot by sending an email to [email protected].

    Niemietz will also be available for more informal discussions with car enthusiasts at the Liqui Moly Car Club Day to be held on April 2, 2011, at the Ortigas Home Depot parking lot at Julio Vargas Ave. in Pasig City.  Car owners and motoring enthusiasts who want to learn about the latest European car care products and trends are welcome to drop in from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Car club members may get tickets from their club officers, or email  [email protected].  There will be hourly raffle draws as well as a Grand Raffle Draw to all attendees.

    European Advanced Technik Corporation (EATC) is the exclusive Philippine distributor of Liqui Moly motor oils, additives and car care products.  It also distributes another German brand, Varta automotive batteries.

    Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders

    Gadgets Team
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    Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders

    Philippine national, provincial and government officials witnessed the launch of “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders” at the commission on information and communications Technology (CICT), UP Diliman, Quezon City, yesterday.

    The launch was initiated and organized by the National Computer Institute (NCI) and the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP) with the advocacy on the use of ICT among government institutions and agencies in the Philippines.

    Through this academy, seminars would be facilitated by NCI for local and provincial leaders and other government officials. NCI is the training arm of the National Computer Center, which is the under the CICT.

    NSS officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Juli ana Sudario, UN-APCICT/ESCAP director Hyeun-Suk Rhee, UN-APCICT/ESCAP Program Officer Anshuman Varma, and CICT Chairman Ivan John E. Uy delivered their addresses followed by a press conference for questions.

    The afternoon sessions tackled different Academy modules led by officials from the UN, NCC, and Philippine government institutions.

    UN-APCICT is the regional institute of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Established in 2006, its role and mission is to “strengthen the efforts of the 62 member countries to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their socio-economic development through building the human and institutional capacity for ICT.”

    ACICT focuses on “three inter-related pillars – Training, Research and knowledge Sharing, and Advisory Services” that form an integrated approach to ICT human capacity building.

    Android and BlackBerry Java apps supported by PlayBook

    Gadgets Team
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    Android and BlackBerry Java apps supported by PlayBook

    Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) recently announced plans to greatly expand the application ecosystem for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Developers wanting to bring their new and existing apps to the highly anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will soon have additional tools and options to enhance and expand their commercial opportunities.

    Two optional “app players” that provide an application run-time environment for BlackBerry Java apps and Android v2.3 apps are scheduled to be launched. These will allow users to download BlackBerry Java apps and Android apps from BlackBerry App World and run them on their BlackBerry PlayBook.

    With a high degree of API compatibility, developers for the BlackBerry or Android platforms will be able to quickly and easily port their apps to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS. The new optional app players will be available for download from BlackBerry App World and will be placed in a secure “sandbox” on the BlackBerry PlayBook where the BlackBerry Java or Android apps can be run.

    BlackBerry Java and Android apps will be repackaged and submitted to BlackBerry App World. The apps will then be distributed through BlackBerry App World, providing a new opportunity for many developers to reach BlackBerry PlayBook users.

    The new app players for the BlackBerry PlayBook are expected to be available from BlackBerry App World this summer in the US and Canada.

    Source: BlackBerry

    iPod Speaker Dock and Work of Art rolled into one

    Gadgets Team
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    iPod Speaker Dock and Work of Art rolled into one

    Now works of art can be more than just pretty things to look at.

    Korean architect Shi-hyung Jeon, of Jeon Associates, worked together with the HI-MACS team at LG Hausys to create a work of art that can play all of your favorite songs.

    Introducing the ‘Horn,’ this iPod speaker dock was designed to deliver a full spectrum of sounds while aesthetically reinterpreting the line of the sleeve of the traditional Korean “Han-bok” and “Beo-seon” into something more contemporary.
    Specification:

    Frequency range: 6Db 47Hz ~ 20KHz
    Drive units 8 x 3 inch full range driver
    Amplifier output power 2 x 25W
    Power input voltage 240V ~ 50/60Hz
    Rated power consumption 20W
    Standby power consumption 3.7W
    Inputs 30 – pin iPod connector
    Height 1312 mm
    Width 600 mm
    Depth 395 mm
    Material: HI-MACS® Alpine White (6 and 12 mm)

    Sandybridge is now officially in Philippine shores

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Sandybridge is now officially in Philippine shores

    After salivating at other countries who managed to grab Intel’s second generation Core i series of processors code named Sandybridge earlier this year, we’re finally able to partake in Intel’s new offering of chips. Revealed yesterday at the White Space exhibition hall in Makati, the new generation of Core i processors feature a wide gamut of new enhancements, including Intel Quick Sync, Intel WiDi and Intel Wireless Display 2.0. The new processors are produced via Intel’s 32nm process and will require you to use Intel’s P67 express chipset (read: you need to buy a new motherboard).

    The new processor is beyond leaps and bounds when compared to its predecessor – in one technical demo, a previous generation Core i5 processor with a reference NVIDIA GTS 460 was pitted against a next gen Core i5 without discrete graphics in a transcoding (file conversion) test. The next generation Sandybridge processor managed to finish in mere seconds and came out ahead, even after giving the previous generation Core i5 processor a generous headstart.

    Another great new feature of the new chips is the Intel InTru9 3D. Basically, the new chips can now play 3D content without the aid of a discrete card. It used to be that you’d need an NVIDIA card to actually be able to play stereoscopic 3D on your machine or on a TV – with Sandybridge, all you need is a processor. I viewed a 3D trailer of A Christmas Carol in 3D, using nothing but a NEO notebook armed with a Core i3 processor.

    But what really impressed me was how powerful Sandybridge really was when it came to 3D graphics. The Intel team had managed to wrangle a build of Valve’s upcoming sequel to the caketastic hit Portal, and they ran through a demo level with nothing but a Core i5 processor. The graphics wasn’t the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen, I’ll give you that, but the mere fact it was running the game, in a decent resolution (1280 x 800 I think) without it turning to an unintentional ode to the Matrix’s bullet time scene is a feat in itself. We’ve managed to attach a video below of the game demo.

    Sandybridge is indeed a game changer. And with its OEM partners releasing products armed with Sandybridge, it’s safe to say that the future is coming to a PC near you, soon.

     

     

     

    All-New Ford Ranger Unveiled

    Gadgets Team
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    All-New Ford Ranger Unveiled

    Our Editor in chief, Armin A. Amio, is in Bangkok and got a first look at the all-new Ford Ranger.

    Bigger. Wider. Higher. These three words best describe the all-new Ford Ranger, the fifth iteration of  the internationally sold model although there were four previous ones sold in North America.

    Unveiled in Bangkok, Thailand (a natural choice considering that it is the second-biggest truck market in the world), Ford executives debuts the new Ranger to the regional press, one day before it makes its first public appearance at the Bangkok International Motorshow.

    Available in three cab styles—Regular, Super and Double—and up to five series (depending on market demand), the new pickup truck gets three new engines—two Duratorq TDCi diesels and one Duratec gasoline unit—as well as two drivetrains (4×2 and 4×4) and two ride heights with the 4×2 Hi-Rider sharing the same frame as the 4×4 model. This gives customers a much wider choice, not to mention price points.

    The 2.2-liter Ford Duratorq TDCi four-cylinder diesel engine has a rated peak torque output of 375 Nm and poweroutput of 110 kW (150 PS). The 3.2-liter TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine offers 470 Nm of torque and power rated at 147 kW (200 PS) while the 2.5-liter Ford Duratec four-cylinder gasoline engine allows 226 Nm of torque and power at 122 kW (166 PS). Ford says it can be after-market up fitted to run on LPG. Still true to its “Built Ford Tough” genes, towing capacity is up to 3350 kg on selected models with diesel engines. Certain variants also havean outstanding payload capacity of up to 1500 kg.

    Peter Fleet, Ford president for Asean, said the new Ford Ranger is the first truck to be built under the One Ford strategy as part of the US automaker’s global product program. The pickup will be produced from a single global platform that replaces the two platforms currently in production regionally. It will be manufactured in Thailand, South Africa and Argentina. Design and development came from Australia, effectively bringing together the full engineering expertise of Ford around the world.

    At 5359 mm long and 1850 mm wide, the new pickup’s rugged looks are backed up by its beefy size. But thanksto a responsive steering system, turning requires no more than 3.5 turns of the wheel (lock to-lock), allowing the Ranger to maneuver easily on the narrow streets of Asean countries and while parking.

    Joe Hinrichs, group vice president and president for Asia Pacific and Africa, and concurrent chairman and CEO of Ford China, said the engineers have paid special attention to the rear seats in the truck, with the second row in the Super Cab more spacious than key competitors.

    The B-pillar has been moved forward allowing bigger legroom and knee clearance. The Regular Cab and the Super Cab have a bigger box volume at 1.82 cubic meters and 1.45 cubic meters, respectively, while the Double Cab has a space of 1.21 cubic meters. The Ranger Double Cab offers 23 storage spaces in the cabin. It also has a deep center console bin that can accommodate 8.5 liters. In some models, the duct from the air-conditioning unit can cool up to six cans of beverage. The glove box is large enough to accommodate a 16-inch laptop computer while door pockets can fit in 1.5-liter bottles. There is also ample storage for mobile phones and other small items in the console and in areas within easy reach of the driver. Underneath the rear seats, a hidden storage area for tools can easily be accessed.

    The new Ranger also comes with the newest technology available for vehicles these days—Bluetooth 1, USB and iPod connectivity as well as voice control over the radio, CD, iPod, USB, electronic air-conditioning and mobile phone. Dual-zone climate control and cruise control are provided in the high series variants while selected models get a five-inch color screen with satellite navigation.

    Flood-prone Ranger buyers will be glad to know that the truck’s key electrical components and air inlets havebeen placed high in the engine compartment, enabling the pickup to go deeper than any others. The 4×4 and 4×2 Hi-Rider models can wade through up to 2.6 feet of water. Its ground clearance is about two-thirds of a foot as the driveline components have been mounted above the frame rail so that items like the transfer case and oil pan are protected by crossmembers.

    Globe campaigns for Earth Hour participation

    Gadgets Team
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    Globe campaigns for Earth Hour participation

    Globe Telecom campaigns for Earth Hour participation among its thousands of employees and their families even as it enjoins the public to be part of the international call to action against the adverse effects of global warming and climate change.

    Earth Hour, the world’s largest social mobilization event, is scheduled from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm of March 26, Saturday, where concerned citizens and organizations from countries worldwide are expected to turn off their lights for one hour.  This year’s theme encourages the people “to commit to actions that go beyond the hour” to make the world a better place.

    “Globe is eager to join responsible corporations from all over the world in promoting Earth Hour.  We see this activity as an opportunity to help in the drive towards decreasing carbon emissions and limiting the negative effects of climate change.  We believe that everyone has a responsibility for shaping a better future, thus, we encourage every person, especially our employees to be part of this initiative to save our planet,” said Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

    On March 25, Globe is set to conduct a text blast to millions of its postpaid and prepaid cell phone service subscribers who have expressed willingness to accept free advisories from the company.

    The text broadcast will bear the following message:  “FREE Globe Advisory: On March 26, 2011 at 8:30 pm, join Globe and the rest of the world in turning our lights off for one hour to make our stand against climate change. Remember, every watt will make a difference. No Globe Advisories? Txt STOP to 2977 for FREE”.

    Facebook bans 20,000 underage users a day, to hire cybersafety experts

    Gadgets Team
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    Facebook revealed that about 20,000 children are kicked off the social networking site every day for lying about their age, according to a report from The Telegraph. Despite efforts to enforce the age limit policy, many underage children join the site by pretending to be older than they are.

    Mozelle Thompson, Facebook’s chief privacy adviser, told the Australian Federal Parliament’s cyber-safety committee: “There are people who lie. There are people who are under 13 [accessing Facebook]. Facebook removes 20,000 people a day, people who are underage.” He adds that dealing with underage users is something the site works on “all the time”.

    It is clearly stated in Facebook’s privacy policy:

    No information from children under age 13. If you are under age 13, please do not attempt to register for Facebook or provide any personal information about yourself to us. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13, we will delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe that we might have any information from a child under age 13, please contact us through this help page.

    Parental participation. We strongly recommend that minors 13 years of age or older ask their parents for permission before sending any information about themselves to anyone over the Internet and we encourage parents to teach their children about safe internet use practices. Materials to help parents talk to their children about safe internet use can be found on this help page.

    While admitting that Facebook’s mechanism to detect liars is not perfect, Mr. Thompson said that the social networking site would soon be hiring a cybersafety expert to be based in Australia to deal with local complaints and issues.

     

    This story was originally published on The Next Web by the same author.

    Sennheiser outs new adidas co-branded headphones

    Gadgets Team
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    Sennheiser outs new adidas co-branded headphones

    There wasn’t any doubt that Sennheiser, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems, would continue their co-branding agreement with sports giant adidas after the success of the adidas Originals x Sennheiser HD 25-1-II DJ headphones released last year. In an event held earlier today at the C3 Events place in Annapolis, San Juan, Sennheiser and adidas Originals unveiled the HD 220 and CX 310. Both headphones feature world leading audio with the unmistakable style of adidas Originals.

    The HD 220 features powerful neodymium magnets for powerful, bass-driven stereo sound, a closed supra-aural design that blocks almost all outside noise and individually adjustable ear cups for a secure and comfortable fit. The CX 310 meanwhile, has a high quality dynamic speaker system and fits snugly for excellent ambient noise attenuation.

    For the professional who wants the very best in both sound quality and style, you might be interested in grabbing the Sennheiser HD 25 by adidas Originals. It’s essentially Senheisser’s legendary HD 25-1-II, one of Sennheiser’s most successful monitoring headphones for more than 20 years, pimped out by adidas to deliver maximum sound quality, comfort and style.

     

    SKYCABLE makes time stop, for your TV shows that is

    Gadgets Team
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    SKYCABLE makes time stop, for your TV shows that is

    SKYCABLE has managed to pull off something that a lot of couch potato connoisseurs have been clamoring for: a personal video recorder that would make TiVo proud. Unveiled earlier today at the Palm Grove at The Rockwell Club, the DigiBox iRecord is a set top box that can pause and record live TV, as well as record up to two TV programs on different channels while watching a third one. It also allows subscribers to record programs in advance, like a documentary you know you’re going to miss because of a dinner date, or a season finale of a particular show you want to watch at your leisure.

    The Digibox iRecord is powered by a 320GB HDD that can store up to 145 hours of Standard Definition (SD) video or 86 hours of High Definition (HD) video. The video is compressed in MPEG-2 format for SD and MPEG-4 for HD video and is protected by a proprietary encryption key for IP protection purposes. The DigiBox iRecord will set you back Php 399 on top of your existing bill, along with a Php 4,999 refundable deposit for the device.

     

     

    Facebook for Blackberry v2.0 available on Blackerry Beta

    Gadgets Team
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    Last week, RIM released the beta version of the app Facebook for Blackberry smartphones v2.0. Blackberry owners can now download beta trials of the new Facebook app through Blackberry Beta Zone.

    The initial release of v2.0 features a redefined user interface. And finally, after many rants and suggestions from users, Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones v2.0 now offers Facebook Chat! You can now go online to share jokes and stories with your Facebook friends in the comfort of your BlackBerry smartphone. As long as your status is set to online, you will receive notifications even if you’re turned away from the Facebook app.

     


     Version 2.0 has an improved News Feed for viewing and interacting with posts of your Facebook friends with new navigation controls. Enhanced publisher functionality allows you to post to your Wall, add an update, or check in to a Facebook Places from the News Feed. There’s also a new drop-down navigation control that is scalable to support new features in the future.

     

    The notifications bar on top offers an easy, refreshing way to access your Notifications, Messages, Friend Requests and Chats from anywhere in the Facebook application.

    I did like this new version, but I am a little bummed that it still doesn’t allow tagging of friends in status updates. Overall, Facebook for Blackberry v2.0 is sleek and awesome. App navigation is a breeze and the new UI makes it more fun to browse through profiles and status updates. The added chat feature makes it even more interactive by allowing you to start conversations with Facebook friends.

    Excited to be one of the first few users to experience and taste the new updated version of Facebook for Blackberry? Visit Blackberry Beta Zone now since there are only limited slots available.

     

    Source: The Official Blackberry Blog

    Porn gets XXX’d

    Gadgets Team
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    After giving its initial approval last year, Internet regulator ICAAN has finally green-lit the creation of an Internet domain devoted to pornographic websites. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which governs the website naming system, has given in to the idea of forming a top level ‘.xxx’ domain, paving the way for a red-light district online for pornography.

    With this resolution, web addresses and sites that will end in the .xxx suffix are expected to contain sexually-oriented adult entertainment. The .xxx domain will have the same treatment and status as .com and .org. According to an article on Mashable, the new domain names are to be registered through the ICM Registry and as of writing, around 230,000 URLs have already been reserved.

    Of course, not everybody is happy with the new domain. Certain religious groups have protested against it, stating that giving adult websites its own place on the Internet only legitimizes the content, instead of curbing to put a stop to the spread of such materials. Other people who are in dismay of this decision are pornographers. They feel higher bodies could mandate the use of the .xxx domain and try to “ghettoise” their sites, making their pornographic content easier to block.

    The new suffix will indeed be an easier way for parents to filter and block access from their kids. Companies and other organizations can also effortlessly apply any Web filtering software to block .xxx sites that are clearly labeled as porn.

    If you’re a porn connoisseur, would you consider this a good thing?

    Source: GMANews.TV

    ASUS is voted the most preferred motherboard brand via online poll

    Gadgets Team
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    ASUS is voted the most preferred motherboard brand via online poll

    Shopping for your next motherboard? Well you migh want to check out an ASUS board – according to a recently conducted poll on popular pinoy tech site TipidPC.com, ASUS is the preferred motherboard brand of pinoy PC users. Out of the 4,225 who joined the poll, 42% of them (or 1,755) voted for ASUS, with the second most preferred brand Gigabytetrailing at 19%. It comes as no surprise really, as ASUS has always been a market leader when it comes to PC technologies and their enthusiast boards are well accepted by hardcore gamers and overclockers.

     

     

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