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    Petron Lubricants Offer 2011 Calendar Collection

    Ringing in the New Year, the country’s leading oil company offers its 2011 Petron Calendar Collection featuring hot cars and hot babes. Buyers of Petron lubricant products can avail of these collectible calendars at selected Petron sales center outlets and Petron car care centers. The 2011 Petron Calendar Collection is available in three different versions, featuring Petron Ultron, Petron Rev X, and Petron Sprint 4T lubricants.

    Petron offers a full range of lubricant products for various vehicle requirements. For gasoline engines, the Petron Ultron range of multi-grade oils are specially formulated to ensure anti-wear protection and thermal stability. Petron Rev X is the brand of premium engine oils designed for diesel engines, and is available in several variants to meet diverse operating conditions. For the fast-growing motorcycle market, Petron Sprint 4T motorcycle oils contain an essential thermal control system specially designed to meet the requirements of four-stroke motorcycles.

    Petron operates a world-class lube oil blending plant at its Pandacan Terminal, where it manufactures a wide range of lubricant products. This blending facility is recognized as one of the best in the region, producing consistently high-quality products designed to meet international specifications.

    Petron Corporation is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines.

    First impressions: Samsung SCX-3200

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    There’s a printer suited for almost any home/office setup but quite frankly, the Samsung SCX-3200 is not one of them. It does however shine in what it’s designed for – the economic office environment. The printer itself is super compact. It prints an approximate 16 pages per minute which has a yield of up to 1,500 standard pages.

    The Samsung SCX-3200 is a multifunction laser printer that also lets you scan and copy documents. It is however, important to remember that this is a monochrome printer, meaning it only prints in black and white so printing images and colored letterheads is not an option. No need to worry about scanning – it does it with full color.

    There are some noteworthy one-touch keys on the front panel of the Samsung SCX-3200. First is the Eco Print which lets you save both on toner and energy by printing 2 pages in one paper which is ideal for quick drafts. Next is the Print Screen button which practically lets you print whatever is on your screen.  Hold it for 2 seconds and it only prints the active window. Talk about convenience.

    In Ready Mode, the SCX-3200 features a First Page Output Time (FPOT) of just 8.5 seconds with a 1200 x 1200dpi print resolution. With a primary focus on productivity and efficiency, the Samsung SCX-3200 is truly ideal for the budget-conscious office setup.

    Read more about it on our upcoming issue.


    First Impressions: Samsung i5510

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    Oh goodie! A formidable side-slide QWERTY smartphone! Fresh from Samsung’s continuing collaboration with Google is the Samsung i5510, a mid-range slide-out smartphone that runs on Android 2.2 Froyo. At first glance, it looks simple enough, with only three keys on its front face.

    But sliding it exposes the physical keyboard that houses spacious, rectangular keys (I especially like the ample spacebar). Although I haven’t decided whether I like the square-ness of it.

    Armed with Google programs like Search, Mail, Android Marketplace and others, the phone allows the user to move widgets to the home screen from the collection. Its 3.2” capacitive touchscreen of WQVGA resolution (400×240 pixels) also runs on TouchWiz 3.0. The screen’s responsive enough, and moves without a lag.

    The i5510 houses a built-in 3MP autofocus sharpshooter for those must-capture moments, and support for DivX videos for movie lovers. Connectivity will also be a breeze with its HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS capability.

    Catch the full review on our upcoming issue.

    Petron signs partnership agreement with Adventure Team Philippines, Inc.

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    Committing to support and promote Petron Sprint 4T motorcycle oils in its activities, Petron Corporation and Adventure Team Philippines, Inc. (ATPI) renewed its partnership by signing a three-year memorandum of agreement last November 26, 2010.

    The first activity scheduled for February 5, 2011 is the 2nd Petron Sprint 4T Endurance & Economy Run, open to motorcycles of all classes. An endurance and fuel economy run aimed at testing consistent engine performance and fuel efficiency in a long distance marathon run, the race will cover 750-kilometers of scenic routes and winding mountain roads through northern Luzon and finishing in Baguio City. Interested parties may check out the competition guidelines on ATPI’s FaceBook account under Endurance Economy Run, or email [email protected]. Three hundred participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Present at the signing were: Petron Lubes general manager Conrado S. Rivera (second row, 3rd from left); Petron vice-president for marketing Mary Ann M. Neri (second row, 5th from left); ATPI president Francis Rivera (second row, 7th from right); ATPI managing director Rey Clavecillas (second row, 4th from right); with Petron marketing and lubes staff as well as ATPI members.

    Unboxing: Sony CyberShot T99

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    Thinking of getting a point and shoot this Christmas? You might want to consider Sony’s CyberShot T99 digital camera. Check out Michelle’s unboxing video to find out more!

    Unboxing: EPSON Perfection V330

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    The Epson Perfection V330 Photo is a multifunction photo scanner with a stunning 4800x9600dpi resolution. It comes with Epson’s ReadyScan which enables fast scan speeds without the long warm up times of your usual scanners, and Easy Photo Fix which allows users to tweak and restore old prints as well as remove dust from scanned film or slides.

    There are a few things included in the package which includes the power supply, USB connection cable, transparency unit, quick start guide and the CD that has the drivers and bundled software.

    The lid is highly flexible and expendable which makes it easy to scan even the thickest books. It can also be adjusted 180-degrees for scanning over-sized objects.

    There’s a built-in transparency unit that enables it to scan slides, negatives and film.

    There are four customizable buttons for convenient one-touch scanning, copying, scan-to-email, and creating PDFs.

    It also comes bundled with a software program called ArcSoft Scan-n-Stitch™ Deluxe.  This convenient and intelligent program enables users to scan multiple images such as panoramas, oversized artwork, documents, and scrapbook pages (to name a few) which it stitches together automatically.

    The Epson Perfection V330 is compatible with both Windows and OSX.

    Unboxing: Iomega ScreenPlay Director

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    In today’s unboxing, we’re going to be taking a closer look at the Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player. The ScreenPlay is a one stop solution for storing, distributing and consuming digital content in full HD.

    The Iomega ScreenPlay Director has a 1 TB HDD built-in, so you won’t easily run out of space for your files. Unlike other media streamers, the front of the Iomega ScreenPlay Director has a bevy of manual controls, so you’ll be able to control the flow of your content even if the remote is out of reach.

    The back of the device has all the connections that you’ll ever need, and includes HDMI (1.4) USB, composite, component and S/PDIF. The Iomega ScreenPlay Director also has an Ethernet port so you can connect it to your home network. The remote control looks simple and easy to use, and the device is able to handle a majority of file formats.

    Unboxing: WD TV Live Hub

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    With so much content available online, it only makes sense to have a device to store and stream it off of. Western Digital has their own suite of solutions. The subject of today’s unboxing is their WD TV Live Hub, a 1 TB storage solution that promises to streamline the way you consume your content.

    The WD TV Live Hub is basically a 1 TB HDD with an assortment of audio and video outputs that allows it to connect to both your HDTV and your home network. It supports a myriad of video files including hi definition MKV files. The unit itself looks simple enough and will easily blend in with your other home theater appliances.

    The back holds a myriad of outputs and connections, including HDMI, component, composite and S/PDIF  out. An Ethernet port allows it to connect to your home network, while a USB port on the front and on the back allows you to watch content on USB thumb drives, and will also accept optional Wireless USB adapters for wireless networking.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/WD TV Live Hub/]

    Petron Offers Complete Change Oil Value Packages

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    In a bid to be more responsive to customer needs, Petron Corporation, the country’s leading oil company, recently introduced its Complete Change Oil Value Packages. Initially available only in selected Metro Manila stations, the value packages offer standard and discounted pricing for a complete change oil service inclusive of engine oil, oil filter and labor charges.

    For gasoline engines, the value packages include 4 liters of Petron Ultron, which come in four variants: Race, Rallye, Touring and Extra.

    Petron Ultron Race is the ultimate performance, synthetic engine oil with 5W-40 viscosity grade for supreme protection of high-performance engines. Petron Ultron Rallye is a multi-grade semi-synthetic engine oil that contributes to reduced fuel consumption and extended oil drain intervals.

    Petron Ultron Touring is a universal multi-grade gasoline engine oil that gives superior anti-wear protection while keeping the engine clean from sludge, rust and deposits. Petron Ultron Extra is a multi-grade engine oil for gasoline engines used in moderate operating conditions such as passenger cars.

    The Petron Ultron Complete Change Oil Value Packages are priced at Php 2,499 for Race; Php 1,499 for Rallye; Php 1,049 for Touring; and Php 849 for Extra.

    Diesel engine value packages include 6 liters of Petron Rev-X, with the following options: All-Terrain, Trekker, Hauler and HD.

    Petron Rev-X All-Terrain is a synthetic, ultra-high, multi-grade, heavy-duty engine oil meeting the highest levels of American and European heavy-duty diesel specifications. Petron Rev-X Trekker is a premium multi-grade, heavy-duty engine oil suitable for meeting the stringent requirements of the latest diesel automotive engines.

    Petron Rev-X hauler is a high-performance single-grade engine oil designed to meet the requirements of turbocharged and supercharged automotive diesel engines, especially in passenger cars and buses. Petron Rev-X HD is a single-grade, heavy-duty motor oil recommended for diesel and gasoline engines of passenger vehicles with short drain intervals and used under mild operating conditions.

    Pricing for the Petron Rev-X Complete Change Oil Value Packages ranges from Php 2,999 for Rev-X All-Terrain; Php 1,499 for Rev-X Trekker; Php 1,399 for Rev-X Hauler; and Php 1,199 for Rev-X HD.

    Rolled out last December 4, 2010 at 40 Petron stations in Metro Manila, the Complete Change Oil Value Packages will soon be implemented nationwide.

    Petron operates a world-class lube oil blending plant at its Pandacan Terminal, where it manufactures a wide range of lubricant products. This blending facility is recognized as one of the best in the region, producing consistently high-quality products designed to meet international specifications.

    PLDT reinvents the landline – ushers in future with TelPad

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    In this day and age, many have questioned the relevance of the humble landline in this day and age where almost everyone has a mobile phone and the fastest way to communicate is by text and IM. PLDT has seen fit to revitalize the concept of the landline by giving it a shot of some good ole fashioned technology.

    Unveiled last Monday, Dec 13 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM MOA, the PLDT TelPad combines the functionality of a landline with a twist. The TelPad marries the traditional landline with an Android based tablet that acts as a digital hub, if you will, with a dialer and several other multimedia functionality built on top of the custom UI. The 7-inch tablet is docked with a handset for calls, and it’s detachable from the dock if you feel like using it around the house.

    The best part is, it won’t cost an arm and a leg to own. The PLDT TelPad will come free with a subscription of Php 1849 per month – that includes the landline and a 1 Mbps connection. Existing MyDSL subscribers will need to pay Php 500 on top of their current bill to enjoy the TelPad. Unfortunately we were unable to handle the TelPad long enough to gauge specs and usability, but as soon as we get a demo you guys will be the first to know.

    Hands On – HTC Desire Z

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    Lookie what we have here – HTC has seen fit to send us their newest Froyo powered beauty, the HTC Desire Z. While the Z serves up all the usual trimmings that a high end Android device entails, it also gives the touchscreen averse crowd a full 4-row QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard pivots out from under the LCD with a solid push, and is generally easy to work and type on.

    As mentioned, the Desire Z runs on the latest build of Android, Froyo 2.2. You’ll now be able to share the Desire Z’s data connection via WiFi tethering to nearby devices if there’s no WiFi signal nearby to supply your notebook or other devices with a connection.

    The Desire Z is big, and thanks to its pivoting QWERTY keyboard, it’s also a bit thicker than your average smartphone. Here’s the Desire Z alongside its smaller cousin, the HTC Wildfire. Aside from the QWERTY keyboard, there’s few physical keys – a volume rocker sits on the left side while a camera shortcut key sits on the right, along with a mechanism that pops the battery cover open. The power key sits on top, right beside a 3.5mm jack.

    Typing with the QWERTY keyboard is fantastic, and even with my bigger than average digits I found it easy to use. Once the keyboard is in place, there’s very little play. In fact, the whole device is rock solid and I’m pretty impressed with the build quality.

    Alright, that’s pretty much it folks, you can catch our review of the HTC Desire Z in the next issue of the magazine. Till then, you can check out the gallery below for additional views and pictures of the Z.

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

    Our Do It Yourself December-January Issue is out!

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    Another good year comes to an end. 2010 has surely been an awesome year for techies worldwide. From new 3d laptops, to smartphones, to video gaming peripherals – there’s just something new for everyone!

    This December is definitely a good time to save so we could all have money to spend on gifts. With this in mind, we have brought to you ways of improving yourself and even marketing yourself. We’ve also come up with features on DIYing practically everything from jailbraking , building your own recording studio, to making your own home beauty treatment.

    We also have the annual Gadgets Magazine wishlist, to guide everybody for their holiday shopping on the newest and most popular gizmos and accessories around.

    You can also check out the photo feature on the gorgeous Rhian Ramos.

    Put your computer on hibernate and grab a copy now!

    Hitachi’s LifeStudio HDDs make backing up easy

    Backing up your precious data should be the first thing you should be doing when you turn on the PC, but let’s be honest – no one really does it religiously enough to be effective. Hitachi wants to change all of that with their newest LifeStudio HDDs that boast an automatic backup software and convenient USB sync so you don’t have to take the bulky drive with you when you need to transfer files.

    How does it work? Well, first off the new drives utilize a slick GUI (that’s powered by cooliris) that makes it easy to search and categorize your files. Heck, the thing can automatically categorize your pics (according to set parameters) and even auto-rotates your pictures the right way. It also allows you to seamlessly upload your pictures and video to your favorite social networking site like Facebook, Picasa and the like.

    Now the thing that really sets it apart is the detachable USB thumb drive called the SmartKey that automatically syncs with the main drive. So you can keep the bigger, bulkier hard drive at home and take the smaller, much more portable SmartKey with you when you need to grab files from the office or wherever and you just sync it back when you get home. It’s easy, convenient and dead simple.

    It’s only natural that the Hitachi LifeStudio line of drives is going to be more expensive than your regular external HDD. You’re looking at Php 4,995 for the 500GB Hitachi LifeStudio Mobile Plus (with 4GB SmartKey) as opposed to Php 4,560 for the same capacity without the SmartKey. A 2TB Hitachi LifeStudio Desk Plus (with 4GB SmartKey) will set you back Php 7,600 as opposed to the regular version without the SmartKey that retails for Php 6,840.

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

    Microsoft officially launches Windows Phone 7 in the Philippines

    Microsoft Philippines, in partnership with HTC Corp. and Smart Communications, Inc., launched Windows Phone 7, the latest and much-awaited mobile technology from Microsoft, to join the battle for supremacy among mobile operating systems. Is it a worthy contender? Read along to see our first impression.

    A completely new experience:

    The new Windows Phone 7 OS delivers a completely fresh user experience. The home screen is unlike any other mobile OS out there. Microsoft uses a unique home screen they call Live Tiles – which is practically a wall of everything you need to see on your phone on a regular basis. Oh, it also has live updates and push notifications so literally, you’ll find everything in a glance. These Live Tiles can be created from virtually any application or content such as music, websites, images.

    The Windows Phone 7 is all about the cloud. The people hub displays live updates from your contact’s twitter and facebook – all details are connected and synced. Another amazing feature is that whenever you access your gallery, it will not only show you pictures stored on your phone but your pictures in facebook as well. You can also access and edit documents on your Windows skydrive using the pre-installed Office application. Now that’s a cloud phone.

    The transitions of the OS look snappy and responsive. As a matter of fact, Windows Phone 7 strictly enforces a specific hardware specification for their devices so that the experience is consistent among different devices. There’s pretty much no slowdown or lag when it comes to standard commands and navigation.

    The Windows Phone market has more than a thousand apps already, which really is more than enough for the essentials – there’s facebook, twitter, messaging plus a couple of games. Knowing how aggressive Windows is, we’ll be seeing more apps in the near future for sure.

    A bit premature:

    As amazing as the Windows Phone 7 is, there are a few setbacks that makes me think that it’s still a bit premature. One of course is the lack of cut/paste. Windows Phone 7 also lacks multitasking for third party applications. Lastly, there are very limited options in the network settings. You won’t be able to manually set the IP address of your device, nor can you connect to a VPN.

    Also, although more of a personal preference, there is no option to view apps in grid format. It becomes tedious to have to scroll down a long list of apps just to find the one you need.

    Most of these, however, are software related and hopefully, can be adjusted in the next software updates.

    The Hardware:

    Leading the way is the HTC Mozart which will be the first available Windows Phone 7 phone in the country. It will only be available through loyalty/retention with Smart starting January 2011.

    Here are the specs:

    CPU: Qualcomm QSD 8250 1GHz

    Memory: 512MB ROM, 576MB RAM

    Storage: 8GB internal

    Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, microUSB, GPS

    Camera: 8mp with auto focus and xenon flash, 720p video recording

    Others: Dolby SRS surround sound

    We expect more phones to be released in the early months of 2011. In the meantime, check out this small gallery to get a better look at the HTC Mozart.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/wp7launch/]

    SkyCable announces launch of Personal Video Recorder (PVR) service

    SKYCABLE, the country’s cable TV pioneer, is moving at the forefront of providing consumers with choices of how, what, when, and where they watch TV content and is set to introduce next year another first-of-its-kind service – the personal video recorder (PVR) system in the country.

    Also known as a digital video recorder (DVR), the PVR is a device that records TV onto a hard drive in digital format. Unlike video and DVD recorders, there is no need for tapes or disks. PVRs give you the ability to pause live TV, instantly replay scenes just watched while continuing to record. It is similar to TiVO, the world’s first digital video recorder which has a very large following in the US.

    At the heart of any PVR is the electronic program guide (EPG). It’s what makes possible the selection of all the shows and programs you want your PVR to record. The better the EPG, the more intuitive your PVR becomes, recording programs by itself based on your previous choices.
    SKYCABLE PVR service is currently on trial and will be commercially available by the first quarter of 2011.