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Restaurant Review: Bunny Baker Cafe and Cake Studio

Food

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9 Sep 2016

Bunny Baker Cafe and Cake Studio

It started as a home-based business by the owners, Aila and Zach. But because of numerous requests, they decided to open their own store, the Bunny Baker Cafe and Cake Studio, two years ago. Aila chose a bunny to represent their café because her first cupcake creation is called the Love Bunny, which is, quite appropriately, a carrot cake. From there, they refined the concept to anything cute, pink, and girly, as Aila has a soft spot for them. Aside from their food, they also off party packages for kids that include workshops for making and decorating their own rice krispie treats. Mothers and their daughters can also have bonding session in this café through their cake making workshops, as well as classes for latte art, fondant sculpting, and many more. Kids, especially girls, will fall in love with this place because of its girly vibe. Even their menu incorporates the bunny theme.

Type of kid: Feminine, sweet, and loves anything cute

Kid-o-meter: Bunny-themed food and interior

Experience: Aila intentionally invited us to the restaurant at the same time as a scheduled birthday party so we could witness the rice krispies workshop. This place is a haven for little girls. The party was attended by at least 30 girls each of which participated in the rice krispies workshop.

They made their own rice krispies with edible heart-shaped decorations and edible colorful strips. Zach demonstrated how to stick the edible decorations in their rice krispies, and let the girls show their creativity for a chance to win a scoop of “bunnylato” (gelato). After watching the kids have fun at the party, we were served with the three best-selling dishes for kids. First was the Mac and Cheese with bunny-shaped Spam.

This is great for cheese lovers because of the richness of the dish. Next is the Corndog Duo with potato chips.

The corndogs were beautifully decorated with smiley faces on the outside, with a large German frank inside. It was delicious, and devoured in an instant. The potato chips were light and had a perfect crisp texture. The main dish were Bunny Croquettes with rice. These croquettes are deep fried mashed potato with bits of spam inside, and coated with panko breadcrumbs. In keeping with the theme, the rice was shaped into a cute bunny. This dish looks like a carefully prepared bento meal for a little child.

Writer’s tip: Get ready for lots of girly action!

Price: Php 115 – 545 for ala carte items

Location: Bunny Baker Café and Cake Studio, Unit 301, Hemady Square, 86 Doña Hemady corner E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., New Manila, Quezon City.

Contact no.: +(632) 650-4153, +(63)-917-812-9711

Ford opens Don Bosco technical training facility

Mobility

Chris Noel Hidalgo

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9 Sep 2016

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Ford opens Don Bosco technical training facility

Ford Philippines recently inaugurated its new technical training facility at the Don Bosco Technical Vocational Education and Training Center (TVET) as it continues its support of the country’s educational scene.

The company invested a total of PHP 2,500,000 in the construction and setup of the new training facility which features a classroom for up to 50 students, a vehicle lifter, specialized tools, and 12 cabinets and toolboxes.

“We’ve had a fantastic partnership with Don Bosco since 2004, working together on a series of initiatives that help develop the technical skills and experience of the TVET students which leads to even better career opportunities,” said Lance Mosley, managing director of Ford Philippines.

Ford, in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce Foundation, also announced a scholarship program that will allow 25 deserving out-of-school youth to attend a 15-month automotive technical course at Don Bosco TVET for free. The Chamber will administer the scholarship program, help screen candidates, monitor their performance, and will help them gain employment once they have graduated. All in all, the scholarships are worth over PHP 1,600,000.

“We thank Ford for their trust in our institution and for choosing to partner with us since 2004. Ford’s thrust of going further aligns perfectly with our philosophy of helping the youth become technically competent so they too can go further in their lives,” commented Fr. Jose Dindo Vitug, SDP, technical director, Don Bosco Manpower Skills Training Center.

Kaspersky Lab reveals cybercriminals recruit insiders to attack telco providers

Archives

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8 Sep 2016

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Kaspersky Lab reveals cybercriminals recruit insiders to attack telco providers

According Kaspersky Lab’s recent intelligence report on the security threats present in the telecommunications industry, cybercriminals are using insiders to gain access to telco networks and subscriber data. They recruit disaffected employees through underground channels or blackmail staff using compromising information gathered from open sources.

One of the top targets for a cyber attack are telco providers. They operate and manage the world’s networks, voice and data transmissions and store vast amounts of sensitive data. This makes them highly attractive to cybercriminals in search of financial gain, as well as nation-state sponsored actors launching targeted attacks, and even competitors.

To achieve their goals, cybercriminals often use insiders as part of their malicious ‘toolset’, to help them breach the perimeter of a telecommunications company and perpetrate their crimes.

New research by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International reveals that 28 percent of all cyber-attacks, and 38 percent of targeted attacks now involve malicious activity through insiders. The intelligence report examines popular ways of involving insiders in telco-related criminal schemes and gives examples of the things insiders are used for.

Compromising employees

According to the Kaspersky Lab researchers, attackers engage or entrap telecoms employees in the following ways:

Using publically available or previously-stolen data sources to find compromising information on employees of the company they want to hack. They then blackmail targeted individuals – forcing them to hand over their corporate credentials, provide information on internal systems or distribute spear-phishing attacks on their behalf.
Recruiting willing insiders through underground message boards or through the services of “black recruiters”. These insiders are paid for their services and can also be asked to identify co-workers who could be engaged through blackmail.
The blackmailing approach has grown in popularity following online data breaches such as the Ashley Madison leak, as these provide attackers with material they can use to threaten or embarrass individuals.

In fact, data-leak related extortion has now become so widespread that the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement on 1 June warning consumers of the risk and its potential impact.

According to the Kaspersky Lab researchers, if an attack on a cellular service provider is planned, criminals will seek out employees who can provide fast track access to subscriber and company data or SIM card duplication/illegal reissuing.

If the target is an Internet service provider, the attackers will try to identify those who can enable network mapping and man-in-the-middle attacks.

However, insider threats can take all forms. The Kaspersky Lab researchers noted two non-typical examples, one of which involved a rogue telecoms employee leaking 70 million prison inmate calls, many of which breached client-attorney privilege. In another example, an SMS center support engineer was spotted on a popular DarkNet forum advertising their ability to intercept messages containing OTP (One-Time Passwords) for the two-step authentication required to login to customer accounts at a popular fintech company.

In order to protect the organization from insider threat, Kaspersky Lab advises the following:

Educate your staff about responsible cyber-security behavior and the dangers to look out for, and introduce robust policies about the use of corporate email addresses;
Use Threat Intelligence Services to understand why cybercriminals might be looking at your company and to find out if someone is offering an insider “service” in your organization;
Restrict access to the most sensitive information and systems;
Do a regular security audit of the company’s IT infrastructure.

Read more about insiders and other typical cyber-threats facing telecommunications companies on Securelist.

Further information on threats facing companies in telecommunications and other sectors is available through Kaspersky Lab Intelligence Services or by emailing [email protected].

Sony launches slimmer PlayStation 4, announces PS4 Pro release

Gaming

Robby Vaflor

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8 Sep 2016

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Sony launches slimmer PlayStation 4, announces PS4 Pro release

Sony introduced the new PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 4 Pro yesterday September 7 in New York.

The new PlayStation 4 that will replace the old version will be 30 percent smaller and 16 percent lighter while keeping the original specifications.

PlayStation 4 slim version (Photo via Playstation Blog)

While the new standard model will not get a hardware boost, it will be more energy-efficient, consuming 28 percent less electricity.

The PlayStation 4 Pro will support 4K resolution and HDR modes with 1 TB of hard disk space.

The beefed up variant will have twice the graphics processing strength, and a faster processor clock speed.

PlayStation 4 Pro (Photo via Playstation Blog)

While not all video games on the PlayStation’s library will support 4K and HDR resolution, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s President and Global CEO Andrew House says that all games will run in 1080p at a smoother framerate.

Netflix and YouTube are reportedly developing new apps for the system that will support 4K resolution.

The new standard PS4 will be sold at a suggested retail price of USD 299.99 available on September 15, while the Pro version will be priced at USD 399.99 and will be launched on November 10.

Double the fun with more rewards points for Globe customers this September

Telcos

Jonah Mendoza

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8 Sep 2016

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Double the fun with more rewards points for Globe customers this September

In celebration of its annual 0917 fest, Globe customers are in for a lot of special treats! Set to give the most wonderful surprises to its customers, Globe kicks off September with more rewards points from some of its major partners, KFC, SM Cinemas, and BENCH.

Customers can dine, shop and check out a new movie using their existing Globe points that now have double the value. The usual value of 1 peso per rewards point now becomes 2 pesos, and these points can be used for their transactions. Customers can order more of their favorites at KFC, catch their favorite movie at SM Cinemas and grab the latest trends from BENCH!

“Our annual 917 celebration means more to us than just celebrating a day that stands for our popular prefix, it is all about us reaching out to our customers and saying thank you to them in many different ways. These rewards points are just the beginning, and Globe customers can expect more surprises as we roll out our celebration this whole month of September,” says Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

More Globe surprises are in store too for avid shoppers and travelers! Customers get access to Zalora deals for as low as P917 and even a P150 discount for a minimum purchase of P1,000 at Lazada. Cool digital connectors and devices at Globe GEN 3 stores also come with special discounts.

On September 17 (917), Globe is inviting its customers to a full-day event at the Globe ICONIC entertainment zone at BGC Central. Customers get to experience exclusive offers and giveaways just by hanging out with Globe and enjoying a great line-up of entertainment!

Apple launches iPhone 7 and dual camera 7 Plus; says goodbye to 3.5 mm headphone jack

Smartphones & Tablets

Chris Noel Hidalgo

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8 Sep 2016

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Apple launches iPhone 7 and dual camera 7 Plus; says goodbye to 3.5 mm headphone jack

Apple earlier launched the latest iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Check out their specs, features, and what changed from the 6th generation below.

Apple iPhone 7 Quick Specs:

Processor: Quad-core 64-bit A10 Fusion Chip with embedded M10 motion coprocessor
RAM: 2 GB RAM
Memory: 32 GB (all colors); 128/256 GB (jet black color only) internal storage
Display: 4.7 inch Retina HD display with 1334 x 750 resolution @ 326 ppi
Cameras: 12 MP f/1.8 rear with optical image stabilization, six-element lens, quad-LED True Tone flash, sapphire crystal lens cover, backside illumination sensor, hybrid IR filter, body and face detection, and improved local tone mapping; 7 MP f/2.2 front with Retina flash, backside illumination sensor, and auto image stabilization
Battery: Non-removable Li-ion battery with up to 14 hours 3G talk time
Operating System: iOS 10
Connections: nanoSIM; 4G LTE; Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO; Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; lightning connector
Dimensions: 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm; 138 grams
Colors: Rose gold, gold, silver, black, jet black
Features: Fingerprint sensor on Home button; IP67 water and dust resistant
Price: Starting price of GBP 599 or PHP 37,343 directly converted

The Apple iPhone 7 looks pretty much like its predecessor, with its rounded aluminum body being just a hair thicker across all dimensions and a wee bit heavier as well. Display also remains the same size with a 4.7 inch Retina HD panel with a 326 ppi density, only this time having a wider color gamut.

Its storage has been given a buff. Now, the base model will come with 32 GB of space as opposed to the previous generation’s 16 GB of starting storage. Higher tiers are available with 128 and 256 GB of non-expandable storage.

The loudspeakers of the past have been ditched for stereo speakers, and (sadly, but not surprisingly) the long-time standard 3.5 mm jack has been removed in favor of Lightning connector-plugged headphones. The phone does ship with a compatible headset out of the box, but it also comes with a 3.5 mm to Lightning port adapter so traditional ear candy users need not worry.

In terms of camera, Apple decided to go with not only more megapixels for its rear and front shooters, but they also brought a wider aperture to the primary one. This means shots from the 12 MP main camera will have more light to them. The company also said that the sensor is 60 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient. Meanwhile, the front apparatus has been given a bump up from 1.2 to 7 MP.

The iPhone 7 also comes equipped with the latest A10 Fusion chip touted to be 40 percent faster than the iPhone 6’s A8. From just two cores, the iPhone 7 now also comes with a quad-core processor so CPU intensive applications should perform smoother, all the while sipping less power.

Lastly, the phone is IP67 dust and water-resistant. While it can’t compete with Samsung’s flagships in a diving competition, at least now it can be submerged up to one meter for 30 minutes, can have a drink spilled over it, and can be used in the rain without it frying itself.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus Quick Specs:

Processor: Quad-core 64-bit A10 Fusion Chip with embedded M10 motion coprocessor
RAM: 3 GB RAM
Memory: 32 GB (all colors); 128/256 GB (jet black color only) internal storage
Display: 5.5 inch Retina FHD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution @ 401 ppi
Cameras: Dual 12 MP rear (f/1.8 wide-angle and f/2.8 telephoto) with optical image stabilization, six-element lens, quad-LED True Tone flash, sapphire crystal lens cover, backside illumination sensor, hybrid IR filter, body and face detection, and improved local tone mapping; 7 MP f/2.2 front with Retina flash, backside illumination sensor, and auto image stabilization
Battery: Non-removable Li-ion battery with up to 21 hours 3G talk time
Operating System: iOS 10
Connections: nanoSIM; 4G LTE; Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO; Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; lightning connector
Dimensions: 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm; 188 grams
Colors: Rose gold, gold, silver, black, jet black
Features: Fingerprint sensor on Home button; IP67 water and dust resistant
Price: Starting price of GBP 719 or PHP 44,898 directly converted

The iPhone 7 Plus struts mostly the same innards as its smaller brother, though of course it comes with a bigger 5.5 inch Full HD Retina display and slightly thicker dimensions.

Its most notable upgrade over the plain 7 is its dual 12 MP rear camera apparatus, wherein one is a wide-angle shooter with an f/1.8 aperture and the other is a telephoto shooter with an f/2.2 aperture. Apple says the dual camera system will allow for true 2x optical zoom with no loss in details and shots with shallow depth of field.

Pricing for the iPhone 7 starts at GBP 599 or PHP 37,343 directly converted, while the iPhone 7 Plus starts at GBP 719 or PHP 44,898 directly converted.

Forcepoint releases SureView Insider Threat security tool in the Philippines

Enterprise

Robby Vaflor

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7 Sep 2016

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Cyber-security company Forcepoint launched its SureView Insider Threat product for the Philippine market earlier today, September 7 in Makati.

The SureView Insider Threat is a security tool that allows companies to prevent attacks coming from the inside such as: compromised users or victims of blackmail, social engineering, or cyber attacks; intentional insiders or individuals who abuse their access to vital company information and engage in anomalous behavior; and accidental insiders, or those working around broken business processes or those that receive very minimal employment training.

The product is part of Forcepoint’s Raytheon-powered suite of cybersecurity products including content security, cloud security, and network security.

With escalating security threats coming from both external and internal sources, Forcepoint aims to provide companies with tools that will help them detect breaches faster to be able to minimize the damage to their digital assets.

Joshua Kooh, strategic security consultant for the company’s Southeast Asian operations, conducted a demonstration at a press lunch earlier today in Makati the features of the product.

SureView aims to let governments and companies monitor risky behavior by employees, contractors and users easier which Kooh compares to “finding a needle in the haystack.”

The tool identifies risk by recording a baseline for normal user behavior, and any activity that deviates from that is automatically flagged with a lower score on record which those monitoring the users can easily see.

Also present on the interface is a comprehensive record of usage information and what contributes to the user’s low rating.

Companies can also record questionable behavior through the tool’s video capture function, which has already been used as evidence in litigation in the United States.

Senior director of sales for Forcepoint Southeast Asia, Alex Lim said that the tool along with the rest of the company’s security suite is not aimed at any particular industry or government sector, adding that the tools that the company offers can be used by “any industry that thinks digital assets are important.”

On average, insider security breaches escape detection for an average of 259 days, longer than the 170-day average for external breaches. Lim said that what the product aims to lessen this “dwell time” or the interval between the actual breach and detection.

“Insiders do more damage and go undetected longer than external threats. Until now, global enterprises haven’t had an effective tool to protect against threats from within. Forcepoint is redefining what it means to secure an organization, by thinking more in terms of ‘inside-out’ rather than ‘outside-in,’ said Forcepoint’s chief executive officer Matthew Moynahan in a statement made earlier.

Forcepoint was previously known as Websense until it announced the name change in January upon defense contractor Raytheon’s acquisition of the company from Vista Partners LLC last year.

Forcepoint’s products have been used across different industries and governments, including the US federal government.

Mazda celebrates J.D. Powers win; teases all-new CX-3

Cars

Chris Noel Hidalgo

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7 Sep 2016

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Mazda celebrates J.D. Powers win; teases all-new CX-3

Berjaya Auto Philippines, the country’s sole distributor of Mazda vehicles, was able to top the J.D. Power 2016 Philippine Customer Service Index Study, ranking highest in customer satisfaction with its commendable after-sales service throughout all dealerships.

The survey examines dealership performance through five factors, namely (in order of importance) service quality (29 percent); service initiation (26 percent); vehicle pick-up (17 percent); service facility (14 percent); and service advisor (14 percent). Brand performance is then measured on a 1,000 point scale, with a higher score indicating higher customer satisfaction. A total of 11 brands were included in the study.

Mazda was able to score 845 points overall, well above the industry average of 822. However, the latter figure went down from 837 points in 2015, indicating that more and more consumers are flocking towards service centers, straining their capacity to serve efficiently.

Mazda-CX-3-2 — Loïc Pean, senior manager at J.D. Power.

“Despite more service reminders being sent to customers for routine maintenance, customers are not reciprocating by making appointments for their service visit,” said Loïc Pean, senior manager at J.D. Power. “We still see six in 10 walk-in customers and this exacerbates the capacity crunch at the dealerships. Dealerships have to be resolute to educate their customers to get into the habit of making appointments else it will be a formidable task for dealers to manage unscheduled workload and maximize throughput.”

Berjaya Auto also teased the all-new Mazda CX-3 freestyle crossover ahead of its launch at the 6th Philippine International Motor Show this coming September 14 to 18 at the World Trade Center.

Mazda-CX-3-3 — Steven Tan, president and CEO of Berjaya Auto Philippines.

“The new CX-3 is one of the most highly anticipated vehicles we have ever unveiled in the Philippine market,” shared Steven Tan, president and CEO of Berjaya Auto Philippines. “Its stylish looks, unmatched performance, and impeccable build quality make it a vehicle that only Mazda could have created. We are confident this crossover for the new generation will give its future owners an uncompromising and unfettered driving experience worthy of their active and expressive lifestyles.”

Following the brand’s Kodo Soul of Motion design philosophy, the CX-3 features a bold front face with a nose that sits higher than a regular car. Seven slim fins occupy the pentagonal grille whose three-dimensional wings extend outward to the headlights. The side profile features rear-leaning A-pillars, while the blacked-out D-pillars with integrated quarter windows blend seamlessly with the rear glass. At the back are dual muffler tips, a three-dimensional lift gate, and short rear overhang.

Inside the cabin is a driver-oriented interior with an Active Driving Display HUD sitting atop the meter cluster; soft-touch panels with suede trimmings, and metallic and piano black accents; leather seats; 7-speaker with amplifier Bose entertainment system; and a 7-inch touch screen monitor at the center stack which houses the MZD-CONNECT infotainment system.

The vehicle stands on either 16 or 18 inch aluminum wheels and is driven by a 2.0L SkyActiv-G 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve gasoline direct injection engine which produces 148 ps @ 6000 rpm and 192 Nm of torque @ 2800 rpm. The powerplant is paired to a six speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission with sports mode.

It is set to be available in three variants locally: the base FWD Pro in either crystal white pearl or dynamic blue color options will sell for PHP 1,280,000; the mid-tier FWD Sport in crystal white pearl, soul red, jet black, or trim-exclusive titanium flash colors will retail for PHP 1,380,000; and the top of the line AWD Activ will come in an additional ceramic finish (on top of the colors mentioned above) at a tag of PHP 1,480,000.

Intel Security-McAfee Provides Overview of PH Cybersecurity Landscape

Technology News

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7 Sep 2016

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Intel Security-McAfee Provides Overview of PH Cybersecurity Landscape

McAfee, which is now part of Intel Security, recently flew its managing director for SEA Craig Nielsen and vice president for APAC Daryush Ashjari in the Philippines to discuss the company’s latest report on the security landscape of the region, the indications of the topics involved, and how the company is working to resolve security issues and provide better solutions and services to its consumers.

Philippines Cybersecurity Landscape

The Intel Security executives discussed the current realities in the Philippine security landscape starting with the rise of cyberespionage attacks and intellectual property theft. In a 2015 report from the Department of Justice of Cybercrime, it was revealed that 17 ransomware attacks happen per day with thirty percent of the attacks targeting small businesses. Meanwhile, 33 percent of 614 recorded cybercrime incidents involved internet/ATM fraud and identity theft. This increase in number indicates that as technology progresses, the manner in which cyber criminals operate has also evolved.

But how does the government deal with these attacks? Intel Security shared that the Philippines has a number of laws meant to address cyberattacks, such as the Cybercrime Prevention Act. These laws penalize cyber criminals and also deal with the aftermaths of an attack, however, there are little to no provisions when it comes to cybercrime prevention.

Moreover, there’s a shortage of IT security professionals working in the field. The company revealed, there are only 84 Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP) in the Philippines and half of them are working overseas.

Given the circumstances, where do we turn to for help?

McAfee Labs Latest Report

At present, there are 3.1 billion internet-connected devices and is expected to go up to 8.6 billion by 2020. With all these interconnected devices, data protection is critical and cybersecurity has lots of maturing to do. The company is working on a new cybersecurity blueprint; one that will resolve more risks faster with the use of just a few resources.

Add to the IoT and the issues that come with it, Intel Security also revealed the prevalent concerns in today’s cybersecurity landscape:

There are more than 5,000 versions of 21 consumer mobile apps containing colluding code capable of a variety of malicious activities.
New strain of of Pinkslipbot Trojan features anti-analysis and multi-layered encryption
New ransomware grew 24-percent quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2016
Threat researchers saw a 17-percent quarter-over-quarte increase in new mobile malware sample in Q1 2016
Mac malware spiked Q1 primarily due to an increase in VSearch adware
There are 305 new threats every minute, or more than 5 every second.

McAfee revealed that its Global Threat Intelligence responds to these over 49.9 billion queries every day. Take all these in consideration, there’s a need for a continuous, automated, and shared threat intelligence, a system which protects, detects, and corrects. Intel Security suggests an effective defense businesses and other fields involved should apply, which includes: neutralizing emerging threats, safeguard vital data, optimize security operations, and fortify critical environments.

McAfee has been constantly changing to provide tried and tested security solutions and services that protect systems, networks, and mobile devices for business and personal use around the world. It recorded an all time high for renewal rates in the Philippines for its excellence in delivering localized solutions to its subscribers.

For more information, visit http://www.mcafee.com/us/business-home.aspx.

OPPO is now 2nd bestselling smartphone brand in PH

Smartphones & Tablets

Jonah Mendoza

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7 Sep 2016

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German-based market research organization GfK reported that OPPO is now the second bestselling smartphone brand in the ASEAN’s fastest growing mobile market, the Philippines.

GfK’s latest survey showed that OPPO increased its market share from 3.2 percent in July 2015 to 8.6 percent in July 2016, more than double its share from last year. The smartphone brand also rose from third spot in June 2016 at 8.5 percent, to second last July.

“Our increasing shares show how we are able to capture what Filipinos want in a mobile device,” said Stephen Cheng, OPPO’s Brand Marketing Manager. “We not only meet consumer demands for quality smartphones, but we also offer them at more affordable prices. This is an important factor that paved the way for our growth over the past year.”

OPPO attributed its rising popularity to its F1 series, whose selfie-enhancing features won over the Filipino’s fondness for taking pictures of themselves. The company introduced the F1 phone in February this year, followed by the F1 Plus in April.

Introduced only last August, the F1 series’ latest addition, the F1s, sold out three days after its launch in concept and dealer stores nationwide.

Because of the reception to the F1s, OPPO is optimistic that the company will eventually dominate the Philippine selfie market.

“OPPO will continue pursuing its growth in the market by indulging the Filipino fascination for taking selfies,” Cheng said.

Apple Music rolls out My New Music Mix discovery playlist feature

Everything Apple

Robby Vaflor

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6 Sep 2016

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Apple Music rolls out My New Music Mix discovery playlist feature

Apple quietly updated its Music platform with new playlist features over the weekend in anticipation of the release of the iOS 10 and the iPhone 7 this week.

The My New Music Mix is similar to the platform’s competitor, Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist, which collects the user’s usage information and builds a playlist based on an algorithm.

The discovery playlist is updated every Friday with 25 new personalized tracks from artists that the users are familiar with or have not listened to yet.

It has not been established, however, whether Apple’s algorithm is more “intuitive” in the way it is built, providing better and more accurate song-choices than the company’s competitor.

Apple also added a My Favorites Mix which collects the users top played tracks for the week and constructs a 25-track playlist containing them.

Fox Sports debuts new automotive lifestyle show

Mobility

Chris Noel Hidalgo

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6 Sep 2016

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Fox Sports debuts new automotive lifestyle show

Gearheads and car enthusiasts will have another television show to look forward to as Fox Sports will be debuting the new Full Throttle automotive lifestyle program this coming September 8. Headlined by Sam YG and Rhian Ramos, the show will likewise be available through linear streaming and subscription video on demand through the respective OTT platforms.

Full Throttle combines in-depth features of the automotive world with reality segments, making it accessible to both hardcore motorists and the general public. Program highlights include regular car reviews, spotlights on popular automotive suppliers and dealers, celebrity guests, and challenges and segments performed and filmed over land, sea, and air.

Sam YG and Rhian Ramos are both rabid motorheads, loving all things that have to do with cars. Sam YG enjoys a huge fanbase for his part in Boys Night Out, one of the most popular radio shows in the country, while Rhian Ramos has gained widespread fame by starring in highly successful television dramas and films. Their passion for and experience with cars make them the perfect combo to banner the new show, while their fiercely competitive natures make for an entertaining dynamic. Add this to the pair’s massive respective followings, and you get a show that speaks directly to the automotive purists while keeping things on edge and highly enjoyable.

Sony taps Nadine Lustre as audio brand ambassador

Audio Devices

Chris Noel Hidalgo

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6 Sep 2016

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Young showbiz powerhouse Nadine Lustre was recently made the face of Sony Philippines’ personal audio lineup. She will be endorsing Sony’s newest h.ear and Extra Bass high-resolution audio devices.

The 22 year old actress and singer commented “I can’t imagine my life without music. I listen to music every day—in the shower, in the car, travelling. During shoots, it gives me energy, it hypes me up. It helps me bond with my friends; it controls my emotions. Music is my life.”

“We at Sony are really excited to reveal Nadine as the newest endorser for Personal Audio. She perfectly captures that distinct lifestyle we associate with each line-up— the stylish, trendy traveler for the h.ear series and the life of the party for the Extra Bass series. The team was thrilled to find out that for Nadine, music was more than a career, but a lifestyle,” expressed Alvin de Vera, senior director for brand and customer communications of Sony Philippines.

The h.ear comes in Go, On, and In flavors. The first are colorful and portable speakers; the second are wireless headphones; and the last are in-ear headphones. Meanwhile, the Extra Bass lineup consists of the XB650BT wireless headphones and XB3 water-resistant speakers.

The h.ear On MDR-100ABN (PHP 15,999), h.ear In MDR-EX750BT (PHP 8,999) headphones, and h.ear Go SRS-HG1 (PHP 9,999) wireless speaker, along with the Extra Bass MDR-XB650BT (PHP 6,499) headphones and Extra Bass SRS-XB3 (PHP 6,999) speakers are now available in select Sony Centers and Egghead outlets.

Grab partners with Red Cross and Honda PH to improve road safety

Mobility

Jonah Mendoza

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6 Sep 2016

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Grab partners with Red Cross and Honda PH to improve road safety

Grab, Southeast Asia’s (SEA) leading transport app, recently formed separate partnerships with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Honda Philippines to promote road safety awareness and knowledge among Grab fleet drivers.

“It is important to bring together stakeholders for a comprehensive intervention on road accidents, which are a major but neglected public health problem,” said Grab Philippines’ Country Head Brian Cu. “Road traffic crashes are the second leading cause of injury death in the Philippines while, in SEA, there are 101,873 road casualties recorded annually.”

Part of a broader regional collaboration, the one-year partnership with IFRC will equip over 270,000 Grab drivers with life-saving skills and road safety techniques. At the same time, it will tap Grab’s call center agents as a first-responder network during disaster and emergency situations.

The partnership also entails promoting a progressive road safety education in SEA, with Grab undertaking the role as official transportation partner to distribute road safety education materials and simple life-saving messages to passengers.

In a separate announcement, Grab Philippines has also launched the Grab Driver Academy in partnership with the Honda Safety Driving Center. The pioneering road education program aims to periodically up-skill Grab drivers in customer service and safety driving, by training them in essential yet practical techniques on efficiency driving and proper risk management while on the road.

Just recently, Grab and Honda held a 3-day training workshop for GrabTaxi drivers from Manila, Baguio, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao.

“Road safety is a multi-sectoral challenge as such all sectors need to be engaged in the advocacy for road crash injury prevention. Eventually, road accidents should no longer be seen as an unpredictable outcome of road transport. We’re continuously working with different stakeholders to provide safe and reliable transportation,” Cu said.

Tune Labs forms partnership with Philippine rewards program ZAP

Technology News

Jonah Mendoza

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6 Sep 2016

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Tune Labs forms partnership with Philippine rewards program ZAP

Tune Labs, a venture capital vehicle established by AirAsia founders Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, has entered into a joint venture with leading Philippines rewards and loyalty program ZAP.

The partnership will see AirAsia BIG, the loyalty program for AirAsia and the Tune group of companies, leverage on ZAP’s platform to allow BIG members to earn and redeem points from daily purchases at physical stores with just a mobile number. It aims to launch in the third quarter of this year with plans of having over 100 partner establishments in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before expanding to neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Partners will include restaurants, services, and retail shops in commercial centers.

AirAsia BIG has over 17 million members across the Asia-Pacific region and was recently named Loyalty Programme of the Year at the 2016 Loyalty & Engagement Awards.

“Customer loyalty is a large part of AirAsia’s success. The joint venture is part of our retail strategy and will extend the AirAsia BIG loyalty program enjoyed by our passengers beyond flights to physical stores. ZAP is the tech partner to help AirAsia BIG achieve our goal of having loyal customers earn BIG points and redeem for their flights faster and easier than ever, by rewarding members’ everyday life” said Eddy Leong, CEO of AirAsia BIG.

Today, AirAsia BIG members earn points from AirAsia, Tune Talk, Tune Hotels, and other strategic partners within the travel, e-commerce, lifestyle and retail sectors, including but not limited to Bangkok Bank, CIMB Niaga, Lazada, Paradigm Mall and KLIA2 Gateway. The JV aims to expand AirAsia BIG’s offer to include thousands of physical store locations that its members shop at in different parts of Asia.

Using the ZAP platform and software, AirAsia BIG members would be able to earn BIG Points from partner stores with just their mobile number. BIG Points are very valuable to members as they can be redeemed for flights, with BIG members enjoying priority access to AirAsia sales and an exclusive monthly Final Call Sale with AirAsia flights from only 500 BIG Points.

ZAP’s CEO Dustin Cheng added, “Our goal in ZAP has always been to empower merchants of all sizes with an easy-to-use loyalty and CRM platform. The joint venture allows us to leverage on millions of AirAsia’s customers to fast-track ZAP’s expansion through the region.”

”I have no doubt this joint venture with ZAP will do amazing things for stores that we will be partnering with,” said Leong.

Like Fernandes, Kickstart president Minette Navarrete believes in the partnership fit: “AirAsia and the Tune group of companies are among Southeast Asia’s success stories, with an ethos we truly admire. The ZAP founders have proven their ability to effectively drive customer and revenue growth, and adoption of a technology platform in a high-touch retail environment. They have the high energy and agility to expand across the region; and the joint venture capitalizes on AirAsia BIG’s scale and ZAP’s growth momentum. ZAP founders Dustin Cheng, Terence Lok, Angelique Uy, and Justin Lim, could learn from, and follow in the footsteps of, Tony and Kamarudin.”

ZAP was formed in 2012 as a mobile number-based loyalty program for brick-and-mortar merchants. It is one of 26 digital tech startups funded by Kickstart Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned venture capital subsidiary of Globe Telecom. Today, ZAP caters to over 300,000 members and works with close to a thousand partner establishments within Metro Manila, Philippines.