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    Team Suzuki Pilipinas continues strong performance at Sentul

    Chris Noel Hidalgo
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    Team Suzuki Pilipinas continues strong performance at Sentul

    Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ trio of April King Mascardo, Eane Jaye Sobretodo, and Mario Borbon Jr. kept their momentum through the fourth round of the Suzuki Asian Challenge, further improving their times and overall ranking, as well as finishing on the podium once again.

    The first heat of the race was bumpy and tricky but first timer Sobretodo was able to lead the pack of riders when teammate Mascardo got an overshoot after leading the first few laps. However, the course’s chicane caused him to overshoot as well, sending him to a crash. The team concluded with fifth for Mascardo, ninth for Borbon Jr. and 11th for Sobretodo—all riders with improved lap times.

    On race two, Sobretodo took the lead but was cornered by his equally aggressive contenders. This gave Mascardo the chance to advance into the race. Positioned first on the last lap, April went fast and got out of the pack giving chance to Jefri Tosema of Indonesia and Rozaliman Zakaria of Malaysia to get in the lead. Mascardo was able to finish third for the heat, while Sobretodo and Borbon placed sixth and eighth, respectively; all with faster lap times than their records during race one. Mascardo was even able to achieve the fastest lap on this race.

    Suzuki Philippines president Hiroshi Suzuki was very thrilled during the races and was very happy with the team’s performance.

    After round four, Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ overall standings are: Sobretodo on fourth, Mascardo on fifth, and Borbon on seventh. The team will hit the SAC tracks in December for the final leg of this season.

    Motorola Mobility showcases VerveLife line of products

    Robby Vaflor
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    Motorola Mobility showcases VerveLife line of products

    Motorola Mobility, operating through Binatone, previewed the VerveLife lifestyle line and other future products at a press lunch in Makati, August 16.

    VerveLife is a line of Hubble-connected audio and video products designed to enable people to do more without the 20th century hassle of wires congruent with Motorola’s focus on wireless products in the near future. The line includes the VerveRider, VerveOnes and their plus model counterparts the VerveRider+ and VerveOnes+.

    Motorola's Joey Cheung says the company is focusing on wireless products for the next year.
    Motorola’s Joey Cheung says the company is focusing on wireless products for the next year.

    The VerveRider is a neckband-type headset that allows up to 12 hours of playtime, with up to 150 ft. of wireless connection range, integrated mics for calls, and Siri and Google Now compatibility.

    The VerveRider can play for up to 12 hours on a single charge.
    The VerveRider can play for up to 12 hours on a single charge.

    The VerveOnes is a product of months of development, and include absolutely no wires save for the cable for the charging cradle. The smart earbuds have an Ear Detect function that utilizes infrared sensors on each individual bud turning on automatically when they are worn. It also has a location feature through its mobile app allowing the user to find where the earbuds were last paired with the device.

    Motorola VerveOnes+
    The VerveOnes+ have the same True Wireless technology and Ear Detect function as its base counterpart, but with waterproof capabilities.

    The plus models, VerveRider+ and VerveOnes+, share the same features with their base counterparts, but with the addition of being IP57 sweat and waterproof and having sporty orange accents.

    Motorola also announced future available products including the VerveLoop+ headset which is available in September, the QHD live-streaming Motorola VerveCam+, and for outgoing pet-owners, the VerveRetrieve+, a GPS pet-tracker that boasts an IP67 waterproof build and lifetime GPS tracking. You should always use a tracker for dogs to ensure their safety.

    The VerveLife line was made available in the Philippines through Digits Philippines. “Technology is meant to enhance everyday living, not limit it. With Motorola VerveLife, we are creating more than just gadgets, but adventure companions you can always rely on.”

    The VerveRider, VerveOnes, and their plus models are all available at Digital Walker stores.

    Suggested retail prices:
    VerveRider: PHP 2,950
    VerveRider+: PHP 3,950
    VerveOnes: PHP 9,950
    VerveOnes+: PHP 10,950

    GadgetsLab: Hisense K322

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    GadgetsLab: Hisense K322

    Even with the advent of consuming video on the go, the television is still pretty much a staple in homes. After all, there’s nothing better than coming home to a TV-centered living room; plopping down on the couch, legs resting on the coffee table, and watching good ol’ shows and movies in all their HD glory. Just recently, Hisense sent over one of their 4K Ultra HD TVs, the K322, which is just the perfect home entertainment centrepiece.

    Design: (4.5/5)

    When the package containing the K322 arrived in the office, we all had to pause and ogle at beauty that is this UHD TV. At first glance, you’ll get the impression that this television belongs in the upper tier. It flaunts a beautiful 58-inch panel, with thin chrome bezels, giving it sophistication that fits right in with any style living room. The TV is good-looking in a modest way—nothing very fl ashy about the design but commands attention given its size.

    Looking around the TV, you’ll get the Hisense looking on the bottom center of the bezel and a small LED indicator right below it. This flatscreen is as flat as it gets, though there’s a thin bump on the rear which we assume hides hardware. Connections for HDMI, MHL, USB, Audio, AV, etc, and control buttons sit along its rear and sides.

    Hardware: (3.5/5)

    A quick scan of the K322’s specs sheet, it would appear that this television is all about delivering an excellent viewing experience. It is built with a Direct Lit LED (DLED) which serves as its backlight, this gives it the ability to deliver noticeably superior blacks and produce a wider color spectrum. The aforementioned translates to rich and satisfying images.

    Listed among its processing capabilities is 4K streaming and upscaling which enables it to render fine-detailed images from lower quality content. The TV is also dual-band Wi-Fi compatible, this promises blazing-fast media streaming if connected to a fast internet network.

    On board the K322, you will fi nd a total of four HDMI ports and three USB ports. The TV runs Hisense’ proprietary VIDAA smart TV platform and comes pre-loaded with apps such as Netflix, Youtube, Dailymotion, Twitter, Picasa, and more.

    User Experience: (3.5/5)

    Navigating your way around the TV is an easy affair with the options available right up in your face. The home screen is divided into three parts. The upper right part contains current time and status indicators for internet connection and other devices such as a thumb drive. The largest part contains two subparts: a small section on the right which has the inputs on the TVs rear and on its left displays real-time status of when a device is inserted into a port. Lastly, the bottom part contains the Live TV, VOD, Media, and Apps icons.

    Within the span of our review, our team enjoyed watching just about anything we could find for the most part. However, if you scrutinize every detail, you’ll see that it does fall short in some aspects. We definitely commend it for its ability to produce quality picture and sharp image reproduction. Its contrast is admirable too. But, I noticed it a bit when large-format content is played, or that might be just me. Also, its color reproduction is pretty decent but it could use more vibrancy. I’ll go ahead and say content when played appears a bit dull and fl at, however I didn’t have much time to tinker with its settings which might be the reason for the lack I’ve pinpointed.

    Lastly, keying in words using its remote control is very frustrating but it’s something you could get used to eventually.

    Value: (⅘)

    All in all, I could conclude that the K322 offers great value. It’s a premium-looking 4K UHD TV that delivers solid black levels, uncomplicated user interface, and easy access to online content all for a price that won’t make a dent on your wallet.

    Specifications:

    •    Dimensions: 1297 x 809 x 263 (with stand)
    •     Display: DLED, 3840 x 2160p resolution
    •     Smart TV: Vidaa smart TV platform
    •     Tuner: UHF/VHF
    •     Audio: 10W, Dolby Digital, DBX
    •     Connections: HDMI, MHL, RF, Component, AV, USB, Optical Digital Audio Output, Ethernet Port, Wi-Fi

    What’s Hot:

    • Beautiful behemoth
    • User friendly interface

    What’s Not:

    • Color lacks punch

    Bottomline:

    The K322 is definitely a no-brainer purchase. That is if you have the budget for it.

    IPC urges PH biz to innovate with digital work tools

    Jonah Mendoza
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    IPC urges PH biz to innovate with digital work tools

    Local cloud services pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) recently announced that it will be holding regular digital enterprise innovation seminars for business owners and entrepreneurs, free of charge.

    Entitled “Gear up to Innovate: An essential blueprint for digital transformation”, the session aims to emphasize to Filipino businesses the importance of taking on a digital mindset in today’s highly connected world. Insights about digital best practices will be shared and the most relevant cloud-based business tools will be explored in-depth.

    “Digital is the new Normal. If a company doesn’t take advantage of today’s plethora of readily available enterprise applications, it runs the risk of being left behind by competition who do,” said Niño Valmonte, Director for Product Management & Marketing at IPC. “Doing business in this day and age compels us to adopt a digital mindset, and the fastest and most cost-efficient way to do it is through the cloud.”

    Attendees will be engaged in an immersive demo of collaborative business applications and witness how workplace productivity can be elevated through these tools. More importantly, IPC will elaborate on the effective ways to migrate business processes to the cloud.

    The “Gear up to Innovate” seminar series starts on August 19, 2016 and will run until the end of the year. It will be held at 1:30 PM – 5:50 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from there on at 34F RCBC Plaza Tower 2, Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

    Participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. To register, visit http://gearup.ipc.ph.

    Restaurant Review: Barbara’s

    Jonah Mendoza
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    Restaurant Review: Barbara’s

    As we celebrate our 16th anniversary as a magazine, we came up with restaurants where you and your significant other can celebrate milestones in life. We all know that there’s no other way than a feast.

    Barbara’s

    Event: Wedding Anniversary

    Barbara’s started as a catering business, but eventually grew into a restaurant located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros. It is owned by Barbara Gordon, sister of Senator Dick Gordon. Before we get to the food, let’s look at how the restaurant started. Senator Dick Gordon developed Intramuros as one of the tourist spots in Metro Manila, as part of the “Wow, Philippines” campaign. Because of that, Barbara’s theme is promoting Filipino culture through its shows and food.

    Barbara2

    Experience: The exterior of the restaurant is an old-fashioned Spanish home. It’s wonderful to see that they were able to retain the structure because it adds to the richness of our culture. The interiors are impressive because they really resemble homes erected during the Spanish era, with wooden floors, ornate chandeliers, some classic decor, and a stage at the middle of the restaurant. Every day, they conduct a cultural show which runs for 45 minutes starting at 7:15 PM. The performers dance our native dances such as Tinikling, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and some local tap dancing. The performers were dressed in the native costume complete with accessories. One thing that I love about this restaurant is that even though the interior looks like a fine dining restaurant, the food is very affordable. They do have a lunch and dinner buffet but we decided to show up for the evening buffet so we could catch the cultural show.

    The dinner buffet is composed of fresh Mustasa salad with Guyabano-Vinaigrette dressing, Pansit, Chicken-Pork Adobo, Roasted Chicken, Beef Caldereta, and Grilled Fish Steak.

    Barbara3

    First, they served us Barbara’s Taquitos as their appetizer, and we were told this was only served to VIPs. It was crisp and delicious, and readied the palate perfectly for the rest of the meal.

    Barbara7

    Next came the Seafood Amelie, a seafood dish baked under a thin pastry crust. This is definitely one for the books! The creamy sauce complemented the flavor of the sweet, fresh seafood, and gave it a richness that seafood doesn’t always manage on its own. Their Fish Steak, which is a lovely Blue Marlin, was flavorful, perfectly maintained, and accompanied with a savory sauce that went well with the smokey flavor from the grill.

    Writer’s tip: Better arrive early because as soon as the show ends, the restaurant closes.

    Price: Lunch Buffet – Php 549, Dinner Buffet – Php 699

    Location: Plaza San Luis, General Luna St, Intramuros, 658 Zone 70, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila

    Contact: (02) 527 4083

    SAP Philippines report reveals 54 percent digital experience satisfaction

    Chris Noel Hidalgo
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    SAP Philippines report reveals 54 percent digital experience satisfaction

     

    The SAP Digital Experience Report gave the country a digital experience score of 33 percent, slightly higher than the 27 percent Southeast Asian average. Surveying over 500 consumers and more than 1,200 digital interactions, SAP revealed that only 54 percent of Philippine consumers were delighted with their digital experiences, 21 percent were unsatisfied, while 25 percent were ambivalent.

    In the survey, the digital experience is defined as how a brand digitally interacts with its customers during the discovery, purchase, delivery, and support of a product or service. The 54 percent satisfaction rating is troublesome for industries and brands, as lower digital experience scores usually entail less customer loyalty and advocacy, as well as less emotional connection and brand affinity.

    The study also uncovered a strong correlation between digital experience performance and consumers’ willingness to disclose personal information. On average, delighted consumers were nearly three times more likely to provide brands with personal data than those who were unsatisfied.

    Ryan Poggi, managing director of SAP Philippines, said “A recent International Telecommunication Union Facts and Figures Report for 2015 on the percentage of individuals using the internet stated that 41 percent of individuals in the Philippines leverage the internet for various uses. This highlights the explosive potential growth of digital in the Philippines in the near future. However, with all the complexity brought on by multiple device usage and digital apps to choose from, today’s customers demand simple, seamless, and personalized experiences across any channel, anytime, anywhere, and on any device. As evident from SAP’s Digital Experience Report, brands that fail to realize this will see a drop in share of consumers’ wallets.”

    Starmobile parent company partners with TP-LINK, eyes network solutions market

    Robby Vaflor
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    Starmobile parent company partners with TP-LINK, eyes network solutions market

    Starmobile’s parent company, Star Telecom Alliance Resources, Inc. (STAR, Inc.) announced August 8 that it acquired nationwide distribution rights from Chinese network solutions company TP-LINK.

    STAR, Inc.’s COO Jerry Manus sees an increased demand for quality networking solutions in the Philippines, citing a young and tech-savvy middle class and increased business activity as sources of this demand.

    “With STAR, Inc. being one of the country’s leading Filipino technology brands, we are more than equipped to respond to this need,” Manus said.

    The company will be able to offer TP-LINK’s full range of products from routers to wireless access points.

    TP-LINK’s Country Manager Sidney Zheng expresses their eagerness to partner with STAR, Inc. “With their expertise in retail and product management, we are confident that we will be able to expand our presence in the Philippines,” he said.

    (left to right) TP-Link Country Manager Sidney Zheng with STAR, Inc. COO Jerry Manus
    (left to right) TP-Link Country Manager Sidney Zheng with STAR, Inc. COO Jerry Manus

    Kia celebrates OPM through Kia beats – a music festival

    Jonah Mendoza
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    Kia celebrates OPM through Kia beats – a music festival

    Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, has just announced their intention to support the arts by making a commitment to showcase Original Pilipino Music (OPM) with the launch of Kia Beats.

    Kia Beats is a concert series that aims to give OPM artists an avenue to show audiences their unrivaled creativity and musicality.

    Ginia R. Domingo, CAC President says, “We are very happy that Kia Philippines has embarked on this project to bring the brand closer to its market — the young and the young-at-heart.   And what better way to do that than showcasing the world-class talents of Filipino artists.”

    The initial offering will be the Kia Beats Music Festival, featuring back-to-back concerts slated on September 9 and 10 at the Kia Theatre in the Araneta Center, Cubao.

    In unique performances that blend different music into a true celebration of OPM, the first performances of the series will feature exclusive collaborations between contemporary OPM artists accompanied by full orchestral arrangements performed by the 48-piece Metro Manila Concert Orchestra (MMCO) under the baton of Conductor Jonathan Cruz.

    “We envision the Kia Theatre to become not only the home of Kia Beats, but more importantly, the venue where Filipino artists will be able to unleash the full power of their musical talents,” Ms. Domingo mused.

    Indie darlings Ang Bandang Shirley, jazz-rockers Farewell Fair Weather, and DJ-and-drummer duo Motherbasss will showcase the emerging new sound of OPM as they perform together with the MMCO on Friday, Sept. 9.

    The next day, OPM icon Rico Blanco takes center stage with the MMCO in a one-of-a-kind performance that will surely leave audiences breathless as he belts out the hits and more that have made him one of the most sought-after male performers in the industry.

    Thousands attend Honda Riders Convention

    Robby Vaflor
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    Thousands attend Honda Riders Convention

    An over 2000-strong crowd of Honda motorcycle enthusiasts braved the bad weather to attend the Honda Riders Convention last August 14.

    Delegates from different motorcycle clubs came as early as 9 am from as far as Quezon and Bicol to participate in the festivities.

    The event is a continuation of last year’s convention at Eton Centris and delivered on the promise of being a bigger and better celebration of the delegates’ shared appreciation for every type of Honda motorcycle.

    “Honda is the number one motorcycle company in the world; however we were not number one in the beginning,” Honda’s General Manager of Motorcycle Operations Hideo Nishinaga said in his speech thanking the crowd’s support.

    Motorcycle racer Koko Tadachi was honoured with a plaque in recognition of his performance representing the Philippines at a young age.

    Racer Koko Tadachi was given a plaque of appreciation.
    Racer Koko Tadachi was given a plaque of appreciation.

    The convention also featured bike stunts, motorcycle showcases, a beauty contest, raffle and club prizes, plus musical performances.

    Globe Platinum launches Platinum Lifestyle No Lock-up Plans

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    Globe Platinum launches Platinum Lifestyle No Lock-up Plans

    Globe Platinum recently introduced the Platinum Lifestyle No Lock-up Plans that offers data of up to 40 GB and built-in unlimited roaming allocation per month, all starting at Plan 3799.

    Giving customers the power to pursue passions and stay connected wherever they go, this groundbreaking offer lets customers surf and stream with almost double the data allocation, using the device of their choice.

    Globe Platinum Lifestyle No Lock-up plans no longer have a 24-month lock-up and comes with free content and bigger data allocation. The plans also come with unlimited data roaming that adds to the convenience of Platinum clients who frequently travel whether for business or leisure.

    Platinum clients get 20 GB of mobile data plus two days of unlimited roaming per month for Plan 3799 and four days/month for Plan 4999. On Plan 7999, customers get a supersized 40 GB of mobile data and 6 days/month of unlimited data roaming.

    G1

    Alongside the special privileges that come with the being a Platinum client, each Platinum Lifestyle No Lock-up Plan comes with access to Spotify Premium, HOOQ, NBA League Pass, and a suite of productivity packs.

    To know more about the inspiring world of Globe Platinum visitwww.globe.com.ph/platinum.

    Team of fans release HD multiplayer remake of GoldenEye 007—for free

    Robby Vaflor
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    Team of fans release HD multiplayer remake of GoldenEye 007—for free

    Fans of the classic N64 video game GoldenEye 007 will be happy to know that an HD multiplayer remake was released August 12.

    The remake named GoldenEye: Source—a labor of continuous, uncompensated love from fans/developers—sees its first update since 2013, and offers better graphics and improved gameplay.

    It features 25 reimagined and classic maps and all weapons from the original game, with 10 multiplayer game scenarios to choose from.

    Game modes include FPS standards like Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, but also includes James Bond-themed modes such as You Only Live Twice (a two-life-per-round version of Last Man Standing), and GunGame (similar to Counter Strike: Global Offensive’s Arms Race mode).

    The game is available free for download through the GoldenEye: Source website. It requires Steam to start and play.

    World’s Thinnest Laptop, HP Spectre, Arrives in PH

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    World’s Thinnest Laptop, HP Spectre, Arrives in PH

    Majority of the laptops in the market today sport designs that are very minimalistic–save for hybrid laptops which, most of the time, feature outlandish form factors. Having a simple build makes sense as such working machine isn’t paraded around too often; it sits on a desk, facing a wall that hides its good looks. Tech manufacturer, HP, recently rolled out a laptop too good-looking just to be stored inside the bag or locked in the bedroom until it’s obsolete.

    A marriage of cutting edge engineering and classy design, the HP Spectre truly puts a premium on the laptop experience. The Spectre is a revolutionary laptop designed to appeal to millennials, the generation z, and professionals in constant need of connectivity and who desires to stand out.

    HP 3

    The HP Spectre is touted as the world’s thinnest laptop, flaunting a gorgeous 10.44 mm-thin sleek design and is lightweight at only 2.49 lbs. Its build involves a piston hinge mechanism, which neatly tucks the laptop’s joint, allowing a seamless design illusion and ultimate portability.

    HP 4

    “More artisan than manufactured.” This laptop turns heads with its ash gray top cover and lux copper metal accents, making it as beautiful as a piece of jewelry.

    HP 6

    For the users entertainment needs, HP equipped the Spectre with a full HD display protected by Gorilla Glass and Bang and Olufsen speakers for an audio-visual experience like no other.

    HP 1

    Quick Specs: (HP Spectre 13)

    • Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64
    • Processor: 6th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
    • Memory: 8GB memory; 256 GB SSD storage
    • Display: 13.3-inch FHD display
    • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520
    • Battery: 4-cell 38 Wh Li-ion polymer
    • Connections: 3 USB C ports
    • Weight: 2.49 lbs

    The HP Spectre comes with an HP wireless mouse, USB-C adapters, travel AC adapter, zipper sleeve, and an elegant handle bag. The price is yet to be announced.

    Have you played The Smiths ‘Meat is Murder’ game?

    Robby Vaflor
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    Have you played The Smiths ‘Meat is Murder’ game?

    English band The Smiths, in partnership with PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, launched a browser-based game entitled This Beautiful Creature Must Die.

    The title of the game is a quote from The Smiths’ song Meat is Murder from the 1985 album of the same name. The game features the titular song in 8-bit form playing in the background while the player tries to save cute retro-animated livestock moving along a conveyor belt from the circular saws that await them.

    The game is featured on PETA’s page with the message: “Help stop the murder by pledging to go vegan.”

    Morrissey, who served as the band’s vocalist until its breakup in 1987, has been an outspoken supporter of veganism.

    The game can be played on PETA’s official website.

     

    Google Chrome to start blocking all Flash content in September

    Robby Vaflor
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    Google Chrome to start blocking all Flash content in September

    We’ve been hearing about it for quite some time, and now the inevitable is nearing—Google will start blocking all Flash content starting next month.

    According to a post dated Tuesday, August 9 on the Chrome Blog, Google Chrome will start blocking all Flash content with the release of the Chrome 53 update on September.

    The move was made to “de-emphasize” Flash in favor of HTML5 which is much lighter and faster, in turn making pages load easier and take less of a toll on battery life.

    The Chrome 53 update’s Flash-blocking will initiate Google Chrome’s transition to making HTML5 the “default experience” beginning in December’s Chrome 55. Users can still browse Flash-only websites, but they will be prompted to enable Flash on their browsers.

    Quick Look: Philips 275C5QHGSW—let there be light

    Chris Noel Hidalgo
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    Quick Look: Philips 275C5QHGSW—let there be light

    While most monitors can be a bit “meh” when it comes to helping your desk space look nicer, the Philips 275C5QHGSW will turn any surface it’s on into a party. It does so thanks to its AmbiGlow Plus technology which automatically adjusts the hue of the base stand to match the color and brightness of whatever it is you’re looking at. Or you can make it cycle through different colors or manually select the one that best suits your mood.

    The display itself is no slouch either. The roomy 27 inch FHD AH-IPS LCD panel is rated at 60 Hz, has a response time of 5 ms, and is quite immersive with its ultra narrow border. For the ins and outs, the Philips 275C5QHGSW struts VGA, MHL-HDMI, and HDMI ports at the back. It also comes with Flicker-free technology making it not just an eye candy, but also eye-friendly.

    Quick Specs:

    • Display: 27 inch FHD 60 Hz AH-IPS LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio
    • Technologies: AmbiGlow Plus Base, MHL, Flicker-free, SmartImage, SmartContrast
    • Response time: 5 ms
    • Brightness: 250 cd/m2
    • Contrast Ratio: 1,000:1
    • SmartContrast: 20,000,000:1
    • Viewing Angle: 178 degrees
    • Ports: VGA, MHL-HDMI, HDMI, HDMI Audio out
    • Power Consumption: 20.84 W
    • Dimensions (with stand):  613 x 482 x 245 mm; 5.74 kg
    • Color: Glossy white
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