Category: Technology

It was an honor to be a part of Intel’s big launch of Sandy Bridge!  On the 1st day, Intel started with a big bang as they organized the Amazing Intel Chase.  How else can they introduce their 2nd generation Intel Core processors but to let us EXPERIENCE it ourselves!!

I remember sharing with you the Intel Core Processor family a few months back.  Right now, they improved it further.

Let me narrate here everything we’ve gone through while racing through time and experiencing the all new 2nd Generation Intel Core Processors.

5 teams composed of channel partners and selected media partners joined the Amazing Intel Chase.  The concept was the same as the popular Amazing Race franchise.  Whew!  Honestly, after the race, I have great respect for Amazing Race contestants.  It wasn’t easy, seriously but it was super, duper fun!

I was part of the blue team with Michael & JM as my teammates.  We were strategizing so hard since the night before even if we don’t have any idea what to expect.  We shared each other strengths & weaknesses.  I made it clear that I don’t wanna swim but I’m up for anything.  What I like in our team is that we already had some sort of bonding even before the actual race started.  I knew then we’d have a great chance of winning because we’d work together.

5 teams, 3 cities in one Amazing Intel Chase, get ready to race & experience the 2nd generation Intel Core Processors.  The race has begun!!  All 5 teams were running towards the clue box!

• Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Our 1st task was to go to Digital Alley in Greenbelt 3 and watch an Intel Chase Demo video in clear video HD technology.  With Intel’s Clear Video HD technology, we’ll be able to experience outstanding HD video playback and sharper image quality.  It’ll definitely change the way we view & create content!

We had to answer correctly 5 questions wherein answers can be found in the Intel Chase demo video.  We had to watch it twice as we missed the complete birthday of the character.  We came out 2nd place in this pitstop.

• Intel HD Graphics

Our 2nd task was to go to Phoenix Internet Cafe in Pasong Tamo.  There, we need to choose 1 member from the team who would play 1 difficult level of Starcraft.

Powered by Intel HD Graphics, our teammate was able to experience gaming with enhanced performance & richer detail than previous generation of Intel Core Processors.  We came 3rd at this pitstop.

• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

For our 3rd task, we were asked to go to a Car Trak near the CCP complex.  We must race against time by completing 5 laps EACH in less than 15 minutes.

We get a feel of Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 during this fast & the furious type of task.  Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 boosts power levels to achieve performance gains for high intensity “dynamic” workloads.

Finally, we were 1st and got a special prize for it!  We were so pumped up!  We had a chance to win the race!

• Intel Wireless Display 2.0 or Intel WiDi 2.0

Our 4th task was to drive to Museo Pambata.  There, we had to play a disc and project it on the screen.  But you know what really amazed me?  It was actually projected WIRELESSLY!  I was totally in awe and apparently, it was the Intel Wireless Display 2.0 or Intel WiDi 2.0.  It was ubercool!

The image that was projected in the screen was the room that we needed to find inside Museo Pambata.  In that room, we needed to find an Intel item.  All 3 of us thought that we were looking for an Intel Processor chip.  We had a hard time looking for it.  We even searched through the trash cans inside the room.  It was too funny!  We found it after such a long time and ended up at 3rd place.  We were almost eliminated, almost!

• Intel Quick Sync Video

We were really in a hurry as we know we were in last place.  We read the clue.  We had to find a Fort inside the walled city.  At 1st we thought it was inside Intramuros then we decided to go straight to Fort Santiago.

This leg of the race was the most tiring of all.  I was really out of breath and was begging for water already hahaha!  We were tasked to complete all the items in the list.  Ride the calesa and find the man in Intel costume then we were asked to go find the statue of Jose Rizal behind bars.  Next was to count & walk all 353 steps at the place!  One of us need to take video of all of those too!  At the end of the steps, we had to tell the marshall the # of steps that we counted.  If wrong, we had to repeat all over again.  We were lucky that we got it right the 1st time!

We then headed to the gazebo wherein we transferred the video we took to the iPod Touch.  Imagine, we were able to do it in less than 1 minute!  Wow!  Now we know that the 2nd Generation Intel Core Processors are powerful.  With Intel Quick Sync Video, we were assured of high level of transfer performance.

We had the shock of our lives at the pitstop when it was announced that we got in first!  Wow!!  One more leg and we can win it!!  We were soooo excited and was rushing like there was no tomorrow to the last pitstop.

The last pitstop!  We felt it, this was it!  Just one more and we’d let out all our energies so we can win the Intel Amazing Chase!  We went back to where it started.  There were only 2 teams left, our blue team and the green team.  We had to do one last task!  In this crucial and deciding task, 1 team member has to answer questions about the race.  Since I can’t swim, I volunteered to do this.

The other 2 members have to balance a raft to cross the pool and get all the puzzle pieces.  I really admire my teammates for doing this with perfect technique!  They were awesome in the pool!

Once we got all the puzzle pieces in, we arranged the puzzle!  It showed the 2nd Generation Core Badges!  Whee!!

We immediately ran to the final pitstop and we were announced the winners!!  Wohoo!!!

Kudos to the organizers for the great launch!  We had so much fun and we were able to experience Intel 2nd Generation Core Processors.  How cool is that?

Here’s a teaser, do watch it 😉

Official videos are finally out!

March 24, 2011 was the date when Acer & Microsoft launched Acer Iconia.  I initially thought it would just be another update of Acer laptops.  Most probably with Microsoft newest software since the event was a collaboration between the two companies, Acer & Microsoft.

I was, however, pleasantly surprised when I saw the two new products from the Acer Iconia line.  These were the 1st touch-screen personal computer I have seen.  With Microsoft’s operating system powering both models and Windows 7 at that- you can be sure to have an enjoyable computing experience allowing you to get more things done.

Acer Iconia-484G64ns

Acer’s newest touch-screen PC.  It comes with not one but two(!) touch-screen displays.  Acer Iconia-484G64ns has a nickname too, you can call the PC a ‘touchbook’.

You’ll surely make heads turn when you use the Acer Iconia Touchbook in a coffee shop or any other public place.  It is very intuitive, innovative and cool!  Acer basically combined all the technologies of existing gadgets and created a totally new product!  Awesome!

The specifications will definitely impress you:

• dual 14-inch multi-touch screens
• high-definition and high-brightness 1366×768 resolution Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit TFT LCD screens that support to 10-finger touch
• LCD screens are made of tempered glass, are ultra-thin yet extremely durable, with a scratch-and fingerprint-resistant face made by Corning.
• touch-screen LCDs are also mercury free, making it environment-friendly
• video support is handled by Intel HD graphics with 128MB of dedicated system memory that supports Microsoft DirectX 10
• its Acer CrystalEye webcam has 1280×1024 resolution totally ramps up face-to-face communication over the internet
• has a smart virtual keyboard that features adaptive typing intelligence & predictive text input that gives a real keyboard experience.  Complete with a touchpad, numeric keypad & a multi-gesture handwriting mode
• assured of great computing power courtesy of Intel Core i5-480M (3MB L3 cache, 2.66 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93GHz, DDR3 1066 MHz 35W) processor that supports Intel 64 architecture & Intel Smart Cache.
• Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset & 2x2GB DDRIII memory
• has more than enough storage space for a Touchbook with 640GB capacity

While the Iconia Touchbook has impressive specifications, my attention was on the Acer Ring Control Interface.

Acer Ring Control Interface is a fast & intuitive entry point to launch Acer’s touch applications and handy built-in features and controls.  You basically launch Acer Ring Control Interface by a simple grab gesture as illustrated above.

The Acer Ring Control Interface, described simply, is the Acer Touchbook manager.  You can access utilities & settings, QuickMenu & Appcards (which lets you scroll to view the applications; tap to open it).

The Gesture Editor, for its part, allows customization of touch gestures in launching tasks.  For example, you usually use Yahoo Messenger on your PC.  You can set the touch gesture to swiping from right to left to launch Yahoo Messenger.  Being able to customize is the key and I love that with the Acer Iconia.

There is also the Window Manager which allows you to organize your applications on the dual touch-screens or to an external display..

I may have described Acer Iconia Touchbook as a perfect PC but I have a bit of a problem with it.  As you can see, the gadget is very powerful, thus it may drain your battery quickly.  Well, I was right.  Acer Iconia Touchbook only has a battery life of three hours.  If you can live with that, then quickly get your own unit of Acer Iconia-484G64ns!

Acer Iconia-484G64ns sells for Php 70,900.00 at your favorite PC stores nationwide.

Acer Iconia Tab W500

Oh, another Acer Iconia product, but this time around, it’s a tablet PC.  But wait!  Acer Iconia Tab W500 is different!  Why?  Because it is dual-purpose.  It has the perfect high-definition multi-touch tablet portability and the full productivity features of a standard notebook via its dockable keyboard.

Acer Iconia Tab W500 is similar to the Touchbook as it also has the Acer Ring control interface and gesture editor.  However, it uses a different processor.  The Acer Iconia Tab W500 is powered by AMD C-Series C-50 (1MB L2 cache, 1 GHz, DDR3 1066MHz, 9W) processor.  It also has AMD A50M Fusion controller hub chipset and up to 2GB DDR3 memory chip with a 32GB SDD capacity, a 10.1-inch high definition 1280×800 resolution Acer CrystalBrite LED-backlit TFT LCD with integrated multi-touch screen supports finger touch & image auto rotation and lastly, an AMD Radeon HD 6250 graphics card with 256MB dedicated system memory.

Product Features of Acer Iconia Tab W500 are as follows:

• Handy multi-touch tablet
• full-size chiclet keyboard docking
• dual 1.3MP webcam with AV recording
• Integrated battery: 4 hours HD video playback, 6 hours of internet browsing
• multi-touch Acer ring control interface
• touch optimized user interface
• device control console
• TouchBrowser
• Acer clear.fi cross-platform multimedia sharing
• My Journal web clipboard
• Windows 7 platform
• Games

Acer Iconia Tab doesn’t have a suggested retail price yet but will be available very soon.

The Acer-Microsoft event was definitely a success with two innovative products launched.  Representatives from both companies demonstrated both products with its capabilities and features.

It is important to note that Acer Brand Ambassador was there too!  Who else than Mr. Derek Ramsey!! 😀

We were able to try out the gadgets ourselves for a few minutes.  It was cool!  I believe any of you will enjoy this whether you’re a techie, a student, a parent or a youngster.

So take your pick between Acer Iconia Touchbook and the Acer Iconia Tab.  Head on to your trusted PC stores and try it out or buy one!

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This is the initial draft of my article.  Final version can be found in Manila Bulletin’s March 28 issue.  Also posted in MB’s website.

I was lugging around Sanyo Xacti PD1 yesterday and I must say it’s quite useful.  With a size similar to a mobile phone, it’s definitely portable.  We can easily capture every detail of our most memorable events in full HD video and high-resolution photographs.

Sanyo Xacti PD1 is perfect for people who are on-the-go, ready to capture every single moment as the multi-featured ‘lil gadget is so easy to use.  Beginners will definitely love this!

Let me share several of the many reasons why Xacti PD1 is worth looking into:

1. A dual camera that has a 10-megapixel digital still camera and full HD 1080 30p camcorder.  Amazing right?  With a dimension of only 63.1x22x110.8mm, we can have both high quality videos and photos.
2. Sanyo Xacti PD1 is so easy to use!  Performing a function is as easy as pressing a button.  We don’t even need to read the manuals anymore.  Just press either the camera or video button to start capturing pictures or recording video.
3. The Xacti PD1 features 3x optical zoom.  If we’re far away from the subject, we can use optical zoom to capture it better.  The good thing about optical zoom is that it preserves the quality of the image as you zoom in.  Also, when we record a very cute moment in video, we can zoom in between shots.  Just use our imagination and creativity and we can definitely produce a professional-looking video.
4. Viewing photos and videos is as easy as A-B-C.  We just connect Xacti PD1 to any USB-compatible computer or any HDMI-compatible TV and we can show off our work.
5. I would like to emphasize the integrated USB in Sanyo Xacti PD1.  No more cables to worry about.  We can attach the USB to a computer to either charge the camcorder or sync videos and photos.  A definite must-love feature of the gadget!
6. Not having to download any PC software to transfer videos and photos from PD1 is great!  Once connected via USB, we can upload content to any location that we choose.  Another awesome feature is if we have an Eye-Fi SD card, we will be able to upload videos to YouTube easily on-the-go.

Sanyo Xacti PD1 is available in red and black.  It is compatible with all available SDXC cards namely SD, SDXC, SDHC & Eye-Fi cards.  It has 2 microphones on each side to record on stereo.  It uses space-serving video format, MPEG4 and uses JPEG format for photos.  It has built-in flash.  It has digital image stabilizer for videos.  I can go on and on.

Admittedly, I ended up using the video more than the photo function.  I was out using Xacti PD1 the whole day.  I didn’t have to worry much about the battery as it provides energy up to 170 photos, 65 minutes videos or 240 minutes playback.  Plus, if you ended up forgetting your SD card, Sanyo Xacti PD1 has internal memory of 80MB.  We can’t go wrong with this dual camcorder.

We’ll be able to capture full HD 1080p video at 30 frames per second and we get great sound performance with 2 microphones embedded in the gadget.  We can easily upload the finished product thus making it a great camcorder of choice.

Designed vertically, it wouldn’t matter whether we’re left-handed or right-handed.  With such ease of use, we can use it with just one hand.  I remember my friends wanting to check it out when they saw me using Sanyo Xacti PD1.

I believe it is a good dual camera for beginners.  As for photography enthusiasts like me, this will be a great backup.  But the full-HD function is totally awesome, I wouldn’t mind using Sanyo Xacti PD1 as my main video camcorder.

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The article can also be found in Manila Bulletin’s February 28 issue. Also posted in MB’s website.

I recently got an invite to a car insurance event.  I was very interested since I really have put a lot of money into my car.  I also just changed my car insurance company because the last one was full of crap.  I remember when I had some trouble back then, I called at around 5pm and I was already informed that they couldn’t help me.  I felt I was just wasting my money by going with that insurance company.

Insurance Experts Agency claims to be the 1st online car insurance hub in the Philippines.  They also claim to have partnered with insurance companies that are part of the top 15 in the country to ensure that our properties are in good hands.  With that information in mind, I made sure that I attended the event to learn more and get specific details.

The event was attended by fellow bloggers, insurance agents who were part of Insurance Experts Agency and friends/family of the people behind the company.

I know it’s quite ignorant of me but it was the 1st time that I’ve heard of such a thing as an agency for insurance companies.  As far as I know, the ones that we usually have agencies for are employment & travel.  Apparently, there is for insurance!

Mr. Richard Ng, owner & founder of Insurance Experts Agency explained to us what his company does, its vision and what services it offers.   Of course, he highlighted that they want Insurance Experts Agency to be the eBay/Google of car insurance in the local web industry!

It was back in October 2006 when Insurance Experts Agency was founded.  Currently, the company handles all kinds of non-life insurance specializing in motor and fire insurances.  They partnered with insurance companies that are in the top 15 in the country to ensure high quality service for their customers.  These companies are: BPI MS, Maa Gen, Malayan, Prudential Guarantee, Standard Insurance, UCPB Gen.

I must admit, whenever I hear about insurance agencies, I just cringe.  I feel they are way too pushy when offering their products and when it actually comes time that I really do need their service, they often forget about customer service, or forget about me altogether.  Insurance Experts Agency, however, is different.  They wanted to clear the notion about insurance companies being too pushy or not offering great service, since their goal is not the quota or the price but a long term relationship with its clients.  The best evidence for that is that they provide 24/7 customer support.  I’m impressed.

They took it a step further by launching www.insuranceexperts.com.ph.  The 1st ever online car insurance hub in the Philippines.  It offers the cheapest comprehensive car insurance in the market that fits car brand and address.

The thing that I most like about the website is that it’s simple.  No more wasting time calling on the phone, explaining what is needed, the wait time for them to send a quote and some other time-consuming steps.  We can do everything in less than 10 minutes.

For now, the website offers quotes for car insurance.  I’m sure they’ll add more in the future.  Here’s how it works:

• You choose the information of your car through the drop down menu.  The year your car was manufactured, brand, model and bodily injury coverage amount.  You can also choose if you want ‘acts of God’ included.  If you remember one of the strongest typhoon (Ondoy) we ever experienced in the Philippines, those ‘acts of God’ option makes it more important.

• Once you’re done on the 1st part, you’ll instantly receive your quote.  Like, in just one click!!!  And I must say, the amount was pretty cheap.  I’m paying Php 10,000 for my insurance currently.  The quotation Insurance Experts Agency gave me through their website is way cheaper.  I will take note of this definitely for my next year’s car insurance.

• Payment is also a breeze.  You can pay via Paypal, Gcash or Smart money!  PLUS, your insurance policy once you decide to purchase will be delivered to your doorstep.

At the end of the night, Insurance Experts Agency raffled off a Php 10,000 gift certificate for car insurance.  Lucky Annalyn, she won!!

I love how a lot of companies are moving forward with technology.  Now, things are much easier for us clients/consumers.  Even insurance, I welcome this change and I hope to see more features soon on the Insurance Experts Agency website.

I’m sure you’ll love this news!  Check their site out to try it out for yourself.

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Insurance Experts Agency, Inc.
Unit 1407 Annapolis Wilshire Plaza, 11 Annapolis St. Greenhills, San Juan 1500
(02) 724-5140
http://www.insuranceexperts.com.ph/

Whenever a company follows the changing demands of the people, I feel happy.  I was invited last Friday to grace the event of Manila Bulletin.  I was told that they would be launching something good.  I had a hunch that it was about them going 3D.

As far as I know, ever since September 24, 2010, Manila Bulletin has innovated and improved their newspaper vastly.  They finally embraced the rapid changes in technology and went 3D!  Wow!!  Who would ever thought that one of the most trusted newspapers would go 3D?  I actually don’t know any other newspaper who has done that.  So kudos to Manila Bulletin for being so innovative!  It pays to be the 1st.  I was really impressed!

In the event, there were replica of the newspaper scattered around the place.  Those photos on our left are actually 3D photos, explains why we are wearing 3D glasses.  It was really an awesome sight to see!

Manila Bulletin went all out for the event.  Providing great food for those who attended the event…  Rarely would you notice the food especially for a newspaper event, but the variety of interesting and high end offerings was really something that you just had to take notice.  Just look at the mouthwatering pictures of what was served!

And don’t forget about the awesome music that was provided too…

…and great entertainment!  Everyone was so game.  There were even dare sessions where some of the bloggers had to dance, 3 guys even took their shirt off too hahaha!  Well, it paid off!  They were given iPods as prizes!

Manila Bulletin goes way back to the 1900 and has been one of the leading newspaper since then in the Philippines.  The newspaper venturing into 3D isn’t the only thing that they’ve done.  They also created a Manila Bulletin application just for the iPad!  I wish they would also create one for the iPhone because I don’t have an iPad 😛

As they shared with us this new offering from Manila Bulletin, they gave an iPad for raffle!  Surprisingly, the host suddenly changed the mechanics and turned it into another dare game.  I’m not a fan of dares and never will be.  Anyhow, I’m glad a blogger friend won the challenge and he got himself a new 16GB iPad!  Congratulations Stonibert!  This is me with the lucky blogger!  I’m sure, he will download the Manila Bulletin application onto his sparkling new gadget 🙂

Once again, congratulations to Manila Bulletin for a job well done with the launch event, for the innovative and gutsy move that is their 3D newspaper, and for the decades of serving the Filipino people through their dedication to provide up to date information and news!