Applications for 500 Startups is Now Open

Sign up now! http://500.co/2013/01/31/applications-open-for-500strong-starfleet-academy/

What is 500 Startups?

500 Startups is a new kind of seed fund and startup accelerator.

500 Startups provides early-stage companies with up to $250K in funding, our startup accelerator program, and unique events like SmashSummit, UnSexy, and GeeksOnaPlane. With hundreds of experienced startup mentors around the world, our creative work space in the heart of Silicon Valley, and a vibrant community of startup founders, we help companies succeed in ways other venture firms do not. We are 500.

Exploring the Grand Canyon on Google Maps

Back in October, Google Maps took the Street View Trekker (its newest camera platform) to the Grand Canyon for its inaugural collection of 360 degree imagery. This is one of the latest projects Google has worked on to further its goal of providing people with the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world.

The imagery has now been processed, stitched together, and turned into panoramics that are available on Google Maps. The collection includes more than 9,500 panoramas from trails along the Grand Canyon south rim and nearby Meteor Crater.

Western Digital Announces Q2 Revenue of US$3.8 Billion and Non-GAAP Net Income of US$513 Million, or US$2.09 Per Share

Western Digital Corporation reported revenue of US$3.8 billion, hard-drive shipments of 59.2 million and net income of US$335 million, or US$1.36 per share for its second fiscal quarter ended Dec. 28, 2012. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was US$513 million or US$2.09 per share.1 In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of US$2.0 billion, net income of US$145 million, or US$0.61 per share, and shipped 28.5 million hard drives. Non-GAAP net income in the year-ago quarter was US$358 million, or US$1.51 per share.2

Cherry Mobile OMEGA finally here! for only Php 6,699

Cherry Mobile is getting aggressive in their campaign on Android Phones, and now their latest offering is the Omega with 5.2 inches 5 point Capacitive Touch Screen and run on the latest  Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Omega is the first smartphone from Cherry Mobile to run the latest 4.1 Jelly Bean, besides that most of it's tech specs are the same with their other products. Although the 512MB ROM is a bit low it should have been equipped with at least 1GB ROM, I'm sure there are a lot of Android fans out there that is a bit disappoint on this.

Entrepreneurship on the Verge of a Threat

This might just kill entrepreneurship in the country..

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will hold operators of buy-and-sell websites liable for any entrepreneur who makes money online without first registering with the bureau and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“We will file cases against sellers who fail to issue receipts and pay taxes, but we will also file cases against the websites which provide such service,” BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said.

She said website operators engaged in buy and sell are similar to that of mall operators that allow entrepreneurs to lease a commercial space in their establishments.

#readmore
BIR: We can go after Sulit, AyosDito and YOU for unregistered, untaxed online sales
http://www.interaksyon.com/infotech/bir-we-can-go-after-sulit-ayosdito-and-you-for-unregistered-untaxed-online-sales

Google Launches their Philippines Office

Google Inc announced its deepening investment in the Philippines by opening a new office in Manila.

The Philippines has a vibrant and growing online community with over 33 million Internet users, a number that is likely to double in the next 3 years (ADMA 2012). The new office is in line with Google’s ongoing efforts to provide and improve its services for its Filipino users, to help Filipino businesses grow both locally and globally and to tap into local talent. Google is currently hiring for its Manila office. Job openings can be viewed on its website, www.google.com.ph/jobs, in the coming days.

“The Philippines is a key country in Southeast Asia in terms of its digital economy and tech-savvy population. This new office will allow us better engage with our local users, partners and advertisers. Over 33 million Filipinos access the Internet regularly to study, shop, search for ideas, opportunities, create news businesses, and connect to each other. And Internet use in the Philippines is set to grow exponentially. Research indicates that the number of Filipinos online will have nearly doubled by 2016!” said Julian Persaud, Managing Director of Google in Southeast Asia.

Social Media Manager Explained

"What's a social media manager? And how do they function? I'm a social media idiot eh...hahaha"

You handle social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, Blogs etc.Big Brands, Celebs, etc hire Social Media Managers. Senior writers who help manage our Facebook page are Social Media Managers

On a more serious note,

A person who manages accounts directly, like Facebook/Twitter, and engages with fans, members, audience, etc., creates and posts content, and acts as basic customer service is a Community Manager.

A person who creates content based on strategies on a per brand and per case basis, develops strategies for individual brands/campaigns, and conducts analysis and reporting on social assets is a Social Media Manager.

A person who develops strategies on how best to market or advertise a brand/business on social and executes them is a Social Media Marketer.

A person who handles SMMs and CMs is a Social Media Director.

Or, as many would have it, all are labeled as SMMs You will usually know what s/he is in 5 minutes.

Then, there's Jason Cruz, the Social Media Guy.

*credits to the WIM Team (Jason Cruz and Vince Golangco)

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini: Does Size Matter?

Does Size Matter? This was the first question that we needed to answer as we step forth towards the venue of the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Tweeting #SamsungSIIIMini all the throughout the night just to get a chance to win a brand new Samsung S3 Mini but to no avail, yet we were entertained by the debate happening before us as some DJs tried to score points as they battle to earn the votes of the audience answering "YES" or "NO" in order to get a final win.

HTC Unveils Microsoft's New flagship Windows Phone

The HTC launch at the Jump Experience Center at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City recently unveiled Microsoft's new flagship Windows Phone, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC, to the local market, available exclusively through carrier Smart Communications.

Powered by a Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz dual core processor and 1 gigabyte of RAM, the 8X sports a 4.3-inch, 341 pixels-per-inch (ppi) screen covered with scratchproof Gorilla Glass 2 inside a three-dimensional, pure unibody design, with a color scheme based on Windows Phone Live Tiles.

Aspire All-In-One PCs : Bringing a Big Bang to the New Year

The holiday break is over and the working world is now picking up pace. You dread having to go back to your office and face tons of work again. But don’t fret. Enjoy the brand new year looking forward to a new life—and bring bang to the New Year by having the latest Acer Aspire ZS600 all-in-one PC in your home for the whole family to enjoy.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Launched in the Philippines

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini has just been launched last January 23, 2013 at the URBN Bar and Kitchen in Bonifacio Global City.

The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini were slightly trimmed down but they still pack quite a punch. The device boasts of a dual-core processor, 1GB RAM,  Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC (Near Field Communications).

WD Expands Its SMB Storage Product Portfolio With Arkeia Software Solutions

WD, a Western Digital company, announced an expansion of its product portfolio addressing small- and medium-sized businesses with the addition of network backup software and appliances from Arkeia Software, Inc., a privately held data protection company based in Carlsbad, Calif., recently acquired by WD. WD also announced that the Arkeia Network Backup version 10.0 software, for which a release candidate was delivered in Dec. 2012, becomes generally available (http://www.arkeia.com/new-in-v100) today.

“Arkeia’s products expand WD’s growing product portfolio of solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses,” said Jim Welsh, executive vice president and general manager of WD’s Branded and CE products. “SMB organizations are managing ever-growing volumes of critical business data, which need to be stored, shared and secured. Our easy-to-manage small storage server, WD Sentinel™ DX4000, provides backup and storage centralization capabilities for small businesses and workgroups, while Arkeia’s network backup software provides a more feature-rich data-protection solution for larger SMB customers.”

Epson Philippines Invites You To "Think Smart"

Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) is inviting the public to “think smart” and share their ingenious tips for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Epson recently launched the Think: TANK! contest through its Facebook page (facebook.com/EpsonPhilippines). The contest invites Epson Facebook followers to submit Think: TANK! tips that focus on how to do things faster, easier, more efficient, or in a more practical way.

“Since Epson is all about providing energy-saving, high precision technologies through products that exceed the expectations of our customers, we wanted a fun and interesting contest that reflects the Epson way of thinking: smart, efficient, and always seeking improvement,” says Donna V. Ferro, Epson GM for Marketing Communications and PR.

Firefox OS Web Apps Development

Mabuhay!

Have you tried running your existing web app with the Firefox OS Simulator?

If you had successfully deployed your web app with our simulator, you may want to do a demo of it during the Firefox OS App Days - Manila.

Skullcandy Philippines unveils the arrival of the NBA line

The most anticipated Skullcandy NBA collection is finally here, as it the line now available in over 100 retail stores in the country.

Skullcandy, a high-growth performance lifestyle brand, collaborated with the NBA to offer officially licensed headphones, showcasing the names and team logos of six of today’s hottest NBA players - Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, and Dwyane Wade. Meanwhile, the NBA earphone line features the logos of prolific teams with the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, NY Knicks, and Miami Heat.

2013 Business Trend: Switching to SaaS and the Cloud for Data Quality

To start off, businesses also commit to New Year's resolutions. From new marketing strategies to in-depth customer analytics, companies seek innovative services and programs that will enhance business operations and increase revenues. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is a software distribution model that's designed to store applications and data on a reliable, external digital space, which is also known as the cloud. Switching to SaaS may be your business's essential resolution for 2013.

According to research from Martinwolf Global M&A Advisors that's reported on gigaom.com, SaaS companies experienced "hypergrowth" or "white-hot growth" in 2012 Although the value of SaaS slowed down at the end of the year, it still surpassed traditional IT services and providers. You may ask as you remodel and update your marketing plan: Do I really need SaaS and cloud computing? SaaS in addition to other efficiency solutions, such as address validation and customer profiling, can provide higher-quality data for marketing campaigns and reduction costs.

CD Projekt RED’s Witcher 2 Follow-Up Revealed: Cyberpunk 2077

After the international success of The Witcher 2, acclaimed developer CD Projekt RED looks to start another series with Cyberpunk 2077.

Today, PC game developer CD Projekt RED announced that for the time being, their popular Witcher franchise is being given a short hiatus while they delve into the Cyberpunk future with a new title called Cyberpunk 2077. With that being said, it should be noted that Cyberpunk 2077 is being developed by a second team within CD Projekt RED so additional Witcher content is still being produced alongside this new franchise.

According to their official announcement, the gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 will closely follow that of The Witcher series with an action RPG style and (as usual) mature subject matter. CD Projekt RED actually signed an exclusivity deal with the Cyberpunk creaters so expect 2077 to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Taking place in Night City, this game will supposedly immerse players in a sandbox environment within a technologically advanced world where character customization will be key to survival. Naturally, there will be several character classes to choose from but the combat system will be unique: it is loosely based upon the tabletop Cyberpunk games but updated to real-time gameplay. That should prove to be an interesting concept which will use the upgraded RED Advanced game engine so expect some stunning visuals.



Click here for more info:

Hardware Canucks

Photo Album App for iPad from Appsicum

After the successful releases of their Future Scheduler and Location Alerts apps, Appsicum has just released another new app they call Photo Album. From the name itself, it is obviously a photo organizer whom they boasts as currently the most unique and advanced photo book and album creating app as of this writing.

With this app you can automatically create albums, based on GPS Location data, Ratings, Tags, EXIF Data, Date etc. It is the only app which also works as a full-fledged photo organization tool! If you don’t want to use albums, you will still find it very useful to manage your photos with folders, tags, EXIF Metadata and so on.

Soundfreaq and AIAIAI Audio Products

From home to portable speakers, Soundfreaq offers a line-up that matches every kind of lifestyle.  Meanwhile, high quality, accessible audio products, AIAIAI deliver value far beyond trend-driven aesthetics.  With a group of craftsmen and audio technicians developing these gadgets, you will definitely have a high-quality music experience.

Soundfreaq speakers are available in the following stores:  8Telcom, Astrovision, Beyond The Box, Buzz, Digital Hub, Digital Walker, E-Central Electronics, FutureWorld, Gadgets in Style, Gui, iCenter, iStore, iStudio, Listening Room, Meetrovii, Mobile 1, Power Hub, Power Mac Center, Sights and Sounds, and Technoholics.

iZone-iHub : Grand Launch and Techno Summit

There’s this company that tries to change the rules of giving support to startups, and they call themselves iZone-iHub.

They advertise themselves as a tech venue where every I.T. person (that includes the nerds, dorks, dweebs and geeks) can go and make use of their FREE services and facilities – Internet access, coffee, computers, even digital projectors, and even assistance form an onsite techie.

http://www.wheninmanila.com/izone-ihub-advocates-of-technology-in-the-philippines/

Kingston Announces 1 TB USB Flash Drive

Can you say " I have 1 terabyte of storage in my pocket?"

Maybe not yet but soon you can!...... with the introduction of the world's largest capacity USB 3.0 Flash drive - a 1TB DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0! Very soon you can say "I have my whole world in my pocket, and a few more to spare for my friends!"

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, announced the DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 USB Flash drive. DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 is the world's largest-capacity USB 3.0 Flash drive as it will be available in a 1TB capacity later in the first quarter of this year. It is shipping now in 512GB capacity. DT HyperX Predator 3.0 is the fastest USB 3.0 Flash drive in the Kingston family, with speeds of up to 240MB/s read and 160MB/s write. It has also achieved SuperSpeed USB 3.0 certification.

PLDT Waives Tablet Fee For New TelPad Plans

Telecom firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is making an aggressive push for the transformation of its landline service by offering to waive the device fee for its new TelPad plans, a unique offering that combines landline, Internet, and a tablet in one device and service.

Aside from the waived device fee — which used to cost customer a subsidised P5,500 fee for every subscription — the accompanying tablet has also been upgraded to feature a rebranded Huawei MediaPad S7 Lite, a 7-inch tablet that sports a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor, a bright WSVGA IPS display, and the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

CyberPress Awards Recognizes Top IT Figures

 

CyberPress or the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines has just launched its annual year end celebration called CyberPress Awards. The awarding ceremony was held at the Arts in the City events center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. All tech enthusiasts and IT big names gathered from all over the IT industry to recognize all the of the Philippines’ best IT people.

Here is the complete list of winners: