Power Mac Center Summer Workshop 2017: To Help Kids Become Creative Innovators of the Future

Looking for a cool and exciting learning experience for kids this summer? The Premier Apple Reseller, Power Mac Center promises its most creative, fun, and colorful set of workshops yet.

Now on its 10th year of shaping future-ready kids, Power Mac Center Apple Authorized Training Provider rolled out its latest series of summer workshops set to run from April 17 to May 26. These courses aims to help kids become creative innovators of the future by giving them the competitive edge on this years course offerings.

The workshops are especially designed for 9- to 13-year olds, with each class consisting of only 10-15 participants to ensure focused instruction. Courses are conducted for two hours per session, with a total of five sessions each course. Classes are a mixture of lectures, demonstrations, guided hands-on trainings, and project creation.

“Power Mac Center is truly committed to kids’ learning and development. This year, we want kids to be able to make full use of the technology available to them in pursuing their individual passions so we are offering non-digital courses with a digital twist, alongside our usual digital courses,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

The workshops will be held at the Greenbelt and Trinoma branches. Kids can choose from the following subjects:

Digital Courses:

• Game Design & Development
• 3D Architecture Design
• Graphic Design & Photo Editing
• Cartooning & Animation
• Stop Motion Animation & Digital Storytelling

Non Digital Courses:

• Kiddie Cooking Class
• Drawing & Painting

The fee is at PHP 4,500 per course, inclusive of the use of Mac portables or iPads during the training sessions. Kids will then get to take home the course kit, a certificate of completion, and a USB drive with their individual projects.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis. It may be done at Power Mac Center Trinoma and Greenbelt 3 or at the Apple Authorized Training Provider office at 2L Cedar Executive Bldg. 1, 1006 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.

Inquiries may be submitted to pbsi@powermaccenter.com or at the following numbers: (632) 553 4211 / (632) 553 6399 / +63 908 885 6277. More information about products and services may be obtained from the website or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@powermaccenter).

Jollibee Now Has a Mobile App with Augmented Reality Technology

Kids nowadays belong to the digital generation who could easily learn how to use gadgets and technology. I sometimes find myself getting overwhelmed by the amount of information and adaptability they show in learning how to use new devices in terms of both hardware and software.

Thus, it is not surprising that many companies are now going with the trend since it is the inevitable direction for all especially if we want to belong among those moving forward with the use of technology in most of our activities, may it be at our home, schools or offices. Doing everything from work and learning to entertainment and leisure now involves taking advantage of what technology has to offer.

One of the most popular technological advancement is the proliferation of mobile apps for just about everything from office productivity tools to fun and games. These mobile apps have changed how we do almost everything and whether we would admit it or not, we have embraced its power for our benefit.

Jollibee, the country’s number one fast-food chain, is equally jumping into the bandwagon by recently unveiling its first-ever mobile application called JolliDance Showdown app that is sure to be a hit among Jollibee fans of all ages.

The big reveal held on September 24, 2016 at Ascott Hotel in Bonifacio Global City made public the all-new mobile app that was developed by renowned Los Angeles-based mobile innovation agency, Trigger. The agency has produced applications for other clients like Sony Pictures, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Lucas Film.

Systems Integration 2016 Highlights Business Solutions And Technologies

Those who still view the Philippines as a technological laggard were surprised when the country jumped 17 places in the 2015 Global Innovation Index (GII), placing 83rd in worldwide rankings and 12th for Southeast Asia and Oceana. This August, one expo is treating tech enthusiasts to a showcase of innovations. Now on its 14th year, Systems Integration Philippines (SIP) will take place from August 11 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex.

“We want businesses to see what innovative solutions, products, and services are out there in the market,” shares Patrick-Lawrence Tan, CEO of Global-Link MP Events International, Inc. (GLMP), organizer of the event. “SIP is about emerging technologies and it is subdivided into different sections depending on industry. We have pro-AVL for events and film; entertainment technology; consumer electronics; advertising and media; IT; unified communications; education and office solutions. There will be more than 150 solution providers at the show so people really have a lot to look forward to.”

Aside from the expo, the organizers have conceptualized exciting opportunities for trade visitors, such as Technical Seminars; Business Matching Sessions; Zone sections for Innovation, Drones, Virtual Reality; and Digital Raffle Draws.

SIP 2016 will open its doors from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm daily. For hassle-free claiming of IDs during the event, pre-register online via www.globallinkmp.com/SIP. Entrance is free. To inquire, call GLMP at (02) 893 7973 or check out them out on Facebook.

Showcasing the latest technologies for events, advertising and film, Systems Integration Philippines serves as the country’s brainstorming hub for creative directors, media planners, organizers and business developers.

Business owners, managers, and consultants are expected to visit the show to consult with internationally qualified ICT engineers and systems integrators as well as acquire the latest solutions in the market.

With the increasing need to optimize productivity in companies, Systems Integration Philippines allows a first-hand experience of the most efficient equipment to achieve total product and service quality.

Industry decision makers and key players all over the country come together to do business partnerships in the country’s largest and longest running trade show that are changing the way we live, work and play.

This year’s SIP will also be held alongside Wire and Cable Philippines 2016. With the country gaining recognition as Asia’s center for manufacturing and production, this trade event marks its 3rd year as the networking hub for key industry players from across 20 countries.

Don’t miss on this opportunity to consult with systems integrators of the most trusted companies today!

Some of the show sponsors include Avolution, Big Pix Graphics Systems, Kensonic Inc., Inewvation Philippines Corp., Microdata Systems & Management Incorporated, Multistiq, Inc., Norde International Distributors, Stagecraft International, Sun Cellular, ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Business + Class, InAVate APAC, Lighting Audio Visual Asia (LAVA) Magazine, Speed Magazine, PC Buyer’s Guide, McGuire Publishing, Asia Signs, Heartshaper Asia, NegoSentro, Eagle Broadcasting Network, DZEC Radyo Agila 1062, NET 25, Light Network, My Pinoy TV, WhenManila, Giz Guide, Geeky Pinas, AstigPh, Pinoy Tekkie, Wazzup Pilipinas, Tekkie Pinas and many more.

LBC Pushes Innovation with Impact Hub Fellowship

THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY, IN THIS ERA OF DIGITIZATION, CONNECTEDNESS AND PERSONALIZATION IS LOOKING BRIGHTER THAN EVER. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROMISE OF INNOVATION THAN WITH LBC SUPPORTING TODAY’S PIONEERS AND ORIGINAL THINKERS THROUGH THE IMPACT HUB FELLOWSHIP.

“Impact Hub began in London in 2005, has expanded to become a global initiative spanning Amsterdam to Dubai, Singapore to San Francisco, and now, Manila. To date, it has more than 11,000 members in 73 Impact Hubs. Impact Hub Manila is an incubator, co-working and events space for entrepreneurs, activists, creatives and professionals taking action to drive positive social and environmental change. The incubation program, the Fellowship, is a topic focused entrepreneurial idea award and one-year incubation program designed to attract, select and support impact entrepreneurs to grow their innovations. 23 Fellows in 10 Cities around the globe were already chosen,” explains LizAn Kuster, co-founder of Impact Hub Manila.

As part of the fellowship, Impact Hub seeks out a partner organization that will allow them to address social and ecological issues anchored on a specific theme. This year, following the theme of Mobility, LBC in partnership with the Impact Hub Fellowship hopes to provide a solid foundation that will grow these ideas into scalable, innovative, impactful ventures.

The key is to provide a holistic approach where partners can help tailor-fit solutions for impact makers locally. The program provides opportunities for networking through thought-provoking events, and community-driven programs anchored on a global member platform that allows participants to work, meet, learn and connect. 

New Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter Transforms Your Favorite Speakers into a Wireless Sound System

Multipoint Bluetooth Delivers Versatile Connectivity and Uncompromised Entertainment Experience

Logitech unveiled the Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter, which gives you everything you need to turn your favorite speakers into a wireless sound system for your smartphone and tablet. The compact audio adapter features multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and one-touch pairing for up to two devices.

“Smartphones are becoming a preferred device for storing and listening to music, and now with the Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter you can stream your music to your PC speakers and home stereo systems,” said Moninder Jain, Managing Director of South Asia at Logitech. “Its simple setup makes it easy to wirelessly stream stereo sound from smartphones and tablets to any corded speakers for a quality audio experience.”

Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity connects two devices simultaneously and streams audio from either one with the push of a button, making it easy to enjoy your favorite playlist on your smartphone or a movie on your tablet. When the devices are moved out of range, automatic re-pairing helps make the audio streaming experience hassle-free.

Simply attach the adapter to your powered speakers using a standard analog RCA or 3.5 mm cable and you can stream and control your music with a reliable direct line-of-sight connection from up to 50 feet away. To deliver high-quality acoustics, the Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter is tuned at Logitech’s state-of-the-art labs, so regardless of where your audio streams from, you’ll never have to compromise on sound again.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter is expected to be available in Philippines in May 2014, for a
suggested retail price of US$49.00. For more information, please visit www.logitech.com or our blog.

Hoomia Presents the Good Stuff for the Philippine Market

Hoomia believes that humming to one’s favorite sound is a feast for the soul and mind. At the press launch today, Hoomia presented Hoomia headphones that satisfies the nostalgics, nature lovers, and the playful.

Featuring full-range and dynamic sound field, Bon9 emulates the old telephone design with excellent treble, vocal performance, and noise cancelling. Golden Pin Design Awardee, Hoomia Bon5 was also featured in the show, the in-ear stereo headsets revive the warmth and acoustic efficiency of natural materials such as saffron pear, ebony, and maple. The magical experience of being youth was brought back to life by the Hoomia Magic Pencil, which prides itself with high purity of tone and rich layer of stereo sound quality.

Hoomia headphones were also featured in the press gathering, showing the Hoomia choices for the ultra-modern and classic design lovers. Utwo Ace which sports 30mm drivers with slim and soft painted covering and the U3 Classic fold flat 40mm driver headsets, both deliver vivid and accurate sound reproduction and deep bass response.

Doss Launches Eye Candies for Music dnd Voice Enthusiasts

Doss presented to the members of the press its unique deviation from the speakers existing today, the Doss 1178 Bluetooth Wireless 3D surround stereo speakers for tablet computers and smartphones.

Fashioning colorful spherical speakers that seamlessly fit into the hand, the eye candies are remarkably powerful with its simple and quick bluetooth pairing with digital devices. Music and voice fanatics have the option to use the speakers individually or in tandem for pure digital surround sound.

Audio enthusiasts should watch out for the hands-free, long battery life, and multiple peripheral connection capability of Doss 1156 and Asimom 3 DS-1189. The Doss 1156, has built in dual speaker, Doss patented air bass technology for superior surround sound experience. The Asimom 3 on the other hand has Bluetooth A2DP for quick pairing with other devices, and can be charged wirelessly with the included charging base.

Outdoorsy types can take their rugged lifestyle to the next level with the spill proof, scratch proof and collission resistant features of Hurricane DS-1302 and Doss 1209. Hurricane DS-1302 has Bluetooth A2DP function and uses NdFeb magnets for powerful audio transmission. Doss 1209 can be operated hands free and supports TF card for storage requirements.

One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of the Doss Motion 1155, equipped with sensors that allow users control audio playbacks by the simple wave of the hand.

Cannice Presents Bluetooth Series for Music and Calls

For the first time this year, Cannice presents its bluetooth audio solutions to match the particular tastes of modern digital consumers.

Music enthusiasts can take advantage of the Bluetooth 4.0 aptX technology and up to 30 hours of music playing time of Cannice Headblue series, designed for the laid-back listeners to individuals who want to be entertained by an exclusive DJ. For those who chose freedom, the Muses1 and Muses2 offer extreme mobility through different wear options fit for music fanatics on the go or fitness buff, the series boasts up to 20 hours of run time and 300 hours of standby time.

A must have for extremely mobile business individuals, Cannice presents its iBlue6 and which combine the reliable capabilities, high speed, and low energy protocols of of the classic bluetooth with the latest powerful features of Bluetooth 4.0. This business wireless gadget is engineered with 6th generation CVC noise reduction technologies for crystal clear audio experience, and allow simple operation, switch-free connection to other bluetooth devices.

And for those who want to stick with handheld calling, the Padblue1 is the right device. The wearable gadget utilizes 5th generation CVC noise reduction and provides 5 hours of talk time and music time respectively.

Cannice is one of the exclusive brands carried by Philteq Enterprise Inc for the Philippine market.

Highlights the combination of sophistication and function fit for the specific requirements of new breed of consumers.

OPPO Arrives in the Philippines with the Find 7

OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd., a globally registered technology brand, officially enters the Philippine market today with the launch of OPPO Find 7. The Find 7 is currently the flagship phone of the Find series, with the Philippines as the second country to launch this latest innovation, only after China.

“We are extremely excited to launch the OPPO brand and our leading mobile technologies to the Philippine market. OPPO prides itself in delivering world-class innovations that cater to consumers with different requirements when it comes to their mobile needs. We utilize top of the line technologies to bring different smartphone revolutions that raise the bar in mobile devices. Thus, we are happy to introduce our latest innovation, the Find 7, to the Philippines,” said CEO Mr. James Ma of Philippines OPPO Mobile Technology, Inc.

Setting the standard for what is to come, the Find 7 is a smartphone that is designed to push the limits of modern mobile technology.

Philips Airfryer Now Available in 100 Countries

Launched just over three years ago, Philips recently announced that the Philips Airfryer, an innovative kitchen appliance that enables consumers to prepare a variety of meals in a healthier way, is now available in more than 100 countries. With almost fifty percent share of the global market for ‘light’ fryers, Euromonitor has confirmed that Philips is the world’s No.1 low fat fryer brand.

First launched in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands at the end of 2010, and most recently in North America and Japan, the Philips Airfryer is now a truly global proposition.

“The Philips Airfryer is a great example of how we are driving profitable growth, by taking global innovations and bringing them to market in a way that is highly relevant for local consumers,” said Philips Consumer Lifestyle CEO Netherlands, Pieter Nota. “Eating healthier is an important lifestyle trend that transcends markets and with our Airfryer, we are empowering millions of consumers to make healthier choices every day.”

Global innovation with local relevance

Philips is driving growth in kitchen appliances, by approaching global propositions from the perspective of the local consumer. Through in-depth consumer interaction, we identified many local dishes that can be prepared with the Philips Airfryer in a more healthy way. For example, a relevant dish in the Netherlands and the UK is French fries, in Japan, fried shrimp, in North America, chicken wings, in India, samosa, in the Philippines, crispy pata. In each market, the Philips Airfryer includes a collection of recipes specific to local tastes.

Innovative Rapid Air Technology

Conventional deep fat fryers use large amounts of oil to cook food. Depending on the dish, the Philips Airfryer requires no, or very little oil, instead, it uses patented Rapid Air technology, a combination of high-speed air circulation and a top grill. With this unique technology the hot air circulates around the ingredients at very high speed - cooking from all sides at once. Air-fried lechon kawali for instance, contain up to 80% less fat compared to cooking in a deep fat fryer, without compromising on taste.

Digital Touchscreen Interface

Any kitchen space would have a sleek modern feel with the Philips Digital AirFryer's digital touchscreen that can be used to customize settings and cook food perfectly the way you like them. Its timer allows an up to 60 minute preset with a ready sound indicator and auto off function to avoid burning or overcooking any dish. These features allow french fries, fried chicken, and any snack to be prepared at the right time and temperature for the best food experience, minus the guilt from fried food!

Should You or Shouldn't You Use Bitcoin?

With the growing popularity of Bitcoin in the Philippines, experts from leading secure content and threat management solutions developer Kaspersky Lab urged Filipinos to learn its benefits and risks before using the online currency.

Bitcoin is a digital crypto-currency or a virtual currency in the form of a cryptographic string of characters instead of a printed bill or a minted coin.

Bitcoin transactions are fast, taking around only 10 minutes to verify a transaction. It’s also cheap as it liberates users from the need to maintain or pay for processing fees to a credit card company.

It can be transferred to another person from halfway around the world in minutes and can be converted to traditional currencies on various exchanges at any given time.

Additionally, many online merchants has started accepting Bitcoin as a means to pay for goods validating the real world value of the currency. Recently, NBA’s Sacramento Kings announced it will accept Bitcoin for purchasing tickets and other commodities.

You can actually buy things with Bitcoin that you can't buy with traditional currency.

Even though Bitcoin as a currency is not completely anonymous, it does provide a certain degree of privacy that you wouldn't get from commonly available options.

If we add the benefits of decentralization, privacy and ubiquity, we can begin to understand the temptation to invest our time and money in. As Bitcoin is not controlled by a central authority, there are no international transaction fees.

In November 2013, the value of Bitcoin has shot up to a staggering USD1,000 per unit.

In the country, there’s a growing community of Bitcoin enthusiasts called Bitcoin PH. There is also BuyBitcoin.ph, an online exchange platform based locally, which means Filipinos now have an easier access to the digital currency.

Further into its development, the first Bitcoin ATM nicknamed Robocoin, which has already been seen in Canada is about to set foot in Asia.


Risks

While it is a tempting option for users, Bitcoin remains peer-to-peer meaning it is controlled only by the people who use it.

There is no central authority controlling it, there are no rules as far as currency regulation goes making the crypto-currency market highly volatile. As of this writing, 1 Bitcoin is quoted on

Coinbase.com at US

D

600.

Some governments are rather nervous, too, and there is a heated debate about whether it should be regulated or not. Central banks from different countries have already issued public warnings about the risks in Bitcoin including money laundering.

In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has yet to create regulations and measures to protect Bitcoin users. While it’s something that should be expected, we have yet to see when the government or the BSP will intervene.

The transactions made with this currency are irreversible, too. Once you use Bitcoin, there is no turning back --- it can never be undone or taken back. Without the “undo” or “back” button, Bitcoin users need to be more careful in using it for online transactions.

This is one fatal flaw of the system that may nurture fraudulent transactions. So far, there are already over 30 instances of stolen or illegal transfers of Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin executives themselves led by Bitcoin Foundation vice chairman and BitInstant CEO Charlie Shrem were recently charged with money laundering that is associated with the sale of illegal drugs using Bitcoins.

The most alarming part is how cybercriminals have the capacity to work their way around Bitcoin wallets. BitFloor, then the largest U.S.-based Bitcoin exchange, suspended operations last year after attackers broke into a server and stole

USD

250,000 worth of the virtual currency.

Another breach last year targeting another exchange, Bitcoinica, a UK-based online trading site, resulted in the loss of $87,000 worth of Bitcoin. A DDoS attack targeting the Mt. Gox, a Bitcoin exchange based in Japan, and the Bitcoin storage service instawallet knocked both services offline.

Following this trend, Kaspersky Lab experts expect this year even more growth in the number of attacks targeting virtual wallets.

"While Bitcoin can be a change-maker in money remittance and trading in the Asia Pacific region, people should be more wary about the risks associated with it. There are still countries in this region where no regulations exist to bind its users, and the fact that reversals cannot be done for Bitcoin transactions must make people more concerned about using the crypto-currency," said Bryan Sat, Kaspersky Lab Business Development Manager for the Philippines.

“Threats are not going away, it continuously evolves and hackers embrace every opportunity there is. With Bitcoin, hackers may find it easier to get into any user’s online wallet and take their Bitcoin investments rather quickly,” Sat added.


So how do you keep your Bitcoins safe?

Below are some tips from Kaspersky Lab:

• Don’t keep them all in online banks or stock exchange services. These are newer institutions run by anonymous entities, so you have no guarantee that your money will be securely held or if you can have your money back if they are robbed.

• Even if you consider a place that has a supposedly sterling reputation, again, there are more ways to breach a digital bank than a physical bank vault. Storing small amounts for current operations is OK though.

• Keep this offline wallet in a separate hard drive or a computer that isn’t connected to the Internet, only transferring Bitcoins to your Internet-connected device when you need to complete an online transaction.

• Bitcoin users can certainly keep their money offline using free and widely available tools like Electrum or Armory that let you store your Bitcoins in heavily encrypted cases on your own hard drive.

• Use a strong password with these or an open-source password-generating software.

• Remember to back up your wallet so you don't end up throwing out all your life savings to the nearest landfill site.

Lastly, know where you keep them. James Howells, an IT worker from South Wales, once discarded an old hard drive containing his wallet which had around 7,500 Bitcoins inside or the equivalent of today’s USD6,235,000 (over PHP287

million

).

LINE Continues its Surge in Users, Cites its Secure Platform

LINE, the world’s leading mobile platform with 350 users worldwide, has seen a record-breaking inflow of daily new users, as many as 10 times in some regions, since the weekend of February 23, 2014. The recent surge is attributed to LINE’s unparalleled communication services that are the most safe and reliable, in the midst of recent system trouble experienced by other service providers.

“We are pleased to provide our many users in the Philippines with a complete, exciting, and secure mobile messaging experience,” remarked Mr. Greg Kim, Head of the Philippines at LINE Business Development Division, LINE Plus Corporation.

Many users have already chosen LINE as the ideal solution that offers an advanced system support and wide range of features that offer free messaging, voice and video calling, as well as interactive elements such as Stickers, Timeline and Official Accounts, under the ongoing industrial changes in the mobile messaging market.  

To ensure user privacy protection and stable service support, LINE does not store or track any user information. All user information submitted when creating a new account, as well as messages exchanged between users, are encrypted. Moreover, LINE adheres to its company policy of not providing any user information to an external party.

LINE is also the first mobile messenger in the world to receive all three international certifications in internal control management (SOC2, SOC3 and SysTrust), which proves its leading security standards.

LINE will continue to safely protect all user information from third party access and will continue to offer the most dynamic services that can be trusted anywhere around the world.

Epson Joins the Mopria Alliance

Epson announced it has joined the Mopria™ Alliance, a global non-profit membership organization working to promote the expansion of mobile printing. The Alliance was formed to bring together the mobile, software, and print industries with the goal of aligning standards that ensure printing is universally compatible from any mobile device to any printer, anywhere.

"The Mopria Alliance is dedicated to advancing mobile printing to allow busy people on-the-go to conveniently print wherever or whenever, regardless of brand or operating system," said Ian Cameron, responsible for global communications at Epson. "Epson is committed to making printing as easy as possible for its customers, and is honored to collaborate with like-minded organizations to improve how we meet and anticipate customer needs in today's increasing mobile culture."

With an estimated 50 billion connected devices by 2020, the Mopria Alliance is focused on making wireless printing from smartphones, tablets, and other devices simple and standardized. Primary focus areas for the Alliance include:

• Breaking down barriers between brands by eliminating the need for users to download multiple print solutions (print drivers)
• Creating a better, easier and more accessible user experience for mobile printing
• Using Mopria as a way to educate consumers and businesses on the ease-of-use of mobile printing
• Influencing the development and adoption of standards for mobile printing
• Providing an open environment and tools for application developers to incorporate print into mobile applications

In addition, the just announced Mopria plug-in for KitKat complements the core print feature in Android OS 4.4 enabling printing from Android-based mobile devices to many brands of printers. Epson will be working to offer support for the Mopria plug-in and other Mopria standards.

For more information about the Mopria Alliance visit www.mopria.org.

Epson’s Moverio To Be Used To Test Opera Subtitle Delivery System

Seiko Epson Corporation (SEC) is partnering with the Japanese New National Theatre Foundation (NNTF), Information Services International - Dentsu, Ltd., and Zimaku+ Inc. to test an opera subtitle delivery system. The system will be tested from February 28 to March 2 during performances by the New National Theatre Opera Studio in Japan. Selected guests will be able to follow the performances with subtitles projected onto the see-through lenses of Epson's new Moverio BT-200 smartglasses.

Operas are commonly sung in Italian or German, so opera houses often install large LED displays in front of the stage wings to provide subtitles during performances. The problem with these systems, however, is that operagoers have a hard time immersing themselves in the performance because they are constantly taking their eyes off the stage to read the subtitles.

Epson and its partners have created and will test the practical potential of a more convenient subtitle system that they hope solves this problem. The new system takes advantage of the ability of the Epson Moverio BT-200, which can be worn like an ordinary pair of glasses, to display subtitles seemingly in the air while guests watch the action on the stage. Moverio BT-200 smartglasses will be loaned to selected guests who want a more natural opera viewing experience with line-of-sight subtitles.

The roles of the four parties in the demonstration are as follows:

Epson

Epson will provide Moverio BT-200 smartglasses.

New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT)

The NNTT Opera Studio will present a production of Ariadne auf Naxos for three days, from February 28 to March 2.

Information Services International - Dentsu (ISID)

ISID will provide "potaVee," an area-limited, Wi-Fi multicasting platform that delivers subtitles that are synchronized with the opera. ISID also created a subtitle app for the Moverio BT-200.

Zimaku+

Zimaku+ will produce the subtitles for the opera, provide and run the server used to deliver the subtitles, and manage the test during the sessions.

Epson believes that the Moverio's binocular, transparent display and hands-free navigation give it the potential to transform the way people experience and interact with the world around them. The Moverio technology platform can serve as a foundation for the development of new visual tools in a wide variety of consumer and commercial fields.

Epson Moverio BT-200 Smart Glasses

Sporting a sleek, light design, the Epson Moverio BT-200 smartglasses offer users the ability to enjoy crystal clear video entertainment, games, music, and web content anytime and anywhere. With transparent lenses and motion tracking sensors that make navigation hands-free, the Moverio projects see-through overlays of digital content onto the real world so that users can enjoy a compelling augmented reality experience while still being able to see their surroundings. The ways in which smart-glasses can be used and enjoyed is rapidly expanding with the development of an increasingly diverse range of applications.

Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme-for True Storage Speed Super High Speed Professional SSD

Plextor, a leading developer of high performance storage, this week Plextor look at the technology behind M5 Xtreme and put it to the test against competitors to show that the performance goes beyond the speed shown in the specs. If its speed one wants in an SSD, The Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme (call the M5 Pro) is the ideal choice. This High performance SSD has become faster and faster with each iteration since it first appeared.
 
Fast Flash
The Speed of an SSD is affected by the efficiency of the built in NAND Flash. The M5 features on Toggle –mode NANA made by Toshiba. This double data rate Toggle Mode NAND is faster than conventional asynchronous NAND, but still offers lower power consumption than competing synchronous DDR NAND designs. Selecting the best components, like Toshiba’s fast flash is one of the secret to the M5 Pro’s performance.
 
Powerful Controller and Optimized Firmware
Plextor use the 88SS9187 controller from the Marvell Technology Group - to draw out the full potential of the Toggle-mode NAND. This chip, combined with Plextor's in-house developed, highly -tuned tuned firmware, produces an SSD that is not only fast but that also maintains its high efficiency for a long time to give you what we termed "True Speed." It also includes a data protection function, which we call “True Protect”.
Spec calculation methods vary widely depending on the manufacturer. In some cases, the manufacturer only uses the values for the maximum instantaneous speed. To find out an SSD’s true efficiency, however, average values must be taken after all aspects of the drive have been tested.
 
Don't choose an SSD based on specs alone!
Specs are a handy reference when choosing an SSD. However every manufacturer has its own way of measuring and declaring them. All SSDs these days are high-speed. It's not surprising that consumers find it hard to choose between them. However there is danger in blindly trusting in spec values.

Main specs of the M5 Pro Extreme series

Model number	PX-128M5P	PX-256M5P	PX-512M5P
Capacity	128GB	256GB	512GB
Cache capacity	256MB DDR3	512MB DDR3	768MB DDR3
Drive size	2.5 inches
Interface	Serial ATA 6Gbps
Controller chip	88SS9187 (Marvell Technology Group)
Sequential speed	Read	540MB/sec	540MB/sec	540MB/sec
Write	330MB/sec	460MB/sec	470MB/sec
Random 4K speed	Read	92,000 IOPS	100,000 IOPS	100,000 IOPS
Write	82,000 IOPS	86,000 IOPS	88,000 IOPS
Warranty	5 years

The Graph on the below shows the results we obtained when we used HD Tune Pro 5.50, storage utility software from EFD Software, to test the speed of the drive when used to save all kinds of Data. The M5 Pro's results are on the furthest left. The other two results belong to comparatively newer rival products.
 
There are 3 models in the Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme lineup.
The most popular is the 256GB model, which can also be used as a main drive.
The M5 Pro isn’t just fast, its speed remains stable at an average of 300MB per second (MB/s). It fills all the capacity with data written at a high speed. Product, A is a typical example of a maximum speed-oriented model. Its read speed started out at almost 400MB/s but then dropped rapidly to 260MB/s, where it stayed. Product B,  was unstable. While its maximum speed was over 370MB/s, its lowest speed was under 190MB/s. This averages out to an unstable 250MB/s.

In all areas, products A and B may appear fast. When you actually use them, however, you may discover that they are not as fast as the specs may lead you to believe. The M5 Pro is your best choice if you want true high-speed storage that delivers satisfaction

Lenovo’s Miix, 2 Combines Fun and Flair with its Detachable Design

Lenovo launched its newest multi-mode convertible, the Miix 2, at Romulos Cafe Makati City , which gives users the flexibility and freedom to use the device as a laptop, tablet, and stand. The Miix 2 is the latest in a slew of Lenovo devices that adapt to users’ preferred mode allowing them the ease of content creation, watching movies, and interacting with digital content.


“The award winning Miix 2 crystallizes Lenovo’s commitment to improve its product line-up and address consumer needs. With the Miix 2, users no longer have to decide between a laptop or a tablet in their purchase decision as its detachable design allows them to experience the best of both worlds. It also comes with the stand mode for convenient and easy digital interaction,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.

Expanding Multimode Design with Miix 2 Detachables
Miix 2 gives users the freedom to carry the touchscreen tablet without the base when they are on the go. They can then connect the tablet back to the base for a full Windows 8.1 laptop experience when needed. Users can simply turn the tablet 180° and insert it into the keyboard base to engage Miix 2’s third mode, Stand Mode, to watch movies or view photos.
 
Ultraportable Miix 2 8”
Perfectly sized for mobility, the 8-inch (in) Miix 2 features extreme portability with industry-leading thinness at just 0.31-in and weighing just 0.77lbs. It runs on the new 64-bit enabled quad-core Intel® Atom™ processor and Windows 8.1. It’s an ideal blend of portability and entertainment features with its 8-in HD screen with multitouch and IPS, WiFi and optional 3G,JBL surround speakers for rich, immersive audio. Storage is up to 64 GB of eMMC with a micro SD slot for adding up to 32 GB of music, movies, photos and other data. Users can capture mobile memories with its 720p high resolution 2 MP front and 5 MP rear cameras. And thanks to its all day battery life, users can work and play longer on one charge.
 
Performance-Focused Miix 2 11”
The 11-in model focuses on delivering a higher level of performance with its up to 4^th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor, greater storage up to 256GB of fast solid state drive storage and a FHD 1920x1200 IPS wide-view display. Both models of the Silver Grey Miix 2 make connecting, storing and moving content easy with their mini HDMI port to display content on larger screens, an SD card reader, micro USB port and micro SD cards along with USB 2.0 support on the keyboard.
The Lenovo Miix 2 8” will be available in the Philippines by end February, with pricing that starts at Php21,999. The Lenovo Miix 2 11” will be available in April 2014, with pricing that starts at Php47,990.
 
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Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$34 billion personal technology company – the largest PC maker in the world and an emerging PC Plus leader – serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. 

Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the Company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo, a global Fortune 500 company, has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com. 

ViewSonic Debuts Two Ultra Short Throw Projector Aimed at Education Market

ViewSonic, a leading global provider of visual solution products, introduces two ultra short throw projectors aimed on educational market with an impressive assortment of features including dual pen interactivity, the WXGA PJD8653ws and XGA PJD8353s. This new ultra short throw series are packed with 3000 lumens brightness, and 15,000:1 contrast ratio to deliver sharp images. With an ultra short throw lens, the projectors are allowed to be mounted right above a whiteboard or screen without creating hot spots, shadows or casting bright light in front of the presenter, making it perfect for smaller or difficult projection spaces like classrooms.

"Technology in education has played a significant role in educating and connecting the students to the existing and future learning opportunities,” said Vincent Hung, product manager for ViewSonic. "Foreseeing the trend of interactive teaching environment in diverse of education environments, ViewSonic is dedicated to providing solutions for the Educational Projector Market. We believe the demand for ultra short throw projection and interactive learning will keep growing stably and will keep putting efforts to provide solutions for education segment. "

With the optional interactive package (PJ-PEN-003), the PJD8653ws and PJD8353s become interactive projectors that transform any surface into an interactive whiteboard. Along with the ViewDraw 2 software, the dual interactive pens allow 2 users to simultaneously annotate, write, or draw, on the projected image. Utilizing reflective mirror technology, the PJD8653ws and PJD8353s can be mounted above an interactive white board or wall for the projection of an image up to 110”. Equipped with a Crestron® LAN controller, the projectors make it easy for IT administrators to remotely control and manage multiple projectors from their workstations, while AMX® Device Discovery™ certification allows for easy integration.

Equipped with the latest HDMI, ViewSonic's PJD8653ws and PJD8353s can display 3D images directly from 3D Blu-ray® players and deliver the highest picture and sound quality without degradation — perfect for connecting to any HDMI-enabled devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, and media players. ViewSonic’s continued dedication into developing new technology helps teachers to lead effective lectures and discussion. The projectors promote teacher-student interaction and class participation and become an important element in interactive education.

KINGMAX 2.5” SATA III SSD Introduction

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device using integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently. SSD technology uses electronic interfaces compatible with traditional block input/output (I/O) hard disk drives, thus permitting simple replacement in common applications.

Also, new I/O interfaces like SATA Express are created to keep up with speed advancements in SSD technology. Most SSDs use NAND-based flash memory, which retains data without power. For applications requiring fast access, but not necessarily data persistence after power loss, SSDs may be constructed from random-access memory (RAM). Such devices may employ separate power sources, such as batteries, to maintain data after power loss.

For different users, there are different needs. For example, an user who used hard disk drives(HDD) all the time, so he does not know why should he update his HDD with more cost. In this case, an entry type SSD is a good choice! And for game players’ need, the professional type SSD do excellent performance with higher speed. And KINGMAX promise the file maintenance. KINGMAX knows that any file corrupted may eat game players’ heart out.

World's best-known memory brand, KINGMAX, provides different series of SSD to meet users’ need. While you know what level of SSDs you need, you can just take the SSD away. And it will satisfy you!
 

Entry Type - SSD SME Xvalue

․Capacity: 60GB/120GB/240GB
․Interface: SATA III 6GB/s
․Size: 100.0mmx69.85mmx7.0mm
․Weight: 71g
․Sequential read and write:
60GB Read: up to 450MB/s Write: up to 75MB/s
120GB Read: up to 540MB/s Write: up to 150MB/s
240GB Read: up to 540MB/s Write: up to 300MB/s
 

Advanced Type - SSD SMP32/SMP35 Client

․Capacity: 60GB/120GB/240GB/ 480GB
․Interface: SATA III 6GB/s
․Size: 100.5mmx69.85mmx7.0mm
․Weight: 73g
․Sequential read and write:
Read: up to 550MB/s Write: up to 500MB/s (60GB)
Read: up to 550MB/s Write: up to 520MB/s (120/240/480GB)
․Random Write Speed:
Up to 75,000 IOPS (60/120/240GB)
Up to 75,000 IOPS (480GB)
 

Professional Type - SSD SMU32/SMU35 Client pro

․Capacity: 60GB/120GB/240/480GB
․Interface: SATA III 6GB/s
․Size: 100.0mmx69.85mmx7.0mm
․Weight: 73g
․Sequential read and write:
Read: up to 550MB/s Write: up to 520MB/s (60/120/240/480GB)
․Random Write Speed:
Up to 85,000 IOPS (60/120/240GB)
Up to 50,000 IOPS (480GB)
 
**For more information:
http://www.kingmax.com/en-global/product/product/index/solid_state_drive/SATAIII_SSD

2013 The Year That Plextor Took The World By Storm

 

Last year ended just like the previous year, with major awards for Plextor’s SSD products. This time the Plextor M5 Pro took the prestigious Hardware.Info UK Award 2013 for best SSD. Plextor beat off Samsung in this hard to win award which is based on reader votes. Winning not only shows the excellent reputation of the M5 Pro, but also the growth in Plextor brand awareness.

Throughout the world our SSDs are continuing to gain awards as reviewers praise their stability, performance, and value for money. Let’s have a look at some of the feedback from recent reviews for the high-performance M5 Pro Xtreme, compact M5M mSATA, and entry-level M5S SSDs.
 
A True Powerhouse – M5 Pro Xtreme
The M5 Pro Xtreme continues its incredible run of awards, collecting no less than 13 in the last three months of the year, bringing the grand total for the SSD (that we’ve noticed) to 86. From Israel to Portugal, the UK to Poland, the M5 Pro’s constantly updated firmware kept it winning awards as 2013 finished. Among the review comments was “Outstanding price/performance combination” – Test Praktiker Germany, “Results of the different benchmarks show that the Plextor claimed specifications are true, SSD IOPS is also incredibly high” – Hardware-Test Denmark, “Excellent all round performance” – Skratchwiz PC UK.


Small and Powerful – M5M
Moving onto the SSD that takes the features and benefits of Plextor’s desktop SSDs and crams them into an ultra-compact form factor - the M5M. In the last quarter the M5M has seen awards in Hardware-Mag Germany, Twaekers BeNeLux, been given an Extreme Performance award by Overclockear Spain, and won HW Legend’s, Italy’s Gold award. HW legend put the M5M through some tough testing and found “High performance in every area” combined with “Good operational stability” they were also impressed with the “Great official support by the manufacturer”. Overclockear Spain went as far as saying that there was nothing that could be improved on.

In Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia the M5S added to its list of awards. This good value-for-money SSD retains Plextor’s high build quality and offers superb read performance. FranzPC Poland selected the M5S over the OCZ and Samsung for reliability. Norwegian site IT Pro described it as “A product we would warmly recommend.”
 
Conclusion
We’ve only talked in detail about a few awards from the last few months of 2013, but as you can see from the map above over the past year Plextor has landed awards from all around the world. With so many awards in 2013 Plextor is going from strength to strength.

To review all the awards Plextor swept in 2013 please visit http://www.goplextor.com/asia/index.php/awards