Globe boosts your favorite promos with the Free Facebook and Viber

(L-R) Globe Vice President for Prepaid Brand and Portfolio Management Raymond Policarpio, Globe Director for TM Brand and Portfolio Management Trina Sebastian, Globe Vice President for Content Jil Go, and Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Daniel Horan.

The country’s number 1 mobile brand Globe Telecom continues its drive to position the Philippines as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World by giving customers free access to Facebook and Viber with their favorite Globe call, text, and surf promos. 

Starting September 1, 2015, all Globe Postpaid, Prepaid, TM and Tattoo customers can enjoy free access to Facebook and Viber when subscribed to promos including GoSURF variants and other existing call and text promos such as GOUNLI, ALLNETCOMBO and TMSULITXT, among others without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

​FULL FREE FACEBOOK EXPERIENCE​
As the only telco in the country to offer a free full Facebook experience, customers will be able to view photos, stream videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as post, like, share and make comments on the social networking site. Globe Prepaid and TM customers subscribed to their promos will automatically get free access Facebook. Postpaid customers on the other hand can opt-in by texting FREE FB ON to 8888.

​​
​VAST VIBER FUN
Alongside Facebook, the browsing experience is made even better with free access to Viber. Customers can enjoy sending stickers, chatting with friends and groups, and staying connected with other Viber users around the world. Those registered to a Globe text promo can get Free Viber chat, which includes sending and receiving messages, as well as stickers, doodles, and photos. Exploring public chat is also free. When registered to a call or surf promo, customers can enjoy Free Viber chat, complete with voice and video calls. Postpaid customers can instantly enjoy Free Viber call and chat for the entire promo duration.

​MOBILE DATA LEADERSHIP 
Globe continued to dominate the country’s mobile data segment after posting mobile browsing and other data revenues of P9.5 billion in the first six months of the year, a 53% growth from previous year’s level at P6.2 billion. On a quarterly basis, second quarter 2015 revenues reached P5.1 billion, up 16% from previous quarter at P4.4 billion.

This achievement brought the contribution of mobile data revenues to total mobile revenues by 23% as of 1st half of 2015, coming from 16% the previous year.

With mobile data business growing at a rapid pace, data users from overall Globe mobile customer base have grown to 37% during the same period, a substantial increase from previous year’s 17%. Wireless data traffic on the Globe network has also increased by 82% year-on-year with the growing number of smartphone users and applications that leverage the internet.

To support the growing demand for bandwidth-heavy services such as broadband and data, Globe spent around P11.4 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2015.

For more information on Free Facebook, text FREE FB HELP or FREE FB STATUS to 8888 or visitwww.globe.com.ph. 

To know more about accessing Viber for free, visit www.globe.com.ph/freeviber.

Smart unveils unbeatable plans for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus

Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has unveiled its unbeatable postpaid offers for the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, aimed at giving you a much bigger Smart Life experience.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is available under the fully consumable and customizable All-In Plan 1200, with a one-time cash-out of P15,576 or P649 per month via credit card under a contract of 24 months.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Edge Plus is available under the feature-packed Surf Plus Plan 1999 under a contract of 24 months, with a one-time cash-out of P7,500.

Beyond Cutting-edge technology

“Both the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus are the embodiment of style-meets-function-meets-cutting-edge technology, and you can make the most of their amazing features only with the country’s biggest and most advanced network,” said Kathy Carag, Smart Postpaid marketing head.

“For sure, with these latest flagship devices, you can experience the Smart Life and enjoy the widest breadth of mobile content and offers that only our robust network can deliver – from your choice of apps, games, music, movies and more all at your fingertips.”

Galaxy Note 5 at All-In Plan 1200

With All-In Plan 1200, you can maximize the features of the Galaxy Note 5 by choosing from over 30 Flexibundles reflecting your passion, lifestyle and communication needs.

For example, you can consume your All-In Plan 1200 by subscribing to Big Bytes 799 to enjoy 4.5GB data for all your surfing needs, as well as Trinet Plus 399, which gives you 500 minutes of calls to Smart, Sun, TNT and PLDT landline, and 2000 texts to all networks.

Galaxy S6 Edge Plus at Surf Plus Plan 1999

On the other hand, you can optimize your Galaxy S6 Edge Plus with Surf Plus Plan 1999, which packs a supersized 9GB of data allowance, 150 minutes of calls and 200 texts to all networks, plus your choice of free app every month – be it Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spinnr, among many others.

As an added perk, all new and recontracting subscribers for Plans 799 and above get a month’s subscription to the Smart Life Entertainment Bundle 299 for free. This gives them an additional of data for streaming their favorite movies and TV shows on Fox via Viewstream or iFlix, plus access to a host of apps like YouTube, Snapchat, Google, FBMessenger. The bundle also comes with 50 minutes of calls to Smart and TNT; and 500 texts to all networks – on top of the inclusions of their existing plan.

Tens of thousands of new Smart Postpaid subscribers

Smart expects these latest Samsung devices to sustain its remarkable growth in the first half of the year as tens of thousands of new subscribers signed up to enjoy Smart Postpaid’s attractive device and content bundles, backed by the country’s widest LTE network.

Unveiled during Samsung’s Unpacked Event at the New York Lincoln Center last Aug.13, both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus feature a gorgeous 5.7-inch Quad High Definition screen, a 16-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera, Dual-SIM feature and a 64-bit Octa-Core processor running the latest Android operating system Lollipop.

Be the first to get hold of the Samsung Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus by signing up atsmart.com.ph/postpaid/phones/SamsungNote5.

To stay updated on the latest Smart Postpaid offers: 

Log on to smart.com.ph

Follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications) and Twitter (@SMARTCares) for updates.

WD expands ITS PERFORMANCE LEVEL desktop HARD drives to 6 tb capacity

WD Black Hard Drives Offer Inspiring Performance for Gamers, Enthusiasts and Creative Professionals 

WD, a Western Digital  company and a world leader in hard drives, today announced the expansion of its award-winning WD Black™ line of performance hard drives up to 6 TB capacity. Shipping now, the 3.5-inch, 7200 RPM drive is the perfect solution for gamers and professionals in need of high-performance desktop systems and workstations. 

WD Black hard drives combine 7200 RPM spin speed, 128 MB cache, dual stage actuator technology, SATA 6 gigabits per second (Gb/s) interface, and an integrated dual processor to deliver ultimate performance in a maximum-capacity drive. The WD Black 6 TB is up to 29% faster than the previous WD Black 4 TB version in maximum data rate throughput and 10% faster in PCMark Vantage.

“Combining maximum system performance with generous capacity, the expansion of WD Black to 6 TB allows gamers, enthusiasts and creatives to push the boundaries of personalization without compromise,” said Cindi Grace, senior vice president of WD storage technology group. “In choosing WD Black hard drives, WD desktop customers get the best possible mix of capacity, performance and reliability to handle intense desktop computing with ease.” 

WD Black 6 TB hard drives feature the following:

Increased Reliability –StableTrac™ Technology (2 TB and larger models) secures the motor shaft inside of the hard drive to increase reliability and help reduce impact due to system-induced vibrations from other components. By stabilizing the platters inside, the WD Black drive results in more accurate tracking in a particular sector during read and write operations, optimizing performance and reliability.

Increased DRAM cache – The Dynamic Cache Technology improves caching algorithms in real time to allocate and optimize cache between reads and writes. This movement of cache for read data helps to reduce congestion and increase overall performance.

Efficient dual processing – A dual-core processor offers twice the processing capability as a single-core processor to maximize drive performance for faster read and write speeds.

Industry-leading 5-year limited warranty – Compared to standard hard drives, the WD Black drive endures more strenuous and aggressive internal testing over a longer period of time, resulting in it being backed by an industry leading 5-year limited warranty.

Price and Availability

Available now through selected retailers and resellers and are distributed by Iontech, Inc. and Ubertech Technologies, Inc. in Philippines, WD Black drive is covered by a five-year limited warranty. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the WD Black 5 TB drive (model # WD5001FZWX) is Php 13, 900 and the WD Black 6 TB drive (model # WD6001FZWX) is Php 16, 000. More information about WD Black desktop hard drives, including terms of the limited warranty, may be found on the company website at http://www.wd.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=760. 

About WD

WD, a Western Digital company, is a long-time innovator and storage industry leader. As a storage technology pacesetter, the company produces reliable, high-performance hard disk drives and solid state drives. These drives are deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications, as well as by the company in providing its own storage products. WD’s leading storage devices and systems, networking products, media players and software solutions empower people around the world to easily save, store, protect, share and experience their content on multiple devices. WD was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.wd.com.

Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), Irvine, Calif., is a global provider of products and services that empower people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. Its companies design and manufacture storage devices, networking equipment and home entertainment products under the WD, HGST and G-Technology brands. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

Brother signs up University of Southern Philippines Foundation for Toner Management Program

One of the leading providers of home and business IT peripherals, Brother International Philippines Corporation (Brother Philippines), has recently signed up the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), a private university in Cebu City, for its Toner Management Program.

Brother Philippines’ Toner Management Program is the company’s innovative solution for its institutional or corporate customers. Through the program, customers who sign a two-year toner supply agreement with Brother can avail of its multi-function centres without upfront payment. The program also gives customers the convenience of having the experts take care of the maintenance of the machines, and the replenishment of their printer consumables.

In photo after the signing of the Brother Color Toner Management Program agreement between Brother Philippines and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation are (left to right): Tekzone Computer Sales and Services Sales Coordinator, Brenna Vito; Brother Philippines President, Glen Hocson; USPF Director of Finance, Rosalina Jereza Sepulveda; USPF President, Dr. Alicia P. Cabatingan; Brother Philippines Deputy General Manager for Sales and Marketing, Masao Kasagi; USPF Chief Information Officer, Lester Gastala; and Tekzone Computer Sales and Services Accounting Supervisor, Zesprela Bingil.

This will provide offices a more cost effective way to acquire and operate multi-function centres (printers with other functions like faxing, scanning and copying) in the office. 

USPF Finance Director Rosalina J. Sepulveda has initially conducted the research on the total printing costs of the university and found out that over the years, USPF’s printing costs soared high without the benefit of statistical data to support the investment. 

USPF Chief Information Officer Lester Gastala said, “To address our printing cost concerns, we need to partner with a firm that not only delivers reliable technology and supports infrastructure duly tested by the country’s top international schools and local universities, but also one that provides value for investment.”

“Moreso, a balance deployment strategy should be in place,” he added.

USPF President Dr. Alicia P. Cabatingan said, “Private universities like us have to find ways to cut down on operating costs to be able to offer reasonable tuition fees while not compromising the quality of our education. This is why we thank Brother Philippines for introducing its Toner Management Program because it allows us to maintain our printing costs at manageable levels.” 

Brother Philippines President Glenn P. Hocson said, “Our toner management program will definitely make our products more attractive as they are now more affordable to broader segments of businesses. It aims to help offices like that of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation concentrate on their core operations by allowing Brother to handle their printing needs.” 

Hocson adds, “The program signals our readiness to take on more responsibilities for our corporate customers. It is also our way of challenging ourselves to keep on growing as we come up with more and more innovative solutions, especially for our corporate customers.”

This expansion of Brother Philippines through its corporate business portfolio is aligned with the Brother Group’s strategy to reinforce solutions offering as a pillar of growth. Starting as a sewing machine repair shop in Japan over a hundred years ago, the Brother Group has evolved and grown, and now has manufacturing and sales facilities in over 44 countries and regions worldwide.

New Ekogadgets for Ekotek

Meet the newest additions to our growing line up...

First up is the Ekopack Slim 6000mAh. It comes in the same slim and sleek design you’ve come to know and love. Only this time, it has more juice to power up your gadgets whenever, wherever. Best part is… it's compatible with most phones, tablets and other USB devices and comes in 4 eye catching colors: Lime, Orange, Black and White. 

And of course, the Ekotab you’ve all been waiting for. You wanted 3G, we’re giving you 3G!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the Encore is back and this time it’s equipped with 3G functionality! Not only does this 7” Quad-Core beauty come with the Kitkat OS, the Encore 3G is now armed with an enhanced camera as well as an upgraded memory and storage system. You can now take more pictures, update your Facebook, Instagram and so much more without having to look for WiFi! 

Get your Ekotab Encore 3G for an introductory price of only P4,799 until August 31, 2015.

The Ekopack Slim 6000mAh and Ekotab Encore 3G are available in all 10 of our kiosks and online: http://j.mp/ekoteklazada. The Ekopack Slim 600mAh is also available in selected Office Warehouse Branches.

Encore 3G Specs:

Android 4.4 Kitkat

MT8382 Quad core Cortex A7 1.3GHz Processor 

7" 5-point IPS capacitive touch screen (1024*600 pixels, 16:9) Display

1GB RAM

8GB ROM

WCDMA 2100MHz (850MHz,1900MHz Option); GSM 850/900/1900/2100MHz 2G/3G Band

2.0MP front /5.0MP Rear camera

2500mAH Li-Polymer rechargeable battery

3G/2G; wifi; GPS; BT;

Dual SIM Card Capabilities

*Online Prices may vary

*Office Warehouse Branches: Power Plant, Paseo de Roxas, Ever Commonwealth, Alabang Town Center, Eton Centris, South Gate, Tomas Morato, SM Manila, SM MOA, Festival Mall, Starmall EDSA, Landmark Makati, Shangrila, Eastwood Libis, Greenhills, Starmall Alabang and SM Fairview

Globe opens first two-storey GEN3 store in the country

Brings the complete digital retail experience to Manila’s central business district with 4th GEN3 store in Makati

The number 1 mobile brand in the country and leader in the digital space Globe Telecom is set to bring the world-class retail experience to more customers nationwide as it opens its first two-storey GEN3 store in Greenbelt 3 in Makati, its 4th GEN3 store in the country since it launched in December last year.

Located at the central business district home to the country’s biggest offices, retail establishments and corporate headquarters, the previous average-sized store is converted into a two-storey version that showcases the major features of the new Globe GEN3 stores. From the reconfigurable major lifestyle zones such as Music, Entertainment, Life and Productivity to the self-service customer kiosks, more customers in Manila will now be able to experience next-generation retail in a dynamic and interactive space. 

Each lifestyle zone is curated to feature the telco’s topnotch roster of content from the best music on Spotify, in-demand movie and TV titles on HOOQ and the latest in mobile gaming such as Clash of Clans and Candy Crush, among others. Veering away from the usual display of smartphones and postpaid plans, Globe GEN3 stores illustrate mobile and broadband technologies as connected and experiential solutions.

“Our journey to transforming the customer experience continues with the opening of another GEN3 store in the country, this time in Makati, the country’s central business district. This is the first two-storey store which means that more customers will be able to enjoy the innovative and interactive experience that the GEN3 store offers. In the same way that Globe has transformed the Philippine mobile landscape by recognizing the digital shift and responding to the needs of our customers, we also see GEN3 creating a new standard for telco retailing not just in the Philippines but in the world,” says Ernest Cu, President and CEO at Globe.

Globe Head of Retail Transformation and Stores Management Joe Caliro shares, “Each one of our GEN3 stores is a product of our team’s mission of giving our customers the best differentiated service that only Globe can provide. We ensure that we have maximized every corner of this new store to give everyone who walks in a chance to discover and learn something new every time.”

GEN3 also carries an up-to-date selection of digital connectors turning the store into a one-stop digital lifestyle hub. GEN3 serves as a platform to showcase the latest technologies, making them more readily available to everyone.

This season, GEN3 is the first store in Asia to carry the ZAGG machine, a revolutionary device that customizes industry standard screen protection for almost all available smartphones, tablets and smart watches in the market. 

Apart from new technologies, GEN3 is also a space that gives up and coming personalities a place to tell their stories. Each lifestyle zone will feature stories of various individuals that are blazing a trail in their respective industries. As the GEN3 store in Greenbelt opens, customers will get to know the latest musical discoveries in Spotify’s recent online artist search, Emerge – finalist Marion Aunor and grand winner Shehyee. With changing content every quarter, customers can expect new activities to experience and new stories to get inspiration from.

The Globe GEN3 stores are designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc. His most famous work is the Apple Store in New York, alongside his other dynamic designs for international retail stores such as Nike, GAP and Coach, among others. 

Globe is set to open one more GEN3 store at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong by October. Globe also earlier announced the construction of the Globe Iconic Store that is set to be the biggest and grandest Globe store. Its pioneering design will feature a bridge that will link two Globe stores from opposite sides. The Globe Iconic Store will soon rise right above the Bonifacio Global City amphitheatre at the Bonifacio High Street Central in Taguig City.

PLDT, Voyager launch concierge service of social commerce platform TackThis!

Most businesses in the Philippines - large and small - recognize the potential of eCommerce, but only few are ready for the unique challenges that come with selling to customers online.

To address this gap, Voyager Innovations (Voyager), the digital unit of PLDT and Smart, together with PLDT Alpha and PLDT SME Nation, has launched today its premium concierge service for online store creator TackThis! to over a thousand partner businesses so they can quickly and efficiently build their own branded digital commerce footprint that incorporates a seamless social shopping experience for customers.

As a platform, TackThis! enables businesses to set up their online shops in just a matter of minutes. They can then “tack” their store to Facebook and other websites and the platform facilitates the customer’s entire digital commerce journey - beginning from the point of order, through the management of inventory, and ending with fulfillment and payment.

The premium concierge service aims to enable larger retailers who need a more comprehensive suite of features on top of the basic offerings of TackThis! Together with the wide array of solutions from PLDT Alpha and PLDT SME Nation, TackThis! is seen to further boost digital commerce in the country. 

“At Voyager, we believe that eCommerce is one of the building blocks of the digital economy. TackThis! is already changing eCommerce as it integrates the social shopping experience. Meanwhile, our partners can benefit from the one-stop solution that TackThis! provides, including our enhanced concierge service,” said Mitch Padua, vice president and head of digital commerce at Voyager Innovations.

“The premium concierge service gives retailers an end-to-end service that streamlines their online store requirements. This way, businesses don’t have to allocate huge resources in maintaining their online stores. TackThis! allows them to focus on what they know best: selling their products,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, First Vice President and Head of PLDT SME Business.

The advanced features that come as a part of the concierge service include professional services for an effortless online store creation as well as hassle-free store management of logistics, payments and customer service via a team of TackThis! Ambassadors.

The concierge service also includes store marketing via placement on Takatack, the sister site of TackThis! Takatack is now the largest online shopping discovery platform that aggregates and promotes not only offerings from the thousands of merchants who have established their online shops through TackThis!, but also products from other online stores and retailers in the country including Rocket Internet-backed Zalora and Lazada.

Tackthis! has over 30,000 merchants in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines with more than 400 merchants already part of the premium Tackthis! Concierge Program - an end to end solution tailored to get retailers selling online quickly.

An industry trend analysis released by BMI Research last July estimated that 82% of all Internet users in the country or around 22 million Filipinos shop online. Retail sales account for USD207 billion but only 0.6% accounts for online retail.

The growth rate for eCommerce is high. A 2014 study by Ken Research estimates that Philippine eCommerce can expect a 101.4% annual growth rate from 2013 through 2018 due to increasingly heavier Internet usage and mobile penetration.

Out of the over one million registered businesses in the country, it is estimated that only 1% have a website. In the past, a company would have had to hire a large development and operations team to establish their digital footprint. TackThis! provides the simplicity and ease of having an online store. TackThis! aims to help businesses tap into this huge opportunity to reach more Filipinos going and shopping online. 

To know more about TackThis!, please visit: www.tackthis.com.ph/

To know more about Takatack, please visit: www.takatack.com/

Epson RIPS Technology wins BLI Outstanding Achievemt in Innovation Award

Epson recently announced that its Replaceable Ink Pack System (RIPS) technology had been recognized by Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI), a leading provider of independent information to the imaging industry, with the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation Award for the summer 2015 test season. The awards are made to companies that provide something new to the market and set new standards and goals to which others can aspire.

Used with Epson’s acclaimed series of WorkForce Pro Replaceable Ink Pack Printers, RIPStechnology solves many of the issues associated with office printing by using super-high-yield ink supply units for printing up to 75,000* pages between ink changes. The result of this is less wasted time and resources, and predictable print costs.

In its citation, BLI noted that printers using the technology achieved:

· Phenomenally high tested yields for all colors. 

· Ultra-long-life consumables, which help maintain office productivity and reduce pain points for IT administration. 

· User-friendly replacement and maintenance procedures.

· Compact and low waste packaging advantage, which will suit space-constrained office environments.

“The super-high ink yields offered by the Epson RIPS are a game-changer in the office marketplace, drastically reducing office user consumable replacement frequencies and negating the need for spare sets of toners or inks on site which take up valuable space,”noted David Sweetnam, BLI’s director of research and lab services in Europe. “The ultra-long life supplies will also be an attractive proposition for suppliers offering ‘all inclusive’ contracts, greatly reducing logistics costs and headaches associated with keeping clients stocked with supplies at all times.”

“We are proud to receive the BLI ‘Outstanding Achievement in Innovation’ award for WorkForce Pro RIPS,” said Yoshiro Nagafusa, general manager for printer sales at Seiko Epson.“According to BLI’s independent tests, WorkForce Pro RIPS models can deliver up to 75,000 pages of uninterrupted high-quality print without the need to replace consumables, in addition to using far less energy and generating less waste than laser competitors."

“Epson believes that inkjet printing now demonstrates clear advantages over laser in the office, and offers efficiencies to businesses of all sizes. We will continue to promote this shift,” commented Nagafusa.

BLI also named the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-8590 as this summer’s Outstanding A3 Low- to Mid-Volume Business Inkjet All-in-One, and the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-R8590 as the Outstanding A3 Mid- to High-Volume Business Inkjet All-in-One.

* Using an A3 model. Yields are based on simulations generated after testing with ISO/IEC24711 measurement methodology using ISO/IEC 24712 patterns and calculated using Epson’s methodology. Yields may vary for reasons including images printed, documents printed, printing frequency and printing environment.

Find out more about Epson printing technology:

http://global.epson.com/innovation/core_technology/micro_piezo.html

Note that Epson products and services vary by region. Please refer to your local Epson sales company for details of products and services available in your region:

http://global.epson.com/web_sites.html

Experience Katai4, Pre-order available now!

Enjoy great viewing experience with Katai4 5-inch IPS HD Display which lets you browse the Internet and play games in bright colors and super clear graphics.

Kata i4 white available for pre-order for only P7,499. Please visit Kata outlets near you for the Kata I4 White pre-order and pay P200 reservation fee. 

Katai4 Specifications:

Height: 144.5 mm

Width: 71.5 mm

Depth: 6.5 mm

Weight: 161.0g

Processor

MTK 6592 Octa Core 1.7GHz

Display

5.0-inch Super HD Display 1280*720

Frequency

QuadBand GSM 850/900/1800/1900

TriBand 3G 850/1900/2100

Operating System

Android 4.4 KitKat

RAM

2GB

Storage

32GB

Cameras,Photos, and Video Recording

Front Camera

8 Mega Pixel camera

Support video call

Rear Camera

16 Mega Pixel camera

Autofocus

Kata i4 white available for pre-order for only P7,499. 5-inch Super HD, Android 4.4, 1.7GHz Octa Core, 16MP+8MP Camera, 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage & FREE 35GB Online Storage. 

Reserve yours at any Kata outlets nationwide and get a FREE Kata 4,400 mAh Powerbank!

Please refer to http://www.katadigital.com.ph/store-location/ for the complete list of KATA outlet locations.

Chevron stresses maintenance of Metro Weather Project automated weather stations during rainy season

The near-real time weather information transmittal for the Metro Weather Project with the sustained maintenance of the Automated Weather Systems unit strategically areas including 18 Caltex Stations, is important for the public most especially during the rainy season.

This project is aimed at providing the public with weather information that may aid them with necessary preparation.

Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the high quality Caltex brand of fuels, including Havoline and Delo lubricants, assured that the 18 Metro Weather Project automated weather systems (AWS) under its supervision are properly functioning after the continuous and intensive maintenance procedures the company conducts to ensure the units are up to the task as the rainy season starts.

The Metro Weather project, implemented in 2013, is created from a successful collaboration between Chevron companies in the Philippines as an enterprise effort, the Manila Observatory (MO), and other organizations such as Globe Telecom, and MMDA.

The project provides near-real time weather information that is integrated to the MMDA Traffic mobile app and can also be accessed online through http://www.panahon.observatory.ph.

The data comes from the project’s 30 AWS units which collect and store weather data that show, among others, the rainfall intensity which can indicate flooding. These AWS units, placed in strategic areas including in 18 Caltex stations within Metro Manila, covers up to 12 million people.

“The public always needs to be informed about the weather especially during the rainy season, so that they can do the necessary preparations. So we are always making sure that the 18 Caltex-hosted AWS units are regularly calibrated, checked, and cleaned up so that weather data is correctly gathered and transmitted to the MO for analysis and interpretation,” said Raissa Bautista, manager of Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, CPI.

The Metro Weather project is very effective in creating environmental consciousness to the public. According to Antonia Loyzaga, MO executive director, “The data collected by the AWS assists in refining the identified flooding thresholds that the Metro Manila LGUs, MMDA, and DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau are monitoring. The data and analysis can be used as part of the evidence-based decision support system for evacuation planning, class cancellations, preparedness planning and zoning, and land-use planning.” Several caveats from project, with data coming from all 18 Caltex-hosted units, are recognized especially during the southwest monsoon months. In 2013, the project identified more than 50 flooded areas in Metro Manila due to monsoon rains intensified by Tropical Storm “Maring”. While in the wake of Tropical Storm “Mario” in September 2014, AWS satellite images indicated strong rainfall activity that caused flooding.

The Metro Weather project has recently been expanded outside Metro Manila. “Similar projects are being deployed in areas including Iloilo City and Iloilo province, Davao City and Davao Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City,” said Loyzaga.

Bautista added, “Chevron Philippines remains supportive and highly interested in this collaboration. Our continued commitment to public safety and environmental awareness keeps us motivated to support initiatives that address issues and educate the general public on the impact of severe weather changes.”

Engineers calibrate one of the 18 AWS units that Caltex stations host in various points across Metro Manila.  The near-real time weather information details may be accessed through the MMDA Traffic mobile app and http://www.panahon.observatory.ph.

Work hard, play hard, schoolwork made fun with Acer Switch 2-in-1 laptop

Students are more mobile and more connected than ever. Learning digitally has never been easier.

Some schools even require students to own a laptop these days. Most students, high schools or head off to college these days need thier own laptops. Although a personal computer may not be absolutely necessary since most colleges have computer labs for student use, it is definitely a convenience to have your own computer unit.

Tablets and laptop for school should be optimized for the work, not the play. But as they said, work hard, play hard, schoolwork made fun with laptops! 

Smaller, lighter models are likely a better fit living on campus. Keeping your computer with you in class and at home means all of your notes and assignments are in one place.

Now, let’s look at a selection of laptops suited for your lifestyle. Of course, not everyone can afford to buy high-end laptops for school.

Portability, efficiency, and versatility are valued factors when it comes to notebooks. For students who regularly deal with dynamic academic activities, having a gadget built-in with these features can help set the groundwork to a successful school year.

“Tablets and laptops are now considered necessities for students since majority of their requirements are anchored online. For the youth, especially, having an efficient device just doesn’t cut it anymore. They need something that can complement their lifestyle as well,” says Manuel Wong, General Manager of Acer Philippines. 

He continues, “Nowadays, having advanced features is no longer just the benchmark in measuring a gadget’s worth. You have to think of what the users need to really make a difference.”

Recognizing the exceptional needs of students, Taiwanese brand and leading Philippine notebook manufacturer Acer came up with the Aspire Switch 10 E. The model, which is a modified version of the earlier Switch 10, hits the sweet spot between a tablet and a laptop. It has versatility, mobility, and efficiency all rolled in a model designed for both work and play. 

Designed for students

The Aspire Switch 10 E comes with the new Acer Snap Hinge ™2 which makes it easy to snap the keyboard on or off with a simple push or pull. Students can easily use it in its tablet form for watching videos and snap it back to its notebook mode for typing tasks. The Switch 10 E can be switched to a total of four modes: notebook, tablet, tent, and display.

In terms of performance, this versatile laptop’s Intel quad-core processor gives it ample power to accommodate every student’s computing requirements. Switch between work and fun with its 12 hour battery life and enjoy usability with its Windows 8.1 software and pre-installed Microsoft Office programs. 

The Aspire Switch 10 E’s audio and visual components are even geared towards the demands of schoolwork. With its Acer VisionCare™ and Acer BluelightShield™ features, the users’ eyes are protected from stress-causing blue light during prolonged periods of staring at the screen. The 10 E also promises clear images with its IPS technology HD screen (made durable by ultra-tough Gorilla™ Glass) and great sound performance with its dual speakers.

Lastly, the Aspire Swich 10 E comes with a data protection component for assured information security. The Acer SwitchLock ™ secures HDD data of the user and only allows access to it once the tablet is snapped back with the keyboard. 

Work and Play

Acer’s commitment to provide for the specific needs of different users goes beyond just performance. Understanding that self-expression is also important for the youth, the Aspire Switch 10 E is made available in a range of trendy colors that complement its dynamic shape. 

Teens can choose from a variety of colors like blue, purple, white, black, pink and magenta to suit their taste and style. Add this to the textile-pattern texturing of the cover and you have one stylish device that can keep up with the demands of student life.

Acer’s models are inspired by its #PullitOff! Campaign, an advocacy which calls out to students to face common school challenges like bullying with confidence. Other products included in the line-up of the campaign are the Acer Aspire Switch 11 and Acer Aspire Switch 12. 

Wong closes, “Technology plays a large role not only in our professional careers but our social lives as well. Students have varied interests and activities. If you can find a gadget that can help improve the way you live in both aspects, then you know you’ve found a good partner.” 

Students, make sure your tablets and laptop will be able to keep up with your busy schedule.

For more information on Acer’s products and latest campaigns, visit www.acer.com.ph or check out the Acer Philippines Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/AcerPH). You can also get updates by following Acer via Twitter (twitter.com/acerphils).