In an effort to expand its product portfolio, CHERRY has unveiled its first-ever TV lineup, the CHERRY Aqua Smart TV. Filipinos’ fascination with TV as a source of home entertainment has led CHERRY to provide a more interactive and immersive multimedia experience for viewers.
Smart TV for a Richer Multimedia Experience
Gone are the days when TV was a passive entertainment source. With the CHERRY Aqua Smart TV, viewers can access a rich multimedia experience that allows them to watch their favorite shows and movies whenever they want, thanks to internet connectivity and easy-to-navigate software. The Aqua Smart TV provides easy access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, allowing viewers to binge-watch their favorite content in high-definition (HD), full HD, or even 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) resolution.
Immersive Viewing Experience
The CHERRY Aqua Smart TV delivers an immersive viewing experience that allows viewers to sit closer to the TV without losing quality. With its high-resolution display, viewers can enjoy an immersive and lifelike experience that enhances their viewing pleasure. Moreover, the Aqua Smart TV’s home networking options allow viewers to connect and control their gadgets with just one click.
Variety of Sizes and Affordable Prices
The CHERRY Aqua Smart TV comes in three sizes to fit any home entertainment setup. For those who prefer larger screens, there is the 55-inch model that has a 4K UHD resolution and a newer Google TV operating system, priced at Php29,999. The 43-inch model, on the other hand, has a Full HD resolution and a 74W power output and is priced at Php19,999. For those with limited space, the 32-inch model has an HD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, running on an Android TV OS for only Php11,999.
Upgrade Your Home Entertainment Experience with CHERRY Aqua Smart TV
CHERRY Aqua Smart TV offers every household an affordable and high-quality entertainment experience. Upgrade your viewing experience and enjoy your favorite shows and movies easily using the Aqua Smart TV’s smart features.
Sony Electronics launched two new products, the MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones, and the C-80 Condenser Microphone, designed for professional sound engineers and music creators.
These products are tailored to enhance the music creation process, providing a superior sound experience and catering to audio engineers’ highest standards.
MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones
Experience Superior Sound with Immersive Open Back Headphones
The MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones are built to offer extended spatial sound reproducibility and accurate sound object positioning within a 360-degree space, making them the ideal choice for mixing and mastering immersive spatial sound, such as 360 Reality Audio, as well as stereo sound with hi-resolution capability. In addition, these headphones have a uniquely developed driver unit that provides ultra-wideband playback (5Hz – 80 kHz) with natural high frequencies, allowing professionals to capture localization, spaciousness, and detailed changes in sound processing.
Comfortable and Lightweight Design for Long Hours of Use
The MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones are engineered with comfort in mind, featuring breathable earpads and a lightweight structure that provides a pleasant wearing experience even after hours of use. The headphones also come with a high-quality replaceable, detachable cable with machined aluminum connectors and a stereo mini-jack adapter for easy use in a professional setting.
C-80 Condenser Microphone
Capture Clear Sound with the C-80 Condenser Microphone
The C-80 Condenser Microphone is ideal for home studios and is suitable for vocal/voice recording, instrumental recording, vlogging, webcasting, and podcasting. This microphone inherits the technology of Sony’s revered C-800G and popular C-100 microphones, making the high-quality sound even more accessible.
Dual Diaphragm Configuration for Stable Vocal Recording Process
The C-80 features a dual-diaphragm configuration, suppressing sonic changes with distance (proximity effect) and allowing for more vocal recording stability. In addition, tight and rich mid-range capture in the C-80 provides a vocal sound with a clear core and presence, allowing vocals to stand out even when mixed with other instrumental sounds. The microphone also provides a realistic reproduction of the characteristics of an instrument, such as the sound of guitar strings and the resonance of the body, resulting in a natural and clear recording.
Local Pricing and Availability
The MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones and C-80 Condenser Microphone will be available at select Sony Authorized Dealers starting May 12. The MDR-MV1 is priced at Php23,999, while the C-80 comes with a Php34,999 price tag.
So, are you getting one?
Let us know what you think in the comment section!
vivo ‘s most popular and marketed smartphone is the V-series as this one balances out the needs of most Filipino consumers – a premium and stylish smartphone that isn’t on a flagship price. So how does the vivo V27 5G fare? Well, check it out in our review.
Design and hardware
One of the things to love about the vivo V series every time they release is their design. The design of the vivo V27 5G didn’t fail to amaze us as not only we have here a sexy and unique materials but the smartphone also packs a very ergonomic design that is easy to hold and grip.
Going to the design of the smartphone, it’s thin and it’s light. At the back, we got here the emerald green color for our review unit and it changes color to a darker shade whenever it’s under direct sunlight – a feat that we’ve seen on previous vivo V series smartphones.
At the back, we can also see the large camera module of the smartphone that houses the triple camera lens and also the Aura Portrait Light that the brand is really proud of. On the right, there’s the power button and also the volume rocker of the smartphone
No headphone jack in here and the USB-C port below the smartphone does support up to 66W FlashCharge which is fast enough. As for the speaker, it’s a decent one that will do just fine but it’s not as immersive as other smartphones in the market even at its price range.
Battery and charging
As for the battery life, the vivo V27 5G comes with a 4600mAh battery. They did sacrifice a little bit of that battery to give you a smaller and thinner body on the smartphone. However, we still got here an excellent battery life as the smartphone clocked in a score of 17 hours and 19 minutes on PC Mark Work 2.0 Battery test which is pretty long for its size.
As for charging, the smartphone was able to get a full charge in less than 50 minutes from 0 to 100 on the smartphone. This is why charging the smartphone in just a few minutes will already give you a full day of usage already.
Display
For the display of the vivo V27 5G, it comes with a 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a curved AMOLED panel. And yes, the colors are great and it’s very usable when using the smartphone outside. The sunlight legibility was great as well.
Again, the colors are excellent which adds to the premium feel of the smartphone and again, the smartphone is really ergonomic as well big thanks to its curved glass back and of course, the curved 3D Glass on the front.
There’s 120Hz refresh rate as well which is why the smartphone is smooth when navigating along with some selected games on the smartphone.
Software and performance
Before we get down to the performance of the smartphone, the vivo V27 5G comes with FunTouch OS 13. It’s swift, smooth and it’s easy on the eyes. While there are some apps that comes preinstalled on the smartphone, most of them doesn’t annoy me at all and it’s very user friendly as well.
When it comes to performance, the vivo V27 5G performs greatly thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 processor of the smartphone along with the 12GB of RAM that can be extended up to 20GB.
The storage of the smartphone comes with 256GB of internal storage, it’s more than enough for some people. In my usage, I did enjoy the performance of the smartphone because of these things – consistency, power, and thermals.
When playing games on the smartphone like Genshin Impact, we might not have it at the highest settings possible on the smartphone, but we did have a consistent performance on the smartphone thanks to its thermals.
The smartphone doesn’t heat up that much and it only gets warm even after a while of using the smartphone for gaming. While in Call of Duty, we did experience stutters at first but after downloading the shaders, everything went well and it was smooth at the highest possible settings. IIt delivers a promising performance but again, not on a flagship level. Do check out the benchmarks of the smartphone below:
Camera
The camera of the vivo V27 5G is the smartphone’s biggest feature. It comes with a 50MP main camera with Sony IMX766V sensor and also an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro lens. The front camera of the smartphone is also a 50MP which is great for selfies and also for taking vlogs.
The smartphone also comes with OIS+EIS but the main star of the show is the Aura Portrait light system on the smartphone. In our shots, we noticed that the Aura Portrait Light tends to have a more natural and a ring-light effect on taking videos or photos on the smartphone.
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Noticeably, taking portrait shots at dark is a lot better thanks to the Aura Portrait Light system and as for longer exposure shots, we noticed that the night shots are brighter as well. Despite the upgraded processor, the vivo V27 5G can only record up to 4K@30fps and not 60fps but man, the stabilization on this one was good
Aura Portrait Shot
Screenshot
Verdict
Every year, the vivo V series smartphone has surprised us with its camera prowess. It might not be the most powerful everytime but the camera of the smartphone is more than enough for most people. The Dimensity 7200 processor of the smartphone is also decent enough for its power and thermals inside and the battery is something to love. But definitely, the smartphone is not the most powerful out there.
So if you’re into selfies and that’s your priority on a smartphone then do check out the vivo V27 5G.
Mihoyo, the creators of the popular Honkai: Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact, has just recently launched Honkai: Star Rail. The game is a RPG Gacha video game but unlike their previous games, this one comes with a turn-based combat but Honkai: Star Rail still share some elements from the two games including some mechanics and also their graphics and design.
Honkai: Star Rail running on Macbook Pro 14″ M1 Pro
Before you proceed to our guide, be sure that you’re using an Apple Silicon Mac. Playcover works on only M1 CPUs and if you’re still using an Intel Mac, it’s recommended that you install Windows and install the Windows client of the game instead.
Note: This might fall under client modification so use it at your own risk!
Download the latest PlayCover Nightly version here
Install PlayCover and drag it into your Applications folder
Open the PlayCover nightly app and click open on the system prompt
Click Install when prompted regarding the installation of Xcode Command Line Tools (This may take some time to install)
Authenticate the installation of osascript with Touch ID or password
Download an unencrypted Honkai: Star Rail from external sources or from your device. (You can check other external sources here)
Drag the .ipa of Honkai Star Rail and install the .ipa
Right click on the Honkai: Star Rail App and click on settings
Click on the the Bypasses tab and be sure to tick Enable Playchain and click on OK
Right click on the Honkai: Star Rail App again on the PlayCover app and click Import Keymapping and choose the Honkai: Star Rail Keymapping folder
Open and enjoy playing Honkai: Star Rail on your Mac!
It’s little bit problematic as this one is an iPad app so the keymapping isn’t perfect unlike the PC Client and you still have to rely on disabling the keymapping sometimes by pressing the option button on your keyboard to navigate on conversations and click thru the puzzles in game.
Google and YouTube are ramping up their efforts to combat misinformation in the Philippines, a country that currently leads the world in Google searches for “fake news” and “misinformation” in 2023. This indicates a growing interest among Filipinos in understanding these crucial issues.
Mervin Wenke, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Google Philippines, emphasized the importance of access to reliable information and content. He highlighted the need to empower media, creators, and fact-checkers worldwide in providing accurate information to online users.
To achieve this goal, Google and YouTube have introduced various tools and strategies, including the “About This Result” feature in Google Search. Now available in Filipino, the feature offers additional context for search results, allowing users to better understand the source of the information.
To maintain a responsible online environment, YouTube enforces Community Guidelines as a code of conduct for users, with penalties for violations. Google also offers fact-checking training and workshops for journalists worldwide, having trained over 177,500 individuals across the Asia Pacific region alone.
On YouTube, a Breaking News shelf has been implemented to provide quick access to authoritative news sources during significant events. Additionally, Information Panels are available for topics prone to misinformation, offering third-party sources to ensure accuracy.
Supporting fact-checking organizations, Google and YouTube provide grants to strengthen these efforts, including a $13.2 million grant to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) for launching the Global Fact-Check Fund. The fund is open for applications from IFCN’s 135 fact-checking organizations across 65 countries until May 15, 2023.
Apart from these initiatives, Google and YouTube are committed to helping media and creators deliver quality content and journalism, even in new popular formats such as short videos. This reflects the tech giants’ ongoing dedication to ensuring that accurate and trustworthy information remains accessible to users worldwide.
A new batch of renders from CAD files from @onleaks offers a closer look at the upcoming device. The newly surfaced renders showcase the folder-shaped external display on the Galaxy Z Flip5 and a flatter side frame compared to the current Flip4 design. The camera alignment has also shifted to a horizontal orientation, accommodating the new outer display shape.
The renders also hint at a revamped hinge design, with a nearly invisible gap between the two halves of the phone. The hinge appears flatter, potentially explaining Samsung’s decision to opt for a flat frame this time around.
While further details on the Galaxy Z Flip5’s official specifications and release date remain under wraps, these latest images provide a compelling look at the design evolution of Samsung’s next-generation foldable smartphone and its outer display is definitely exciting to see.
Looks like OnePlus is completing the ecosystem as the company has just announced their tablet, the OnePlus Pad.
It might not got head to head with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series but this one has a couple of interesting hardware including the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor inside along with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. For the display, there’s the 11.6-inch 2800×2000 display which is pretty large and of course, there’s the quad speaker as well for better multimedia immersion.
The OnePlus Pad also supports a magnetic keyboard with a touchpad similar to the Magic keyboard of the iPad Pro and also the OnePlus Stylo, their own stylus.
The OnePlus Pad is definitely one of the most exciting products from the company as this one is priced at only USD 479. No word yet regarding local availability and launch.
HONOR Philippines, celebrates the opening of its third and fourth experience stores in SM City Marilao and SM City Marikina. The successful launches were officiated by HONOR Philippines executives and SM City representatives. The rapid expansion highlights the brand’s commitment to making its services more accessible to Filipinos.
During the store opening in SM City Marilao, the crowd-favorite HONOR X9a 5G was showcased in a limited-edition Midnight Black color. The device features a 120Hz Premium OLED Curved Display, providing a large screen with an impressive screen-to-body ratio, a 64MP Super Triple Camera, and a 2-Day Battery Life. Select fans participated in the viral HONOR smash challenge, with a lucky winner taking home an HONOR smartphone.
SM City Marilao
The HONOR X9a 5G Midnight Black is available in limited stocks at HONOR Experience Stores, partner dealer stores, and online through Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop, priced at P16,990. Visit the HONOR Experience Store in SM City Marilao at the Second Level and the SM City Marikina at Cyberzone for an immersive tech experience.
Normally, entry-level smartphones doesn’t really have something much to offer as they focus to have a balanced specifications or hardware but not the HONOR X7a because the smartphone might offer an entry-level processor but this one has a pretty large 6000mAh battery inside.
Design and hardware
For the design and hardware of the smartphone, the HONOR X7a comes with an ergonomic design and also a curved body. The smartphone is actually pretty hand to hold and I can’t actually feel that the smartphone packs a 6000mAh battery inside as it was light and easy to hold.
As for the materials, the HONOR X7a features a matte metallic back that surprisingly looks premium and feels more premium than I expected. It also houses the camera setup at the back that looks clean and then there’s the power button that also acts as the fingerprint scanner on the right along with the volume rocker.
Below the smartphone is where you can find the USB-C port along with the headphone jack and also the speaker grill of the smartphone. Since the smartphone is an affordable one, I didn’t expect too much from its charging speeds but 22.5W will take some time to fully charge the smartphone.
Speaking of the battery, there’s 6000mAh battery inside and in our PC Mark Work 2.0 battery test, we got a score of 19 hours and 12 minutes which is pretty long and one of the few who went past 15 hours. And by the numbers, that’s pretty good. In real life, We’re getting here a day a half to two days of usage on the smartphone.
Display
For the display of the smartphone, there’s the 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While that might not sound impressive, you have to remember that this one is an affordable smartphone.
That resolution might not be crisp for its display size but it’s bringing in a longer battery life as it has a smaller resolution. There’s the dynamic 90Hz refresh rate as well which adds to the smoothness when navigating on the smartphone.
As for the quality, it’s definitely not the best one out there but it’s usable outside but you don’t get to have the best quality of course. As for the colors, it was better than I expected and I do like that they have a 90Hz refresh rate on the smartphone.
Software and performance
The smartphone comes with Magic UI 6.1 that is based on Android 12. Honestly, it does look like the Huawei UI for now and it’s not a bad thing as this one is easy on the eyes and it was a breeze to use whatever I want on the smartphone.
For the processor, the smartphone comes with a MediaTek Helio G37 processor along with 6GB of RAM but of course, you could also extend its RAM by getting some from its storage.
GPUScore:The Expedition
3DMark Slingshot Extreme
Geekbench 6
When it comes to performance, it’s what you can expect from an entry-level smartphone. It’s definitely not the best one out there but it should do just fine for the basic apps and games that you need on the smartphone.
As for gaming, the smartphone can run the most basic games but don’t expect games like Genshin Impact to run at a playable frame rates. Games that are lighter would be playable such as Call of Duty Mobile and Mobile Legends but again, you have to set your expectations as this one comes with a low-end processor.
And since this one is an entry-level smartphone with Helio G37 processor, there’s no 5G on this one.
Camera
For the camera, the HONOR X7a come with a 50MP main camera along with 5MP ultrawide camera and depth and macro lenses. Thankfully, they still included an ultrawide camera on this one as most smartphones are neglecting on ultrawide to save costs and to focus on the main camera instead.
As for the camera, well, it’s not the most ideal that we can expect as the colors aren’t great and the contrasts were a miss most of the time. It’s a little bit soft sometimes as well but again, this is an entry-level smartphone so this is really what we can expect from its price range.
Verdict
If you want something that is affordable and you need a smartphone that has a long battery life then you might want to consider the HONOR X7a. It’s definitely not the most powerful but the smartphone’s battery is long and the display and usability of the smartphone isn’t that bad.
Meralco recently announced the launch of its Powertech Innovation and eXperience Lab (PIXL), a state-of-the-art virtual world rendering studio and metaverse.
PIXL is expected to accelerate innovation and improve Meralco’s business operations, offering a variety of functions that can aid in delivering reliable and stable electricity services to its customers. The lab features 10 short-throw high-definition projectors, a 360-degree projection wall, LED lights, and extended reality devices like Microsoft HoloLens and Oculus VR headsets.
According to Rocky D. Bacani, Meralco’s First Vice President for Information, Communication, Technology, and Transformation (ICTT), PIXL is aligned with the power distributor’s digital transformation goals. In addition, it forms part of its efforts to find new growth opportunities for customers, employees, and the future generation of engineers. PIXL’s functions include technology scanning, proof of concept, prototype development, distant learning, knowledge transfer, and remote support.
PIXL is also expected to serve as a venue for co-innovation initiatives with other electric cooperatives, regulators, and distribution utilities in the Philippines or other countries. The facility is designed to offer extended reality previews of different vital facilities. These include substations and business centers, simulations of critical incident resolutions, and remote support for the company’s workforce.
“As a leader in the energy industry, Meralco continuously invests in new technologies that will enhance our business operations to deliver consistent excellent service,” said Bacani. Meralco has embraced digital transformation through its Customer Centricity Transformation Program and Digital Projects, which aim to improve customer touchpoints, level up operational efficiencies and services to achieve better customer experience.
