Cherry Mobile Flare J2s Sale on Chinese New Year

Cherry Mobile said that their Flare J2s will be sale on Chinese New Year.

 

specs:

5-inch HD display
1.3GHz quad-core CPU
1GB RAM
8GB storage
up to 32GB via microSD
8MP rear camera w/ LED flash
5MP front camera
Dual-SIM
3G
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS
Android 6.0 Marshmallow

The Cherry Mobile Flare J2s is originally priced at Php2,999 but you can buy it for Php2,499 during the Chinese New Year sale from January 28 to 31, 2017 at any Cherry Mobile concept stores and kiosks.

Apple PH introduces Battery Replacement For iPhone 6s

Apple has acknowledged that there are battery problems on some iPhone 6S models that cause the devices to unexpectedly shut down. In a statement posted by Power Mac Center (the authorize partner and service center of Apple Inc.) in their Facebook and Twitter page, they said that the iPhone 6s Battery Replacement Program is now available in their service center.

The Apple iPhone 6s Battery Replacement Program is now available in our Service Centers.
A very small number of iPhone 6s devices have been determined by Apple to unexpectedly shut down. This is not a safety issue and only affects devices within a limited serial number range that were manufactured between September and October 2015. If you have experienced the same issue, you may email our Customer Service Team through serviceupdate@powermaccenter.com or call (02)725-4PMC (4762) for further assistance.

Source: Yugatech 

New Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro 5.7-Inch Phablet

 

 The Samsung phablet was officially unvieled at the Korean manufacturer’s websitethe C7 Pro will come in the 5.7-inch form factor and will be packing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 processor.

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro Specs:

• 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor
• Qualcomm Adreno 506 GPU
• 4GB RAM
• 5.7-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 64GB expandable storage, up to 256GB via microSD
• 16-megapixel rear camera, f/1.9 aperture
• 16-megapixel front camera, f/1.9 aperture
• Dual SIM
• 4G LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC
• Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port, Always-On Display (AOD)
• 3300mAh battery

Pre-orders in China will be begin today (January 16) but there’s no information for now if Samsung plans to release the device in other markets.

Source: gsmarena.com

Top 5 Ways to Enjoy free Facebook with SUN!

 

Why limit yourself to three options when there are actually better and more practical ways to enjoy free Facebook? All you have to do is #ChooseBetter with Sun. Available to subscribers nationwide, Sun’s free Facebook offers have been expanded to five, giving Sun users the freedom to choose the free Facebook service most suitable for their needs.

“Our expanded line-up of free Facebook offers shows our commitment to give better choices to our customers,” said Joel Lumanlan, Vice President for Sun Postpaid marketing. “Now, you have full control of when and how you want to enjoy Facebook on your Android phone or tablet. There is no more reason to fear unwanted data charges. You can stay connected whenever, wherever, in whatever option you choose,” explained Lumanlan.

For  practical Filipinos, here are the easy and practical ways to experience free Facebook with Sun:

Connect to free Facebook all day, the practical way. Sun prepaid and postpaid subscribers can now take full control of their Facebook experience just by using a simple switch that appears on the upper right corner of the Facebook app or mobile site screen every time subscribers log-in to the site. By simply turning on the free data switch, you will be able to safely post status updates, comment on friends’ posts, discuss ideas in groups and even send chat messages with friends–all without incurring data charges. Moreover, you will be notified promptly whenever you access features or websites that are not part of the offer. 
Get it free with Sun Postpaid Plans. Access to Facebook also comes free with select Sun Postpaid Plans. No ifs, no buts, no add-ons needed. And what better way to enjoy free Facebook than with a new Android phone that comes with your new Sun Plan? Enjoy better connectivity too because Sun’s free Facebook offer comes bundled with Sun’s best-value unlimited calls and texts. 

Enjoy free Facebook with Sun Prepaid loads. Prepaid Subscribers can also achieve the full Facebook experience whenever they load any of Sun Prepaid‘s best-selling offers.

Facebook is bundled for free with call and text promo loads such as Text Unlimited (TU200), Call and Text Combo (CTC50), Call and Text Unlimited (CTU30). Sun Prepaid, you can enjoy access to free Facebook without any maintaining load balance, as long as you are enrolled in any of the valid promo loads. 
Get non-Stop Facebook access with Sun Broadband. You can also enjoy free Facebook with any Sun Broadband Non Stop Surf offer. Share the free Facebook fun with anyone too, when they connect to your Sun Pocket Wifi device.

Still free with Internet.org. Join over 4.5M Filipinos who are now connected to Internet.org! Using your Sun Postpaid, Prepaid or Broadband account, you can enjoy free access to basic Facebook and partner sites whenever you visitInternet.org on your device.
Only Sun allows millions of subscribers free access to Facebook in more ways than three. Be part of the growing number of  Filipinos who have made the better choice.  #Choosebetter and choose Sun today.

Game makers reflect on death of Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata

 

Video game creators and colleagues of Nintendo President Satoru Iwata shared their reactions to his death from a bile duct tumor at age 55:
___
“Iwata-san’s passing affects us all deeply. He was a true visionary who expanded our understanding of the amazing art of video games. We offer our condolences to his family, friends and Nintendo colleagues.”

– Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, in a statement
___
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Iwata’s passing. He contributed greatly to gaming through his leadership, vision and commitment to delivering fun for everyone. On behalf of PlayStation, we’d like to extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Iwata’s family, friends and everyone at Nintendo. We shall miss his passing for as long as there is gaming.”
– Shawn Layden, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, in a statement
___
“It is a sad moment for the industry. I always remember a speech he made where he said, ‘On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.’ It’s a statement that defines Nintendo in the time he led, and defines Iwata-san’s impact on our industry. He will be missed.”
– Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, in a statement
___
“Our deepest condolences and sympathies go out to Mr. Iwata’s family and to everyone at Nintendo. Iwata-san was an innovator who led a transformation in the way people think about and play video games, and who helped make gaming more accessible and fun for countless new players. He will be missed.”
– Yves Guillemot, CEO and co-founder of Ubisoft, in a statement
___
“It’s a very sad day. Mr. Iwata was a great visionary championing products like the Wii and the Nintendo DS. He changed entertainment forever. I consider myself lucky to have called him a good friend for over two decades. All of us at Activision Blizzard send his wife and children and the entire Nintendo family our most sincere condolences.”
– Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, in a statement
___
“I never met anyone in our industry who knew him who did not admire and respect Iwata. I believe our industry has suffered a great loss with his passing. The wisest among us will long try to remember and embody his character.”
– Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, in a statement

Five apps for getting rid of smartphone clutter

Like PCs, smartphones can accumulate a lot of clutter in the form of duplicate pictures, temporary files, and unused applications. All this clutter can rob your phone of performance and decrease available storage space. Fortunately, a number of utilities can help you to cut through some of the mess.

1: Memory & Disk Scanner Pro

Memory & Disk Scanner Pro (Figure A) is a utility for determining how system resources are being consumed on an iOS device. It offers a dashboard display of the current memory and disk usage. Memory stats shown on this screen include active, wired, free, system, and total. It also shows you the free, used, and total disk space. A one-click function identifies the amount of space being consumed by junk files. If you want more comprehensive information, you can drill down into additional system specs and view detailed information about the individual processes that are currently running. Once the junk has been identified and you have had a chance to review it, you can remove junk with a single tap.

Figure A

A free trial version of Memory & Disk Scanner Pro is available, but you'll need to upgrade to the Pro version to continue using the app beyond the trial period.

2: Clean Master

Clean Master (Figure B) is an Android app that is designed to help you to detect and remove junk from your phone. The Clean Master dashboard screen shows the amount of storage and memory currently being consumed on the device. This screen also details the amount of space being consumed by junk files. You can drill down into the list of junk files to see files categorized by type.

Figure B

Clean Master is free for Android.

3: Mobile Assistant

Mobile Assistant (Figure C) is a free tool designed to help you to manage your phone's resources. While not strictly a tool for freeing up additional storage, Mobile Assistant includes a rather nice cache cleaner. It examines the cache and clears out things like browser files, downloads, music, videos, ring tones, and wallpapers.

Figure C

Mobile Assistant also includes a variety of other utilities, including a sound recorder, battery monitor, camera app, QR code reader, and flashlight. The utility also provides shortcuts to commonly used settings such as Wi-Fi, Location, Airplane Mode, and Power Saver.
Mobile Assistant is available for Windows Phone.

4: Cache Cleaner Pro

Cache Cleaner Pro (Figure D) is a simple but effective app for Windows Phone. It determines how much storage exists on your phone and how much of that storage is still available. It then allows you to reclaim some storage space by emptying the phone's cache. The cache cleaning process can be completed with a single tap. A History screen keeps track of your cache cleaning operations and the amount of space reclaimed by each.
Figure D

Cache Cleaner Pro is free for Windows Phone.

5: Storage Cleaner

Storage Cleaner (Figure E) is an app for cleaning temporary files off your Windows Phone. It shows the space available prior to cleaning, the current status, and the space consumed by temporary files. Storage Cleaner is easy to use. Just tap Begin to start analyzing the phone's contents and then tap Delete to get rid of temporary files.

Figure E

However, the discovery process is a little strange. During this phase, the temporary file count steadily increases and the space that is currently available steadily decreases until it hits 0. It appears as though the app consumes every bit of space on your phone. But in actuality, the app really does free up space consumed by temporary files. In my tests I was able to recover about 20 MB of space even though I had just cleaned the phone using Cache Cleaner.
Storage Cleaner is free for Windows Phone.

5 threats to Audi's new A4

AUDI HAS RELEASED details of its all-new A4, a larger and lighter follow up to its compact executive car. It enters a market crowded with strong offerings.

Design-wise, the new model seems to play it safe with an overall look that is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

But under the skin are major changes, including new engines, a new transmission, redesigned suspension, and a bigger cabin with a posher dashboard.

Some versions are as much as 120kg lighter than the existing A4, and as a result the new model offers better performance with reduced fuel consumption.
But even as the new A4 gears up to meet the motoring public at September’s Frankfurt auto show (expect a local debut at next year’s Singapore Motor Show, buy our reckoning), it faces stiffer competition than ever.

Below are five upcoming threats to the new Audi A4. It’s a short list that doesn’t even include the strong-selling Mercedes C-Class. But whether this key new model from the four-ring brand triumphs over its rivals, it’s clear that the real winners are its target customers. Executive car buyers have never been this spoilt for choice.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Although a minor player now in danger of vanishing, Alfa Romeo is pinning its future on this make-or-break new model. The Giulia was created by a hand-picked team of engineers who were led by two ex-Ferrari men, and is part of a 5 billion Euro comeback plan for the storied Italian brand.

Alfa says the Giulia will offer Italian styling flair with cutting edge tech and a superior power-to-weight ratio to its competitors, to ensure that it delivers plenty of driving pleasure. It arrives in Singapore next year.

BMW 3 Series LCI

 

In BMW-speak, “LCI” stands for “Life Cycle Impulse”. In English, that means a mid-life revamp that brings a minor facelift and new engines to BMW’s best-selling model around the world.
The new 3 Series also gets a mildly refreshed cabin and 4G connectivity for its ConnectedDrive suite of online services (including a human concierge service from a call centre in the Philippines).

That might not sound like much, but the 3 Series has the best handling in its class and a formidable track record — in its 40-year history, on a global level it has never been outsold by any rival, ever. It should go on sale in Singapore around October. 

Jaguar XE

The British are determined to woo buyers in this segment, too, and the new XE is a serious effort from Jaguar. Instead of steel, the XE is largely made of aluminium. It’s an expensive but lightweight way to build cars, and is meant to give the XE the sort of athleticism that comes from a lack of flab.

In that way, Jaguar is taking an innovation that Audi itself is renowned for and taking it a step further — the German brand builds its flagship A8 out of aluminium.

Lexus IS 200t

This is a car that hasn’t yet been announced by its maker, but Lexus spent 10 years developing its new 2.0-litre turbo engine. After all that effort, you should expect to find the new powerplant, well, everywhere. Currently it powers the NX 200t crossover, but the all-new RX has already been confirmed as the next recipient of turbo power.

Beyond that, the IS would be a prime candidate for the new engine; a fine handling car, it currently has a smooth but lazy V6 engine. We would put money on Lexus replacing the sluggish IS 250 with a sportier IS 200t in 2016. That car would fare much better in the segment. 

Volkswagen Passat

Ironically, some of the stiffest competition for Audi could come from within (or above, given that Volkswagen is Audi’s parent). VW’s new Passat should offer a similar level of technology for less money, with key features that will be found in the new A4. It has an all-digital, virtual instrument cluster, for example, and its 1.4-litre turbo engine and seven-speed transmission are shared with the Audi.

We’ve driven the new Passat, as well, and found it to be a refined car that handles sharply and feels expensive inside. We hear it will be launched in Singapore within a month from now, too, so potential buyers won’t have to wait long to find out for themselves.

Lenovo takes on Intel with Windows 10-ready ideacentre Stick 300 pocket-sized PC

LENOVO HAS TAKEN ON INTEL and announced a pocket-sized PC, the idea centre Stick 300.
The device is very similar to Intel's Compute Stick and offers versatility in that it can connect to any display, and can become a cheap alternative to an all-in-one machine or the hub of a home entertainment system running Windows Media Centre.

The dongle-sized HDMI stick is just 15mm thick and contains an Intel Atom Z3735F processor alongside 2GB of RAM, 32GB of solid state storage and Wireless N WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity so that accessories such as a mouse and keyboard can be added.
The idea centre Stick 300 will initially ship with Windows 8.1, but will be available for a free upgrade to Windows 10 from 29 July
"Designed for consumer use in the home and on the go, the new pocket-sized compute stick is powerful enough for entertainment and web browsing, while affordable enough for existing PC owners to justify owning a second or third mobile PC option," said Lenovo.
"The idea centre Stick 300 expands the mobile computing experience and options for savvy shoppers, and is suitable for use in the home, dorm or office, while simultaneously offering portability and convenience for travellers."
Like Intel's Compute stick, Lenovo's ideacentre Stick 300 seems to be a halfway house between the likes of the Raspberry Pi, with its 'roll your own' credentials, and something that offers more flexibility than a streaming stick by having a complete operating system in a tiny form factor.
However, it will face stiff competition in this area from Google Chromecast, Roku's Streaming Stick, Amazon's Fire TV Stick, Microsoft's Wireless Display Adapter, the Raspberry Pi, the Asus Chromebit, the new BBC education box, and something called the Beelink, which appears to have similar innards to the ideacentre Stick 300 and is already on sale for slightly less money.

ASUS ZenPower: 10,050 mAh powerbank sale @ PhP795 on Lazada

Brace yourselves for June 25, as Lazada.com.ph launches one of ASUS' latest masterpieces to date: The world’s first credit card-sized powerbank, the ZenPower. With so many powerbanks that you can find in the stores left and right, finding the perfect one is just as important as finding the right outfit, especially if you don’t want to be carrying a bulky powerbank on a night out with friends – or probably with your date.

ASUS just announced its newest offering to all those who are always out and about but still require an unfailing amount of battery power on their mobile devices – the ASUS ZenPower which will be exclusively sold on Lazada.com.ph starting June 25 at noon.

With the ASUS ZenPower, you can expect stylish, lightweight, and compact design of a 10,050 mAh powerbank but with the same size as your credit card – fitting perfectly and seamlessly into your pocket. Available in Blue, Pink, Silver, and Gold, and weighing only 215 grams, ASUS ZenPower is the best solution for all urban lifestylistas who are always on the go and let style speak for themselves.

Through ASUS' mobile technology and Lazada Philippines' innovative shopping solutions, the superior quality and design of the ZenPower can now be experienced effortlessly. Shop anywhere and anytime with the Lazada Mobile App, available for FREE on Google Play and the App Store- so whether you are stuck in the traffic or in between meetings, you can still shop with the Lazada Mobile App. With Lazada’s nationwide Cash-on-Delivery network, you can pay in cash once the items are delivered to your doorstep.
ASUS ZenPower will hit Lazada's online shelves on June 25 (Thursday) at 12:00 PM.

Taylor Swift Wrote a Break-up Letter to Apple Music

Taylor Swift, the musician who’s just as famous for her disagreements with music streaming companies as she is her long list of spurned lovers, has finally offered her opinion on Apple Music. 

Two weeks after Apple released its new $10-a-month streaming service, the pop star wrote the company a public letter on her Tumblr, explaining why she’s withholding her latest album,1989, from the subscription-based platform.

Per the post, which went up Sunday morning:

“I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”

She went on, explaining that her decision was meant to be a signal of support for young, struggling musicians. 

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.” 

Swift made headlines last November when she pulled her entire catalog from the subscription-based streaming service, Spotify. (Her explanation then was that she wasn’t willing to contribute her life’s work to an experiment). The CEO Daniel Ek fired back, mentioning that Swift was on track to make $6 million in royalties from her contract with the company. 

Swift’s sparring with Internet companies is not limited to the music industry. In February of this year, the cat-lover’s lawyers sent at least one cease-and-desist letter to an Etsy store owner for selling merchandise that contained her recently trademarked song lyrics. 

Hey, in the words of the singer herself: [Insert literally any melodramatic Swift lyric about break-ups here.]

Captivated by the Chevrolet Captiva

With several jobs to juggle, I usually have an unpredictable schedule in spite of how much planning I undertake.  So what automobile should I use if I don’t know how my week will unfold or what activities will come my way?  I always keep an eye out for cars that are versatile.
Like matching bags with my shoes, I like cars with exteriors and features that can match my various activities—traveling to the office, to the TV studio, to social gatherings, or to outdoor activities.
The Chevrolet Captiva 4x2 is versatile not only in its look, but in its performance too.
As a compact SUV, the Captiva exudes a commanding presence.  It has sleek, bold lines, masculine corners, and a dual port grill in the front with the iconic Chevrolet bowtie insignia at the center.  The tough exterior is balanced by its delicate chrome exhaust tips and rear lights that project a sophisticated look.
My previous week’s schedule of activities was as varied as can be, but the Captiva 2.0L CRDi Turbo Diesel immediately fit right in.  Last week (including Independence Day), I had to drive around the crowded streets of Metro Manila—traveling to and from the office and regional trial court (for my law firm work), the CNN Philippines studio (for my TV show), the supermarket (to do groceries for the week), and commercial establishments (to attend lifestyle events and birthday celebrations). By Sunday, I drove out of town to the North Polo Field to go riding and watch a polo match. In all of these events, the Captiva was the perfect companion.  It looked sophisticated enough for my trips to the office or to social events, yet rugged enough for my grocery errands and outdoor activities.
With a seating capacity for seven adults with all seats up, I had enough room in the second row to work on my laptop and have my huge office bag on the floor next to me as I had my driver take me from one destination to another. I kept my other things in the trunk such as a bag of clothes and spare shoes (for the days I had to do my TV hosting duties, or attend social gatherings straight from the office). But for those who need more space or have irregularly shaped cargo, the Captiva’s second and third row seats can be folded to create a trunk space of 1,577L. This makes the Captiva the most spacious compact SUV in its segment.

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Most weekdays, I sit at the second row of the car while typing on my laptop or while eating my meals (in transit from one office or destination to another).  Because of this, a stable ride is important (lest I get nauseated while typing, or spill food or drinks all over my clothes). The Captiva has a relatively smooth ride due to its McPherson strut-and-stabilizer, 4-dimension, multi-link suspension system.  What’s more relevant to me is the Captiva’s self-leveling system that distributes weight equally around the car to accommodate uneven passenger distribution (because I like sitting on one side of the car).
The interiors are a balance of comfort and practicality. The seats could be reclined enough to let passengers have a comfortable nap (perfect when stuck in traffic or riding long distances). The Captiva does not have a leather interior, but I found the fabric upholstery seats comfortable. An advantage of fabric seats is that they don’t get too hot even after leaving them parked without shade under the Philippine sun.
Features of the Captiva include Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones, MP3 players, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. I also found it helpful that a charging outlet was available at the second row seat. As someone who has to be chauffer-driven during workdays, some features that I hope the next-generation Captiva would include are rear A/C controls, radio/audio controls at the rear, and bigger storage space on the sides of the rear doors. The storage spaces on the sides of the rear doors have no space for drinks or anything thicker than two inches. Also, the armrest at the rear second row has uncovered cup-holders. These are great for holding my bottled waters or coffee, but not good when I’m looking for a flat surface to place my documents or food.
Whether I was driving through the urban streets of Metro Manila, the NLEX, or the narrow rough roads leading to the polo field, the Captiva performed beautifully. The 2.0L CRDi turbo-diesel engine produces 161 hp and 400 Nm of torque. It was easy to maneuver the Captiva in small streets, uphill roads or uneven surfaces. The engine accelerated quickly when I had to overtake in the highways.  Despite its powerful engine, the Captiva proved to me that it has commendable fuel efficiency with its six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control and ECO drive mode.
So how much does one have to pay for versatility? Not much for the Chevrolet Captiva. The 2.0L FWD Diesel Captiva has a price tag of around P1.39 million, while the 2.4L FWD Gas Captiva has a price tag of around P1.29 million (with both variants having 6-speed transmission engines). That’s pretty cheap when you think about not having to change from one car to another as you change your activity modes, something that I usually have to do with my ever-changing daily activities. It’s not easy to find an attractive and compact SUV that can go almost everywhere with me, which is one of the several reasons why I found myself captivated by the Chevrolet Captiva.

Source: Chevrolet (Facebook)

Honda releases the All New HR-V

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines adds another exciting product in its stable, the All-New HR-V at the Harbor Tent, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City. The letters HR-V stands for Hip and Smart Runabout Vehicle that was designed to match the needs of customers who blend and balance career and active lifestyle.

The All-New HR-V is a new generation Crossover Compact SUV that aims to create a new market globally. For this to be realized, several vehicle values have been fused together such as personal feel of a coupe, sporty exterior and comfortability of a sedan, toughness and confidence of an SUV – high visibility, high ground clearance and full safety features and usability of a minivan – flexible seats (ULT mode), generous cargo space & wide tailgate opening for easy loading and unloading of cargo.

The interior design of the All-New HR-V was developed under the “Expansive Cockpit” concept. The seemingly conflicting values were pursued in designing the HR-V’s interior. This resulted to the HR-V successfully merging different vehicle values seamlessly. An SUV-like instrument panel and a cockpit-like satellite interface have been applied to provide a sense of security to the driver. The incorporation of high-quality material with the abundance of soft-touch materials and premium detailing emphasized by precise bezels, sophisticated stitch lines and piano black highlights exudes sophistication. Further, the high-deck center console was also adopted to create a coupe-like personal feel.

True to Honda’s fashion, the All-New HR-V demonstrates their expertise in packaging. The All-New HR-V adopts Honda’s original center-tank layout that made way for large cargo space and spacious rear seats. Furthermore, the All-New HR-V has also been equipped with flexible seats that can be adjusted in several configurations (ULT) depending on the customer’s need. These configurations are:

• Utility Mode – with the seat folded flat, used for carrying two passengers and large items
• Tall Mode – with the seat folded up, this is the mode for carrying two or three passengers and tall items like a houseplant in the second row;
• Long mode – with the seat folded flat and the front passenger seat reclined all the way back, for carrying two passengers and a very long item like a surfboard.

Under the hood is Honda’s 1.8 liter i-VTEC engine that delivers maximum power output of 141 ps at 6500 rpm and 172 NM of torque at 4300 rpm. The 1.8 liter i-VTEC engine is mated with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Earth Dreams Technology. This combination delivers exhilarating driving performance while also delivering good fuel economy.

Along with these features and comfort that the All New HR-V offers, it also has full safety features such as driver and passenger SRS airbags (with side and side curtain airbags for the top of the line variant), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Multi-view Reverse Camera with Dynamic Guidelines (for the mid and top of the line variant) and rear sensors for the top of the line, Seat Belt Reminder, ISOFIX and Immobilizer.

Furthermore, the All-New HR-V is the first vehicle in the Honda line-up locally to have the Electric Parking Brake (EPB). This replaces the conventional pedal or handbrake lever with a single button or switch. The Electric Parking Brake easily activates by slightly pulling up the switch on the center console. When the conditions such as fastened seatbelt and driving gear shift position are fulfilled, the system automatically releases the parking brake in conjunction with the operation of the accelerator pedal.

The suggested retail prices for the All-New HR-V are the following:

• 1.8 S CVT                        Php 1,190,000
• 1.8 E CVT                        Php 1,230,000
• 1.8 EL CVT                       Php 1,340,000

Modulo and MUGEN accessories are also made available which can be purchased individually or as a package. MUGEN accessories are the following: front grille, front under spoiler, rear and side under spoiler, lower wing spoiler and ventilated visor. Modulo accessories on the other hand include, front grille, front and rear aero bumper, side under spoiler, front lower garnish, running board and door visor.

Furthermore, we also offer HR-V Modulo and MUGEN variants with these accessories installed and will come exclusively with either Modulo or MUGEN emblems with the following retail prices:

• 1.8 E CVT Modulo             Php 1,290,000
• 1.8 EL CVT MUGEN           Php1,500,000

Six exciting colors are also available for customers to choose from:

• Morpho Blue Pearl (EL and E variants)
• Carnelian Red Pearl (E and S variants)
• Ruse Black Metallic (EL, E and S variants)
• Modern Steel Metallic (EL, E and S variants)
• White Orchid Pearl (exclusive in EL variant)
• Taffeta White (E and S variants)

Check out the All-New HR-V in all authorized Honda dealerships nationwide or visit www.hr-v.ph to know more about the detailed information and specifications of All-New HR-V.

Source: Honda

Nintendo sees transformation, but won’t forget ‘Mario’

Nintendo played to “Super Mario” fans on Tuesday while talking transformation as the Japanese video game giant strived to regain momentum.
“If there is a secret to the longevity of Nintendo franchises, it is transformation,” Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said during a presentation streamed online before the show floor opened at an Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game extravaganza here.
“We never let them stand still.”

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While console rivals Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were stars of theatrical E3 media events in Los Angeles a day earlier, Nintendo opted to go digital for the second year.
Xbox and PlayStation consoles from Microsoft and Sony, respectively, are known for immersive, action-packed games nearing film quality while Nintendo has built a devoted following for closely-protected franchises such as Mario and Legend of Zelda.
But the one-time industry titan has long been criticized for its refusal to license some of its iconic brands for use on mobile applications.
In a sign that Nintendo may be loosening its grip a bit, Fils-Aime announced a partnership with Activision to add “Donkey Kong” and “Bowser” characters to the video game publisher’s successful Skylanders line-up.
Skylanders has been a hit with real-world figurines embedded with chips that synchronize them to arena-style platforms plugged into consoles, essentially letting youngsters carry about customized champions they can drop into on-screen games.
Donkey Kong and Bowser will have vehicles and be part of a Skylanders SuperChargers offering from Activision in September. The play pieces will also work as “amiibos” in compatible Nintendo games.
Super Mario turns 30
Nintendo also said it will mark the 30th anniversary of its iconic “Super Mario” franchise this year with the release in September of a game that will let people create their own levels for play.
The Japanese video game stalwart on Tuesday launched a LetsSuperMario.com website where lovers of the franchise can upload video tributes.
Fils-Amie said that Nintendo’s transformation includes broadening out into theme parks, mobile devices, and even a new dedicated game platform about which it will reveal more next year.
At E3 this week, Nintendo will provide early looks at new installments to beloved franchises including Star Fox, Yoshi, Metroid, and Mario & Luigi.
Nintendo’s offerings were tailored for Wii U and its 3DS handheld gaming devices that have lost luster as lifestyles turn to play on smartphones or tablets.
The Kyoto-based company hopes to offset weakening demand for its 3DS portable game system with plans to jump into the booming smartphone games market — a long awaited departure from its consoles-only policy.
“A new source of revenue is expected from a gaming application for smart devices which will be released this year,” Nintendo said after releasing earnings figures in May.
In March, Nintendo unveiled plans to buy a stake in Tokyo-based mobile gaming company DeNA as part of a deal to develop smartphone games based on Nintendo’s host of popular characters.
Fils-Amie described Nintendo’s E3 line-up as “familiar characters and franchises transformed in unexpected ways that can only be found on Nintendo systems.”

Apple's iPhone lost to MyPhone in trademark case

The locally made my|phone cannot be mistaken for the iPhone of tech giant Apple, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) said in a recently released decision on a trademark case.
The case, filed in June 2009 by Apple Inc. against then Philippine-based startup Solid Broadband Corporation, opposed the mark "my|phone" for its being "identical" to the well-known iPhone.
In a decision penned May 19, the IPO said it is not sufficient to say consumers will be confused with the two marks.
"To the eyes, there is striking different between the words 'I' and 'MY'. There is resemblance as to the sound ... However, they are still distinct," lawyer Nathaniel Arevalo, director IV of the IPO's bureau of legal affairs said.
Apple claimed my|phone is "confusingly similar" and "virtually indistinguishable" to the "IPHONE" mark, and could be "likely to deceive or cause confusion."
"This is plainly apparent from a simple comparison of the marks. The combination of the element '/', which looks like a slanted letter 'I', with the word 'PHONE' to form /phone ... makes it identical in terms of appearance," the California-based company said.

Solid Broadband, however, argued that it has remained and maintained to be a Philippine and not an international brand, even employing local celebrity endorsers for it.
"This is a case of giant trying to claim more territory that what it is entitled to, to the great prejudice of a local 'Pinoy Phone' merchant who has managed to obtain a significant foothold in the mobile phone market," Solid Broadband said.
It also claimed that my|phone has a "very distinctive trademark" and has "absolutely no confusing similarity" with the iPhone.
Arevalo said, however, that the marketing campaigns of the two companies also bring "no likelihood of confusion of business."
"It is improbable for one who is buying or using my|phone products to be reminded of the mark iPhone," the IPO lawyer said, dismissing the case.
"The buying public should be credited with a modicum of intelligence and discernment in purchasing articles, such as gadgets and mobile phone," he added.
He argued that brand patronage or consciousness is prevalent in purchasing mobile phones.
The public is also unlikely to believe that my|phone is an Apple product since the American company has consistently been using the letter "I" or "i" for its products. 

Source: PhilStar