XSTIG: Style meets sound with the new Philips SoundShooter

Colorful, compact speakers work with any Bluetooth device

Sound quality, more than anything, is what makes a speaker worthy of a place in your living room stand. They can also earn a spot in your bag (or even your pocket) if they are ultra-portable. But what if there’s a speaker that offers high audio quality, portability and style? Would it earn a place in your sound-loving hands?

That looks to be what Philips is precisely going for with its new portable speaker, the Philips SoundShooter.

XSTIG: Jabra Motion and Speak 510

With today's busy and hectic world. The need for mobility is rising and is now being embranced by many people as part of their lifestyle. And Jabra, the innovator for mobility products such as bluetooth headsets and speakers are now introducing two new products for the busy yet sophisticated business people.

Taking Mobility to New Level : Jabra Motion & Speak 510 Sets New Momentum Jabra has gone above and beyond with two new headsets recently launched; Jabra MotionTM- providing maximum mobility and the most superior user experience,whether on the road,in the office or at home. Featuring Bluetooth technology to enable even more user flexibility, Jabra Motion is completely interoperable with all mobile devices and UC platforms. All it takes is a simple touch and Jabra Motion literally follows your every move, using the latest motionsensor technology for superior audio experience and full flexibility. The second innovative product- a Bluetooth® enabled speakerphone Jabra SPEAKTM 510 which earned recognition for its exceptional design and innovation at the recent prestigious Red Dot awards.

Jabra, the world’s leading manufacturer of wireless audio solutions, is launching the state-of-the-art headset, Jabra Motion, designed to suit the rapidly growing group of mobile workers; multi-tasking at the office, in the car or at home using smart phones, tablets or laptop with ”presence everywhere” apps and Unified Communication (UC) solutions.

“We aim to help the mobile worker gain the full benefitsfrom their mobile devices and UC solutions. It is our experience that one of the most important factors for users, embracing these communication platforms and devices, is the headset which bridges the gap between the users and the promise of efficiencyand flexibility with sound,” says Mogens Elsberg, CEO Jabra.

The intuitiveness of the Jabra Motion design features allows the user to concentrate on the job at hand; not having to give second thought to the surroundings when picking up a call. With a combination of motion sensors and intelligent microphones, Jabra Motion automatically adapts to the sound environment and adjusts to ensurethe optimal and clear sound throughout a conversation, whether ina noisy office or on the road. The headset registers any movement instantly; when youpick up the headset - the call is answered simultaneously; when you start walking, the speaker volume is automatically adjusted; just as it will turn off and takes a power nap when laid down.

“It is truly the only headset you will ever need,” said Ralph Ede, Managing Director for South Asia, GN Netcom Singapore Pte. Ltd. “The Jabra Motion UC is one of the first headsets with Near Field Communiction (NFC) technology—just tap them together and the headset connects with your smartphone. You can also enjoy best-in-class wireless freedom as it features at least 10 times the range of similar headsets in the market today.”

Ede added that when used with an UC client, expect full integration, including automatic updating of your UC presence status when on a smartphone call.

Jabra devices enable users to derive the full audio experience with all the flexibility-and efficiency benefits they expect from mobile devices and UC solutions through enhanced voice collaboration.

For the Jabra Motion, the Jabra design team opted for the‘behind-the-ear’circular shape; mimicking the back of the ears’ semi-circle shape;asimplistic, yet aesthetic design element. The folding boom adds“ pocketability” - the ability to carry it in a pocket without breaking the boom arm –a key feature in the new design. The folding boom is at the same time used to take and end calls with a simple flip of the boom arm.

The Jabra Motion ‘behind the ear’ Jabra design is the 8th generation of alegendary headset wearing style that has become a Jabra trademark. Since 2000, when Jabra launched the world’s first Bluetooth®headset, the ‘behind-the-ear’design has been setting industry standards with more than 4 milliondevices sold.

Jabra Motion will keep you up to speed and in touch, any time and everywhere - it intuitively follows your every move and with the latest Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for fast pairing,you simply tab the headset withyour NFC enabled devices to connect.

Jabra has also a continuous collaboration with Microsoft and has been a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner since 2007 when Jabra launched its first optimized headset for Microsoft Office Communicator. Today, Jabra carries a broadportfolio of UC hands-free audio solutions - optimized and qualified for Microsoft Lync.

Jabra SpeakTM 510

The launch of Jabra Motion follows the recent announcement of another new Jabra innovation - the Bluetooth® enabled speakerphone; Jabra SpeakTM 510. Together, these two devices offer a powerful package of connectivity for both personal and group conversations, turning any space into a conference room.

“With the increased mobility of the global workforce, the Jabra Speak 510 was the natural next step from the award-winning Jabra SpeakTM 410 that won best in test in a 2011 Sound & Design survey,” shared Ede.

The Jabra Speak™ 510 takes audio conferencing to a new level, with a unique portable speakerphone enhanced with Bluetooth®. It features plug-and-play connectivity to PCs and any Bluetooth enabled device for enhanced mobility and freedom; a full compatibility with leading UC systems & VoIP clients for seamless integration; and an outstanding sound quality for crystal-clear and natural sounding calls that allow attendees to hear and speak clearly across any location.

JABRA takes home prestigious Red Dot award

The Jabra SPEAKTM 510 earned recognition for its exceptional design and innovation at the prestigious Red Dot awards.

Launched only three months ago, the Jabra Speak 510 speakerphone targets the mobile worker, featuring Bluetooth® technology – enabling even more user flexibility and meets increased demands for mobility, at home, in the workplace or on the go.

Its ‘sister product’ – the corded Jabra Speak 410 speakerphone was the first of its kind in the Jabra Business Solutions product portfolio and has taken the world by storm. By the end of 2012 the Jabra Speak 510 and Jabra Speak 410 has secured an overwhelming 42% global market share for USB enabled speakerphones. The latest sales figures for February show that the Jabra Speak 510 already makes up 1/3 of our sales in the category

It is only just under a year ago that the Jabra Speak 410 won the Innovationspreis-IT 2012 at CeBIT in Germany and the IF Design award - also in 2012.

The competition for the Red Dot awards has been particular fears this year with 1865 manufacturers, designers and architects from 54 countries showcasing their best products and projects on the hunt for the sought-after red dot seal of quality.

XSTIG: Sennhieser IE 800

The IE 800 headphones from Sennheiser are the ones with the most innovations per square millimetre. And for precisely that reason, these small in-ear earphones can certainly compete with much larger high-end headphones. They are brimming with groundbreaking ideas to ensure that audiophile music lovers can get as close as possible to perfect sound even when they’re on the move. 

When it comes to audio quality, ear-canal phones have been known to come up against their limits in the past. But the IE 800 sets new standards: with its new model, Sennheiser is now rounding off its top segment with a set of genuinely high-end portable headphones. “The sound of the IE 800 can easily compete with that of our high-end portfolio," said Maurice Quarré, Director Product Lifecycle Management Sennheiser Consumer Electronics. These dynamic in-ear phones offer fascinatingly brilliant trebles, precise bass response and a detailed, lifelike sound image with a frequency response of 5 to 46,500 Hz.

The IE 800 not only boasts innovative technology but also features a modern design and high-quality materials such as the scratch-resistant ceramic housing. Its puristic design language and black/silver finish give it that certain extra. The high-end earphones were developed and designed at Sennheiser's headquarters in Germany. And the new in-ear earphones will be produced here too.

Outstanding in-ear sound system 

The interior of the IE 800 conceals many small but effective innovations: the centrepiece is Sennheiser’s specially developed Extra Wide Band (XWB) driver. With a diameter of just 7 mm, it is the smallest wide-band sound transducer currently available in dynamic headphones. Its functional principle guarantees distortion-free sound even at high sound pressure levels. "Until now, high-quality in-ear headphones have used so-called balanced-armature multi-drivers,” explained Senior Acoustic Engineer Axel Grell. “Reproducing the entire audio spectrum requires several narrow-band drivers to be operated in parallel. However, this results in very slight jumps and delays in music reproduction." By contrast, the miniature-sized XWB driver developed by Sennheiser is able to perfectly reproduce the entire audible frequency spectrum and beyond. The advantage: music is played back with crystal clarity and with absolute time precision. 

The endeavour to fully exploit the sound potential of the premium headphones led to a further small but highly effective innovation: a vented magnet system. The idea is actually quite simple and was used for the first time on the HD 700 high-end headphones. “The oscillating motion of the diaphragm produces an air flow in the magnet system housing that causes the diaphragm to wobble slightly,” explained Axel Grell. “By positioning two precisely defined vent holes in the housing directly under the magnets, we can cause the air to flow in a specific direction. This minimises the wobbling motion of the diaphragm and reduces total harmonic distortion to less than 0.06 percent.

Innovative dual-chamber absorber

With the IE 800, Sennheiser has succeeded for the first time in solving what is known as the ‘masking effect’. This effect, which has a negative influence on overall sound quality, is due to the way in which our ears work. “The human ear is unable to perceive low-volume frequency components of a sound if there are much louder sounds occurring in a lower frequency range at the same time," explained Axel Grell. "This means, for example, that very loud low-frequency sounds will ‘mask’ very quiet sounds in the medium frequency range. This is particularly apparent in in-ear headphones. The sealing of the ear canal by the earphones normally causes resonances that result in a peak in the 7kHz to 8kHz range. This has the effect of masking the actual higher-frequency components. Precisely this problem has been overcome in the IE 800 by the use of an absorber. Sennheiser’s patented dual-chamber system absorbs the energy of the resonance, thus preventing any unwanted peaks. As a result, all frequency components – even the finest nuances – in the music material become audible.       

Finest wearing comfort

The optimum sound properties of the IE 800 are further enhanced by excellent wearing comfort. The housing is made of scratch-resistant, skin-friendly ceramic, while the ear pads consist of skin friendly silicone. This rules out any risk of allergies or skin irritation. To guarantee a perfect fit, Sennheiser has developed new ear adapters with an oval shape based on extensive international studies in ergonomics. According to their personal preference, users can choose from a selection of oval (SM/ML) and round (S/M/L) adapters. A protective mesh on the ear cushions effectively protects the drivers against dirt contamination.

Technical Data Transducer principle Dynamic, closed vented Frequency response 8 – 41,000 Hz (–3dB) Impedance: 5 – 46,500 Hz (–10dB) Total harmonic distortion: 24                                        © W e i g h t : <   0 . 0 6   %   ( 1   k H z ,   1 V ) C a b l e   l e n g t h :   1 . 2   m   ( s y m m e t r i c a l )    

XSTIG: Senheiser Momentum

Experience sound with all your senses - MOMENTUM, the new headphones from Sennheiser

Perfect sound can be heard, felt and seen: the new MOMENTUM from Sennheiser’s Style Selection combines an excellent sound experience with high-quality material and minimalist style. The new headphones are the right choice for anyone unwilling to compromise on sound quality and style.

The MOMENTUM is part of Sennheiser’s Style Selection. Its minimalist design resolutely cuts out superfluities, making the headphones appear understated and timeless, yet at the same time stylishly urban.

XSTIG: Canon PIXMA kicks off 2013 with new all-in-one office printers

Canon PIXMA, the number one inkjet printer brand in the Philippines for 2011 and 2012, starts the new year with a fresh line-up of business multifunctional printers: the MX927, MX527, MX457, MX397, and Ink Efficient E610.  These printers offer not only print, copy, scan, and fax, but also various printing solutions that will suit the specific needs of any productive home office.

The PIXMA MX897, MX527 and MX457 have wireless printing capabilities.  Users can directly connect to various printing options such as PIXMA Cloud Link (except for the MX457) and Creative Park Premium services, and from there, browse through a series of templates and stationeries through the printer’s LCD screen and print them immediately.  They also offer Google Cloud Print and Apple Airprint in which users can print documents mobile by connecting to the printer through their smartphones or tablets.

XSTIG: Lenovo Introduces Touchscreen Multimedia IdeaPad Z Series Laptops

Lenovo announced the launch of its latesttouch-optimized IdeaPad Z Series laptops, the IdeaPad Z400 and Z500 which are designed to take users’ PC interaction to new heights.  

“Our slim IdeaPad Z touchscreen series equipped with Windows 8 is a testament to Lenovo’s long term commitment of driving innovation by expanding into new form factors as we lead the way to the PC+ era,” said Vicky Agorrilla, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines. “The Z series blends fashion, form, and function to address the evolving needs of Filipino consumers looking for a slim, versatile, and intuitive personal computer with great multimedia and multi-touch features at a competitive price point.”

XSTIG: AMD New Processors Launched

Its time to get an upgrade, and with most of us having a lot of tasks to do and love to play hard on their computers, the need for fast response, multi-functional, and efficient parts are needed especially the processor. 

With most of us not really into the technical details of the computers, which most buyers would just look on external factors in buying one, we should also know how to make our computers better with the right parts. Its actually not that complicated. Like the basics of computers, aside from the input and output devices (ie. keyboard, mouse, monitor), the most important part of the computer is the PROCESSOR. Considered as the "heart" of the computer as it performs millions to billions of computations to keep up with the task the user demands. 

XSTIG: Huawei Ascend G600 and Ascend D1 quad XL

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveiled the Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL, its flagship quad-core Android 4.0 ICS smartphone, and the HUAWEI Ascend G600 smartphone, dual-core Android 4.0 ICS successor of the popular Huawei Honor.  

“Huawei Device strives to combine what we know people want in a smartphone with our experience in delivering against those expectations. As part of our Ascend series of best-in-class smartphones, the Ascend D1 quad XL and Ascend G600 allow consumers to experience speed, long battery life and exceptional mobile entertainment in a high-quality, lightweight package. In addition, our more than two decades of experience has allowed us to optimize the Ascend smartphones’ network search algorithm and its base station auto-search technology, improving the speed of the phone’s signal detection to further extend battery life,” said Johnson Ma, country manager at Huawei Device Philippines.  

Ascend D1 quad XL - Turbo-charged performance dynamo

The Ascend D1 quad XL is a turbo-charged all-rounder, combining good looks and performance with an exceptional audio visual experience. Combined with its ultra-powerful 2600mAh battery, it delivers an impressive 15 hours of talk time and 500 hours of standby time. The Ascend D1 quad XL keeps you on-the-go with 30% more battery power than the industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs.

Powered by Huawei’s HiSilicon HI3620 quad-core 1.4GHz processor, the Ascend D1 quad XL offers a mobile cinematic experience like no other, with its high-definition 4.5-inch, 1280 x 720 Toshiba screen providing crystal clear images even under direct sunlight. The Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL is a feast for all the senses, with Dolby® Mobile 3.0 Plus sound enhancement and Audience earSmart™ voice processor for a superb audio experience. 

XSTIG: Sony Xperia V

Sony Mobile is again on a roll for new smartphones and one of their best ones comes with resistance with water and dust! We can say its a tough smartphone with an elegant design, presenting the Sony Xperia V!

This smartphone will be available in the country this month exclusively with Smart Communications  Plus this is the first LTE phone in the country that is water and dust resistant. These are just some of the features of the new Sony Xperia V. And we all know that there are still a handful of LTE compatible devices in the market which Sony Mobile provides with this phone. With the speed of LTE expanding in the country, it pays to have LTE connection that will provide uninterrupted internet connection.

XSTIG: Upgrade Your Music with TDK DJ Sessions

In its efforts to upgrade everyone’s music experience, TDK Philippines has tapped some of Manila’s top DJs to create exclusive mixes for the brand. Who would know about music better than people who live and breathe it right? 

In this latest project, TDK partnered with DJ EURIC, DJ SANYA SMITH, DJ ACE RAMOS, and DJ ORNUSA CADNESS. Having different styles and backgrounds in music and spinning, the brand is positive that each of their tracks would appeal to a wide range of people who have different tastes in music. 

XSTIG: SM Cyberzone Opens at SM City Sta Rosa

Though I grew up in Laguna, I have never explored a lot of places within the first district which holds a lot of great places to visit like the first SM Supermall in the province, SM City Santa Rosa. This mall is placed in the middle of green fields and just along the national highway. I like the concept of the mall that looks like a big garden with a lot of vines and windows allowing sunlight to pass through and make it more close to nature. 

And this year, they have now upgraded the mall with another attraction that will compliment the growing digital lifestyle of the people living in the fast-changing city of Santa Rosa which is the premiere location with developments left and right providing a fast-paced lifestyle to the people in Santa Rosa and nearby places. And now, the mall opens its Cyberzone, which is a favorite place for the digital generation (like me), it provides an area to check out the latest gadgets and gizmos that will satisfy those electronic cravings.

XSTIG: Get Ready For Gear4 Acoustic Technology!

Speakers in the house are just not things that amplify your sounds, they must be engineered right to recreate the perfect sound that we can call music to our ears. And with many brands out in the market, its a hard to choose what would be the best. And just recently, Gear4 , a British brand for electronic acoustics has finally opened its products to be available here in the Philippines!

Gear4 is owned and managed by UK-based Disruptive Limited. Established in 2004, Disruptive Limited was one of the first companies in the world to launch a dedicated brand of iPod accessories under the Podgear label. Since the rebrand to Gear4 in 2006, its’ products can now be found in many of the leading UK retailers. Gear4 currently holds one of the highest sales volumes in the European market for both the docking audio and MP3 accessory markets. The passion for music and the desire to do justice to the capability of iOS devices have helped Gear4 evolve into what it is today.

XSTIG: MOVE App By Meralco

Mobile Applications brings a lot of convenience to many of us because of the many things they can do for us. From playing games, organizing notes, even do mobile blogging. And this makes our mobile devices very helpful, and now, Meralco, the country's largest distributor of power in the country, created a very amazing app that will further help us with our daily living.

Imagine an application that calculates your appliances' daily, weekly and monthly electric consumption and informs you about power interruptions and notifications. Helps you in knowing about your bill and also know where would be the nearest bayad centers for easy bill payments. Yes, all of these are found in the MeralcO Virtual Engine (MOVE) App! 

I installed them on all my android devices and helps me in calculating my daily electric consumption and gives me tips on how to save on electricity and also improve efficiency of appliances.

XSTIG: Dell XPS 14

Dell announced the expansion of its XPS laptop portfolio with the XPS 14 laptop. Joining the award-winning XPS 13 Ultrabook, the XPS 14 has the same beautiful, thoughtful design and craftsmanship in a 14-inchscreen size for consumers who desire connectivity and performance, no matter where they are. 

As part of Dell’s flagship XPS brand, this array of laptops enables customers to choose the one that best suits their needs. The XPS 13 is highly portable and compact for today’s most mobile users, while the XPS 14 provides long battery life and connectivity for those who need to get online wherever they are. Both laptops have enterprise-friendly features to intersect the design and performance desired by consumers with the security and services required by IT departments.  Additionally, the XPS 14 laptop is distinguished by a vibrant display with hardened Corning Gorilla Glass, and uses the latest Intel technology, such as the latest 3rd Generation processors, and Intel Rapid Start , Smart Response  and Smart Connect  technologies, to enable users to be productive, connected and responsive anywhere.

XSTIG: Trend Micro TrendLabs Tour

Everyday there are thousands to millions of viruses and trojans that are made and causes a serious security and data problem to the growing population of computer uses especially whose businesses and profession relies on it. And as companies shift from manual to automated systems in their workplaces, there is always the threat of their database and computers to be hijacked, vandalized, and precious information stolen.

That is why we need to have a trusted protection program in our computers that will prevent and block those unwanted virtual parasites that have been a pest for a computer. Here in the Philippines, we can be proud to say that we have a center that deals with these global threats and provide a number of solutions for research, prevention, management and customer service for computer and data users.

XSTIG: TOSHIBA's New Generation TVs, PCs, and New Brand Ambassador

With new brand ambassador Ms. Solenn Heussaff, Toshiba launches a leading-edge large-screen glasses-free 3D TV, a new Power TV series, and new notebook PCs -

Toshiba Philippines Inc. demonstrated today the power of its tagline, “Leading Innovation”, with the launch of its new generation of products for the Philippines: leading-edge large-screen, glasses-free 3D TV; a new Power TV series; and a new generation of notebook PCs, including the Z Series Ultrabook. The company also introduced its new brand ambassador for the Philippines, Ms. Solenn Heussaff.

XSTIG: Sennhieser Concept Store Opening

Sennhieser has been one of the global  brands in terms of technology for sound and has been a very trusted name in the industry internationally. Here in the Philippines it is used by music professionals and a common brand used for events ensuring great audio quality that most competitors cannot match.

Now they are celebrating their 20th year in Asia, they are expanding their reach to more consumers  with the launch of their concept store here in the Philippines. Also inline with the celebration is the launch of their new headsets HD 700 and Amperior HD25. 

Their new concept store located at V-mall in Greenhills is a great location as the area is known to be a tech hub for consumer electronics. They also have great microphones that goes perfect with videoke machines. Their commitment for sound quality makes them stand out plus ergonomic designs that one can wear proudly. 

XSTIG: Sony Xperia Sola UNBOXING

After some time, I got my birthday gift that I won at the raffle from the launch of the Sony Mobile NXT series launch. There is actually 4 of us who won the Xperia models P, S, U and Sola. I won the Sony Xperia Sola, and I just recently got this fresh from the box, and since there is not much information about the Xperia Sola, I have also made a exclusive unboxing video about the Xperia Sola. enjoy!

XSTIG: Sony Mobile Communications Unveils Four New Xperia™ Smartphones

Smartphones nowadays are actually getting very similar in design and functions making the phones somehow boring and to common. And when choosing a phone that suits every lifestyle is something that is something rare. For me, I want something that has an appealing design, very fast functions and  great resolution.  It would also be great if there is a functions that stands out among the other brands today.

Sony Mobile Communications, the makers of the Xperia™ smartphones brings together new phones that will revolutionize the way we look at android phones. And these new generations will be compatible and works great with Bravia, Playstation, and Vaio series.

Sony Mobile Communications, now a division of Sony Corporation, has kicked off its integration into the Sony electronics business with the launch of its much-awaited new series of Xperia™ smartphones.  The flagship Xperia S, an Android smartphone that delivers a stunning HD experience, has gone on sale in Xperia Concept Shops nationwide.  The Xperia U, Xperia P and Xperia sola will follow suit over the next two months.

“Sony Mobile brings a wealth of smartphone knowhow and knowledge of the industry, and coupled with Sony’s cutting-edge technologies and expertise, consumers will get an experience made possible only by Sony,” said Takao Kuroda, Sony Philippines President and Managing Director.

“Sony has long been at the forefront of digital imaging and gaming, and our goal now is to maintain our growth and marketing leadership in these core areas.  Simultaneously, we will incorporate our digital imaging and game assets into our mobile products,” he added.

The new series highlights how Sony can bring connected entertainment experiences across the smartphone, TV, laptop and tablet.  These Xperia smartphones showcase 

Sony’s iconic design and entertainment technology paired with the powerful performance of dual-core processors.  Coupled with Sony’s content assets, the company enables consumers to enjoy entertainment seamlessly across electronic devices.

XSTIG: Uratex Plant Tour

Ever wondered were your foam mattress where we sleep on were made? Well that is something I just found out when I and fellow bloggers took a trip to the Uratex Plant just a few days ago. The Uratex Brand has been a household name for years and known to be the best in quality recognized not just locally but of international standards as well.

 

Uratex is under the RGC group of companies which houses not only a foam factory but a variety of products and goods as well. There are four companies comprising the RGC Group of Companies' Foam Group: Polyfoam-RGC International, Uratex Philippines, Polyflex Industries and Inoac Philippines Corp. (the latter is a joint venture with Inoac Co. of Japan). The company is now on its 44th year and also producing products for export.