Intel Intros 2nd-Gen Core Processors (Sandy Bridge) in Cebu

Intel Philippines introduced recently its 2nd-Generation Core-i Series of Processors codenamed Sandy Bridge.

Held at Marriott Hotel in Cebu City last April 12th, the event showcased several laptop lineups and desktop motherboards from different OEMs, all powered by Sandy Bridge. First unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas back in January 3, the Sandy Bridge is the successor to the Nehalem micro-architecture based on 32nm silicon process.



Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 Processors: Nehalem vs. Sandy Bridge

With previous micro-architecture Nehalem, Intel marketed the Core-i series of processors as Core-i3, Core-i5, and Core-i7, with representation of the performance level of each processor. Each processor is distinguished for entry-level (Core i3), mainstream (Core i5), or high-end (Core i7) consumer markets. Trying to prevent confusions between different level of users, Intel kept all existing brands from Nehalem in naming the new sets of processors based on Sandy Bridge micro-architecture. That is, we’ll be seeing Sandy Bridge processors on the shelves branded either as Core-i3, Core-i5, or Core-i7. One should note however, that all Sandy Bridge processors are technically built using a 32nm silicon die for both the CPU and integrated GPU.



Intel brings most of the common features of all Nehalem-based processors to Sandy Bridge like the integrated memory controller and DDR3 support, Turbo Boost Technology (only for Core-i5 and i7), Hyper-Threading Technology, and all other features built to optimize overall speed and performance.

Right: Germyn Wong, Market Development Manager for Intel Phils.

Jermyn Wong, Market Development Manager for Intel Microelectronics Philippines, Inc. did several demos during the event, showing the new capabilities and features of computing device powered by Sandy Bridge, particularly the laptops. From the demos, the Sandy Bridge represents not just about speed and performance; but also the seamless visual experience features that comes with it. Sandy Bridge was designed with new and stunning visual experience in mind for today’s lifestyle. Among the new visual features built into the Sandy Bridge on top of the processor graphics integrated into the chip include:

• Intel Quick Sync Video – fast conversion video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring


• Intel Clear Video HD Technology – visual quality and color fidelity enhancements for HD playback and immersive web browsing


• Intel InTru 3D – stereoscopic 3D Blu-ray playback in full 1080p resolution over HDMI 1.4


• Intel Wireless Display (WiDi 2.0) – beam movie and video contents to big screens HDTV


• Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000 – GPU which can outpace lower-end discreet graphics card performance in mainstream and casual gaming


• Intel Insider – unlock a world of premium HD movies and entertainment with your PC

The Cougar Point Issue is not a Problem Anymore



In late January, Intel found a flaw on the Sandy Bridge chipset codenamed Cougar Point in which the company issued a recall of all 67-series motherboards. Jermyn Wong reiterated that the hardware issue discovered didn’t point to the Sandy Bridge processor in any way, but only in the chipset built in the motherboards (You can read more about the story here). Wong added that Intel has already stopped the production of the flawed chipsets, and that new chipsets are already out in the market with a silicon fix. That means there’s less or nothing more to worry about the Cougar Point issue.



Availability



Laptop and desktop computers powered by Sandy Bridge are already available locally. In fact, I had spotted boxed desktop processors at the Gaisano-Interpace computer store prior to the Intel event here in Cebu.

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HP Twice as Many Prints Promo Showcases Decent Prizes to Consumers

Had a fun last Friday night at the Formo in Banilad Town Center as HP once again brings its Twice as Many Prints Promo.

It was actually an informal media event full of amusement, but the highlight was about the ongoing promo (which is now on its 4th year), offering consumers a chance to win exciting prizes. Up for grabs for 6 lucky winners are 2 grand prize packages of their choice worth Php 500,000 each- which include furniture and appliance packages, tuition fees, small business start up, office equipment, shopping spree, and a travel treat in Asia. If you do the math, that’s actually Php 6M in all for the grand prizes.

“The HP Twice as Many Prints promo is our way of giving back to loyal patrons of HP Original Inks. Through the promo, consumers are able to get twice as much with the superior-quality prints, high page yield and savings from HP Original Inks, as well as this year’s big prizes that are up for grabs,” said Armando Pascual, General Manager for Imaging and Printing Group, HP Philippines.

How You Could Win on HP Twice as Many Prints Promo

Just by buying any specially-marked HP Ink cartridges pack and registering the unique codes that comes with the cartridge, you’ll be eligible for winning in an electronic raffle. From the registration alone, there will be 120,000 random winners of mobile phone credits worth Php 100 each, and each purchase of HP ink cartridge earns you points you can redeem for bigger gifts like Sodexho Premium Pass vouchers worth P500, HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K109A printers together with free black ink, and HP Officejet K7000 printers. First raffle draw for the grand package showcases was on March 29th, and next draws will be held on July 29th, and September 13th, 2011.



According to HP, the Twice as Many Prints promo continue to reinforce the company’s commitment to offering reliable and even more exceptional printing quality through HP’s Original Ink, as compared to those used in refilled and remanufactured bottles.



To learn more about HP Twice as Many Prints Promo, just head over to www.hp.com/ph/ink.

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Aboitiz Power Alter Space Facebook Game Brings Awareness to Saving Mother Nature

Aboitiz Power unveiled Saturday at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, the first Filipino-made Facebook game with an environmental advocacy.

Alter Space is a social networking game which aims to bring awareness on how people can lower carbon footprint and help preserve the Earth’s resources. Aboitiz Power, one of the major players in the Philippine power industry, also had a chance to introduce its own brand of clean and renewable energy called Cleanergy.

The Alter Space

The Alter Space Game



Like any other Facebook game applications, Alter Space has been designed with similar programming concepts with other casual games. But what brings Alter Space unique to the social crowd is its advocacy and cause to saving Mother Nature. Basically, the game could be another portal in the most popular social networking site to learning practical tips in an environment-friendly living as it let gamers know more about “carbon footprint” and how they can help lower its concentration in a day-to-day activities.



Playing Alter Space



Got to play again Alter Space the other day (Oh yeah, I’ve already played it before last Saturday’s event), and I realized it’s one of the most enjoyable activities everyone on Facebook should engage with, as far as casual games are concerned. Read on the synopsis below, hit this link to play the game, and do let us know what you think about it.

In Alter Space, you not only have your own virtual home but an entire planet to take care of. The choices you make during the game will determine whether your planet has more or less total carbon emissions. The objective of the game is to make choices and fulfill tasks that will increase your Happiness Level while ensuring that carbon emissions are kept to a safe amount.



You must fulfill certain tasks (cooking, taking a shower, buying food, going to the park, shopping, watching TV, using the computer, etc.) in order to increase his or her Happiness Level. Every time the Happiness Level reaches 100 per cent, your avatar goes up one game level. The game goes up to Level 5.



You must continuously earn “Currency” during the game. This is done by playing various mini-games. These mini-games involve harvesting energy from alternative sources: a solar power plant, a geothermal plant and a hydro-electric plant—all of which provide energy without carbon emissions.



Alter Space also includes details and touches that showcase Filipino culture, like buying food from a “turo-turo”; playing sungka; or using a pamaypay or fan, and many others.



Some practical tips you learn in Alter Space are: a) Using natural sunlight to brighten your house as much as possible; b) Using energy-saving light bulbs in the house; c) Using a pail of water when you bathe, instead of the shower; d) Using an LCD television set instead of the old CRT TVs; LCD TVs consume less energy and result in less carbon emissions.

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Philips Electronics Join Cebu City Sinulog 2011

It’s a week more to go yet the people of the Philippines “Queen City of the South”, together with the guests from several parts of the world already feel the excitement of what’s going to be another big event in the city.

Main events of Sinulog 2011 will kick-off this Sunday, but as early as that – the city is showcasing cultural events and mall shows including those of consumer electronics.

Dutch company Royal Philips Electronics, Inc. - or best known to us as Philips – joined the city celebration of this year’s Sinulog festival. Philips held a special 3-day event at the Ayala Activity Center showing-off various consumer electronics products and gadgets - ranging from entertainment appliances; kitchenware like the Aluminum or “ALU” series of blenders, juicers, and steamers; their high-tech personal dental health care gadget called Sonicare toothbrush, as well as men shavers and women hair dryers and stylers.

“Just as we endeavor to celebrate the Sinulog Festival every year, Philips Consumer Lifestyle believes that life in itself is a celebration and intends to “Celebrate Life” with the many happy and experiential moments that we can share with families and love ones each time one uses our products,” explains Philips Consumer Lifestyle Business Leader Victor Caindec.

Prior to the tour to see the top of the line household appliances from Philips, the members of the press and bloggers had a quick briefing of the latest product lineup the company will launch in the country.

There’s the Esee Camcorder which will basically compete with Cisco’s Flip, their flagship speaker systems SoundSphere MCi900 and SoundSphere MCD900, the Fidelio Music Lounge which is a portable docking speaker for iPods and iPhones, among others.

Philips also showcased the gigantic Cinema 21:9 Platinum HDTV which is the world’s first cinema proportion 3D TV. This 3D TV is equipped with Philips' Ambilight technology which visually extends the picture on screen beyond the TV frame by projecting a halo of light from behind the TV into the surrounding walls.

That’s the first time I saw a HDTV that supports 21:9 aspect ratio, and the Philips rep told us that’s actually the first unit here in the Philippines. Awesome!



We’ll talk more about Philips' latest products this week, so just stay tuned!



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Globe Telecom Launches Concept Store at Ayala Center Cebu Active Zone

Cebu Tech Blogger was invited yesterday by Globe Telecom to witness the opening of its flagship store in the city. Globe Telecom, a leading Telco in the country, launched its largest flagship concept store at Ayala Center here in Cebu.

The Globe Concept Store

The store located at the Active Zone of the mall showcases not just as a customer service center, like the one located at SM City Cyberzone, but also as a one-stop shop for current subscribers as well as to other shoppers.

Real Gadgets at the Shop Zone

The store is designed modernly with a resemblance of the likes of Apple retail stores, in which you can see different sections for business transactions.

All gadgets displayed are real which basically allows customers to play, test, and fell the entirety of every gadget.

Skins, Leather Cases, and Accessories on the Shelf

Most of the latest gadgets are available ranging from feature phones, smartphones, tablets, as well as those accessories that will complete your digital lifestyle.



If you are still undecided which plan that will really suit your needs, you can make use of the large touch screen panel located along the semi-circular glass where gadgets are located. From within the panel, you can opt to select the best plan and the best gadget at the comfort of your fingertips. Stay tuned as I’m going to update this post with a video showing the touch screen panel in action. Check out the video below.

The new Globe concept store houses customer support services for all clients. There are also two extra studios at the rear portion of the store for presentations, workshops, and trainings available not just for the company’s employees – but also for the customers.



Click to Read Press Release

December 15, 2010

PRESS RELEASE



Globe Flagship Store takes the Queen City of the South by storm



Globe Telecom, a leading telecommunications firm in the country, continues to revolutionize the retail experience in the Philippines with the launch of its largest flagship store in Cebu City.

Located at Ayala Center Cebu, the modern 220-square meter store is one of largest flagship stores of Globe thus far. It showcases the “blueprint for the future” concept of Globe veering away from the traditional utilitarian concept typical of telco retailing, towards a digital lifestyle that focuses on the needs of the customers.



“The new look of the Globe Store reflects our desire to provide a full customer experience by offering a full range of products and services including the hottest gadgets and most affordable plans in town, coupled with great customer service and after-sales support. Our store environment was designed to make it very easy and engaging for customers to choose the communication services they need. Our customers find the products and services they need all within the convenience of a one-stop shop,” said Maridol Ylanan, Globe Head of Stores.

Created by award-winning Australian architectural firm Public Design Group, the cutting-edge design of the Store features a seamless, semi-circular, two-section layout which allows customers to easily browse around the product display as well as request for after sales support.



The inner core called the Shop Zone highlights the digital lifestyle, featuring a wide array of working mobile phones like iPhone 4 and tablets that the customers can feel, touch, and test. There are also laptops with Wi-Fi and broadband connections for everyone to try the surfing services of Globe.



The Store also carries top-of-the-line and stylish accessories for cell phones and laptops such as skins, headsets, and cases made by popular international manufacturers conveniently organized per category to make it convenient for the customers to find the best one to complement their gadgets.



Aside from the enhanced shopping experience, the Store also provides customer support services. The Service Zone houses the Self Help area for customers who want immediate answers or who need to print copy of their bill; Express Service for fast transactions such as modification of account information and subscription plan; Customer Service for more complex transactions and opening of new accounts; and Cashier for bills payments.

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