Barangay 143: Philippine's Newest Basket Ball Android Mobile Game

I have a secret... When I was younger, I used to be an addict online gamer.  Gaming opened me to a whole new experience.  As I joined guilds and attended game conventions, I was able to make new friends which I still keep until today.  I have not been updated with the gaming industry lately so I decided to go to the E-Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) at the SMX Convention Center last October 28.  I was impressed by our locally made games like Synergy 88's Barangay 143.

I was further impressed that the company is headed by a woman - Jackline Chua.

The Barangay 143 game is a prequel to the soon to be animation series with the same name.  The story line is quite interesting.  The main character  Joaquin or “Wax” Rivera is a young and inexperienced basketball player. His father is a basketball legend.  As you go through along the game, he will learn from four basketball masters and he will be challenged by hardcore ballers.  Can he make his name in the basketball league just like his father?  That is what we are about to find out in the game and in the animation series.  It will also give the gamers and audience a localized feel of how street and league basketball is here in the Philippines.  We Filipinos have always loved basketball among other sports.  It is exciting to see our love be shown in the form of an android game and animation right?

The Barangay 143 is a free android mobile game that aims to give gamers the ultimate arcade experience.  Arcade games have always been something simple yet competitively motivating for gamers of all ages.  The company also plans to sponsor real basketball leagues and hold events so gamers can engage and grow from the holistic experience.

First Fujifilm Instax Coffee and Arts Workshops with Instax Mini 9 and Instax Square SQ10

A few weeks ago, I attended the very first Instax Coffee and Arts Workshop at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) Adriatico Malate Manila. 

What's cool about the workshop is that it is absolutely FREE thanks to the partnership of Fujifilm Philippines, Henry's Professional and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Check out the whole new collection of Fujifilm Instax Cameras!  The Instax Mini 9 is the latest one sold at a retail price of only 3,999 php.  It comes in various pastel colors.  If you're more technical and meticulous, you should check out their latest Hybrid Instax Camera called the Instax Square SQ10 sold at 14,999 php.  As you can guess from the name, the instax photos are in square size making it very compatible with the 1:1 instagram size.  It also has it's own control screen at the back which allows you to choose from 10 filters, control the brightness and the vignette. 

As part of the workshop, we all got to create our own Fujifilm Instax Photos for free. And, with the workshop conducted by craft master Nica Cosio, we were able to upgrade our instax photos into a colorful and beautiful bag tag.

The next workshop will be held on September 8, 2017 at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Rockwell Business Center.  Check out the facebook fan page of CBTL or Fujifilm Philippines on how to participate.

I promise it is tons of fun.  And, did I mention there's CBTL coffee and food too?  Awesome right?  So, see you all there!

How to Spot the One: The Best Features of OPPO F1s

We’ve all experienced it all before, going to countless blind dates and events, thinking that we would finally find the one, our destiny.  But every single time, we find ourselves disappointed with the results.  Sure, there were a couple of guys who really stood out and exceed during our first dates, but after a few more dates, we realize that FIRST IMPRESSIONS DON’T REALLY LAST.  Over time, we find out that who we thought is Mr. Right would actually just be Mr. Right now.

The same is true with choosing the perfect smartphone.  Every time we find ourselves looking for the perfect phone to satisfy our needs, we always stumble upon countless claims of being the best phone ever existing.  And yet, after a few months of using that phone, we realize that it wasn’t as perfect as we thought it would be.  Some would stuck up while you’re at a crucial moment of replying to your boss, some would just suddenly shut off right at the cliff hanger of a movie you chose to watch on it. 

And because I am so tired of all these disappointments, both with my love life and my smartphone, I have come up with the perfect checklist to make sure that the person, or the phone that I have in my life, is definitely the one!

CHECKLIST #1:

And no, I’m not talking about all those muscles here, though a sexy, muscular guy is always a plus!   This aspect actually talks about how hard the guy is willing to try to keep your relationship going.  And a way to check this is through his past relationships.  How long were his past relationships?  A series of past relationships lasting for just a month is definitely a WARNING sign, most of the time.  But always remember to also hear out the reason why.

When it comes to buying a smartphone, a measure of its strength that you can use is its processor.  An octa-core is definitely more powerful than a quad-core in most instances. But more than that, it’s also important to check the Random Access Memory (RAM) of the phone because a very small RAM may limit the phone’s performance big-time!

CHECKLIST #2:

Yet again, I’m not talking about whether the guy sitting across from you has 20-20 vision.  I’m actually pertaining to what it is that the guy wants in his life, or particularly, what he wants the two of you to be for the months or years to come.  And this is important because if a guy only wants you as his friend, then you better get a move on!

When it comes to a smartphone, the vision I’m pertaining to is more literal.  Can it take awesome pictures?  Because for some people like me, I actually want my smartphone to be the only gadget that I need to get by.  So as such, I should be willing to forego buying a DSLR because my phone already kicking ass in the photography department.

CHECKLIST #3:

If you haven’t seen how frustrated Adam Sandler was in the movie ’50 First Dates’, believe me, it is definitely not easy to be with someone who has to ask you who you are every time you meet each other.  And in fact, we actually love those guys who can remember all those special dates and even  the smallest things about you.  And so, if you meet someone with a sharp memory, you might want to hold onto them.

The same is true with the smartphone.  A smartphone with a small internal memory can be really frustrating, especially when you want to install as much applications as you want.  And not to mention all those pictures and videos you couldn’t save all because there’s not enough room in your storage.

CHECKLIST #4:

While I’m pretty sure there are still a lot of perfect guys out there, waiting for their own Miss Right, I also believe that not all of them are reachable.  Sure, it’s nice to dream about celebrities falling in love with us, but when we do our reality check, we realize that it’s never going to happen.  So go for someone who you can actually get, like that next-door neighbor, or that office mate that’s been secretly admiring you, waiting for your queue to let them in.

And likewise, there will always be those flagship phones which everyone would always admire but would not always afford.  Just like how I can only afford the mid-range phones, I often avoid checking out those flagship phones because I know I can’t afford them.  Instead, I go for the phone which I know can fit my budget and still comply with my checklist.

Unfortunately, after months of looking for my ideal guy using this checklist, I still haven’t found him.  But my luck actually isn’t that bad because I actually found my ideal smartphone - Oppo F1s!

Using my checklist, this is how Oppo F1s performed:

And because of this, there’s no doubt what my next smartphone will be!

ASUS Zenvolution: Zenfone 3, Zenbook 3 and Zen Transformer 3 Launch

I've been so happy with my Asus Zenfone 2 which I've shared last year so I was thrilled to be invited to this year's ASUS Zenvolution. 

Unlike last year, Asus Zenfone 2 was released before the other models.  This year, Asus Philippines launched all Zenfone 3 series, Zenbook 3 series and Zen Transformer 3 series in one event.  Yes, it's a lot so a whole day was not enough to get to know all of them but I'll try to share as much.

Zenfone 3

Zenfone 3 has 5 different models.  Zenfone 3, Zenfone 3 Max and Zenfone 3 Laser has the same exterior look but the specifications vary of course.  I've passed by Zenfone Stores around the Metro and noticed that they don't have an on-hand unit for you to check out and play.  So I'm showing you here the actual look and feel.  Also pay attention to the model name because each model has a different specification.  This post will orient you with the distinctions as you can check the paper specifications you can just check out the official website.

Zenfone 3

The Zenfone 3 is their mainstream model.  If you notice the design is very different from the Zenfone 2.  It fits my petite lady hand perfectly.  The 2.5 contour edge glass is scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass.  It no longer has a curve back.  The finish is so fine and comfortable to hold. 

The Zenfone 3 ZE552KL comes in 3 colors: Shimmer Gold, Sapphire Black and Moonlight White.  It has a screen display of 5.5" HD.  While the Zenfone 3 ZE520KL has a screen display of 5.2".  It has a 16MP ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 Camera (Sony IMX298 sensor).  

Zenfone 3 Deluxe has a screen display of 5.7".   It is a full metal bodied and is the world’s first
smartphone to use the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 processor, Adreno™ 530 GPU.  This is said to arrive in the Philippines on October.

Ever since I got my Zenfone 2, I had been hooked with the fun of mobile photography.  If there's one specification of Zenfone 3 Deluxe that caught my attention is its superior 23MP camera with the latest Sony IMX318 image sensor.

If you haven't followed me on instagram. Hope you do! =) 

I was also impressed with the quick focus and stability of the Zenfone 3 as shown by this actual test.  Zenfone 3 is the one on the right.

Although I am already happy with the double tap quick access feature of the Zenfone 2, the built-in fingerprint sensor unlock with a fraction of a second of Zenfone 3 Deluxe is really cool!

ASUS Zenfone 3 Ultra ZU680KL

 With a screen display of 6.8", ASUS Zenfone 3 Ultra is the world’s first smartphone to have ASUS-exclusive Tru2Life+ video-enhancement technology, which harnesses a high-end 4K UHD TV-grade image processor.

ASUS Zenfone 3 Ultra ZU680KL

This phone is the winner of a Computex 2016 Best Choice Golden Award.

One of its key features is a high-capacity 4600mAh battery for long-lasting performance and Quick Charge 3.0 technology for rapid recharge times, 2 minutes of Quick Charging can provide 1 hour of 3G talking time.

Volume control is found at the back and...

23MP camera with Sony IMX318 image sensor is on the upper left corner.

Zenfone 3 Brand Ambassadors Jason Magbanua, Gabriel Valenciano and Alodia Gosiengfiao

Zenfone 3 Brand Ambassadors Jason Magbanua, Gabriel Valenciano and Alodia Gosiengfiao

Alodia Gosiengfiao

Zenbook 3

ZenBook 3 UX390

ZenBook 3 UX390

ZenBook Flip

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro

ASUS ROG G551VW

So that's all I learned in a day.  Hope you find this information useful for your next upgrade.

I also have a good news for ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) users like me.  There's a free manual ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) Android 6.0 upgrade to Marshmallow already.  Here's the link.   Perhaps, with the update we can now play Pokemon Go smoothly.

3 Essential Tools to Handle Most Video-Related

Tasks nowadays most people tend to encounter videos on a daily basis – either as part of their work or personal life. Even if you aren’t actually creating videos of your own, you’re undoubtedly going to be handling video files and watching or storing them on your various devices – which is why having the right tools can go a long way to help you out.

1. Video conversion software
If you’ve ever encountered a video that you were unable to play then that is exactly why you need video conversion software. Essentially it will allow you to convert any videos to a format that is compatible with your devices, and as an added bonus you can even optimize them at the same time too.

2. Video editing software
While you may not be interested in creating videos and publishing them online, having at least basic video editing software will open up some useful possibilities on a day to day basis. Imagine being able to ‘cut out’ the parts of the video that you’re interested in and save them rather than having to store a lengthy clip when you’re only interested in a small section of it.

3. Screen capture software
Being able to record your screen will also be useful in more ways than one. With screen capture you can record streaming video, save Skype calls, webinars, and much more.

As you can see, these tools will come in handy in various ways and you can find all of them as part of the Movavi series of video programs. Assuming you’ve never tried to edit, convert, or screen capture in the past – the Movavi software should be perfect considering it will simplify the process and make it easy and straightforward.

Whether you want to convert your videos from one format to another, record your screen, or edit your videos – you’ll find that the Movavi software encompasses numerous different features and specializations. All you need to do is pick the one that relates to the task you’re trying to perform, and you should be able to get it done in minutes – at most.

By exploring the Movavi software and the features they provide, you’ll soon start to see firsthand just how useful they can be. In fact, you may even begin to wonder how you ever managed to get by without having them at your disposal.

ASUS Notebooks and Zen AiO Pro with pre-installed Microsoft Windows 10

ASUS introduces the new line-up of notebooks for every type of user, and it is made more powerful with 6th generation Intel® Core ™ processors for extra mobility and improved performance. Plus it is now made even made better with pre-installed Microsoft Windows 10!

Most Powerful Ultrabook: ZenBook Pro UX501

The ZenBook Pro UX501 is an ultra-high-performance laptop aimed at users demanding ultimate performance and ultimate style. Featuring a timeless and classic design, ZenBook Pro UX501 incorporates the elegance and style that is the hallmark of the ZenBook family.

Its slim and compact chassis is just 20.6mm thin for easy portability, and is clad in beautiful aluminum featuring the iconic ASUS spun-metal finish. Brushed metal surfaces and diamond-cut chamfers on the edges add brilliant highlights, and the keyboard surround is enhanced with a stylish laser-engraved ripple-effect pattern.

ZenBook Pro UX501 has a 15.6-inch VisualMaster multi-touch display with a pin-sharp 4K/UHD 3860 x 2160 resolution — four times higher than Full HD — and an incredible pixel density of 282PPI for stunningly-detailed and lifelike images.

IPS technology with wide 178-degree viewing angles ensures that colors and contrast are not degraded from any viewing position.

It also has high-performance components including a powerful quad-core 6th generation Intel® Core ™ processor, gaming-grade NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960M 4GB DDR5 graphics and the world’s fastest 256GB PCI Express® (PCIe®) x4 SSD.

Despite its breathtaking performance, ZenBook Pro UX501 offers users an outstanding battery life of more than six hours from its high-capacity 96Wh lithium-polymer battery.

UX501
CPU	i7-4750HQ
GPU	GTX 960M 4G DDR5
Storage	256G SSD
RAM	12G
Screen	15" 4K2K
ODD	[SATA] 8.9"mm 8X Super Multi with Double Layer
OS	Windows 10 (64bit)
WiFi	802.11bgn+Bluetooth 4.0 (Single band)
USB Port	3x USB 3.0
Battery	60WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion Polymer Battery Pack
SRP	Php89,995.00

Stylish Notebook with ultra-fast SSD storage: ZenBook UX305LA

The ZenBook UX305LA is a beautifully crafted all-aluminum Ultrabook™ that measures just 12.3mm thin, making it one of the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch FHD laptop. Its subtle and refined shape incorporates the DNA of the classic ZenBook, featuring an elegantly-tapered wedge design that has smooth and comfortable edges with diamond-cut metallic highlights.

Continuing the long-established ZenBook tradition of combining performance with luxury, this gorgeous ultraportable — which weighs only 1.2kg — is powered by the new 6th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor for seamless multitasking, and features a lightning-fast up to 512GB solid-state drive (SSD). The crisp, vibrant and stunningly-detailed 13.3-inch display has an up to FHD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Available in a sophisticated new Gold color with ZenBook’s signature spun-metal finish, or a silky-smooth Ceramic Alloy shade, ZenBook UX305 is the ultimate ultraportable laptop for discerning users.

UX305LA
CPU	i5-5200
GPU	GTX 960M 4G DDR5
Storage	512GB SSD
RAM	8G
Screen	13"FHD
ODD	N/A
OS	Windows 10 (64bit)
WiFi	802.11ac+Bluetooth 4.0 (Dual band) -Intel WIDI
USB Port	1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0
Battery	56WHrs, 3S2P, 6-cell Li-ion  Polymer Battery Pack
SRP	Php 59,995.00

 
Durable smooth and minimalist aluminum design: ASUS K555LB

ASUS K555LB have a solid build quality, and feature a minimalist aluminum design with crafted lines for a premium feel that is ideal for work or play. With a brushed-aluminum top cover finished in black and a sandblasted palm-rest, K Series laptops have tactile surfaces that invite the user’s touch. There are also attractive little design touches like the spun-metal finish on the power button and precise diamond-cut touchpad edges

Fast, responsive computing for work or play
ASUS K555LB is powered by 6th generation Intel® Core ™ i7 processor for fast and responsive multi-tasking computing; and can be specked with up to NVIDIA GeForce GT 940M graphics with Microsoft DirectX® 11 for fast and fluid gaming visuals and movie playback as well. K Series features a 15-inch LED-backlit, 4k QHD panel.

The K555LB provides 94% sRGB color gamut for accurate, life-like colors when handling design tasks, watching movies, or viewing photos.

ASUS IceCool and other exclusive technologies

ASUS K555LB has ASUS IceCool technology that uses a unique internal component layout to address palm-rest heating issues. This keeps palm-rest surface temperatures between 28 and 35 degrees Celsius, significantly lower than body temperature so users stay cool and comfortable. The 15-inch K555LB has an exclusive dual cooling system design — an intelligent thermal solution that is both efficient and silent, ensuring users enjoy a comfortable computing environment.
K555LB laptops have a seamless one-piece keyboard for a solid typing feel, along with a large touchpad with ASUS Smart Gesture technology to support a range of Windows 10 touch commands for quicker, responsive input.

Exclusive ASUS SonicMaster audio, incorporating ICEpower® technology, delivers outstanding audio quality; while ASUS AudioWizard gives users five preset audio modes with settings tailored for music, movies, or games. ASUS Splendid technology ensures accurate color reproduction, incredible detail and vibrant, lifelike colors, ensuring K Series laptops deliver stunning visuals for work, movies or games.

Value-packed with all the essentials, the X555UB reinvents your daily computing experience. Whether you are using it for work or for fun, this is an ideal machine for both productive computing and entertainment. It features the 6th generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and GT940 graphics card, Instant on that resumes your computer from sleep mode in 2 seconds and USB 3.0 for 10 times faster data transfer speed. ASUS X Series gives you everything you need for a truly satisfying multitask computing and multimedia experience.

Precise, crystal clear audio to complete the cinematic experience
On most notebooks, all sound frequencies originate from small onboard speakers. The resulting audio comes from a single source and lacks distinctiveness. Like other notebooks in the ASUS range, the X555UB comes equipped with SonicMaster technology and ASUS AudioWizard to bring you high fidelity audio. Experience omnidirectional sound and hear each individual instrument's nuances with the X555UB.

X555UB
CPU	i7-6500HQ
GPU	NV940 2G
Storage	1TB
RAM	4G
Screen	15" FHD
ODD	[SATA] 8.9"mm 8X Super Multi with Double Layer
OS	Windows 10 (64bit)
WiFi	802.11bgn+Bluetooth 4.0 (Single band)
USB Port	1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0
Battery	37WHrs, 2S1P, 2-cell Li-ion  Polymer Battery Pack
SRP	Php 44,995.00

 
Asus VivoBook 4k

 

Lessen your worries on your PC with ASUS’ notebook 2-year global warranty!
Now you have the opportunity to protect your investment with an extended global warranty worth Php2,500. This is available to select ASUS notebook models with pre-loaded Microsoft Windows™ 10.

Zen AiO Pro Z240IC

Zen AiO Pro Z240IC, the first models in the incredible new Zen AiO Pro Series (premium range of all-in-one PCs that fuse art with industry-leading technology)
 

Featuring a stunningly-elegant all-aluminum design, Zen AiO Pro looks amazing. But the beauty is not just skin-deep, with superb performance delivered by 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and gaming-grade NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960M graphics with up to 4GB of video memory.
 

Other leading-edge technology showcased in the Zen AiO Pro Series includes the latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, up to PCIe® 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD storage.

For truly-immersive family entertainment, both new Zen AiO Pro models are equipped with a powerful six-speaker ASUS SonicMaster Premium sound system that delivers 16W of incredibly rich and clear stereo sound.

Z240ICGT
CPU	i7-6700T
GPU	GTX 960M 4G DDR5
Storage	2.5" SATA HDD 1TB (5400RPM, 9.5mm) M.2 SATA SSD 128G
RAM	DDR4 2133MHz, 8G *2
Screen	23.8” Full HD 1920x1080 LED-backlit
OS	Windows 10 (64bit)
WiFi	802.11bgn+Bluetooth 4.0 (Single band)
USB Port	1 x USB3.1 (Type-C) 4 x USB3.0 1 x USB2.0 2 x HDMI-out 1 x Microphone 1 x Headphone 1 x 2-in-1 card reader 1x Power Input 1x LAN 1x Kensington lock slot
Dimensions	585(W) x 434(H) x 52~190(D) mm
SRP	Php 97,995