A Smart Buyer’s Checklist for Smart TVs

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What to consider when in the market for a new television set

Shopping for the perfect television for your home should be a fun experience, but all the technical details from screen size to special features can be daunting.

With all the weird acronyms, the vast array of visual display technologies, myriad operating systems, and the variety of internet-based applications to consider, how do you bring to life the home entertainment of your dreams?

“It’s important to consider your lifestyle to find the best appliance for your home,” said Nobuhito Hayashi, President & CEO of Haier Philippines. “In the Philippines, we know that family is an integral part of the Filipino lifestyle. This is why we ensure that our products are designed to help foster that sense of relationship by letting our users enjoy our products together.”

Whether you’re a university student who wants to chill while watching your favorite music videos on YouTube, a housewife who doesn’t want to miss an episode of your favorite teleserye, or a sports enthusiast who expects exceptional image accuracy when viewing a boxing match, there’s a television that best suits you.

To find that perfect match, here’s a list to guide you:

1) Size matters

What size suits you best? When buying a television, you have to consider the size of your room, the distance from the couch or bed, and the kind of viewing experience you want to have.

TVs measuring 24 to 32 inches are good for kitchens and small bedrooms, while a TV with a 50- to 60-inch screen will create a home theatre experience in the living room for the whole family to enjoy. Today’s sleek flat-screen televisions take up less space than older versions with the same screen size because the bezel (the front surround of a TV) has gotten thinner. For instance, a new 60-inch TV is roughly the same as an older 55-inch TV.

Haier’s K5000 series has an ultra-slim frame with a brushed aluminum finish and a stylish metal stand. Apart from its chic design, the K5000 series has a Time Shift feature that allows you to automatically record TV shows even when you’re not at home. The series includes models with screens size 32, 40, 50, and 55 inches.

2) HD or Ultra HD?

Resolution or the sharpness of the TV’s picture quality is measured in terms of pixels. A Full HD TV has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, while Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs, also called 4K TVs, have screen resolutions of 3840 x 2160. The densely packed pixels in a UHD TV allow it to deliver images four times clearer and more detailed than what a Full HD TV can do.

Haier’s UHD B7000U 4K Ultra HD TV is best for watching sports programs and action films. The series produces vivid colors and deeper blacks because of its Haier’s proprietary UHD engine technology with a 30,000,000:1 mega dynamic contrast ratio, along with its100Hz native refresh rate and ultra-rapid F2R600 technology. With an A+ efficiency rating, energy consumption is kept to a minimum. The B7000U 4K Ultra HD TV also has an upscaling feature that allows you to watch movies and TV programs in HD resolution upgraded to 90% Ultra HD quality. The UHD B7000U is available in 55 inches.

3) New World of Connectivity

The television is no longer just for viewing TV shows and movies. Now it lets you connect to the Internet, play games, watch your favorite online videos, and even check your email.

Haier’s U5000A is a GMS-certified Android TV that has a pre-installed Android 4.4 KitKat operating system which enables you to access the Google Play Store and download applications such as Gmail and YouTube. It also has smart control and smart share features that allow you to view and transfer photos, music files, and movies from your smartphone to the bigger screen. 

The U5000A smart TV comes with a QuadCore CPU, 8GB internal memory at an affordable price.

Haier Philippines works with Haier Research & Development Center located in Japan to give the Filipino family the best home entertainment possible through its line of Smart TVs at a lesser price tag.

Melissa Manchester & David Pomeranz Live in Manila

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Grammy award winning superstar Melissa Manchester is heading coming to Manila to headline the Big Dome show on April 2016. She's coming with another adult contemporary artist David Pomeranz and also featuring Mr. Arthur Manuntag. 

Ovation Productions brings you

MELISSA MANCHESTER & DAVID POMERANZ

Live in Manila!

Also featuring ARTHUR MANUNTAG

April 6, 2016 - 8:00pm

Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

TICKET PRICES(Service charges included)

VIP - P4,755

Patron A - P4,225

Patron B - P3,700

Box - P2,640

Upper Box - P1,585

VIP to BOX sections - reserved seating

Upper Box section - free seating

Tickets available at Ticketnet outlets nationwide and via online at www.ticketnet.com.ph. Call 911-5555 for ticket inquiries.

Visit : 

https://www.facebook.com/ovationproductions

http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7693741/melissa-manchester-david-pomeranz-live-in-manila-quezon-city-smart-araneta-coliseum

http://melissa-manchester.com/

http://www.davidpomeranz.com/

Midnight Blue by Melissa Manchester

Born For You by David Pomeranz

BRING PRESENTATIONS TO LIFE: Epson offers the right tools for better engagement and focus

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Over the decades, Epson has introduced numerous products that have filled the technology vacuum, from the world’s first quartz watch, to revolutionary printers, to the first commercialized liquid crystal color television. In its drive to deliver outstanding visual experience for consumers, Epson also pioneered 3LCD technology, the mainstay of most modern projectors. 

Never a company to rest on its laurels, Epson’s culture of innovation and technology development led the company to realize that while projected presentations using PowerPoint and other software play a huge role in everyday business life, there are more innovative ways to provide information, stimulate discussion and inspire action. 

A key to Epson’s success lies in analyzing how the company’s products can improve to meet the needs of customers.

Epson, a global technology leader dedicated to driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in printing, visual communications, quality of life and manufacturing. Epson’s lineup ranges from inkjet printers, printing systems and 3LCD projectors to industrial robots, smart glasses and sensing systems and is based on original compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies.

Tools for a better presentation

Managing the content of a presentation, using the software’s toolbox appropriately and developing effective presentation skills are clearly the responsibility of the individual presenter. But a common challenge is the use of traditional equipment and methods. An example of the traditional method is the “teacher-student, classroom-type approach”, which can be less conducive in achieving the action outcomes demanded by fast-paced organizations and businesses. 

In today’s ideas-based economy, successful enterprises are those that operate with a collaborative, team-based organizational structure. In order to facilitate the innovative problem-solving and bold decision-making that keep such companies ahead of the pack, a new business presentation model is essential. Epson realized that the solution lies in using advanced projector technology to unleash the combined capabilities of the presenter and his/her audience, and transform the whole concept of business presentations. This solution is the interactive projector. 

Simply put, interactive projectors create a participatory environment in which everyone is involved, making presentations more engaging and productive, and optimizing the value of the business outcome. The key feature is that the screen becomes a huge drawing board, letting participants use the Interactive Pen to freely handwrite comments and emphasize points directly onto the projection – which can be emailed or printed for instant dissemination or saved for editing. The higher pen accuracy and response speed make drawing as instant as writing with a normal marker pen. 

Epson is the world’s top projector maker for 15 years in a row and the leader in interactive projectors. Their latest model even features finger-touch capabilities. In addition to using conventional interactive pens, the projector can be operated simply by touching the screen with a fingertip - including opening and closing files, scrolling through pages, moving and expanding objects and adding notes, with both hands and multiple interactive pens at the same time. 

The benefit of this revolutionary approach is that it helps to break down the wall between presenter and audience. When multiple participants are given free rein to write simultaneously, the presentation comes back to life - a stimulating, collaborative and productive experience, increasing engagement and delivering improved business outcomes. 

And as a further nod to the value of group collaboration, Epson’s latest interactive projector can wirelessly connect up to 50 devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets over a network, with a terminal serving as a moderator host PC. The group moderator can display content from up to four devices simultaneously onto the big screen to link participants together for side by side evaluation of presentations, making group discussions even more broad-based and insightful.

User friendly technology enhances the viewing experience

Epson’s interactive projectors have a host of advanced features that work behind the scenes to breathe color and life into every presentation, and make the viewing experience conducive and comfortable for everyone in the room.

Projector set-up is simply plug-and-play, with a one-time Auto Calibration* and Auto Resolution adjustment. An ultra-short throw ratio reduces glare on the presenter as well as shadow interference on the screen, and the projected screen size can be adjusted up to a 100-inch maximum to fit any meeting room size enabling you to easily share information on a big screen wherever you are. You can even project smartphone content wirelessly, from both iOS and Android devices. 

Epson is well-known for its commitment to sustainability, and eco-friendly features are built in to their interactive projector range. The choice of materials – lead-free lenses, unpainted plastic housings, and chlorine/bromine free flame retardants – is designed to minimize environmental impact. 

The projectors use just up to 0.44W of power in standby mode, and energy consumption is reduced, too, with the eco-friendly auto-brightness adjustment. The luminance sensor detects the brightness level of the environment and adjusts the projector’s brightness automatically, giving you power and cost savings. Frequent and costly lamp replacements are a thing of the past, also, with a long lamp life of 10,000 hours in eco-mode.

Whether the presentation is an internal report, a sales pitch or an industry conference keynote, participants invest valuable time in attending, and expectations of value are rightly high. Every presentation should be a key touchpoint, helping to move agendas, achieve sales or build partnerships. 

Epson’s range of interactive projectors does more than merely advance the evolution of the humble office projector – they permit a revolutionary re-imagining of the traditional corporate presentation, increasing productivity, saving time and unleashing the participants’ creativity to solve problems and even formulate fresh directions for their business.

Wanted: new records to break in Palaro2016

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When Davao del Norte hosted the 58th Palarong Pambansa in 2015, record-breaking feats were showcased by a new breed of student athletes in the swimming and athletics category.

Can we expect more records to fall in this year’s staging of the Palaro in Albay?

Last year, Luzon’s best bets from Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and the National Capital Region towed the rest of the regions and mightily showed the way. Central Luzon's Balitucan National High School alumnus, Martin James Esteban shattered the 14.44m triple jump record of Mark Harry Diones with his 15.01 meter-jump.

Likewise, NCR athletes dominated the swimming pool with their speed and determination. Swimming sensation, Maurice Sacho Ilustre mined gold in a record-breaking fashion with his performance in the200m (2:07.28 min), and 100m (57.56 s) Butterfly; 800m (8:50.34 min), and 200m (1:58.83 min) Freestyle, respectively.

Team mates Christian Sy, Andrae Pogiongko, and Drew Magbagalso shone in the 400m Medley (4:07 min) and so did Alnair Guevarra, Eman Dapat, Miguel Barlisanin the 400m Freestyle (3:41.38 min) relays. The group of Ilustre shattered the 2009 and 2014 Palaro swim records.

Long-standing records in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke and 100m Breaststroke divisions were smashed by elementary athletes Jules Katherine Ong’s 28.75, Seth Isaak Martin’s 30.16 and Ethan Go’s 1:14.86, respectively.

Also, the 100m Butterfly best time on record was surpassed by Camille Buico, who broke by a second the 2013 record of 1:06.92 in the elementary category, .while Regina Maria Castrillo outdid her own 2014 record with a time of 1:04.41 in the secondary category.

The Visayan Islands athletes won’t be outclassed as they excelled through its champions from the Western and Eastern regions. Alexis Soqueño from the Western Visayas once again defied gravity as he shattered his former record of 1.92m in the High Jump category, making 1.95m the height to beat. Meanwhile, the team of Karen Janario, Feiza Jane Lenton, Gemmalyn Pino and Lealyn Sanita, set the new time record of 4:00.09 in the 4x400m relay.

Mindanao’s victors came via Efrelyn Democer and Jie Ann Calis who broke records in their respective fields. Democer’s score of 42.34m in the Javelin Throw crushed the 41.27m record established by Stephanie Cimatu in 2011.

On the other hand, Calis’ speed outran the records in the 3000m (10:10.16 min), 1500m (4:42.20 min) and 800m (2:12.27 min) event. Her neck-and-neck race with 2013 record-setter Angelica De Josef in the 800m event was dubbed as one of the best performances ever in Palaro history.

With preparations nearing its completion for the 2016 Palarong Pambansa, the Department of Education (DepEd) hopes that the athletes will see last year’s achievements as a goal to surpass. And that the name of every worthy athlete will be etched in sports history.

Kean Cipriano battle with the devil in “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil”

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Callalily vocalist and actor Kean Cipriano is in hair pulling battle with devil in in the much-awaited horror-comedy film, “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil.”

The 28-year-old actor, who has tried playing different characters in the past years, now in his most challenging role yet, Kean is excited because we are seeing a different side of him. What made the task exceptionally challenging, is his role which happens to be a gay priest!

“For me, that’s the thing naman with acting—you get to be someone you can’t be in real life. Like I can’t be a priest pero nagawa ko siya because it was my character in the movie,” Kean said.

Kean takes on the role of Father Nick, an exorcist-priest who is secretly gay. Kean’s character is called upon to cast out a gay demon that has possessed the body of a gigolo named Carlo (Alex Medina) after the untimely death of the latter’s gay lover, Kristoff (John Lapus).

Being someone who believes in the forces of good and evil, Kean was extraordinarily interested in the role.

“It was also one of the most challenging things I’ve done in my career and it certainly fulfilled a dream.”

“Everything is possible in love”

Since “Echorsis” tackles the sensitive topic of same-sex relationships and identity crises, Kean has been asked for his views on the LGBT community. 

“I love them, especially in this industry. In anything they do, gay people are really intense, they are bright. I have tremendous respect for them. Hindi naman sa gender nagbi-base ang mga bagay sa mundo. Nasa puso ng tao, sa good intentions,” he declares.

Kean even believes that a straight guy can fall for a gay person because everything is possible in love.

“Of course! In love, anything goes. When you’re in love, you go crazy; you don’t know what you are doing. You’ll drown and float at the same time, so you swim,” Kean muses.

Not quite a comedian

Kean has been doing a lot of comedies lately—on TV or the movies. Still, he doesn’t consider himself a comedian. He stresses that the people behind him and the materials he is given are what makes him effective in such roles.

Kean said:

“Hindi naman talaga ako nagpapatawa, ang nagpapatawa ‘yung script, ang nagpapatawa ‘yung mismong material, yung director.” 

 “I’m just grateful and blessed to be part of a comedy production that has good materials.”

The musician-turned-actor confesses that he has simply fallen in love with acting and just wants to share the beauty of film making with everyone. He loves being an instrument in telling one’s story.

“I’m an actor! Gusto ko lang gumawa ng mga pelikula, whether indie or mainstream. It’s all about storytelling. Kumbaga, it’s a matter of portraying a character and being an instrument of the director to tell the story that he/she wants to relate to the world,” he says.

Kean, who says that he worked with the best people in “Echorsis,” recognizes the box-office potential of the movie and believes that there is a strong chance that the movie will have a cult following.

“Laugh trip ‘pag napanood nila ‘yung pelikula! Sasabihin nila sa mga kaibigan nila, ‘Uy panoorin mo tong pelikulang Echorsis dahil natuwa ako’,” Kean gushes about the movie that was produced by Chris Cahilig of Insight 360, directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca, and written by Jerry Gracio. “I’m excited for everyone to see it!”

Completing the ensemble cast of “Echorsis” are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero.

“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.