The Secret to Jaw-Dropping Mobile Photography of Xiaomi 13 Series: Lighting and Sensor Size

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Discover the power of the 1-inch sensor and Leica-powered camera system of Xiaomi 13 Series

How do you take Instagram-worthy photos?

While large megapixel counts are now quite popular in cameras, light plays a major role in capturing those great photos. More light means better-looking pictures.

More Light, Better Photos

This is very true with the new Xiaomi 13 Series, which boasts of a massive 1-inch sensor that captures more light and delivers superior exposure balance, dynamic range, and sharpness for your images.

Natural light is usually the most flattering, so look for sunlight streaming in from windows or snap photos during the golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset). Avoid taking photos during the midday sun because it can create unflattering shadows and washed-out colors.

Artificial lighting can also work wonders. Experiment with different types of indoor lighting, like lamps and candles, to create a cozy ambiance and achieve creative effects. Avoid relying too much on the flash as it can make your photos look harsh and unflattering.

Take your mobile photography to the next level with the phone with the biggest sensor.

Crisp Shots Even on The Go

Couple a powerful sensor with image stabilization and you get smooth, crisp shots, even when shooting kids or even pets while at play.

The Xiaomi 13 Series features a massive 1-inch sensor, co-engineered with legendary camera brand Leica. Coming in two main variants, the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the series takes mobile photography to the next level.

A Masterpiece in All Lighting Conditions

The Xiaomi 13 Pro's camera system is an engineering masterpiece. With a 1-inch, 50-megapixel Sony IMX989 sensor, 50MP wide-angle lens, and 50MP telephoto lens, this phone's camera is built to capture every moment in stunning detail and in all lighting conditions.

Just as awesome, the Xiaomi 13’s camera setup boasts of a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, this smartphone delivers stunning and dynamic shots that capture every detail.

At the heart of the Xiaomi 13 series is the Leica True Color Imaging, which allows for more accurate color reproduction in photos, resulting in more lifelike and natural-looking images. Scenes of everyday life are captured in stunning details as if taken with professional cameras.

A 75mm Telephoto Lens

An exciting feature of the Xiaomi 13 series is its 75mm telephoto lens with floating element technology. This lens allows you to easily capture distant objects with exceptional zoom capabilities while maintaining sharpness and clarity across all focal lengths. Whether you're at a concert, sports game, or just trying to capture a beautiful landscape, this telephoto lens will help you get the shot you want.

In addition to the telephoto lens, the Xiaomi 13 series also offers two distinct photographic styles – Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look. The "Authentic" style focuses on natural color reproduction, well-drawn shadows, and excellent reproduction of fine details. In contrast, the "Vibrant" style enables you to capture the moment’s emotion in vivid yet realistic colors. With these two styles, you can choose the one that best suits your personal taste and the mood of the moment.

Filters Complete the Leica Experience

To complete the end-to-end Leica experience, Xiaomi also added new Leica filters for greater personalization, Leica watermarks for that signature Leica finish, and the classic Leica shutter sound caps it off.  With the Xiaomi 13 Series, you'll be inspired to create your very own photographic masterpieces.

For more information, visit Xiaomi's official Facebook page and visit Xiaomi’s official website. Online purchases are available via Xiaomi’s Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop (@XiaomiPhilippines).

 

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Manage the Effects of Global Supply Chain Disruptions

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As the Philippines continue to experience high inflation, recording 8.6% in February 2023, Filipinos are expected to adjust their budgets and prioritize essential goods and services. While this poses an opportunity for grocery retailers to increase sales, the ongoing global supply chain disruptions have also made it difficult to keep inventory high and prices low.

According to the World Economic Forum, the invasion of Ukraine is a primary cause of much of the energy and food price inflation in many countries and is fueling a global food crisis. Extreme weather also continues to disrupt the global supply chain by impacting major shipping routes and crop yields. In the Philippines, storms in the 2021-22 crop year caused sugar shortages, resulting in skyrocketing price increases from Php 54.5 to Php 89.5 per kilo for refined sugar.

As inflation is expected to remain high in 2023, economists anticipate a recession in major economies, which will certainly affect the developing world. It is also likely this will have a significant impact on grocery retailers. Fortunately, machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence) technology, like the technology used by global supply chain leader RELEX Solutions, is able to provide insights to diminish disruptions to business operations.

Automated demand forecasting reduces operational costs

Amid rising costs of goods and services, Filipinos are becoming more price sensitive, seeking sales and markdowns and assessing which shops or channels offer the most competitive prices. Following recent gas price hikes, many online delivery platforms increased their fees resulting in changes to customer shopping patterns, who are now opting for in-store shopping. With more foot traffic expected in groceries and supermarkets, keeping a high inventory at a low price becomes essential.

In order to adapt quickly to these and other changes, retailers should leverage automation and artificial intelligence-driven insights to cut down operational costs and lower the cost of goods and services. AI helps predict the impact of demand drivers such as promotions, prices, product displays, and weather data to accurately forecast demand and optimize replenishment. For retail operations, this means that they can better allocate their manpower and avoid losses.

AI allows more efficient inventory management for omnichannel

While retailers are expected to have an increase in foot traffic, online channels will continue to be prevalent due to the convenience and savings they offer through digital promotions. According to a report by Meta and Bain & Company, the Filipino digital consumer population is the second largest in Southeast Asia at 69 million and is expected to continue growing its gross merchandise value by 20% by 2027.

With the increased demand for omnichannel, retailers should focus on removing silos within their e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses and start managing both as a single, unified business. This transformation is a laborious task that requires accurate, real-time reporting to adequately manage customer expectations, making it essential for retail brands to integrate solutions powered by AI. The right tools ensure fulfillment of online orders from stores, customer backorders, and online orders are correctly accounted for in forecasting and inventory planning, even as products are redirected from one fulfillment center to another.

AI enables a better customer experience

When retailers are out of stock, they’re losing sales and possibly customers. The efficiency of a retailer’s replenishment operation is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction and business profitability. However, a recent study by RELEX Solutions found that close to 50% of retailers don’t know how much stock they have in each store, revealing a gap in the strategic approach to accurate and effective store ordering among these companies.

To stay on the consumers’ radar, retailers need to prioritize efficient replenishment systems that address customer needs without burdening resources. With consumers being able to shop anytime and anywhere, AI and machine learning technology help brands keep the right amount of inventory, forecast changes in demand, and adjust replenishment orders, driving improvements to service, sales, and customer satisfaction.

“The evolution of artificial intelligence in retail is very timely due to the need for businesses to save up money as current economic conditions push customers and partners to minimize expenses,” said Kristie Davison, Vice President for APAC at RELEX Solutions. “AI helps retailers eliminate excess costs and manage their cash flow for better business sustainability.”

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About RELEX Solutions

RELEX Solutions helps retailers and consumer brands drive profitable growth across all sales and distribution channels by maximizing customer satisfaction and minimizing operative costs. Our market-leading, unified supply chain and retail planning platform helps retailers and consumer goods companies align and optimize demand, merchandise, supply chain, and operations planning across the end-to-end value chain. We drive record-high product availability, increased sales, improved sustainability, and the best return on investment in inventory, space, workforce, and capacity. Leading brands like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, Stokke, Rite Aid, Sprouts Farmers Market, AutoZone, and PetSmart trust RELEX to optimize their supply chain and retail planning.

Go to relexsolutions.com for more information

CSMC President honored with the Accountancy Centenary Award for Excellence

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Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) President and CEO Raul C. Pagdanganan was recently honored with the Accountancy Centenary Award for Excellence by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA). The conferment was held at the Manila Hotel on March 17, Friday, in celebration of 100 years of the Accountancy Act of 1923 in the Philippines.

Raul C. Pagdanganan,  Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) President and CEO 

Following the theme “Celebrating the Past, Transforming the Present, Shaping the Future,” the Accountancy Centenary Award was given to 100 of the most excellent certified public accountants (CPA) in the country who ‘demonstrated untarnished integrity and reputation’ and ‘have contributed immensely in the advancement of accountancy profession and national development’.

Pagdanganan finished his Business Administration and Accountancy degree at the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1981 and passed his board exam as part of the top 20 successful takers. He was appointed to the UP Board of Regents 40 years later, in July 2021.

Pagdanganan has accumulated 25 years of experience as a senior finance executive and member of management in different companies, joining CSMC as its President and CEO in September 2020. During this period, he has helped bolster CSMC’s reputation as one of the Philippines’ leading hospitals in the fields of Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology and more, with his efforts commended on numerous prestigious platforms; Pagdanganan’s most recent recognition prior to the Accountancy Centenary Award was the Dangal ng Lipi Award for Health, the highest award given by the provincial government of Bulacan, presented to him in September 2022.

“I’m humbled and greatly appreciative of this recognition given to me by my esteemed colleagues in the field of Accountancy,” said Pagdanganan. “I’m also grateful to the people and businesses who trusted me over the years, especially my Cardinal Santos family. I would not be where I am today without their support.”

For more information about the programs and services that CSMC offers, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

Chevron sponsors AmCham Foundation ScholaRun to help send youths to school

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To help send disadvantaged youths to school, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, together with its shared services center, Chevron Holdings Inc., sponsored the recent 9th AmCham Eat and Run ScholaRUN at the Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

The run-for-a-cause is an annual event by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ACFPI) to help raise funds for its scholarship program. ACFPI supports underprivileged youth through various development and education initiatives.

The scholarship enables students in high school, college, and vocational courses to fund their tuition fees and school supplies and provides allowance and guidance all to way to their on-the-job training. At least 2,000 former AmCham scholars were able to finish their studies since the program started which Chevron has always supported.

About 175 employees from CHI and CPI joined the run in support of the AmCham Foundation's cause. The event registered over 3,000 runners.

“We have been a long-time partner of AmCham and its initiatives and programs. Through this activity, we were able to further strengthen our relationship and commitment to the foundation as well as our support to their scholars. We trust that through our collective efforts, students get a chance to have a better life and more opportunities to succeed,” shared Chevron Human Resources Regional Manager Mark Quebral.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that your mere presence and participation is already helping underprivileged students in their studies. As added bonus, you also get to do something good for yourself through exercising and staying active. Chevron believes in AmCham’s cause of contributing to the community and helping people in need, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them and supporting their other events and activities,” CHI General Manager Ethan Flowers shared.

At the awards ceremony after the run, CHI Corporate Affairs Manager Arlita Narag accepted a plaque of appreciation as AmCham’s co-presenter of the 9th ScholaRUN. Hammering on its unique eat-and-run concept, participants got to taste American favorites such as pizza, burgers and donuts upon reaching the pit stop. The 9th Eat and Run ScholaRUN featured categories in 200M, 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K.

“We are very happy with the turnout and the general mood of the run. We are, after all, doing this for students and youth in need, so we are beyond grateful to all who participated. Currently, we have 50 scholars studying vocational technology at Don Bosco Makati. All the proceeds from our fundraising events, including the ScholaRUN - Eat & Run, go to our scholarship programs. So as always, we appreciate our sponsors, partners and participants who made this event possible,” said Edwin Feist, President of ACFPI.

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About Chevron

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy is essential to achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We are focused on lowering the carbon intensity in our operations and growing lower carbon businesses along with our traditional business lines. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Mommyki Launches One-Stop Mobile App for Pet Shops and Services

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Pet owners now have an easier and more convenient way to buy all their pet needs from birth to rebirth through Mommyki The Super Pet App, the Philippines’ first-ever one-stop mobile application for everything about pets for their entire life cycle. It held its soft launch during the AnimalCon 2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, last February 10 to 12, 2023.

The app is a virtual pet mall that allows buyers to avail of products and services from different merchants, suppliers and service providers located in Metro Manila.

Currently, the platform, which caters to all pets in the animal kingdom, features pet shops but soon it will include pet grooming, breeders, sitters, trainers, funeral services, boutiques, parties, hotels, veterinarians, insurance and rescue organizations, among others.

It also has an in-app digital baby book for pets to help pet parents in storing information about their pets, and monitoring vaccination and health check up schedules.

The minimum viable product (MVP) or initial version of Mommyki® The Super Pet App can be downloaded from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Mommyki® The Super Pet App is a passion project of co-founders and couple Geoffrey Ogang, a finance director in a tech company, and Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, a non-profit executive. The mobile app is named after Mommyki, the 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) dog of the co-founders’ family. The difficulty in finding products and services for Mommyki, especially when she departed in the middle of the pandemic, sparked the idea.

The co-founders are also open for partnership opportunities and investors.