3 common causes of WiFi dead zones in your home – and what you can do about them

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It's probably happened to you many times: one minute you're enjoying fast WiFi while streaming in the living room, only to lose your signal the moment you step into your bedroom. Or when you're video calling seamlessly from your bedroom, but get disconnected the minute you go inside the bathroom? How about having the urge to Google something, but for some reason just can’t connect from your dining room?

You’re probably in a WiFi dead zone. As the name implies, it’s that part of your house where your WiFi connection just doesn’t seem to work. Don’t worry—it’s not as supernatural as it sounds. In fact, WiFi dead zones are common, and you can do something about them if you just know where to look and what to check. If you’re dealing with WiFi dead zones at home, here are factors that may be affecting how fast you can stream, surf, or download:

Distance from the modem. When it comes to your home WiFi, you always have to consider the distance of your main internet modem to the gadget you’re using. If you’re in one room and the modem is in another, the furniture, doors, walls and even floors can interfere with your connection. A typical 2.4GHz Wi-Fi router can efficiently cover an indoor space of up to 46 meters, and when you move further away from the router, the signal gets weaker. If you live in pretty big house, you’ll definitely need to expand your router’s signal.

Signal-blocking devices. Metal objects, such as furniture, decoration, and household appliances can block signal from your router. Concrete walls and dividers, microwave ovens, and LED lights can also cause interference. Even water and moisture—which can come from unexpected places like plant pots, flower vases, air-conditioners, or an open bathroom door— can weaken wireless signals.

Bandwidth hoggers. When you have too many people connecting to your WiFi, of course, your connection will bog down. Downloading heavy torrent files, playing online games or video streaming can use up most of the bandwidth allocation.

So what can you do?

Depending on the service provider and router you have, you can always go online and look for DIY solutions to determine and remove signal barriers in your home. You may also contact your broadband provider for solutions and tips on how to have optimal Wi-Fi performance.

 If you are a PLDT Home subscriber, you have the exclusive privilege of enjoying the Whole Home WiFi service, which uses signal-enhancing devices that connect the entire home to a strong all-in-one broadband and smart WiFi network. This simply means that you won’t have to worry about common WiFi woes because PLDT will customize a tailor-fit a WiFi solution for your home. This means you can enjoy your Netflix shows in the bedroom, watch cooking tutorials in your kitchen, and even stream your favorite songs while in the shower!

Moreover, with Whole Home WiFi service, you have the convenience of consulting your dedicated Home Geek Squad — an expert team whose sole aim is to help you enjoy the best connection in the comfort of your home. You can sit back and relax as they will do a thorough assessment of your place, provide actionable recommendations and implement installations to enhance WiFi performance. You can also call them anytime for after-sales support.

If you have a PLDT Home Fibr or DSL Plan 1899 or below, you can simply upgrade to Plan 3499 to get internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps bundled with the Whole Home WiFi service. If you have a Fibr Plan 2899 subscription, you can simply add P600 to your monthly plan to enjoy the service. Meanwhile, if you are a Fibr Plan 8000 user, all you need to do is extend your subscription from 24 months to 36 months to automatically get Whole Home WiFi on top of your internet speeds of up to 1Gbps.        

With PLDT Whole Home Wifi System, get strong connections everywhere at home. Visit www.pldthome.com/wholehomesystem to find out how you can enjoy the Whole Home WiFi service and make the most of high-speed internet at home.

Home Credit and Samsung roll out exciting promos for Father's Day

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Thinking of the perfect present? This gift guide might help.

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the heroes of our lives by giving them a special treat to remind them of how much we adore them? For those of you who are drawing a blank on what to give these special men, Home Credit is giving you a treat with its latest rollout of promos for Samsung’s line of phones. After all, is there a better gift than a mobile phone that can help them stay constantly connected with their family?

A is for Awesome

The Galaxy A6 is Samsung’s answer to the mid-range phone market who are looking for a feature-packed smartphone with an affordable price tag. Slim and compact, the Galaxy A6 is designed for the busybodies who want something that’s robust in functions but still slim and compact. Armed with a 3GB RAM and 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 OctaCore processor, the model is ideal for those who need to constantly multi-task with their apps.

In terms of display, the Galaxy A6 is still a performer with its 5.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display and good color rendition. The man of the house may even take a liking to taking photos and selfies (if he doesn’t fancy it yet!) with the phone’s 16 megapixel rear and front camera. The Galaxy A6 also looks sophisticated with its slender full metal unibody and a fingerprint scanner module.

You can get the Samsung Galaxy A6 through Home Credit’s 9-month, 0% deal from June 7 until September 30. The promo can cover a financed amount ranging from Php 3,000 to Php 12,800.

J6 for the Modern Dad

The Samsung Galaxy J6 model boasts of the features that the brand’s J-series is known for, though it does give a refreshing take when it comes to design. With its 5.6-inch Super AMOLED panels that offer 720 x 1480 pixels, it offers the user crisp colors and contrast that other Samsung models offer. It comes with a sleek body that doesn’t pick up unnecessary smudges from fingerprints while its 8.2mm thickness makes it comfortable to the grip.

In terms of software, the Galaxy J6 runs on the OctaCore 1.6GHz Exynos 7870. The model is also equipped with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage that can hold its own when it comes to performance. If your dad is a lover of mobile games, he will be pleased with the J6’s capacity to support long-term gaming capacity with its 3000mAh battery power.

Home Credit is now offering a six-month, 0% campaign for the Samsung J6 from June 7 until June 30. Just visit any Home Credit partner store to get a financed amount range of Php 3,000 to Php 10,900 off the model!

Go the extra mile with the A6+

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ gets brownie points for its aesthetics and useful software features. Its sturdy metal build is perfect for the minimalist but classy man of the house who values ease of use when it comes to design. The display of the A6+ is impressive as well thanks to the Full HD+ resolution that makes everything bright, crisp, and immersive.

In terms of function, the model uses a 1.8GHz OctaCore Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 4GB RAM. One particularly nice feature that your father will probably love is Bixby which lets the smartphone remind the user about appointments, find information, and access helpful apps and content. It’s like having a personal file assistant in the palm of your hands!

Camera-wise, the A6+ is set up with a 16 + 5MP Professional Dual Camera and a 24MP front camera. The camera app includes features like AR stickers and selfie focus.

Want to get the Samsung A6+ Home Credit is offering a 12-month, 0% percent promo with a financed amount range of Php 3,000 to Php 17,800 from June 7 to June 30.

Thinking of an ideal gift for the man of the house can be daunting, especially if you also have to consider your budget. Thankfully, Home Credit makes this easier with its friendly in-store financing offerings. To avail them, simply approach a Home Credit sales associate in any of its partner stores, submit two (2) valid IDs, and wait for your application to be processed. Now it’s easier to treat your father with the gift he deserves.

Tens of thousands of Citi volunteers celebrate Global Community Day in the Philippines

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Citi recently celebrated its annual Global Community Day, as more than 5,000 Citi volunteers in the Philippines engage in service activities in their local communities. 

In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, more than 100,000 Citi colleagues, alumni, clients, family and friends in more than 450 cities across 90 countries and territories volunteer on 1,400 service projects that are helping address a range of community needs, from feeding the hungry to revitalizing schools for a better learning environment to preparing young people for jobs.

Annual event contributes nearly four million hours of service since launch

Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed is joined by more than 300 volunteers to paint chairs and cover books for “Brigada Eskwela” at the Upper Bicutan Elementary School in Taguig, as part of Citi’s worldwide Global Community Day celebration

On Global Community Day, Citi volunteers invest their time and efforts alongside community and nonprofit partners on service opportunities that help create thriving neighborhoods. Some of these volunteer efforts complement the year-round philanthropic and business-led initiatives, including the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress, that help make our communities stronger. 

“Citi is committed to making a positive difference in the Philippines. Participation in our Global Community Day continues to grow every year and I’m proud to volunteer alongside more than 5,000 of my colleagues and their family members,” said Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed.

Since the inaugural Global Community Day in 2006, Citi volunteers have contributed nearly four million hours of service to Global Community Day projects in hundreds of cities. 

For this year’s GCD, volunteers got to take part in the Brigada Eskwela where they painted classroom desks and chairs, cleaned classrooms, potted plants and refurbished textbooks for the new school year. They also helped build and paint 10 homes and clear and plough nearby plots in Cavite; conducted workshops on career readiness and finance and legal matters; donated and sorted clothing and toys and watched a movie in cinema with street children; and took part in the Freedom Walk to raise awareness and respect for people with disabilities.

This year’s GCD partners were the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Gawad Kalinga, Bayan Academy, ChildHope Philippines, Habitat for Humanity, GMA Kapuso Foundation, World Vision Foundation and the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD).

To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2017 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citizenship.citigroup.com.

MIDAS PROMOTIONS PRESENTS, VIRAL VINTAGE SENSATIONS POST MODERN JUKEBOX LIVE IN MANILA!

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Have you ever thought how Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” would have sounded if it came out in the 60’s or if Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” could make a 1950’s prom even more romantic?

The once-popular phrase may be “everything old is new again,” but for Scott Bradlee, it might read everything new is old again.

Instead of just doing covers, music arranger and pianist Scott Bradlee formed an ensemble band of throwbox minstrels called Post Modern Jukebox (PMJ) that takes modern pop hits and plays them in ragtime, vintage jazz and other retro musical styles.

 “Today's hits, yesterday” was the inspiration behind Post Modern Jukebox’s unique retro-reworkings of modern pop and rock hits. The multi-talented collective reimagines contemporary pop, rock and R&B hits in the style of various yesteryears, from swing to doo-wop, ragtime to Motown – or, as Bradlee himself puts it, “pop music in a time machine.”

It’s an idea Bradlee had as far back as high school.

“When I was in high school, I was getting into really like early jazz, stuff like ragtime and New Orleans music and things like that,” Bradlee said. “You can imagine that most of my peers weren’t really into that kind of music. They didn’t play a whole lot of ragtime at school dances back then. So I wanted to be able to share this with my friends, and one thing I wound up doing since I had pretty good ears—I taught myself a lot by ear—I would just kind of pick out pop songs that they liked and turned them into ragtime or jazz and stuff.”

PMJ had its humble beginnings in the cramped basement of Bradlee’s apartment in Queens, New York, where he shot videos with a small group of college friends. 

The group’s big break came after doing a jazzy cover of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ ‘Thrift Shop’ which became viral, reaching over a million views in its first week and climbing to #8 on Billboard magazine’s Jazz Albums chart. Bradlee and crew then followed it up with Miley Cyrus’ ‘We Can’t Stop’ and true enough there was simply no stopping PMJ as it found its way out of Bradlee’s basement apartment and into bigger, more elaborate venues and mainstream consciousness.

Post Modern Jukebox’s choice of material ranges from the ‘80s hard rock of Guns N’ Roses to the most current hits of today and they are performed by a rotating cast of musicians, including numerous American Idol alumni, wearing the same fashion pieces as their version’s particular era or genre.

To date, they have amassed over a billion views on their YouTube channel, and they have covered artists ranging from Lady Gaga to Radiohead, Taylor Swift to  Maroon 5 and many others, giving their hits a vintage makeover like jazz, swing and ragtime.

“I take pride in putting together the right powers and personalities to create a unique and amazing experience for our fans,” Bradlee says in an interview. “We want them to escape reality and join us for the most sensational 1920s party this side of The Great Gatsby. We want them to experience what it was like to be at the New Years' Eve show that Sinatra would have hosted in the 1940s. We want them to feel the excitement of hearing the greats of Motown live and up close. Our goal is to give our audiences their favorite show again and again and still have it feel like the very first time.”

The Houston Press proclaimed, “Scott Bradlee’s project has turned into a worldwide phenomenon in quite a small amount of time, having sold out shows in more than 60 countries around the world – and rightly so.”

And as any Post Modern Jukebox fan can tell you, the experience is never the same twice, with new songs, new sounds, and new members added to the ever-growing family each time around.

Finally, Pinoy enthusiasts can now experience Pop Music in a Time Machine as Midas Productions presents Post Modern Jukebox Live in Manila at the Kia Theatre  on Friday, 14th September 2018.

Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, June 15, 2018 at 10 am onwards.

Ticket Prices:

VIP Gold Package: P9,600

VIP Silver Package: P6,645

VIP: P4,500

Orchestra: P3,500

Loge: P4,000

Balcony: P2,500

VIP GOLD PACKAGE DETAILS

Package name: Postmodern Jukebox Gold VIP Package

Package price: P9,600.00

Ticket limit per order: 4

Package offsale: 5 days prior to show date

Each GOLD package includes:

- 1 Premium Seat Location in the First 2 Rows

- Post Show Meet & Greet and Photo Opportunity with members of Postmodern Jukebox

- 1 Exclusive Postmodern Jukebox Limited Edition Tour Print

- 1 Commemorative VIP Laminate (Your pass to access the Meet & Greet)

VIP SILVER PACKAGE DETAILS

Package name: Postmodern Jukebox Silver VIP Package

Package price: P6,645.00

Ticket limit per order: 4

Package offsale: 5 days prior to show date

Each SILVER package includes:

- 1 Premium Seat Location in the First 3 Rows

- 1 Exclusive Postmodern Jukebox Limited Edition Tour Print

OPPO explores the threshold of smartphone possibilities

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For years, leading global smartphone brand OPPO has been introducing a number of exciting new technologies to the industry. These concepts, at the brink of smartphone possibilities, will help define the future generations of OPPO smartphones to come.

5x Dual Camera Zoom

As one of the forerunner smartphone brands to make "photography" a key R&D direction, OPPO has been advancing photography technologies for years.

OPPO announced the exclusive “5x Dual Camera Zoom” technology at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017. Inspired by the submarine’s periscope, “5x Dual Camera Zoom” technology uses a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens. The telephoto lens applies a periscope-style structure, where its angle is rotated at 90 degrees, giving the lens enough space for a deep zoom. Thanks to this construction, the new dual-camera guarantees a better performance while at the same time keeps the device thin. The 5x dual camera module is only 5.7mm thick, which is even 10 percent thinner than a traditional 2x optical zoom lens in a smartphone.

Full Charge in 15 Minutes with Super VOOC

OPPO’s VOOC Flash Charge is widely acknowledged as the safest and fastest charge technology in the world. The most iconic version of OPPO’s fast charging technology is Super VOOC Flash Charge, released at MWC 2016. Based on a brand new low voltage pulse algorithm and exclusive customized super battery developed by OPPO, it can fully charge a 2500 mAh battery within 15 minutes.

3D Structured Light + 5G Network

In January 2018, OPPO announced the 5G pilot program in cooperation with Qualcomm Technologies. Later on May 10, the OPPO Global Research Institute (Shenzhen) successfully demonstrated the World's First 5G Video Call Demo using 3D Structured Light Technology. 5G network and 3D structured light technology provide consumers with potentially lifestyle-changing innovations such as Secure Payment, 3D Reconstruction, AR, Gaming, etc.

These innovative concepts carry the spirit of OPPO’s continuous exploration. The company is committed to providing innovative application scenarios for new technologies in the future, with a particular focus on user needs, for our consumers around the world.

For more information on OPPO’s cutting-edge products, like OPPO Philippines’ official Facebook page or follow @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.