Experience the New Kata M4s Smart Phone

Kata finally cracked the fast-response 4G/LTE mobile phone market by introducing the Kata M4s, one of the three good Kata smart phones I’ve ever handled. It looks like a winner, so far, and like most almost-a-phablet size, guys like me always go for the big versus the small.

MY KATA EXPERIENCE

The first was the Kata M1 which I bought second-hand from a friend more four years ago. I think it’s a 5.5-inch sized phone (or maybe a little bigger) with a whooping 4000+ mHa battery. It was an engineering unit and the battery gave up two years later; unreplaceable, it now sits as a relic to a good sub-P10,000 phone.

My second was the Kata i3, which I eventually gave to a friend of mine who needed a good, reliable phone. For a 3G device, it was one of the fast-response phones of Kata, even if I still opted for the bigger size. The status is “borrowed, not given.” I’m still sentimental with that phone though I won’t be using it anymore.

And then, we come to my newest Kata – the M4s. The first reaction was, “Oh! It responds fast compared to other Kata phones! I like this.” If you’ve handled many tier-2 smart phone brands (meaning not a Samsung and not an iPhone), especially the sub-P5,000 devices, you’ll really notice the sluggishness of response; it’s like tap-then-go-to-the-fridge-to-get-a-beer activity – well, sort of. The M1 and i3s were responded faster than most. The Kata M4s belongs to these fast response smart phones.

WHY I LIKE THE KATA M4S

I have the engineering unit of the Kata M4s which by definition is like a “Beta Test” device that Kata lent me. I’m not a die-hard techie who does hardware tests. My requirements are simple, and to simplify these, I decided to put in a table or worksheet format:

Special mention are:

USB TYPE-C

I read that as far as Android-based phones are concerned, a USB Type-C connector is far better than your typical Micro USB version. For one, the latter can charge your phone up to 2.5 watts of power; the Type-C goes up to 100 watts. It’s reversible (don’t you hate it when it’s dark and you have to plug your phone? LOL!). It’s bi-directional, which means your phone can either send or receive power, something that can even charge your laptop which usually requires 60 watts. And the transfer rate is 5Gbps up to 10Gbps. Good choice, Kata!

FINGERPRINT SCANNER

The fingerprint scanner is also a nice touch, much like the iPhone 6s Plus I have. It makes it a little easier to get to the home screen (or whatever screen I left it) than having to tap in coded passwords. I haven’t had the chance to use it for other apps other than logging-in to my phone, but I’m sure the future of fingerprint scanners make the Kata M4s in tune with the times.

IT’S MADE OF GLASS

Though the front of any smart phone is made of clear glass, I’m surprised the back is also encased in glass. Wow! Which makes “the feel” of the Kata M4s a little on the heavy side but solid as a rock, so to speak. It’s like saying, “it’s not for the weak of heart”; “It’s not a dainty phone.” So, I like it.

However, they should have made it out of Gorilla Glass. It’s not; it’s simply glass-encased on top of its AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic LED) display. This means if you’re NOT the OCD type, it’s better to buy TWO clear, plastic films to protect both front and back of the phone from scratches, or any anti-scratches medium placed on top of the glass.

CURVED SIDES

I love that the Kata M4s curves on all sides, both faces, very much similar to the Samsung Edge; but not too much. The problem most people didn’t like about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was the accidental tapping of the phone when one holds the phone on its edge. I had friends return back the Edge for the normal S6. The Kata M4s (probably) also knew people’s experience on the S6 Edge and made sure the Kata M4s wasn’t as edgy as the S6. So, yeah – that’s cool!

PRICE

There’s no announcement of the retail price for the Kata M4s but I’m guessing it will be above P10,000 but lower than P15,000. It will be good if goes sub-P10,000.

CONTACT

You may contact Kata at (02) 706-5395 local 2900, e-mail them at info@katadigital.com or visit their website at www.katadigital.com.

Note: This is not a paid post.

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Money Grows on Trees, The Book Launch

Two weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me if I would be interested to attend a book launch at Fully Booked in Bonifacio Global City (this afternoon) on April 22nd. I asked what the book title is. “Money Grows on Trees,” he quipped. I hesitated with “Umm… we’ll see.” A week later, he came back to me to ask me again. Being my good friend, I agreed. It turned out, I didn’t regret it.

I made my way up through the escalators of Fully Booked until I reached the fourth floor, then up the stairs to the enclosed roof deck where the book launch was going to happen. There was probably seating for a hundred or more in the main hall, with the foyer set up with a food table, selling of the book and a previous edition entitled, “I Wish They Taught Money in School (So I Can Start My Own Business Right Away)”, a Sun Life Insurance booth, and the registration tables. I saw the word “Bloggers” labeled onto a makeshift place card and walked to it. A nice woman asked me to register. My friend, who I hitched a ride with to Fully Booked, introduced me to one of the authors, Sharon Que, who pointed me to another part of the registration area to get my goody-bag – her two books, a notepad and a bookmark.

When the event was midway, I was surprised that the hundred-plus seating capacity was almost filled up. Wow! This is one of the most attended book launches I’ve ever gone to. The daughter of a Filipino magnate was there; even Alice Dixson was there.

Sharon Que and Clarissa de la Paz are co-authors of the 104-page book entitled “Money Grows on Trees.” It’s quite different that each author had half of the book written by one, then flip the book upside down and the other author’s writing begins. Their previous book, “I Wish They Taught Money in School” is 148 pages, longer than their second book. During their presentation, they mentioned it took them 90 days to finish their second book. How prepared they were when they started is something I missed hearing.

Clearly, each one gave their reasons for writing the first and second books. They were advocates of vision boards and showed the audience what each of theirs looked like. “Passive income” and “achieve your dreams” were a few of the phrases mentioned. At those instances, I was attentive (I was busy taking a few photos and sharing them in social media – what a digital nut I am; really!), I heard Sharon say she and other business partners bought a building with only ₱60,000 cash on hand.

I fell in line to have both first and second books autographed by Sharon and Clarissa, with a photo op, of course. Mind you, the snacks they prepared for all the attendees were filling – five or six pieces of one-fourth sandwiches, chips, popcorn and juice. Cool!

Writing both books all boiled down to their advocacy of teaching financial literacy to the public, financial freedom and independency – through their books. They have a website, www.lifestyleupgrade101.com or Lifestyle Upgrade 101, where their books are sold online. The regular retail price of the second book is ₱400.

“Do I have time to read it?” Aww, c’mon. The average reading speed worldwide is 200 wpm (words per minute) and the average number of words per page of a book is 250. Do the math and you can finish a page in 1-minute and 15-seconds. Reading 104 pages non-stop will take you only 130 minutes or two hours and ten minutes. Fine. Round it up to two-and-a-half hours. That’s even lesser time than watching a Star Wars movie, and you don’t get financial literacy from Jedis and the Dark Force.

“Should I fork out ₱400 of my cash?” Four hundred Pesos is like two Grande Frappuccino drinks at Starbucks. I’m sure you can equate it to other consumable items. It’s not much to invest in a personal finance book, right? Buy one now! I’m pretty sure Fully Booked has the book stocked. National Bookstore appears in their website with a testimonial; so, that’s another place to go.

It’s Sunday tomorrow. So, marathon reading, here I come!

P.S. Congratulations to Sharon Que and Clarissa de la Paz for a job well done, not only with the event but by writing books that educate and inspire Filipinos to become financially free to fulfil theirs and their family’s dreams in life. Keep it up!

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Sharp AQUOS XU Series Launched – 4K TV with 8K Resolution

On April 21, 2016, Sharp Philippines launched one of its most innovative series of LED/flatscreen televisions at the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel Makati. It was attended by hundreds of Sharp dealers nationwide with media people in tow. The grand event was held during lunch time while an evening affair was to be conducted with the attending dealers.

Blog Ownership: https://miniphilippines.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/sharp-aquos-xu-series-launched-4k-tv-with-8k-resolution/ (Do not plagiarize.)

Sharp AQUOS XU first 4K TV with 8K resolution. What this means is that the Sharp AQUOS XU series achieves its 8K resolution on a 4K Ultra HD panel. This is the result of Sharp’s laboratory testing using a test pattern with 7680 x 4320 pixels. All these are combined with Sharp’s proprietary Qualtron Pro 4-Color Technology and its newest upscaling technology, the X8-Master Engine Pro. The result of all these is a true-to-life detail with the most vivid color expression and deepest contrast.

The Sharp AQUOS XU series displays more color than most conventional TV models around. The Rich Color Pro Technology enhances the 4-color technology with a direct backlight that expands color by 40 percent; hence, the true-to-life detail and most vivid color expression. The Sharp AQUOS XU also uses another technology, the Ultra Dynamic Range Pro which also uses the direct backlight to achieve the darkest blacks and the brightest whites to achieve awesome contrast.

For all television sets, glare has always been a consideration. Sharp AQUOS XU anti-glare technology is called N-Black Anti-Glare Technology which reduces the reflection on the screen and increasing color reproduction.

Sharp AQUOS XU Smart Remote is what ups the ante. It has a touch pad and a slide bar for quick access to features such as Google Voice Search and Netflix. Not only that, the Sharp AQUOS XU works with the latest Android TV platform, becoming a true entertainment system. With the Google Voice Search function in 61 languages, you can stream movies and TV shows, listen to music, play Android games and get access to Netflix, YouTube and more. Not to mention having access to over 600 Android apps and games.

The one thing Sharp did good in its Sharp AQUOS XU is to incorporate Google Chromecast as a built-in feature, allowing you to cast (meaning wirelessly stream) whatever is on your laptop, desktop, table or smartphone. I don’t have the Sharp AQUOS XU system but I had to buy the Google Chromecast dongle that connects to my LED TV so I can cast Netflix, iFlix or HOOQ while working on my laptop. It’s truly awesome that Sharp decided Google Chromecast has to be built-in.

The Sharp AQUOS XU series comes in a 50-inch, 58-inch and 65-inch 4K Ultra-HD Android-power TV and is now available at leading appliance stores, nationwide. For more information, visit www.sharp.ph or its social media accounts in Facebook and Instagram.

Source: Press Release from Ardent Communications

Photos by @raffypekson.

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The Perfect Pint Brewpub Opens in Alabang

The Perfect Pint brewpub just recently opened another of its gastronomic and gastropub-o-nomic (is there such a word?) The first one was a year ago at the 32nd Street of Bonifacio Global City (BGC); and the next? The Perfect Pint at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. My blogger-friends dared to trek the bustling super hi-way of the south to end up a little early than expected.

Original URL: https://miniphilippines.wordpress.com/2016/05/07/the-perfect-pint-brewpub-opens-in-alabang/

The Perfect Pint craft beers have been around my palate for more than a year. I’ve invited and brought a lot of friends and relatives to its place in BGC and would venture in tasting one type of craft beer after another. But The Perfect Pint gastropub offers more than just craft beer; it made sure the food was beyond contemporary. How? It partnered with one of the more famous chefs in the country: Chef Gene Gonzalez of the Café Ysabel fame (friends would smile when I quip my famous phrase – SentiSabado, anyone?) The Perfect Pint food pairing is exactly what it is – food paired by a famous chef for each kind of craft beer. If you’ve been to food and wine pairing, and not everyone goes for wine, then this is your place to be. Beer enthusiasts love The Perfect Pint because it serves a unique ensemble of food.

The Perfect Pint brewing process is where its Molito branch becomes different. High up the second floor encased in glass walls is where The Perfect Pint craft beer is made. Brothers Alec, Noel and Raymond Tempongko, owners of The Perfect Pint, proudly toured us guests around the second floor where The Perfect Pint fermentation rooms are located. Master brewer Alec Tempongko explained to us each step in each room until at last four perfectly brewed craft beer flavors were loaded into the familiar-looking beer-on-tap dispensers. But I heard from master brewer Alec that The Perfect Pint craft beer flavors were six, not just four: Thirsty Dog Wheat Beer, Hoppy Road IPA, Street Smart Pale Ale, Oakey Dokey Bourbon Barrel Porter, Black Mamba Stout and Holy Grail Double IPA. The latter was the best for me, someone who likes strong beer with that distinctive brewed taste. And just for that evening, they came up with The Perfect Pint Anniversary Pale Ale.

The Perfect Pint craft beers are exclusively distributed at The Perfect Pint branches. I’m already thinking that other bars, pubs and gastropubs will be asking to serve their homebrewed flavors very soon, like my neighborhood Bugsy’s Sports Bar and Grill. Yeah?

Now, you have The Perfect Pint BGC and The Perfect Pint Molito to choose from – central Metro Manila or the south.

Source: Press Release

Photos and images: The Perfect Pint | @raffypekson

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The New Version of Airtime Social Network App Looks Promising

Sean Parker, the Napster guy and one-time President of Facebook, is at a reboot stage with his video-messaging app called Airtime. The once embarrassing moment of launching Airtime the first time among the who’s who bombed, this time there ain’t no glitzy launches. The new version of Airtime looks promising. Well, this time.

URL: https://miniphilippines.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/the-new-version-of-airtime-social-network-app-looks-promising/

So, what’s Airtime? Let me count the ways…

For one, Airtime is founded by Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning and is backed by Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, Founders Fund, and a host of unnamed partners. Seeing Kleiner Perkins there means a lot. Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers is a venture capital company in Sand Hill which has backed the likes of AOL, Amazon.com, Navigenics, Citrix, Compaq, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Genomic Health, Geron Corporation, Google, Intuit, Juniper Networks, Nebula, Netscape, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Verisign, WebMD and Zynga.

Read more via PEKSON.COM.

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Source: www.pekson.com

Image from source.

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Suzuki Ciaz is the Sub-compact Sedan for the Millennial

NOTE: http://prone.website always plagiarizes this blog. Can someone please report this nutcase?

Wednesday last week, April 13, 2016, I was invited by Suzuki Philippines as it launched the Suzuki Ciaz, a sub-compact sedan which I believe is a perfect car for the Millennial kids of today. I heard someone mention “Suzuki Ciaz is an authentic sedan.” It probably is. I asked around trying to figure out what the name meant. Well, Suzuki Ciaz is a short-cut label for “City from A to Z,” probably a moniker of a car that can transport you within the Metropolis an beyond; or from point A to point Z. Something like that.

The guys at Suzuki Philippines say the Ciaz is the best-in-class fuel efficiency. Clearing the cobwebs and nose-bleed engine terminology, I say the new technology of the Suzuki Ciaz four-speed automatic transmission improves fuel efficiency and elevates driving performance, including the car’s smartly designed body to create a smoother airflow which adds to fuel efficiency. Right?

Let’s go inside the Suzuki Ciaz which sports a multimedia integrated audio unit using an Android touchscreen and complete with Bluetooth and USB connections for tablets and smartphones that everyone has. The Ciaz is also ready with wireless connectivity and the Android console comes with preloaded applications such as YouTube, Gmail, Facebook and Waze.

Still inside, what was once only seen in Ferraris is now becoming a standard even in sub-compact sedans. The Suzuki Ciaz has hands-free connectivity control switches on the steering wheel. Yeah, the wheel. No more looking up the road and down the dashboard to fiddle on the audio system and other tasks that may result in a road accident. Plus the Ciaz also comes with a keyless push start system and remote. How awesome is that for a sub-compact sedan?

During the launch, I went inside the passenger seat at the back. It’s assumed front seats are all adjustable and all but the back seat is fixed and stationary and can’t be adjusted. Nice ample space. I slouched a little bit and my legs still didn’t hit the front seat. I also noticed the Suzuki Ciaz has a bigger door entrance despite being a sub-compact sedan. Then, I went out and opened the trunk. The specs sheet said the Suzuki Ciaz has a luggage capacity of 495 liters. I really didn’t know how to equate that to visual measurements but I can plainly say the Suzuki Ciaz has a spacious trunk. So, probably 495 litters means a “spacious trunk.” Also, the trunk closes with an electromagnetic latch and features a boot light.

The Suzuki Ciaz features its patented Total Effective Control Technology (or TECT). It also has a strong impact absorption system and a its own Anti-Brake Locking Technology.

Now comes the price:

The entry-level Suzuki Ciaz GL Manual Transmission retails for P738,000.

The mid-level Suzuki Ciaz GL Automatic Transmission sells for P773,000.

The higher-end, everything-on-it Suzuki Ciaz GLX goes for P888,000.

L-R: Myself representing Miniphilippines.com, Ron Villagonzalo of Wahpinas.com, and Ian Bacungan of Theroguewriter.net.

Suzuki Philippines Incorporated is a wholly-owned Japanese multinational company that specializes in the manufacture and sale of motorcycle and compact vehicles. For more information, please visit their website at www.suzuki.om.ph/auto. You can also follow them at their Facebook page and Twitter account.

Sources: PR | Wikipedia | Suzuki Philippines

All photos taken by @raffypekson

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Health, Fitness and Wellness at #LoveYourBody Fair 2016

Isn’t it ironic that we all want to go to travel fairs and food fairs, but when it comes to health and fitness, especially one with a lot of activities involved, we shy away? Why is that? Have we read too much Garfield comic strips that we idolize that cat, funny and lovable yet so much of a wrong icon to personify?

Enter HealthJunkie.ph, a go-to resource for doable exercise, healthy recipes, and happy lifestyle tips exclusively run by Tonette Nicolas, blogger extraordinaire and (well, it’s obvious) a health and wellness junkie. I met Tonette like two years ago in a health and wellness seminar the The Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City. Through the years, she’s slowly held on to her interest and advocacy – teaching us (yeah… you and I) – how to be fit and how to be happy. In less than a week’s time, she and PMCM Events Management will be running a unique sports and fitness camp.

Dubbed #LoveYourBody (with a hashtag, please), it’s a one-day health and wellness activity camp that starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at the Central Park of Greenfield District (formerly EDSA Central) along the block of EDSA, United St., Mayflower St., and Shaw Blvd.

• #LoveYourBody means doable exercises, allowing everyone to participate no matter what figure you are in.
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• #LoveYourBody means healthy recipes, because apart from the activities, there are talks about diets and healthy recipes.
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• #LoveYourBody means happy lifestyle tips, because everyone needs a makeover in lifestyle every now and then.
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• #LoveYourBody means a healthy lifestyle, because being happy isn’t enough; we all have to be healthy for ourselves, our loved ones, our employers or clients, our friends and most everyone else that we are significant to.
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• #LoveYourBody is about fitness activities, because aside from health tip talks and booths, there are also activities like Zumba, yoga, running clinic, and so on.
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• #LoveYourBody is a wellness bazaar, and did I mention booths and the bazaar? You won’t see crispy chicken skin and fatty liempo being sold here. What are they selling? There’s only one way to find out – come visit them this Saturday (and please, wake up early for once!) LOL!
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• #LoveYourBody means you value your health, because a few hours on Saturday won’t really screw your weekend. C’mon, give your brain and body a chance, and forgo going up to Tagaytay or the beach for once.

Though the Wellness Bazaar is open to the public, the Zumba, sports and fitness camp activities are not.

An ALL-ACCESS pass is only worth 450 Pesos allowing you join Zumba, Sports + Fitness Camp (Yoga and Running Clinic), raffle stub, health and fitness talks, and bazaar entrance.

Separately, a ZUMBA ACCESS only pass costs 350 Pesos, while a SPORTS + FITNESS CAMP ACCESS only pass is also 350 Pesos.

The #LoveYourBody Fair 2016: Sports and Fitness Camp + Wellness Bazaar is co-presented by Greenfield District, Gelattto by Gelateria Italiana, and Zalora Philippines. This event is co-organized with PMCM Events Management. One of the media partners is The Philippine Bloggers Network – our association of professional bloggers covering various brands, activities and events.

Please go online to register, at http://www.healthjunkie.ph/registration-loveyourbody-fair-2016/

FREEBIES! The first 200 people to register online gets freebies and goodie bags from our sponsors! Register by going to this link: http://www.healthjunkie.ph/registration-loveyourbody-fair-2016/

Reference: Press release from healthjunkie.ph

Image from healthjunkie.ph

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GrabCar Halloween Promo Code

Only for today (I think) do we have a GrabCar promo code. Hey! It’s the day before Halloween. So, it is probably valid for today only because tomorrow is going to be chaos at the city cementeries until Sunday.

Happy Halloween!

Safe travels and God bless!

Source: My avid GrabCar friend, Joy Lara Croft!

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The Great Vacation Escape to Discovery Hotels

Isn’t there an long weekend coming up in November? Oh, wait! It’s APEC week. Yeah, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is in town. Not that it hasn’t been here since the start of the year but the APEC Philippine agenda has the ministerial meeing on November 16-17 but a whole lot of major meetings are happening the entire week starting on the 16th until the 20th. Given this upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – Economic Leaders’ (APEC) Meeting, which will be held entirely in Metro Manila, the Philippine government has suspended work and class in the National Capital Region.

Yay! No classes during the APEC week! No work during the APEC week! So, APEC week means vacation, yes? You know what that means.

Book yourself and your entire family (or BFFs) at any of the Discover Leisure resorts and hotels and get as much as half the price.

• APEC staycation at Discovery Primea
  Enjoy 20% off all room categories
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• APEC staycation at Discovery Shores Boracay
  Enjoy a Junior Suite for half the price
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• APEC staycation at Discovery Club Paradise Palawan
  Stay in a Garden Suite for half the price
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• APEC staycation at Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay
  Get 20% off the Deluxe and Premier Suites
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• APEC staycation at Discovery Suites Ortigas
  Best Available Rate in a Junior Suite or a One Bedroom Suite

Booking period is until October 31, 2015 and the stay-in period is November 16 to 22, 2015.

Just go to the Discovery Leisure Company website and use the promo code APEC15.

Source: The Discovery Leisure Company (TDLC) press release.

Photos from TDLC.

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Hong Kong Experience

A young blogger with an awesome story about her Hong Kong trip. A must read!

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