Yes, we’d like a serving of the new LG G7 ThinQ, please

LG Electronics Philippines finally unveiled the LG G7 ^ThinQ, its new flagship premium smartphone, at an exclusive launch recently event held at trendy bar and lounge Yes, Please.

Mr. Paul Jeon (center), LG Philippines’ VP for Mobile Communications, with Yugatech founder  Abe Olandres (left), and film director Mr. Mikhail Red (right)

Combining exciting innovations, a sleek design, and stunning display and sound with LG’s intuitive ThinQ AI technology, the G7 ^ThinQ takes the smartphone experience to unprecedented heights. The G7 ^ThinQ comes with a Super Bright 6.1-inch display that, at 1000nit is brighter than any other mobile phone screen. This, along with the phone’s AI-powered operational and creative features, a Quad DAC feature that provides distortion-free sound, and a hardworking camera, offers consumers a better user experience all around.  

LG has always striven to provide products that makes the daily grind easier for its consumers. In the LG G7 ThinQ, this principle is reflected in the Hotkey, a button on the side of the phone that activates Google Assistant with one tap. Holding down the button will allow for instant conversations with Google Assistant, and will allow the user to search the internet, open applications and remotely use the phone on voice command (LG has worked with Google to come up 32 new Google Assistant commands). The G7 ^ThinQ also sports Super Far Field Voice Recognition, which allows it to hear commands for Google Assistant up to five meters away.

During the launch, LG invited gadget website Yugatech’s founder, Abe Olandres, to explain how the G7^ThinQ’s AI-powered features can provide beneficial advantages to everyday life. As Abe explained, the phone’s AI CAM helps deliver an unprecedented smartphone photography experience by recognizing an object and automatically adjusting settings according to what it sees. The phone also has 19 different color and contrast filters to help enhance results. All these features combined makes capturing professional-quality images a truly effortless experience for everyone. 

To fully display how the G7 ^ThinQ delivers the ultimate camera experience in a smartphone, LG commissioned a short video from up and coming director Mikhail Red, whose latest film Birdshot won the Asian Future Best Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and was the first Filipino full-feature film to be included in Netflix’s inventory. The video not only demonstrates Mikhael’s skill and dexterity as a director and photographer, but showcases how the LG G7 ^ThinQ’s camera delivers a higher range of details, more vivid colors and striking luminance when capturing both moving and still subjects. Mikhail’s video also demonstrated how the LG G7 ^ThinQ  enables the Super Bright Camera feature in a low-light setting, resulting in clearer, more focused images, or how the camera supports depth-of-field Bokeh effects with a Super Wide Angle feature.

Superior sound is also another G7 ^ThinQ boast. The flagship smartphone has a Boombox Speaker that, as demonstrated in the launch, increases the base sound level by more than 6dB with twice the amount of bass. Translated in layman terms, the LG G7 ^ThinQ packs more than 10 times the loudness than that of a typical smartphone. 

Vivo and Qualcomm collaborate on breakthrough 5G antenna technology

Vivo has detailed its collaboration with Qualcomm to address a critical 5G development milestone with their ground-breaking 5G antenna technology. This collaboration has resulted in the successful design and integration of new 5G mm-Wave (millimeter wave) antenna arrays into a Vivo commercial form factor as well as the measurement of system-level OTA (over-the-air) performance.

This milestone is significant as the arrival of 5G is creating major design challenges for smartphone manufacturers and network operators. To fully support the rollout of 5G services, even greater complexity and tougher requirements have been added to antenna designs and technologies.

For end users, mm-Wave technology can attain higher data rates to enable the 5G peak data rate of around 10-20 times higher than that of existing 4G LTE technology, providing a better wireless experience especially with AR, VR, AI, and UHD (ultra-high definition) video applications.

“Through this landmark cooperation between Vivo and Qualcomm, Vivo's industry leadership and innovation on 5G mm-Wave antenna design will contribute to creating optimal devices for end users,” said Dr. Huan-Chu Huang, Antenna Technical Director/ Principal Antenna Expert at Vivo. “After this successful completion of 5G mm-Wave antenna design and measurement based on a Vivo commercial form factor, consumers will soon see the next round of new device designs offering superior performance benefits and a taste of the next generation mobile experience.”

It is expected that both 5G sub-6 GHz and mm-Wave antenna technology will be deployed in every major market around the world, with some markets by 2019 and others to follow in 2020. Beyond this collaboration, according to Dr. Huan-Chu Huang, Vivo is also proactively applying for patents and publishing international research papers on mm-Wave antenna designs to prepare for the arrival of 5G age.

This latest innovation is another example of Vivo’s dedication to break new ground and to lead in critical industry initiatives such as 5G development. “From the early days of WiGig to 5G mm-Wave today, Vivo has been focused on deep studies and solid works on mm-Wave antenna designs and technologies. This successful development of 5G mm-Wave antenna array technology for smartphones denotes a further progression of Vivo’s accumulation of industry-leading technology breakthroughs and capabilities,” said Dr. Huan-Chu Huang.

SM Cinema treats kids to the movies for free!

Nothing beats seeing a movie with your little ones on the big screen. Now, kids and kids at heart can have a more exciting time seeing a movie with SM Cinema’s Kids Watch for Free! 

SM Cinema’s Kids Watch For Free gives a complimentary movie pass to your kid for every movie ticket you purchase. With this, parents and guardians are given the chance to spend time watching their favorite animated movies with their kids for a cheaper cost.

               

Kids 4 feet and below in height can avail of the free movie ticket started last June 21 until December 4 this year.

Get your kid a free movie pass now and don’t miss the best superhero family in Incredibles 2 on June 21- 27. You can also avail of the free ticket movie for your kid in these upcoming animated movies: Richard the Stork on July 25 – 31, Teen Titans Go! and Christopher Robin on August 8 – 14, Wheely on September 12 – 18, Small Foot on October 3 – 9, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on November 7 – 13, Luis and the Aliens on November 7 – 13, Marnie’s World 3D on November 14 – 20, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 on November 28 – December 4.

Enjoy watching blockbuster animated movies with free movie seats for your kids in SM Cinemas nationwide. Kids Watch For Free is also available on IMAX and Director’s Club. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.  You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM Cinema on Instagram for updates!   

Vivo Launches Pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology in PHL with New Flagship Smartphone X21

Vivo finally released the X21 flagship smartphone in the Philippines to bring users a brand new and futuristic unlocking experience with industry-leading In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. Combined with its FullView™ Display, AI photography and upgraded face recognition technology, the X21 is the ideal mobile partner for the tech-savvy consumer.

Through its continuous research into user needs, Vivo has consistently pursued innovation to solve consumer pain points. Having invested in long-term research and development to overcome the problems posed by mass producing In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, Vivo is finally bringing this secure and intuitive unlocking solution to more consumers. Vivo has also made major technology breakthroughs with its FullView™ Display and AI photography featured in the X21.



Two unlocking technologies to bring double convenience

Vivo has been the industry pioneer of In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology from showcasing its first prototype demonstration to successful mass production. To ensure user expectations for this technology are being met, Vivo has tasked its teams to innovate and perfect this technology on the new X21 to provide a reliable and secure unlocking solution to all consumers.

Vivo X21 replaces the rear fingerprint sensor with the latest In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. This allows the sleek and unified design of the smartphone to be preserved without the need for a rear fingerprint sensor. With mere a flick of the wrist and a press on the screen to unlock, this convenient and seamless process is intuitive for any user.

Other than In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, X21 also offers upgraded facial recognition technology with Face Access which scans users’ facial features for enhanced security.

Impressive FullView™ experience with a screen-to-body ratio of over 90%

Vivo X21 has a 6.28-inch 19:9 FHD+ FullView™ Display. With a super slim notch, and 1.66mm side bezels, it achieves a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio to provide a wider viewing experience compared to other similar-sized phones. Vivo has even enhanced its software to support the notch and developed a notification bar that maintains an immersive experience. Maximizing the beauty of the display, Vivo X21 uses P3 display color management technology and supports a P3 wide color gamut to ensure more accurate, natural and saturated colors.

Taking phone design to the extraordinary, X21 has ditched the metal body for a new 3D glass back cover. Every arc and curve on the back cover are ergonomically optimized to ensure comfort in your hand, with only 3.1mm thick in the middle. More than just smooth to the touch, X21 uses a new color-blending technique, which creates a unique luster that creates its elegant look.

AI Photography Brings a Superior User Experience

X21 continues Vivo’s heritage of photography leadership, featuring 12MP (24 million photographic units) front and rear cameras with Dual Pixel Sensors. The secondary rear camera is 5MP. Thanks to the larger photographic area of each pixel, X21’s camera significantly boosts picture clarity. On top of this, the X21 features fast focusing technology that rivals DSLRs, which enables it to focus fast and capture depth of field data in every pixel.

Vivo X21’s AI Scene Recognition not only identifies night, sports, vibration or back light scenarios, but it can also detect and identify 18 tags and 140 scenarios such as portraits, food and plants as it shoots. It then actively adjusts photography settings and effects to make it easy for the user to capture a great photo.

By upgrading Vivo’s photography technologies with AI, Vivo’s AI Face Beauty and AI HDR features can identify the subject’s sex, skin tone and surrounding lighting environment to create the ideal facial enhancement settings, even in a backlit environment. With AI Face Beauty learning the user’s specific preferences for beauty, it can generate custom beautification effects tailored to each user. Think of X21 as your personal make-over team packed into one intelligent device.

System level optimization enhances mobile entertainment

Hardware forms the basis of any user experience. The X21 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660AIE chip which can effectively utilize CPU resources for complex AI and neural computing. Its 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM increases the speed of launching, loading and switching even large and complex mobile games. With the large storage space, users can go wild downloading all the applications, movies and photos they want without the hassle of clearing space.

While gaming, the system will automatically adjust the CPU to optimize performance according to the game’s resources for a smoother gaming experience. The Game Mode on X21 even prevents accidental touch operations, ensuring gamers only make the moves they intended.

X21 continues Vivo’s Hi-Fi legacy and houses the AK4376A audio chipset. It is also equipped with Deep Field technology, which was developed by Vivo to provide panoramic surround, mega bass, clear voice effects and various environmental audio effects, allowing users to tailor their audio experience.

PDRF, PCPPI to provide 20,000-liter Water tanks for Marawi rehabilitation

Marawi is on its way to recovery. As the efforts continue to revive Lanao Del Sur’s capital after being ravaged by war, private institutions and government organizations are partnering to address the need for water of Maranaos and others in the area.

(L-R) Holding the scale model of the 20,000-liter water tank to be deployed in Marawi is Lanao Del Sur Provincial Information Officer, Salma Jayne Alonto Tamano; Task Force Bangon Marawi Undersecretary, and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary General, Falconi Ace Millar; Pepsi-Co Products Philippines Inc. President Samudra Bhattacharya, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation President Butch Meily

As the country's major private sector driver and coordinator for disaster resilience, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) linked with Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) to provide the internally displaced people of Marawi with clean and safe water. PDRF tapped PCPPI to provide 12 cylindrical, 20,000-liter water tanks to various gravely affected barangays across the province. PCPPI will also partner with PDRF to conduct community training on water management and hygiene, as well as initiate various programs for the holistic, socio-psychological recovery of the Maranaos.

In full support of this partnership is Atty. Falconi Millar, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary General, who was present during the signing ceremony.

Millar also serves as Undersecretary of Task Force Bangon Marawi—the inter-agency task force group of the government dedicated to the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi and other affected localities.

The Undersecretary underlined that PDRF was one of the first to send recovery teams to Marawi, and that with their partnership with PCPPI he sees an evolution of responsible corporate citizenship in the private sector.

The collaboration between PDRF, PCPPI, Task Force Bangon Marawi and the Lanao del Sur government helps mobilize the next phase of rehabilitation efforts in the war-stricken area, beginning with the need for water.

The PDRF implements an eight-cluster system model for private sector coordination aimed to provide a more robust platform for collaboration and interoperability with key partners in disaster preparation, response, and rehabilitation. PCPPI’s efforts fall under the Water and Sanitation cluster.

Also at the event was Lanao Del Sur’s Provincial Information Officer, Salma Jayne Alonto-Tamano. Millar reiterated the government's relentless pursuit of rebuilding Marawi, returning it to its vibrancy.

PDRF first worked with the bottling company last year for the donation and installation of 1,000 gasera lights and 500 solar street lamps in Marawi.

Suit up for the Incredible Adventure at SM Cinema

Get ready to fight crime and evil as the incredible superhero family returns to the big screen! SM Cinema is inviting the whole family for a day of superpowered fun at the launch of Incredibles 2: Incredible Adventure at the event atrium of S’Maison at Conrad Manila.

Interactive booths and exciting activities await families in the Incredible Adventure where kids (and kids at heart!) can experience what it’s like to be a superhero!

Collect balloons and win fun prizes in the Violet Force Field Booth and test your speed in Dash’s Timed Obstacle Dash. Feel the rush, jump and fly at Elastigirl’s Trampoline Area and show off your creativity with Mr. Incredible’s logo builder by Nutri-Asia’s Papa Catsup.

Kapuso star, Klea Pineda and her sister tried the interactive booth. They build the Incredibles 2 logo.

Experience being incredible in these super activities coming your way at S’Maison on June 8 – 13, SM North EDSA on June 15 – 20, and SM Southmall on June 22 – 24.

Then don’t miss the return of your favourite superhero family! With Helen busy saving the world, it is Bob who is left at home with Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, whose turbulent superpowers are starting to emerge. As the family struggles with the change, they also have to work together to defeat the dangerous plot of a new villain.

Catch Incredibles 2 with your family at IMAX, Director’s Club and SM Cinema starting June 14. As a special treat for your superkids, they get a free movie seat for every paying adult this June 21 to 27 in SM Cinemas nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.  You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!   

Spend a Fun Weekend with Dad via a Boys’ Camp!

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Father’s Day with the entire family? Head over to Boys’ Camp for a day of awesome play, photo fun and lots of toys!

Happening at The Food Circuit of The Block, SM City North EDSA (in front of the SM Supermarket) fromJune 14 to 17, Boys’ Camp features favorite toy brands including Hot Wheels, Jurassic World, Justice League, Ben 10 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Also showcased in the event are new, exciting robot toys from Voltron, Tobot and Optimorphs.

Dive into play with toys from these brands in the event’s Play Grove, or better yet… Shop with dad in the pop-up shop for that mini car or dinosaur that you’ve been wanting. Special discounts and great deals are also in store only on this event!

Go wacky and take photos with dad in the interactive set-up called Crazy Lake. Post it on your social media account with the hashtags #voltron and #boyscamp, and you might win a Voltron action figure. You can also enjoy Animation Mountain, streaming action-packed cartoons all day…

Surprises await Boys’ Camp visitors as special guests drop by for a meet & greet. On Father’s Day, Ben Tennyson and Tobot Deltatron will join in the fun and create super moments to last. Best thing about this edition of Boys’ Camp is that admission is free… For you and dad, and everyone who wants to play all day.

Boys’ Camp is a Richprime Global, Inc. event in partnership with Toy Kingdom and SM Supermalls. Get to know more about the event through https://www.facebook.com/richwellclub/.