Category: Tech and Gadgets

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Tap, Scan, or Card? GCash Offers 3 Ways to Go Cashless on Your MRT-3 Commute

Commuters can now choose their own way to pay for MRT-3 rides using their GCash wallet

Every MRT-3 commuter knows the struggle of having to line up for tickets and fumbling for spare change, especially during rush hour. Starting this month, you can now use GCash to pay for your MRT-3 trips, making everyday commuting faster and easier!

In partnership with the Department of Transportation, GCash has introduced a cashless automated fare collection system at the MRT-3, significantly enhancing the commuter journey. Now, you can pay for your trips in new, easy ways, saving you from long queues and giving you access to a dedicated MRT fast lane. As long as you have a PHP 28 minimum balance in your GCash wallet (the maximum fare for a North Avenue-Taft trip), you’re ready to go! The full amount will be deducted upon entry, and your change will be reflected on your GCash wallet upon exit—you can verify the details on your app’s Transaction History.

Forget cash or exact coins—your exact fare is seamlessly deducted from your GCash wallet. You can always check your balance and easily top up anytime, because you’re using your e-wallet directly. Best of all, your phone with the GCash app or GCash Visa Card is all you need!

Here are new, easy ways you can use GCash at the MRT-3:

Tap to Pay using your phone.

Are you using an NFC-enabled Android phone? Great news! Your device is now your ticket for a seamless entry and exit pass.

To get started, GCash Tap to Pay is a quick, one-time activation:

    1. Simply tap Settings in your GCash app.
    2. Turn on the NFC feature.
    3. Log in to your GCash account.
    4. Select “Tap to Pay” and agree to the terms and conditions..

Once activated, paying for your MRT-3 ride is just two taps away. Just log in and open your GCash app, then tap your phone on the turnstile upon entry to proceed to the platform.

Scan your GCash Commute QR

There is no NFC available for tapping. No worries! You can still enjoy the convenience of cashless commuting by generating a Commute QR code on your GCash app, serving as your digital ticket without the need to input any station details.

Here’s how easy it is:

    1. At the start of the trip, tap Commute on the GCash app.
    2. Click Generate QR. You may download the QR or take a screenshot.
    3. In the MRT fast lane, position your phone toward the scanner.
    4. Once scanned, you’re all set to proceed to the train platform.

Upon exit, just scan the same QR code again, and the exact fare will be automatically deducted from your account. For Globe and TM users, this feature works even without mobile data!

Tap your GCash Visa Card

Are you experiencing a spotty signal, running out of battery, or do you simply prefer using a card? You can still breeze through your MRT-3 ride using your GCash Visa Card. Just like the current card ticketing system, you can simply tap your card upon entry and again upon exit. What’s excellent about the GCash Visa Card is that it’s linked to your GCash wallet for a leveled-up experience! You don’t need to line up to load; you can use it not only to pay for MRT rides but also for shopping at millions of online and offline stores, and you can withdraw from your GCash at any ATM for as low as P10. During the soft launch of the cards, your change will be credited to your GCash account 24 hours after your MRT trip. See the details on your app’s Transaction History.

To use this convenient feature, order your GCash Visa Card on the app, and when you receive it, make sure to link it to your GCash account:

    1. Tap ‘Cards’ in the GCash app to order or link your GCash Visa Card.
    2. To order—select ‘Order a Card,’ then input your delivery address and pay P250. It will be delivered to you in 7-10 days.
    3. To link, select ‘Link my Card,’ then input the One-Time Pin (OTP) and submit.
    4. Enter the last 4 digits of your card and your virtual account number found at the back, then submit.

With new convenient ways to pay at the MRT-3 station, your everyday commute just got a significant upgrade. Whether you tap, scan, or use your card, you are not just skipping one extra line and saving yourself time but also experiencing a global, innovative way to pay with GCash!

Ready to power up your commute journey? Download the GCash App on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery.

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These Earphones are Breaking Language Barriers for Work & Travel with Real-Time AI Translation

Have you ever been in a foreign country and tried to order a meal, ask for directions, or negotiate the price of a taxi ride, only to get a blank stare in return? It’s a universal frustration: the language barrier.

It happens to everyone, and it’s why real-time language translation is becoming increasingly important. Earphones with built-in AI translation are quickly becoming the new travel and work must-have, and it’s what can help you overcome language barriers with ease.

Introducing the All-New Soundcore AeroFit 2

Whether you’re traveling alone for leisure, joining a global contingent for a conference, or simply trying to connect with colleagues who speak a different language, the all-new AeroFit 2 open-ear earbuds from Soundcore are breaking barriers not just in communication, but also in design and performance.

With these new earphones from Soundcore, you can enjoy your music while staying connected to the world around you through open-ear technology. Unlike traditional headphones that either cover your ears or sit in your ear canal, the AeroFit2 earbuds give you the freedom to hear everything that is happening around you while still enjoying crystal clear notes and sounds.

Its powerful new AI translation function makes these earbuds turn into an interpreter who translates directly into your ears in real time. Its two modes open up limitless possibilities, depending on your needs:

The Face-to-Face Translation feature is your go-to mode for everyday conversations. It’s like having a personal interpreter in your ear, making it perfect for when you’re traveling or find yourself in new social situations with people who don’t speak the same language.

Here’s how it works: your voice is captured by the AeroFit 2 earbuds, translated, and played through your connected phone. Your phone’s microphone picks up the other person’s voice, translates it, and delivers it straight to your earbuds when they reply.

Real-Time Translation comes in handy, especially when listening to lectures, webinars, or even watching foreign shows. It works simply: the speaker’s voice from wherever you may be streaming is received by your phone, translated, and delivered straight to your AeroFit 2 earbuds.

You can also follow along by reading the translated transcript on your screen. This is an invaluable tool for students or professionals who may encounter situations where understanding spoken content is crucial without active participation.

The AeroFit 2 earbuds support various languages, including but not limited to: English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai.

Now Even Better for Everyday Use

Featuring a rotatable ear hook design, these open-ear earbuds can adapt to different ear sizes and offer a secure yet ultra-lightweight fit, ideal for all-day wear. Its special design even adds comfort for those wearing their earbuds and glasses at the same time.

In comparison to its predecessor, the Aerofit 2 boasts an enhanced sound quality, featuring crisp notes and a robust bass. With touch-style controls, managing your playback, volume, or translation modes is effortless and intuitive. Plus, the addition of a wireless charging case makes powering up more convenient than ever.

It also supports wireless charging with a 10H playtime, while the charging case can extend that to a total of 42 hours.

How to Get Started

Getting started is easier than you think.

Step 1: Download the soundcore app on your smartphone.

Step 2: Pair your AeroFit 2 earbuds via Bluetooth and open the app.

Step 3: Pick Your Translation Mode, whether Face-to-Face Translation or Real-Time Translation

Whether you’re traveling the world or working across cultures, the future of communication is already here, and it fits right in your ear. The Soundcore AeroFit 2 is now available in the Philippines through soundcore.ph, and online at Shopee and Lazada.

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Introducing the Instinct 3 Series from Garmin: Rugged smartwatches now with AMOLED displays

Boldly designed for an active lifestyle, the newest smartwatches offer bright AMOLED or solar-charged displays, a metal-reinforced bezel and built-in LED flashlights on all models

The newest collection of tough smartwatches, Garmin’s Instinct® 3 Series, is available with a stunning AMOLED or solar-powered display for maximum battery life. Designed with explorers in mind, the Instinct 3 Series adds a built-in spotlight on every model and a metal-reinforced bezel for great durability. With amazing battery life, it’s easy to discover more; the AMOLED versions get up to 24 days on a single charge in smartwatch mode, while the solar charging devices can obtain infinite battery life.

Thanks to its sturdy build and fashionable, limited-edition colors, Instinct 3 is the smartwatch you should wear everywhere, anytime. Full of connected features, well-known built-in sports apps, and 24/7 health and wellness monitoring, the newest collection is designed to enable you to follow your passions—whatever they may be. Dan Bartel is Garmin’s Vice President of Global Consumer Sales.

strong but forceful

Featuring a metal-reinforced bezel, a fiber-reinforced polymer case, and a scratch-resistant display for ultimate durability, the Instinct 3 Series is ready for any challenge. Built to MIL-STD 810 for thermal and stress protection, the new series is also water-rated to 100 meters. Now found on all Instinct 3 models, a built-in flashlight offers different intensities, a red light, and a strobe mode to aid in increasing awareness in dark surroundings, such as while spelunking in caves, sorting through a gear bag, or recounting terrifying tales around the campfire.

The solar-powered variant is 50 mm, and the AMOLED Instinct 3 is 45 mm and 50 mm. Both choices are part of the new, limited-edition Tropical Pulse Collection. They feature sleek hues, including Black and Black/Charcoal, plus vivid and vibrant colors, including Neotropic and Neotropic/Twilight.

More to love about the Instinct 3 Series.

Greater solar efficiency: A larger, more effective solar lens better uses solar power. The new 50mm Instinct 3 Solar gains more than five times the battery life in GPS mode while solar charging than the Instinct 2 Solar.
Track steps, heart rate, sophisticated sleep monitoring, wrist-based Pulse Ox2, heart rate variability (HRV) status, and more around-the-clock health and wellness monitoring. Women’s health tracking tools, meanwhile, provide fitness and nutritional information in addition to allowing users to monitor their menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Morning report: Upon awakening, get a tailored view of last night’s sleep, the calendar for today, and HRV state.

Intelligent alerts: When matched with a suitable Apple® or Android™

Garmin Messenger™ app: Get emails, texts, and notifications right on the watch. From the watch4, send two-way text messages to friends and family.

Satiq™ Multi-Band GPS: Maximizes battery life and enjoys outstanding positional precision.

Share quickly and simply saved locations, routes, and workouts with other compatible Garmin smartwatches and Edge® cycling computers nearby.

See how the Instinct 3 Series can enable you to follow yours, wherever the adventure takes you, on our YouTube website.

Look farther.

Instinct 3 Series is the ideal friend to appreciate the great outdoors with sports apps, including hiking, jogging, cycling, golfing, fishing, skiing, and more. TracBack® routing provides reference points of known locations relative to the starting place as well as a path back there while out exploring. One can negotiate the next path using the built-in altimeter, barometer, and 3-axis electronic compass. To review more thorough maps, establish waypoints and courses, and more to maximize their next excursion, users can also pair their Instinct 3 with the Garmin Explore™ App.

Engage in activity.

Apart from built-in sports applications for outdoor adventures, the Instinct 3 Series is filled with apps for HIIT, cardio, indoor and outdoor track running, pickleball, basketball, and more. Train for a milestone, get ready for the next race, or use Garmin Coach adaptive and prebuilt running and cycling programs to raise general fitness. View a whole week of daily suggested workouts that adjust after every run or cycle, or design step-by-step routines from more than 1,600 exercises in the Garmin Connect™ app, then forward them straight to the watch. Track intensity minutes, VO2 max, and recovery periods to get direction on suggested recovery times to lower burnout and fatigue.

Maintain connectivity.

View smart notifications and work out with more peace of mind thanks to safety and tracking tools, including incident detection, help, and LiveTrack5 when teamed with a connected smartphone.

The 45mm AMOLED model will be available February 26 under the Garmin Instinct 3 series at a suggested retail price of PHP 29,290; the 50mm variant will go for PHP 32, 490. Available for PHP 29,290 will be the 50mm solar charging devices. Get yours through Kinetic, Lazada, Shopee, or the official Garmin PH website.

Designed on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have transformed adventure, athletic, off-road, road warrior, and outdoor enthusiast life everywhere. Garmin thinks every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to surpass yesterday, committed to creating products that improve experiences, enrich lives, and assist in bringing peace of mind.

1. Assumes all-day wear, 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions.

2. This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Oxis is not available in all countries.

3. Activity tracking accuracy.

4. When paired with your compatible smartphone. Requires both the sender and receiver of messages to have the Garmin Messenger app installed on their paired smartphones.

5. When paired with your compatible smartphone. For safety and tracking feature requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety

 

About Garmin International, Inc.

Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and Forerunner are registered trademarks and Garmin Connect, Garmin Pay, PacePro, Body Battery and Connect IQ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

 

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Get Ready for the Ultimate 100 Cars Giveaway of 2025 with PlayTime PH!

PlayTime, the Philippines’ most thrilling and innovative online entertainment games brand, is turning up the heat this year! As it celebrates reaching a million followers on its Facebook page and every subsequent milestone, @PlayTimePH is gearing up for the biggest car giveaway of 2025! That’s right—PlayTime is giving away up to 100 brand-new Toyota cars. YES, you heard that correctly! 100!

The initial promise to reward one lucky follower of the FB account @PlayTimePH with a car has now transformed into an incredible giveaway, offering more cars, increased chances of winning, and heightened excitement. Every milestone reached by the FB page @PlayTimePH increases the number of cars up for grabs, with the potential for 100 lucky winners to drive brand-new sedans this summer.

Here’s how the raffle giveaway works:

● 1 Million Followers = 1 Car

● 1.5 Million Followers = 3 Cars

● 3 Million Followers = 5 Cars

● 5 Million Followers = 10 Cars

● 30 Million Followers = 50 Cars

● 50 Million Followers = 100 Cars

L-R: Liezel Lopez, Alethea Ambrosio, Monique Vasquez, Jay Sabale—Sr. PR Manager of Playtime; Prince Clemente, Sam Acosta—Bb. Playtime; Petite, Cheska Fausto, Negi, Betong, Migs Villasis

“PlayTime owes its success to its incredible and ever-growing community. This giveaway is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who have supported us and made our journey special,” said Jay Sabale, Senior PR Manager at PlayTime. “As the Playtime community grows, more fun, interactive, and engaging games await our customers.”

Get in on the fun with these steps:

    1. Get a PlayTime account by signing up.
    2. Connect your mobile number.
    3. Fund your account and begin playing.
    4. Be sure to follow PlayTimePH on Facebook (@PlayTimePH).

As PlayTime’s social media following grows, so does the number of cars available for grabs. Regardless of whether you’re a novice or an experienced player, this presents a significant chance to win!

Lucky PlayTime customers have the opportunity to own their dream car this summer. Terms and conditions apply.

“Ready to roll? Let’s go! Playtime now!”

 

Launched in 2024, PlayTime is a premier online entertainment games platform licensed by PAGCOR. With over 2,500 games and 20 million users, PlayTime offers the highest daily cashback (up to 2%) and fastest withdrawals (guaranteed in 10 mins) in the Philippines. Visit www.playtime.ph for more information.

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Honor Magic6 Pro, the best magic AI camera phone in the world, is now available in the Philippines for Php 59,999.

Get your first dibs on HONOR Magic6 Pro for only Php 59,999 with FREEBIES worth Php 11,699 when you avail during the Pre-Order Sale from May 8 to May 17!

The HONOR Magic6 Pro, dubbed the best Magic AI camera phone, is the most recent model in the Magic Series and was finally introduced by the top global smartphone provider. The Harman Kardon Luna and HONOR Earbuds X3, valued at Php 11,699, are included in the pre-order bundle for the HONOR Magic6 Pro, which is priced at Php 59,999. The offer is valid from May 8 to May 17, 2024.

“We are proud to introduce to you the HONOR Magic6 Pro with the latest AI features and Falcon Camera System that wow our fans and definitely will surprise more consumers in the tech industry,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The Power of Magic with AI

Magic Capsule and Magic Portal are two cutting-edge features that the HONOR Magic6 Pro integrates to improve user engagement and productivity. Tapping the alerts banner causes Magic Capsule to expand, providing pertinent alternatives and more information without requiring you to switch between programs, hence increasing productivity.

The Magic Portal uses AI to make activities easier, depending on how users interact with it. For example, it can identify addresses in messages quickly, and it works well with Google Maps to make navigation simple. Additionally, it simplifies social network interactions by making it simple to share search results or booking data with only a drag-and-drop gesture. Additionally, Magic Portal makes buying more enjoyable by directing customers to websites where they may locate and buy desired products straight from pictures.

Thanks to collaborations with app developers, Magic Portal’s functionalities are extended to over 100 popular apps, guaranteeing a flawless user experience and optimizing Magic Portal’s potential with users’ preferred apps.

Magic Capture: 180MP Tele-Falcon Camera

With a big F1.49-inch telescopic sensor and an amazing 180MP resolution, the HONOR Magic6 Pro offers exceptional clarity for close-up photographs of far-off scenes. With its cutting-edge in-sensor zoom technology, the telephoto camera can zoom up to 2.5 times optically, 5 times or 10 times smoothly, and an incredible 100 times digitally.

With its Super Dynamic Falcon Camera H9000 HDR sensor, the Magic6 Pro produces images with amazing brightness and detail in a range of lighting conditions. Even in difficult circumstances, this sensor’s 210% increase in dynamic range guarantees vibrant colors and well-preserved highlights.

With its ultra-large self-adjusting aperture, users may vary the depth of field from f/1.4 to f/2.0, satisfying a wide range of photographic tastes and performing essentially like a DSLR camera. This function allows for clear subject-background separation, which is especially helpful when photographing moving figures, such as sports, in crowded areas.

Magic Screen: HONOR NanoCrystal Shield

With its cutting-edge HONOR NanoCrystal Shield, the HONOR Magic6 Pro offers remarkable stability and durability. The resilience of this shield in a variety of drop circumstances is confirmed by SGS’s Five Star Overall Glass Drop Resistance Ability certification. The display uses cutting-edge materials that have a 50% increase in crystal density over conventional glass, which improves shock absorption by ten times. As a result, the HONOR NanoCrystal Shield provides unmatched protection against unintentional drops and impacts, making it ten times stronger than ordinary glass.

In addition, the Magic6 Pro has been rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, meaning dependable operation even under challenging circumstances. This gadget is made to resist spills and outdoor excursions alike. The IP68 rating and HONOR NanoCrystal Shield together ensure that the gadget is protected from everyday wear and tear and that the display will not break, therefore extending its lifespan and improving the user experience.

Second-Generation Generation Silicon-carbon Battery and GPU Snapdragon 8

With a far higher concentration of power capacity, the Second-generation Silicon-carbon Battery pushes the limits of battery capacity to an astounding 5600mAh. The HONOR Magic6 Pro’s 5600 mAh battery performs exceptionally well in cold climates; at -20°C, users can view YouTube for 81 minutes with 10% of the power remaining. Additionally, the phone charges completely in just 40 minutes with its 80W HONOR Wired SuperCharge and 66W HONOR Wireless SuperCharge, making it ideal for people who are constantly on the go.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, which powers the HONOR Magic6 Pro, improves CPU and GPU performance by 25% and 30%, respectively, over previous versions. The Magic6 Pro’s AI functions are stable and seamless because to the Qualcomm® AI Engine, which has impressively improved them by 98%. Along with great battery efficiency and tremendous overall performance, this platform delivers exceptional gaming performance.

Grab your HONOR Magic6 Pro now available at any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores, and online via Lazada https://bit.ly/Laz_M6Pro_PR, Shopee https://bit.ly/Shop_M6Pro_PR, and Tiktok Shop https://bit.ly/TikTok_M6Pro_PR.

For more affordable offers, the HONOR Magic6 Pro is also available at Home Credit for as low as Php 1,719/month with the same FREEBIES of Harman Kardon Luna and HONOR Earbuds X3 worth Php 11,699. Take advantage of the offer at https://bit.ly/HONORPH_HomeCredit.

To know more about HONOR Magic6 Pro, head on to: https://bit.ly/Web_M6Pro_PR. For more exciting announcements, check out HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok Shop: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

 

 

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Hydrogen Storage Solutions in the Philippines Unveiled by American Company HARNYSS

The Philippines is about to get a game-changing energy storage option that relies heavily on hydrogen. The introduction of Taxas-based Harnyss’s proprietary low-pressure hydrogen storage technologies could significantly improve renewable energy sources.

A hydrogen power system is the new technology that Harnyss developed. This system can harness atmospheric water or other readily available sources to make hydrogen. The fuel cells in the setup then store the hydrogen (using a supercapacitor) until they can use it to produce energy.

The patented method employs low-pressure hydrogen at a density of approximately 250 lbs/sq in, which is up to ten times lower than the conventional 2,500 lbs/sq in. Hydrogen is bound to strategic elements inside the unique canisters to make this feasible.

More efficient energy storage

When contrasted with traditional energy storage solutions that rely on riskier lithium-ion batteries, Harnyss stands out thanks to its use of non-rare earth minerals. As a result, the system is safer, less likely to catch fire, and has a battery life that is far longer and more efficient than the standard lithium-ion battery (approximately 20 to 30 years with negligible deterioration compared to the normal 10-year lifespan).

The Oasis and Oasis 2 storage units by Harnyss are designed for long-term and basic energy storage, respectively. These units act as a “microgrid-in-a-box” and store hydrogen and energy. The two systems are compatible with eight AC and DC inputs, can store energy for around 18 to 36 hours, and can scale from 500 KWh to 100 MWh and beyond. Airports, hospitals, data centres, and government or military facilities are recommended to use Oasis 2’s 1.4 MWh of energy storage per 40′ container, while off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and grid support are ideal for Oasis’s 4.5 MWh of long-duration energy storage per 40′ container.

Both Oasis systems could theoretically store power from the grid, which is commercially available electricity, as well as from increasingly popular renewable energy sources like solar and wind panels.

 

Suitable for PH

Because of its superior practicality, Harnyss technology is ideal for the Philippines. New hydrogen technology allows for more efficient energy storage and use on demand. In addition, it is extremely eco-friendly since its waste product is only water, and it produces far fewer emissions.

The entry of Harnyss technology into the country coincides with the government of the Philippines realising that hydrogen could be a solution to its energy problems. The Department of Energy (DOE) published Circular No. 2024-01-0001 in January 2024, which established the principles, fundamental framework, and policy for hydrogen in the energy sector.

Green hydrogen and its derivatives are being incentivized for use in power production and other potential applications through tax breaks and other government incentives. This is all part of an effort to accelerate the development of hydrogen technology.

In an effort to alleviate the nation’s present energy crisis, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has often voiced his support for alternative energy sources and related technologies. “The Philippines is open to any kind of power supply that can address energy problems,” he has said time and time again.