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ASUS Transformer Official Philippines Launch: SRP PHP 29,995 with keyboard

Mobile World Congress '11

Hello. Back in February I was able to get a sneak peek at the ASUS Transformer at the NVIDIA booth in MWC Barcelona. This wasn’t the ASUS booth — NVIDIA was showing off its new Tegra II mobile graphics chip running on the new Android 3.0 devices. Alongside the Slider, Motorola Atrix and Xoom, the Transformer from ASUS sat proud.

The Transformer is one of the first Android 3.0 Honeycomb devices to make it to the Philippines. In our local scene, it is this tablet alongside the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (to be released very soon) and the iPad 2 that are currently waging the silent war for market share.

I have the official pricing:

ASUS Transformer w/o Keyboard Dock PHP 22,995
ASUS Transfomer w/ Keyboard Dock PHP 29,995.00

You can use this pricing as a benchmark as to how much cheaper you got it. I hear that an online forum is selling the complete set for PHP 25,000.

The Transformer is unique as it is currently the only tablet that comes with a keyboard dock. The dock allows the tablet to perform as a laptop and adds an estimated 16 hours of battery life to the unit when unplugged. Also, the dock comes with USB ports so you can transfer data into your tablet from an external drive.

When I featured the Transformer on my weekly tech show (watch ‘The Geeks’ every Wednesday 2-4PM at flippish.com/vjlive) I only had stock video from the press launch and some more videos from the NVIDIA booth back in February. Chris Tan, our producer had just recently bought one for USD $500 and showed it off. A summary of our feature:

– crisp, bright, screen; bigger than the iPad 2
– has problems transferring data from a Mac
– no 3G support; Wi-Fi only but easily remedied by tethering your phone
– can watch 3 movies before batteries fail
– HDMI out

Bottomline
Perhaps the only bad thing going for it is the fact that it doesn’t have a 3G counterpart unlike the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad. If you really don’t care for that, the Transformer is worth getting even just for the tablet only. But I’d honestly recommend getting it with the dock to increase battery life and so you can transfer data from your external drives. With the tablet alone you’re already presented with an amazing package of screen quality and features. In terms of audio, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has better external speakers.

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I know no one cares, but I watched Kenny Loggins Live in Manila tonight.


My blurry video of Kenny Loggins performing House at Pooh corner (Live in Manila | May 22, 2011)

Just came back from the Kenny Loggins Live in Manila concert. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan. I think I’m the only one in my circle of friends who was excited to find out he was coming to Manila, almost a year in advance. So when Maan scored me tickets, I was more than happy (I would have bought my own of course, but super thanks to my boss at UNO since according to her words — I don’t know anyone else who would want to watch Kenny Loggins!).

I practically grew up listening to his music but the turning point of “casual listener” to “BIG FAN” came when Adel Gabot introduced me to his Outside: From the Redwoods Album and I was completely floored with his rapport and talent on stage. He’s an outstanding musician. Hands down one of the best musicians who can arrange something — and then rearrange it in a fashion where he .. well it’s like keeping it in 4/4 then stumping you for a bit then he goes back to the original meter. Many artists do that today, but he has a way of doing it that’s just uniquely him. And more than 20 years later, he still has it.

Oh and I used to write fan mail. He’d reply.


Kenny Loggins performs ‘What a Fool Believes’ with Michael McDonald from their Redwoods Concert. The venue of this concert was epic: the constructed a stage in the middle of the Redwood Forest.

It was a bit sad though that the bouncers who were hired by the production team drowned the spirits of a lot of the middle aged men and women who came. When Kenny started playing Footloose, a good number of the audience stood up and started dancing. The bouncers immediately got to work and told them to sit down. I mean, WTF — it’s a concert. Kenny Loggins took note of this and said “Hey if you want to dance on your seats that’s fine!” And so this time even more people started dancing. But the bouncers were at it again. What are you afraid of? That the lolos and lolas will start crowd surfing and a moshpit? Oh c’mon.

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Department of Tourism budgets PHP 20,000,000 for Tourism Website

Invitation to Bid DOT

[Clearer PDF here]

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released an invitation to bid for a PHP 20,000,000.00 contract for website to be used for promoting tourism in the Philippines.

Name of Project: Development, Maintenance, Online Marketing and Promotions of the Philippine Department of Tourism Website

Brief Description: To establish an interactive website designed to promote the Philippines as a prime destination that offers world-class tourist facilities and products.

I highly doubt the PHP 20,000,000 will go to the site alone as many of my peers have come up with amazing project proposals for much less. I think it includes the site promotion efforts as well. In any case, I hope the DOT will on board a lean and forward thinking group to do this. Sana wag din silang gumamit ng flash. Wow.

Here’s a tip for a component: A crowd-sourced SCUBA portal for the Philippines. Crowdsourcing guys. That’s the key to this!

I’m excited to see the shortlist!

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Limited Edition SMART Bro Google Chrome USB Dongle for PHP 1245

Got this from Ailleen Apolo of Google PH. If you’re in the market for a SMART Bro dongle this is a definite collector’s edition as they are in very limited quantities. You can get them at PHP 1,245from any SMART Wireless Center. Available nationwide!

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Hands on with the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc

Yes it may be made out of cheap plastic but that doesn’t mean this phone isn’t a looker. The XPERIA Arc from Sony Ericsson is one of the rare Android 2.3 Gingerbread-ready phones in the local market today (the other one being the HTC Desire S). This is an “Acceptance Unit” which simply means that it is, like us, waiting for someone to accept us for who we really are.

OK seriously, more photos after the jump.

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