D2 Technews EVERY MONDAY• May 2, 2011

Has tech made us Samsung GALAXY Smartphones

T T
ting more and more their parents to give them an elec- AXY smart phones are
inclined to technol- tronic device. There’s something powered by the An- Samsung GALAXY Fit
ogy as the years go about owning a gadget that makes droid 2.2 OS system, The Samsung GALAXY Fit
by. Gone are the people feel happier and esteemed allowing for a smarter features a 3.31 inch QVGA dis-
days of typewriters, – ‘happy’ in the sense that there’s a user experience. play. Equipped with an office
CRT monitors and CD players, as tool to use for communicating with Equipped with Wi-Fi connectiv- viewer and a 5MP camera, the
we wave hello to Stevie’s wonders family and friends, and ‘esteemed’ ity and Social Hub functionality, the smart phone is ideal for social
and all that competes against his in a way that they have an “asset” Samsung GALAXY smart phones and professional use. It offers a
masterpieces. Our spending pow- to call their own. allow users to view their contacts, functional user experience and
er has increased tremendously for Aside from tablets, laptops SMS, IM and email together in an smooth web browsing on the go
and through technology, up to the and mobile phones, another area integrated single-page layout. This with its 600 MHz processor.
point that we purchase items we where we Filipinos spend our connectivity with the Social Hub
do not really need. hard-earned money on is in group- further allows users to gain access Samsung GALAXY PRO
Do you remember how long it buying websites. With more than to more than 100,000 applications The Galaxy Pro squeezes a
took before Apple’s first genera- 10 deal sites (e.g. CashCashPinoy, from Android Market and Samsung four-row button array beneath
tion iPad reached the Philippine Ensogo, Deal Grocer and Buy- Apps. Quick communication is a a set of Android keys and a 2.8-
shores officially? Almost, if not, anihan) in the market today, hot breeze with QuickType by SWYPE inch touchscreen, while its in-
nine long months. But that was offers like accommodations, spa, text input. sides are filled with an 800MHz
last year. and electronic gadgets easily get processor and a 3.2 megapixel
Just a few days ago, the excite- sold out. Through these websites, Samsung GALAXY Ace cam with autofocus skills.
ment of owning a brand new iPad we consumers tend to buy vouch- The Samsung GALAXY Ace of-
2 has finally been fired out with its ers even if we do not really have fers a premium experience with a Samsung GALAXY Mini
official launch in our country. If initial plans of spending for them. 3.5 inch HVGA display on a compact The Samsung GALAXY Mini Galaxy pro
you can recall, we were not actu- To add to those online purchas- and comfortable handset. Equipped embodies great productivity and
ally part of the 25 or so countries es, online also offers purchases of with a 800MHz processor, Google performance while boasting a 3.14 GALAXY mini offers Google voice
that should have received the said e-books, games, songs, and appli- Voice search and ThinkFree docu- inch QVGA display. Powered by a actions and Quick Office document
gadget when it was announced in cations that we use to fill in our ment viewer, the smart phone does 600 MHz processor, the Samsung viewer.
March 2011. electronic devices. One purchase
This clearly shows that there begets another purchase. Besides,
is a huge demand from Filipinos, what is a gadget for without any
and that Apple, instead of wast- contents inside, right?
ing their supposed profits to gray Truly, technology has pushed
market vendors, chose to launch us to use and purchase beyond
their much coveted product in our we actually need. The word “sale”
country. It actually seems good is all around the Internet today.
that the product’s launching in Whether it is seen in e-commerce
the Philippines goes hand in hand websites or accidental tags in
with the launching in Hong Kong Facebook or Twitter, we can say
and Singapore. We can therefore that the Filipinos have fallen in
assume that the Philippines’ econ- love with technology and the ways
omy has grown up so much that that go about it. Let’s remember,
we can now easily afford an iPad. though, to go back to the basics
In the case of mobile phones, and analyze our purchases in or-
almost every Filipino – rich or der to appropriately determine
poor – owns one at this time. Even our needs versus our wants.

Pinoy kids create byte-sized toons

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funny inhabiting the programming block on Cartoon
GALAXY Ace GALAXY Fit GALAXY mini
digital world in the Network featuring all-new shows
Philippines! Meet Adventure Time with Finn &
Toonix, Cartoon Jake, a sneak peek of Scooby-Doo!
Network’s impossi- Mystery Incorporated, and new
bly cool digital avatars that allow
kids to amplify their personalities
through 160 million online mix ‘n’
episodes of everyone’s favorite ap-
prentice chef, Chowder.
Be sure to look out for surprise
How to take concert photos that rock
I
match combinations. guest appearances by Toonix, as f you think it’s hard where they are trying out the light- 4) Expose some skin. Stage lights
Since bursting onto screens they pop up on the screen to en- to play a Stevie Ray ing. That way you know just when tend to overlight what they hit and
globally, over 10 million have been tertain viewers with their quirky Vaughan-style guitar your star will be in the spotlight and cast powerful shadows that obscure
unleashed. Fully customizable, behavior! Kids who spot one of solo, try photographing can be prepared for the photo. It also details. Don’t worry about that, just
Toonix come in all sorts of colors, the unique Toonix characters ap- one. means that might get some special set the exposure to skin so you can
patterns and expressions -- and pearing on their TV screens can Capturing onstage consideration from the AV Squad. capture the artist’s face. "On the Wil-
feature a myriad of quirky accesso- register online or SMS Cartoon images, whether it’s of an arena rock "You can talk to the lighting guy and lie Nelson shot [above] I exposed
ries to reflect the creator’s moods, Network to win the ultimate prize superstar or a middle school recital, ask him, ’Can you pump up the light for face or arm," said DiCrocco. The
weather and latest fashion. pack comprising personalized poses difficult technical challenges. here?’ It will make a big difference." biggest challenge is when the per-
Log on to CartoonNetwork. goodies featuring their Toonix – Intense spotlights, spangled cos- former wears white, which usually
com.ph, join the Cartoon Network hoodies, mousepads, binders, and tumes and exotic headgear all con- 3) Time it right. Know the band, photographs under spotlights as a
Club and Toonix Your Imagina- skateboards. spire to wreck your photos. play, performers or all three ahead of featureless glowing blob. "Wait until
tion! Toonix will also greet fans Find out at the Toonilicious A concert photographer, Glen time. "It helps of course if you know the person isn’t in a very bright white
during a variety of fun activities in event at SM North EDSA – The DiCrocco, who has shot artists such the music, or the performance," said spotlight," said DiCrocco. Or, "Tell
the next few months. Block Atrium. Presented by as Yes, Willie Nelson, Peter Wolf, DiCrocco. "It helps if you know when your kid to wear a different shirt."
To celebrate their arrival in Toonix, kids can experience the Umphrey’s McGee and Kansas said the lead singer walks over to the gui- Colored spots are less of a prob-
Asia Pacific and welcome sum- secret sauce that is Toonilicious "there is a lot about concert shooting tarist." If shooting a completely unfa- lem. "Your reds, violets, magentas,
mer, Toonix presents Toonilicious, during this fun-filled day! that is feel." But there are tricks to miliar event, there is another option. greens, they are all fine. Although,
getting that feeling. Here are a few: "The easiest thing is to just shoot actually, green is not my favorite."
endlessly," said DiCrocco, "but then Some white spotlights have a
THE AGE OF SOCIALYTICS 1) Lighten up. Most digital cam-
eras let you adjust the ISO setting, a
you come back with 800 shots to edit,
and that’s no fun."
green tinge, which is a job for Pho-
toshop. "You just have to correct
measure used to tell photographers that in post. Or wait for the lights to
There are over 500 million works and blogs clearly is a step how sensitive a film is to light. Films change." Take a few shots, see check
uses of Facebook users in the forward towards customer inter- that need less light - and are better in on the camera’s LCD how they look,
world today, spending 700 billion action. User generated content darker locations, like, say a theater - then adjust as needed. Err on the
minutes per month to check on (UGC) through social networks have higher ISO numbers. By turn-
Expose some skin. Stage side of underexposure. "I’d rather
their families and friends, upload made it possible to monitor ing the ISO number higher for a digi- lights tend to overlight underexpose slightly," DiCrocco
photos or videos, or simply post movements of people's behav- tal camera, you get the same effect what they hit and cast said. "Once the detail is lost you can’t
their thoughts. In many cases, ior. People who had no personal and suffer the same tradeoff: Higher powerful shadows that get anything back."
these thoughts could be in the websites were now able to cre- ISO film is grainier, and higher ISO obscure details. Don’t
form of comments on certain ate their own blogs without the speeds shots in digital are noisier. worry about that, just 5) Paint it black (and white).
products or services, or what need for technical know-how or DiCrocco usually uses ISO 1000. set the exposure to Black and white has two primary
they felt about their experiences even paying for a site. "It makes shooting in low light much skin so you can capture uses, said DiCrocco. One is to lend a
with these products. Content management sys- easier." Better light-gathering lenses the artist’s face. "On gritty feeling to a shot. "If it’s a Tom
Such information could be tems (CMS) such as Blogger, with low f-numbers also help. Di- the Willie Nelson shot Waits kind of guy, it lends itself to
useful, if not not downright in- Blogspot, Multiply, and Word- Crocco mostly uses prime lenses - that kind of feeling." But it can also
[above] I exposed
valuable for companies trying to press helped launched millions not zoom lenses - because they are help out in really low lighting. "In low
for face or arm," said
touch base with their intended of personal websites that were lighter weight, let in more light and light there is no color to speak of, so it
markets. As the Internet gave constantly updated by their cost less. He mostly uses a 50mm 1.4,
DiCrocco. The biggest makes much more sense to visualize
marketers an opportunity to owners, in addition to the com- a 35mm 2.0 or an 85mm 1.8. The goal, challenge is when it in black and white." Photos under
reach out to a crowd of potential ments generated by these blogs' he said, is to shoot at 1/125 of a sec- the performer wears red light are especially hard to see
consumers, so did it also give visitors. These new platforms ond or faster, "because you normally white, which usually and lend themselves well to black-
them an opportunity to know for social network interaction want to freeze the action without any photographs under and-white conversion, which he pre-
more about their customers' ex- is already a goldmine for many motion blur." spotlights as a featureless fers to set in the camera rather than
periences. The Internet is one of companies, something that IDC glowing blob. "Wait until adding the effect later. "It gives you
the best platforms for business would call “socialytics,” an amal- 2) Scout it out.. "If it’s a place you the person isn’t in a very better sense of what is going on."
analytics as it gave many compa- gamation of the words “social” can check out beforehand, do that. I bright white spotlight,"
nies immediate response from and “analytics.” like to know what kind of venue I am said DiCrocco. 6) Treat kids differently. It is ac-
people, a platform that has so far Social analytics pose a huge going into." It’s even better if you can tually more difficult to photograph
been effective in interacting with opportunity for companies offer- attend a rehearsal or sound check kids than rock gods. (NYT)
customers and potential clients. ing services to large base of con-
The advent of social net- sumers. (To be continued)