American telecommunications company AT&T together with Golden Gate Ventures, Philippine Software Industry Association and A SPACE Manila held the first Philippine Mobile App Developers Day (PHDD 2014) last December 6 – 7, 2014.
Category: Tech
To cap off the year, SMART DevNet (Smart Communications’ developer community program) held “HERE Hackathon Manila” at Sacode, Smart Tower, Makati City last December 6, 2014.
An online hackathon that highlighted the use of a recently launched SMS API concluded last November 22.
Turn your head upside down! Christmas will be more exciting as Torque launches the new evolution of Phablets during the Torque Royale event last December 3.
As part of expansion plans in the ASEAN region, world’s largest Japanese Information Technology – Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) company transcosmos recently opened its latest 144-seater facility in the Philippines.
transcosmos Asia Philippines began operations as of September 2014. This is the company’s 70th overseas location and the fourth in South East Asia, following Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Apart from providing BPO services such as contact center and back-office operations, transcosmos Philippines will also provide smartphone website and application development and operation services. Because of the English language proficiency of Filipino workers, the company will serve both the local and global market.
Present during the media conference were Mr. Hideki Yamashita (President, transcosmos Philippines), Mr. Hiroki Tanigawa (Corporate Affairs Director), Mr. Masakada Okuda (President & COO), Mr. Koichi Iwami (Executive Vice President), and Ms. Hanna Supetran (Country Manager, transcosmos Philippines).
Guests of Honor Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV and PEZA Director General Lilia De Lima gave some keynote speeches as well as DOST Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim. It was then followed by the inaugural opening ceremony in the form of Kagami Biraki. This ancient sake barrel ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a new endeavor and the strengthening of friendship.
transcosmos Philippines is aiming to employ at least 2,000 people, setup additional hubs possibly in Cebu and Davao and generate sales of ¥2 billion by fiscal 2018.
In a brief conversation with Ms. Hanna Supetran, the company has a basic requirement: English proficiency. Undergraduates are welcome to apply. In case he/she fails the assessment, the company will train them until they pass. They offer a competitive salary package, based on industry standard.
transcosmos is part of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ Global Outsourcing 100 Leaders (ranked number 13, 2014). What started as a data entry operations business in 1966 became an outsourcing company in the ’80 and is currently in 74 locations, employing around 15,000 globally.
Visit transcosmos Asia Philippine office at 32/f One Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Avenue cor. Meralco Exchange Road, Ortigas Complex, Pasig City.
Tech
The Search for 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Mathematicians is On!
By Dems Angeles on October 22, 2014
Math skills is crucial for a wide array of analytical, technological, scientific, and economic applications. People cringe when they have to deal with numbers, formulas, and finding the value of x. I don’t. I used to spend part of my Saturdays attending MTAP classes during grade school and high school, which was a lot of fun to me. I challenge myself to compute manually unless I really need to use a scientific calculator. Having one in hand does make our life a lot easier, especially in Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, Accounting and other similar classes.
It saddens me that the our country has only been ranked 96th out of 142 countries in perceived quality of Mathematics and Science education. This is according to the latest World Economic Forum WEF Global Competitiveness Report (2013-2014). It is said to be a considerable improvement from being ranked 115th (WEF 2011-2012). However, we’re still lagging behind our neighboring countries, where Singapore continues to be on top of the list.
In an effort to uplift the status of mathematics in society and recognize the extraordinary math skills of today’s youth, Sharp Calculators partners with Department of Education – National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR), Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), Mathematics Trainers’ Guild Philippines (MTG), Mathematics Society of the Philippines (MSP) and Philippine Council of Mathematics Educators Inc. (MathTEd) as it launches the very first search for the TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MATHEMATICIANS (TOYM) from National Capital Region.
Nomination Mechanics
- The search is open to all public and private high school students in the National Capital Region who have completed at least two (2) years of high school. They must be a Filipino citizen, either naturalized or born.
- The nominee must be among the top 3 students in math as certified by the school principal.
- The award will be based primarily on the nominee’s performance on national and international competition. These competitions must be recognized by the Department of Education or Department of Science and Technology.
- Presentations or publications of original work in mathematics are desirable.
- Students who contribute to the promotion of mathematics and show leadership skills are desirable. Good moral character will be considered.
Criteria for Judging
- Performance in Mathematics Competitions – 75%
- Research and Publications in Mathematics – 10%
- Leadership and Promotion of Mathematics – 15 %
Screening Process
Judging will be based on a recommendation from school principal / Mathematics head with supporting documents. For students who are chosen to the top 20, each involvement on activities included in the recommendation of the principal/math head or other recognized authority will be reviewed and assessed by judges/co-presenters. The said recommendations will be one of the bases of the judges’ questions for the panel interview.
Representatives from the Department of Education NCR, DOST-SEI, MTG Philippines, MSP, and MathTed will conduct the deliberation / final interview of finalists.
These Ten Outstanding Young Mathematician awardees will be receiving a plaque of excellence, cash prizes and gifts from Sharp Calculators and sponsors. They will also serve as the first batch of Sharp Calculators’ Youth Ambassadors who will inspire and encourage the Filipino youth through school tours and mathematics symposiums.
If you know a deserving student, get a nomination kits at any National Book Store NCR branches or download it through www.sharpminds.ph. Deadline for nominations will be on January 5, 2015. The awarding ceremonies is scheduled on February 2015.
For more information contact Sharp Calculators at 681-6161 / 646-2867 and look for Ms. Mary Rose Rocha or Ms. Clara Camille Ocampo.
Tech
LG unveils newest additions to its budget-friendly L series to PH
By Dems Angeles on October 14, 2014
LG Electronics (LG) has just introduced in the Philippines the L Fino and the L60 smartphones, the latest additions to its budget-friendly mid-range L series mobile devices.
A compelling alternative to higher-priced smartphones, the L ‘Fino’, the Spanish word for ‘fine,’ is made more powerful and now boasts of a more premium look and feel that are sure to attract teenagers and first-time smartphone users.
According to Jay Won, vice president for LG Mobile Philippines, “L Fino represents LG’s commitment to strengthen its smartphones portfolio by focusing on creating a more premium user experience at the entry and mid-priced segments.”
The L Fino features the blazing fast 1.2GHz Quad-Core processor and a 4.5-inch display, while its 1,900mAh battery allows users to enjoy long-lasting multimedia from the device.
With its “Designed for Funtography” philosophy, the L Fino combines fun with smartphone photography as it gives users quality, blur-free images with premium features that can once be seen only in the high-tier LG G series. These include Touch & Shoot, the selfie Gesture Shot and a front camera light which allows users to take a clear snap of themselves even in the dark.
It is also the first L series model to sport LG’s trademark rear key button, as well as the brand’s signature Knock Code and adjustable Smart Keyboard, and an 8 MP camera and true IPS display.
Available in white and black, the L Fino allows buyers to choose between these two classic colors with LG’s signature sleek body.
Newest family member
Another addition to the mid-range L series is the L60 smartphone, a member of the well-loved L Series III family.
The LG L60 smartphone employs a modern “slimmed” design and has a woven back texture that gives users a comfortable grip while giving the handset a modern look.
Although with a sleek body, one can still enjoy a 4.3” display, while its 1,540mAh battery will allow you to maximize the phones’ functionalities and its 1.3GHz dual core CPU will ensure a heightened user experience.
It also has a dual SIM to provide utmost convenience to users. Set different ringtones, vibrations, or alert sounds for each SIM for further customization.
“With smartphone users becoming savvier, we believe that the L Fino and the L 60 models will enjoy a strong following among customers who are seeking performance and feature-rich smart phones at affordable prices,” Won said.
Extended promo
What’s more, LG is giving more Filipinos the chance to own the earlier released L Series III smartphones and other LG Mobile handsets with as much as Php5,000 off on their respective selling prices.
“We are giving our consumers an early merry surprise this ber-month with our extended early Christmas promo, where they can get their favorite LG smartphones at lower prices,” Won said.
Consumers can get the other L Series III models like LG L80 for only Php9,990; the LG L70 for Php7,490; and the LG L40 for P4,490 until October 31, 2014 only.
The early Christmas sale will also give customers Php5,000 off on the LG G Pro 2, now for Php27,990; the LG G2 for Php25,990 (32 GB) and Php21,990 (16GB); the LG G2 mini for Php12,490; and the LG G Pro for Php11,990.
For more information about the new L series models, visit www.lg.com/ph, www.lgblog.com.ph, or www.LGnewsroom.com; like LG Mobile’s official Facebook page “LG Mobile Philippines”; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.
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*Specifications may vary depending on the market.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a global leader and innovator in mobile communications. With its breakthrough technologies and innovative designs, LG continues to establish a number of benchmarks in the smartphone market, while also helping create a better lifestyle for consumers by delivering a wholly enhanced smartphone experience. As a leader in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, LG continues its commitment to developing groundbreaking LTE technologies and fulfilling consumer demands with differentiated LTE devices of the highest quality, all of which are based on the company’s wealth of LTE patents and technical knowledge. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.
Forty (40) delegates will represent the Philippines in the 16th International Robotics Olympiad Competition (IROC) in Beijing, China this November 5 – 9, 2014.
