iStudio Plus Starts Coffee Sessions: More Products In Store!

Just attended the coffee session of iStudio Plus at their 3rd Floor Gateway Mall branch in Quezon City. It's a venue to collaborate, talk amongst tech brands at their space in the mall. For starters, we got to know the folks from Insta360 and Ecoflow power stations (under Enabled). We also talked to the folks from DIVOOM speakers. 

 

EcoFlow is the number one power station brand in the world. They are tech driven and eco friendly made for individuals, family and those who need them. They are present in tech conventions around the world and has impressed award giving bodies for design and tech. Their prime products include the EcoFlow River 3, which is a ups and takes an hour to charge. It's also waterproof and very compact, perfect for travels. They are 30 percent smaller than competitors. They also have River 3 Max Plus which can be stacked, if you need double the capacity then this is perfect for you because it is modular. They also have the bigger EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series, a bit bigger and has bigger output of 1800W. Products cost 35-69K. They have bigger ones for homes that have 4000W. It can also be expanded, best for homes if you want something off the grid. They also have the EcoFlow Trail 300+ to launch in the PH soon (November), which you can use in camping trips. Costs 10-15K.

The best 360 camera in the world is also available in iStudio Plus, the Insta360. It's got all day and all night angles, very good in low light. It has enhanced replaceable lenses, can do 8K videos, 208 minute battery life, waterproof at 15m. The Ace Pro 2 on the other hand has AI capability, better quality videos and can be used for filming. It's more of an action camera than a vlogging one. The battery also lasts 180mins but can be charged fast. Their flagship camera is the Insta360 GO ULTRA. It's got Ultra HD videos for day and night shots, magnetic mounts, longer battery life at 200 minutes, do underwater shots, and fast charging for 12 minutes. It also has AI editing and cloud so you can edit while traveling. Even if you are not a pro it can do the legwork and make it for you. They also have the devices packaged for creators with sticks and mounts for motorcycles too.

Divoom speakers are quite different because it's made with art and pixels in mind. Their newest one is the Times Frame, a digital picture frame that also displays video done through the Divoom app. It also has clocks, widgets, customized edge lights so it can be the star of your show (in the bedroom or elsewhere). They also have retro speakers like the Ditoo 5M which can be displayed with pixel art. It also has Karaoke mode so you can take it out on parties. If you want something cute, the Dipow 65 would fit you, it has an LED screen and can stand like a character, or the DIPOW 35 if you want something smaller that you can attach to a phone or power plug. They also have a Times Gate model which has a larger display, something fancy for rooms or decor. They have the very popular Cyberbag that has displays on the back, I've seen that in motorcyclists. It's super cool! If you want something smaller, they also have the Cyberbag M or the Pixoo Sling Bags that you can pair with your phone app and use for display. The Spark Pro on the other hand can be the Karaoke arsenal to have, it's got superb audio and very portable. If you need something smaller,  they have the Fairy or Spark Pop (which I personally use in the shower to enjoy hours of music!).

Here's a tour of the place, enjoy! 

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Now if you need Apple or non Apple products, you can go to iStudio Plus branches near you. You can also inquire on their Facebook page if you need more information about these devices too. 

LUMOS TABLET: The Perfect Blend of Function and Fun for only ₱6,999

I'm a writer, content creator and jack of all trades. We're pretty known in the "industry" for dishing out stories fast. I often write about events that I go to a la minute. It's not magic, but hard research done before interviews. It's also about taking notes, and wanting to keep the exciting things happen, with the goal of telling folks while it's fresh, and as soon as I get it. Arguably, in this day and age, you can't discount the fact that being "fast" counts too. It's now an established workflow.

We often write with a desktop/laptop computer at our home office. If I'm out, I'd pull out my notes and checklist and constantly write with a smartphone with real struggle. I could have carried the laptop with me but with the travel I do and my diagnosed sciatica, it's not going to be a comfortable solution. This is where the LUMOS Tablet comes in. 

Screen size is good. I can see what I need to see for work or play.

Carried this and used it before an event, finished 3 articles with it.

Case cover fits like a glove!

Light weight, even has a  front and back camera!

This is something I'd be able to use for work and leisure. Good tablet for kids too!

This hails from the same brand of projectors I've had the pleasure of using in the past (for work and entertainment). The LUMOS TABLET has a 10.1 inch screen, capable of playing 4K videos, has 8 GB of RAM and a 6000 mAh battery (for hours of use), but still kept quite affordable. I could watch on streaming apps, watch YouTube videos, or enjoy hours of entertainment with Karaoke or play game apps too. This would be an ideal device for what I'd want to do since it's got WPS Office Apps (that has a word processor and presentation software in it), and is lightweight. It also fits in my bag, and since it's a bundle, comes with a Bluetooth keyboard, a mouse, pen (editing would be a cinch!) and its own case cover. It works like a mini laptop, but works without the worries of it being too big.

It can be cast to a Smart TV, I see what I exactly have on the tablet to the TV I have at home. YouTube, Netflix, Presentations all work!

Surely, this could also work with kids who would need to study or folks who would want to cast on TV's for presentations, everyday leisure watching of your favorite K-Dramas, series, movies, reality shows and more. They've got lots of folks, celebrities, YouTubers and Influencers who have attested, given their trust and confidence to it. It is after all, the perfect blend of function and fun. If you would want to get one, simply visit their official website HERE. 

LUMOS TABLET: A great blend of function and fun!

Wouldn't that be a good idea?! Head on to https://lumosprojector.ph/products/lumos-tablet to know more about the device. It's a good investment for family, and for yourself.

A Glimpse of the iStudio Plus Store in Shangri-la Plaza Mall

It's been only a few months and change has definitely happened with the brand of iStudio Plus. After being a Premium Apple Reseller for years, they now carry MORE brands under their belt. What this means for consumers is OPTIONS, that in this day and age of different smartphone brands and accessories, you've got iStudio Plus stores you can go to.

After covering the iStudio Plus iPhone 16 event a couple weeks ago, they have opened up a brand new store over at the 3rd Floor of Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. We were able to get first dibs on some of the brands that they carry including top fan manufacturer Jisulife, smartphone manufacturer Samsung, and the really fun Divoom, a brand that has lots of bags, speakers, microphones, LED and accessories. iStudio plus also has their own branded products, which I love every bit of.

They carry Philips products, but I fancied this huge 30,000mAh power bank. It's small but compared to other brands, this has more capacity.

This is one of the things that are iStudio branded, they've got a lot! But what I dig about this brick is the two outputs. I don't have to wait for one device to charge and can do it at the same time!

A big surprise was this JBL Wind 3S portable bluetooth speaker, you can attach this to bikes when you're outdoors. Enjoy the fun of music even in the midst of your workout. There's more where this came from!

Being a Premium Apple Reseller, they carry Apple products like this Apple TV 4K. It's got really good audio and video quality. With it, you can Facetime people while you're in the living room. It also has access to Apple original shows and films!

Because it's hot in the Philippines, iStudio Plus carries Jisulife products. Different from the usual wireless rechargeable fans in the market, this is much stronger and lasts quite a long time. This is why it's the top selling brand of portable fans in the country, and in the world.

I'm a sucker for really good bluetooth speakers. Divoom has these. This is the Divoom Spark Pop Bluetooth Speaker, a kind of small portable speaker which they carry in store. Don't be fooled by how small it is because it sound so loud and crisp in real life. Imagine the things you can do with this while you're traveling to other countries or domestically. You don't have to be bored at all!

This is just the tip of the iceberg, during the event, they also told us that they're planning to open/revamp a few more stores within the year. They are also targeting even more before 2030. It's going to be more convenient shopping for phones, audio, video devices and accessories because they made it all in one place, at iStudio Plus!

I'd like to take this bit to thank the folks at iStudio Plus for letting us see what's about to happen at their store in Shangri-la Plaza Mall. From the looks of it, it's amazing!

JISULIFE Philippines Launched at the Coolerful Life Event

If you don't live under a rock, you probably know what Jisulife is. It's the country's top selling portable fan, and recently, they got launched as a brand officially in the Philippines. They're now known as Jisulife Philippines, and they're ready to make waves bringing in new products, more portable fans that look like it's from the future.

This was solidified by Jisulife Product Manager Matthew Sy, he says "We are the number 1 portable fan in the world. We have products that are faster and have 30 percent more battery life. With a built in AI chip, it is more efficient and durable. It's compact, stylish, provides a refreshing breeze for those who are on the go. We have Life 4, 5, 7 and 9 out in the market. We use cutting edge technology for comfort for those who have a busy lifestyle." 

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The Pro1 and Pro1S, and Ultra1 is for those who love outdoors, it's lightweight and portable, easy to carry around. They also have a Neck Fan Pro 1 that is practical for those who are in the Philippines, the perfect travel companion too while word around your neck. The Baby Stroller Fan is safe and reliable to use especially if you have kids. It has a glow light, and function as a stand fan. With your safety in mind, you can attach it on cribs and leave it. 

The one on display at the event was an Outdoor Fan Ultra 1. If you are always on the go, fond of adventures and climb a lot, this provides fresh air and breeze, and has directional light, and act like a mobile charging station. It is high speed and is adjustable but also has power saving mode, and different levels of brightness. It can be your travel mate that is stable. 

The other is called Jisulife Table Fan. It is adjustable and has bigger battery capacity. It also changes LED colors and adjust its brightness. It is also functions as a portable air purifier, with an actual filter inside. Even without cables, it can work for 10-12 hours, you can enjoy the fresh air with it!

 At the launch, they had us entertained by different PPOP and dance groups. Aside from that, a ballroom showdown by some of Manila's whackers, death drops were a common scene at the venue. I'd like to take this bit and thank Jisulife Philippines for having us at the Coolefrul Life Event that evening. I can't wait for the new products to be enjoyed by Filipinos, because from what I saw that evening, the products were certainly innovative!

Portability and Performance with the Acer Swift Edge 16

Looks like Acer is on a roll as they recently announce the release of a new Swift Edge 16 in Manila, boasting portability and performance all in one. It's a given in previous Swift models that it can be a good companion for work, education and a little play, but what makes this a good thing to buy especially these days when applications need more than the usual computing power?

Processor wise, it's got an AMD Ryzen 7040, plus a AMD Radeon 780M graphics card that can do much of the job. Otherwise, they put in a AMD Radeon 780M graphics and AMD Ryzen AI if they elect a different processor. The 16 inch display on the other hand has a lot to be impressed with, from the 3.2K OLED it is made from, to the 120Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 color gamut and peak brightness of 500 nits, surely will make the videos, photos, graphics you need to see quite stunning from every front.

Best of all, it's also got fast charging capabilities. In case you need to grab and go, or travel while working, it'll be possible to do things without worrying you'll run out of batteries in transit. Aside from that, its form stays thin and light which makes this one of the most portable products that a person can own to finish work, school stuff or graphics work as this too can handle much of that. If you would like to know more about the best Swift Edge model in town, just head on to acer.com, their channels and at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan if you prefer to try it in person.

Home Cinema Dreams Come True with the LUMOS DAWN

Meet the LUMOS DAWN, the newest affordable home cinema projector available in the Philippines.

My love for movies and the arts has always been an obvious thing since I've been covering entertainment events in Manila. I've always wanted to have my own home theater especially during the pandemic, and it's a lovely premise to have one at so you wouldn't have to go far if you want to enjoy local and international films right at the comforts of your home. You'll be glad to know that there exists something that would fulfill your dreams, meet the new LUMOS DAWN Projector. 

 

Form and Function I Need

Aside from the usual subscriptions I have on streaming apps, I often watch Anime, documentaries, gaming re-runs, and the best films available online on TV. I've got some of the best brands bar none, but I do feel that TV's just doesn't cut it to feel like you're in a movie theater. My room theme is monochrome, and a wall was painted white years ago so I figured I'd better put that to good use. The LUMOS DAWN arrived safely packaged in a box within a box.

It comes with a Remote, a User Manual, a Basic Set-Up Tips flyer, a Power Cable, an RCA Cable and an HDMI Cable. If you're not a techie, it's easy to understand how to put these together. The package doesn't come with batteries, buy one from the grocer or use the one on other remotes for the meantime.

This is where the Power Cable goes

Shiny lens, with the LUMOS logo in front

Underneath, it's got a place where you could fit a stand and screw it. I love how it's a standard size and it fits on my actual tripods here at home.

It's got an audio port where you can use your wired earphones in, an AV port, 2 USB ports for storage and plugging in other devices in plus an HDMI port where I had my laptop plugged in (and see HD quality videos in).

The front has a power button, turns green when it's ON

I like that this one has a cover so you won't have trouble keeping it in boxes or have it gather dust in storage.

The LUMOS DAWN Smart is a smart device, so the remote control for it is essential. The NEXT and DONE clicks, the Volume Control, Home, Menu, Source switches, and mouse control is done through this. You can use a wired mouse too, but it would be so convenient to just get batteries for this and make your movie and streaming moments E A S Y. 

I love how this particular device has a very compact form factor, like they thought about making it small sized but powerful. It's got ample amount of ventilation so as not to heat up. The ports are also positioned well, not too crowded for all the other devices you would need to connect it to. After hooking it up with the cables, we turned it ON. 

The Experience

After screwing it to the tripod I had sitting around, we turned it on and checked its features. After pointing it into the wall I had inside my room, I adjusted the settings by turning the knobs in front. It just takes a few seconds to do that.

You can set the distance of the device quite far (about 3m max) to achieve an 125 inch screen and still see clear images. I did change my wall paint to a matte white color about a year ago and it did wonders for the images this time. It's like my own projector screen without shelling out extra for that. With its 1080p support and 600p clear resolution, it's undoubtedly one of the best ones in the market in the same price range. Quite bright as its got 2500 Lumens which makes videos clear and not appear blurry or faded on screen. When you turn it on, it would ask for your language, timezone, have it connect to your home's WiFi network to gain access to internet. The device has it's own App Store, or Google Play so if there's something you would like to install for a smart device like this, it'll be cinch to do.

It has a built in YouTube and Netflix app so you don't need to bother installing one on the device. They don't also advice you update it and just use as is. If it's not broken, why fix? Makes sense! Aside from that, it's got AirScreen and Miracast which you can use to cast your mobile phone screens into the LUMOS DAWN so imagine what you can do with those Mobile Legends, Call of Duty or Genshin Impact sessions you do for hours. It may well then be the grandest place to play and have an immersive experience (yes the LUMOS DAWN has Dolby Audio speakers!). I'm totally not suggesting you do those TikTok numbers you've been practicing secretly, but you do you!

The soil from Mars certainly looks detailed

I don't need to move shelves, just point the projector on the space I've got on the east side of my room and it becomes an extra place to watch more videos!

LUMOS DAWN gives a lot of these features without breaking the bank. It's priced at Php 6,999 and the LUMOS DAWN Smart version for Php 9,999. It also comes with a 1 Year local warranty which assures you hours of movie and entertainment pleasure right at the comforts of your home. I even used it as a screen to watch YouTube videos today. It was lovely watching documentaries, foreign TV shows and Valorant matches which I streamed live on the YouTube app. Now isn't that a dream?! If you wish to have one, you can purchase them today at https://www.lumosprojector.ph/.

Well, since I'm celebrating my site's milestones this year and you've read this far, I'm letting you in on a huge surprise. I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY of a brand new LUMOS DAWN. This is your chance to win that dream home cinema projector you've been eyeing, and I'm here to make your Home Cinema Dreams Come True with the LUMOS DAWN. All you need to do is look for the Facebook post of this article HERE and follow these steps below:

1. On the comment section, tag 3 FB friends and comment “I like LUMOS DAWN because…….” (and state why you do)!

2. Share the FB article post on your Facebook timeline (set in PUBLIC) with the hashtag #LUMOSHomeCinemaGiveaway and tag the official LUMOS FB page @lumosprojectorph  

3. Bonus points will go to those who Like our FB Page @kumagcow - 1 bonus entry

and Like & Follow the LUMOS FB page @lumosprojectorph - 1 bonus entry

(take screenshot and post photo of liked page on the comment section) 

All I need from you (if you WIN) is a photo with the prize when you get it and tag us both. All I wish is that you put it to good use, and here's hoping the best of luck to whoever wins it! Winners will be announced next week so stay tuned!

 This definitely made my Home Cinema Dreams Come True!

Philippine Airlines Launches myPAL Roam

It looks like Philippine Airlines and their group of companies are pushing the envelope on this one as they launch their own global internet hotspot called myPAL Roam, a global mobile hotspot that promises to connect you in over 80 countries in cooperation with Skyroam. Skyroam in itself isn't a mobile company and doesn't use sim cards for their device to work. Their service actually connects directly to whatever local telco, of course it's better with SMART. They apparently give you the local HSPDA+ connection rates for only Php 490. That means there will be no bill shocks for people like you who often go out of the country. This device can now be rented through PAL Boutique located in the PAL Ticket Office lobby of the PNB Financial Center in Pasay City (at the back of World Trade Center), NAIA Terminal 2 Departure area or via roam.philippineairlines.com. The device may be returned to the PAL Boutique NAIA Arrival area or On Board Return Service (yes inside the plane!). 

"In partnership with Skyroam, you can ise this in over 120 countries worldwide. This is the latest addition to what PAL has been offering onboard. PAL moves closer to our goal to be a 5 star airline in 5 years and it underscores our philosophy "The Heart of the Filipino", we hope to power your adventures!" says Mr. Jaime Bautista of Philippine Airlines. 

Camie and Kimi, lifestyle and travel bloggers who also used myPAL Roam in Bali. 

myPAL Roam is the latest addition to Philippine Airlines service innovations together with myPAL Player and parts of the myPAL eSuite. I've shown you their fashion show a couple of weeks ago when they launched PAL Boutique where they have Filipino products exhibiting our own talents and craftsmanship. If you might have forgotten that show, here it is! 

In a nutshell, I think this is much like what they use in Japan where people rent out the device and return it (literally throw it on a designated box). This one however can be taken elsewhere which is also convenient but it still has it's flaws (I heard data caps) but is good as an add on service.

KUMAGCOW

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The Western Digital 2TB My Passport Pro Portable RAID Storage

The Philippine market is saturated with hundreds of external drives. Many brands try to constitute themselves as the best there is in the market but I think the number one in terms of performance and quality as users have put them all there. We have different reasons but track record and longevity plus testimonials from previous buyers have solidified it. We'll take a look at one of their RAID drives that is specifically made for the Mac made by Western Digital  called the 2TB My Passport Pro. Let's do this shall we?

For those who don't know, prices actually differ on Mac machines if you want to have more storage; but for plain ones, you would only get 1TB and get solid state drives for faster performance. If you want more, you'll have to add a fortune again and that isn't a good option for most consumers. 

A promising feature is this Thunderbolt cable which means data and power will all be done with one cable. It's built in on the drive which I'll show you in a bit. This feature actually sold me already because if you have power and data in one cable, that's technology working for you. It made me cringe about my existing 3TB external drive that has a different power and USB cable. I'm sure some of you do too.

Now, you have to remember that if it says it's "Designed for Mac" on the box, it means it won't work with anything else because most windows laptops won't have that Thunderbolt Cable I was referring to earlier as it doesn't even have a USB port.

Opening the box was a breeze. It has one outer cover and the box that contains the drive itself. 

It also has some images on the box cover indicating that this is used for mobile use, built for that purpose.

Just pick up the tab on front and you'll see the drive itself. The material is plastic but built around the drive and meant to protect it too. 

The WD My Passport Pro is one of the most "macho" and sleek looking external drives I've ever seen. Aesthetically it's gone overboard with its looks, matte black finish so you can easily grab the drive with one hand. The ventilation below is apt so it won't overheat on you. Once connected to the port, it automatically installs everything on Mac. Drives like these on Windows especially the Passport ones from WD have wizards you need to follow in order to install. For the Macbook Pro with Retina Display, it was only a cinch. In the eve of files or movies that are HD, the 2TB would be really easy to fill up especially if you already have tons of them on your hard drive or other media. Transferring is fast and efficient. It took a couple minutes having the HD copy of the Expendables 3 from my cousin's Mac so I think that says a lot about it. The thing physically has 2 1TB SSD drives inside hence the capacity. It's a cool cheaper alternative rather than getting it internally on the Mac which costs an arm and a leg if you dig the additional 1TB plus its weight.

 You'll get the installation manual which basically just shows you to connect it.

If you're asking where the Thunderbolt cable is, it's actually wrapped around the drive through a groove made in the center. The port's end snaps onto a small notch connected on the cable's end that is embedded on the drive. Now there might be some that might fear the life of the drive would be the same as the cable, but I think it's sturdy enough and strong to actually be something to worry about. You'll probably break the drive first if that's what you're worried about.

Since it can be mirrored, you should use your RAID 0 drive to be mirrored by RAID 1 so it automatically saves your files and have an internal second backup if the first one fails. You don't have to pay for cloud services and they'll perform quite well on OS X or OS X Maverick like cold drives. There's a separate WD Drives Utilities App that you can install separately, free of charge from Western Digital's website. That's if you want to change anything on the drive's configuration. but by default you can say it's plug and play. If you also want to know, the drive is pretty quiet and doesn't bother and spinning involved. Of course it's SSD!

Price wise, it's one of the most affordable pieces of hardware to be seen in this category. I think they've made it with that in mind so you won't even have to battle with other manufacturers who have similar functions. You might want to take a look at Digital Walker and their partner stores if you want to check out these drives for your Mac. It's worth it for photographers, movie couch potatoes and just plain file hoarders at this price point. You should get one.

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