SOL REPUBLIC Punk Quick Review

There are a lot of wireless speakers available in the market today that function through the use of Bluetooth, but the selection narrows down when you look for a Bluetooth speaker that’s really easy to carry around. The SOL REPUBLIC Punk is a compact wireless speaker that promises to be able to tag along anywhere you go.

The Punk, as we’ve already established, has a small form factor. It has a square body that easily fits inside the hand and at just 318 grams it’s also pretty light. Its design follows the company’s grid-like patterns across the entire face which we’ve seen with the DECK Bluetooth/NFC speaker that we reviewed before.

SOL-REPUBLIC-Punk-4

This compact speaker equally measures 5,1 inches in length and width, and is no bigger than an average computer mouse. It is surrounded with a rubber protection making it able to withstand accidental drops and liquid spills, while the top and bottom are made of hard plastic with matte finish.

SOL-REPUBLIC-Punk-3

It has a rubber flap on the side that covers its microUSB port, Audio IN, and Audio OUT via 3.5mm jacks. The IN port connects a music player to the Punk using a cable, while the OUT port lets users connect the speaker to another (maybe bigger) speaker and use the Punk as a Bluetooth streamer. This flap also seals the opening from water or dirt — as the entire device is water, dust, and shock resistant.

SOL-REPUBLIC-Punk-1

Navigational buttons for the Punk come embedded inside the rubber protection and can be accessed by pressing said rubber that are textured to represent the buttons. Referring to the above photo, we have the Bluetooth, volume up, play/pause, volume down, and power buttons. There is also an LED indicator below the play/pause button to indicate power, battery, and Bluetooth pairing.

Underneath, SOL REPUBLIC made a threaded mount so you can use it on more instances. For example, it can be attached to the handlebars of a bike using an additional bike mount so you can still listen to your music while going for a spin. It’s a nice touch and it shows that the company was thoughtful enough to include it and add more ruggedness to the device.

SOL-REPUBLIC-Punk-5

As for sound quality, its drivers give out bigger sound than you’d expect. It can go loud and would fill a medium-sized room. We also took the time to mount it on a bike as mentioned earlier and it provided good volume for us — and those near us while on the street. Sound quality was overall clear, although turning it up to the maximum volume showed some slight distortions.

Highs and mids are pleasant, but the lows/bass are lacking. This is quite understandable since the Punk was made to be as portable as possible and not to sound perfect.

Through Bluetooth, the company boasts that it can go up to 60 feet which is around double the usual range of an ordinary Bluetooth speaker. So we left the speaker in one room and tried moving the wirelessly-connected device in different rooms to see where the connection would be cut off, and we had to go one floor down and into the room on the opposite side of the house until the signal was interrupted. We’ve never reached this far with the previous Bluetooth speakers while testing them, so that’s good news.

The company claims it can last 8 hours of continuous playback, but it only got us a few minutes past 2 hours. Keep in mind, though, that we streamed music via Bluetooth and set the volume to maximum. The stated battery life probably refers to playing music through wired connection and moderate volume.

SOL-REPUBLIC-Punk-7

SOL REPUBLIC’s Punk is a handy speaker to have around. It not only functions well indoors, but also outdoors with its protection from water, dust, and accidental drops. The strength of Bluetooth connectivity was above average and it won our favor. If you’re out for an ultra-portable wireless speaker, make sure to put this lil’ Punk on your list.

SOL REPUBLIC Punk specs:
Amplifier Power: 5.7W
Frequency Response: 150Hz – 20 kHz
Wireless Range: up to 60 feet
5.1 x 5.1 x 2.3 inches (dimensions)
318 grams (weight)
Water, dust, and shock resistant
Price: Php4,000

The post SOL REPUBLIC Punk Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

State Dept official: U.S. takes no position on South China Sea conflict

China’s activities in the South China Sea, not surprisingly, figured prominently in the fifth Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held Tuesday and Wednesday in Manila.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel in a pre-departure interview. With him is U.S. Embassy Press Attache Kurt Hoyer.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel in a pre-departure interview. With him is U.S. Embassy Press Attache Kurt Hoyer.

The joint statement on the meeting, co-chaired by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia and Undersecretary of National Defense Pio Lorenzo F. Batino for the Philippines and by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel and Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear for the United States, stated that “ The two sides expressed concern over developments in the South China Sea that are inconsistent with the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and international law and emphasized the importance of upholding peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation and over flight. “

The joint statement further said, “ The two sides reiterated that international disputes in the South China Sea should be settled in accordance with international law, and through diplomatic and other peaceful means, including the use of international arbitration.

“We expressed concern about the ambiguity and potential breadth of some maritime claims and emphasized that maritime claims in the South China Sea must be derived from land features in accordance with the international law of the sea, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The two sides expressed opposition to unilateral measures that escalate tensions in the region.”

In a pre-departure interview at the NAIA1 VIP lounge, we asked Russel if the reclamations and constructions being done by China in the features (islets, reefs and rocks) that they have occupied are risks to freedom of navigation, which China also says they adhere to.

Russel said, “That will the depend on what actions the Chinese is going to take in the future. “

An article by Beina Xu in the Councilon Foreign Relations website states the importance of the South China Sea sea lanes: “As much as 50 percent of global oil tanker shipments pass through the South China Sea, which sees three times more tanker traffic than the Suez Canal and more than five times that of the Panama Canal, making the waters one of the world’s busiest international sea lanes. More than half of the world’s top ten shipping ports are also located in and around the South China Sea, according to the International Association of Ports and Harbors. As intra-ASEAN trade has markedly increased—from 29 percent of total ASEAN trade in 1980 to 41 percent in 2009—maintaining freedom of navigation has become of paramount importance for the region.”

The same article said quoted Dr. Yann-Huei Song, a fellow at Academia Sinica in Taiwan saying that making sure that the South China Sea lanes are unimpeded “ is a very important issue, and has become the main concern of Japan, the United States and even right now the European Union.”

Yann-Huei also said “China is unlikely to instigate an interruption in traffic because its business, exploration, and importation rely entirely on freedom of navigation as well. “

Russel said “The simple point is that the ongoing reclamation and construction contribute to friction and make it harder, not easier, for claimants and countries in the region to find a diplomatic resolution to the territorial disputes.”

We asked him to clarify what we see as inconsistency in the public statements of concern of U.S. officials on China’s aggressive activities in the South China Sea and yet they have not made any position on the territorial claims in the area.

Russel said, “The principle of peaceful resolutions of disputes is very important. That is what we support. We do not take a position on the merits of the claims of sovereignty of the land features in the South China Sea. We do not back the Philippines against China or China against (other countries) in Asia. We do not take a position on the ultimate resolution of the territorial claims.”

Although the U.S. supports the right of the Philippines to avail of international legal mechanisms as it did when it filed a complaint before the United National Arbitral Tribunal questioning China nine-dash line map, Russel stressed the U.S. does not s support the content of the Philippine claim. “We do not take a position on the merits of the case. That’s for the experts in the international tribunal in the Hague to resolve.”

We asked Russel to comment on the thawing of the once frosty relations between the Philippines and China after the meeting of President Aquino and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing last November.

The State department official said, The United States, first and foremost, supports benefits of improved relations among the countries in East Asia. We would like to see China have a constructive relations with all of its neighbors. If there is progress in Philippine-China relations coming out of last APEC and leading up to this year’s APEC which President Aquino will host, we would be pleased and we support.

At the same time, Russel said “Friendly relations does not mean compromising principles and the commitment of the Aquino government to the sanctity of the rule of law. And the principle of peaceful resolutions of disputes is very important. That is what we support.”

On whether the killing of transgender Jennifer Laude by US Marine Private First Class Scott Joseph Pemberton who was in the Philippines on a military exercise dented Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which is being questioned in the Supreme Court, Russel said they are two different cases.

He said, “The Pemberton incident was really tragic. We are committed to full cooperation with Philippine authorities. We are committed to seeing justice. It’s also important to remember that however horrific the incident was, there are thousands and thousands, tens of thousands U.S. military people regularly visit the Philippines, enjoy tremendous Philippine hospitality. The United States is deeply committed to discipline and responsible behavior by all uniformed military personnel. This is absolute priority I know for the defense department t as well as for the President of the United States.”

EDCA, meanwhile, Russel said is an agreement between the United States and the Philippines to cooperate. “We both agree on the importance of expanding that cooperation in ways that serve the interest of the Philippines, the United States and the region. EDCA is all about on how we can work together closely and more effectively.”

H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle

This is the kind of transportation that we need in the Philippines especially in flood-prone areas. Meet the H20 Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that is 100% Filipino-made.

The H20 Salamander is technically a tricycle but it can travel not just on land but on water as well. It can carry up to 6 passengers on land – 1 driver + 5 passengers, and up to 4 passengers on water – 1 driver + 3 passengers.

It is made of fiberglass reinforced material with modular steel framing support, and has a stable and buoyant hull design with built-in Marine-grade industrial propeller. It even has a Solar Mobile USB charging capability with 6 USB ports for charging your mobile devices.

h2o salamander_2

The Salamander comes in two engine variants – full electric 5KW engine, and an internal combustion 250cc engine. For more details about the H2O Salamander just hit the source link below.

Photos: H2O Salamander
source: H2O Technologies, Inc.

The post H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle

This is the kind of transportation that we need in the Philippines especially in flood-prone areas. Meet the H20 Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that is 100% Filipino-made.

The H20 Salamander is technically a tricycle but it can travel not just on land but on water as well. It can carry up to 6 passengers on land – 1 driver + 5 passengers, and up to 4 passengers on water – 1 driver + 3 passengers.

It is made of fiberglass reinforced material with modular steel framing support, and has a stable and buoyant hull design with built-in Marine-grade industrial propeller. It even has a Solar Mobile USB charging capability with 6 USB ports for charging your mobile devices.

h2o salamander_2

The Salamander comes in two engine variants – full electric 5KW engine, and an internal combustion 250cc engine. For more details about the H2O Salamander just hit the source link below.

Photos: H2O Salamander
source: H2O Technologies, Inc.

The post H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle

This is the kind of transportation that we need in the Philippines especially in flood-prone areas. Meet the H20 Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that is 100% Filipino-made.

The H20 Salamander is technically a tricycle but it can travel not just on land but on water as well. It can carry up to 6 passengers on land – 1 driver + 5 passengers, and up to 4 passengers on water – 1 driver + 3 passengers.

It is made of fiberglass reinforced material with modular steel framing support, and has a stable and buoyant hull design with built-in Marine-grade industrial propeller. It even has a Solar Mobile USB charging capability with 6 USB ports for charging your mobile devices.

h2o salamander_2

The Salamander comes in two engine variants – full electric 5KW engine, and an internal combustion 250cc engine. For more details about the H2O Salamander just hit the source link below.

Photos: H2O Salamander
source: H2O Technologies, Inc.

The post H2O Salamander: a Pinoy-made Amphibious Tricycle appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.