Day: May 27, 2015

Ford takes center stage in CES Asia with Smart Mobility

Abe Olandres Leave a comment

Ford Motors showed a lot of new innovations and shared a number of forward-leaning experiments that revolves around smart mobility during the first Consumer Electronics Show Asia here in Shanghai, China.

Ford is perhaps the most active automotive company that heavily invests in technology, power efficiency and everything else that involves mobility.
Among its most prominent development is the Ford Sync which is rolled out in all Ford cars globally. The Sync 2.0 will be available together with the Everest when it is released in the Philippines next quarter.

The goal of Ford Sync is ease and safety — hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. As such, Sync allows the driver to interact with the car’s system with minimal distraction on four major interactions — navigation, communication, entertainment and climate control.


Josh Villanueva of GadgetMatch tries Sync 2.0 via Oculus.

Sync can also interface your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth so you don’t have to be distracted while driving. Basic functions such as receiving/making calls, reading SMS and sending canned messages, music playback are all seemlessly incorporated into the system to give the driver a hands-free interaction.

Ford also showed us what they’re doing for the next Sync 3.0 that is more streamlined and a revamped user interface with support for AppLink.

An ongoing experiment that Ford is doing in Atlanta in partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology is Parking Spotter.

This experiment uses existing sonar and radar technology already available on Ford vehicles to map parking information. At speeds of less than 15 kmph, vehicles participating in the experiment act as roving probes and map open parking spots. This information is then uploaded to a cloud-based location, which drivers can access if they’re looking for a place to park.

The Remote Repositioning experiment has outfitted a golf cart owned by the Georgia Institute of Technology – Ford’s partner on the experiment – with technology that allows them to be driven remotely, via a LTE streaming connection.

“Once equipped with the technology, the golf cart can be driven from a station that’s pretty similar to what you might find at a video arcade,” said Buczkowski. “There are some very exciting possibilities here, from improving car-sharing efficiency to simply allowing drivers to stay dry in bad weather.”

Another business model that Ford is looking into is the car-sharing service called Go!Drive. Already on its second phase, this City Driving On-Demand mobility experiment is an exploration into car-sharing solutions which was announced earlier this year as part of Ford Smart Mobility – and invite 2,000 members of the public to experience the car-sharing service. The consumer-facing service will offer members access to 50 Ford vehicles available at 20 convenient locations around London.

Ford’s booth at the exhibition hall of CES Asia featured the upcoming Sync 3.0, a virtual reality driving experience with Sync 2.0 using Oculus and an up close encounter with the Ford GT supercar.

The post Ford takes center stage in CES Asia with Smart Mobility appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Making sense of big data: Data Journalism PH 2015

mcmangahas Leave a comment

THE Open Knowledge Foundation (OKF) in partnership with the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is pleased to announce the launch of Data Journalism Ph 2015. Supported by the World Bank, the program will train journalists and citizen media in producing high-quality, data-driven stories.

In recent years, government and multilateral agencies in the Philippines have published large amounts of data such as the government’s recently launched Open Data platform.

These were accompanied by other platforms that track the implementation and expenditure of flagship programs such as Bottom-Up-Budgeting via OpenBUB.gov.ph, and Infrastructure via OpenRoads.ph and reconstruction platforms including the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (faith.gov.ph).

The training aims to encourage more journalists to use these and other online resources to produce compelling investigative stories.

Data Journalism PH 2015 will train journalists on the tools and techniques required to gain and communicate insight from public data, including web scraping, database analysis and interactive visualization.

The program will support journalists in using data to back their stories, which will be published by their media organization over a period of five months.

Participating teams will benefit from the following:

* A 3-day data journalism training workshop by the Open Knowledge Foundation and PCIJ in July 2915 in Manila.

* A series of online tutorials on a variety of topics from digital security to online mapping

* Technical support in developing interactive visual content to accompany their published stories

Apply now!

Teams of up to three members (journalists, content producers and/or techies) working with the same print, TV, or online media agencies are invited to submit an application.

Participants will be selected on the basis of the data story projects they will pitch for innovative data investigation focused on key datasets including infrastructure, reconstruction, participatory budgeting, procurement and customs.

Through Data Journalism PH 2015 and its trainers, these projects will be developed into data stories to be published by the participants’ media organizations.

Deadline for applications is June 22, 2015 (midnight Manila time)

Join the launch

Open Knowledge and PCIJ will host a half-day public event for those interested in the program at the end of June in Quezon City. If you would like to receive full details about the event, please sign up in http://bit.ly/publiceventdjph15

About PCIJ and the Open Knowledge Foundation

An independent, non-profit media agency specializing in investigative reporting and multimedia productions, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is a pioneer in data journalism in Asia. In May 2013, PCIJ launched Money Politics Online, a citizen’s resource and research tool on governance, campaign finance, public funds, and politics that now features over 56 gigabytes of datasets.

Open Knowledge Foundation is an international NGO focused on using
advocacy, technology, and training to unlock information and enable people to work with it in order to create and share knowledge. Its School of Data program has trained thousands of journalists across the world on how to analyze and communicate public data through in-person trainings and online tutorials.

Contact information

To read more about the program and follow the project as it progresses, visit the Data Journalism PH 2015 website or contact:

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism< /strong>
Email: pcij@pcij.org training@pcij.org
Website: www.pcij.org www.pcij.org/blog http://moneypolitics.pcij.org
Tel. Nos. (632) 434-6193, 4330521, and 436-4711

Open Knowledge Foundation
Email: sam.leon@okfn.org
Website: http://okfn.org

Making sense of big data: Data Journalism PH 2015

mcmangahas Leave a comment

THE Open Knowledge Foundation (OKF) in partnership with the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is pleased to announce the launch of Data Journalism Ph 2015. Supported by the World Bank, the program will train journalists and citizen media in producing high-quality, data-driven stories.

In recent years, government and multilateral agencies in the Philippines have published large amounts of data such as the government’s recently launched Open Data platform.

These were accompanied by other platforms that track the implementation and expenditure of flagship programs such as Bottom-Up-Budgeting via OpenBUB.gov.ph, and Infrastructure via OpenRoads.ph and reconstruction platforms including the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (faith.gov.ph).

The training aims to encourage more journalists to use these and other online resources to produce compelling investigative stories.

Data Journalism PH 2015 will train journalists on the tools and techniques required to gain and communicate insight from public data, including web scraping, database analysis and interactive visualization.

The program will support journalists in using data to back their stories, which will be published by their media organization over a period of five months.

Participating teams will benefit from the following:

* A 3-day data journalism training workshop by the Open Knowledge Foundation and PCIJ in July 2915 in Manila.

* A series of online tutorials on a variety of topics from digital security to online mapping

* Technical support in developing interactive visual content to accompany their published stories

Apply now!

Teams of up to three members (journalists, content producers and/or techies) working with the same print, TV, or online media agencies are invited to submit an application.

Participants will be selected on the basis of the data story projects they will pitch for innovative data investigation focused on key datasets including infrastructure, reconstruction, participatory budgeting, procurement and customs.

Through Data Journalism PH 2015 and its trainers, these projects will be developed into data stories to be published by the participants’ media organizations.

Deadline for applications is June 22, 2015 (midnight Manila time)

Join the launch

Open Knowledge and PCIJ will host a half-day public event for those interested in the program at the end of June in Quezon City. If you would like to receive full details about the event, please sign up in http://bit.ly/publiceventdjph15

About PCIJ and the Open Knowledge Foundation

An independent, non-profit media agency specializing in investigative reporting and multimedia productions, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is a pioneer in data journalism in Asia. In May 2013, PCIJ launched Money Politics Online, a citizen’s resource and research tool on governance, campaign finance, public funds, and politics that now features over 56 gigabytes of datasets.

Open Knowledge Foundation is an international NGO focused on using
advocacy, technology, and training to unlock information and enable people to work with it in order to create and share knowledge. Its School of Data program has trained thousands of journalists across the world on how to analyze and communicate public data through in-person trainings and online tutorials.

Contact information

To read more about the program and follow the project as it progresses, visit the Data Journalism PH 2015 website or contact:

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism< /strong>
Email: pcij@pcij.org training@pcij.org
Website: www.pcij.org www.pcij.org/blog http://moneypolitics.pcij.org
Tel. Nos. (632) 434-6193, 4330521, and 436-4711

Open Knowledge Foundation
Email: sam.leon@okfn.org
Website: http://okfn.org

Lenovo Vibe Shot First Impressions

Louie Diangson Leave a comment

We’re here in Beijing, China for the Lenovo Tech World and the company has shown to the media their camera-centric smartphone that boasts a 16 megapixel camera with OIS, IR AF and Tricolor flash – the Lenovo Vibe Shot. Check out our first impressions of the device below.

The Lenovo Vibe Shot is a smartphone that looks like a point-and-shoot. It sports an edgy look that reminds us of the Vibe X2 but instead of plastic it features a metal frame.

On the front we have the 5-inch Full HD IPS display which we found to be crisp, vibrant, with good viewing angles. Situated above it is the earpiece, 5 megapixel camera, light sensor, and notifications light. Down below are three illuminated capacitive buttons for navigation.

On the left are two trays for the nano SIM cards and microSD card then down at the bottom corner is a provision for a wrist strap.

On the right are the metallic buttons for the dedicated shutter, power/lock, and volume rocker, as well as the dedicated switch for the camera’s Auto and Pro modes.

Up top we have the headset jack and secondary microphone, while down at the bottom are the microUSB port and grills for the speaker and main microphone.

Flip the Vibe Shot on its back and you will see the glass rear and digicam-inspired look. Taking the spotlight here is the 16 megapixel BSI camera with OIS and Tricolor flash.

One of the main features is the IR Autofocus which claims a performance of 20 milliseconds for range finding, 150 milliseconds for fine tuning, and 24 frames pers second focusing. The IR AF range finding is limited to 50cm and switches to infinity focus when it cannot find an object within 50cm. Lenovo says that this makes the Vibe Shot’s AF 2x faster than conventional AF.

On hand, the Vibe Shot feels light at 145g despite the metal frame and glass front and back which are prone to smudges. At 7.3mm it’s also as thin as the Vibe X2 which we reviewed before. It comes in three colors: Crimson, Pearl White, Graphite Grey.

Lenovo also showcased an accessory for the Vibe Shot called the Vibe Selfie Flash SF100. It’s a LED flash ring that attaches to the Vibe Shot’s headset jack and charges via USB using an adapter. It’s manually triggered and emits a light for about 5 to 6 seconds, just enough for you to take selfies in the dark.

The Vibe Selfie Flash and the wrist strap will be sold separately although Lenovo is still deciding if they will bundle it when the phone goes on sale in other markets.

Lenovo Vibe Shot specs:
5-inch Full HD IPS display, 441ppi
1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit octa-core CPU
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD
16 megapixel camera w/ BSI Sensor, IR AF, OIS and Tricolor flash
8 megapixel front camera
Dual Nano SIM
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
WiFi
Bluetooth 4.1 LE
GPS, A-GPS
Android 5.0 Lollipop
2,900mAh battery
142 x 70 x 7.3mm
145g

The Lenovo Vibe Shot is priced at US$349 (plus taxes and other fees) and is slated to be launched in the Philippines in the second half of July.

The post Lenovo Vibe Shot First Impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Lenovo Vibe Shot First Impressions

Louie Diangson Leave a comment

We’re here in Beijing, China for the Lenovo Tech World and the company has shown to the media their camera-centric smartphone that boasts a 16 megapixel camera with OIS, IR AF and Tricolor flash – the Lenovo Vibe Shot. Check out our first impressions of the device below.

The Lenovo Vibe Shot is a smartphone that looks like a point-and-shoot. It sports an edgy look that reminds us of the Vibe X2 but instead of plastic it features a metal frame.

On the front we have the 5-inch Full HD IPS display which we found to be crisp, vibrant, with good viewing angles. Situated above it is the earpiece, 5 megapixel camera, light sensor, and notifications light. Down below are three illuminated capacitive buttons for navigation.

On the left are two trays for the nano SIM cards and microSD card then down at the bottom corner is a provision for a wrist strap.

On the right are the metallic buttons for the dedicated shutter, power/lock, and volume rocker, as well as the dedicated switch for the camera’s Auto and Pro modes.

Up top we have the headset jack and secondary microphone, while down at the bottom are the microUSB port and grills for the speaker and main microphone.

Flip the Vibe Shot on its back and you will see the glass rear and digicam-inspired look. Taking the spotlight here is the 16 megapixel BSI camera with OIS and Tricolor flash.

One of the main features is the IR Autofocus which claims a performance of 20 milliseconds for range finding, 150 milliseconds for fine tuning, and 24 frames pers second focusing. The IR AF range finding is limited to 50cm and switches to infinity focus when it cannot find an object within 50cm. Lenovo says that this makes the Vibe Shot’s AF 2x faster than conventional AF.

On hand, the Vibe Shot feels light at 145g despite the metal frame and glass front and back which are prone to smudges. At 7.3mm it’s also as thin as the Vibe X2 which we reviewed before. It comes in three colors: Crimson, Pearl White, Graphite Grey.

Lenovo also showcased an accessory for the Vibe Shot called the Vibe Selfie Flash SF100. It’s a LED flash ring that attaches to the Vibe Shot’s headset jack and charges via USB using an adapter. It’s manually triggered and emits a light for about 5 to 6 seconds, just enough for you to take selfies in the dark.

The Vibe Selfie Flash and the wrist strap will be sold separately although Lenovo is still deciding if they will bundle it when the phone goes on sale in other markets.

Lenovo Vibe Shot specs:
5-inch Full HD IPS display, 441ppi
1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit octa-core CPU
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD
16 megapixel camera w/ BSI Sensor, IR AF, OIS and Tricolor flash
8 megapixel front camera
Dual Nano SIM
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
WiFi
Bluetooth 4.1 LE
GPS, A-GPS
Android 5.0 Lollipop
2,900mAh battery
142 x 70 x 7.3mm
145g

The Lenovo Vibe Shot is priced at US$349 (plus taxes and other fees) and is slated to be launched in the Philippines in the second half of July.

The post Lenovo Vibe Shot First Impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.