Saturday, November 2, 2024

Vivo V40 Lite’s 5000mAh Battery Proves Endurance at 63% After 11 Hours of Use

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - On October 26, 2024, Vivo gave Filipinos an exciting opportunity to experience the enduring power of the Vivo V40 Lite at the Lite Up Your Life event held at SM North Edsa Annex Atrium.

From 10 am to 9 pm, visitors got hands-on with the fully charged Vivo V40 Lite, engaging in everything from taking photos and playing videos to enjoying their favorite music. Despite continuous use for 11 hours, the Vivo V40 Lite’s battery maintained an impressive 63% charge at exactly 9:11 pm, showcasing its exceptional battery performance.

Did you know that the Vivo V40 Lite is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, built to maintain its health for four years? With Vivo’s commitment to durability, users are assured that the battery health will not drop below 80% within this time.

To accomplish this, the Vivo V40 Lite integrates innovative battery protection features, even with its powerful 80W FlashCharge, which allows the phone to reach an 80% charge in just around 30 minutes.

The Vivo V40 Lite uses “Optimized Battery Charging” technology that intuitively adjusts to each user’s charging patterns to preserve battery health. Whether you’re actively using the phone or have the screen off, this system assesses your usage to apply the ideal charging strategy for long-lasting battery life.

Taking it further, it adapts to your sleep cycle by temporarily pausing charging at 80% during the night and resuming before you wake up, preventing battery aging and optimizing overnight charging.

This level of battery care extends even further, with the V40 Lite supporting up to 1,600 charging cycles - meaning it can easily last four and a half years if charged daily.

Even Marian Rivera is impressed with Vivo V40 Lite’s 5000mAh battery and 80W fast charging capability.

In addition, Vivo offered a 50-month battery warranty to those who pre-ordered the V40 Lite, promising a free one-time replacement if battery health falls below 80% within four years of purchase.

With up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB), the Vivo V40 Lite combines all-day power and high-performance features for just Php 13,999. Grab yours now at Vivo concept stores, kiosks, and dealer stores nationwide, or shop online on the Vivo website and Shopee.

Friday, November 1, 2024

Lenovo and Scott-Morgan Foundation Debut AI-Powered Assistive Tech for ALS Patients at Tech World '24

On October 15, 2024, Lenovo and the Scott-Morgan Foundation (SMF) unveiled a groundbreaking AI-powered solution at Lenovo Tech World '24, aimed at transforming communication for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other severe disabilities. This innovation is a step forward in the application of AI for accessibility, embodying Lenovo’s mission to provide "Smarter AI for All."

This assistive technology combines Lenovo’s predictive AI and a custom circular keyboard interface designed by SMF, integrating AI voice replicas from ElevenLabs, realistic avatars by D-ID, and eye-tracking technology from IrisBond. Together, these elements create a unique and personal communication tool, designed to help individuals with severe disabilities connect and express themselves.

The technology’s impact was beautifully illustrated at the event, where a father diagnosed with ALS used the tool to share stories and sing to his children in his own voice. This powerful example of AI’s potential resonated deeply with the audience. Erin Taylor, an ALS patient, disability advocate, and social media influencer, also demonstrated the technology on stage. Through a pre-diagnosis voice replica, Erin shared her journey and hopes for the future of assistive tech, underscoring the transformative role AI can play for individuals with disabilities.

Traditional voice-banking systems for ALS patients have often been limited by a lack of emotional expressiveness. With this new system, however, ElevenLabs' AI-generated voices can capture a range of vocal emotions using only a small set of audio samples. D-ID’s avatars, created from minimal input, add further depth, replicating facial expressions for a truly lifelike experience.

This project, which began as a prototype at CES 2024, has developed into a robust tool that runs on Lenovo's ThinkPad x12. Its portable design and compatibility with IrisBond’s eye-tracking tech make it adaptable to various surfaces, including wheelchairs.

The partnership between Lenovo and SMF aims to redefine assistive tech for ALS and beyond. SMF CEO Andrew Morgan emphasized the importance of continuing advocacy for these tools to empower people worldwide.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

PLDT, Smart Fire up More Sites in Mandaue City, Boosting Local Micro Businesses

The Philippines’ leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) expanding their network infrastructure in one of Cebu’s highly urbanized cities, Mandaue City, transforming the landscape for microentrepreneurs and creating new opportunities for growth across all industries.

“PLDT and Smart are committed to accelerating our network expansion and enhancing our services in highly urbanized areas, such as Mandaue City. Our efforts aim to empower local microentrepreneurs across various industries, support government initiatives, and provide our customers with the highest quality experience possible,” said Roderick S. Santiago, FVP and Deputy Network Head at PLDT and Smart.

With a population of more than 360,000, Mandaue City is an industrial hub in the region, hosting about 10,000 industrial and commercial locators, making connectivity crucial to businesses and residents alike.

Smart continues to beef up its network across the country, including in Cebu. To date, Smart’s combined 5G/4G network covers around 97% of the population. Among those benefiting from these network enhancements is Katrina Serencio from Brgy. Cambaro in Mandaue City, who has been running an e-loading business since 2010. “E-loading is a business I can operate anywhere, as long as there is connectivity. It has been a substantial help, providing steady profits ever since I was a student,” she said.

Over the years, Serencio's e-loading business has helped finance her education when she was a student, and cover day-to-day expenses when her parents faced financial difficulties. Now, as an adult, it continues to support her daily needs.

Aiming to further improve her livelihood, Serencio recently joined the Smart-supported Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) in Mandaue City facilitated by Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV). “I discovered the Maya Business App during the DBBT, and now I use it regularly in my e-loading business,” she added.

“As someone who relies heavily on mobile connectivity for both work and personal needs, the improved data connection is great news for us micro-entrepreneurs. This development would mean that I can rely on Smart’s stable connectivity in ensuring I can cater to the needs of my own customers,” said Serencio.

The PLDT Group’s investments in its network infrastructure and innovative products and services are aligned with its commitment to democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies and enhancing customer experience across the country.

These efforts also support the PLDT Group's pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly SDG 9—Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and reinforce the Group’s support for the Government's overall digitalization thrust.

Lenovo’s “Alzheimer’s Intelligence”: A Groundbreaking AI Support for Dementia Patients

On October 15, Lenovo™ introduced its latest AI innovation, “Alzheimer’s Intelligence,” at Lenovo Tech World. Developed in collaboration with Innovations in Dementia, this initiative offers an accessible 3D avatar that provides tailored advice for individuals and families navigating dementia. This proof-of-concept AI aims to create a compassionate, accurate, and private resource for anyone impacted by dementia or Alzheimer’s.

With approximately 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, a number expected to rise to 139 million by 2050, the need for supportive resources is more critical than ever. Lenovo’s Alzheimer's Intelligence avatar—named "Liv"—combines insights from real people with dementia to provide 24-hour access to a responsive, conversational AI designed for natural interactions. The avatar represents a blend of contributions from Innovations in Dementia's “Dementia Diaries” and panel interviews, creating a rich, person-centered knowledge base.

The AI-driven avatar uses Lenovo’s advanced AI solutions to deliver emotional responses through facial expressions that match the sentiment of its responses. Users interact with Liv via simple speech-to-text inputs, and responses are generated in real-time using a large language model (LLM) trained on dementia-related experiences. This technology offers patients advice on daily challenges, family discussions, and ways to adapt to living with dementia—valuable insights that only those with firsthand experience can provide.

Designed by Kaleida with Lenovo’s technology ecosystem, the project utilized the ThinkStation P7 server, ThinkPad T14s, and other Lenovo devices to bring Liv to life. By blending AI with real human experiences, Lenovo addresses a critical gap in dementia support. As Doug Fisher, Lenovo's Chief Security and AI Officer, noted, this initiative is about using AI responsibly to serve communities that are often left out of technological innovation.

Steve Milton, Director of Innovations in Dementia, praised the AI as a “knowledgeable and compassionate source of assurance” rooted in the expertise of those living with dementia. Lenovo’s commitment to ensuring accessible, empathetic technology aims to support dementia patients without replacing human connection. With the AI avatar currently in trial stages, Lenovo’s Alzheimer's Intelligence project is poised to reshape how dementia patients access support, helping families and individuals cope with the challenges of dementia in a way that is both innovative and deeply humane.

Coca-Cola Philippines and Bacolod City Promote Bottle Collection and Segregation at Masskara Festival

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL - Coca-Cola Philippines, in partnership with the Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), promoted PET plastic bottle segregation and collection at the 45th Masskara Festival, held from October 11-27, 2024, in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Together with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. and festival organizer Yuhum Foundation, the beverage company engaged festival-goers in responsible waste management practices by facilitating the segregation and collection of used PET bottles.

To raise awareness about bottle collection and segregation, Coca-Cola Philippines encouraged festival attendees to drop off their empty PET bottles at the Coca-Cola bottle counter and The Tindahan Extra Mile (TEM) exchange booths located at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC). Attendees also exchanged empty bottles to participate in various games and activities.

One of the highlights was the MassKara mask-making contest, where festival-goers cast their votes for the Best Recycled Mask on display using bottle caps. Artisticrew was named the grand winner, while Bacolod City College and the Negrese Artist Circle received consolation prizes for their participation.

Additionally, attendees took part in the "Dunk, Not Junk" shooting hoops game. As they showcased their shooting skills, players had the chance to win a variety of Coca-Cola merchandise and other exciting prizes.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc.'s (CCBPI) flagship nationwide collection program, “Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!” featured a pop-up collection booth. In its second year at the MassKara Festival, Tapon to Ipon encouraged attendees to drop off used clear PET plastic bottles of any brand, allowing them to win prizes.

Ruby Biro, Senior Franchise Operations Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines, congratulated all the partners and local barangays that contributed to the success of the waste management initiative during the festival's closing program. She emphasized the importance of community engagement and the role of festival-goers in celebrating while making a positive impact on the environment.