Get to know the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

HTC Android phones

It is no doubt that the Android operating system is the world’s most popular mobile platform today.  The IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker reported that the Android cornered 68.1 percent market share of all smartphones shipped during the second quarter of 2012, while BlackBerry and Symbian reached just 4.8 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.

Its latest version, the Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, is the fastest and smoothest Android yet. Compared to the Android 4.0, the Jelly Bean is noticeable for its simplicity and beauty, carries the new Google search experience and boasts a host of other exciting features.

With much improved touch responses, the screens moves fast, fluid and in one smooth motion.  The experience is not different when switching between apps.  Plus, the moment you touch the screen your device’s CPU instantly boosts and turns down on its own extending battery life.

While Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, made snapping photos a breeze, Jelly Bean is on the same speed but made the viewing photos more fun. From the camera, simply swipe photo to filmstrip view and view the photos you just took.  Put away those you don’t like in one quick swipe, too.

Share your photos and videos with just a simple tap with Android Beam on Jelly Bean.  You can also share contacts, web pages, YouTube videos, directions, and apps. By touching two NFC-enabled Android devices back-to-back, materials on the screen will be beamed to the other screen with a single tap.

Of course, the Android helps you get connected with e-mails, calls and Google+ without fail.

For blind users, the Android hosts the 'Gesture Mode' to reliably navigate the UI using touch and swipe gestures in combination with speech output. Jelly Bean also adds support for accessibility plug-ins to enable external Braille input and output devices via USB and
Bluetooth.

With Jelly Bean it's even easier and more fun to customize the home screen.  Widgets adjust automatically to make room for other widgets or apps.

Samsung Galaxy S III

Encoding information on Android is made more accurate and relevant with its dictionaries. Users find the language model in Jelly Bean adapting over time, and making smart guesses the next word that will be typed.  With improved text-to-speech capabilities, voice typing is better even when there is no data connection, so you can type with your voice wherever you are.

Benjamin Liuson, his Business is his Advocacy

Benjamin Liuson of The Generics Pharmacy

Benjamin Liuson, the president and chief executive of The Generic’s Pharmacy, learned early the values of industry and hard work.  He and his siblings grew up in traditional Chinese family setting where members of the household pitched in the family business.  Back then the Liuson family was making eye glasses and picture frames.

The Liuson family bought a company in 1960 that wholesales medicines.  Being in the business for 20 years, they distributed generic and low priced medicines to retailers in the hope that the public will benefit from cheap medicines.  But due to the steep mark up of retailers, these medicines remained a high priced commodity in the market.  Thus, in 2001, Benjamin Liuson established the The Generics Pharmacy.

The Generics Pharmacy mainly sells antibiotics, appetite stimulants, cough and cold remedies, diuretics, food supplements and anti-allergy drugs that are priced much lower compared to those found in other drugstores.  “The difference is that we offer 100% generics medicine,” Liuson proudly said.

 

In 2007, the company started its retail operations and began franchising branches.  The Generics Pharmacy is the first generics retail pharmacy to franchise in the country.  In a span of three years, the company was able to remarkably establish 880 stores. 

Liuson explains their formula in business is “a combination of quality and low pricing.”  “Our medicines are both effective and affordable. If the product is good, then the customer will re-purchase,” he said. “We have a product list of 400 medicines. If they are not the same with the suggested retail price, then it is always lower. Our medicines are the same as the branded. The only difference is the price,” he added.

125 branches and counting.

Since the company serves the basic necessity of providing Filipinos quality, effective, and affordable medicines, he also already considers the business itself as an actuation towards the fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility.  “Medicines and health care are basic rights, not a privilege, of Filipinos.  By offering low-priced, yet effective medicines, TGP is contributing to the health of Filipino families and the entire nation,” Liuson said.

According to its top executive, the company is geared to aggressively expand in the second-, third- and fourth-class municipalities.  The company has already 1,050 pre-approved locations that franchisees can readily tap.

“In the next three years, we should have 1,500 outlets,” Liuson revealed.  “I think we can go up to 2,000 outlets nationwide.”

They are also currently assessing possibilities of putting up stores in countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and the States after gaining a foothold in the domestic market.

How the Android OS dominated the Philippine market

There is no doubt that the Android mobile operating system is growing popularity, especially on devices like the smartphones.  As a mobile operating system, Android supports features of a personal computer such as the touch screen capabilities, cellular connectivity including WiFi, GPS mobile navigation, camera, video capture, speech recognition, voice recording, music player, and personal digital assistant among others.  As of date, the latest Android version available in the local market is the Jelly Bean 4.1.

Since the market is fast-growing, telecommunications companies are beefing up their network services to serve the growing number of Android users.  With the backing of the best telecommunication networks, users can fully enjoy the features and application softwares available to Android phones.  Locally, all telecommunication companies are ready and are serving Android smartphones, making them more accessible to users. 

Nikon will launch the first camera on Android, the Coolpix S800c this September.

The most obvious advantage of the Android is the number of gadgets that are running on the said operating system.  There are smartphones, tablets, and now, even cameras carrying the Android system.  The proliferation of Android products makes connectivity, sharing of files and photos and availability of applications within reach of consumers.  This will easily make for a community of loyal Android users.  In the local market, many mobile phone manufacturers are jumping on the Android bandwagon, making the system more popular than ever.

Android-based devices, like the Galaxy S II from Samsung, are fitted with features that are excellent in terms of style, speed, and capability.  Not to mention, they are user friendly and can be fitted with numerous apps that keep users engaged with their devices.

Unlike its chief competitor, the Android system is widely preferred due to its affordable pricing.  This marketing strategy makes the pull of technology to upgrade hard to resist, thus, consumers avail of smartphones or gadgets sporting the latest technological features their spending income can afford.  But that does not mean that the Android product is less capable compared than its high-priced competitor because the system delivers almost the same kind of capabilities and user experience.

This is a boon to Filipino smartphone users because this allows users to engage with social media formats like Facebook and Twitter without being tied down on a computer terminal.  With updates, shout outs and tweets on real time, information is more accessible to more people in a faster rate as part of the online media.

Since last year or so, an increasing number of developers have joined in the Android bandwagon and developed applications for Android. Now, the Android Market is filled to the brim with applications or apps that deliver variety, quality and entertainment. Android users can easily avail of these applications and that is a strong reason why users remain loyal to their operating system.

The market also responded positively to the fact that Google is the company that developed the Android operating system. With a brand name that is solidly established in the market, users are confident that they are using an operating system that could deliver well.  True enough, many consumers of technological products gravitated toward Android devices as seen by its leadership in the market.

Moreover, the Android operating system had improved dramatically over the past years.  If Google continues to tread toward this direction, users are in for a treat with exciting developments coming their way.  With the unveiling of a much improved Android operating system, smartphones and gadget manufacturers as well as app developers will surely follow suit with more amazing products in the coming years.

Loads of Toys and Fun at the Toy Expo!

Yesterday I went to the first ever Toy Expo at the SMX Exhibition Halls at the SM Mall of Asia.  Staged by Toy Kingdom, the expo was loaded with brand new line of toys, big discounts and fun games.  The expo carried the same brands you can find at any Toy Kingdom stores but shoppers will get to preview and buy new models and sets of their favorite toy brands.

Ivory Ice Crystal Lalaloopsy doll

 I gravitated first at the Lalaloopsy booth and found the first Ivory Ice Crystal Lalaloopsy doll on display (around P2000).  The sales attendant told more characters will be coming soon.  I also happen to spot a smaller version of the Lalaloopsy doll priced around P1000.

The sales attendant also showed me the Moxie mermaid doll equipped with a sensor so the doll swims on its own when submerged in water.

The Hello Kitty was surreal with pink walls and displays.  Shoppers can get real close to the Hello Kitty mascot and take photos with her.

A couple of shoppers were fun to watch as they struggled to copy the dance moves on the new Xbox.  They tried to copy Lady Gaga’s dance routine (yikes!).  The interactive display that responded to the players’ movements really showed the awesome technology the Xbox carried.

There were new models of Transformers, Ben 10 merchandise and even a display of the “new” Bumblebee car, the Chevy Camaro!

I also checked the latest LeapFrog mini tablet.  The sales attendant impressed me with an application the taught kids to write the cursive alphabet.  A bundle of a first generation LeapFrog with two cartridges was up on sale for P8000.  The sales attendant said it was a steal with a total savings of P2000!

Zoobles twin pack

There were big discounts of Zoobles that sell for P100 a piece or a twin pack for P200.  The same twin pack was sold round P500 last Christmas.

If you're interested in the Trash pack, they came out with new gummy soft characters and a starter kit sells for P100 a pop!

I also saw a Justice League set with a 50% price-off.  Moreover, almost all booths carried discounted items from 50 to 70% off!

There was serious fun at the Nickelodeon booth where I played games and won cute items.  The first was the “Guess the Mess” game.  Curious and anxious at first, I thought I would be touching slimy and mushy stuff but won the game outright.  (Spoiler alert! I felt sand, powder and zippers!)  I also played a life-size board game and won more stuff from Nickelodeon.

Be sure to bring your kids this weekend at the SM Toy Fair.  Lots of character mascots will be dropping by for the ‘greet and meet’ sessions with shoppers.  Not bad for an early Christmas shopping trip if you’re up to it!

Moxie mermaid dolls

Trash pack set

Holcim Centennial year celebrated with Community Service

Holcim plant in La Union.

Cement maker Holcim Philippines’s nearly 1,700 employees came out in force for a day of service for its communities in commemoration of its 100th year anniversary of the Swiss construction materials giant Holcim Ltd. Declared as Community Day, Holcim Philippines employees participated in the outreach efforts in its communities in La Union, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental and Davao.

The company also launched Sagot Ko ang Bukas, a campaign to encourage its employees and its partners to pledge on how they can contribute to a better future.

“We’re dealing with an issue of such magnitude, and we know that these efforts can never be enough. We know we have to keep pushing so that we extend beyond our walls – to our families, business partners, to the man on the street.  We know that we have to find a way to bring the concept of sustainability on a personal level, to make it applicable to individual roles,” said Beng Prado, Holcim Philippines vice president for Corporate Communications.

For this, the company has created a Facebook page and microsite on its website where people can register their pledgers.

These activities are part of the Holcim Group’s commitment to have its 80,000 employees world wide participate in outreach efforts in recognition of the role strong community support played in the Holcim Group’s success, and in line with the company’s values and commitment to sustainable development.

Holcim Philippines also plans to add to another flagship corporate social responsibility program (CSR) that focuses on skills training with another which is centered on employee volunteerism for education.

The company’s main CSR program is the ‘Galing Mason, which seeks to raise profile and skills of local masons and has helped train over 3,500 people.

This year, Holcim Philippines will expand its Project Fostering a Child’s Education of Project, which allows employees to contribute to their time and funds to help deserving children finish up to high school. The program was piloted in its Bulacan facility in 2010, and has attracted over a hundred volunteers there.

Dr. MJ Torres: Her dual role and practice at the Zen Institute

Dr. MJ Torres, anti-aging and aesthetic expert

It is of no small feat to practice one's medical profession and manage it into a business venture. As equally demanding fields, medical practice and business management require two set of skills, creativity, and a vision. Wherein formal education falls short, such business model does exist with a doctor at the helm learning, practicing and managing a business close to their passion.

Before the calling to become a doctor took hold, Dr. Mary Jane “MJ” Torres' entrepreneurial spirit first showed at a very young age. In grade school, she took it upon herself to sell the neighbor's Christmas cards and her mother's pili candies to classmates. Later on, Dr. MJ followed her passion and got her degree in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. Her interests then took her in a direction where she can be of most help to her patients while honing her business acumen.

In November 2006, Dr. MJ opened the very first Zen Institute clinic at the Global City in Taguig. Offering non-invasive, non-surgical medical procedures, the Zen Institute encourages patients toward a lifestyle shift that addresses anti-aging and wellness on top of the aesthetic procedures.

As a spa, patients get to be pampered with feel good treatments that they can avail of on a regular basis at the Zen Institute.  Medical procedures, strictly involve no cutting of tissues, are done by doctors and therapists or para-medical attendants under the supervision of a doctor ensuring safety with no downtime at all for patients.

“The Zen Institute is the only one of its kind in the industry. As its founder and chief executive, I developed the concept and worked hard to build the business,” says Dr. MJ.

With unwavering discipline and focused determination, the Zen Institute's patient base has since grown and prompted Dr. MJ to set up its second branch at Tomas Morato. “There was demand for us to be more accessible in the Quezon City area, thus, the need to expand,” explains Torres. Then, Sofitel Philippine Plaza came in as a partner and housed the third clinic. “Aside from local clients, we also cater to tourists,” adds Dr. MJ in a move that places the Zen Institute in advance footing towards medical tourism.

As a professional hindsight, Dr. MJ learned that “every doctor needs a businessman in tandem. Being in a medical profession does not necessarily translate to good business.” In this case, she has her family, mostly involved in businesses of their own, as her pool of advisers. Her nine siblings give nine different advices and recommendations. But mostly, after careful consideration, she follows her gut feel in the end. “I trust my instinct because most often than not it is correct and that has lead to where my business is right now,” admits Dr. MJ.

In business, Dr. MJ's first challenge was to discern the target market of the Zen Institute. “We do cater to the high-end segment of the market. Treatments can be costly but our market is more concerned with safety, convenience and availability of our services,” explains Dr. MJ. “And, they are most appreciative and would not hesitate to flaunt the results. Thus, they eventually become our brand ambassadors of sort. Their testimonials are very valuable to us because people do take their word for it.”

The second challenge is developing her personal brand. In keeping with her philosophy, Dr. MJ is very selective when it comes to media exposure to her profession. “I am doctor so I do not mind being known by my clients but I am not after the celebrity status. My clinic is targeted to a specific market thus I make sure there would no waste of money and effort in making my business known. Besides, I personally attend to patients so I simply do not have much time to spare thus I make sure such exposures are really worth it.”

The third challenge is the management hurdles of the business. For Dr. MJ, “poor management can make the business fall even if you have a good product.” This is where management and structure comes in with the help of dedicated professionals under her team. “At the head office, everything is centralized – purchasing, quality control, administrative, accounting – and yet, compartmentalized. I am the queen of delegation. I love working as a team and leading them as a group,” she adds.

For the three branches to move in tandem, “each branch has an operations manager, doctors, and therapists. Our sales and marketing people are there not just for selling but to take care of customer relations and conduct evaluation and training as well. They are skin consultants too so they are well-versed with our products and services which they recommend to clients with the approval of a doctor. We also have a public relations group that supports us in terms of communicating philosophy and campaign,” says Dr. MJ.

In 2012, the Zen Institute is moving forward to further refine its thrust and goals. Fully-committed to being a medical spa, they will be introducing more procedures and services soon that would eventually put the definition of a medical spa into a reality.

Women Scientists bag grants from L'Oreal Phils

In photo, (from left) Dr. Conaco, Luc Oliver-Marquet and Dr. Yñiguez.

Curiosity never got old with two lady scientists who were recently awarded with grants under the For Women In Science (FWIS) national fellowship program of L’Oreal Philippines, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).  Under FWIS, doctors Ma. Cecilia Conaco and Aletta Yñiguez will be pursuing their respective scientific researches that would make marine biology more relevant to Filipinos and move science forward among women.

Dr. Conaco, as a child, was an avid reader and her fascination over different life forms drove her to pursue a career in science.  Upon the encouragement of her teachers, she pursued her dream to become a scientist and completed her doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Stony Brook University in New York.  “Science is fast-moving field and in research, there’s no typical day,” enthuses the lady doctor.

She was on her post-doctoral research at the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California when she planned to go back home and the FWIS program gave her the perfect opportunity time to restart her career in the country.

Her research involves the collection of marine sponges that will undergo gene sequencing techniques.  With the title Dynamic Gene Regulation in Marine Sponges, the study stands to reveal the gene expression of marine sponges in different stages of its life cycle, and their recorded responses to environmental changes.  From this information, useful compounds may contribute to the development new drugs or the synthesis of nano materials may help develop new materials. 

“Since adult sponges are immobile and filter water for food, these marine animals record environmental changes and this is an important resource in monitoring and conserving marine ecosystems,” adds Conaco

Curiously enough, Dr. Yñiguez was afraid of the water when she was young.  When she eventually outgrew her fear and started snorkeling, the diversity of the marine environment awed during her.  This fascination prompted Dr. Yñiguez to take up marine ecology as her major during undergraduate studies.  She completed her doctorate in Marine Biology and Fisheries at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in the University of Miami.  Currently, she is an assistant professor at the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines.

For Dr. Yñiguez, science fulfills her sense of adventure and excitement when most of her days were spent collecting specimens and sea water samples.  “It is an exciting field, even for women, and there so much opportunities,” she says the Balik-scientist of the DOST.

Researching on the changes in the phytoplankton types and the environmental conditions accompanying those types, Dr. Yñiguez hopes her study would help in the development of computer models in the management and mitigation of harmful algal blooms – an example would be the red tide.

“Marine plants and planktons are at the base of the food web.  When these organisms produce harmful algal blooms, there could be poisoning, fatalities and economic losses. This study can help validate and increase reliability of monitoring platforms that will eventually improve the existing bloom forecasting system,” explains Dr. Yñiguez.

The research study, Enhancing Robustness of Plankton models and Monitoring systems by Understanding Fine-scale Biophysical processes, will place Dr. Yñiguez in Bicol, specifically at Lamon Bay, a productive fisheries area, and Sorsogon Bay, a red tide area.

In aid of their research, both women doctors will receive P400,000  as national fellows of the FWIS. 

Launched in 2010, first batch of FWIS Philippines national fellows included doctors Laura David and Maria Corazon De Ungria.  On its second year in the country, FWIS and UNESCO with the assistance of the DOST, identified two Filipina scientists of no more than 35 years old, and supported their careers by giving them visibility and reward with a grant for their proposed research.

In1998, L’Oreal Foundation together with UNESCO created this ambitious FWIS program to promote research of women in science.  On every continent, L’Oreal, UNESCO and the scientific community have built a worldwide network that encourages women fellows to pursue research in national and international levels.

“FWIS is one of the strongest programs L’Oreal has globally today, mainly because it values key components in our company DNA – science and women.  Through this program, we have been able to create a community of women who move science forward in the hopes of making the world a better place,” shares Luc Olivier-Marquet, managing director of L’Oreal Philippines.

Christian Cayaba, the Scientific and Technico Regulatory Affairs manager of L’Oreal Philippines, hopes that the program encourages young girls pursue their interest in science.  “We would like to see more women join the science community.  We hope to inspire new models of women with focus, great level of patience, and attention to details, inherent traits found in women that science researches are in need of.”

Cayaba also announced that for the next FWIS national fellows, applicants may submit research proposals related to the Life and Material sciences.  Applicants, who are not more than 45 years of age, must hold or currently pursue masteral or doctoral degrees in any field of Life and Material science.  Two fellowship grants worth P40,000 will be given to deserving women based on the criteria of an esteemed jury composed of representatives from L’Oreal Philippines, UNESCO and the DOST.  Deadline for submission is on March 2013.