Sunnies Studios

Buy my @sunniesstudios shades 😎 here. 🕶 #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador #shopeeambassadorph #shopaholicsam

How it Started vs. How It’s Going

How it started vs. How it’s going ➡️The second book that I was part of was “Career Life Choices”. It was published in 2013 by Central Books, which was how I discovered my publisher. In the first photo, I’m the girl in the black blazer on the second row. It was a fun experience to learn about the writing and editing process that goes behind completing a book. I now have two books, and my second one “Speak Write Live” talks about the systems that worked for me when I wrote my first book, “Speak Blog Live”. Please support me by buying my books here. 📖 Who knows, you might also be inspired to write your own book 📕 #authorlife #speakwritelive

5 Reasons to Choose a Hisense ULED 4K Smart TV for Gaming

Gaming just got better with Hisense’s Game Mode Pro Technology!

Manila, Philippines - January 9, 2022 - When you really want to have the best experience while playing video games, you need to pair your console with a TV that’s packed with the best features for gaming. Great picture quality, a wide range of colors, and minimal input lag are just a few of the things you should look for when selecting a gaming TV. All these can be found in Hisense’s U6GS 4K ULED Smart TV with Game Mode Technology 

. This technology is capable of recognizing gaming sequences, automatically optimizing the TV’s settings to deliver the best possible gaming experience. 

Hisense 4K ULED Smart TV: Gaming Just Got Better

With its ULED category, Hisense takes on the pursuit of picture quality, aiming to provide consumers with a comprehensive viewing experience, with the help of four key features - Ultra Color, Ultra HD Resolution, Ultra Smooth Motion, and Ultra Contrast. These very same key features help make the Hisense 4K ULED Smart TV great for gaming. 

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should choose a Hisense 4K ULED Smart TV for gaming. 

4K Resolution

Many video games now feature 4K resolution, and consoles have been quick to adapt. In order to enjoy these games to the fullest, you should be able to play them on a 4K TV as well. Hisense’s 4K ULED Smart TV features a 4K display with 3840×2160 resolution that is perfect for this. 

HDR10 Display

Another of this TV’s features that is great for gamers is its HDR10 Display, which enhances the color and contrast of images on your TV screen. This means that you get to see every vibrant color in your game, with improved brightness and contrast for even more superb visuals. 

Hi-View Engine

This TV is equipped with Hisense’s proprietary AI-powered Hi-View Engine, which enables fast graphic processing. This guarantees the finest image, and the clearest motion in any content that you are watching, including video game scenes.

Game Mode Technology

With this TV’s Game Mode Technology, you are assured of minimal input lag on the Hisense 4K ULED Smart TV. This simply means that your TV screen is quickly able to react to commands that you input in your gaming controller, and any delay is minimal, and hardly even noticeable. Game Mode also enables this TV to have ultra fast refresh rates, ensuring smooth motion while you play. 

Large Screen Size

Finally, Hisense’s 4K ULED Smart TV comes in sizes ranging from 50” to 65”, and these large screen sizes are great for gaming in bigger spaces, together with your family or group of friends.  

Other key features of the Hisense U6GS 4K ULED Smart TV include:

● A 4K Upscaler that can upscale Full HD into a 4K display.

● Dolby Vision that brings extraordinary color, contrast, and brightness to the screen.

● Dolby Atmos, Dolby’s object-based surround sound that makes it seem like different sounds and effects are coming at you from all angles.

● Hisense’s fast, easy to use, and customizable VIDAA U Operating System, which gives you access to all the best streaming apps, including Netflix, Youtube, Prime Video, NBA TV, and iWant TFC.

● The HTML5-based VIDAA Store that gives you automatic access to apps for enjoying music, videos, games, social networking, and news, without the need to log in and out.

● VIDAA Art, which turns your TV screen into a beautiful art display using 370 million available artworks on Deviantart, and even your own photos.

● Pre-installed streaming apps, Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, NBA TV, iWant TFC, and Facebook Watch.

● Screen Sharing using Anyview Cast that can wirelessly mirror your Android phone’s screen onto your TV.

● Audio only mode, which allows you to turn off your TV’s display to save on electricity, and use your TV as a speaker for listening to music and other audio content.

● A Bluetooth Function for connecting your TV to an external speaker without the need for cables.

● A One-Touch Access button on your remote control that makes launching Netflix and YouTube more convenient.

● The ability to navigate through your TV using your smartphone through the Remote Now app.

Get the 55” Hisense U6GS 4K ULED Smart TV for only Php 38,950, at the Hisense Flagship Store in Lazada, and the Hisense Philippines Official Store in Shopee Mall. Every purchase of any of these units includes a free soundbar. Also watch out for Hisense’s upcoming big sale to score amazing deals and discounts on fantastic TVs from the brand. 

Hisense also has other TV categories available in the Philippines, including its 4K Laser TV, Android TV, and Digital LED TV. You may check out all of these TVs at leading appliance stores nationwide. 

For more updates, visit the Hisense website (www.hisense.com.ph) and follow its official social media accounts on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HisensePhilippines/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hisenseph/).

Source: Hisense Philippines

Human Nature 2022

Hello! Here’s a friendly reminder to buy your Human Nature essentials from me! 👩🏼‍🎤 Buy from my shop by clicking on this link. 🌻

And if you like my @themasqcollection nude mask, buy it here. 😷 #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador #shopeeambassadorph #shopaholicsam

Vision Board 2022

I made a vision board! I used magazines recently gifted to me by a Filipino organization and an illustration board from the bookstore. Use those old magazines at home and make a keepsake you can treasure this year and beyond!🎆 Never give up on your dreams! ✨

Sarabia Light

Used my Sarabia Optical pair in the outside world yesterday and it didn’t feel like I was wearing glasses 🤓 My Essilor Transitions lenses also protected me from glare while commuting. Buy my frames here 👓 #seelifeclearly #sarabiaoptical #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador

Sarabia Optical

I love wearing glasses! I have a growing collection of specs to suit my style. My newest pair is from @sarabiaoptical, which has over 115 years of excellent service. Here I am with my Yamada frames which are the most lightweight ones I’ve ever had! These have @essilor Transitions lenses which shield my eyes from BOTH UV light and blue light. I will definitely use these so that I can have a lighter and safer 2022! They also have a Shopee store which you can visit here: https://shp.ee/i6gr4zh 👓#seelifeclearly #sarabiaoptical #essilor

Fave Cardigan

This cardigan is a staple in my closet. Buy it here. #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador #shopeeambassadorph #shopaholicsam

Transit Shorts: Paint By Numbers

Happy New Year!🎆 Transit Dialog has featured my 100-word short story, Paint by Numbers. Here it is:

𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

I got a paint-by-numbers kit and I got overwhelmed. The numbers swam before my eyes and the paint vials looked monstrous to me. I felt like I purchased a torture device.

But I still gave it a try. The brush in the kit was not pleasing to use, so I took out my old watercolor brush from my art journaling days. It worked! Before I knew it, it was already dawn.

I have just finished painting about an eighth of the pattern, and I think paint-by-numbers is not that overwhelming after all. I simply adjusted a few things, and it was not a torture device anymore. - 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴

Vintage-Inspired Author

Did you know that the cover of my second book, Speak Write Live, was inspired by my fascination with old studio photographs of mestizas in the Spanish and Early American colonial periods? I first enjoyed viewing them in museums, then my obsession continued on Facebook photography groups. You may think that museums have no place in our modern culture, but I beg to disagree. I got inspired by vintage photos in museums, then I decided to incorporate this into my book. The old photo featured in this post was from the National Museum of Fine Arts. I hope that this 2022, you will be inspired to do your best by revisiting our rich and poignant past. 🇵🇭 Buy my book here: https://linktr.ee/speakoutsam 📖 #authorlife #speakwritelive

Rizal Day at the National Museum of Fine Arts

I celebrated Rizal Day by appreciating treasures at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Here are some of my favorites! Hope you can also book a visit. It’s safe and only a few people were there. 🖼

Rizal Day Tour With Prof. Xiao Chua

I joined a free Rizal Day Tour organized by National Parks Development Committee (NPDC). It was presented by Prof. Xiao Chua, a public historian on television and a professor at DLSU and UP Diliman.

We retraced Rizal’s final steps before his execution. We toured Intramuros, Fort Santiago, and Rizal Park Luneta. The highlight of the tour was getting close to the monument under which Dr. Jose Rizal rests. It was a dream come true for a Rizal fan like me.

Prof. Xiao Chua is an entertaining and engaging historian who will make the past relevant today. Follow him for more webinars and talks on Rizal, history, and heroism.

TECNO Announces Innovative Memory Fusion Technologyto Boost RAM and Apps Running Efficiency

TECNO, a rising superstar as a global smartphone brand of the new generation, announced the release of a new virtual Random Access Memory (RAM) expansiontechnology for its users to increase the RAM capacity of their smartphones for optimal efficiency and processing power. This innovative technology will be available for CAMON 18 series and SPARK 8 series users in the next two weeks.

Memory Fusion Technology was designed to make use of unused read-only memory (ROM) and channel them for RAM operations. With Memory Fusion, for example, a typical 8GB + 128GB smartphone can be optimized with an enlarged onboard RAM of up to 13GB + 128GB. By allocating more storage to RAM, the Memory Fusion Technology enhances a device's multi-tasking capacity, allows for seamless switching between applications that are running concurrently in the background, and stabilizes the phone's systems for more sustainable performance and longer battery life.

"With Memory Fusion Technology, TECNO users can enjoy fullest capabilities for a better smartphone experience." said Danni Xu, Marketing Director, TECNO. 

Compared to a phone without Memory Fusion, TECNO phone equipped with the technology allows for an increased number of active applications running in the background, a more time-efficient warm reboot process, and a shorter load time for frequently and recently used applications. Specifically, on TECNO's 8GB + 128GB phones which allow for up to 5GB increase of RAM, devices saw an 81% (up to 20 apps) increase in actively running applications, a 122% increase in warm reboot speed, and a 61% improvement in the time it takes to load frequently used applications. 

One can conveniently locate and toggle the Memory Fusion setting on TECNO's user-friendly interface before selecting a preferred expansion capacity. Expansion of RAM storage capacity varies across different models. TECNO's Memory Fusion Technology allows expansion of up to 5GB .  

Memory Fusion Technology will be available to CAMON 18 series and SPARK 8 series from December 2021 following a software update notification.

Source: TECNO Philippines

Brighter, steadier, smarter: How smartphone cameras will improve in 2022: Looking AHEAD WITH TECNO

Sensor shift stabilisation, new RGBW sensors, personalised AI algorithms, and more – here’s why your selfies and holiday photos are going to level up next year

Smartphone cameras are no longer just the most convenient option – they are quickly becoming the best one, beating traditional digital cameras with computational power and innovation.

In 2021, smartphones with multiple lens systems became mainstream. Improved sensor size and resolution mean users can capture more details and render images accurately in complex lighting conditions. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms enhanced many facets of image processing. And they’re not done. A slew of changes are coming in 2022, as smartphone manufacturers push the envelope.

What are the trends that will drive this change? At a recent webinar, Global Mobile Camera Trends 2022, organised by Counterpoint Research, experts from TECNO, Samsung, and DXOMARK Image Labs, discussed some of the key trends we are likely to see in the coming year – and what we will soon be holding in our hands.

Dual OIS: Staying steady

Not getting the sharp images you wanted of your vacation views? Blurry and shaky photos are a common experience with most smartphone users, and are especially pronounced in low-light conditions as the shutter stays open longer to capture more light.

Smartphone manufacturers counter this issue through Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) technology, where the lens "floats" inside the camera assembly. The OIS system stabilises the image or video by "shifting" the lens to counter the shakes.

OIS technology is improving every year, with larger degrees of movement being taken on by the camera stabiliser. According to Jimmy Hsu, senior product manager, image technology, TECNO, pre-2019 the trend was for OIS to be about one degree of stabilisation. According to Hsu, in 2021, standard stabilisation has increased to three degrees thanks to pan-tilt OIS.

In 2022, the company aims to introduce the first Android phone with sensor shift. “Compared to conventional Optical Imaging Stabilisation, TECNO’s sensor shift technology can achieve a response frequency of 5,000 adjustments per second,” Hsu said at the webinar. By combining lens shifting seen in conventional OIS systems and the newer sensor shift technology, TECNO is setting its sights on stabilisation up to five degrees.

High-resolution sensors with pixel binning: Balancing resolution and light sensitivity

Presenting trends in camera resolution, Tarun Pathak, director of research, smartphone, Counterpoint Research, said about 40% of all smartphones in Q2 of 2021 had 48-64 megapixel (MP) sensors, and 3% of all smartphones had 108 MP sensors. According to Pathak, smartphones with 200 MP sensors are likely to launch in 2022.

Sensors with a high pixel count tend to capture more details from the scene. However, the size of pixels on such sensors is usually smaller. “The smaller the pixel, the less light you can capture in each pixel, and the harder it is to get a good image quality in darker environments,” said Pan Xuebao, VP and head of R&D, Samsung Electronics.

However, sensor manufacturers such as Samsung are deploying an algorithm-driven technique called pixel binning that enables high-resolution sensors (with a small pixel size) to perform better in low-light conditions. “Just like our human eye will dilate when we are in a darker environment to let in more light, similarly, in low light conditions, our algorithm will automatically put the sensor in high sensitivity mode,” Xuebaosaid. In this mode, the smaller individual pixels ‘combine’ and act like bigger pixels. This mode is turned off in brighter conditions.

Continuous optical zoom: Closer to the action

Phones are getting sleeker, but these aesthetics can be a technological challenge. This trend is presenting more of a challenge for manufacturers as they try to incorporate bulky telephoto lenses. Such technologies, such as periscope lenses which use innovative positioning to allow for 5x or 10x optical zoom, started appearing in smartphones during 2021.

The next step is to offer continuous optical zoom, which will allow users to shift between different focal lengths smoothly. This requires precise movement of lenses within small spaces without affecting image quality.

At the webinar, Hsu predicted the market could see continuous optical zoom in the second half of 2022, allowing users to shift between 3x to 5x optical zoom. Driven by advances such as long-stroke motor development and Active Optical Alignment, we could even see 3x to 10x zoom in 2023, he said.

RGBW Sensors: Let there be (more) light

Cat photos not up to the mark? It could be down to the lighting. Indoor environments have less than ideal light conditions. Yet, that’s where people usually take most of their photographs.

“[A solution to] low light is the holy grail of mobile photography,” said Hervé Macudzinski, image science director and product owner of DXOMARK Image Labs, which tests camera, audio, display and battery quality. “This is one [aspect] that can lead to disappointing quality. In low light, users capture portrait photos, pictures of family, pets and so on. So there is a lot of challenge in this use case.”

While smartphone manufacturers use different techniques to enhance low-light performance, RGBW technology addresses the issue at the sensor level.

The camera sensor captures colour information through a mechanism called the Colour Filter Array (CFA). Traditional camera sensors use CFAs arranged in the Bayer format, which comprises a pattern of Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) filters. RGBW sensors add White (W) filters to the mix.

According to Hsu, adding white pixels increases light sensitivity by 60%, which means the sensor should be able to absorb more light. Smartphone manufacturers are also developing Glass+Plastic lens technology - many smartphone lenses are constructed out of plastic, but introducing glass elements into the lens construction improves transmission of light. “With the combination of both, the result is an overall 200% increase of light-intake,” Hsu said.

The low-light performance of smartphones looks set to improve as these two technologies appear on smartphones in 2022.

Localised algorithms: Using AI to personaliseportraits

As cameras improve, we can see ourselves more clearly. New technologies allow our portraits to be more accurate, especially for people of colour.

While hardware enhancements are essential, smartphone software is playing a more significant role in determining the final image or video quality of these portraits. “We need to have very good processing – that is, to understand what the user’s intention was and modify the image adequately,” Macudzinskisaid.

That’s why some smartphone manufacturers use big data and deep neural networks to drive personalised and localised image processing. For instance, TECNO’s TAIVOS signal processing technology recognises and accurately reproduces dark skin elements. According to Hsu, the company uses a large dark skin database to “produce more than 6,120 Evaluation Scenarios spanning 115 countries”.

For portrait photography, the AI engine recognises and classifies different elements such as faces and hair colour to determine the subject's age, gender, and skin tone. The photo is then optimisedfor better clarity, colour, and light, which helps with more accurate reproduction of darker skin tones – even in low-light environments.

Scene, light, and colour enhancement: Behind every subject is a background

It’s not just the subject of a photo that matters – it's what’s behind them. Whether it’s the sun or a beautiful view, smartphone cameras are adapting to capturing these details better.

With traditional photography, professional photographers use their experience and training to make adjustments that highlight not just the subject but also background scene elements. They also typically spend significant time in post-production that brings images to life.

“Smartphone cameras need to provide all these capabilities in the default mode,” Macudzinski said. “That means the final smartphone user does not have to think through everything. They just have to press the button.”

That’s where AI-driven image processing comes in. According to Counterpoint Research’s whitepaper, AI is becoming advanced enough to recognise dynamic scene elements such as trees or sky in the background. Once identified, the image-processing system optimises their colour, contrast, and exposure.

AI will also help interpret light information. For instance, if a user is shooting against the sun, the algorithm works to underexpose the sun and brighten the subject. Smartphone manufacturers are also working on software-based solutions to correct distortions caused by wide-angle lenses.

Time of flight and dynamic vision sensors: Getting a sense of depth

Photos with sharply rendered foreground and blurred background can make for a pleasing effect – especially while shooting portraits. However, to do this, the smartphone must recognise depth and subject edges.

With Time of Flight (ToF) and Dynamic Vision Sensors (DVS) improving, smartphones will get better at generating 3D models of the scene and detecting edges. This will allow for more precise measurements and offer users features such as. enhanced and gradual blurring of backgrounds.

“ToF and DVS could be the opportunities where mobile phone cameras start to outperform (DSLR) cameras,” Hsu said.

A brighter, more intelligent 2022

These trends point to technology growing more intricate and catering to diverse use cases – whether that’s through personalised portrait rendition, stable imaging or allowing users to zoom in to the action.

However, the advancements will not be defined just by cutting-edge features on pricey smartphones. It’s a win across budget tiers - the developments result not just in technological advancement, but also trickle-down premium features to smartphones in the low and medium price bands. With the way smartphone cameras are levelling up, the best moments of your life will be remembered more clearly than ever.

Looking ahead with TECNO

Hosted by Counterpoint Research, Global Mobile Camera Trends 2022 Innovation Talk discussed new trends in imaging technology. TECNO aims to provide an excellent photography and videography experience through constant innovation and a deep understanding of consumer needs.

WATCH THE WEBINAR

Source: TECNO Philippines

TECNO to Deploy Sensor Shift with Latest Technical Innovations, Leading the New Trend for Android Phones

A premium smartphone brand focused on global emerging markets, TECNO, outlined an array of its latest technologies and achievements at a webinar entitled “Global Mobile Camera Trends 2022: Innovation Talk”. One eye-catching development was the use of Sensor Shift, which will improve stability in photos and video imaging. 

First Runner in Android- TECNO Built Innovation in Sensor Shift 

At a moment when short-video social media and live streaming are gaining more popularity with youths around the world, a stabler camera will enable users to produce studio-quality videos and therefore have more fun with social networking sharing.

In the face of users’ growing demand for imaging stability, TECNO plans to release Sensor Shift technology in its new products in 2022, making it the first mobile phone brand in the Android system to do so. 

TECNO Sensor Shift 

Sensor Shift stabilizes images using sensor movements to compensate for vibrations rather than using lens movements as in existing cameras. TECNO has broken through a technical barrier via an innovative circular plane design for FPC, realizing sensor movement on the roll axis, an advanced step forward from movement on the X- and Y-axis. During the simulation, it demonstrated 30% better augmentation in stress performance than the traditional vertical design. Furthermore, TECNO R&D team realized another 60% anti-shaking effect enhancement by optimizing the test environment and software.

Compared to conventional Optical Imaging Stabilisation, TECNO’s sensor shift technology can achieve a response frequency of 5,000 adjustments per second. In addition, further algorithm optimization will be used to improve the control accuracy of the technology to 350% of the current level, relieving consumers from having to worry too much about the occasional hand jitter resulting in a blurry image.

TECNO is committed to continuous innovation, developing professional cameras for photography and videography, and empowering consumers to express their lifestyles through the power of future lens.

Source: TECNO Philippines

Lunch with Mitzie

Christmas lunch at @ciboph with @mitzie2014, whose name appears on the Acknowledgments of my new book, Speak Write Live. She told me to write a book when I was still in school! You may now purchase my two books 📖 via this link. 🎄 #speakwritelive #authorlife

Christmas Volunteering

Volunteered at Ateneo! We repacked relief goods for the Typhoon Odette victims 🤍 To donate relief goods, please contact the Tanging Yaman Foundation. God bless you!

Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin honors memories on incredibly moving single “blink”

After gaining recognition in the Southeast Asian region with the release of “Suara Hati,” a reimagining of her 2015 acoustic ballad in Bahasa Indonesia, Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin conquers music on her own terms with brand new single “blink”—out on all digital music platforms worldwide via OFFMUTE.

On her first original single under the international record label, Benin honors memories like it’s a fundamental aspect of human nature. She finds refuge in reliving the past without any hint of regret, treating it as part of her personal journey.  

“I had a series of sleepless nights just recollecting and reliving different times of my life,” the folk-pop artist shares in a statement. “Some were peaceful times. Some were turbulent times. Some were traumatic times. I didn’t really understand why these memories were resurfacing in my head. Writing ‘blink’ just helped me resolve these thoughts.”

Sprawling past the three-minute mark, “blink” propels Benin’s songwriting to compelling new heights. The track is deceptively simple by standards, but its introspective quality, paired with an incredibly moving arrangement, ups the stakes on a purely artistic level.

“I particularly wanted this song to be a sonic journey that is metaphorical to one’s journey towards healing,” Benin shares. “This song is very intimate with my vocals and the acoustic guitar upfront but there are a lot of atmospheric undertones to it if you listen intently.”

The song features gifted multi-instrumentalist Gabba Santiago on drums and electronic musician The Ringmaster on production duties. Breathing so much life into the song, both Gabba and The Ringmaster display unassuming brilliance with subtlety and character—all while giving Benin’s voice an opportunity to flutter and soar. 

“Aside from The Ringmaster, I got Gabba Santiago to play the drums,” the 27-year-old hitmaker said. “I enjoy working with Gabba and The Ringmaster because I feel like they really understood my vision for blink.”

The release of “blink” is accompanied by a lyric video made by Clara Benin herself. A music video directed by Josh Elefan will drop sometime February next year.

Check out Clara Benin’s “blink” on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE.

Follow CLARA BENIN on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarabeninmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarabeninmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarabeninmusic

Follow OFFMUTE on socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offmuteASIA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/offmute

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offmute/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offmute

Source: Nyou

Punk Tracks

Hello! My 100-word short story, Punk Tracks, was featured here.🍺 Cheers!

𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀

I rode the LRT today to Carriedo. I needed to clear my mind after a long day of working at home. I ride trains to decompress because the tracks give me a sense of grounding. Once I reached Carriedo, I made the short walk to Fred's for a beer. They were playing punk from the noughties.

The beer and the lively, guitar-driven melody transported me back to my younger years. I felt the stress of work melt away. I was back to being punk without a clue.

I rode the train back to Balintawak. I was ready to embrace the weekend. - 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝙂𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙨

To Be Frank

Silent Nights and Happy Ever Afters is a Christmas anthology that features my short story, To Be Frank. I am very proud to be one of the writers featured in this book! Get your own copy from this link. 📚 #authorlife 🎄