Sony on IFA 2014

From the Xperia Smartphones, Xperia Tablet, Smartwear, Lens style cameras, Camera Apps, High-Reso audio products to the 4k Ultra HD Bravia TV. What can you expect from Sony? Of course, uniquely designed high-end technologies!

During Sony's press conference in Berlin, Germany last September 3, Sony introduced their high-end technologies that will be available starting this Autumn in the market. According to Kazuo Kirai, Sony's President and CEO, that each of their latest Sony products seeks to do more than just deliver new functionality, but actually change the way you interact with technology, and the way it integrates into your life. They seek not only to meet your needs, but through our "Kando-inspiring" technologies move you emotionally, and elevate your experience to new heights.

He also introduced the "Life Space UX". It is an entirely new approach to the user experience and product creation that leverages the user's surrounding for the content to be enjoyable in new ways.

Some of my favorite Sony products that were unveiled includes:

1. Xperia Smartphones and Tablet

Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact were the highlights of this press-con. Each of the products has their own unique design and functionalities.

Sony Xperia Z3. From left: White, Silver Green, Copper and Black
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

The Xperia Z3, successor of the Xperia Z2 smartphone, has a 5.2 inch display an aluminum frame and tempered glass panels for the casing, a lightweight body weighing 152g and a width measuring 7.3mm. It has also an upgrade in terms of its IP certification, having the Z3 IP65/68. The available colors are white, black, copper(the new purple!), silver green.

The Xperia Z3 Compact. Red, White, Mint Green and Black
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

The Xperia Z3 Compact however, is a smaller version of the Z3 having a liquid reflection frame in its display, weighs 129g and is available in white, black, orange and green colors respectively.

Both of these handsets sports a 1/2.3 Exmor RS for mobile CMOS image sensor, BIONZ for mobile processing engine and the newly featured 25mm wide angle Sony g-lens that generates photos and videos in sharp and vivid details. They also have an ISO 12800 sensitivity and enhanced Steadyshot technology that minimizes noise and blurry photos, enhancing the quality of the photos you're taking.

These handsets also sport a high-res audio output directly of its headphone jack. It also features Sony's ground-breaking DSEE HX technology which enhances the quality of low-res .mp3 and .aac files to a near high-res quality. This ensures that high audio quality can be enjoyed anytime. Lastly, both still features a digital noise cancellation capability that reduces background noise up to 98%. Both also have a user-enabled gaming experience available through PS4 Remote Play.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact on the other hand, is the world's first tablet to ever offer the PS4 Remote Replay. It will enable all the users to enjoy the gaming experience on their tablet's large 8-screen inch display. The TRILUMINOS display with Live Color LED will provide the users a stunning display with sharpest images and an experience that users will feel whenever they watch movies or play games. It will also sport the High-Res audio capability that the smartphones adapt, together with the noise-cancelling improvement over 98%. Surely, this will make your experience enjoyable and exciting.

The Xperia E3. White, Lime, Copper and Black
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

The Xperia E3 on the other hand, is the low-cost, budgettable smartphone you can get. It is designed to fit firmly into the user's hand. It also features its scratch-free screen which designed to last long. It is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera that have camera apps to add creative photos and videos of the user. It sports a high-speed Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and a battery that has the STAMINA mode features. The colors that will be available are black, white, copper and lime.

2. Smartwear

Sony was not the first manufacturing company who have manufactured smartwatches in the market. Actually, the first smartwatch was the Seiko RC series, RC-1000 wrist terminal is the product's name. It was released in 1984. It was made compatible to most of the computers or PCs during that time including Apple's Aplle II, II+ and the IBM PCs. The next smartphones were the Linux Wristwatch on 2000, Fossil Wrist PDA on 2003, Microsoft's SPOT smartwatch on 2004 followed by the era of smartwatches this past year, 2013. During these years, Samsung's SmartGear and Sony's Smartwear was introduced in the market.

Sony's Smartwear products are really something to watch out for. With their application in the Google Market, "Lifelog", it enables all the users to record their activities, like the steps they take, movements, sleep patterns, emotional activities such as the pictures they take, music they listen to, outgoing calls and messages, and memories they would like to remember. Lifelog's main purpose for the user is they will help users to visualize how they have spent the day and have some advices on their sleeve on how to further enhance their daily lives.

Sony's SmartWatch 3. White, Pink, Lime and Black
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

SmartWatch3 supports Android Wear by google not only to deliver useful information and services based on the user's activities, but also enable communication and entertainment for the users even when they are away from their smartphones. It is equipped with SmartBand Talk which enables users to have hands free calls and voice commands. It has voice-control enabled to instantly check their Lifelog status by just glancing on their wrist.

The new SmartBand Talk SW30
Photo taken from XperiaBlog.net

While SmartBand Talk SW30 as the name suggests, allows you to talk calls. Just simply tap the SmartBand if you have an outgoing call in order to answer it. It also has a vibrate function which secures the user that he will never miss a call or any notification. SW30 sports an E Ink display that has the capability of notifying the user the amount of notifications, may it be app or calls, or texts. Sony confidently says that the battery life of the new smartband, will last you up to three days without charging it, its battery is sporting a 70mA battery, and has a Bluetooth 4.0.

To sum it all up, these products are all worth to spend your money for. If I have a lot of money, I would buy the Sony Xperia Z3 Copper and the SmartBand SW30 Red color.

If it were you? What would you buy? Comment down below. :D

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UAAP Season 77 Women's Volleyball

Ever since I was in my elementary days, I became a huge fan of UAAP Volleyball. During those times I became a fantard of different volleyball athletes because of their willingness to win and their aggressive attacks in court. Some of the many volleyball athletes whom I look up to were: Rubie de Leon, Denise Tan, MJ Balse, Em Penetrante, Venus Bernal, Joanna Torrijos, Michelle Carolino, Chie Saet, Manilla Santos, etc. Not to be biased, but my favorite team was the UST Tigresses. You know why? Those wonder-wall blockings that made their enemies' attacks totally rejected, the furious kills and the "buwis-buhay" digs made me a die hard fan. Because of their inspiring prowess, I had to take volleyball trainings and ended up in a varsity team in high school. At first, I had regrets in joining because I might not be able to cope up with my studies fairly well, but the inspiration I got from my volleyball idols got me on my feet and forget those nonsense thoughts.

Taken from: Philstar

There are lots of surprises you will see this upcoming UAAP Season 77 Women's Volleyball. Some of the teams' key players have graduated and some are still on their respective teams. In your prediction, will ADMU still be on top? Will DLSU fight back and retrieve what's theirs? Will NU and ADU still be in the Final 4 contention? Will UST and FEU come back in the Final 4? Will UP and UE clash again together for the short-wins spot? I know, as a fan of these teams, this will be some of the questions boggling your mind.

Taken from: Shakey's V-League Page

Let's start with the UP Lady Fighting Maroons, the addition of new setter Jewel Lai, the open-spiker converted from Middle Caryl Sandoval and new libero, Estrañero will be a big benefit for the UP Team. Along with their new team captain, Nicole Tiamzon who has vastly improved her open-spiker (she was a setter last season) abilities with her high-caliber attacks, and Kat Bersola who is still improving her middle and running attacks and also, her blockings as well, you can expect them to really fight hard this season. If you have watched the Shakey's V-League Open Conference Season 11, you will also see their aggressiveness and tenacity inside the court. 

Taken from: UE Lady Warriors Page

UE Lady Warriors. 

Will they still be winless after the last season? Or will they fight back gaining victory in every match? We all know who was behind the NU Lady Bulldogs' vast improvement last Season 75. It was their coach, Francis Vicente. Rumors spread that Coach Francis will be coaching UE this S77, but that's not just a rumor. It's the truth. Leuseht Dawis will also be back using her final year in the roster of the Lady Warriors. She will be again manning the Middle. Will her experiences in the leagues she joined, enough to help UE garner victory in their matches? Lets find out.

Taken from: Shakey's VLeague

FEU Lady Tamaraws

Will Bernadeth Pons continue her rhythm and showcase her talents, the aggressive way? Will Rem-Rem Palma and Geneveive Casugod continue to dominate the Middle position despite Palma's injury? Find out this coming season. After the rumors spread that Gyzelle Sy will no longer play with the Lady Tams, I was saddened. Not because of her departure in the team, but I will miss her excellent plays and witty dropballs. Sure enough, Yna Papa will step up on her behalf. This S77, Toni Basas' sister, Marie will be playing for FEU as an open-spiker rookie. Along with Charm Simborio and others.

Taken from: Shakey's VLeague

UST Lady Tigresses

If you're updated about the Beach Volleyball results in the Women's Division, you would already know what to get excited about, since the rookies RJ Rivera and Cherry Rondina are still undefeated. Like IKR. They're just rookies! This is one of the reason why I'm excited for the S77 Women's Volleyball, because of them. The Lady Tigers will be headed by their team captain Pam Lastimosa and others like Carmela T., M. Meneses, JDL, Dancel D. and their Best Scorer rookie last SVleague, EJ Laure plus the rookies! Surely, the UST Team is one of the teams to look forward for!

Taken from: Shakeys VLeague

ADU Lady Falcons

With their three key players, Bang Pineda, May Macatuno and Mayette Zapanta gone, ADU is still a team to look forward to. Mainly because of Mylene Paat's improvement and Amanda Villanueva's wits. You can also expect them to become ADMU last year, losing their players and proving all of the people that they can still manage without their key players. 

Taken from: NU Lady Bulldogs WVT

NU Lady Bulldogs
Same with the ADU Lady Falcons, NU Lady Bulldogs lost some of their key players like Big D (Din-din Santiago) and Mina Aganon. But, its not something to grieve for because the likes of Jaja Santiago, Myla Pablo, Ivy Perez, Desiree Dadang, and libero, Fatima General is still to watch out for. The rookies they have are also improving and becoming more aggressive in terms of attacks like them, Jorelle Singh, Maritess Pablo and my schoolmate here in Iloilo, Roma Doromal. Will that be enough to make their reputation continue to rise? Lets find out this S77.

Taken from: DLSU Lady Spikers

DLSU Lady Spikers
With only Abi Maraño gone, will they still be a team to watch out for? A BIG YES, that's for sure! Rumors had spread that Coach Ramil is trying a new setup for their team having 2 alternating setters and 6 of them can attack at the same time. With the likes of Ara Galang, Mika Reyes, Cyd Demecillo and Kim Fajardo, I firmly believe that they will go an all-out attack when they're going to face ADMU this S77. With their deadly spikes and fast-blocking wits, DLSU is a team to watch out for!

Taken from: Shakey's VLeague

ADMU Lady Eagles
And last, HEARTSTRONG! HAPPY! Can they still defend their UAAP title? They will! With Alyssa Valdez and the rest of her teammates improving. Indeed, they will still be lethal and deadly this upcoming S77. In addition to their team, the newly Fab 5 will be expected this S77. Gaston, Bea De Leon, Madayag, Lavitoria, and I forgot the other one. Hihi. I believe, and excitedly say that S77 will be the volleyball season to watch out for because of this team. Rumors say, that they are going to train in Thailand, making other teams prepare double time. 

Overall, with all the teams improving, upcoming rookies and the veterans still intact with their teams, we will expect that this season will be clashing all-out.

Let me know if you have questions or some violent reactions.

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