Pandora: Beneath the Paradise arrives on Disney+

On March 11, step back into the mind of famed Korean creator Kim Sunok, when Pandora: Beneath the Paradise arrives on Disney+.

Living a seemingly perfect life, Hong Taera is the envy of many. Married to a successful developer and with a loving daughter by her side, everything is going perfectly for her – she just wishes she could remember how she got there. Incapable of remembering her past, Taera’s curse becomes a nightmare when her lost memories begin to emerge and she realizes she is nothing more than a puppet in an elaborate game. Driven to take back control, protect her family, and get revenge on those who did this, Taera will cast aside her elegant evening dress and fragrant flowers for a blood-stained leather jacket and a 28-caliber revolver in Pandora: Beneath the Paradise.

Starring E Jiah (The Penthouse: War in Life, My Mister) as Hong Taera, a woman whose perfect life is shattered when memories from her past resurface; Lee Sangyun (One the Woman, VIP) as Pyo Jaehyun, Taera’s husband and the chairman of Hatch; Jang Heejin (Flower of Evil, The Red Sleeve) as Ko Haesoo, the YBC’s top anchor; Park Kiwoong (Secretly Greatly, Bridal Mask) as Jang Dojin, the second son of the Kumjo group; and Bong Taegyu (The Penthouse: War in Life, Return) as Koo Sungchan, the director of Hatch’s research center; Pandora: Beneath the Paradise is created by Kim Sunok, the mastermind behind the hit series The Penthouse: War in Life and Return, and is directed by Choi Younghoon (One the Woman, Good Casting).

Produced by CJ ENM’s production powerhouse Studio Dragon, Pandora: Beneath the Paradise starts streaming from March 11, on Disney+ with new episodes released every Saturday and Sunday.

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Get up to 40% off on Logitech's select products at the Shopee 3.3 Sale!

Enhance your productivity and creativity with Logitech’s range of masterfully designed retro and sleek top-of-the-line computer accessories that will be on offer at the Shopee 3.3 Sale.

 

Blending style and pioneering technology, Logitech’s computer gears do not just get things done. The stylish design choices reflect users’ personalities, even moods, and are perfect work or learning companions. 

 

From March 3 to 5, high-quality Logitech peripherals will be discounted at the Shopee 3.3 Sale. Get up to 40% off on select products, discount vouchers, cashbacks of up to PhP100, and shipping discounts of up to PhP38. 

 

Plus, get free Sodexo vouchers valued at PhP500 and PhP100 for the purchase of select Logitech items. Value-for-money bundles and freebies will also be available during the sale at the Logitech Official Store in Shopee. Register purchases at http://logitechrewards.ph to get cashback rewards.

Less is more

Make an understated impact with Logitech’s multi-device Pop Keys/Mouse Wireless Mechanical Keyboard and Wireless Mouse with Customizable Emoji – in Mist color. Go with the elegant, minimalist aesthetic palette of soft grey and natural sand kiss as you let the ideas flow through while you work and learn.

Go back to simpler times past with the vintage looking POP Keys that imitates old-school typing on typewriter-style mechanical scooped, round keys. Enjoy today’s innovations with POP Keys’ 12 new FN shortcuts, including a snip screen.

The compact POP Keys treats users with eight swappable emoji keycaps that can be mixed and matched to suit the mood. A single tap of the emoji menu key or POP Mouse’s top button opens a full range of chat emojis. 

The POP Mouse is equally powerful. Equipped with SilentTouch Technology and high-precision tracking, it is quiet and it can work on almost any surface. The POP Mouse SmartWheel shifts from high-precision to speed scroll mode, letting you keep up with looming deadlines. 

The POP Keys and POP Mouse tandem are made for the long haul. POP Keys can endure up to 50 million strokes and has up to three years of battery life. POP Mouse has up to two years of battery life.

Logitech’s white  K580 Slim Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard is a multi-tasker and is ideal for users who are always on the go. This ultra-slim, quiet, compact keyboard is packed with features such as the Easy Switch buttons which enables users to use just one keyboard for two devices. 

Another multi-tasker is the ultra-thin K380 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard. Coming in rose, off-white, black, and blue colors, this beauty is unobtrusive and quiet. It is quite versatile – it can connect to up to three devices – computers, tablets and smartphones – even those with different operating systems. 

Its scooped, low-profile scissor keys are comfortable on the fingertips, giving a fluid, quiet, familiar laptop-like typing experience. Its pre-installed batteries can last up to two years.

Part of the Ergo Series, the Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse relieves pressure on the wrist and provides day-long comfort for small to medium-sized hands. Users will not just find pleasure in its aesthetic – it comes in rose, graphite and off-white colors. Lift is designed and sculpted to make hours on the computer “ouch-less” with an optimal 57-degree angle that places the hand in a “natural handshake position.” This puts less pressure on the wrist and places the arm and upper body in a more natural posture.

 

Using Lift, the hand rests on a softly textured grip and a cozy thumb rest. It has easy-to-reach buttons. Lift is likewise a silent worker with whisper-quiet clicks and a smooth-gliding, quiet scroll wheel that adapts to the lightest touch.

Grow with the masters

Logitech’s flagship mouse, the MX Master 2s has 4000-DPi precision sensor that can track on virtually any surface, including glass. It can effortlessly navigate multiple computers with accuracy. Its buttons are customizable.

Logitech designed and engineered the MX Keys keyboard with creatives and coders in mind. It is held together by a solid and stable single metal plate. It has Perfect Stroke keys – spherically dished, matte-coated keys that match the shape of fingertips. The keyboard lights up when its proximity sensors detect hands. MX Keys is without a doubt, a master – intelligent, silent and precise.

The MX Keys Mini is smaller but smarter and mightier. It is a minimalist, comfortable keyboard made for creators – every key, command, and shortcut are at users’ fingertips. With its Smarter Fn Keys, users can send emojis, mute and unmute the mic, and activate talk to text. There is also a Dictation key that is available in select languages and geographies. 

 

The MX Keys Mini has proximity sensors that detect hands and illuminate the keyboard. The backlit keys automatically adjust to lighting conditions and turn off when the user steps away — a smart feature that saves power. Finally, the MX Keys Mini is pro-environment. It is certified carbon neutral. The plastic parts include certified post consumer recycled plastic materials. Its paper packaging materials come from FSC-certified forests and other controlled sources.

Available online and at local shops

Logitech accessories are available at the Logitech Official Store in Shopee and other partner retail stores nationwide. Logitech products are also available at partner outlets, PC Express, Silicon Valley, DataBlitz, Octagon, Electroworld, Complink, iTech, Techwarez, Gameone, Interpace Computer Systems, GameXtreme, TTI, GameOne, DynaQuest PC, Digi-Serv Solutions, Concept Computer, NUTECH, DFE (Davao Futurebright Enterprises), Villman, PCWorx, Abenson, Digistore, and Greenware.

Visit the Logitech website and official Facebook Page to learn more.

OPPO is showcasing a range of its latest innovative technologies at Mobile World Congress 2023 (MWC2023)

During the event, OPPO is not only showing a selection of flagship devices including the pocketable OPPO Find N2 Flip, but also introduces a number of industry-leading innovations based on its four Smart Initiatives - smart entertainment, smart productivity, smart health, and smart learning, such as OPPO Wi-Fi 6 Router AX5400, OPPO Zero-Power Tag, MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio SoC, OHealth H1 family health monitor, OPPO Air Glass 2 and more. By delivering enhanced, connected experiences through these virtuous innovations, OPPO is reinforcing its position as a future-focused company that seeks to unlock new possibilities for smart living. 

"As the world’s fourth largest mobile phone brand, OPPO has showcased a series of innovations at MWC23, from folding flagship phones to the latest technology behind the Internet of Experience. By bringing new technology breakthroughs to market, we are unlocking new possibilities for smart living to better serve our users worldwide,” said Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Sales and Service, OPPO.

 

OPPO Find N2 Flip, OPPO's first vertically folding phone recently launched globally in London, has become a major draw to OPPO’s booth. 

 

Find N2 Flip is the best flip phone on the market today. Measuring 3.26 inches, Find N2 Flip's cover screen is the largest of any flip phone currently available, making everything smarter and easier to do. Its 50MP main camera, MariSilicon X NPU and Hasselblad imaging system combine to deliver a professional camera experience. Equipped with the New Generation Flexion Hinge, Find N2 Flip supports multi-angle FlexForm mode, allowing the screen to be set at any angle between 45-110 degrees. Thanks to the new Flexion Hinge, the crease of Find N2 Flip remains unobtrusive even with long-term use. Find N2 Flip also comes with a massive 4,300mAh battery and 44W SUPERVOOC_TM fast charging, making it the first flip to comfortably last a full day of typical use. 

 

This pocketable flip flagship will be on sale in Europe from February 28. Thanks to its disruptive and innovative design and superior user experience, it’s expected to make the flip the format of choice for more users around the world.

 [OPPO Find N2 Flip]

 

OPPO Find N2 Flip and Find N2 have both been appointed as Official Smartphones of the UEFA Champions League. UEFA Champions League Ambassadors and football stars, Michael Owen and Luis Garcia both join OPPO on the first day of MWC, becoming the first global users to experience the incredible OPPO Find N2 Flip.

 [UEFA Ambassador photo with Find N2 Flip]

 

In addition to OPPO Find N2 Flip, visitors to the OPPO booth can also experience the latest OPPO flagship phones such as OPPO Find N2, and IoT products including OPPO Enco X2, OPPO Watch 3 Pro, OPPO Pad, and OPPO 45W Liquid Cooler.

 

Focusing on Smart Living Initiatives, OPPO showcases milestones in “Virtuous Innovation”

Based on its four internal Smart Initiatives: smart entertainment, smart productivity, smart health, and smart learning, OPPO has brought a number of technology breakthroughs to the event, providing more ways to empower smart, connected experiences in the future.

 

In “smart productivity”, OPPO has further expanded its communication technology product portfolios. OPPO Wi-Fi 6 Router AX5400, based on the Qualcomm^® Immersive Home 216 Platform, is OPPO’s first Wi-Fi router product, supporting the Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 standard, and is capable of providing a 2.4GHz+5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi signal at the same time. The combination of its high-gain antennas, OPPO’s self-developed anti-interference algorithm and network directional speed-up technology enables Wi-Fi with wider coverage, enhanced stability, and faster speeds^[1]. The elegant cylindrical appearance with hidden antennas makes it fit perfectly within a modern, minimalist home, while the unique internal structure helps improve heat dissipation, ensuring always-on connectivity that covers every corner of the home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OPPO Wi-Fi 6Router AX5400]

 

OPPO Zero-Power Tag is the first prototype device based on OPPO Zero-power Communication technology. Leveraging key technologies such as RF signal harvesting, backscattering, and low-power computing, it harvests radio waves from the surrounding area to power its own functionality and communicate battery-free in order to meet the diverse needs of IoT in the coming 6G era. This is the first time that OPPO has demonstrated the OPPO Zero-Power Tag’s capabilities in item identification and positioning, and data collection from temperature sensors, both powered by RF energy.

 

OPPO is also showcasing its extensive achievements across other Smart Initiatives, such as OPPO’s first self-developed flagship Bluetooth audio SoC, MariSilicon Y, the new-generation, ultra-light AR glasses, OPPO Air Glass 2, OPPO’s first family health monitor concept device OHealth H1, and OPPO’s first end-to-end power management chip SUPERVOOC S, etc.

 

In addition, OPPO is also jointly demonstrating a number of technological milestones with different partners, including select proposals from the OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator: EEG Hearables from IDUN Technologies and Cynteract’s glove designed to help people with hand injuries to recover more effectively; hardware accelerated ray tracing technology on the Snapdragon^® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform; innovative Android features like Nearby Share and Fast Pair on OPPO flagship smartphones, and trials of Google One and YouTube Premium for up to 6 months, with selected OPPO devices.

 

Actively practicing corporate social responsibility, OPPO has committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2050

Under its corporate mission of “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World”, OPPO has taken action to integrate sustainability into its long-term development strategy. By the end of 2022, OPPO managed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 6,000 tons annually. Starting with the European market in 2023, OPPO will remove virtually all plastics from the external packaging of its mobile phone products and will ensure that all packaging materials are made from 100% biodegradable materials.

 

On the opening day of MWC2023, OPPO has also published its first Climate Action Report, the OPPO Climate Action Report: Climate Pledges and Low Carbon Development Strategy, co-developed with global consultancy, Deloitte. The report proposes OPPO’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2050, and outlines its future blueprint for low carbon development. With these plans, OPPO will transform its entire business into a low-carbon enterprise.

 

To experience OPPO’s innovations and products first-hand, please visit OPPO’s booth in Hall 3, Stand 3M10, at the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, from February 27 to March 2, 2023. For further details, please also refer to the OPPO MWC23 official website.

 

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro are flagship models with Leica professional optical lenses

The moment I laid my eyes on these phones and checked the displays and had selfies. I know it would be worth my money. The pictures are vibrant because of Leica. Yes Leica! Who would want a DSLR camera, when you can just grab this beauty?!

Xiaomi collaborated with Leica, a prestigious camera and optics manufacturer, to provide users with an enhanced smartphone photography experience. The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro are flagship models with Leica professional optical lenses, advanced software capabilities, and the latest Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 and Surge battery management system for powerful performance. At the local launch held on March 1st at the Ayala Museum, Xiaomi Philippines executives announced that Manila-based Xiaomi fans can pre-order the latest flagship phones at discounted prices from March 3rd to March 10th, 2023.

“Xiaomi is thrilled to bring the Xiaomi 13 Series to the Philippines, co-engineered with Leica. This flagship smartphone features game-changing camera technology that will take mobile photography to new heights, empowering both enthusiasts and professionals to capture the world in a whole new light. We can't wait for local Xiaomi fans to experience the power and innovation of the Xiaomi 13 Series,” Xiaomi Philippines Marketing Head Tomi Adrias said.

Master-level photography

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro have a Master-Level photography system with Leica co-engineered cameras. The camera system's hardware and image quality to UI/UX design have been created in collaboration with Leica to deliver a pro-grade smartphone photography experience. Both models feature triple cameras equipped with Leica optical lenses.

Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a Leica Vario-Summicron camera system with focal lengths ranging from 14mm to 75mm. It has a 23mm wide-angle main camera with a 1-inch IMX989 sensor, a 75mm floating telephoto camera, and a 14mm ultra-wide-angle camera. The IMX989 sensor is the largest ever used in a smartphone, and the 75mm telephoto lens uses a floating lens design with DSLR-level internal focusing technology. Xiaomi 13 has an optical zoom range of 0.6x to 3.2x and features a 75mm telephoto lens.

Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro cater to both photography enthusiasts and professionals by providing detailed camera settings. The Master-Lens System offers optimal focal length and depth of field to capture flawless portraits. Users can choose between two photographic styles – Leica Authentic Look, and Leica Vibrant Look – that maintain accuracy while giving moderate saturation. Xiaomi 13 Pro supports 10-Bit RAW DNG Camera and Color Profiles designed by Adobe, providing professionals greater flexibility in post-editing with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro offer top-notch computational photography with Xiaomi Imaging Engine, fast photo capture, ProFocus for moving subjects, 4K Ultra Night Videos, and HyperOIS video stabilization for exceptional video quality.

Dazzling speed, reliable power with Xiaomi Surge

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro feature the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 mobile platform, boosting graphics by 42% and 49%, and CPU by 37% and 47%, respectively, compared to the previous generation. Xiaomi's devices support Wi-Fi 7 with Qualcomm® FastConnectTM 7800, allowing for lightning-fast speeds. Both devices offer excellent image optimization and manual adjustment of shooting parameters in pro-mode.

Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro feature Surge battery management systems, with 4,500mAh and 4,820mAh batteries, respectively. Xiaomi 13 supports 67W wired and 50W wireless turbo charging, while Xiaomi 13 Pro charges to 100% in 19 minutes with 120W HyperCharge.

Minimalistic design, best-in-class display

Both Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro have an all-new minimalistic design language highlighting their powerful technological capabilities. Xiaomi 13 comes in Black, White, and Flora Green, with a 93.3% screen-to-body ratio and ultra-thin bezels, it offers an incredible viewing experience on its 6.36" FHD+ AMOLED display with E6 material for top-notch color accuracy and brightness while saving power.

Xiaomi 13 Pro flaunts a sleek 3D-curved ceramic body in Ceramic White and Black, perfect for a smooth transition into camera mode. Its 6.73" WQHD+ AMOLED display is a stunner with 120Hz refresh rate and TrueColor accuracy, reaching 1,200 nits full-screen brightness and 1,900 nits’ peak brightness. Plus, Dolby Vision®, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Atmos® support create a fully immersive audiovisual experience.

Both devices offer IP685 dust and water resistance, ensuring optimal protection and peace of mind.

Premium services

Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 13 offer 3 Android updates, 5 years of security patches, 6 months of free Google One cloud storage up to 2TB, YouTube Premium, and digital car key support for sharing with loved ones. Unlock, lock, and start your car with ease.

Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 13 users get a free out-of-warranty repair within the first year of purchase. Xiaomi also provides International Warranty Service in 40+ markets for a better after-sales experience. Global warranty service is available for Xiaomi 13 Pro users who meet warranty conditions at any authorized service provider. More details at mi.com.

Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi 13 (8+256GB) comes in Black, White, and Flora Green sells for Php 44,999 with Free Xiaomi Watch S1 Active (worth Php 8,999).

The Xiaomi 13 Pro (12+256GB) is available in Ceramic Black and Ceramic White at Php 59,999 with Free Xiaomi Watch S1 Active (worth Php 8,999).

Local Xiaomi fans who pre-order a Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 13 Pro from March 3 to 10 will also get 2TB of free Google One cloud storage for 6 months. Installment payment is also available via Home Credit at 0% interest for up to 18 months. 

Get ready to experience the Xiaomi 13 Series as it makes its way to Xiaomi Authorized Stores and partner retailers nationwide, as well as the official Xiaomi stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. For the latest updates and further information, be sure to visit Xiaomi's official page.

Watsons Philippines takes the lead in protecting the environment by pursuing refills

Did you know that it takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down naturally? For a plastic toothbrush, it’s even longer at 500 years.

Plastic waste ends up in our oceans and this results in frequent flooding, marine life degradation, loss of certain marine species, and lower fish yields. The Philippines is estimated to emit 35% of the ocean’s plastic, with 356,371 of metric tons of plastic waste annually. (1) 

 

More and more consumers are helping minimize plastic pollution and saving the planet by refilling. Refills use 75% less plastic vs. regular bottles. Customers also save up to 40% when buying refills vs. regular bottles.

 

“I urge everyone to consider using refillable containers as it is one of the most effective means of protecting and preserving the environment. Less use of plastic means less plastic waste in our waterways and this will lead to the continuous preservation of our marine and avian species, as well as the reduction of flooding, among others," said Aida Esguerra. Chief, Conservation and Development Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Capital Region.

Since the pandemic, Cristelle Corpuz, an eco-conscious Gen Z, has chosen refills and refill packs when they are available.

 

“Out of curiosity, I tried collecting my plastic trash for a period of time. After just a few weeks, I realized how much waste I am contributing. This made me feel guilty and I thought of ways on how I can minimize my trash, now I opt for refills.” said Corpuz.

“I choose refills to avoid waste from going to landfills and further polluting the environment,” said Laurice Bautista, who supports and practices sustainability.

 

“As a busy mom, I am always looking for ways to save time and money, but I also care deeply about the environment. Using refillable containers has allowed me to do both. I can save up to 40% compared to buying a regular bottle, and I feel good knowing that I am reducing my plastic waste,” said Donna Yan, a mother of three.

 Shawntel Nicole Nieto, Society of Sustainability Practitioners (SSP) President, underscored the importance of refilling as a more proactive way of addressing the problem of plastic waste.

 

“Refilling helps people maintain a more sustainable lifestyle by encouraging them to get rid of the excess materials they would, more often than not, discard as waste. In a sense, instead of relegating the duty of waste management to consumers as is the case now, refilling lets the manufacturers and retailers take responsibility for it, in the process making living sustainably much easier for everyone,” said Nieto, who was part of Forbes’ Under 30 in 2022.

 

Sustainability advocate and chemist Jonas Marie Dumdum, SustainablePH board member, said refilling is an old method that needed to become more common.

“Refilling is not new to the Philippines in the sense that this is still practiced in rural areas, and this was one of the norms in Filipino society before. Looking at how our lolos and lolas did it before may prove to be valuable to us. By integrating traditional methods with, let’s say, digital technology, the refilling movement could transform the way we consume products in the future,” said Dumdum.

 

Leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer Watsons has been at the forefront of responsible consumerism with a sustainability program that's anchored on four pillars: Planet, People, Community, and Customers.

 

Watsons has launched two Refill Stations for Naturals by Watsons at its SM Megamall and the flagship store in The Block SM City North Edsa store to encourage more consumers to do good by reusing their plastic bottles, thereby reducing the use of plastic. The Refill Stations are part of A.S. Watson Group's global commitment to encourage its customers to lead more sustainable lifestyles by offering more options for them to do so. 

 

Watsons also offers a wide variety of refill packs of personal care products, including liquid hand soaps, shampoos, lotions, toothbrush refills,  shaver cartridges, foundation, and many others. The retailer is also convincing more of its suppliers and manufacturers to join the refill revolution to help save the planet.

 

“Recycling helps save the planet. But refilling is definitely a better option because refills consume 75% less plastic than regular bottles. To the customer, it is also more affordable,” said Viki Encarnacion, Watsons PR and Sustainability Director.

 

Refilling is an important part of a sustainable lifestyle. Going for refills is one of the best things you can do for the planet. Join those who have joined the refill revolution and help save the planet!

 

Source:

 

(1)  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/visualized-ocean-plastic-waste-pollution-by-country/