Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has placed Xiaomi on its “50 Most Innovative Companies of 2022” list.

The designation in part recognizes Xiaomi’s commitment to pursuing technological innovation and to strengthening its research and development capabilities. In the second quarter of 2022, its research and development expenses reached RMB3.8 billion, an increase of 22.8 percent year-over-year. At the Xiaomi product launch event in August, Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group, said that Xiaomi’s R&D investment has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 39.7 percent since 2017 and is expected to reach RMB17 billion in 2022 and RMB100 billion in the next five years.

BCG’s Most Innovative Companies ranking is based in large part on a survey of more than 1,500 global innovation executives who were polled in December 2021 and January 2022. It assesses a company’s performance in four categories: global mindshare, industry peer view, industry disruption and value creation.

BCG has published its annual innovation report since 2003. Other companies on the 2022 list include Microsoft, Alphabet, IBM, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, Tencent, etc.

Xiaomi is building an ever-expanding technology ecosphere spanning smartphones, wearable devices, smart home, smart manufacturing, smart electric vehicles and bionic robots, to better connect people to the world around them and improve their lives.

PlayPark Inc., together with Asiasoft and Archosaur Games, is proud to announce the official launch of the newest mobile MMORPG Dream of a New World to gamers this coming September 27, 2022 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Together with the launch of the game, pre-registered gamers will be able to receive their rewards and embark on an unforgettable journey into the Continent of Mulland.

Dream of a New World conducted an Alpha Test last July 21-24 and a Closed Beta Test last August 31 - September 5 in order to fine-tune all aspects of the game for the maximum enjoyment of players in Southeast Asia. And to celebrate the launch of the game, the PlayPark Dream of a New World Team has a lot of in-game and community events lined up!

There will be a Level Race from September 27 to September 30, 2022. Players with the highest level at the end of the Race will receive a limited edition Dreamers jacket. If you didn’t get the highest level, don’t lose hope; the player with the highest Combat Power in the game will also receive prizes and of course, bragging rights!

In game photography has been a hobby of gamers ever since the ability to take screenshots has been a feature in games. So flex those composition skills and submit your best photos to win prizes! For the Fashion Icon event, players need to get any of the available Fashion Sets in the Store, and take the best photo they can get! Submissions will be on the official Dream of a New World Facebook Page so keep an eye out for the complete rules and mechanics there!

Players will also get the chance to interact with Dream of a New World GMs and win prizes! Every Thursday from September 27 at around 5PM (GMT +8), one of the game’s GMs will shout his or her location via World Chat. The first player to find the GM will win big rewards!

For players looking for a real challenge, the PvP Master event is for you! For one month from September 27 to October 27, participating in the Gladiator Stage will earn you points for your ranking. The top-ranked player at the end of the event will receive bonus rewards on top of the ranking rewards!

If you’re an aspiring content creator, then you’re in luck! The PlayPark Dream of a New World team is looking for streamers, guide creators both video and written, and cosplayers! All you need to do is prepare your portfolio of works, fill out the special form, and wait for feedback from the team! Exclusive Dream of a New World gear, merch, and a title will be reserved for chosen content creators, so get those ideas flowing while you’re experiencing Dream of a New World!

The PlayPark Dream of a New World Team is also proud to announce that PC Express is a proud partner of the game! PC Express is one of the largest PC hardware and peripherals retailers in the Philippines and has been supportive of Dream of a New World and PlayPark since the beginning. Catch a lot of collaboration campaigns and promotions coming from PC Express and Dream of a New World in the coming months!

Pre-download Dream of a New World on Android via the Google Play Store or on iOS via the Apple Store now and have a hassle-free Day 1 gaming experience! Gamers can also play the game on PC via Dream of a New World’s official mobile emulator partner, LDPlayer. The Continent of Mulland awaits! 

For more information and updates, check out Dream of a New World’s Social Media Pages.

You can now use your Maya app to scan to pay AUB, GCash, Metrobank, and Unionbank QR Ph codes

 

You can now use your Maya app to scan to pay AUB, GCash, Metrobank, and Unionbank QR codes at your favorite stores – making your payments easy and hassle-free. Similarly, the Maya QR is ready to be scanned by these different financial apps as soon as these apps make the feature available.

 

To start paying with Maya using the QR codes of these e-wallets and banks, just look for the QR Ph logo featuring the blue, red, and yellow design in the middle. QR Ph is the national standard for QR payments, launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). 

 

Spotting this design in a QR code means it is QR Ph-enabled, and you can conveniently scan it using your Maya app to pay for your purchases. Maya users will be delighted to know that they can quickly scan to pay for their purchases in more merchants nationwide wherever they see the QR Ph symbol. In the same way, users of any financial app that is QR Ph-compliant can also scan Maya QR codes to pay for their purchases. 

  

Maya is the first fintech in the Philippines to adopt the QR Ph national standard for person-to-person payments in November 2019 and for person-to-merchant payments in April 2021. As the leader in QR Ph adoption, Maya fully supports the BSP thrust for interoperable payments, including QR Ph, making convenient cashless payments more accessible to Filipinos.  

 

Maya is the all-in-one money app bringing Filipinos bolder ways to master their money. On top of enabling users to pay via QR, it empowers users to manage all their finances in one app. Completely free to download and register, it packs a feature-rich e-wallet, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to save, spend, grow, and manage your money—right from your smartphone.  

  

Maya is powered by the country's only end-to-end digital payments company, PayMaya Philippines, and Maya Bank for digital banking services. To know more about Maya, visit maya.ph or follow @mayaiseverything on Facebook, IG, Tiktok, and YouTube and @mayaofficialph on Twitter. Join our Telegram community at https://t.me/TeamMayaPH for Maya exclusives.

Acer aims to help prevent blindness in diabetes patients by making eye screening more accessible for more people

Acer recently announced the availability of VeriSee DR , an ophthalmic AI-assisted diagnostic solution for diabetic retinopathy (DR), to promote its early detection in the Philippines and other Southeast Asia (SEA) countries. The program consists of three-month free use of VeriSee DR, as well as Acer antimicrobial  keyboard mouse sets to enable hospitals and clinics to conduct screening tests more efficiently. With the rise of diabetic patients, Acer hopes that by making screening more accessible, it can help detect high-risk cases and contribute to early diagnosis and treatment for DR patients. 

With a rapidly growing population of over 680 million people  in SEA, medtech is booming in the region as governments and medical institutions look for smart healthcare solutions. In addition to the fast economic development and change of diet, many SEA countries have long been facing an increasing number of diabetic patients. According to recent estimates by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 90 million adults (aged 20-79) were living with diabetes in the SEA region in 2021, of which, 51% or 46 million are undiagnosed. The total adult diabetes population is estimated to increase to 113 million by 2030 and 152 million by 2045 . 

As one of the world's largest ICT brands, Acer leverages its technology expertise, combining with AI and rich clinical data to keep the company at the forefront of innovation in healthcare. VeriSee DR, a SaMD (software as a medical device), is the flagship AI product developed by Acer Group. The software uses AI to analyze images of diabetic patients’ retinas with ophthalmology-level of accuracy and give an immediate referral recommendation. It has already reached over a 50% adoption rate in medical centers in Taiwan. 

Through this initiative, VeriSee DR is now expanding its availability in the country. Acer plans to launch the DR screening program in the region in Q4 2022 ~ Q1 2023 and will also promote it to other SEA countries, including Philippines, Vietnam, and India afterwards. The purpose of the program is to leverage the AI-assisted screening software to ease the problem of limited healthcare resources – a shortage of doctors and to increase diagnostic efficiency for the local hospitals and clinics. Acer aims to help achieve a broader scale of DR screening, so diabetic patients can receive early treatment to avoid potential blindness. 

For hospitals and clinics that have interests in the program, directly visit the link below and apply online by 30 Sep.

The Acer DR Screening Program Application Form: https://www.surveycake.com/s/xvoRW

New Quick Launch and Enhanced ActiveTrack Bring Out the Content Creator in Everyone

DJI recently launched Osmo Mobile 6, a palm-sized, portable device that unlocks the full potential of anyone’s smartphone photos or videos. The latest addition to the popular Osmo Mobile series, the Osmo Mobile 6 smartphone stabilizer has been enhanced through functions on the device, software features and editing software to give users complete creative control of the phone cameras they carry with them every day. Alongside improved ergonomics and compatibility with larger phones, Osmo Mobile 6 features DJI’s 3-axis stabilization, a brand new Quick Launch and ActiveTrack 5.0.

“Whether you’re outdoors camping with family or at home with a group of friends, everyone wants to explore their creativity and capture the moment in a unique way,” said Paul Pan, Senior Product Line Manager at DJI. “A DJI Osmo Mobile stabilizer is the perfect companion to push the limitations of any smartphone camera and the Osmo Mobile 6 is the best we’ve ever made.”

Portable And Palm-Sized      

Osmo Mobile 6 builds on the success of OM 5 with a new ergonomically designed handle and larger clamp to accommodate phones even with cases. It can be carried easily in a pocket and weighs just over 300g. With a built-in extension rod, Osmo Mobile 6 is perfect for achieving better-framed selfies or trying out shots from more interesting angles such as those low to the ground.

 

Three powerful motors and DJI’s advanced algorithms keep smartphones steady when shooting photos and videos. Osmo Mobile 6’s active stabilization makes it second to none for capturing the action in front of you, from traveling with friends to exploring the city to watching a child’s first sporting event. Smartphones’ electronic image stabilization can falter or lose video quality during more dynamic movement and low lighting situations, but the motorized stabilization of Osmo Mobile 6 makes the difference in every moment. 

 

As Quick As A Flash

Moments that you want to photograph or capture can be fleeting, which is why the Osmo Mobile 6 features a new Quick Launch feature for iPhone users. Once unfolded, attaching an iPhone to the stabilizer automatically triggers the Mimo app alert to enter the camera view instantly. Preparation time is dramatically reduced, with the device up and running three times quicker than previous models.

Stay Locked On

Featuring an enhanced version of DJI’s ActiveTrack, Osmo Mobile 6’s ActiveTrack 5.0 offers more stable tracking at longer distances[1] and also allows the front camera to track subjects that turn to the side or spin. During camping, traveling or street shooting, your footage is made more story-like with the gimbal automatically keeping the subject the center of attention.

As Easy As 1, 2, 3, 4

With a new built-in status panel and Mode button, checking the battery level and switching between the four gimbal modes is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4. A quick tap on the M button and you can cycle between:

Follow: In Follow mode, the camera view follows the gimbal's pan and tilt movements and stays level during rolls. This mode is suitable for shooting up, down, and diagonally.

Tilt Lock: The camera view only follows the gimbal's pan movement and stays stable during tilts and rolls — ideal for shooting horizontally or moving around a subject.

FPV: In FPV mode, all three axes of the gimbal follow the movement of the handle. This is wonderful for dynamic filming of still subjects like landmarks, buildings, or statues.

SpinShot: Push the joystick to the left or right to control the rotation of the camera view and create dynamic footage. It’s perfect for shooting push, pull, and high-angle shots.

Control With A Roll

 

Effortlessly and fluidly control zoom and focus with Osmo Mobile 6's new Side Wheel. Roll the wheel to adjust the focal length for flexible composition and zoom in and out with buttery smoothness. Achieve a cinematic look easily with a press of the side wheel to switch to manual focus control.

 

Intelligent Features To Make Your Content King

 

To help make your content the ultimate expression of yourself, Osmo Mobile 6 includes a number of intelligent features:

 

Timelapse: Warp time and space with Timelapse, Motionlapse and Hyperlapse. With these three simple templates, beautiful moments can be blended into impressive clips.

DynamicZoom: Use Move In and Move Out modes to get stretching and compressing visual effects, creating blockbuster footage with just your phone.

Gesture Control: Snapping a pic or starting a video has never been this convenient. Simple gestures make taking a selfie or a group photo easy.

Panorama: Three different panorama modes – 3x3, 240°, and CloneMe – are available to help capture those stunning landscapes or unique compositions.  

Story Mode: Various templates help to combine camera movements, transitions, soundtracks and more for users to share eye-catching videos with one effortless tap, or a custom template can be created.

Constructive Apps From Start To Finish

DJI’s own Mimo app, and the officially recommended app LightCut, are both available to guide everyone along their content creation journey.

In DJI Mimo’s camera view, tutorials pop up at the start of many features to get the user up and running in no time. Mimo’s ShotGuides feature automatically recognizes the scenario and recommends a shot sequence, along with a tutorial on how to achieve it.

When it comes to editing, jump quickly from DJI Mimo to the LightCut app, which features AI-powered one-tap editing and a range of exclusive video templates. From shooting to processing, it's a friendly one-stop solution for new creators and pros alike to get the most from their shots.

Pricing and Availability

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is available for the retail price of USD $159 and includes a magnetic clamp, tripod, power cable, and storage pouch. It is available for purchase today from store.dji.com and will be available in other channels at a later date.

For more information on all the new features, accessories, and capabilities, please visit www.dji.com/osmo-mobile-6

 Available now via OPPO Brand Stores, partner dealers, and OPPO Official Stores on e-commerce platforms

Recently, the global smart device brand OPPO unveiled the all-new OPPO Reno8 Series 5G, bannered by the Portrait Expert’s brand ambassador and multi-talented actress Nadine Lustre. 

The TVC showcased Nadine being ready for ultra-clear nights as she flaunts the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G’s flagship-grade camera system, exquisite design, and remarkable performance to the song “It’s Ultra Clear.” 

If you are on edge about the Portrait Expert’s features shown in the TVC and curious to know more, then let’s explore these features.

The all-new stunning look of the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G

As showcased by Nadine, the all-new OPPO Reno8 5G boasts a brand-new OPPO Glow. Available in two fashionable colors: Shimmer Gold and Shimmer Black, OPPO combined five techniques with dual texture and dual coating to achieve this impressive look. It is complemented by the streamlined unibody design of the OPPO Reno8 5G.

On the other hand, the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G showcases OPPO’s self-developed Dual Orbit Lights. As it is made with the industry’s first ring-shaped prism light plate, a high reflection light guide film, and a shading film, the lights you will see in such a feature will appear uniformly in intensity and chromaticity without light bursts. Accompanied by a lightweight body and ultra-slim retro design, you can get it in two colors: Dawnlight Gold and Starlight Black.

Flagship-grade performance for worry-free nights

To provide you with worry-free and more memorable nights, the OPPO Reno8 5G is built with a 4500mAh battery integrated with an 80W SUPERVOOC fast-charging feature, allowing you to power up from zero percent to 100 percent in 28 minutes. It also features a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 5G 6nm octa-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of ROM for excellent and lag-free performance.

Night imaging features to capture ultra-clear nights

The OPPO Reno8 5G features dual Sony flagship sensors integrated into its camera systems, which include a 50MP Sony IMX766 main camera and a 32MP Sony IMX709 front camera. It is supported by Ultra Night Portrait, which leverages an AI-driven neural network to enable noise reduction and higher resolution while allowing you to capture portraits faster at night.

It is accompanied by Ultra Night Video to empower you to record your ultra epic nights. This feature reduces image noise and helps enhance photos' brightness, quality, colors, and details when taken in low-light environments.

Purchase the all-new Portrait Expert now!

Starting September 9, you can avail the newest Portrait Expert in all OPPO Brand Stores, partner dealers, and OPPO Official Stores on Shopee, Lazada abd Tiktok Shop. The OPPO Reno8 5G retails at PhP 27,999, and the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is at PhP 19,999.

If you plan to shop via OPPO Brand Stores, there are Home Credit and credit card promos for you. For Home Credit users, the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G is payable for up to 18 months, wherein you can have the OPPO Reno8 5G for a minimum of PhP 1,088 a month and the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G for as low as PhP 777 per month. Meanwhile, both devices are available in 6 and 12 months installments with zero percent interest if you use a credit card as the payment method. For more details, you can go directly to OPPO Brand Stores.

If you purchase through Smart, you can get the Portrait Expert with Smart Signature Device Plans. For those who want the OPPO Reno8 5G, you can get the device with Smart Signature Device Plan 1499 with a one-time cash-out of PhP 2,100 and an additional PhP100 per month. With this plan, you can enjoy 10GB of data, Unli AllNet calls and texts, and 100 minutes of PLDT calls. Get a free pair of OPPO Enco Buds if you sign up until September 15.

Meanwhile, you can grab the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G with Smart Signature Device Plan 999 with a one-time cash-out of PhP 2,500 and an additional PhP 200 monthly. You can enjoy this with 5GB of data, Unli AllNet calls and texts, and 50 minutes of PLDT calls. In addition, you can take advantage of a free Game Grip if you sign up now until September 15.

If you are availing through Globe, you can get the OPPO Reno8 5G through GPlan 1999. While it has zero cash-out, it comes free with 15GB all-access data, unli all-net texts, unli calls to landlines, accompanied by a free 3GB GoWiFi, and an individual subscription to KonsultaMD. Subscribers will also receive a free robot vacuum.

On the other hand, the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is available in GPlan 1799 with no additional cash out. This comes with 13GB of all-access data, unli all-net texts, and unli calls to landlines. An exclusive robot vacuum will also be available to those who subscribe with Globe.

To learn more about the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website. You can also check OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook,YouTube, and TikTok.

The SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium was the stage for the intense battles in the Predator League 2022 Philippine Finals, the first face-to-face tournament of Predator Gaming since 2020. Esports fans turned out to watch the live gaming action as Justin “Vill” Villarasen and Allyza “Tayrawr” Taylor energetically brought to life the action with their annotation.

Poloris Esports

The Predator League 2022 Philippine Finals offered the biggest prize pot of Php1 million since the league was born in 2018.

For the Valorant division, Rex Regum Qeon made short work of Oasis Gaming with a scoreline of 13-5 on both Haven and Breeze while the veterans of South Built Esports and highly renowned Team Secret, a matchup with a very storied past, duked it out for a full 3-map series, with Team Secret bowing out of the competition, leaving South Built Esports to advance to the Grand Finals.

Rex Regum Qeon

With a hard-earned win, 2-1, against South Built Esports , Rex Regum Qeon emerged as the champion.

Rex Regum Qeon received the Predator League Shield for Valorant and got the Php200,000 top prize while South Built Esports was awarded Php100,000 for their runner-up finish.

 South Built Esport

Polaris Esports flew from Cebu to compete in the semifinals against Atomic Esports, sweeping the match, 2-0, while GrindSky Esports edged out Execration, with a 2-1 scoreline.

For the Dota 2 finals, Polaris Esports clearly dominated the match to win the Predator League Shield and the Php200,000 top prize while GrindSky Esports got Php100,000.

GrindSky Esports

Both Polaris Esports and GrindSky Esports will represent the Philippines in the Asia Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals, where they will face off against the champions of the other Predator Leagues in the APAC region.

Atomic Esports

Execraction

Team Secret

TNC Predator

Oasis Gaming

Further, the enthusiastic hosts, Vill and Tayrawr were joined by the following experts and analysts of the caster and panel desk: Jemimah “Donut” Dadula, Chris “Dadfemina” de Ocampo, Charles “Sneakyfrog” Carillo, Michaella “Mochii” Gonzale, Brian “GuiangGaming” Guiang, Erika Mei “Aki” Ilar, John “Johnxfire” Nathan Fernandez, Aries “Kalbz” Alejandro, Nathaniel “NaTan” Wicks, and Rain “Rain” ZerlynManaig. 

Acer Philippines General Manager Sue Ong-Lim

Manuel Wong - Acer Managing Director.

The e-sports fans who trooped to Mall of Asia were also treated to the appearances of Predator Gaming ambassadors, including TNC Predator, Team Payaman,, Ashley Gosiengfiao, Een Mercado, burg, KuyaNic, and Kang Dupet. They had meet and greet sessions with fans and talked on stage about what’s been happening on their end.

For more information regarding Predator League, follow Predator’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

The beloved esport of Dota 2 has finally returned to LAN action. GrindSky Esports, Execration, Polaris Esports, and Atomic Esports finally got to show their prowess in front of a highly charged audience at SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium on September 18, 2022.

Polaris Esports

Returning for the second day to host this prestigious event, Justin “Vill” Villarasen and Allyza “Tayrawr” Taylor were joined by a lineup of talented casters and panelists: Erika Mei “Aki” Ilar, John “Johnxfire” Nathan Fernandez, Aries “Kalbz” Alejandro, Nathaniel “NaTan” Wicks, and Rain “Rain” Zerlyn Manaig.

With four of the most skilled teams in the Philippines, the competition was charged from the get-go. GrindSky Esports, a relatively new organization in the Philippine scene, slightly edged out the veterans from Execration, with a 2-1 scoreline that guaranteed them a slot to the Grand Finals. Flying straight from their boot camp in Cebu, Polaris Esports was matched with the tenacious underdogs of Atomic Esports. But Polaris Esports proved that their pedigree was well-earned, with the Cebuanos sweeping the series 2-0, with their second game being finished in a lightning-fast 20-minute victory. 

GrindSky Esports

Execration

The Grand Finals was a test of whether or not Polaris Esports was the new kings of Philippine Dota, or if the new upstarts of GrindSky Esports were more than capable of proving that they were a force to be reckoned with. But at the end of the day, Polaris Esports proved that their recent performances were no mere flukes. They demolished GrindSky Esports in convincing fashion, winning 2 games straight to take home the Predator League Shield. 

Atomic Esports

TNC Predator

Besides the intense action that Dota 2 brought to the SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium, fans were once again treated to the presence of some of their favorite Dota personalities. KuyaNic, Kang Dupet, Ashley Gosiengfiao, and even the whole squad of TNC Predator were in the area to show their support and give selfies and signatures to their fans. Mayonnaise also graced the stage and performed some of their fan-favorite hits. 

Polaris Esports walks away with PHP 200,000, while GrindSky Esports are rewarded with PHP 100,000 for their valiant efforts. As the curtains of this chapter of Predator League closes, a new one begins: Both Polaris Esports and GrindSky Esports will be traveling to Japan for the Asia Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals where they will be representing the Philippines. There, they will face off against the champions of the other Predator Leagues in the APAC region. All eyes will be on Japan, from November 11 to 13, where the world will know who the best Dota 2 team from the region is. 

For more information regarding Predator League, follow Predator’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.