Features

First podcast network in PH shares tips, insights

PumaPodcast wants us to listen more

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“We don’t listen enough.”

That’s what PumaPodcast — the first podcast network in the Philippines — hopes to change. The network officially launched in August 2019 but a lot of their shows have already been available to stream since the start of the year.

As of right now, they have a variety of shows including a newscast called Headlines, a show that tackles legal issues, and another that discusses culture, politics, religion, and everything else that makes Filipinos well, Filipino. There are plenty more and you can check them all out on their Spotify page.

PumaPodcast believes listening gives us a new perspective on things we think we already know about. Which is why they set out to be on platforms that people are already on.

To get a better idea of what the network is trying to do and also get some podcasting tips on the side, we spoke with one of their hosts — Ceej Tantengco.

Ceej is a sports reporter, gender equality advocate, and three- time Palanca Award-winning writer. She’s the host of Go Hard Girls which hopes to shine a spotlight on underrated Filipina athletes. It also imagines what the industry would be like if it was better for women.

Read the full interview below:

Ceej Tantengco is the host of Go Hard Girls and also co-hosts another show called What’sAP?

1) Podcasting appears to be enjoying some sort of renaissance, why do you think that is?

More than a renaissance, I think it’s that podcasts are finally hitting their stride in the Philippines. There have been individual podcasts by Filipino creators that have become popular locally, but just a few years ago I’d often hear people say they listen to Mo Twister but not really any other podcasts.

In America, podcasting is a culture that started, kept going, and it’s now at what the New York Times calls “peak podcast.” They joke that everyone and their mom has a podcast in America, but you also have incredible shows like Serial, NPR’s Invisibilia, This American Life and 99% Invisible that push the boundaries of audio storytelling way beyond the usual talk format. The variety is just incredible. One of my favorite podcasts is LeVar Burton Reads, where he picks a short story (usually sci-fi or speculative fiction) and turns it into something that’s both audiobook and immersive experience.

And as more Filipinos consume those kinds of podcasts from abroad, the market for local podcasts grows as well. We’re looking for local perspectives and voices that feel familiar. Here in the Philippines, I think the big wave has only just begun.

2) How did you decide what kind of podcast to do? What to talk about?

First off, It has to be something you’re passionate about. In my case, I’ve been a sports reporter for the past 5 years and I’ve seen the gender gap and how female athletes get less media exposure, or have to deal with gendered comments, or struggle to find sponsors compared to their male counterparts. There’s still a lot of sexism in how our society sees sports—basketball is for boys, volleyball is for girls, blah blah—and I always feel sad when people tell me that “that’s just how it is.”

So Go Hard Girls is me taking matters into my own hands and telling the stories of incredible yet underrated athletes. I’m extremely passionate about what I’m doing in the podcast, and I think that’s something you need to have if you’re getting into podcasting. Putting up a podcast won’t always be easy, but if you’re passionate, you have a reason to power through!

The second thing you need is perspective. A lot of my co-hosts on the PumaPodcast network have unique positions in their industries like Give A Hoot, which talks about communication from the perspective of professionals in advertising and communication strategy; or Te Talks, where former Supreme Court spokesperson Ted Te explains legal issues that affect the Philippines. Why are you in a special position to talk about the topic and what do you add to the public discussion?

Ceej with members of 5-time UAAP chapms NU Lady Bulldogs who went on an insane 80-0 winning streak

3) I don’t exactly have the best voice but I really want to do a podcast. Should I still go for it?

Podcasting isn’t like TV news where there’s a specific type of voice that people look for. Some podcasts are loud and funny, some are soft-spoken and reserved, some are formal and some are casual. But podcasts are audio products and voice quality still matters.

How comfortable are you in front of the mic? Do you stutter or have a lot of dead air? Try doing a test recording and listen to yourself so you know what to practice and how to improve. Editing can also help in cutting out any parts of the recording you aren’t happy with.

4) What equipment should I be looking at to get started?

If you’re just starting out, you could consider using equipment you already have. If you have a phone with a mic and you have a laptop, you can absolutely get started.

If you’re using basic equipment, though, then you should consider taking the time to learn some post-production software. There are free audio editing programs out there, like Audacity, that can improve your sound quality.

If you’re looking for something more ambitious, you can look into microphones. There are condenser mics, dynamic mics, handheld mics, lapel mics, etc. Some of these can plug straight into your laptop or your phone, and some have their own recording capability on their own. Some of them need an audio interface or a mixer if you have multiple mics.

5) Are there places where I can rent out equipment?

Yes! There are many studios where you can rent studio time—that includes use of their equipment, a sound-proofed booth, and a sound engineer who oversees the technical aspects of recording so you can focus on content—as well as post-prod services. If you are just starting out and experimenting, though, it can be an expense that you have to think hard about.

Roar Audio Productions in Makati, though, has a special hourly rate for podcasters that’s lower than the commercial rate for ad agencies and musicians. PumaPodcast’s production arm PumaPublic Productions also offers services for people who specifically are interested in narrative-format podcasts.

If you can’t spare the expense at the moment, you can still make do with what you have and then upgrade as your podcast grows!

PumaPodcast hosts addressing the crowd at the network’s launch

6) What should I consider in selecting where to host my podcast?

Price is one thing. There are hosting platforms that are convenient because they’re free, and there are others that can be more costly, but provide more services.

Considerations would be storage (how often are you publishing and what file sizes are you expecting?), the platforms they publish you to, website hosting, or the number of unique feeds (if you’re planning to have multiple shows). What kind of data analytics do you want to get from your pod host? This matters if you have plans to monetize. The more intricate data/metrics, the more expensive the hosting.

7) Is there profit in podcasting?

Theoretically, yes. If you have enough of a following on a particular platform, you can make a profit through ad placements or branded content. Influencers and Youtube creators have done so, and podcasters share some of the same platforms as them.

But just like with social media and with Youtube, it’s not easy. Not everybody can just put up an account and make money off of it. It takes time, effort, and an understanding of your platform and the content you should be creating for it.

Ceej’s podcast Go Hard Girls is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to produce more shows. Click here if you would like to help out. A similar campaign is also ongoing for another show called Give A Hoot which is a series of conversations about stuff that excite or baffle communicators and social change agents.

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Features

Why choose the MSI Claw?

Is it the gaming handheld for you?

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April 18, 2024

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MSI Claw

The MSI Claw is the latest gaming handheld from a major PC and laptop brand. The competition in this emerging gadget segment is tighter than ever. So, what is it about the MSI Claw that can scratch your gaming itch? Here’s a quick list. 

Best grip in the game

One quick glance and it’s hard not to compare the claw with another popular gaming handheld. But a closer look and actually holding the thing will reveal that its grip easily feels better. 

It has a slightly deeper groove that makes it easier to hold. So, MSI’s “Grip and Game” tagline isn’t all talk. Its design truly does provide one of the better feeling handles among its competition. 

The overall design makes sure it’s made for extended gameplay sessions. The buttons are where you expect them to be. That includes the four mini buttons on the upper edges of the screen. These are the View, MSI Center M, Menu, and Quick Settings buttons.

In addition, the face buttons and d-pad all feel great. The face buttons, in particular, feel comparable to those of regular console controllers. 

The rest of the buttons and triggers have a very satisfying tactile feel. It also uses Hall Effect technology to get rid of any stick drift issues. 

Up top, you’ll find the power button, MicroSD Card slot, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, audio jack, and the volume buttons. These are intuitively placed and just makes sense given the overall design approach. 

As cliché as it sounds, you’ll really think you got your money’s worth once you hold, touch, press, and grip the MSI Claw.

Dragon Vision 

Now, MSI isn’t really calling it that but I thought it sounds pretty cool. A big part of the whole gaming experience is the display. Balancing resolution and frame rates is always tricky but the MSI Claw does it convincingly. 

With this gaming handheld, you get a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Looks great on paper and it’s even better in real life. It’s the sweet spot in terms of both size and performance. There’s enough here to immerse you all while delivering a satisfying level of crisp and smoothness.

It’s comfortable to view whether you’re on the couch, on a desk table, or lying down getting a quick game in before you get some shut-eye. 

Battery Life 

At 53Whr, the MSI Claw has a 36% larger battery capacity than its contemporaries and promises 50% more play time.

MSI claims “elevated performance with extended endurance” using the Claw with faster charging capabilities. 

These percentages are hard to measure in real life usage. What we can say for certain is that you get the expected performance and playtime typical of a handheld. That’s a little under two hours for graphically demanding titles, and close to four hours on less demanding ones. 

The charging claim is legitimate. The MSI Claw juices up faster than most other handhelds, going from 20% to 100% in about a little over a K-Drama episode (roughly a little over an hour).

MSI Center M 

Any self-respecting gaming handheld has its own software to make navigating the thing more manageable. While its direct competitors have an armoury crate and a space, MSI went with Center M. 

The best part about MSI Center M is it puts your installed games front and center. Right when it launches, you get immediate access to the titles you have available on your machine.

MSI Afterburner is already the most commonly used app for taking a look at how your machine is performing while you play. That functionality is built-in to the MSI Claw. You can access it view the Quick Settings buttons. 

Layout and functionality-wise, the MSI Center M is certainly one of the better Gaming Handheld softwares available right now. 

Competitive Performance

A defining trait of the MSI Claw is that It’s the first gaming handheld to be powered by Intel Core Ultra. With it comes Intel XeSS tech. What it does is leverage AI upscaling to boost the fps of select titles.

As of launch, 50 notable games are supported. That number will certainly grow throughout the device’s lifespan. Some of the titles include Hi-Fi Rush, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, Returnal, and many, many more. 

Naturally, results will vary depending on the game mode you’re using. But in general, AAA games get anywhere between 10% to 45% better frame rate performance with Intel XeSS. 

For our part we played TEKKEN 8 and the recently launched Horizon Forbidden West. Both graphically demanding games played relatively well on the MSI Claw. Frame rate performance on TEKKEN 8 is crucial and we got a relatively consistent fps, never dropping below 40. 

Horizon Forbidden West is a much more graphically demanding game. We were able to run it in Medium Settings and while it doesn’t look as incredible, it still played relatively well with a frame rate surprising for a gaming handheld. 

Extras 

MSI made sure that if you wanted to, you could get some extra stuff with the MSI Claw. Its separately sold accessory set includes the Claw Travel Case, Nest Docking Station, Claw Lanyard, and Claw Keychain. 

On paper, the MSI Claw lists its ergonomic design, AI Engine, and App Player as distinct advantages over its competition. 

Whether it’s the Gaming Handheld that matches your needs is still ultimately up to you. If you have the opportunity to test drive the device, we suggest you do so. That might just solidify your purchase decision. 

Price and availability in the Philippines

 

The MSI Claw will be available in three configurations in the Philippines. There are priced as follows:

MSI Claw A1M-075PH (PhP 45, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 processor 135H 
  • 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Claw A1M-076PH (PhP 50, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 7  processor 155H
  • 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Claw A1M-077PH (PhP 53, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 7  processor 155H
  • 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Ongoing Promotion

You can still get your own MSI Claw with exclusive bundled freebies 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃 until 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒!

This feature article is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and MSI Philippines.

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Accessories

Marshall Major V: Reasons Why I Love It

After a month of using

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April 17, 2024

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and

I’ve got a new favorite pair of headphones. 

They look good, sound good, last long, are compact and portable. 

Most of all? They are from a brand that I truly love.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Here’s are V Major reasons why I love the new Marshall Major V!

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Features

Fortify your home office or business setup with these devices

For the work-from-home go-getters

Published

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April 15, 2024

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Image generated using Copilot designer.

If the 21st century taught us something, it’s that fad trends don’t last but legitimate ones stick.

The concept of working from home is an idea deemed impossible before. Thanks to technology, though, it has become a practical alternative for professionals nowadays.

The pandemic magnified its potential even further over the past few years. Working or managing small businesses from your own place has proven to be convenient. It saves you time and money from having to commute or travel to a traditional workplace. It’s also easier to communicate nowadays with various devices and apps. Even ordering food or sending something somewhere has also become a breeze with transport apps.

It’s a trend that won’t go anywhere. For those planning on sticking to staying at home, these devices will give them enough leverage for a “future-proof” setup at the comfort of their own spaces.

Laptops

You cannot go wrong with the Lenovo Yoga laptops. They’re versatile and powerful, and should serve more than enough for light to medium tasks and overall productivity.

They’re powered by Intel Core processors and have ample memory and storage for multitaskers. Yoga laptops also have OLED screens for a crystal-clear view. 

For the more budget-conscious professionals, the ASUS Vivobook line is very reliable for most office work software and basic multimedia needs. They come with powerful processors as well, and a multitude of features for your needs.

Of course, the MacBook Air with Apple Silicon is a go-to choice for those inclined on getting Apple devices.

Smartphones

If you’re the ultimate workhorse, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, OnePlus Open, and OPPO Find N3 are among the best recommendations.

Although they come with higher price tags, these devices ensure that you will have a smooth and seamless experience on your fingertips, whether it’s taking and editing photos, going on quick video calls, or organizing documents and other files.

There are also all-rounders like the HONOR 90 5G, OnePlus 11, and OPPO Reno10 Pro and solid mid-rangers like the POCO M-Series, Redmi Note series, and realme’s numbered series.

These more affordable phones can still deliver what is expected of them, especially for those who simply need a phone to aid them but do not necessarily have to literally rely on it for everything.

Epson CO-FH02 projector

It doesn’t hurt to have an extra screen at home. For those looking to consume digital content on a bigger scale, the Epson CO-FH02 projector provides an expansive view. This versatile lifestyle device can also be a realistic backdrop for presentations or livestreams, instead of just merely sharing the screen.

What’s great about the award-winning projector is it beams full HD resolution images, up to 3,000 lumens of brightness, and up to a 391-inch size. It suits many different scenarios and complements your space.

There’s also a handful of connectivity options for different devices. What’s great about the CO-FH02 is it has an Android TV 2 Dongle and Chromecast built-in. The dongle enables wireless connectivity, while Chromecast built-in technology lets you stream content right from the projector, making the viewing experience a breeze, minus all the annoying cables and wires. It’s surely a reliable tool to have, and doesn’t break your wallet.

Epson L11050 Printer

Meanwhile, the Epson L11050 Printer is an excellent choice for both small business owners or those simply needing important files to print. Unlike ordinary printers, the Epson L11050 can print documents up to the A3+ size, giving the printer a distinct advantage over other models.

The printer has a page yield of up to 4,500 pages for black and 7,000 pages for colored. It delivers fast and high-quality printing of up to 30 pages per minute in black and white and 20 for colored. Moreover, it has a large, 100-paper capacity so users won’t have to open it often to refill sheets. Users may also connect wirelessly using the Epson Smart Panel app for a more efficient printing process from your device.

Aside from the convenience it offers in delivering its purpose, the ink tank printer also contributes to a more sustainable world. It is powered by Epson’s Heat-Free Technology for lower energy consumption and lower carbon emission. And with Epson’s EcoTank technology, business owners will also simply have to refill the containers instead of disposing of cartridges. The spill-free process not only saves them operating costs, but makes the printer a sustainable choice as a result.

Epson DS-C330 Scanner

To complete your Epson setup, the Epson DS-C330 Scanner is a portable sheet-fed document scanner that is an absolute space-saver.

One simply has to insert the document they need scanned and the tool will do its work in just a few seconds. The scanner can work on hardcopy files up to legal paper size, even envelopes, IDs, and passports. It has a fast and efficient scanning rate of up to 30ppm and 60ipm, respectively.

It also comes with Vertical Path and Straight Path scan modes too. This means users can seamlessly select between the path modes so the scans come up desirably. With wireless connectivity, files can be saved instantly too. That saves time for uploading documentary requirements or helping customers save their own copies.

As the DS-C330 is also made from up to 34% recycled plastic, you are assured that you are minimizing environmental impact. It is the sustainable choice as far as scanners are concerned.

acerpure Cozy F1

Of course, where there is work, there should also be comfort. The acerpure Cozy F1 is a space-saving modern air circulator that uses an energy-efficient DC Motor and 3D AirFlow technology.

It has 12 touch-activated speed settings, and can project air for up to 15 meters away so it can reach every corner of a large room.

It’s also low-noise so users do not have to worry about getting distracted or bothered when keeping it cool and focusing on their everyday tasks.

Dyson V12s Detect Slim Submarine

Dyson V12s Detect Slim Submarine

After a day’s worth of hard work, it’s ideal to keep your workplace clean. Not only does it reflect yourself, but having a space that’s conducive for productivity always gives you the extra edge.

With the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Submarine, users get a compact and powerful stick cleaner that washes floors and surfaces from start to finish, using clean water.

The tool’s advanced vacuum system allows it to intelligently pick up dust and other debris. The multi-stage filtration system, meanwhile, ensures that even the smallest particles get picked up, leaving your spaces clean and healthy.

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