Accessories

The EcoFlow RIVER 2 is what you need for your road trips

Stay charged on your long drives

Published

November 1, 2023

MJ Jucutan

On my first-ever long drive, I packed a lot of supplies and essentials I would probably need. My mom always said it’s better to plan and have foresight than to stumble upon problems down the road.

And my fairy godmother, Taylor Swift, has spoken the truth in one of her masterpieces: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Yes, it was from the song “Mastermind” that I strongly resonated with.

Not wanting to come across obstacles, I took the EcoFlow RIVER 2 — a portable power supply station — and put it inside my pick-up truck.

Just like a handbag

Power supplies used to look horrendous, taking up too much space in your trunk. But that was many moons ago!

The Ecoflow RIVER 2 comes with a compact, portable design housing a 256Wh battery capacity capable of up to 300W of output.

It weighs only 7.7 lbs, making it easy to lug around as if it’s just another handbag. Imagine a mini luggage with that much power — that’s what RIVER 2 looks like.

Charge everything you can

The RIVER 2 acted as my main power supply on my long drive. I was charging two of my power banks on both USB-A ports, and my iPhone using my Lightning-to-USB-C cable for the USB-C port in the middle.

It only took less than 30% of the power supply to fully charge my devices, which gave ample power to my passengers. They were able to charge their devices and power banks while we were on a six-hour ride up north.

When we arrived in our hostel in Bacnotan, La Union, I didn’t want to hog the sockets since I’d be charging my camera’s batteries — which I’d be needing as an official race photographer for Spartan Race Philippines.

I pulled out an extension cord to charge my other devices while the RIVER 2 quickly juiced up my camera’s batteries.

I knew I’d be deployed in the farthest part of the trail so it’s best to come prepared. I didn’t bother bringing the power supply up in the mountains since I trusted my ability to prepare.

Easy to juice up

When it ran out of battery, charging the RIVER 2 was swift enough. Within an hour, it can reach up to 100% easily.

I remember plugging it in before I stepped into the vehicle and went to a business meeting in the city. Yes, I bring it everywhere — not just on long drives.

Of course, it takes me at least an hour to prepare and leave the house. That’s enough time to top up the RIVER 2.

Moreover, there are four ways to top the power supply up. You can charge it via AC, through the car, and Solar charging if you have the panels.

But what worked the best for me was USB-C charging. It’s the most versatile and ready, wherever you are. I mean, don’t we all have USB-C cables by now?

Take control

Like most devices nowadays, the RIVER 2 can be controlled and monitored using the EcoFlow app. It can be downloaded via App Store or Play Store.

Using your smartphone, you can view the charging levels, customize your settings, and even adjust charging speeds. It’s insanely helpful to manage the power supply especially when out of town and you have no way of recharging it again.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Portable power supply stations aren’t a top-of-the-mind purchase for most people.

But for those who frequently take on road trips, camp on the weekends, and live in the suburbs and provinces where occasional power outages occur, having the EcoFlow RIVER 2 might give you extra assurance that you’ll be taken care of when it comes to power and electricity.

It’s compact, lightweight, portable, and versatile. For a small power supply, it does and gives a lot.

So if it fits in your adventurous and outdoorsy life, or even if you just need a fail-safe machine during storms and catastrophic events, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 is easily your GadgetMatch.

The EcoFlow RIVER 2 retails for US$ 239. There are also bigger variants if you want more power and have more cash to burn.

The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max comes with 512Wh capacity and is capable of 500W Output retailing for US$ 469.

Meanwhile, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro retails for US$ 599 and comes with 768Wh capacity, capable of 800W output.

For more, visit EcoFlow’s website.

Accessories

70mai launches the A900 series with 4K front, rear recording

Two new 4K dual-channel dash cams, both with 4G

Published

September 22, 2026

MJ Jucutan

70mai has launched the A900 Series, led by the flagship 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra, with the 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 joining it in the lineup.

Both models record in 4K from the front and rear cameras, and both support 4G, so your footage stays reachable from your phone even when you’re away from the car.

4K recording from both cameras

The A900 Ultra uses dual Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensors to capture clear 4K footage from both directions. As a result, details like license plates and road signs remain sharp.

Smart HDR balances bright and dark areas under shifting light. Users can also adjust color tones and contrast. To keep feeds synced, the rear camera uses LVDS digital transmission. This tech sends a lossless 4K feed with just 20ms of latency.

Handling changing light

Driving into a tunnel or under the shadow of a tall building changes the lighting quickly, and 70mai built three imaging technologies into the A900 Ultra to deal with it.

MaiColor Vivid+ Solution 2.0 is meant to give more natural colors and finer detail, along with smarter scene adaptation. Night Owl Vision 2.0 reduces noise and glare to help with nighttime clarity.

Lumi Vision is made for parking surveillance in near-total darkness, where it automatically adjusts exposure and gain and applies noise reduction. 70mai says this produces clear, full-color footage in extremely low light.

Parking mode and remote access

Smart Parking Guardian Mode 2.0 protects your vehicle while parked. It combines AI motion detection, dual-channel collision detection with pre-recording, and time-lapse options.

The system draws just 5mA on standby to prevent battery drain. For extended coverage, the optional 70mai Battery Pack Mini powers surveillance for up to 30 days.

In photo: A900

Pairing the camera with the 4G Hardwire Kit unlocks 70mai 4G Cloud+ 2.0 features on the app. Enhanced Buffered Emergency Recording saves up to 190 seconds before an incident and 30 seconds after.

It automatically uploads this footage to the cloud for immediate remote viewing.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900

In photo: A900

The A900 sits alongside the Ultra as the more accessible option. It records True 4K HDR at 30FPS from both the front and rear cameras, and Smart HDR can be scheduled to turn on at set times.

Its f/1.55 aperture is meant to help in low light, and 4G Cloud+ 2.0 keeps the dash cam connected to the 70mai App. It’s the model for drivers who want dual-channel recording and 4G connectivity at a lower price.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra retails for US$ 300, available for pre-order at US$ 240. Meanwhile, the A900 is priced at US$ 200, currently 20% off at US$ 170.

Accessories

Manila turns up the volume at COVE

Sony Philippines launched its ULT TOWER lineup at Beyond the Beat, with SB19 joining the ULT Squad.

Published

September 21, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Sound and style shared the floor at COVE Manila in Okada Manila. Sony Philippines opened its doors for Beyond the Beat: The Next-Level ULT POWER SOUND Experience.

The event marked the company’s biggest ULT POWER SOUND launch in the country, and Sony paced the program like an exclusive night out.

Stacked ULT Towers filled the space. Guests styled themselves with designer pieces from Alser Lumawag, and SB19 closed the evening as the newest Sony ULT Squad members.

MySony members from every tier joined industry guests while the new ULT TOWER lineup set the tempo.

The towers take center stage

Shuhei Sugihara, Sony Philippines’ President and Managing Director, opened the program.

Product Marketing Specialist Keira Ambubuyog then introduced the newest additions to the lineup.

Arbie Bandiling of Personal Audio Systems unveiled the latest ULT Squad video. The clip introduced the artists and personalities fronting the campaign.

The lineup features the ULT TOWER 5, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER MAX. The new series pairs large circular woofers and high-capacity cabinets with ULT DUCT technology.

This design delivers stronger low-frequency bass than earlier models. The ULT TOWER MAX leads the series, described as Sony’s most powerful bass speaker yet.

On another note, Sony pitches the ULT TOWER 7 as stage-worthy sound in a portable frame. Meanwhile, the compact ULT TOWER 5 targets smaller gatherings and features karaoke and DJ capabilities.

Experiential zones bring the sound to life

Guests explored the lineup across several interactive event zones. Step into the Beat paired an arcade-inspired setup with stacked ULT Towers and a dance pad. ULT Selfie Club handled photo ops.

Nearby, ULT Cover Star let guests style ULT Field speakers alongside designer pieces from Alser Lumawag. Here, the speakers served as chic fashion accessories.

The Bass District gave VIPs and influencers a private, nightlife-inspired lounge. Karaoke Lounges invited everyone else to grab a mic and test the party-ready towers firsthand.

The ULT Squad shows up

Fashion influencer and ULT Squad member Angelique Manto-Guison hosted the night.

A-Team opened the show with a high-energy routine before Carlos Serrano III took the stage. David Guison and Jacqueline Jala walked the stage with ULT Models in elevated fashion, and Jeremy G followed with a dynamic musical performance.

KAIA brought a youthful pop sound, while Maki delivered a set in his signature style.

SB19 closed the night, making their debut as the newest Sony ULT Squad members. Sony pairs its sound technology with the group’s influence in Filipino music. This collaboration positions the Squad as a platform for artists shaping contemporary music culture.

The ULT TOWER MAX, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER 5 are now available at Sony Centres and authorized dealers nationwide.

Accessories

Jackery Explorer 300D: Power and portability in one

Uninterrupted workflows for digital nomads, freelance creatives, more

Published

September 18, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

For digital nomads, freelance creatives, and even work-from-home professionals, staying productive on the move means carrying around multiple gadgets, cords, adapters, and power banks to survive the day.

Having to carry such weight, quite literally, is vital for maintaining workflow continuity.

For a more seamless experience and to have just one extra portable device to power all working parts, there’s the Jackery Explorer 300D.

Launched just last month, this grab-and-go offering from Jackery is designed for the modern lifestyle.

It moves away from Jackery’s traditional aesthetic with a sleek, speaker-like form factor. It weighs just 2.5 kilograms and is 64% smaller than standard 300W units in the market.

This ultra-compact size was made possible by a smart engineering choice of swapping bulky traditional AC wall outlets for highly efficient DC-only and USB-C ports — which also helps eliminate idle power loss.

With a 288Wh capacity, the Jackery Explorer 300D holds enough juice for up to nine power banks.

It can keep a Type-C fast-charging laptop for up to three to four full cycles, a Wi-Fi router alive for hours, and recharge cameras or drone batteries up to five times for a lengthy production day.

For smaller gadgets like smartphones and portable fans, the power station can juice them up for up to 22 times.