Accessories
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 is what you need for your road trips
Stay charged on your long drives
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.
Accessories
CASETiFY Match: Finding the right case for your Galaxy Z8 Series phone
Cases that match your personality
A phone case can be more than protection. It can also be a way to show off your interests, personality, and the little things that make you, well, you.
For our CASETiFY Match for the Galaxy Z8 Series, we asked the team one question: Why was this CASETiFY design your Match?
From Spider-Man fandom and capybara obsession to feline-inspired art and snake motifs, here are the designs that found their way into our team’s everyday carry, plus a couple of bonus picks worth checking out.
Rodneil: A little New York energy for a certified web-head
If it wasn’t obvious enough, I’m a certified web-head. I love anything and everything Spider-Man, especially the iconic red-and-blue motif. Though, if we’re being honest, I’m more partial to the red.
I had my eyes on the Spider-Man suit design for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Spider-Man Mask Snappy Grip Stand. Unfortunately, those designs aren’t available for the Galaxy Z Fold8.
So, I went with a design that gives off a bit of New York energy instead. It still pairs nicely with the Spidey Snappy Grip Stand, letting me bring a little of that Spider-Man vibe to my everyday setup.
V: Keeping it cool with capybaras
I’ve been a capybara stan since 2020, long before the world finally caught up with just how cute and chill these animals are. Seeing them get the recognition they deserve has been a source of much excitement.
Finding cool and cute capybara cases and accessories for the phones I use every day, however, hasn’t always been easy.
That’s where Deville Dewil’s capybara collection comes in. It fills that gap while making my Galaxy Z Fold8 feel like an even more personal accessory.
At this point, I’d like to identify as a capy/bara.
Luigi: A cat design that’s playful without being too loud
There’s no shortage of cat-themed cases out there. If you’re a cat lover like me, chances are you’ve considered one at some point.
The tricky part is finding a design that isn’t too whimsical or loud. I love the little furballs, but I still want something sleek and clean.
CASETiFY’s cat collection speaks to that balance. In particular, this design by Catwheezie blends artistry with a touch of whimsy. It lets me show off my personality without being too flashy.
MJ: A little reputation energy
I’ve always had a soft spot for snake motifs, and CASETiFY’s Transparent Kingsnake case gives me Taylor Swift’s reputation era energy.
I love how snakes symbolize transformation. As someone who’s always evolving and never afraid to reinvent himself, that meaning feels personal.
The black-and-white design also brings a sleek, rebellious edge. Paired with my Galaxy Z Flip8, it’s giving statement accessory with a little bite.
Bonus Match: Sunglasses at Night
Sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go. The Sunglasses at Night design is tasteful and understated, letting me show off the actual color of my phone without competing with it.
Bonus Match: Pink Weekly Planner
For the girls (and gaes) who plan their days–and life–ahead. And of course, for when they need to keep their Wednesdays pink.
Find your Match
There’s no single way to find a phone case that feels right. It might be a favorite character, an animal you’ve loved for years, a piece of art, or a symbol that means something to you.
For our team, the right CASETiFY design is the one that brings a little more personality to a device we carry every day.
So, which design would be your Match?
As one of the wisest sages of the 2000s once said, “He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?” Sometimes, opposites attract. Now, two of those opposites in the audio space are coming together: the punk Skullcandy and the ballet-loving Bose.
Today, Bose has announced its acquisition of Skullcandy. The latter will continue to operate as a separate brand but now officially under the Bose umbrella. Although, it’s not a new collaboration as the two brands have previously worked together on devices before. Skullcandy will just have more access to Bose’s technologies moving forward.
Alternatively, Bose will now have access to Skullcandy’s more varied audience. Compared to Bose’s focus on premium products, Skullcandy caters to more alternative lifestyles. Though the brand has since mellowed from its more radical roots, it is still known as one of the alternative brands.
Bose, on the other hand, is still a household name for home audio and noise-cancelling headphones. The new relationship between two polar opposites might be seen as a weird one, but it’s ultimately beneficial to both parties. Besides, both brands were very strong in the 2010s. Keeping both brands going is a boon to audiophiles of the past decade.
Accessories
Fujifilm’s new instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 make room for more creative memories
A new pocket camera and a collage-making printer join the instax family.
Seeing a memory take shape beyond your screen changes how it feels. A favorite photo becomes a print you can tuck into a journal or pin beside your desk, and the everyday moments you capture get a little more room to live.
That was the spirit of Fujifilm’s instax Playhou2e launch in Makati, where visual artist Jill Arteche brought her signature illustrations into the event space.
Her artwork surrounded the latest additions to the instax family, the instax Pal 2 and instax Link WIDE 2. Both devices treat photography as a form of personal expression, from the snapshots you take throughout the day to the printed memories you want to keep close.
A pocket-sized camera that goes wherever you do
The original instax Pal made the case for carrying a camera without a full-sized setup. Its successor, the instax Pal 2, builds on that with a refreshed design and improved image quality.
The palm-sized camera is built for everyday adventures and can capture angles that are awkward to get with a smartphone. Its compact body also makes it easy to bring along if you like documenting your day as it happens.
Fujifilm gave the Pal 2 a semi-matte finish. A new monitor on top lets you review shots right after you take them, and the added viewfinder, control dial, and lever give it a more tactile feel to shoot with.
The specs have moved up, too. The Pal 2 captures 10-megapixel images, double the original’s five megapixels, and its internal storage holds up to 100 images compared with 50 before. A separately sold microSD card adds more room.
The creative options are where the Pal 2 gets playful. It offers 30 effects, so you can give images different moods without editing each one from scratch. Its instax Animation mode strings up to 10 consecutive shots into a flipbook-style animated video.
Transferring your photos is straightforward. The Pal 2 supports wireless Bluetooth transfers, and a USB Type-C connection offers faster transfers to compatible smartphones. From there, you can edit the images and post them to social media or keep them in your camera roll.
Because the Pal 2 is part of the instax ecosystem, its digital photos can also be printed on instant film through compatible instax printers. That means you can shoot first and decide later which moments deserve a physical copy.
Turning your camera roll into something worth keeping
Taking photos is only half the fun. The other half is deciding what to do with the hundreds of images that pile up on our phones.
The instax Link WIDE 2 is Fujifilm’s answer for anyone who collects travel photos or documents celebrations. As the brand’s WIDE-format smartphone printer, it prints at twice the image area of the instax mini format, which leaves more space for group photos and landscapes.
Its biggest new feature is Photo Mixer, which builds scrapbook-style collages from multiple images you pick in the dedicated app. Instead of printing a single photo, you can combine highlights from a trip or a gathering into one larger keepsake.
The app suggests layouts based on your chosen photos and adjusts image sizes, angles, text placement, and fonts to keep the design cohesive. You can then add your own text and stamps. A cutout function identifies people and objects in your photos so you can layer them into the collage.
With Photo Mixer, printing becomes part of the creative process, and your camera roll turns into material for building a visual record of an experience in a single print.
The Link WIDE 2 also gets a design refresh, with two-tone finishes in Duo Beige and Duo Blue. The light and dark surfaces give it a polished look on a shelf or desk, and an illuminated instax logo glows while it prints.
Connectivity has expanded, too. Beyond smartphones and tablets, the printer works with PCs, Fujifilm X Series cameras, and the instax Pal 2, so digital artwork and other compatible images can become physical prints.
A more personal way to keep your memories
The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 share the idea that photography is a way to express yourself. The Pal 2 makes it easy to capture moments as they happen, and the Link WIDE 2 gives those images a place in the physical world.
Jill Arteche’s artwork at the launch backed that idea up. Her illustrations filled the space with personality and showed how photos and art can make an environment feel more personal. The event also made a case for revisiting and reinterpreting the images we collect.
Taking a photo takes seconds, and printing one can make the memory feel more special. The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 bring that into everyday life and give your snapshots room for creativity, from the moment you press the shutter to the moment you find a place for the print.
In the Philippines, the Fujifilm instax Pal 2 retails for PhP 10,599, while the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE 2 is priced at PhP 10,999. Both devices are now available on Fujifilm’s authorized stores and retailers nationwide.
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