With Android phones now becoming more accessible even to students and “tweeners”, Symantec released their Norton Safety Minder: Mobile Edition, a free app that allows parents to keep an eye on their kids’ smartphone activities. The application is part of Norton Online Family, the online family safety service for PCs and Macs.  Through the new app, parents can avail themselves of several tools to teach kids safe and age-appropriate digital habits on their mobile devices.

The application provides web monitoring and blocking features for free, allowing parents to see what sites their kids are visiting and block content they feel is inappropriate.  Applied through their Norton Online Family account, parents can use the same set of web filtering settings for the child’s PC and apply them to the child’s Android phone.

To get started, parents download the app on their child’s Android phone, login to their Norton Online Family account (or create one from within the application) and can then centrally manage the “House Rules” on that device through the onlinefamily.norton.com website.  More than a dozen phones can be easily added to the same account at no charge, with unique settings for each, allowing parents a single point to manage varied settings for kids of different ages.

Pricing and Availability

Norton Safety Minder: Mobile Edition is available for free in the Android Market at market.android.com, and can be downloaded in English, Japanese, German and Polish.  Android version 2.2 or 2.3 is required on the device.

Parents must have a Norton Online Family account in order to activate the application, which they must first install on their child’s device.  A free, basic Norton Online Family account will activate the mobile web-filtering and monitoring within Norton Safety Minder for Android.  A paid subscription to Norton Online Family Premier, currently only available in the US, will unlock the application’s additional advanced features, such as SMS text monitoring.

Microsoft Philippines is having a campaign called “Transform Your Business” where they are giving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) a chance to avail the latest software for free.

This campaign will run until March 31, 2012 and is open to all Philippine-registered SMEs whose operations run on 5-249 computers.

Interested? Register at www.itworks.ph, complete all requested information and upload a one- to two-minute video stating your company name, nature of business and why your business needs an upgrade (I.e. Outdated software, manual operations, etc.). Contestants should then share their videos with as many people as possible.

The promo is part of Microsoft’s campaign designed to help boost the growth of SMEs in the country, encouraging local businesses to create and enhance their IT infrastructure to enable innovation and business growth. Through the program, Microsoft is showcasing the wide array of its latest products and solutions including Windows 7, Office 2010, Windows Server and System Center.

“We are encouraging all local SMEs to participate in this promo for an opportunity to upgrade their businesses by accomplishing a few easy steps. Not only are we giving them a free office makeover, we are also equipping them with the necessary tools to become globally competitive with the help of Microsoft’s premier technologies,” said Bernadette Nacario, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners Director of Microsoft Philippines.

For more information, you can visit the Upgrade My Business site.

As Research In Motion’s two CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, stepped down recently, RIM’s Board of Directors named Thorsten Heins as President and Chief Executive Officer as part of the succession plan its Co-Chief Executive Officers submitted to the board.

Mike Lazaridis, former Co-Chair and Co-CEO, has become Vice Chair of RIM’s Board and Chair of the Board’s new Innovation Committee. As Vice Chair, he will work closely with Mr. Heins to offer strategic counsel, provide a smooth transition and continue to promote the BlackBerry brand worldwide.

Mr. Heins said he looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Lazaridis, globally recognized as a technology pioneer. He said, “Mike created a whole new way of communicating and I look forward to continuing our close collaboration.”

On the transition to CEO by Mr. Heins, Mr. Lazaridis said, “There comes a time in the growth of every successful company when the founders recognize the need to pass the baton to new leadership. Jim and I went to the Board and told them that we thought that time was now.  With BlackBerry 7 now out, PlayBook 2.0 shipping in February and BlackBerry 10 expected to ship later this year, the company is entering a new phase, and we felt it was time for a new leader to take it through that phase and beyond.  Jim, the Board and I all agreed that leader should be Thorsten Heins.”

Jim Balsillie remains a member of the Board. “I agree this is the right time to pass the baton to new leadership, and I have complete confidence in Thorsten, the management team and the company,” he said. “I remain a significant shareholder and a Director and, of course, they will have my full support.”

Mr. Lazaridis said that he decided to move from Co-Chair to Vice Chair of the Board in order to return the public’s focus to what is most important: “the great company we have built, its iconic products, global brand and its talented employees.”

Mr. Lazaridis added, “Thorsten has demonstrated throughout his tenure at RIM that he has the right mix of leadership, relevant industry experience and skills to take the company forward.  We have been impressed with his operational skills at both RIM and Siemens.  I am so confident in RIM’s future that I intend to purchase an additional $50 million of the company’s shares, as permitted, in the open market.”

Mr. Heins said he believes that RIM has tremendous potential.  He joined RIM from Siemens Communications Group in December 2007 as Senior Vice President for Hardware Engineering and became Chief Operating Officer for Product and Sales in August 2011.

This development may be what RIM needs to steer the company to a more successful future but it’s not what their shareholders think as stocks fall 8.47 percent following this transition. Not to speculate anything but I hope RIM can turn it around with Heins on its helm.

ViewSonic, popularly known as a monitor brand, expanded its 3D display leadership when they announced its new ultra-fast V3D231 LED monitor.

This 23-inch 3D-Ready LED monitor features an ultra-fast 2ms video response time, making it perfect for crystal clear 3D gaming and video experience. Paired with a native 1920×1080 full HD resolution and 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, users can expect great color accuracy and picture detail, making for unsurpassed 3D image quality.

Delivering an immersive multimedia entertainment experience, the V3D231 offers integrated SRS Premium Sound audio speakers, in addition to the included polarized 3D glasses. Add VGA, DVI-D and HDMI 1.4a inputs and consumers can enjoy vast connectivity options, including directly connecting to content on their Blu-ray 3D player or PS3 gaming console.

To ensure all users have access to a plethora of 3D content, ViewSonic’s V3D231 monitor also includes a TriDef 3D software suite. With this software, users can easily convert and view their 2D PC images in life-like 3D, in addition to playing over 500 PC-based video games in amazing 3D quality.

Product Features:

• 3D-Ready monitor with polarized technology. V3D231 is completely compatible with next-generation 3D devices. You can view movies and play games in vivid 3D! It’s the most economical and convenient way to enjoy 3D without special graphics cards or PC upgrades.
• HDMI 1.4 support enables 3D images without delay. The V3D231 supports the lastest HDMI 1.4 format, allowing you to directly connect 3D imaging devices, such as Blu-ray and PS3, and transmit high definition video and audio files. Watch stunning images with perfect performance every time.
• 23″ display with 1920×1080 resolution delivers refined images. The V3D231 features a 23″ LED screen and Full HD 1920×1080 resolution for clear, crisp images and vivid colors.
• ClearMotiv™ II 2ms ultra fast response time creates blur-free action. The latest-generation ClearMotiv™ II imaging technology enables an ultra fast 2ms liquid cyrstal response time for digital broadcast-quality and full-motion video.
• Integrated speakers with SRS Premium Sound® for home theater quality. Dual 2-watt stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound® provide a high-sensory audio experience. Take an all-immersive journey while listening to music, watching videos and playing games with the V3D231.
• 20,000,000:1 MEGA dynamic contrast ratio for superior image quality. Smart Dynamic Contrast Ratio technology automatically detects input brightness and adjusts the backlight accordingly. It provides the most accurate color performance and creates deeper black levels that result in superior overall image quality. Auto-adjustment of contrast corresponds to the environment, saving energy while displaying remarkable images.

F5 Networks, Inc., the global leader in Application Delivery Networking (ADN), recently announced the opening of a local office  and the appointment of Oscar Visaya as its new country manager in the Philippines.

“The proliferation of smart devices, web applications and social media platforms has created an environment where users expect hassle-free, straight-forward access to Internet-based resources and services anytime, anywhere, and in any way. These demands have led to an increased pressure to align IT with changing customer conditions in business”, said Erik Giesa, Senior Vice President of Global Products, F5 Networks.

F5’s technology enables application delivery and managed mobile access to data and services while keeping applications and network secure from attacks, whether the applications are deployed in physical, virtual or cloud environments.

F5’s Asia Pacific headquarters is in Singapore. To date, F5 has regional offices in 14 countries spread across 22 cities. We are also represented in these markets by more than 100 directly managed channel partners in the region. The latest addition to the region’s operations is located in the Makati business district.

Filipino appointed to head local office

F5’s Philippine team will be lead by newly appointed country manager Oscar Visaya who brings in-depth experience to the role and will oversee the next phase of the company’s growth in the Philippines, driving acceleration of the penetration of the advanced ADN market locally.

“We are delighted to welcome Oscar to his new role with F5’s Philippine team,” said Teong Eng Guan, Managing Director for ASEAN and Korea, F5 Networks. “His business and technical expertise, local market knowledge, track record in the industry and excellent leadership qualities will help us build on our strong position in the market and further demonstrate the value F5’s solutions can provide to customers.”

Visaya brings with him more than 20 years of sales and technical experience from global technology companies such as Fujitsu and Cisco Systems, Inc. In his previous sales leadership role, Visaya worked in close collaboration with all key fixed, mobile, cable and broadcast operators in the country.

Commenting on his new role, Visaya said, “Through the F5 global sales strategy, the company has a fantastic opportunity to expand our customer base here. We live in an application-centric era where innovation and speed to market are critical. F5’s strong value proposition offers fast, secure and available application delivery that can help companies improve time-to-market, productivity and user experience, therefore positively impacting revenue and operation profits. I look forward to helping the team strengthen their focus and drive this next phase of growth.”

The 17^th edition, Cards & Payments Asia 2012, Asia’s largest smart technology exhibition is set to wow with a bigger and better event this year. It will showcase highly anticipated new technologies in Near Field Communication (NFC) and contactless payment together with the entire spectrum of smart technology initiatives. Key stakeholders from the telecommunications, government authorities and services, banking, hospitality, retail, healthcare, transport, aviation and logistics sectors will come together to reveal how the latest applications and product innovations can drive service, growth and business opportunities in their respective industries across Asia.

Singapore may be one of the first nations to see the widespread adoption of NFC as a payment mode. This is made possible via the S$40 million Call-for-Collaboration (CFC) initiative, allowing up to 20,000 retail points and taxis to be NFC-enabled by mid 2012. This initiative, by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and 7 companies, namely mobile operators M1, StarHub, SingTel, payment service providers Citibank, DBS and EZ-Link, as well as Gemalto, a digital security company, marks Asia’s first interoperable nationwide deployment of NFC mobile payment system. Along with the rest of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region which sees more than 9 countries like Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, South Korea and Sri Lanka making advances in NFC technology, experts believe that this tech savvy region could be the first adopters of NFC enabled mobile payment for their next mobility solutions.

Richard Ireland, Chief Executive, Terrapinn Asia Pacific said, “This year’s Cards & Payments Asia not only allows attendees to gain valuable insights on how to capitalise on the exponential growth of    e-commerce and mobile commerce, but leverage on cutting-edge knowledge of multi-channel strategies for effective customer engagement, making it a must-attend event for all stakeholders seeking an edge over their competitions.”

This three-day event expects to draw more than 8,000 attendees, over 200 international leading solution providers from Singapore, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and many more.  7 concurrent conferences and pre- and post-workshops will feature renowed speakers from all over Asia and beyond.

Co-located with Cards & Payments Asia 2012 are seven synergistic events: Prepaid Cards Asia, Near Field Communication (NFC) World Asia, Digital ID World Asia, RFID World Asia, Retail World Asia, Online Retail World Asia  and Digital Signage World Asia .

To participate in Cards & Payments Asia 2012, please visit http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/cards-asia/.

The Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) by Power Mac Center has moved to a new location. What once was located in P. Guevarra St., San Juan is now at the 2nd level of Northeast Square, 47 Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills, San Juan.

“The transfer to a new and bigger space makes the service center more accessible and also allowed us to create a facility that can readily meet the constantly evolving Apple standards for AASPs worldwide,” said PMC Marketing Manager Joey Alvarez.

Aside from this main AASP in San Juan, Power Mac Center also operates service centers in TriNoma, Greenbelt 3 and at its newly opened branch in Abreeza Mall in Davao City to support its retail operations.

As an Apple Authorized Service Provider, Power Mac Center delivers fast and efficient repairs for an outstanding customer experience, with its Apple certified technicians, exclusive access to genuine Apple parts and knowledge base.

The Apple Premium Reseller also further strengthens its AASP arm with its state-of-the art tracking system, the PMC Online Repair Tracking Service (PORTS), which allows customers to check repairs online by logging on at PMC website http://www.powermaccenter.com.

Equipped with several useful features, PORTS provides PMC retail customers secure access to repair information concerning their Apple product via (URL) within or even outside the PMC Network. The online Status Report details all the transactions, diagnosis, Current Unit Status, repair/replacement, and quality tests made to the customer’s unit or device being repaired.

Customers can visit the service center from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. PMC’s friendly customer service officers will be more than willing to give the best advice and repair options on Apple products. Customers may also call (632) 725-4PMC (4762).

IBM Philippines today announced the appointment of its fourteenth Country General Manager, and its first female President, Mariels Almeda Winhoffer, a product of Assumption College, Philippines.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Ms. Alemda Winhoffer started her career in IBM 26 years ago most recently serving as Client Advocacy Executive for IBM Corporation, where she reported directly to the Chairman and provided support for global client engagements.

She succeeds James Velasquez who has been appointed Director, Maintenance and Technical Support, IBM Global Technology Services IBM ASEAN. The appointment will take effect immediately.

Under James Velasquez’s leadership, IBM Philippines has expanded its business portfolio exponentially with significant additions to its global delivery missions. Through various collaborations with government, academe and industry, IBM has also established itself as a national asset. As we enter the next phase of our growth, Mariels Almeda Winhoffer’s deep client insight, global experience and outstanding leadership will help boost IBM Philippines as an industry leader, serving local and global clients.”

Ms. Almeda Winhoffer will assume responsibility for all of IBM’s operations in the Philippines, including the company’s sales and distribution, systems and technology, software and services units, and fully-owned subsidiaries offering global delivery including IBM Solutions Delivery and IBM Global Process Services Centers.

“I am very honored and excited to be back in the Philippines to help IBM position itself as a key global provider of services in the growth industries, especially on our 75th anniversary milestone in the Philippines,” Ms. Almeda Winhoffer said. “Leveraging its rich natural resources and talent, many markets seek the Philippines as an extension and expansion of their operations. IBM is committed to support and ensure that the Philippines is prepared to embrace these opportunities and achieve sustainable growth through its Smarter Planet agenda.”

Ms. Almeda Winhoffer has held various executive posts within IBM including Vice President and Business Development Executives leader for the Industrial Sector, Client Relationship Executives leader for Global Technology Services (GTS) Strategic Outsourcing, as well as Services leader for Electronics and Automotive accounts – all based in the USA.

She was also a recipient of the 2009 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business by the Asian American Business Development Center, recognizing her contribution to the Asian business community in the United States.

Ms. Almeda Winhoffer completed her primary and secondary education at Assumption College, Philippines, before moving to the United States earning a double degree in Finance and Computer Science from Fordham University, cum laude.

IBM unveiled recently new social networking and collaboration mobile apps specifically designed to address enterprise-class requirements. The new software, available for download today from the most popular app stores, takes IBM industry-leading social networking, real-time collaboration and online meeting capabilities from behind the company firewall and places it into the hands of tablet users.

The new offerings span the widest range of tablets, including the iPad. The software allows employees to more effectively collaborate and share data, images and conduct meeting and on the fly more securely as part of their everyday work experience.

“Filipinos are heavy users of mobile devices and you can expect millions of tablets and smart phones unwrapped this holiday season,” said Victor Silvino, Country Manager for Software Group, IBM Philippines. “The ability to play Angry Birds is fun, but being able to also securely access business applications, enterprise content and accelerate your organization will be the real gift that keeps on giving.”

To meet the demands of the fast-growing mobile workforce, and the software developers who support them, IBM is delivering:

• Social networking for iPad: Available from the Apple app store at no charge for existing IBM Connections users, the new app includes a new interface ideal for tablet devices allowing for unique document editing capabilities.
• Attend Online Meetings: Employees can attend on-line meetings from their tablets anytime, anyplace. Available on Android, BlackBerry, iPad, and iPhone devices, LotusLive Meeting users can view shared presentations, chat with meeting participants, and virtually raise and lower hands from tablets and other mobile devices. IBM Sametime software users can also lead, participate in and manage browser-based meetings from their iPad or Android tablets.
• Instant messaging: New mobile apps for iPad and Android enable IBM Sametime users to use tablets to take immediate action on urgent business tasks by providing one-on-one or group instant messaging, background notifications, and the ability to send photos through the chat window.
• Access business documents: Available now in the Android Marketplace, IBM Lotus Symphony Viewers allow users to view any ODF-based document, spreadsheet and presentation on their Android devices. The viewers will be available for other devices soon.
• Reduce calling costs: IBM Sametime Unified Telephony on tablets allows a user to initiate calls to whatever phone happens to be nearby by controlling call routing preferences and device selection as well as have his one unified number appear in caller ID.
• Easier access to mail and calendar: IBM Lotus Notes Traveler now allows IBM mail users to easily add widgets to their Android home screens for quick, convenient access to mail and calendar, and allows users to call people listed in their calendar views with just one click.

IBM is also helping developers create mobile applications faster with an improved experience for the user:

• Tools to build mobile apps faster and better: IBM is introducing its Mobile Technology Preview on the developerWorks website. Available for the Android mobile operating system, the platform is designed to help enterprises get started with mobile application development. These tools can be downloaded now to help foster innovation and explore capabilities that are needed to build mobile applications that extend and integrate into the enterprise.
• Tool to improve the Web experience for the user: New software IBM WebSphere Portal Mobile Experience solution helps companies more easily control the content, look and feel and page navigation on mobile devices resulting in increased on-line business. Higher quality mobile Web experiences mean more repeat business, more recommendations and fewer clients lost to competitors. It is available at no charge to IBM portal customers. Although it is optimized for smart phones, it also works with tablets.

This new software is part of a suite of capabilities IBM offers to effectively address 21st century workforce trends. For example, IBM recently introduced a new mobile service that helps organizations protect against data loss and other risks caused by device theft, unauthorized access, malware, spyware, and inappropriate applications.

In its effort to consistently be up to date with the newest technological trends, ClickTheCity, the Philippines’ definitive online entertainment and lifestyle guide has rolled out the latest update to its Lifestyle App. Dedicated to both iOS and Android devices, ClickTheCity’s Mobile Ordering lets you order your favorite food with just a few taps on your phone.

After giving its Lifestyle app users discounts through Privileges, ClickTheCity now gives its app users more perks by introducing Mobile Ordering. Users can now access through their phone the menu of McDonald’s, Shakey’s and Quick Delivery’s partner restaurants. Order to your stomach’s content with the wide food selection – from fast foods to Pinoy comfort food. The app’s sleek and user-friendly interface makes order taking fast and easy – perfect for people on-the-go.

To use Mobile Ordering, users can just create an account then set a delivery address. Those with existing Privileges account can opt to use the same account for Mobile Ordering. Users can also save unlimited number of delivery addresses – order food whether you’re at home, at the office or at school or wherever you are!

Aside from tech-savvy consumers, Mobile Ordering offers businesses a lot of opportunities as well. Businesses can experience functional brand presence through Mobile Ordering by promoting their products and services through an innovative medium. This also serves as another sales channel for them. With over 120,000 downloads, businesses can instantly reach CTC Lifestyle App’s growing user-base.

“We are so excited to share this new update to our users. We were extremely overwhelmed by the positive response that we got when we first launched the CTC Lifestyle App. With this update, we want to enhance our users’ experience by giving them an all-around app that’s fit for the city life”, says Bea Acosta, Product Head, CTC Lifestyle App.

The app is locally-developed by Surf Shop, Inc. and has consistently been one of the most popular apps in the App Store (Philippines) since its launch.

The new version of the ClickTheCity Lifestyle app can be downloaded for free on iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) and Android phones.

To learn more about the CTC Lifestyle App, visit http://www.clickthecity.com/mobile-ordering.