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c h i k k a
g e a r & g a d g e t s
TEXT
MAYA O. CALICA
Whether you’re an avid blogger or a
full-blown journo, you’ll need tools of the
trade to match your pace. Here are a few
worthy recommendations
Reporting
for duty
1
A TABLET AND
A LAPTOP
So you’re too old to take your Optimus
Prime figure everywhere you go. Get the
Asus Transformer Pad TF300 instead.
Used as is, it’s a laptop computer. Take
it apart — that is, detach the QWERTY
keyboard — and it turns into a tablet. The
long battery life makes filing stories on
the go a breeze, while the 8MP camera
can shoot remarkable photos in a pinch.
PHP24,995,
www.asus.com
5
VOICE
RECORDER
Nail that ambush
interview with a
controversial celeb or
rock star with Sony’s new
ICD-TX50 digital voice
recorder. Lightweight
at just 50g and just
6.4mm thin, it slots into
your shirt pocket and
stays there while
you make a mad
dash after your
subject. The
built-in lithium-
ion battery allows
24 hours worth
of recording time,
and the embedded high
quality digital microphones capture every
juicy sound bite in either linear PCM or
MP3 format. S$199 (PHP6,615) at all
Sony stores and Sony-authorized retailers
in Singapore.
www.sony.com.sg
2
STURDY BACKPACK
Don’t forget to take a Hawk. The company
pioneered the Philippine backpack industry,
so you can be sure they’ve mastered
the craft of making rugged, sturdy bags
that can rough it out with you. Available
at Market! Market!, The Fort, Taguig;
leading department stores nationwide; and
Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Tel: +63 (2) 362 2080, (2) 361 1820,
info@hawkbags.com
3
PORTABLE
CHARGING STATION
WITH CABLE RACK
SYSTEM
When you’re on the beat, low bat is not an
option. Good thing AViiQ’a portable hub
lets you charge four USB devices using just
one AC plug. The clever cable rack system
eliminates tangles and misplaced cords
too. And at just under one pound, it won’t
weigh you down. US$79.99 (PHP3,350),
www.aviiq.co
4
SCARF
The checked scarf favored by journalists
(such as
Smile’s
very own Lester Ledesma)
can keep your head cool under a scorching
sun, and provide warmth around the neck
when sniffing out a story in cooler climes.
The
krama
scarf, about US$4 (PHP168),
is available at any market in Siem Reap,
Cambodia, while the
kefiyah
, about S$15
(PHP628), is available at Arab Street,
Singapore.
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