Author: Dawn Solano

Before Facebook, or even LinkedIn, there was Friendster where you added people you actually knew to share stories with, and not just to build a network or collect followers. What made Friendster feel different wasn’t just the smaller, or more personal circles, but also its much simpler and organized interface. Instead of scrolling feeds, you have your profile where friends can check out whenever they want to. It’s just a single page where you can customize and add elements to build your identity. Friendster was founded in 2002 and shut down in 2015. At its peak, it was a dominant…

On Christmas Day 2025, many Viber users who sent holiday greetings to one another were surprised to see a Jollibee advertisement within their chats. It sparked concerns over a possible data privacy violation.The National Privacy Commission (NPC), the Philippines’ data privacy watchdog, has cleared Jollibee Foods Corp. and messaging platform Viber of alleged data privacy violations tied to a viral holiday marketing campaign. It concluded that no personal data was processed and no unauthorized access to user communications occurred. In a press statement, the NPC said its Complaints and Investigation Division (NPC-CID) found that the “Holiday Gems Christmas Campaign 2025”…

LG Electronics said it chose 2026 to bring back its regional InnoFest showcase, citing the strong pull of Korean culture across Asia and improved conditions for large, in-person events. Sunghan Kim, leader of LG’s Home Appliance Solution Company Asia Sales and Marketing Division, said the timing is aligned with the continued global popularity of the “K-wave.” “Now is the final timing, especially for the Asian market,” he told the Philippine media, explaining why LG decided to stage the event in Busan. “We do have a lot of K-waves, and everybody wants to come to Korea,” InnoFest, which gathers media and…

An update to Microsoft Windows 11 is introducing new options that enables users to delay installations, bypass updates during setup, and avoid interruptions when shutting down their devices. In a Windows blogpost, Microsoft said it is redesigning the Windows Update experience to give users more flexibility and clearer control over when updates are applied. One of the changes is the ability to extend paused updates without a fixed limit. Before, users could only delay updates for a certain number of days. Under the new system, update pauses can be extended as many times as needed, allowing users to defer installations…

Celebrities and public figures can now request the removal of AI-generated videos that mimic their likeness on YouTube, following the expansion of the platform’s “likeness detection” tool. In a blog post, the Google-owned video platform said the system is now available to a wider group of personalities, including those who do not maintain their own YouTube channels. It allows individuals or their representatives to flag and review videos that use their face or identity without consent. The tool scans uploaded content for AI-generated or manipulated visuals that resemble real people. Once detected, flagged videos can be submitted for review, giving…

Nearly all viewers in rural areas of the Visayas and Mindanao now watch television programs through YouTube, according to a study by a global market research firm. A 2025 report by Kantar found that 97% of Filipinos in these regions watched online TV programs on the platform in the past month, an indication at how audiences are accessing shows outside traditional broadcasts. Programs from major networks such as ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and TV5 are available on YouTube, including full episodes and clips. “And they aren’t just using an app, they are using YouTube to stay connected to the national conversations…

There’s a certain confidence in a phone that knows exactly what it wants to be. The Infinix NOTE 60 Pro doesn’t hide its influences but leans into them.Yes, it looks almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro — from the squared-off frame to the clean, almost minimal rear design that has come to define Apple’s recent hardware language. Yet after spending a few days with it, I realize this is something else entirely. It is an Android device that prioritizes performance without losing sight of design. Display The aluminum frame and matte finish give it that flagship-like tactility, while the…

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the response of Meta Platforms to the Philippine government’s request for stronger action against disinformation does not fully address the urgency of the issue. In a statement, the DICT acknowledged that Meta outlined measures to curb the spread of harmful content on its platforms and highlighted its continued engagement with the Philippine government.However, the agency said these interventions “fall short of directly addressing the urgency of the situation and the specific, time-bound actions” requested by authorities. The response follows a joint appeal from the DICT, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and…

Samsung and Apple led separate global smartphone rankings in the first quarter of 2026, even as overall shipments declined amid surging costs and weaker demand.Data from market intelligence company International Data Corp. (IDC) showed Samsung reclaiming the top spot with roughly 20% global market share, followed by Apple at around 19%. Chinese vendor Xiaomi placed third with about 14%, while vivo and OPPO rounded out the top five with approximately 8% share each.Counterpoint Research, a research firm, ranked Apple as the top vendor globally with a 21% market share, ahead of Samsung Electronics at 20%, as strong demand for premium…

There is a tendency to think of artificial intelligence (AI) as something distant, even impersonal. Yet, inside the home, intelligence has always existed in a more familiar form. Growing up, Saturdays meant laundry day. I would watch my mother move through the routine with memorized ease. Sorting clothes and measuring detergents. It felt ordinary, almost invisible I could say. However, beneath that repetition was care in the form of consistency. A washing machine, in that sense, was part of my mother’s system built on how she shows up for us. That idea is what I believe LG Electronics is trying…