Author: Dawn Solano

NASA is asking private companies for ways to raise the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit and extend its working life as the observatory gradually loses altitude. The US space agency issued a request for information on October 29 to assess whether commercial firms could boost Hubble into a higher orbit, service its equipment or help safely end its mission. Atmospheric drag is slowly lowering the telescope’s altitude. Hubble has no propulsion system to maintain its own orbit, and NASA estimates it is likely to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2033 or 2034. The agency anticipates that a mission would need to take…

OpenAI will restrict weapons information available to teens on ChatGPT, even when questions appear harmless, as it expands safeguards against violence.

Smart expects strong demand for the iPhone Duo amid limited stocks, with early reservations and priority access for Infinity subscribers.

The Philippines’ outsourcing industry could help AI firms enter the local market, as businesses explore uses in customer service, marketing and daily operations.

Reddit plans to require users to log in to access more of its content, with tests planned in selected markets outside the United States in the coming months. Co-founder and chief executive officer Steve Huffman, known on the platform as u/spez, outlined the changes in a post titled “About that login screen.” For the past two decades, Reddit has allowed visitors to browse nearly all of its content without signing in. An account is needed to participate through activities such as voting, commenting and joining communities. “We’re going to evolve Reddit to being a primarily logged-in experience,” Huffman wrote. The…

Apple has introduced its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, allowing users to navigate webpages, zoom in on photos and move items directly on the laptop’s display. Announced on Oct. 28, the new models support touch controls alongside keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures. Apple said macOS converts touches into clicks, allowing many existing applications to work with the feature immediately. The laptops also have a redesigned hinge to provide greater stability when users touch the screen. Available in two sizes, the MacBook Pro features a PROLED XDR display that uses tandem OLED technology. The screens measure 14.2 inches and 16.3 inches, with…

First, an iPad mini. Then, two new Macs. Apple has been keeping the hardware announcements coming this week, with three devices unveiled so far. If you’re trying to keep up, here’s the rundown. 1. The iPad mini gets an OLED upgrade Apple’s smallest tablet now has a larger 8.5-inch OLED display and an A20 Pro chip, packed into a thinner 5.4 mm body. It also gains IP67 water and dust resistance. The new iPad mini was announced on October 26. 2. The 14-inch MacBook Pro moves to M6 A day later, Apple announced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by…

AI could lower the specialized knowledge needed to attack water, power and transport systems, Singapore cybersecurity chief Gwenda Fong warns.

Anker has introduced its soundcore AeroClip 2 wireless earbuds in the Philippines, featuring an open-ear design that allows users to listen to audio while remaining aware of their surroundings. Priced at Php 9,995, the earbuds use a clip-on mechanism that attaches to the outer ear instead of sitting inside the ear canal, allowing ambient sounds to remain audible. According to Anker, the AeroClip 2 was developed using data from more than 2,000 ear profiles and tested on over 1,000 users to improve its fit. Each earbud weighs 6.2 grams. The device features 12mm dual-magnetic drivers, LDAC support for compatible Android…

Businesses allowing employees without programming backgrounds to develop their own applications must retain oversight to prevent security risks and potential misuse of sensitive information, according to software company Kissflow. In an exclusive interview with PhilSTAR Tech, Kissflow vice president for Asia-Pacific Rakesh Nandakumar and Philippines country director Michael Pagsisihan discussed the need for stronger governance as businesses allow employees to develop their own applications. Nandakumar said companies should not expect so-called citizen developers to fully understand the security and legal implications of the applications they create. “You shouldn’t expect citizen developers to assess security as such because that is not…