Author: Dawn Solano

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. backed the Pax Silica industrial hub, saying it would generate jobs and strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global AI industry.During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President said the planned hub would create an ecosystem built around artificial intelligence (AI) and serve as an advanced manufacturing and logistics center. He described the project as a “strategic component” of the Luzon Economic Corridor and said it would help accelerate the country’s industrial competitiveness. Pax Silica is a US-led initiative aimed at securing supply chains for AI and semiconductors. The Philippines joined the initiative…

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines is set to launch its own rocket into space next year as the country moves toward developing its own spaceport.In his fifth State of the Nation Address today, July 27, Marcos said Cagayan is being eyed as the country’s spaceport, with the planned launch in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company.“A sounding rocket launch test is slated for next year. Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space,” Marcos said.The announcement follows efforts by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) to develop local rocket launch capabilities through a partnership with…

Google has introduced a new way for users to access their accounts by allowing them to sign in with a short selfie video, adding another option for account recovery. The feature lets eligible users record a brief video of themselves following guided head movements. With the user’s consent, the video is securely stored and can later be used to verify their identity during sign-in or account recovery. Google said the feature is intended for users who have forgotten their passwords, lost access to their devices or cannot use their usual authentication methods. To enroll, users record a short video while…

Disney+ is expanding its Korean originals lineup with “Murder Club: Liar’s Table,” an AI-powered murder mystery game show starring esports icon Faker and TOMORROW X TOGETHER member Beomgyu. The show drops celebrity contestants into immersive murder mystery scenarios where one secretly plays the killer. Armed with limited clues, the rest must uncover the culprit before time runs out, while the guilty player relies on deception to stay hidden. Each case unfolds in settings ranging from the Joseon Dynasty to a modern baseball field and a prison, with AI-generated video sequences bringing every murder story to life. The cast also includes…

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, Galaxy Watch Ultra2, and Galaxy Watch9, expanding its foldable lineup while bringing new Galaxy AI features across smartphones and wearables. The new Galaxy Z lineup offers three foldables aimed at different users, with Galaxy AI tailored to each to make multitasking and daily tasks more seamless. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra leads the lineup with an 8-inch display, a 200-megapixel camera, and Samsung’s thinnest Fold design yet. It also introduces a larger battery, faster charging, and an upgraded cooling system for heavier workloads. The Galaxy Z…

Spider-Man fans in the Philippines can now stream Spider-Man: No Way Home on Disney+, with the blockbuster joining five other Spider-Man titles on the platform. The addition gives subscribers access to six Spider-Man adventures spanning multiple generations of the web-slinging hero, from Tom Holland’s Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogy to Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man films and the Oscar-winning animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Available on Disney+ Philippines are Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Released in 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home became one…

Instagram has introduced a new feature that allows users to replace the audio on published feed and carousel posts without deleting and reuploading them, making it easier to update older content while keeping existing engagement. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update in a post, saying users can change a post’s soundtrack by opening the post, tapping the three-dot menu, selecting Edit, and replacing the audio. Previously, users who wanted to change the music on a published post had to delete it and upload it again, resetting the post’s performance. The update is expected to benefit creators and brands that…

Google is expanding its AI-powered shopping tools as more consumers in Southeast Asia (SEA), including the Philippines, use artificial intelligence (AI) to help decide what to buy.In a commissioned Ipsos study, 82% of Google users of AI Overviews or AI Mode said the features help them make decisions faster, while 80% said they feel more confident about their purchases.A separate Kantar survey found that 86% of Gen Z respondents in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand said AI-powered Search helps reduce decision fatigue.The company introduced Commerce Media Suite, a tool that enables advertisers direct shoppers from YouTube ads to checkout…

Facebook users reported problems accessing the social media platform on Sunday, with outage reports on Downdetector increasing to 4,902 as of 3:57 p.m. on July 19. According to Downdetector, 62% of the reports were related to the Facebook website, while 12% involved the mobile app. Another 16% of users said they were having trouble logging in. Facebook in the desktop version shortly displayed an error instead of loading the site. As of this writing, however, the Facebook mobile app remains accessible. Users also shared similar experiences on other social media platforms, saying they encountered error messages or could not load…

Sony Philippines has urged consumers to purchase cameras, lenses and accessories only from its authorized dealers, following reports of unauthorized resellers offering Sony products in the country. In a public advisory posted on its official Facebook page, the company said it has received concerns from customers regarding unauthorized dealers. Sony warned that buying from unofficial sellers could affect product quality assurance, warranty coverage and eligibility for after-sale services. “To ensure your satisfaction with product quality, warranty rights, and eligibility for after-sale services, we encourage everyone to only purchase Sony cameras, lenses, and accessories from the authorized Sony dealers,” the company…