Author: Dawn Solano

Apple has doubled the base storage of its entry-level iPhone with the launch of the iPhone 17e, making the device as a value-driven option within the iPhone 17 series. While market intelligence company International Data Corp. (IDC) projects that Apple will have a record year in 2025, as boosted by the sales of iPhone 17, the company is still considered lagging behind AI adoption in its devices. This release could help the company maintain the momentum and capture a larger market. The iPhone 17e now starts at 256GB, up from the previous generation’s base configuration, while retaining a starting price…

Smart devices brand HONOR presented a prototype “Robot Phone” at MWC 2026 in Barcelona featuring a mechanically moving camera module integrated into the device.Unlike conventional smartphones with fixed lenses, the prototype uses a motorized multi-axis that allows the 200-megapixel camera sensor to tilt and swivel independently of the phone body. The company said the moving camera is designed to support video recording, subject tracking and stabilization. The module can also react to music and perform programmed physical motions. For vloggers and content creators, a multi-axis system can function like a hand-held gimbal. With the camera now allowed to move independently,…

Filipinos can now request civil registry documents from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) without leaving the GCash app. In an advisory, GCash said it has integrated PSA document requests into GLife through the PSAHelpline mini-app. The feature allows GCash users to order copies of birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as Certifcate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)The service is coursed through PSAHelpline, an authorized partner of the PSA, which processes and delivers civil registry documents nationwide. Based on the details in GCash’s Help Center, users can access the service by GLife within the app and selecting PSAHelpline. To use the…

Short-form video platform TikTok said it uses behavioral signals beyond self-declared birthdates to detect minors and apply age-appropriate safeguards, as the platform faced questions over enforcement in shared-device Filipino households and regulatory scrutiny abroad.The popular social media app faced investigation in Europe, earlier in February this year, under the Digital Services Act, wherein the European Commission examined whether features such as autoplay and algorithmic recommendations could contribute to compulsive behavior among users.During a teen safety forum held last Feb. 19, TikTok Philippines outlined protections for users aged 13 to 15, including private-by-default accounts, disabled direct messaging and limits on content…

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed it is developing a new mobile game set in the world of Overwatch, expanding the franchise beyond its PC and console roots. In a development update, the US-based studio said the project, titled Overwatch Rush, is being built specifically for mobile platforms and is currently in early development.  The company clarified that the game is not a port of the existing Overwatch title, but a separate experience designed for smartphones and tablets. Blizzard said the project is being handled by a dedicated team with experience in mobile development. The core Overwatch team will continue focusing on…

Google has enabled earthquake alerts to be sent directly to Wear OS smartwatches even when they are not connected to a smartphone. This could be useful for a quake-prone country like the Philippines.  In its latest Google Play Services v26.07 release notes this week, Google said Wear OS devices can now receive earthquake alerts even when not paired with a phone, allowing the smartwatch to deliver quake warnings on its own for the first time.Before, smartwatch alerts depended on notifications mirrored from a connected Android handset.The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent seismic activity.State seismologists…

Meta Platforms is reportedly reviving its long-shelved smartwatch project, this time positioning it as an AI-first wearable targeted for 2026 launch, according to The Information cited by Reuters.The device, internally called “Malibu 2,” is expected to combine health and fitness tracking with a built-in Meta AI assistant.The company previously scrapped its original smartwatch plans in 2022 amid broader cost-cutting within its Reality Labs division.Meta’s earlier smartwatch concept reportedly included ambitious features such as dual cameras and a detachable display. This version never reached the market as the company shifted focus to its metaverse and augmented reality products.This time around, the…

The government will formally launch a national center for artificial intelligence (AI) on Feb. 26, providing the National AI Strategy with a dedicated implementing arm for the first time.The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will roll out the National Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Innovation (NAICRI), a permanent institution that will house key AI research programs and advanced computing platforms developed over the past decade.For years, government-backed AI systems supporting pandemic surveillance, climate modeling, hazard-mapping and agricultural research were developed through initiatives across agencies.NAICRI brings these efforts under one center anchored at the Advanced Science and Technology Institute…

A paper published in the medical journal Cureus has proposed a new framework to describe distress linked to fears of being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).The study introduces the term Artificial Intelligence Replacement Dysfunction (AIRD), which authors Stephanie McNamara and Joseph Thornton of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida College of Medicine describe as a conceptual model for anxiety and identity-related stress tied to AI-driven job displacement.However, AIRD is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis and is not included in existing diagnostic manuals.The authors present it as a clinical lens to help mental health professionals recognize technology-related workplace…

The Philippines will host MarketHub Asia 2027, a regional travel industry summit that brings together global buyers, suppliers, and technology platforms, marking a push to strengthen the country’s role in the international tourism market. Organized by Spain-listed HBX Group, the B2B travel technology company behind Hotelbeds and Bedsonline, the event will convene destinations, hoteliers, airlines, and tour operators from across Asia-Pacific. This year, MarketHub Asia was held in Bali, Indonesia. Industry officials said the country’s selection reflects growing confidence in its capacity to host large-scale events and engage more competitively in the global travel ecosystem. HBX Group executive David Amsellem…