Author: Dawn Solano

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said a technical error in the government’s website-blocking system caused the recent access problems affecting Tumblr users in the Philippines.In a statement, the CICC clarified that the disruption was not the result of a deliberate order to block the microblogging platform.According to the agency, Tumblr was mistakenly included in a list of domains being restricted as authorities implemented measures targeting illegal online gambling websites. The system error led some internet service providers to inadvertently restrict access to Tumblr, prompting complaints from Filipino users who were suddenly unable to access the platform.The agency said…

Google is introducing new features on Google Play aimed at expanding how players discover and access paid games across devices. One of the updates is a “buy once, play anywhere” option that allows players to purchase select paid games a single and access them across Android devices and Windows PCs through Google Play Games.With the feature, a supported game bought on mobile will also be available on PC, allowing players to switch devices without purchasing the title again.Upcoming games include Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Game, and Low-Budget Repairs. These titles will be playable across mobile and PC, with player progress synced…

Imagine your child picks up your phone and tries to buy a new gadget using your mobile banking app. Then, the password works, and the one-time PIN arrives. Everything seems to work just fine—until the app asks for a quick face scan. Your child holds up the phone a few distance from the face. Seconds later, the transaction is denied. The system detected that the face on screen does not match the account holder. That scenario, shared by iProov Vice President for Asia Pacific Milko Radotic in an exclusive interview with PhilSTAR Tech, is a simplified version of how banks…

There’s something honest about firsts, like the first time you use a new brand or the first time you hold a device that carries a legacy name. It’s an encounter where you don’t have years of loyalty shaping your judgment. You just have instinct. The Xiaomi 17 was that kind of first for me; my first experience with a Leica-engineered smartphone camera. I approached it without expectations, which is perhaps the fairest way to meet a flagship that positions itself as uncompromising. Maybe that’s why what happened next felt significant. Somewhere between the first frame I shot and the first…

A text message containing a one-time password (OTP) often serves as the final step before an online banking transaction is completed. However, the same code has also become a target for scammers, who trick victims into revealing OTPs through phishing links and fake customer service calls. Due to these risks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is urging banks and financial institutions to adopt stronger authentication methods that do not rely solely on SMS-based OTPs.Under BSP Circular No. 1213, financial institutions supervised by the central bank are required to implement phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) as part of enhanced cybersecurity measures. …

Appliance brand Midea is aiming to recover twice the amount of plastic associated with the products it sells in the Philippines, as part of efforts to expand its sustainability initiatives.Raul Joseph Concepcion, president of the Concepcion Industrial Corp., distributor of Midea appliances in the country, said the company initially committed to recovering 100 percent of the plastic equivalent of what it puts into the market. This exceeds the government’s mandated recovery requirement. “We said 100% right away, first year. I went in, I said, no, we’re going to do 200% next year,” Concepcion told reporters on the sidelines of MideaCon…

Ubisoft has confirmed that a remake of its popular pirate-themed game “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” is in development, reviving one of the most beloved titles in the long-running franchise more than a decade after its original release. The remake, reportedly titled “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced,” was acknowledged by the French game publisher in a blogpost as part of a broader update outlining the future of the Assassin’s Creed series. The project had long been rumored following leaks and hints from industry insiders before Ubisoft finally confirmed its existence. First released in 2013, “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” follows…

Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in the Philippines is moving past the early testing stages with companies starting to use the technology in more practical and structured ways, a shift that could reshape the country’s information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry, according to Amazon Web Services (AWS).The IT-BPM sector is one of the Philippines’ largest economic drivers, generating about $31 billion to $33 billion in revenue in 2022, according to government data. At a recent media briefing, AWS said many Philippine firms initially used AI for simple tools like customer service chatbots. However, companies are now taking a more serious approach,…

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,…