Author: Dawn Solano

Reddit and Discord have reached out to the Philippine government to discuss stronger online safety measures for children after the two platforms were given 24 hours to establish local representation in the country. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) granted both platforms extensions after Reddit responded within the deadline and Discord separately sent a letter expressing its willingness to work with authorities. CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said Reddit officials met with the agency online on Wednesday to discuss ways to improve coordination. Reddit Vice President of Policy Jessica Ashooh, Deputy General Counsel Leslie Liu, and Policy…

HONOR Philippines will launch the HONOR 600S in the country on Oct. 1, expanding its HONOR 600 smartphone lineup with a model featuring a large-capacity battery, 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. According to the company, the device is designed for users who rely on their smartphones for entertainment, content creation, work and connectivity. One of the phone’s highlighted features is HONOR AI Image to Video 2.0, an AI-powered tool for creating videos from images. The device will also support 5G connectivity and carry an 8,100mAh battery. HONOR said the battery is designed to support extended use for activities…

Anker has launched two of its latest devices in the Philippines, bringing the AeroClip 2 open-ear earbuds and MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro to the local market following their global unveiling at IFA. The launch is part of Anker’s “Ultimate, Unified” brand direction, which brings together its growing portfolio of charging, audio, smart home, and power products. The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 features an open-ear design aimed at users who want to listen to audio while remaining aware of their surroundings. For calls, the earbuds use two voice pickup units that capture mechanical vibrations from the vocal cords, along with…

ASEAN member states face uneven readiness in adopting artificial intelligence and other technologies as the region seeks to expand its creative industries, according to a regional study presented during the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship. The ASEAN Creative Industries Research Study found that 67 percent of stakeholders surveyed consider digital transformation the strongest driver of growth and value creation in the region. However, the study noted differences among member states in digital infrastructure, skills, AI readiness, and governance, with opportunities in the sector growing faster than their capacity to capitalize on them. The findings were presented at the ASEAN Creative Economy Media…

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has confirmed a data breach involving its Electronic Support System (LESS), an online platform used by the agency for its regulatory and franchise-related transactions. The breach was recorded on Sept. 13 at 10:58 p.m., according to the data breach notification filed through the National Privacy Commission’s Data Breach Notification and Monitoring System. The LTFRB said the incident generally affected the LESS data environment, but the specific information involved and the full extent of the breach are still being determined. As a precaution, the agency took LESS offline, resulting in the suspension of…

If “What are you reading?” sounds better than “Hey, wyd?” There is now a dating app built around that conversation starter. Readme is a dating app for readers, writers and talkers, created by Banu Guler, the creator of astrology app Co-Star, together with artist Emily Segal. Instead of centering dating profiles around photos and conventional prompts, Readme puts books, language and conversation at the heart of how users meet. The app starts with a quiz designed to determine a user’s reading archetype. There are 12 archetypes in total, drawing from research in literature, language analysis and psycholinguistics. Among them are…

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) called on US-based technology company Meta to answer for what it described as persistent shortcomings in protecting Filipino children from online sexual exploitation and other harms on its platforms. The DICT statement came after the House of Representatives deferred action on the department’s proposed Php 19.49-billion budget for 2027 amid concerns involving Meta. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said he respects the House’s oversight function and supports lawmakers’ efforts to hold technology platforms accountable. The department said concerns raised during congressional deliberations include online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child…

Samsung Electronics Philippines showcased its latest large-screen televisions and gaming monitors in the country, highlighting how bigger displays and artificial intelligence are being integrated into home entertainment, fitness and gaming. The company held the showcase on Sept. 16 at Elan by the Bay in Parañaque, where it demonstrated several of its Vision AI TV models across different home settings. At the center of the living room setup was the 100-inch Micro RGB Vision AI TV, which uses microscopic RGB backlights to improve color reproduction and reduce color bleeding. Samsung said its Micro RGB AI Engine Pro also supports 4K upscaling…

Xiaomi has launched its REDMI Note 17 series in the Philippines, with the company banking on longer battery life and improved durability. The lineup consists of four models: the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G, REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, REDMI Note 17 5G and REDMI Note 17. REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G carries a 10,000mAh battery, and is the largest smartphone battery Xiaomi has introduced to date. It supports 100W HyperCharge and 27W reverse charging. Xiaomi said the series was designed around its REDMI Titan Durability platform, with the Pro Max and Pro 5G models receiving TÜV SÜD…

Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones are now on the market, but the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold8 is also a marker of how much the category has changed since the company first introduced a foldable phone. The new lineup arrives at a point when foldables are no longer simply technological curiosities. As more consumers become familiar with the form factor, Samsung is looking at how these devices can better accommodate the way people already use their smartphones. In an exclusive interview with PhilSTAR Tech, Samsung Electronics Philippines president Roman Han said these everyday behaviors have become an important part of…