Author: Marlet Salazar

In its announcement, Apple said Tim Cook will step down as CEO in September, ending his 15 years in the role. He will stay on as executive chairman, while John Ternus takes over as the new CEO. Cook has led Apple since 2011, following Steve Jobs. Under Cook, Apple introduced devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods, and expanded services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Music, and Apple TV. The company also made its own computer chips, which helped improve speed and battery life across iPhones, Macs, and other devices. The numbers show Apple’s growth trajectory. Its market value…

As an Apple convert, getting my hands on anything from Apple still gets me excited. My first real Apple device was an iPhone 6 from work back in 2015, paired with a MacBook Air. I used that phone for seven years straight until apps started refusing to work properly. After that, I moved to an iPhone SE, but even then, I tend to keep my phones way longer than most people do. So using the new iPhone 17e feels like finally catching up after staying on older ones for a while. Here are my first impressions. The first thing I…

Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in the Philippines is accelerating, but many companies still struggle to find people with the right skills. Community-led tech groups are stepping in to help bridge that gap. A report from cloud computing company Amazon Web Services (AWS) shows AI adoption among Philippine organizations is growing at 24% year on year, up from 14% previously. About 82% of businesses expect AI to change how they operate, indicating strong demand for talent. However, only 26% of companies believe their workforce is ready for AI. This mismatch between demand and skills is becoming a major challenge for businesses…

The Philippines is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s most community-driven gaming markets, with around 45 million gamers out of its 118 million population, according to the “Ampverse Playbook: Unlocking the Value of Gaming in Southeast Asia.” The report shows that gaming in the country is no longer just about playing. It has become a highly social activity where Filipinos connect with friends, follow creators, and discover new games through online communities. “The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic gaming markets because of how social and community-driven it is,” said Charlie Baillie, CEO and co-founder of Ampverse, a…

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it is closely monitoring video gaming platform Roblox during a three-month probation period, following a spike in reports linked to child safety and harmful online activity. In a media advisory, the CICC said concerns raised by the public are being “well reviewed, acknowledged, and given careful consideration,” as its Cybercrime Complaint Center (C3) logged multiple reports in recent weeks. “When it comes to child safety, we do not go by statistics. One child that gets sexually exploited, one child that gets victimized, is enough for the government to step in,” said Aboy…

The Philippines is aiming to become a major regional player in the digital world, with the government setting an ambitious target of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of data center capacity by 2028. This goal, established under the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP), marks a huge leap for the country’s infrastructure. However, industry experts warn that hitting this target will require more than just building warehouses; it will require a total overhaul of how the country manages staggering amounts of power and heat. The nation’s live data center capacity currently sits at roughly 200 megawatts (MW). To hit the 1.5 GW mark,…

Financial institutions and digital platforms face a growing dilemma as more services move online. Users expect fast, seamless transactions, but speed can expose security gaps. As fraud increases, companies respond with tighter checks, but these measures can make access harder for legitimate users. “We live in an era where our identities are digitized, fragmented, and scattered across servers we cannot see,” Wriju Ray, chief business officer at IDfy, said during the launch of the company’s book “Mayhem in Makati. “This narrative is a mirror held up to a reality we often ignore. We believe trust is the foundation of progress,…

Online gaming platform Roblox will not be banned in the Philippines after agreeing to improve safety measures for children, government agencies said. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) reached the decision after a meeting on April 7, 2026, with Roblox officials, law enforcement, and private sector representatives. The possible ban had raised concerns in recent weeks following reports that the platform was being used for online child abuse, including Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children. RELATED STORY: What the PH government’s warning means for Roblox users The Philippines is…

Meta Platforms is testing a new paid subscription called Instagram Plus, with the Philippines among the first places where users can try it. Reports from TechCrunch said the test started March 30, 2026. This time, the paid tier is not just for influencers or creators, but for regular users. Only selected users can access it for now, including those in the Philippines, as well as Mexico and Japan. Instagram Plus adds simple features that focus on Stories. Subscribers can watch stories anonymously. They also have access to the number of Story views as well as how many times it was…

So much has been said about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which has been heavy on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven features. More than a month after I got hold of Samsung’s latest flagship, I think there are still more hidden surprises on the horizon. Disclaimer, I haven’t used any of Samsung’s S series, so I have nothing to compare it with. I have tried the Galaxy Z Flip twice, but never the S flagships. That’s why I tried to contain my excitement because I’ve heard so many good things about it and was really looking forward to it. I got the…