Author: PhilSTAR Tech Team

For those wondering if Threads, Facebook’s response when Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, still has users, Meta said the app has reached 500 million monthly active users. Meta said Threads has grown steadily since its launch, with people using it mainly to talk about everyday interests such as books, sports, parenting, and music. “This is a milestone that reflects people’s desire for a public space built around conversation,” Meta said. Meta added that much of the growth comes from online communities forming around shared interests. “This growth is driven by communities, groups of people showing up around the conversations…

Popular video game Roblox is rolling out Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts worldwide, giving children different settings based on their age, including access to games, chat features, and safety controls. The new accounts are meant to help younger users explore Roblox while giving parents more ways to manage what their children can do on the platform. Roblox Kids accounts are for younger children and come with stricter settings, including chat turned off by default. Roblox Select accounts are for older children and younger teens, giving them access to more features while keeping safety tools and parental controls available. “As…

Xiaomi has introduced a new lineup of smart wearables designed to help people keep track of their health, fitness, and daily activities more easily. The new lineup includes the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S5, and Xiaomi Buds 6, which help users monitor different parts of their everyday routine, from exercise and sleep to staying connected and focused. The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro helps users keep an eye on important health information such as heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen levels, and stress. It also supports more than 150 sports modes, including cycling and other daily activities. With…

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max, which is now available in the Philippines, comes with an 8500mAh Super Battery, the biggest battery capacity used in a HUAWEI smartphone. Priced at Php 19,888, the phone is designed for users who stream videos, play games, use navigation apps, or stay connected throughout the day. HUAWEI said the battery can support up to 48 hours of calls, 25 hours of navigation, or 23 hours of video playback. When it runs low, the 40W SuperCharge feature helps recharge it faster. It can also act as a backup charger through Reverse Charging, allowing users to power…

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is working on a new digital traffic system designed to help emergency vehicles move faster and avoid getting stuck in heavy traffic. The system is called the Swift Emergency Response Vehicle Integration System with Smart Traffic and Electronic Enforcer on the Road, or sERVis-STEER. It is being developed by the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). The goal is to solve a common problem in cities and towns: ambulances, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles often get delayed because of traffic jams, especially during urgent situations. According to Miguel Asido of DOST-ASTI, the…

DITO Telecommunity has restored 100% network availability across earthquake-affected areas in Mindanao, allowing families, businesses, and emergency responders to reconnect as communities continue recovery efforts. DITO said its network teams worked continuously to restore services after the earthquake affected 24 provinces across six regions. As of 1:30 p.m. on June 10, 2026, DITO completed the restoration of its network, supported by the deployment of portable generators to keep critical sites running. “Mindanao holds a special place in DITO’s story and in our hearts,” Atty. Adel Tamano, chief commercial officer of DITO Telecommunity, said. “Through Tulung Tulong DITO, we are extending…

Digital spaces have become a daily part of life for Filipinos, shaping how people communicate, study, work, shop, and manage money through group chats, online classrooms, digital wallets, and small businesses. As reliance on the internet grows, so do online risks. Misinformation, phishing scams, identity theft, and fraud continue to affect users, especially those who are less familiar with how digital threats work. As the country marks Independence Day, discussions around freedom are expanding beyond physical rights and national history. In today’s connected world, freedom also means being able to go online without fear of being deceived, exploited, or harmed.…

Filipino AI startup Netopia AI said its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Predikta, can help brands identify better-performing ads before launching campaigns. The company released results of a backtesting study with AdSpark, showing that Predikta’s predictions matched actual campaign results, particularly in important advertising measures such as Click-Through Rate (CTR) and Cost Per Click (CPC). The study looked at thousands of ad comparisons across different industries. It found that ads with higher Predikta scores were more likely to get better audience engagement and deliver more efficient costs. In most cases, the platform was able to identify which ad version would perform…

Google is making online clothes shopping more visual with a new tool that allows users see how outfits look on their own body before buying. Whether it is a cardigan for cooler weather, a summer outfit, or clothes for a job interview, it is often hard to imagine how something will look when shopping online. Google’s new Try On feature aims to solve that by letting shoppers preview clothing on themselves using a photo. The feature is now expanding to more users and will start rolling out in the Philippines in the coming weeks. Google said the tool uses a…

Epson Philippines Corp. is scaling up its sustainability efforts across its operations, product development, and partner network, focusing on reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and expanding recycling initiatives as part of its long-term business strategy. “At Epson, sustainability is part of how we work every day. It guides the way we develop our technologies, run our business, and work with our partners and communities,” said Masako Kusama, president and director of Epson Philippines Corp. At the core of this direction is its Heat-Free technology and energy-efficient printing systems, which are designed to lower power consumption while maintaining productivity for business…