Author: PhilSTAR Tech Team

InfiniVAN Inc., a Congressional telco franchise holder with a nationwide fiber optic backbone network infrastructure, and Royal Cable Corp., a CATV/ISP operator, formally aligned their service visions through a strategic partnership in the maximum utilization of their respective network assets. The collaboration was solidified during a contract signing ceremony held on Feb. 26th at the Nex Tower Penthouse in Makati. The agreement facilitates the service area expansion of a non-Congressionally franchised operator by utilizing underutilized portions of InfiniVAN’s fiber optic backbone. Without having to build its own backbone network from scratch, Royal Cable is now able to quickly build middle-…

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched the National Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Innovation (NAICRI), a hub that will lead research on artificial intelligence (AI) and help carry out the National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS PH). The center aims to help more companies and organizations adopt advanced AI technologies, particularly outside major cities. According to DOST, more than 80% of Philippine companies already have basic digital systems such as internet connectivity and data platforms. However, only about 15% are using advanced AI tools, and most of these are large companies based in urban areas.…

Consumer electronics company LG Electronics Philippines has launched a nationwide search for the oldest still-working residential air conditioner made by the brand, inviting Filipino households to share stories of units that have continued to run after many years of use. Called the LG Oldest Air Conditioner Hunt Promo, the campaign runs from Jan. 22 to March 31, 2026. The initiative encourages owners of long-running LG air conditioners to document their units and show how they continue to provide cooling comfort. The promo is open to Philippine residents aged 18 and above who own a residential LG air conditioner that remains…

Epson Philippines Corp. (EPC) took part in guided tree nurturing activities along the Legacy Trail at Masungi Georeserve, reinforcing its long-term commitment to environmental action. The conservation site sits within the Sierra Madre mountain range, the country’s largest and one that plays a role in shielding Luzon from severe weather. The range also supports biodiversity and nearby communities, making forest protection and restoration a continuing effort rather than a one-time activity. During the visit, Epson Philippines joined rangers in tree nurturing work along the Legacy Trail. Unlike simple tree planting, tree nurturing focuses on ongoing care such as monitoring growth,…

Fans of BTS can unlock exclusive content tied to the group’s upcoming album “Arirang” through a scavenger hunt embedded in Google Search. The interactive feature appears when users search for “BTS” on Google Search. A small bottle icon appears on the screen, opening a trivia-based game that leads fans through puzzles and questions about the group’s career. The experience functions as a digital Easter egg designed for the band’s fan community (ARMY), as excitement builds for the album’s release on March 20. Once the game begins, participants answer a series of trivia questions that test their knowledge of BTS’s decade-long…

TCL, a global technology company and Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, helped make the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 more immersive for athletes, fans, and broadcasters, through its innovations. At the International Broadcast Center, the hub for global coverage, TCL supplied more than 330 TVs and 300 commercial displays, allowing broadcasters to show events in high detail to millions of viewers worldwide. In the Olympic Villages, smart home appliances provided comfort for athletes, while display systems enabled over 350 “Athlete Moment” connections, giving competitors a way to share special moments with family and friends during the Games. “We are…

Peripherals brand Logitech G has brought its G321 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset to the Philippines, offering local gamers a new audio option designed for long play sessions, multi-platform use, and wireless connectivity. The headset features thick headband padding and dual-layer memory foam ear cups wrapped in high-elasticity knit fabric. The materials aim to provide a secure fit for different head sizes while maintaining airflow during long hours of use. For connectivity, the G321 supports major consoles, PC, Mac, and Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices. This allows gamers to use a single headset across different platforms without switching equipment. Weighing about 210 grams,…

Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, a new laptop priced at $599 that lowers the cost of entering the Mac lineup. The price is far below the roughly $1,000 starting price of earlier MacBook Air models, making it the company’s most affordable MacBook. The MacBook Neo features an aluminum body and a 13-inch Liquid Retina display designed to deliver sharp images and bright colors. It will be available in four colors: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. The laptop runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which helps power everyday activities such as browsing the internet, watching videos, editing photos, and using…

Apple unveiled refreshed MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models powered by its new M5 series chips, promising faster processing and stronger artificial intelligence (AI), performance for work and creative tasks. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models now run on M5 Pro and M5 Max. Apple said the chips use a new Fusion Architecture that combines two dies into one system on a chip, integrating the CPU, GPU, memory controller, Neural Engine, and Thunderbolt 5 support. M5 Pro and M5 Max carry an 18-core CPU design with six high-performance “super cores” and 12 efficiency cores for multithreaded workloads. Apple said…

Text and photos by Irene Karlsson BARCELONA — Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) simplify tasks, and smartphones power daily life. Add a gimbal system, and one gets a “robot phone” designed to capture daily moments, create professional videos, and entertain its owner by “dancing” and doing “backflips.” Recently launched at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) at the Fira Barcelona exhibition hall, smart devices brand HONOR introduced its Robot Phone, a device topped with a camera “head” that nods, sways, and bops to the tune. James Li, CEO of HONOR, described it as “a new species of smartphone,” and up close,…