Amazon Prime Video announced that it will start showing ads to its subscribers in early 2024 unless they opt for an ad-free tier that will cost an additional USD 2.99 per month.

The new charging scheme will first take effect in the US, the UK, Germany, and Canada in early 2024, followed by a few more countries later that same year.

The move comes as Amazon seeks to increase its revenue from its video content, which includes exclusive originals, live sports, and third-party channels. According to Amazon, the ads will be “relevant and engaging” and will not interrupt the viewing experience.

The ad-free tier will cost USD 2.99 more per month on top of the current Prime Video subscription. In the US, Amazon Prime membership costs USD 14.99 per month or USD 139 per year.

Amazon is not the first streaming service to offer different tiers of subscriptions with or without ads. Netflix and Disney+ have both added plans that show ads in 2022, available only in some countries.

The company said that it expects the ads to help it invest more in creating original and exclusive content for its customers, as well as expanding its global reach.

In the Philippines, Prime Video actually did a reverse and dropped its subscription fee to PHP 149 per month (from PHP 259 per month) in 2022. And while the size of its library isn’t as vast as Netflix’s, it’s a good alternative nonetheless with interesting content and a host of original movies and TV shows, such as The Boys, Upload, Reacher, Paper Girls, The Wheel of Time, and The Terminal List.

Amazon Prime Video currently has over 200 million subscribers worldwide and offers thousands of titles across various genres and languages.

The post Amazon Prime Video to introduce ads in 2024, unless users pay extra appeared first on Technobaboy.

vivo also launched another member of the vivo V29 series. The vivo V29e 5G was announced alongside the vivo V29 5G in the Philippines on Friday.

The vivo V29e 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a good mix between performance and design. It features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The device has a dual rear camera setup with a 64MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera The selfie camera has a 50MP sensor with an f/2.45 aperture and autofocus.

The vivo V29e 5G also supports 5G connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, and an under-display fingerprint scanner. It has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging technology.

In the Philippines, the vivo V9e 5G is priced at P18,999 for the 12GB+256GB model. It is available in vivo stores, authorized dealers, and official vivo online stores on Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, and the Vivo e-store.

vivo V29e specs

The post vivo V29e 5G launches in the Philippines for P18,999 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Netflix released the official trailer for its upcoming anime series Onimusha, based on the popular video game franchise by Capcom. The trailer showcases the action-packed story of Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary samurai who battles demons in feudal Japan.

Onimusha is directed by Takashi Miike, a renowned filmmaker known for his violent and stylish movies such as 13 Assassins and Blade of the Immortal. The anime series is a collaboration between Netflix and Sublimation, a CG animation studio that also worked on Dragon’s Dogma, another Netflix adaptation of a Capcom game.

The series follows Musashi, who is modeled after the late Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, as he travels across a war-torn land plagued by poverty and evil. Armed with the mystical Oni Gauntlet, a device that allows him to absorb the souls of demons, Musashi faces various enemies and challenges along his journey.

The trailer features stunning visuals, intense sword fights, and a catchy theme song by Måneskin. The trailer also reveals the voice cast of the series, which includes Akio Otsuka, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura, Katsuyuki Konishi, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Makoto Furukawa, Aya Yamane, Ryohei Kimura, and Toshihiko Seki.

Onimusha is set to premiere on Netflix on November 2, 2023. Fans of the video game series, which debuted in 2001 and sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, can expect to see familiar characters and elements from the games, as well as new twists and surprises.

You can watch the official trailer for Onimusha here. For more information about the series, you can visit its official Netflix page here.

The post Netflix drops the official trailer for Onimusha anime series appeared first on Technobaboy.

vivo officially launched its new midrange smartphone series, the vivo V29 5G, in the Philippines on Wednesday at an event in Okada Manila. The smartphone comes in Starry Purple and Magic Maroon with a starting price of P24,999.

The vivo V29 5G features a curved-edge 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole selfie camera. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage.

The device boasts a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. What sets it apart from other smartphones is the dedicated circular “Aura Light” multi-tone mini-ring light system. This feature provides even lighting for both photos and videos, enhancing the quality and creativity of the shots.

The selfie camera is also impressive, with a 50MP sensor and autofocus. Both the front and rear cameras can record up to 4K videos with optical and electronic image stabilization.

The phone also supports 5G connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and an under-display fingerprint scanner. It has a 4,600mAh battery with 80W fast charging technology.

The vivo V29 5G comes in two colors: Starry Purple and Magic Maroon. It is priced at P24,999 for the 256GB variant and P26,999 for the 512GB variant. The phone is available in vivo online and offline stores, e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada, and the TikTok Shop.

Catch the grand launch of the vivo V29 5G on September 25, 2023, at 7 PM, via live stream on Facebook via this link: www.facebook.com/events/290748120436173.

vivo V29 5G specs

The post vivo V29 5G now official in the Philippines: 1.5K AMOLED, 50MP camera, Aura Light for P24,999 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Aside from the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Redmi also launched the Redmi Note 13 and the Redmi Note 13 Pro. Succeeding the Redmi Note 12 series that was released last year, the Redmi Note 13 Series offers significant upgrades in terms of display, performance, camera, and battery.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro features a 6.67-inch OLED display with 2712×1220 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and up to 1800 nits of peak brightness.

It is the first phone to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset and comes with up to 16GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It also has a 5000mAh battery with 67W fast charging.

The highlight of the Note 13 Pro is its triple camera setup, comprised of a 200MP main camera, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The front camera has a 16MP selfie shooter.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is priced at CNY 1,399 (~PHP 10,900/USD 190) for the base model with 8GB+128GB, CNY 1,499 (PHP 11,800/USD 205) for the 8GB+256GB variant, CNY 1,699 (PHP 13,200/USD 233) for 12GB+256GB variant, CNY 1,899 (PHP 14,700/USD 260) for the 12GB+512GB variant, and CNY 1,999 (PHP 15,500/USD 274) for the top-end model with 16GB+512GB.

The Redmi Note 13, on the other hand, is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The device runs on Android 13 OS with MIUI 14 skin on top.

The phone has a 100MP main camera with a 2MP macro camera in the rear and a 16MP selfie shooter in front. Battery capacity is the same at 5100mAh but with a 33W fast charging instead.

The Redmi Note 13 starts at CNY 1,099 (around PHP 8,500/USD 150) for the 6GB+128GB model, CNY 1,199 (PHP 9,300/USD 160) for the 8GB+128GB model, CNY 1,399 (PHP 10,900/USD 190) for 8GB+256GB model, and CNY 1,599 (PHP 12,400/USD 220) for the 12GB+256GB model.

The devices will go on sale in China this September. There is no word on when they will be available in other markets, such as the Philippines.

Redmi Note 13 Pro specs

Redmi Note 13 specs

The post Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 13 Pro launched with 120Hz OLED display, 200MP camera, and more appeared first on Technobaboy.

YouTube Shorts achieved a new milestone of 70 billion daily views from over 2 billion signed-in users every month. The news was revealed at the Made on YouTube event, where YouTube unveiled a series of new AI-powered features that will enable creators and artists to produce, edit, and share content.

YouTube Shorts rolled out globally in June 2021, allows users to create and watch vertical videos of up to 60 seconds. The feature is YouTube’s answer to the rising popularity of TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app that’s been dominating the short-video market in recent years. It offers a similar experience to TikTok, with features such as music, filters, effects, transitions, and captions.

YouTube has been investing heavily in promoting and supporting its Shorts feature, including redirecting users automatically to Shorts when the YouTube app is opened and launching the YouTube Shorts Fund to reward creators for their content. The fund, which was announced in May 2021, distributed $100 million to eligible creators over the course of 2021 and 2022.

YouTube Shorts is not the only platform competing with TikTok for the short video market. Other social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter) have also launched their own versions of short-form video features, such as Reels, Spotlight, and the now-defunct Fleets.

In comparison, TikTok has 1.08 billion monthly active users worldwide in 2023. The figure does not include China, the platform’s home country. It also averages over 1 billion views daily.

The post YouTube Shorts reaches 70 billion daily views from 2 billion users appeared first on Technobaboy.

YouTube announced a series of new AI-powered features that will enable creators and artists to produce, edit, and share content in new and innovative ways. The platform also revealed that YouTube Shorts, its short-form video service, has reached over 70 billion daily views from over 2 billion signed-in users every month.

The announcements were made at the Made on YouTube event, where YouTube showcased the potential of AI to enhance creative expression, simplify the production process, and help YouTube creators reach more audiences.

One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of Dream Screen, a new generative AI feature that will allow creators to add AI-generated video or image backgrounds to their Shorts by typing an idea into a prompt. With Dream Screen, creators will be able to create new, fantastical settings for their Shorts that are only limited by their imagination. Dream Screen will be available later this year as an experimental feature.

Another major announcement was the launch of YouTube Create, a new mobile app that was designed to help anyone create and share videos right on YouTube. The app offers a suite of production tools to edit Shorts, longer videos, or both. The app also includes precision editing and trimming, automatic captioning, voiceover capabilities, and access to a library of filters, effects, transitions, and royalty-free music with beat-matching technology.

YouTube has consulted with more than 3k creators in the process of building YouTube Create. It is currently in beta on Android in select markets and is free of charge.

The streamer also announced that it is bringing Aloud, an AI-powered dubbing tool, into YouTube so that creators can easily reach audiences beyond their primary language. The feature is currently being tested in English, Portuguese, and Spanish with select creators.

Additionally, YouTube revealed that it will launch new AI features in YouTube Studio next year to help creators brainstorm video ideas and draft outlines. These features will use generative AI to provide personalized insights for each channel based on what audiences are already watching and interested in.

The company also emphasized its commitment to working responsibly with AI and collaborating with the creative community within its AI Music Incubator, which has now expanded globally. The incubator aims to help artists use AI as a tool to amplify and accelerate their creativity.

Neal Mohan, YouTube’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Today we shared new updates that will help creators and artists push the boundaries of creative expression – by making the difficult things simple and impossible dreams possible. Making it easier for creators anywhere to create content they love is core to YouTube’s commitment to putting creative power into the hands of billions of people. Today is the start of a new era of creativity. We can’t wait to see what our incredible community of creators and artists make on YouTube.”

Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, said: “Bold and responsible, that is our mission. The potential of AI is incredibly exciting. But as with any new technology, we have to approach it responsibly. What Artists, Songwriters, and Producers do is something that is uniquely human, that cannot be replaced by technology. We see AI as a tool that can be used by artists to amplify and accelerate their creativity. And we are committed to working alongside the creative community within our AI Music Incubator, which has now expanded globally. We are also leaning into our superpower – our deep partnerships with the music industry – working back-to-back with them to achieve our collective goals of fueling creativity and driving business forward.”

You can find more information about the new AI products and features on Made on YouTube.

The post YouTube unveils new AI products to empower creators and artists appeared first on Technobaboy.

The realme C51, a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive features, is now officially available in the Philippines. The device, first introduced in Taiwan, has a starting price of P4,999. It will go on sale on September 20, 2023.

The realme C51 has a 6.74-inch HD+ display that supports a 90Hz refresh rate for a smooth and responsive experience. It also has a 50MP primary camera and a 5MP selfie camera for clear and natural selfies.

The device is powered by a UNISOC T612 chipset, which offers fast performance and low power consumption. It has up to 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot.

The realme C51 runs on Android 13 OS with the realme UI T Edition, which is a customized version of the realme UI that features a Mini Capsule function. This function displays useful information around the notch, such as data usage, step count, charging status, and notifications.

The device also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for easy and secure unlocking, as well as 4G LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, and GPS support. It also has a large 5000mAh battery that can last for a long time and supports 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging technology. The device comes in two color variants: Carbon Black and Mint Green.

The realme C51 comes in Carbon Black and Mint Green, priced at P4,999 for the 3GB+64GB model and P6,499 for the 4GB+128GB model.

Starting September 22, you catch the first wave of selling on realme’s E-store, where you can get the realme C51 with an exclusive P800 off discount. There is also going to be a Flash Sale discount of P1,300 on realme’s Shopee Flagship Store until September 28, and from September 27 to October 1 on realme’s Lazada Flagship Store. Lastly, you can get an exclusive P500 OFF on realme’s Tiktok Shop.

realme C51 specs

The post realme C51 now official in the Philippines: 90Hz display and 50MP camera for P4,999 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Xiaomi has just unveiled its latest mid-range smartphone, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, in China. The device boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2712×1220 pixels, offering a flagship-grade 1.5K screen with 12-bit color depth and an under-display fingerprint scanner.

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra chipset, which is based on a 4nm process. The phone comes in 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, and 16GB+512GB configurations.

The main highlight of the phone is its camera system, which consists of a triple rear camera setup and a single front-facing camera. The primary rear camera is a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor with an f/1.65 aperture and optical image stabilization.

The secondary rear cameras include an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode and bokeh effects. The rear cameras can record videos in up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, or in 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second.

The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor that can capture selfies and video calls in up to 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ packs a 5000mAh battery that supports a blazing 120W wired fast charging. The phone also has dual-stereo speakers and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It runs on Android 13 with MIUI 14 on top and also supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, infrared, GPS, and dual-SIM connectivity.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ comes in three color options: black, blue, white, and a limited edition Aape edition with a camouflage design and accessories.

The phone is priced at CNY 1,899 (around PHP 14,800/USD 260) for the base model with 12GB+256GB, CNY 2,099 (PHP 16,300/USD 287) for the mid-tier model with 12GB+512GB, and CNY 2,199 (PHP 17,100/ USD 300) for the top-end model with 16GB+512GB.

There is no word yet on whether the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ will be available in other markets outside China. Hopefully, we’ll find out in the coming weeks if the phone will land in the Philippines.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ specs

The post Redmi Note 13 Pro+ launches with a 200MP camera, 120W fast charging, and an affordable price tag appeared first on Technobaboy.

CASETiFY announced its new line-up of products for the latest iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 models, now available in the Philippines. The brand is known for its customizable designs and high-quality protection features.

Among the new products are the award-winning Ultra Bounce Case, which can survive drops up to 10 meters, and the Bounce Bands, which offer comfort and style for the Apple Watch.

The Ultra Bounce Case: Extreme Protection and Customization

The Ultra Bounce Case is one of the most protective phone cases on the market, with a 6-Layered Rugged Protection System. The case has four Ultra Bounce Corners, which have air cavities and compression ribs that absorb the impact of drops.

The case also has a raised camera ring, a built-in lens cover, and three layers of Ecoshock material on the inner sides and backplate. The result is a case that can withstand up to 260 drops from all angles and has 10X Military Grade Standard (STD-810G).

But the Ultra Bounce Case is not just about protection. It is also fully customizable, with options to add names, colors, fonts, and designs from CASETiFY’s catalog. The case is available for all iPhone 15 models, with a price of PHP 5,890 at casetify.com.

The Bounce Case: Simple and Strong Protection

Another option for iPhone 15 users is the Bounce Case, which won the Gold Winner of the 2023 NY Product Design Awards.

The Bounce Case has simpler Bounce Corners, which still provide strong protection for urban exploration. The case can survive over 156 drops and has 6X Military Grade Standard (STD-810G). The Bounce Case is also customizable and has a price of PHP 4,790.

The Impact Ring Stand Case: MagSafe-Compatible and Versatile

For those who want a MagSafe-compatible case, CASETiFY offers the Impact Ring Stand Case. This case has 3X Military Grade Standard (STD-810G) and can survive drops up to 2 meters.

The unique feature of this case is its camera ring, which can be lifted up and act as a stand for extra protection or viewing convenience. The Impact Ring Stand Case is also customizable and has a price of PHP 4,290.

The Impact Case: Classic Protection and Design

The regular CASETiFY Impact Case is still available for iPhone 15 devices, with endless customization options and designs. This case offers reliable protection capabilities, with 8.2 ft. (2.4m) drop protection and 4X Military Grade Standard (STD-810G). The Impact Case has a starting price of PHP 3,790.

The Bounce Band: Performance and Style for Apple Watch

CASETiFY has also launched two new types of watch bands for the Apple Watch Series 9 & Ultra 2. The Bounce Band is made out of high-performance materials such as FKM fluoroelastomer rubber, which is durable and water-resistant.

The band has a pin-and-tuck closure and a rugged front pattern, making it ideal for sports performance and urban exploration. The Bounce Band is available in black, sand, and orange plain colors, with a price of PHP 3,690 at casetify.com.

The Impact Band: Customization and Comfort for Apple Watch

The other new watch band from CASETiFY is the Impact Band, which is made out of sturdy hardware and a slim, sleek strap. The band is water-resistant and comes in a wide range of designs, prints, and customizations from CASETiFY’s catalog. The Impact Band can be paired with any of CASETiFY’s Apple Watch Cases, some of which have silver and golden metal finishing. The Impact Band has a starting price of PHP 2,690 at casetify.com.

Other Accessories: More Options for Protection and Style

Besides the new cases and bands, CASETiFY also offers other accessories compatible with the new devices from Apple. These include Magsafe Cardholder Stands, Ring Holders, Screen Protectors, Phone Straps, and Camera Lens Protectors. These accessories can enhance the protection and style of your devices. They can all be found at casetify.com.

The post CASETiFY launches Ultra Bounce Case and Bands for iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 in PH appeared first on Technobaboy.

AnTuTu issued a statement to clarify that the scores of its iOS and Android versions are not comparable. This comes after the AnTuTu score of the iPhone 15 Pro Max was revealed, prompting comparisons across different devices on the two platforms.

AnTuTu explained that the iOS and Android versions of its app are two different software that use different test methods and algorithms. The iOS version is developed using Apple’s Metal API, a graphics framework exclusive to iOS devices, while the Android version is developed using Vulkan, an open standard for cross-platform graphics.

The iOS version also uses Swift, a programming language optimized for Apple devices, while the Android version uses Java, a widely used language for Android development.

These differences result in significant variations in the performance and efficiency of the two versions, making them incomparable. “All in all, the scoring mechanisms for the iOS version and the Android version of Antutu Benchmark are significantly different, and therefore the test results of the two versions are not directly comparable,” the company said in the statement.

“The test results of Antutu benchmark only support the comparison within the same system based on the same major version and not support cross-version or cross-platform comparison.”

AnTuTu is a benchmarking app that measures the performance of various aspects of a smartphone, such as CPU, GPU, memory, and user experience. It is widely used by users and media outlets to evaluate and compare the performance of different devices. AnTuTu also releases monthly rankings of the best-performing devices based on its app’s scores.

The post AnTuTu clarifies that iOS and Android scores are not comparable appeared first on Technobaboy.

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max proves its prowess in performance by scoring a whopping 1,641,883 points on the AnTuTu benchmark test. This is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which has an average score of around 930,994 points.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro chipset, which is based on a 3-nanometer process and features a hexa-core CPU and a six-core GPU. Apple claims that the A17 Pro offers 10 percent faster CPU performance and 20 percent faster GPU performance than the A16 Bionic chipset found in the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The AnTuTu test also reveals that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has 8GB of RAM, which was previously confirmed. The increased RAM and the high storage may also contribute to the improved performance of the device, especially in multitasking and data processing.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max also excels in other benchmark tests, such as Geekbench and GFXBench, with high single-core and multi-core scores, as well as graphics rendering scores.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is not only a powerful device, but also a stunning one. It features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2796×1290 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also has a ceramic shield front cover that provides four times better drop performance than the previous generation.

The latest iPhone also boasts a versatile camera system that consists of a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The device also supports optical image stabilization, night mode, portrait mode, HDR video recording, and cinematic mode.

In contrast, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 6 with an Apple M2 chip has a score of 1,389,538 on AnTuTu. Meanwhile, the highest-scoring Android phone (as of August 2023) is the Red Magic 8 Pro+ with 1,632,859, which is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Take note that AnTuTu said in a statement that the scores between Android and Apple devices are not comparable, citing differences in API’s used by the software. “All in all, the scoring mechanisms for the iOS version and the Android version of Antutu Benchmark are significantly different, and therefore the test results of the two versions are not directly comparable,” the company said.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in the Philippines soon with a starting price of ₱84,990 for the 256GB model.

The post iPhone 15 Pro Max shows off its power with impressive AnTuTu score appeared first on Technobaboy.

Smart Communications and Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the state-owned corporation that manages the Clark Freeport Zone, have signed new lease agreements to enhance the connectivity of telco facilities inside CDC.

The lease agreements cover the installation and operation of cell sites, fiber optic cables, and other network equipment that will improve the coverage and capacity of Smart’s mobile and fixed broadband services in the area. This will benefit the businesses, residents, and visitors of Clark, which is one of the country’s premier economic hubs and a major tourism destination.

This partnership is aligned with the PLDT Group’s role as one of the founding members of the Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar, represented by its President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio. The PSAC is a government-mandated body that aims to accelerate the country’s digital transformation by facilitating collaboration among various stakeholders.

Through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise, the PLDT Group has also been empowering businesses nationwide to realize their visions of transformation by delivering relevant digital and connectivity solutions, facilitating their digital pivot.

The lease agreements with CDC also enable the PLDT Group to further expand its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and over 885,000 kilometers of domestic fiber as of end-June 2023. This fiber infrastructure supports Smart’s mobile network, which covers around 97% of the population with 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G.

The PLDT Group has also been pursuing a multi-year transformation program, with elevating customer experience as one of the key priorities, as well as contributing to the Group’s endeavors to provide connectivity to all and to anchor initiatives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

The post Smart and CDC boost connectivity in Clark with new lease agreements appeared first on Technobaboy.

Microsoft brings Bing Chat to Microsoft Launcher, the company’s customizable Android launcher, allowing users to interact with Bing using natural language. Bing Chat is powered by ChatGPT 4, the latest version of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot that can generate coherent and engaging responses to any query.

Bing Chat is designed to make web searches more conversational and personalized, allowing users to ask questions, request information, or even chat about various topics with Bing. Users can also upload images and ask Bing to generate new images based on their preferences, such as changing the background, adding filters, or creating collages.

The AI can also help users with tasks like booking flights, ordering food, or checking the weather.

To access Bing Chat on Microsoft Launcher, just tap on the Bing logo on the search bar widget or the chat icon in apps drawer. Users can then type or speak their queries to Bing and get instant responses in a chat-like interface. They can also switch between the chat mode and the traditional search mode by tapping on the tabs at the bottom of the screen.

Microsoft Launcher is a free app that provides a new home screen experience for Android devices, with features like personalized feed, dark theme, gesture customization, and backup and restore. The launcher also integrates with other Microsoft apps and services, such as Office 365, Outlook, OneDrive, and more. You can also sync activities across devices using the Continue on PC feature.

Microsoft Launcher is available for download from the Google Play Store. If you already already have the app installed, either update the app or you will receive a prompt to activate Bing Chat.

Alternatively, users can also download the Bing app, which is available on Android and iOS, to access similar ChatGPT powered features.

The post Microsoft Launcher adds Bing Chat feature powered by ChatGPT 4 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Xiaomi just unveiled its latest smartphone, the Redmi 12, in the Philippines with a starting price of PHP 7,999. The budget-friendly device features impressive performance, design, and battery life.

The Redmi 12 features a 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate for smooth and responsive visuals. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor.

There are two variants: an online-exclusive model that sports 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and a higher-end model that packs 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both have expandable RAM up to 16GB for more power and speed.

At the back, it has a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The front-facing camera is a 13MP shooter that supports AI beautification and portrait mode.

The Redmi 12 has a large 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C port. It runs on MIUI 14 based on Android 13, which offers a smooth and customizable user experience.

Price and Availability

The Redmi 12 is priced at PHP 7,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant. From September 20 to 29, the phone will be available at an early bird price of only PHP 6,999 via Xiaomi’s official global store on Lazada.

The Redmi 12 8GB+256GB variant, on the other hand, is priced at PHP 8,999. It is available online on Shopee and Lazada starting September 20. Starting September 29, the phone will be available via Home Credit with a 0% installment plan for 6 months.

The same bigger storage variant version will be available at authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide and at Xiaomi Philippines’ TikTok Shop starting September 30.

Redmi 12 Specs

The post Redmi 12 official in the Philippines: Price starts at P7,999 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Disney+ finally unveiled the first official trailer of its highly anticipated adaptation of Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The trailer, which was released on Wednesday, gives fans a glimpse of the dangerous and thrilling world of Greek mythology, where modern demigods must fight to save the world from the wrath of the ancient gods.

The trailer introduces us to the main characters of the show, starting with Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), a 12-year-old boy who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. He is joined by his friends Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), a daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), a satyr, or half-goat, half-human creature.

Together, they embark on a quest to find and return Zeus’s stolen master lightning bolt, which has sparked a feud among the Olympian gods.

The teaser trailer also features some of the iconic scenes and locations from the books, such as the Camp Half-Blood, a training ground and safe haven for demigods, and some of the mythical monsters they will face throughout the series.

The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is based on the first book of the series, The Lightning Thief, which was published in 2005 and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The series consists of five books, each following a different quest of Percy and his friends. The books also spawned two feature films, a musical, and a graphic novel series.

The show is created by Riordan and his wife Becky Riordan, who serve as executive producers. It is expected to premiere on Disney+ on December 20, 2023, with the first season consisting of eight episodes. Fans can watch the trailer on the official Disney+ YouTube channel or on the show’s website.

The post Disney+ releases first teaser trailer of Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series appeared first on Technobaboy.

Elon Musk is thinking of charging users a “small monthly payment” to access X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X, with the vision of creating an “everything app” that would offer a variety of services, such as messaging, payments, e-commerce, and entertainment.

Musk said on Monday while answering a question from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the role of bots spreading and amplifying online anti-Semitism.

Musk said there are plans to move X behind a paywall, requiring every user to pay “a small amount of money” to use the platform, adding that the move is necessary to “combat vast armies of bots” that are spreading misinformation and spam on X.

The paywall, he adds, will increase the cost of maintaining and running bots, discouraging their use. “Because a bot costs a fraction of a penny — call it a tenth of a penny — but if somebody even has to pay a few dollars, some minor amount, the effective cost of bots is very high,” Musk said.

Musk did not specify how much the monthly fee would be, or when it would take effect.

X is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with more than 550 million monthly active users. It is also a major source of news and information for many people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Placing X behind a paywall is the latest drastic move from Musk. The billionaire made a lot of them since purchasing Twitter. To name a few, he fired thousands of employees, cut down content moderation, rebranded Twitter to X, and even, challenged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight.

Via

The post Elon Musk could charge users a “small monthly payment” for X appeared first on Technobaboy.

itel launched the new budget-friendly itel S23+, which boasts a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display and a 50MP dual rear camera. The phone is priced at USD 120 (~PHP 6,800) and is available in African countries through local itel shops.

The itel S23+ is powered by the Unisoc T616 chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card. The phone runs on Android 13 with itel’s own itelOS 13 interface, which features Aivana GPT, an AI-based voice assistant, and Dynamic RAM expansion.

The phone has a 6.78-inch FHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It also supports the Dynamic Bar, which shows notifications for incoming calls, reminders, and battery status.

The display has a punch-hole cutout for the 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. It also has a fingerprint scanner embedded under the screen.

The itel S23+ has a dual rear camera setup that consists of a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and autofocus, and an unspecified secondary sensor. The camera supports eye tracking and portrait lite features for better portraits.

The phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging via a USB-C port. According to itel, it can charge the phone in about two hours The device also has an NFC chip for contactless payments and other functions.

The itel S23+ comes in two color options: Lake Cyan and Elemental Blue. It is priced at USD 120 (roughly PHP 6,800) in Africa. There’s no information yet on global availability.

For more information about the itel S23+, you can visit itel’s official website.

itel S23+ specs

The post itel S23+ offers curved AMOLED screen and 50MP camera for $120 appeared first on Technobaboy.

Qualcomm announced a new mobile platform that aims to deliver high performance, long battery life, and advanced features for mid-range devices.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is based on a 4-nanometer process technology, which is expected to offer improved power efficiency and thermal management compared to the previous generation. The platform features an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.95 GHz. The GPU is the Adreno 710, which supports up to 2520 x 1080 display resolution and HDR10+ video playback.

The platform also boasts a number of features that are designed to enhance the user experience, such as:

• A neural processing unit (NPU) that enables AI applications such as voice assistants, face recognition, and camera enhancements.
• A X62 modem that supports both sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G bands, as well as LTE Cat. 18, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and GPS.
• A Spectra ISP that supports up to 200MP single camera or dual cameras with zero shutter lag.
• A Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec that delivers high-fidelity sound and noise cancellation.

Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 can offer up to 20% faster performance and up to 30% longer battery life than the previous generation. The company also says that the new chip can provide immersive gaming experiences with smooth graphics and low latency.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is expected to power a range of devices. It is expected to debut on the Redmi Note 13 Pro, set to launch on September 21, 2023.

The post Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a new mobile platform for mid-range devices appeared first on Technobaboy.

HONOR Philippines is set to launch its latest device, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G, on September 26. The new smartphone promises to deliver flagship performance and features at a budget-friendly price.

“We are still overwhelmed with the huge success of our recently launched HONOR 90 5G in the country and we are not stopping there! With that, we are introducing HONOR 90 Lite 5G in the country with equally impressive performance but at a more affordable price point,” said Stephen Cheng, HONOR Philippines Vice President.

The HONOR 90 Lite 5G features a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 2388×1080 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 16.7 million colors. It has a MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB super storage, a 4500mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging, and the Android 13-based HONOR MagicOS 7.1 operating system.

One of the highlights of the HONOR 90 Lite 5G is its 100MP triple camera system, which includes a 100MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide and depth camera, and a 2MP macro camera.

It also has a 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The device also supports various modes such as night mode, panorama mode, pro mode, slow motion mode, and time-lapse mode.

Catch the much-anticipated launch of the HONOR 90 Lite live on Facebook this September 26 here: http://bit.ly/HONOR90Lite5G.

For more information and updates, you can visit www.hihonor.com/ph or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/. 

HONOR 90 Lite specs

The post HONOR 90 Lite 5G to launch in the Philippines appeared first on Technobaboy.