News

Acer’s Liquid Jade Primo is a flagship Windows 10 phone that doubles somewhat as a pocket PC

Published

April 14, 2016

Monch Lopez

Contrary to what you may have seen on the news, Microsoft isn’t the only company with an interest in seeing Windows 10 Mobile take off.

Amid sluggish growth — which according to industry analyst IDC, won’t get much better in the foreseeable future — and a dismal 2015 that saw its mobile operating system’s market share dip to 2.2 percent (compared to Android’s 81 percent), Microsoft has found a hardware partner in Acer, which produced the phone you’re looking at now.

This is Acer’s Liquid Jade Primo, a flagship Windows 10 Mobile handset that flaunts more curves than anything Microsoft or any other Windows phone maker has built in the past. But that’s not to say we haven’t seen anything like it; we’ve seen this design plenty of times on Acer smartphones running Android.

And that’s good to hear, as the Primo is smooth to the touch and more comfortable to hold and operate than its size would suggest. In keeping with Acer’s Liquid designation, soft melted wax is a good way to describe how it feels in the hand.

If there’s one major criticism we’d level at the Primo it’s that the casing is made of lightweight plastic. We get that aluminum unibody enclosures aren’t for everyone, but considering the sticker price, we can’t help but think that premium build materials could have been incorporated in the final design.

Like Microsoft’s Lumia 950 phones, the Primo has a 5.5-inch OLED display with a layer of curved-edge Corning Gorilla Glass on top for added scratch resistance. The screen maxes out at 1080p, which is a shame considering phones in its class typically have Quad HD panels. The 21-megapixel camera around the back impresses in terms of megapixel count, though we’ll have to wait to see how it performs in various situations before passing judgement.

Powering the Primo is a Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM. Its 32GB internal storage is expandable using a microSD card, though at the expense of a second SIM card slot. In our brief testing, we found it responsive and snappy, without any of the jitters you may find in premium, Android-based smartphones.

What really sets this Acer apart from majority of phones on the market is Continuum, Windows 10 Mobile’s killer feature that allows smartphones to function somewhat like desktop PCs when plugged into a dock that connects to a TV or monitor.

And while Continuum only works with apps under Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform (legacy apps might never see a release on the Windows Store, though help is at hand), those who rely heavily on Microsoft’s core productivity software will surely find it valuable.

The Acer Liquid Jade Primo will retail for P28,990 ($630) in the Philippines when it hits select stores later this week. For the price, you get a dock, mouse, and keyboard to complete the pocket PC experience.

[irp posts=”2150″ name=”5 products from Next@Acer event that caught our attention”]

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

Published

July 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140^th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140^th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

News

Samsung releases teaser with Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs

Spot also teases upcoming Galaxy foldable devices

Published

July 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung has just premiered a new spot that showcases clips directly from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, just a few weeks before the movie hits cinemas later this month.

The clip showcases Spider-Man as he fights crime and puts his phone through the wear and tear of superhero life.

In the spot, the Fabricator creates a number of devices for Spider-Man built to stand up to the pace and unpredictability of life behind the mask. This includes what clearly looks like a Galaxy Z Flip phone.

This provides a behind the scenes look into how Peter Parker ultimately landed on a Samsung phone — as fans speculated from the first trailer.

Meanwhile, Ned can also be seen using the Spidey Tracker to try and catch Spider-Man throughout the city on his Samsung phone.

The campaign pretty much formalizes Jacob Batalon — who plays Ned Leeds — as Samsung’s Team Galaxy’s newest ambassador.

The clip ends with the text “A brand new shape for a Brand New Day”, which is also a callback to what the brand has been teasing regarding the future of its Galaxy foldable devices.

Samsung to release latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked

Next week, Samsung is set to launch its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

Ahead of the launch, customers who wish to reserve as early as now can get a US$ 30 credit during pre-order, for a total of up to US$ 1,230 in savings.

Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 US$ 500 Samsung.com gift cards towards their purchase.

Apps

iOS 27 public beta gives us our first taste of Siri AI

You can access the beta for free.

Published

July 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Normally, public betas come and go with nary a peep from anyone but dedicated fans and testers. After all, why care about a beta when the final release is likely just around the corner? This one, however, is special. Today, Apple launched the iOS 27 public beta, and it’s our first taste of the redesigned Siri AI.

Recently, WWDC 2026 unveiled Apple’s latest attempts at entering the AI segment. Whereas previous iterations to incorporate AI failed to make an impact, Siri AI promises to provide users with helpful feedback that’s actually helpful.

Now, in the public beta for iOS 27, users all over can finally access the new assistant. To get to the beta, you need to be a part of the beta program, which you can easily sign up for on beta.apple.com. Once signed up, you can get the update from Software Update in Settings. You’ll see options for a developer beta and a public beta. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta.

At face value, Siri AI offers much of what you’d get from a traditional AI-powered assistant. However, it does slightly differ because it integrates the entire phone. The assistant contextualizes your information (including emails, messages, and photos) to give you the most accurate feedback that you might need.

If that’s not enough, Siri AI also has its own chatbot app. If you’re more used to ChatGPT, the assistant should give you that bit of familiarity.

Now, if you don’t want to go for a beta, Apple is expected to launch iOS 27 in its final form sometime in September.