News

HTC 10 announced: Android flagship for iPhone owners

Published

April 12, 2016

Monch Lopez

After months of leaks and rumors, HTC has unveiled its flagship smartphone for 2016, the simply named HTC 10. It has a lot riding on its shoulders — or, should we say, metal body? — given HTC’s consistently poor sales amid increasing competition from Apple, Samsung, and Chinese brands.

Note that the troubled Taiwanese-based manufacturer has dropped the One branding and M designation altogether, as well as many HTC-branded bloatware like HTC Audio and the standalone Zoe app (though Zoe is built in to the stock camera software), in an attempt to create a more focused device. One that, at first glance, seems to be aimed squarely at iPhone users who are considering making the switch to Android.

And if its gorgeous aluminum finish, unibody construction, and stripped-down interface aren’t appealing enough to sustain the interest of Apple fans, consider that the HTC 10 is the first non-Apple phone to support AirPlay, meaning it can be used to stream content to the Apple TV and other iOS devices.

The simply named HTC 10

Over to the camera department, the HTC 10 is equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization and f/1.8 aperture lens for capturing more light and producing brighter and clearer photos in dim lighting. The 5-megapixel front-facer has the same aperture as the rear cam and is likewise optically stabilized — a first for any phone maker, according to HTC.

When it comes to under-the-hood specifications, the HTC 10 matches the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5 spec-for-spec, fitting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM. The 32GB of onboard storage should prove to be satisfactory for most users, though a microSD card slot that houses up to 1TB cards (that don’t exist yet) is there for those who need more memory.

Display purists will be delighted to note that the HTC 10 has one of the most pixel-dense screens around, sporting a 5.2-inch Quad HD display topped off with curved-edge glass. And while we’re not in a position to comment on picture quality, our positive experiences with recent HTC flagships going back to the HTC One M7 inspire much confidence.

However, we can’t say the same for the non-user-replaceable 3,000mAh cell, which the phone maker claims is big enough to power the device through two days of usage. Regardless, you’ll be able to charge it quickly through a USB Type-C connector that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 rapid-charging technology.

The HTC 10 is now available for preorder in the U.S. for $700 (P32,500) and will ship in four colors: gray, silver, gold, and red. Shipping will begin around May.

[irp posts=”11392″ name=”HTC’s ‘unexpected surprise’ is surprisingly disappointing”]

Related Topics:AirPlay HTC 10 HTC One smartphones

News

Xiaomi 18 Pro series is launching globally, Xiaomi confirms

Xiaomi’s phone with two screens is finally going global.

Published

September 25, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As you can probably read from our reviews, we were impressed with the Xiaomi 17 series. Like previous years, the Chinese brand knows how to make impressive flagships. Unfortunately, despite our raving, the world didn’t get the complete flagship experience because the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max were exclusive for Chinese users. This year, however, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max will finally grace the entire world with their presence.

Recently, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Pro duo. Normally, the launch of the Pro series doesn’t make waves outside of China because of the exclusive release. However, soon after the series’ debut, Xiaomi CMO Xu Fei officially confirmed that the duo will make a global debut sometime this year.

Now, the launch of the two smartphones should catch your eye. While the regular Xiaomi 18 series belongs to the more traditional form factors for smartphones, the two Pro models feature a smaller 2.7-inch (or a 2.9-inch) LTPO AMOLED rear screen, adding that extra bit of spice even if the phone is facing downwards. Other than that, the series comes with up to a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It also features a trio of rear cameras including a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 200-megapixel periscope lens, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor. In front, it has a 50-megapixel selfie shooter. Finally, the series goes up to an 8500mAh battery.

To be clear, there is a chance that the global version won’t match these specs. Regardless, it’s surely an impressive phone when it does launch elsewhere.

Apps

Google Photos can now censor your kid’s face better

The new Redact feature can censor sensitive information.

Published

September 25, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Censoring photos is heavy work. Either you stick on random emojis or draw an indiscriminate splotch of doodles to cover sensitive information. It’s an imperfect art but an essential one to protect privacy. Today, Google Photos is getting a Redact feature which can censor sensitive bits with pixelated blocks.

An addition to the Markup tool, Redact acts like a nifty pen that can hide information that you don’t want seen. Unlike a ghastly emoji or a splotch, the censored bar mixes better with the surrounding elements. In the example that Google used, a censored license plate blends well with the car it’s attached to, making the photo look more cohesive. Besides license plates, it’s the perfect tool for covering other information like phone numbers, addresses, and the faces of your loved ones.

Google Photos is also rolling out Moods, a set of filters that give photos a nostalgic look, including a 2000s night digicam vibe that’s popular today. There are also 15 new Remix templates to add more creation options.

Both the Redact and the Moods features will roll out to Android users starting today. The new Remix templates, however, will be limited to some countries on both Android and iOS.

News

Power Mac Center SM Aura is now an Apple Premium Partner store

With a new protection plan dubbed as “1Protect” for your precious new iPhones

Published

September 23, 2026

Vincenz

Photos and graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Power Mac Center has upgraded its SM Aura branch into an Apple Premium Partner (APP) store. The “APP” designation is the highest tier for reseller stores worldwide.

Originally opened in 2014, the redesigned store now houses its retail space, training center, and a service center in one.

The new space also puts more emphasis on learning. Free group demos will be held every Friday to Sunday. These will cover topics such as iPad creativity, or camera features, personalization, and Continuity for the latest iPhone series.

To celebrate the opening, customers can also score discounts on select Apple devices and accessories until September 27, 2026.

Deals include up to:

₱PhP 36,000 off MacBook Pros
PhP 19,500 off iPads
PhP 3000 off Apple Watches; and
PhP 11,000 off iPhone models

There are also service discounts until September 25. Plus, new iPhones purchases here are also covered with 1Protect device protection.

ICYMI, it’s a partnership between PMC and Bolttech. It’s basically a new way to protect your precious new iPhones.

Your regular one-year warranty does not cover accidental drops and water damage. Purchasing this new device protection plan (good for one year) gives you an unlimited dose of that.

Parts are guaranteed original and is an official part of AppleCare Services.

This protection program also covers one-time unwarranted exchanges (or change of mind returns) from micro scratches to color options. It will even replace your iPhone (of the same model and configuration) if it was stolen once.