News

Samsung W2017 is the flip phone of your dreams

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As cool as it was to see a modern, Android-powered clamshell phone from Samsung last August, the Galaxy Folder 2 didn’t exactly impress outside of its throwback design. Things are a little different now with the launch of the high-end W2017, which is the hottest flippy phone you can probably buy soon.

Emphasis on probably, because you’d have to reside in China or have one shipped to get a hold of the W2017. Yes, it’s currently exclusive to the Chinese market, but that isn’t even the worst part.

Although the exact price hasn’t been confirmed yet, you might have to fork over CNY 20,000, which converts to nearly $3,000. Wowza!

Samsung W2017 angles

The Samsung W2017 in gold

If that sounds totally outrageous to you, we’d understand, but this isn’t the first out-of-this-world pricing we’ve seen from Samsung. Its predecessor, the aptly named W2016, cost a whopping CNY 9,999 — half as much, but still excessively premium.

So, how does the W2017 justify its price tag? First of all, it has a two 4.2-inch Full HD AMOLED screens — one on each side of the handset’s cover. The outer display has Samsung’s Always On feature, meaning it can constantly stay on to alert you of notifications without significantly draining the battery.

Beneath everything is Qualcomm’s high-powered Snapdragon 820 processor (the same found in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S7), an ample 4GB of memory, and 64GB of internal storage that you can expand using a microSD card.

For shooting photos and videos, you have a 12-megapixel camera at the back and 5-megapixel shooter on the inside for vanity. The former is more special, as it has a bright f/1.9 aperture for fast shots under poor lighting conditions, as well as 4K resolution video recording.

Samsung W2017 gold and black

Gold and black models of the Samsung W2017

The only knock against it is the unremarkable 2300mAh battery, so good luck lasting more than a day with both displays sapping power at the same time. But if the price is something you can manage, ordering a fitting power bank shouldn’t be much trouble.

Luckily, there’s also fast charging to fill up the W2017 in a jiffy, plus a fingerprint scanner that supports Samsung Pay, in case you’re into high-tech payment methods.

While there’s no Galaxy branding to its name, the W2017 does indeed have Android 6.0 Marshmallow as its operating system. We’re guessing the moniker doesn’t matter much to Sammy anymore, since the Galaxy TabPro S convertible has the title sans Android.

And before we forget, it’ll come in two colors: black or gold. Choose wisely!

[irp posts=”4460″ name=”Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 brings back clamshell design”]

Source: SamMobile

Gaming

Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support

PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.

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Things aren’t going well in the PlayStation camp. After two months of frankly questionable decisions, the company adds another to the pile by dropping support for Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT.

For a while now, Kojima and PlayStation were in a very productive relationship with the Death Stranding duology, a critically acclaimed collection of titles for the platform. When things looked like they were going well, Kojima announced PHYSINT, an espionage-themed game which reminded fans way too much of Metal Gear Solid.

If you were investing in a PlayStation 5 to play Kojima’s latest thriller, you might want to move your chips elsewhere now. PlayStation has just dropped support for the espionage game, meaning PHYSINT will no longer be a first-party title for the platform.

Though PlayStation claims that the decision came after “careful consideration,” Kojima himself has said that the move was “unexpected,” going against PlayStation’s assurance of a mutual separation.

Very quickly, Xbox has announced that their platform will support PHYSINT instead. It’s a big get for the competing brand because Xbox Game Studios is already supporting OD, Kojima’s other upcoming horror project starring Sophia Lillis.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say more. As is tradition, Kojima will not explain much more about his upcoming titles. In fact, OD’s trailer barely says anything. One thing’s for sure, though: we’re all in for quite a ride.

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Entertainment

PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2

Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost

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The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.

The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.

Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.

What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.

Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.

The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.

The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.

Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.

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News

iPhone Duo: Price, availability in the Philippines

As listed on the Apple website

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Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It uses a passport-style design that opens into a larger display while retaining a more conventional smartphone experience when folded.

Price and availability

The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990 in the Philippines for the 256GB model as listed on the Apple website.

Here’s the full local pricing:

  • 256GB — PhP 159,990
  • 512GB — PhP 175,990
  • 1TB — PhP 207,990
  • 2TB — PhP 254,990

The iPhone Duo comes in Star White and Night Sky.

Actual availability in the Philippines has yet to be officially announced.

A foldable design with two displays

The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display when folded and expands to a 7.6-inch main display when opened. Both orientations use the same aspect ratio, allowing iOS to transition between them seamlessly.

The rear chassis uses Ceramic Shield, while the front display gets Ceramic Shield 2. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.

Its hinge uses carbon fiber supports and magnets that produce an audible click when the phone is folded.

A20 Pro brings flagship performance

The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple says the chip delivers 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.

It also comes with the new C2 cellular modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster uploads. Like other foldables, the Duo can be used in different configurations, including tent mode and a partially folded book-like position.

48-megapixel camera system

The iPhone Duo gets a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera alongside a 12-megapixel 2x telephoto camera.

For selfies and video calls, it has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The inner display also uses an under-screen camera for a cleaner look.

Battery life goes beyond a day

The iPhone Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.

Charging is also quick. Apple says a 20-minute charge can replenish half the battery, while a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of video playback.

For the complete specifications and first-look details, check out our main iPhone Duo launch coverage.

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