News
iOS 15.4 optimizes Face ID while wearing a mask
New emojis and safety features too
Years since the pandemic started, Apple is finally adding support for Face ID while using a mask. Despite the easing of restrictions, masks are here to stay. That said, it will be useful to easily access your phone while remaining masked up. Apple is adding just that (and a lot of other new features) in the iOS 15.4 update.
The update has started rolling out to Apple’s lineup. Updated devices will start recognizing familiar faces even while masked up. Previously, Apple added rudimentary versions of the tech. Past updates included partial facial recognition but only if the user was also wearing an Apple Watch. For the first time, devices won’t need an external device (or an unmasked face) to grant access to users.
Besides the new facial recognition feature, iOS 15.4 will also add a host of anti-stalking measures for linked AirTags. Malicious parties using the tracker for ill-willed purposes have been a persistent problem for Apple since the AirTag’s launch.
Further, to promote inclusivity, the update added a new gender-neutral voice option for Siri. Since Siri’s launch, the iconic voice has grown to accommodate other cultures including Black voices.
Finally, the update adds a host of new emojis including a few interesting ones.
Now, to round out the other side of things, accompanying updates iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 will introduce Universal Control. Updated Macs can now use the mouse and keyboard to control updated iPads. With that feature, users can also seamlessly transfer data between iPads and Macs.
iOS 15.4 is already available for download.
SEE ALSO: How to maximize the features from iOS 15
Entertainment
DC’s Clayface teaser shows off a horror-filled superhero movie
Our first taste of James Gunn’s Gotham City will be frightening.
Last year, James Gunn’s Superman sparked an impressive wave of excitement for the new DC Universe. Though this year’s spotlight is on Supergirl, Clayface is also getting an eponymous film, giving us our first taste of Gotham City in this bustling universe.
There’s been a lot of mystery surrounding this film. For one, Gotham City’s DCU debut is based on, arguably, a secondary villain, rather than any member of the Bat-Family. Secondly, Gunn has confirmed that the movie will heavily lean towards the horror genre, a feat others have tried but often failed.
Today, DC Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Clayface. And no, Gunn wasn’t kidding when he said this is going to be a horror film.
Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising movie star suddenly scarred by a violent attack. Desperate to resurrect his career, he resorts to a scientific experiment that turns his skin into moldable clay.
As the teaser hints, the film will not shy away from body horror, including shots of Hagen’s disfigured face either from the attack or from the clay. It’s a big departure from the more traditional style of Superman or Supergirl. But it’s a gamble that might pay off for a universe as young as the DCU.
It’s also apropos that the DCU’s first horror film is getting a horror-themed premiere. Clayface will premiere in cinemas on October 23, 2026.
SEE ALSO: Superman sequel, titled Man of Tomorrow, comes out in 2027
Automotive
VinFast to expand in the Philippines with e-scooters: report
VinFast to compete head-on with major motorbike players
VinFast is bringing its electric scooters to the Philippines.
According to a report by TopGear, the Vietnamese EV manufacturer has signed agreements with 14 local distributors.
The report mentioned that specifically, the Evo, Feliz II, and Viper models shall be made available. The rollout will naturally begin in metro areas, as expected.
These models provide longer range on a single full charge and higher top speeds compared to budget e-bikes. It means they are suitable to be driven on major highways, provided that drivers have a license and the scooter is registered.
Moreover, in what is somewhat similar to Gogoro’s model from a few years back, VinFast is set to have 30,000 battery-swapping stations nationwide.
This way, drivers wouldn’t have to worry about running out of battery power while on the road. They can simply swap batteries instead of looking for charging stations.
This development means VinFast is competing head-on against other fuel-powered motorcycle brands in a market where such vehicles are popular for everyday use.
Not only that, VinFast will likewise compete with the likes of Yadea, RUX Electric Mobility, and even Hatasu to a certain extent.
It doesn’t come as a surprise as back home, VinFast is aggressively pushing for electrification, selling e-scooters to consumers.
This is aligned with the government’s goal to eventually ban petrol motorbikes in major cities, including the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Given the massive rate the production is going, it is only sensible for VinFast to also target nearby markets where it already has a presence, including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In the Philippines, the Vingroup’s EV arm already competes in the electric cars and SUVs segment. Its offerings include the VF3 and VF5.
Laptops
Intel launches the new Core Ultra Series 3 processors
Expect new laptops all throughout the year.
The next generation of processors are here. After announcing the new series at CES 2026, Intel has now launched the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for laptops, bringing the next level of AI-based computing to modern laptops.
All built using the Intel 18A process, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chipsets will come with an integrated NPU that can deliver up to 50 TOPS. And this is all native to the PC; Intel demonstrated that a laptop infused with the chipset can still operate all of its AI capabilities without an internet connection.
Additionally, Intel is touting the generation’s integrated Xe3 graphics architecture. Already touting the capabilities of graphics on its own, the architecture can also improve performance through the new XeSS. A competitor to NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS boosts framerate without sacrificing image quality.
Finally, the chipsets work extra hard in the background by extending battery life, despite high workloads. Intel touts that the Series 3 can deliver the best battery life among all Intel-powered AI PCs.
Devices with the chipset are expected to roll out all throughout the whole year. In the Philippines, you can expect new laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI.
SEE ALSO: Favorite Laptops of 2025
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