News
Apple Watch Series 9 with ‘double tap’ announced
And new powerful chip
How do you make “the best” and “most popular” smartwatch even better? You make it faster and add a unique gesture. For Apple Watch Series 9, Apple used its most powerful wearable chip yet, the S9 SiP and added an intriguing “double tap” gesture.
S9 SiP chip
The Apple Watch Series 8 was already feature packed. But like usual, Apple outdid itself again with the S9 SiP chip. It makes on-device Siri possible. That means it’s more secure and all the processing happens on the watch and not in some server somewhere. It’s also power efficient, helping the Apple Watch Series 9 to an all-day 18-hour battery life.
Double Tap gesture
The most noticeable new thing for the Apple Watch Series 9 is the new Double Tap feature. To execute, you simply have to press your index finger and thumb on the same hand while wearing the Apple Watch.
Double Tapping can do many things. It can start and/or end a call, bring up the Smart Stack widget and let you cycle through it. You can also use it to pause/play music, as well as the shutter button for your iPhone.
How does it work? It’s enabled by the faster Neural Engine in Apple Watch Series 9. It processes data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor with a new machine learning algorithm.
The algorithm detects the unique signature of tiny wrist movements and changes in blood flow when the index finger and thumb perform a double tap. The double tap gesture will be available in a software update in October.
More notable features
Other notable changes include the brighter display which goes up to 2,000 nits. But don’t worry, it’ll just necessarily depend on where you are. When at a cinema, for example, it can drop down to just 1 nit so you won’t be that annoying person shining in the middle of the theater.
On-device processings means Siri can now be used to access data from the Health app for health- and fitness-related queries.
It also has a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip to enable Precision Finding for the iPhone 15 family, which has the same chip. This enables Precision Finding which provides distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone, even if it is in a different room.
Featuring watchOS 10
Apple Watch Series 9 runs watchOS 10 which enables a plethora of new things:
- A fresh approach to quickly view information with redesigned apps and a new Smart Stack to show relevant widgets right when they’re needed.
- Delightful new watch faces: Snoopy, Palette, and Solar Analog. A new Nike watch face, Nike Globe, lights up the lines on the globe with each passing second.
- Bluetooth connectivity for power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors arrives for cyclists, unlocking new metrics and Workout Views, and cycling workouts.
- A cycling workout can automatically show up as a Live Activity on iPhone and utilize the full screen when tapped.
- New Compass Waypoints and Maps capabilities to further help during outdoor adventures.
- Additional tools to support mental health with state of mind logging in the Mindfulness app.
- The ability to measure time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor to help reduce the risk of myopia and provide additional benefits to physical and mental health for all ages.
watchOS 10 will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later on Monday, September 18, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 17. Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions.
Carbon Neutral models
Apple had a fun skit featuring “Mother Nature” to talk up their sustainability efforts. It wrapped with the announcement of Carbon Neutral models for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE. These are all in service of Apple’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint.
Price, availability
Apple Watch Series 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminum case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases.
Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the U.K., the U.S., and more than 40 other countries and regions can order Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
Apple Watch Series 9 starts at US$ 399/ SG$ 599, and Apple Watch SE starts at US $249/ SG$ 379.
Apple Watch bands, Apple Watch Nike bands, and Apple Watch Hermès bands will be available to order today from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
Drones
DJI officially launches the Avata 360 with 8K immersive imaging
The new flagship drone introduces 1-inch sensors and 360-degree capture to the FPV world.
DJI just redefined the “single take.”
The new DJI Avata 360 combines the raw thrill of FPV flight with a flagship 8K 360° camera system. It effectively gives creators a flying virtual camera that sees everything at once.
This means you no longer have to worry about pointing a gimbal while flying at high speeds. You can simply record the entire environment and choose your favorite angles later in post-production.
Brilliant imaging, post-flight freedom
The headline feature is the imaging, which utilizes dual 1-inch-equivalent sensors capable of 8K/60fps HDR video and 120MP stills.
These massive 2.4 μm pixels handle low light and high dynamic range like a pro, ensuring light and shadow are captured with exquisite clarity.
If you prefer a more traditional look, you can switch to Single Lens mode to capture classic Avata-style cinematic lines in 4K/60fps.
Because the drone records in a full sphere, the Virtual Gimbal feature allows for infinite rotation and tilt during editing.
You can fly in one direction while digitally rotating the horizon or shifting the perspective to look directly behind the drone without ever changing your actual flight path.
Flagship transmission, smarter safety
DJI didn’t just slap a new camera on the old frame. They beefed up the internals to ensure the flight experience is as stable as the footage.
The drone leverages the flagship O4+ video transmission system to deliver crystal-clear 1080p/60fps feeds with a massive 20 km range and strong anti-interference capabilities.
Safety has also seen a major upgrade with Nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing. This makes sunset and low-light flights significantly less stressful.
Plus, the front lens element now features a user-replaceable design. If you push a gap a little too hard and scratch the glass, you can swap it out yourself instead of shipping the whole unit back for repairs.
Intelligent tracking, high-speed workflow
The magic continues once the drone is back on the ground through the DJI Fly and Studio apps.
Features like ActiveTrack 360° and Spotlight Free allow the drone to lock onto subjects and replicate sophisticated camera movements that usually require a professional dual-operator setup.
With 42GB of internal storage and high-speed Wi-Fi 6 transfer, you can capture 30 minutes of 8K footage without an SD card and beam it to your phone at up to 100 MB/s.
Price, availability
The DJI Avata 360 is compatible with DJI Goggles, the RC Motion 3, and standard RC 2 controllers, with pre-orders live today and shipping starting in April 2026.
- DJI Avata 360 (DJI RC 2): PhP 38,290
- DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2): PhP 47,890
- DJI Avata 360 Motion Fly More Combo (Goggles N3): PhP 47,890
Automotive
The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines
Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.
Inchcape Philippines is officially shaking up the compact sedan segment.
The Changan Eado Plus has arrived on local shores, and it’s gunning for the top spot in your driveway.
Available in two trims — Luxe and Lite — the Eado Plus offers the Filipino driver a car that looks like a million bucks without the massive price tag.
Modern aesthetic inside and out
On the outside, the Eado Plus makes a bold statement with its prominent three-dimensional grille and streamlined body lines.
This polished, premium look relies on LED lighting to command a strong presence on the road. Inside, a meticulously curated cabin handles the daily grind with ease.
The Luxe variant carries a massive 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile, the Lite variant keeps you connected with a 7-inch display.
To beat the local climate, Changan included a PM2.5 air filter to keep the cabin air clean, alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that puts all your vital driving data front and center.
Performance and safety without compromise
Under the hood, a 1.5L Bluecore gasoline engine powers both variants. This engine works with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission (WDCT) to deliver a stable, responsive ride.
For those who want more control, the Luxe variant offers selectable Eco and Normal driving modes to match your mood or the traffic conditions.
Safety remains a top priority, as the Eado Plus houses a comprehensive suite of protection. Beyond the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the car packs in practical features like rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX tethers for families.
Pricing, availability
To celebrate the launch, Changan offers the Eado Plus with aggressive introductory pricing through April 30, 2026.
During this period, the 1.5 Luxe DCT costs only PhP 749,999, while the 1.5 Lite DCT goes for just PhP 699,000. These rates offer a significant discount from the standard prices of PhP 799,999 and PhP 750,000, respectively.
Drivers can choose from four colors: White, Black, Andean Gray, and Titanium Silver Gray (via special order).
Gaming
Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical
Physical releases will have the same price.
The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.
Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.
The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.
The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.
To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.
Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.
SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States
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