Features
GadgetSnaps: Zhengzhou
With the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
Zhengzhou isn’t the first name that slips into your mind when you think of China. Yet the capital of Henan Province holds a story of contrasts; an ancient city wrapped in modernity.
Once dubbed “iPhone City” for being home to the world’s largest iPhone assembly plant, Zhengzhou has been rewriting its identity.
Today, it’s a rising hub for new energy vehicles, with sprawling factories from giants like BYD. Still, beyond the circuits and showrooms, there’s a heartbeat that belongs to history and temples.
Somewhere between my trip to BYD’s space museum and an all-terrain driving circuit (yes, me, pretending to be an off-road and racing pro), I slipped the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 out of my fleece jacket and decided to play tourist-slash-poet.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life’s little detours deserve their own photoshoot.
When faith finds you at Zhengzhou City God Temple
I used to breeze through temples, dismissing them as crowded tourist stops. That changed when life tested my faith. I learned to stop looking at the crowds and start looking inward. Yes, I started offering prayers and seeking silence.
That mindset carried me into the Zhengzhou City God Temple, a Taoist site dedicated to the city’s guardian deity. Its ancient structures — an opera stage and a main hall — were adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, a testament to folk culture and devotion.
Taoism speaks of harmony with the Tao, also known as the natural flow of the universe. I don’t always get it right, but here I simply let myself go with the current.
Because sometimes, when you stop trying to control everything, the universe reminds you just how good it can get.
Standing still at the Confucian Temple
Then came the Zhengzhou Confucian Temple, first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Nearly two thousand years of history echo throughout this site. Though damaged and rebuilt over time, it retains its profound Confucian ambiance, especially if you take the time to walk through each hall.
I wandered through solemn halls, watched the sunlight fall across the cypress-lined courtyard, and admired the towering Dacheng Hall.
Confucianism is about social harmony and discipline; values I don’t fully claim as my own. So instead of searching for meaning in the teachings, I simply stood still, overlooking the courtyard.
While others explored at length, I soaked in the sun’s warmth against the cold wind. Sometimes presence is the only lesson we need.
Walking back in time at Fuminli
By sunset, we were at Fuminli, a historic district where mid-20th-century bricks meet hip cafés and boutiques. It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder if the bricks are original or just really good at cosplay.
The old single-story buildings now hold shops and cafés, turning this pocket of Zhengzhou into a backdrop for Instagram grids.
Still, walking through, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d stepped into a film photograph. The walls held stories, and the air smelled of food. I, of course, was busy finding the best spot for an Instagram photo.
Wishing (or not wishing) at Ruyi Lake
The night pulled us toward Ruyi Lake for the finale. The city’s glowing landmark is a man-made beauty under the Zhengzhou skyline. It was named after a talisman that symbolizes fortune and fulfilled wishes.
Surrounded by the Henan Art Center and Zhengzhou Millennium Royal Plaza (yes, it’s the so-called Corn Tower because it really looks like corn), the place looked cinematic.
The cruise offered light shows and floating performances, as if the canal and lake themselves transformed into a theater with the city skyline acting as the backdrop.
That night, I didn’t make a wish. I just leaned against the railing, with the wind in my hair, replaying the choices that brought me here. Spoiler: I was proud of them.
Through the lens of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
Even as an extrovert, I’m too shy to ask strangers for photos. With the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7, I captured myself and the city in angles only a flexible lens could make possible. Flex mode and hands-free selfies basically said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
Now, my photos are about to become souvenirs. Soon, they’ll become postcards and films decorating my home. It’s proof that sometimes, the most unexpected detour can give you the best snapshots of yourself, and of the beauty around you.
Apple Pay is officially in the Philippines!
Pushing the country forward into a cashless and cardless future, Apple has now brought its contactless payment system to the Philippines. As with other countries, Apply Pay will work seamlessly and easily even for those who have problems with technology.
Now, despite how easy it is, sometimes we need to be pointed in the right direction. Here’s how you can set up Apple Pay on your iPhone:
Everything starts with the Wallet app. First, open your Wallet app. Tap the “+” button on the top and select “Debit or Credit Card.”
Normally, this is where you can input your card details (which you can still do, by the way), but the default method now is to just tap your card on the back of your iPhone. Your phone does the rest. You might need to confirm with your bank, but it’s as easy as a single tap.
Pick which cards to use. Once you have your cards online, you might need to change which one is the default card. Again, it’s easy. Just drag your preferred card to the front.
Afterwards, you can tap to pay in supported stores by priming the Wallet app for use. Tapping to pay is also available for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, online transactions can also work on MacBook.
Secure, all the time. If you’re worried about your security especially with online transactions, Apple keeps your information only between you and the seller. They don’t store your data.
Also, it’s not easy to make a transaction without your consent. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password. If you lose your phone, you can easily shut your phone down with the Find My app to prevent malicious parties from making transactions.
DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.
The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.
Freedom behind the lens
The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.
On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.
FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.
ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.
It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.
None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.
And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.
The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.
The trade-offs in touch
The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.
DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.
You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.
Finding your ideal workflow
The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.
If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.
Price, availability
DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.
- Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
- Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
- Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.
Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?
The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.
If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.
Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.
Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.
And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.
Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.
This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.
Features
GadgetSnaps: Westminster Abbey
A thousand years of history, unfolded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Westminster Abbey isn’t just another stop on the London tourist trail.
It’s the stage for coronations, royal weddings, and burials that span nearly a thousand years, all still playing out under the same vaulted ceilings that have been standing since before most countries had names.
Once you get past the crowds and the audio guides, a quieter version of the abbey starts to show itself: worn stone steps, poets resting a few feet from kings, light that shifts across the nave like it’s in on the performance too.
While losing track of time in Poets’ Corner (yes, me, playing amateur historian for an afternoon), I unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and decided the abbey deserved more than a quick tourist snap.
All photos captured using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
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