Lifestyle

Microsoft accused of stealing the Surface Earbuds design

The rapper says he pitched the idea to Microsoft 4 years ago

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Ideally, it’s never a good idea to copy or steal someone else’s work. Being original has maximum benefits and is a testament to your capabilities. However, these ideals haven’t gone down well in the technology industry.

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Earbuds at its New York event and it is radically different from the usual in-canal elongated design of the AirPods. They’re quite huge and the large surface area houses a gesture pad that adds more functionality to a rather mainstream device.

The Surface Earbuds

While we’re glad that Microsoft came up with something different, someone wasn’t too pleased with it. American rapper will.i.am runs a tech startup called I.am+, where they launched wireless earbuds called BUTTONS back in 2016. The artist is accusing Microsoft of stealing his design.

In a series of tweets, will.i.am says that as early as 2015, he pitched his design of the wireless earbuds to Microsoft in a meeting to be part of their Surface lineup.

The company, founded in 2012, initially focussed on consumer electronics devices such as headphones. The company is also developing an enterprise assitant called Omega and has recieved more than US$ 100 million in funding.

Microsoft hasn’t released a statement yet. It’s quite common to find conflicting designs today and it’s harder to prove theft or wrongdoing since the industry is well saturated.

Recently, employees of Xiaomi India have publicly accused Realme of stealing marketing ideas. There has been no response to these allegations, but we’re glad to see there are people who value originality and understand a creator’s hard work.

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Entertainment

Netflix: Kris Aquino makes on-screen comeback with fictional role

Long-time TV icon named “C.H.I.K.A.” of Netflix

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August 7, 2026

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Long-time popular Philippine TV icon Kris Aquino has made her on-screen comeback as Netflix’s fictional C.H.I.K.A., or “Chief Head of Insights and Kontent Analysis.”

Netflix initially teased the campaign through a post mentioning that they were “hiring” for the said position.

The post also contained a bullet list of descriptions that served as clues. Not long after, the streaming giant bared the former presidential daughter and presidential sister has made her comeback.

A teaser has likewise been released. The fun skit features Aquino in this new fictional role, giving her signature witty commentary inside the Netflix editing room to ensure that the production of local entertainment content is of topnotch quality.

Two more episodes will be rolled out on August 14 and 20.

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Entertainment

New Yorkers compete in Ted Lasso lookalike contest at Apple Fifth Avenue

Futbol is life!

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August 7, 2026

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Apple Fifth Avenue or Nelson Road? New Yorkers gathered at the iconic flagship store as it transformed into a slice of AFC Richmond for a Ted Lasso lookalike contest celebrating the return of the hit Apple TV+ series.

Dozens of fans arrived in Ted’s signature look, complete with mustaches, visors, blue sweaters, and khakis. Inside the store, the AFC Richmond takeover continued with themed photo opportunities and hidden Easter eggs for longtime fans to discover.

The celebration continued across Midtown and Central Park, where brand ambassadors spread kindness with “Believe” signs, complimentary coffee and tea, a tunnel of cheering Teds for runners, and the Goldfish Zone, where visitors symbolically let go of worries by dropping paper fish into a fishbowl.

Photo by Apple

The takeover marked the return of Ted Lasso, which premiered its fourth season on Apple TV+ on Aug. 5, which arrives more than three years after Season 3 concluded in 2023.

Jason Sudeikis returns as the relentlessly optimistic coach, this time leading AFC Richmond’s newly formed women’s team while reuniting with familiar faces.

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Features

GadgetSnaps: Westminster Abbey

A thousand years of history, unfolded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

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August 4, 2026

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

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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