News

Huawei shipped 140 million smartphones in 2016

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Although Huawei didn’t get the green light from Google to make a Nexus 6P successor (the big G instead gave HTC a shot at redemption with the Pixel phones), 2016 has been a good year for the Chinese phone maker. Exceptionally good, actually.

It is currently the third-biggest OEM behind Samsung and Apple, though this may not be the case a year or two from now. It actually aims to sell more handsets than Apple by 2018. Oh, and it made some $200 million from Android devices, becoming the world’s most profitable Android maker, albeit in part due to the Galaxy Note 7 recall and discontinuation.

[irp posts=”2258″ name=”Huawei P9 and P9 Plus gear up for Southeast Asia release”]

And 2016 keeps getting better for Huawei. The company today said it hit its sales target for the year, and has shipped 140 million smartphones globally thus far, including over 10 million P9 and P9 Plus units since April and 7 million Mate 8s. In the third quarter alone, it shipped over 33 million units, a 23 percent improvement over the same period last year.

Not only that, Huawei has set a new sales record after posting its best-ever year in 2015. Notably, Huawei managed to sell 108 million handsets throughout the previous year. What’s even more impressive is that Huawei’s latest premium models, the Mate 9, Mate 9 Pro, and Porsche Design Mate 9, haven’t made it to stores in the U.S. and Europe yet. And that it has sold more units than ever without Google’s Nexus/Pixel branding, and despite growing competition from other Chinese OEMs.

Huawei has yet to announce its goals for 2017, but there’s clearly a lot of work to be done to make next year even more memorable for the company. It will be interesting to see if it has more upside to offer after back-to-back years of incredible growth.

[irp posts=”8065″ name=”Apple rules smartphone profits, Chinese brands distant second”]

Source: Android Headlines

Gaming

FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods delayed to 2027

The game needs more development time.

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It’s been a while since the last time we got a FromSoftware game. Elden Ring Nightreign felt like an age ago, even if it was launched just last year. Plus, the title isn’t even a new one, technically, since it’s just building off of Elden Ring. Unfortunately, our wait for a new FromSoftware game has to go on for a little bit longer. FromSoftware has delayed the launch of The Duskbloods to 2027.

The Duskbloods is an interesting addition to the FromSoftware oeuvre. Compared to the usual fare, the Switch-exclusive title is a multiplayer extraction game with a distinctly Bloodborne-like feel. If you’re used to FromSoftware’s usual formula, The Duskbloods represents a huge change.

But it’s a welcome one, nonetheless. If the recently released Elden Ring port of the Switch 2 is any indication, FromSoftware does have a handle of what performance looks like on the console.

Sadly, the new title needs a bit more time in the oven. Citing “final adjustments to game rules and balancing,” FromSoftware is delaying the launch of the game to 2027. According to the studio, this is in response to the successful network test a while back.

The delay shouldn’t come off as a surprise. Though the studio promised a 2026 launch for the title, most of the year has passed without a definite launch date. That was already a telltale sign that a delay was coming.

At the very least, the delay comes with the benefit of launching the game farther away from Grand Theft Auto VI and the Ocarina of Time remake, which will surely dominate holiday gaming this year.

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Laptops

Yes, you can turn off the MacBook Pro’s touchscreen display

No need to complain anymore.

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The launch of the new MacBook Pro is a polarizing one, to say the least. The notebook introduces a new touchscreen feature that isn’t really an automatic hit for fans. Some have even pointed out how Steve Jobs once said that touchscreen MacBooks were a bad idea. If you’re a part of this group, a new discovery might alleviate your worries a little bit. Apparently, you can turn off the new MacBook Pro’s touchscreen functionalities.

According to MacStories’s Federico Viticci, the new MacBook Pro with Touch includes accessibility features that can turn off the touchscreen entirely. Other early testers have also corroborated this option.

A touchscreen notebook isn’t the most popular type of laptop. Though this particular display has been available for quite a while, it hasn’t really taken off. Case in point, Apple’s announcement hasn’t been met with the warmest of fanfare.

It’s also telling that Apple baked in a way to turn this setting off. At the very least, we didn’t have to wait a while. The hullabaloo is reminiscent of the reception to Liquid Glass, another polarizing feature that Apple eventually made configurable for detractors.

Also, this isn’t the first time that Apple tried experimenting with the MacBook. Do you remember the short-lived Touch Bar?

Strangely, it’s such a strong contrast to the MacBook Neo launched earlier this year. Whereas that particular model debuted to applause, the new MacBook Pro attracted more raised eyebrows.

SEE ALSO: What the MacBook should touch on instead

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News

TechLife Pad Neo SE: Price, availability in the Philippines

Now available at PhP 8,999 SRP, with deals on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

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TechLife has officially launched the Pad Neo SE. It’s a 10.1-inch tablet aimed at families, positioned as a study device first, with room for creativity and after-school entertainment. It comes in Space Grey, Bubble Blue, and Aurora Green.

The Eye Comfort Display is the main draw. The larger screen gives kids more space for research and online classes. It’s designed to keep longer study sessions easier on the eyes.

Dual stereo speakers handle lessons and shared family viewing, while split-screen support lets kids and parents run two tasks at once.

The tablet supports Smart Parental Control and Google Kids Space. Parents can pick the apps, books, videos, and learning content their kids can access.

For the hardware, the Pad Neo SE runs Android 16 on an octa-core processor. It offers up to 8GB of RAM, including memory expansion, and 64GB of storage that can be expanded up to 1TB.

Also, its 6000mAh battery last through a full school day of classes and lessons. Rounding out the spec sheet are 5MP front and rear cameras and the Google Gemini AI assistant.

Price, availability in the Philippines

The Pad Neo SE retails at PhP 8,999. With vouchers, it can go for as low as PhP 7,099 on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

As part of TechLife’s Peak Season offers, which run from October 29, 2026 to January 3, 2027, buyers get a free Folio Case or a free Power Bank R211 5,000mAh, depending on availability. An online giveaway for the Pad Neo SE also starts October 29 on TechLife’s official social media pages.

Vouchers apply to participating online platforms only. Stocks and vouchers are limited. Freebies are available while supplies last.

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