News
Amazon’s Echo Loop is a smart ring with Alexa assistant
Alexa is literally everywhere
Years back Amazon tried its luck with a smartphone — the Firephone. It received a lukewarm response and the e-commerce company ended up with a huge unsold inventory. Fast forward to 2019, Amazon has established itself in the hardware space, but in a different niche.
The Echo line of speakers have been a hit and the main unique selling point has to be Alexa assistant. The voice-enabled assistant is competing against Google Assistant and Siri, both of which are available in a range of devices.
Taking a step further, Amazon has unveiled the Echo Loop, a smart ring that’s powered by Alexa. It’s a titanium ring that has two built-in mics to take voice commands and help you out on the go.
The ring connects to your phone through Bluetooth and uses your phone’s mobile network to fetch answers to your questions from the cloud. It can also vibrate to discreetly alert you about notifications and incoming calls.
Using a small button you can accept or reject calls and even speed dial your favorite number. To give voice commands, you’ll have to bring the ring close to your mouth and whisper.
The company says it’ll sell this device in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes. It will also send you a demo kit to try out the various sizes before purchasing. The Echo Loop will cost US$ 129, however, that’s a special price for the invitation period.
Amazon also unveiled a slew of other products including smart glasses called Echo Frames and Echo Buds. Both come with Alexa as the backbone and it makes sense for them to test out new devices since wearables are going to be the future.
Gaming
Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support
PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.
Things aren’t going well in the PlayStation camp. After two months of frankly questionable decisions, the company adds another to the pile by dropping support for Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT.
For a while now, Kojima and PlayStation were in a very productive relationship with the Death Stranding duology, a critically acclaimed collection of titles for the platform. When things looked like they were going well, Kojima announced PHYSINT, an espionage-themed game which reminded fans way too much of Metal Gear Solid.
If you were investing in a PlayStation 5 to play Kojima’s latest thriller, you might want to move your chips elsewhere now. PlayStation has just dropped support for the espionage game, meaning PHYSINT will no longer be a first-party title for the platform.
Though PlayStation claims that the decision came after “careful consideration,” Kojima himself has said that the move was “unexpected,” going against PlayStation’s assurance of a mutual separation.
Very quickly, Xbox has announced that their platform will support PHYSINT instead. It’s a big get for the competing brand because Xbox Game Studios is already supporting OD, Kojima’s other upcoming horror project starring Sophia Lillis.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say more. As is tradition, Kojima will not explain much more about his upcoming titles. In fact, OD’s trailer barely says anything. One thing’s for sure, though: we’re all in for quite a ride.
Entertainment
PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2
Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost
The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.
The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.
Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.
What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.
Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.
Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.
The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.
The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.
Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.
Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It uses a passport-style design that opens into a larger display while retaining a more conventional smartphone experience when folded.
Price and availability
The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990 in the Philippines for the 256GB model as listed on the Apple website.
Here’s the full local pricing:
- 256GB — PhP 159,990
- 512GB — PhP 175,990
- 1TB — PhP 207,990
- 2TB — PhP 254,990
The iPhone Duo comes in Star White and Night Sky.
Actual availability in the Philippines has yet to be officially announced.
A foldable design with two displays
The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display when folded and expands to a 7.6-inch main display when opened. Both orientations use the same aspect ratio, allowing iOS to transition between them seamlessly.
The rear chassis uses Ceramic Shield, while the front display gets Ceramic Shield 2. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
Its hinge uses carbon fiber supports and magnets that produce an audible click when the phone is folded.
A20 Pro brings flagship performance
The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple says the chip delivers 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
It also comes with the new C2 cellular modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster uploads. Like other foldables, the Duo can be used in different configurations, including tent mode and a partially folded book-like position.
48-megapixel camera system
The iPhone Duo gets a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera alongside a 12-megapixel 2x telephoto camera.
For selfies and video calls, it has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The inner display also uses an under-screen camera for a cleaner look.
Battery life goes beyond a day
The iPhone Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.
Charging is also quick. Apple says a 20-minute charge can replenish half the battery, while a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of video playback.
For the complete specifications and first-look details, check out our main iPhone Duo launch coverage.
-
News6 days agoHUAWEI Pura X View is 2026’s first WIDE slab-type smartphone
-
News6 days agoThe CAMON Slim 5G is TECNO’s latest ultra-slim smartphone
-
Cameras2 weeks agoDJI Osmo 360 II review: Going all-in on the ecosystem
-
IFA 20261 week agoTECNO MEGABOOK T15 360 unveiled at IFA 2026
-
Gaming1 week agoNBA 2K27 review: A two-way All-Star
-
Reviews2 weeks agoSamsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra review: It’s time to get a foldable
-
News4 days agoiPhone 18 Pro series: Price, availability in the Philippines
-
IFA 20261 week agoTECNO’s POVA 8 Pro gets a stealthy makeover

