Smartphones

iOS 14’s Screen Time bans users from Googling ‘Asian’

Even if search has nothing to do with porn

Published

February 5, 2021

Luigi Leonardo

If you have a kid, a child filter can help protect them from the more unsavory elements of the internet. Traditionally, such a filter will ban common words like “porn” or “sex.” However, since the porn industry is a lot more… varied now, the feature has to get creative with its filtered words. Unfortunately, one new filter word is causing a controversial issue. iOS 14’s new Screen Time is preventing users from Googling “Asian.”

In the new iOS 14, Apple’s Screen Time can allow users to prevent other users, especially younger ones, from accessing adult websites. As reported by The Independent, the filter bans the word “Asian” and any other phrase containing “Asian.” Meaning, users cannot search for “Asian cuisine,” “Asian culture,” or even “Asian countries.”

In porn, Asian is a fairly popular niche, according to Pornhub’s own statistics. On its own, the anti-Asian filter should only pose a moderate amount of controversy. However, Screen Time doesn’t apparently filter other racial terms including “black,” “white,” or “Korean.” Either way, the anti-Asian filter is an unfair classification especially for those who genuinely want to learn about Asian culture.

According to iOS developer Steven Shen, the bug was initially discovered in 2019. However, Apple has neither responded nor resolved the issue on their own. Though the silence is strange in itself, Shen believes that the kerfuffle is AI-driven, rather than specifically coded by a human developer. It still doesn’t absolve Apple of the responsibility to solve the issue, though.

News

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will debut a month early

Invite confirmed

Published

June 5, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

The last quarter of the year always belongs to Qualcomm. The chipmaker historically hosts an event to unveil what’s coming next for the iconic Snapdragon line. This year is no different. However, it’s coming a bit earlier than expected. The company has officially confirmed that the annual Snapdragon Summit is happening between October 24 to 26.

As always, the Snapdragon Summit will happen in the sunny shores of Maui, Hawaii. However, the official invite confirms a date almost a month earlier than last year’s Summit. Last year, Qualcomm held the event right in the middle of November.

Qualcomm could still throw a curveball and refuse to release the next flagship processor at the event. However, the chances are remarkably low. The company historically launches its most premium offering during the annual event.

Last year, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, an improvement over the first generation of the 8 Series. This time, the company is expected to launch Gen 3 of the iconic lineup.

Currently, not much is known about how the company plans to improve the lineup. However, an earlier launch date means that we will see products with the chipset as early as the holiday season of this year. We won’t have to wait until the next Galaxy smartphone for a remarkably decent flagship with the chipset.

Deals

OPPO 6.6 Mega Sale: Get discounts, freebies

Brighten up the rainy season

Published

June 2, 2023

GadgetMatch

OPPO is set to brighten up the rainy season with its 6.6 Mega Sale on both Lazada and Shopee.

Customers stand to get discounts, vouchers, special freebies, and bundle deals from June 6 to 8 when they purchase participating OPPO smartphones.

Included are the following devices:

A16 4GB
A17k
A17
A55
A76
A95
Reno6 Z
Reno 6 5G
Reno8 T

On Lazada, customers can get up to a 10% cashback, capped at PhP 1,000. A 100% cashback raffle will also reward six lucky winners on both e-commerce apps.

6.6 freebie shower

On 6.6 itself, OPPO will offer buyers various freebies for its smartphones:

A16k: Free Bluetooth speaker
A16 4GB: Free memory card
A55: Free memory card
A76: Free remote-controlled selfie stick
Reno8 T series: Free Neon Island desk pad
Reno 6 series: Free Bluetooth speaker, selfie stick

Meanwhile, the first 12 buyers of OPPO’s latest foldable, the Find Flip N2, will get a free OPPO Enco Air3 and OPPO Watch Free.

Rainy bundles

The budget OPPO A series will also be part of bundle deals from June 6 to 8.

With OPPO Band:

A16k: PhP 6,099
A16 4GB: PhP 7,599
A55: PhP 8,599

With Enco Buds2:

A16k: PhP 6,299
A16 4GB: PhP 7,799
A55: PhP 8,799

In-app discounts, vouchers

Lastly, shoppers should be on the lookout for further discounts and vouchers during the sale period.

Lazada and Shopee both offer free shipping for a PhP 500 minimum spend, as well as PhP 1,000 livestream vouchers for a PhP 4,999 minimum spend.

Lazada will also have a Lazada Bonus for an extra 10% off, capped at PhP 1,000. On the other hand, Shopee will give out 15% off Shopee Mall vouchers capped at PhP 1,000.

Both apps also allow installment at 0% interest rates for OPPO’s smartphones.

Hands-On

moto razr+ Hands-on: Flip Phone Done Right!

Or moto razr 40 ultra globally

Published

June 2, 2023

GadgetMatch

Meet the newest moto razr+ — or moto razr 40 ultra globally. It has all the flagship-grade hardware in a thin and compact form.

But its biggest upgrade has got to be its new full-on cover screen — and it might just be the best one yet!

Can’t wait to see how the new razr looks and feels?

Here’s our hands-on with the new moto razr+.

If you haven’t kept track of the record, motorola released two razr flip phones globally. Those are the motorola razr back in 2019, and the motorola razr 5G in 2020.

motorola (or Lenovo) then skipped the year 2021 and brought us the motorola razr 2022 — only to be sold exclusively to China.

Fast track to 2023, motorola is coming back with a whole new flip phone for the international markets! Say hello to the 2023 motorola razr family