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Apple might soon display ads on your iPhone

Already testing on Maps

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From a user’s perspective, more ads are hardly welcome. Going through a barrage of ads before getting a service prevents users from getting what they paid for immediately. Unfortunately, “more” is the reality. Apple, adopting the same trend, is reportedly packing in more ads into its own apps.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is currently testing new ways to include advertising spots for Maps. Now, an ad-filled navigation app isn’t unheard of. Other apps, like Waze, allows companies to pin their locations in a user’s map, regardless of whether the user is navigating to it.

In Apple’s case, Maps will sell spots atop search results. As Gurman explains in an example, a sushi place can pay to have its location pop up first whenever a user searches for “sushi near me.”

Besides the navigation tool, Gurman believes that the new system can make its way to Apple’s other apps which lead to potential purchases. For example, Apple can easily implement the same system to Books and Podcasts. Apple TV can soon get an ad-supported subscription tier as well, similar to Netflix’s plan for later this year.

Tests are obviously only one step towards implementing new features. While testing can confirm the future of a platform, there’s no telling when a test will translate into a final product.

SEE ALSO: Apple is enticing Android users to switch with new ad

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Google Photos can now censor your kid’s face better

The new Redact feature can censor sensitive information.

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Censoring photos is heavy work. Either you stick on random emojis or draw an indiscriminate splotch of doodles to cover sensitive information. It’s an imperfect art but an essential one to protect privacy. Today, Google Photos is getting a Redact feature which can censor sensitive bits with pixelated blocks.

An addition to the Markup tool, Redact acts like a nifty pen that can hide information that you don’t want seen. Unlike a ghastly emoji or a splotch, the censored bar mixes better with the surrounding elements. In the example that Google used, a censored license plate blends well with the car it’s attached to, making the photo look more cohesive. Besides license plates, it’s the perfect tool for covering other information like phone numbers, addresses, and the faces of your loved ones.

Google Photos is also rolling out Moods, a set of filters that give photos a nostalgic look, including a 2000s night digicam vibe that’s popular today. There are also 15 new Remix templates to add more creation options.

Both the Redact and the Moods features will roll out to Android users starting today. The new Remix templates, however, will be limited to some countries on both Android and iOS.

SEE ALSO: Google will force Android users to use Gemini next month

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Power Mac Center SM Aura is now an Apple Premium Partner store

With a new protection plan dubbed as “1Protect” for your precious new iPhones

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Photos and graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Power Mac Center has upgraded its SM Aura branch into an Apple Premium Partner (APP) store. The “APP” designation is the highest tier for reseller stores worldwide.

Originally opened in 2014, the redesigned store now houses its retail space, training center, and a service center in one.

The new space also puts more emphasis on learning. Free group demos will be held every Friday to Sunday. These will cover topics such as iPad creativity, or camera features, personalization, and Continuity for the latest iPhone series.

To celebrate the opening, customers can also score discounts on select Apple devices and accessories until September 27, 2026.

Deals include up to:

  • ₱PhP 36,000 off MacBook Pros
  • PhP 19,500 off iPads
  • PhP 3000 off Apple Watches; and
  • PhP 11,000 off iPhone models

There are also service discounts until September 25. Plus, new iPhones purchases here are also covered with 1Protect coverage options.

ICYMI, it’s a partnership between PMC and Bolttech. It’s basically a new way to protect your precious new iPhones.

Your regular one-year warranty does not cover accidental drops and water damage. Purchasing this new coverage plan (good for one year) gives you an unlimited dose of that.

Parts are guaranteed original and is an official part of AppleCare Services.

This protection program also covers one-time unwarranted exchanges (or change of mind returns) from micro scratches to color options. It will even replace your iPhone (of the same model and configuration) if it was stolen once.

There’s also the 1 Infinite loyalty program. Members can earn points from purchases and redeem them for devices, accessories, services, and training.

The Power Mac Center SM Aura APP store is located on Level 2 and is open daily from 10AM to 10PM.

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MediaTek launches the Dimensity 9600 Pro

Smartphones are scheduled to launch later this year.

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The stage is set for next year’s smartphones. Both MediaTek and Qualcomm have unleased their upcoming flagship chipsets for the coming generation. If you’re looking for the Qualcomm side of things, go here. But if you’re looking for MediaTek, then you’re in the right place.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro adopts the 2nm process mode, which makes MediaTek one of the first companies to use it. The chip itself features a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU. Specifically, it has two C2-Ultra cores going up to 4.55GHz, three C2-Pro cores going up to 4.35GHz, and three C2-Pro ones going up to 3.1GHz. This configuration can reportedly achieve 17 percent better single-core performance and 15 percent higher multi-core performance.

Besides all that power inherently built in, the chipset also has the G2-Ultra NX GPU. This GPU can deliver 27 percent higher peak performance, 24 percent lower power consumption, 18 percent faster raytracing, and gaming at up to 185 frames per second.

Finally, the chipset has the Imagiq 1290 ISP. With this engine, the processor can handle 60fps motion capture and 4K240 direct-output ultra-slow-motion video.

Alongside the Dimensity 9600 Pro, MediaTek is also launching the Dimensity 9600M, a slightly more lightweight option of the Pro that deliver flagship level performance to more users outside of that price point.

Smartphones that will come with the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M will launch sometime in the fourth quarter.

SEE ALSO: MediaTek unveils Dimensity 9500s, 8500 mobile processors

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