News
Vision Pro now lets you host a party for five ghostly Personas
For collaborative projects
In sci-fi films, a commonly used scene is one of a board meeting where almost every member is actually just a holographic projection. The scene’s main character takes off their glasses (or turns off a projector), and each holographic projector disappears into the ether. Though initially a trope in fiction, the phenomenon might soon make its way to actual technology, care of Apple’s Vision Pro.
Compared to other augmented-reality headsets, the Apple Vision Pro takes a more realistic look at virtual avatars. Users won’t use cartoonish avatars. Instead, they can make Personas modeled after their actual faces. It’s a unique feature, but one can definitely see the uncanny valley in it.
Today, Apple is making the feature more collaborative. Pushing the capabilities of augmented reality once again, the Vision Pro can now have Spatial Personas. Rather than simple portraits to talk to, the headset can project up to five Personas into your space.
The idea is to make it look more natural to collaborate on projects, watch movies, or play games together in a virtual space. It is, however, still in its infancy. The collaborative feature merely uses floating bubbles to project Personas. It looks a bit like having ethereal ghosts in front of you.
However, if ever you find yourself in need of company, actual or virtual, Spatial Personas can at least cure some of the worst parts of loneliness… as long as your friends have their own Vision Pro, that is.
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.
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