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Google shares fact-checking tools on COVID-19

Get your facts straight!

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There are a lot of misinformation going around about the Coronavirus or COVID-19. To protect people and the journalists reporting on the subject matter, Google shared the following tools to make sure the information we get are verified.

Below are also links to tools to also help us better understand what’s going on around the world in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic.

To understand what people are searching for:

you will find a dedicated page on COVID-19 Google searches, as well as local pages including the Philippines. All of the charts and visuals on the Google Trends site are embeddable and made to share and publish online. Signup for a daily newsletter on how the world is searching for Covid-19. If you need to learn more about how Google trends works, go here.

To make sense of data and visualize it:

Learn how to build your own data sets, clean them, and visualize them. You can also compare data through gifs with the data gif maker (learn more about the tool here).

To illustrate your stories:

Learn how to use a range of mapping tools to illustrate stories, from MyMaps, Google Earth and features like timelapse.

To review existing fact checks, and add a markup for your own:

Explore existing fact checks on the outbreak using the Fact Check Explorer and API.

If your team is working on debunking misinformation being circulated on this crisis, you can also add a Fact Check markup, which will label your article on Google properties as “Fact Check”.

To quickly find hard facts and expert opinion:

Google Scholar is a search tool that allows you to find and explore a wide array of scholarly literature. Accessible material includes articles, thesis, books and abstracts from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and websites. You might find it a useful way to contact academics and learn more about their work, as you research the coronavirus.

To take care of yourself while reporting:

The Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma is a resource centre and global network dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy. This includes tips on covering disease, interviewing victims and survivors, and working with colleagues exposed to traumatic events.

Google shared the following just in time for International Fact-Checking Day (April 2, 2020). May these be useful in arming you, your family, and your friends with accurate and verified information when dealing with COVID-19.

SEE ALSO: How to disinfect your tech from the coronavirus | Coronavirus porn is trending on Pornhub | Here’s how Facebook is trying to fight coronavirus


As general rules, the CDC or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed these to help with preventing the spread of COVID-19:

  • Stay home when sick
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Frequently wash hands with soap and water
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces

Coronavirus: Where to donate

Computex 2026

The new NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops are AI PCs on steroids

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“Useful AI has arrived,” NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed in his monumental keynote speech to kick off COMPUTEX 2026, essentially admitting to the state of AI prior to today. But don’t let the past mess with how you view the present. AI today, according to the graphics-turned-AI company, will now serve everyday users, rather than procuring abstract and intangible benefits. For us normal people, it all starts with the new RTX Spark.

Rarely does a new product claim to reinvent the entire industry. Confident in its own abilities, that’s just what the RTX Spark wants to do. But what is it exactly?

Think of it like Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs but on AI-powered steroids. NVIDIA wants to bring the power of a supercomputer into the hands of regular consumers, just like how the personal computer (PC) brought gigantic computers to the comfort of everyone’s homes.

Co-engineered with Microsoft, RTX Spark will run autonomous AI agents the entire day. The agent is tied to you and your intent but will orchestrate all your devices under one roof.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The new series will leverage a Blackwell RTX GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU from MediaTek. It can also support up to 128GB of unified memory, delivering several of the most powerful (and most expensive) PCs available to consumers today. With the capabilities comparable to an RTX 5070, the series can supposedly play modern games with ease.

Inside, it will come with CUDA, the trove of information that powers AI technology today. Finally, despite how slim NVIDIA promises the series will be, the RTX Spark should come with a battery that lasts the entire day.

The first NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops will launch later this fall with six premium laptops for various brands. This, along with the 30 models launching soon after, will include Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. No word yet on how much these will cost, though.

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Accessories

UGREEN launches FineTrack Series with Apple Find My support

Track valuables with ease

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UGREEN FineTrack

UGREEN is expanding its smart travel lineup with the launch of the new FineTrack Series, a collection of compact trackers designed to help users keep tabs on everyday essentials.

Leading the announcement are the FineTrack 2 and FineTrack Mini 2, both of which support Apple’s Find My network for easy location tracking through compatible Apple devices. The trackers are built for travelers and commuters who want an extra layer of security for items such as keys, bags, wallets, and passports.

The FineTrack 2 comes in a soccer-inspired design created to celebrate the upcoming 2026 World Cup, while the FineTrack Mini 2 adopts a slimmer tag-style form factor that fits more easily inside wallets and passport holders. Both devices feature glow-in-the-dark accents for improved visibility in low-light conditions.

UGREEN says the trackers offer global tracking capabilities through Apple’s Find My ecosystem, along with smart left-behind alerts that notify users before they accidentally leave important belongings behind. When an item is nearby, users can trigger an alarm reaching up to 110dB to help locate it faster.

The company also highlights long-term reliability, with battery life rated for up to seven years. The FineTrack 2 additionally carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

UGREEN has also announced Southeast Asia pricing for the new FineTrack Series.

Price and availability

In Singapore, the FineTrack 2 is priced at SGD 29.99, while the FineTrack Mini 2 costs SGD 25.99. Malaysian pricing comes in at RM 69 and RM 59, respectively.

For the Philippines, the FineTrack 2 retails for PHP 850, while the FineTrack Mini 2 is priced at PHP 799. In Vietnam, the trackers cost VND 369,000 and VND 339,000, respectively. Thailand pricing starts at THB 590 for both models.

Alongside the FineTrack Series, UGREEN also introduced its new Air Editions lineup. This includes the Nexode Air 65W Charger, Nexode Air 45W Charger Slim, and the MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 15W, all designed around portability with compact and lightweight builds. The company has separately announced Southeast Asia pricing for these accessories.

The FineTrack Series is now rolling out across select Southeast Asian markets.

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News

Xiaomi introduces more wearables, smart home devices

Launched alongside the Xiaomi 17T Series

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Along with the launch of the Xiaomi 17T Series, the company has likewise introduced a new lineup of AIoT offerings from wearables to smart home devices.

The new Xiaomi ecosystem lineup includes the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm, Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro, and Xiaomi Buds 6 on the wearables end.

Furthermore, there’s the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026 and Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg on the smart home front.

All these products are available with early bird offers also in store for consumers until June 7.

Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm

The Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm combines a refined 46mm stainless steel design with a 1.48-inch AMOLED display.

It has up to 21 days of battery life, supports over 150 sports modes, and has upgraded heart rate monitoring and system GNSS.

It also offers deeper sleep insights, Xiaomi HyperOS 3, and Xiaomi Home integration.

This wearable retails for PhP 10,229 (SRP: PhP 10,999) with a free strap. The Special Edition retails for PhP 11,159 (SRP PhP 11,999).

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro

Additionally, there’s the everyday wellness tracking device in the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro. It has a 1.74-inch AMOLED display, up to 2,000 nits brightness, and up to 21 days of battery life.

It supports upgraded heart rate tracking and more than 150 sports modes, as well as more improvements.

It is priced at PhP 4,199 (SRP: PhP 4,499) with a Special Edition retailing for PhP 5,019 (PhP 5,399) — both with free straps during the promo period.

Xiaomi Buds 6

Furthermore, there’s the Xiaomi Buds 6, bringing a semi in-ear audio experience for comfortable and immersive listening.

It features an 11mm triple-magnet dynamic driver, Harman-tuned audio, Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology (on compatible devices), dimensional audio with head-tracking, ANC, 3-mic AI noise reduction, and HyperOS support.

It is available for PhP 5,679 (SRP: PhP 6,099).

Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026

For home entertainment, the new Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026 brings cinematic entertainment in five different sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch, and 98-inch.

The TV is powered by QD-Mini LED technology, and supports up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness. Other features include HDR10+, HLG, Filmmaker Mode, and Dolby Vision on select models.

The series also supports Google TV with Apple AirPlay, Google Assistant, and Google Cast support.

Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg

Lastly, the Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg combines two laundry tasks into one smart solution.

It has a large drum, power wash technology, high-temperature steam hygiene mode, and over 30 wash programs. Included is a 15-minute quick wash, as well as one-tap wash-and-dry function.

Through the Xiaomi Home app, users can also monitor cycles, customize settings, save preferences, and receive software updates over time.

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