News

Google I/O, Facebook F8 cancelled due to Coronavirus

Prioritizing health and safety

Published

March 4, 2020

Rodneil Quiteles

The list of tech events that have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 keeps growing. Latest on the list are Google I/O and Facebook F8.

Google I/O is the company’s biggest annual event. It was supposed to happen from May 12 to 14 at Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View, California.

The event is where Google usually showcases the latest on Android, along with services like Google Maps, Mail, etc. It’s also an event where some devices powered by Google get some shine. The company says attendees will be refunded in full by March 13.

The cancellation was prompted by the health advisories from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health authorities over the spread of COVID-19.

Similarly, the Facebook F8 developer conference was also cancelled. However, only the in-person portion of the event won’t push through. The company says they will push through with “locally hosted events, videos, and live-streamed content.”

F8 was supposed to happen on May 5 to 6 in San Jose, California. It is Facebook’s biggest annual event where they announce the latest development on their products and any other initiatives they are working on.

Not the first events to be cancelled

The first major tech event to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus was Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Some brands pushed through with their announcements but most of the events were just livestreamed with only a handful of live audience.

All around the world, major events and concerts are being either cancelled or postponed as COVID-19 cases rise at an alarming rate at different regions. WHO has recently raised its global risk assessment on the virus to its highest level.

The global death toll has reached over 3000. There have been over 90,000 cases reported in 70 countries. Majority of which are still in China where the virus originated.

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

Related Topics:coronavirus Covid-19 Facebook Facebook F8 Google Google I/O

News

Apple might focus on AI for WWDC 2026

There will be integrations with Google.

Published

May 29, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Throughout the entire AI “era,” Apple kept its nose clean by not shoving Apple Intelligence to its users during every event. After the significant time of keeping clean, the brand might finally sink more chips into the AI space next month.

As history tells, the annual WWDC event is a time for the brand to showcase its developments for software. You won’t see a lot of iPhones, but you will see a lot of iOS. And with that, AI is par for the course.

According to The Information, the upcoming WWDC 2026 will showcase a lot of on-device AI. Interestingly, the report does not specifically name Apple Intelligence as the spotlight. Rather, Apple might focus on integrating its chips with AI and its partnership with Google’s Gemini.

Rather than a continuous push towards creating their own AI, the company might do more to integrate existing technologies to keep pace with the industry. Despite being announced almost two years ago, Apple Intelligence has not delivered much of what its contemporaries are providing for its users.

Ironically, the brand has carved a nice niche for itself in the space precisely by staying away from heavy doses of AI. Both Microsoft and Google, on the other hand, have crafted infamy by shoving unnecessary AI-based features towards their users, regardless of whether they want them or not. Hopefully, Apple keeps its reputation after WWDC 2026.

Gaming

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has been officially announced

And it’s coming out on the Switch 2.

Published

May 29, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Compared to the crazier news we’ve gotten so far, a new Call of Duty doesn’t seem like it should make a ripple, but it does. Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it’s coming out on the Nintendo Switch 2.

This year’s mainline entry has a couple of firsts for the ubiquitous franchise. For one, Modern Warfare 4 will not launch on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. It’s the first time that the series is dropping the last generation of consoles. Secondly, it’s launching for the Switch 2, marking the first time that the franchise is coming out on a Nintendo system since 2013. Finally, it won’t launch as a day-one release on the Game Pass.

Besides the reshuffling of launch outlets, Modern Warfare 4 will offer much of the same from the franchise: bombastic campaigns with global stakes and a thriving palette of multiplayer modes.

This time around, players will start the campaign as Private Park, a South Korean soldier thrust into a war as North Korea suddenly invades its southern neighbor. Players will also face assignments in Mumbai and New York. Captain Price is, of course, coming back but as an outlaw in pursuit of a powerful weapon.

For multiplayer, Activision promises more improvements yet again for movement and gunplay. Modern Warfare 4 will also introduce new modes such as Kill Block, which features maps that change after every round. DMZ is coming back, of course.

Activision promises more updates coming throughout the year. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on October 23, 2026.

Apps

Meta adds subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

Published

May 28, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Is your wallet buckling from the weight of so many subscription services? Well, Meta has a trio of new subscriptions for you to sink your hard-earned cash towards. If you have a few dollars, here’s Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus, and WhatsApp Plus.

All three subscriptions are designed to add new features which can enhance the experience for those who practically live on these apps. Among the three, Instagram Plus is the meatiest. It offers users the ability to view other people’s Stories without showing up as a viewer, create more tailored audiences outside of Close Friends, and extend the duration of a Story beyond 24 hours, among others.

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Since it shares similarities with Instagram, Facebook Plus offers much of the same features. WhatsApp Plus, however, offers more customization options including new themes, ringtones, and stickers.

If that’s not enough, Meta has also released a new subscription system for Meta AI. Though the basic use of the AI is still free, the new Meta One Plus and Meta One Premium plans offer more capacity and performance for power users. The company is also testing new creator-focused plans, Meta One Essential and Meta One Advanced.

Of course, the new AI-based plans are more focused on those who actually use the AI software. Meanwhile, the three app plans are more for regular users. Facebook Plus and Instagram Plus will cost US$ 3.99 per month. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Plus will cost US$ 2.99 per month.