News
HTC finally gives an update about its Android 9 Pie plans
Better late than never?

Does anyone remember HTC? Well, the Taiwanese company used to be one of the big players in the smartphone market, but they have not been doing well. They still sell phones, although they are having trouble keeping up with software updates. HTC had one of the best UI (at least for many) for Android in its early years, but things have changed.
Back in August 2018, HTC was quick to claim that they’ll have Android 9 Pie ready for four of its smartphones: U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 Life which is under the Android One program.
The U11 Life, the cheapest and most modest of the bunch, got the update already. Its participation in the Android One program did bear fruit. As for the remaining three, HTC is still “working on ensuring the update is compatible,” anticipating a release “starting Q2 ’19.”
We wanted to share the status on the Android 9 update. HTC is currently working on ensuring the update is compatible with our phones & we anticipate a release for U11, U11+ & U12+ customers starting Q2’19. Exact timing defers to operators’ availabilities in different countries.
— HTC (@htc) March 11, 2019
The second quarter of 2019 starts next month, but HTC’s timeframe is still pretty vague. Considering they only have three phones promised, this is unacceptable for HTC phone owners.
So far, only the U11 Life has Android Pie within the HTC family. We sure hope HTC will deliver the promise soon.
SEE ALSO: HTC is still alive, announces budget-friendly Desire 12s


Xiaomi is officially launching the Redmi 9T in the Philippines. This entry level smartphone that’s a POCO M3 dead-ringer promises to power you unlike any other in its price segment.
The display is 6.53 inches with a FHD+ resolution and Gorilla Glass 3. Xiaomi even put a thought on the user’s viewing experience, with the phone having a TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification. It also has a Widevine L1 certification for streaming Netflix episodes and movies in full HD and above.
On the performance front, Redmi 9T packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662. This chipset delivers capable performance without sipping too much energy thanks to its 11nm fabrication process. Backed by a large 6,000 mAh battery, users can last a day and a half without needing to charge.
But if users really need to charge, they can surely rely on the in-box 22.5W charger for quick top-ups. By default, the Redmi 9T comes with 18W fast charging support and reverse wired charging capabilities.
Xiaomi also touts the improved 48MP quad-camera setup on the Redmi 9T. The 48MP wide-angle primary camera is backed by an 8Mp ultra-wide-angle camera for better landscape and group shots. It also has a 2MP depth and 2Mp macro camera for better close-up shots and bokeh.
For videography, Xiaomi added a movie frame feature to give videos a more cinematic look and feel. The timelapse feature also improves on the Redmi 9T with support for custom speeds and duration. Combined with microSD expandable storage for up to 512GB, users shouldn’t run out of space even when taking lots of videos or downloading games.
Price and availability
Redmi 9T will be available in 4GB + 64GB atPhP 6,990. Meanwhile, the 6GB + 128GB version will be available at PhP 7,990.
Both of Redmi 9T’s versions will be on sale at the Xiaomi Philippines Flagship Store on on Lazada and Shopee on January 29, 2021. There will be a special offering of PhP500 off for the 4+64GB variant for 24 hours.
The new Redmi 9T will also be available with exclusive freebies at Authorized Mi Stores and resellers only during the official sale.
Health
Google will spend $150 million to promote coronavirus vaccine education
Another commendable initiative

Internet giant Google said it will provide US$ 150 million to educate the masses on the benefits of a Coronavirus vaccine. To help with mass vaccination efforts, starting in the US, it’ll make select facilities — such as buildings, parking lots, and open spaces — available to anyone eligible for the vaccine based on state and local guidelines.
While US$ 100 million will be advertisement grants to the CDC Foundation, the World Health Organization, and other non-profit institutions, US$ 50 million will be allocated for public health agencies offering vaccine-related content and information for the underprivileged.
The US is the worst-hit, has with more than 25 million Coronavirus cases recorded in the country. According to John Hopkins University data, the death toll currently stands at more than 4,17,000.
In the coming weeks, Coronavirus vaccination locations will be available in Google Search, and Maps, starting with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, with more states and countries to come.
“Our efforts will focus heavily on equitable access to vaccines,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post. “Early data in the U.S. shows that disproportionately affected populations, especially people of color and those in rural communities, aren’t getting access to the vaccine at the same rates as other groups.”
Another initiative called “Get The Facts’’ for providing authoritative information about vaccines will be made available on Google and YouTube.
Google had committed to donating more than US$ 800 million to support businesses, organizations, and healthcare workers as part of its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.
It’s already working with Apple to make universal contact tracking easier for health authorities around the world. Similarly, Singapore also open-sourced its early contact tracing technology that was later leveraged by many other institutions.
News
VeMoBro: New shopping, shipping experience
The e-commerce site wants to be the Filipinos’ preferred shopping partner

It’s official, VeMoBro — a proudly Filipino e-commerce platform — formally launches today.
Launching at a time when Filipino consumers need more e-commerce options, VeMoBero puts emphasis on providing superior services to both online customers and sellers through its unique take on digital shopping and on the most critical aspect of e-commerce, which is logistics. The company commits to empowering Filipino retailers of all sizes, with focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Worry-free shopping with leveled-up shipping
VeMoBro ensures the legitimacy of the products on its marketplace to protect both consumers and sellers. No fakes and scams here. The brand adopts fail-safe features to filter out fake sellers and implements a system that regulates and ensures accurate, easy-to-read product descriptions to deliver peace of mind while shopping.
The platform offers a wide array of “new essentials” comprising food and grocery items, home essentials, tech gadgets and accessories, and automotive products.
The company guarantees a standard 48-hour delivery, putting it ahead of the competition. Customers may even opt for same-day delivery with just a simple scroll and click with VeMoBro’s wide range of partner delivery service providers.
VeMoBro also offers several payment options: cash-on-delivery, online banking or e-wallet payment through GCash, GrabPay, Coins.ph and Dragonpay.
Another thing that sets VeMoBro’s platform apart is its campaign for fair use between customers and sellers. Both parties in the transaction can rate each other on the site.
While the review of sellers has been a long-known feature on online shopping sites, VeMoBro’s platform encourages sellers to appeal and report faulty product reviews. Additionally, sellers can give reviews of customers so other merchants can be made aware of fraudulent customers or transactions.
E-commerce with the local community at its core
VeMoBro was created with the local community’s needs at its core. As the Philippine economy rebounds from the pandemic, VeMoBro aims to empower local entrepreneurs by providing them with a platform where they can grow their business.
With this in mind, VeMoBro provides merchants with a seamless onboarding system, enhanced delivery service and efficient customer service. Moreover, business owners can navigate the VeMoBro site smoothly while selling products, managing inventories and getting sales analysis reports right at their fingertips.
Amid a competitive industry, VeMoBro hopes to be a symbol of hope for Filipino consumers and businesses alike by providing a safe and secure e-commerce platform where consumers can have a quality online shopping experience and businesses can thrive and serve their customers.
You can start shopping by visiting https://vemobro.com.ph/ VeMoBro’s mobile app will also be available on the Google Play Store soon.
First time “suki” may also avail VeMoBro’s special welcome deal promo. From January 27 until June 30, new customers will be entitled to a Php100 off on their first orders with a minimum spend of PhP 1,000. Customers will be provided with the promo code upon signing up on VeMoBro’s website or mobile application.
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