News

Huawei expands to Kids tech scene with tablet, smartwatch

Give the gift of technology!

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Huawei enters the space for kids’ devices, bringing the Huawei MatePad T 8 Kids Edition and Huawei Watch Kids 4 Pro.

A tablet made for kids

The Huawei MatePad T 8 Kids Edition is a tablet-dream-come-true for children aged three to eight. It offers what kids find playful on top of the usual tablet features. There’s a Kids case, stylus pen, and Kids Corner pre-loaded with age-appropriate content.

Its case uses an environmentally safe silicone consisting of a blue shell and cute green grips for protection and convenience. It has a bright blue stylus  attached for allowing kids to write, draw, and navigate the tablet. It makes for an interactive experience.

Both the case and the stylus meet the European Standards on the Safety of Toys. They also passed the Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

The tablet also comes with lots of safety features to ensure peace of mind for parents. Through Kids Corner, you can peruse a child’s usage record and check the apps used and other viewable content. More importantly, it has a built-in color adjustment module for multi-layered eye protection. There’s also a gravity sensor to prompt the user in adjusting their posture.

Huawei partnered with BabyBus and Azoomee. This means a free three-month membership to Baby Panda World and a free one-year membership to Azoomee through the Huawei MatePad T 8 Kids Edition. Like other Huawei devices, it comes with AppGallery and Petal Search.

Watch for tiny wrists

Huawei has also ventured into the smartwatch scene with the Huawei Watch Kids 4 Pro. It aims to be a unique watch that accompanies kids while keeping them safe and healthy.

The watch includes features from Huawei’s self-developed positioning services — which helps parents track their kids’ location accurately every 120 seconds. It also comes with a privacy framework designed with reference to the EU General Data Protection Regulation, enabling strict data encryption and privacy protection.

The watch is equipped with a 5-megapixel front camera. It supports voice calls and even HD video calls using Huawei MeeTime. Furthermore, it’s equipped with a 5ATm water-resistant design, handling up to 50 meters of submersion. It comes with relevant apps and tracking for exercise — most of which are also found in Huawei’s smartwatch lineup for adults.

Price and availability

The Huawei MatePad T 8 Kids Edition retails at PhP 8,999. Freebies worth PhP 8,996 pesos await when you purchase starting September 24 until October 1, 2021, via Huawei’s online store. The bundle includes the pen (PhP 499), cover (PhP 999), Baby Panda (PhP 759), Lamp (PhP 2,499), 3-month VIP subscription to Baby Bus App (PhP 450), and a 12-month VIP subscription to Azoomee (PhP 3,790).

Meanwhile, the price and availability of the Huawei Watch Kids 4 Pro have yet to be announced.

Gaming

Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support

PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.

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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.

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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

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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.

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News

iPhone Duo: Price, availability in the Philippines

As listed on the Apple website

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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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