I grew up surrounded by OPM. I spent years dreaming of being in a band and listening to songs I wish I wrote, which is why I appreciate it when brands highlight local talent instead of relying on specs alone. Samsung’s new Sound Towers arrive with that same approach—powerful audio paired with an even stronger push for Filipino music.

Instead of a standard tech launch, Samsung turned the debut of its latest Sound Towers into a celebration of OPM. Guests didn’t just hear product features; they heard live performances from Over October and The Itchyworms. For anyone (like me) who grew up with the latter, hearing their songs carried by deep, room-filling audio felt like the perfect match between familiarity and innovation.

Built for people who live through music

The ST50F and ST40F are made for moments when sound needs to fill a space and set the tone. The ST50F comes with a telescopic handle, built-in wheels, and up to 18 hours of battery life. You can bring it anywhere and still get the same bold, thumping sound. Its custom bass modes and adjustable party lights let you shape the atmosphere until it matches the playlist.

The ST40F leans into creativity. It has built-in DJ sound effects and samplers, plus ports for microphones and guitars for instant jam sessions. And when you want something bigger, Group Play links up to ten Sound Towers into a shared soundstage that feels like a small concert.

Both towers work with the Samsung Sound Tower App, so you can adjust settings, control the lights, or switch into Karaoke Mode straight from your phone.

Where hardware becomes a platform

Samsung followed the launch with Samsung Sound Sessions, an ongoing digital series that highlights top Filipino artists. The pilot features Over October, with more acts—including The Itchyworms—set to take the stage next.

The idea is simple: pair great music with great audio, then let the artists carry the experience. Instead of showing what the Sound Towers can do, Samsung lets you hear it through musicians you already connect with. For OPM fans, it turns the hardware into a platform that amplifies talent rather than eclipsing it.

Sound built to bring people together

Samsung’s new Sound Towers bring back the feeling of sharing music—whether it’s a weekend gathering or a living room turned into a stage. They can be loud and energetic or warm and intimate. They match the many moods and eras of Filipino music.

Price and Availability

Sound Tower MX-ST50F

• Original Price: PhP 28,999
• Sale Offer: Up to PhP 2,117 off + free microphone
• Available until December 31, 2025

Sound Tower MX-ST40F

• Original Price: PhP 18,999
• Sale Offer: Up to PhP 2,117 off + free microphone
• Available until December 31, 2025

Netflix’s strategy these days involves turning all our beloved franchise into, arguably, hit-or-miss adaptations. Though Arcane and One Piece are darlings in the adaptation space, there are also a bunch that Netflix had higher hopes for. Still, the success of the previous two titles have caused a wave of adaptation plans for the platform. Now, it’s possible that Crash Bandicoot is joining that list.

According to What’s on Netflix, the platform is quietly working on a series based on the wumpa-munching marsupial. The series is reportedly helmed by WildBrain Studios, a Canadian studio responsible for Sonic Prime, also on Netflix.

Speaking of, the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films paves the way for an adaptation based on Crash Bandicoot. After all, if one adaptation about an anthropomorphic animal who constantly finds himself against a comical evil genius is a success, then another could be, too.

Crash Bandicoot’s resurgence is arguably dwindling. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, which remasters the first three games, is still the best way to play the series, but it was released all the way back in 2017. In 2020, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time came out but didn’t make that much of an impact on the series. A fifth entry was eventually cancelled.

However, this isn’t Crash’s first time entering the world of adaptations. The marsupial previously appeared in Skylanders Academy, also on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time review: Worth the 22-year wait

While video game adaptations are booming, movies based on board games have had a less-than-stellar reputation. For example, 2012’s Battleship and the Jumanji reboots are straddling the edges of watchability. On the bright side, 2023’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves slowly opened the possibility of a good movie based on the tabletop experience. Now, Catan and Netflix are taking advantage of the crack opened by Dungeons & Dragons.

In tabletop parlance, Catan is the so-called gateway drug for other board games. It’s the default option for players who want to try something new outside of the boilerplate Monopoly or Cards Against Humanity. The eventual hope is to open the doorway to more complex games in the future.

Today, Netflix announced that it will adapt Catan into a series of films and shows. The platform is partnering with the game’s publisher Asmodee for the projects.

As with all of Netflix’s announcements for future projects, this one doesn’t have a clear storyline yet. To be fair, the world of Catan has its own lore told through expansions and other media. It’s just not a story that’s easily digestible by simply playing the game. And, if someone can make a story — albeit a middling one — out of Battleship, then so can Catan.

Catan, as a media project, will be produced by Asmodee’s Darren Kyman, Catan Studio’s Pete Fenlon, and the creator’s sons, Benjamin and Guido Teuber.

SEE ALSO: KPop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched movie