News
OPPO F1s finally gets long-delayed update
Last year’s OPPO F1s was such a great phone, so much so that we awarded it a glowing review and even gave one away during one of our Holiday Scavenger Hunts. There was just one glaring issue, and it’s only being addressed now.
Despite rolling out towards the end of 2016, the F1s came bundled with a two-year-old Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system in a time when Nougat 7.0 was already publicly available. Making matters worse was the announcement of the next version, Android O, a little over a week ago.
Realizing how outdated such a popular phone has become, OPPO finally released Android Marshmallow 6.0 (not even the newer Nougat 7.0) to users in Australia. The same update is being applied to the R9 Plus and R9.
With it comes all the Marshmallow goodness we experienced over a year ago, including better battery and memory management, as well as cosmetic upgrades to the user interface and settings.
Unfortunately, there’s no word yet when this version will reach every other region. And with the recent launch of the much-improved F3 Plus not too long ago, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last set of fresh features F1s users will get.
Let’s hope the F3 Plus and upcoming F3 don’t go through the same fate. The former is currently equipped with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, while all other new products of 2017 are enjoying Nougat.
[irp posts=”8380″ name=”Vivo V5 vs Oppo F1S”]
Source: OPPO Australia, via GSMArena
Entertainment
DC’s Clayface teaser shows off a horror-filled superhero movie
Our first taste of James Gunn’s Gotham City will be frightening.
Last year, James Gunn’s Superman sparked an impressive wave of excitement for the new DC Universe. Though this year’s spotlight is on Supergirl, Clayface is also getting an eponymous film, giving us our first taste of Gotham City in this bustling universe.
There’s been a lot of mystery surrounding this film. For one, Gotham City’s DCU debut is based on, arguably, a secondary villain, rather than any member of the Bat-Family. Secondly, Gunn has confirmed that the movie will heavily lean towards the horror genre, a feat others have tried but often failed.
Today, DC Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Clayface. And no, Gunn wasn’t kidding when he said this is going to be a horror film.
Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising movie star suddenly scarred by a violent attack. Desperate to resurrect his career, he resorts to a scientific experiment that turns his skin into moldable clay.
As the teaser hints, the film will not shy away from body horror, including shots of Hagen’s disfigured face either from the attack or from the clay. It’s a big departure from the more traditional style of Superman or Supergirl. But it’s a gamble that might pay off for a universe as young as the DCU.
It’s also apropos that the DCU’s first horror film is getting a horror-themed premiere. Clayface will premiere in cinemas on October 23, 2026.
SEE ALSO: Superman sequel, titled Man of Tomorrow, comes out in 2027
Automotive
VinFast to expand in the Philippines with e-scooters: report
VinFast to compete head-on with major motorbike players
VinFast is bringing its electric scooters to the Philippines.
According to a report by TopGear, the Vietnamese EV manufacturer has signed agreements with 14 local distributors.
The report mentioned that specifically, the Evo, Feliz II, and Viper models shall be made available. The rollout will naturally begin in metro areas, as expected.
These models provide longer range on a single full charge and higher top speeds compared to budget e-bikes. It means they are suitable to be driven on major highways, provided that drivers have a license and the scooter is registered.
Moreover, in what is somewhat similar to Gogoro’s model from a few years back, VinFast is set to have 30,000 battery-swapping stations nationwide.
This way, drivers wouldn’t have to worry about running out of battery power while on the road. They can simply swap batteries instead of looking for charging stations.
This development means VinFast is competing head-on against other fuel-powered motorcycle brands in a market where such vehicles are popular for everyday use.
Not only that, VinFast will likewise compete with the likes of Yadea, RUX Electric Mobility, and even Hatasu to a certain extent.
It doesn’t come as a surprise as back home, VinFast is aggressively pushing for electrification, selling e-scooters to consumers.
This is aligned with the government’s goal to eventually ban petrol motorbikes in major cities, including the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Given the massive rate the production is going, it is only sensible for VinFast to also target nearby markets where it already has a presence, including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In the Philippines, the Vingroup’s EV arm already competes in the electric cars and SUVs segment. Its offerings include the VF3 and VF5.
Laptops
Intel launches the new Core Ultra Series 3 processors
Expect new laptops all throughout the year.
The next generation of processors are here. After announcing the new series at CES 2026, Intel has now launched the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for laptops, bringing the next level of AI-based computing to modern laptops.
All built using the Intel 18A process, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chipsets will come with an integrated NPU that can deliver up to 50 TOPS. And this is all native to the PC; Intel demonstrated that a laptop infused with the chipset can still operate all of its AI capabilities without an internet connection.
Additionally, Intel is touting the generation’s integrated Xe3 graphics architecture. Already touting the capabilities of graphics on its own, the architecture can also improve performance through the new XeSS. A competitor to NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS boosts framerate without sacrificing image quality.
Finally, the chipsets work extra hard in the background by extending battery life, despite high workloads. Intel touts that the Series 3 can deliver the best battery life among all Intel-powered AI PCs.
Devices with the chipset are expected to roll out all throughout the whole year. In the Philippines, you can expect new laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI.
SEE ALSO: Favorite Laptops of 2025
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