News
POCO M8s 5G launches in the Philippines, starts at PhP 11,999
Affordable smartphone with essential features, AI
POCO has announced the availability of another affordable smartphone in the Philippines in the POCO M8s 5G.
The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 mobile platform, and comes with up to 16GB of RAM (8GB base plus 8GB expansion).
It runs on Xiaomi HyperOS and supports intelligent features, including Google Gemini and Circle to Search.
The POCO M8s 5G comes with a 50MP main camera, along with creative AI tools like AI Erase and AI Sky.
In front is a 6.9-inch 1.5K display with Wet Touch Technology 2.0. The phone also houses a 7,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging and 18W reverse charging.
Other practical features include 200% volume boost, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and IP64 water and dust resistance.
Price, availability
In the Philippines, the POCO M8s 5G is available on Shopee exclusively from April 21 to 30.
During this early bird window, the phone is available for:
- 6GB+128GB: PhP 11,999
- 8GB+256GB: PhP 13,999
Afterwards, the phone will become available on Lazada and other platforms.
Gaming’s worst kept secret is finally out. After months of rumors and speculations, Ubisoft will officially reveal its upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake on April 23.
In March, the company first confirmed the game’s existence through the first concept art for the title. The upcoming remake will be officially called Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which definitely states that it’s going to be a remake, rather than just a remaster.
Today, Ubisoft has announced that the worldwide reveal will happen on April 23. The showcase should clear the air as to how the remake will handle the franchise’s most successful outing to date.
When it first came out, Black Flag rightfully claimed itself as the quintessential pirate life simulator in the modern era. Rather than a straightforward stealth and assassination game, the title featured Edward Kenway, a vagabond pirate turned reluctant assassin. It was a worthy next step coming from the Desmond Miles trilogy, which concluded with Assassin’s Creed III.
Now, the studio isn’t done with the title. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag will ideally see the pirate game built again from the ground up. However, it’s still a bit unclear how much of the game will actually be rebuilt. Thankfully, the wait isn’t long at all.
For now, the franchise is still thriving with its latest new outing, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It is also gearing up for the next mainline entry, currently called Codename Hexe.
SEE ALSO: Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake
News
Tim Cook steps down, John Ternus named next Apple CEO
Leadership transition takes effect September 2026
Apple will shift its leadership structure later this year. John Ternus is its next chief executive officer (CEO). Meanwhile, Tim Cook steps into the role of executive chairman starting September 1, 2026.
Apple’s board unanimously approved the move as part of a long-term succession plan. Cook will continue to lead the company through the summer. He will work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition before taking on his new responsibilities, including engaging with policymakers worldwide.
Cook closes a defining chapter
Cook joined Apple in 1998 and took over as CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs stepped down. Over the past 15 years, he led Apple through a period of massive growth and expansion.
He grew Apple’s market value from around $350 billion to $4 trillion and pushed annual revenue to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025. Cook also expanded Apple’s presence to over 200 countries and territories. He helped grow its active installed base to more than 2.5 billion devices.
During his tenure, Cook introduced new product categories like Apple Watch and AirPods and expanded services such as iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple TV+. He also strengthened Apple’s focus on privacy, sustainability, and accessibility, embedding these values into the company’s products and operations.
Ternus steps up from hardware leadership
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and built his career within the company’s hardware engineering teams. He now steps into the CEO role after serving as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
The incoming CEO led development efforts across key products including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. He also drove Apple’s transition to its own silicon and pushed innovations in materials, durability, and repairability across multiple product lines.
Cook described Ternus as a “visionary” leader and expressed strong confidence in his ability to guide Apple into the future.
Leadership changes extend to the board
As part of the transition, Arthur Levinson will take on the role of lead independent director. Ternus will also join Apple’s board of directors effective September 1, 2026.
Ternus said he feels honored to take on the role and expressed optimism about Apple’s future, citing his experience working under both Jobs and Cook.
Apple now enters a new chapter, handing leadership to a product-focused executive while Cook continues to shape the company’s direction from the chairman role.
Convenient Smart Home
TCL expands SQD-Mini LED lineup with QM8L, QM7L
New premium TVs push color, contrast, and accessibility across price tiers
TCL is doubling down on premium TV tech with the launch of two new SQD-Mini LED series: the QM8L and QM7L.
Announced in New York, the new lineup builds on TCL’s push to make high-end picture quality more accessible. The company is positioning SQD-Mini LED as a “no-compromise” display technology. It’s tech that delivers both high color accuracy and deep contrast without forcing buyers to choose between the two.
At the center of this is TCL’s Deep Color System, which enables up to 100% BT2020 color coverage while minimizing issues like color crosstalk and inconsistent saturation. Combined with more precise local dimming zones, the result is deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and improved HDR performance across a wide range of content.
Flagship-level performance, broader reach
Leading the new additions is the QM8L, positioned as TCL’s “Ultimate Choice” just below its flagship X11L. It features a CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel, offering high contrast ratios, wider viewing angles, and an anti-reflective layer for better clarity in bright environments.
The QM8L also introduces TCL’s updated Halo Control System, which reduces blooming while improving shadow detail and overall picture accuracy. It supports up to 4,000 local dimming zones and reaches peak brightness levels of up to 6,000 nits. Like TCL’s higher-end models, it runs on the TSR AI Pro processor for scene-by-scene optimization.
Meanwhile, the QM7L targets a slightly more accessible segment without stripping away core visual upgrades. It still benefits from the Deep Color System and enhanced local dimming, offering up to 2,100 zones and peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits—figures TCL claims can outperform premium OLED brightness in certain scenarios.
Subheading: Smart features and audio upgrades
Both models come equipped with audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen and support expandable setups via Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, including optional wireless subwoofers and speakers.
On the software side, TCL continues its partnership with Google TV, now enhanced with Gemini integration. This enables more conversational voice controls, content discovery, and even upcoming features like AI-generated video clips through Veo on Google TV.
An over-the-air update will also bring support for Dolby Vision 2 Max. It introducea features like Content Intelligence and improved tone mapping for brighter HDR visuals that stay true to the creator’s intent.
Pricing and availability
The TCL QM8L series is available now, while the QM7L is up for pre-order:
QM8L pricing:
- 65-inch – $2,499.99
- 75-inch – $2,999.99
- 85-inch – $3,999.99
- 98-inch – $5,999.99
QM7L pricing:
- 55-inch – $1,199.99
- 65-inch – $1,499.99
- 75-inch – $1,999.99
- 85-inch – $2,499.99
- 98-inch – $3,999.99
With the QM8L and QM7L, TCL is widening its premium lineup. It’s offering more ways to get high-color, high-contrast performance without jumping straight to flagship pricing.
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