News
Stable Android 9 Pie for Pocophone F1 is now available for download
Still with MIUI 10

The Xiaomi-made Pocophone F1 continues to stir us with the value it offers to consumers. After impressing us with its incredible price to specs ratio, Pocophone proves again that it can deliver flagship features pretty well — this time in the software department. While other premium phones are still waiting in line for the Android Pie update, the Pocophone F1 already has it.
The Pocophone F1 or Poco F1 in some markets just started getting its stable over-the-air update to Android 9 Pie. Although, users might not be able to feel the jump from Oreo to Pie because the phone is already running MIUI 10.
Xiaomi’s Android Pie update is still based on MIUI 10, so the overall UI will remain untouched. But of course, it brings a number of changes under the hood including core Pie features, bug fixes, and Google Lens.
The update is already making its way through the cloud. It might come a bit late depending on your location, but that’s perfectly normal. Weighing at 1.7GB, the update is quite heavy.
If you’re getting impatient, you could also download the firmware and manually update your phone using this link. Simply place the downloaded files in your phone in the “downloaded_rom” folder and go to the system update settings to install it.
While we’re at it, check out our Pocophone F1 video review:
Source: Android Police
SEE ALSO: Pocophone F1 teardown shows the ‘LiquidCool’ system inside its body


The gaming-focused smartphone Black Shark 4 has found its way to the Philippines.
The Black Shark 4 has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 720Hz multi-finger touch sampling rate, and SGS eye protection-certified pressure-sensitive screen. Black Shark has boasted of 111 percent DCI-P3 color gamut and a peak brightness of 1300 nits.
It’s powered by a Snapdragon 870 processor with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. Backing these internals is a 4500mAh battery with 120W fast charging. It’s got dual stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a liquid cooling system, as well as two USB-C ports.
As for cameras, it has a 48MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, 5MP macro lens, and a 20MP selfie shooter. The phone ships with JOYUI 12.5 based on Android 11 with plenty of gaming-centric features.
Price and availability
The Black Shark 4 will come in two colors: Mirror Black and Pale Grey. It will be available in these configurations: 8GB+128GB, 12GB+128GB, and 12GB+256GB.
The gaming smartphone will officially launch on April 28. You can watch here. Exact pricing will be released during launch day. Interested buyers can pre-order starting April 28 at Black Shark Philippines’ Shopee store.

The long-running Tales series (25 years now!) has a new title coming! Tales of ARISE will be released in Southeast Asia on September 9, 2021.
Here’s the release date trailer to get you hyped.
What is Tales of ARISE?
The game will follow the story of Rena — the star that has been ruling the Dahna planet with an iron fist for the past 300 years. Renans have been depleting Dahna of its natural resources, enslaving most of the planet’s population in order to do so.
This tale follows the fight to free Dahnans of their fate and will be experienced through the eyes of Alphen, an iron-masked Dahnan fighting to free his people, and Shionne, a girl from Rena, who’s on the run from her countrymen. They will be joined through their journey by characters like Rinwell and Law that will help them in their fight for freedom.
Southeast Asia Game Editions
All pre-orders and Day-1 retail package version will receive a new costume for Alphen and Shionne, as well as outfits accessories and new cooking recipes and ingredients.
- Tales of Arise retail package version is only available for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in Southeast Asia.
- The package version includes pre-order digital bonus only for the first production. The number of initial production is limited and will end as soon as it runs out.
Digital Platforms
On Digital platforms, a Deluxe and an Ultimate edition will be available. The Deluxe edition will have the following items:
- Premium Item Pack, containing gold, cooking items and Boosts
- Premium Costume Pack, including 8 full costumes and 6 accessories
- Premium Travel Pack, allowing for better cooking and crafting abilities as well as discounts in shops
The Ultimate Edition will have all the content from the Deluxe Edition as well as new costumes for the characters including special costumes in collaboration with other BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment games.
A physical Collector Edition will be available and include the same content as the Ultimate Edition, along with an exclusive figurine, a Steelbook, an Artbook and the game’s Soundtrack. This edition can be purchased at participating retailers in Southeast Asia.
A special Hootle Edition will be available exclusively and in limited quantities on the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Asia store at a later date. This edition will include, in addition to the base game, a metal case, an Artbook, the Soundtrack, a 15 cm Hootle plush along with 4 accessories, Hootle DLC for the game as well as stickers and 3 art prints.

Google Drive was not working for PLDT users in the Philippines.
Multiple users in the Philippines have taken to Twitter to express frustration that Google Drive is down. The earliest tweets started at around 7PM (GMT+8). As of writing, the service continues to not work for some people.
wtf i was supposed to pass my pts and google drive is down xjjenwkwkwjw help
— 🐾 (@phiiidenise) April 22, 2021
Me checking on twitter if google docs is down too: pic.twitter.com/61jDyJqFYz
— KenjiTech (@tech_kenji) April 22, 2021
my workaholic self is shaking google docs is down… pic.twitter.com/Ixto1vFEBe
— Alyssa 😜 (@justalysssaaa) April 22, 2021
Some tweeters have pointed out that the problem is with the Internet Service Provider PLDT. Some have switched to using a different ISP and it has worked for them.
Okay so google docs is down when using PLDT, tried using mobile data hotspot and now it works.
— andreamarie (@aindreamarie) April 22, 2021
google docs is down— i thought it was just me and my phone but my laptop too and i guess everyone else using pldt.
— MJ Camingue (@mjcmnge) April 22, 2021
PLDT replying to queries
PLDT has yet to fully acknowledge the problem and have only so far replied to a handful of customers who have tagged them to flag the issue.
Sorry to know you’re having issues with your service, @dhenner08. Do not worry, we’ll help you out. Kindly send us your telephone number, account number, email address and mobile number via DM so we can further assist you. We’ll be waiting. Thanks! – Brey
— PLDT Cares (@PLDT_Cares) April 22, 2021
Sorry to know you’re having issues with your service, @tifguevara. Do not worry, we’ll help you out. Kindly send us your telephone number, account number, email address and mobile number via DM so we can further assist you. We’ll be waiting. Thanks! – Brey
— PLDT Cares (@PLDT_Cares) April 22, 2021
As of 4:24AM (GMT+8), the service has returned for some users.
Google Drive is Google’s cloud service that’s also home to its Office Suite of apps including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Several people rely on the service both for study and work.
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