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Xiaomi Mi Note 3 launches as a larger Mi 6

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Alongside the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi also announced their new entry to the Mi Note series. While successors usually bring upgrades, the Mi Note 3 is a bit of a downgrade.

Xiaomi’s new smartphone follows in the footsteps of its Mi 6 flagship, which is why we can actually call it the Mi 6 Plus. It has an identical design from the front to its back. Compared to the Mi 6, it has a larger 5.5-inch Full HD display and trades the stainless steel frame with 7-series aluminum alloy.

The processor on the Mi Note 3 is not a flagship chipset anymore, unlike its predecessor. It now has a midrange Snapdragon 660 processor paired with 6GB of memory. Battery capacity also gets a cut to just 3500mAh from 4070mAh.

Dual-camera photography comes to the Mi Note series with two 12-megapixel sensors — one with a wide-angle lens and the other with 2x optical zoom. The main sensor is fitted with 4-axis optical image stabilization to help take a steadier and clearer shot in low-light scenarios. And, like with other dual-camera phones, it can shoot portrait images with bokeh effect. For selfies, it has a 16-megapixel front-facing shooter that has a new beautify mode from Xiaomi.

The Mi Note 3 will start at CNY 2,499 (US$ 385) for the 6GB memory and 64GB storage variant and CNY 2,899 (US$ 445) if you need the larger 128GB storage. If you want the blue color model with a 6GB+128GB combo, you’ll have to shell out CNY 2,999 (US$ 460). The phone will go on sale tomorrow in China.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 improves on predecessor in every way

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YouTube has become ‘new TV’ in the Philippines, drives better ROI for ads

A major shift in the content consumption landscape

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YouTube has effectively become the “new TV” in the Philippines and is delivering a significantly better return on investment (ROI) for advertisers, a Google-commissioned Nielsen study has found.

The report pretty much attests to the massive migration of Filipino viewers from scheduled programming to on-demand and creator-driven content, with nine out of 10 Filipinos using YouTube.

In addition, the Nielsen study mentions that 88% of rural Visayas and Mindanao also use YouTube daily. It is a fundamental change in how Filipinos, especially the younger generations, use content.

And it’s not just about short clips; even primetime entertainment, news, and educational programs are being watched more frequently on YouTube.

The development is likewise beneficial for business. Nielsen says in the country, YouTube is 3.86 times more effective than linear TV and 2.71 times more effective than other digital platforms as a medium for advertising.

Moreover, according to a survey conducted by Kantar, 90% of surveyed viewers in the Philippines agree that YouTube has the most trusted creator content.

This figure outperforms the competitive average of 77% across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Same trend in the U.S.?

On a larger scale, the trend in the Philippines parallels the content consumption landscape in the United States.

According to a June 2025 Nielsen report of The Gauge, streaming has notched a record 44.8% of total TV usage last May. This percentage narrowly eclipsed the combined 44.2% for broadcast and cable TV.

Of the 44.8% viewership share, 12.5% came from YouTube. Other major streaming platforms in the country include Netflix (7.5%), Disney (5.0%), Prime Video (3.5%), Roku (2.5%), and Paramount (2.2%).

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Suunto joins Strava in legal battle against Garmin

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Last week, Strava started a surprising legal war against Garmin. The latter allegedly infringed on several software patents. Now, another company is joining the fight. Suunto is also suing Garmin for hardware-related patent infringements.

Strava’s issues stem from software-related issues. Some features, especially Garmin’s heatmaps, are allegedly violating Strava’s own patents. Thus, Strava is asking the courts to stop Garmin from selling its infringing devices, which coincidentally makes up most of the company’s lineup.

In contrast, Suunto’s issues are geared towards Garmin’s hardware. However, the desired end result is the same: stopping Garmin from selling its watches.

Via Canadian Running, Garmin reportedly violated up to five hardware patents. These patents supposedly cover a variety of features including antenna positioning, golf swing detection, and the case’s design.

The suit was filed on September 22, so it’s a fairly recent development too. Much like Strava, Suunto wants financial compensation and an injunction against Garmin selling affected smartwatches. Coincidentally, the devices affected once again include most of Garmin’s devices.

Last week, it felt unlikely that Strava’s lawsuit would lead to the collapse of Garmin’s business. However, with two companies now fighting against the one, the fight just got more interesting. To be fair, the cases might still end up with nothing happening, but it’s still worth following.

SEE ALSO: Strava is suing Garmin over alleged patent infringements

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Tim Cook might soon step down as Apple’s CEO

He’s turning 65 next month.

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Did you know that it’s been almost 15 years since Tim Cook took the reins of Apple? The brand’s stalwart fans can definitely thank Cook for Apple’s impressive success today. That said, nothing lasts forever, especially as one reaches the age of 65. Tim Cook, after bringing Apple to almost US$ 4 trillion in valuation, might soon step down as the company’s CEO.

When he took over as CEO, Cook had the unfortunate challenge of following Steve Jobs. But, as we can see now, the CEO was more than up for the task, leading the company to new heights. Cook, however, will soon enter his twilight years. This November, the CEO turns 65. Cook’s retirement now becomes a question of “when” and “who’s next.”

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the transition might come soon. A few of the company’s executives have started to leave the company. This year, COO Jeff Williams stepped down and will soon leave the company. Importantly, Williams was once seen as next in line for the throne.

Others are expected to follow Williams, eventually leading to Cook’s own retirement. Cook’s 65th birthday isn’t a sure deadline, but the talks should start. When Cook does retire from his CEO duties, it’s expected that he’ll transition instead into a new role as chairman, similar to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

Gurman also notes that the current heir, after Williams’s departure, is now the company’s hardware engineering boss, John Ternus. Importantly, this means that Apple might finally enter a new era outside of smartphones. As popular as the iPhone is, the company has struggled entering new facets of technology, including the middling Vision Pro. Ternus, as opposed to a more business-oriented leader, might steer Apple into those new frontiers.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Air Review

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