News

Redmi 9 now official in the Philippines

Jam-packed with features

Published

on

Alongside the launch of POCO F2 Pro in the Philippines is the launch of an entry-level smartphone from Xiaomi. The Redmi 9 is now officially available in the country, and it comes with a competitive price tag despite its jam-packed specs.

The Redmi 9 is a big upgrade over its predecessor. It now has a quad-camera setup that allows for more versatility. The main camera is a 13MP wide-angle camera. There’s also an 8MP ultra-wide-angle + 5MP macro camera which should allow for better landscape and close-up shots. Rounding up the camera setup is a 2MP depth sensor.

On the display front, users can expect a bigger and better screen. The display is now 6.53 inches and the resolution is bumped to full HD. The waterdrop notch is here to stay, housing the device’s 8Mp selfie camera.

Redmi 9 vastly improves on the performance front too. There’s a new MediaTek Helio G80 processor powering the device. Xiaomi claims the device has a 207% improved performance over its predecessor. MIUI 12 based on Android 10 is available out of the box. To top it all off, there’s a 5,020 mAh battery inside with support for 18W fast charging.

Plus, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, NFC, and dual SIM + microSD card support on this device. Redmi 9 is really jam-packed with features for an entry-level smartphone.

 Pricing and availability

The best part about the Redmi 9? It starts at PhP 6,990 for the 3 / 32GB variant. There’s also a 4 / 64GB variant that retails at PhP 7,490. It is now available on Xiaomi’s official online store at Shopee starting June 16. Customers can grab the device in a variety of colors: Carbon Grey, Ocean Green, Sunset Purple.

There’s also a one-day flash sale happening on Shopee. Customers can snag the Redmi 9 3 /32GB variant at PhP 500 off or PhP 6,490 only for June 16.

Redmi 9 will retail on other sales channels starting from June 30. It will be also available for purchase at the Xiaomi Official Store on Lazada from July 7, 2020 with a special one-day price of PhP 6,490 (PhP 500 off) for the 3GB+32GB variant.

News

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

Published

on

Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer

Continue Reading

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

Published

on

Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 now lets you play old games in 1080p

Continue Reading

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

on

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

SEE ALSO: PC Game Pass gets cheaper, but Call of Duty delays are coming

Continue Reading

Trending