The new web calling feature supports both one-on-one and group calls, making it easier for users on shared computers, work laptops, or devices that don’t allow app installations to join conversations. It also includes familiar features such as screen sharing, reactions, and a dedicated Calls tab with call history and favorites.

Like calls on other platforms, WhatsApp says web calls are end-to-end encrypted, with no time limits or additional costs.

Another new addition is Call Transfer, which lets users move an active group call between devices without disconnecting. For example, a call started on a smartphone or tablet can be transferred to WhatsApp Web or Desktop when switching to a larger screen, and vice versa.

WhatsApp is also introducing Waiting Room, giving hosts more control over group calls. When creating a call link, users can enable “Require approval to join,” placing participants in a waiting room until they’re admitted.

The company has also improved call quality with QuickHD, which enables high-definition video earlier in a call instead of taking several seconds to adjust.

Meanwhile, the new Noise Suppression feature helps reduce background noise during voice and video calls, making conversations clearer in noisy environments. The feature can be enabled or disabled from the in-call settings.

WhatsApp says these new calling features are rolling out gradually and will become available to all users in the coming weeks.

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The tablet features an 11-inch 2.5K IPS eye-care display housed in a 6.6mm ultra-thin full metal body. It also supports LTE connectivity, allowing users to stay connected even without Wi-Fi.

Powering the MEGAPAD 2 is the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Storage can also be expanded via a microSD card.

Keeping the tablet running is an 8,200mAh battery, while software is based on HiOS 16, which is built on Android 16.

For photography and video calls, the tablet features a 3264 x 2448 rear camera capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps.

Other features include Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, built-in GPS support, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Price and Availability

The TECNO MEGAPAD 2 LTE is now available in the Philippines through TikTok Shop with introductory prices from July 27 to July 30, 2026.

• 6GB + 128GB – PHP 13,266
• 8GB + 256GB – PHP 15,766

Customers who purchase during the promotional period will also receive a free Bluetooth keyboard worth PHP 1,999.

TECNO has yet to announce the tablet’s official suggested retail prices.

TECNO MEGAPAD 2 specs:
Display: 11-inch IPS, 2560 × 1600, 2.5K
Processor: MediaTek Helio G99
CPU: Octa-Core (2x Cortex-A76 up to 2.2GHz + 6x Cortex-A55 up to 2.0GHz)
GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
RAM: 6GB, 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB
Expandable Storage: microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC
Rear Camera: 3264 × 2448, 1080p at 30fps
Battery: 8,200mAh
Operating System: HiOS 16 (Android 16)
Connectivity: LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2
Navigation: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
USB: USB Type-C
Audio Jack: 3.5mm
Dimensions: 253.99 × 165.55 × 6.6mm
Weight: 484g

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The full-day event focused on how businesses can use AI responsibly while protecting customer data and building trust. It also highlighted the need to help more companies, especially small and medium businesses, adjust to an AI-driven economy.

GCash cited research from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies showing that only 14.9% of Philippine firms currently use AI tools.

The summit featured four main tracks covering AI-powered business tools, cybersecurity, changes in the workplace, and the use of technology in regulation and fraud prevention. It also included a hackathon, policy discussions, roundtable sessions with Ayala chief information officers, and other activities.

Senator Bam Aquino served as keynote speaker and stressed the need to use available technology and data in policymaking. He also recognized GCash as a Philippine-grown company that has expanded beyond the country.

The event also hosted GSafe: The Vanguards of Trust, GCash’s first cybersecurity and anti-fraud summit. It tackled online threats, AI-driven attacks, fraud prevention, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

GCash said iGnite 2026 aims to turn these discussions into practical partnerships and solutions for safer, more inclusive digital services.

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The five-door compact crossover will be offered in three variants. The Basic model uses a single electric motor and a 54.9kWh battery, with an estimated 400-kilometer range and a top speed of 160km/h.

The Fashion variant also uses a single motor but comes with a larger 63kWh battery, increasing the estimated range to 500 kilometers. Its top speed remains at 160km/h.

The top-spec Deluxe model features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, an 81.5kWh battery, an estimated 600-kilometer range, and a top speed of 180km/h.

Inside, the Elektron comes with a digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment system, and rotary controller. Depending on the variant, available features include wireless charging, USB-C ports, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and powered front seats.

Standard safety equipment includes traction control, emergency brake assist, and an acoustic pedestrian warning system. Optional features include a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and collision alerts.

Francisco Motors says the battery supports CCS2 fast charging and can charge in around 30 minutes, depending on the charger and battery level. The Elektron is available to order through Founder Orbit.

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Users can open the service through a mobile browser at Blacknut’s Smart page, without downloading an app or installing large game files. The games run on cloud servers and are streamed directly to the device, similar to watching movies or series online.

The library includes titles from franchises such as NBA 2K, For Honor, Asphalt, Overcooked!, and LEGO, along with other AAA, indie, and family-friendly games.

Smart and TNT subscribers can register using their mobile number. Weekly subscriptions start at PHP 145 and can be charged directly to prepaid load. After entering a one-time password, users can begin playing through a supported browser.

Smart said the service removes the need for a dedicated gaming console or high-end PC, while also reducing storage and download requirements.

Cloud gaming depends on a stable connection and low network delay because the game is processed remotely. Smart cited Ookla data showing a median mobile latency of 45.88 milliseconds in the Philippines during the first half of 2025. It was also recognized for mobile video performance based on data from the second half of 2025.

The partnership expands Smart’s digital entertainment services by offering another way for subscribers to play games using its mobile network.

The post Smart, Blacknut launch Cloud Gaming for Filipinos appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews.

The CIRQA Smart Band features a ComfortFit fabric band paired with a fiber-reinforced polymer case, weighing approximately 21g depending on the selected size. It is available in Black, French Gray, Mauve, and Captain Blue, with S-M and L-XL size options.

Designed for all-day use, the wearable delivers up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge and comes with a 5 ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for swimming and other water-based activities.

For health tracking, the smart band includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, sleep score, Body Battery energy monitoring, stress tracking, HRV status, skin temperature tracking, hydration logging, women’s health tracking, smart wake alarms, nap detection, and Fitness Age.

The CIRQA Smart Band also supports connected GPS through a paired smartphone and works with the Garmin Connect app on both Android and iPhone devices. Connectivity options include Bluetooth and ANT+.

Fitness enthusiasts can choose from more than 100 activity profiles, including running, walking, cycling, swimming, hiking, strength training, HIIT, yoga, Pilates, rowing, tennis, basketball, football, boxing, and skiing. It also includes Garmin’s training tools such as Training Readiness, Training Status, Training Load, VO2 Max, Recovery Time, Heart Rate Zones, and Workout Benefit.

Price and Availability

The Garmin CIRQA Smart Band is now available in the Philippines for PHP 12,690. It comes in Black, French Gray, Mauve, and Captain Blue, and is available in S-M and L-XL sizes.

Garmin CIRQA Smart Band specs:
Display: Not Specified
Case: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Band: ComfortFit Fabric Band
Sizes: S-M, L-XL
Colors: Black, French Gray, Mauve, Captain Blue
Weight: Approximately 21g
Battery Life: Up to 10 Days
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Heart Rate Monitoring: 24/7
Blood Oxygen Monitoring: Pulse Ox
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Sleep Score: Yes
Body Battery: Yes
Stress Tracking: Yes
HRV Status: Yes
Skin Temperature Tracking: Yes
Hydration Tracking: Yes
Women’s Health Tracking: Yes
Smart Wake Alarm: Yes
Nap Detection: Yes
Fitness Age: Yes
GPS: Connected GPS
Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+
Companion App: Garmin Connect
Compatibility: Android, iPhone

The post Garmin CIRQA Smart Band now available in the Philippines appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews.

The XBUDS H5 features 10mm composite diaphragm dynamic drivers and supports fixed spatial audio for a wider listening experience.

For calls, the earbuds are equipped with binaural dual microphones with AI ENC and DNS 3.0 technology to reduce background noise. They also support wind noise cancellation for winds of up to 4m/s.

Battery life is rated for up to 7.5 hours of music playback on a single charge, extending to 30 hours with the included charging case. For voice calls, users can get up to 5 hours per charge or 20 hours with the charging case. The earbuds charge via a USB Type-C port and support fast charging.

Other features include Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connection, touch controls, IP54-rated water resistance for the earbuds, and compatibility with the AI Mate app on both Android and iOS.

Price and Availability

The Infinix XBUDS H5 is now available in the Philippines with a suggested retail price of PHP 649.

Infinix XBUDS H5 specs:
Drivers: 10mm Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Drivers
Audio: Fixed Spatial Audio
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 6.0
Bluetooth Range: 10 meters or more
Microphones: Binaural Dual Microphones
Noise Cancellation: AI ENC with DNS 3.0
Wind Noise Cancellation: Up to 4m/s
Dual-Device Connection: Yes
Battery (Earbuds): 40mAh each
Battery (Charging Case): 400mAh
Playback Time: Up to 7.5 hours (earbuds), Up to 30 hours (with charging case)
Talk Time: Up to 5 hours (earbuds), Up to 20 hours (with charging case)
Charging: USB Type-C, Fast Charging
Controls: Touch Controls
Water Resistance: IP54 (Earbuds)

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Built on Google’s Android XR platform, the intelligent eyewear integrates Gemini AI into a lightweight wearable designed for everyday use. Samsung says the glasses are intended to provide hands-free assistance for work, travel, communication, and daily activities while maintaining a fashionable design through its partnerships with the two eyewear brands.

The device features a built-in camera that enables AI to understand what users are looking at, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform powers real-time AI processing. Samsung says the glasses can last up to nine hours on a single charge, with the charging case providing up to seven additional full charges.

Among the AI capabilities are message summarization, reading information aloud, live translation, navigation assistance, and voice or gesture controls through compatible Galaxy devices. Users can also capture what they are seeing, such as whiteboards or meeting discussions, and organize the information into Samsung Notes for later review.

Samsung also highlighted context-aware AI experiences that can provide follow-up assistance based on what users are currently doing, reducing the need to repeat requests. The glasses can also share the user’s point of view during calls or record first-person videos while keeping both hands free.

For design, Samsung partnered with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to offer two distinct frame styles. The Gentle Monster edition features a slim black frame with rounded lower edges, while the Warby Parker version has a subtly upswept brow line in a brown finish for everyday wear. Samsung says both designs were refined for improved comfort and fit through close collaboration with the eyewear brands.

Samsung has yet to announce pricing, availability, or supported markets for the intelligent eyewear.

The post Samsung unveils AI-powered smart glasses developed with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews.

What’s new in Geekbench 7

• New media workloads for AV1 video encoding, Opus audio compression, and Whisper-powered live captions
• Smarter multi-core benchmark that better reflects real-world application performance
• New GPU tests focused on AI, machine learning, and content creation
• CUDA support added alongside OpenCL, Vulkan, and Metal
• New Game Physics benchmark powered by the Jolt Physics engine
• Updated photo editing and photo library workloads
• Larger datasets for file compression, PDF viewing, and image processing tests
• Available now for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Primate Labs has officially released Geekbench 7, the latest version of its cross-platform benchmarking tool for measuring CPU and GPU performance across smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Available now for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, Geekbench 7 introduces new workloads designed to better reflect modern computing tasks, along with updates to its multi-core and GPU benchmarking systems.

One of the biggest additions is a new set of media workloads that measure CPU performance during common tasks such as audio and video encoding, decoding, and processing. These include AV1 screen-sharing video encoding, Opus audio compression, and video playback with live caption generation using the Whisper speech recognition model.

Geekbench 7 also adds a new Game Physics workload built on the Jolt Physics engine, expands its Photo Editor benchmark with more complex image editing tasks, and updates the Photo Library workload to support modern image formats including JPEG XL and DNG.

The multi-core benchmark has also been redesigned to better represent how applications actually use multiple CPU cores. Instead of forcing every workload to run across all available cores, Geekbench 7 only runs workloads in multi-threaded mode if the real-world application being modeled also uses multiple threads.

On the GPU side, Geekbench 7 shifts its focus toward machine learning and content creation workloads. New tests include AI-powered face tracking and video filters, image upscaling, virtual background processing for video calls, RAW image processing, LUT-based video color grading, path tracing, and fluid simulation.

Primate Labs has also added CUDA support to the GPU benchmark, joining OpenCL, Vulkan, and Metal as supported graphics APIs.

In addition, Geekbench 7 uses larger and more demanding datasets across several workloads, including file compression, PDF viewing, software development, and image processing, to better reflect modern applications and file sizes.

Geekbench 7 is available as a free download for personal use. To mark its release, Primate Labs is offering 20% off Geekbench 7 Pro through its online store until August 6.

The post Geekbench 7 now available: Here’s what’s new appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews.

Developed by a team of Filipino developers, TrainSight provides real-time train locations, estimated arrival times, and crowd density information for commuters using Metro Manila’s rail transit systems.

According to the developers, the app combines data from tracking hardware installed on trains with crowdsourced information collected from users running the app. This allows commuters to see where trains are, how soon they will arrive, and how crowded stations and trains are before they begin their trip.

TrainSight founder and lead developer RJ Crusem said the idea was inspired by flight tracking services like FlightRadar24, allowing passengers to monitor train movements in real time instead of waiting for updates at stations. Development of the platform began in 2025.

The app currently supports LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3, while backend support for the upcoming MRT-7 is already in development.

Aside from helping commuters plan their trips, the developers also believe TrainSight can improve transparency for rail operators by providing visibility into train movements, allowing technical issues to be identified and addressed more quickly.

TrainSight is currently available in open beta for Android, while a web version can also be accessed through desktop and mobile browsers.

The developers plan to officially launch the Android app in August, followed by an iOS release between September and October. They also said they are coordinating with relevant government agencies ahead of the official rollout.

Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand TrainSight beyond rail systems by adding real-time tracking for road-based public transportation, including public buses.

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