After unveiling the logo, Adidas just introduced the first signature shoes of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards called the AE1. Anthony “Ant-Man” Edwards, is one of the rising star in the NBA, and fresh off the FIBA World Cup 2023, the European Sports sportswear company has unveil Ant’s first signature shoes, which they aptly calling AE1. The shoe was unveiled on September 23, 2023, in Atlanta, Edwards’ hometown.
The AE1 is a performance basketball shoe that is designed to match Edwards’ playing style. The shoe features a lightweight and breathable knit upper with TPU overlays for added support. The AE1 is equipped with a BOOST cushioning system and directional herringbone blades throughout the tread to provide optimal performance on the court. The outsole features a herringbone traction pattern for optimal grip on the court.
The shoe itself boasts a unique grate-type/honeycomb design and will be available in Timberwolves-themed colorways, including a “Georgia Peach” colorway that pays homage to Edwards’ home state. The shoe also features Edwards’ signature logo, which is a combination of the letters “A” and “E” in a forward and backward motion.
The AE1 is scheduled to be released in December 2023. It is a highly anticipated shoe among basketball fans and sneakerheads alike, as Edwards is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA. AE1 will retail for $120.
Together with the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, Xiaomi also announced the Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro, the latest additions to its popular Redmi Note series. The new phones feature a number of upgrades over their predecessors, including improved displays, cameras, and performance.
The Redmi Note 13 and Note 13 Pro have the same 6.67” FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1080 x 2400 resolutions. It has a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio and Touch sampling rate of “Instantaneous up to 2160Hz.”
RedMi Note 13 Pro
The Redmi Note 13 is powered by MT Dimensity 6080 chip while the Note 13 Pro will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen2 and come with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
The Redmi Note 13 has a dual-lens rear camera system with a 100MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The Redmi Note 13 Pro has a tri-lens rear camera system with a 200 MP Samsung HP3 flagship main sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor.
Both phones have a 16MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.
The Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro both have large battery capacity, 5000mAh and 5100mAh batteries, respectively with both supporting 67W fast charging.
RedMi Note 13
Here is a summary of the key features of the Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro:
RAM: Up to 16GB (Note 13 Pro)/ Up to 12GB (Note 13)
Storage: Up to 512 GB (Note 13 Pro) / 256GB (Note 13)
Rear camera: dual-lens system with 100MP main sensor (Redmi Note 13), triple-lens system with 200 MP Samsung HP3 flagship main sensor (Redmi Note 13 Pro)
The Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro are now available in China on September 22, 2023. Global availability and pricing have not yet been announced. As for the price, the Redmi Note 13 starts at CNY 1,199 (SAR 616.27) that’s for the 6GB+128GB model, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro model of 8GB+128GB is priced at CNY 1,499 or around SAR 770.47.
The Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro are great options for mid-range smartphone buyers who are looking for a phone with a good display, camera, and performance. The phones are also well-priced, making them a good value for money.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is the latest and most powerful model in the Redmi Note 13 series. It features a number of upgrades over the Redmi Note 13 and 13 Pro, including a larger and more powerful display, a more advanced camera system, and a faster processor.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1220 x 2712 resolution. The display is also HDR10+ certified, which means that it can display content with a wider range of colors and 1800 nits (peak) brightness, all covered in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra CPU, which is one of the fastest processors available by MediaTek. It has up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The phone also the series’ first-ever model to feature an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a tri-lens rear camera system with a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, a 2MP macro sensor. The 200MP main sensor is the highest-resolution sensor ever used in a smartphone.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus also has a 16MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a 5000mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging. The company boasts that the phone can be fully charged in a matter of minutes.
Here is a summary of the key specs/features of the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus:
Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and curved design
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra CPU
RAM: Up to 16GB
Storage: Up to 512GB
Rear camera: tri-lens system with 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 main sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 120W fast charge.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is scheduled to be released in China on September 26, 2023. It has a starting price of CNY 1,999 (around SAR 1,027.47) for the 12GB + 256GB model and CNY 2,299 (SAR 1181.66) for the 16GB + 512GB model. Global availability and pricing have not yet been announced.
Netflix Philippines just release their very first Christmas Station ID. The music is a modified version of Joey Albert’s Kumukutikutitap and the streaming giant wrote in the video description that “Christmas came early.”
The video features “Replacing Chef Chico” stars Piolo Pascual, Alessandra de Rossi, and Sam Milby; “Can’t Buy Me Love” stars Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano; “Keys To The Heart” cast Zanjoe Marudo and Elijah Canlas; “Missed Connections” stars Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, and Chie Filomeno; “What If” stars Alessandra de Rossi and JM De Guzman; and “Seasons” stars Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino, which are all available in Netflix.
Releasing of Christmas Station ID is an annual tradition of local networks particularly GMA and ABS-CBN, and it looks like Netflix Philippines is adopting that tradition after being in the Philippines for 7 years now.
Nikon has announced the release of the Nikon Z f, a retro-inspired mirrorless camera with modern features. The Z f is the latest addition to Nikon’s Z-mount mirrorless system, and it is designed to appeal to photographers of all levels, from beginners to experienced professionals. The body is based on the Nikon’s iconic FM2 film camera.
The Nikon Z f features a Full Frame 24.5-megapixel sensor and the EXPEED 7 image-processing engine. It also has a vari-angle 8-cm touchscreen display, a built-in electronic viewfinder, and two memory card slots, one supporting SD cards and the other Micro SD cards.
One of the most striking things about the Z f is its retro design. The camera is inspired by Nikon’s classic FM2 film camera, and it features a number of retro design elements, such as a silver top plate, black body, and knurled dials.
Despite its retro design, the Z fc is a very modern camera. It features a number of advanced features, such as subject and autofocus detection, support focus-point VR, and 4K UHD video recording up to 60p.
Nikon Z f Rear Body
Nikon Z f Rear Body with Monitor
Nikon Z f Front Body
The Z f is also compatible with Nikon’s wide range of Z-mount lenses. This gives photographers a wide range of choices when it comes to choosing lenses for their camera.
The Nikon Z f is a great option for photographers who are looking for a retro-inspired camera with modern features. It is a versatile camera that can be used for a variety of photography genres, including portraiture, landscape, and street photography.
The Z f is scheduled to be released in July 2023, and it will be available in six Premium Exterior colors;Black, Sunset Orange, Bordeaux Red, Indogo Blue, Sepia Brown, Moss Green and Stone Grey.
Here are some of the key features of the Nikon Z f:
Full Frame 24.5-megapixel sensor
EXPEED 7 image-processing engine
vari-angle 8-cm touchscreen display
Built-in electronic viewfinder
Dual SD card slots
Subject and autofocus detection, with Manual Focus Subject Detection
10-bit 4K 60p Video
8 stops of VR
Touch Fn settings control
Compatible with Nikon’s Z-mount lenses
Dedicated Black and White Switch
Pixel Shift Shooting up to Approx. 96mp
You can checkout the full specs of Nikon Z f here.
The Nikon Z fc is a great new addition to Nikon’s Z-mount mirrorless system. It is a retro-inspired camera with modern features, and it is sure to appeal to a wide range of photographers.
The Nikon Zf will be available in a Black finish starting in mid-October for $2,000 body only. Body and kit lens with the retro-styled Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 SE lens for $2,240 or a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens for $2,600. For those who wants to buy additional color options; Sunset Orange, Bordeaux Red, Indogo Blue, Sepia Brown, Moss Green and Stone Grey, an additional $100.00 will be added to the $2000.00 price (body only). Color options will be available in limited quantities.
Netflix is set to release a live-action adaptation of the popular manga and anime series Yu Yu Hakusho in December 2023. The series will star Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi (Eugene), Jun Shison as Kurama (Dennis), Kanata Hongo as Hiei (Vincent), and Shuhei Uesugi as Kazuma Kuwabara (Alfred).
The series is produced by ROBOT and directed by Sho Tsukikawa. The screenplay is being written by Tatsuro Mishima.
Yu Yu Hakusho is the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent who is killed by a car while saving a child’s life. He is given a second chance at life by the Spirit World, and is tasked with working as a Spirit Detective to investigate cases involving demons.
Casts
Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi
Jun Shison as Kurama
Kanata Hongō as Hiei
Shuhei Uesugi as Kazuma Kuwabara
The anime series is known for its humor, action, and complex characters. It was a huge success in Japan, and has also been popular with audiences around the world. A tagalog dub version of the anime was aired in the Philippines in the 90’s on IBC 13 and GMA 7.
Netflix announced the Japanese live-action series adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho December 16, 2020, then on July 15, 2022, it was announced that Shō Tsukikawa would serve as the series director, with Tatsurō Mishima handling the script and Ryō Sakaguchi serving as the VFX supervisor, as well as the casting.
unveiling the cast of the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho over the next few days! stay tuned to this thread pic.twitter.com/2LUzsDhM3r
Fans of the original manga and anime series are eagerly awaiting the live-action adaptation, specially with the success of the live action One Piece. They are hoping that Netflix will be able to do the series justice, and create a show that is both entertaining and faithful to the source material.
I am also excited for the release of the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho series. I have been a fan of the manga and anime series for many years, and I am curious to see how Netflix adapts it for live-action. I am also hopeful that the series will help to introduce Yu Yu Hakusho to a new audience.
All 4 seasons of the anime is available for stream on Netlfix.
Lewis Alfred “LA” Vasquez Tenorio, the veteran point guard for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), announced on Wednesday that he is cancer free.
Tenorio, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in March 2023, underwent surgery and chemotherapy. He missed the remainder of the 2022-23 PBA season, including the Gin Kings’ run to the Governors’ Cup finals, where they lost to TNT.
In a statement, Tenorio thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and fans for their support during his battle with cancer.
Sept. 19, 2023, as I step out of my doctor’s clinic with my wife, and as my nurse pulls out my chemo line plugged into my heart for 6 months, I am writing this message to everyone.
For those who were my prayer warriors, for those who showed me so much love and support…Know that, I am forever grateful to all of you.
My scan and last test results show no trace of cancer and that the treatment was effective. I now in remission. Praise God!
Tenorio is a 17-year veteran of the PBA. He has won eight championships with Ginebra, including three Governors’ Cups. He is also a four-time Finals MVP. In the same statement, Tenorio said that he will have a basketball comeback.
Now I am returning to basketball for my love of the game. This time with a higher purpose. Not as the old LA, but hopefully with the new and better version of myself. I hope I can help inspire people through the game of basketball – that life, winning battles, winning championships are all more meaningful not because of the end goal but because of the journey.
Its unclear if LA will be suiting up for Ginebra as a player or part of the coaching staff and when, but regardless of the position, LA Tenorio’s return will be a major boost for Ginebra, which is looking to win its third consecutive Governors’ Cup title in 2023-24.
Missed the 48th PBA Draft last Sunday in Market Market, below is the full list of 2023 PBA Rookie Draft where 79 players have been drafted and 45 to go undrafted. As great as crop of players in this year’s draft, it missed some of the popular players who are playing in overseas like Kai Sotto, Kobe Paras and Rhenz Abando.
If you are in Saudi and want to preorder the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, below are the pricing from the top retailer in the Kingdom.
Apple Watch Series 9 Aluminum 41mm
GPS – SR1,849.00
GPS + Cellular – SR2,249.00
45mm
GPS – SR1,969.00
GPS + Cellular – SR2,379.00
Stainless Steel 41mm (GPS + Cellular)
Rubber Band – SR3,149.00
Stainless steel Band – SR3,349.00
45mm (GPS + Cellular)
Rubber Band – SR3,379.00
Textile Band – SR3,379.00
Stainless steel Band – SR3,579.00
Apple Watch Ultra 2 on ALL BANDS – SR3,599.00
Just like with the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pros, the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be available on Sept 22nd.
For those in Saudi Arabia, the iPhone 15s and iPhone 15 Pros are now available for preorder and will be available in retail store on the 22nd of September. While there is no Online Apple store for Saudi Arabia, you can place your preorder to any of the local retailers in the country.
If you are planning to buy the new iPhone this year, then you can checkout the Philippines pricing released by Apple or as posted in the Philippines Apple Online Store (https://www.apple.com/ph/store).
iPhone 15 Pro Max
256 GB – ₱84,990.00
512 GB – ₱96,990.00
1 TB – ₱106,990
The availability of new iPhone 15s and iPhone 15 Pro is yet to be announced for the Philippine market. To know about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, you can go here and for the new iPhone 15 Pro and Iphone Pro Max, just read about the device here.
The Philippines (Gilas Pilipinas) moved up two places to number 38 in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, which was released on September 10th, 2023. This despite a disappointing campaign in the recently concluded 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas finished the World Cup with a 1-4 record, defeating only China in their final game. However, their win was enough to push them up two spots in the rankings and earn a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) or the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The Philippines is now the eighth-best ranked team in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Australia (4th), New Zealand (21th), Japan (26th), Iran (27th), Lebanon (28th), and China (29th).
You can checkout the full rankings here. To know how the ranking is determine, you can checkout the HOW IT WORKS.
The improvement in the rankings is a sign that Gilas Pilipinas is on the right track. The team has a young and talented core, and they are gaining experience in major international competitions. With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, Gilas Pilipinas will be looking to continue their improvement and qualify for the Games for the first time since 1972.
Today is the big day for all PBA hopefuls, the 48th Season PBA Draft is considered as one of the deepest draft pool with 124 applicants locally and internationally.
Terrafirma, Blackwater, Rain or Shine and Northport are the teams that will be choose the top 5 picks.
Below are the official list of applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft;
Here’s the 48th Season #PBAGatoradeDraft OFFICIAL LIST of Applicants!
See you Sunday, 4pm at the Market Market – Taguig!
Aquaman 2, officially titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster that made Jason Momoa a household name. The trailer shows Aquaman returning to his underwater kingdom of Atlantis, where he faces a new threat from his old enemy Black Manta.
Black Manta has acquired a powerful weapon called the Black Trident, which can unleash a dark force that could destroy the world. Aquaman must team up with his estranged brother Orm, the former king of Atlantis, to stop Black Manta and save his family, his people and the world.
The trailer also features glimpses of Aquaman’s love interest Mera, played by Amber Heard, who briefly returns in the sequel despite the controversy surrounding her divorce from Johnny Depp. Other returning cast members include Nicole Kidman as Aquaman’s mother Atlanna, Patrick Wilson as Orm, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus.
The trailer also introduces some new faces, such as Vincent Regan as Atlan, Indya Moore as Karshon, and Pilou Asbæk for an undisclosed role.
The film is directed by James Wan, who also helmed the first Aquaman movie and is known for his horror films such as The Conjuring and Saw. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to hit theaters on December 20, 2023.
It’s official the live action adaptation of One Piece will have a second season, this was announced by Netflix accompanied by a special message from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the Japanese manga series of One Piece, where the adaptation is based.
We finally have the official band line up for the coming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi. Of all the 14 bands, I only recognize Super Junior. Looks like the rest of the bands are up and coming bands in the K-POP scene.
For October 6th;
Super Junior D&E
HighLight
Hyolyn
Kard
Everglow
8turn
Riize
For Octoher 7th;
Super Junior
Oh My Girl
Dreamcatcher
Tempest
The New Six
Eleltz U+P
Evnne
The KCON Korean Festival will (KCON Riyadh 2023) be on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City. In addition to the musical performances, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Korean culture. This will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Korea’s rich history and traditions.
The new iPhones will have USB-C ports. This is a major change from previous iPhones, which have used the Lightning connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports.
The USB-C port, as mentioned by Android users, is a more versatile port than the Lightning connector. It can be used to charge devices, transfer data, and connect to external displays. It is also the standard port used by many other devices, such as laptops, tablets, and cameras. This means that you will be able to use the same charger and cable for your iPhone 15 and other devices. It is however not yet confirmed if the new iPhones will be able to support external displays.
The switch to USB-C is a welcome change for many iPhone users. It is a more modern and versatile port that will make it easier to connect the iPhone to other devices and accessories. It is also a step towards reducing e-waste, as there will be no need to have separate chargers for different devices.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will have USB-C ports that support USB 2.0 speeds, though this is yet to be confirmed. This means that the new iPhones be capable to transfer data at a maximum speed of 480 Mbps. However, it is possible that Apple may release a later version of the iPhone 15 with a USB-C port that supports faster speeds.
Overall, the switch to USB-C is a positive change for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. It is a more versatile and modern port that will make it easier to connect the iPhone to other devices. It is also a step towards reducing e-waste.
Apple has once again pushed the boundaries of wearable technology with the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Unveiled on September 12, 20231, this new iteration of Apple’s most rugged and capable watch brings a host of performance updates and new features, setting a significant environmental milestone.
Powerful New S9 SiP
At the heart of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the powerful new S9 SiP1. This custom Apple silicon delivers system-wide improvements and introduces brand-new features. It includes a new double tap gesture and on-device Siri with the ability to access and log health data privately and securely. The watch also features a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as the original Apple Watch Ultra.
Double Tap Gesture
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduces a new double tap gesture, allowing users to easily control the watch using just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly perform many of the most common actions on the watch. This double tap will also open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.
Brightest Display Ever
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts Apple’s brightest display ever, with an upgraded brightness of 3,000 nits. This makes it perfect for anyone who wants our biggest, brightest display, longest battery life, and best GPS of any Apple Watch.
Expanded Altitude Range and Advanced Capabilities
The watch offers an expanded altitude range, on-device Siri, Precision Finding for iPhone, and advanced capabilities for water adventures1. It also runs watchOS 10, which delivers redesigned apps, new cycling experiences, features to help explore the outdoors, and a new watch face — Modular Ultra3.
Battery Life
Despite all these advancements, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 maintains an impressive battery life. It offers a 36-hour battery life with regular use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
Carbon Neutral Options
In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, customers can now choose a carbon neutral option for any Apple Watch model. This represents a significant milestone toward Apple’s plan to be carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 20301.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available for order today, with availability beginning Friday, September 22. It is priced at $799, making it both an impressive piece of technology and a statement of style.
Together with the new iPhone 15s, Apple also announced the new Apple Watch Series 9. The new watch features a number of improvements over its predecessor, including a brighter display, a faster processor, and a new double-tap gesture.
Faster Processor
The Apple Watch Series 9 is powered by the new S9 SiP, the new dual-core CPU has 5.6 billion transistors — 60% more than the S8 chip. Apple Watch Series 9 also has a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast, when compared with Apple Watch Series 8. The power efficiency of the S9 SiP allows Apple Watch Series 9 to maintain all-day 18-hour battery life.
Double-tap gesture
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a new double-tap gesture that allows you to control the watch without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly and conveniently perform many of the most common actions on Apple Watch Series 9.
Brighter display
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a brighter display, it display up to 2000 nits — double that of Series 8. This will make it easier to see the watch in bright sunlight. With the new S9 SiP, the display is also more energy-efficient, so it will last longer on a single charge.
Notable features;
Always-on altimeter that measures elevation changes throughout the day
New fall detection feature that can automatically call emergency services if you fall
New ECG app that can detect atrial fibrillation
New blood oxygen app that can measure your blood oxygen levels
Apple Watch Series 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminum case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases. The Apple Watch Series 9 is priced at $399. The watch will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Apple has officially announced the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the company’s latest flagship smartphones. The new phones feature a number of improvements over their predecessors, including a new design, a more powerful A17 Bionic chip, a better camera system and USB-C!
“This is the most pro lineup we have ever created, with a state-of-the-art titanium design, the best iPhone camera system yet that enables game-changing new workflows, and the A17 Pro chip, which ushers in a new chapter of performance and games never before seen on iPhone,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max represent the best of Apple design and industry-first innovations to help enrich the everyday experiences of our users, while enabling them to unleash their creativity.”
Design
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max still using the same design language that Apple used since the iPhone 12, but with a few key changes. The front will be using Ceramic Shield and back glass is now made of titanium, which is stronger and lighter than aluminum. The phones are also slightly thicker and heavier, which helps to improve their durability.
The front of the phones is still dominated by the large display, which is now a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display on the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The displays have a resolution of 2556‑by‑1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi and support HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
USB-C
Just like with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the new iPhone 15 Pros will feature a new USB-C connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports. The USB-C will be for charging and data transfer. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support USB 3 for data transfer speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, up to 20x faster than before.
Action button
Another new feature of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is the new Action button which replaces the replaces the “mute” switch. The new Action button is customizable that give you quick access to the camera or flashlight; activating Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate and accessibility features like Magnifier; or using Shortcuts for more options.
Camera
The camera system on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the biggest improvements over the previous models. The main camera now has a 48-megapixel sensor, which allows it to take sharper and more detailed photos. The ultrawide camera has also been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor with a wider field of view. Both cameras now support Night mode, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a new telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom in and a 2x optical zoom out, that gives it a 10x optical zoom range with the digital zoom up to 25x. This is the first time that the iPhone has had a telephoto lens with this much zoom capabilities, and it will be a major boon for photographers who want to take close-up shots of faraway subjects.
A17 Bionic chip
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are powered by the A17 Bionic chip, the most powerful chip ever used in an iPhone and the industry’s first 3-nanometer chip in a smartphone. The A17 Bionic chip offers up to 10% faster CPU performance and up to 20% faster GPU performance than the previous chip. The new iPhone 15 Pros will also features hardware-accelerated ray tracing — which is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing — iPhone 15 Pros offers smoother graphics, as well as more immersive AR applications and gaming experiences.
This makes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max ideal for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a longer battery life that the previous generation; up to 29 hours video playback and up to 95 hours in audio with support for magSafe wireless charging up to 15 Watts and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5 Watts. When using a 20W adapter (or higher) battery will fast-charge up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes. Just like with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, Apple uses 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. You can checkout the full specs of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max here.
Notable features;
New design with titanium back
A17 Bionic chip
Improved camera system with 48-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and 6x optical zoom telephoto camera
Night mode for all three cameras
Customizable Action button
Cinematic mode for videos
LiDAR scanner for augmented reality
Larger battery
Support for 5G connectivity
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium finishes, and will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. The iPhone 15 Pro will start at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will start at $1,199. The phones will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Apple today unveiled the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the company’s latest flagship smartphones. The new phones feature a number of improvements over their predecessors, including a new design, a more powerful A16 Bionic chip, and a better camera system.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have a similar design to the iPhone 14, but with a few key changes. The back glass is now color-infused with a stunning, textured matte finish, and a new contoured edge on the aluminum enclosure. The phones are also slightly thicker and heavier, which helps to improve their durability.
The iPhone 15 will be the smaller 6.1-inch, while the iPhone 15 Plus will feature a larger 6.7-inch display sizes. Both iPhone 15s will also feature the Dynamic Island, an innovative way to interact with important alerts and Live Activities. The Super Retina XDR display is great for watching content, streaming Apple Fitness+ workouts, and playing games.
Another big change that Apple made with the new iPhone 15 is the new USB-C connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports.
The new iPhone 15s uses the A16 Bionic chip, the most powerful chip ever used in an iPhone. With two high-performance cores that use 20 percent less power and four high-efficiency cores, the 6-core CPU is faster than the previous generation and the 5-core GPU now has 50% more memory bandwidth for smooth graphics for streaming videos and games.
The camera system on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus has also been improved. Both models feature a powerful 48MP Main camera that enables super-high-resolution photos and a new 2x Telephoto option. This gives users a total of three optical zoom levels — 0.5x, 1x, 2x — for the first time on any iPhone dual-camera system, like having a third camera1. The ultrawide camera has also been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor. Both cameras now support Night mode, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions for a sharper and more detailed photos.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus also introduce the next generation of portraits, making it easier to capture portraits with great detail and low-light performance. For the first time, users can take portraits without having to switch to Portrait mode. When there’s a person, dog, or cat in the frame, or when a user taps to focus, iPhone automatically captures depth information, so users can turn photos into stunning portraits later in the Photos app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
On the battery side, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now use even more recycled content, with 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. Up to 26 hours video playback and up to 100 hours in audio with magSafe wireless charging up to 15 Watts, Qi wireless charging up to 7.5 Watts. The battery also support fast-charge up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher.
You can find the full specs of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus here.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be available in black, blue, green, yellow, and pink. Price start at $699 for the 128 GB, $799 for 256 GB and $899 for the 512 GB variant. The phones will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Gilas Pilipinas holds first practice for Asian Games. Present are Thompson, Brownlee, JMF, Japeth, Kouame, Oftana, Tautuaa, Abueva, Romeo, Newsome, Perkins & Pringle pic.twitter.com/mX294YNLh0
The 5×5 basketball of the 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium and Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 26 to October 6, and the final in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, where the athletes will compete for 2 gold medals.
Here’s something for OFW who are a big fan of K-pop, K-drama and/or Korean culture in general.
The KCON Korean Festival will return to Saudi Arabia to celebrate Korean culture in all its vibrant forms. This year, KCON Riyadh 2023 is officially happening this fall. The festival will take place on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City.
KCON Riyadh 2023 promises to be an exciting event, featuring performances by 14 South Korean bands. Fans can look forward to a variety of concerts and meet-and-greets, providing a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite artists.
But KCON is not just about music. It’s a celebration of all things Korean. In addition to the musical performances, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Korean culture. This will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Korea’s rich history and traditions.
Moreover, a market will be set up where attendees can pick up all sorts of Korean goodies. Whether you’re looking for K-pop merchandise, traditional Korean crafts, or popular Korean snacks.
KCON is back! Hosted in Riyadh by the #SaudiMusicCommission,the festival sees an all-star line-up of 14 Korean bands take to the stage in one global concert.From 6-7 October 2023,it’s one of the largest celebrations of Korean music and culture in the world.#KCONSAUDIARABIA2023pic.twitter.com/ZTOrOwJahj
First launched in LA in 2012, KCON has since grown into one of the largest Korean cultural festivals worldwide. It now attracts over a million visitors yearly across four continents.
No line up have been announce and we can assume that this will come in the coming days.
With democratization of Basketball, it appears that United States is no longer the basketball powerhouse it used to be, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tournament proved that and Noah Lyles’s statement regarding being the “World Champion” may have been justified.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a thrilling tournament, with many memorable moments. Germany’s victory was a major upset, but they played a near-perfect game and deserved to win. Congratulations to Germany on their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title!
Germany made history on Sunday, September 10, 2023, by defeating Serbia 83-77 to win the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines. It was Germany’s first-ever title in the tournament, and it came after a thrilling and hard-fought game against an undermanned but tough Serbian team.
The game was close throughout, with neither team able to pull away until mid-3rd qtr. Germany led by as many as five points early in the third quarter, but Serbia tied the game at 51 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch but the Germans started pull away and eventually built a 12-pts lead with a 13-2 run in the third quarter in front of 12,022 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
That’s when Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner took over for Germany. The duo scored 47 of Germany’s 83 points, including the final two free-throw of Schroder that basically sealed the game for the team. Schroder finished with 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Franz Wagner scored 19 points, 7 rebs, 2 assist and 4 steals.
Germany’s victory was a major upset, as Serbia was the defending champion and had been the top-ranked team in the world for most of the year. However, Germany played a near-perfect game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. The Germans also outrebounded Serbia 35-29 and outscored Serbia’s bench 46-15.
The victory is a major step forward for German basketball. The team has been steadily improving in recent years, and this victory is a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
The victory also caps a remarkable year for Germany. After placing 3rd place in the 2022 EuroBasket, and they are now the reigning world champions. Germany is quickly becoming one of the top basketball teams in the world, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.
Canada made history at the FIBA World Cup 2023 by winning its first-ever medal at the tournament, defeating USA 127-118 in overtime in the third-place game on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.
As expected between two NBA laden team, it was a roller coaster game that had 14 lead changes, 12-0 scoring run by the Americans and 8-0 by the Canadians, and it was punctuated by Mikal Bridges at the end of the 4th qtr; he missed 2nd free-throw on purpose, got the rebound, then hits corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left to extend the game to over time. In the OT, the Canadians had other plans, since they outscored Team USA, 16 to 7 to secure the bronze medal.
The Canadians, who had never finished higher than sixth in the World Cup, protected a 2-point lead at the start of OT and outscored the Americans 7-16.
Dillon Brooks was the hero for Canada, scoring a game-high 39 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a steals and a couple of blocks in a stellar performance.
TCL Player of the Game Dillon Brooks set a new points record in a medal game to tow third-place Canada to their first-ever medal 👏
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was equally impressive, adding 31 points, twelve assists and six rebounds. He scored nine of Canada’s 16 points in overtime, including an assist to RJ Barrett for a a clutch 3-pointer that gave them a 115 – 124 lead with 0:23 secs left.
Canada also got contributions from Kelly Olynyk (11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Luguentz Dort (11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) and Dwight Powell (4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).
Team Highlights
USA, meanwhile, will go home without a medal for the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA has not won a medal in the World Cup since 2014, that featured a roster lead by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Anthony Davis.
Six players of Team USA had double digits points; Mikal Bridges with 19 pts, 9 rebs, 2 steals and 4 assists, Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 pts and 5 rebs, then there’s Austin Reaves who contributed 23 pts, 5 rebs, an assists and a steal, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Bobby Portis Jr. also made big contributions scoring 13 pts, 10 pts and 14 pts respectively.
Despite the loss, Team USA, already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France and we can expect that the team will have totally different roster.
With Germany’s win, this is the Finals Bracket for the FIBA World Cup 2023;
Finals will be between Germany and Serbia, while the battle for 3rd will be between USA and Canada. Serbia defeated Canada (95 – 86), Bogdan Bogdanavic is the best player in the game with 23 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists and 3 steals. For Canada, it was RJ Barrett with 23 pts and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 15 pts and 9 assists.
As for the USA – Germany team (113 – 111), Anthony is the U.S. top scorer with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points.
Both USA and Canada are the favorites to face in the finals but it looks like their European counterpart have other plans.
FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals will on Sunday, Sept. 10th at the MOA Arena.
Finals
Serbia vs Germany – 16:30 local time
Which European team will rule the world? 🇩🇪 🆚 🇷🇸#FIBAWC x #WinForAll
The United States men’s basketball team was stunned by Germany in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night, losing 113-111. The loss is a major upset, as the US was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament.
The US got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, they rallied to take a 60-59 lead into halftime. Germany came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the US 35-24 to take a 94-84 lead. The US made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get any closer than 106 -108.
Anthony Edwards led the way for the US with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points. Dennis Schroder, who have been best player in the roster, chipped-in 17 pts and 9 assists.
The loss is a major disappointment for the US, who have won the World Cup four times in the past five tournaments. It is also a setback for the development of the US men’s basketball program, which has been struggling in recent years.
The US will now play Canada in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Germany will play Serbia in the championship game.
Andreas Obst torched USA to help Germany advance to the Final and earn TCL Player of the Game honors! 🔥
After teasing the teaser, Studio Ghibli finally release the teaser trailer of The Boy and The Heron, the latest (could be the final) film by famed director Hayao Miyazaki.
As mentioned in the description of the video,
THE BOY AND THE HERON
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
In theatres nationwide and IMAX December 8
http://tinyurl.com/ynkjaz6b
An official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and New York Film Festival (NYFF)
Follow @GKIDSFilms for more updates!
A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.
A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
Here’s the 71 seconds teaser trailer of The Boy and The Heron;
Before the teaser (embedded below), not much is known about the film except from a few stills, a few nuggets about in the production and a teaser to the teaser that they dropped early this month.
Before “The Boy and The Heron,” Hayao Miyazaki’s last film with Studio Ghibli is “The Wind Rises,” where he is both the director and screen writer. The film grossed US$113 million on a US$30 million budget, it is the highest-grossing film in Japan in 2013.
