This week in tech

MANILA, Philippines – Cherry Mobile launches its first line of Intel-powered Android devices called MAIA along with its campaign #KayaWithMAIA, which is aimed at empowering the youth. At its price points, these MAIA devices clearly target teens. First of the bunch is the MAIA Fone i4 – a four-inch dual SIM smartphone that should be capable enough to handle moderate phone functions and social media use. It retails for P1,999. The next two devices are both tablets. The 7-inch MAIA Pad, which retails for P2,999, also has phone functions and also has two SIM card slots. Lastly is the eight-inch MAIA Smart Tab, which offers the best value for money of the three MAIA devices. The combination of Intel Atom 1.8Ghz quad-core processor on 2GB of RAM should make this a decent media consumption companion. And if you’re a fan of Windows and like the sweet treats of Android, the MAIA Smart Tab should cater to you as it is a dual OS tablet. Easily switch to Windows 8.1 or jump to Android KitKat 4.4 at your whim.

Sony brings Hi-Res audio earphones & new Walkman

Not a fan of those standard white earbuds? If your ears are the more discerning kind, you’ll love Sony’s new lineup of Hi-Resolution audio earphones. We first saw them at IFA in Berlin last September, and they’re now available in the Philippines. The h.ear in noise cancelling in-ear headphones (P5,999) are the world’s first with 9mm driver units, while the h.ear on headband-type headphones (P8,999) have 40mm HD driver units that reproduce sounds of up to 60kHz. There are also stylish new Walkmans available in a host of colors. The new Walkmans are available in 16 and 32GB variants and are priced at P9,499 and P14,999, respectively.

LG’s debuts premium smartphone with two displays & two cameras

LG officially unveils the LG V10, a 5.7-inch smartphone with a screen above the screen. Yep two screens, and also two selfie cameras. Apart from its 16MP rear shooter it has not one, but two front-facing 5MP cameras, which can combine into a super-wide shot. So about that other screen, you can keep it constantly on, when locked it shows weather, time and date, and battery status. When you unlock the phone, you may use it as a shortcut to other apps. The V10 is also the first phone in LG’s new V line which promises to be their more premium line, thanks to a few spec bumps and the use of silicone and stainless steel for the phone’s build.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden joins Twitter

Edward Snowden, the computer analyst who blew the whistle on the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance on internet and phone communications, has finally joined Twitter with the handle @Snowden. In just four hours, Snowden gained half a million followers. He’s already passed the million mark as we write this but the whistleblower is following only one account: the NSA.

Is Twitter lifting its 140-character limit?

A report by technology site Re/code says Twitter is looking to allow its users to publish long form content although there are no details as to how it will be implemented. Some people weighed in saying this could potentially diminish Twitter’s identity while others say they do not believe Twitter will necessarily change the character limit. Part of the changes the company is looking into is how it measures the number of characters which currently counts links and user handles. But one change Twitter might want to look into is allowing users the power to edit tweets.