ICYME: Geek overload and great country happenings

For this week’s ICYME (In Case You Missed Everything)…

Advertisement

• Welcoming regular taxis at the airport. Great news for you travelers. It’s now okay for all regular metered taxis to enter all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A welcome change considering the perpetually long lines locals and tourists have to wait in to get airport taxis. It’s long overdue but we welcome it nonetheless.

• A new Han. We’re assuming you know that Harrison Ford has officially left behind one of his most iconic roles. But fret not Star Wars fans, there is more Han Solo to go around. And he’s getting a solo movie to boot. Who’s taking over the reigns? Hail Caesar! star Alden Ehrenreich. Whether you like this news or not, a new spin-off film starring Ehrenreich as Solo will be heading your way. And yes, Chewbacca is in it, too.

• Mini NES! Nostalgia’s hitting everyone. And we’re not just talking about the Pokémon Go phenomenon. Nintendo’s tapping into another iconic piece of its past with the mini-console NES Classic. The Verge got to see it at the San Diego Comic-Con and it looks adorable beside the original Nintendo Entertaiment System. We’re hoping it makes its way here and as close to the November release in the U.S.

• A Lumia-looking Sony smartphone. This week in leaks, there are images that have surfaced online of what could be Sony’s next flagship. It doesn’t look like any of its siblings in the Xperia Z line with its somewhat boxier shape and curved sides. It reminds us more of a Lumia smartphone.

• President Duterte inks FOI EO. It’s finally happened! After 29 years languishing in political red tape, the country’s new president has signed an Executive Order on Freedom of Information. Signed just in time for Duterte’s first SONA, the FOI EO will grant the civilian population much more transparency with regards to official documents under the executive branch of the government.

• Comic con fever! It’s a geek’s favorite time of the year. The San Diego Comic Con is upon us! There’s just too much to say and too many trailers to watch. Be sure to check out our roundup coming soon! In the meantime, check out our Facebook page for the latest piping-hot videos to come straight from the SDCC oven.

• Winter has come. After an explosive season six finale, everyone’s wondering when the next one will come out. Because the Westeros winter has finally arrived, production will be delayed to accompany the next season’s predominantly frosty setting. Instead of the usual spring release date, season seven will come out in summer. Oh, and it will only have seven episodes.

• Pokemon Go slowly starts to (officially) hit the country. We’ve been updating you guys for three weeks now. While we still don’t have an official release date in sight, local telcos Smart and Globe are setting the stage for the global phenomenon’s coming. They promised to support potential gamers with free data coverage upon launch. In doing so, they’ve all but announced that Pokemon Go is eventually reaching the Philippines.