Rumour has it that XTool and Snapmaker are in cahoots.

Get some solid shut-eye with the help of these sleep masks.

If Elon Musk is America's CEO, DOGE is the Silicon Valley executive branch.

The group chats are popping off at the highest levels of government.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsImpressive 3D graphicsCombines ninja stealth and samurai swordplayLots of quests and explorationConsExpensiveHigh system requirements (no Intel support)Definitely not for childrenOur Verdict Its almost worth buying a new Mac to enjoy Shadows state-of-the-art graphics. But, graphics aside, Shadows can also stand on its own two feet as an action-packed game, offering satisfying and varied combat, and the ability to explore the world of feudal Japan.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayPrice When Reviewed69,99 EuroBest Prices Today: Assassins Creed: ShadowsRetailerPrice89.9View Deal59,95 View Deal69,99 View Deal69,99 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketIts not often that an A-List game like Assassins Creed Shadows arrives on the Mac at the same time as the PC version. And, in fact, Shadows is the first game in the long-running Assassins Creed series that has ever been released on the Mac at all (although there have been a couple of mobile games released on the iPad in the past). That makes the release of Shadows a bit of a landmark for Mac gaming, and its also a great introduction to the series as Shadows looks like one of the best Assassins Creed games of recent years and will be joining our line up of the best games for Mac users. Shadows makes a break with previous games in the series, moving to Japan for the first time, during a civil war in 1579 as the warlord Oda Nobunaga attempts to conquer and forcibly unite the countrys warring factions. It also allows you to play as two separate characters, each with their own different skills and fighting styles. Naoe is a young girl who is trained as a shinobi (ninja), and specialises in stealth and agility, using weapons such as shuriken (throwing stars) and smoke bombs to mask her movements. In contrast, theres also the heavy-hitting Yasuke, an African-born samurai and an actual historical figure who is able to block and parry his foes attacks and then dice them into blood-spattered pieces with his sword. Thankfully, the game does allow you to tone down the settings for blood and dismemberment, but Shadows is very much an 18-rated game, and not suitable for children.Initially, Naoe and Yasuke are on opposite sides in the war, but their paths soon cross and they find themselves working together to end the conflict. You switch between the two characters as the game progresses, and their different skills and abilities provide plenty of variety as you take on different quests and attempt to eliminate your opponents. The game does take a little while to get going, as it effectively has two introductions one for each character that set the scene for the main conflict in the game, and allow you to get some practice with the different fighting styles of Naoe and Yasuke. Things soon pick up, though, and Shadows provides plenty of quests and combat to keep you busy. It does have a gloss of role-playing elements, with skill trees that allow you to enhance your fighting abilities, and dialogue choices that provide a degree of freedom and decision-making. But, for the most part, its really all about the wall-to-wall combat, with lots of sneaking and parkour-style running and jumping to add variety.In fact, the game even provides a canon mode that lets you skip most of the dialogue and just slice-and-dice your way through the action by eliminating anyone unfortunate enough to stand in your way. There are four difficulty settings available which will be helpful for Mac users who havent played any of the Assassins Creed games before as well as the ability to adjust the way that stealth works within the game, making it harder or easier to sneak past guards and other enemies. But what most impressed me were the games 3D graphics. The graphics during the early cut-scenes were very impressive, with some of the most detailed and photo-realistic effects that Ive ever seen on a Mac. That happens with many games, though, and when the cut-scenes finish you find that the actual in-game action tends to offer a lower level of visual detail. But, with Shadows, the game just continues smoothly at the end of these cut-scenes and maintains the excellent visual quality throughout the game.Theres a price to pay here, though, as this level of graphical detail requires a pretty powerful Mac. The Mac App Store states that the game will run on any Mac with macOS 15 and Apple Silicon, including even a basic M1 processor. That may be true, but an M1 or M2 processor will struggle to provide smooth, responsive combat (and there have been complaints to that effect from people who have bought the game on the Mac App Store). The information provided to us by the developers at Ubisoft actually recommends either an M1 Max or M2 Pro as the minimum, and also warns that most MacBook Air models which dont offer Pro or Max processors may not be able to run the game. I did manage to get a playable 28fps on my MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip, when running the game at 1,8001,169 resolution and using the games lowest graphics settings and even on that setting the graphics still looked pretty darn good. And, on a new Mac mini with M4 Pro I was zooming along at 40fps at 2,048858 resolution and Medium graphics settings.The game does have its own built-in benchmarking tool that allows you to experiment with the various and rather complex graphics settings, but its a shame that theres no free demo available so that owners of less powerful Mac models could see how well the game runs on their Mac. Thats especially true as the game is so expensive, costing $69.99/59.99 just for the base game, with some expensive DLC also available. And, at the moment, the Mac version of the game only seems to be available on the Mac App Store, which means that people who have already bought Shadows on Steam or any other online store dont automatically gain access to the Mac version.Should You Buy Assassins Creed Shadows?Im not entirely convinced by the claims that Assassins Creed Shadows is a true role-playing game, and RPG fans will probably prefer the greater freedom and depth of rivals such as the all-conquering Baldurs Gate 3. But where Shadows does stand out is with the satisfying and varied combat styles offered by its twin protagonists. And, with its superb graphics, Assassins Creed Shadows is perhaps the first game released on the Mac that points towards the next generation of games with almost photo-realistic graphics.

MacworldApple offers pretty good prices on the standard configurations of its Macs. $599 for a M4 Mac mini? $999 for a new M4 MacBook Air? $1,299 for a new M4 iMac? Those are attractively priced. But those prices involve a few sacrifices, most notably the starting storage of just 256GB. A quarter of a terabyte might sound like a lot, but much of what we do on the Mac involves large fileshigh-resolution pictures, videos, games (literally the biggest culprit), and a lot more. 256GB runs out quickly.Apple does give customers the option to upgrade storage at the point of purchase, of course, but their prices are steep. Upgrading from 256GB to 512GB (the minimum amount we recommend) is an extra $200/200, and jumping to a terabyte is another $200, turning an attractive entry-level offering into a pricey one.But if you dont want to plunk down the extra money, you can still expand your Macs storage without paying Apples exorbitant prices. The alternatives here are mostly external storage solutionsin other words, youll need to carry and plug in an extra devicebut the compromise can help you meet your budget.External SSDs and hard drivesFoundryProsBest price/capacity ratioLarge range of capacities availableConsOne more thing to carry or clutter your deskFaster performance usually means higher pricesAn external storage device offers the best combination of price and capacity. For example, you can get a 1TB LaCie Mobile Drive for un$80der /56 on Amazon that connects to your Mac via USB-C. LaCie sells that same drive with 5TB of storage for less than $170/115still lower than the upgrade to 512GB of internal storage on a Mac.With external drives, you can opt for a hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD). SSDs (which are used internally on the Mac) are faster and higher-priced than hard drives. You can also choose between desktop drives that have a larger design and require you to plug it into a power outlet, or portable drives that are small enough to fit in a bag or pocket and are powered through the Macs Thunderbolt or USB port.External drives use either USB-C or Thunderbolt to connect to the Mac. Thunderbolt drives are more expensive but faster, while cheaper USB-C-only drives often support slower data transfer rates. Learn more about the differences between Thunderbolt and USB.Macworld has guides to the best external SSDs and the best external hard drives to help you find the best device for you.USB flash drivesUnsplashProsSmall and portableCheapConsDurability issuesAwkwardly protrudes from the USB portOften called thumb drives or memory sticks, a USB flash drive is essentially a stick of flash memory that plugs into a USB port. Theyre small and easy to stash in a bag or pocket. They are available in capacities as high as 2TB, but 128GB and 256GB capacities are most commonly found, often for less than $30, such as this Samsung flash drive.USB flash drives vary in price based on capacity and speed. Some have additional features such as a USB-A plug on one end and a USB-C plug on the other, or built-in encryption.You can leave a USB flash drive plugged in, but if you are going to frequently read and write to the drive, youll want to opt for a portable or desktop drive instead. USB flash drives are more prone to wearing out than a full-fledged drive because flash memory has limited durability and USB flash drives dont have the measures in place to maintain proper health. Also, they tend to use lower-quality parts so they can be cheap and treated as commodities (for example, the corner near my home sells USB flash drives).While you dont want to rely on USB flash drives are primary storage, theyre handy for, say, storing photos or videos from a shoot, file management when you want to keep files for a project separate from everything else, backups, and more.SD cardsDenise Jans/UnsplashProsSmallAffordableConsRequires a Mac with an SDXC card slot or a separate USB card readerDurability issuesSDXC cards are memory cards often used in cameras and other portable devices, but you can also use them on the Mac. Only two Macs (MacBook Pro and Mac Studio) have built-in SDXC Card slots, however. For every other Mac, you must buy an SD Card adapter, which is inexpensive at about $10/10. You can also find hubs and Thunderbolt docks with card slots if you plan to buy one anyway. SDXC cards are good for uses similar to USB flash drives: file transfers, specifically storing files for projects, backups, and more. They have similar issues regarding the memory chips wearing out; they are more reliable because they use higher-quality memory, but they arent ideal as a drive that is always connected and you are frequently reading and writing files to.If you plan to use an SDXC card and a method of transferring files between Macs or other devices, consider buying another card as a backup. Ive had instances where the metal contacts for the card get worn out or damaged from frequent insertions into devices. These cards did have several years of mileage on them but understand that theyre delicate relative to other storage devices mentioned here.Cards are available in capacities between 32GB and 2TB and are available at different speeds. The higher capacity/faster cards can be more expensive than an external SSD drive of the same capacity as youre paying a premium for the extremely small size.Network-attached storageBilly Freeman/UnsplashProsConveniently accessible storage for many devicesConsSpeeds restricted by the networkSetup isnt simpleIf youre not familiar with network-attached storage (NAS), think of it as cloud storage, but specifically for your home. A NAS device connects to your home network, and your Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Windows PC and Android devices can access it whenever necessary. A NAS device is a good way to store files that need to be accessed by several devices or users, or it can be a way for individual users to move files from a device to free up space.Because the NAS device connects to a network, the setup isnt as simple as plug-and-play, but its not too difficult. Once its up and running, you can access it either through the Network menu in the Finder, or through an app, browser, or both. Some NAS devices can provide access when youre away from home, but this may require using a paid service from the devices company.NAS devices range from ones with fixed hard drives starting at 2TB for $150/150 to drives with multiple removable hard drives with capacities over 8TB and other features for several hundreds of dollars. Check out our picks for the best NAS drive for Mac if youre interested.Cloud storageScreenshotFoundryProsAccessible anywhere there is internet accessMost services are not platform-specificConsFee-based serviceInternet access requiredSpeeds affected by internet connectionCloud storage is provided by a service online for a fee, usually a subscription. Apple offers iCloud, which includes iCloud Drive along with other services. Other popular cloud storage providers include Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box. Learn more about the best cloud storage services for the Mac.Whats great about cloud storage is that it is accessible by almost any device that has an internet connection. But because your ability to access it is reliant on the internet, cloud storage shouldnt be used as primary storage. Its good for storing files you want to access but not ones you use frequently, things like backups, photo and video storage, and file transfers. But its a great way to free up space on your Macs drive.Also, since you have to pay a recurring fee, youll need to figure out how the cost benefits you. Many services have a free tier with a small allocation of storage; for example, iCloud Drive offers 5GB free. That limits what you can do.Mac mini and Mac Studio SSD upgradesPolysoftProsInternal storage optionConsComplicated installationMay void the Mac warrantyThe M4 Mac mini and the Mac Studio have internal SSDs that are installed in slots, which makes them upgradeable but Apple doesnt officially support upgrades after purchase, either by the company, a third party, or by do-it-yourselfers. Some small companies have released SSD upgrade kits, such as Expand Mac mini and PolySoft Services with video instructions on their websites.The installations for these kits arent trivial and if your mechanical aptitude is limited, you should be able to do this. But there is a risk of damaging your Mac and this installation could void your warranty, especially if there is obvious evidence of your work.Learn more about how to upgrade an M2 Mac mini.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Anthropic can now track the bizarre inner workings of a large language modelThe news: The AI firm Anthropic has developed a way to peer inside a large language model and watch what it does as it comes up with a response, revealing key new insights into how the technology works. The takeaway: LLMs are even stranger than we thought.Why it matters: Its no secret that large language models work in mysterious ways. Shedding some light on how they work would expose their weaknesses, revealing why they make stuff up and can be tricked into going off the rails. It would help resolve deep disputes about exactly what these models can and cant do. And it would show how trustworthy (or not) they really are. Read the full story.Will Douglas HeavenWhat is Signal? The messaging app, explained.With the recent news that the Atlantics editor in chief was accidentally added to a group Signal chat for American leaders planning a bombing in Yemen, many people are wondering: What is Signal? Is it secure? If government officials arent supposed to use it for military planning, does that mean I shouldnt use it either?The answer is: Yes, you should use Signal, but government officials having top-secret conversations shouldnt use Signal. Read the full story to find out why.Jack CushmanThis story is part of our MIT Technology Review Explains series, in which our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand whats coming next. You can read more of them here.Spare living human bodies might provide us with organs for transplantationJessica HamzelouThis week, MIT Technology Review published a piece on bodyoidsliving bodies that cannot think or feel pain. In the piece, a trio of scientists argue that advances in biotechnology will soon allow us to create spare human bodies that could be used for research, or to provide organs for donation.If you find your skin crawling at this point, youre not the only one. Its a creepy idea, straight from the more horrible corners of science fiction. But bodyoids could be used for good. And if they are truly unaware and unable to think, the use of bodyoids wouldnt cross most peoples ethical lines, the authors argue.Im not so sure. Read the full story.This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Reviews weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 A judge has ordered Trumps officials to preserve their secret Signal chatWhile officials are required by law to keep chats detailing government business, Signals messages can be set to auto-disappear. (USA Today)+ The conversation detailed an imminent attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen. (The Hill)+ A government accountability group has sued the agencies involved. (Reuters)+ The officials involved in the chat appear to have public Venmo accounts. (Wired $)2 The White House is prepared to cut up to 50% of agency staffBut the final cuts could end up exceeding even that. (WP $)+ The sweeping cuts could threaten vital US statistics, too. (FT $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? Its complex. (MIT Technology Review)3 OpenAI is struggling to keep up with demand for ChatGPTs image generationThe fervor around its Studio Ghibli pictures has sent its GPUs into overdrive. (The Verge)+ Ghiblis founder is no fan of AI art. (404 Media)+ Four ways to protect your art from AI. (MIT Technology Review)4 Facebook is pivoting back towards friends and familyLess news, fewer posts from people you dont know. (NYT $)+ A new tab shows purely updates from friends, with no other recommendations. (Insider $)5 Africa is set to build its first AI factoryA specialized powerhouse for AI computing, to be precise. (Rest of World)+ What Africa needs to do to become a major AI player. (MIT Technology Review)6 A TikTok network spread Spanish-language immigration misinformationIncluding clips of the doctored voices of well-known journalists. (NBC News)7 Your TV is desperate for your dataStreamers are scrambling around for new ways to make money off the information they gather on you. (Vox)8 This startup extracts rare earth oxides from industrial magnets Its a less intrusive way of accessing minerals vital to EV and wind turbine production. (FT $)+ The race to produce rare earth elements. (MIT Technology Review)9 NASA hopes to launch its next Starliner flight as soon as later this yearAfter its latest mission stretched from a projected eight days to nine months. (Reuters)+ Europe is finally getting serious about commercial rockets. (MIT Technology Review)10 The Sims has been the worlds favorite life simulation game for 25 yearsBut a new Korean game is both more realistic and multicultural. (Bloomberg $)Quote of the dayIts like, can you tell the difference between a person and a person-shaped sock puppet that is holding up a sign saying, I am a sock puppet?Laura Edelson, a computer science professor at Northeastern University, is skeptical about brands abilities to ensure their ads are being shown to real humans and not bots, she tells the Wall Street Journal.The big storyThe race to fix space-weather forecasting before next big solar storm hitsApril 2024As the number of satellites in space grows, and as we rely on them for increasing numbers of vital tasks on Earth, the need to better predict stormy space weather is becoming more and more urgent.Scientists have long known that solar activity can change the density of the upper atmosphere. But its incredibly difficult to precisely predict the sorts of density changes that a given amount of solar activity would produce.Now, experts are working on a model of the upper atmosphere to help scientists to improve their models of how solar activity affects the environment in low Earth orbit. If they succeed, theyll be able to keep satellites safe even amid turbulent space weather, reducing the risk of potentially catastrophic orbital collisions. Read the full story.Tereza PultarovaWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ This is very coola nearly-infinite virtual museum entirely generated from Wikipedia.+ How to let go of that grudge youve been harboring (you know the one)+ If your social media feeds have been plagued by hot men making bad art, youre not alone.+ Its Friday, so enjoy this 1992 recording of a very fresh-faced Pearl Jam.

Apple has announced when its annual WWDC will take place and already there are rumors and possibly wishful thinking about the iOS 19 redesign. That, and the Apple Watch may get cameras, for some reason, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.WWDC is coming on June 9While we still have to wait weeks for WWDC and its unveiling of the new iOS 19 and so much more, Apple has at least released a cable for us to enjoy. Okay, its a USB-C to audio jack cable that is for how AirPods Max to provide lossless audio and yet it's not enough to make the headphones a good buy again. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The appeal of Apple News lies in its approach to delivering content that matters. With a mix of algorithmic curation and human editorial input, Apple News aims to provide a balanced news experience.Apple NewsApple News isn't just another news app. It's designed to help users stay informed, entertained, and engaged. Whether you casually browse headlines or seek in-depth reporting, the app delivers tailored content that aligns with your interests.From customizable feeds to premium articles through Apple News+, the platform offers a dynamic experience beyond traditional news consumption. Features like audio stories, puzzles, recipes, and local news integration ensure you're always connected to the stories that matter anytime, anywhere. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Philippine architecture is caught between the East and the West, with American, Spanish and Japanese colonial occupation rapidly transforming its built environment. Many architects were influenced by the countrys intercultural identity. Most notably, the national Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin, was known for his distinct style, crafting masterpieces like the Cultural Center of The Philippines.During the 1920s, architect Juan Nakpil paved the way for environmentally conscious construction techniques. He utilized bamboo as a locally sourced component for his designs instead of relying on imported materials such as stone and brick. Conversely, cities like Makati or Manila have now been transformed into bustling urban centers, filled with high-rise structures incorporating solar framing and rainwater collection systems, thus responding to the challenging tropical climate. Filipino architects have reveled in the countrys intercultural, diverse nature. By creating new assemblies between architectural typologies and practices, they are constantly progressing the countrys built environment without sacrificing its cultural heritage.With so many architecture firms, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in the Philippines based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics demonstrating each firms architectural excellence level. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)The foot of this article explains each of these metrics in more detail. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account the new achievements of Philippine architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 8 best architecture firms in the Philippines:8. hearthgroup hearthgroupWe provide residential and commercial architectural design services to families and business people.Some of hearthgroups most prominent projects include:HB Mausoleum, Bulacan, PhilippinesEco Life Seaweed Plant, Central Visayas, PhilippinesQ Square, Quezon City, PhilippinesChapel of the Nativity, Santa Maria, Philippines The following statistics helped hearthgroup achieve 8th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 4 7. Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates Jorge Yulo Architects and AssociatesSince its inception, JYAA has accumulated a few hundred projects of various types, from high-rises to luxury residences. The company survived the Asian Financial crisis by fortifying its interior design services, which currently make up a sizeable portion of its portfolio.JYAA is an efficiently sized architectural firm that offers Comprehensive Design Services from Concept/Schematic Design to Construction/Coordination/Supervision. The company is affiliated with select technical consulting firms to support the comprehensive technical services offered.Some of Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates most prominent projects include:The Hacienda Community House, Santa Rosa City, Philippines The following statistics helped Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates achieve 7th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 6. DST Design + Build DST Design + BuildWe are a new breed of individuals from different fields who are very passionate about the fields of architecture, interior design, furniture and landscaping.We strive to modernize Filipino architecture and interior design and harmonize all other design elements. Moreover, the firm remains steadfast in its advocacy to adapt principles and dynamics of building green. At DST Design Lab, we generally work on the key concept of creating quality avant-garde architectural + design and workmanship. We aim to design and build high-quality and world-renowned projects that will put Filipino architecture in the forefront.Some of DST Design + Builds most prominent projects include: (Multi Level Residential house), San Mateo, Philippines (BOUTIQUE RESORT COMPLEX), San Mateo, Philippines ( ) 2 Storey Family Villa, San Mateo, Philippines ( ) 2 Storey Villa Honeymooners, San Mateo, Philippines , San Mateo, Philippines The following statistics helped DST Design + Build achieve 6th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 15 5. DEQA Design Collaborative DEQA Design Collaborative (formerly DDC Architectural Studio)We create impactful sensory experience ecosystems that use the power of design to inspire and innovate our everyday. We are a design partner for ambitious clients and bold businesses. DEQA designs through our ideas, objects, places, buildings, and communities. We focus on research-driven, human-centric, and sustainably concentrated design.In our practice, we integrate planning, architecture, interior design, product design, and branding to maximize interdisciplinary cross-pollination. We design at all scales, from the micro to the macro, in powers of 10 to create value and innovation. Our process is highly collaborative. We work closely with our clients to understand their visions, values, and needs. DEQA Design Collaborative was formerly known as DDC Architectural Studio.Some of DEQA Design Collaboratives most prominent projects include:Rizal Eco Center, Rizal, Calabarzon, PhilippinesHyve, Taguig, PhilippinesHyphys, Pasig City, PhilippinesContemporary Museum of Art and Design Competition Entry, Taguig, PhilippinesVyne, Taguig, Philippines The following statistics helped DEQA Design Collaborative (formerly DDC Architectural Studio) achieve 5th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 21 4. LLG Architects Design Studio LLG Architects Design StudioLLG Architects is a Cebu-based interdisciplinary design firm that practices architecture and interior architecture. The firm strongly believes that form coexists with function, that one should not do without the other to be able to achieve that perfect harmony of aesthetics and functionality.The firm, established over 12 years ago, is led by the dynamic husband and wife team, Architects Lendel and Leizle Go, who are also the principal architects of the fir.a Their vast experience in their respective practices propelled them to establish LLG Architects Design Studio with a clear vision to holistically approach every design challenge through story-telling, attention to detail, and client-centric service.Some of LLG Architects Design Studios most prominent projects include:The Rise at Monterrazas, Cebu City, Philippines The following statistics helped LLG Architects Design Studio achieve 4th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 3. Jim Caumeron Design Jim Caumeron DesignManila-based architectural design firm with projects focusing mainly on residential architecture.Some of Jim Caumeron Designs most prominent projects include:Panorama House, Tagaytay, PhilippinesViewpoint House, Quezon City, PhilippinesTop image: Through House, San Fernando, Philippines The following statistics helped Jim Caumeron Design achieve 3rd place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 3 2. TJSO ARCHITECTS TJSO ARCHITECTSArch. T. Jordan Ong graduated B.S. in Architecture from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (Now College of Architecture) at the University of Santo Tomas. He has worked in various reputable architectural firms and has always risen among the top key employees. He has handled hundreds of residential and high-rise projects in one of his previous firms, where he worked as department head for construction. But having the drive and passion to pursue his goal, he humbly started his own practice in the summer of 2007. He has since expanded his portfolio, designing various projects ranging from high-end residential projects, townhouses, mid-rise buildings, high rise buildings, restaurants and commercial buildings. He embraced the modern minimalist style, which shows in all his works, but has added his own style in the process.Some of TJSO ARCHITECTS most prominent projects include:SCRAP HOUSE: BICYCLE FRAME HOUSEMODERN TROPICAL HOUSE, Pinamalayan, PhilippinesYu house, Quezon City, PhilippinesUno resort hotel, Puerto Princesa, PhilippinesCogeo Commercial Building The following statistics helped TJSO ARCHITECTS achieve 2nd place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 7 1. WTA Design Studio WTA Design StudioWe believe in and socially relevant practice architecture. Architecture that relates to the community promotes urbanity and develops society. We are curators and proponents of the urban realm, and we are in the business of creating places. Places that live and breathe. Places that are a critical part of peoples lives and play a vital role in defining their sense of self and community.Our studio is a place of ideas and possibilities. A place where design and architecture create new and exciting opportunities for our clients and the communities we serve.Some of WTA Design Studios most prominent projects include:The Book Stop, Manila, PhilippinesEl Museo del Prado En Filipinas, Manila, PhilippinesThe Oriental Legazpi, Legazpi City, PhilippinesThe Oriental Leyte, Tacloban City, PhilippinesNew Taipei Museum of Art, Taipei, Taiwan The following statistics helped WTA Design Studio achieve 1st place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 3 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 161 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With over 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 8 Best Architecture and Design Firms in the Philippines appeared first on Journal.