Apps

3 fitness apps for people who travel a lot

No excuses!

Published

January 17, 2020

Chay Lazaro

Traveling makes sticking to a workout routine difficult; but in an era with apps that cater to just about everyone’s needs, it’s now easier to achieve your fitness goals.

If you’re committed to making health and fitness a priority this year or simply feel bad about not having a go-to workout, here are three apps that can help no matter how busy you are, wherever in the world you may be:

FlexIt

Work out whenever your schedule allows it, wherever you may be — sans the contract. That’s the idea behind FlexIt, a pay-by-the-minute app that gives you access to thousands of gyms.

You simply scan a QR code at the front desk before and after a workout so you only pay for the time you spend at the gym. The app also lets you see which gyms offer the best per-minute rate in your area, and which times are off peak hours so you can get an even better deal.

FlexIt is currently available across the US, and will soon be expanding to Canada, Europe, and Australia.

ClassPass

Finding a workout that you enjoy can be daunting. With ClassPass, you get to try different physical activities for as little as US$ 19 per month. It’s also perfect for people who get bored with sticking to just one type of workout.

With the app, you can search classes offered by the different gyms around you. Whether it’s indoor cycling, yoga, HIIT, or boxing — booking a class that you feel like taking that day is one tap away. Can’t find a gym in your area? A ClassPass membership also gives you access to on-demand workout videos.

ClassPass is available across the North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania although monthly subscriptions vary per country.

J&J Official 7 Minute Workout

If time constraints and the lack of gyms in the area are what’s stopping you, try J&J Official 7 Minute Workout app. It’s completely free and it gives you access to a virtual coach and a video library of workouts that you can do in 7 minutes.

If you have a little bit more time to spare, there’s a Smart Workout mode that creates a variety of workouts based on your fitness and motivation level.

The best part is none of the workouts require weights or machines, just your own body weight, making it easier to get your heart pumping whether you’re in an airport lounge or an Airbnb.

Committing to a one-year gym membership can be too much — not just for people who travel a lot like me, but also for beginners. These three apps don’t require contracts, but a self-commitment to make working out not just a New Year’s resolution but also a lifetime habit. With everything accessible with a few taps on your smartphone, there are just simply no excuses.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Apps

Google might be moving away from flat design

Bye bye, Material Design.

Published

April 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

It’s time to kindly shove off, flat design. After over a decade of Google’s Material Design, Android is finally showing signs of ditching flat, monotonous colors. In a series of logo redesigns, Google is reportedly trying out gradients as its latest reinvention.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google is moving forward with incorporating gradients into its designs. Previously, the company started changing the icons of a few first-party apps including Photos and Maps. Now, it seems that the new design philosophy will reach the rest of Google’s suite.

In the obtained designs, the rest of Google’s plethora of apps will no longer look static. The splash of gradient adds the feeling of layering without losing the company’s roots in flat design. Docs and Sheets, for example, look like a light shining on pieces of paper.

Image source: 9to5Google

It’s unknown when Google plans to incorporate the new philosophy. However, with Google I/O coming fast, it’s fair to bet that an update might come out around that time, especially since that event’s logo already has gradients.

Google’s evolution is not without its precedent. Besides the company’s small trial previously, Apple’s iOS has also made inroads into more three-dimensional designs with the new Liquid Glass. However, unlike Apple, Google’s newest design is a far cry from the former’s return to Windows Vista aesthetics.

Personally, I don’t mind the transition to 3D, as long as it’s done well. Though still visually pleasing, flat design has started overstaying its welcome. It’s time to try something new.

Apps

Significantly better ChatGPT Images 2.0 launches

Stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more formats, improved overall experience

Published

April 22, 2026

GadgetMatch

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Images 2.0. This updated image generation model has a meaningful jump over competitors and its current ImageGen 1.5.

Now available across ChatGPT, Codex and the API, Images 2.0 delivers stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more flexible formats, and a faster, more intuitive user experience.

Paid users (Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise) will benefit from a more advanced image experience (ImageGen Thinking 2.0). The state-of-the-art model can take on complex visual tasks and produce precise and immediately usable visuals.

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is likewise better for creative and professional use cases. It has a significantly better performance at producing text-heavy assets, infographics, product mockups, UI concepts, and more structured visuals.

Moreover, users can generate images in a wider range of aspect ratios. The outputs are limitless, from posters to comics or anime to detailed infographics to simple images. API users, on the other hand, will also have access to 4K resolution.

To try the upgraded image generation model, simply head to ChatGPT and select “Images” in the sidebar.

Users will be able to see the top five prompts as well, curated by OpenAI, for them to try. This is to highlight the capabilities of the new model.

Overall, ChatGPT Images 2.0 offers a more seamless experience on mobile, web, and desktop. The intuitive user experience includes improved prompt suggestions, loading states, editing features, and multi-output views.