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5 social media resolutions and why you should probably do them too

It’s that time of year

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This year, I decided to make changes. After a fun-filled tech year where I learned so much about myself and my phone habits, I felt like it was time to move things around. As each day went by with my face glued to my phone screen, I thought to myself: I might as well make my social media experience a better one.

Here are a few things I’ve resolved to do this year — maybe consider them, too?


Stop using social media as a buffer for life

We walk around our daily lives with phones stuck to our faces. Coffee shop, bookstore, grocery — we’re always tapping on our phones. This has to change.

I resolve to be more present in whatever I’m doing. Real life is the countless small interactions that happen every day; we fail to catch these moments when we’re too busy scrolling through our feeds.

Pay actual attention to what you see online

This one can be tricky because you and I both know that there is a lot of useless crap online. The first step that needs be done to achieve this resolution is a social media clean up. Make sure that the accounts you follow are of people you honestly care about or those that inspire positivity in your life.

Now that that’s done, resolve to stop the mindless scrolling. Actually pay attention to what you read instead of zipping past posts and not really reading whatever is there. Because you’ve previously decided to stop using your phone everywhere, make sure that when you do get on your device, each social media session is more meaningful.

Tell my truths

The reason I got on the internet and social media was because I wanted to tell stories. These days, it’s so easy to get distracted and it becomes so hard to hear anyone’s story because we can so easily be lost in the sea of social media voices. Despite this, know that social media is still a great tool to get heard, it just takes a lot of patience to keep screaming the same things at what is seemingly a void. I promise you, though, that there are people paying attention and so long as one person has read your truth, it’s enough.

Be more genuine

At a time when everyone is looking so flashy and glam on social media, it needs reminding that not everyone is on fleek all the time, no matter how their IG makes it seem to be the case. It’s easy to frame your life into something it isn’t on social media. But guess what? It’s okay to post an imperfect photo or a selfie without a beauty filter! Remember, “genuine” trumps “beautiful but fake.”

Always remember to be kind

When you’re online, it’s easy to forget that these profiles are actual people with real feelings. People are so quick to hurl hurtful words and comments at everyone without so much of a second thought. It’s time to change that.

I know, I know. It will take a lot of patience and willpower but as Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The world would be a lovelier place with one less angry troll online.

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Magazines finally come to Apple News

Apple’s newest subscription service

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March 26, 2019

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You’ll finally be able to get Vogue on your phone monthly. 💃🏽

Apple’s last event saw no hardware. Instead, the tech giant showcased a number of new services. One such service brings 300 magazines to their platform.


Apple News+ brings reading magazines to a whole new level. With live covers formatted for whatever device you’re using, magazines will now be an even more immersive experience.

Intuitive navigation, dynamic layouts, and interesting titles are all big selling points of Apple’s newest addition to their news subscription service.

Aside from that, though, Apple touts privacy and security — a recurring theme in this year’s event. Apple News+ creates a tailored experience for each user but all this personalization happens on your device. This means the company doesn’t know what you read, and neither will advertisers.

The new service costs US$ 9.99 per month for access to all this content. Plus, you can share your subscription with family. Starting today, you can get Apple News+ in the US and Canada by downloading an update. The service will come to Europe and UK in fall 2019.

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Her GadgetMatch

How to use your selfie camera for better photos

The front-facing camera is all you’ll ever need

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March 24, 2019

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When someone says “selfie,” most people think of photos similar to this:

Shot with the Honor 10 Lite

And while there’s nothing wrong with photos like these, I’m here to tell you that pictures with your smartphone’s front-facing cameras can be way better. No, really.


In this article, I’ll walk you through how to get picturesque selfie shots that are Instagram-worthy.

First off, you’ll need a smartphone with a powerful selfie cam. Gone are the days when front shooters were considered secondary cameras. Brands have now recognized the importance of selfie shooters and they’re now putting in even better ones — thank heavens! The weapon of choice for this activity was the Honor 10 Lite with a 24-megapixel camera equipped with AI.

The next step is finding a great spot. Find a way to mount your phone — whether it be with a phone tripod, or entails propping it up on a wall or your coffee mug (like I did). What’s important is that your phone is on a stable place. Now you can fix your framing!


The camera timer is the most commonly used feature for these photos. All you need to do is turn it on and pose.

Actual outtake shot on the Honor 10 Lite

My favorite selfie feature would be the Palm Gesture. Simply raise up your palm when you’re ready. This saves you the trouble of having to physically tap the shutter button over and over. On the Honor 10 Lite, there’s also the Smile Shutter feature which triggers the shutter every time you smile, and the Volume Control feature which triggers the shutter when you say “Cheese,” or when your voice reaches a certain decibel.

How Palm Gesture works

What I love about shooting with the selfie cam is the fact that it shows me what my photo looks like before I hit the shutter. This means I can move around and make sure none of my body parts are cut out. I can also make sure I’m not shooting an unflattering angle and adjust accordingly. Here are just some samples I shot with the Honor 10 Lite:

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WATCH: How to take IG-worthy selfie portraits

This feature was produced in collaboration between GadgetMatch and Honor.

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Nike’s new booth is an Instagramable fitness challenge

Just do it

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March 23, 2019

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Nike’s newest booth, located in Bonifacio High Street, Metro Manila, has been turning heads.

The place features a bunch of colorful decors which include, of all things, giant donuts.


Nike’s new Epic React Flyknit 2 is also on display…

As well as a lot of other photogenic props.

It’s the perfect spot for a good athleisurewear #OOTD!

But, that’s not all the spot is good for.

The booth is home to Nike’s Go More, Get More trialing program. Basically, you get to try the new Flyknits and earn points while doing so.

Those points convert to prizes and digital rewards from Nike!

Doesn’t that sound fun? Like Nike goes, Just do it!

The Go More, Get More program will run from March 19 to April 19 and it will be open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays from 4pm to 10pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 10pm.

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