Apps

Tinder pro tips for men by women

Published

February 28, 2017

Isa Rodriguez

The age of technology has ushered in a new age in the dating frontier. Gone are the days when people have to actually put themselves “out there” to meet people. In today’s time, it’s possible to meet new interesting people in the comfort of your own home via a smartphone application.

Tinder, Happn, Bumble — these are just a few dating apps that have gained popularity and success in the recent years. But, how does one ensure optimum swipes? How are you sure you represent the best version of yourself to your potential mate and true love, if it all boils down to a one-page profile and a series of photos that said potential true love will only spend a few seconds looking at?

Let me let you guys in on a secret: The photos you post on your profile matter! The shots you pick not only tell people how you look, but they’re also indicative of what type of person you are, what your interests are, and how you present yourself to the world.

Here are a few things that you must keep in mind when picking your online dating profile photos.*

Post a good photo showing your face

A photo of yourself is a good indicator that you are confident with who you are and that you are actually a real person.

Illustrations by Kimchi Lee

Be genuine! Pick a simple one where you’re casual and relaxed, and make sure it’s a decent photo! Dark, blurry profile pictures are a definite no-no. This is a public profile that’s designed for people to see, so it’s assumed that you’re putting your best foot forward and posting the best. A hazy pic just tells girls you either (a) have no better photo (really, at this day and age??), (b) are hiding how you really look, or (c) are still using a VGA camera to which I say again — really, at this day and age?? And remember, photos of inanimate objects should never, ever be a profile photo for reasons that should be obvious.

Post a photo that shows your interest

Paint a picture about your personality. Tell your story through your profile!

Aside from giving the impression you’re a person who’s passionate about something, this makes you interesting. Personality always makes people stand out, and it helps attract girls who are into the same things as you.

Sure, that topless gym selfie of yours caught you at a great angle, but at the end of the day, it will still be a selfie, and selfies only say: “Look at me, I think I’m all that!” Instead, if you’re into fitness, post a candid photo of you at the gym. (Okay, it can be topless if you reaaaally want. I’m sure I speak for all women when I say we are fine with a peek at your awesome physique.) If you’re into photography, post a photo of you at work with your gear. The possibilities are endless! Showcase your personality and tell people about the things you care about.

Post a photo that shows that you are open-minded, fun, or adventurous

This gives the impression that you are open to new experiences which include meeting new people.

Posting a travel photo is great indication of this. Not only does it show that you’re up for adventure, it also shows that you are cultured and open to different things. This translates to others that you are genuinely curious of the world around you — and maybe, that world may just include someone you met on Tinder in the near future.

Post a photo with a pet —

Whether it be a pet dog, cat, or even a plant!

This signals that you are a good, caring person and are capable of taking care of something (or someone!). Take note that sweet photos with random girls or exes never elicit the reaction of “Aww, that’s sweet!” from swipers. Those do not make you seem caring; those make you seem like a tool for even being on a dating app while seemingly involved with another person.

Post a photo showing that you clean yourself up nicely

This depends on what your definition of “cleaning up” is. Whether it be a crisp white shirt or a formal polo, try posting something that shows you also can take the effort to spruce yourself up and with good results.

As much as I love topless photos like the next girl, there is value to looking put-together as opposed to posting another one of your glorious selfies, even despite those abs.

Yes folks, up to a certain extent, millennial dating entails presenting your best virtual self to partners. And although these tips will not guarantee that you’ll find your one true love on an online dating app, at least it will have some girls curious enough to swipe right to your genuine, well lit, properly curated photos. Enjoy!

[irp posts=”10647″ name=”Ride sharing app allowed people to book a Valentine”]

*As discussed and agreed upon by yours truly and her various swiping single girl-friends.

**Tinder “Mr. No” example photos may or may not have been taken from actual profiles.

Apps

Google Photos can now censor your kid’s face better

The new Redact feature can censor sensitive information.

Published

September 25, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Censoring photos is heavy work. Either you stick on random emojis or draw an indiscriminate splotch of doodles to cover sensitive information. It’s an imperfect art but an essential one to protect privacy. Today, Google Photos is getting a Redact feature which can censor sensitive bits with pixelated blocks.

An addition to the Markup tool, Redact acts like a nifty pen that can hide information that you don’t want seen. Unlike a ghastly emoji or a splotch, the censored bar mixes better with the surrounding elements. In the example that Google used, a censored license plate blends well with the car it’s attached to, making the photo look more cohesive. Besides license plates, it’s the perfect tool for covering other information like phone numbers, addresses, and the faces of your loved ones.

Google Photos is also rolling out Moods, a set of filters that give photos a nostalgic look, including a 2000s night digicam vibe that’s popular today. There are also 15 new Remix templates to add more creation options.

Both the Redact and the Moods features will roll out to Android users starting today. The new Remix templates, however, will be limited to some countries on both Android and iOS.

Apps

Smart launches LiveSmart App for exclusive deals

Exclusive deals, cashback, and bill payments in one app.

Published

September 18, 2026

GadgetMatch

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and TNT have launched the LiveSmart App, a new platform that combines loading, bill payments, exclusive offers, and other everyday transactions in one app.

The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It is open to Smart, TNT, and subscribers of other mobile networks.

The LiveSmart App gives users access to exclusive deals and savings. These include cashback offers, discounted Smart and TNT data packages, and limited-time access to AI.Smart.

“Filipinos are becoming more deliberate about where they spend and how they can get more value from every peso,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, FVP and OIC for Smart. “The LiveSmart App is designed to help make those everyday decisions a little smarter, by giving users convenient ways to load, pay bills, and access exclusive savings and offers in one place.”

Exclusive deals and perks

Smart and TNT are rolling out several offers on the LiveSmart App starting September 18.

Smart and TNT subscribers can get 5% cashback when they purchase load or pay their Smart Postpaid bill through the app.

The app also offers data packages at exclusive prices. Smart Prepaid subscribers can get Power All 109 for PHP 105, while TNT subscribers can get Saya All 109 for PHP 105.

Users who download the LiveSmart App may also receive limited-time free access to AI.Smart.

AI.Smart combines multiple AI models, including AWS Nova, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Thinking Machines, in one workspace. Users can use it to generate images, create presentations, draft documents and spreadsheets, and get help with schoolwork, content creation, and other projects.

To claim the free AI.Smart credits, users need to tap the AI.Smart banner in the LiveSmart App. They then need to create an AI.Smart account using their Smart or TNT number.

Smart says users can also expect more exclusive deals and perks from lifestyle partners as it expands the LiveSmart App.

Powered by Smart 5G

The LiveSmart App runs on Smart’s network. Smart 5G supports activities such as video streaming, gaming, and real-time social media sharing.

The company said Ookla recently recognized its network for the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the first half of 2026. Smart recorded a Video Score of 72.82, which it said was the highest among mobile operators in the country.

The LiveSmart App is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users can learn more about the app through Smart’s website.

Apps

Apple’s best feature to cure motion sickness is finally on Android

Google copies a good page from Apple’s playbook.

Published

September 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As an Android user, I’ve been jealous of iPhone users for a while now, but it’s not for the reason you might think. See, I’m ridiculously prone to motion sickness when I’m not driving. So, when I discovered that Apple has a software-based cure called Vehicle Motion Cues, I wanted it immediately. Now, Android does have third-party apps that do the same thing, but they’re not as good as a fully native version. Well, those dark, nauseating days are about to come to an end. Android 17 is finally getting a similar tool called Motion assist.

Before that, let’s rewind for a bit. What do these features do? How can they cure motion sickness?

Whenever you open Vehicle Motion Cues or Motion assist, the interface spawns a series of dots on the screen. These dots respond to movement. For example, if the vehicle turns to the left, the dots also go to the left, mimicking the movement. Without cues like this, the stationary nature of the screen clashes with our brain’s perception of movement. The disparity creates that feeling of nausea. Basically, our eyes are desperately trying to focus on the static screen, but our brains are telling us that we should be seeing motion. Having moving dots reorients our brain and places the phone inside our perception of movement.

Now, you can enable the same feature on your Android 17 device through Settings > All services > Motion assist under Personal & device safety. You can also set it so that the feature turns on automatically when the phone detects that you’re in a moving vehicle. Finally, you can also tweak the shape, color, and opacity of these dots.

Android 17’s Motion assist is rolling out now to compatible devices.