Apps

New Apple campaign celebrates Southeast Asian artists, developers

Here’s to the Dreamers

Published

August 9, 2024

GadgetMatch

Apple is launching a “Here’s to the Dreamers” campaign to spotlight artists and creative talents in Southeast Asia. The celebration of passion, creativity, and determination will manifest on the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple TV starting August 9.

On the App Store, people may try out ThoughtFull Chat, Potion Permit, WithU, and DreamChaser. These apps for Apple devices are all built by local indie developers in Southeast Asia who have defied odds.

ThoughtFull Chat is an app that connects people with mental health support in an easy, approachable, and accessible way. It’s the advocacy of Singapore’s Joan Low, who left her day job and devoted herself fulltime to the app.

The app allows those in need to find professionals and engage in text-based therapy. This therapy has proved to be clinically effective for improvements in stress, anxiety, and depression.

Meanwhile, Potion Permit is a charming simulation game from Indonesia-based MassHive Media, which is led by brother-sister duo Andika Pradana and Anggia Lestari. It follows the journey of a chemist in Moonbury. Curiously, the title is inspired by Pradana’s then-girlfriend, who happens to be a doctor.

Moreover, WithU offers heartwarming quotes and beautiful artwork created by talented Thai artists. It’s the project of Tyme Suteesopon and Sirin Thamakaison, which they developed as early as when they were still in high school.

Lastly, DreamChaser is a pixel-art endless runner game which made history as the first Vietnamese title of its kind. Phuc Pham and Hiep Tran are behind it, with the former dropping out of university to pursue game development professionally.

For an in-depth journey behind the game’s creation, Phuc has detailed everything on his YouTube channel that has over 30,000 subscribers.

Exclusive content on Apple Music

On the other hand, listeners may also tune in to some of Southeast Asia’s most resonant and impactful young talents on Apple Music.

The list includes Thai rapper SPRITE, Filipino hip-hop artist Hev Abi, and Indonesian sensation NIKI. Also included are trilingual singer-songwriter Firdhaus from Malaysia, Singaporean rapper Yung Raja, and fellow national Rangga Jones.

As part of the campaign, each artist will also release a live performance video of one of their songs, exclusively on Apple Music. Exclusive interviews and their respective Essential Playlists will also be unveiled only on the streaming platform.

Here are their artist links to make it easier for you to browse:

Apps

Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

Just in case you were wondering.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Google is slightly moving away from Material Design. Last week, a set of icon changes saw Android adding splashes of gradients to its formerly flat app icons. To poke fun at Android’s move away from flat designs, a user on X created a mockup of Android running Apple’s Liquid Design. Google, however, had a response ready in the chamber.

On X, @Micetor made a mockup of Android, specifically on the upcoming Pixel 11, using Apple’s latest Liquid Design aesthetics. It looked much like what an iPhone does except with Google’s icons and fonts.

Clearly, Google does not need to reply to any unsubstantiated mockups about its ecosystem. But they still did.

Sameer Samat, Google’s head for the Android ecosystem, personally replied to the mockup with a simple rebuttal: “Not happening!”

Not happening! Y'all are wild. 😂

— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) May 5, 2026

Despite using the design language for over a decade, Google does not want to drop Material Design altogether. Though the new gradients have revitalized the design language somewhat, the essence of flat design is still there.

Apple, on the other hand, wants a return to 3D. Liquid Design mimics the transparent aesthetics of Windows Vista. Though a bunch of users have found the design polarizing, other brands have started copying the design for themselves, incorporating elements on Liquid Design on their interfaces.

Whatever Google is doing, it’s coming in due time. The company is hosting its annual Google I/O on May 12 to showcase new developments coming to the Android ecosystem, including its design.

Apps

iOS 26.5 will support end-to-end encryption RCS messaging

The final update should come out within the month.

Published

May 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Back in 2023, Apple finally adopted the RCS messaging standard, ensuring that iOS and Android users could communicate more seamlessly despite being on different platforms. This year, the platform is adding an improvement to the feature: end-to-end encryption.

Starting with the upcoming launch of iOS 26.5, Apple will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iOS and Android users (via 9to5Mac). Besides the seamless communication, users on both platforms can start enjoying secure messaging with one another.

Apple has been testing the feature since February. Now, the company is confident enough to release the encryption technology in a new build for iOS 26.5 meant for developers. At this point, it’s just waiting for an actual release.

Why is this a big deal? Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your messages. Plus, end-to-end encryption means that messages is encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the receiver. Third parties, which includes Apple, cannot intercept and access your information.

With the feature on, both messaging platforms on Android and iOS will show a lock icon to signify that, yes, your messages are encrypted.

Though the current build isn’t meant for end users just yet, it’s expected that iOS 26.5 will launch within the month, if not by next week.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

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.