Apps

Florence: Half-baked beautiful game about first loves?

Shows stunning subtleties of delicate love

Published

February 27, 2018

Leez

Alright, alright. As much as I wanted to review the game from a single perspective, I thought maybe with a game about first loves, it was best to bring in a twist, so I brought in some reinforcements: Richard, my boyfriend.

Florence, as I’ve written before, is a mobile game that tackles the delicateness of first loves. With stunning first impressions from the teasers and trailers, it was tough not to want to play the game even if it came with a price tag. While Richard initially got this game for me to review alone, the game intrigued him, so we figured it would be interesting to write a review together since we played the game at the same time anyways.

His perspective

I’m the kind of guy that prefers watching Studio Ghibli films that focus on slice-of-life dramas instead of magical monsters. I’m also into playing whatever independent title that’s getting rave reviews on Steam. Florence encompasses both things. The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous and the puzzles are inspiring. Focusing on someone lost in life, living alone, and falling in love sounded like something I could personally relate to with traveling across the world to live alone. This was worth a shot.

Her perspective

The game was undeniably visually charming and the vignettes seemed intriguing at the very least. I’d kept my eye on the game since the teaser came out. It was a pretty novel concept: a mobile game that committed to dabbling into a slice-of-life narrative. With dating simulation game reviews that I’d previously sunk my toes into, I thought an interactive visual novel about love would be a refreshing perspective.

A stunning beginning

Split into several acts, the game introduces you to Florence, a young woman going about mundane tasks of daily adult life. It then explores Florence’s childhood and hints at her somewhat rough relationship with her mother.

As you progress in the game, you inevitably encounter Krish, a cellist who Florence falls in love with. From here on, the game is drop-dead stunning. It digs deep into relatable experiences from awkward first dates, quirky dates that follow, to the honeymoon stage of their relationship.

Witty nuances and subtleties

The game uses the mobile platform incredibly well. Florence has a very unique take as an interactive visual novel especially without the game walking you through how each mini-game is meant to be played. With varying mechanics for mini-games, you would think that it would be a challenge to pull off, but the game design is fascinatingly intuitive.

The game experiments with adjusting focus, piecing together torn paper, and using touch to shake Polaroid photos. The game even incorporates both portrait and landscape orientations depending on the sequence.

Perhaps the most poignant mini-game was conversing with Krish. With no voice-overs and minimal text in the game, talking is done by filling a speech bubble. When Florence first meets Krish, the jigsaw puzzle is composed of about six simple pieces. As the conversation goes on, the pieces become bulkier and the puzzle, less complex. We both thought it was such a witty way of visualizing the sort of growing ease Florence had developed the more she spoke with Krish.

Things that fall through the cracks

As it enters the later acts, the game takes an unexplained turn and falls short with depth. It begins to feel like as much as the design and mechanics were thought through and through, the game drops all effort of reeling you back with context.

By the time the credits finally roll, the final sequence comes off as a rushed finale to an almost perfectly delightful game. Everything turns out fine and she lives happily ever after. It’s acceptable but it admittedly seems to miss an opportunity to excel.

The mini-games are great, but we both wish they impacted the story line. Throughout the game you have phone calls with your mom, but none of your responses have any effect on your relationship by the end of the game. Trying to win arguments offers nothing different from refusing to participate. In one sequence, you share messages with emoji; being the sadist that Richard is, he replied only with sad emoji but didn’t get any real feedback.

Florence sadly disregards cause and effect. The story persists the way the developers have set it with no room to wander and experiment — sadly, making your play-through have no impact in the game at all.

Reading too much into it?

As much as Richard and I agree with how the game fell a bit short despite its remarkable beginning, I think there’s a bit of me that seems to defend the plot of Florence. Facing a different take of visual novels can be difficult and the plot does leave you longing for a better one. It’s short, sweet, and memorable but it leaves you wanting a better resolve, an explanation, and an impact. In hindsight, that’s not too far from what a failed cherished first love makes you feel.

Is this your game match?

The game feels like it had so much potential to be something so much more that it already is. As much as your choices and how you play the game have no impact on the story, Florence is a great introductory game to ease into more in-depth interactive visual novels. The game is visually stunning and the mini-games are clever. With lovely tunes to ease you into every act of the story, this title is worth trying out despite its pitfalls. If you’re willing to give it a go, you can download Florence here.

Apps

Android now supports AirDrop!

Published

November 21, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

For years, there was an insurmountable wall between Apple and Android. One ecosystem’s features were constantly unavailable on another’s. However, times are changing. Previously, Apple started supporting RCS messaging, bridging the messaging between the two platforms. Now, Android is getting support for an even major iOS-only feature: AirDrop.

In a world where file sizes keep getting bigger, efficient file sharing services, such as AirDrop, are invaluable. AirDrop allows iOS users within proximity to share files seamlessly with one another. Technically, Android has its own version called Quick Share. However, the feature did not work with AirDrop, creating another rift between the two platforms.

Today, Android has dropped a surprise feature. Quick Share is now compatible with AirDrop. For now, the feature will start with the Pixel 10 series. But Google hopes to roll it out for other devices in the future.

To enable interoperability between the two platforms, the receiver, regardless of Android or iOS, must set their visibility to “everyone for 10 minutes,” meaning including those outside of their contact list. For those who are conscious about security, Android says that the feature will use the Rust programming language to ensure that security remains a priority.

Unlike the vocal spate for RCS messaging, there hasn’t been a comparatively huge clamor for AirDrop on Android. Everyone just seems to take it as granted. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a welcome feature. Despite being a complete surprise, it’s a huge boon for Android users with a lot of friends on iOS.

SEE ALSO: Android 16 is here!

Apps

Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines

Stream the live action starting November 20th

Published

November 19, 2025

GadgetMatch

The NBA will now stream live on Disney+ as well for Filipino fans as part of a multi-year agreement.

This marks an expansion of Disney and ESPN’s global relationship with the NBA, bringing live coverage to the streaming platform for the first time.

ESPN, of course, is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is one of the latter’s major divisions.

Under the agreement, fans in the Philippines will get closer to courtside action with special access to live NBA games. There’s also ESPN’s award-winning documentaries and live broadcasts of NBA Countdown too.

Moreover, fans can tune in to legendary voices Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley in real-time with NBA Tip-Off and Inside the NBA.

NBA on Disney+ will officially start on Thursday, November 20 morning (November 19 in the United States) with a double-header featuring these match-ups:

Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers (8:00 A.M.)
New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks (10:30 A.M.)

Disney+ subscribers will be able to live stream select regular season and playoff games, including marquee events like NBA on Christmas Day, NBA Draft, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and select Summer League Games.

The agreement also includes one NBA Conference Finals series live. Another Conference Finals series and the NBA Finals will both be available to stream on delay as well.

Apps

Don’t get tricked: Spot these financial monsters before they get you

Ghosts are harmless compared to these real-life threats that prey on your hard-earned money.

Published

October 31, 2025

Her

The spooky season has arrived, but not all monsters wear masks. Some hide behind fake links and shady offers designed to trick you into giving up your hard-earned money.

These are the real-life financial monsters: fraudsters, impersonators, and manipulators who turn everyday moments into horror stories.

According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, 32% of Filipinos have fallen victim to digital fraud in the past year. And while it’s tempting to think you’d never fall for one, scammers are getting smarter and more creative.

Here’s what to watch out for:

Suspicious links and emails.

Those random texts and emails saying “there’s a problem with your account” or “you’ve won a prize”? They’re classic traps.

Scammers disguise themselves as legitimate companies to steal your information or access your accounts. Always double-check the sender’s address. If it looks off, don’t click.

Grammar gone wrong.

If a message is full of weird typos, awkward phrasing, or off punctuation, that’s a red flag.

Reputable companies review every message they send. When in doubt, don’t reply. Report it to authorities like the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or the NBI.

Urgent and emotional messages.

Scammers love to pressure you. They’ll make you feel scared or guilty to get you to act fast.

Real companies won’t threaten or rush you into sharing personal info. Take a breath, hang up, and reach out to the official hotline to verify.

Deals that sound too good to be true.

If someone promises instant money or massive discounts, run. These scams often demand “processing fees” or personal info before disappearing. No legitimate prize will ever require payment upfront.

Behind every scam is a story of someone who deserved better. Sometimes, what started as a simple loan application can turn into a nightmare if a rogue online lender decides to harass someone over payments they didn’t even fully receive.

It’s a familiar story for many Filipinos who’ve been preyed on by unregistered or unethical financial services.

Thankfully, more responsible lenders and financial platforms today (Tala, for example) are working to raise awareness and fight back against these threats.

Some even use advanced systems to flag suspicious behavior, partner with authorities for investigations, and educate communities through financial literacy programs.

At the end of the day, awareness is your strongest defense. So this Halloween, stay sharp because protecting your peace (and your money) will always be the sweetest treat.