Apps

Five Uber app alternatives for your daily commute

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Uber users in the Philippines woke up today to an alternate reality in which their favorite ride-sharing service no longer existed. While the service is recovering as the story develops, those who rely on Uber for their daily commute are forced to look into other alternatives to get from one point to another.

Here are five alternative choices that you can check out:

Angkas

While four-wheeled cars get stuck in Manila’s terrible traffic situation, motorcycles swoosh their way through it. That’s the advantage of Angkas, a ride-sharing booking app for motorcycles, more locally known as habal-habal. Riding a motorcycle on a highway might be scary for some, though.

Download: Android / iOS

Grab

Grab is the closest competitor of Uber in Southeast Asia with its GrabCar services. It gained its popularity in the Philippines by being the first to offer a cash payment option, thus making it friendlier for those who don’t have credit cards. Grab also has a network of regular taxis that you can book as an option — just in case.

Download: Android / iOS 

MiCab

MiCab is relatively new in Metro Manila, but it’s already operating in Cebu and Iloilo City. The service is similar to GrabTaxi wherein you book a regular cab on your phone. With its growing ties with existing taxi fleets, MiCab could address the plight of taxi drivers facing tough competition.

Download: Android / iOS

Wunder

Wunder fulfills the main purpose ride-sharing apps, and that’s carpooling. If you want to share a ride to work and/or back home, you can find a listing of available carpoolers in your area that are on the same route. You’ll also gain new connections and friends in the long run. The downside is that the drivers are not available 24/7.

Download: Android / iOS

Sakay.ph

If it gets really tough to book a ride on your phone, you can always take the usual public transportation modes like jeepneys, buses, and trains. Fret not! There’s also an app to help you take the correct route to your destination.

Not necessarily a booking service, but Sakay.ph is a great companion to help you get around the city without the need to constantly ask around. Metro Manila — despite being the great capital of the country — doesn’t have a well-structured transport system, so it’s always logical to check out your route and stops first. The app shows you how much it’ll cost and how long your commute will take.

Download: Android / iOS

SEE ALSO: Uber suspended in the Philippines for a month

[irp posts=”18097″ name=”Uber suspended in the Philippines for a month”]

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Apps

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

Just in case you were wondering.

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May 7, 2026

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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!”

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.

SEE ALSO: More iPhone switchers this year than Android switchers, report says

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

The final update should come out within the month.

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May 5, 2026

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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

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Apps

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

The update is rolling out globally now.

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April 30, 2026

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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.

SEE ALSO: YouTube remains top PH video platform; advertisers urged to continue investing

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