Apps

iOS 18 lets you customize your Home Screen even more

Move app icons anywhere

Published

June 11, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

As with every year, the annual WWDC is all about software. Everyone is finally getting their first look at what’s coming to the iPhone later this year. It’s time to get excited about iOS 18.

All the customization at your fingertips

This year, Apple will bring more customization into the hands of its users. Starting with the new update, users can move icons and widgets to any open space on the Home Screen. The new options will allow for more creative placements to frame a wallpaper. Users can also adjust their sizes and their colors manually.

Users can also customize the Control Centre. They can ensure that only their most used tools are on the page. Plus, they can create their own groups.

Finally, users can also change the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen. Instead of just the flashlight and the camera, any app and setting can take its position right at the user’s fingertips.

Apps getting glow-ups

A new Photos app is making its way to iOS 18. The update will automatically make collections to organize images faster. It can arrange content according to theme, subjects, and events.

Messages is also getting a glow-up. Users can now express themselves better with the ability to format text into bold, italics, underlines, and strikethroughs. They can even apply animated text effects to words. Oh, and the app will now allow you to schedule messages in advance.

Besides adding to the main app, Apple will now support RCS, a development it announced last year. The company’s devices can now support richer media when messaging others without Apple devices. Finally, using the same network as Emergency SOS, users can now send and receive messages in the app with satellite connectivity.

Content prioritization

While the above apps are getting a ton of new features, one specific improvement is coming to Mail and Safari: content prioritization. For one, Mail can now sift through your incoming emails and bring the most important messages to the top. It can also collate all messages from a business and arrange them in a helpful feed. Finally, the app will come with new on-device categorization options to better sort mail.

Safari, on the other hand, will better organize information from a webpage. Users can more quickly see the most important parts of a page without going through a ton of filler. It can also summarize long reads into condensed digests.

A more private iPhone

Apple is getting a new Passwords app. Building on the foundation of Keychain, the app can collate all your passwords. It will also alert you if a password is easy to guess, used multiple times, or was involved in a known breach.

iOS 18 is also allowing users to lock and hide any app they want to keep private. When locked, users will need a password or Face ID to access them. When hidden, the app (and its notifications) will no longer appear anywhere on the system.

Launching in the fall

iOS 18 is set to launch later this year, presumably debuting with the upcoming iPhone 16 series. Besides the biggest changes here, it will also come with the new Apple Intelligence.

Apps

Firefox ad reunites all your favorite memes from decades ago

The Numa Numa Guy, Annoying Orange, and Chocolate Rain are back!

Published

October 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Before Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Skibidi Toilet, the early internet was populated by charismatic personalities looking to make their presences felt in a land that didn’t have a lot of rules yet. As early users, we danced to “Dragostea din tei,” belted out “Chocolate Rain,” and copied “Shoes” word-for-word. Today, Firefox is bringing all those good memories back for a grand reunion.

In a new ad, the web browser featured ten of the biggest stars of the early internet including the aforementioned Numa Numa Guy, Tay Zonday, and Shoes’ Kelly. You can also see Annoying Orange, Chuck Testa, Overly Attached Girlfriend, Bad Luck Brian, Where the Hell is Matt?, the Apparently Kid, and the Success Kid.

Now, this isn’t just a reunion. The ad has a clear message about today’s most concerning issue: AI. Everything has “built-in AI, always asking, asking, asking,” as the Annoying Orange said.

“They make money by following us, and somehow, I’m the creepy one?” the Overly Attached Girlfriend asked.

All these famous personalities are asking what happened to the internet today. Obviously, the big takeaway is that we should all go back to Firefox.

Compared to other browsers, Firefox has a lot of built-in features that offer a lot of control for users. For one, it has its own VPN for privacy. Secondly, reflecting the ad’s message against AI, the browser has a toggle to minimize AI features.

Apps

Apple Music is getting a Liquid Glass makeover

The new logo debuts next week with iOS 27.2.

Published

October 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Apple Music is getting a revamp. In one of the tamer things going on with the brand today, Apple has introduced a new design language for its native music streaming platform.

In the midst of all the hubbub surrounding the iPhone Duo, Apple released a change in the visual identity of Apple Music. Rather than a static logo, the platform’s newest evolution offers a dynamic look that melds Liquid Glass and the power of sound together.

Confirmed through a behind-the-scenes video, Apple says that the new aesthetic was made with practical effects. Music producer Fred Again and NEST Acoustics submerged the platform’s logo in a tank of mineral oil and creating ripples with sound. The new language matches well with the chrome aesthetic typical of today’s trends and… well, Liquid Glass, of course.

Apple says that the more ripple-filled version will play before longer content like concert recordings (similar to Netflix’s startup stinger). Meanwhile, a black-and-white version will replace the app’s icon currently colored red and white. Current previews show off a simple logo, but it’s unknown whether Apple is adding a but more elements when the final version drops.

The updated version will debut for users after next week’s iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 updates.

Apps

Disney+ strengthens footing as go-to sports streaming app with UFC, NBA, more

ESPN on Disney+ brands itself as ‘new home ground for sports’

Published

October 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

Disney+ is strengthening its footing as a go-to sports streaming app as ESPN on Disney+ is now available in the Philippines, one of its markets with a huge sports-loving fanbase.

The launch coincides with a brand new campaign, “Ito ang Homecourt Mo!” (This is your homecourt!), welcoming Filipino fans to a new home ground for games, stories, and moments.

Subscribers can access live events, on-demand replays, studio shows, documentaries and original programming together in one dedicated destination through ESPN on Disney+.

Production and coverage will be led by ESPN, delivering high-quality broadcasts, commentary and expert analysis across the sports season where available, alongside Disney+ general entertainment and family programming.

Following last season’s success, NBA returns to ESPN on Disney+ with matchups during NBA Tip-Off Week.

Christmas Day games will also be available to stream, including the NBA Finals rematch between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Playoff games through the conference finals shall also be streamed live and on demand.

Meanwhile, the UFC is among some of the new regular sports programs Filipinos can watch on Disney+.

The action kicks off at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi scheduled on October 25, where two world championship titles are expected to be on the line: UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski takes on undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev, and UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan defends against former champion and No. 1-ranked Merab Dvalishvili.

Alongside live UFC numbered events and UFC Fight Nights, fans will have access to a library of classic fights and curated UFC content.

There will also be the original and and behind-the-scenes programming, including UFC Countdown, UFC Connected, UFC Main Event, UFC Fight Flashback, UFC Reloaded, and ROAD TO UFC.

A new home ground for sports

Other notable sports programming will include the Formula E 2026/27 season, with practice, qualifying and main races across 21 rounds in 13 host cities.

Also available on Disney+ are NCAA events, including March Madness, and Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), with all games live across the regular season and championship series.

ESPN’s popular 30 for 30 documentaries will continue to be available on the platform. The line-up also features ESPN studio shows, including ESPN FC and Pardon the Interruption.