Apps

Don’t use Google Allo if you care about your online privacy

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Shortly after Google released its new messaging app Allo, public reception has been generally positive for its features, but not so much for online privacy. Just ask Edward Snowden.

The NSA whistleblower warned people on Twitter not to download the app:

His concerns are totally valid. You see, what Allo specializes in is reading your messages using its artificial intelligence to dish out automatic replies for your conversations. This also helps Allo answer questions you ask its chatbot, such as what the weather situation will be the next day or where the nearest Starbucks is.

Ironically, it was Google who publicly admitted Allo’s greatest flaw. Just as users thought their messages sent through the app’s non-Incognito Mode were safe from other eyes, the search giant recently stated that there’s no encryption preventing Google from reading your every move.

This goes against what Google claimed the app would do back when it was first announced months ago at its I/O developer conference. In this case, the company will store your messages for its records until you manually delete them, and you must use Incognito Mode to remain anonymous in the servers (similar to Google Chrome’s private browser hiding history in your own computer).

Google claims that is needed merely to assist Allo’s Assistant feature; what it really does is allow government authorities to extract and read the contents of your inbox whenever they feel like it. This is a far cry from the privacy other chat apps have been implementing the past year.

Losing one messaging service shouldn’t bother you. We still have Viber, WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, KakaoTalk, LINE, and heck, even Google’s other chat system Hangouts. When it comes down to it, you’re going to use whatever your family and friends are obsessing over, anyway.

If you really must use the new trendy messaging app, there’s nothing stopping you from downloading it on the official app stores of either iOS or Android. The interface is as attractive as Google’s other material design software, and doodling over images never gets old.

[irp posts=”4893″ name=”Apple can share your iMessage contacts with authorities”]

Source: The Verge

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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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Google might be moving away from flat design

Bye bye, Material Design.

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April 27, 2026

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It’s time to kindly shove off, flat design. After over a decade of Google’s Material Design, Android is finally showing signs of ditching flat, monotonous colors. In a series of logo redesigns, Google is reportedly trying out gradients as its latest reinvention.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google is moving forward with incorporating gradients into its designs. Previously, the company started changing the icons of a few first-party apps including Photos and Maps. Now, it seems that the new design philosophy will reach the rest of Google’s suite.

In the obtained designs, the rest of Google’s plethora of apps will no longer look static. The splash of gradient adds the feeling of layering without losing the company’s roots in flat design. Docs and Sheets, for example, look like a light shining on pieces of paper.

Image source: 9to5Google

It’s unknown when Google plans to incorporate the new philosophy. However, with Google I/O coming fast, it’s fair to bet that an update might come out around that time, especially since that event’s logo already has gradients.

Google’s evolution is not without its precedent. Besides the company’s small trial previously, Apple’s iOS has also made inroads into more three-dimensional designs with the new Liquid Glass. However, unlike Apple, Google’s newest design is a far cry from the former’s return to Windows Vista aesthetics.

Personally, I don’t mind the transition to 3D, as long as it’s done well. Though still visually pleasing, flat design has started overstaying its welcome. It’s time to try something new.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O is officially confirmed for May 19

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Significantly better ChatGPT Images 2.0 launches

Stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more formats, improved overall experience

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April 22, 2026

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OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Images 2.0. This updated image generation model has a meaningful jump over competitors and its current ImageGen 1.5.

Now available across ChatGPT, Codex and the API, Images 2.0 delivers stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more flexible formats, and a faster, more intuitive user experience.

Paid users (Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise) will benefit from a more advanced image experience (ImageGen Thinking 2.0). The state-of-the-art model can take on complex visual tasks and produce precise and immediately usable visuals.

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is likewise better for creative and professional use cases. It has a significantly better performance at producing text-heavy assets, infographics, product mockups, UI concepts, and more structured visuals.

Moreover, users can generate images in a wider range of aspect ratios. The outputs are limitless, from posters to comics or anime to detailed infographics to simple images. API users, on the other hand, will also have access to 4K resolution.

To try the upgraded image generation model, simply head to ChatGPT and select “Images” in the sidebar.

Users will be able to see the top five prompts as well, curated by OpenAI, for them to try. This is to highlight the capabilities of the new model.

Overall, ChatGPT Images 2.0 offers a more seamless experience on mobile, web, and desktop. The intuitive user experience includes improved prompt suggestions, loading states, editing features, and multi-output views.

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