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Facebook has started merging Messenger with Instagram

Update spotted in the US

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In 2019, Facebook announced a huge merger project between Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Since Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg owns all three of them, the project was a strong possibility waiting in the future. Despite over a year and a half of silence, the merged product has now surfaced. Facebook has started merging Messenger with Instagram.

Spotted by The Verge, Instagram started receiving updates touting “a new way to message on [the platform].” The update enumerated a bunch of changes for the image-sharing platform, namely: a new color scheme for chats, new emoji reactions, swiping functionalities to reply to messages, and the ability to chat with friends on Facebook.

After the update, the traditional Instagram DM button is replaced with the Messenger logo. The chat window also boasts of a new, more colorful scheme. However, since the update is still rolling out, it only provides minimal updates so far.

As of now, neither Instagram nor Facebook has issued any official announcement regarding the new update. However, the merger is definitely coming. Owning a merged product will simplify Facebook’s ecosystem of apps into just one platform.

Further, it will likely prevent users from abandoning any one platform of the ecosystem. Currently, a lot of Facebook users are still considering leaving the platform for more secure alternatives. Cybersecurity is a big issue today. However, with a simplified ecosystem, Facebook might have found a way to make a departure more difficult especially for users on Instagram but not on Facebook.

SEE ALSO: Instagram finally launched its TikTok competitor

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This rumored iPhone 18 color will make you switch phones

The rumored Dark Cherry color looks so premium.

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Image source: Macworld

(Cosmic) orange is the new black. With the iPhone 17 series, Apple introduced the color as the next fashion statement for the ubiquitous phone. If you see an orange phone today, chances are that it’s an all-new iPhone 17 Pro Max. This year, the series might get another new statement color: Dark Cherry.

Though the usual suspects of colors will always be there, Apple often leaves a bit of room for more experimental options for those who want to stand out with their new phone. As you can probably tell from the ongoing deluge of orange, the strategy is working well for Apple.

According to Macworld, Apple is working on a Dark Cherry option for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

Red isn’t a color foreign to the iPhone. In the past, several generations included a limited red colorway option. If the reports are true, red might be a standard option, rather than a limited edition.

But, of course, Dark Cherry is different from the red that we’re used to. Instead of the bright red, the new option will be more similar to the color of wine.

Besides Dark Cherry, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will also have Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver as options. Though Light Blue also looks great, the wine-like color looks like a personal highlight for me. I didn’t know I wanted a wine-colored iPhone until I saw the renders for this.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 may have lower specs and a delayed launch, rumor says

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Google might be moving away from flat design

Bye bye, Material Design.

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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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OPPO Find X9s now official in PH: Price, availability, pre-order info

Everyday premium arrives

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OPPO Find X9s

OPPO has also introduced the OPPO Find X9s in the Philippines, offering a more accessible premium experience for everyday users.

The device is priced at PHP 69,999.

Pre-order and availability

Pre-orders begin April 24 at select OPPO Brand Stores. Early buyers will receive a Portable Power Gift Box.

The Find X9s officially goes on sale on May 15, available through:

  • OPPO Online Store
  • Select OPPO Brand Stores

Online store purchases include the Portable Power Gift Box and Enco X3s earbuds, while Shopee offers the gift box bundle.

Key highlights

The OPPO Find X9s features a 50MP Hasselblad co-developed triple camera system with 4K recording across all lenses. It also packs a 7025mAh battery, slim 7.99mm design, and durability ratings up to IP69, making it a balanced daily driver.

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