Her GadgetMatch

7 gift ideas for pets and paw-rents on your list

Happy pets, happy paw-rents

Published

November 19, 2019

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

Know someone whose life has been completely run over by their fur-baby? With the holidays just around the corner, it may actually be a good idea to get a joint gift for pets and their paw-rents. That’s hitting two birds with one, perfectly-wrapped stone and making sure you’re always welcome when you visit.

If you’re a pet owner yourself, why not use these gifts to give your best buddy a treat this holiday season? We all know they deserve it. Here are some gift ideas that will make both your friend and their little bundle of fur happy:

1. Petcube Bites

As someone who has always been a fur-mama, I tend to wonder what my pets are up to while I’m away. Are they behaving at home? More importantly, is everything okay? With the Petcube Bites, there’s no need to be such a worrywart. You’ll get notifications when there’s been excessive movement at home or even when your pet is making noise. The camera also records these and sends the footage to a cloud, making sure you don’t miss anything. Watching my dog Juancho on the app gives me so much comfort when I’m away.

The Petcube Bites also allows you to throw treats at your pets and talk to them. Just be careful you don’t scare them with your new-found omnipresence. For our full review (and more of @JuanchoTheCorgi), click here.

2. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Give your stylish paw-rent friend and their pet the best of both worlds with the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer. When Juancho was still pretty small, he would get scared of any normal hairdryer because of the noise. That’s something you won’t have to worry about with this powerful hairdryer.

It cuts drying time in half and makes sure the fur mom and the pet are frizz-free. It’s also gentle on the hair and regulates the temperature. This makes sure the paw-rent’s hair and their fur-baby’s fur aren’t damaged and that they maintain their natural shine. Apparently, we can have our cake and eat it too!

Available at the official Dyson online store, with prices starting at EUR 359. A little steep? Don’t worry. Monthly payments start at EUR 14,95 per month at zero interest.

3. Litter-Robot Connect 3

Cats are pretty much low maintenance. Cleaning the litter box, however, is still a chore most cat-owners would prefer to get easier. That’s where the Litter-Robot Connect 3 comes in. This litter box from the future does the scooping for you every time your cat needs to go potty. You only need to take out the drawer and do one massive throw every time it gets full.

It also connects to an app which will remind you to empty the waste drawer or if it needs a refill. Less time spent scooping means more time with your fur baby and we’re so on board this idea.

Check out the Litter-Robot Connect 3 here.

4. Alfawise V8S Pro E30B

For most cats and dogs, shedding can be quite the nightmare they give to their fur-parents. As someone who’s a corgi mama, I can definitely attest to this. Hair accumulating in corners of your rooms even after brushing and the often-repeated chore of vacuuming throughout the week.

Give the gift of a less-painful back and more time spent playing with their pet through the new Alfawise V8S Pro E30B. This robot vacuum even has a mop attachment which will be helpful to new paw-rents who are still training their dog on doing their business outside.

You can find the full review in this link.

5. Embark Dog DNA Test

Ever wanted to look in your dog’s ancestry as well as their biological family’s health history? Yes, that’s a bit too specific. However, wouldn’t you really want to know? If you’re one of the good souls who adopted a rescue, knowing what diseases your dog might get in the future could actually be helpful in your quest to prevent them.

All you have to do is use the swabs that come in the package sent to you after ordering. Then, you send it back to the Embark offices. After comparing your pooch’s DNA with about 250 other breeds and almost two hundred disease patterns, you’ll shortly get the results that will help you understand your dog better.

Prices for kits range from US$ 129 to US$ 199. You can order them here.

6. Whistle Go Explore

You love tracking the progress of your fitness goals using your own fitness tracker or smartwatch. Why not track your pet’s as well? The Whistle Go Explore is attached to a collar and monitors their health. This makes it easy to share their reports with your vet and that you’ll surely stay on top of your pet’s well being. It also records their daily activity, allowing you to set goals and gives you gentle nudges to ensure you’re walking your pet enough.

Love exploring the great outdoors with your fur-baby? You can also track their location through the app. This also comes in useful if your pet loves escaping from your backyard.

Get the Whistle Go Explore for US$ 129.95 here.

7. Cloud7 Dog Bed

Good sleep means healthier fur-babies so why not a gorgeous bed that will also fit with the paw-rent’s aesthetic? The Sleepy Deluxe from German brand Cloud7 has four single, circumferential chambers. These are filled with low-noise and dimensionally stable granule beads for a more quiet environment even when your pet loves to twist and turn in the night.

The separately inserted quilted mattress is sag resistant. The mix of undyed, untreated new wool and polyester in the cover ensures that it’s easy to clean and machine washable. You can view other colours and designs here. For the ones who love to travel with their pets, there’s a portable version that will ensure your pet gets the same level of comfort he gets at home even when you’re in an AirBnB.

Our pets give us so much love and bring a lot of happiness into our lives. So, spoiling them a little this season is truly justified and will surely put a smile on their paw-rents’ face.

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

June 23, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

If there is one Dyson launch that has generated unusual levels of anticipation this year, it is the Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan.

The compact cooling device quickly gained a following after its international release, reportedly selling out within a day in several markets. Now, just in time for the hottest and most humid months of the year (no thanks to climate change), it is finally arriving in the Philippines.

With temperatures continuing to climb, the timing feels almost inevitable. Lightweight and designed for use on the move, the HushJet™ Mini brings Dyson’s airflow technology into a portable format that fits easily into everyday life—whether commuting through the city, attending outdoor events, traveling, or spending long days under the sun.

Its appeal extends beyond functionality. Finished in Dyson’s Stone/Blush colorway, the device combines cooling performance with a sleek aesthetic that feels at home alongside the accessories people already carry daily.

The new Dyson HushJet Mini is your new companion against heat and humidity.

The launch also marks one of the most accessible entry points into the Dyson ecosystem. Priced at PhP6,499, the HushJet Mini offers consumers a practical way to experience the brand’s engineering and design in a product built for everyday use.

Given the strong demand seen overseas, interest is expected to be high when the fan officially launches in the Philippines.

Where, when, and how to get your own Dyson HushJet

The Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan in Stone/Blush will be available beginning June 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. at participating Dyson stores, including Mall of Asia, Podium, Greenbelt 5, and One Bonifacio High Street.

For those hoping to get their hands on one, it may be worth keeping a close eye on Dyson Philippines’ official social media channels and Dyson.ph. If international demand is any indication, this could be one of the season’s most sought-after releases.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson is making it very easy to upgrade everything this May

Published

May 11, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

From a three-day takeover at SM Megamall to an exclusive Super Brand Day on Lazada, the brand is bringing its best deals and newest launches together in one compelling window.
If you’ve been quietly adding Dyson products to your wishlist and waiting for the right moment, May is making a rather strong case for itself.

The brand has two major events lined up in quick succession — a one-day sale on Lazada on May 11, followed by a three-day immersive experience at SM Megamall from May 15 to 17 — and together, they cover just about every reason you’d want to upgrade your home or beauty routine.

First stop: Lazada’s Super Brand Day, May 11

Kicking things off is Dyson’s Super Brand Day on Lazada, a one-day event that brings the brand’s most recognisable products together with vouchers worth up to ₱5,000 off, free shipping, and installment options of up to six months.

The floor care lineup leads with some of the sharpest discounts of the sale. The Dyson V8 Slim Fluffy moves from PhP28,900 to PhP19,230 after discounts, while the Dyson WashG1 sees the biggest drop of the day — from PhP45,900 down to PhP31,130, unlocking PhP14,770 in savings on the wet floor cleaner that makes a compelling case against the mop-and-bucket. For those who want both, the wet-and-dry pairing suddenly becomes a very reasonable investment.
Environmental control gets a moment too. The Dyson Cool AM07 tower fan drops from PhP29,500 toPhP20,240 — a saving of up to PhP9,260, and a timely one given the country’s reliably unrelenting heat.

With Mother’s Day arriving on May 11 itself, the hair care lineup feels particularly well-timed. The Dyson Supersonic HD15 in Nickel Copper lands at PhP19,930 from PhP29,900, while the Dyson Airwrap i.d. in Ceramic Patina drops to PhP27,782 from PhP36,900 — the kind of gift that feels equal parts indulgent and practical. The Dyson Airstrait in Ceramic Pink and the Dyson Corrale round out the lineup at PhP26,120 and PhP25,320 respectively.

The full sale is available via the official Dyson LazMall flagship, where vouchers can be accessed ahead of checkout at Dyson’s online storeDyson’s online store.

Then: the Trade to Upgrade experience at SM Megamall, May 15 to 17

For those who prefer to experience the technology in person — or have an old machine they’ve been meaning to do something about — Dyson is transforming the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall into a three-day hub of live demonstrations, expert sessions, and exclusive deals.

The centrepiece is the Trade to Upgrade program, which lets guests bring in their old machines — any brand, working or not — and trade them in for exclusive discounts on Dyson products. It’s a rare opportunity to finally make that long-overdue switch without the full sticker shock.

Each day of the event has its own focus. Day 1 opens with the launch of the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai, an intelligent floor care innovation with real-time stain detection and precision cleaning capabilities. Dyson Experts will be on hand for live demos throughout the day.

Day 2 shifts to beauty, with the Dyson Supersonic Travel taking centre stage — a smaller, lighter version of the iconic hair dryer that delivers the same performance in a more portable form. Celebrity hairstylists will be running live styling sessions for those curious about what the machine can do.

Day 3 brings a limited-edition drop: the Ceramic Apricot colorway across Dyson’s styling range, alongside masterclasses and guest appearances from top local stylists. Those ready to invest in a full beauty upgrade will also find the Dyson Airwrap i.d. in Ceramic Patina available at up to 30% off through the Trade to Upgrade program — making it one of the more compelling deals of the entire event.

Catch the full experience at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, from May 15 to 17, 2026.