Spring is a fleeting masterpiece. Petals burst into bloom, golden sunlight paints the landscape, and the air hums with renewal.

It’s a spectacle that demands to be captured, and with the Google Pixel 9a, you have the perfect tool to freeze these vibrant moments in time.

Make the most of this smartphone and capture the essence of spring in all its glory. Here’s a guide on getting the best out of your smartphone and this season.

Get up close with Macro Focus

For the first time on a Pixel A-series, the Google Pixel 9a comes with Macro Focus for extreme close ups. This feature lets you explore the tiny wonders of spring, like flowers in full bloom.

You can also use the zoom lens to capture the intricate textures, colors, and patterns in petals and leaves. This way, you have stunning close-up shots with exceptional detail.

Pro Tip: Shoot during the golden hour (sunrise or sunset) for a warm, natural glow. Midday sun can be harsh, washing out details and colors.

The 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera is everything

Spring landscapes deserve to be seen in full view, and the Google Pixel 9a’s ultra-wide lens ensures you capture the vastness of blooming fields, tree-lined paths, and endless blue skies in one stunning frame.

Pro Tip: Use leading lines — like roads, fences, or flower beds — to guide the viewer’s eye and add depth to your shot.

2x zoom is your friend

Sometimes, getting closer doesn’t mean physically moving forward. It means using the right zoom.

The 2x zoom on the Google Pixel 9a lets you frame sharp, undistorted compositions while adding a natural foreground element to give your shot more dimension.

Pro Tip: Frame your scene with tree branches or flowers in the foreground for extra depth and an immersive effect.

Utilize that Portrait Mode for softer, dreamier backgrounds

Spring is the season of soft light, blooming backdrops, and golden-hour portraits.

Use the Google Pixel 9a’s Portrait Mode to ensure your subject stays sharp while the background melts into a beautiful blur whether it’s a candid shot of a loved one or a moment of stillness in nature.

Pro Tip: Overcast days are your best friend. Clouds act as a natural softbox, creating even lighting that brings out true-to-life colors in your portraits.

Shoot in HDR

Spring photography often means bright skies and deep shadows. High Dynamic Range (HDR) ensures your shots capture the best of both worlds: rich colors, crisp details, and perfect exposure.

Pro Tip: Clean your lens before shooting! Spring means pollen, dust, and mist. Even the best camera settings won’t work if your lens is dirty.

Let AI do some heavy lifting

The Google Pixel 9a’s AI-powered tools help take your shots from good to breathtaking.

Whether you need to erase distractions (hello, Magic Eraser!) or subtly enhance details, these smart tools make it effortless.

Pro Tip: Don’t overdo it! Keep edits natural so your photos stay vibrant and authentic.

Make colors pop

Spring is a festival of color, and the Google Pixel 9a gives you the tools to enhance it effortlessly.

Use “Vivid” or “Boosted” in Camera Settings to bring out natural hues, or slightly underexpose bright scenes to preserve highlights and retain depth.

Pro Tip: Learn to contrast warm and cool colors. For example, a yellow flower against a blue sky creates a striking and balanced composition.

Spring won’t last forever

The beauty of spring is in its impermanence. Blossoms fade, the golden hues shift, and the season quietly gives way to summer.

But with the Google Pixel 9a in your hands, you can make these fleeting moments last forever.

So, go outside. Chase the light. Frame the beauty. Capture the color. Spring is waiting.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tips off on August 25. It offers hoops fans the ultimate experience to see the sport’s best global stars.

No less than Gilas Pilipinas will do its best to represent the Philippines proudly at home. Hundreds of thousands are expected to watch the prestigious event in-person from August 25 to September 10.

For those who do not have the luxury of attending live, there are still various ways to watch the World Cup. You can use whatever device from wherever location you’re from.

Here’s a quick rundown:

TV

For Cignal TV prepaid and postpaid subscribers, a one-time Pay-Per-View fee of PhP 650 entitles viewers to all 92 games of the FIBA World Cup in both SD (Ch. 198 and 199) and HD (Ch. 298 and 299).

They will come commercial-free and with access to exclusive FIBA content such as documentaries and highlights of previous tournaments.

For people mainly interested in Gilas Pilipinas games, TV5 is the surefire way to catch the action. The channel is accessible for free via CignalPlay and via any way you access free TV, like digiboxes.

Smartphones, tablets

For smartphone and tablet users, there are a handful of streaming apps that will show the World Cup games live and on demand.

Cignal’s novel streaming platform, Pilipinas Live will show all 92 games for a PhP 99 a month subscription.

Unlike cable subscriptions, this rate does not have a lock-in period. A month would be enough since the World Cup runs from August 25 to September 10. You can cancel afterwards.

Games will also be shown on the Smart Livestream app for FREE. To watch all 92 games, Smart subscribers simply have to connect to a Smart mobile data, TNT or PLDT WiFi while using the Smart LiveStream App. The app is downloadable on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Speaking of Gilas, Smart has a prepaid Gilas Power subscription promo which is inclusive of 78GB of total data, including a fixed allocation for the Livestream app and open access data good for a month.

More details here.

PC and laptops

For PC and laptop users, the best workaround is availing of CignalPlay Premium, which starts at just PhP 75 monthly, inclusive of most channels you’re used to seeing on cable TV from movies to sports to news channels and more.

In light of recent incidents of phishing scams in Singapore banks, it is the perfect time to remind iPhone users about key iOS messaging features that will protect them from such suspicious activities.

In the Messages app of the iPhone, users can block, filter, and report unwanted messages, especially from unknown senders for their security.

Block and filter

To block messages from a specific person or number, users will just have to tap the name or number at the top of the conversation, scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

To filter messages from unknown senders, simply go to Settings then Messages, and turn on Filter Unknown Senders.

This will turn off iMessage notifications from senders who aren’t in one’s contact lists, and automatically sorts the messages into the Unknown Senders tab in the Message list.

To view and manage the list of blocked contacts and phone numbers, go to Settings  > Messages > Blocked Contacts.

Report spam to Apple

Lastly, to report spam or junk messages to Apple, tap Report Junk in the message, then tap Delete and Report Junk.

The sender’s information and the message are sent to Apple before becoming permanently deleted from the device.

Banks warn customers 

Singaporean banks have been warning of suspicious login alert messages from scammers that are targeting customers.

In fact, as of January 2022, hundreds of OCBC Bank customers have been affected with at least SG$ 8.5 million in damage already recorded.

Usual phishing messages try to convince customers that their bank account has been suspended, and shall require login details, as well as a one-time pin.

DBS, meanwhile, reminded customers that their official website is DBS.com. United Overseas Bank (UOB) also asked clients to refrain calling the senders of suspicious messages.

Banks likewise cautioned customers that they would never ask for details or one-time PINs via the phone, email, or SMS.