Her GadgetMatch

Technology I need: Smart things that will help me #adult

Also a glimpse at what IFA 2019 will bring

Published

on

As I spend the last few days in a beachside resort in Andalusia for the annual IFA GPC tech show, my mind wanders to the growing stack of laundry I will eventually have to do when I get home.

I have, after all, spent the last week in Europe. With the cold climate comes the burden of more clothes in need of washing. To air out my dirty laundry (pun intended), I’m bothered by every single chore I’m supposed to have mastered by now, but haven’t. This is mainly the reason why I got so excited over the prospect of an app that will tell me how to wash my clothes — more on this later.

For every home tech innovation that gets announced, a new wave of questions crop up:

“Who would need that tech?”

“Why do we even need this?”

“What were they thinking?”

That and all other doubtful variations from naysayers who, I assume, have perfected the art of laundry or are just poised to live a percentage of their lives unhappily doing chores. I assume this because guys and gals like me (and I know there are more of us than you’d like to believe) still need that extra help to get this stuff done. We all know chores are never fun to begin with.

Pictured above: Stock photo of someone doing laundry as no one ever looks this good, or does this chore in clean clothes.

Thankfully, at the IFA GPC, I was introduced to a number of cool upcoming things which will assuage my fear of adulting by helping me with said chores. (Thank heavens!) These are my favorites:

An app that will help you do your laundry

Candy will release the RapidO washing machine that will walk you through exactly how to wash your clothes, whatever the color or material. The accompanying app offers a magical feature wherein it tells you the perfect settings to use, based on a photo of your dirty clothes. It’s an innovation that sounds infinitely interesting to laundry newbies such as myself.

The easiest way to cook healthy food

I’ve always wanted a Philips Airfryer. This device has a load of hot air — that is, it will cook your food with only hot air. This just means you don’t need oil or butter. It also means a better diet for those who struggle with cooking. It’s an easier way to whip your gastronomical Friday night dinner masterpieces with one device. Though these have been in the market, Philips just announced that the new line of Airfryers will be unveiled at IFA; I’m excited!

Surefire way not to burn your house down after being in the kitchen

Seriously, this is the one thing we all need once we start dabbling in the kitchen. The Safera Sense is a tiny sensor you attach to your kitchen that will monitor heat, movement, activity, and even air quality. Simply put, it makes your kitchen a smart one by alerting you if there are temperature changes, especially if the stove’s on but no one’s there. You can even connect it to your stove and turn it off via the app. It’s also compatible with various home assistants.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg since IFA is known to host a whole lot more of these “adulting tech,” as I’d like to call them. One thing’s for sure, though; whether it be washing clothes, cooking ourselves dinner, or not burning down the house, there is space for tech and innovation in these tasks. They aren’t called chores for nothing! Besides, technology must award those who #adult enough to do chores and these shiny new toys seem like good prizes.

Related Topics:

Her GadgetMatch

What your smartphone color choice reveals about you

Eight colors, eight personalities. Here’s how to pick.

Published

on

August 14, 2026

By

Your phone color says more than you think. With the Pixel 11 series, Google’s giving you eight ways to make that statement, and there’s genuinely one for every kind of person.

Hibiscus

You’re never the quiet one in the room. Hibiscus doesn’t ask for attention; it just takes it, and if that sounds like you, you’re probably not planning to start hiding now. This is the pick for anyone who’d rather stand out than blend in.

Pistachio

You’re the one who remembers everyone’s coffee order. Pistachio is soft and easy; the one whom people gravitate toward without quite knowing why. It doesn’t try hard to be liked. It just is.

Frost

You like things a little too organized. Frost means clean lines and a clear head, the color equivalent of a camera roll with zero mess in it. If your notes app has color-coded folders, this one’s calling your name.

Obsidian

You let the work speak for itself. No flash needed, because when you show up, the room adjusts anyway. Obsidian is the classic choice, the one that’s never trying too hard because it doesn’t have to.

Canyon

You’re the one who suggests the sunset drive. Canyon is warm and a little restless, always chasing golden hour whether or not anyone else is up for it. Available on the Pro and Pro XL, it’s built for people who treat every evening like it might be a good one.

Olive

You’re outdoorsy, but you’ll still show up looking put together. Olive is low-key and grounded, the one who doesn’t try too hard because it’s already comfortable in its own skin. Another Pro and Pro XL exclusive.

Fog

You’re hard to read, and you like it that way. Fog is understated on purpose, a Pro and Pro XL colorway for anyone who’d rather keep people guessing.

So, which one’s you?

Eight colors, three phones, one very personal decision. Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL goes on sale starting August 20 — with Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian on the base model; and Canyon, Fog, Olive, and Obsidian on the Pro line.

Which one’s calling your name?

Continue Reading

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

on

July 8, 2026

By

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.

Continue Reading

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

on

June 23, 2026

By

Dyson HushJet Mini

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.

Continue Reading

Trending