Apps

Bank on a mobile app with ING Philippines

Do everything on your phone!

Published

July 4, 2019

Rodneil Quiteles

Banking is one of those chores that few people really want to think about. ING Philippines aims to reduce the hassle you experience by making sure you can do most of what you need all on your smartphone.

You’re probably thinking, “Another bank? It’s gonna take a while to set it up, and it will just get more money from me.”

This isn’t the case. ING promises a swift and frictionless experience to get you started.

Minimal requirements

To set up an account, you’ll only need the following: a smartphone, a valid government I.D. and/or any proof of billing, and — this is the kicker — zero maintaining balance.

You’ll also do the entire set up process all on the mobile app, which you can download on the App Store and Google Play. It was designed to be as easy to use as the apps we use daily like Facebook, Instagram, etc.

Set up your account in no time

Once you have all these setting up is pretty straight forward. You just need to follow the steps which include adding a five-digit passcode, putting in your information and taking a photo of your I.D. and signature.

As an additional security measure, you will also be asked to do some gestures using the front-facing camera. It’s almost like what you would do when setting up face-security features.

The gestures can be anything from nodding to opening your mouth. It sounds silly but it contributes to security. If you ever forget your passcode, you can use face verification once again to regain access. This also means simply putting a picture in front of the camera won’t work.

ING then validates your information and in just a few minutes, you’ll have an ING bank account.

Full disclosure, this writer did hit a snag while setting up his account. You just need to start the process from the top which is infinitely easier than having to line up at a bank, file a bunch of forms, only to wait for a few days before confirming that your account has been set up.

Easy transactions

Once you have your account you may proceed to put money in it. Depositing a check only requires that you take a photo of its front and back. There’s zero human intervention and no waiting-in-line involved which is great if you’re a lazy introvert like yours truly.

Another key feature is bank transfer that has absolutely no fees. This is possible through PesoNet and InstaPay. If you do have more questions, you also have access to their 24/7 chat support team within the app. Pretty convenient.

What else do you get out of it?

ING Philippines isn’t asking you to put all your eggs in their basket. As it is now, the functions are still limited so they are positioning themselves as a secondary bank.

What ING encourages you to do is to manage your savings with them. With a 2.5% interest rate per year, even one of the financial advisers they invited at the event says it’s a smart decision to keep your savings with ING.

More to come

The Philippines is the first country to have this all-digital banking service from ING. With a high smartphone penetration, the company hopes this will encourage more Filipinos to save money with them.

It doesn’t end here though. Other functions like bills payment are in the pipeline. So if you’re a digital native trying to look for a place where you can stash your hard-earned cash, ING appears to be a good place to start.

This feature was produced in collaboration between GadgetMatch and ING Philippines.

Related Topics:Banking ING ING Philippines

Apps

Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.

Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.

Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.

According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.

Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.

Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.

Apps

Google Maps is finally getting a 3D mode

The app will also have a Gemini chatbot baked inside.

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.

In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.

In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.

Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.

Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.

Apps

Apple Music, TikTok launch Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience

Rolling out worldwide exclusively through Apple Music

Published

March 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Ever came across a viral 15 or 30-second music snippet on TikTok that instantly became your jam on repeat?

For years, TikTok has been a regular source of songs that have become part of our playlists. And together with Apple Music, listening to the music you discover has just gotten even easier.

That’s through Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience, which launches exclusively though Apple Music.

With the new feature, Apple Music subscribers can now enjoy full-length tracks that they discover on TikTok. That’s without ever leaving that popular streaming app.

Fans who discover a song that they love on their For You or Sound Detail page can simply tap the Play Full Song button to open up an Apple Music player and enjoy the song in its entirety.

From there, subscribers can continue listening to a personalized stream of recommended songs. That means no more need to switch apps and search separately.

The new Play Full Song experience helps music fans move seamlessly from the moment of discovery to deeper listening. It’s also designed to be instant and all within the same environment.

Moreover, users can also save their favorite songs to Your Music and add them directly to their Apple Music playlists.

Built using Apple’s MusicKit, full-length song playback takes place on Apple Music. This way, streams are paid within the Apple Music service, supporting artists and rights holders while giving fans a smooth, uninterrupted experience.

Listening Party also launched

The feature builds on the success of TikTok’s Add to Music App. This was previously launched to help artists and fans convert discovery on TikTok to a playlist save in Apple Music and other streaming services.

To cap the announcement, TikTok and Apple Music are also introducing Listening Party. This new feature is designed to bring artists and fans together around music.

It creates a shared environment where fans can listen to songs from their favorite artists in real time, interact with each her, and engage directly with the artist during the session.