Apps

Maya brings digital banking, cryptocurrency, and e-wallet in one app

Literally everything and a bank!

Published

April 29, 2022

MJ Jucutan

PayMaya, one of the Philippines’ top finance apps, has rebranded to Maya. The app moves away from being just an e-wallet platform, becoming an all-in-one powerhouse money app.

Maya now combines its esteemed e-wallet with new features, particularly its newest product — a digital banking experience called Maya Bank. Like any digital bank, it allows you to spend, save, grow, invest, and master your money. All within your fingertips.

Of course, there’s more to expect from the new app.

Savings account with a 6% interest rate

Maya comes with plenty of new products to appease different palates of users. There’s Maya Savings, a high-yield savings account with a 6 percent introductory interest rate, which will be available until August 31, 2022.

Powered by BSP-licensed Maya Bank, the feature offers a seamless experience when saving your hard-earned money. Eligible customers will be able to move money from their e-wallet to Maya Savings with just a couple of clicks. Users can also earn interest on their balance.

More importantly, the savings account doesn’t require a maintaining balance. To access the feature, simply upgrade the Maya account.

Borrow money through a virtual credit line

Maya also expands its product offerings, bringing Maya Credit — a virtual credit line that lets you borrow up to PhP 15,000 within the app. The feature can be used to pay your bills, buy groceries, or purchase a load.

The credit line is easily accessible to eligible users.

A starting point for your crypto journey

Recently, PayMaya ventured into cryptocurrency. The recent transition to Maya carried the feature, introducing Maya Crypto. The product allows users to buy, hold, and sell popular coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tether, and more, for as low as PhP 1 all within the app.

Continuing the e-wallet feature

Maya continues its dominance in the e-wallet category, revamping the platform which is now called Maya Wallet. The feature comes with an enhanced customer experience while keeping its free cash-in through 90,000 touchpoints nationwide.

Moreover, the app lets you toggle between light and dark mode. It also comes with more personalization features. For instance, you can own a username to serve as your new Maya identity for sending or receiving money. In the nearest future, Maya aims to introduce goal-based savings to help users set aside money for bigger purchases.

Maya is completely free to download via the Play Store or the App Store.

Apps

Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

Just in case you were wondering.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Google is slightly moving away from Material Design. Last week, a set of icon changes saw Android adding splashes of gradients to its formerly flat app icons. To poke fun at Android’s move away from flat designs, a user on X created a mockup of Android running Apple’s Liquid Design. Google, however, had a response ready in the chamber.

On X, @Micetor made a mockup of Android, specifically on the upcoming Pixel 11, using Apple’s latest Liquid Design aesthetics. It looked much like what an iPhone does except with Google’s icons and fonts.

Clearly, Google does not need to reply to any unsubstantiated mockups about its ecosystem. But they still did.

Sameer Samat, Google’s head for the Android ecosystem, personally replied to the mockup with a simple rebuttal: “Not happening!”

Not happening! Y'all are wild. 😂

— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) May 5, 2026

Despite using the design language for over a decade, Google does not want to drop Material Design altogether. Though the new gradients have revitalized the design language somewhat, the essence of flat design is still there.

Apple, on the other hand, wants a return to 3D. Liquid Design mimics the transparent aesthetics of Windows Vista. Though a bunch of users have found the design polarizing, other brands have started copying the design for themselves, incorporating elements on Liquid Design on their interfaces.

Whatever Google is doing, it’s coming in due time. The company is hosting its annual Google I/O on May 12 to showcase new developments coming to the Android ecosystem, including its design.

Apps

iOS 26.5 will support end-to-end encryption RCS messaging

The final update should come out within the month.

Published

May 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Back in 2023, Apple finally adopted the RCS messaging standard, ensuring that iOS and Android users could communicate more seamlessly despite being on different platforms. This year, the platform is adding an improvement to the feature: end-to-end encryption.

Starting with the upcoming launch of iOS 26.5, Apple will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iOS and Android users (via 9to5Mac). Besides the seamless communication, users on both platforms can start enjoying secure messaging with one another.

Apple has been testing the feature since February. Now, the company is confident enough to release the encryption technology in a new build for iOS 26.5 meant for developers. At this point, it’s just waiting for an actual release.

Why is this a big deal? Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your messages. Plus, end-to-end encryption means that messages is encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the receiver. Third parties, which includes Apple, cannot intercept and access your information.

With the feature on, both messaging platforms on Android and iOS will show a lock icon to signify that, yes, your messages are encrypted.

Though the current build isn’t meant for end users just yet, it’s expected that iOS 26.5 will launch within the month, if not by next week.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.