Apps

Memoji makeup tutorial: Patrick Starrr and Desi Perkins show us how to be on fleek

There are also more accessories to suit your personal style

Published

June 5, 2019

Chay Lazaro

If Facebook’s newly launched Avatars, Bitmoji’s integration to wearables, and Zepeto’s rise in popularity late last year are any indication, Apple’s Memoji was never a gimmick as haters claimed when it was first announced in 2018.

Fast forward to 2019, Memoji is getting the makeup transformation it deserves. What better way to introduce upcoming features that will roll out with iOS 13 than to have beauty influencers (from the internet) Desi Perkins and Patrick Starrr break all of it down in a tutorial.

Eyeshadow: Your barely used palettes could never

Choose from several colors and different levels of pigmentation with the new eyeshadow feature. Apple Fusion No. 6 is Desi’s current favorite eyeshadow and it comes in this little toolbar.

Lipstick: Pink! Red! Dark Mode?

We’ve always been able to change a Memoji’s lip color under Nose & Lips, but we all know lipstick deserves its own section as it can change one’s look dramatically with just one swipe.

Piercings: Express yourself

Nose ring, brow ring, earring, lip ring, tongue ring: whatever piercing you have on your actual face, your Memoji can have it, too!

Teeth: A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear

Accurately depict your current look by picking the set of teeth that resembles yours. Are you wearing braces? Do you have a gap tooth or a missing tooth? Or maybe you’re also wearing a shiny, mini grill?

Earrings: Every piece of jewelry tells a story

Desi and Patrick Starr picked a few pairs that don’t look new, but here’s to hoping they add more designs because statement earrings and earcuffs are all the rage right now.

Hair: Your crowning glory

There has not been a shortage of hair color on the current version of iOS — you can even add highlights. In the tutorial, Patrick Starr showed off an indigo-cyan ombre, something you can’t achieve right now, both in Memoji and probably in real life.

Hats: A woman is not really dressed unless she is wearing a hat

There’s already a good selection of headwear right now but it looks like iOS 13 is bringing in new arrivals from a new collection!

Glasses: Cute. Cute. Cute!

One can never have too many pairs of glasses, especially if they don’t cost a thing. We don’t know for sure if we’re getting more styles, but Desi and Patrick just reminded me to play around with the wide array of customization options and update my summer Memoji look with a bolder pair that my real self is always too lazy to wear!

Watch the full cute, flirty Memoji look tutorial here:

iOS 13 can’t come soon enough! What feature do you want to add to your current Memoji? I personally feel that the hairstyle options right now are lacking. One of my Memoji (I have four, don’t ask) looks like every other girl whose hair is cut mid-length and isn’t flat and straight. It also wouldn’t hurt to see barrettes, headbands, and scarves.

P.S.

Your Memoji will soon be able to sport AirPods, too. Weird flex but OK.

Related Topics:Apple iOS 13 Memoji WWDC 2019

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.